The Palestine Chronology

FM reps. of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and PLO hold coordination meeting in Lebanon, agree to participate in negotiations beginning 12/7. (MM 12/4; Radio Lebanon 12/4 in FBIS 12/7)

Steering comm. overseeing multilateral talks ends 2-day meeting in London. Progress limited on most contentious isuesgreater Palestinian participation, and formation of working groups on Jerusalem and human rights. The 5 existing working groups are scheduled to meet in February. (MM 12/4)

Al-Fajr reports that the EC has allocated 4 million ECU ($6.5 million) for operation of hospitals in o.t., and will exempt Palestinian agricultural exports from EC states' import duties. (FBIS 12/8)

PFLP leader George Habash urges solidarity with the PLO in statement to Egyptian newspaper. (MENA 12/4 in FBIS 12/4)

Palestinians demonstrate throughout o.t on 4th anniv. of declaration of the State of Palestine, are dispersed by IDF using tear gas and gunfire in Ramallah, Gaza, and Jerusalem. (Qol Yisra'el 11/15 in FBIS 11/16)

IDF uses antitank missiles to destroy 9 houses near Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip. (Hadashot 11/16 in FBIS 11/19) 

Israeli FM Shimon Peres meets with Pres. Mubarak, FM 'Amr Musa in Cairo. (MENA, Qol Yisra'el 11/15 in FBIS 11/16)

Likud Cent. Comm. votes to hold primary to elect its leader and next PM candidate next March. Move is seen as a political gain for Benyamin Netanyahu and David Levy, who campaigned for the primary, at the expense of Benny Begin. (WT 11/17) 

Israel begins withdrawal of armor and artillery from "security zone," S. Lebanon. (Qol Yisra'el, Radio Lebanon 11/15 in FBIS 11/16)

French FM Roland Dumas meets with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo, then meets separately with PM Rabin and FM Peres in Jerusalem. The U.S. has reportedly sent word to Israel that the Dumas initiatives, centered on arranging a Rabin-Asad summit, do not advance the peace process. Palestinian and Jordanian sources are "suspicious" of Dumas' efforts, as he has made no effort to meet with the PLO, and appears to be working toward only a partial settlement. (Ha'Aretz al-Quds, al-Dustur 10/5 in MM 10/5)

Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports that Chmn. Arafat has solicited the help of Pres. Mubarak in curbing Syrian support of oppositionist Palestinian factions. Ten such orgs. signed a statement attacking the peace process 9/18 in Damascus. Mubarak reportedly promised to speak to Pres. Asad on the matter. (al-Sharq al-Awsat 10/4 in FBIS 10/8)

Hizballah gunmen attack Bayt Yahun crossing point in central "security zone," S. Lebanon, kill SLA security chief Hussein 'Abd al-Nabi, 1 other SLA militiaman. Hizballah loses 2 in the fighting. Israel shells and strafes the area. (Radio Lebanon, AFP 10/4 in FBIS 10/5; al-Nahr 10/5 in MM 10/5

Near Ramallah, Shin Bet arrests 3 members of Hamas-'Izz al-Din al-Qassim faction, believed to be responsible for deaths of 3 Israelis, 20 Gaza Palestinians. (Qol Yisra'el, ITV 8/8 in FBIS 8/10; WP 8/9; JP 8/15)

Palestinian man stabs 2 Israeli policemen in Jerusalem, killing 1, and is shot and killed by a passerby and police. (WP 7/31)

Body of Mahmud Abu Hasan al-Zarini is returned, buried by family in Janin under tight Israeli security. Seven-day commercial strike ends (see 7/22, 27). (MM 7/30)

Jordanian house of reps. issues statement supporting Palestinian national rights and intifada, criticizing all settlements and deportations, and calling for inter-Arab solidarity. (Radio Jordan Network 7/30 in FBIS 7/31)

With Hizballah consent, Syrian-backed Lebanese army force takes over barracks in Ba'labakk, Biqa' Valley, which have been under Hizballah control since 1982. (AFP, Radio Lebanon 7/30 in FBIS 7/31)

Israeli air force raids Jabal Safi, Iqlim al-Tuffah regions, S. Lebanon. Casualties this year from 27 Israeli raids total 44 dead, 100 wounded, mostly civilians. (AFP, Qol Yisra'el 7/30 in FBIS 7/30)

Israeli Border Police capture suspected armed Palestinian activist near al-Najah University, Nablus. In pursuit of 20 "wanted" armed activists, IDF demands that everyone leaving university submit to body search; 200 students barricade themselves inside the university. Army says activists entered the university following campus elections (which favored Fateh over Hamas, 11 to 0). Leaders Faisal Husseini and Sa'ib 'Urayqat travel to Nablus to calm the situation. (Qol Yisra'el 7/15 in FBIS 7/15)

Outgoing PM Shamir meets privately with PM Rabin, formally hands over prime ministership. (Qol Yisra'el 7/14 in FBIS 7/14)

Qalqiliya (W. Bank) Chamber of Commerce holds elections, PLO-identified National List wins 8 of 9 seats, Islamic List (Hamas) wins 1. (Qol Yisra'el 7/14 in FBIS 7/14)

