The Palestine Chronology

IDF eases closure to permit Palestinians to return to their jobs in West Bank Jewish settlements; allows ambulances to transport medial emergencies fr. West Bank, Gaza into Israel, but they must undergo inspections at crossing points. (QY 3/24 in FBIS 3/25; MEI 3/29)

Israeli Dep. FM Eli Dayan says the U.S. has pledged to urge Morocco's King Hassan to visit Israel shortly, denies such a visit aims to bolster Labor before the election. (JP 3/25 in FBIS 3/25)

PM Peres officially announces that Maj. Gen. Yatom has been appointed as the new Mossad head. (QY 3/24 in FBIS 3/25) (see 3/19)

IDF builds up forces, tightens security checkpoints in s. Lebanon. (RL 3/24 in FBIS 3/25)

Iraq holds its first parliamentary elections since the Gulf War. (CSM 3/25)

In Gaza, National Islamic Salvation Party (NISP) leaders hold "get-acquainted" mtg. with Arafat. PA police detain NISP dep. head Fu'ad Nahal on his way home fr. the mtg., question him for 20 hrs. on alleged fund-raising for Hamas. (QY 3/23, AFP 3/24 in FBIS 3/25; WT 3/24; PR 3/29) (see 11/18/95)

Arafat says that since the recent wave of bombings the PA has detained 900 Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs., incl. 35 of 37 wanted by Israel. (QY 3/22 in FBIS 3/22)

In al-Fawwar refugee camp in the West Bank, IDF blows up the family home of the Palestinian who carried out the 2/25 Jerusalem bombing. IDF also blows up home in s. Lebanon where a Hizballah suicide bomber hid. (AFP, QY 3/22 in FBIS 3/22; ITV 3/22 in FBIS 3/25; WT 3/23)

Police in Spain capture escaped Achille Lauro hijacker Molqi in Seville. U.S., Italy both seek his extradition. (NYT, WP, WT 3/23) (see 3/13)

Israel allows more Palestinian workers to resume their jobs in the Erez industrial zone; permits 30 doctors to leave West Bank, Gaza for their jobs in East Jerusalem hospitals. (QY 3/21 in FBIS 3/21)

In Abu-Dis, the IDF bulldozes the home of Palestinian involved in attacks on Israelis in 10/94 and 12/94. Nr. Nablus, IDF demolishes home of 3d Palestinian connected with 8/21/95 bus bombing. (QY 3/21 in FBIS 3/21; CSM 3/22) (see 3/20)

IDF bans entry to Gaza of vaccines, other medicines through Hanun checkpoint. (PBC 3/21 in FBIS 3/21)

PA police arrest several Hamas mbrs. during a raid aimed at arresting Muhammad Daif, the new head of the Qassam Brigades following the assassination of Yahya Ayyash. (CSM 3/22)

Influential Lebanese Shi`ite figure Riyad `Abdallah announces formation of the Movement of Democratic Reformers, the Foundation Movement. Party will be based in s. Lebanon, have the objective of making "peace with Syria and Israel on the grounds of geographical continuity." Hizballah accuses `Abdallah of being an SLA agent. (AFP, MBC 3/21 in FBIS 3/22)

World Bank bars U.S. fr. bidding on $2.1 b. in International Development Association contracts after the U.S. falls $934 m. behind in meeting its pledges. (WT 3/22)

Hizballah Sec. Gen. Hassan Nasrallah says that since the beginning of the yr., Israeli shelling in Lebanon has left 2 civilians dead, 24 wounded, 92 homes and buildings (incl. a church and hospital) damaged. (MM 3/21)

In al-Fawwar refugee camp, the IDF blows up the homes of the 2/25 Jerusalem and Ashkelon suicide bombers, homes of 2 Palestinians suspected of involvement in 8/21/95 bus bombing. (MM 3/20; QY 3/20 in FBIS 3/20; QY 3/20, 3/21 in FBIS 3/21; CSM 3/21)

In s. Lebanon, a Hizballah suicide bomber kills 1 IDF soldier, 1 SLA soldier, wounds 1 Israeli civilian [as reported], 7 IDF soldiers. IDF shells areas n., s. of the self-declared security zone, injuring 1 farmer. (MM 3/20; QY, RL, VOL 3/20, RL 3/21 in FBIS 3/21; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/21)

PM Peres, FM Barak hold late-night mtg. on s. Lebanon, how to handle escalating attacks. PM Peres then briefs U.S. Amb. Indyk. Following that mtg., the U.S. relays sharp message to Syria, demanding it curb Hizballah. (IDF Radio, MA, QY 3/21 in FBIS 3/21; ITV 3/22 in FBIS 3/25)

