Chronology: 16 November 1998-15 February 1999 Source: Journal of Palestine Studies, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Spring, 1999), pp. 162-184 Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Institute for Palestine Studies Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2538325 Accessed: 03-03-2015 19:06 UTC

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16 NOVEMBER 1998-15 FEBRUARY 1999

This section is part sixty-oneof a chronology begun in JPS 23, no. 3 (Spring 1984). Chronol- ogy dates reflectEastern Standard Time. For more detail on events related to the peace pro- cess, see the Peace Monitor in this issue.

16 NOVEMBER Arafat reiteratesPA adherence to the peace process. officials meet with settlers As theKnesset beginsdebate on ratifica- to go over FRD maps. (MM 11/17; MA 11/17 tionof the 10/23Wye River Memorandum, in WNC 11/18; ITV 11/17 in WNC 11/19; Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu suspends MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/18; 11/19; PR the agmt.'simplementation, saying he will WJW 11/20; MEI 11/27) notcarry out the 1stof 3 stagesof furtherre- UN weapons inspectors returnto Iraq. deployment(FRD) requiredby Wyeuntil PA (CSM 11/18) (see 11/15) head Yasir Arafat retractshis 11/15 threat With governmentpermission, Jordanian to stagean uprisingagainst if Palestin- opposition parties ian access to Jerusalemis blocked.(MM women's groups, stage small rallyoutside the Iraqi emb. in 11/16;CSM, NYT, WP, WT 11/17;WJW Amman to express solidaritywith Baghdad 11/19) in the face of U.S. threatsof attack.Jordan's U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross meets InteriorMin. says it would ban pro-Iraq dem- withArafat in Jericho. (ITV 11/16in WNC onstrationsif the U.S. actually strikes. 11/18;WT 11/17) (JT 11/18 in WNC 11/19) (see 11/15) In Gaza, Israel, Jordan,the U.S. meetto discussthe Irbid industrial zone project.(Pe- 18 NOVEMBER tra-JNA11/17 in WNC 11/19;JT 11/23 in WNC 11/24;Petra-JNA 11/23 in WNC 11/30) Israeli FM Sharon, PA chief negotiator (see Peace Monitor) Mahmud Abbas meet at the Israeli FMin. in In Cairo,Russia, Egypthold high-level Jerusalemto discuss final status talks, pro- expertsmtg. on defensecooperation. Russian gress of the PA-Israelicomms. on the econ- DM hopes deepeningmilitary ties "will be- omy, Gaza port,FRDs. (MM, NYT, WP, WT come an importantfactor of peace and sta- 11/19; ITV 11/20 in WNC 11/23) bilityin theMiddle East." (Interfax, ITAR- Israel, the PA finalize procedures for TASS,MENA 11/16 in WNC 11/17;MENA Gaza airport.(ITV 11/19 in WNC 11/20; MM 11/17in WNC 11/18) 11/24) CitingIsraeli FM Ariel Sharon's 11/15 The PA runs text of the 5/98 Palestinian call forsetders to "grab"disputed West Weapons Control Law in Palestinian local Bank land,30 settlersfr. Keddumim set up newspapers. (MEI, PR 11/27) "presettlement"on nearbyhilltop. (MM In Amman, Palestinian Council (PC) 11/17;MA 11/17in WNC 11/18;WT 11/19) Speaker Ahmad Qurai' meets with Crown Palestinians in al-Khaderprotest confis- Prince Hassan to discuss final status negoti- cationof land forbypass road. (CSM 11/17) ations. (Petra-JNA11/18 in WNC 11/19, Israel Defense Force (IDF) convoy trig- 11/20) gersroadside bomb in s. Lebanon, killing3 Russia says that it is prepared to sell soldiers,wounding 4. Hizballah claimsre- Syria hundreds of millions of dollars worth sponsibility.(AFP, ITV, RL 11/16in WNC of militaryhardware; expects bilateral arms 11/17;MM, WP 11/17;WT 11/18;MEI 11/27; trade to be worth $5 b. over the next 5 yrs. JP 11/30) (Interfax,ITAR-TASS 11/18 in WNC 11/19; al- Quds al-Arabi 12/2 in WNC 12/7; ITV 12/24 17 NOVEMBER in WNC 12/28) Knesset ratifiesthe Wye agmt. Israeli Israeli PM Netanyahu admits that 2 Israe- cabinet postponesmtg. on approvalof 1st lis arrestedin Cyprus 11/7 are Mossad stageof FRD to 11/19,pending PA movesto agents but says that Israel was not spying on collectillegal weapons, clamp down on in- Cyprus or on Turkey's behalf. (ITV 11/18 in citement.To appease Netanyahu(see 11/16), WNC 11/20)

Journal of Palestine Studies XXVIII, no. 3 (Spring 1999), pp. 162-184.

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IDF evictssetders fr.hilltop nr. Ked- Israel, Britain sign a 10-yr.military co- dumim,but takesno actionagainst settlers operation pact aimed at facilitatingjoint re- who set up 6 mobilehomes on hillnr. search in defense technologies, especially Halamish.(WT 11/19)(see 11/17) naval high-tech,unmanned aerial vehicles. (JP 11/30) 19 NOVEMBER Italian court rejects Turkey's request for extraditionof Kurdish separatist leader House of Representativesopens hearings Abdallah Ocalan, citing law thatbars extra- on impeachment of Pres. Bill Clinton. dition to countrythat has the death penalty. (NYT,WP 11/20) Ocalan, head of the Kurdistan Workers Israeli cabinet approves 1st stage of Party (PKK), is freed fr.custody but or- FRD for11/20. Maps are presentedto the dered to stay in Rome. Turkey orders boy- PA forthe 1sttime. (MM 11/19;IDF Radio, cott of Italian goods in protest.(RAI ITV 11/19in WNC 11/20;CSM, MM, NYT, Televideo Teletex 11/20 in WNC 11/23; NYT WP, WT 11/20;YA 11/20in WNC 11/23;JP 11/21; ATL 11/21 in WNC 11/24; WP, WT 11/30)(see Peace Monitor) 11/22; MM 11/23; NYT 11/24; CSM 11/30) U.S. agreesto give Israel $1.2 b. to cover (see 11/12) costof FRD pendingapproval of Congress. The PA is also hopingfor a $400 m. U.S. 21 NOVEMBER economicaid package.(YA 11/19in WNC 11/20;HA [Internet]11/20; WP 11/24) Body of a Palestinian woman is found nr. Neve Daniel settlement nr. Hebron. PA PA rejectsIsrael's list,presented today, claims she was murdered by settlers.(ITV of 250 Palestiniansto be freedin the 1stof 3 11/23 in WNC 11/30) Israeliprisoner releases agreed to at Wye; says inclusionof 150 commoncriminals and 22 NOVEMBER only100 politicalprisoners is a violationof thespirit of Wye.U.S. urgesthe parties to In Washington,Israeli Finance M workthe problem out btwn.themselves. (QY Yaakov Neeman, DMin. Dir. Gen. Ilan 11/19in WNC 11/20;NYT, WP 11/20;WP Biran meet with senior U.S. officials to as- 11/22;CSM, WT 11/23) sure them that the $1.2 b. aid that the U.S. PA broadcastsa decree againstanti-Israeli plans to give Israel will not be used directly incitement.(MM 11/19;NYT, WP 11/20;LAW for settlements.An Israeli-U.S. team is 11/24;MEI 11/27) formedto complete details of the aid pack- Israel tells the Christian community age within 1 mo. for submission to Con- thata second entrancein thewall of the gress in mid-1/99.( [Internet]11/22; Church of the Holy Sepulcher in East Je- MM 11/23; Globes [Internet]11/23 in WNC rusalemmust be made to accommodatethe 11/30) (see 11/19) manypilgrims expected to come to Jerusa- Israel, Jordan discuss bilateral trade is- lem in 2000.Greek Orthodox Archbishop sues, Israeli obstacles to Jordanian trade with Christobulossays all Christiangroups must the occupied territories.(JT 11/23 in WNC approvebefore work can begin.(MA 11/20 11/30) (see Peace Monitor) in WNC 11/23) Jordan, Syria open 2-day mtg. on 1 Hizballah mbr.is killedin clashwith Yarmuk Riverwater. (IT, Petra-JNA11/23 in IIDF in s. Lebanon. (VOL 11/23in WNC WNC 11/24;JT 11/24, 11/26 in WNC 11/30; 11/24) WT 11/25) (see Peace Monitor) Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails be- 20 NOVEMBER gin hunger striketo protestIsrael's release of criminals,rather than political prisoners. Israel carries out 1st stage of FRD. (MM (CSM 11/23; MM 11/25; IDF Radio 11/26 in 11/20; YA 11/20 in WNC 11/23; NYT, WT WNC 11/30; MEI 12/11) (see 11/20) 11/21; RE 11/22 in WNC 11/24; MEI, PR Israel approves constructionof high-tech 11/27) (see Peace Monitor) industrialcenter, engineering school at the Israel releases the 1st 250 Palestinian KiryatArba settlement. (AFP [Internet] prisoners. (MM 11/20; NYT, WP 11/21; AFP, 11/22; PR 11/27) RE, YA 11/22 in WNC 11/24; YA 11/26 in Jewish settlers occupy abandoned rail WNC 11/30; MEI 11/27) (see Peace Monitor) station at Sebastia in the ; demand

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governmentpermission to open a religious WT 11/25; MEI, PR 11/27; al-Aswaq 11/30 in seminary,museum there. Settlers also occupy WNC 12/4;JP 12/7) (see Peace Monitor) hilltopsnr. Bethlehem, nr. Nablus. (ITV 11/22 In Gaza, Jordan, the PA hold economic in WNC 11/24) talks,sign several protocols to promote co- IIDF demolishes Palestinian home in operation. (Petra-JNA11/24 in WNC 11/30) Taybehnr. Hebron. (PR 1/8) On a visit to 3 West Bank settlements, A wk. afteravoiding U.S. airstrikesby re- Netanyahu promises settlementexpansion sumingcooperation with the UN (see 11/15), but cautions that "thisissue must be coordi- Iraq rebuffsa UN requestfor documents. nated behind closed doors with the army U.S. warnsthat withholding documents and not in frontof the media"; says, "The dry days are over. Our policy is to grow and ex- alone could triggerairstrikes. (NYT 11/23; pand." (MM 11/24) WT 11/24) Mossad chief of operations resigns over Withgovernment permission, Jordanian the arrestof 2 agents in Cyprus. (NYT, WP women's groups, opposition parties 11/25;JP 11/30, 12/7) (see 11/18) stage2d pro-Iraqrally in Amman. 11/23 (JT New Lebanese pres. Emile Lahoud is in WNC 11/24)(see 11/17) sworn in. (VOL 11/24 in WNC 11/30; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/25) 23 NOVEMBER In London, U.S. Asst. Secy. of State In Amman, Israeli FM Sharon, Trade M Martin Indyk meets with 16 Iraqi opposi- Natan Sharansky meet with Crown Prince tion leaders; nominates new dissident Hassan; signagmt. forming bilateral mecha- leader Adnan al-Pachachi, a fmr.FM, to nismfor implementing several Jordan Valley forma united Iraqi opposition movement. projects.(ITV, JT, RJ 11/23 in WNC 11/24; (WT 11/26) (see 10/31) JTV,Petra-JNA 11/23, JT 11/24in WNC OPEC producers hold emergency mtg. in 11/30;MM 11/24)(see Peace Monitor) Vienna to discuss sharp drop in oil prices. (WT 11/25, 12/17) Israel, thePA hold talkson selectingthe remaining500 Palestinianprisoners to be re- 25 NOVEMBER leased underthe Wye agmt.,but reachim- passe. (ITV 11/23in WNC 11/24) In Paris, Egyptian pres. Husni In Gaza, 1,500 Palestinians demonstrate Mubarak, Arafat discuss Wye implementa- againstthe PA forfailing to secureIsrael's tion. (MENA 11/25 in WNC 11/30) releaseof politicalprisoners, attempt to To cement his majorityin the Knesset breakinto PA negotiatorAbbas's home but and cabinet, PM Netanyahu strikestentative are pushed back by PA police. (JT[Internet] deal with Gesher party head David Levy, 11/24;MM 11/25;MEI 12/11) who resigned as FM in 1/98 afterdenounc- Jewish settlers seize West Bank hilltop ing Netanyahu's government,to rejoin the nr..IIDF declares2d hillnr. cabinet. Both Netanyahu, FM Sharon cancel to Itamaroccupied by settlers11/22 a closed tripsabroad shore up coalition. (MM 11/25; NYT, WP, WT 11/26; WT 11/27; MA militaryzone, orderssettlers to leave. (CSM, 11/29, 11/30 in WNC 12/1; MM 12/4;JP JP [Internet]11/24) 12/7) U.S. Amb. to Paul Theros Qatar says Governmentof Turkish PM Mesut thatthe U.S. is buildingits largest military Yilmaz falls in a no-confidence vote over "warehouse"in Qatar, prepositioningequip- corruptionallegations. (MM, NYT, WP 11/26; mentbut not troops.(WT 11/24) MEI 12/11) In s. Lebanon, 3 civilians are injured, Iranian Majles delegation visitsLeba- houses are damagedby IDF shelling.1 IDF non. (IRNA 11/25 in WNC 11/30) soldieris killed,2 South Lebanon Army (SLA) soldiersare woundedin Hizballah at- 26 NOVEMBER tack.(RL 11/23in WNC 11/24;MA 11/24in WNC 11/30) In Paris, EgyptianFM Musa, French FM Hubert Vedrine review French-Egyptianini- 24 NOVEMBER tiativefor Arab summiton the peace process (lst raised in 5/98), Wye implementationde- Gaza's Yasir Arafat International Air- lays, Iraq-U.S. crisis. (MENA 11/26 in WNC port opens. (MM 11/24;CSM, MM, NYT, WP, 11/30)

