The Palestine Chronology

On the 3d day of its attack on Iraq, the U.S. can confirm that only 18 of its 89 targets have been severely damaged or destroyed, despite having fired more laser-guided missiles in 2 days than during the entire 1991 Gulf War. Only U.S. planes stationed in Kuwait, Oman have flown; Saudi Arabia, Turkey have not permitted their bases to be used as staging grounds. (ATL, ITV 12/18 in WNC 12/22; NYT, WP, WT 12/19; MEI 12/25)

For the 2d day, U.S.-British strikes on Iraq prompt street protests across the Middle East. 15,000 Palestinians demonstrate in Nablus, while 1,000s of others protest in Bethlehem, Gaza City, Hebron, Jinin, Ramallah. PA police break up protest in Gaza City only; the PA closes some television, radio stations, news bureaus for reporting on the demonstrations. Syria's grand mufti denounces the U.S.-led operation. Pro-Iraq demonstrations are held in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Yemen. (MM 12/18; SANA 12/18, al-Ra'i 12/19, JT 12/20 in WNC 12/22; NYT, WT 12/19; MEI 12/25)

Fmr. UNSCOM cheif inspector Scott Ritter claims that UNSCOM head Butler chose sites for inspection that he knew would provoke the Iraqis, then ordered halt to inspections on 12/13 to meet U.S. bombing time table; also says that the White House national security staff helped draft Butler's 12/15 report to ensure it contained sufficiently tough language to justify an attack. Butler denies showing his report to the U.S. in advance of its release, but National Security Adviser (NSA) Sandy Berger admits Butler briefed him personally 12/13. (WT 12/19; WP 12/20; MENA 12/20, al-Akhbar, MA 12/21 in WNC 12/22) (see 12/16)

PA police arrest 4 leading Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) mbrs., 8 journalists at march marking PFLP's 31st anniversary. (NYT, WT 12/19)

Knesset approves additional NIS 20 m. to fund expanding settlements in the West Bank, Golan. (PR 1/1)

Knesset wins support (42-20; with 58 MKs abstaining or absent) for 3 no-confidence motions accusing PM Netanyahu of hindering peace talks with the PA, but motions fail to secure the 61-vote simple majority for passage, ousting the government. (MM, WP 7/28)

PM Netanyahu says that Israel is offering the PA a "10 + 3" FRD formula, is still demanding that the full PNC convene to void the PLO charter. He promises that if the government reaches an agmt. with the PA during the 3-mo. Knesset recess (7/30-10/18), the government will convene the Knesset immediately to discuss, approve the deal. (IGPO, MM 7/27)

In Paris, Egyptian FM Musa opens 2 days of talks with French FM Hubert Vedrine on the peace process, possible international summit. (MENA 7/27 in WNC 7/28; MENA 7/27, AFP, MENA 7/28 in WNC 7/29; MENA 7/28, VOA 7/29 in WNC 7/30)

In West Jerusalem, a Palestinian is stabbed, injured by a Jewish settler, who is captured and arrested. (PR 7/31)

Al-Quds al-Arabi quotes sources as confirming that the exiled Saudi opposition has initiated extensive contacts with Yemen regarding possibility of setting up a base nr. the Saudi border. Yemen has already accused Saudi Arabia of funding, supplying, housing Yemeni opposition groups. (MM, WT 7/27; al-Quds al-Arabi 7/27 in GIU 7/29; MM 7/29, 8/3, 8/10) (see 7/26)

Israeli DM Mordechai, PA negotiator Abbas meet at U.S. Amb. Walker's residence in Tel Aviv to discuss scope of Israeli FRD; make no progress but agree to continue mtgs. 7/20, set up small teams to discuss issues blocking FRD. (IDF Radio, ITV 7/19, MA 7/20 in WNC 7/21; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/20; WJW 7/23; PR 7/24; JP, NYT 7/25; MEI 7/31)

Hrs. before Mordechai-Abbas mtg. begins, Israeli police in Jerusalem claim to foil attempted car bombing by Hamas. PA claims that Israel fabricated the story to pressure the PA team in the FRD talks. Hamas denies any connection to car's driver. (IDF Radio, ITV 7/19 in WNC 7/21; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/20; PR 7/24; YA 7/24 in WNC 7/28; JP 7/25; MEI 7/31)

