The Palestine Chronology

PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli PM Rabin selected, along with South African leaders F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, as Time magazine's "Men of the Year." (WP, WT 12/26)

Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem attended by 20,000, largest attendance since start of intifada. In nearby Bayt Sahur, 1,000 Israelis and Palestinians hold torchlight parade for peace, call for release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. (WP 12/26)

PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli PM Rabin meet in Cairo but fail to reach agreement on Israeli withdrawal fr. Gaza and Jericho, due to begin 12/13. The 2 leaders agree to meet again in 10 days, and say delay does not endanger DoP or 4/13/94 deadline for end of withdrawal. (NYT, WP, WT 12/13)

Lebanese Pres. al-Hirawi meets Syrian Pres. al-Asad in Damascus to discuss Secy. of State Christopher'secent tour and coordinate positions for next round of talks with Israel. (RL, VOL, SARR 12/12 in FBIS 12/13; MM 12/13)

U.S. officials say Morocco and Israel have reached a package of agreements, including El Al flights to Morocco and Royal Air Maroc flights to Israel, direct Moroccan-Israel telephone and postalinks, exchanges of visits by religious and business leaders, joint banking arrangements, and more frequent direct political contacts. (NYT 12/13)

Morton Klein, an opponent of Israel-PLO accord, elected pres. of Zionist Organization of America by vote of 144-127, and his slate of 10 candidates elected to top ZOA posts. Observers call election "clear victory for opponents" of DoP. (MM 12/14; WJW 12/16)

Palestinian gunmen attack Israeli bus in Hebron, West Bank, seriously wounding its driver. (NYT, WT 12/13)

Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi publicly invites Sabri al-Banna ("Abu Nidal") and Ahmad Jibril of PFLP-GC for a conference in Tripoli. (WT 12/13)

Secy. of State Christopher meets PLO Chmn. Arafat at U.S. embassy in Amman. At press conference after 2-hr. mtg., Arafat appeals for U.S. pressure on Israel to meet 12/13 deadline for withdrawal fr. Jericho, Gaza. Christopher declines to get involved in Israel-PLO talks, but calls for "timely implementation" of DoP schedule and pledges "non-lethal assistance" to Palestinian police. Christopher also meets separately with Jordan's King Hussein. PM Rabin claims there is "a tacit understanding" with PLO that deadline not firm. FM Peres says he will meet Arafat 12/9 at UNESCO conference in Spain. (NYT, WP, WT 12/7)

PM Rabin calls Syrian agreemento allow U.S. investigators to search for missing IDF soldiers in Lebanon "an important step forward" and "a big window of hope for the families" of the Israeli MIAs. (NYT 12/7)

Israeli Finance M. Avraham Shohat and PLO official Ahmad Qurai' resume Paris talks on economic issues. (Qol Yisra'el 12/6 in FBIS 12/7)

Palestinian gunmen attack settler van in Qiryat Arba, Hebron, killing 2 and wounding 3. Hamas claims responsibility for attack. Settlers riot, attacking Palestinian homes and cars. (NYT, WP, WT 12/7)

IDF undercover unit kills Hamas mbr. 'Abd al-Rahman Aruri, 31, on his front porch in Arura, nr. Ramallah. (MM 12/7)

Time magazine reports that convicted spy Jonathan Pollard passed a National Security Agency listing of foreign intelligence frequencies to Israel that later was received by Soviets, ruining several b. dollars' work and compromising lives of U.S. informants. Justice Dept., security officials reportedly advising AG Janet Reno against a pardon for Pollard. (WT 12/6, 12/7; NYT 12/7)

Israel, Laos reestablish diplomatic relations in agreement signed in New York. (Qol Yisra'el 12/7 in FBIS 12/8)

