The Palestine Chronology

PLO Chmn. Arafat orders Palestinian forces to prepare to enter o.t. to form Gaza-Jericho police force. (CSM, NYT, WT 11/22)

Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza issues statement pledging "militant direct action" against Israel-PLO DoP, urging settlers to ignore Palestinian police. (NYT 11/22)

Jordan's King Hussein meets in Damascus with Syrian Pres. Hafiz al-Asad to coordinate positions prior to tour by Secy. of State Christopher. 2 sides affirm "necessity of reaching a just and comprehensive peace." (MM, NYT 11/22)

PM Rabin returns to Israel after 10-day tour of U.S., Canada. At press conference, Rabin says Israel will try to meet 12/13 deadline for withdrawal fr. Gaza and Jericho, but says "it's not a holy date." (Qol Yisra'el 11/21 in FBIS 11/22; MM 11/22)

House of Representatives passes 425-1 resolution urging Arab League to lift boycott of Israel. (WJW 11/25)

Israeli govt. submits proposed amendment to Knesset that would permit contacts with the PLO. (Qol Yisra'el 11/30 in FBIS 12/1)

Ramallah-based Palestinian Public Opinion Research Center releases poll of 1,000 o.t. residents on peace process. 68% said the negotiations have "a chance" for achieving peace; 25% see no hope in negotiations, whatever the terms. 76% accept autonomy if it leads to Palestinian sovereignty, 61% say rejectionists have no reliable agenda to confront the peace process. (al-Fajr 12/1 in FBIS 12/3)

Peace Now releases o.t. demographic survey, concluding that settlement movement in o.t. has failed, with inflated govt. investment over the years resulting in a small number of settlers who only provoke violence. Yesha Council (of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza) charges Peace Now with tailoring facts to fit their political orientation. (IDF Radio 11/30 in FBIS 12/1; MM 12/1)

Al-Quds al-Arabi publishes interview with Chmn. Arafat criticizing Syria for "adopting" the ten rejectionist factions, Iran and the Gulf states for supporting Hamas. (MM 12/1)

Katyusha rocket fired at IDF post in "security zone" (first such firing since 11/12), followed by bombardment of SLA positions north of zone. Israel, SLA shells Iqlim al-Tuffah region. (Radio Lebanon, VOL 12/1 in FBIS 12/1)

In interview with al-Hayat, Chmn. Arafat urges Pres.-elect Bill Clinton to resume dialogue with the PLO. He also strongly criticizes Hamas, warning of "retaliation" if acts of violence continue in the o.t. (AFP 11/7 in FBIS 11/9; NYT 11/10)

PLO Exec. Comm. mbrs., as well as Palestinian delegation head Faisal Husseini, meet with Jordanian FM Kamil Abu Jaber to discuss draft Israeli-Jordanian agenda for negotiations (see 11/1). Palestinians seek definite reference in the agenda to UNGA 194 (the right of return), and clarifications on wording of references to Palestinian o.t. (Jordan Times 11/8 in FBIS 11/9; MM 11/9)

PFLP Red Eagle gunmen shoot, kill suspected collaborator in Shabura camp, Gaza Strip. (Qol Yisra'el 11/7 in FBIS 11/10)

Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood parliamentary bloc issues statement rejecting draft Israeli-Jordanian agenda as a retreat from declared peace principles, calling on govt. to not ratify it. Hamas issues similar statement. (Jordan Times 11/8 in FBIS 11/9)

King Hussein says it is time for Iraqis to end the rule of Saddam Hussein, install govt. of "pluralism, democracy." (NYT 11/8)

Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics releases latest figures showing that the Jewish birthrate has dropped to its lowest rate since 1948-2.6 children per woman. The Muslim rate is 4.7, slightly higher than last year, but much lower than the 1948 figure. Influx of immigrants kept the Jewish majority steady at 81.9%. (NYT 11/8)

Member of advisory committee to Palestinian delegation Ziyad Abu Zayyad confirms the existence of an eight-page document discussing the eventual transfer of power from Israeli occupation forces to Palestinians in the o.t. during the "transitional period" of self-rule envisioned as part of the peace process. The document, which he states is only a draft proposal, was written by residents of the o.t. and suggests establishing management committees to oversee administration of the territories. (Qol Yisra'el 11/12 in FBIS 11/14)

Five members of the new political committees in o.t. resign, but 25 new members are added. Move seen as part of behind-thescenes conflict between the original founders of the committees and the PLO, members of the Palestinian delegation over the nature of the committees. (Qol Yisra'el 11/13, Ha'Aretz 11/13, Israel Television 11/12 in FBIS 11/14)

Faisal Husseini holds debate with Riyad al-Maliki, leading PFLP supporter in West Bank and opponent of the peace process, at Bethlehem University. (MEM 11/12)

Syrian VP 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam meets with delegation from Palestinian National Salvation Front, including PNSF head Khalid al-Fahum, PFLP-GC Gen. Secy. Ahmad Jibril, Fateh-Uprising leader Sa'id Musa Muragha (Abu Musa), other top PNSF figures. Meeting comes in wake of improved Fateh-Syrian, PLO-Syrian relations. (al-Quds Palestinian Arab Radio [clandestine] 11/12 in FBIS 11/14)

Pres. Bush, speaking before ameeting of Jewish American leaders in New York, regrets language he used during his 9/12 comments about the loan guarantees to Israel [in which he obliquely referred to the power of the Jewish lobby]. (MEM 11/13, 11/14)

Meeting of Israeli Labor party, called by Labor party leader Shimon Peres in an attempt to bridge gap among hard-liners and moderates within the party on foreign affairs and security matters, fails to reach agreement. Meeting comes in wake of rightward turn within Labor party toward security issues, evidenced by the tough 11/10 draft of the party's political platform adopted by the party's political committee and by the support given by several hard-line Labor parliamentarians to an 11/11 Knesset resolution that called for permanent Israeli control over Golan. (MEM 11/13)

Meeting of the "Damascus Declaration" nations ends without agreement on ways to turn their Gulf war alliance into a deeper multi-lateral relationship. (MEM 11/12)