The Palestine Chronology

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Rafah, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF violently disperses stonethrowing Palestinian protesters in Silwad nr. Ramallah, injuring 1 with live ammunition. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 3 nearby villages, and 1 village each nr. Nablus and Qalqilya at night; patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning, and in 3 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, 2 villages nr. Jericho, Nablus and 1 village and Balata r.c. nearby, and 1 village each nr. Jericho and Qalqilya at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara). There are no serious injuries except in Bil‘in (1 struck by a tear gas canister) and in Kafr Qaddum (2 wounded by bullets). (PCHR 5/8)

Right-wing Jewish extremists vandalize the tomb of Izzeddin al-Qassam in Haifa, leaving “price tag” graffiti that includes the names of U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and Israeli justice minister Livni. (AFP, JP 5/2)

Palestine becomes a formal party to 5 international conventions, banning torture, racial discrimination, promoting women’s rights, children’s rights, and the rights of the disabled. In response, Israel withdraws the VIP passes of 4 senior Fatah officials— Nabil Shaath, Tawfik Tirawi, Abbas Zaki and Jibril Rajub—thereby restricting their status at checkpoints and border crossings to the level of other Palestinian citizens. (AFP, JP, MEMO 5/2)

In s. Sinai, 2 suicide bombing attacks target police at a security checkpoint, killing 1 soldier and wounding at least 8. The attacks are claimed by Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. (AP, REU 5/2)

The Arab League ends 2 days of talks in Libya to debate whether to re-endorse proximity talks without reaching an agreement, though members renew support for the 2002 Arab League initiative offering full normalization for full peace. (WP 3/29; WJW 4/1)

The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza e. of Abasan to level land along the border fence to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, 10s of Palestinians, Christian clerics, and international activists take part in a nonviolent march from Bethlehem to the main IDF checkpoint to Jerusalem to protest Israeli restrictions on Christians entering Jerusalem today, Palm Sunday; IDF troops beat marchers, arrest 12 Palestinians (including Fatah Central Comm. mbr. Abbas Zaki; all are released on 4/1) and 4 internationals (releasing them later in the day), and seal the Gilo crossing to Jerusalem (including to medical cases and tourists) through 3/31. (OCHA, PCHR 4/1)

Secy. of State Christopher meets with Netanyahu. Then discusses with FM Levy a CIA report that says N. Korea recently has supplied Egypt with military equipment that could be used to build Scud-C surface-to-surface missiles. Egypt says it has only bought spare parts for earlier make of Scud. PA, Arab states are "not encouraged" by mtg., see Christopher as parroting Netanyahu, criticize him for not mentioning UN Res. 242. (QY, YA 6/25, JP 6/26 in FBIS 6/26; CSM, MM, WP, WT 6/26; SARR 6/26 in FBIS 6/27; Syria Times 6/26 in FBIS 7/1; MM 6/27; MEI 7/5; JP 7/6; WT 7/31)

PC mbr. `Abbas Zaki (F-Hebron) is detained at the Allenby Bridge crossing for 6 hrs.; IDF temporarily confiscates his passport, VIP card before allowing him to leave to attend a mtg. in Vietnam. (ITV 6/25 in FBIS 6/26; PR 7/5; NYT 8/15)

2-day PA-EU partnership and cooperation mtg. begins in Brussels. (Le Soir [Brussels] 6/26 in FBIS 6/28)

Outside the al-Khobar U.S. military barracks nr. Dahran, Saudi Arabia, truck bomb detonates, killing 23 Americans, wounding more than 100. No one claims responsibility. (MM 6/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/26, 6/27)

In Tel Aviv, PA, Israeli teams discuss safe-passage routes. (VOP 6/11, QY 6/12 in FBIS 6/12)

Likud's Roni Milo, Arafat adviser Husseini hold get acquainted mtg. in Tel Aviv. (ITV, VOP 6/11, QY 6/12 in FBIS 6/12; MM 6/12; QY 6/12, HA 6/13 in FBIS 6/13; MM 6/13)

