The Palestine Chronology

Barak names Amb. to Jordan Oded Eran, to head final status negotiations with the PA. The PA reportedly does not think Eran is a senior enough figure, thinks his appointment is proof that Barak wants to conduct real negotiations in a back channel. (MM 10/26; NYT 10/27; AYM 10/27 in WNC 10/28; AYM 10/30, 11/1 in WNC 11/3; NYT 10/31; JP 11/5) (see 9/16)

Israel also announces that David Ivri, a fmr. air force cmdr. and DMin. dir. gen. who is now on Israel's national security adviser, will replace Zalman Shoval as amb. to the U.S. Washington reportedly asked for Ivri's appointment, just as Barak asked for Indyk to return as U.S. amb. to Israel (see 10/20). (MM, WP, WT 10/27; MM 10/28; JP 11/5)

U.S. special envoy Ross arrives in Israel for talks with Arafat, Barak in advance of the 11/2 Oslo summit.  During their meeting in Gaza, Ross, Arafat also discuss Israeli settlement activity, land confiscations, house demolitions. (AYM 10/26 in WNC 10/28; WT 10/27; AYM 10/30, 11/1 in WNC 11/3) (see 10/20)

In Israel, U.S. Defense Secy. William Cohen assures PM Barak, that the Clinton administration will press Congress to approve $1.2 b. in aid to help Israel implement the Wye accords; expresses concerns over Israel's proposed sale to India of Popeye air-to-surface missiles, which was jointly developed by Israel, the U.S. (WT 10/26; NYT, WP 10/27)

British FM Cook meets with the PA Jerusalem Affairs M Husseini at the American Colony Hotel in East Jerusalem for talks on Jerusalem's contested identity. Israeli, Palestinian security officials scuffle over who should guard Cook. (MM, NYT, WT 10/27; JP 11/5)

In Bethlehem, Palestinians, IDF troops clash for 2d day. Although the city is under PA security control, IDF troops are deployed to guard Rachel's Tomb, a Jewish religious site. A total of 30 Palestinians, 2 Israelis have been injured since 10/25. (MM, WP 10/27)

The IDF demolishes 2d Palestinian home in East Jerusalem in a 24-hr. period. (LAW 10/26)

In s. Lebanon, IDF shelling injures 4 civilians, damages 30 homes, an electricity station, and a water network. (RL 10/26 in WNC 10/27; RL 10/28 in WNC 10/29)

On the 5th anniversary of the assassination of its leader Fathi Shiqaqi by Mossad, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, aided by Hizballah, detonates a roadside mine in s. Lebanon, targeting IDF and SLA forces. This is the 1st time Islamic Jihad has staged an attack in Lebanon. No injuries are reported. (NYT 10/28; MEI 11/12)

In Washington, King Abdallah of Jordan meets with mbrs. of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CPMAJO), says that he believes Syria will conclude a peace agmt. quickly with the new Israeli government. (NYT 5/25; WJW 5/27)

Clinton administration announces plans to submit to Congress its 1st request for aid to the Iraqi opposition under the 1998 Iraq Liberation Act. The first allotment will pay for setting up opposition offices in London, New York. For 1st time, Secy. of State Albright meets with 12 opposition leaders. Egypt, Syria, Turkey condemn U.S. support of the Iraqi opposition. (MM 5/24; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/25; MM 5/26; MEI, MM 6/4; al-Quds 6/6 in WNC 6/10; MEI 6/18) (see 4/7)

In Burj al-Shamali in s. Lebanon, Amal, Hizballah mbrs. clash, leaving 2 Hizballah mbrs. wounded. Lebanese security forces intervene, detain several suspects. (VOL 5/24 in WNC 5/25, 5/26)

At the close of a 2-day NATO summit in Madrid, Pres. Clinton says that his administration is working on new ideas to restart the Israeli-PA talks, gives no specifics. (MM 7/10, 7/11; ITV 7/17 in WNC 7/18)

Israeli FM Levy sends letter to Pres. Clinton, Secy. of State Albright asking the U.S. to foil any proposal by the Arab states to act against Israel at the UN. (YA 7/11 in WNC 7/14)

