The Palestine Chronology

Israeli Infrastructures M Sharon takes Netanyahu, 7 cabinet mbrs. on a tour of the West Bank to underscore need for Israel to retain security zones after FRD. (IDF Radio 12/28, al-Quds 1/29 in WNC 1/1; WT 12/29; JP 1/10) (see 12/23)

Saying that Pollard "has paid a heavier price than any other person convicted of a similar crime" in the U.S., PM Netanyahu orders the formation of a special ministerial team (PM, DM, FM, atty. gen., MKs Limor Livnat and Yuli Edelstein) to lobby for Pollard's release. (YA 12/29 in WNC 1/1; JP 1/3) (see 12/14)

Azerbaijan announces support for plan, backed by U.S., to transport Caspian oil, gas through Turkey. Meanwhile, Iran, Turkey, Turkmenistan sign agmt. opposed by U.S. to construct gas pipeline fr. Turkmenistan, through Iran and Turkey, to Europe. (Interfax [Moscow], IRNA, ITAR-TASS 12/28 in WNC 1/1) (see 11/19)

Netanyahu discusses FRD informally with ministerial team. Cabinet puts off for at least 1 wk. discussion of extent, timing of FRD. (ITV 12/7 in WNC 12/9; WP, WT 12/8)

In Cairo, Arafat briefs Pres. Mubarak on his mtg. (12/6) with Secy. of State Albright. (MENA 12/7 in WNC 12/9)

In Tehran, 2-day mtg. of the FMs of the 55 Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) states to prepare the agenda of the upcoming OIC session closes. FMs agree on draft resolution calling for halt to normalization with Israel (including closing interest offices, halting military cooperation) to punish it for "reinstating an atmosphere of war." FMs attending include Egypt's Musa, Syria's Shara`, Lebanon's Buwayz. (IRNA, ITV 12/7 in WNC 12/9; WT 12/8)

Under pressure fr. the public, Histadrut calls an end to its 5-day-old strike. (MM 12/8, 12/23) (see 12/3)

UN Comm. Against Torture discusses Israeli torture of Palestinian detainees. (WT 11/12)

Vatican signs agmt. with Israel, defining church's legal status in holy land for 1st time in 500 yrs. (WP, WT 11/11; WJW 11/13)

At the Likud convention, PM Netanyahu is booed, jeered off the stage by his own central comm. mbrs. when he attempts to give his speech as party head. (WT 11/12)

In Damascus, Iran, Syria discuss expanding economic cooperation, review draft agmt. on boosting bilateral trade. (IRNA 11/10 in WNC 11/12)

100s of Palestinians in West Bank, Gaza rally in support of Iraq in its current conflict with the U.S. (WP 11/11) (see 11/2)

Iraq, Jordan sign agricultural cooperation accord. (IRNA 11/2 in WNC 11/4; RJ 11/3 in WNC 11/6)

Iraq again forbids entry to 2 American UNSCOM mbrs. U.S. says it has not ruled out a military response. Kuwait, other Arab states say that U.S. military action would be unacceptable. (CSM 11/3) (see 10/30)

Russian FM Primakov begins 2-day visit to Syria, meets with Pres. Asad, FM Shara`. (ITAR-TASS [Moscow], SANA 10/25, SANA 10/26; Interfax [Moscow] 10/27 in WNC 10/29)

Jordan, PA hold talks on water, Jordan Valley development. (RJ 10/25 in WNC 10/29; MM 10/27) (see 10/20)

Lebanese PM Hariri arrives in Iran for 4 days of talks on expaning economic, political ties. (RL 10/25 in WNC 10/29; IRNA 10/25, 10/28 in WNC 10/29; MM 10/27; SA 10/29 in WNC 10/30)

In Bethlehem, Israeli police clash with Palestinians demonstrating in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, injuring 11. Israel currently is holding some 3,000 political prisoners, a third of whom have never been tried. (WT 10/26)

U.S. Defense Secy. William Cohen receives official Israeli delegation. (NYT 10/10)

In Damascus, Iran, Syria hold talks on agricultural, research cooperation. (IRNA 10/9 in WNC 10/14)

In Halhul, IDF arrests 10s of Palestinians after clash, which began when IDF troops demolished 10s of "illegal" vegetable stands along the main roads. (PR 10/17)

