The Palestine Chronology

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)

Peace talks resume in Washington. Israeli delegation warns Lebanese and Syrian delegations that if Syriand Hizballah fail to curb attacks on Israeli soil, Israel "will help them stop," and can make life "intolerable on your side of the border as well." Several Katyusha rockets land in the Galilee, bringing the 2-day total to about 50, and prompting Israeli shelling of targets north of "security zone." (Qol Yisra'el 11/10 in FBIS 11/10; WP 11/10)

U.S. President-elect Bill Clinton tells PM Rabin he wants "no delay" in peace talks, would not object to a last-ditch mission to the region by James Baker to revive the talks. Rabin phoned his congratulations to the pres.-elect. (Qol Yisra'el 11/9 in FBIS 11/10; NYT 11/10)

In interview with al-Hayat, Chmn. Arafat urges Pres.-elect Bill Clinton to resume dialogue with the PLO. He also strongly criticizes Hamas, warning of "retaliation" if acts of violence continue in the o.t. (AFP 11/7 in FBIS 11/9; NYT 11/10)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbrs., as well as Palestinian delegation head Faisal Husseini, meet with Jordanian FM Kamil Abu Jaber to discuss draft Israeli-Jordanian agenda for negotiations (see 11/1). Palestinians seek definite reference in the agenda to UNGA 194 (the right of return), and clarifications on wording of references to Palestinian o.t. (Jordan Times 11/8 in FBIS 11/9; MM 11/9)

PFLP Red Eagle gunmen shoot, kill suspected collaborator in Shabura camp, Gaza Strip. (Qol Yisra'el 11/7 in FBIS 11/10)

Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc issues statement rejecting draft Israeli-Jordanian agenda as a retreat from declared peace principles, calling on govt. to not ratify it. Hamas issues similar statement. (Jordan Times 11/8 in FBIS 11/9)

King Hussein says it is time for Iraqis to end the rule of Saddam Hussein, install govt. of "pluralism, democracy." (NYT 11/8)

Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics releases latest figures showing that the Jewish birthrate has dropped to its lowest rate since 1948-2.6 children per woman. The Muslim rate is 4.7, slightly higher than last year, but much lower than the 1948 figure. Influx of immigrants kept the Jewish majority steady at 81.9%. (NYT 11/8)

UN inspection team finds Syrian missiles, launchers, and artillery pieces within 25 km of disengagement line on Golan Heights, in violation of 1974 disengagement agreements (see 11/5). (Hadashot 11/10 in FBIS 11/10)

Presidents al-Hirawi of Lebanon and Asad of Syria cable congratulations to Pres.- elect Bill Clinton. (SARA 11/5, VOL 11/6 in FBIS 11/6)

Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton wins U.S. presidential election with 370 electoral votes over Pres. Bush's 168. (NYT, WP 10/4)

In interview published simultaneously by al-Sharq al-Awsat and the French journal Politique Internationale, U.S. President-elect Bill Clinton is quoted as saying he will end the "pro-Arab bias" that characterized Pres. Bush's Middle East policy. He said he would support Palestinian self-determination in the context of the Camp David Accords, which he would revive with the help of an immediately appointed special envoy, possibly former Pres. Jimmy Carter. (MM 11/3)

AIPAC Pres. David Steiner resigns as a result of disclosure of 10/22 taped phone conversation with New York businessman Harry Katz. (WT 11/4; WP 11/5)