The Palestine Chronology

Israel offers to allow back 10 Palestinians mistakenly deported. The 10 say they would like to return immediately, but that the only crossing point has been mined by Israel. Israel offers to allow an intl. org. to escort them back through 1 of 3 Lebanese-controlled crossing points. (NYT 1/1; Qol Yisra'el 12/31 in FBIS 12/31, 1/4)

Lebanon rejects 12/30 French proposal to place the deported Palestinians under the provisional care of UNIFIL in Lebanese-controlled territory. PM Rafiq al-Hariri meets with Russian then U.S. amb. to Lebanon. (NYT 12/31; VOL 12/31 in FBIS 1/4)

Al-Quds reports that the Palestinian delegation to peace talks has unanimously rejected PM Rabin's 12/27 invitation to an informal meeting. (al-Quds 12/31 in FBIS 1/5)

Four Palestinian factions (PFLP, DFLP-Hawatima faction, PPSF, PLF) issue statement criticizing Palestinian leadership's 12/27 statement for its lack of a plan of political action to counter the 12/17 deportations. (QPAR 1/2 in FBIS 1/4)

PLO advisor and Palestinian delegation steering comm. head Nabil Shaath says the deportations and the peace process are "two battles which have to be led separately," and the Palestinians may have to "bring it [the deportations] to the table of negotiations." (AFP 12/31 in FBIS 1/4)

Ha'Aretz reports that the o.t. security service Shin Bet initially gave PM Rabin a list of 6 Hamas leaders to be deported, and came up with 1 more name when asked to expand the list. Shin Bet was later surprised at the scope of expulsions the IDF was then ordered to carry out. (WP 1/1; Ha'Aretz 12/31 in FBIS 1/4)

PM Rabin meets with UN special envoy James Jonah, calls on a third country to accept the deportees for the 2-year term of their exile. (Qol Yisra'el 12/30 in FBIS 12/30; WP 12/31)

UN Secy.-Gen. Butrus-Ghali meets with Chmr. Arafat in Geneva, says Israel should place the 415 deportees in internment camps, and prosecute suspected offenders in Israeli courts. French FM Roland Dumas meets with Butrus-Ghali and Arafat, proposes that UNIFIL take care of the deportees until a settlement is found. (NYT 12/31)

IDF clamps curfew on entire Gaza Strip until 1/3 to prevent clashes on Fateh Day, 1/1. (Qol Yisra'el 12/30 in FBIS 12/31)

Israel announces that 10 of the 415 Palestinians were mistakenly expelled and may return to Israel for possible trial. (Qol Yisra'el 12/29 in FBIS 12/30; WP 12/29)

UN special envoy James Jonah meets with Palestinian delegation mbrs., rejection front and Hamas reps. in East Jerusalem. (IDF Radio 12/28 in FBIS 12/29)

Lebanon bars UN special envoy James Jonah from passing through its territory to visit the Palestinian deportees. (WP 12/29)

Survey finds 46 MKs favor direct talks with PLO, 67 are against, with 2 abstaining. (Yedi'ot Aharonot 12/28 in FBIS 12/29)

Lebanon asks U.S. to pressure Israel to allow aid to reach 415 Palestinian deportees, and refuses deportees' request to admit their sick and wounded to Lebanese hospitals. PLO reiterates support of Lebanese stance. (NYT 12/27)

Hamas spokesman Ibrahim Ghawshah strongly denounces Chmn. Arafat's 12/24 statement implying Israel should have executed the killer of the border policeman (Sawt al-Sha'b 12/27 in FBIS 12/28)

Israeli radio announces that 30 out of 44 Labor MKs support negotiations with the PLO. (Qol Yisra'el 12/26 in FBIS 12/28)

IDF shoots dead 15-year-old Palestinian during clashes in Shati' camp, Gaza Strip. (Qol Yisra'el 12/26 in FBIS 12/28)

SIA patrol clashes with Palestinian gunmen in the "security zone," southern Lebanon, killing 1. (Radio Lebanon 12/27, VOL 12/26 in FBIS 12/29)

