1991

14Jan: Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad) & Hayil ‘Abd al-Hamid (Abu al-Hawl) are assassinated in Tunis, probably by Hamza Abu Zayd, a bodyguard of Abu al-Hawl working for the Abu Nidal faction. Khalaf is probably targetted due to his opposition to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

17Jan: US-led forces (also UK, France, Saudi, Egypt, Syria, UAE, Bahrain, Turkey) launch “Operation Desert Storm” on Iraq. Iraqi scuds land on Tel Aviv & Haifa, & US launches massive airlift of military equipment into Israel. US destruction of air raid shelter at Amiriyah in Baghdad kills approx.300 people (13Feb). Jordan, Yemen & PLO do not endorse the war against Iraq (though Salah Khalaf, Bassam Abu Sharif, Faysal al-Husayni, Hani & Khalid al-Hasan, Walid Khalidi, Edward Said & ‘Abd al-Muhsin Qattan all vocally condemn Iraq's action, with latter resigning from PNC on this basis; PFLP & PLF support Iraq, with PLF sending troops to assist Iraq; Faruq al-Qaddumi, Yasir ‘Arafat & 84% of West Bankers in al-Nadwa poll in mid-Aug90 indicate solidarity with Iraq; 58% of West Bankers support Iraq's invasion in same survey) » subsequent expulsion of 300,000 Palestinian workers from Kuwait; Jordanians & Yemenis expelled also from Saudi). Saudi closes its border with Jordan, and suspends all foreign aid to it (as does US). All other Arab States oppose Iraq's actions.

24-7Feb: Ground offensive, retaking Kuwait in 100 hours. Formal ceasefire on 28Feb agreed at Safwan, with Iraq accepting all the relevant SCRs; SCR687 (3Apr) formally ends war (accepted by Iraq on 6Apr) & establishes arms inspection body UNSCOM (under Rolf Ekeus until Jul97), which together with the IAEA the Iraqi government is obliged to grant unimpeded access to all sites and facilities in Iraq, in order to supervise disarmament of all Iraq's non-conventional weapons and ballistic missiles with a range of more than 150km (admitted from May91). Simultaneous uprising in Iraq, beginning in Basra, in early Mar. Major cities in S & Kurdish areas come under rebel control (government has continuous control over only a third of governorates). Sn revolt crushed by 29Mar (w recapturing of Samawa) & Nn revolt by early Apr. Approx 1.5m Kurds flee into N & E Iraq, Turkey, Iran. Emir returns to Kuwait on 14Mar, ruling under martial law until 26Jun, and signs 10-year security pact with USA in Sept (and pays $16.5billion to it).

6Mar: George Bush reaffirms US commitment to SC242&338, including Palestinian rights.

6Mar: the Damascus Declaration: Syria, Egypt agree to protect GCC militarily for economic aid.

23Mar: Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan advocates a 'Helsinki-type' approach to Middle East security, in a paper presented to a US conference.

Apr: John Major proposes 'Safe Havens' policy in Nn Iraq, approved by EU meeting in Luxembourg (8Apr) & duly established under UK-US guard, with the establishment of a "no-fly zone" north of the 36th parallel (Jun). Undeclared ceasefire on 17Apr between Iraqi government and Iraqi Kurdistan Front (the alliance body of the insurgents), leading an interim agreement based on the 1970 autonomy plan (talks continued until Jan92). Memorandum of Understanding between UNS-G envoy, Sadruddin Aga Khan, and Iraq for the UN to provide aid to northern governorates in cooperation with the central government. Coalition forces withdraw from northern Iraq in mid-July, leaving only 270 UN guards, but they remain in SE Turkey ("Operation Poised Hammer") until 10Oct.

22May: Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation & Coordination between Lebanon & Syria. Lebanon independent, but agrees not to be source of threat to Syria. Lebanon government restores its control in Sidon & Tyre, defeating remaining PLO forces there (1Jul). All militias, exc Hizbullah, are ordered to disband; only SLA refuses. An amnesty is given for all crimes in the civil war (26Aug); with a presidential pardon, ‘Awn leaves for France. Hizbullah comes under Iranian pressure to become a political actor in the new government: Subhi al-Tufayli, who opposes cooperation with the non-Islamic government, is removed as secretary-general (though only later leaves Hizbullah entirely to form the "Revolt of the Hungry"), and Shaykh Abbas al-Musawi takes over.

Jun-Aug: James Baker proposes regional peace conference, supported by Asad & Shamir. Baker’s peace plan: Israel would engage in separate bilateral talks with Syria, Lebanon & joint Jordan-Palestinian delegation; Palestinians in latter must be non-PLO & from non-Jerusalem West Bank or Gaza; 5 year interim arrangements to be negotiated, with final status talks beginning after 2 years. Baker says that he envisions the conference leading to "less than a State, and more than an autonomy" for the Palestinians (21Jul). PLO agrees to participate in peace conference, as long as it chooses the delegation, & settlement construction is halted.

