The Palestine Chronology

Christmas Eve celebrated in Bethlehem with display of Palestinian flag, message fr. PLO Chmn. Arafat. (NYT, WP, WT 12/25)

IDF It. col. killed, 2 IDF soldiers wounded in ambush by Palestinians, presumed mbrs. of Hamas, in Gaza Strip. In separate incident, masked Palestinian stonethrower killed by IDF in Bayt 'Umar, nr. Bethlehem. (Qol Yisra'el 12/24 in FBIS 12/27; NYT, WP, WT 12/25)

Arab League Sec.-Gen. Ismat 'Abd al-Majid sends letter to U.S. Congress saying boycott of Israel will be lifted only after Israeli withdrawal fr. o.t. (MENA 12/24 in FBIS 12/27)

U.S. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Dennis Ross begins Middle East tour to build on DoP, with visit to Cairo to meet Egyptian, Arab League leaders. (MENA 10/18 in FBIS 10/19; CSM 10/19)

West Bank settlers plan civil disobedience, tax revolt, other measures against Israeli-Palestinian DoP, according to Yechiel Leiter of Council of Jewish Settlements in Judea and Samaria. (WT 10/18)

Fateh, PPP urge boycott of Jerusalem municipal elections by East Jerusalem Palestinians. (MM 10/18)

PLO Exec. Comm. ends meeting, agrees to present "Gaza-Jericho lst" at 11th Washington round. Palestinian delegation leaves for Washington. (MENA, Tunisian Republic Radio 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Jordanian, Lebanese, Syrian delegations leave for Washington talks. (Radio Jordan, VOM 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

91 PNC mbrs. sign memorandum rejecting "Gaza-Jericho lst," calling for PLO withdrawal fr. peace talks. (Sawt al-Sha'b 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Settlers' council denounces DoP as "national treason." (NYT, WP 8/30)

Palestinian negotiating delegation joins PLO Exec. Comm. meeting in Tunis. (MENA 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Hamas rejects Gaza-Jericho proposal, urges PLO withdrawal fr. peace talks. (al-Ray 8/29 in FBIS 8/30)

Pro-Arafat rally in East Jerusalem attended by 200 participants. (Qol Yisra'el 8/28 in FBIS 8/30)

Likud Knesset delegation submits no-confidence motion against government. Likud motion and those submitted 7/6 by Tsomet and NRP to be debated 7/12. (Qol Yisra'el 7/7 in FBIS 7/7)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak meets with Syrian Pres. al-Asad in Latakia, Syria to discuss peace process. (SANA 7/7 in FBIS 7/8)

Arab info. mins. open 2-day meeting at Arab League H.Q. in Cairo. (MENA 7/6 in FBIS 7/9)

Libyan pilgrims' spokesman Daw Salim al-Tajuri tells Cairo news conference decision to visit Jerusalem "personal," that delegation "does not represent any official party," and that trip does not constitute recognition of Israel. (MENA 6/3 in FBIS 6/4)

Chmn. Arafat meets with advisors, PNC and delegation mbrs. in Amman to decide on resumption of talks. (MM, WP 4/21)

Arab League Ministerial Council ends 2- day meeting in Cairo. (MENA 4/18 in FBIS 4/20)

IDF destroys 4 houses, shoots armed Palestinian dead in Gaza Strip. (MM 4/20; NYT 4/21; WP 4/22)

Islamic Resistance clash with IDF, SLA in 4 separate attacks, killing 2and kidnapping 2 SLA gunmen in "security zone." Israel, SLA shell villages north of zone. (Radio Lebanon, VOL 4/20 in FBIS 4/21)

At Arab FMs meeting in Damascus, Syrian FM Faruq al-Shara' receives call from Secy. of State Christopher. FMs delay decision on resuming talks until after Arab League meeting 4/20. PM Rabin tells Israeli delegation to delay departure for Washington. (AFP, MENA, SANA 4/17 in FBIS 4/19; NYT, WP 4/18)

