The Palestine Chronology

In Sharm al-Shaykh, Albright, Arafat brief Mubarak on the 10/4 Paris talks. Israeli and PA officials meet with U.S. special envoy Ross on the sidelines. (MM, MENA, IRNA 10/5 in WNC 10/6; MM, WP, WT 10/6; AYM, al-Quds, XIN 10/6 in WNC 10/10; AYM 10/11 in WNC 10/12; MEI 10/13)

In the West Bank and Gaza, the IDF pulls back tanks and some troops fr. major Palestinian cities, and the PSF clears Palestinian protesters fr. major Israeli outposts, implementing the 1st steps of the Sharm al-Shaykh agmts. Some clashes still take place in the West Bank and Gaza (including at Netzarim Junction), leaving 2 Palestinians dead; a 3d Palestinian dies of wounds received earlier. (MM 10/5; MENA 10/5 in WNC 10/6; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 10/6; DUS, JT, MA, al-Musawwar 10/6 in WNC 10/10; AYM 10/6 in WNC 10/13)

At Wihdat camp, Jordanian riot police fire tear gas Palestinians protesting Israeli violence to keep them fr. marching out of the camp. Anti-Israeli, anti-U.S. demonstrations are held in Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan. Rallies in solidarity with the Palestinians are held in London, Princeton, St. Louis, Toronto. (MM 10/5; REU, UPI 10/6; REU 10/8; MEI 10/13)

The board of directors of the Israel Broadcast Authority (IBA) agrees to "not provide a stage for the leaders of the Palestinian inciters and rioters and not give excessive voice, exposure, or coverage to radicals" during the clashes. The IBA includes state-run and independent media. (MK Azmi Bishara press release 10/6)

297 SLA mbrs. and dependents who fled to Israel in 5/00 return to Lebanon. (al-Nahar 10/6 in WNC 10/10)

In Paris, U.S. Secy. of State Albright, CIA Dir. Tenet meet with Arafat, Barak. After 12 hrs. of talks, joined at times by UN Secy.-Gen. Annan and French pres. Chirac, the sides reach an arrangement under which Barak agrees to withdraw troops to their positions before 9/28, Arafat agrees to try to curb Palestinian rioting, both sides agree to keep people away fr. 3 hot spots (Netzarim Junction in Gaza, Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, and the "circle area" nr. Ramallah). The U.S. had hoped Arafat and Barak would sign a document outlining the agmts., but the Arafat would do so only if the text included provisions for an international inquiry, which Barak rejected. After the mtg. Albright, Arafat leave for Sharm al-Shaykh. Barak returns to Israel, saying there no point in meeting with Mubarak. (MM, REU 10/4; AFP, ATL, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MENA, Yonhap [Seoul] 10/4, AFP, IDF Radio, Interfax, JT, MA, MENA, al-Quds, SA, VOI 10/5 in WNC 10/6; AP, CSM, LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; Arab News 10/5, AYM, HJ, MENA 10/6, SA 10/7, MENA 10/9 in WNC 10/10; MM, WP 10/6; AYM, Le Monde 10/11 in WNC 10/12; MM, WP 10/12; JP, MEI 10/13)

Meanwhile, Palestinian-Israeli clashes continue in the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel, leaving 9 Palestinians dead, 10s wounded; 2 Palestinians die of wounds received earlier. An Israeli Arab is killed in a clash Israeli police in Kefar Manda in the Galilee. The IDF eases open-fire regulations, permitting soldiers to fire on any vehicles approaching checkpoints and continues to use heavy weapons, but overall the fighting is less intense than in previous days. The most serious clashes are nr. Bethlehem, Jaffa, Nablus, Netzarim Junction. (MM 10/4; ANSA, IRNA 10/4 in WNC 10/6; LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; HJ, Daily Star 10/5 in WNC 10/10; MM 10/9)

Protests against Israel's actions are held in Damascus, where 1,000s of students demonstrate outside the U.S. emb.; in Cairo, where 1,500 students demonstrate outside the Israeli emb.; and in Amman, where riot police fire tear gas to disperse 800 protesters marching toward the Israeli emb., injuring 62. In Copenhagen, 5,000 attend a Palestinian solidarity rally. Smaller rallies are staged in Istanbul, London, Rome. In the U.S. demonstrations are staged in Dearborn, Detroit, Madison, Miami, New Haven, Portland. (MENA 10/4 in WNC 10/5; ATL 10/4, JT 10/5 in WNC 10/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; MENA 10/5, HJ 10/6 in WNC 10/10; MENL 10/11)

The PA releases 12 Hamas political prisoners who had been held without charge in PA jails. Israel says the PA is giving a "green light for terrorism." (HJ 10/5 in WNC 10/6; WP 10/6)

The PC convenes an emergency session in Ramallah, denounces Israel's aggression, calls for an Arab summit. (WP 10/5)

Citing "compelling national security interests," the State Dept. sends Amb. Indyk back to Israel to maintain contact with Israeli officials during the clashes. (WT 10/5) (see 9/22)