The Palestine Chronology

Syrian, Lebanese, and joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegations arrive at State Dept. in Washington for peace talks; Israel holds fast to its decision not to attend. (NYT 12/5)

U.S. State Dept. criticizes 12/2 establishment of new settlement in W. Bank. (MM 12/5)

IDF lifts round-the-clock curfew of Ramallah-Bira region [see 12/1] for four hours to allow residents to buy supplies. IDF officials tell Knesset it has seized homes it claims from which gunmen killed settler. (MM 12/5)

Undercover Israeli agents kill resident of Zawiya, W. Bank, after entering village looking for another man. (MM 12/5)

Islamic Jihad releases Terry Anderson, last and longest-held American hostage in Lebanon. Since escalation of UN-brokered negotiations for comprehensive hostage-prisoner exchange in August, 91 Arab prisoners have been released by Israel or the SLA in return for 10 Western hostages, body of one Israeli soldier, confirmation of deaths of two other Israelis. (NYT 12/6)

Member of advisory committee to Palestinian delegation Ziyad Abu Zayyad confirms the existence of an eight-page document discussing the eventual transfer of power from Israeli occupation forces to Palestinians in the o.t. during the "transitional period" of self-rule envisioned as part of the peace process. The document, which he states is only a draft proposal, was written by residents of the o.t. and suggests establishing management committees to oversee administration of the territories. (Qol Yisra'el 11/12 in FBIS 11/14)

Five members of the new political committees in o.t. resign, but 25 new members are added. Move seen as part of behind-thescenes conflict between the original founders of the committees and the PLO, members of the Palestinian delegation over the nature of the committees. (Qol Yisra'el 11/13, Ha'Aretz 11/13, Israel Television 11/12 in FBIS 11/14)

Faisal Husseini holds debate with Riyad al-Maliki, leading PFLP supporter in West Bank and opponent of the peace process, at Bethlehem University. (MEM 11/12)

Syrian VP 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam meets with delegation from Palestinian National Salvation Front, including PNSF head Khalid al-Fahum, PFLP-GC Gen. Secy. Ahmad Jibril, Fateh-Uprising leader Sa'id Musa Muragha (Abu Musa), other top PNSF figures. Meeting comes in wake of improved Fateh-Syrian, PLO-Syrian relations. (al-Quds Palestinian Arab Radio [clandestine] 11/12 in FBIS 11/14)

Pres. Bush, speaking before ameeting of Jewish American leaders in New York, regrets language he used during his 9/12 comments about the loan guarantees to Israel [in which he obliquely referred to the power of the Jewish lobby]. (MEM 11/13, 11/14)

Meeting of Israeli Labor party, called by Labor party leader Shimon Peres in an attempt to bridge gap among hard-liners and moderates within the party on foreign affairs and security matters, fails to reach agreement. Meeting comes in wake of rightward turn within Labor party toward security issues, evidenced by the tough 11/10 draft of the party's political platform adopted by the party's political committee and by the support given by several hard-line Labor parliamentarians to an 11/11 Knesset resolution that called for permanent Israeli control over Golan. (MEM 11/13)

Meeting of the "Damascus Declaration" nations ends without agreement on ways to turn their Gulf war alliance into a deeper multi-lateral relationship. (MEM 11/12)

Knesset passes resolution declaring Israeli control of Golan is not negotiable. The resolution was supported by a broad coalition which included members from Likud, Labor parties. Prime Min. Shamir states current borders and ceasefire lines (including 1967 occupied territories) are "an essential minimum of territory." (MEM 11/12)

Syrian vice pres. 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam meets with Fateh delegation which has been in Damascus during the week. (MEM 11/13)

Nayif Hawatma, leader of one wing of the DFLP, meets with King Hussein, Jordanian prime min. Tahir al-Masri in Amman. (MEM 11/12)

Foreign ministers of the "Damascus Declaration" nations (Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman) begin meeting in Cairo, the fifth time the countries have met. Meeting expressed satisfaction atrecent Madrid peace conference. (MENA 11/11 in FBIS 11/12)

Israeli army kills four persons in the western Negev desert who infiltrated into Israeli territory from Egypt. (IDF Radio 11/11 in FBIS 11/12)

At joint news conference in Damascus, Sec. Baker says his latest diplomatic mission has failed to bridge major differences between Israel and Syria over how to organize peace conference. Baker sharply criticizes Israel's 4/23 opening of new settlement [NYT, WP, CSM 4/25; DDS 4/24 in FBIS 4/25; MET 5/7].