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Labor chmn. Ehud Barak rejectsoffer mentexpansion, confiscation of Palestinian fr.Likud PM Netanyahu to join a unitygov- land forbypass roads. (NYT 11/30;MEI ernment.(WT 11/27)(see 11/25) 12/11) Israeli AgricultureMin. revealsthat in In Washington,Arafat meets with Pres. 1998 ittransferred NIS 17.1m. fr.its budget Clinton, Commerce Secy. William Daley, to theZionist Federation's Settlement Arab American business leaders. (NYT, Dept. to builtpools, yeshivas, clubs, audito- WT 11/30) riumsin, set up paramilitaryprograms for, On theeve of theWashington donor absorbimmigrants into Jewish settlements. mtg.,the Sunday Timesof Londonreports (MA 11/27in WNC 11/30) that$20 m. in EU aid earmarkedfor housing In s. Lebanon, 2 IDF soldiersare killed, projectsfor needy Palestinians in theWest 4 are injuredby Hizballah roadsidebombs, Bank,Gaza has been used to buildluxury bringingto 5 thenumber of soldierskilled apartmentsfor Arafat supporters. (WT 11/30; therein thepast 10 days.Netanyahu agrees PR 12/4;MEI 12/11;JP 12/14) to reviewIsraeli security arrangements in s. PM Netanyahu convenes special cabinet Lebanon.(MM 11/26;LPA 11/26,IDF Radio sessionto reassessIsrael's occupation of s. 11/27in WNC 11/30;MM, WP, WT 11/27) Lebanon amidpublic outcry over increasing numberof IDF casualtiesthere. (20 soldiers 27 NOVEMBER have been killedin s. Lebanonthis year, in- cluding7 in thepast 2 wks.,compared to 39 PM Netanyahucuts short a tripto Britain last yr.) U.S. Amb. Edward Walker warns to briefPM Blair on the Tony Wyeagmt., Netanyahuagainst harsh retaliation against cancelstrip to Spainas a resultof deathof 2 Lebanon.Lebanese pres. Lahoud says Israel IDF soldiersin s. Lebanon 11/26;says Leb- is onlytesting the new regime,he willnot anese is government "directlyresponsible" submitto Israeliblackmail. (WP, WT 11/29; for war Hizballah's on Israel.(MM 11/27;YA ITV,RL 11/29in WNC 12/1;MM 11/30;MM, 11/27in WNC 11/30;NYT, WP, WT 11/28; WT 12/1; MM 12/2;JP 12/7; MEI 12/11) MEI 12/11) In Gaza, PA police block Israelitrucks Dir. of the PM's Bureau Uri Elitzur carryingbuilding supplies to Netzarimset- calls on theYESHA settlerscouncil to take tlement. IDF countersby blockingVIP en- anysteps that encourage settlement, includ- trance to Gaza to PA officials, while set- ing initiatingnew WestBank encampments, tlers block road nr.Netzarim to Palestinian because "youdon't know how long thisgov- traffic.(NYT 11/30) ernmentwill last and whatwill be thedepth IIDF demolishes Palestinian home in of thefurther withdrawal." (MA 11/27in . (LAW 11/30; PR 1/8) WNC 11/30) Jordaniangovernment bans largepro- 30 NOVEMBER Iraq rallyplanned for today by Jordan's op- position parties. Mu'ta Universityadmin- International donors conference called istrationdissolves its Islamist-dominated stu- forunder Wye is held in Washington.Do- dentcouncil and suspends8 studentsfor norspledge $3.2 b. in aid to thePA forthe holdingdemonstrations against the Wye next5 yrs.(MM, NYT 11/30;MM, NYT, WP, agmt.(JT 11/28, 11/30 in WNC 12/1)(see WT 12/1;YA 12/1in WNC 12/2;al-Ahram 11/22) 12/3in WNC 12/4;MM, PR 12/4;MM 12/9; MEI 12/11;JP 12/14)(see Peace Monitor) 28 NOVEMBER Israel's HousingMin. approves plans for 480 new housingunits in KochavYa'acov Palestinians demonstratingfor the re- settlement,more than tripling the size of lease of Palestinianpolitical prisoners clash theWest Bank enclave. (NYT, WT 12/2) withIsraeli police in EastJerusalem, Beth- IDF demolishes 2d Palestinian home in lehem,Hebron. 19 Palestiniansare arrested, EastJerusalem (LAW 12/3; PR 1/8) 35 injured.Demonstrations in 4 otherPA- PM Netanyahu, DM Yitzhak Morde- controlledtowns are peaceful.(WP, WT chai rulesout unilateralwithdrawal of IDF 11/29;PR 12/4;JP 12/7;MEI 12/11) troopsfr. s. Lebanon. (WP 12/1)(see 11/29) Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri says he will 29 NOVEMBER notform new governmentunder Pres. In Jericho,the Palestinian-Israeli Steer- Lahoud. Economistsworry that losing the ing and MonitoringComm. (PISMC) dis- billionairereal estatemogul as PM willhurt cusses disputesover prisoner release, settle- theeconomy. Hizballah saysthat it will not

This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 166 JOURNALOF PALESTINE STUDIES participatein thenew governmentsince it LebanesePM Huss presentshis new gov- offersno significantpolitical change fr. the ernment.Huss willalso hold theFMin. port- old one. (MM 11/30; MBC, RL, al-Safir,VOL folio.(RL 12/4in WNC 12/7;MM 12/8,12/9) 11/30 in WNC 12/1; MM, WP, WT 12/1,MM 5 DECEMBER 12/2; al-Ahd 12/4 in WNC 12/14; MEI 12/11) Egypt'sPres. Mubarak arrives in Ankara for2-day talks with Turkey's Pres. Demirel 1 DECEMBER on boostingpolitical, economic cooperation. Lebanese pres. Lahoud taps Salim al- (MM 12/7;MENA 12/9 in WNC 12/11)(see Huss to head a new government.Huss, a Peace Monitor) U.S.-trainedeconomist, was PM duringthe Nr.Ramallah, IDF breaksup demonstra- 1975-90civil war. (RL 12/1in WNC 12/2; tion by 300 Palestinians protestingIsrael's MM 12/2; RL 12/2, 12/3 in WNC 12/4; MM, releaseof criminals11/20, new conditionsto NYT, WP 12/3; SA 12/3 in WNC 12/7; MEI Wyeimplementation issued 12/2;injures 14. 12/11) 5 Palestiniansare injuredin similarclashes in 1 SLA mbr.is woundedin a clashwith Bethlehem. PA Prisoners' Affairs M Hizballah in s. Lebanon. (VOL 12/1 in Hisham 'Abd al-Raziq, 1,700 Palestinian WNC 12/2) prisoners beginhunger strike. (WT 12/6; WP,WT 12/7;MM 12/9;MEI 12/11;PR 2 DECEMBER 12/18) In Ramallah,Palestinians ambushan IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes, IDF patrolcar, beat 1 soldier.Israel sus- animalpens in Jiftliknr. Nablus. (PR 1/8) pends FRD untilthe PA complieswith a new 6 DECEMBER listof demands,including publicly aban- PA announcesend of amnestyperiod to doningplans to declarea statein 5/99,ac- legallyregister weapons, begins confiscating ceptingIsraeli criteria for prisoner releases, unlicensedweapons. (PR 12/11)(see 12/18) haltingall acts of incitementand violence. Citingrecent prisoner release demonstra- U.S. rejectsdemands, says accord"should be tions,PM Netanyahu accuses PA of "will- implementedas signed."IDF subduesthe fullyfomenting violence," says he willnot demonstration,injuring 11 Palestinians.(ITV carryout nextstage of FRD set for12/18. 12/2 in WNC 12/4; MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/3; (WT 12/7) MM 12/4; MEI 12/11) GesherMK Levy decides againstre- A Palestinian is stabbedto deathin East joiningIsrael's coalition government, accuses Jerusalem.During the funeral, mourners set Netanyahuof deceptionin tryingto entice fireto an Israelicar and stoneIsraeli police, himback. (MM,NYT, WP 12/7;MA, YA 12/8 who firerubber bullets. Riot continues for in WNC 12/11;MEI 12/11)(see 11/25) severalhrs. (MM 12/2;LAW, NYT, WP, WT 12/3; PR 12/11;JP 12/14) 7 DECEMBER IDF demolishes7 Palestinian homes in In Washington,Israeli FM Sharon in- theJordan Valley. (AFP [Internet]12/2) formsPres. Clinton, Secy. Albright that Turkish pres. Suleyman Demirel taps Israel will not carryout the 2d stage of the veteranleft-wing politician Bulent Ecevit to FRD by 2/18, claiming PA has violated forma new government.(MM 12/3)(see "everyparagraph" of Wye; warns Clinton not 11/25) to raise Palestinian expectations during his upcoming visit.Sharon asks CIA Dir. 3 DECEMBER George Tenet to reconsider his opposition PM Netanyahu says that IDF soldier to spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard's re- ambushedin Ramallah12/2 should have lease (see Peace Monitor in JPS 110). (MM been carryinga loaded weapon,followed 12/8; WJW12/10) open-firerules. (MM, WT 12/4;PR 12/11) Knesset postpones no-confidence vote Palestiniandemonstrations continue in on Netanyahu to 12/21 in lightof Pres. East Jerusalem. 6 Israeli policemen, 3 Clinton's tripto the region this weekend. Palestinians are injured;19 Palestiniansare (MM 12/7; MM, NYT, WT 12/8; MA 12/8, IDF arrested.(WP 12/4;YA 12/4in WNC 12/7) Radio 12/9 in WNC 12/11; WJW 12/10; MEI 12/11) 4 DECEMBER In Nablus, PA police clash with lOOs of State Dept. says thatIsrael's 11/20 pris- Palestinians demonstratingagainst Israel's onerrelease met Wye obligations. (WJW refusalto release political prisoners,injuring 12/10;MEI 12/11;JP 12/14) 19. Demonstratorsset fireto 2 police cars, a

This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions CHRONOLOGY 167 bus. 50 Palestiniansare injured,1 is killedin proachtheir border fences. Hamas spiritual otherWest Bank clashes with the IDF. 4 Is- leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin joins prison- raeliborder policemen, 2 settlersare also in- ers' hungerstrike (see 12/5).(CSM, MM, jured.(NYT, WP, WT 12/8;MM 12/9;PR NYT,WP, WT 12/10;YA 12/10in WNC 12/11) 12/14) The U.S. dropsIran fr.list of majordrug- Israel's High Court unanimously votes producingcountries, saying it has largely to overturn50-yr.-old statute exempting Ul- eliminatedthe illegal opium trade. (WT 12/8) traorthodoxJews fr.serving in the IDF. 3-day Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) (NYT,WP, WT 12/10) mtg.opens in Abu Dhabi. FMsfr. Balirain, IDF court-martialssoldier who was Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE ambushed,beaten by Palestinians in discussrecent mtgs. with U.S. Secy.of State Ramallah12/3 for not carrying a loaded Albrightin Washington,where Albright weapon,leaving his postwithout permission. asked themto come up withnew ideas on Top IDF cmdrs.say thathe shouldhave shot how to deal withthe Iraqi government,how his attackers.(WP, W. 12/10;PR 12/11;JP theIraqi opposition could be used. (MM 12/14) 12/7,12/8, 12/10, 12/16) (see 11/24) Actingon Israeli complaints, PA police raida Palestinianfactory in Hebron manu- 8 DECEMBER facturingcounterfeit compact discs of Israeli U.S. specialenvoy Ross meetswith PM artists.(YA 12/9in WNC 12/14) Netanyahu regardingPres. Clinton's up- Morethan 80% of settlersin Ganimsign comingvisit. Netanyahu gives him a listof draftbill prepared by Labor, sayingthat they allegedPA violationsof Wye.Afterward, would evacuatethe settlement in exchange Ross publiclycondemns Palestinian demon- forfinancial compensation. (ITV 12/9in strationson theprisoner release issue, re- WNC 12/14)(see 12/8) statesthat Israel did notpromise at Wyeto Iraq refusesto accommodateUN Special releasespecific types of Palestinianprison- Comm. (UNSCOM) weapons inspectorsde- ers.(MM 12/8) mandingaccess to Ba'thparty offices. (CSM, Arafatbreaks off an EU tourto returnto WT 12/10;WP 12/11) the occupied territoriesto overseecontain- mentof Palestinianclashes, holds 3-hr.mtg. 10 DECEMBER withU.S. envoyRoss. (ITV 12/8in WNC In Gaza, the PLO Central Council ap- 12/11;NYT 12/9) provesArafat's 1/98 letter to Clinton,annul- U.S.-Israeli-PA anti-incitement comm. lingclauses of thePLO chartercalling for meetsin Jerusalem. (YA 12/9in WNC 12/11) Israel'sdestruction. (NYT, WP, WT 12/11; (see Peace Monitor) MM 12/14)(see Peace Monitor) PM Netanyahu pledgesmillions of shek- PM Netanyahu orderscrackdown on els to Qadim,Ganim settlements for con- Palestinian demonstrations in Israeli-con- structionof roads,fences, lighting, increased trolledareas in advanceof Clintonvisit. IDF surveillance;promises additional NIS 5 (Reuters[Internet] 12/10) m. to Ganim,Qadim, , Sanur settle- 7 fmr. U.S. defense secys. (Frank Car- mentsfor kindergartens, recreation centers. lucci,Richard Cheney, Melvin Laird, Elliot (YA 12/9in WNC 12/11) Richardson,Donald Rumsfeld,James Schles- 9 DECEMBER inger,Caspar Weinberger) send letterto Pres.Clinton urginghim not to freePol- Palestinians acrossthe occupied territo- lard. (WT 12/11)(see 12/7) riesstage most violent protests in 7 mos.to U.S. sends 3 Patriotantimissile batteries markthe 11thanniversary of thebeginning fr.Germany to Israel. On 11/9during the of theintifada. PM claimsPA is Netanyahu lastround of tensionswith Iraq, theU.S. deliberatelyescalating violence ahead of promisedIsrael that it would redeployPatri- Clinton's visit.IDF respondswith percus- ots fr.Europe to Israelfor extra defense in sion grenades,rubber-coated bullets, live case of a U.S. attackon Iraq. (WP 12/20) ammunition,leaving 1 Palestiniandead, some 200 injured.The worstclashes are in 11 DECEMBER Hebron,Nablus, Ramallah. In Jericho,Pales- tiniansthrow rocks through the windows of The U.S. calls on thePA to halthunger the new Oasis casino. Settlers threatento strikes,criticisms of theprisoner release; stagetheir own demonstrations;ask IDF per- speed confiscationsof illegalweapons, re- missionto open fireon Palestinianswho ap- ductionin numberof PA police. (NYT 12/12)

