The Palestine Chronology

PLO issues statement condemning 2/18 killing of settler Zipporah Sasson.  Hamas spokesman Ibrahim Ghawsha denounces PLO statement, saying Sasson's killing was unintentional.  (MM 2/25)

IDF attacks house in Abu Dis, West Bank, with anti-tank rockets in 7-hr. standoff with Hamas militants.  `Abd al-Rahman Hamdan, 23, killed, `Ali Ahmad `Ali Amudi, 19, arrested.  IDF claims the 2 Khan Yunis r.c. residents part of Hamas cell that killed 8 Israelis, including Shin Bet agent Noam Cohen, killed 2/13.  (MM 2/25)

Syrian Dep. Chief Rabbi Yusuf Jajati announces that all 1,000 Jews remaining in Syria have been given exit visas, fulfilling commitment made by Pres. al-Asad.  Jajati notes most of est. 4,000 Syrian Jews had moved to U.S., but 3-4 families had returned due to language, financial problems.  (MM 2/24; WP 2/25)

Beirut's al-Nahar reports U.S. selling 175 used M-113 APCs to Lebanese army for $35 m.  (MM 2/24)

PLO-Israel security comm. resumes talks in Cairo to settle details of Gaza-Jericho autonomy plan.  Civilian affairs comm. also expected to resume sessions.  (MENA 2/21 in FBIS 2/22; CSM 2/23)

UN holds talks in Geneva with France, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom on training Palestinian police force.  (MM 2/24)

FM Peres, speaking to Knesset Economics Comm. names Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, and Tunisia as Arab countries working to end Arab boycott of Israel.  Peres observes "the Arab boycott is the Arab world's problem, no less than ours."  (MM 2/21; Qol Yisra`el 2/21 in FBIS 2/24)

Syrian Interior M Muhammad Harba, speaking to Damascus conference on drug trafficking, says Syria rejects Israeli proposal for secret negotiations, calls Israeli proposal for referendum on Golan Heights an obstacle to peace.  (MM 2/21)

Settlers block West Bank roads with rocks, burning tires in continuing protests over killing of Zipporah Sasson.  Blockade coincides with "rush hour" of Palestinians going to work in Israel.  IDF prevents clashes by turning away Palestinian cars before they reach settler roadblocks.  Ballistics tests reportedly link weapon in Sasson killing to killing of Shin Bet officer previous week and 4 Israelis in 12/93.  (MM 2/21; CSM 2/22)

Lawyer for imprisoned Hamas leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin says his client's "life is under threat," but Israeli Prisons Authority spokesman says "there is no deterioration" in Yasin's condition.  Yasin is serving 15-yr. sentence in prison nr. Netanya for ordering killings of collaborators.  (MM 2/21)

Hamas issues leaflet warning Druze, Bedouin citizens of Israel to leave IDF "which has killed the sons of your people."  Hamas claims IDF replacing Jewish units in Gaza with Druze- and Bedouin-manned units.  (MM 2/21)

Mourners at Ashkelon funeral of Zipporah Sasson chant "death to Arabs!" but cabinet declines to close off o.t., FM Peres saying "there is no need at the moment to renew the closure," closure "neither effective nor required."  Environment M Yossi Sarid warns, "if [PLO Chmn. Arafat] and his people do not bring down the level of terrorism, terrorism will bring them down."  Israeli cabinet discusses closure of o.t. as possible response to Sasson murder, but FM Peres says "it is unfair to punish innocent people." (MM, NYT, WT 2/21)

Police M Moshe Shahal announces plans to deploy Civil Guard units in all major settlements in o.t. as part of IDF redeployment plans.  (MM 2/21)

Associated Press reports Israel preparing to evacuate Palestinian informers and their families to Israel fr. villages of Dahaniya in the Gaza Strip and Fahmi in the West Bank in anticipation of Palestinian autonomy.  Report says 13 of 100 families in Dahaniya and 24 of 105 in Fahmi have received Israeli i.d.s  (WT 2/20)

Jordan arrests 15 FRC ("Abu Nidal") mbrs. in raid on Amman office posing as trading company.  Most had served prison terms in 1970s for terrorist crimes.  Move follows arrests in Lebanon of FRC mbrs. for murder of Jordanian diplomat, Jordanian accusations of Libyan complicity.  (MM, WP 2/23)

King Fahd announces Saudi fund-raising drive for restoration of Islamic holy places in Jerusalem.  (MM 2/24)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, in interview with The Guardian and Jordan Times, claims Fateh has evidence of direct Israeli involvement in o.t. arms traffic, which "has accelerated in recent weeks,"  accusing IDF of playing "a very dangerous game" since it knows "that these weapons, while they are withdrawing, will not be used against them.  Then against whom will they be used?"  (MM 2/18; JT 2/17-18 in FBIS 2/17)

Zipporah Sasson of Ariel settlement, West Bank, killed in gun attack claimed by Hamas on Trans-Samarian Highway.  Settler was 5 mos. pregnant. Settlers block roads to protest killing. (Qol Yisra'el 2/19 in FBIS 2/22; WP, WT 2/20; CSM 2/22; JP 2/26)