The Palestine Chronology

In Washington, Syrian-Israeli talks end without progress. (MM 4/27)

In Cairo, PA, Israeli negotiators on elections agree to divide West Bank, Gaza in to 1,500 voting areas, schedule census to register all eligible voters and divide them among voting areas. Census would create 2 lists: one of Palestinians with ID cards, one without. Eligibility to vote for those without cards, those in East Jerusalem will be negotiated later. (HA 4/27 in FBIS 4/27)

PM Rabin tells cabinet IDF will reassign soldiers a 3 army bases in West Bank (Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah) to bases inside Green Line as 1st step of "pre-redeployment"; does not give timetable. Opposition criticizes decisions as a "surrender to terrorism." (MM 4/26; QY 4/26 in FBIS 4/26; MM, NYT, WT 4/27; CSM 4/28; JP 5/6)

Israeli Treasury Dept. says it will give PA $6.5 m. to help cover its $136 m. debt for FY 1995. (MM 4/27)

For 1st time, PA military court arrests PFLP mbr., tries and sentences him to 1 yr. in jail. In separate incident, PSF mbrs. raid offices of PFLP's al-Umma, confiscate equipment. (QPAR 4/26 in FBIS 4/27) (see 4/21)

IDF raids offices of Col. Rajub's PSF offices in Hebron, detains 7 PSF mbrs., confiscates cars, radios, other materials. Government officials say PSF is violating DOP by operating in West Bank. IDF later apologizes saying they raided offices "mistakenly" during an operation to locate stolen cars. (QY 4/26 in FBIS 4/26; YA 4/27 in FBIS 4/27)

In a move destined to change the Israeli political system, Knesset votes to allow direct election of prime minister beginning with first Knesset elections after the upcoming 6/23 vote [first scheduled elections after that would be in 1996]. The law also lowers number of votes needed to bring down government from 70 to 61, and gives Knesset authority to approve cabinet. (WP, MM 3/19)

State Dept. announced Bush administration has issued a proposal to Israel whereby U.S. would grant $10 billion in loan guarantees over six years providing that Israel restrict settlement activity to completing housing started before 1/1/92. $300 million would be provided immediately under the plan, but the rest would be contingent upon a settlement freeze. Announcement also indicated that the administration is calling for a freeze on settlements throughout 1967 territories, the first time that the administration has used language suggesting that it seeks to halt settlement activity in E. Jerusalem as well as in W. Bank and Gaza. (WP 3/19)

In Beirut, Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for 3/17 bombing of Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires to avenge Israel's 2/16 assassination of Hizballah leader 'Abbas Musawi. (WP 3/19)

Leaflet allegedly distributed in Ramallah by PFLP calls for inclusion of Hamas in Unified National Command of the Intifada (Al Hamishmar 3/19 in FBIS 3/20)

IDF kills 3 Palestinians in three incidents in Gaza, West Bank. (MM 3/19)