Israeli undercover unit shoots dead "wanted" Fateh Black Panther activist near Janin, W. Bank. (MM 7/14)

Arab and Palestinian leaders and delegates reject Rabin's invitation in 7/13 speech for meeting in Jerusalem before positive concrete steps are taken by new govt., express cautious optimism about peace process. (NYT, WP 7/14, 15)

IDF fires incendiary shells into Nabatiyya area, S. Lebanon. Islamic Resistance attacks Israeli patrol, IDF resumes shelling "security zone" border villages of Jaru, 'Ayn Bu Siwar. (Radio Lebanon 7/14 in FBIS 7/15; Voice of the Oppressed 7/15 in FBIS 7/15)

Pres. Mubarak sends cable of congratulations to PM Rabin. (MENA 7/14 in FBIS 7/14)

PM Rabin addresses new Knesset, offering to travel to Arab capitals, inviting Palestinian delegation and Arab country leaders to Jerusalem, and calling for Palestinian acceptance of autonomy. Yitzhak Shamir addresses Knesset, offers praise for old admin., warnings and criticism for the new. Knesset approves new cabinet by a vote of 67 to 53, 17 new cabinet mbrs. sworn in. Pres. Bush congratulates Rabin, invites him to Kennebunkport, Maine, announces Secy. of State. Baker will travel to the region to meet with Rabin, Arab leaders. (ITV 7/13 in FBIS 7/14; NYT, WP 7/14)

Faisal Husseini, not considered part of the Palestinian negotiating team by PM Rabin because he is from Jerusalem, and therefore not among Rabin's 7/13 "invitees," offers counter-invitation fr Rabin to call him at home in Jerusalem. Husseini's position is seen as direct challenge to Syria, which sees Rabin as "carbon copy" of Shamir. (MM 7/14)

Fateh and Hamas sign new, more elaborate agreement to end violence in Gaza Strip as a result of NRC mediation (see 7/8, 10). Eightteen committees have been set up to enforce the agreement. (Qol Yisra'el 7/14 in FBIS 7/14)

Israeli undercover unit disguised as Arabs infiltrate, join 20 Hamas marchers in Gaza city. Hamas activist attacks 1 soldier, IDF opens fire; in ensuing confusion, 1 Hamas activist dies (from IDF bullets) as Hamas reportedly believes undercover IDF are Fateh activists. (Qol Yisra'el 7/13 in FBIS 7/14; MM 7/22)

Pres. Asad meets with Lebanese Pres. Ilyas al-Hirawi, joined later by VP 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam and FM Faruk al-Shara' in Damascus. (Syrian Arab TV 7/13 in FBIS 7/14)

SLA commander Antun Lahd categorically rejects Lebanese elections given current circumstances. (MM 7/14)

Israel, SLA shells Hizballah target, UNIFIL village of Yatar killing 1 civilian, in response to Islamic Resistance mortaring of "security zone" village of Bayt Lif. (MM 7/13; Radio Lebanon 7/13 in FBIS 7/14; WP 7/14)

Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi criticizes Israeli proposal to hold test municipal elections in o.t. but states Palestinian delegation has not rejected the proposal outright. Lebanese, Israeli delegations disagree on anti-Israeli resistance in S. Lebanon. (WP 4/29; Voice of Lebanon, Beirut Radio Lebanon 4/29 in FBIS 4/29; Israel Television 4/29 in FBIS 4/30)

FM Levy informs Secy. of State Baker Israel will not attend upcoming multilateral talks on refugees, economic development, if Palestinians from outside o.t. participate [see 4/7]. (Israel Television 4/28 in FBIS 4/29)

In interviews published in E. Jerusalem press, Nayif Hawatima, leader of one faction of the DFLP, expresses support for municipal elections if they are held under international supervision throughout o.t. and not in selected towns as Israel proposed. Hawatima also criticizes PLO leadership for allegedly exceeding bounds set by Palestine National Council, PLO Central Council resolutions, calls for reforms within PLO, and urgesuspending Palestinian participation in peace talks. (Sawt al-Sha'b 4/28 in FBIS 4/30; MM 4/28)

Faisal Husseini sends letter to 2 members of anti-Zionist Orthodox Jewish movement Neturei Karta appointing them to advisory committee of Palestinian delegation. (Yedi'ot Aharonot 4/29 in FBIS 4/30)

Syrian FM Faruq al-Shar' announces hindrances on travel abroad by Syrian Jews have been removed [see 4/13, 4/23], but stresses difference between "travel" and "emigration." Al-Shar' also states Syrian Jews have no desire to emigrate from Syria. (MM 4/29; Syrian Arab Republic Radio 4/29 in FBIS 4/29)

Israel Television announces work has begun on 12-km. road linking Jerusalem with settlements in Gush Tzion. Road will allow settlers to bypass Palestinian villages between Bethlehem and Hebron, and is described as largest road project ever carried out by Israel. (MM 4/29)

Israeli police announce arrests of 12 Palestinian citizens of Israel whom police accuse of membershipn Islamic Jihad. (MM 4/29