 U.S. Amb. to Tel Aviv Martin Indyk is confirmed as asst. secy. of state for Near Eastern affairs. He will be replaced by Amb. to Cairo Edward Walker Jr., who will be replaced by Daniel Kurtzer. (Near East Report 10/20)

Results of the vote by American Jews for U.S. delegates to the World Zionist Congress are released: Reform and Conservative slate pulls 72.7%, Orthodox 10.8%, Labor 3.4%, Likud 1.9%. (NYT 10/10)

In Tel Aviv, Jordan, Israel hold talks on Jordan Valley development, water desalination project, protecting Jordan River fr. salt water pollution. (JT, JTV 8/26 in WNC 8/27; al-Dustur 8/27 in WNC 8/28; JT 8/28 in WNC 8/29)

More than 500 Jewish leaders, scholars fr. around the world gather in Basel, Switzerland, for 3-day commeoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1st Zionist Congress that launched the drive to create a Jewish homeland. The congress convened 22 times btwn. 1897  and 12/46. (WT 8/27; NYT 8/29; MM 9/2; WJW 9/4; JP 9/6)

Arafat says that he has resumed security cooperation with Israel to an extent that would permit U.S. Secy. of State Albright to visit the region next mo. Israel says the PA has not done enough, is enouraging demonstrations against the closure. (NYT 8/27)

In Bethlehem, Palestinians protest continued internal closure, clash with IDF troops at checkpoints leading out of town. PA police stand by but do not intervene. An elementary school is evacuated, 10s of girls are taken to the hospital when 7 IDF teargas canisters land in the schoolyard. (Interfax [Moscow] 8/26 in WNC 8/27; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/27; PR 8/29)

Israel releases 1 of the PA policemen arrested 7/15 on suspicion of plotting anti-Israeli attacks. (NYT 8/28)

IDF demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in the Ras al-Amud neighborhhod of Jerusalem; 2 in Qusra, 1 in Beita, both nr. Nablus. (LAW 8/26; PR 9/5) (see 7/26)

The Israeli Justice Min. agrees to free a Palestinian, Imad Sabih, who has been jailed without charge for 2 yrs., to let him study in the Netherlands. Sabih will not be allowed to return to Israel or the occupied territories for 4 yrs. (NYT, WT 8/27; LAW 8/28; al-Ayyam 8/28 in WNC 9/4)

Iranian parliament passes bill allowing all foreign firms, excluding U.S. and Israeli firms, to register in Iran. Registered firms may engage in all lawful business activities in economic, commericial, industrial fields. (IRNA 8/26 in WNC 8/27)

Netanyahu offers the position of finance M, left vacant by Meridor, to Yaacov Neeman, the choice of Netanyahu's Orthodox coalition partners, rather than Infrastructures M Sharon, who lobbied for the position. (ITV 7/6, 7/7 in WNC 7/8, 7/9; MM 7/7; CSM, NYT, WT 7/8; CSM 7/9; WJW 7/10; JP 7/19) (see 6/18)

Higher Iranian-Syrian Comm. ends 2-day mtg. in Damascus. The 2 countries agree expand bilateral ties; reach accords on export of Iranian tractors to Syria, technical cooperation, economic and industrial cooperation. (IRNA, SATN 7/6, IRNA, SA, VIRI 7/7 in WNC 7/8)

London Times reports that the FBI is on the verge of revealing the identity of a National Security Council employee currently under surveillance on suspicion of being Mega, an Israeli mole. (London Times 7/6) (see 5/16)

Muhammad al-Hindi, a senior Islamic Jihad military leader, is released fr. PA prison in Gaza. (YA 7/11 in WNC 7/14)

Hizballah mbrs. ambush an IDF-SLA patrol in s. Lebanon, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 1 SLA mbr. IDF strikes Hizballah targets in response, wounding 7 Lebanese civilians. Hizballah retaliates, firing at least 7 rockets into n. Israel, causing no damage or injuries. (IDF Radio, VOL 7/6 in WNC 7/8; MM, NYT 7/7; JP 7/19)

EU special envoy Moratinos arrives in Syria. (SANA 6/18 in WNC 6/19)