21-28Sept: 20th PNC (Algiers) votes to send Palestinian independents to forthcoming Madrid conference as part of joint Palestinian-Jordan delegation, though with PLO team under Faysal al-Husayni acting as advisors. Abu Abbas, Edward Said & Ibrahim Abu Lughod are among those who resign from the PNC in protest.

20Oct: Seymour Hersh ('The Samson Option') claims that: Israel has 100+ nuclear bombs & considered using them against Egypt in 1973; their development was assisted by the US; bombs are targeted on Arab oil installations & cities in SW USSR; US provided info for raid on Iraq's reactor in 1981; Robert Maxwell helped Mossad track Vanunu.

27Oct: Defence cooperation agreement between Bahrain & US, giving latter extensive use of facilities there.

30Oct: Middle East peace conference in Madrid opens – the beginning of the Peace Process. Attended by Israel (after Bush threatened to withhold US loan guarantees), Syria, Lebanon, joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation (Palestinian section headed by Haydar ‘Abd al-Shafi) as bilateral negotiators; Egypt, Saudi, Arab League, GCC & Arab Maghreb Union as observers.

3-4Nov: Bilateral talks begin: Israeli-Jordanian/Palestinian to discuss autonomy in OTs, Israel-Syria&Lebanon start with procedural difficulties.

10Dec: Rafsanjani warns against negotiating with Israel at Islamic Conference in Dakar.

10-18Dec: Washington bilateral talks: Israel insists on Palestinian representation only if under Jordanian auspices. Syria-Israel hold tense talks on status of Golan & interpretation of SCR242.

26Dec: 1st round of National Assembly elections in Algeria. Despite restrictions (eg on campaigning in mosques) & detention of its leaders (Abbassi Madani & Ali Benhadj), FIS wins convincingly, taking 188 seats; opposition parties win 80% of vote, inc 47% for FIS. FIS seems sure to win an absolute majority in the 2nd round of voting.

1992

11Jan: Chadli Benjedid, having dissolved Algerian assembly (4Jan) & suspended constitution, resigns as President of Algeria. Military government installed to prevent 2nd round of elections, with effective power held by the "High Security Council" led by Defence Minister (from Jun90) Khaled Nezzar and Interior Minister Gen. Larbi Belkheir. Collective presidency in the "High Council of State", chaired by Mohammed Boudiaf. State of emergency declared; FIS takes to the streets (8-9Feb), & is forced to disband (Mar). Civil war between FLN government & armed Islamic group, the Groupe Islamique Armée, begins.

13-6Jan: 3rd round of bilateral talks in Washington. Separate Jordanian & Palestinian delegations accepted by Israel. Palestinians propose autonomous Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority (PISGA) with 180 elected officials managing 5 year transition to full independence. After initial elections, Israeli soldiers would be replaced by UN. Syria asks for evacuation of Golan, Israel for explicit recognition of their State.

28-9Jan: Moscow inaugural plenary meeting initiates multilateral talks in 5 working groups on regional issues: arms control, the environment, economic devt, refugees & water.

16Feb: SE of Beirut, Israeli Apache helicopter gunships kill Shaykh Abbas Musawi, Hizbullah’s S-G, his wife & their 5yr old son. Hassan Nasrallah takes over as S-G of the organisation.

24Feb: 4BW: Israel proposes administrative council in OTs with limited jurisdiction (health, education etc). Rejected by Palestinians, who call for elections before 29Oct.

7Apr: ‘Arafat’s plane crashes in a desert sandstorm near al-Sarra, Sn Libya. 3 crew members are killed; the 9 survivors, including ‘Arafat, are found after 12 hours.

27-30Apr: 5BW: Israel proposes municipal elections in 5 West Bank cities; Palestinians call this a delaying tactic. Israel-Jordan discuss water resources. Israel-Syria hold cordial talks. Israel-Lebanon discuss possible Israeli withdrawal from Southern Lebanon.

29Jun: Muhammad Boudiaf, chairing the Algerian military government, is assassinated by one of his bodyguards. Replaced by ‘Ali Hussain Kafi (from 2Jul).

13Jul: Labour government under Yitzhak Rabin takes power in Israel after 23Jun election victory.

Aug-Sept: 1st elections in Lebanon since 1972; Nabih Birri, S-G of Amal, becomes speaker of National Assembly (20 Oct); Rafiq al-Hariri becomes PM (31 Oct). Hizbullah win 12 seats out 128 in parliament.

24Aug: 6BW: Israel proposes broader powers for PISGA. Palestinians also make proposals for troop withdrawals, Jerusalem, Israeli settlements & security issues. Israel seems willing to compromise on Golan, but no reference to complete withdrawal.