"Hundreds" of Druze in Majdal Shams, Golan Heights, demonstrate on Syrian independence day. Stonethrowers wound 11 Israeli police, dispersing the crowd with tear gas. (Qol Yisra'el 4/17 in FBIS 4/20)

Hizballah, Amal shell SLA positions in "security zone," killing 1 SLA soldier. Israel, SLA shell villages. (NYT 4/18)

PLO Exec. Comm. ends 4-day meeting, issues statement. (Algiers VOP 3/6 in FBIS 3/8)

Expressing his "joy" over PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Mahmud 'Abbas' visit to Saudi Arabia 1/9-11 (when he "apologized" for PLO stance during Gulf war), Chmn. Arafat says "we view this event with great satisfaction because it was a Palestinian decision" in interview with al-Hayat. (MENA 3/6 in FBIS 3/8)

Israeli embassy officials in London reveal U.S. is encouraging U.K. to upgrade its PLO contacts, reportedly so that U.S. can receive reliable info. on the PLO from friendly sources (see 3/7-9). (HaAretz 3/7 in FBIS 3/8)

Israel charges UNRWA official with failing to alert IDF soldiers after seeing an Israeli stoned and shot to death in the Gaza Strip 3/2. UNRWA denies the charge. (Qol Yisra'el 3/6 in FBIS 3/8; NYT 3/8)

IDF helicopters attack PFLP-GC marine base, striking also refugee camps, in 'Ayn al-Hilwa, Lebanon, wounding 4. Fatah official is shot dead in 'Ayn al-Hilwa. (IDF Radio, QPAR 3/6 in FBIS 3/8; NYT 3/7)

U.S. State Dept. issues statement describing Iran as the world's "most dangerous state sponsor of terrorism." (NYT 3/7)

Egyptian pol. advisor 'Usama al-Baz meets with PM Rabin, delivers message from Pres. Mubarak with proposal for Mubarak-Rabin summit. Message also reiterates Egyptian plan for deportees acceptable to Chmn. Arafat. (MENA, Qol Yisra'el 2/28, HaAretz 3/1 in FBIS 3/1)

Palestinian economist Ibrahim Matar says CIVAD budget publicized 2/27 should be 3 times bigger, and ignores many taxes o.t. Palestinians pay to the Israeli treasury. (MM 3/1)

PM Rabin tells Conf. of Presidents of Major American Jewish Orgs. that Israel will "try [its] best" not to give up the entire Golan Heights. (MM 3/1)

Israel arrests 4th Palestinian-American on charges of aiding Islamic groups. (Yedi'ot Aharonot 3/7 in FBIS 3/8; NYT, WT 3/8)

Israel successfully tests Arrow anti-missile system, 80% of which is financed by the U.S. (MM 3/1)

Faisal Husseini and 40 delegation associates visit area in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, where homes were leveled by IDF 2/11 to offer sympathy, rally support for negotiations. Hamas and PLO supporters chant allegiance. (MM 2/17)

Pres. Mubarak meets with Chmn. Arafat in Cairo. (WT 2/20; MENA 2/17 in FBIS 2/17)

Israeli Aircraft Industries announces U.S. Def. Dept. has awarded them and American co. TRW a $240m contract to build 56 unmanned airplanes. Sen. Daniel Inouye (DHI) announces U.S. has budgeted $57m to improve Haifa port, which will serve as U.S. Navy's major regional anchorage. But as chmn. of Senate def. appropriations subcomm., he tells Israeli officials that they should prepare for a possible cut in U.S. foreign aid. (MM 2/17; WT 2/18)

Jordan appoints Shaykh Sulayman al-Jabari Mufti of Jerusalem. (MM 2/19)

Israeli justice min. announces that Shin Bet agent in charge when Mustafa 'Akkawi died under 2/4/92 interrogation has been disciplined. (WT 2/18)

IDF shoots 2 Palestinian youths dead in West Bank; another shot dead, while fleeing, 10 minutes after curfew, in Gaza City. (NYT 2/19)

