The Palestine Chronology

Jewish settlerset fire to 8 Palestinian homes in al-Birah, stone Palestinian cars in Ramallah, block West Bank roads in protest over killing of settler Haim Mizrachi by presumed Hamas militants. Settler, abducted 10/29, found stabbed to death in burned car north of Ramallah. Also, Palestinian involved in land sales to Israelis killed by masked gunmen. (NYT, WP, WT 10/31)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak, Syrian Pres. alAsad hold talks on peace process in Latakia. (SATV 10/30 in FBIS 11/1)

3,000 Palestinian women march in Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip, to demand immediate release of all remaining Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. (WP 10/31

Israel begins release of 660 Palestinian prisoners over 2 days under agreement reached with PLO in Taba, Egypt (see 10/21). (NYT, WP, WT 10/26)

Attempted car-bomb attack in o.t. injures 2 Israeli prison officials. 18-year-old Palestinian driver, suspected to be Hamas mbr., arrested. (WT 10/26)

U.S. Pres. Clinton and Egyptian Pres. Mubarak hold talks in Washington. At joint press conference, Mubarak offers to mediate between Israel and Syria. Both heads of state urge the 2 sides to resume talks, Clinton observing, "There can't be total peace in the Mideast unless there is some kind of peace with Syria." (NYT, WP 10/26)

American Jewish Congress delegation holds meeting in Amman with King Hussein, Crown Prince Hassan aimed at ending Arab boycott. Group had previously met Egyptian, PLO, and Saudi officials. (JTV 10/25 in FBIS 10/26)

Hamas militants kill 2 IDF mbrs. in Gaza Strip. In response, Israeli PM Rabin excludes mbrs. of Hamas and Islamic Jihad fr. prisoner release scheduled for next day. (NYT, WP 10/25)

Kamal Abu Saleh, Palestinian reporter for AP and other news organizations, detained by IDF. (WT 10/26)

Hizballah, IDF clash in Sujud area of s. Lebanon, killing 2 guerrillas and wounding 1 IDF soldier. Hizballah claims 3 IDF mbrs. wounded in mortar attack. (CSM, WP 10/25)

Israeli Police Min. Moshe Shahal announces easing of closure of Jerusalem to Palestinians, allowing all women, men over 40, and accompanied children under 16, as well as physicians, attorneys, and students to enter the city as of 10/26. FM Peres announces "several hundred" Palestinian prisoners will be released soon, "more" as PLO-Israel talks proceed. (NYT, WP, WT 10/23)

Thousands attend funeral in Gaza of Fateh official As'ad Saftawi, murdered 10/21. (NYT 10/23)

Israeli military prosecutors announce indictment of Arab-American Muhammad Salah, 39, on charges of being Hamas's military commander. Salah was arrested 1/93 while on visit to West Bank. (WT 10/23

PLO rep. in Jordan Tayib 'Abd al-Rahim announces that 2 plots to kill PLO Chmn. Arafat have been foiled. 1 attempt was by Arafat bodyguards suborned by FRC ("Abu Nidal"), 2d by unidentified group that sought to bomb Arafat's plane. (WT 10/10)

2 Israeli hikers fr. Jerusalem stabbed and shot to death in Wadi Qilt, near Jericho in the West Bank. "Al-Aqsa Brigade" of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in statement released in Amman, claims responsibility, says 3 killed. Statement declares, "We will never surrender or accept any concessions on the land of Palestine which will become a graveyard for the Jews." PFLP also claims responsibility. (NYT 10/10; MM, NYT, WT 10/11)

PFLP guerrilla killed by Israeli soldiers as he sails jet ski off Lebanese coast near Israeli border. UN sources report 2 killed, not 1. (NYT 10/10, 10/11)

Palestinian factions opposed to DoP-including DFLP (Hawatmah faction), PFLP, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad-announce in Damascus establishment of National Islamic Front to counter PLO. Alliance fails to call congress to elect new PLO leadership due to reluctance of Islamic groups to identify with secular PLO. Front's declaration calls Palestinian police to be set up under PLO-Israel accord "a traitor force, and an oppressive enemy force." (CSM 10/14)

Jordan denounces 9/23 Israeli court ruling on status of Haram al-Sharif, says it will continue with restoration work on Dome of the Rock regardless of Israeli stance. (MM 10/11)

2 Hamas mbrs. killed by IDF, 16 arrested in raids in Gaza City and al-Burayj refugee camp. Killed are Hamid Salim Krinawi, 24, reputedly head of Hamas military wing, and Musa Sa'id Sa'id, 21, his deputy. 13 houses damaged by IDF gunfire, antitank missiles in raids. (NYT, WP, WT 10/3; MM, CSM 10/4)

Ratibah 'Abd al-Karim Jabra, 70, shot dead, and her friend, Rifah Mahmud Jasir, 52, wounded while picking figs outside of settlement of Ofra, near Ramallah. IDF says case's "background is criminal," but Mrs. Jasir reports 3 settlers fr. Ofra responsible. (NYT, WT 10/3)

Shaykh Amin Tarif, 95, spiritual leader of Druze community in Israel, dies. (WT 10/3)

Jerusalem police announce plans for special 120-man force to patrol Haram al-Sharif. New force is result of inquiry into 10/90 clash between Muslim worshippers and Israeli police at al-Aqsa mosque. (WT 10/11)

4 Palestinians sentenced to long prison terms for the murder of Israeli border guard Nissim Toledano. Killing sparked the 12/92 expulsion of 415 alleged Hamas and Islamic Jihad activists to Lebanon. (Qol Yisra'el 8/10 in FBIS 8/10)