The Palestine Chronology

PM Netanyahu returns to Israel. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 10/26; JP 11/2)

Arafat begins tour of Arab capitals to brief leaders on Wye. Clinton phones Pres. Mubarak to discuss the accord. King Hussein phones Mubarak to review the agmt. (JTV, MENA, RE, RJ 10/25 in WNC 10/27; WT 10/26; WP 10/27; SA 10/29 in WNC 10/30)

PA military intelligence officers attempt to seize unlicensed weapons, inspect files at Fatah's Ramallah office. When Fatah mbrs. fight back, officers open fire, killing 1 Fatah mbr. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/26; MEI, PR 10/30; JP 11/2, 11/9)

Jewish settlers demonstrate, block roads across the West Bank to protest the Wye agmt. 20 settlers are arrested, 2 Israeli policemen are injured. (IDF Radio 10/25 in WNC 10/27; NYT, WT 10/26; MA 10/26 in WNC 10/27)

In s. Lebanon, the Lebanese army intervenes to break up a clash btwn. Amal, Hizballah. (al-Safir 10/26 in WNC 10/27) (see 9/8)

After a brief 3-way mtg. at the White House, Pres. Clinton, Arafat, PM Netanyahu, their delegations head to Wye Plantation in Maryland for negotiations. (MM, WJW 10/15; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/16; YA 10/16 in WNC 10/19; al-Akhbar 10/16 in WNC 10/20)

Egypt's Pres. Mubarak, Jordan's King Hussein discuss Wye talks by phone. In Cairo, Jordanian PM Tarawnah briefs Mubarak on Crown Prince Hassan's mtgs. with Arafat (10/12), Netanyahu (10/14). (MENA 10/15 in WNC 10/16; JTV 10/15 in WNC 10/19)

Lebanese parliament elects (118-0, with 10 absentees, including Druze leader Junblatt, his bloc) Gen. Lahoud as Lebanon's new pres. He will take office 11/24. (MM 10/15; RL 10/15 in WNC 10/16; SATN 10/15 in WNC 10/19; al-Nahar 10/15, RL 10/18 in WNC 10/20; NYT, WP, WT 10/16; RL 10/16 in WNC 10/19; al-Ittihad 10/18 in WNC 10/23; IRNA 10/19 in WNC 10/21; MM 10/28) (see 10/13)

Turkey rejects Syrian offer to discuss water sharing, says Syria must first drop support for Kurdish separatists. (NYT, WP 10/16; HUR 10/16 in WNC 10/19) (see 10/14)

PSF detains 2 Israelis outside PA negotiator Abbas's home in al-Bireh. The Israelis, who turn out to be settler security guards dressed in civilian clothes, claim they entered th PA area to pursue stone-throwers. (PR 10/23)

30 Jewish settlers led by a Molodet party MK occupy a vacant Palestinian home in East Jerusalem, sparking scuffles with Palestinians. 100 Israeli policemen are brought in to quell the disturbances. (IDF Radio 10/15 in WNC 10/19; NYT 10/16; PR 10/23)

Unidentified assailants fire bomb several Palestinian homes in Bethlehem, seriously damaging 1. Palestinians blame local Jewish settlers. (AFP [Internet] 10/17)

Noting King Hussein's health troubles (7/28), PM Netanyahu transfers to Jordan the $50 m. that Israel owes the kingdom under the Peace and Stability Fund agmt. (IGPO 7/30)

In Casablanca, the Jerusalem Comm. closes 2-day mtg., agrees to set up fund to support Islamic institutions in the city, calls on mbrs. to reexamine their relations with Israel. On the sidelines of the mtg., Arafat meets separately with Iranian FM Kamal Kharrazi, Jordanian FM Anani, Syrian FM Shara` to discuss the peace process. (al-Quds 7/31 in WNC 8/10; MM 8/6; JP 8/8; MM 8/13)

PM Netanyahu receives EU special envoy Moratinos, who briefs the PM on his mtgs. in Syria, in Lebanon, with the PA. (IGPO 7/30)

The UK accepts Arab League proposal that 2 Libyan suspects in the 12/88 Lockerbie bombing be tried under Scottish law at The Hague. The U.S. agreed to the suggestion 7/29. (RE 7/30 in WNC 8/6)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah ambushes an IDF patrol, killing 1 soldier, wounding 5. (VOL 7/30 in WNC 8/6; MM, NYT, WP 7/31; JP 8/8)

In Cairo, Pres. Mubarak, King Hussein, PA's Arafat hold tripartite summit in Cairo to discuss latest developments in the peace process given the "deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories"; warn that tensions are reaching dangerous levels; discuss 6/30 UNSC debate, possible Arab summit. (AFP, ESC Television, IDF Radio, MENA, VOA 7/5, MENA, VOA 7/6 in WNC 7/7; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/6; al-Akhbar 7/6 in WNC 7/13; CSM, PR 7/10; MEI 7/17)

PM Netanyahu, Public Security M Avigdor Kahalani, the head of the Shin Bet, reps. of other security bodies hold follow-up mtg. on how to deal with the "worrisome phenomenon" of "Palestinization" of Israeli Arabs. (MA 7/7 in WNC 7/13; PR 7/17) (see 7/1)

In the 2d of 4 days of talks in Amman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia discuss converting their current trade agmt. into a free trade agmt. (JT, RJ 7/5 in WNC 7/7)

Jewish settlers torch 4 Palestinian produce stalls in the Hebron market. (WJW 7/9)

King Hussein meets with Pres. Clinton at the White House to express concern over U.S. hard-line policy on Iraq, stalled peace process. (al-Ra'i, RJ 6/15, al-Dustur, JTV, al-Ra'i, RJ 6/16 in WNC 6/17; NYT, WT 6/16; WP 6/17; al-Ra'i 6/17 in WNC 6/19)

