The Palestine Chronology

The UN Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of the International Criminal Court approves (120-7, with 21 abstentions) draft statute to create an international war crimes court. (MM, WT 7/20; MM, WT 7/21; IRNA 7/22 in WNC 7/23; MM 7/27; MEI 7/31)

IDF forces the evacuation of 40 bedouin families fr. the area nr. Tubas, where they have lived for decades. (PR 7/24)

PC grants Arafat's request to give him until 7/25 to appoint a new cabinet. (WT 7/15; PR 7/17) (see 6/24)

State Dept. announces that despite fact that gaps on FRD have not narrowed, senior Israeli, PA officials have agreed to meet soon face to face for the 1st time in mos. to renew peace talks. Washington will not host the talks, and Secy. Albright is not optimistic about the outcome. (MM, USIS Washington File, WP, WT 7/14; al-Akhbar, YA 7/14 in WNC 7/15; WJW 7/16; PR 7/17)

King Hussein discusses peace process with fmr. Israeli PM Shimon Peres, who is in Amman to attend an international leadership conference. (RJ 7/13, JT 7/14 in WNC 7/15)

UNSC issues nonbinding statement urging Israel to not implement the plan or take any other steps which would prejudice the outcome of the peace process. (MM, NYT, WT 7/14; MENA 7/14 in WNC 7/15; WT 7/15; IRNA 7/15 in WNC 7/16; al-Ba`th 7/15 in WNC 7/20; PR 7/17; JP 7/25) (see 6/30)

A bomb explodes 100 feet from Orient House in East Jerusalem, slightly injuring 1 Palestinian. No one claims responsibility, although Jewish extremists are suspected. (IDF Radio 7/13 in WNC 7/15; WP 7/14; PR 7/17)

 In s. Lebanon, 1 Lebanese civilian, 2 UNIFIL soldiers are injured by IDF shelling. (RL 7/13, 7/14 in WNC 7/15)

PM Netanyahu's security cabinet holds session to discuss the "growing Palestinization and religious radicalization among Israeli Arabs." (MA 7/7 in WNC 7/13)

Israeli pres. Weizman, PM Netanyahu meet for 1st time in over a mo., agree to halt their public debate over the peace process. (MM 7/1; CSM, MM, WP 7/2; JP 7/11) (see 6/30)

Israeli air force (IAF) cmdr. Eytan Ben-Eliyahu says that most of the present aircraft fleet is outdated, the IAF needs 100 modern fighter jets. (YA 7/1 in WNC 7/6) (see 6/28)

1st civil guard is formed in the Jewish settlement of Beitar Ilit. Other guard centers are being set up in Kiryat Arba, Ma'ale Adumim, Givat Ze'ev settlements. Units are planned in Efrat, Har Hadar, Oranit settlements. (PR 7/10) (see 6/11)

Syrian FMin. Undersecy. Adnan Umran arrives in Turkey for 2-day visit to discuss normalizing diplomatic relations. (WT 7/1; Anatolia 7/1 in WNC 7/2; Anatolia 7/1, 7/2 in WNC 7/6; WT 7/3; Milliyet 7/4 in WNC 7/7; MEI 7/31)

In Cairo, Egypt, Iran discuss enhancing media cooperation. (IRNA 7/1 in WNC 7/6)

Group representing 800 U.S. finance officials threatens to boycott Swiss banks unless they settle Holocaust era claims. U.S. administration opposes the threat of sanctions, which could disrupt U.S.-Swiss relations, trigger free trade dispute. (WT 7/3)

Israel reinforces troops in s. Lebanon, sending in more than 20 vehicles, including Merkava tanks, 175-mm. guns, surveillance cameras. (RL 7/1 in WNC 7/2)