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Israel rejectsU.S. compromiseformula ical prisoners.During similardemonstration for release of Palestinian political prison- in Bethlehem,PA police, IDF clash with ers, reaffirmsitwill not implement 2d stage Palestinians,leaving 7 injured. (NYT, WT of FRD unless the fullPalestine National 12/13) Council (PNC) votes to annul the PLO char- Jordanian security arrests8 Palestini- ter.Nr. Qalqilya, the IDF opens fireon ans in Baq'a refugee camp for planning ral- Palestinians demonstratingfor the release lies for 12/14 to protestArafat's annulment of politicalprisoners, killing 2, wounding27. of the PLO charter.UT 12/14 in WNC 12/15; (MM 12/11;ITV 12/11,12/12 in WNC 12/15; al-Dustur 12/15 in WNC 12/16, 12/17) LAW, WP, WT 12/12) One of Israel'smost wanted, Hamas 13 DECEMBER mbr. Yahya al-Gul, escapes fr.a PA prison in Gaza, wherehe had been held since 3/98. In Israel, Pres. Clinton urges continued PA places his familyunder house arrest.(PR implementationof Wye accord, notes pro- 1/15) gress on both sides. U.S. special envoy Ross In Gaza, 200 mbrs. of Palestinian oppo- tells PM Netanyahu thatIsrael must recog- sition parties, Hamas, 8 PC mbrs. hold nize thatthe Palestinians are entitledto aspi- conferenceto denouncethe Wye agmt.,an- rationsto statehood. Secy. Albright asks Is- nulmentof thePLO charter;call on PLO raeli FM Sharon to find a "creative"way to mbrs.to boycott12/14 PNC mtg.(WT 12/12) make sure thatthe 2d stage of FRD takes (see Peace Monitor) place 12/18 as called for,but he says he can- UNSCOM carriesout 14 surpriseinspec- not help. (MM, NYT, WP 12/14; PR 12/18) tionswithout Iraqi interference.(WP 12/12) In Jerusalem,Clinton's senior advisers (see 12/9) on Iraq (including CIA, Defense Dept. Lebanon files protestwith the UN Secur- heads) hold teleconferencewith White ity Council (UNSC) against repeated Israeli House officials.After mtg. Secy. Albright, mockraids over Beirutsince 12/9.(RL 12/11 Defense Secy. William Cohen briefthe in WNC 12/14) pres. on the group's unanimous recommen- dation to strikeIraq. (MM 12/18; WP 12/20; 12 DECEMBER MEI 12/25) (see 12/10, 12/11) In Cairo, Egyptian,Jordanian FMs dis- As theHouse approves4 articlesof im- cuss final status talks,their need to coordi- peachmentagainst him in Washington,Pres. nate with the PA on all futuresteps related Clinton arrivesin Tel Avivon 1ststop of 4- to the peace process. (MENA, RE 12/14 in day visit.At the airport, PM Netanyahuof- WNC 12/15) fersClinton a "lukewarm"greeting, warns PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) ar- will thatthe Wye agmt. is unraveling,says he restsIslamic Jihad leader Abdallah Shami nothalt his criticismof thePA, which he ac- on incitementcharges for statementsto the cuses of violatingevery clause of theWye press that he would not hesitate to kill Pres. accord. MENA in WNC (ITV, 12/12,JT 12/13 Clinton. (WT 1/23) 12/15;NYT, WP, WT 12/13;GIU, NYT 12/14; PR 12/18) 14 DECEMBER In Damascus, 8 PLO opposition groups, Hamas, Islamic Jihad open 2-day confer- Clinton flies into Gaza airport by heli- ence to reaffirmopposition to theOslo pro- copter to attend the PNC session on the PLO cess, adherenceto PLO charter.Jordan pre- charter,becoming the 1st sittingU.S. presi- vents32 Palestiniansfr. crossing border to dent to set foot on Palestinian soil. PNC attend.(JT, SA 12/12,JTV 12/13, JT 12/14in mbrs.,other officialsapprove the nullification WNC 12/15;MM 12/14;al-Majd 12/14in of clauses of the PLO charterby show of WNC 12/17; MEI 12/25; al-Watan al-Arabi hands. PM Netanyahu says he is satisfied 1/1in WNC 1/5)(see Doc. B2) but stillwill not carryout the next stage of Jordanian PM Fayiz al-Tarawnah ar- the FRD on 12/18.U.S. says it will not press rivesin Gaza forcoordination mtg. with Netanyahu on the issue because of the up- Arafat.Both men call on Palestinianprison- coming Knesset no-confidence vote 12/21. ers to end theirhunger strike (see 12/11).(RJ (CSM, MM 12/14; al-Aswaq, al-Dustur, IDF 12/12in WNC 12/15;al-Majd 12/14in WNC Radio, ITV, JT,MENA, al-Ra'i, RE, al-Safir 12/16) 12/14 in WNC 12/15; IDF Radio, ITV 12/14, In Gaza, 100s of Palestinians demon- AFP, JT,MA, RE 12/15 in WNC 12/16; CSM, strateagainst Israel's refusalto releasepolit- NYT, WP, WT 12/15; WJW 12/17; ITAR-TASS

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12/17in WNC 12/21;Tishrin 12/16, al- Secy.Albright leaves theU.S. delegation Thawra 12/17in WNC 12/28;PR 12/18;JP in Israelto makeside tripto Ammanto meet 12/21;MEI 12/25)(see Docs. B3, D) with Crown Prince Hassan. (JTV 12/15 in Hillary Clinton visitsa Palestinianrefu- WNC 12/17; NYT 12/16; MM 12/18) gee camp in Gaza, theIsraeli-Palestinian UNSCOM head Richard Butler reports townof Neve Shalom.(CSM 12/14;WP, WT to theUN thatby failureto complywith 5 of 12/15;PR 12/18) 300 recentinspections requests, Iraq has U.S. CommerceSecy. William Daley at- failedto honorthe promises of cooperation tendsthe official opening of theQarni in- thatprompted Pres. Clinton to call offa ma- dustrial zone. (JP 12/21, 12/28) jor militarystrike 11/14. U.S. officialssay that Secy.Albright meets with Israeli DM theClinton administration played a direct Mordechai to discussWye implementation, role in shapingButler's text during multiple Lebanon.(IDF Radio 12/14in WNC 12/15) conversationswith him 12/14at securesites Palestinians in Lebanese, Syrian refu- in theU.S. missionto theUN, convincedhim gee camps demonstrateagainst Wye agmt., to orderinspectors out of Iraq todaywithout amendmentof thePLO charter.(VOL 12/14 informingUN. (NYT,WP, WT 12/16;AFP, RJ in WNC 12/15;SATN 12/14 in WNC 12/16) 12/16 in WNC 12/17; NYT 12/17; Tishrin Jordan confirmsthat it recentlydeported, 12/19 in WNC 12/28; al-Akhbar,MENA 12/21 butdid notturn over to theIDF, 3 Pales- in WNC 12/22; MEI 12/25) (see 12/13) tinians carryingPA passportsfr. the king- Palestinian prisoners end hunger dom because theyare mbrs.of Hamas'sIz- strike.(ITV 12/15 in WNC 12/16; MEI 12/25) zeddinal-Qassam Brigades, pose a security (see 12/12) threat.(IT 12/15in WNC 12/16;al-Dustur 12/15in WNC 12/17) 16 DECEMBER In theWest Bank, 2 Palestinians are Immediatelyupon his returnto theU.S., woundedin clashwith IDF. (AFP [Internet] Pres.Clinton conveneshis senioradvisers 12/15) to "discussthe UNSCOM reporton Iraq"; Iran announcesit has signeda deal with theyunanimously recommend a strike.Clin- Anglo-DutchRoyal Dutch/Shell and the tonorders forces in the Gulfto attackimme- BritishLasmo to exploreCaspian Sea oil diately;1st sorties reach Iraq around5 P.M., reserves.The $19.8m. deal is justbelow the leaving2 Iraqis(Iraq says 25) dead, 30 in- thresholdset by theU.S. underits Iran- jured. A token force of 18 British planes Libya Sanctions Act, which threatenseco- takespart. House postponesindefinitely its nomicreprisals against any company invest- voteon impeachment,set fortomorrow. Op- ingmore than $20 m. in thosecountries' oil erationDesert Fox is expectedto conclude industries.(WT 12/16) in 3-4 days,before the beginning of Rama- dan. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) chmn. DECEMBER 15 Gen. Henry Shelton says decision was Pres. Clinton meets with Netanyahu, made in 11/98to attackimmediately if the Arafatat Erez bordercrossing, where Netan- UNSCOMreport was negative.However, yahugives him a listof 12 demandsthat the sourcessay thatthe White House informed PA mustmeet before Israel will continue theJCS 12/13 that a strikewould be ordered Wyeimplementation. Clinton warns that it thiswk. Various congressmen say thatthey would be "unfortunate"ifIsrael fell too far were briefedon theplan 3 wks.ago. Arab behindin theimplementation schedule. He states are silent.France, Russia condemn thenattends tree lighting ceremony in Beth- theoperation. Canada, Japan supportit. (RJ lehemwith Arafat, tours Masada withNetan- 12/16in WNC 12/17;ITV 12/16,AFP, ATL, JT yahu.(MM 12/15;ITV, QY, RE 12/15in WNC 12/17 in WNC 12/21; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 12/16;CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/16;JT 12/17;MM, WP 12/18;MEI 12/25;GIU 1/5, 12/16in WNC 12/17;MA 12/16in WNC 1/6) 12/21;al-Quds 12/17,MA 12/18in WNC PM Netanyahu saysthat he is prepared 12/22;al-Ba'th 12/16 in WNC 12/28;MM, PR to call earlyelections unless the Knesset rat- 12/18)(see Doc. Cl) ifieshis hard-linepolicies on Wyeimple- PISMC meetsto discussall pending mentationas outlinedin his 12-pointlist of peace processissues. The onlyagmt. demandsgiven to Clinton12/15. (NYT, WP, reachedis to createan "informalchannel" to WT 12/17;ITV 12/20in WNC 12/22) discussthe prisoner release issue. (ITV 12/15 IsraeliFinance M Neeman resignsin frus- in WNC 12/16;CSM, NYT, WP, WT 12/16) trationover PM Netanyahu'spolitical ma-

