The Palestine Chronology

3-day OIC conference opens in Tehran. Egypt's Mubarak, Jordan's King Hussein, Morocco's King Hassan stay away under U.S. pressure; Egypt sends delegation headed by FM Musa. Jordan's Crown Prince Hasan, Syria's Pres. Asad, Lebanon's PM Hariri, Pres. Ilyas Hrawi; PA's Arafat attend; Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince `Abdullah; Iraq's VP Ramadan. (MM 12/9; MM, WT 12/10; JTV 12/11 in WNC 12/15; MEI 12/19)

PA mission to the UN suspends effort to upgrade its status to a level just short of full UN General Assembly (UNGA) membership after failing to muster enough votes to defeat an EU amendment that would have delayed putting the measure into effect. (NYT 12/11; PR 12/12)

PM Netanyahu says that if Arafat unilaterally declares a Palestinian state, Israel will retake zone B areas. (MM 1/23; IDF Radio 1/23 in WNC 1/24) (see 1/22)

IDF demolishes Palestinian home nr. Jenin. (LAWE 2/13)

The IDF begins collecting taxes on cars fr. Lebanese citizens in s. Lebanon. The tax ranges fr. $7 to $30, depending upon the size of the car. (RL 1/23 in WNC 11/24)

Albright is sworn in as secy. of state. (NYT, WP, WT 1/24)

In Washington, UN Secy. Gen. Annan meets with Pres. Clinton, Congress. Clinton vows to work with Congress to pay all of the U.S. $1.3-b. debt to the UN, if Annan pushes UN reform. (NYT, WP, WT 1/24)