IDF kills 1 Palestinian, wounds 80 in clashes in Gaza, worst violence since DoP signed 9/13. IDF cmdr. in Gaza Maj. Gen. Matan Vilnai meets 5 Fateh leaders to discuss cease-fire. Fateh sources say Vilnai agreed to end IDF searches for PLO militants, but IDF sources say only that Israel will reduce troop levels and ease some restrictions. Jacques Neriah, aide to PM Rabin, flies to Tunis for talks with PLO Chmn. Arafat. Arafat provides Neriah with i.d. tag of IDF soldier missing during 1982 war in Lebanon. (MM 11/30, 12/1; NYT, WP, WT 12/1)

Jordanian and Israeli officials meet in Washington for talks on economic cooperation. Working group also includes U.S., hosted by special coordinator Dennis Ross. (MM 11/30, 12/1)

VP Al Gore announces formation of "Builders for Peace," a task force to coordinate U.S. private investment in o.t. Group's co-presidents are James Zogby of Arab American Institute and frmr. U.S. Rep. Mel Levine. (WP 12/1)

U.S. and Russia introduce UNGA resolution drafted by Israel and PLO supporting DoP, Israel-Jordan common agenda. (MM 12/1)

U.S. Undersecy. of Defense Frank Wisner arrives in Jordan fr. Israel to discuss joint security cooperation. Tour also includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Gulf states. (MM 11/30)

CIA Director Adm. James Woolsey, appearing on CNN's "Larry King Live," acknowledges that "Israel is generally regarded as having some kind of nuclear capability" in 1st public U.S. recognition of Israeli nuclear weapons. (MM 12/1)

$7 m. wind turbine farm to supply electricity to Israel opened on Golan Heights. (MM 12/1)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, in Helsinki, says success of DoP depends on Israel meeting 12/13 deadline for withdrawal fr. Gaza, Jericho. Israeli PM Rabin responds that "It wouldn't be so terrible if the withdrawal were delayed by two weeks," while FM Peres, on 1st visit by an Israeli minister to Albania, says "we can still be on time." (MM, WT 11/29)

Palestinian negotiator Ziyad Abu Zayyad suspends his participation in talks with Israelis on confidence-building measures in protest of Israeli position on prisoner release. (MM 11/29)

IDF undercover unit in Gaza kills Fateh Hawks mbrs. Ahmad Abu al-Rish, 23, and Farid Imtair, 21, in gunfight. Al-Rish had been granted amnesty earlier in the week and taken off IDF wanted list. (MM, NYT 11/29)

Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan scuttles M V Peace, the base for his pirate "Voice of Peace" radio station, which ceased broadcasting 10/1. (MM 11/29)

Alleged Hamas mbr. Shadi Muslih 'Isa, 18, attacks Israeli police officer, civilian at Erez crossing point, Gaza Strip, and is shot dead. (MM 11/16)

16-yr.-old Palestinian student Rami Ghazzawi killed when IDF fires on youths stoning settler cars in al-Birah. 3 other students wounded. (MM 11/16)

Settlers in Hebron riot, overturning stalls at fruit and vegetable market and attacking Palestinian cars. (MM 11/16)

Israeli Justice M. David Libai, at Maale Ephraim settlement, warns settlers that no one could "take the law into his own hands," says govt. "will have to subdue any attempt to have influence by illegal means." IDF states it will act "firmly and aggressively" to stop settler assaults, will use "reasonable force." (MM 11/16; NYT 11/17)

PM Rabin tells Secy. of State Christopher 12/13 deadline for implementation of DoP may not be met. (MM 11/16, 11/17)

Israeli-Palestinian talks on implementation of Gaza-Jericho provisions of DoP resume in Cairo. Israeli delegation led by IDF Dep. Chief of Staff Amnon Shahak, Palestinian by PLO official Nabil Shaath. (Cairo TV 11/16 in FBIS 11/17)

Israel-PLO economic talks in Paris chaired by Fin. M. Avraham Shohat and PEDRA DG Ahmad Qurai' establish 3 subcomms. on trade and labor, taxation and banking, and currency. Subcomms. are to meet 11/23-25 in Paris, heads of delegations on 11/25. (Qol Yisra'el 11/16 in FBIS 11/17; MM 11/17)

Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) Gov. Muhammad al-Nabulsi says agreement reached with Palestinians to retain Jordanian dinar as o.t. currency, have CBJ supervise and monitor banking. (JTV 11/16 in FBIS 11/17)

Multilateral talks on Middle East environment end in Cairo with Israeli-Arab agreement on Gulf of Aqaba oil spills, dispute on Israeli nuclear waste, Jordan Valley land reclamation. Delegates fr. 40 countries, in 4th mtg., agree on 20 environmental projects. (MENA 11/16 in FBIS 11/17; MM 11/17)

Palestinian leaders in o.t., Jordan, "and elsewhere" submit memorandum to PLO Chmn. Arafat criticizing PLO performance, demanding reforms. (MM 11/17, al-Ray 11/18 in FBIS 11/18)

Knesset Golan caucus considers bill fr. Likud and NRP mbrs. to amend law annexing Golan to require majority of 80 MKs for any change in law. Labor mbrs. of caucus express sympathy with bill, which given current Knesset divisions would effectively bar negotiations with Syria. (MM 11/17)

Syrian VP Khaddam tells foreign correspondents PLO Chmn. Arafat "fell into a big trap" in signing DoP, notes "There are 4 million Palestinian refugees living outside the territories covered by the 'Gaza-Jericho First' agreement." Khaddam claims Arafat "abandoned coordination with the Arab parties," states "I believe the majority of the Palestinian people do not support the agreement." (MM 11/16; SARR 11/16 in FBIS 11/17)

Hizballah offensive on IDF and SLA; Katyusha barrages fired in "security zone," assaults on 2 IDF, 6 SLA posts. 12 SLA mbrs. taken prisoner, at least 2 IDF soldiers and 2 SLA mbrs. wounded. 1 Hizballah mbr. killed in attack. IAF bombs 3 Hizballah bases nr. Ba'labakk, knocks out radio antenna. "Black September 13 Brigades," Fateh group opposed to DoP, claims responsibility for katyusha barrage on Qiryat Shemona. (MM 11/16, 11/17; IDF Radio, AFP 11/16 in FBIS 11/17)

Turkish FM Hikmet Cetin, in interview with JP, says Syria behind Kurdish attacks in Turkey, Israel and Turkey should cooperate on counter-terrorism. (MM 11/16)

Israel Archaeologists Society calls for end to govt. Antiquities Authority search for scrolls in West Bank ("Operation Scroll"), saying search aims at denying Palestinian scholars access to materials and will complicate future Israeli cooperation with Palestinians and Jordan. (WT 11/17)

IDF announces that 5 Palestinians arrested for 10/29 killing of settler Haim Mizrachi admitted to being mbrs. of Fateh not Hamas-but were not acting under Fateh orders; Israeli PM Rabin and U.S. Pres. Clinton, at Washington press conference, demand PLO Chmn. Arafat condemn the killing. Clinton also pledges to maintain level of U.S. aid to Israel, offers $250 m. in loan guarantees for implementation of 9/13 accord, considers allowing Israel to purchase U.S. supercomputers and F-15 fighter jets. (NYT, WP 11/13)

Revolutionary Council of Fateh meets in Tunis to discuss peace process, economic conditions, and 'Adnan Yasin spy scandal. Chmn. Arafat chairs meeting. (MENA 11/12 in FBIS 11/15)

2 Israelis wounded in stabbing attacks in Jerusalem, Gaza; 1 Palestinian killed, 2d wounded in clashes with IDF. (NYT 11/13)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, in Brussels, accuses Syria of "giving a free hand to the [Palestinian] opposition . . . fanatical groups and all extremists." (MM 11/9)

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meeting in Cairo release statement saying progress being made on Israeli withdrawal agreement, talks to resume next week. (WP 11/10)

Gaza Strip settlers block main road to Israel to prevent Palestinians fr. going to work, burn tires until dispersed by IDF. (WP 11/10)

