The Palestine Chronology

Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify, leaving 9 Palestinians dead, including senior Fatah official Jamal `Abd al-Razik, whose car is ambushed and strafed by IDF troops. Hrs. later, a remote-controlled car bomb explodes during rush hr. in Hadera, Israel, killing 2 Israelis, injuring 60. Although Arafat denounces the bombing, Barak blames the PA, vows Israel will "get even," convenes his security cabinet to discus how to respond; the cabinet recesses without taking a decision. The IDF sends more tanks into Gaza; dismantles the vegetable market in Hebron; bulldozes Palestinian land in Bayt Lahia, Dayr al-Balah, Hebron, Nablus; demolishes several homes nr. Kefar Darom, Gush Katif; takes over a home in Ajja for use as a new base. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire on residential areas of al-Bireh, Rafah (destroying 1 home, damaging 2). Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian land and set fire to 2 factories in Tura al-Sharqiyya; bulldoze land nr. Qalqilya, Salfit; fire on Palestinians nr. Jinin; attack Palestinians in Bayt Ilo, Bayt Rimia, Dayr `Amar, Qalqilya. The PSF successfully removes explosive devices found in schools in Balata camp, Nablus. (ADM, LAW, MEZ, MM 11/22; AFP 11/22 in WNC 11/24; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/23; NYT, WP 11/24; MA, al-Quds 11/24 in WNC 11/29; Independent [Internet], JP 12/7; PCHR 12/18; WJW 12/28)

In response to the Hadera bombing, 10,000s of Israeli attend a "Let the Army Win!" rally in Jerusalem's Zion Square, calling for revenge attacks on Palestinian targets, tougher military action against the Palestinians. (AFP [Internet] 11/22; MM, NYT, WP 11/23; MEI 11/24; WP 11/27; MM 11/28)

At an emergency session of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in New York, Egyptian, Palestinian envoys call for international protection for the Palestinians. The U.S. says the emergency session, the call for international observers are inappropriate, unhelpful. (MM 11/22; JT, XIN 11/22, MENA 11/23 in WNC 11/24; MM 11/30)

The UN Economic and Social Council adopts (21-19 with 11 abstentions) a resolution by the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) ordering an investigation of Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights during the recent clashes. (MM 11/30)

Israel restricts Palestinians' access to Jerusalem for the 3d Friday in a row. Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify again, leaving 4 Palestinians dead, 250 injured. Main flash points are Bayt Jala, Bethlehem, Hebron, Jinin, Qalqilya, Qarni checkpoint, Ramallah, Tulkarm. IDF troops outside Ramallah open fire on an ambulance, severely injuring the driver. In Gaza, the IDF bulldozes another 3 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. At least 3 roadside bombs explode nr. Bethlehem, injuring 1 Israeli border policeman. A synagog in Efrat is vandalized, presumably by Palestinians, though how they entered the Jewish settlement is unclear. (ADM, LAW, MM, PCHR 10/27; IDF Radio [Internet], Guardian [Internet], NYT, WT 10/28; AYM 10/31 in WNC 11/1)

Palestinian refugees in `Ayn al-Hilwa camp in Lebanon demonstrate against the weak Arab League statement issued on 10/22. In Nairobi, 1,000s of Kenyans march in solidarity with the Palestinians. In the U.S., similar rallies are held outside the New York Times offices in New York, as well as in Hartford, Sacramento. (Panafrican News Agency [Internet] 10/27; al-Safir 10/28 in WNC 10/31)

The Arab League closes its 2-day emergency session, issuing a nonbinding resolution calling for a $1 b. Palestinian aid fund, recommending Arab states postpone further normalization with Israel. Tunisia orders Israel to shut its representative offices it Tunis. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/23; MENA 10/23; HJ, IRNA 10/24 in WNC 10/25; HJ 10/24, 1025 HJ, SA 10/26 in WNC 10/30; WJW 10/26; MEI 10/27)

Barak formally suspends the peace process. In response, Arafat states that Palestinians have a right to an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital and "to accept it or not to accept--let [Barak] go to hell." Meanwhile, Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate further, leaving 4 Palestinians dead, over 100 injured; 2 others die of injuries received earlier. The most violent exchange is nr. Bethlehem, where the IDF orders residents of Aida camp, Bayt Jala, Bayt Sahur to evacuate their homes before ordering machine guns, tanks, and helicopter gunships to fire into the area, targeting buildings fr. which snipers shot into nearby Gilo settlement and destroying 2 Palestinian factories, several houses, a power plant. The gunfire continues overnight. In Gaza, the IDF bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land along roads leading to Morag settlement. Israel also recloses the Gaza airport, reinstates the internal closure on PA areas, shuts crossings into Egypt and Jordan. (ADM 10/22; BDL, LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/23; MM 10/24; MA 10/24 in WNC 10/25; MEI 10/27; AYM 11/12 in WNC 11/13)

