The Palestine Chronology

PC opens 2-day session in Nablus. (JMCC 7/17 in FBIS 7/18)

500,000 Israelis comply with 1-day general strike called by Histadrut to oppose PM Netanyahu's economic liberalization plans, $1.6-b. budget cut. (MM 7/17; QY 7/17 in FBIS 7/17; NYT 7/18, 7/31) (see 7/1)

Israel's United Kibbutz Movement says it has discussed with the Construction Min. plans to build 4-5 "presettlements" btwn. Gaza, Hebron to alter the demographic balance btwn. Arabs, Jews in that area. (QY 7/17 in FBIS 7/18)

Nr. Hebron, 2 Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel are shot to death by 6 masked men. Villagers claim pair was killed by PSF. (QY 7/17, 7/18 in FBIS 7/18)

Jordanian-Lebanese comm. ends trade talks in Beirut. (JTV 7/17 in FBIS 7/18)

Following the al-Khobar barracks bombing 6/25, U.S. Defense Secy. Perry decides to transfer 4,000 (or 2/3 of) U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia to more remote areas in the Saudi dessert, where they will be more easily protected. (NYT, WP 7/18)

PC closes weekly 2-day session in Ramallah. (VOP 7/11 in FBIS 7/12)

PM Netanyahu heads to New York to meet with 200 leaders of the U.S. financial community, mbrs. of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CPMAJO), ambs. to the UN, presidential candidate Bob Dole. At CMPAJO mtg., Netanyahu recommends Jewish organizations finance 2 programs to fight assimilation of Jews: a "physical and spiritual airlift" of 100,000s of young Jews to Israel for summer tours, wedding gifts of 10 "basic Jewish books" to every Jewish couple who marries. (MM 7/11; MM, NYT, WP 7/12; QY 7/12 in FBIS 7/12; WP 7/13; WJW 7/18)

Fmr. Israeli PM Peres sharply criticizes PM Netanyahu, calls his statements fr. the U.S. "an unwise attempt to unite the Arab world against us." (IDF Radio 7/11 in FBIS 7/12; MM 7/12, 7/16)

PA announces plans to use 12 acres of state land in Nablus to build headquarters for Arafat. Villagers protest, say they own the land, accuse PA of confiscation. Nablus municipality says those protesting have no legal right to the plot. (PR 7/19)

Nr. Tulkarm, IDF uses teargas to disperse 10s of Palestinian workers protesting closure at IDF crossing point into Israel. (QY 7/11 in FBIS 7/11)

Netanyahu is declared official winner of the Israeli elections, with 50.4 percent of the vote to Peres's 49.5--a difference of 29,457 votes. 145,000 ballots were left blank. Netanyahu scores 10 percentage points higher than Peres among Jewish voters; takes 95 percent of the ultraorthodox vote, 87 percent of the settler vote, 5 percent of the Arab vote. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/31; JTV 5/31, VOP 6/1 in FBIS 6/3; NYT, WP, WT 6/1; CSM, MM 6/3; MEI, PR 6/7; JP 6/8; HA 6/11 in FBIS 6/11)

Arafat is reportedly stunned by Netanyahu victory, convenes joint mtg. of the EA, PLO Exec. Comm. to discuss implications. (VOP 5/31 in FBIS 5/31; PBC 5/31, VOP 6/1 in FBIS 6/3; CSM 6/3; JP 6/8)

PC meets to discuss Netanyahu win. Issues brief statement, voicing hope Netanyahu will adhere to the Oslo agmts. (NYT 6/2)

IDF eases closure on West Bank, Gaza, allowing Palestinian workers aged 40 and above to go to their jobs in Israel; passage of goods through Qarni, Erez checkpoints; lifting the closed military zone orders on Janin, Nablus. (QY 5/31 in FBIS 5/31; IDF Radio 6/1 in FBIS 6/3; JP 6/8) (see 5/26)

In Lebanon, Israel retaliates against 5/31 attack, bombing a Hizballah arms depot nr. the Syrian border, injuring 4 civilians, incl. 2 children. (WP 5/31; QY, RL, VOL 5/31 in FBIS 5/31; WP, WT 6/1)