The Palestine Chronology

U.S. Secy of State Christopher meets with PM Peres in Israel. (MM 2/5; IDF Radio, ITV 2/5 in FBIS 2/6; NYT, WP, WT 2/6)

As the likelihood of PM Peres calling an early election rises, Tsomet leader Rafael Eitan agrees to abandon his run for PM, endorses Netanyahu in exchange for no. 2 spot on Likud's ticket (usually considered a promise of the DM position if the slate wins). (MM 2/5; ITV 2/5 in FBIS 2/6; CSM, MM, WT 2/6; JP 2/6 in FBIS 2/7; MM 2/7, 2/8)

Israeli naval forces release 3 Lebanese fishermen detained 2/4, fire on other fishing boats off coast of s. Lebanon. (RL 2/5 in FBIS 2/6)

Arafat appoints comm. to draw up Palestinian constitution.  (al-Quds 2/4 in FBIS 2/5)

U.S. Secy. of State Christopher arrives in Jerusalem on his 17th tour of the region and his 2d shuttle btwn. Syria, Israel this yr. to bridge gaps btwn. the pair following their latest round of talks. (QY, SARR, YA 2/4, SARR 2/5 in FBIS 2/5)

In Jordan, King Hussein replaces PM Bin Shakir with FM Kabariti, who is fully supportive of the king's normalization with Israel; reshuffles cabinet, excluding the Islamic Action Front. (JT, JTV, RJ 2/4 in FBIS 2/5; MM, WT 2/5; RJ 2/5 in FBIS 2/6; CSM 2/6)

1,000's of Islamic Jihad supporters attend funeral of 2 mbrs. killed by PA police 2/3, call for revenge against Arafat. (MM 2/5)

Nr. Nablus, Palestinian boy is shot on his way to school allegedly by IDF. (CSM, WP, WT 2/5)

Israeli naval forces detain 3 Lebanese fishermen off the coast of Tyre, s. Lebanon; stop, search ship arriving fr. Europe. (RL 2/4 in FBIS 2/6) (see 11/19)