In Cairo, 1,000s of Egyptian students protest the failure of the Arab League summit to cut ties with or to call for military action against Israel. There are also reports of at least 1 Palestinian protest in Bethlehem denouncing Arab leaders, especially Mubarak, for the weak Arab League statement. Other rallies in support of the Palestinians are held in Bahrain, London, Ottawa. (WP 10/23; HJ 10/24, SA 10/26 in WNC 10/30; Bahrain Freedom Movement press release 10/25; MM 10/26)

Barak announces an inquiry will be held into the deaths of Israeli Arabs during the recent clashes and a 4-yr. development plan for Israeli Arab areas. Israeli Arabs complain that the inquiry's recommendations will be nonbinding. (NYT 10/23; WJW 10/26; MM 10/30)

Arafat, Barak, Clinton, Mubarak, King Abdallah, the UN's Annan, the EU's Solana meet in Sharm al-Shaykh. Talks continue for 16 hrs., stretching past midnight, without success. A separate, very heated mtg. is held among Secy. of State Albright, Israel's acting FM Ben-Ami, the PA's Local Government M Erakat, Egyptian FM Musa to draft an outline of the rules of disengagement. (MM 10/16; ITAR-TASS, MENA, RL 10/16 in WNC 10/17; al-Quds 10/16, JT 10/17 in WNC 10/18; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 10/17; AYM 10/17 in WNC 10/9)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue at the same level of the past few days, with most clashes occurring on the outskirts of Palestinian cities, which are encircled by IDF troops. 2 Palestinians are killed by Israeli gunfire; 1 Palestinian dies of illness after being denied access to medical treatment by the IDF for 2 days because of the internal closure; 190 Palestinians are injured. The IDF expands its Netzarim Junction base, begins clearing agricultural land along roads nr. Khan Yunis. (ADM, LAW 10/16; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 10/17; Globes [Internet] 10/25)

In Gaza, Fatah, Hamas stage demonstrations against Arafat's participation in the Sharm al-Shaykh talks. Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, hold similar protests in `Ayn al-Hilwa, Baalbek, Tyre. In Iran, 1,000s of students march to the local UN offices to urge UN support for the Palestinians, condemnation of Israel. Smaller rallies in solidarity with the Palestinians are held in Amman, Ankara, Tokyo. In the U.S., demonstrations are held in Madison, San Francisco. (UPI 10/16; ATL, RL 10/16 in WNC 10/17; JT 10/17 in WNC 10/18)

The UNGA, citing a rule that allows it to take up matters of international peace and security when the UNSC proves unable or unwilling to do so, begins preparing for an emergency session to debate a resolution condemning recent Israeli violence. U.S. Amb. Holbrooke protests. (WT 10/17; WP 10/18; WJW 10/19; MEI 10/27) (see 10/12)

Hizballah says that Tenenbaum, the 4th IDF solider taken captive, approached Lebanese contacts in Europe, claiming to be an intelligence agent for a country other than Israel. He was lured to Beirut, traveling on a fake passport, on the pretense of meeting with a Hizballah official. Israel does not comment. At the request of Shin Bet, the Israeli High Court imposes a ban on publishing information about the affair. (NYT, WP 10/17; WJW 10/19) (see 10/15)

Despite another attempt to secure a cease-fire, Israeli-Palestinian clashes in Israel and throughout the West Bank and Gaza continue, leaving 10 Palestinians, 7 Israeli Arabs, 1 IDF soldier, 1 Jewish settler dead and some 300 Palestinians injured; 3 Israeli Arabs wounded on 10/1 also die. Israel closes roads in n. Israel, the West Bank, Gaza to civilian traffic. Around 30 exchanges of gunfire btwn. Israeli security forces and armed Palestinian civilians and police are reported. Nr. Tulkarm, Palestinians set afire an industrial plant owned by Jewish settlers. Nr. Hebron, Jewish settlers fatally shoot a Palestinian. The IDF dep. chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon warns that if Palestinians do not stop attacking troops guarding Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, the IDF will move in even though the area is under full PA control; the IDF has taken up positions around areas A but has not crossed into them. Barak authorizes his forces to use "all necessary means" to protect Israeli lives, quell riots. (AP, MM 10/2; AFP, ANSA, EFE [Madrid], Interfax, RL, XIN 10/2 in WNC 10/3; RL, SAPA [Johannesburg] 10/2, JT, HJ, al-Quds, SA 10/3 in WNC 10/6; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/3; HJ, al-Quds, Sabah 10/3, MA 10/6 in WNC 10/10; MM 10/9)

