The Palestine Chronology

Prime Min. Shamir indicates he will head Israeli delegation to the peace conference, not FM David Levy. Invitations sent to the parties by the U.S., USSR had called for talks at the "ministerial level," a diplomatic phrase usually interpreted to mean participation by officials holding rank of foreign minister or below. (NYT 10/24)

Arab foreign ministers representing Syria, Egypt, Jordan, along with representative of Lebanon's foreign ministry and head of PLO political department meet in Damascus to discuss strategies for peace conference. They were later joined by foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, representing the Gulf states, and Morocco, representing North African states (except Libya). (MEM 10/23)

Strike called for 10/22 by three groups in o.t. partially observed in E. Jerusalem, elsewhere in West Bank, but not in Nablus, Jenin. Residents of Gaza city observe strike, but not those in the refugee camps. (MEM 10/25)

Members of the Jewish Ateret Cohanim seminary move into a house in the Muslim quarter of E. Jerusalem. Group claims the house was owned by Jews driven out by Palestinian rioting in 1929. Settlers occupying a building in Silwan seized 10/9 from Palestinian residents petition Israeli high court of justice to allow them to remain. Group also seeks permission to move into four other buildings from which they had been evicted by police. (MEM 10/24)

European Community official announces EC, Israel have reached agreement over long-standing dispute over status, place of residence of EC official who will be sent to monitor EC economic aid to Palestinians in the o.t. EC had sough to post the official in the territories; Israel objected, seeking to place the representativen Tel Aviv instead. The EC has set aside $100 million in aid for Palestinians in the o.t. (MEM 10/24)

Human rights organization Middle East Watch issues report on condition of 18,000-20,000 stateless Palestinians in Kuwait. The Palestinians, who were either born in Gaza during the British Mandate, during the period of Egyptian administration of Gaza (1948-67), or who are descendants of those born there, have lived in Kuwait for decades but do not hold citizenship in any country. They do not carry Israeli Gaza identity cards but merely hold Egyptian travel documents, and are thus unable to legally live anywhere. According to the report, Kuwait intends to expel these persons to Iraq 11/15. (MEM 20/24)

As signs of breakthrough in prisoner-hostage negotiations, Hawatma wing of the DFLP turns over body of Samir Asad, an Israeli Druze soldier captured in Lebanon and allegedly killed in an Israeli air raid on Palestinian positions, to Red Cross in Vienna, whereupon it was flown to Israel. Also on the plane was DFLP official 'Ali 'Abdullah Muhammad Abu Hilal, deported from o.t. in 1986 and whose return was part of the DFLP-Israeli exchange. (NYT 9/13; Qol Yisra'el 9/13 in FBIS 9/13)

Pres. Bush threatens to veto proposed legislation which includes loan guarantees to Israel if Congress passes the legislation over his pleas to postpone the vote. (NYT 9/13)

Poll of Palestinians in o.t. conducted by al-Bayadir al-Siyasi Press Foundation during first week of September indicates 48.6% want PNC to approve participation in proposed peace conference; 46.7% opposed participation and 4.7% had no opinion. (al-Sha'b [Jerusalem] 9/12 in FBIS 9/18)

During "national congress" in Amman of DFLP members supporting dissident leadership of Yasir 'Abd Rabbuh, 'Abd Rabbuh announces failure of mediation efforts between his faction and that loyal to long-time DFLP leader Nayif Hawatma, including efforts made by Chmn. Arafat and PFLP Gen. Secy. George Habash. 'Abd Rabbuh notes that his group will retain the name DFLP but will abandon Marxism-Leninism and concept of "democratic centralism," and indicates his group's willingness to accept proposed peace conference. Hawatma wing, which has criticized recent peace initiatives, denounces 'Abd Rabbuh faction as "deviationist" (al-Ra'i 9/13 in FBIS 9/17)

Israeli court in Ramla convicts peace activist Abie Nathan of meeting with PLO officials, upon Nathan's admission that he held two meetings with Chmn. Arafat. (Qol Yisra'el 9/12 in FBIS 9/18)

U.S. State Department declares 9/11 Middle East Watch report on human rights abuses in Kuwait was "too harsh." (MEM 9/12)

After receiving proof that Rachamim Al-Sheikh and Yossi Fink, two of the 7 missing Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, are definitely dead, Israel frees 51 Lebanese prisoners from Khiyam prison in the "security zone" and returns the bodies of 9 Hizbullah fighters who died in Israel. Release comes as U.N. Secy. Gen. de Cuellar meets with Iranian officials in Tehran about the proposed comprehensive prisoner-hostage release. (LAT 9/12)

During meeting of Arab League foreign ministers, Syrian FM al-Sharaa states committee formed comprising Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine to coordinate stands on Palestinian question, Arab-Israel conflict. (MENA 9/11 in FBIS 9/12)

Middle East Watch, a division of the New York-based organization Human Rights Watch, issues report documenting human rights abuses in Kuwait since its liberation from Iraqi forces. Report condemns U.S. for not doing more to halt the abuses. (MEM 9/11)

Middle East Watch issues human rights report accusing Israel of condoning excessive force against Palestinians, although report claims IDF recently has begun to show more restraint [MEM, LAT 7/26]; IDF rejects findings, saying Israeli Supreme Court has found IDF practices to be legal [JDS 7/25 in FBIS 7/26; FJ 7/30].

Arafat meets in Tunis with EC delegation of foreign ministers from Ireland, Italy, and Luxembourg to discuss Middle East peace process [SVP 7/25 in FBIS 7/26].

Israeli and SLA artillery hits Iqlim al-Tuffah in S. Lebanon; 2 killed, 4 wounded [LAT 7/26; JDS 7/26 in FBIS 7/26; SVP 7/27 in FBIS 7/31; JPI 8/11].