Israel rejects U.S. appeal to allow Palestinian deportees to settle in "security zone," agrees to allow UN and Red Cross to provide food to the deportees. (Davar 12/24 in FBIS 12/28)

Four-mbr. Hamas delegation (pol. bureau head Musa Abu Marzuq, Amman spokesman Ibrahim Ghawshah, Amman rep. Muhammad Nazzal, and Tehran rep. 'Imad al-Qalami) begins talks with PLO in Tunis. (MENA 12/23, al-Dustur, al-Hayat 12/24 in FBIS 12/28)

FM Shimon Peres says "Israel must enter a dialogue with any Palestinian or Palestinian organization that expresses awillingness to reach a peace agreement." (Yedi'ot Aharonot 12/23 in FBIS 12/23)

Two Palestinian brothers killed, up to 80 wounded in clashes with IDF in Gaza Strip. (NYT 12/24)

Israeli High Court of Justice unanimously rejects appeals to allow back Palestinian deportees. Israel lifts 15-day-old closure in northern Gaza Strip, 7-day-old closure on parts of W. Bank; Palestinians uphold strike for 5th day. (IDF Radio 12/22 in FBIS 12/23; NYT, WP 12/23)

Hamas announces dissatisfaction with Arab and Islamic response to deportations, calling for intl. protection for the deportees and Arab withdrawal from the peace process. (MM 12/22)

Meretz submits 11-point plan to PM Rabin for improving o.t. conditions before the next round of peace talks. (MM 12/23)

Palestinian-Israelis observe 1-day general strike. (MM 12/22)

After 6 hours fierce debate, Kuwaiti National Council issues statement condemning Israel's expulsion of 415 Palestinians. (MM 12/23)

Jerusalem district court reopens appeal hearings for two Silwan families evicted in Oct. and Dec. 1991. The Jerusalem district attorney issued a brief to the court stating that the Custodian of Abandoned Properties improperly transferred the houses to a settler housing association, which may entitle the Palestinian families to compensation or reclamation of their homes. (MM 12/22

Deported Palestinians attempt to cross back south into Israeli-controlled territory, SLA fires warning shots and mortars, injuring 3. Deportees issue statement calling for continued Lebanese refusal to admit the deportees, comprehensive Arab withdrawal from the peace talks, and intl. pressure on Israel. Meretz mins. call on govt. to allow deportees to enter "security zone." (Qol Yisra'el 12/21, al-Rajv 12/22 in FBIS 12/22; MM 12/21; NYT 12/22)

HADASH MK Hashim Mahamid informs Labor party that his party's 3 MKs will no longer supporthe govt. in upcoming votes, to protest the deportation decision. (Qol Yisra'el 12/22 in FBIS 12/22)

Lebanon bars all intl. relief agencies from supplying the deportees. (VOL 12/21 in FBIS 12/21)

10-year-old Palestinian boy killed by IDF during clashes in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip. (Qol Yisra'el 12/21 in FBIS 12/23; NYT 12/22)

IDF temporarily lifts curfew in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, but serious riots break out: IDF shoots 6 Palestinians dead (2 under age 16), wound 50. (MM 12/21; MENA 12/20 in FBIS 12/21; Qol Yisra'el 12/19 in FBIS 12/23)

UN Security Council "strongly condemns" the 12/17 deportations and demands the deportees' "safe and immediate return" in res. 799. Arab League and Islamic Conference Organization issue similar condemnations. (NYT 12/19; MENA 12/18 in FBIS 12/18; SPA 12/19 in FBIS 12/23)

UNIFIL announces its support of Lebanon's decision not to allow the 415 deportees into Lebanese-controlled territory; will prevent them from entering UNIFIL areas. (VOL 12/18 in FBIS 12/21)

PLO Exec. Comm. issues statement condemning the deportations. Chmn. Arafat calls on Lebanon not to admit the deportees. Hamas spokesman in Amman Ibrahim Ghawshah says the PLO's response to the expulsions "fell far short of what the Palestinian people expected." (MM 12/18; Algiers VOP 12/18 in FBIS 12/21)

Meretz Knesset faction backtracks from 12/17 approval of deportations as a "necessary evil," passes res. stating deportations are a "gross violation of human rights and intl. law." (Qol Yisra'el 12/18 in FBIS 12/18)