Iraqi and Kurdish leaders say they have reached broad new agreement that will allow Kurds to return home. Jalal Talabani, leader of one of largest Kurdish groups, says agreement provides for new measure of autonomy for Kurdistan, and guarantees of democracy and pluralism [NYT, WP, LAT, MEM, WT 4/25; CSM 4/26; INA, RMC, AFP 4/24, ADS 4/25 in FBIS 4/25; MET 5/7].

Saudi Arabia says it will accept and shelter all Iraqi refugees in southern Iraq, and will build camp to accommodate as many as 50,000 people [NYT 4/25].

U.S. symbolically hands over American control of part of southern Iraq to UN forces; imminent departure of American troops is raising fears among refugees that UN troops will not defend them from Saddam's army [NYT, WP, LAT 4/25].

Kuwaiti official says new gov't.'s 1st act will be to downgrade relations with Algeria, Yemen, Jordan, and Sudan, which backed Iraq in Gulf war [LAT 4/25].

Knesset members from Labor, Citizens' Right Movement, and Mapam head Israeli delegation that leaves for Spain and international conference: "The Dialogue of Mediterranean Citizens." Palestinians from o.t. and PLO representatives are also attending [MEM 4/24].

U.S. ambassador to Israel William Brown files an official protest with Israeli gov't. about establishment and/or expansion of settlements in West Bank; Housing Min. Sharon says that Israel has no intention of meeting U.S. demands to slow or stop settlement: "... we built in the past, we build now, and we will build in the future" [MEM 4/25].

21-year-old Palestinian is shot dead in Rafah by IDF after he disobeys order to halt [MEM 4/25; FJ 4/29]. 

Sec. Baker arrives in Kuwait City and presses Kuwaiti gov't. for greater democracy and more respect for human rights [WP, LAT, MEM 4/23; MET 4/30].

GCC committee for finance and economic cooperation opens meetings in Riyadh; ministers set up multi-billion dollar development fund [MEM 4/22, 4/23; SPA 4/22 in FBIS 4/23].

In Baghdad, autonomy talks between Kurdish leaders and Iraqi gov't. enter 3d day [NYT 4/23]; exiled Iraqi Shiite leaders denounce Baghdad talks [LAT 4/23].

Kurdish leaders again call for more international aid, ask that refugee camps be enlarged [WP 4/23].

IDF lifts ban on journalists freely entering o.t. that was imposed 1/17 at stalt of Gulf war, according to Israeli Defense Ministry [MEM 4/22].

Report by opposition members of Knesset, including Dedi Zucker, says Shamir gov't. is enticing Jews to o.t. with large, low-cost mortgages; settlers receive 50% more aid than other Israelis, report states [MEM 4/23].

Kuwait gov't. announces that registration of all non-Kuwaiti residents has begun. Expatriates are told they risk 6 months in prison if they do not bring papers to Interior Ministry for vetting [MEM 4/23].

P.M. Shamir says the 10 Palestinians who met with Sec. Baker during his recent trip to Israel are unacceptable negotiating partners for Israel: "they came in the name of the PLO. Israel will absolutely not negotiate with the PLO" [LAT, WP 3/19; JDS 3/18 in FBIS 3/19].

Shamir and other officials repudiate 3/17 statement by Ehud Olmert, saying that o.t. are not negotiable in peace talks [WP 3/19; JDS, IDF 3/18 in FBIS 3/18].

Israeli and U.S. officials reject reported offer by Yasir Arafat to participate in direct talks with Israel; Arafat is quoted making his offer in the Paris newspaper Le Figaro [LAT, WT 3/19].

Joint statement by Saudi Arabia and Iran says haii agreement has been reached, and that diplomatic relations between the 2 countries could resume soon. Relations were cut after 1987 haj when riots between Saudi security and Iranian pilgrims left hundreds dead [LAT, CSM 3/19].

The 5 permanent members of UN Sec. Council reach broad agreement on main elements of new permanent cease-fire resolution for Gulf war; resolution will set out again, but in greater detail, terms approved in 3/2 resolution 686 [NYT 3/19].

PLO's Bassam Abu Sharif is reported as having resigned over remarks attributed to him in interview on 3/13; Abu Sharif denies reports [MENA, RMC 3/19 in FBIS 3/19].

