The Palestine Chronology

In Jerusalem, Sec. Baker meets with P.M. Shamir, F.M. Levy, other Israeli officials. Israel says for 1st time that it is willing to enter into single regional peace meeting co-sponsored by Washington and Moscow, but no agreement on structure, agenda, timing, and who would represent Palestinians [MEM 4/9; NYT, WP, LAT, CSM 4/10; JDS, IDF 4/9 in FBIS 4/9; MET 4/23].

Sec. Baker also meets with delegation of 6 Palestinians from o.t., who present to Baker 6-point memorandum [IDF 4/9 in FBIS 4/9; MEM 4/9; FJ 4/15].

Unofficial estimates from UN High Commissioner for Refugees claim about 750,000 Iraqis have crossed into Iran and that about 280,000 have crossed illegally into Turkey, while roughly 300,000 still wait on Iraqi side of Turkish border; relief agencies say thousands will die unless massive aid reaches them soon [NYT 4/10].

Iraq rejects EC notion of setting up safe haven for refugees to be administered by UN; EC backs away from its own plan; Bush admin. also backs away from "enclave" idea [MEM 4/9; NYT, WP, LAT, MEM, CSM 4/10].

Prominent Palestinian in Kuwait, Dr. Salim Mukhtar, writer and dentist, is assassinated near Kuwaiti army roadblock; incident raises concerns in U.S. about continued reprisals and repression of Palestinians in Kuwait [NYT 4/10].

UN Sec. Council authorizes dispatch of 1,440-member observer team to oversee demilitarized zone between Iraq and Kuwait currently patrolled by U.S. forces [WP, LAT 4/10].

General strike is observed in o.t. to mark beginning of 41st month of intifada [HAA 4/10 in FBIS 4/11; FJ 4/15].

Declaring "Kuwait is liberated" 100 hours after ground war commenced, Pres. Bush orders suspension of offensive military operations against Iraq as long as Iraq does not attack allied forces or launch missiles at any country [NYT, LAT, WP, WT 2/28; CSM 3/1]; Pres. Bush also sets demands on Iraq for permanent cease-fire; complying with all 12 UN resolutions; freeing all POWs and detainees; giving allies location of all land and sea mines. Bush adds he is sending Sec. Baker to Middle East to deal with "the difficult task of securing a potentially historical peace" [NYT, WP, WT 2/28].

Before suspension of hostilities, 4 U.S. Army armored divisions defeat resisting Republican Guard units in large tank battle; Gen. Schwarzkopf says there are more than 50,000 total Iraqi POWs and "a very, very large number" of Iraqi dead [MEM 2/27; NYT, LAT, WP, WT 2/28; MET 3/12]; allied officials and relief organizations discuss what to do with growing number of POWs who do not wish to return to Iraq [LAT 2/28].

Kuwaiti army returns to Kuwait City, is met by cheering civilians; gov't. buildings are reported destroyed by retreating Iraqis [LAT, WP, CSM 2/28].

In Damascus, Pres. Asad meets with Lebanese Pres. Hrawi to discuss Middle East future; thousands of Palestinians in Sidon demonstrate against U.S. [DDS 2/27 in FBIS 2/28; LAT 2/28; MET 3/12].

Congressmen say they fear allies will not follow through on monetary pledges made to U.S. during Gulf war; Congress members are reportedly especially upset at Japan [LAT 2/28].

Egyptian police fire rubber bullets at stone-throwing students at Cairo University where thousands protest war against Iraq for 3d consecutive day [AFP 2/27 in FBIS 3/1; MET 3/12].

Prominent Palestinian nationalist, Dr. Mamdouh al-Aker, is arrested on suspicion of helping to write UNLU leaflets, apparently as part of Israeli crackdown on Palestinian moderates (cf. 4/7) [MEM 2/28].

Israeli authorities arrest 3 prominent Palestinian leaders and order them imprisoned without trial; Radwan Abu Ayyash and Ziad Abu Zayyad are ordered held for 6 months in "administrative detention," while Gaza physician Ahmed Yaziji is ordered to serve 1 year in detention [JDS 11/13 in FBIS 11/14; WP, NYT 11/14].

Iraqi envoys visit Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya to discuss Baghdad's conditions on attending possible Arab summit-conditions reportedly include that Baghdad be consulted in advance on agenda, that timing and location be such that Saddam may attend, and that the Gulf crisis be discussed in context of regional "security" issues, including Israel-Palestine conflict [WP, NYT 11/14].

Pres. Mubarak begins 2-day visit to Libya to discuss Gulf crisis with Col. Qaddafi [CDS 11/14 in FBIS 11/14; WP 11/14].

Sec. Baker says Saddam threatens the "economic lifeline" of the West and U.S. military deployment is justified to protect American jobs: "[An] economic recession world- wide, caused by the control of one nation ... of the West's economic lifeline will result in the loss of jobs on the part of American citizens" [WP, NYT 11/14].

U.S. military advisors are helping remnants of Kuwait army regroup and train for possible battle with Iraq [NYT 11/14].

Congressmen from both parties call on Pres. Bush to convene special session of Congress to discuss Gulf crisis; White House says it opposes such a session [NYT 11/14].