Israeli Dahaf poll shows 91% of Israeli Jews support deportations. 55% felt deportations would "reduce the scope of terror attacks," 26% felt they would increase such attacks. (Yedi'ot Aharonot 12/18 in FBIS 12/18; MM 12/18)

IDF shoots Palestinian man dead in al-Arrub camp, W. Bank. (MM 12/21)

Israel expels 415 suspected Muslim activists, 251 from the West Bank, 164 from the Gaza Strip to Lebanon. High Court of Justice temporarily blocks the expulsions, then votes 5 to 2 to permit them. UNIFIL forces try to block buses carrying deportees from traveling through their territory. Lebanese army blocks the deportees from entering govt.- controlled territory, leaving them stranded between Israeli and Lebanese checkpoints. (WP 12/17, 12/18; Qol Yisra'el, Radio Lebanon, VOL 12/17, 12/18 in FBIS 12/18; NYT 12/18)

Eighth round of Arab-Israeli peace talks ends. Arab parties boycott 12/17 meetings to protest deportations. PLO announces talks suspended until deportees allowed back. (Tunisian Republic Radio 12/17 in FBIS 12/18; NYT, WP 12/18)

Pres. Bush meets separately with all delegations involved in peace talks for 20-25 minutes each; he meets with Palestinians and Jordanians together, then with Jordanians alone for 15 minutes. (Radio Jordan 12/17 in FBIS 12/18)

Hamas denounces the expulsions as "total war"; their legitimate targets, previously limited to soldiers, now include "every Zionist in Palestine." Arab MKs condemn deportation ruling, threaten to withdraw support of governing coalition. UNLU issues supplement to call no. 90 condemning the deportations. (IDF Radio 12/17 in FBIS 12/18; AFP 12/17, Sanaa VOP 12/18 in FBIS 12/21)

U.S. State Department "strongly condemns the action of deportation". Pres.-elect Bill Clinton is critical, though not condemnatory of the expulsion. UN Secy.-Gen. Butrus-Ghali asks Israel to "rescind the expulsion order." (NYT 12/18

Israeli cabinet empowers IDF to order expulsions of Islamic activists for a maximum period of 2 years, with the possibility of appeal within 60 days. Expulsions are ordered for 415 activists, which are delayed pending a Supreme Court appeal. Justice Min. David Libai votes against the expulsions. (Qol Yisra'el 12/17 in FBIS 12/17)

Number of Palestinians arrested as suspected Islamic activists swells to 1,600. O.t. residents are barred from traveling to Jordan. (al-Nahar 12/16 in FBIS 12/17; NYT, WP 12/17)

Israel seals o.t. (the 7th day for the Gaza Strip), conducts massive manhunt for kidnapped policeman, demands proof that he is still alive, arrests 1,000 suspected Islamic activists. (Qol Yisra'el 12/14 in FBIS 12/14; MM, NYT, WP 12/15; WP 12/16)

Israeli delegation presents Palestinian delegation with 19-page document on interim self-rule, affirming UNSCR 242 and 338 as the basis for negotiation, asserting "inner linkage" of interim and final phases. Appearing for the first time in writing is the proposal for tripartite land management in the interim phase: autonomy for Palestinian lands, Israeli management of lands used by IDF and settlers, and joint management of other lands. (HaAretz 12/15 in FBIS 12/15; MM 12/15)

Pres. Asad makes major speech on peace process to federation of trade unions. (MM 12/14; SARR 12/14 in FBIS 12/16; HaAretz 12/16 in FBIS 12/16)

Lebanon rejects Israel's 11/27 proposal to set up joint military working group (HaAretz, Radio Lebanon 12/15 in FBIS 12/15)

Hamas activists kidnap Nissim Toledano, Israeli border policeman, threaten to kill him unless Israel releases their founder, Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, serving a life sentence, by 9:00 p.m. Israel misses the deadline, shows tape on state t.v. of Yasin calling on Hamas not to kill the policeman. (MM, NYT, WP 12/14; Qol Yisra'el, IDF Radio 12/13 in FBIS 12/14)