Iraqi war hero Lt. Gen. Nizar Khazraji, fmr. army chief of staff, defects to Jordan by escaping through the Kurdish enclave in n. Iraq. (MM 3/20; WT 3/21; JP 3/21, al-Ra'i 3/22 in FBIS 3/22; NYT, WP 3/22; JT 3/23, JT, al-Ra'i 3/24 in FBIS 3/25; MM 3/25; JT 4/4 in FBIS 4/5)

IDF removes all military roadblocks on the exits of Palestinian cities, villages; says closure on al-Fawwar will be reimposed at 6 p.m. (VOP 3/18, QY 3/19 in FBIS 3/19)

Israel's High Court rules that the IDF can demolish the homes of Palestinians suspected of involvement in the recent suicide bombings. PM Peres says his government is preparing a list of those Islamists who may be deported; families of those listed will not be deported. (MM 3/19; CSM, MM 3/20) (see 3/4-5)

Challenging Israeli censorship laws, the daily paper Ha'Aretz publishes the name of the new Mossad chief Maj. Gen. Danny Yatom. (NYT, WT 3/19; QY 3/19 in FBIS 3/19; CSM 3/20; MM 3/22) (see 1/10)

U.S. Amb. to Israel Martin Indyk relays to PM Peres a message fr. Pres. Clinton urging Israel to avoid a military operation against Hizballah in s. Lebanon. (ITV 3/19, RL 3/20 in FBIS 3/20; QY 3/22 in FBIS 3/22)

Israeli FM Barak says that the IDF will respond to increasing tensions in s. Lebanon by carrying out more operations, "even beyond the security zone"; warns that Israel may be forced "to act in a way that also harms the interests of the Lebanese government." Since 2/16, Hizballah attacks on IDF, SLA position have caused an unusually high number of deaths, injuries. (MA 3/19 in FBIS 3/19; ITV 3/20 in FBIS 3/21)

In Amman, Jordanian Information M Marwan Mu`asher received a U.S. Jewish delegation fr. B'nai B'rith. (RJ 3/19 in FBIS 3/20)

IDF blows up the home of Yahya Ayyash's family in Rafat, West Bank. Israeli officials say the use of explosives rather than bulldozers to demolish the home is meant as a statement to would-be bombers. (QY 3/14 in FBIS 3/15; NYT, WP, WT 3/15; MM 3/20)

In the West Bank, Palestinian infant dies when IDF refuses to allow parents to pass a checkpoint to get to a hospital. (WP 3/15, 3/25; MEI 3/29)

Lebanon's chief Shi'ite leaders call a nationwide strike to protest Israel's occupation of s. Lebanon. Most schools, stores, businesses, government offices close. Hizballah attacks IDF patrol, wounding 8 soldiers. (MM, WT 3/15; VOL 3/15 in FBIS 3/18)

1-day Antiterrorism summit is held in Sharm al-Shaykh. (CSM, MM, WP 3/13; MENA, RE, RJ, SARR 3/13 in FBIS 3/13; ITV, MENA, PBC, SARR 3/13, HA 3/14 in FBIS 3/14; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/14; MEI, MM 3/15; MM 3/18; WJW 3/21; VOA 3/21 in FBIS 3/21; UNRWA News 3/27; MEI 3/29)

Israel opens some official channels with the PA; agrees to increase the number of trucks transporting foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals into the West Bank, Gaza to 75/day from 35/day; partially lifts wk.-long naval blockade on Gaza, allowing fishermen to operate within 4 mi. of the coast. (MM 3/13; CSM, NYT 3/15; WT 3/16)

In Beirut, Lebanon, an appeals court frees 2 fmr. PFLP mbrs. convicted of 1976 kidnapping, killing if U.S. Amb. Francis Meloy his economic counselor, and his driver. Judges rule that killings were covered under the 1990 amnesty for political crimes. U.S. denounces verdict. (NYT, WP 3/14; al-Nahar 3/14, MENA, VOL 3/18, RL 3/19 in FBIS 3/19; WP, WT 3/19; RL 3/19, 3/20 in FBIS 3/20; MM 3/20, 3/22)

U.S. offers $2-m. reward for the capture of escaped Abu-Abbas hijacker Molqi. (WT 3/14) (see 2/26)

To protest the antiterrorism summit in Sharm al-Shaykh, Hizballah attacks several IDF, SLA posts in s. Lebanon, loosing 2 cadres, inflicting no casualties. (MM 3/13; WT 3/15)

PA arrests 3 senior Hamas mbrs., incl. 1 of Israel's most wanted--`Abd al-Fatah Sutari, dep. cmdr. of the Qassam Brigades. The PA has now arrested 8 of the 13 Hamas mbrs. on Shahak's 2/27 list. (QY 3/10 in FBIS 3/11; NYT, WP, WT 3/11)

