The Palestine Chronology

Secy. Albright holds 2d round of mtgs. with Arafat, Netanyahu. Netanyahu then heads to Ariel settlement for celebration marking Ariel's new city status (see 6/11) also attended by DM Mordechai, Infrastructures M Ariel Sharon. (MM 10/6; ITV 10/6, JT 10/7 in WNC 10/8; NYT, WP 10/7; ITV 10/7 in WNC 10/9; NYT 10/8; PR 10/9; MEI 10/16; JP 10/17)

CIA Dir. George Tenet meets with Israeli, PA officials on security MOU. Israel, PA reach understanding on long-delayed opening of Gaza industrial park after an FRD agmt. is finalized, discuss forming an "anti-incitement" comm. (WP 10/8; ITV, QY 10/13 in WNC 10/15; MEI, PR 10/16) (see 9/8)

While Egypt's Mubarak shuttles btwn. Turkey's Demirel in Ankara and Syria's Asad in Damascus, Turkish PM Mesut Yilmaz cancels leaves for all troops, gives Syria a "last warning" on support for Kurdish separatists. (MM 10/6; ATL, ESC Television, INA, ITAR-TASS, MENA 10/6 in WNC 10/7; MENA, al-Sabil, SATN 10/6, ATL, al-Dustur 10/7 in WNC 10/8; CSM, MM, WP, WT 10/7; ATL, HA, HUR, Iran News, al-Liwa', MENA, MIL 10/7, ATL, MIL 10/8 in WNC 10/9; MM 10/8; MA 10/9 in WNC 10/14) (see 10/5)

In s. Lebanon, Hizbullah mbrs. detonate roadside bombs as an IDF convoy passes, killing 2 soldiers, wounding 6. (MM 10/6; WT 10/7; JP 10/17)

Secy. Albright, envoy Ross, Asst. Secy. of State Martin Indyk arrive in the Middle East to prepare for talks in Washington beginning 10/15. Albright meets with Netanyahu, then travels to Gaza to meet with Arafat. (MM 10/5; HA [Internet], WT 10/6)

Turkish pres. Demirel postpones mtg. with Egyptian pres. Mubarak that was set for today. Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan phones Demirel to urge him to find a diplomatic solution to crisis with Syria. (MM 10/5; ATL, JT, RJ, RL 10/5 in WNC 10/6; IRIB Television, JTV, Petra-JNA, SATN 10/5, IRNA, Petra-JNA, Sabah 10/6 in WNC 10/7; CSM 10/6; MEI 10/16) (see 10/4)

In a mtg. with outgoing Lebanese pres. Ilyas Hrawi in Damascus, Syrian pres. Asad taps army chief Gen. Emile Lahoud as the next Lebanese pres. Lahoud is widely considered to be an incorrupt, popular "new face," untainted by politics and unlikely to draw the military into the government. (RL, SANA 10/5 in WNC 10/6; AFP, RL al-Safir, SANA 10/5, RL, VOL 10/6 in WNC 10/7; MM, WP, WT 10/7; RL 10/7 in WNC 10/8; RL, RMC 10/8 in WNC 10/9; al-Watan al-Arabi 10/9 in WNC 10/15; Petra-JNA 10/11 in WNC 10/14; MM 10/12; MEI 10/16)

In s. Lebanon, Amal detonates 2 bombs as an IDF-SLA patrol passes, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 4. (AFP, RL, VOL 10/5 in WNC 10/6)

Egyptian pres. Mubarak meets with Syrian pres. Asad in Damascus on 1st leg of shuttle aimed at reducing avoiding military conflict btwn. Syria, Turkey. Syria also accepts Iran's offer to mediate. To reassure Syria, Israel scales back its routine maneuvers in the Golan. (IRIB Television, Radio Kuwait, SATN 10/4, ATL, MENA, RL, VOA 10/5 in WNC 10/6; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; HUR, Sabah 10/5, MA, al-Quds 10/6 in WNC 10/7; al-Quds al-Arabi 10/5 in WNC 10/14; MM 10/6, 10/7; WP 10/8) (see 10/3)

U.S. holds 1-day naval exercise with Algeria as part of a quiet effort to rebuild ties; says maneuvers are a reward to Algeria for allowing foreign groups to investigate human rights allegations, not backing of it's war against Islamists. However, State Dept. says that "we're not going to . . . join their war until we're sure they are for reform and the human rights situation gets better." (WP 11/12)

Clashes btwn. Palestinians, IDF continue in Hebron, spread to Halhul. IDF says curfew will remain in place indefinitely. PSF arrests 2 prominent Hamas activists, 10 other suspected Hamas mbrs. in Hebron. (ITV 10/4 in WNC 10/6; HA [Internet] 10/6; PR 10/9)

