The Palestine Chronology

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 5 Palestinians, 1 Israeli Arab, 1 IDF soldier dead, 300 Palestinians injured. Following the funeral for Fatah cmdr. Ubayyat (attended by 10,000 Palestinians), a Palestinian sniper fires on IDF troops outside Rachel's Tomb nearby, killing 1 soldier, wounding another. A small bomb explodes in East Jerusalem, slightly injuring an Israeli border policeman. More than 50 IDF shells fall in the Ramallah area, hitting the PA civil administration building, the PA Central Bureau of Statistics headquarters, the Islamic Elementary School, several apartment complexes and homes. IDF tank, heavy machine gun fire are reported in and around Hebron, Jinin, Khan Yunis, Nablus, Qalqilya, Salfit. The IDF also bulldozes agricultural lands nr. Qalqilya. Jewish settlers uproot Palestinian olive trees nr. Ramallah, assault Palestinians in several locations around Nablus. Israel again restricts Palestinian access to al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers. Egypt reports that Israel is barring medical goods, 30 ambulances donated by Saudi Arabia fr. entering Gaza via the Rafah crossing. (ADM, LAW 11/10; MENA 11/10 in WNC 11/13; NYT, PCHR, WP 11/11; HJ 11/15 in WNC 11/27)

UNSC resumes talks on an international buffer force for the West Bank, Gaza. Arafat lobbies for the UN to send 2,000 troops to the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem. The UK, U.S. vow to block the proposal as long as Israel disapproves. (XIN 11/10 in WNC 11/13; NYT, WP, WT 11/11; HJ 11/13 in WNC 11/15)

In Amman, Jordanian security forces peacefully disperse 1,000 Jordanians attempting to march to the Israeli emb. 100s of Lebanese, Palestinian refugees demonstrate at Fatima Gate on the blue line. The IDF shoots across the border, wounding a Lebanese truck driver approaching the border with a load of stones. (AFP [Internet] 11/10; DUS 11/10 in WNC 11/13; MEI 11/24)

PA security officials in Gaza report that Jewish settlers aided by the IDF have bulldozed some 200 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Khan Yunis, placed 15 trailers on the site, begun constructing greenhouses. (al-Ayyam 7/18 in WNC 7/21; MM 8/3)

Israel releases longest-held Palestinian detainee, Osama Barham, after 6 yrs. in prison without charge or trial. (NYT, WP, WT 7/19)

In Gaza, Israeli, PA justice discuss Israeli plans to grant citizenship to collaborators, other justice issues; PA demands Israel look into claims that the IDF murdered 450 Palestinians in Khan Yunis btwn. 11/6-8/56, during the Sinai campaign. Israel denies event took place. (QY, VOP 9/6 in FBIS 9/7)

In Jerusalem, PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. and Arafat critic Mahmud Abbas meets with Israeli Economic M Beilin to discuss status of Jerusalem. (VOP 9/6 in FBIS 9/7)

1,000 mbrs of the Action Comm. for the Abolition of the Autonomy Plan, a group of IDF reservists, send petition to PM Rabin, saying they will not obey orders to remove West Bank settlers. (MM 9/7)

Continuing the naval blockade begun in 2/96, Israeli gunboats off the coast of Tyre fire on Lebanese fishermen. (RL 9/6 in FBIS 9/6) (see 5/10)

Israel issues 3,500 permits for Palestinian workers to enter Israel, raising total number to 18,500. Permits will go to married men over 30, tourism workers over 25. (QY 3/3 in FBIS 3/3; WP 3/4)

House Appropriations Comm. cuts debt forgiveness to Jordan to $50 m. fr. $275 m. PM Rabin calls Pres. Clinton to criticize move. Clinton condemns decision as threat to peace process, calls on Senate to overturn it; phones King Hussein to reassure him. (CSM, WT 3/3; RJ 3/7 in FBIS 3/8;  CSM 3/8; JP 3/11; WT 3/12; WJW 3/16; MEI 3/17; WSJ 3/24; NYT 3/29; MEI 3/31) (see 2/22)