In Washington, U.S. cosmetics heir Ron Lauder holds confidential mtg. with Syrian Amb. Moualem to discuss ways of restarting the Syrian-Israeli talks, then briefs Secy. of State Albright. Israel's Dir. of Policy Planning Bar-Ilan says that the mtg. was not authorized, but was welcome, by Israel. (MM 7/7)

Israeli finance M Dan Meridor, a Likud mbr., resigns, saying he has lost faith in Netanyahu's leadership, the PM deliberately sabotaged his agreement with the Bank of Israel for currency liberalization. (MM 6/18; Globes [Internet], ITV 6/18 in WNC 6/19; MM, NYT, WJW, WP, WT 6/19; YA 6/19 in WNC 6/20; Globes [Internet] 6/19 in WNC 6/23; ITV 6/19, MA 6/20 in WNC 6/23; Globes [Internet] 6/19 in WNC 6/24; CSM, MM 6/20; WP 6/26; MEI 6/27)

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Appropriations Subcomm. chmn., announces that the subcomm. will forward legislation to the full Appropriations Comm. without the annual $2.1 b. in foreign aid to Egypt; says Egypt is obstructing the peace process by refusing to attend multilateral talks, refusing Pres. Clinton's invitation to Washington 9/96, leading the effort to reimpose the Arab boycott, moving closer to Libya. State Dept. says that the administration stands behind its foreign aid request. (al-Wafd 6/20, al-Quds al-Arabi 6/23 in WNC 6/25; WT 6/21; MM 6/25; MM 8/14)

Syrian VP Khaddam arrives in Iran for talks with Pres. Rafsanjani on the peace process, Turkish intervention in n. Iraq, 6/10 House decision. (IRNA 6/18 in WNC 6/19; SA 6/19 in WNC 6/20)

After 11 mos. in office. Turkish PM Erbakan turns his resignation into Pres. Suleyman Demirel, says he is willing to enter a new coalition under Ciller. Legally it is Demirel who must ask Ciller to form a new government; he has not stated if he will abide by the new coalition arrangement. (AFP 6/18 in WNC 6/19; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/19; MEI 6/27) (see 6/13)

UN Secy. Gen. Annan accepts a U.S. deal (passed by the House 6/11, the Senate 6/17) under which the UN would agree to reduce U.S. dues to 20% of the total budget by 1999, reduce U.S. peacekeeping to 25% by 1999, tighten the UN budget, reduce staff in exchange fr. the U.S. paying off $819 m. of its $1.3-b. debt over 3 yrs. The draft legislation must now be approved by the full Congress. (WT 6/19)

In Hebron, IDF clashes with Palestinians for 5th straight day, wounding 5. (MM 5/18; NYT 6/19; MEI 6/27)

In s. Lebanon, 3 SLA soldiers, 1 civilian are killed, 2 civilians are wounded by a roadside bomb. Israel blames Hizballah; responds by making in incursion into Jazzin, far n. of the self-declared security zone, arresting a number of youths, including a Lebanese soldier; submits complaint to ILMG, accusing Hizballah of planting the bomb. (VOL 6/18 in WNC 6/19; MM 6/26; MEI, MM 6/27)

In Cairo, PA delegation headed by Local Government M Erakat discusses means of salvaging the peace process with Egyptian FM `Amr Musa, pres. adviser Baz. (RE 6/16 in WNC 6/17)

In Los Angeles, special envoy Ross discusses the PA-Israeli impasse with Israeli DM Mordechai. (MA, YA 6/16 in WNC 6/17)

In Istanbul, the 1st D-8 summit opens. (IRNA 6/15 in WNC 6/17; MM 6/16+n18, 6/23) (see 6/12)

Israeli High Court rejects (4-1) a petition to prosecute PM Netanyahu, Justice M Tshai Hanegbi over the Bar-On affair. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/16; JP 6/21) (see 5/14)

Jewish settlers fr. Gush Qatif's Netzer Hazani settlement confiscate 70 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Dayr al-Balah. (MEI 6/27)

In Hebron, IDF fires rubber bullets at Palestinian protesters, injuring 28. For the 2d day in a row, PA police were absent. (MM, NYT, WT 6/16; CSM 6/18; MEI 6/27) (see 6/15)

