The Palestine Chronology

Secy. of State Christopher meets PLO Chmn. Arafat in Tunis, 1st visit by a U.S. secy. of state to PLO hq. Christopher delivers invitation fr. PM Rabin to Arafat for mtg. in Cairo, says both should reach "agreement so the accord will move forward." Christopher also says he is "impressed" by PLO plans for economic development ino.t. Later Christopher meets in Rabat with Moroccan King Hassan II. (NYT, WP, WT 12/11; NYT 12/13)

3 Palestinians killed by settlers in ambush nr. Hebron. Kach movement claims responsibility for attack. (NYT, WP, WT 12/11)

Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi resigns fr. her PLO posts to form Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights. Ashrawi had earlier been nominated to head PLO office in Washington, D.C. (NYT, WP, WT 12/11)

PFLP mbr. Zaki Ahmad Najar killed in Jabaliya camp, Gaza Strip. PFLP says he died in gun-cleaning accident; other sources blame factional fighting or IDF undercover units. (NYT 12/14

PLO Exec. Comm. meeting in Tunis. PFLP threatens walkout of 7 comm. mbrs.- 3 independents, reps. of PFLP, DFLP (Hawatmah), PLF, and ALF - if Chmn. Arafat blocks discussion of financial, political crises. PFLP rep. 'Abd al-Rahman Malluh, independent Bishop Ilyas Khuri, and Shafiq al-Hut do not attend. Mahmud Darwish, who had resigned, says he will attend to show resignation fr. Exec. Comm. "does not mean resignation fr. the PLO." DFLP (Hawatmah) rep. Taysir Khalid says he will demand resignation of all PLO leaders responsible for negotiations with Israel. (MM 8/26, 8/27)

PLO Information head Yasir 'Abd-Rabbuh passes message fr. Chmn. Arafat to French govt. on provisional PLO-Israel accord. 'Abd-Rabbuh later tells RFI "we think that now there is a possibility of an historic breakthrough btwn. us and the Israelis." (MM 8/27)

Al-Sharq al-Awsat quotes delegation spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi as saying delegation cut to 7 negotiators, 1 asst. due to PLO financial straits. (MM 8/26)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Yasir'Abd-Rabbuh, delegation spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi say some obstacles to Palestinian participation in 4/20 talks remain; Palestinians will seek delay to resumption. (MM 4/16; NYT, WP 4/17)

Southern Lebanon deportees sign wills, don funeral shrouds, stage "death march" towards Israel, are driven back by over 20 Israeli shells. (VOM 4/15, IDF Radio 4/16 in FBIS 4/16; MM 4/16)

Hamas car bomb near West Bank Israeli settlement kills the driver and 1 other Palestinian, wounds 8 IDF soldiers. (MM 4/16; IDF Radio 4/17 in FBIS 4/20; NYT, WP 4/17)

IDF helicopters attack PFLP cmdr. Samir Suwaydan's motorcade, killing his wife and daughter, 1 other civilian, just north of the "security zone." (NYT 4/18; AFP 4/16, HaAretz 4/18 in FBIS 4/19)

Former Pres. Bush ends 3-day visit to Kuwait, where he received an honorary Ph.D. and standing ovations for defending Kuwait. (MM 4/15; NYT 4/16)