The Palestine Chronology

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)

17-mbr. advance TIPH team arrives in Hebron, meets Mayor Mustafa al-Natsha, local IDF cmndrs. Opposition to Danish-Italian-Norwegian force expressed by Hamas spokesman Taysir Tamimi, settler spokesman Yehiel Leiter. Center Hebron opened to Palestinians for 6 hours while team visits, but curfew reimposed afterward. Clashes break out btwn. Palestinians, IDF after curfew restored; 4Palestinians wounded. (MM 4/11; WP, WT 4/12)

PLO negotiator Nabil Shaath says in Cairo mtg. 4/13 deadline for Israel-PLO autonomy agreement, IDF withdrawal fr. Gaza and Jericho will be "impossible," accepts proposal by FM Peres to set target date at end 4/94. (CSM, NYT, WT 4/12)

"Security sources" report killing in 'Ayn al-Hilwa r.c., Lebanon, of Lt. Col. Husayn Abu Zayd, 4th Fateh loyalist to be killed in Lebanon since 9/13/93. (CSM 4/12)

U.S. Defense Dept. notifies Congress of plans to sell 25 McDonnell Douglas F-151 fighter-bombers to Israel for $2.4 b. Initially, deal announced 1/94 had involved 20 planes, valued at $2 b. Package includes 25 Martin Marietta Corp.-manufactured LANTIRN navigation and targeting pods, 11 spare Pratt & Whitney engines. DoD also announces sale of 70 MK-46 torpedoes worth $40 m., 32 Harpoon missiles worth $57 m. to Egypt. (NYT, WT 4/12; DoD releases)

PLO-Israel talks in Cairo on Palestinian autonomy recess without completing draft accord for discussion by PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli FM Peres. Sides remain divided over size of Jericho area, security for Israeli settlers, and control of border crossings. (MENA 1/27 in FBIS 1/28; NYT, WP 1/28; WP 1/29)

Israeli PM Rabin welcomes King Hussein's offer of public mtg., calling gesture "important progress." (IDF Radio 1/27 in FBIS 1/28; WP, NYT 1/28)

Central Bank of Jordan Gov. Muhammad Nabulsi says Amman has given go-ahead to 5 banks to open branches in West Bank and Gaza pursuant to 1/7 PLO-Jordan accord. (MM 1/28)

Israel announces it will purchase 20 F151 fighter-bombers, valued at $2 b., fr. McDonnell-Douglas Corp. of U.S. Pentagon spokeswoman says congressional approval of sale expected. (MM 1/28)

Speaking at a McDonnell Douglas plant in St. Louis, Pres. Bush announces $9 billion sale of 72 F-15 jets to Saudi Arabia, pending congressional approval. (NYT, WP 9/12)

IDF soldiers shoot and wound 16 in clashes with Gaza Strip residents protesting 9/10 killing of Fateh activists. (MM 9/11)

Secy. of Def. Cheney and Israeli Amb. Shoval meet in Washington, establish 5 committees to negotiate new military aid package to consist of prepositioning and sale of surplus American hardware to Israel, new radar intelligence cooperation, and sale of advanced technology. (NYT 9/15)