This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 170 JOURNALOF PALESTINE STUDIES nipulationof thebudget process. Netanyahu siles in 2 days thanduring the entire 1991 takesover the finance portfolio, giving him- GulfWar. Only U.S. planes stationedin Ku- selfcontrol over budget allocations, which wait, Oman have flown; Saudi Arabia, Tur- he could use to his politicaladvantage if key have notpermitted their bases to be earlyelections are called.DM Mordechai is used as staginggrounds. (ATL, ITV 12/18in also reportedlythreatening to leave over WNC 12/22;NYT, WP, WT 12/19;MEI 12/25) Wye implementationdelays. (MM 12/16;MA, For the2d day,U.S.-British strikes on YA 12/16in WNC 12/17;MM, NYT 12/17; Iraq promptstreet protests across the Middle NYT 12/19;WP 12/22;MEI 12/25;JP 12/28; East. 15,000 Palestinians demonstratein Globes [Internet]1/13 in WNC 1/14) Nablus,while 1,000sof othersprotest in Peace Now reportsthat new housing Bethlehem,Gaza City,Hebron, Jinin, Ramal- startsin settlementsmore than doubled in lah.PA police breakup protestin Gaza City 1998 comparedto 1997.In the 1sthalf of only;the PA closes some television,radio 1998,construction began on 1,420new units, stations,news bureausfor reporting on the up 136%fr. the same periodlast yr. In the 2d demonstrations.Syria's grandmufti de- halfof 1998,640 unitswere started,up 121%. nouncesthe U.S.-led operation. Pro-Iraq (AssociatedPress [Internet]12/16) demonstrationsare held in Egypt,Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Yemen. (MM 12/18; 17 DECEMBER SANA12/18, al-Ra'i 12/19,JT 12/20 in WNC 12/22;NYT, WT 12/19;MEI 12/25) U.S. stages2d strikeon Iraq, havinghit Fmr. UNSCOM chief inspector Scott morethan 50 targetswith more than 200 Ritterclaims that UNSCOM head Butler Tomahawkmissiles 12/16. Democratic con- chose sitesfor inspection that he knew gressmen accuse Republicans, many of would provokethe Iraqis, thenordered halt whomquestioned the timing of theattacks, to inspectionson 12/13to meetU.S. bomb- of beingunpatriotic. Russia recallsits ambs. ingtime-table; also saysthat the White fr.Washington (for the 1sttime since World House national security staff helped draft WarII), London;the Duma accuses theU.S. Butler's12/15 report to ensureit contained of "internationalterrorism." Lebanon de- sufficientlytough language to justifyan at- nouncesthe operation. Jordan expressesre- tack.Butler denies showinghis reportto the gret.Syria opposes U.S. "doublestandards" U.S. in advanceof itsrelease, but National in itsIraq, Israel policy. (MM 12/17;AFP, Security Adviser (NSA) Sandy Berger ad- IRNA,MENA, Petra-JNA, RJ 12/17 in WNC mitsButler briefed him personally 12/13. 12/21;CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/18;al- (WT 12/19;WP 12/20;MENA 12/20, al- Thawra,Tishrin 12/18 in WNC 12/28;NYT, Akhbar,MA 12/21in WNC 12/22)(see WP,WT 12/19;MENA 12/19, SATN 12/20, al- 12/16) Ahram 12/21in WNC 12/22;MEI 12/25) PA police arrest4 leadingPopular Acrossthe West Bank and in Gaza City, Front for the Liberation of Palestine Palestinians protestthe U.S.-led attack on (PFLP) mbrs.,8 journalists at marchmark- Iraq. The largestdemonstration, attended by ing PFLP's31st anniversary. (NYT, WT 12/19) 3,000Palestinians, is held in Nablus.In al- Knesset approvesadditional NIS 20 m. to Bireh,the IDF shoots,kills 1 Palestinian,in- fundexpanding settlements in theWest jures16 others.(WP, WT 12/18;MEI 12/25) Bank,Golan. (PR 1/1) In Egypt,the government expresses its "regret"over the U.S.-led strike on Iraq; the 19 DECEMBER Arab League, al-Azhar's chief cleric de- nounceuse of militaryforce; Cairo Univer- Votingalong partylines, the House finds sity students go on hunger striketo protest; (228-206)grounds for Pres. Clinton's im- Egyptianpolice lock American University peachmenton 2 countsof perjury,obstruc- in Cairo students on campusto keep them tionof justicein theMonica Lewinsky case, fr.demonstrating. (MENA, RE 12/17in WNC movingthe proceedings to theSenate. The 12/21) Senatemay dismiss the case, censurethe pres.,or voteto impeach.Clinton says that 18 DECEMBER he willnot resign. (NYT, WP, WT 12/20; WjW 12/24;MEI 12/25)(see 9/21) On the 3d day of itsattack on Iraq, the Ramadan begins.U.S., Britain end their U.S. can confirmthat only 18 of its89 targets operationagainst Iraq aftercarrying out 650 have been severelydamaged or destroyed, sortiesover 4 nightsagainst 97 targets,only despitehaving fired more laser-guided mis- 1/3of whichwere severelydamaged or de-

This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions CHRONOLOGY 171 stroyed.At least 68 Iraqishave been killed. PM Netanyahu removes his opposition to a U.S. believesIraq could restoreits capabili- bill calling for early elections, which passes tiesin a yr.,reserves the right to use force (81-30), therebyavoiding a Knesset no-confi- again in thefuture. Albright describes U.S. dence vote that he was expected to lose. policytoward Iraq as "containmentplus re- (MM 12/21; MA 12/21 in WNC 12/22; CSM, gimechange." (NYT 12/19;ITAR-TASS, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/22; MA, al-Quds al- MENA12/19, MENA, YA 12/20,MA 12/21in Arabi 12/22 in WNC 12/23; CSM 12/23; al- WNC 12/22;NYT, WP, WT 12/20;MM, WP, Dustur 12/23 in WNC 12/28; WJW 12/24; WT 12/21;Tishrin 12/21 in WNC 12/28; MEI 12/25;JP 12/28; MEI 1/15) WJW12/24; MEI 12/25) In lightof Operation Desert Fox, China, In Syria,1,000s protest against the U.S.- France, Russia call for 8-yr.oil embargo on led attackon Iraq; morethan 100 climbtlle Iraq to be lifted,UNSCOM to be disbanded, U.S. emb.to teardown theflag and break UNSCOM head Butler to resign.U.S. warns into,vandalize the amb.'s residence; others UN Secy. Gen. Kofi Annan against replac- attackthe British cultural mission; lawyers ing UNSCOM; says U.S. will compromise on strikein solidaritywith Iraq. In Egypt,more sanctions, disarmamentmonitoring. (MM than4,000 students at universitiesacross the 12/21; MA 12/21 in WNC 12/22; MM, WP countrydemonstrate for 3d day; trade,jour- 12/22) nalists,teachers unions call forprotests; The Lebanese government restores the pharmacistsagree to boycottU.S., UK rightto protest,lifting a 5-yr.-oldban on medicines.InJordan, 2,000 students march demonstrationimposed in 1993 afteranti- in protest.In theWest Bank, 3,000Palestini- Oslo protestsled to clashes btwn. the army, ans in Hebron,2,500 in Jininignore ban on Hizballah. (NYT 12/22) pro-Iraqdemonstrations, clash with the IDF, leaving100 injured.15,000 Yemenis hold 22 DECEMBER anti-U.S.march. 2,000 Sudanese protest outsidethe closed U.S. emb.Lebanon's ProminentLikud mbr. Dan Meridor re- grandmufti condemns the U.S.-led operation. signs fr.the partyto forma centristparty, (AFP,JTV, MENA, RL, SANA 12/19, JT, SANA challenge Netanyahu for PM in upcoming 12/20in WINC12/22; NYT, WP, WT 12/20;JP elections. (NYT, WP, WT 12/23; MEI 12/25; 12/21;CSM 12/22;JP 12/28) JP 1/4; SA 1/8 in WNC 1/12;JP, MEI 1/15) PA ends closuresof TV, radio,newspaper At Yemen's request, the Arab League bureaus imposed 12/18. (Times of London calls an emergency FMs mtg.for 12/30 to 12/21) discuss the U.S.-led attack on Iraq. (MENA 12/22 in WNC 12/23; MENA, Star 12/24 in 20 DECEMBER WNC 12/28) In Lebanon, 1,000 demonstratorsmarch The Israeli cabinet votesunanimously toward the U.S. emb. to protestthe U.S.-led (with1 abstention)for PM Netanyahu'sre- attack on Iraq (see 12/21).Jordanian phar- quest to suspendWye implementation until macists agree to boycott U.S., UK medicines. the PA meetshis 12 new conditions,setting (AFP, VOL 12/22 in WNC 12/23; WT 12/23) showdownwith the Knesset 12/21.(WP, U.S. suspends tourist,student, business WT 12/21;MA, VOA 12/21in WNC 12/22; visas for Syrians indefinitelyin response to NYT 12/22)(see 12/16) attack on the U.S. emb. 12/19. (WT 12/23; A smafl bomb explodesat a gate ofJe- MM 1/4; WT 1/6) rusalem's Old City,injuring 1 Israeli, who 1 Lebanese woman, 6 children are is arrestedon suspicionof attemptingto killed, 1 man, another child are injured in harmPalestinians. (WT 12/21) IDF attack on suspected Hizballah base in Morethan 10,000 Jordanians takepart s. Lebanon. (IDF Radio,RL 12/22in WNC in pro-Iraqdemonstrations in Amman.(RJ 12/23; WP, WT 12/23; ITV, MBC, SAPA Uo- 12/20in WNC 12/22) hannesburg]12/23, MENA, SA 12/24in WNC In s. Lebanon, 2 Hizballah mbrs.are 12/28;Interfax 12/24, VOA 12/26in WNC killedby IDF shelling.(RL 12/20in WNC 12/29;PR 1/1) 12/22) 23 DECEMBER 21 DECEMBER Israeli cabinet secy. Dani Nave resigns Afterunsuccessful last-minute attempt to to runfor a Knessetseat in upcomingelec- formunity government with the Labor party, tions.He willbe replacedon thePISMC by

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Tomer Orni, head of the FMin. political expansion.Arafat asks Mubarakto revivethe team and as cabinet secy. by Gideon Sa'ar. Egyptian-Frenchinitiative for an international (ITV 12/23 in WNC 12/28; YA 12/27 in WNC summiton thepeace process.(MENA 12/26 12/29; Prime Minister'sReport 2/1) in WNC 12/29;SA 1/3,MENA 1/3, 1/4 in PA releases Hamas's Shaykh Yasin fr. WNC 1/5;AFP 1/6in WNC 1/7) house arrestimposed 10/29. Israel protests Claimingthat Israel has orchestrated PA's alleged "revolvingdoor" policy. (NYT, earlyelections to freezethe peace process, WT 12/24; MA 12/24 in WNC 12/28; NYT thePA lobbiesthe U.S. to convenehigh- 12/27; PR 1/1;JP 1/4) level mtg.in Washingtonin 1/99to force AfterEcevit is unable to forma coalition, Israelto implementWye. (WT 12/27;CSM Turkish pres. Denirel asks independent 12/28;JP 1/4,1/11) centristYalim Erez to tryto forma govern- Iraq threatensto shootdown U.S., Brit- ment. (WP 12/24;ATL 12/24 in WNC 12/28; ish planes flyingsurveillance in theno-fly ATL 1/4,ATL, Milliyet 1/5 in WNC 1/6) (see zones; firesartillery at Britishplanes in the s. 12/2) no-flyzone, causingno damage.(WP, WT Jordan's Lower Parliament issues non- 12/27; WT 12/28; GIU 1/5, 1/6) binding statementurging the governmentto expel U.S., British, Israeli, Kuwaiti diplo- 27 DECEMBER mats and ignore UN sanctions on Iraq in response to the U.S.-led attack on Iraq. Jor- Jordan holdsemergency session of the dan's 100,000-mbr.professional associations Arab Parliamentary Union (APU) to rally launch campaign to boycott U.S., UK goods. supportfor Iraq. Iraq sends delegation;Ku- (JT 12/24 in WNC 12/28) wait does not.Iraq proteststhat the mtg.'s fi- In response to death of 6 civilians in IDF nal statement(which says U.S.-ledattack attack 12/22,Hizballah fires20-30 rockets jeopardizedregional peace, worsenedeco- into n. Israel, injuring13. (CSM, WP 12/23; nomichardships for Iraqis) is not strong NYT, WP, WT 12/24; al-Quds al-Arabi 12/24 enough,should have condemnedU.S. inten- in WNC 12/29; PR 1/1;JP 1/4) tionsto overthrowthe Iraqi regime. (al-Dus- tur,JT, JTV, MBC, al-Rai 12/27 in WNC 24 DECEMBER 12/29; CSM 12/28; al-Bayan, al-Dustur 12/29 in WNC 12/31) Gen. Amnon Lipkin-Shahak resigns fr. the IDF, announces he will challenge Netan- 28 DECEMBER yahu for PM. In recent mos., polls have shown that Shahak, a respected militaryfig- Arafat inauguratesAbu Ammar Naval ure but political unknown, could beat Netan- Base in Gaza. (PR 1/1) yahu in a 2-candidate race by as much as a Israel's prominentparties set 5/17as 15-point margin.Shahak led the Israeli team date forearly elections; run-off for PM will in FRD discussion with the PA under fmr.PM be held 6/1if necessary. In response,Arafat Yitzhak Rabin. (NYT, WT 12/25; CSM 1/8) backs down on declaringstate on 5/4/99, fearingit would provide"political ammuni- 25 DECEMBER tion" to Netanyahu or others. Prominent Likud MK Benjamin Begin quits the party Confirming8/10 rumors,PM Netanyahu to mounta right-wingchallenge for the pre- admits that he held 10 secret mtgs.with La- miership.(YA 12/28 in WNC 12/29; NYT, bor chmn. Barak btwn. 5/98 and 7/98 on WP, WT 12/29; MA 12/29 in WNC 12/30; WP a forming unitygovernment. Discussions in- 12/30; WJW 12/31; PR 1/1; MM 1/5;JP 1/11; cluded how to conduct futurenegotiations MEI 1/15) with Syria, final status talks with the PA. Atthe request of theGulf States, chiefly (ITV 12/26 in WNC 12/29; YA 12/25 in WNC Saudi Arabia, the Arab League postpones Vesti in 12/30; 12/31 WNC 1/20) (see Peace emergencysession on Iraq set for12/30 to Monitor) 1/24. (MENA 12/28 in WNC 12/29; CSM 12/30; MM 1/4, 1/28) 26 DECEMBER Israel extends 5%-20% income tax In Cairo, Arafat briefsPres. Mubarak on breaksto settlementsuntil 2000. (Globes Wye implementation,Pres. Clinton's visitto [Internet]12/29 in WNC 12/30) the region. The pair agree to hold mtg.with IDF demolishes2 Palesthnianhomes in Jordan to coordinate plans to press Israel KafrHarith, West Bank, injuring the owner, to implementthe Wye agmt.,halt settlement his infantson. (LAW12/30; PR 1/8)