UNRWA launches an emergency appeal for an additional $11 m. for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, saying its current budget is insufficient to meet refugees' basic needs. (UNRWA press release 7/10)

Angered by a speech made by UK Secy. of State for Overseas Development Clare Short sympathizing with the plight of the Palestinians, Israel asks Labor MK Beilin, in London on a visit, and the Israeli amb. to London to cancel a planned mtg. with her. Beilin goes through with the mtg., but the amb. does not. (Independent [London] 7/11 in WNC 7/14)

Clinton administration loses case for deportation against 1 Kenyan, 7 Palestinian immigrant PFLP supporters when the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of San Francisco rejects arguments that the new antiterrorism law voids the constitution right to recruit mbrs., raise humanitarian aid when such activity provides "material support" to a terrorist group. The government effort to have the 8 deported has gone on for 10 yrs. (WP 7/11)

Turkey resumes border trade with Iraq for the 1st time since 1991. (WT 7/12)

Hizballah stops paying salaries of mbrs. who follow Tufayli or are committed to his Revolution of the Hungry. (al-Nahar 7/10 in WNC 7/16) (see 7/4)

Clinton administration eases travel ban on Lebanon, allowing citizens, noncitizens to travel on indirect flights btwn. Lebanon, U.S. Direct flights on U.S. carriers is still prohibited. (Washington Report Oct./Nov. 1995) (see 8/6)

In Amman, unidentified assailants open fire on the Forte Grand Hotel, which houses the Israeli embassy. (Al-Urdun 9/23 in FBIS 9/25)

In Gaza, IDF discovers, defuses bomb found on IDF firing rage. (QY 9/18 in FBIS 9/20)

White House sends warning to 3 Democratic senators (Daniel Inouye, cosponsor of Dole bill, D. Patrick Moynihan, Joseph Lieberman) that moving U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem  would have "a devastating impact on the peace process." (WT 5/15)

Frmr. Secy. of State James Baker calls on Clinton administration to take "more assertive role" in peace process to break impasses, says U.S. should commit now to stationing troops in Golan, opposes moving embassy to Jerusalem. (MM 5/11)

Jerusalem's Waqf authorities say site leased by U.S. as possible embassy location has been Waqf land for 200 yrs. U.S. officials say they doubt documentation supporting claim exists. (NYT 5/11; JP 5/20)

Final vote on NPT is postponed hours before it is to be held because of proposal submitted by Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen to single out Israel's undeclared nuclear program for mention. U.S. counters by threatening to call open vote on Egyptian proposal which would surely be defeated. Egypt, U.S. reach agmt. to include general appeal to all nations with undeclared nuclear programs to adhere to NPT. (MM 5/10; NYT, WP, WT 5/11)

Israeli gunboat fires at, detains, searches Lebanese civilian cargo ship of coast of Tyre, s. Lebanon, as naval blockade continues. (RL 5/10 in FBIS 5/10)

IDF soldier is killed by friendly fire during night operation in s. Lebanon. (QY 5/11 in FBIS 5/12)

Israel-PA talks on elections close without progress in Cairo. PA negotiator Local Government M Saeb Erakat gives Israeli delegation 6 proposal papers on international supervision of elections. (IDF Radio, MENA 2/22 in FBIS 2/23; WP 2/23; JP 3/4; MEI 3/17)

PLO Executive Comm. mtg. closes without suspending talks with Israel. Arafat calls for emergency Arab summit, says PLO will send delegations to China, EU, Japan, Russia, U.S. in diplomatic effort to pressure Israel to set date for troop withdrawal, elections. Arafat begins by meeting with Pres. Mubarak, flying to Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj, coordinate with King Fahd. (MENA, VOP 2/22 in FBIS 2/22; MENA, VOP 2/22 in FBIS 2/23; CSM, FT, NYT 2/23; MEI 3/3; JP 3/4)

U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee increases Jordan's debt forgiveness fr. $99 m. to $149 m. for its support of peace process. (WT 2/23)

Clinton administration submits draft of FY 1996 budget, incl. $44.2 m. military, economic aid to Jordan. (JT 2/25 in FBIS 2/28)

PA Atty. Gen. Khalid al-Qidra says Palestinian security services are detaining 6 mbrs. of Abu Nidal Organization found in Gaza for "disturbing national security." (QY, VOP 2/22 in FBIS 2/23)