Hizballah and Israeli, SLA forces engage in largest artillery battle of the year, killing 3 Islamic fighters, 2 other Lebanese. Israel shells up to 30 villages, including Nabatiyya. (MM, NYT 2/18)

Israel releases list of 101 deported Palestinians who may return immediately to the o.t. Deportees refuse to accept the list and pledge that none will return until all are allowed back. (Qol Yisra'el 2/5 in FBIS 2/5; Radio Lebanon 2/5 in FBIS 2/8; NYT 2/6)

Palestinian UN rep. Nasir al-Kidwa meets with UN Secy.-Gen. Butrus-Ghali, informs him of the PLO's decision not to participate in any peace talks until UNSCR 799 is implemented. (Sanaa VOP 2/5 in FBIS 2/8)

Chmn. Arafat meets with King Hussein in Amman, then flies to Cairo for 3-day visit. Talks with Pres. Mubarak focus on the deportees and peace talks, as well as arranging a Secy. of State Christopher-Arafat visit when the former visits the region beginning 2/17. (MENA, RJN, RMC 2/5 in FBIS 2/8)

Two polls find 61% and 54% of Israeli Jews are against the U.S.-Israeli package deal to allow 100 deportees back. (MaAriv, Yedi'ot Aharonot 2/5 in MM 2/5)

IDF shoots 3 armed Palestinians dead in a car in the Gaza Strip. IDF shoots 2 dead, wounds 30 more Palestinians in ensuing demonstrations. (NYT 2/6; MM 2/8)

FMs of 20 Arab countries end 2-day Arab League meeting, issue statement calling on UNSC to impose sanctions on Israel, implement Chapter 7 of UN charter (authorizing force) if it refuses to allow back the 12/17 deportees. FMs also demand protection of o.t. Palestinians by a UN force. (MM 1/12; NYT 1/13; MENA, RFL 1/12 in FBIS 1/13)

Palestinian delegation issues statement outlining " basic requirements for reviving a genuine peace process". (al-Quds 1/13 in FBIS 1/14)

Al-Fajr reports that PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Yasir 'Abd-Rabbuh has said that statements by Palestinian delegation steering comm. head Nabil Shaath on the deportees issue (see 12/31) do not express the PLO's position. (al-Fajr 1/12 in FBIS 1/13)

UNLU and Hamas issue 2 joint statements in the o.t. (Sanaa VOP 1/12 in FBIS 1/14)

At Islamic Conference Org. mini-summit in Dakar, Senegal, Chmn. Arafat states Palestinians will not participate in upcoming peace talks unless UNSCR 799 is implemented. At Arab FMs meeting in Cairo, PLO FM Faruq al-Qaddumi and Exec. Comm. mbr. Yasir 'Abd-Rabbuh reaffirm this stand. (MENA 1/11 in FBIS 1/11; MM 1/12)

At Arab FMs meeting in Cairo, Syrian FM Faruq al-Shara' says the bilateral talks are in the Arabs' interest and should not be stopped, while "Israel wants many things" in the multilateral talks, so it is those that should be suspended. (Syria and Lebanon have boycotted the multilaterals from the outset). (Reuters in MM 1/12)

U.S. State Dept. announces "strong desire to avoid having the UNSC face the Chapter 7 sanctions issue" regarding the 12/17 Palestinian deportees. (MM 1/12)

Saudi press downplays diplomatic importance of PLO official Mahmud Abbas' visit, saying he has "no other objectives" than to attend a Fateh anniversary celebration in Riyadh (see 1/9). In evening speech, Abbas regrets Palestinian Gulf crisis stand, hopes that "this event . . . will not remain a barrier" between Palestinians and the Gulf states. Prince Salman bin 'Abd al-'Aziz says Saudi Arabia is committed "at all levels" to the Palestinian cause, a stand that has never changed. (SPA 1/11 in MM 1/11; RMC 1/12 in FBIS 1/13)

Arab League unanimously votes to boycott chemical weapons talks in Paris 1/13- 14 to protest Israel's continued refusal to sign the 1967 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. (MENA 1/11 in FBIS 1/12; NYT 1/14)