Israel places the Israeli Arab mayor Aghbariyya, under house arrest. (WP 3/11) (see 3/7)

In Jerusalem, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani publicly questions Arafat's credibility as Israel's negotiating partner just as PM Peres, across town, praises Arafat for his efforts to round up Hamas activists. Giuliani is on a 2-day visit to show New York's support for Israel in the wake of the bombings. (NYT 3/11, 3/14; WJW 3/21)

Hizballah stages a series of attacks on IDF positions in s. Lebanon, killing 1 solider, wounding 4. (ITV, VOL 3/10 in FBIS 3/11; MM, NYT, WT 3/11)

German FM Kinkel meets with Arafat in Gaza. On his return to Israel, IDF soldiers at Erez checkpoint demand to search his car to ascertain that no "extremist elements" are "using" his entourage to carry out attacks inside Israel, delay car for half hr. before letting it pass unchecked. Kinkel protests to the Israeli FMin. Israeli officials complain the diplomats "failed to show understanding for Israel's security problems." (QY 3/9 in FBIS 3/11)

PA security forces expand crackdown on Hamas, raiding Islamic organization, clubs, welfare organizations; confiscating equipment; detaining anyone on hand. PA says it has arrested over 600 individuals in Gaza alone over the last wk. (NYT 3/10)

Hamas spokesman in Lebanon says Qassam Brigades will not disarm or halt attacks on Israel. (AFP 3/9 in FBIS 3/11) (see 3/5)

In Qalqilya, IDF delays ambulance at checkpoint for 1 hr., allowing Palestinian infant to die. IDF officials say officer in charge will be tried. (NYT 3/14)

Hizballah attacks IDF, SLA positions in s. Lebanon, killing 1 IDF soldier, 1 SLA soldier; wounding 2 IDF soldiers. IDF, SLA fire back, killing 2 Hizballah mbrs. (NYT 3/11)

PLO's Faruq Qaddumi arrives in Beirut fr. Damascus, meets with Lebanese FM Buwayz, announces he is making a tour of Arab states (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria) to gain support for a "council to look after Palestinian refugees abroad." (al-Hayat, al-Nahar 3/9 in FBIS 3/12; al-Nahar 3/31 in FBIS 4/3)

Lebanon puts its forces on alert, fearing either Israel will deport Palestinians to its territory or attack s. Lebanon. Israeli puts its forces in s. Lebanon on alert, fearing a Hizballah attack as a demonstration of support for recent bombings. (IDF Radio, RL 3/8 in FBIS 3/8; RL, VOL 3/10 in FBIS 3/11) (see 3/5, 3/7)

PA amb. to Ankara Fu'ad Yasin says 8 Palestinians have disappeared in Turkey, apparently for political reasons, since the recent bombings in Israel; says the PA is following the issue closely with Turkish officials. (MENA 3/8 in FBIS 3/8)

To prevent suspects connected to recent bombings fr. fleeing by sea, Israel bans all fishing off the Gaza coast. PA condemns the action as collective punishment, violation of Oslo accords. (IDF Radio 3/8 in FBIS 3/8; NYT 3/9; WT 3/11)

In Burqa, West Bank, IDF blows up house rented by family of the 3/3 bomber. In Jerusalem, the IDF serves the Conference of Sciences and Islamic Education offices in n. Jerusalem with closure, partial confiscation orders, saying offices are used as a Hamas base. (VOP 3/8 in FBIS 3/11; WT 3/9; MM 3/20)

PA police detain Hamas spokesman Zahhar in Gaza City. (AFP 3/8 in FBIS 3/11)

PSF West Bank head Col. Jibril Rajub is forced to resign after refusing to carry out Arafat's orders to arrest Hamas leaders. Hussayn Shaykh, current head of Ramallah security, is appointed to replace him. (ITV, QY, RMC 3/9, HA 3/11 in FBIS 3/11; WT 3/10; QY 3/10 in FBIS 3/12)

In Gaza, the Palestinian Council (PC) meets for the 1st time to swear in its mbrs. (MM 3/7; QY, VOP 3/7 in FBIS 3/7; PBC 3/7 in FBIS 3/8; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/8; MEI 3/15)

Lebanon closes all the crossing points into the Israeli self-declared security zone in s. Lebanon to prevent entry of any Palestinians who might be deported by Israel in connection with the recent bombings. (VOL 3/7 in FBIS 3/7)

Israeli FM Ehud Barak warns Arafat that if he does not crack down on Islamists in Gaza soon, Israel will send troops into Gaza. (WT 3/9)