The IDF claims that Muhammad al-Dura, the 12-yr.-old killed at Netzarim Junction on 10/1, had been throwing stones at soldiers before he was shot, contradicting widely broadcast footage of the incident recorded by France 2 TV showing the boy and his father pinned down by gunfire for 45 minutes. The pair were returning from errands and had been dropped off by a taxi, which refused to take them across Netzarim Junction because of heavy IDF fire. (Age [Melbourne], HA [Internet], MM, WP 10/3; MA 10/6 in WNC 10/10)

U.S. secy. of state Albright announces that she will meet with Arafat, Barak in Paris on 10/4 to discuss the clashes, the peace process. All 3 will then meet with Mubarak in Sharm al-Shaykh on 10/5. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/3; Radio France International 10/3 in WNC 10/6)

In Amman, Arafat, King Abdallah discuss the Israeli-Palestinian clashes, call on Israel to pull back forces to restore calm, and urge Arab states to convene an emergency summit. In Cairo, Mubarak, Syrian pres. Asad also call for an Arab summit. Massive rallies protesting Israeli actions are held in Amman, Cairo, Damascus, refugee camps in Lebanon, Yemen. Protests are also held outside Israeli embassies and legations in many European and North American cities, including Ann Arbor, Austin, Brussels, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, New Haven, New York, Ottawa. (AP, BDL, UPI 10/2; MENA 10/2 in WNC 10/3; MENA 10/2, JT, MENA 10/3, JT 10/4 in WNC 10/6; NYT, WP, WT 10/3; AYM 10/3 in WNC 10/12; MM, WT 10/4; WJW 10/5; HJ 10/5, al-Quds 10/7 in WNC 10/10; JP 10/13)

In Paris, PA Planning M Shaath briefs French pres. Chirac on the ongoing clashes. Chirac calls on both sides to deescalate the violence, calls for an international inquiry into the clashes. (AFP 10/2, 10/3, Le Monde 10/4 in WNC 10/6)

In New York, the UNSC begins closed-door mtgs. on several draft resolutions regarding the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli clashes. Britain, the U.S. lobby against issuing a resolution, saying, at most, a statement should be read. (UPI 10/3; HA [Internet] 10/4; WJW 10/5)

King Muhammad of Morocco receives Israel's Ben-Ami for talks on the Jerusalem issue. (MM 9/5)

In a surprise declaration at the close of their mtg. in Cairo, Arab League FMs announce plans for heads of state to begin holding a full Arab summit every March beginning in 3/01. FMs will meet again in 10/00 to prepare. (MM 9/4; al-Quds 9/6, JT 9/10 in WNC 9/12)

CIA Dir. Tenet, Arafat meet again. (MM 9/4, 9/6)

In Cairo, Arab League FMs open a 2-day mtg. focusing on final status arrangements for Jerusalem. Arafat briefs FMs on the Camp David summit, recent developments. (JT 9/10 in WNC 9/12; MEI 9/15)

Lebanon holds the 2d round of parliamentary elections, covering seats allotted to s. districts. Candidates allied with fmr. PM Rafiq Hariri (1992+n98) win 18 of 19 seats in Beirut Hizballah's parliamentary bloc increases fr. 9 to 12 seats. (NYT, WP 9/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/4; MM, NYT, WT 9/5; MM 9/6, 9/7, 9/8, 9/11; MEI 9/15)

In Alexandria, Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak holds separate talks with Arafat, Meretz MK Yossi Sarid on the Jerusalem impasse; with Syrian FM Faruq al-Shara` on the Syrian, Palestinian tracks and possibly holding a mini-Arab summit on the peace process. (MENA 8/21 in WNC 8/22; MM 8/22; MENA 8/23 in WNC 8/24; WJW, WP 8/24)