Senate confirms Martin Indyk as 1st Jewish U.S. amb. to Israel "with no controversy." (WT 3/6)

PA arrests Shaykh Salama al-Safadi fr. Gaza's Filastin Mosque, Shaykh Ahman Nimr fr. Khan Yunis mosque for giving anti-PA sermons. (HA 3/5; AFP 3/6 in FBIS 3/6; MBC in FBIS 3/7)

Palestinian police vanguard of 20 officers enters Jericho fr. Jordan. PLO and Israeli officials in Jericho and Gaza discuss transfer of powers. PLO official Khalid Qudra says after Gaza mtg. he expects full Palestinian takeover to occur 5/17. (MM 5/12; NYT, WP, WT 5/13)

IDF evacuates Rafah, Gaza Strip, turning over police station and military govt. HQ to 40 locally recruited Palestinian police. IDF also leaves bases in Khan Yunis and Maghazi, al-Burayj, and Nusayrat r.c.s. (NYT, WP, WT 5/13)

Israeli AG Michael Ben-Yair tells Knesset that parliamentary immunity no longer applies in Palestinian autonomous areas. Remark is directed at 3 Likud and NRP MKs staging sit-in at Jericho's Shalom Al Yisrael synagogue. (MM 5/12)

Israeli truck driver ambushed nr. Mogaz settlement, Gaza Strip, in attack claimed by Hamas. 1 Palestinian arrested. In Jabaliya r.c., Palestinian gunmen shoot at IDF soldiers, who return fire, wounding 1Palestinian. (WP 5/13)

PLO official Nabil Shaath announces appointment of 15 mbrs. of Palestinian National Authority. 2 women are among appointees. Israeli PM Rabin says naming of 15 of 24 mbrs. sufficient to proceed with transition to self-rule. (NYT, WP, WT 5/13)

Dep. Asst. Secy of State Daniel Kurtzer, in Cairo, states U.S. has pledged $10.1 m. toward job creation, construction, and training for Palestinian refugees. Kurtzer in Cairo for 3-day mtg. of multilateral working group on refugees. (MM 5/12)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: A general strike is observed on W. Bank and the Gaza Strip marking the beginning of 9th month of the intifadah [NYT 8/10, FJ 8/14].

Arab World: Assistant Sec. of State Richard Murphy meets with officials in Jordan and Egypt, declines to meet with Palestinians; two Palestinians he was to have met are close to PLO chairman Yasir Arafat. [WP 8/10]. In an interview in al-Sharq al-Awsat PLO chairman Yasir Arafat refuses to state whether he supports Palestinian government-in-exile [NYT 8/10]. In Damascus George Habash, leader of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, endorses formation of Palestinian government-in-exile [NYT 8/10].

Military

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Troops shoot, kill 14-year-old in Qalqiliyyah [NYT 8/10, FJ8/14]. In Qalqiliyyah 8 others are shot, 9 seriously affected by tear gas [FJ 8/14]. In Jenin 4 Palestinians are shot; in Bayt Rima 5 Palestinians are shot, in Gaza 5 Palestinians are shot [NYT 8/10]; in Jenin 2 Palestinians are shot [FJ 8/14]. In Tel Aviv 2 Palestinians are killed, 1 injured after the shack they were sleeping in was set afire [FJ 8/14]. At Beach camp 13 Palestinians are treated for exposure to tear gas [FJ 8/14]. Demonstrations occur in Tulkarm, Khan Yunis, Jabalya, Nusayrat, and Beach camps and Gaza City, Hebron, Dayr Ghassanah.

Arab World: Israeli Air Force bombers attack positions in S. Lebanon knocking out radio station used to broadcast PLO messages to the territories; 3 people are killed, 5 wounded. It was the 12th Israeli air raid into Lebanon this year; police estimate that over 60 people have been killed, 120 wounded [NYT 8/10]