The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, an IDF jeep intercepts a car bomb, absorbing the blast before it can ram a settler school bus. IDF seals the Gaza Strip. Hamas claims responsibility. PA places Shaykh Yasin under house arrest, detains more than 100 alleged Hamas activists. (MM 10/29; AFP, IDF Radio 10/29 in WNC 10/30; ITV, JTV, QY 10/29 in WNC 11/2; MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 10/30; SA 10/30, JT 10/31, al-Ahram 11/2 in WNC 11/6; NYT 10/31; PR 11/6; JP 11/9; MEI 11/16)

In Ankara, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, U.S., Uzbekistan sign a "political declaration of support" for construction of a Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. (Interfax 10/29 in WNC 11/2; MM 11/6) (see 10/22)

In Washington, Secy. Albright, PM Netanyahu hold 2d day of fruitless talks aimed at restarting peace talks. Lower-level teams headed by U.S. special envoy Ross, Israeli Cabinet Secy. Nave will work over the weekend. Netanyahu spends rest of day making courtesy calls to mbrs. of Congress, attending lunch in his honor hosted by the Comm. on International Relations; does not lobby mbrs. to pressure administration to moderate its position. (MM 5/14; NYT, WP, WT 5/15)

100,000s of Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem turn out for 2-minute moment of silence, nonviolent "March of 1 Million" to mark 50 yrs. of dispossession (known as al-Nakba). Marches in several areas (including, Bethlehem, Gaza, Hebron, Jericho, Jerusalem, Jinin, Nablus, Ramallah) devolve into clashes with IDF, which fires live ammunition, rubber bullets, killing 5 Palestinians, wounding 200-400, making this the worst day of violence in the territories since 9/25/96. 20 Israeli soldiers, policemen and 2 civilians are also injured. Netanyahu calls demonstrations a PA "pressure tactic." (LAW, MM 5/14; IDF Radio, ITV 5/14 in WNC 5/15; NYT, WP, WT 5/15; JTV 5/14, Anatolia [Ankara], Corriere della Sera [Milan] 5/15 in WNC 5/18; LAW 5/18; WP 5/19)

50,000 Palestinians in Syria hold march in Yarmuk refugee camp to commemorate al-Nakba. (JP 5/23)

In Jerusalem, fire damages one of the wooden doors of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Israel police suspect Jewish extremists. (RJ 5/14 in WNC 5/15; WP 5/15)

In Ankara, Iran, Turkey hold talks on expanding ties. (IRNA 5/14 in WNC 5/18) (see 5/4)

In Ankara, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey hold follow-up discussions on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. (Anatolia [Ankara] 5/14 in WNC 5/15) (see 4/26)

IDF expels 3 Lebanese civilians fr. s. Lebanon security zone for celebrating release of relative fr. SLA custody. (AFP 5/14 in WNC 5/15; RL 5/15 in WNC 5/18)

In London, Arafat, Netanyahu meet separately with PM Blair, then each hold 2 mtgs. alone with Secy. Albright. Netanyahu discusses (but does not offer) the C-plus option, which he hints could make an 11% FRD possible, but Albright refuses to budge fr. 13.1%. All teams agree to stay an extra day for further talks. (IDF Radio, JT, JTV 5/4 in WNC 5/6; ITV 5/4, al-Ahram, MA, YA 5/5 in WNC 5/8; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/5; WP 5/6; WJW 5/7; MEI, PR 5/8; JP 5/9)

In Petra, Jordan, Israel hold talks on ways to increase bilateral trade, Jordanian exports to PA areas. (RJ 5/4 in WNC 5/6)

Turkey tells Iran that it is ready to cooperate with Iran in all fields, especially in transportation, trade. (Anatolia [Ankara] 5/4 in WNC 5/6; Zaman [Istanbul] 5/5 in WNC 5/8) (see 5/3)

Iran calls on Egypt to improve bilateral ties. (VIRI 5/5 in WNC 5/8; IRNA 5/9 in WNC 5/12)

Tel Aviv mayor Roni Milo, one of Netanyahu's most powerful political allies, announces that he is planning to quit the Likud party when his term as mayor expires in 11/98; set up new centrist party; run for PM in the next elections, which must take place by 5/2000. (MM, NYT, WT 5/5; Corriere della Sera [Milan] 5/5, ITV 5/6 in WNC 5/8; MM 5/6; ITV 5/10 in WNC 5/13; JP 5/16)

U.S. special envoy Ross holds separate mtgs. with Arafat in Gaza, Netanyahu in Jerusalem. (WT 3/29; JP 4/4)