One Palestinian is killed, 30 wounded in IDF-Palestinian clashes throughout Gaza Strip. (MM 12/14)

Hamas gunmen fire on IDF jeep near Hebron, killing 1, wounding 2 soldiers. Israel lifts Gaza Strip curfew in force since 12/7; 1 Palestinian killed, up to 90 wounded in ensuing clashes; curfew then reinforced. (NYT 12/13; MM, WP 12/14)

IDF shoots Palestinian youth dead in Hebron. (Qol Yisra'el 12/11 in FBIS 12/11; MM 12/11)

General strike is upheld throughout o.t., and Arab delegations in Washington suspend today's meetings, to mark 5th anniv. of intifada. IDF shoots Palestinian youth dead near Jenin. (MM 12/9; SARR 12/9 in FBIS 12/9)

PM Rabin meets with PM John Major in London. (MM 12/10)

Israel seals Gaza Strip indefinitely to facilitate search for suspects in 12/7 drive-by shooting of IDF soldiers. (Qol Yisra'el 12/7 in FBIS 12/8; MM 12/8)

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem releases report stating that Palestinians are being killed in the o.t. at the same rate as under the previous gov't. Human rights abuses in general have improved slightly in some areas, but "grave . . . violations . . . continued." (MM 12/9)

IDF shoots 2 Palestinian youths dead-1 in Rafah, Gaza Strip, 1 in Bayt Sahur, W. Bank. (MM 12/9)

Eighth round of peace talks begins in Washington. Truncated Palestinian delegation (see 12/6) appeals to the U.S. to intervene. White House announces that Pres. Bush will meet with all delegation heads at the end of this round (12/17). (NYT 12/8; Radio Jordan 12/7 in FBIS 12/8)

Three IDF soldiers are killed in drive-by shooting in Bayt Lahiya, Gaza Strip, the most costly single attack on the IDF by o.t. Palestinians since the beginning of intifada 12/9/87. Hamas-'Izz al-Din al-Qassim wing claims responsibility. (MM 12/7; WP 12/8; NYT 12/9; Qol Yisra'el 12/7 in FBIS 12/8)

DFLP-'Abd-Rabbuh faction calls for expanded meeting of DFLP leadership to discuss 12/3 Hawatima faction takeover of Rabbuh's Damascus HQ, still being held. (Sanaa VOP 12/7 in FBIS 12/8)

Separate IDF and Border Police undercover units clash by mistake, wounding 3, near Jenin. (MM 12/8)

FMs of Islamic Conference Organization meeting in Jeddah issue statement describing Jerusalem as a "central issue for the Muslim nation" that cannot be excluded from current peace talks. (MM 12/2)

Israel suspends press credentials of 2 foreign journalists, reprimands 4 others, on charges of violating censorship laws in reporting on 11/5 IDF accident killing 5 soldiers. (MM 12/1; NYT 12/2)

IDF fatally shoots Palestinian boy during widespread clashes in Gaza Strip. (Qol Yisra'el 12/1 in FBIS 12/1)

Israeli govt. submits proposed amendment to Knesset that would permit contacts with the PLO. (Qol Yisra'el 11/30 in FBIS 12/1)

Ramallah-based Palestinian Public Opinion Research Center releases poll of 1,000 o.t. residents on peace process. 68% said the negotiations have "a chance" for achieving peace; 25% see no hope in negotiations, whatever the terms. 76% accept autonomy if it leads to Palestinian sovereignty, 61% say rejectionists have no reliable agenda to confront the peace process. (al-Fajr 12/1 in FBIS 12/3)

Peace Now releases o.t. demographic survey, concluding that settlement movement in o.t. has failed, with inflated govt. investment over the years resulting in a small number of settlers who only provoke violence. Yesha Council (of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza) charges Peace Now with tailoring facts to fit their political orientation. (IDF Radio 11/30 in FBIS 12/1; MM 12/1)

Al-Quds al-Arabi publishes interview with Chmn. Arafat criticizing Syria for "adopting" the ten rejectionist factions, Iran and the Gulf states for supporting Hamas. (MM 12/1)