In Ankara, Israel's Pres. Weizman meets with Turkey's Pres. Demirel. (MM 6/12) (see 6/4)

In a private mtg., PM-elect Netanyahu promises Qatzrin Local Council head Sami Bar-Lev that some 14,000 housing units will be built in Qatzrin settlement during his current term. (IDF Radio 6/13 in FBIS 6/13)

Fatah Central Comm. forms a 12-mbr. "emergency council" to revitalize the movement's activities in the West Bank, Gaza. In addition to Arafat, the council comprises: Tayyib `Abd al-Rahim, Uthman Abu Gharbiyya, Salwa Abu Khadra, Zakhariyya al-Agha, Hakam Bal'awi, Mustafa Barghouti, Rawhi Fattuh, Sakhr Habash, Faisal Husseini, Salah al-Qudwa, Abbas Zaki. (VOP 6/11 in FBIS 6/11)

PA police claim to have found drugs in the search of Sarraj's office 6/10. Sarraj's lawyers say drugs were planted. (NYT 6/11; WT 6/12; MEI 6/21)

In response to the 6/10 Hizballah attack, PM-elect Netanyahu reinforces troops in s. Lebanon, says that once he forms his government he will act against Hizballah. His chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Amnon Shahak, says IDF would not hesitate to strike at Hizballah targets in s. Lebanon villages even if it meant civilians would be hurt. Strong tone of statements worries Arab leaders. (RL 6/11 in FBIS 6/12; CSM, NYT, WT 6/12)

Syria says it will accept Israel positioning tethered balloons containing early-warning gear in the Golan to monitor security arrangements following an agmt. Israel rejects the offer. (JP 9/8 in FBIS 9/8; HA 9/8 in FBIS 9/11)

In Aqaba, Israel, Jordan sign environmental cooperation agmt. (QY 9/7 in FBIS 9/8; JP 9/16)

Fatah Central Comm. mbr. 'Abbas Zaki takes up residence in the self-rule areas, says he supports the PA. He will oversee Fatah operations. (VOP 9/7 in FBIS 9/8) (see 6/2)

In Hebron, settlers break windows, burn Palestinian flag, paint anti-Arab slogans on new Islamic court building; some throw 4 Molotov cocktails out of cars at Palestinians. (AFP 9/7 in FBIS 9/7)

Israel rejects PA proposal for Israel to hand over Tubas area to create geographic link with Jericho, joint patrol of Jericho-Tubas road as part of redeployment. (QY 6/2 in FBIS 6/5)

PLO Exec. Comm. closes 2-day meeting in Tunis, vows to fight Israeli land seizures, calls on international community to pressure Israel to meet 7/1 deadline on extending self-rule, gives Arafat mandate to continue negotiations. (VOP 6/3 in FBIS 6/5; WP, WT 6/4) (see 3/17)

Arafat announces that 3 senior PLO mbrs. will be returning to self-rule areas fr. Jordan in the next few wks to take over security operations: `Atallah `Atallah to head West Bank security; Mahmud al-Natur to head Force 17; 'Abbas Zaki to oversee Fatah operations. (MA 6/9 in FBIS 6/14)

IDF shells house in Hebron, killing Palestinian suspected of being a Hamas mbr. who killed several Israelis in West Bank. (QY 6/2 in FBIS 6/2; QY, VOP 6/2, QY 6/3 in FBIS 6/5; NYT 6/6; MEI 7/21)

U.S. Amb. to Israel Edward Djerejian resigns after 6 mos. in office to direct Baker Institute at Rice University, named for frmr. Secy of State James Baker.  Djerejian had been asst. secy of state for Near East affairs, amb. to Syria. (WP, WT 5/20)

