The Palestine Chronology

EA, PLO Exec. Comm. hold weekly session in Jericho. (VOP 8/2 in FBIS 8/2; VOP 8/3 in FBIS 8/5)

Israeli cabinet unanimously decides to lift building restrictions in Jewish settlements but is vague about how much building it will permit. PA protests. Abolishing the ban on new construction also does away with the special ministerial comm. (formed 1/22/95) that had reviewed building requests, leaving approval of new construction to the DM alone. (MM 8/2; QY 8/2 in FBIS 8/2; ITV 8/2 in FBIS 8/5; VOP 8/2, 8/3 in FBIS 8/6; NYT, WT 8/3; CSM 8/5; WJW 8/8; PR 8/9; JP 8/10)

Netanyahu adviser Gold makes emergency trip to Washington to brief Secy. of State Christopher, special envoy Ross on the new settlement policy. (WT 8/3; ITV 8/3 in FBIS 8/5; WJW 8/8)

Nr. Tulkarm, PSF opens fire on 100s of Palestinian protesters who try to storm a West Bank jail, killing 1, wounding 30. Several inmates escape in the melee but surrender hrs. later. PA police arrest 200, put curfew on Tulkarm, say Hamas mbrs. hiding in the crowd are responsible for the shooting (though jail officials deny this). IDF seals the town, allowing no one in or out. (MM 8/2; AFP, QY, VOP 8/2 in FBIS 8/5; WT 8/3; CSM, NYT 8/5; VOA 8/5 in FBIS 8/5; MM 8/15) (see 7/11)

EA, PLO Exec. Comm. conclude mtgs., issue statement stressing that the PA signed agmts. with Israel, not a single party; encouraging Netanyahu to implement those agmts. (VOP 6/1 in FBIS 6/3)

Jordan's King Hussein says Netanyahu's win signals no fundamental change in peace process. (NYT, WP 6/2; MA 6/2 in FBIS 6/3; MM 6/3; WP 6/4; CSM 6/5)

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) calls on Arafat to step down in light of the Netanyahu election win. Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), PFLP-GC call for armed struggle against Israel to be stepped up. (AFP, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran [Tehran] 6/1 in FBIS 6/3)

PLO's Faruq Qaddumi arrives in Beirut fr. Damascus, meets with Lebanese FM Buwayz, announces he is making a tour of Arab states (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria) to gain support for a "council to look after Palestinian refugees abroad." (al-Hayat, al-Nahar 3/9 in FBIS 3/12; al-Nahar 3/31 in FBIS 4/3)

Lebanon puts its forces on alert, fearing either Israel will deport Palestinians to its territory or attack s. Lebanon. Israeli puts its forces in s. Lebanon on alert, fearing a Hizballah attack as a demonstration of support for recent bombings. (IDF Radio, RL 3/8 in FBIS 3/8; RL, VOL 3/10 in FBIS 3/11) (see 3/5, 3/7)

PA amb. to Ankara Fu'ad Yasin says 8 Palestinians have disappeared in Turkey, apparently for political reasons, since the recent bombings in Israel; says the PA is following the issue closely with Turkish officials. (MENA 3/8 in FBIS 3/8)

To prevent suspects connected to recent bombings fr. fleeing by sea, Israel bans all fishing off the Gaza coast. PA condemns the action as collective punishment, violation of Oslo accords. (IDF Radio 3/8 in FBIS 3/8; NYT 3/9; WT 3/11)

In Burqa, West Bank, IDF blows up house rented by family of the 3/3 bomber. In Jerusalem, the IDF serves the Conference of Sciences and Islamic Education offices in n. Jerusalem with closure, partial confiscation orders, saying offices are used as a Hamas base. (VOP 3/8 in FBIS 3/11; WT 3/9; MM 3/20)

PA police detain Hamas spokesman Zahhar in Gaza City. (AFP 3/8 in FBIS 3/11)

PSF West Bank head Col. Jibril Rajub is forced to resign after refusing to carry out Arafat's orders to arrest Hamas leaders. Hussayn Shaykh, current head of Ramallah security, is appointed to replace him. (ITV, QY, RMC 3/9, HA 3/11 in FBIS 3/11; WT 3/10; QY 3/10 in FBIS 3/12)