Regarding the assertion concerning Mega (see 5/7), an unnamed senior U.S. official confirms that special envoy Ross read Netanyahu the U.S. letter of assurances to the PA but did not give him a copy to keep. (WP 5/8; CSM 5/9)

In Geneva, the UN Comm. Against Torture summons Israel for a 3-day extraordinary hearing to face accusations that its practices against Palestinian prisoners violate international conventions. (NYT, WT 5/8; IGPO 5/8 in WNC 5/13; NYT, WP 5/10)

Austrian FM Wolfgang Schuessel arrives in Israel on 1st leg of a regional tour to acquaint himself with the issues of the peace process in advance of his assumption of the EU presidency in 1998; meets with FM Levy, Labor mbr. Ehud Barak. (Neue Kronen Zeitung [Vienna] 5/8 in WNC 5/12)

Israeli inner cabinet holds mtg. on evacuation of settlers nr. Nablus 5/6. Ms Rafael Eitan, Zevulun Hammer, Ariel Sharon accuse PM Netanyahu of making a gesture to the PA, prompting Netanyahu to apologize for the evacuation. (IDF Radio 5/7 in WNC 5/8)

Jordan, Tunisia sign agmt. to form comm. to study the creation of a common free trade zone; discuss joint tourism, investment projects. (JT 5/7 in WNC 5/8)

In Beirut, Iranian FM Velayati meets PM Hariri. Velayati then goes to Damascus to discuss Israeli-Turkish military cooperation with Pres. Asad, FM Shara`; then heads to Yemen. (IRNA, RMC, VOL 5/7 in WNC 5/8; SATN 5/7, IRNA, RMC 5/8 in WNC 5/9; MM 5/8) (see 5/3)

ILMG meets to discuss Israeli complaint regarding 5/5 Hizballah attack, Lebanese complaint regarding 5/6 bombing. (RL 5/7 in WNC 5/8; RL 5/7, 5/8 in WNC 5/9)

FBI begins investigating whether a "senior U.S. government official" has been passing highly sensitive information to Israel. U.S. officials say that in 1/97, the National Security Agency intercepted a transmission btwn. 2 Israeli intelligence officers in Washington and Tel Aviv, discussing a request by Israeli Amb. to the U.S. Eliahu Ben-Elissar to activate a alleged mole code-named Mega to obtain the secret letter of assurances fr. fmr. Secy. of State Christopher to Arafat, which was attached to the Hebron protocol and has never been made public. The transmission suggests that Mega has provide information to Israel in the past. Israel denies spying. (WP 5/7; NYT, WP 5/8; MM 5/8; IDF Radio, ITV, YA 5/8 in WNC 5/9; MM, WP, WT 5/9; SANA 5/12 in WNC 5/13; MEI 5/16; JP 5/17)

Arafat, Israeli pres. Weizman meet in advance of U.S. special envoy Ross's arrival 5/8. (MM, WT 5/6; ITV 5/6 in WNC 5/7; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 5/7; AFP, YA 5/7 in WNC 5/8; WJW 5/8; JP 5/10; MM 5/12)

After Arafat-Weizman mtg., an Israeli-PA-U.S. security mtg. is held to discuss resuming coordination. (MM 5/7; ITV 5/7 in WNC 5/8)

Egyptian pres. Mubarak accepts Iran's invitation to attend the 12/97 OIC mtg. in Tehran but says that Egypt is not considering resuming diplomatic relations with Iran (severed after Egypt signed its peace treaty with Israel in 1979). (WT 5/7)

Iran's FM Velayati arrives in Beirut for mtg. with FM Buwayz. (VOL 5/6 in WNC 5/7; IRNA 5/7 in WNC 5/8)

Israeli police forcibly evacuate 30 Jewish settlers fr. a shack they had set up nr. Nablus in an attempt to expand Yitzhar settlement. (MM, NYT 5/7; IDF Radio 5/7 in WNC 5/8; PR 5/16)

IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem, Ramallah for being constructed without a permit. (LAW 5/6; PR 5/16) (see 5/5)

A bomb explosion in s. Lebanon blamed on Israel kills 2 civilians, injures 2. A 2d bomb at the same site is dismantled. In a separate incident, Israeli planes attack suspected Hizballah targets in the Biqa` Valley, injuring 1 civilian. (RL, VOL 5/6 in WNC 5/7; WP 5/7)