PM Rabin calls Arafat's explanation of "jihad" remarks "far-fetched," denies Arafat's claim of Israeli letter of assurances on Jerusalem.  (Qol Yisra'el 5/19 in FBIS 5/19; MM 5/19; NYT 5/20)

Independents and Fateh figures, including Central Comm. mbrs. Hani al-Hasan and `Abbas Zaki, announce plans to form "Palestinian National Independence Party" to contest Palestinian elections.  (TJT 5/27)

PLO security official Amin al-Hindi, barred fr. earlier PLO-Israel talks because of his role in 1972 murder of Israeli Olympic athletes, enters Gaza Strip at Rafah border crossing.  (Qol Yisra'el 5/19 in FBIS 5/20)

U.S., Israel sign authorization for Israeli purchase of 21 F-15I Eagle fighter-bombers fr. McDonnell Douglas. Deal is worth $2 b.  (JP 5/28)

Jordan's King Hussein, Israeli PM Rabin meet secretly in London.  (NYT 7/31)

Fateh delegation led by 'Abbas Zaki meets with 7 Palestinian factions opposed to peace process in Damascus. Organizations represented are PPSF, PLF, PFLP, DFLP, PFLPGC, al-Sa'iqah, and Islamic Jihad. Delegation is to proceed to Amman for meeting with Hamas. (Algiers VOP, al-Rayv 7/14 in FBIS 7/15)

FM Peres proposes opening negotiations on final status based on Palestinian-Jordanian confederation in meeting with U.S. envoy Ross. (Ha Aretz 7/15 in FBIS 7/15)

U.S. delegation holds 2d meeting with Israeli leadership. Official statements are terse, but it is speculated discussions included tensions between Israel and Syria following escalation of violence in southern Lebanon. (MM 7/13)

2d U.S.-Palestinian meeting held at U.S. consulate in Jerusalem. (Qol Yisra'el 7/13 in FBIS 7/14)

Israeli rights group B'Tselem says 232 Palestinians under 17 killed by IDF since start of intifada, 38 in last 6 months. IDF calls such deaths "unavoidable," claims intifada casualties have declined, saying 166 Israelis, 1,859 Palestinians killed since outbreak of uprising. Report also states 100,000 Palestinians detained, 60,000 incarcerated over same period. (MM 7/13; Qol Yisra'el 7/13 in FBIS 7/15; WT 7/14)

Israeli police arrest 4 teenage members of "Kahane Lives" for the 11/92 grenade murder of a Palestinian in Jerusalem. (NYT 7/14)

Palestinian motorist shot dead by Border Police, second wounded in Hebron. (ITV 7/14 in FBIS 7/15)

PLO reconciliation meeting held in Damascus grouping representatives of Fateh, PFLP, and DFLP (Hawatmah faction). (al-Dustur 7/13 in FBIS 7/13)

PLO joins with Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Tunisia, and Turkey in offer to send peacekeepers to Bosnia. (WP 7/14)

Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi hold meeting at Islamic College of Hebron to explain what transpired at Madrid. Fights break out between supporters, opponents of peace process. (Qol Yisra'el 11/13 in FBIS 11/14)

Additional members of the political committees resign (See 11/12) (Qol Yisra'el 11/13 in FBIS 11/14)

In Washington, West Bank academic Sari Nusseibeh, the driving force behind creation of the political committees, meets with State Department officials, requests U.S. intervention with Israel to assure Palestinians in o.t. be given freedom to express themselves politically, an essential step if the committees and other forms of political expression are to succeed. (MEM 11/14)

In Damascus, Fateh Central Comm. mbr. 'Abbas Zaki states that Fateh, Syria have agreed to normalize relations. Fateh-Syrian discussions have been ongoing since a Fateh delegation's arrival in Damascus 11/8. (AFP 11/13 in FBIS 11/14)

PLO Executive Committee begins meeting in Tunis to discuss the venue for second phase of peace talks. (MEM 11/14)