The Palestine Chronology

IDF lifts closure on West Bank, Gaza imposed 2/12. (QY, VOP 2/23 in FBIS 2/23; MM, WP 2/26)

Israeli FMin. says that Israeli diplomat deported fr. Russia 2/6 will been given a senior government post. (YA 2/23 in FBIS 2/23; HA 2/27 in FBIS 2/29)

Lt. Gen. Hussein Kamel, his brother and fellow defector Lt. Col. Saddam Kamel Hassan, their brother and father are gunned down in Baghdad. 2 attackers, 3 bystanders are also killed in the shoot out. Iraqi government claims angry family mbrs. killed them. (NYT, WP, WT 2/24; JT, RJ 2/24, JT 2/25 in FBIS 2/26; NYT, WT 2/25; MM, WP 2/26)

Hizballah says it has the bodies of 2 IDF soldiers missing for the past decade, offers to trade them for Hizballah mbrs. in detention, incl. Shaykh `Abd al-Karim Obeid, detained in 7/89, and Mustafa al-Dirani, taken by Israeli commandos 5/21/94. Israel refuses. (VOL 2/23 in FBIS 2/23; VOL 2/23, 2/24 in FBIS 2/26; NYT, WT 2/24)

Amal, IDF clash in s. Lebanon, leaving 3 Amal mbrs. wounded. Particularly heavy IDF shelling is reported throughout the Israeli self-declared security zone. (QY, RL, VOL 2/23 in FBIS 2/26)

Nation of Islam's Farrakhan returns to the U.S. without incident. House Rep. Peter King (R-NY) calls for an congressional inquiry into the legality Farrakhan's trip. (WP 2/24)

After further negotiations with the Israeli parties, PM Peres changes the date of elections to 5/29. (QY 2/20 in FBIS 2/21; MM, WP 2/21; NYT 2/22) (see 2/19)

Fmr. Likud mbr. and fmr. FM David Levy formally announces he will run for PM and his Gesher party will put up a list for parliament. This election will mark the 1st time Israelis will vote separately for the PM. (QY 2/20, JP 2/21 in FBIS 2/21; MM, WT 2/21)

Fearing a backlash after the Rabin assassination, Israel's YESHA settlers' council decides not to hold militant demonstrations before the elections. (WT 2/21)

Lt. Gen. Hussein Kamel and family return to Iraq, are met at the border by Uday Hussein, Saddam's son. (MM 2/20; WP, WT 2/21; MM 2/23)

Israeli security sources say a Hizballah mbr. attempted to hang glide into n. Israel fr. Lebanon today but crashed just n. of the Israeli self-declared security zone. Hizballah denies responsibility. (ITV, RL 2/20, IDF Radio, QY, RL 2/21 in FBIS 2/21; MM 2/21; QY 2/24 in FBIS 2/26)

In celebration of Id al-Fitr, Hizballah releases 3 SLA soldiers in s. Lebanon. 2 of the men were captured in 1992, the 3d in 1986. (VOL 2/20 in FBIS 2/20; WT 2/21)

First Lady Hillary Clinton hosts prominent Muslim-Americans for Id al-Fitr reception at the White House to mark the end of Ramadan. (MM 2/21; WJW 2/22)

Israeli PM Shimon Peres unilaterally sets the date of the upcoming Israeli elections for 5/20. (WP 2/20)

Israel test fires its Arrow-2 missile, calls launch complete success. (QY 2/20 in FBIS 2/21; MM, WT 2/21; HA 2/22 in FBIS 2/23)

In s. Lebanon, 1 SLA mbr. is killed, 3 are wounded in clash with Hizballah. (RL 2/19 in FBIS 2/20)

In Jordan, Iraqi defector Lt. Gen. Hussein Kamel Hassan announces he has requested, received permission from Pres. Saddam Hussein to return to Iraq with his family. (MM 2/19; AFP 2/19 in FBIS 2/20; MM, WP, WT 2/20; RJ 2/20 in FBIS 2/21) (see 8/10/95)