Jewish settlers at the Ma'ate Hever settlement nr. Hebron move their boundary fences to enclose another 7 acres of Palestinian land. (MEI 10/16)

Orient House head Faisal Husseini makes 1-day trip to Ankara to meet with Turkish pres. Demirel, FM Cem. (Anatolia 7/2 in WNC 7/6)

Syrian pres. Asad appoints Gen. Ali Aslan to replace Gen. Hikmat Shihabi, who is retiring, as chief of staff for the Syrian armed forces. Aslan, an Alawite with a distinguished military career and no record of political involvement, is currently dept. chief of staff. (MM 7/3; al-Quds al-Arabi 7/3, al-Aswaq 7/4 in WNC 7/7; al-Quds al-Arabi 7/5 in WNC 7/13; PR 7/17)

The UN asks Spain to provide a brigade of soldiers to work in UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to replace Norwegian troops. Norway decided in 6/98 to reduce its UNIFIL force by 66% at the end of 1998 for financial reasons. (ABC [Madrid] 7/3 in WNC 7/7)

In Damascus, Syrian Pres. Asad, FM Shara`, Saudi FM Prince Saud al-Faysal discuss bilateral cooperation, peace process. (SATN 6/16 in WNC 6/18)

In Washington, Lebanese PM Hariri meets with Pres. Clinton, Secy. of State Albright, Asst Secy. of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering, Asst. Secy. Indyk, National Security Adviser Sandy Berger. (WP 6/17; RL 6/17 in WNC 6/18; WT 6/18; RL 6/18 in WNC 6/19; al-Safir 6/20 in WNC 6/23)

Iran, Jordan sign accords on shipping, resuming flights btwn. their countries. 1st Jordanian flight in 18 yrs. lands in Tehran. (IRBD Television 6/16 in WNC 6/17; Petra-JNA 6/16 in WNC 6/1)

After several unsuccessful attempts, Jewish settlers occupy a vacant, Palestinian-owned home adjacent to, but not in, Hebron's Jewish enclave. The Norwegian contingent of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) files a protest with Israeli authorities, who try but fail to evict the settlers. (MA 7/3 in WNC 7/7)

Egyptian FM Musa arrives in Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince `Abdullah on possible Arab summit. Trip was previously unplanned, prompted by Arafat's surprise visit to the kingdom, which ended 5/26. (MM 5/27, 6/1)

House Speaker Gingrich, Arafat meet in Ramallah. U.S. congressional delegation then leaves for Jordan. (NYT, WP, WT 5/28; MM, PR 5/29; al-Thawra 5/31 in WNC 6/8; MEI, MM 6/5; JP 6/6)

Syria's Pres. Asad receives congressional delegation led by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT). (MM 5/28)

Iran, Saudi Arabia sign wide-ranging cooperation agmt. (WP, WT 5/28)

Knesset passes (50-45, with 1 abstention) 1st reading (of 3) of motion to change Israel's election system back to pre-5/96 process, eliminating direct election of PM. Motion is expected to be overturned. (MM 5/28; MEI 6/5)

In s. Lebanon, 2 Golani Brigade mbrs. are killed, 2 wounded by Hizballah roadside bomb. Separately, 1 civilian is injured by IDF shelling. (MM 5/28; RL 6/3 in WNC 6/4; JP 6/6)

In Latakia, Syria's Pres. Asad, Egypt's Pres. Mubarak hold day of talks on the peace process, including Israeli proposals for withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon; upcoming London mtgs. 5/4. (MENA 4/24 in WNC 4/27, 4/28; MENA 4/26, RE 4/28 in WNC 4/30) (see 4/15)

In Baden-Baden, King Hussein meets with Arafat, fmr. Israeli PM Peres for talks on the peace process. (RJ 4/25 in WNC 4/28; JTV, Tunis-7 Television, Tunisian Republic Radio Network 4/29 in WNC 5/1; JTV 4/30 in WNC 5/5)

In Beirut, Lebanese FM Buwayz briefs the heads of the Australian, Asian, Iranian, Italian diplomatic missions on Lebanon's position regarding Israel's proposal for conditional withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon, interpretation of UN Res. 425. (IRNA, VOL 4/24 in WNC 4/27)

In Cairo, Syria's Pres. Asad briefs Pres. Mubarak on results of 4/13 Syrian-Lebanese summit in Latakia, discusses holding mini-Arab summit. (ESC Television [Cairo], MENA, RMC, SANA, SATN 4/15 in WNC 4/16; MENA 4/15 in WNC 4/17; MM 4/16; al-Thawra, Tishrin 4/16 in WNC 4/21)