Israeli police detain Sulayman Ahmad Aghbariyya, an Israeli-Arab who is deputy mayor of Umm al-Fahm and head of the charity organization the Islamic Salvation Committee, on suspicion of transferring over $3 m. fr. abroad to relatives of Hamas mbrs. (QY 3/7 in FBIS 3/7) (see 3/6)

Hamas issues a leaflet dissociating itself fr. the 3/5 Qassam Brigades leaflet announcing it will disarm, fr. all Yahya Ayyash Units leaflets; calls them an attempt by Israel to undermine the movement. (JMCC 3/7 in FBIS 3/7)

Islamic Jihad takes responsibility for 3/4 Tel Aviv bombing. (VOL 3/7 in FBIS 3/8) (see 3/6)

The Pentagon announces that U.S. warplanes will be stationed temporarily in Jordan next mo. to carry out surveillance flights over s. Iraq. It will be the 1st time Jordan has allowed U.S. warplanes to use its territory to overfly Iraq. (RJ 3/8, RMC 3/9, JT 3/10 in FBIS 3/11; WT 3/11; NYT 4/9; MM 3/15; JT 4/9 in FBIS 4/9)

In a pre-dawn raid, IDF declares al-Fawwar refugee camp nr. Hebron a closed military zone, rounds up 1,000 men 16-64 yrs. old, arrests 30, seals homes of 2 suicide bombers. IDF also raids the Islamic College in Abu-Dis, arrests 14 students; arrests 10s of Palestinians in Hebron, Ramallah and holds them for questioning by Shin Bet. (MM 3/4, QY 3/4 in FBIS 3/4; IDF Radio, QY 3/4, QY 3/5 in FBIS 3/5; MM, NYT, WP 3/5)

Suicide bomber sets off explosion in Tel Aviv shopping district, killing 15, wounding 126. Bomber is identified as a man fr. Ramallah. A caller claiming to be fr. Hamas says Islamic Jihad is responsible. PM Peres vows to send IDF into self-rule areas to root out Hamas. U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton says he will allow the FBI, CIA to assist Peres in an antiterror campaign. (MM 3/4; IDF Radio, ITV, QPAR, VOP 3/4 in FBIS 3/4; QY 3/4 in FBIS 3/5; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/5; WJW 3/7; PR 3/8 MEI 3/15)

After an emergency cabinet session, PM Peres announces formation of a special antiterror war headquarters which is authorized to "act everywhere, using all means, without any limitation on regions," incl. house demolitions, deportations, entry of IDF forces into zone B. (QY 3/4, MA 3/5 in FBIS 3/5)

Israel recalls its negotiating team fr. Washington. (IDF Radio, SARR 3/4 in FBIS 3/5; NYT 3/5; MM 3/5; IDF Radio 3/6 in FBIS 3/6; SATN 3/6 in FBIS 3/7) (see 3/3)

Hamas political leaders, Mahmud Zahhar, Muhammad Sham'ah hold a news conference; deny political wing is responsible for recent bombings; call on Qassam Brigades, Yahya Ayyash Units to halt all military actions. PA says it believes both 2/27 leaflets fr. Qassam Brigades are real; think the one denying responsibility came fr. cadres inside West Bank, Gaza and the one claiming responsibility came from cadres abroad. (MM 3/5; Der Spiegel, ITV 3/5 in FBIS 3/5; VOP 3/5 in FBIS 3/6; PR 3/8)

In Gaza City, Fatah rallies 1,000s of supporters, some carrying signs in Hebrew reading "yes to peace, no to violence" and "terrorism is our enemy," to protest against recent bombings. (MM 3/4; QY, VOP 3/4 in FBIS 3/4; QY 3/4 in FBIS 3/5; WP, WT 3/5)

In Tel Aviv, over 1,000 Israelis hold violent protest outside the DMin. to denounce the Oslo agmts.; 100 rally outside PM Peres's home; some 200 protest at the site of the Tel Aviv bombing; 100 rally in Jerusalem. Israeli police detain 10s for questioning. (HA 3/5 in FBIS 3/5)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah mbrs. ambush an IDF convoy, killing 4 IDF soldiers, wounding 9. In 1st attack, IDF shoots back, killing 2 Hizballah mbrs. In a separate incident, a little-known Palestinian group, Islamic Revolutionary Army, ambushes a 2d convoy, wounding 1 IDF soldier. Peres sends 100s of troops fr. n. Israel into s. Lebanon to reinforce the border. (MM 3/5; VOP 3/5 in FBIS 3/5; IDF Radio 3/5 in FBIS 3/6; WT 3/6; MM 3/7)