PA Justice M Frayh Abu-Madayn announces that Palestinians who sell or facilitate the sale of land to Jews will face the death penalty. (NYT, WT 5/6; NYT 5/16; JP 5/17; IDF Radio 5/19 in WNC 5/21; WT 5/21)

U.S. says that it has repeatedly protested to Israel "at the highest level" over complaints Israel has threatened to take away the U.S. passports of Palestinians who do not give up claims of residency in Jerusalem, stresses that Palestinian Americans cannot lose their U.S. citizenship involuntarily. (WT 5/6) (see 5/4)

In Cairo, EU special envoy Moratinos discusses peace process with Arab League secy. Gen. Ismat `Abd al-Majid. (RE 5/5 in WNC 5/6)

Israel's new amb. to Jordan, Oded Eran, fmr. head of the Israeli delegation to the donor conferences, assumes his post in Amman. (RJ 5/5 in WNC 5/6)

U.S. releases Hamas political leader Abu Marzuq after 22 mos. in detention, flies him to Jordan. (AFP 5/5, JTV, al-Ra'i, RJ, RMC 5/6 in WNC 5/7; NYT, WT 5/6; RJ 5/6, JT 5/7 in WNC 5/8; MM 5/7; WJW 5/8; WP 5/9; SA 5/9 in WNC 5/13; mei 5/16; JP 5/17; al-Wasat 5/19-25 in WNC 5/21) (see 5/4)

PA policeman shoots, kills Palestinian at a checkpoint in Hebron. (WP 5/6; MEI 5/16)

IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in Hebron's H2, saying they were constructed without permits. (LAW 5/6; WT 5/7; PR 5/16) (see 4/23)

Israeli court charges Manbar with assisting the enemy, providing information to an outside enemy with the intent of harming state security, providing Iran with means to manufacture chemical weapons in exchange for $16 m. (IDF Radio 5/5 in WNC 5/6; MA 5/7 in WNC 5/8; JP 5/17) (see 4/25)

Iranian FM Velayati arrives in Cairo on a 2-day visit to invite Pres. Mubarak to attend the upcoming (12/97) OIC conference in Tehran. This is the 1st high-level contact btwn. Iran, Egypt since Mubarak accused Tehran in 1995 of trying to have him killed. (IRNA 5/5 in WNC 5/6; NYT, WP, WT 5/6; IRNA, RE, SA 5/6 in WNC 5/7; MM 5/8, 5/9)

The Jordanian Popular Movement merges with the National Constitutional Party. (JT 5/6 in WNC 5/7; JT 5/7 in WNC 5/8) (see 2/28)

Hizballah detonates 3 roadside bombs in s. Lebanon, wounding 5 civilians, 2 SLA mbrs. (RL 5/5 in WNC 5/6, 5/7; WP 5/7)

Israeli DM Mordechai begins 2-day visit to Washington, meets with Secy. of State Albright, National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Defense Secy. Cohen. (ITV, YA 4/3 in WNC 4/4; WT 4/4; WT 4/5; MA, SANA 4/6 in WNC 4/8; MM 4/7; JP 4/12; WP 4/14) (see 2/25; Peace Monitor for details)

Citing fears of reprisal attacks, Israel drops bid to extradite Hamas political leader Musa Abu Marzuq. If the U.S. does not deport Abu Marzuq within 60 days of the date he dropped his fight against the extradition order (the U.S. and Israel claim that date is 4/7; Abu Marzuq's lawyers say it was 3/28),it legally must free him. (ITV 4/3 in WNC 4/4; NYT, WP, WT 4/4; al-Ra'i 4/4 in WNC 4/8; NYT 4/6; JP 4/12; MEI 4/18) (see 1/28)

Islamic Jihad's military wing issues leaflet claiming responsibility for the 4/1 bombs, saying Shaykh Shami had been "hasty" in denying the groups responsibility. (NYT 4/4) (see 4/2)

Palestinians, IDF clash nr. Har Homa. (WT 4/4)

Iran says it has 1st-hand information that 4 of its diplomats long believed dead were kidnapped in 1982, are being held in Israel. (IRNA 4/4 in WNC 4/7; WT 4/9)

