The Palestine Chronology

Land Day, commemorating deaths of 6 Israeli Arabs in 1976 demonstrations against land confiscation, observed throughout Palestinian areas of Israel and in o.t. Israel's 800,000 Palestinian citizens observe general strike; observances dedicated to victims of Hebron massacre, 6 Fateh Hawks killed 3/28. Curfew imposed on Nablus, Tulkarm, Ramallah, Hebron, and 9 r.c.s. including Jabaliya. Largest demonstration held in Rahat in the Negev, where 22-yr.-old Bedouin killed by police 2/27. (MM 3/30, 3/31; NYT 3/31)

Jordan's King Hussein receives PLO envoy Hakam Bal'awi, bearing message fr. PLO Chmn. Arafat on coordinating policy on Jerusalem. (MM 3/31)

Jordanian delegate to multilateral talks on water sharing Munther Haddadin rejects Israeli proposals for "new Jordan River," saying "It is purely a unilateral project proposed by a group of academics financed by a German company. Jordan has nothing to do with it." (MM 3/31)(see 3/28)

IAF planes and IDF helicopters attack Hizballah targets in Iqlim al-Tuffah, Lebanon. (MM 3/30)

6 Fateh Hawks killed by 7 mbrs. of IDF undercover unit disguised as Palestinians while distributing leaflets after rally in Jabaliya r.c., Gaza Strip. At least 2 of the Hawks shot point-blank, according to witnesses. Jabaliya placed under curfew following incident. Fateh Gaza leadership calls for 3-day strike. PLO Chmn. Arafat calls emergency mtg. of leadership. (NYT, WP, WT 3/29)

Curfew imposed on Nablus and surrounding r.c.s. (MM 3/28)

Yediot Aharonot reports IMI, German companies Preusag, Kaiser, unnamed Jordanian company cooperating on 10-yr., $10 b. plan for digging "new" Jordan River to supply desalinated Mediterranean Sea water to Israel and Jordan. (WT 3/30)

King Hussein, speaking to ambassadors of permanent UNSC mbrs., conditions Jordanian return to Arab-Israeli peace talks on end to searches (part of international embargo on Iraq) of ships bound for Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba. (MM 3/28; NYT 3/29)

PLO-Israel draft agreement on deployment of international force in Hebron reached after 14-hr. session. (MM 3/25; NYT, WP, WT 3/26)

International donors conference in Cairo, including reps. of UN, EU, and World Bank, pledges support to Palestinian police. U.S. to provide 200 trucks, spare parts; Norway, uniforms; Japan, housing. (WP 3/26)

Curfew lifted in Hebron, but 2,000 soldiers sent in to protect settlers. Main mosques closed after arrest of settler for killing Palestinian in incident nr. Ashkelon. Palestinian shot in head and 2 others wounded by IDF during stone-throwing clashes in Gaza Strip. 3-day general strike begins in o.t. to mark 1 mo. since Hebron massacre. (NYT, WP, WT 3/26; MM 3/28)

Cmndr. of border police in Hebron tells Israeli commission of inquiry "it's forbidden to shoot" at settlers, even when they are firing on Palestinians. West Bank IDF cmndr. Maj. Gen. Shaul Mofaz denies testimony, saying order applies only to IDF-settler or Palestinian-settler clashes, not cases of murder. Witnesses also tell commission TV surveillance system malfunctioned on day of massacre. (MM 3/10; NYT, WP, WT 3/11)

Reuters reports 11-mbr. PLO commission also investigating Hebron massacre has interviewed 25 witnesses and is examining medical records, complaints against settlers. (WT 3/11)

Palestinians attack Beit Hadassah settler enclave in Hebron when curfew lifted. IDF responds with bullets and tear gas, wounding 16 Palestinians. 2 dozen others treated for tear-gas inhalation. In Gaza Strip, 15-yr.-old shot dead by IDF in Dayr al-Balah r.c. (MM 3/10; NYT, WP, WT 3/11)

Kahane Chai leader Binyamin Kahane sentenced to 9 mos. in prison, 9 mos. suspended for assaulting police in 1991. (MM 3/11)

French DM Francois Leotard and PM Rabin sign military technology research and development cooperation agreement. Accord, covering lasers, drones, and other hightech items, is 1st Franco-Israeli defense pact since 1967. (MM 3/11; MEI 4/15)

Israeli commission of inquiry into Hebron massacre opens hearings in Jerusalem. IDF Central Command head Maj. Gen. Dani Yatom, local cmndr. Maj. Dov Stellman testify. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/9)

Israeli police report 3/7 arrests of 2 Kach leaders. 2 other Kach figuresentenced previous week to 3 mos.' administrative detention, leaving only 1 of 5 targeted Kach figures at large. (WT 3/9)

IAF bombs southern Lebanon in retaliation for 3/7 attacks on SLA. (WT 3/9)

IDF shoots dead 2 mbrs. of Hamas's 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades at Erez checkpoint, Gaza Strip when 1 pulls a gun. (MM 3/8; WP, WT 3/9)

Curfew on Jericho lifted, but 4 West Bank towns remain under total curfew. (NYT, WT 3/9)

Jordan's King Hussein arrives in Jeddah for 'umra pilgrimage to Mecca in 1st visit to Saudi Arabia since 1990-91 Gulf crisis. (MM 3/8)

Protests against Hebron massacre continue throughout o.t. after curfew lifted. 17- yr.-old shot dead by IDF in Jericho; 2 Palestinians, 19 and 18, killed in Hebron, 13 Palestinians wounded by gunfire. Among those wounded in Jericho is frmr. negotiator Sa'eb Erakat. (MM 3/2; NYT, WP, WT 3/3)

IDF orders 18 settlers to stay out of specified Palestinian towns, surrender army-issued weapons. (NYT 3/3)

Russian Dep. FM Igor Ivanov arrives in Israel to discuss resumption of Arab-Israeli peace talks. Move marks resumption of activist role by Madrid conference co-sponsor. (CSM, NYT, WP 3/3)