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Iraq firesantiaircraft missiles at U.S. ture if n. Israel is attacked. Lebanon fears planes overthe n. no-flyzone. U.S. strikes Israel is planning an unprovoked attack dur- the missilebattery in response,killing 4 Iraqi ing run-up to 5/99 elections. (IDF Radio 1/1, soldiers,wounding 7. (CSM,NYT, WP, WT IRNA, al-Quds, RL 1/2,YA 1/3 in WNC 1/5; 12/29;JTV 12/29 in WNC 12/31;GIU 1/5, WT 1/2; RL 1/11 in WNC 1/12; MA 1/24 in 1/6)(see 12/26) WNC 1/26) U.S. temporarilycloses emb. in Israel af- 29 DECEMBER ter receiving a "credible" threat.(ITV 12/31 in WNC 1/4, 1/5; NYT, WP, WT 1/1) King Hussein leaves theMayo Clinic af- The Israeli Housing Min. issues tenders ter6 mos.of cancertreatment, goes to his for constructionof 1,051 new housing units home in Washington.He willalso spend in West Bank settlements including 651 timein Londonbefore returning to Jordan. units in Beitar Ilit nr.Jerusalem, where (JTV12/29 in WNC 12/31;NYT 12/30;al- 10,000 ultra-Orthodoxsettlers live. (NYT 1/1; Watan al-Arabi 1/8,al-Majd 1/11 in WNC JP 1/11) 1/12;JP1/11) Under IDF protection,Jewish settlers Israel's EnvironmentalM Rafael Eitan move trailersto hills nr. Nablus, confiscating announcesthat he is leavingTsomet to form additional Palestinian land to expand Elon a new party,challenge Netanyahu. (WT Moreh settlement.(al-Hayat al-Jadida 12/31 12/30;NYT, WT 12/31) in WNC 1/5) Jewish settlersbegin work on 15,000sq. 10s of Jordanians stage sit-inoutside the m. recreation,tourist center in Qatzrinon the U.S. emb. in Amman to protestU.S.-led at- Golan Heights.(Hatzofe 12/29 in WNC tack on Iraq. (al-Dustur 1/1 in WNC 1/5) 12/30) Jordaniangovernment stops large soli- 1 JANUARY daritymtg. to be held in Ammantonight btwn.the Iraq's National Assembly Following 5-mo. internalreview of the Speaker Sa'dun Hammadi, in townfor the IDF's structureand operating doctrine,IDF 12/28APU mtg.,and Jordanian political, Chief of Staff Shaul Mufaz announces that unionist,independent figures.(al-Bayan major changes in operations are planned 12/29,JT, SA 12/30in WNC 12/31;SA 1/13 over next 2 yrs.(ITV 1/1,YA 1/3 in WNC in WNC 1/14)(see 11/27) 1/5; YA 1/12 in WNC 1/13; MM 1/13; YA Israel assassinatestop Hizballah explo- 1/13 in WNC 1/14; MM 1/14; MA 1/27 in sives expert Zahi Ahmad Haydar in s. WNC 1/28) Lebanon. The BritishForeign Report claims In s. Lebanon, 3 civilians are injured by thatthe target was actuallyspiritual leader IDF machine-gun fire.(RL 1/1 in WNC 1/5) Shaykh Hassan Nasrallah, but Hizballah discoveredthe bomb; Haydar was killedtry- 2 JANUARY ingto dismantleit. (WP, WT 1/2;SA 1/3in In KafrHarith, West Bank, IDF clashes WNC 1/5;MA 1/13in WNC 1/14;RL 1/16in activists who to WNC 1/20) with Israeli peace attempt help rebuild 2 Palestinian homes demolished 1/28. (ITV 1/2 in WNC 1/5) 30 DECEMBER Israeli police detain a Jewish settler for Iraq fireson U.S., Britishjets in thes. questioning in connection with several acts no-flyzone. U.S. attacksmissile battery in re- of vandalism of Palestinian cars in East Jeru- sponse.(ATL 12/30in WNC 12/31;NYT, WP, salem over the past 2 days. (AFP [Internet] WT 12/31;GIU 1/5,1/6) (see 12/28) 1/2) In s. Lebanon, 1 IDF soldieris killed,2 are woundedwhen anotherIDF patrol 3 JANUARY opens fireon themby mistake.(WP 12/31) FMs of Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen hold mtg.in Hurghada, Egypt, 31 DECEMBER to coordinate theirpositions in advance of CitingHizballah Katyusha attacks 12/23, the 1/24 Arab League special session on Israel adopts"more aggressive" policy to- Iraq. (MENA 1/3, 1/4 in WNC 1/5; MM 1/5; wardLebanon thatwill includeattacks on MENA 1/6 in WNC 1/7; SATN 1/8 in WNC Hlizballahbases deep insideLebanon, pre- 1/12) emptivestrikes on unitsplanting roadside An Egyptian court sentences Israeli bombs,destruction of Lebaneseinfrastruc- David Mineu to life with hard labor for

This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 174 JOURNAL OF PALESTNE STUDIES smugglingdrugs into the country. (MENA dermineUN credibility.UNSCOM head But- 1/7in WNC 1/8) ler deniesthe reports. (WP 1/6;MM 1/7) Long-timeNetanyahu ally Avigdor Lie- Kuwait's Dep. PM ShaykhSa'd al-Abdal- berman launchesnew party,Yisrael lah al-Sabahvisits Jordan's CrownPrince Beitainu,aimed at rallyingsupport of Russian Hassan;says Jordanian-Kuwaiti ties are de- immigrantsfor the PM before5/99 elections. veloping,Jordan's emb. in KuwaitCity may (MM, WP 1/4; MA 1/4 in WNC 1/5; NYT, WP reopensoon. (MM 1/5;RJ 1/5 in WNC 1/6; 1/5) RJ1/5 in WNC 1/7;MM 1/6;al-Dustur, al- The Israeli Housing Min. saysthat 7 Ra'i 1/7in WNC 1/8;SA 1/9,1/13 in WNC contractorshave submittedplans to buildat 1/14) Jabal Abu Ghunaym/HarHoma settlement Jordan's governorof Irbidbans planned sitein Jerusalem. (WP 1/4;JP, PR 1/15) pro-Iraqrally. (al-Dustur 1/6 in WNC 1/7) Israelitelevision reports that 1,100 hous- In 2 separateincidents, Iraqi planes chal- ing unitsare beingconstructed in a new lengeU.S. planesin the s. no-flyzone but WestBank settlement, Tal Tziyon,n. ofJe- do notshoot. U.S. fireson the4 planes but rusalem,nr. Ramallah. A totalof 7,000units misses. (GIU, NYT, WT, WP 1/6; CSM 1/7) are planned.(ITV 1/3in WNC 1/5) An IDF soldieris seriouslywounded in s. IDF attackssuspected Hizballah bases in Lebanon by a Hizballah remote-controlled s. Lebanon notfar fr. Syrian-held positions, bomb. (MM 1/6) wounding5 Lebanesecivilians, 1 Syriansol- dier.(MM, WP 1/4;RL, VOL 1/3,AFP, RL 1/4 6 JANUARY in WNC 1/5;MM 1/5) Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden tells In his 1stpolicy address, Israeli PM candi- TimeMagazine thathe "instigated"the 8/7 date Shahak stakesout a left-of-centerline, bombingsof theU.S. embassiesin Kenya, favoringresumption of negotiationswith the Tanzania. (CSM 1/4) PA, Syria.He saysthat a Palestinianstate is inevitable,but Jerusalem should never be di- 4 JANUARY vided;Netanyahu is "dangerousfor Israel." Polls show declinein Shahak'spopularity af- U.S. emb. in Tel Avivreopens. (WP, WT ter the address. (MM 1/6; IDF Radio 1/6 in 1/5;JP 1/11)(see 12/31) WNC 1/7; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/7; YA In Hebron, unidentifiedgunmen open 1/7in WNC 1/8;JP 1/15) fireon a van,wounding 2 Jewish setders. Tensionsover Hebron closurecontinue, IDF seals theborders of Hebronto prevent withIDF shooting,killing 1 Palestinian Palestinians fr.entering or leaving;imposes protester.(NYT 1/7)(see 1/4) curfewon Palestiniansin Israeli-controlled Confirminglong-standing Iraqi accusa- sectorof thecity; shoots rubber bullets at tions,U.S. officialsadmit that for 3 yrs.,U.S. Palestinianswho protestthe closure, wound- spies usingdiplomatic cover/false identities ing 2. (MM 1/4;AFP, ITV 1/4in WNC 1/5; workedundercover on UNSCOM teamsbut CSM, NYT, WP 1/5; MA 1/5 in WNC 1/6; ITV deniesthat the U.S. directedUNSCOM intelli- 1/5in WNC 1/7;WJW 1/7; PR 1/8;MEI 1/15) gence efforts.Officials say eavesdroppingde- In lightof "seriouscomplaints" fr. Ortho- vices ("bugs")supplied to UNSCOMinspec- dox MKs, theKnesset institutesregulation torsby Washingtonprovided the U.S. with barringwomen fr.wearing miniskirts, tight informationused to undermineSaddam Hus- garments,low-cut/sleeveless shirts, any other sein;the idea of usingbugs was 1stsug- "provocative"clothing in theparliament. (WXT gestedby fmr.UNSCOM chief inspector Rit- 1/5) ter in talkswith Israeli intelligence(see Doc. D2 inJPS 110). (MM, NYT, WP, WT 5 JANUARY 1/7;MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/8;al-Dustur 1/9, In Washington,Jordan's King Hussein, YA 1/10 in WNC 1/12; MM 1/13; MEI 1/15, Pres.Clinton discusspeace process,Iraq, 1/29)(see 1/5) Jordanianeconomy. (UTV 1/5 in WNC 1/7; UNICEF, World Food Program releases WT 1/6;al-Dustur 1/7 in WNC 1/8) the 1stindependent report on theeffect of Confidantssay thatUN Secy.Gen. Annan U.S.-ledattack on Iraq 12/16-19,showing has receivedconvincing evidence that UN- thatat least 12 schoolsand hospitals,a Bag- SCOM inspectorscollected eavesdropping dad watersystem supplying 300,000 persons, intelligenceused in U.S. effortsto overthrow storehousecontaining 2,600 tons of rice theIraqi regime,is concernedit could un- were hit.(NYT 1/7;WP 1/8)

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In the7th wk. of Turkishgovernment cri- 9 JANUARY sis, PM-designateErez givesup his bid to forma coalitionafter failing to forma gov- U.S. specialenvoy Ross returnsto the ernmentexcluding Islamist parties. Ecevit MiddleEast to followup on Wye implemen- willtry again. (ATL 1/6in WNC 1/7;CSM, tation,holds mtg.with PA leadership.(al- WP 1/7)(see 12/23) Quds 1/10in WNC 1/13;JP 1/11)