Israeli Arab Sulayman al-Hawashla killed by presumed Muslin militants when his car rammed by hijacked garbage truck in Gaza City. (NYT, WP 11/10)

PLO official in Lebanon Zaid Wahba, personal envoy of Chmn. Arafat, shot and wounded by unknown assailant in Sidon. (CSM, WT 11/10)

Israeli PM Rabin meets with West Bank settlers, sets up joint settler-govt. comm. to address settlers' security concerns. Knesset defeats motions of no confidence in Rabin govt. by vote of 57-46, Shas party abstaining. (MM 11/9; NYT 11/10)

U.S. Trade Rep. Mickey Kantor announces International Trade Commission will investigate costs to U.S. business of Arab boycott of Israel. (MM 11/9)

PLO Chmn Arafat tells Arab League FMs meeting in Cairo that "the agreement we have reached is nothing but a first step," acknowledges "there can be no final settlement without a solution on all the Arab tracks." (NYT 9/20)

Israeli PM Rabin and Egyptian Pres. Mubarak meet in Alexandria to discuss implementation of PLO-Israel DoP. Rabin complains of Syrian support for Palestinian opposition factions, while Mubarak states, "I think Syria wants peace, genuinely wants to solve the problem and I have heard this fr. President Asad several times." (NYT 9/19, 9/20; MM 9/20; WP 9/23)

UNESCO awards annual Felix Houphouet-Boigny peace prize to Israeli PM Rabin, FM Peres, and PLO Chmn. Arafat for PLO-Israel accord. Panel awarding the $143,000 prize is headed by former Secy. of State Henry Kissinger. (MM 9/17; WT 9/22)

Hamas leads Gaza protest against PLO-Israel accord as Hamas delegation travels to Damascus seeking support for its position. Hamas spokesman in Jordan Muhammad Nazzal denies truce with PLO, vows continued opposition to pact. (NYT, WT 9/18)

Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles (DoP), mandating establishment of Palestinian self-governing authority in Gaza Strip and Jericho and governing Palestinian-Israeli relations during 5-year interim period, signed at White House ceremony by Israeli FM Peres and PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud 'Abbas (Abu Mazen). Document is witnessed by U.S. Secy. of State Christopher, Russian FM Andrei Kozyrev. 3,000 guests attend ceremony, marked by speeches by Peres, 'Abbas, Christopher, Kozyrev, U.S. Pres. Clinton, Israeli PM Rabin, and PLO Chmn. Arafat. Handshake between Arafat and Rabin symbolically concludes pact. (NYT, WP, WT 9/14)

Polls show 62% of Israeli Jews, 65% of Palestinians in o.t. support Gaza-Jericho accord. (MM 9/13; CSM 9/14)

Beirut demonstration against PLO-Israel accord by opposition Palestinians and Hizballah. Lebanese troops fire into crowd; at least 6 demonstrators killed, 35 wounded. (NYT 9/14)

Iraqi Undersecy. of Info. Nuri al-Marsumi criticizes DoP, accusing Palestinian negotiators of acting "unilaterally" and predicting agreement "will open the door to in-fighting btwn. the Palestinians themselves." (MM 9/13)

Israeli PM Rabin formally signs letter recognizing PLO as "the representative of the Palestinian people" 10 hours after PLO Chmn. Arafat signs letters of recognition. (NYT 9/11)

U.S. Pres. Clinton lifts ban on U.S. contacts with PLO, saying PLO commitments to Israel "justify aresumption of our dialogue." Move paves way for PLO Chmn. Arafat to attend signing ceremony 9/13. (WP 9/11)

Fateh supporters hold march in Gaza in support of PLO-Israel agreement attended by thousands, with similar march held in East Jerusalem organized by PLO. Hamas leads counter-demonstrations in Gaza City and Rafah. 3 Hamas supporters wounded in clashes with IDF. (NYT 9/11)