U.S. Secy. of State Albright, special envoy Ross arrive in Israel for 2 days of meetings with Israeli, PA officials that the U.S. hopes will pave the way for a 3-way summit among Arafat, Barak, Clinton by the end of 6/00. (MM, WT 6/5; CSM, NYT, WP 6/6; XIN 6/7 in WNC 6/9; MEI 6/16)

Sensing that secret final status negotiations with the PA have reached the endgame, MKs of Barak's governing coalition, led by Interior M Sharansky, request that Barak convene an emergency session to brief them on what is really happening in the talks, warning that they might quit the government if he does not begin to include them in his decision making. (NYT 6/6; MA [Internet] 6/6)

Barak survives (38-33, with 13 abstentions) a no-confidence motion in the Knesset based on the concessions he is presumed to have made to the Palestinians in secret final status talks. (NYT 6/6)

In Umm al-Faham, 500 Israeli Arabs attend a rally organized by MK Azini Bishara to celebrate "Hizballah's victory over Israel" in s. Lebanon. (MA 6/6 in WNC 6/7; MM 6/14, 6/19)

The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem. (PR 6/7)

2 Americans file a claim in Israeli court against Arafat, Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) head Muhammad Abbas (Abu Abbas), seeking $5 m. in damages for their suffering in the 1985 Achille Lauro hijacking. Lawyers acted after learning Abbas had been in Jerusalem to attend Palestinian mtgs. In early 1999, Abbas dropped his opposition to the Oslo process, reconciled with Arafat. On that basis, the Israeli High Court decided on 10/12/99 against prosecuting him for the raid. (NYT 6/6; WJW 6/8; JP 6/16)

King Abdallah of Jordan flies to Damascus to hold talks with Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad before heading to Washington to meet with Pres. Clinton next wk. (IsRN 5/21; DUS 5/21 in WNC 5/22; MM 6/8)

In the PA-controlled West Bank city of Jericho, a molotov cocktail is thrown at a car, critically injuring an Israeli child. In response, Barak recalls his negotiators fr. final status talks with the PA in Stockholm; postpones today's transfer of 3 Palestinian villages nr. Jerusalem (Abu Dis, Azariyya, Sawahara al-Sharqiyya) fr. jointly controlled area B to PA-controlled area A; and bans Israeli travel to Jericho, which makes its revenue fr. a casino that is popular with Israeli tourists. (CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/22; AYM, al-Quds 5/22 in WNC 5/23; AYM 5/22, al-Quds 5/23 in WNC 5/24; WT 5/23; MEI 6/2)

Israel begins its withdrawal from s. Lebanon, 6 wks. before its target date of 7/7. The SLA begins to disintegrate, leaving IDF positions exposed. (MM, NYT, WP 5/22; Politiken [Copenhagen] 5/22 in WNC 5/23; CSM 5/24; MEI 6/2)

The PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) shuts al-Watan TV, accusing the station of inciting violence with its broadcasts of recent Palestinian protests. (al-Haq press release 5/22) (see 5/10)

Fmr. Syrian PM Muhamad Zu'bi who had been replaced when the new government was installed on 3/13 and who had been expelled fr. the Ba'th party on 5/10 for financial corruption, commitsuicide in Damascus. (MM 5/22, 5/23; MM 5/30; MEI 6/2; al-Majallah 6/4; MEI 6/16)

In a scathing 4-page letter, `Abid Rabbuh publicly announces his resignation as PA chief negotiator for the final status, revealing the secret Stockholm talks. (MENL 5/15; MENA 5/15 in WNC 5/16; MM, NYT, WT 5/16; AYM 5/16 in WNC 5/18)

U.S. special envoy Ross arrives in Israel fr. Stockholm, along with the new PA, Israeli final status teams. All parties refuse to comment on the success or failure of the Stockholm talks. The State Dept. does not even confirm or deny that Ross was in Sweden, says only that the PA and Israel "are talking to each other in different ways at different levels." (State Dept. daily press briefing 5/15; MM, NYT, WT 5/16; State Dept. daily press briefing, WT 5/17; al-Quds 5/17 in WNC 5/18)