Katyusha rocket fired at IDF post in "security zone" (first such firing since 11/12), followed by bombardment of SLA positions north of zone. Israel, SLA shells Iqlim al-Tuffah region. (Radio Lebanon, VOL 12/1 in FBIS 12/1)

After speech commemorating 1947 UN partition res., PM Rabin says Chmn. Arafat is blocking peace talks for personal, not ideological reasons, because the PLO, like the World Zionist Organization after the founding of Israel, will become marginalized when a political settlement is reached. (Qol Yisra'el 11/29 in FBIS 11/30; MM 11/30)

On this UN-sponsored Day of Solidarity with the Palestinians, general strike observed in the o.t., King Hussein, Chmn. Arafat call for expanded UN role in peace negotiations. (Qol Yisra'el 11/29 in FBIS 11/30; MM, WT 11/30)

Russian amb. to Tunisia meets with Chmn. Arafat in Tunis, delivers message from Russian Pres. Yeltsin. (Algiers VOP 12/28 in FBIS 12/30)

IDF shoots Palestinian youth dead in Hebron. (Qol Yisra'el 11/29 in FBIS 11/30)

Israeli delegation presents Lebanon with proposal to establish a joint workingroup of military officers to discuss security arrangements on border. (Ha Aretz, Radio Lebanon 12/15 in FBIS 12/15)

IDF shoots Palestinian man dead in Gaza City. (Qol Yisra'el 11/27 in FBIS 11/30)

French Pres. Mitterrand meets with King Hussein in Amman. (JTV, Radio Jordan 11/27 in FBIS 12/1)

"Extended Palestinian leadership" concludes 3-day meeting in Tunis. Decision on whether or not to participate in 12/7-17 round of negotiations is delayed until after consultations are held with Arab states, Moscow, and Washington. (AFP, MENA 11/23 in FBIS 11/24)

Ten Palestinian factions issue statement denouncing Israeli-Jordanian draft agenda, urging withdrawal from peace talks. (QPAR 11/23 in FBIS 11/25)

Israeli undercover unit shoots dead 12- year-old Palestinian boy near Jerusalem. (IDF Radio 11/23 in FBIS 11/23; MM 11/23; NYT 11/24)

In address to military graduates, King Hussein reiterates his call for democracy in Iraq, offers no apology to Gulf states for Jordan's stance in Gulf war, and warns Islamists not to use extremism to achieve political goals. (MM 11/23; RJN 11/23 in FBIS 11/24; NYT 11/24)

IDF undercover unit shoots dead armed Palestinian in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip. (MM 11/23; Qol Yisra'el 11/21 in FBIS 11/24)

IDF undercover unit shoots dead 2 wanted, unarmed Black Panther mbrs., apparently after they had surrendered and were handcuffed. IDF denies the charge, saying they were shot when 1 prepared to open fire on their unit. (MM 11/23)

Seventh round of peace talks ends in Washington. Palestinian delegation presents Israeli delegation with memorandum of responses to Israeli autonomy plan. (WP 11/20; al-Sha'b 11/20 in FBIS 11/23)

IDF undercover unit shoots dead wanted Black Panther near Janin. (MM 11/23)

Islamic Resistance attacks SLA personnel in Jazzin and points south in Lebanon. Israel, SLA shell, strafe region. (VOL 11/19 in FBIS 11/20)

Vatican issues statement charging that Israel is "dragging its feet" in the effort to establish diplomatic ties. Statement precedes normalization pre-negotiations between respective FM officials. (WT 11/19; Qol Yisra'el 11/19 in FBIS 11/20)

Two pro-Syrian Lebanese National Resistance Front gunmen, 1 Hizballah gunman are killed in clashes and artillery exchanges with IDF near Nabatiyya, north of "security zone." (Qol Yisra'el 11/18 in FBIS 11/19; NYT 11/19)

German FM Klaus Kinkel meets with FM Shimon Peres and PM Rabin. (Qol Yisra'el 11/18 in FBIS 11/19)

Palestinians demonstrate throughout o.t on 4th anniv. of declaration of the State of Palestine, are dispersed by IDF using tear gas and gunfire in Ramallah, Gaza, and Jerusalem. (Qol Yisra'el 11/15 in FBIS 11/16)