7 JANUARY 10 JANUARY Senate opens impeachmenttrial against IDF heavily shells s. Lebanon, damaging Pres. Clinton. (NYT, WP, WT 1/8) electricity,water installations; damaging 2 IDF scuffleswith 100s of Palestinians Lebanese homes. Lebanon appeals to the protestingthe continued closure of Hebron. internationalcommunity to pressIsrael to (WP 1/8) haltthis escalation. (RL 1/10in WNC 1/12;RL The IDF demolishes15 Lebanese 1/14in WNC 1/16) homes in Arnun,n. of theself-declared se- curityzone, claimingthey were used as stag- 11JANUARY inggrounds for Hizballah attacks;expels 25 U.S., Israel hold final round of talks on Lebanese civilians, including 16 children, how Israelwould use the$1.2 b. in special in s. fr.Shab'a village Lebanon. (RL 1/7in assistanceto implementthe Wye agmt. U.S. WNC 1/8; RL 1/8 in WNC 1/11) reportedlywould disbursethe money when To fulfillvows to end governmentcor- theIDF beginsthe remaining FRDs ordered ruption,Pres. Lahoud, PM Huss fire19 top- underWye. (Globes [Internet]1/11 in WNC ranking officials;reshuffle the diplomatic 1/13;Hatzofe 1/28 in WNC 1/29)(see 11/22) corps;liquidate Ogero, the inefficient state- National security agencies, senior ad- runtelephone maintenance company, whose visers begin to send White House recom- employeeswere once paid bonusesby fmr. mendations on Pollard clemency. Clinton PM Hariri personally.Hariri calls actions has set no deadlineon when he will make a "politicalrevenge." Government says that re- decision. 60 senators send letterto Pres. formof the 230,000-strongstate bureaucracy Clinton urging him not to reduce Pollard's willlast at least6 mos. (MM 1/13;MEI, MM sentence.(NYT 1/11;NYT, WP, WT 1/29) 1/12; WJW,WT 1/14;MM 1/15;New Yorker1/18; An Iraqi antiaircraftbattery turns radar on MM 1/21)(see Peace Monitor) U.S. planes flyingin then. no-flyzone. U.S. firesmissile at batteryin response.2 Iraqi Likud elder statesman Moshe Arens jetsalso violatethe n. zone. (NYT,WT 1/8) emergesfr. political retirement to challenge his protege, Netanyahu, for the party's An Iraqi opposition group, the Center nominationfor PM. In 1982,Arens hired Ne- forHuman Rights, reports that Iraq has exe- tanyahu,then a furnituresalesman, as his cuted 81 political detainees, including politicalcounselor in theIsraeli emb. in armyofficers, who plottedto killPres. Sad- Washington;promoted Netanyahu's career dam Hussein.(NYT, WT 1/8;see GIU 1/5, until his election as PM in 1996. Rafael 1/6) Eitan will also challengeNetanyahu within Likud. DM Mordechai is considering a run. 8 JANUARY (MM 1/11;MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/12;MEI In Damascus, Egyptian pres. Mubarak, 1/15;JP 1/22) Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad discuss peace Several Palestinians protestingcontin- process,U.S.-led attack on Iraq, need for ued closureof Hebronare injuredin clash Arabsolidarity; call forArab summit to dis- withthe IDF. (al-Hayatal-Jadida [Internet] cuss Iraq's futureties with Arab countries. 1/12) (MENA,SATN 1/8 in WNC 1/12;WP 1/9) Kuwait puts its troops on high alert fol- Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan meets lowing the Iraqi parliament'sapproval 1/10 withKing Hussein at theroyal residence in of a statementholding Saudi Arabia, Kuwait London,does notdesignate a regentwhen fullyresponsible for the 12/98U.S.-led at- he departsJordan as is customary.(JTV 1/8 tack,reserving the right to seek compensa- in WNC 1/12) tion.Iraq also consideredpassing a state- In responseto 1/7incidents, Hizballah mentrevoking recognition of Kuwait's firesmortars at n. Israel, causingno dam- bordersbut did not.(NYT, WP 1/12;MENA age, injuries.(RL 1/8in WNC 1/11) 1/14in WNC 1/16;MM 1/18)

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U.S. firesmissiles at 2 Iraqi airdefense In Cairo, FMs of Egypt, Oman, Saudi installationsafter radar was turnedon U.S. Arabia, Syria, Yemen hold 2d mtg. to pre- planes in then. no-flyzone. (NYT,WP 1/12) pare agenda for1/24 Arab League mtg.on New pro-secularTurkish government Iraq.Jordan does notcondemn mtg. but is under Pres. Demirel, PM Ecevit takes upsetat notbeing included, blames Syria, power,will govern until 4/18 general elec- warnsthat "forming axes" onlydeepens Arab tions. (MM 1/11; NYT, WP 1/12; MEI 1/15) divisions.(MM 1/12;MENA, RE 1/12in WNC 1/13;MM 1/13;al-Dustur, MENA 1/13 in 12 JANUARY WNC 1/14;MM 1/1.4;JT, MENA, RE 1/14in WNC 1/16;MM 1/15)(see 1/3) In Tel Aviv,U.S. specialenvoy Ross says The U.S. secretlysends lettersto Arab thatthe U.S. plansto play a muchless active states urgingthem to supportits position on role in final status negotiations, thinks Iraq at the 1/24Arab League mtg.(MM "permanentstatus is notsomething that 1/22) shouldbe mediated."(USIS WashingtonFile U.S. planesfire on Iraqi missilebattery in 1/12; NYT, WP 1/13; PR 1/15) n. no-flyzone. DefenseDept. says thatIraq After 4 yrs., Lebanon liftstravel restric- has sentplanes intothe no-fly zones 66 tionson Palestinians,dropping requirement timesin thepast 2 wks.,targeted U.S. and forPalestinians to obtainvisas to returnto Britishplanes 12 times,increased its number Lebanon.(RL 1/12in WNC 1/13;NYT 1/13; of missilesites fr. 9 to 17. (CSM,NYT, WP, RL 1/16in WNC 1/20) WT 1/13) PM Netanyahu meets with U.S. .million- aire Irving Moskovitz, who is in Jerusalem 13 JANUARY to decide whichright-wing candidate for PM he willsupport financially in the 5/17elec- PC givesArafat 2 wks. to presscharges tions.Netanyahu gives assurances that he or release Palestinian political prisoners willnot halt Moskovitz's construction of 132 beingheld in PA jailswithout trial, demands unitsin thePalestinian neighborhood of Ras haltto politicaldetention. (LAW 1/13; MEI al-Amud in East Jerusalem. Congressman 1/29) Michael Forbes (R-NY) is accompanying Israeli, U.S. sources confirmthat the Moskovitz.(MM, WP 1/14;MM 1/21;JP 1/22; onlymaterials stolen fr. Greenberg Quinlan PR 1/29) Research related to Barak's campaign for In whatpolice, FBI terma sophisticated PM. Files,a laptopcomputer containing in- operation,burglars break into offices of formationon Barak,computer backup tapes prominentWashington polling firm Green- fr.a safewere taken,suggesting the burglars berg Quinlan Research, which is advising knewexactly what they wanted. Israeli gov- IsraeliPM candidateBarak. Firmsays that its ernment spokesman David Bar-Ilan internationalwork was targeted,but it is un- warnsthat anyone casting blame on Netan- certainwhether files on Barakwere among yahu, theLikud could be subjectto legal thosestolen. (MM, WP 1/13;YA 1/13in action.(NYT, WP, WT 1/14;MM 1/20;JP WNC 1/14;WJW 1/14; MM 1/20) 1/22)(see 1/12) Israeli Religious Affairs M Eli Suissa Atthe UNSC, U.S. VP Al Gore recom- cutsthe size of local religiouscouncils to mendslifting the ceiling on how muchoil keep themall Orthodox. A recentHigh Iraq can sell,streamlining approval of Court rulingordered the powerful councils purchasesunder Oil-for-Food program, but (whichrun marriage bureaus and burialsoci- notremoving sanctions altogether, as China, eties,maintain synagogues and ritualbaths, France, Russia wish.France recommends supervisekosher inspections for both reli- preventive(not intrusive)weapons monitor- gious and secularJews) to be expandedto ingthat would replaceor significantly include Reform, Conservative Jews. (WT changeUNSCOM; an end to restrictionson 1/13) Iraqioil sales; a programof stricteconomic, IIDF liftsclosure on Hebronimposed 1/4. financialcontrols to make sureoil revenues (MM 1/14,MEI 1/15) are notused formilitary purchases. (NYT, Unidentifiedassailant stabs, wounds Pal- WP,WT 1/14;MM 1/15,1/22) estinian in West Jerusalem. (MM 1/12; PR U.S. planesfire on 5 Iraqi missilebatter- 1/15,JP 1/22) ies in n. Iraq in 3d straightday of confronta- IDF uproots Palestinian orchard nr. tions.(NYT 1/14) Jewishsettlement in theWest Bank. (AFP Palestinians fr.Kafr Salaf, Azzun block [Internet]1/12) armedsettlers with bulldozers fr. leveling

This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions CHRONOLOGY 177 theirvillage land (in area C) to expand killedAmericans. (WP, WT 1/18;MEI, Prime nearby settlements.The IDF intervenesto re- Minister'sReport 1/29) move the settlers.(AFP [Internet]1/13) Justas Id al-Fitrcelebrations begin, Is- raeli police enterthe Arab town of Tira, 14 JANUARY Israel,to arrestsuspected car thieves, promptingclash with Israeli Arab youths. 6 King Hussein meets with BritishPM policemen,6 Palestiniansare injured.(AFP Blair in London, says thathe will returnto [Internet]1/18) Jordan on 1/19. UJTV1/14 in WNC 1/20) Israeli DM Mordechai, PA negotiatorAb- 18 JANUARY bas discuss keeping securitycontacts open despite the freeze in the peace process. (AFP The U.S.-Israeli-PA anti-incitement [Internet] 1/16) comm. presentsits 1streport to thePISMC An Israeli border policeman working as requiredby Wye.(Israeli FMin. press re- undercover is killed, another is injured, 1 lease 1/18) Palestinian is wounded in a shootout nr. Hebron. (MM 1/14; WP 1/15;JP 1/22) 19 JANUARY U.S. attacks 2 more Iraqi missile batteries 10,000sof Jordanians turn out to wel- in the n. no-flyzone as daily challenges con- come King Hussein on his returnto Jordan tinue. (WP 1/15) (see 1/13) after6 mos. of cancertreatment in theU.S. The kingpromises a "comprehensivere- 15 JANUARY view"of Jordan's course, hinting at change The U.S. names 7 of an estimated 90 Iraqi in succession.Arafat, leaders of Yemen, opposition groups [Iraqi National Accord, Qatar greetKing Hussein at the airport. Iraqi National Congress, Islamic Move- Israel, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the U.S. send ment of Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdistan Dem- congratulations.Israel also providesfighter ocratic Party, the London-based Move- escortto theking's plane on itsflight over ment for Constitutional Monarchy, Israel.UJT, JTV, Petra-JNA, RJ, SATN 1/19 in Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Iran- WNC 1/20;CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/20; based Supreme Council for the Islamic AFP,JTV 1/20 in WNC 1/21;JTV 1/25 in Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI)] as the groups WNC 1/27; MEI 1/29; al-Dustur 1/30 in WNC eligible to receive the $97 m. in assistance 2/2)(see 1/8) under the 10/31 Iraq Liberation Act (IIA). Burglarsbreak in to Greenberg Quinlan (WP 1/16; MM 1/21, 1/22; WT 1/26) Research for2d time,disabling a new so- phisticatedsecurity system, stealing more 16 JANUARY sensitivematerial related to theBarak cam- paign.Barak advisers, who refusedto specu- Egyptian FM Musa speaks with FMs of lateon the 1strobbery, this time directly Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, blamethe "Committee to Re-electNetan- Syria regarding 1/24 Arab League mtg.on yahu." Advisersalso reportthat over thelast Iraq. (MENA 1/16 in WNC 1/20) 4 mos.,homes of at least7 Barak staff Italy allows PKK leader Ocalan to leave mbrs. have been burglarized,but nothing for an undisclosed location to seek asylum. stolen.Netanyahu says break-ins were staged Italy has been under diplomatic pressure fr. to "spreadclouds of falseaccusations against the U.S., economic pressure fr.Turkey to theLikud." (MM, NYT, WP 1/20;CSM, MM, turnOcalan over to Ankara. (NYT 1/17, 2/19) NYT,WJW, WP 1/21;WP 1/23;YA 1/29in (see 11/20) WNC 2/1;WJW 2/4) (see 1/13)

17 JANUARY 20 JANUARY PA accepts U.S. proposal to attend talks 4 mos.before elections, PM Netanyahu in Washington next mo. to tryto salvage the appoints right-wing Likud lawmaker Wye agmt. Israel has yet to respond to the Shaul Amor to his cabinetas ministerwith- invitation.(WP, WT 1/18) out portfolioto deal withsocial issues.(MM Ramadan ends. Arafat releases 37 Pales- 1/20;NYT 1/21) tinian political prisoners fr.PA jails. Israel King Hussein's eldest son, Prince says releases prove that the PA continues its Abdallah, replaces Crown Prince Hassan "revolvingdoor" policy of freeing"Hamas in a mtg.with Gulf heirs, increasing specula- terrorists,"claims that 5 of those released tionthat King Hussein intends to remove