PFLP and DFLP (Hawatmah) withdraw reps. fr. PLO Exec. Comm. to protest PLO-Israel agreement. Withdrawal coincides with resignation of PLO rep. in Lebanon Shafiq al-Hut and denunciation of accord by 10 Palestinian opposition factions. (RMC 9/10 in FBIS 9/10; WP 9/11)

Lebanese FM Buwayz rejects working paper submitted to Lebanon by Israel. (RL 9/10 in FBIS 9/13)

PLO Exec. Comm. approves recognition of Israel by 8-4 vote; 10-mbr. Israeli "inner cabinet" unanimously approves recognition of PLO. (WT 9/10)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, in letter to Israel PM Rabin, recognizes "the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security," renounces "the use of terrorism and other acts of violence." Parallel letter to Norwegian FM calls for "normalization of life" in the o.t. (NYT 9/10)

PFLP-GC head Ahmad Jibril rewterates threat to Arafat's life, saying "I personally will not have to kill him.... When Arafat is killed, the accord will fade away." (AFP 9/9 in FBIS 9/9; WP 9/10)

181 Palestinians expelled 12/92 by Israel to Lebanon cross border at Metulla, detained for questioning and medical exams prior to repatriation. (CSM, NYT, WT 9/10)

PLO Chmn. Arafat convenes PLO Exec. Comm. to approve recognition of Israel, "Gaza-Jericho lst" agreement; Israeli and Palestinian negotiators continue meetings in Paris to complete details of accord. (WP 9/9)

Israeli police use water cannon to disperse 1500 anti-accord demonstrators outside PM Rabin's Jerusalem residence. (WP 9/9)

Israeli Housing Min. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer says Israel plans new road network to link Haifa and Ashdod with Amman, Beirut, and Damascus as part of overall peace agreement. (MM 9/8)

Poll of Palestinian refugees in Jordan shows 60% oppose DoP. (al-Bilad 9/8 in FBIS 9/10)

Pres. Mubarak meets with, receives list of demands from Chmn. Arafat, Faisal Husseini in Cairo. Meeting with PM Rabin 4/14, Mubarak hopes to shore up gaps between Israel and Palestinians as 4/20 date for talks nears. (NYT 4/14, 4/15)

Hizballah roadside bomb kills 3 IDF soldiers on northern edge of "security zone"-heaviest IDF casualties in Lebanon since 10/25/92. Israel unleashes up to 200 shells on villages north of zone. (VOL 4/13 in FBIS 4/13; IDF Radio 4/13 in FBIS 4/14; MM 4/13, 4/14)

Egyptian pol. advisor 'Usama al-Baz meets with PM Rabin, delivers message from Pres. Mubarak with proposal for Mubarak-Rabin summit. Message also reiterates Egyptian plan for deportees acceptable to Chmn. Arafat. (MENA, Qol Yisra'el 2/28, HaAretz 3/1 in FBIS 3/1)

Palestinian economist Ibrahim Matar says CIVAD budget publicized 2/27 should be 3 times bigger, and ignores many taxes o.t. Palestinians pay to the Israeli treasury. (MM 3/1)

PM Rabin tells Conf. of Presidents of Major American Jewish Orgs. that Israel will "try [its] best" not to give up the entire Golan Heights. (MM 3/1)

Israel arrests 4th Palestinian-American on charges of aiding Islamic groups. (Yedi'ot Aharonot 3/7 in FBIS 3/8; NYT, WT 3/8)

Israel successfully tests Arrow anti-missile system, 80% of which is financed by the U.S. (MM 3/1)

PM Rabin declines Chmn. Arafat's 1/21 invitation to a meeting, adding that "the PLO in Tunis is not a party to the negotiations." (NYT, WT 1/23)

IDF shoots, wounds up to 40 during protests in the Gaza Strip. (WT 1/23; Qol Yisra'el 1/22 in FBIS 1/26)

Higher Council of Islamic Affairs ends 3- day conf. in Cairo, issues statement condemning Islamic violence as well as the tendency in the West to stigmatize Islam as a violent religion, and calling for equal enforcement of UN resolutions. (MM 1/22)