In a conference call to 10's of American Jewish leaders, Secy. Albright says that the U.S. is frustrated by the delays in the peace process but will not give Israel an ultimatum for redeployment fr. the West Bank. Malcolm Hoenlein, exec. dir. of the Council of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, says that Albright has been holding conference call briefings on the peace process with Jewish leaders every 2 or 3 months. (MA 3/29 in WNC 3/20; MM, NYT 3/30; RE 3/30 in WNC 3/31)

In Aqaba, Jordan, Israel agree on "Aqaba-Elat Tourism Program" to encourage travel packages for large tourist groups; discuss recent decision by 2 tourist transport companies to cancel daily routes to the area because of low demand. (JT 3/28 in WNC 3/31)

In Ramallah, Jordan's Dep. PM Jawad al-Anani, Arafat discuss U.S. FRD initiative. (JTV 3/27 in WNC 3/30; al-Ra'i 3/28 in WNC 3/31)

In Ankara, PC delegation led by Speaker Qurai` discusses peace process with Pres. Suleyman Demirel. Qurai` says that PA respects Turkey's military cooperation agmt. with Israel. (Anatolia 3/27 in WNC 3/30)

In Amman, bomb explodes outside Modern American School, causing material damage but no injuries. No one takes responsibility. (RJ 3/28 in WNC 3/31; RJ 5/10 in WNC 5/13)

U.S. special envoy Ross extends his stay in the region after Israel, PA agree to hold informal mtg. at Amb. Indyk's residence. Israeli team will be led by DM Mordechai, Netanyahu personal atty. Yitzhak Molho. PA side will be led by Local Government M and PISMC head Erakat, Culture M `Abid Rabbu. (MM 5/13; YA 5/13 in WNC 5/14)

In Amman, Norwegian FM Godal meets with King Hussein. (RJ 5/13 in WNC 5/14; JTV 5/13 in WNC 5/15)

Israeli amb. to Jordan Eran, quits after 8 days on the job because he was not informed about the 5/8 mtg. btwn. PM Netanyahu, King Hussein until 1 hr. before it happened; hopes that his resignation leads to improved relations btwn. Netanyahu's office, the FMin. (MM 5/13; JTV 5/13 in WNC 5/15; CSM 5/14; JP 5/24) (see 5/5)

Egyptian pres. Mubarak travels to Morocco for talks on the peace process with King Hasan. (WT 5/14)

Turkish PM Erbakan postpones indefinitely joint naval maneuvers with Israel. (Analtolia [Ankara], ITV 5/13 in WNC 5/14; MM 5/14; IGPO, SANA 5/14 in WNC 5/15; al-Nahar 5/14 in WNC 5/19) (see 5/1)

Labor party mbrs. vote down a proposal (37% for, 63% against) to create the post of party pres. for fmr. PM Peres, defer further debate until 9/97 (well after the new party leadership is selected 6/3). Decision heralds end of Peres's formal leadership of the party, is seen as victory for party rival IDF Chief of Staff Barak. (MM, NYT 5/14; YA 5/14 in WNC 5/15; JP 5/24)

In testimony before Congress regarding domestic and international terrorism, FBI Dir. Louis Freeh states that several Middle Eastern "terror groups" (including Hamas, Hizballah) "have placed supporters inside the U.S. who could be used to support an act of terrorism here." (WP 5/13)

Israel, PA agree to raise the level of Hebron talks in a bid to complete negotiations. Israeli chief of staff Shahak and Arafat adviser Abbas are chosen to lead discussions. (MM 11/12, 11/13)

3-day Cairo Economic Summit opens. (IGPO, MM 11/12; RE 11/12 in WNC 11/13; SATN 11/1, MA, RJ 11/13 in WNC 11/14; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 11/13; RJ 11/13 in WNC 11/15; WP, WT 11/14; CSM, MM 11/15; MA 11/15 in WNC 11/15; MM 11/18; MEI 11/22; JP 11/23; WT 12/4)

In Amman, Jordan's PM Kabariti, Turkey's FM Ciller discuss bilateral trade relations, ways of increasing Turkey's influence in the peace process, possibility of Turkey selling Jordan water. Ciller's 2-day trip began 11/11. (RJ 11/12 in WNC 11/13; JT, JTV, RJ 11/12 in WNC 11/14; MM 11/13)

King Hussein grants amnesty to those who took part in the 8/16+n18 bread riots. (RJ 11/12)

In New York, Egypt nominates Butros-Ghali for a 2d term as UN secy. gen., setting the stage for an expected veto by the U.S. (NYT 11/14; MEI 11/22)

In Ankara, PM Erbakan, Iraqi PM Tariq Aziz discuss bilateral relations. (INA 11/12 in WNC 11/13, 11/14)