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Hassan as crownprince. (MM 1/20;AFP 1/20 afterthe Likud party primaries 1/26, which in WNC 1/22; MM 1/21) (see 1/19) he is expectedto lose. (NYT,WP, WT 1/24; MA 1/24,1/25 in WNC 1/26;CSM 1/25;al- 21 JANUARY Ba'th 1/25,Tishrin 1/26 in WNC 1/29;JP, MEI,PR 1/29)(see 1/11) U.S. appointscareer diplomat Frank Ric- For 1sttime in a wk.,U.S. planes attack2 ciardone as "specialrepresentative for tran- sitionin Iraq" to coordinatethe opposition Iraqi antimissilesites after encountering an- to Saddam Hussein as mandatedunder the tiaircraftfire. (NYT, WP, WT 1/24;MENA ILA.U.S. says it is preparedto containHus- 1/25in WNC 1/26)(see 1/14) sein withmissiles, sanctions for yrs., while it 1 SLA mbr.is injuredduring a clash with triesto win acceptancefor surrogate Iraqi Hizballah in s. Lebanon. (VOL 1/23 in exile armiesthat might eventually be able to WNC 1/26) overthrowthe regime; will solicit coopera- tionfr. Jordan, Saudi Arabia,Turkey, pos- 24 JANUARY siblyIran to hostexile armies.Turkey says it Israel declinesU.S. invitationto hold tri- hopes Ricciardonewill not operate fr. An- lateralmtg. with the PA in Washingtonin kara. (MM 1/21; WP, WT 1/22; HUR 1/22, 2/99to discussWye implementation.Israeli Sabah 1/25 in WNC 1/26; WT 1/26; WP FM Sharon saystime is not right.(YA 1/25 1/29; MM 2/1; CSM 2/16) (see 1/15) in WNC 1/26)(see 1/17) OustedDM Mordechai joinsthe new 22 JANUARY Shahak-Meridor party.Netanyahu terms King Hussein removeshis brother Mordechai"immoral" for consorting with Prince Hassan as crownprince, says one of centrists.(NYT, WP, WT 1/25;MA 1/25in his sons (mostlikely Abdallah, his eldestby WNC 1/26)(see 1/23) a previousmarriage, or Hamza, his eldestby Israelis of Rumanian origin establish Queen Nur)will be designatedregent soon. new political party,the Progressive Center The king'sletter of dismissalto Hassan,who Party.14 requeststo formnew partieshave was crownprince for 34 yrs.,accuses himof been submittedsince thelast Knesset elec- meddlingin armymatters; settling personal tions.Only 3 have been approved.(MA 1/25 scoresby forcingsoldiers to retire,changing in WNC 1/26) ambassadorialstaff; demanding to choose his Arab League mtg. on Iraq convenes in own crownprince after his ascensionrather Cairo.Iraq attendsbut walks out in protest thanhaving a familycouncil decide, as Hus- of whatit calls a biased finalstatement that sein wants.King also meetswith PM could givethe U.S. a pretextto launchmore Tarawnah to reiteratehis confidencein his airstrikes.The statementexpresses "deep government.(al-Hayat 1/22; al-Ittihad 1/22, concern"over, but does not denounce,12/98 JT,RJ 1/23 in WNC 1/26;NYT, WP, WT 1/23; U.S.-ledattack; insists Iraq recognizeKuwait, NYT,WT 1/24;MA, YA 1/24in WNC 1/26; complywith UN resolutionsas a preludeto JTV,Petra-JNA 1/25, 1/26 in WNC 1/27;JP, sanctionsrelief. Participants agree to set up MEI 1/29)(see 1/20;Docs. B4, B5) ministerialcomm. to worktoward lifting eco- PA releasesIslamic Jihad leader Shami. nomicsanctions on Iraq in accordancewith (WT 1/23)(see 12/13) a specificUN compliancetimetable. (WP 1/24;AFP, MENA, RE 1/24,al-Ayyam, al-Dus- 23 JANUARY tur,MENA, SANA 1/25 in WNC 1/26;MM, In Sharmal-Shaykh, Arafat briefs Pres. NYT,WP, WT 1/25;MENA, al-Quds al-Arabi Mubarak on continuedIsraeli refusal to im- 1/25,al-Safir 1/26 in WNC 1/27;MM, WT plementWye agmt.,ongoing settlement con- 1/26;MENA 1/28 in WNC 1/29;MEI 1/29) struction;discusses regional developments. 48 Hamas, Islamic Jihad prisoners in (MENA1/23 in WNC 1/26) thePA's Nablus,Jericho, Jneid jails begin PM Netanyahu dismissespopular DM hungerstrike to protestthe PA's failureto Mordechai beforehe has a chanceto resign adhereto thePC's 1/13call to freepolitical to join a new centristparty with Netanyahu prisonersheld withoutcharge at theend of challengersShahak, Meridor.Netanyahu Ramadan.(LAW, MEI, PR 1/29)(see 1/17) 1stasks FM Sharon to takeDMin. portfolio Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian untilthe 5/17elections, but Sharondeclines. land nr.Bethlehem, including property of a He thenasks anotherchallenger, Arens, to historicmonastery, to expand Efratsettle- takethe post. Arens says thathe willdecide ment.(INFOPAL 1/25)

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U.S. planes attack2 moreIraqi missile vice to thecountry over the past 30 yrs. sitesin then. no-flyzone. (NYT,WP 1/25) (JTV,Petra-JNA 1/26 in WNC 1/27;JTV, Pe- tra-JNA1/26, AFP, JTV, MA, Petra-JNA, RJ, 25 JANUARY YA 1/27in WNC 1/28;CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/27; MM, WJW,WP, WT 1/28;JT 2/4 in King Hussein designates Prince Abdal- WNC 2/5) lah as heirto thethrone. UJT 1/25 in WNC Kuwaiti FM Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmad 1/26;JTV, Petra-JNA 1/25, 1/26 in WNC 1/27; al-Sabah makeshis 1stvisit to Jordan since NYT,WP, WT 1/26;Petra-JNA, RJ 1/26, RJ 1990to congratulateKing Hussein on his re- 1/27in WNC 1/28;NYT 1/27;MEI, PR 1/29; turnfr. the U.S. (SA 1/26in WNC 1/27)(see al-Dustur in 1/30 WNC 2/2;CSM 2/2;WT 1/5) 2/3;WJW 2/4) (see 1/22) The Knesset passes (52-30) a law requir- PM Netanyahu winsLikud primary over ing a nationalreferendum and a special par- Arens. (Netanyahutakes more than 75% of liamentarymajority (61 of 120 MKs) to cede thevotes, but only 30% of Likudmbrs. par- land in the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem. ticipate.)Fmr. DM Mordechai announces (MM, NYT, WP 1/27; Tishrin 1/27 in WNC thathe willchallenge Netanyahu for the pre- 2/2; NYT 1/28) miershipas leaderof an emergingcentrist Attemptingto bypassa recentHigh partythat includes fmr. IDF chiefof staff Court ruling,the Knesset passes (50-49) a Shahak, fmr.Finance M Meridor, fmr. Tel bill to bar non-Orthodox Jews fr.the coun- Aviv mayor Roni Milo. Shahak, Meridor try'spowerful religious councils. PM candi- droptheir bids forPM. (MM 1/25;CSM, WP, date Mordechai caststhe deciding vote. WT 1/26;WJW 1/28, 2/4) (see 1/24) (NYT 1/27; WJW2/4) (see 1/12) Britain saysthat it is notparty to U.S. at- temptsto overthrowIraqi pres.Saddam Arens accepts PM Netanyahu's offerto Hussein,it will notassist the Iraqi opposition become DM. (MM,NYT, WP 1/27;al-Ba'th militarily.(MENA 1/25 in WNC 1/26)(see 1/27 in WNC 2/1; MM 1/28; MA 1/29 in WNC 1/21) 2/2)(see 1/23) U.S. planes strikeantimissile batteries in 150 IDF soldiers,police open fireon 100 n.,s. no-flyzones for3d straightday. In Palestinians blockingdemolition of 2 Pales- Basra,1 or moreU.S. missilesgoes astray, tinianhomes in Issawiyya in Eastjerusa- killing 11 Iraqi civilians, wounding 59. The lem, wounding6. Bothhouses in Issawiyya, U.S. recentlyexpanded its strikes to include a 3d house in the Old Cityare destroyed. securityinfrastructure as well as missilebat- (LAW,WT 1/27) teries,radar stations; says that containing SaddamHussein through low-visibility, sus- 27 JANUARY tained,reactive bombing is theonly military U.S. Secy.of StateAlbright flies to actionpolitically acceptable to Arab states. Egypt, Saudi Arabia to ask theirassistance (CSM,NYT, WP, WT 1/26;MENA 1/26 in in implementingthe U.S.'s policyof "contain- WNC 1/27;JT 1/28in WNC 1/29;MEI 1/29; mentplus regimechange" toward Iraq. U.S. NYT,WP 2/3;WP 2/13)(see 1/21) saysthat Middle East leaders have been SLA releases16 detainees fr.al-Khiyam "sympathetic"to itsideas but have not en- prisonfor humanitarian reasons. (VOL 1/25 dorsedthe plan, offered to aid in theeffort. in WNC 1/26) (MENA1/27 in WNC 1/28;MM, NYT, WP, IDF dropsairborne commando unit into WT 1/28;WP, WT 1/29)(see 1/21) Wadi al-Hujayrin s. Lebanon to set up an Outsidethe PC mtg.in Ramallah,Pales- ambushon road btwn.al-Ghanduriyya and tiniansdemonstrate for the release of Pales- BurjQalawayh. Results in 4-hr.combat with tinian political prisoners held in PA jails. Hizballah, includingIDF airsupport. IDF al- (LAW1/29) legedlyaborts 2d drop.(RL 1/25in WNC 1/26) 28 JANUARY PM Netanyahu createsa U.S.-styleNa- 26 JANUARY tional SecurityCouncil to coordinatemili- King Hussein swears in Crown Prince tary,intelligence, civilian geopolitical strat- Abdallah as regent,leaves forthe Mayo egy;appoints fmr. gen., defense Clinicin Rochester,MN, with a relapseof establishmentveteran David Ivri as head. cancer.Crown Prince Abdallah visits his un- (IDF Radio 1/28in WNC 1/29;NYT, WT cle, PrinceHassan, to thankhim for his ser- 1/29;MM 2/2;JP 2/5, 2/12)

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U.S. Secy.of StateAlbright flies to Am- 30 JANUARY man to congratulateJordan's new crown prince,Abdallah; asksJordan to aid in over- Arafatgoes to Ammanto meetwith throwingIraq's SaddamHussein. (MM 1/28; newlydesignated Crown Prince Abdallah. RJ1/28 in WNC 1/29;MM, NYT, WP, WT (RJ1/30 in WNC 2/2;NYT 1/31;WT 2/3) 1/29; WT 2/3; RJ2/3 in WNC 2/5;JP 2/5) IDF reserve pilots' strikeends after (see 1/27) sides reachagmt. on insurance.(MA 1/31in WNC 2/2)(see 1/29) Testifyingbefore Congress, Gen. Anthony U.S. Asst.Secy. of StateIndyk, special Zinni, cmdr.of U.S. forcesin theGulf, rep.Ricciardone meetwith emirs of warnsthat the U.S.'s new policyof support- Bahrain, Qatar on 1stleg of Gulftour to ingIraqi oppositiongroups in hopes that rallysupport for U.S. policyof overthrowing theywill overthrow Saddam Hussein could Iraqi pres.Saddam Hussein. Bahrain is cur- be "verydangerous" if handled improperly. rentlya nonpermanentmbr. of theUNSC. (MM, NYT 1/29; WT 1/30; MM 2/1, 2/5; see (WT 1/31;MM 2/1)(see 1/29) also WP, WT 10/22/98) UN agreesto create3 panelsto reviewall The Israeli daily Yedi'ot Aharonot claims aspectsof Iraq's relationswith the UN as the that the Israeli Health Min. is keeping a 1ststep toward devising a new policyto- specimenof thelethal variola virus despite wardIraq. (NYT,WP 1/31;WP, WT 2/1;ATL a World Health Organization rulingin the 2/3in WNC 2/4) late 1970sto destroyall specimens,vaccina- In thelargest attack since OperationDe- tionsin lightof thedisease's globaleradica- sertFox, U.S. planes attack6 Iraqi airde- tion.Health Min. says onlythat "no workis fensesites in then. no-flyzone. (WP,WT beingdone withthe variola virus" in itslabo- 1/31) ratories.(YA 1/28 in WNC 1/29) 31 JANUARY IIDF demolishes a Palestinian home in EastJerusalem. (LAW 2/1) In Davos, Switzerland,Arafat, Mubarak discussIsrael's failureto implementWye, 29 JANUARY constructionof settlements,demolition of In a plea agmt.,Cyprus dropscharges of Palestinianhomes, confiscation of Palestinian spying against 2 Mossad agents in ex- JerusalemID cards.(RE 1/31in WNC 2/2) changefor their admissions to possessing Jewish settlersset up 3 mobilehomes banned listeningequipment, approaching a on Palestinianland nr.Elon Morehsettle- restrictedmilitary zone; sentencesthem to 3- ment.IDF declaresarea a closed military yr.prison terms. (NYT 1/30;NYT, WP, WT zone off-limitsto civiliansbut does not re- 2/2; MA 2/2 in WNC 2/4;JP 2/5, 2/12) (see move settlers.(AFP [Internet]2/2) 11/24) U.S. Asst.Secy. of StateIndyk, special In Amman,Arab interior ministers rep.Ricciardone stop in Kuwait on 2d leg open 3-daymtg. on combattingterrorism, of theirGulf tour. (MM 2/1)(see 1/30) extraditionof wantedpersons, combatting Syria amendsofficers' service law to drugs.(RJ 1/29 in WNC 2/1;RJ 1/29, JT, RJ raisemandatory retirement age fr.67 to 70 1/30,al-Aswaq, JTV 1/31 in WNC 2/2) yrs.Chief of StaffAli Aslan, DM and Dep. Chief of StaffMustafa Talas are the only IDF Chief of Staff Mufaz rebukes 100 ones affected.(al-Nahar 2/1 in WNC 2/8) reserve pilots who are refusingto flyuntil theDMin. grants them the same lifeinsur- 1 FEBRUARY ance coverageas careerofficers. (NYT 1/30) 146 Israeli writers,artists, intellectu- In London,U.S. specialrep. Ricciardone als issue appeal in supportof a Palestinian meets with Iraqi opposition groups, in- state in all of theWest Bank and Gaza, with some declared cluding eligibleto receiveaid Jerusalemas a sharedcapital. (MM, NYT 2/2; underthe ILA. (MM 2/1)(see 1/28) PR 2/5)(see Doc. C4) In 'Aynal-Hilwa refugee camp in s. Leba- Atthe Western Wall, 100 Orthodox non, a Palestinian,Ahmad al-Awali, opens yeshiva studentssurround group of 33 fireon anti-Arafat PLO Col. Munir American Reformrabbis, callingthem Makdah, withouthitting him. Awali is ar- "nothingbut biological Jews," saying they restedfor attempted assassination. Makdah should"go back to Germany"to be extermi- blamesthe IDF. (VOL 1/29in WNC 2/2) nated.(CSM, NYT 2/2)(see 1/26)

