The Palestine Chronology

The IDF fatally shoots 2 alleged AMB mbrs., both unarmed, who enter a closed military zone in Gaza; sets up 4 new checkpoints on the main road to Qalqilya; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in ‘Azun, Khan Yunis. In Hebron, Jewish settlers, Palestinians clash, leaving 3 settlers, 2 Palestinians wounded. Palestinians fire 2 antitank missiles at an IDF patrol nr. Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. (VOI, VOP, YA 1/24 in WNC 1/27; HA, NYT 1/25; PR 1/28; PCHR 1/29)

After 3 yrs. of negotiations via a German mediator, Israel, Hizballah conclude a prisoner swap deal under which Israel will release 401 Palestinian security prisoners, 29 Arab prisoners (including Lebanon’s Shaykh ‘Abd al-Karim Obeid and Mustafa Dirani), the bodies of 59 Lebanese fighters in exchange for captured IDF Col. Elhanan Tennenbaum (res.), the bodies of 3 IDF soldiers. After this 1st phase is completed, Israel, Hizballah will reopen negotiations toward Israel releasing Lebanese prisoner Samir Kantar in exchange for information on downed Israeli pilot Ron Arad. (HA, Israel Television Network 1/24, AFP, MA, MNR, VIRI, VOP, YA 1/25 in WNC 1/27; HA, NYT, WP, WT 1/25; CSM, HA, MM, NYT 1/26; JP 1/27 in WNC 1/29; MM 1/28)

En route to Washington, Arafat holds talks on the peace process with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo. (MENA 4/19 in WNC 4/20)

The UNSC adopts a statement fr. Secy. Gen. Annan informing the council of Israel's intentions to withdraw fr. s. Lebanon in keeping with UN Res. 425 and 426 and initiating preparations to enable the UN to carry out its responsibilities under those resolutions in order to avoid a deterioration of the situation in Lebanon. (XIN 4/20 in WNC 4/24) (see 4/17)

Israel releases 13 Lebanese detainees, returns them to Lebanon. 2,000 friends, relatives, supporters greet them at the border. The remaining 2, Obeid and Mustafa Dirani, will be held at least until a hearing on 5/8 to determine whether they pose a security threat to Israel. (MM, NYT, WP 4/19; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/20; WJW 4/27; JP 4/28)

Immediately upon Barak's return fr. Washington, Israel says it will withdraw fully fr. s. Lebanon, evacuating all fortified outposts just inside Lebanon, across the Israel-Lebanon border, putting to rest any consideration of the IDF's Morning Twilight proposal. (MM 4/14; MEI 4/21) (see 3/12)

Israel's High Court rules (6-3) against the government in the case of 15 Lebanese men held without charge or after the completion of their terms, concluding that a 1979 emergency law does not authorize the taking of hostages who pose no risk to Israeli national security. The Israeli prison authority agrees to release the 13 detainees in its custody by 4/17 in compliance with the ruling. The IDF, however, refuses to free the 2 men it holds in military prisons: Shaykh `Abd al-Karim Obeid, a Hizballah spiritual leader kidnapped in 1989, and Mustafa Dirani, fmr. Amal security chief kidnapped in 1994. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/13; MM 4/14, 4/18; WP 4/19)

The donors' Joint Liaison Comm. and Local Aid Coordination Comm. both meet in Gaza. (World Bank press release 4/19, 5/4)

Israel releases Ghassan Dirani, nephew of Mustafa Dirani (see 3/13), to the Red Cross for repatriation to Lebanon. Lebanese Christian militia men kidnapped Dirani in 1986, hoping to could trade him to Israel, who they thought would want him as a bargaining chip in its efforts to find out what happened to IDF airman Ron Arad, who was downed over Lebanon earlier in 1986, allegedly by mbrs. of Mustafa Dirani's group. Israel took custody of Ghassan in 1990 and had since held him without charge. (NYT, WP 4/6; WT 4/20)

To protest the Israeli High Court's 3/29 decision allowing Palestinians to return to their homes nr. Yatta, Jewish settlers reoccupy the West Bank hilltop where the illegal outpost Havat Maon was dismantled in 11/99 as part of an agmt. btwn. PM Barak and the YESHA settlers council. (NYT 4/6)

The Jordanian air force intercepts the Italian plane that defied UN sanctions on Iraq on 4/3 on its return trip and forces it to land. The plane is impounded, the pilot arrested, and the EU official and Italian filmmaker deported. (MM 4/6, 4/7; JT 4/7 in WNC 4/11; DUS 4/23 in WNC 4/24) (see 4/4)