In Jerusalem, PM Netanyahu receives Jordanian FM Anani for talks on the peace process. Anani then goes to Ramallah to meet with Arafat. (JTV, QY, RJ 7/19 in WNC 7/21; WP 7/20; al-Ra'i 7/20, MA, RJ 7/22 in WNC 7/23; MM 7/23; Petra-JNA 7/23 in WNC 7/24; al-Dustur 7/25 in WNC 7/28)

In Sidon, s. Lebanon, Lebanese authorities arrest 3 Palestinians, including 1 fmr. Fatah mbr., on suspicion of being part of a pro-Israel spy ring. (WT 7/22) (see 7/8)

Yemen accuses Saudi Arabia of attacking a Duwayma island in the Red Sea with ships, long-range artillery, killing 3 Yemeni coast guards, wounding 9; says attack stopped after contacts were made with the Saudi government. (MM 7/20; MM, WP 7/21; RJ 7/21 in WNC 7/23; WP 7/24; NYT 7/26; MEI 7/31) (see 6/23)

Pres. Clinton vetoes the IMPSA; says bill is inflexible, will not stop missile proliferation, will needlessly harm relations with Russia. IMPSA passed by 392-22 in the House on 11/12/97, 90-4 in Senate on 5/22/98, meaning chances that veto will be overridden are high. (YA 6/26 in WNC 6/29; Near East Report 6/29)

Pres. Clinton sends letter of response to CPMAJO's 5/14 letter, saying that the U.S. will not pressure Israel to take decisions, will not make decisions on Israel's behalf on matters which concern Israeli security. (PR 7/3)

Egyptian FM Musa arrives in Saudi Arabia for talks on bilateral relations, possible Arab summit. (MENA 6/23 in WNC 6/25)

PA, Turkey signed education cooperation agmt. for 1998 to 2000. (Anatolia 6/23 in WNC 6/25)

IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes nr. Hebron, evicts 30 bedouin families. (LAW 6/25; PR 6/26)

New U.S. amb. to Syria, Ryan Crocker, presents his credential to FM Shara`. Crocker has also served as amb. to Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Qatar. (MM, WP 6/24)

Saudi Arabia, Yemen say that they have agreed on demarcation of 66% of their common border. Border fr. Jabal al-Thar to Ras al-Mawaj, 3 Red Sea islands remain in dispute. The 2 countries clashed over the boundary placement in 1994, 1995. (WT 6/24) (see 5/26)

PM Netanyahu arrives in China for 3-day visit. (MM 5/26)

In Cairo, Arafat attends Arab League mtg. called to commemorate the 50th anniversary of al-Nakba; calls for Arab summit on the peace process. (MENA, RE 5/26 in WNC 5/27)

Egyptian FM `Amr Musa arrives in Amman for talks with King Hussein on Mubarak's trip to France, possible Arab summit; says Pres. Mubarak is discussing summit idea with other Arab leaders, including Morocco's King Hassan, who arrived in Cairo today for 3-day official visit, and Syria's Pres. Asad. (MENA, RE, RJ 5/26 in WNC 5/27; MM 5/27, 5/28)

In Tel Aviv, Israel's DM Yitzhak Mordechai meets with Turkey's dep. chief of staff, Gen. Cevik Bir, for talks on the peace process, furthering military cooperation, possible joint arms projects. (WT 5/27)

Saudi Arabia's FM Prince Saud al-Faisal arrives in Iran for 2-day talks on improving bilateral ties. (WT 5/27)

Hamas's Shaykh Yasin visits Syria's Yarmuk refugee camp, where he receives warm welcome fr. Palestinian refuges. (WP 6/11) (see 5/25)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli border policemen clash with Palestinians protesting illegal construction by Jewish settlers (see 5/25). To halt violence, Israel's Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert bans the construction in the name of Israel's Antiquities Dept., orders the demolition of the settlers' illegal dwellings. (ITV 5/26 in WNC 5/27; MM, NYT 5/27; WJW 5/28; MM 6/3; MEI 6/5; WT 6/9)

Yemen reports that over the past 2 days, Saudi troops have seized the island of Harim in the Red Sea as part of an attempt to pressure Sana' to make territorial concessions in the 2 countries' border demarcation negotiations, which just resumed last wk. The island is 1 of 3 uninhabited but strategically significant Red Sea islands in dispute. (MM 5/26)

3 SLA mbrs., 3 Hizballah mbrs. are killed in 2 clashes in s. Lebanon. 4 civilians are injured, over 100 flee their homes. (ITV, RL, VOL 5/26 in WNC 5/27)