Lebanon indicts 5 alleged Japanese Red Army mbrs. with passport forgery, illegal entry into Lebanon, forgery of official stamps. The 5 could receive up to 10 yrs. in prison. Japan has been trying to extradite the 5 men to face charges for guerilla activity. (WP 4/4) (see 3/14)

Egypt, Lebanon, Syria link new underwater telephone cable system. (SANA 4/3 in WNC 4/4)

Arab League issues a final communiqué at the close of its 2-day session, announcing its decision freeze relations with Israel, reactivate the Arab boycott. (IDF Radio, MA, QY, SANA 3/31 in WNC 4/1; NYT, WP, WT 4/1; al-Dustur, RL 4/1 in WNC 4/2; al-Dammam al-Yawm 4/1, VIRI 4/2 in WNC 4/4; PR 4/4; Globes [Internet] 4/7 in WNC 4/21; RJ 4/10 in WNC 4/11; JP 4/12; PR 4/18)

In Surif, IDF demolishes the home of suicide bomber Ghanimat's family, home of a relative. (LAW, NYT, 3/31; WT 4/1; PR 4/4; JP 4/12) (see 3/29)

Iran, Syria discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in the media sector fr. the print media to radio, television networks. (IRNA 4/1 in WNC 4/2) (see 3/26)

Israeli dep. housing M Me'ir Porush says that despite government promises to build Arab housing to offset Har Homa construction, his min. has no plans to build homes for Arabs in Jerusalem. (IDF Radio 3/26 in WNC 3/27) (see 3/20)

Palestinian protests continue throughout the West Bank. In Bethlehem, demonstrators throw stones at IDF soldiers, who respond with tear gas and rubber bullets, injuring 20. In Bethlehem, protesters burn U.S., Israeli flags. (NYT, WT 3/27)

In Beirut, Lebanon's PM Hariri, Iran's Dep. FM Morteza Sarmadi discuss ways of expanding cultural, economic, political, press relations. (IRNA 3/26 in WNC 3/27)

PM Netanyahu replies to King Hussein 3/9 letter. (NYT, WP 3/12; MM, WJW, WT 3/13)

Netanyahu begins 3-day trip to Moscow, urges Russia not to arm Iran, Syria. (MM 3/10; ITAR-TASS [Moscow] 3/10 in WNC 3/13; WT 3/11)

In Washington, Egyptian pres. Mubarak, Pres. Clinton jointly criticize Israel's construction plans for East Jerusalem; disagree on the U.S. veto of the 3/7 UNSC res.; discuss ways of reviving talks btwn. Syria, Israel. (CSM, MM 3/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/11; MM, WJW 3/13; RE 3/14 in WNC 3/19; MEI 3/21)

In Tel Aviv, DM Mordechai, PA Information M Yasir `Abid Rabbuh, U.S. amb. Martin Indyk meet in a bid to ease tensions. (MM, NYT, WT 3/11; MM, WP, WT 3/12; WT 3/13; Vesti [Tel Aviv] 3/16 in WNC 3/20)

Nr. Hebron, 100 Palestinians try to stop Israeli workers fr. opening a road for Jewish settlers. 150 IDF soldiers beat them back with clubs, guns. (MM, NYT, WT 3/11; PR 3/14)

PA releases fr. Gaza jail 100 Hamas mbrs., including senior Hamas military figure Ibrahim Muqadima. Arafat again meets with Hamas political leaders. (MM 3/21; JP 3/22; WP 3/24; MM 3/25) (see 3/9)

Iranian FM Velayati arrives in Turkey to discuss improving bilateral relations. (IRNA, VIRI 3/10 in WNC 3/13; MM 3/19) (see 3/3)

Despite U.S. protests, the Vatican establishes full diplomatic relations with Libya. (NYT 3/11; WJW 4/17)

In s. Lebanon, a car bomb placed along a road frequented by IDF, SLA troops explodes, injuring 1 IDF soldier, 2 Lebanese children. (JP 3/22)

In Cairo, Egyptian pres. Mubarak, Israeli PM Netanyahu hold tense, inconclusive talks, marked by disagreement over Israeli settlement plans. (MM 3/5; RE 3/5 in WNC 3/7; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 3/6; ITV 3/7 in WNC 3/13; WJW 3/13; MEI 3/21)