By 53-43 vote, Knesset defeats no-confidence motions brought against Israeli gov't. for failures of immigrant absorption, high unemployment, and closure imposed on o.t. [JDS 3/18 in FBIS 3/19; MET 3/26].

SCUD missile fired at Israel lands in uninhabited area, 2d missile hits residential area, light injuries are reported; missile launched at Riyadh is intercepted by Patriot missile [SPA, IDF 2/11, IDF 2/12 in FBIS 2/12; LAT, NYT, WP, WT, MEM 2/12].

As part of previously announced aid package, Germany delivers to Israel check for $3.3 million to help repair missile damage to Tel Aviv [LAT, MEM 2/12].

Environmental experts say oil slick in Gulf will severely damage Gulf states' fishing industry [LAT 2/12].

Israeli D.M. Moshe Arens meets with Pres. Bush, other U.S. officials in Washington; Arens describes "casualties and damage that have affected the Israeli civilian population" [IDF 2/11 in FBIS 2/12; LAT, NYT, WP, WT 2/12].

Iraqi cabinet min. Abdullah Fadel says "thousands" of Iraqi civilians have been killed in allied bombing raids, and adds that several mosques and churches have been destroyed; U.S. calls statement "propaganda" [NYT 2/12].

Pentagon offers cumulative U.S. combat losses: 12 killed in action, 12 wounded, 28 missing, and 8 POWs, with 18 aircraft lost in combat. More defections push number of Iraqi POWs past 1,000 [NYT, WP 2/12].

P.M. Major meets in Bonn with Chancellor Kohl to discuss Gulf war; King Hussein meets in Amman with Chrmn. Arafat [ADS 2/11 in FBIS 2/12; NYT 2/12].

Knesset rejects 3 motions of no-confidence submitted because of continuing curfew in o.t. [IDF 2/11 in FBIS 2/12].

UN Sec.-Gen. Perez de Cuellar condemns allied bombing raids on highway from Baghdad to Jordanian border; calls Jordan "an innocent victim" of war [LAT 2/5].

In 1st policy address to Knesset on Gulf war, P.M. Shamir vows that Israel will never take part in an international conference on the Middle East, and denounces PLO as "the biggest supporters of the murderer from Baghdad" [IDF 2/4 in FBIS 2/5; NYT, LAT, WP, MEM, WT 2/5].

EC sends experts to Gulf to help contain oil slick; France's new D.M. Pierre Joxe flies to Saudi Arabia; Soviet Communist party calls on Pres. Gorbachev to launch fresh diplomatic initiative to end war [LAT 2/5].

Pres. Rafsanjani of Iran offers to mediate Gulf war; Iraq has no comment, U.S. response is cool [MEM 2/4; NYT, WP 2/5].

PLO says that it will stop its rocket attacks against Israeli troops in S. Lebanon "security zone," and will use other means to assist Iraq in Gulf war [RFL 2/4, BVL 2/5 in FBIS 2/5; NYT, WP 2/5]

Six U.S. helicopter crewmen are killed in 2 separate crashes; 3 airmen are missing after B-52 crashes in Indian Ocean [LAT, NYT, WP, WT, MEM 2/4].

Investigators confirm that 7 U.S. soldiers killed 1/31 were victims of friendly fire [LAT, NYT, WP, MEM, WT 2/4].

Allied air war passes 40,000 sortie mark; U.S. command reports that 25 of 35 major Iraqi bridges leading to Iraqi front line have been destroyed as allies continue pounding Iraqi positions. 68 Iraqi aircraft are reported destroyed, and number of Iraqi prisoners stands at "about 800" [LAT, NYT, WP 2/4].

EC foreign ministers meet in Brussels for 1st time since war began [LAT, MEM 2/4].

Knesset approves cabinet addition of anti-Arab Rehavam Zeevi, former general [IDF, JDS 2/3 in FBIS 2/4; LAT, NYT, WP, MEM 2/4].

In Rabat, at least 300,000 people take to streets in pro-Iraqi demonstration [PDS 2/3 in FBIS 2/4; NYT 2/4; LAT 2/5].

Jerusalem District Court confirms detention of Sari Nusseibeh, reducing sentence from 6 to 3 months. Nusseibeh was detained on 1/29 as alleged spy for Iraq [IDF 2/3 in FBIS 2/4].

Lebanese gov't. says it has arrested 4 senior Palestinian fighters, including top aid to Abu Nidal, and is sending troops to S. Lebanon to check PLO military power there [NYT 2/4].