The Palestine Chronology

Secy. of State Albright leaves Israel for Syria, saying that she has not made progress toward resuming Israeli-PA talks, she will not return until Israel, the PA "have made hard decisions." After arriving in Damascus, she holds a 4-hr. talk with Pres. Hafiz al-Asad to assess possibility of resuming Israeli-Syrian negotiations. (MM 9/12; SATN 9/12 in WNC 9/16; NYT, WP, WT 9/13; MM 9/15; CSM 9/17; SA 9/17 in WNC 9/19; MEI 9/26)

PA presents a plan to break the infrastructure of Islamist groups to U.S.-PA-Israeli tripartite security panel. CIA, Israeli officials say they are pleased with PA initiative. (WP 9/16; CSM 9/17)

Israel suspends all joint economic projects with Russia following reports that Russia is aiding Iran's missile development. U.S. State Dept. says that Pres. Clinton will soon send a special envoy to Moscow to discuss the issue. (MM 9/12 in WNC 9/15; WT 9/13) (see 9/11)

Heavy IDF-Hizballah clashes take place along the n. border of Israel's self-declared security zone in s. Lebanon, leaving 4 IDF soldiers wounded, 2 Hizballah mbrs.--including the son of Hizballah Secy. Gen. Hassan Nasrallah--dead; IDF troops seize the bodies of the Hizballah mbrs. Soon after, the IAF hits Lebanese army positions n. of the self-declared security zone, killing 6 Lebanese soldiers and 1 civilian, wounding 5 soldiers. (WP, WT 9/13; ITV, RMC 9/13 in WNC 9/16; NYT, WP, WT 9/14; JP 9/20)

In Ramallah, Secy. of State Albright meets with Arafat; says PA must crack down on Islamists in a comprenehsive, relentless, and sustained manner; says that she is encouraged by Arafat promises to do so. Albright then meets again with PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem, calls for a "time-out" on Israeli settlement expansion, land confiscation, house demolitions, confiscations of Palestinian IDs. (MM 9/11; AFP 9/11 in WNC 9/12; CSM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 9/12; MM 9/15; PR 9/19; JP 9/20; MEI 9/26) (see Doc. D1)

Citing Russia's role in helping Iran build missiles and nuclear weapons, PM Netanyahu orders his government to halt talks with Moscow on buying natural gas. (WT 9/13)

Israel eases closure, allowing 4,000 Palestinian laborers, 2,000 merchants, 250 teachers, 200 PA employees into Israel. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 9/2; CSM 9/3) (see 8/30)

In Moscow, Russia, Japan hold talks on the Middle East peace process, call for early resumption of negotiations on the basis of land for peace. (Interfax [Moscow] 9/2 in WNC 9/4)

Amal clashes with IDF, SLA in s. Lebanon, wounding 1 SLA mbr. 1 soldier with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is wounded  in the crossfire. (RL 9/1 in WNC 9/4)

Labor Chmn. Barak arrives in Cairo for mtg. with Pres. Mubarak. (WT 7/16)

In Amman, Jordanian PM Majali discusses with Arafat dep. Abbas ways of coordinating the Arab positions on the peace process. (RJ 7/15 in WNC 7/16)

In an emergency session, the UNGA adopts (131-3, with 14 abstentions) a resolution condemning Israeli settlement policy, threatening to cut back Israel rights within th UN. Israel, Micronesia, the U.S. vote against (see 7/10); Russia abstains. (MM 7/15; IDF Radio 7/15 in WNC 7/16; MM, NYT, WT 7/16; ITV 7/16 in WNC 7/17; CSM, MM 7/17; Hatzofe, Interfax [Moscow], RE 7/17 in WNC 7/18; Xinhua [Beijing] 7/17, SAPA [Johannesburg] 7/21 in WNC 7/24; MM, PR 7/18; MEI 7/25; JP 7/26)

Higher Jordanian-Qatari Comm. ends 2-day session in Doha. The 2 states sign agmts. on land transport, commercial shipping and ports, judicial affairs; agree to expand bilateral cooperation in all fields, particularly economics. (RJ 7/15, 7/16 in WNC 7/17; JT 7/16 in WNC 7/18)

Hizballah fires at least 2 katyusha rockets fr. s. Lebanon toward n. Israel. One lands inside s. Lebanon, wounding a civilian; the other lands inside Israel, causing no damage. (RL 7/16 in WNC 7/17) (see 7/7)

Jordan's Council of Presidents of Professional Assns. (CPPA) announces a preliminary decision to call on all mbrs. to boycott the 11/97 Jordanian elections. However, several member assns. (e.g., Bar Assn., Contractors Assn., Dentists Assn., Journalists Assn., some mbrs. of the Veterinarians Assn.) disagree with the decision. Meanwhile, the Higher Comm. for Coordination Among the Opposition Parties (HCCAOP) defers decision on whether to boycott until the IAF announces its position. The government states that elections will be held on schedule, whether or not the opposition participates. (al-Dustur 7/15, al-Dustur, al-Ra'i 7/16 in WNC 7/17; MM 7/16; JT 7/16, 7/17 in WNC 7/18; MM 7/22) (see 6/19, 7/12)

PM Netanyahu replies to King Hussein 3/9 letter. (NYT, WP 3/12; MM, WJW, WT 3/13)

Netanyahu begins 3-day trip to Moscow, urges Russia not to arm Iran, Syria. (MM 3/10; ITAR-TASS [Moscow] 3/10 in WNC 3/13; WT 3/11)

In Washington, Egyptian pres. Mubarak, Pres. Clinton jointly criticize Israel's construction plans for East Jerusalem; disagree on the U.S. veto of the 3/7 UNSC res.; discuss ways of reviving talks btwn. Syria, Israel. (CSM, MM 3/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/11; MM, WJW 3/13; RE 3/14 in WNC 3/19; MEI 3/21)

In Tel Aviv, DM Mordechai, PA Information M Yasir `Abid Rabbuh, U.S. amb. Martin Indyk meet in a bid to ease tensions. (MM, NYT, WT 3/11; MM, WP, WT 3/12; WT 3/13; Vesti [Tel Aviv] 3/16 in WNC 3/20)

Nr. Hebron, 100 Palestinians try to stop Israeli workers fr. opening a road for Jewish settlers. 150 IDF soldiers beat them back with clubs, guns. (MM, NYT, WT 3/11; PR 3/14)

PA releases fr. Gaza jail 100 Hamas mbrs., including senior Hamas military figure Ibrahim Muqadima. Arafat again meets with Hamas political leaders. (MM 3/21; JP 3/22; WP 3/24; MM 3/25) (see 3/9)

Iranian FM Velayati arrives in Turkey to discuss improving bilateral relations. (IRNA, VIRI 3/10 in WNC 3/13; MM 3/19) (see 3/3)

Despite U.S. protests, the Vatican establishes full diplomatic relations with Libya. (NYT 3/11; WJW 4/17)

In s. Lebanon, a car bomb placed along a road frequented by IDF, SLA troops explodes, injuring 1 IDF soldier, 2 Lebanese children. (JP 3/22)