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In Rafah,1 PSF officeris killedin Syriandelegation arrives in Russia for11 shootoutwith 3 wantedHamas mbrs.he daysof talkson military-technicalcoopera- was surveilling.The fugitivesescape in a car, tion,acquisition of hardware.(Interfax 2/3 in hittingPalestinian boy and girl,who laterdie WNC 2/4; al-Quds al-Arabi 2/3, Interfax, of theirinjuries. The 3 are arrestedhrs. later ITAR-TASS2/5 in WNC 2/8;see also MM in Shatirefugee camp. (WT 2/2,2/5) 1/26)(see 11/18) U.S. Asst.Secy. of StateIndyk, special UN says itwill no longerallow Ameri- rep. Ricciardone stop in Oman, UAE on cans, Britons to workin itshumanitarian lastleg of theirGulf tour. Indyk claims Gulf programin Iraq because Baghdadrefuses to states"broadly support" the U.S. positionon ensuretheir safety. (NYT, WP, WT 2/4) Iraq. (MM 2/1,2/3, 2/4) (see 1/31) 4 FEBRUARY 2 FEBRUARY King Hussein leaves theU.S. forJordan in criticalcondition, with no furtherhope for King Hussein undergoesbone marrow treatmentof his cancer.(AFP, JTV, RJ 2/4 in transplantat MayoClinic. (MM 2/2;JTV 2/2 WNC 2/5;MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/5;NYT 2/6) in WNC 2/4;NYT, WP, WT 2/3) Pres.Clinton, Arafat meet on sidelines On a televisiontalk show, PM Netan- of Washingtonprayer breakfast despite pro- yahu comparesLabor campaign rival Barak testsfr. the Christian Right, boycott of break- to Hitler.The audience,stacked with Likud fastby some congressmen,Christian groups. supporterssent by thePM's Office,applauds Clintonwarns Arafat against declaring a state Netanyahu'sstatements; insults, spits on La- in 5/99,urges him to do moreto ease Israeli bor partymbrs. in theaudience. (MM 2/2; safetyconcerns. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/5;JP, MM,WT 2/3;MA 2/3in WNC 2/4;MM 2/4; PR 2/12) JP2/12) PA arrests40 Palestinians on chargesof U.S. planesdestroy 2 of 3 new antiship planningattacks against Jewish settlersin missilesites in s. Iraq. Pentagon saysthat Gaza forHamas's militarywing. (NYT, WT U.S.,British jets have attackedmore antiair- 2/5;JP 2/12) craft,missile batteries than they did during IDF demolishes2 Palestinian homes nr. the 12/16-19operation. (NYT, WP 2/3) Hebron.(Christian Peace Team pressrelease 2/6) 3 FEBRUARY UNSCOMhead Butler says thathe will notseek anotherterm as chmn.when his Arafatmeets with Secy. Albright. In contractexpires in 6/99but refusesto resign. pressconference afterward, he saysthat he (NYT,WP, WT 2/5)(see 1/6) cannotdiscuss the issue of declaringa Pales- tinianstate. (MM, NYT, WT 2/4) 5 FEBRUARY U.S. denouncesIsraeli mediacampaign begun 1/17to portrayArafat as coddling King Hussein lands inJordan, is trans- "terrorists"by claimingthat he releasedPal- portedto a hospital,reportedly in a coma. estinianprisoners who killedAmericans. U.S. The familydecides to keep himon lifesup- saysIsrael's claims are baseless;thinks media port.(NYT, WP, WT 2/5;JTV, RMC 2/5, SA campaignis an attemptto detractfr. Arafat's 2/6in WNC 2/8) visitto Washingtonand fr.the positivepub- licityArafat earned during Clinton's 12/14 6 FEBRUARY tripto Gaza. (al-Quds2/3 in WNC 2/8;WJW, Jordan's cabinet declaresKing Hus- WP 2/4;MM 2/8;JP 2/12) sein incapacitated,transfers authority to 66 congressmen introduce legislation Crown Prince Abdallah. U.S., Arab states callingon Pres.Clinton to oppose recogni- pledgepolitical, financial support for the tionto anyunilaterally declared Palestinian new leaderto ensurea smoothtransition. state.(MM 2/8) Pres.Clinton says U.S. willaccelerate transfer Israeli pres. Ezer Weizman reduces the of $300 m. promisedafter Wye. UAE trans- sentencesof 8 Israelis convictedof killing fers$250 m. to Jordanianbanks to shoreup or plottingto killPalestinians and of 5 thedinar. (IRNA, JTV, MENA, Petra-JNA, RJ, Palestinians,2 of whomwere convictedof SATN2/6, MA, SA 2/7in WNC 2/8;NYT, killingPalestinian collaborators. (MM, NYT, WP,WT 2/7) WP 2/4;al-Dustur 2/4 in WNC 2/8;WJW 3,000 Palestinians marchto thePA 2/11;JP 2/12) headquartersin Hebronprotesting "PA sub-

This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 182 JOURNALOF PALESTINE STUDIES servience to Israel and the CIA," demanding Bahrain, hostto theU.S. 5thFleet head- release of political prisoners held in PA jails. quarters,says it is opposed to militaryattacks (MEI 2/12) on Iraq, willnot allow itsterritory to be used as stagingground to oust SaddamHus- 7 FEBRUARY sein.(WP 2/11)

King Hussein dies. Crown Prince Abdal- 11 FEBRUARY lah is sworn in as King Abdallah II, ap- points his half-brotherHamza as crown As thenearly daily series of challenges prince.Jordan declares a wk. of mourning. and strikescontinues, U.S. planeshit 7 sites Syria, Egypt announce official3-day mourn- in theIraqi no-flyzones. Iraq claims2 civil- ing period. Syria also postpones 2/8 presi- ians are killed,several wounded. (NYT, WP dential elections. (IDF Radio, Interfax,IRNA, 2/11)(see 2/3) JTV,RJ, RL, VIRI 2/7 in WNC 2/8; AFP, 12 FEBRUARY Xinhua 2/7 in WNC 2/9; GIU, CSM, NYT, WP, WT 2/8; MA, SA 2/8 in WNC 2/9; CSM Aftera 5 wk. trial,the Senate, voting 2/9; WJW2/11; JP, MEI, PR 2/12) alongparty lines, acquits Pres. Clinton on botharticles of impeachment(45-55; 50-50). 8 FEBRUARY (NYT,WP, WT 2/13) Funeral for King Hussein is held in Am- Arafatresurrects idea of Palestiniancon- man. 10s of world leaders attend,including federationwith Jordan in a finalpeace ar- large Israeli, U.S. delegations. On the side- rangement.(NYT, WP, WT 2/13;'Ukaz 2/13 lines, Clinton meets brieflywith King in WNC 2/17; al-Ayyam 2/13, al-Hayat al- Abdallah, Asad, Arafat,Netanyahu. Demo- Jadida 2/14in WNC 2/18)(see Peace Morni- cratic Front for the Liberation of Pales- tor) tine (DFLP) head Nayif Hawatmah shakes 200 Palestinian protestersstorm PA jail hands with Israeli pres. Weizman. (MM 2/8; inJericho, demanding release of 5 Islamists ATL, Interfax,ITAR-TASS, Kyodo, LPA, Wei- held therewithout charge. The 5 are among ner Zeitung 2/8 in WNC 2/9; MM, NYT, WP, the48 politicalprisoners who have been on WT 2/9; MM 2/10) (see Peace Monitor) hungerstrike since 1/24.Protesters scuffle withPA police buteventually leave the 9 FEBRUARY buildingpeacefully. In Nablus,1,000 Pales- UN General Assembly passes a non- tinians hold rallyin solidaritywith prison- binding resolution calling for an international ers.(WP 2/13;MEI 2/26) conference of the signatoriesto the Fourth In keepingwith its 1/30decision, the UN Geneva Convention to examine Israel's createsa panel to reviewIraq's disarmament "persistentviolations" of the convention by record,recommend ways of ensuringthat building settlements.(WT 2/10; MM 2/11; al- Iraq fulfillsagmt. to abandonunconventional Quds 2/12 in WNC 2/17; WJW2/18) (see weapons. 20-mbr.panel contains12 UN- Peace Monitor) SCOM mbrs.,including the ranking American PM Netanyahu wins the Likud prima- UNSCOMinspector but not chmn. Butler. ries. FM Sharon, who hoped to capture the UN also creates2 otherpanels on humanita- 2d spot on the partyticket, finishes 8th. Sci- rianaffairs, prisoners of war and Kuwaiti ence M Silvan Shalom comes in 2d. (MM property.(NYT 2/13) 2/9; NYT 2/10) Jewish settlers move into fmr.IDF out- 13 FEBRUARY post in Nimrod, Golan Heights, hoping to PA police arrestHamas spokesman starta new settlementthere. IDF confirms Mahmud Zahhar on chargesof harboringa land was transferredto civilian use. (MM 2/9; suspectin themurder of a PA policeman WP 2/10) earlierthis mo. (WT 2/14) 10 FEBRUARY 14 FEBRUARY Syrianpres. Asad is reelected to a 5th 7- yr. term.As the only candidate, he wins In Jerusalem,250,000 Ultra-Orthodox 99.98% of the vote. (MM 2/10; SANA, SATN Jews hold protestrally against High Court, 2/10 in WNC 2/12; NYT 2/11; MEI 2/16) sayingrecent decisions that erode special Egypt reportsthat it arrested,deported privilegesheld by Ultra-Orthodoxviolate 379 Israelis in 1998. (al-Akhbar 2/11 in Jewishlaw. 50,000 secularJews hold WNC 2/18) counterdemonstration.(MM, NYT, WP, WT

This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions CHRONOLOGY 183

2/15;MM 2/16;WJW 2/18; JP 2/19) (see date, fmr. PM Shimon Peres is given 2d 1/26) slot.Top votegetters are Shlomo Ben-Ami, Jordan'sKing Abdallah asks thecabinet a Sephardim;Yossi Beilin, an architectof to stayon, continuepolicies laid out by King theOslo agreements;fmr. dep. chiefof staff Hussein.The new kingmay call forthe cabi- Matan Vilnai, and Avraham Burg, chmn. netto resignafter he completesconsultations of theJewish Agency. (MM, WT 2/16) withadvisers, politicians on thecountry's DFLP leaderHawatmnah is thrownout of economic,political policies. (WP 2/15) theDamascus-based coalition of Palestinian Iraq ordersKuwait, Saudi Arabia, Tur- rejectionistgroups for shaking hands with Is- key to rescindpermission for the U.S., Brit- raelipres. Weizanan at KingHussein's fu- ain to use theirbases to patrolthe Iraqi no- neral2/8. (NYT, WP 2/16) flyzones or facepossible retaliation. (NYT, In Nablus 3,500 Fatah supporters hold WP 2/15;NYT, WP, WT 2/16) rallyto markFatah's 24th anniversary. (AFP [Internet]2/15) 15 FEBRUARY IDF demolishes 3 Palestinian homes Arafatappoints PC comm.to studyfile of underconstruction nr. Nablus, bringing to 21 each politicalprisoner held in PA jails,rec- thenumber of homesdemolished since the ommendwhich prisoners should be re- Wyeagmt. was signed10/23. (MEI 2/26) leased. (MEI 2/26)(see Peace Monitor) 2 Lebanese civilians are wounded by Laborholds party primaries. By common IDF shelling in s. Lebanon. (RL 2/16 in consent,Barak is givenslot for PM candi- WNC 2/17)

CHRONOLOGY SOURCE ABBREVIATIONS AFP (Agence France-Presse,Paris) ATL (Anatolia, Ankara) CSM (Christian Science Monitor, Boston) GIU (Global Intelligence Update, Austin) HA (Ha Aretz, Tel Aviv) HUR (Hurriyet,Istanbul) IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency,Tehran) ITV (Israel Television Network,Jerusalem) JP (Jerusalem Post International Edition, Jerusalem) JT (Jordan Times, Amman) JTV (Jordan Television Network,Amman) LAW (Palestinian Society for the Protectionof Human Rightsand the Environment, Jerusalem) LPA (London Press Association, London) MA (Ma'ariv, Tel Aviv) MBC (Middle East Broadcasting Centre,London) MEI (Middle East International, London) MENA (Middle East News Agency, Cairo) MM (Mideast Mirror, London) NYT (New York Times, New York) PR (Palestine Report,Jerusalem) QY (Qol Yisra'el Radio, Tel Aviv) RE (Republic of Egypt Radio, Cairo) RJ (Radio Jordan,Amman) RL (Radio Lebanon, Beirut) RMC (Radio Monte Carlo, Paris) SA (al-Sharq al-Awsat, London) SANA (Syrian Arab News Agency, Damascus) SATN (Syrian Arab Television Network,Damascus) VIRI (Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran) VOA (Voice of the Arabs, Cairo) VOL (Voice of Lebanon, Beirut) WJW (Washington Jewish Week, Rockville,MD) WNC (World News Connection [Internet],Washington, DC)

This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:06:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 184 JOURNAL OF PALESIME STUDIES

WP (Washington Post, Washington,DC) WT (Washington Times, Washington,DC) YA (Yedi'ot Aharonot, Tel Aviv) Chronologycompiled by MicheleL. Kjorlien

Jordanian officerscarry the coffinof King Hussein throughthe Raghadan palace compound on 8 February,during his funeral procession. (AFP/ Patrick Baz)

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