King Hussein sends letter to PM Majali, asking him to prevent media criticism of Arafat, the PA, the peace process; to draft new press law that will "safeguard the interests of the kingdom." (JTV 4/15 in WNC 4/16; al-Ra'i 4/21 in WNC 4/28) (see 1/26)

In Amman, Jordan, Iran discuss expanding cultural, religious relations. (IRNA 4/16 in WNC 4/17)

Israel releases administrative detainees Ahmad Qattamesh (held 5 yrs., 8 mos.), Hassan Fatafteh (held 4 yrs.). Both men are Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine activists. (MM 4/16; PR 4/17; JP 4/25)

Jordan releases opposition leader Shubailat, arrested 2/20 during Ma'an riots. (JT 4/15 in WNC 4/16; MEI 4/24)

U.S. special envoy Ross meets again with PM Netanyahu, insists that Israel add another 4% to its FRD proposal. Netanyahu refuses, also says that Israel must have a role in monitoring PA security compliance in an FRD agmt. Ross then meets with Arafat. (WT 3/29; MA 3/29 in WNC 3/30; JP 4/4)

In Washington, Secy. Albright meets with Israeli DM Mordechai, warns him that the U.S. is reaching the point where it would simply let Israel, the PA work things out themselves. Mordechai briefs Albright on Israel's proposal for conditional withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon. (MM 3/30;RMC 4/12 in WNC 4/15)

Iranian FM Kamal Kharrazi arrives in Syria for 2-day visit, meets with Pres. Asad. One focus of talks is Israel's s. Lebanon withdrawal offer, which is opposed by both states. (IRNA, SANA 3/28, IRNA, SATN, VIRI 3/29, IRNA, VIRI 3/30 in WNC 3/31)

Iran's Culture and Islamic Guidance M Atollah Mohajerani says that if Israel withdraws fr. s. Lebanon with guarantees for a fixed border, "there will be no further need for Hizballah's resistance operations there." (MM 4/1, 4/2)

1,000s of Israeli Arabs hold march nr. Shaykh Danun, Israel, to mark the destruction of 418 Arab villages destroyed by Jewish forces in 1948. (NYT 3/29; MM 4/6)

In Nablus, IDF opens fire with rubber bullets on Palestinians holding antisettlement demonstration. (NYT 3/29)

In Washington, Israel Trade M Sharansky meets with VP Gore, urges him to dissuade the U.S. fr. presenting its own FRD proposal, requests mtg. with Secy. Albright but is refused. (ITV 3/18, MA 3/19 in WNC 3/20; MM 3/19; NYT 3/23; PR 3/27)

In Washington, Netanyahu adviser Arad meets with Asst. Secy. of State Indyk to encourage him to dissuade the U.S. fr. presenting its 13.1% FRD plan. (MM 3/19)

In Beirut, Russian special envoy Viktor Posuvalyuk meets with Lebanese FM Faris Buwayz. (VOL 3/18 in WNC 3/20)

UK FM Cook meets with Syrian pres. Asad in Damascus, Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri in Beirut. (MM 3/18; RL, SANA 3/18, Les Echos [Paris], RL 3/19 in WNC 3/20)

3 Israeli teenagers are detained, 2 American teenagers are questioned regarding an organized infiltration of Pentagon computer system; 100s of other government, corporate, university computers. (ITV 3/18 in WNC 3/20; NYT, WJW, WP 3/19; WP, WT 3/20; WP 3/21; MEI 3/27; JP 3/28)

EU Pres. Santer arrives in Damascus for 2 days of talks on the peace process, meets with Syrian pres. Asad. (SANA 2/11 in WNC 2/12; SATN 2/11 in WNC 2/15)

IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes nr. Hebron to make way for expansion of Israeli quarries. (LAW 2/17)

Ultraorthodox Jew is stabbed to death in East Jerusalem. Israel suspects Palestinian militants. (NYT, WP 2/12, PR 2/20)

In Amman, Jordanian police arrest youth attempting to throw molotov cocktail at British embassy to protest potential military strike on Iraq. (RJ 2/11 in WNC 2/12; MM 2/12; JT, SA 2/12 in WNC 2/15)

Iraq offers U.S. a Russia-brokered compromises for inspections at 8 presidential palaces over 2-mo. period. U.S. rejects plan, saying it is not up to Iraq to set conditions for inspections, Iraq must agree to inspections of all sites for indefinite period. (MM 2/11; WP 2/12; JTV 2/12 in WNC 2/17)

In Kuwait, GCC states hold emergency mtg. on Iraq crisis, say they prefer diplomatic to military solution. (U.S. Defense Secy. Cohen, who is in Bahrain today, says that all 6 states have agreed that Saddam Hussein should bear all responsibility for an attack if he does not fully comply with UN requirements.) (MM 2/11, 2/12)