IDF uses antitank missiles to destroy 9 houses near Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip. (Hadashot 11/16 in FBIS 11/19) 

Israeli FM Shimon Peres meets with Pres. Mubarak, FM 'Amr Musa in Cairo. (MENA, Qol Yisra'el 11/15 in FBIS 11/16)

Likud Cent. Comm. votes to hold primary to elect its leader and next PM candidate next March. Move is seen as a political gain for Benyamin Netanyahu and David Levy, who campaigned for the primary, at the expense of Benny Begin. (WT 11/17) 

Israel begins withdrawal of armor and artillery from "security zone," S. Lebanon. (Qol Yisra'el, Radio Lebanon 11/15 in FBIS 11/16)

Tel Aviv mayor and Likud mbr. Shlomo Lahat, after announcing he will not seek reelection, says he favors creation of an independent Palestinian state in the W. Bank and Gaza Strip. (Yedi'ot Aharonot 11/13 in MM 11/13)

Hizballah and IDF each lose 1 in clash in "security zone." Israel shells targets north of zone. (Qol Yisra'el 11/13 in FBIS 11/13)

Israeli delegation rejoins refugee talks in Ottawa, after receiving written U.S. assurances that Palestinian delegation head Muhammad Hallaj is no longer a member of the PNC. Palestinians begin talks with demand for discussion of right of return for all refugees, including those from 1948. (Qol Yisra'el 11/12 in FBIS 11/13; WP 11/13)

Bir Zeit University (near Ramallah, W. Bank) holds student council elections. Pro-Fateh faction "shelved their differences" over the peace talks with a pro-PFLP faction and a pro-DFLP (Hawatima wing) faction, to form a united pro-PLO front, which defeated the pro-Hamas candidates by 66% to 33% of the vote. In winner-take-all election, 5 seats go to Fateh, 3 to PFLP, 1 to DFLP. (WP 11/12)

Hizballah lose 1 gunman, kill 1, wound 3 IDF soldiers, kill 1 UN soldier, in rocket and machine-gun attacks in "security zone." Israel attacks from the air and heavily shells Hizballah target villages north of "security zone." (Qol Yisra'el 11/12 in FBIS 11/12; Radio Lebanon 11/12 in FBIS 11/13; WT, WP 11/13)

U.S. Amb. to Israel William Harrop delivers message to PM Rabin urging "continue[d] restraint" vis-a-vis Hizballah, as long U.S. diplomatic efforts to quell the violence continue in Beirut and Damascus. (MM 11/13)

IDF fatally shoots Palestinian youth in Hebron, W. Bank. IDF opens fire on Khan Yunis demonstrators, injuring 19; 2 suspected collaborators are killed in Gaza Strip, under curfew since 11/11 (MM 11/13)

King Hussein announces amnesty in honor of his 58th birthday (11/14) that will free 140 political prisoners, including those sentenced 11/10. (WP 11/13)

Israeli delegation walks out of multilateral talks on refugees in Ottawa, because Palestinian delegation head Muhammad Hallaj is a PNC mbr. Elie Sanbar, head of delegation at earlieround, had already been barred as a member of the PLO Cent. Council (see 10/8). (MM, WP, WT 11/12)

Palestinian delegation presents report on o.t. human rights conditions to Israeli delegation, which has now agreed to discuss the issue. (MM 11/13; Qol Yisra'el 11/13 in FBIS 11/13) 

PM Rabin tells cabinet he must first consult U.S. Pres.-elect Bill Clinton on implications of amending 1986 law to legalize meetings with the PLO. (Qol Yisra'el 11/11 in FBIS 11/13)

Chmn. Arafat meets with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo. (MENA 11/11 in FBIS 11/12)

IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian in W. Bank, 3 in Gaza Strip, where demonstrations, clashes and a general strike following 11/10 gunbattle caused over 20 injuries. (MM 11/11; Qol Yisra'el 11/11 in FBIS 11/13; NYT, WP 11/12)

Israel builds up armored presence in "security zone" to the highest levels since 1985, and attacks Hizballah targets near Tyre, Lebanon. (NYT, WP 11/12)