Across the West Bank and Gaza, 1,000s of Palestinians commemorating the Nakba and protesting the stalled peace process and Israel continued detention of Palestinian prisoners clash with IDF troops and border police in the worst fighting since 9/96. 2 PA policemen and 1 Palestinian civilian are killed and 100s are injured by rubber bullets, live ammunition, and tear gas; 14 Israeli soldiers and police officers are also injured. Some exchanges of gunfire are btwn. PA police, Israeli security forces. Arafat, Barak are in contact via their advisers throughout the day, speak by phone in the evening. (LAW, MM 5/15; BDL, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 5/16; ITAR-TASS 5/15, MENA 5/16 in WNC 5/17; AYM, al-Quds 5/16 in WNC 5/18; WJW 5/18; MEI 5/19)

Despite clashes, the Israeli cabinet votes (15-6) to transfer 3 Palestinian villages outside Jerusalem (Abu Dis, Azariyya, Sawahara al-Sharqiyya) fr. area B to area A. Later in the day, the Knesset approves (56-48, with 1 abstention) the cabinet decision. Barak, however, says he will not turn over the villages until he receives an explanation fr. the PA for today's clashes in the territories. (MM 5/15; MENA 5/15 in WNC 5/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/16; MM 5/17; WJW 5/18; MEI 5/19)

10,000s of Jewish settlers rally in Jerusalem's Zion Square to protest further territorial concessions to the Palestinians. The rally was planned by Shas last wk., before today's Knesset vote was announced. (MM 5/15; MM, NYT, WP 5/16; WJW 5/18)

In s. Lebanon, the IDF turns over its Taybiyya post to the SLA, marking the 1st step in a withdrawal fr. Lebanon. (MM, WT 5/17; NYT 5/18)

Before leaving Cairo, Arafat discuss the peace process with Arab League secy.-gen. Ismat `Abd al-Majid. (MENA 3/23 in WNC 3/27)

Syrian FM Shara`, Russian FM Ivanov discuss the Syrian-Israeli negotiations by phone. (Interfax 3/23 in WNC 3/27)

The pope spends the day in Israel, visiting Yad Vashem, meeting with Pres. Ezer Weizman and Israel's chief rabbis, leading mass in Jerusalem. The pope also hosts a "healing and reconciliation" mtg. to which he invites Chief Rabbi Martin Lau, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Ikram Sabri. Sabri refuses to sit on the same podium as Lau and so refuses to attend. The PA sends Shaykh Taysir Tamimi in his place. Their speeches Lau, Tamimi both stress their peoples' rights over Jerusalem. (MM 3/23; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 3/24; NYT 3/26; JP 3/31; MEI 4/7)

U.S. special envoy Ross makes 1-day trip to Cairo to consult with Egyptian FM `Amr Musa. (MENA 2/24 in WNC 2/28)

PM Barak defends FM Levy's speech to the Knesset on 2/23, saying he is a voice of moderation, "his words illustrate the weighty responsibility we feel for Israel's security in the face of dangers that lie in wait for us when we enter the decisive stage of the peace process." (MM, NYT 2/25; WP 2/26; AYM 2/26 in WNC 2/29; MEI 3/10)

The Arab League announces that its next regular FMs mtg. will be held 3/11+n12 in Beirut, instead of Cairo, as a gesture of solidarity in support for Lebanon's "steadfastness in the face of ongoing Israeli aggression." (MM 2/24; al-Musawwar 3/3, MENA 3/5 in WNC 3/6; MM 3/8)

Pope John Paul II arrives in Egypt for 3-day visit, meets with Pres. Mubarak, calls for unity and tolerance among all religious groups. Meanwhile in Israel, a group of senior rabbis asks the pope to cancel plans to hold a daytime Saturday mass when he visits Nazareth in 3/25, saying it would cause "massive desecration "of the Jewish sabbath. Far-right Jewish groups put up posters in Jerusalem calling the pope "the wicked one," saying prayer service would be an act of "mass idolatry in the heart of Jerusalem." (ANSA [Rome], MENA 2/24, MENA 2/25 in WNC 2/28; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/25; MENA 2/26 in WNC 2/29; WT 2/27, 2/29; JP 3/3)

After a mtg. with Barak in Jerusalem, French PM Lionel Jospin says that "France condemns Hizballah's [recent attacks on the IDF in s. Lebanon], and all types of terrorist attacks which may be carried out against soldiers or possibly Israel's civilian population." French pres. Jacques Chirac reprimands Jospin. (MM 2/25; WT 2/27; WP 2/28; Le Monde 2/28 in WNC 2/29; AYM 2/28 in WNC 3/1; al-Quds 2/29 in WNC 3/3; WJW 3/9; JP, MEI 3/10)