After New York, Arafat heads to Georgia to meet with fmr. Pres. Jimmy Carter and Houston to meet with fmr. Pres. George Bush, fmr. Secy. of State James Baker III before returning to Gaza. (MM, NYT 3/6; WT 3/7)

UNSC begins debate on Israel's Har Homa plan. (MM, WT 3/5; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/6; MEI 3/7; WJW 3/13)

After 4 days of talks in Tehran, Jordan, Iran sign memorandum of understanding on health issues, medicine, medical training. (IRNA, VIRI 3/2 in WNC 3/4)

In Amman, King Hussein receives a delegation of U.S. friends of Israel's Meretz party for discussions on the peace process. (JTV 2/24 in WNC 2/26)

Israeli FM David Levy arrives in China on 3-day official visit. (Xinhua [Beijing] 2/24 in WNC 2/25; Xinhua 2/25, AFP, Xinhua 2/26 in WNC 2/27)

PM Netanyahu blames Israeli Justice M Tsahi Hanegbi for not adequately briefing him on Bar-On's qualifications for atty. gen. (MM 2/24; WT 2/25; JP 3/1) (see 2/23)

Iran, Syria sign communications agmt. increasing fr. 12 to 24 the number of satellite channels they jointly operate. (IRNA 2/24 in WNC 3/25) (see 2/22)

PM Netanyahu meets with Pres. Clinton in Washington. Talks focus on resuming negotiations with Syria. U.S. promises to look into South Africa's proposed arms sale to Syria (see 1/22), to upgrade Israeli weapons if a U.S. deal to sell Saudi Arabia 100 F-16s goes through (see 2/2). Saudi Arabia says U.S., Israeli positions on F-16 sale have a disturbing "cold war" ring. (MM, WT 2/13; IDF Radio, YA 2/13 in WNC 2/14; ITV 2/13 in WNC 2/18; MM, NYT, WP 2/14; WP 2/15; MM 2/17; WJW 2/20; JP 2/22; WT 2/23)

In keeping with the Hebron protocol, IDF fully reopens the Hebron central market in H2. Immediately, Jewish settlers enter the market, scuffle with Palestinians, claiming market is a security risk to local Jews. The market was partially reopened 2/12. (CSM, WP 2/14)

Iranian military delegation arrives in Damascus for 5 days of talks with Syrian DM Mustafa Tlas. (SATN 2/13 in WNC 2/18; IRNA, RMC 2/15 in WNC 2/19; MM 2/18; IRNA 2/19 in WNC 2/20)

In Tehran, Iranian FM Velayati, Lebanese Amb. Munir Talhuq discuss expanding bilateral relations. (IRNA 2/5 in WNC 2/7)

U.S. jet on military maneuvers in the Mediterranean crashes off the coast of Israel, killing 4 soldiers. (MM, WT 2/6)

Israeli Amb. to the U.S. Ben-Elissar accuses Egypt of encouraging the PA to stall on a Hebron deal, pressing other Arab states not to normalize relations with Israel. (WT 1/9)

Syria announces that Pres. Asad has undergone successful prostate surgery, will resume official duties in a few days. (SATN 1/7 in WNC 1/9; WP 1/8; RJ 1/9 in WNC 1/13; NYT 1/28)

IDF eases closure on the West Bank, Gaza, increasing fr. 3,420 to 4,520 the number of Palestinian merchants allowed in to Israel; allowing 250 Gaza merchants into the West Bank and vise versa; increasing fr. 150 to 200 the number of Gaza PA officials allowed into the West Bank; allowing 50 Gaza trucks into Israel. (IGPO 1/7; PR 1/17)

14th session of the Iranian-Turkish Joint Security Commission opens in Tehran. Discussion focuses on expanding bilateral ties. (IRNA 1/7 in WNC 1/8)

Secy. of State Christopher tells Secy. Gen. Annan that the U.S. is interested in paying its $1.3-b. debt to the UN. Rep. Bill Richardson (D-NM) is nominated to replace outgoing Amb. to the UN Albright. (NYT, WT 1/8) (see 12/5)