The Palestine Chronology

PM Netanyahu cancels a trip to Jordan planned for 2/5 and postpones a mtg. with Arafat set for 2/6 after 2 Israeli helicopters, carrying an unusual amount of ammunition and explosives, collide over the Galilee on their way to s. Lebanon, killing 73 IDF soldiers, 13 of whom are officers. Over the past 3 yrs. 68 soldiers have been killed on duty in s. Lebanon. (RL 2/4 in WNC 2/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/5; AFP 2/5 in WNC 2/7; CSM, MM, NYT, WP 2/6; al-Dustur, RMC 2/6 in WNC 2/7; RL, VOL 2/6, RL 2/7 in WNC 2/10; MM 2/7; RL 2/7 in WNC 2/11; JP 2/15)

In Nabatiyya, Lebanon, leading Hizballah figures, incl. Secy. Gen. Hussein Nasrallah and his deputy Shaykh Naim Kassem, meet to discuss party fundraising. (MM 2/7)

Syrian VP Khaddam arrives in Libya to meet with Col. Qadhafi. (SATN 2/4 in WNC 2/6)

IDF bulldozes Palestinian homes in Jabbah, nr. Hebron, and al-Khadir for having no permits. 10s of other families receive notices that their homes will be demolished to make way for a by-pass road. (LAWE 2/13) (see 2/3)

Citing security reasons, Shin Bet revokes the press permit of al-Hayat's Jerusalem bureau chief Ruba Husari, making it impossible for her to enter Israel fr. her home in the West Bank. (WP 2/6)

Lebanon, Brazil sign 2 protocols: one on cultural issues, the other on air transport. (RL 2/4 in WNC 2/6; RL 2/6 in WNC 2/7) (see 12/16)

IDF shells Kfar Roumman village n. of the Israeli self-declared security zone. Lebanon says it will submit a complaint to ILMG. ILMG has already found Israel responsible 3 times for shelling villages in violation of the 4/96 understanding. (RL 2/4 in WNC 2/6; WT 2/5)

The WP reveals that Secy. of State Albright's grandparents were Jews who died in the Holocaust, says her family hid their Jewish identity from her. Albright was raised a Catholic. (WP 2/4)

In interview with al-Hayat, Chmn. Arafat urges Pres.-elect Bill Clinton to resume dialogue with the PLO. He also strongly criticizes Hamas, warning of "retaliation" if acts of violence continue in the o.t. (AFP 11/7 in FBIS 11/9; NYT 11/10)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbrs., as well as Palestinian delegation head Faisal Husseini, meet with Jordanian FM Kamil Abu Jaber to discuss draft Israeli-Jordanian agenda for negotiations (see 11/1). Palestinians seek definite reference in the agenda to UNGA 194 (the right of return), and clarifications on wording of references to Palestinian o.t. (Jordan Times 11/8 in FBIS 11/9; MM 11/9)

PFLP Red Eagle gunmen shoot, kill suspected collaborator in Shabura camp, Gaza Strip. (Qol Yisra'el 11/7 in FBIS 11/10)

Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc issues statement rejecting draft Israeli-Jordanian agenda as a retreat from declared peace principles, calling on govt. to not ratify it. Hamas issues similar statement. (Jordan Times 11/8 in FBIS 11/9)

King Hussein says it is time for Iraqis to end the rule of Saddam Hussein, install govt. of "pluralism, democracy." (NYT 11/8)

Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics releases latest figures showing that the Jewish birthrate has dropped to its lowest rate since 1948-2.6 children per woman. The Muslim rate is 4.7, slightly higher than last year, but much lower than the 1948 figure. Influx of immigrants kept the Jewish majority steady at 81.9%. (NYT 11/8)