Israeli Labor Bureau says number of foreign workers replacing Palestinians in Israel has reached 70,695--860% more than last yr. PA estimates unemployment in Gaza to be 52%. (NYT, WT 2/22)

IDF says it will open 20 houses in Nablus that were sealed because of security offenses by owners. (QY 2/22 in FBIS 2/23)

Palestinian delegation spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi accepts appointment as PLO rep. in U.S., according to PLO officials in Jordan. Recent changes in U.S. law allow PLO to reopen office in Washington, officially closed since 1988. (WP 11/7)

WP reports that Clinton administration is seeking ways to avoid assessing $437 m. penalty on Israel for continued settlement activity, required by legislation implementing U.S. loan guarantees for Israel. Options include having Israel spend the funds to help implement Palestinian self-rule under Gaza-Jericho accord. (WP 11/6)

Israeli PM Rabin, FM Peres meet in Tel Aviv with Egyptian FM 'Amr Musa to discuss Israeli negotiations with PLO, Syria. (NYT 11/5)

Secy. of State Christopher, testifying to Senate Foreign Relations Comm., lists comprehensive Middle East peace as 1 of Clinton administration's top 6 foreign policy priorities. (WP 11/5)

U.S. State Dept Middle East coordinator Dennis Ross, NSC Middle East official Martin Indyk meet in Paris with Israeli FM official Uri Savir on West Bank and Gaza economic plans, peace process tracks. Jordanian delegation, PLO official Ahmad Qurai' also meet U.S. and Israeli teams to discuss economic cooperation. (WP 11/5, 11/6; Qol Yisra'el 11/5 in FBIS 11/5

Undercover IDF unit kills fugitive Palestinian in Gaza Strip. PLO sources identify him as Nael Reefi, 24, mbr. of "Fateh Hawks" group. Witnesses say he dropped his weapon and shouted "I surrender" before being shot. In separate incident, mbr. of Islamic Jihad killed in clash with soldiers while crossing fence separating Israel from Gaza Strip. (MM, WP, WT 10/6)

Syrian FM al-Shara' meets in Washington with Secy. of State Christopher in 1st visit to U.S. by such a senior Syrian official in 2 decades. Al-Shara' relays proposal fr. Syrian Pres. al-Asad for meeting with U.S. Pres. Clinton in effort to break deadlock in Syrian-Israeli talks. Al-Shara' says such a meeting "would help very much the peace process." Christopher declines to comment on proposal. (NYT, WP 10/6)

Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan, speaking to UNGA, says Jordan cannot accept portions of PLO-Israel accord dealing with water, energy, security, and refugees, stating, "Some issues cannot be addressed by any two parties to the exclusion of others. The questions of regional security, water, and above all the refugees, cannot be resolved without direct reference to the neighboring states." (CSM 10/13)

Clinton administration recommends to Congress that $437 m. be cut fr. the $2 b. in U.S. loan guarantees to Israel in FY 1994. Cut is dollar-for-dollar penalty for Israeli spending on settlements in o.t. (NYT, WP 10/6)

World Bank VP Caio Koch-Weser, in briefing to Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Qutlines plan for assistance to Palestinian entity. Major priorities of scheme include building infrastructure, upgrading tax system, and strengthening public administration. Estimated costs of project are $300 m. per year for 5 years plus $125 m. in relief funds. World Bank is to send 40 experts to Tunis for consultations with PLO before survey of conditions on ground in o.t. (WT 10/6)

Arab delegates to Washington peace talks warn that unless the incoming Clinton administration prods Israel into concessions, they will abandon negotiations early next year. Syria accepts invitation toresume negotiations in Washington 12/7. (NYT 11/21)

PLO office in London announces it sent a letter to the Pope asking to set up a Palestinian-Vatican commission similar to that of Israel and the Holy See, which is now exploring bilateral ties. (Reuters in MM 11/20)

Israeli Border Police shoot dead 2 armed Black Panther mbrs. near Jenin. (Qol Yisra'el 11/21 in FBIS 11/23)

AIPAC names new president. Steve Grossman, a businessman and chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic party, will replace David Steiner, who resigned 11/4. (NYT 11/21)