The Palestine Chronology

In Cairo, Arafat says that after the interim period, the PA could unilaterally declare a Palestinian state, without Israeli permission. (ITV, SA 1/22 in WNC 1/24; MM 1/23)

PM Netanyahu says that he has offered to resume negotiations with Syria, but Syria has not responded. Israeli FM Levy makes a public appeal to Syria to resume peace talks. (MM 1/22; IDF Radio, SA 1/22 in WNC 1/23; WT 1/23)

After 3 mos. of discussion, a group of Likud, Labor legislators (led by MKs Michael Eytan and Yossi Beilin, respectively) sign a document entitled a "National Agmt. Regarding the Negotiations on the Permanent Settlement with the Palestinians." (NYT 1/26; MM, WP 1/27; MM 1/28; SA 1/28 in WNC 1/29; TJT 1/31 in WNC 2/6; MM 2/3; PR 2/7)

South Africa's cabinet delays the $650-m. arms sale to Syria, says it will consult the U.S. before making a final decision. (NYT, WP 1/23; WT 1/24; MEI 2/7) (see 1/15)

The full Senate confirms (99-0) Albright's as secy. of state. She chooses Thomas Pickering as her undersecy. for political affairs, Stuart Eizenstat as her undersecy. for economic affairs. Strobe Talbott will remain dep. secy. of state. (NYT, WP 1/23) (see 1/20)

PM Rabin reiterates offer to Syria of  "very small" withdrawal fr. Golan in exchange for 3-yr. period to "test" full normalization, open border, exchange of embassies. Pres. al-Asad rejects proposal again, encourages U.S. to offer new ideas to activate talks. Both say if there is no progress by this summer, there will be little hope for an agmt. before 1996 Israeli, U.S. elections. (WT 3/6; RMC 3/5, 3/6 in FBIS 3/6; MM, WT 3/7; MM 3/8; WJW 3/9)

Annual IDF intelligence assessment is presented to Israeli cabinet. Report is pessimistic about securing peace with Syria, says Arafat is not asserting his authority in Gaza, finds probability for war low but says violent acts will likely increase. (MM, WT 3/6; QY 3/5, HA, JP, QY 3/6 in FBIS 3/6; WJW 3/9; JP 3/11)

Arafat, Israeli Police M Shahal meet to discuss "pending issues." IDF claims Arafat also transmitted message fr. Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein to PM Rabin expressing willingness to sign peace treaty with Israel. PA denies claim. (MM 3/6; al-Sharq al-Awsat 3/6 in FBIS 3/7)

Senate Foreign Affairs Comm. Chairman Jesse Helms calls for abolition of all foreign aid; asks that $3 b. aid to Israel become part of defense budget; claims similar plan was proposed by Secy. of State Christopher but was shot down by VP Al Gore, Dep. Secy. of State Strobe Talbott, Undersecretary of State Tim Wirth. (WT 3/6) (see 3/3)

Israeli ships enforcing naval blockade of s. Lebanon fire on Adlun port, south of Tyre, killing 1 fisherman. (QY, RL 3/5 in FBIS 3/6)

FM Peres criticizes some settlements in Gaza Strip as "totally illogical," saying Netzarim "has no agricultural importance, no economic importance, no security importance."  (MM 2/22)

15 settler families, most fr. Ariel, sign petition for Knesset assistance to help them leave o.t.  MKs Yossi Katz (Labor) and Avraham Poraz (Meretz) submit Knesset bills calling for comprehensive compensation plan for settlers leaving o.t., while Labor MKs Haggai Merom and Avraham Burg set up "hot line" for settlers who wish to leave.  (MM 2/23)

Lebanese govt. officials, responding to U.S. concerns over violence in southern Lebanon, agree to restrain actions of guerrilla groups in south.  Int. M Bishara Mirhaj says "We will not approve of any operation that undermines the responsibility of the state in south Lebanon."  (NYT 2/25)

Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics puts Israeli population at end 1993 at 5.325 m., compared to 5.196 m. in 1992.  CBS says settlements' population at 115,000 compared to 105,000 in 1992, Palestinian population in o.t. 1.9 m.  (MM 2/23)

Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu meets in Washington with VP Al Gore, Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole.  Gore expresses both personal and official Clinton admin. opposition to Palestinian state, according to Netanyahu, while Dole says Senate would oppose posting U.S. troops on Golan.  (MM 2/23)

Jordanian Crown Prince Hassan expresses "respect and appreciation" for Saudi fund-raising drive for Islamic holy places in Jerusalem.  (RJ 2/22 in FBIS 2/23)

Senate confirms Strobe Talbott as dep. secy. of state by 66-31 vote.  Opponents had charged Talbott was overly critical of Israel while a journalist for Time magazine, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)  calling Talbott's articles "insulting, immature and incorrect," Sen. Minority Leader Robert Dole (R-KS) accusing Talbott of "clear anti-Israel bias." (MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/23)

Israeli PM Rabin calls Cairo accord signed by PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli FM Peres "a very important step," predicts "at least another month will be necessary in order to finish the details of the agreement to a full accord." (Qol Yisra'el 2/20 in FBIS 2/10; MM 2/10; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 2/11)

Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for abduction and murder of Ilan Sudri, Israeli taxi driver and frmr. border policeman missing fr. inside Israel. In separate incident, dozens of Palestinians detained in search for killers of Israeli citrus farmer found bludgeoned to death in Rehovot. (MM 2/10; WP 2/11)

AIPAC Pres. Steven Grossman announces appointment of Neil Sher, frmr. head of Dept. of Justice's Office of Special Investigations, as next AIPAC exec. dir. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/11; WJW 2/17)

Senate postpones to 2/22 vote by full body on nomination of Strobe Talbott as dep. secy. of state due to Republican opposition. (WT 2/11; WJW 2/17)

PLO Chmn. Arafat and Israeli FM Peres reach partial agreement on security issues related to Palestinian autonomy in Gaza, Jericho, signing documents on control of border crossings, principles for interim agreement at ceremony in Cairo. (MENA 2/9 in FBIS 2/10; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/10)

Sen. For. Relations Comm. approves nomination of Strobe Talbott as dep. secy. of state by vote of 17-2. (WT 2/10)

IDF wounds 14 Palestinians in clashes in Jabaliya and Shatti camps in Gaza and in Janin and Hebron, West Bank. (Qol Yisra'el 2/8 in FBIS 2/9)

FRC ("Abu Nidal" faction) denies involvement in 1/29 murder of Jordanian diplomat in Beirut. (MM 2/8)

Strobe Talbott appears before Sen. For. Relations Comm. for confirmation as dep. secy. of state, asserts beliefs that "U.S.-Israeli relationship is unshakable" and that "a strong Israel is in America's interest" in effort to head off critics of his published comments on Israel. (NYT, WP, WT 2/9)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, Israeli FM Peres open talks in Cairo aimed at implementing Palestinian autonomy in Gaza and Jericho. Both sides report progress. (MENA 2/7, 2/8 in FBIS 2/8; WP, WT 2/8)

Israeli Dep. FM Yossi Beilin meets in Washington with Qatari, Omani officials to discuss Qatar-Israel natural gas deal, multilateral mtg. on water set for 4/94 in Muscat. (MM 2/9)

Hizballah guerrillas ambush IDF patrol in southern Lebanon, killing 4 IDF soldiers and wounding 5. Ambush triggers IAF strikes on 3 villages, SLA, IDF shelling. (MM 2/7; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 2/8)

Meretz MKs Naomi Chazan and Benny Temkin demand that PM Rabin, in capacity as DM, ban travel of 40 IDF elite force veterans to Congo to act as military trainers. Leftist legislators view veterans as mercenaries being used to support Brazzaville regime. (WT 2/10)

Knesset recognizes "Yi'ud" faction made up of frmr. Tsomet MKs. (see 2/2) (MM 2/7)

Sens. Connie Mack (R-FL) and Alfonse D'Amato ask Pres. Clinton to withdraw nomination of Strobe Talbott as dep. secy. of state because of his "extreme views" on Israel, which "go beyond common criticisms to a systematic attack upon the foundations of America's close relationship with Israel." (WT 2/8)

Washington, opened 1/24, adjourns without reported progress. (Qol Yisra'el 2/3 in FBIS 2/3; MM 2/4)

Multilateral Working Group on Arms Control and Regional Security ends Cairo mtg. opened 1/30 after discussing Russian-U.S. working paper, IAEA proposals. (MENA 2/3 in FBIS 2/4)

IDF soldier in truck, firing at stone-throwers in Shatti camp, Gaza Strip, critically wounds 13-yr.-old Mahmud Abu Hajar. IDF spokesman admits soldier's action violates IDF rules of engagement. (MM 2/3; NYT, WP 2/4)

IDF undercover unit disguised as women and old men kills Fateh Hawks' leader Salim Muafi, 29, in surprise attack in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Hawks announce they will no longer obey PLO Chmn. Arafat's orders, escalate "armed struggle." IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Ehud Barak calls Muafi's killing a "great achievement." (WP 2/4)

IDF arrests 15 settlers attempting to establish new settlement nr. Maale Adumin, West Bank. (Qol Yisra'el 2/3 in FBIS 2/4)

Israeli Ag. Min. program comm. approves expansion of Moshav Ramot, Maale Gamla settlements in Golan Heights. (MM 2/4)

U.S. Agency for International Development releases $7 m. in aid to Palestinian Housing Council in East Jerusalem to fund 192 apartments in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip. Money is 1st installment of $500 m. pledged to support Israel-PLO DoP. (MM, WT 2/4)

Jordan reduces staff of Iranian embassy in Amman by 21 in move interpreted as Jordanian disapproval of Tehran's support for anti-DoP groups. (AFP 2/3 in FBIS 2/3; WP 2/4)

Zionist Organization of America, National Jewish Coalition circulate Time magazine columns by Dep. Secy. of State-designate Strobe Talbott criticizing Israeli policy in campaign to stop his nomination. Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs issues news release saying Talbott's views are reason he "should be disqualified" fr. post. Other Jewish groups, led by Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, meet with Talbott and refuse to condemn him as anti-Israel. (MM, NYT 2/4)

"Seeds of Peace" organization presents awards to Israeli FM Peres, PLO UN Observer Muhammad Nasir al-Kidwa, and Egyptian UN amb. Nabil al-'Arabi. Group put together Israeli, Arab children for summer camp, was present at 9/13 DoP signing. (NYT 2/5)