The Palestine Chronology

U.S. coordinator Ross delivers message from Pres. Clinton to Syrian Pres. al-Asad at meeting in Damascus. (SANA 7/12 in FBIS 7/13)

U.S. delegation meets Jordanian Crown Prince Hasan, PM al-Majali and Palestinian negotiator Faisal Husseini in Amman (Radio Jordan, JTV 7/12 in FBIS 7/13)

U.S. coordinator Ross meets Palestinian negotiators in Jerusalem. Palestinians present 4-point statement on negotiations, Palestinian interim self-government to U.S. delegation. Delegate Ghassan al-Khatib boycotts session. (Qol Yisra'el 7/13 in FBIS 7/13, 7/14; Jordan Times 7/15-16 in FBIS 7/15)

Arafat claims 2 meetings were held between PLO and Israeli officials during Washington peace talks in June. FM Peres denies any meetings took place, saying "this information is baseless." Arafat later states PLO attempted to meet Israelis but meeting did not take place. (Ha Aretz 7/12 in FBIS 7/12; MENA 7/13 in FBIS 7/13; NYT 7/13, 7/14)

Palestinian-Jordanian joint committee holds first meeting, establishes subcommittees on Jerusalem, refugees, security and borders, economic affairs, water, and legislation and laws. (Radio Jordan 7/12 in FBIS 7/12)

IDF kills 2 19-year-old Palestinians during tire-burning incident at Balata refugee camp in Nablus. (Qol Yisra'el 7/12 in FBIS 7/13)

Israel establishes diplomatic relations with Vietnam in agreement signed in Jerusalem. (WT 7/13)

Knesset defeats no-confidence motions 57-42 (see 7/6, 7/7). (MM 7/13)

U.S. presents 2-page draft joint statement of principles on self-rule to Israeli and Palestinian delegations. Palestinians criticize U.S. for consulting Israel before presenting them with the draft, do not attend informal trilateral meeting to accept the document. (MM 5/13; IDF Radio, MENA, Qol Yisra'el 5/13 in FBIS 5/13; NYT 5/14)

Israelis and Palestinians agree to put family reunification at top of agenda during 2-day multilateral meeting on refugees in Oslo. (MM 5/13)

IDF shoots dead 2 Palestinians, 1 of them handicapped since being wounded early in intifada, in Gaza Strip. Two Palestinians stab, seriously wound 2 IDF soldiers in Nablus. (MM 5/12, 5/13)

Lebanon orders daily al-Safir closed for 1 week for printing the Israeli proposal in its 5/11 edition (see 5/4). (MM 5/12; VOL 5/12 in FBIS 5/12)

Hizballah kills 2 SLA militiamen istring of clashes inside "security zone." Israel unleashes up to 300 shells on Lebanese villages. (AFP, VOL, VOO 5/12 in FBIS 5/12)

U.S. State Dept. announces plans to fund $14m o.t. job-creation program. (MM, WT 5/5; WP 5/6)

At econ. devt. multilateral meeting in Rome, Palestinian delegate Samir Hulayleh says World Bank is studying a $ lb. o.t. aid package, to be implemented as part of autonomy agreement. (MM 5/4, 5/5; Ha'Aretz 5/5 in FBIS 5/6)

Israel presents Palestinians with proposal for mutual water usage, which head delegate Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi terms "an encouraging opening." (MM 5/5)

Four Nablus notables close to Fateh meet with Israeli Police Min. Moshe Shahal to discuss o.t. police force, recommend Jordanian-based Palestine Liberation Army for the job. (IDF Radio 5/4, Hadashot 5/5 in FBIS 5/5)

Israel presents Lebanon with first-ever proposal linking withdrawal according to UNSCR 425 with a peace treaty. Political powers are proposed for the joint military workingroup (a long-standing Israeli request). (MM 5/5; Davar 5/12 in FBIS 5/12; al-Safir 5/11 in FBIS 5/17)

UNLU calls on Palestinians to seal off o.t. from Israelis and settlers in retaliation for the unilateral cosure, in call no. 95. (Al Hamishmar 5/5 in FBIS 5/6)

DFLP chief Nayif Hawatima and Pres. Saddam Hussein meet in Baghdad, discuss opposition to Arab-Israeli peace talks. (RMC 5/5 in FBIS 5/6; Sawt al-Sha'b 5/9 in FBIS 5/10)

IDF shoots 3 Palestinians dead, wounds over 40, in the Gaza Strip. (MM 5/4; NYT, WP 5/5)

Israel, SLA shell Lebanese villages. (RFL, VOM 5/4 in FBIS 5/4)