In Cairo, Pres. Mubarak meets with Labor Chmn. Barak. Mubarak comments that he has lost faith in PM Netanyahu. Netanyahu tells the press "this pronouncement is typical of Arab leaders who don't get what they want." (IDF Radio 6/15 in WNC 6/17; MENA, RE 6/15 in WNC 6/17)

PC grants Arafat's request to delay no-confidence motion for 10 days to give him a chance to form new cabinet. Hamas, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine say that they will not join the EA. (MM 6/15; WP 6/16; WT 6/17; MEI 6/19; JP 6/20; PR 6/26; MEI 7/3)

Israeli Interior Min. demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem, saying that they were build without permits on areas zoned as "open space." U.S. calls on Israel to refrain fr. such "provocative acts." (LAW, MM, NYT 6/16; JTV 6/16 in WNC 6/17; ITV 6/19 in WNC 6/23; PR 6/26; JP 6/27)

In Rabat, Jordan's PM Majali, Morocco's King Hassan set up joint higher comm. for coordination in all fields; discuss peace process, possible Arab summit. (MKR 6/15, MAP 6/16 in WNC 6/17)

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)

EU Pres. Santer discusses peace process with PM Netanyahu. (ITV 2/8 in WNC 2/11)

Almost 1-yr. after the 3/13/97 shooting of 14 Israeli school girls by a Jordanian solider, Jordan's King Hussein sends Israel's Pres. Weizman a personal check for $1 m. for compensation to the girls' families. (IGPO 2/8; IGPO, MM 2/9; SA 2/9 in WNC 2/11; al-Quds al-`Arabi 2/11 in WNC 2/12; IGPO 2/12)

Syrian pres. Asad issues decree firing his brother Rifat al-Asad as 1 of 3 VPs. No explanation is given. (RJ 2/8, al-Ba`th 2/9, SA 2/10 in WNC 2/11; MM, WP 2/9; WP 2/11; YA 2/12 in WNC 2/15; MM 2/13)

Israeli DM Mordechai travels to Munich on short notice to discuss Iraq crisis with U.S. Defense Secy. Cohen, who says U.S. will give Israel early warning before operating in Iraq. U.S. also agrees to airlift Patriot missiles, chemical detectors, vaccines, other medications to Israel next wk. as a precaution. (IGPO 2/8; ITV 2/8 in WNC 2/11; MM 2/9)

After Saudi Arabia says it opposes military action to force Iraq to comply with UN sanctions, U.S. Defence Secy. Cohen says the U.S. will not ask to use Saudi bases to stage an attack. (NYT, WT 2/9)

Israeli treasury closes unit responsible for coordinating among government agencies to facilitate joint economic projects with Arab states. Foreign Min. departments in charge of Arab states will take this role over; joint projects with Jordan will be handled by Infrastructures M Sharon. (MA 2/8 in WNC 2/11)

Arafat arrives in Washington, meets with Secy. of State Albright, calls on U.S. to pressure Israel to fulfill withdrawal agmts. as outlined in Oslo accords. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/22)

American Jewish leaders (fr. such groups as American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League) criticize Netanyahu for courting Christian Right. Netanyahu gives interview to Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. (WP 1/22; MM 1/26) (see 1/19)

In Mecca, Jordan's King Hussein, Saudi Arabia's King Fahd discuss joint efforts to support the peace process. King Hussein is in Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser pilgrimage (al-`Umra). (RJ 1/21 in WNC 1/23; `Ukaz [Jiddah] 1/22 in WNC 1/27)

Dir. Gen. of the Israeli Cabinet Ariel Shomir travels to Cairo to deliver a letter fr. Pres. Weizman to Egypt's Pres. Mubarak. (MENA 1/21 in WNC 1/23)

World Bank secures financing for first export-oriented industrial estate at al-Muntar, Gaza. (World Bank press release 1/21)

IDF begins bulldozing Palestinian land nr. Neve Dalim settlement in Gaza as 1st step to expanding the settlement. (PCHR 1/24)

Jordan receives last installment of U.S. military equipment under the $1-m. 1996 draw-down agmt. (JTV 1/21 in WNC 1/23; al-Ra'i 1/26 in WNC 1/27)

U.S. special envoy Ross meets with PM Netanyahu. (ITV 1/7 in WNC 1/11; WP 1/8; ITV 1/8 in WNC 1/11; RE 1/9 in WNC 1/12; JP 1/17)

In Amman, King Hussein meets with Labor Chmn. Barak. No details of mtg. are released. (JT 1/10 in WNC 1/13) (see 1/4)

Israel approves construction of 574 new housing units in Efrat settlement, 94 units in Elkana settlement, both in the West Bank. (ITV 1/7 in WNC 1/10; MM, WP 1/8; ITV 1/8 in WNC 1/11; WP 1/9; al-Dustur 1/9 in WNC 1/12; MEI, PR 1/16)

Israel, Turkey, U.S. begin naval maneuvers in the Mediterranean, which will last until 1/9. Jordan is the only country to accept Turkey's invitation to send an observer. (RJ, SANA 1/7 in WNC 1/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/8; MA, YA 1/8 in WNC 1/11; MENA 1/9 in WNC 1/12; MEI 1/16) (see 1/5)

Iranian pres. Khatami uses CNN interview to address the U.S. people, urging them to break down the "wall of mistrust between us." He calls for cultural exchange with the U.S., expresses regret for 1979 hostage-taking but criticizes U.S. policies, says there is no need for political ties. State Dept. responds by proposing direct talks. Khatami also calls Israel a "racist terrorist state," denounces terrorism (which harms innocents) but expresses support for "peoples who fight for the liberation of their land." (MM, NYT, WP 1/8; MM 1/9; MEI 1/16)