26Aug: Bush announces an air exclusion zone below the 32nd parallel in Iraq; US shoot down an Iraqi MIG for ‘violating’ this zone on 27Dec.

Sept: Petition of 107 religious leaders & intellectuals, mostly from Najd region, to Shaykh ‘Abd al-Aziz Bin Baz, the spiritual head of the Saudi regime, urging greater compliance with shari‘a, measures against corruption, more accountability.

Sept: 10 Palestinian groups - PFLP, DFLP, PLFP-GC, PPSF, PLF, Fatah-Uprising, PRCP, al-Sa‘iqa, Hamas & Islamic Jihad (‘the Damascus 10’) - form National Democratic & Islamic Front in Damascus to oppose Madrid talks. Significant for cooperation between secularists & Islamists.

21Oct: 7BW: Israel allows Palestinian delegates into peace talks, as long as they are not members of PLO or PNC. Israel-Jordan agree on territorial & water issues, Palestinian refugees & arms control. However, Jordan brings up question of Jerusalem, causing controversy.

12Dec: Hamas abduct Sgt-Maj Nissim Toledano from Israeli town of Lod; demanded Shaykh Yassin’s release in return for Toledano’s return. Rabin refuses to negotiate, & Toledano is killed. In reprisal, on 17Dec, Israel expels 415 suspected Hamas activists into Marj al-Zahour, S Lebanon. Arabs walk out of 8BW. UNLU & Hamas issue their 1st joint statement against the expulsion, & vow to cooperate in planning strikes (17Dec). SCR799 condemns Israel’s action (18Dec).

1993

Jan: Renewed skirmishes between Iraq & US, UK & France, after Iraq installs surface-to-air missiles in the Sn US/UK-declared no-fly zones, bans UN flights in the southern zone, and makes incursions into the demilitarized zone with Kuwait (ostensibly to remove equipment). Allied bombing in Sn & Nn no-fly-zones (10-19Jan), which kills 43; ends with Baghdad issuing a unilateral ceasefire and rescinding measures.

19Jan: Knesset revokes its 1986 law prohibiting contact with PLO, by vote 39-20.

20Jan: Secret negotiations between PLO & Israeli government begin in Sarpsborg, Norway.

1Feb: Under international pressure, Israel offers to allow 100 deportees in Lebanon to return (to US approval); rejected by deportees. After talks with PLO about resuming Madrid process, US Sec State Warren Christopher declares that the talks must be based on SCRs242-338, & urges Israel to adopt a timetable for the deportees’ return (24Feb). Israel, in response, agrees to allow many deportees since 1967 to return to WBG, & accepts Faysal al-Husayni as the head of the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid process. Deportees finally accept a phased return, to be completed by the end of 1993 (15Aug).

Apr: GCC Foreign Ministers claim UAE sovereignty over 3 Gulf Islands: Abu Musa & the Greater & Lesser Tunbs, after Iran starts enforcing visa restrictions in 1992.

Apr: 1st elections in Yemen: Nn based General People’s Congress, led by ‘Ali Abdullah Salih, wins 143 out of 301 seats; Sn based YSP win 69; & Islah (Islamists) win 63. Parliament renews Salih’s presidency & Bidh’s (YSP) vice-presidency; head of Islah is made speaker of Parliament (Oct).

18May: Martin Indyk, Special Assistant to the US President on Near Eastern & South Asian affairs, announces a policy of "Dual Containment" of Iran & Iraq.

27Jun: US launches 23 Tomahawk missiles against Baghdad intelligence HQ in al-Mansur district, claiming Iraq was involved in an attempt to assassinate former President Bush on his visit to Kuwait (in mid-Apr). 8 killed, including leading painter Leila Attar.

22July: Attempt to retake S.Lebanon Occupied Zone by Hizbullah guerrillas. Huge Israeli counterattack in “Operation Accountability” (from 25Jul), displacing 250,000 people, killing approx 120.

20Aug: Declaration of Principles initialled by PLO & Israel. Revealed that secret Palestinian-Israeli negotiations had been taking place in Oslo, started by Mahmud ‘Abbas & Ahmad Quray with Israeli academics Yair Hirschfeld & Ron Pundik, & conducted on Palestinian side by Quray (Fatah) & Hasan ‘Asfur (PPP), under the direction of ‘Arafat, ‘Abbas, ‘Abd-Rabbu & Bashir al-Barghuti (PPP); official Israeli participation only began in May when Rabin authorised, leading to participation of FM Dir. Gen. Uri Savir & lawyer Joel Singer. 2 earlier draft DoPs (May, July) had been rejected by PLO. Final draft devised through the mediation of Norweigian FM Holst from Aug. When content of negotiations revealed, PLO-EC members revolted: Muhammad Darwish resigned (20Aug), Shafiq al-Hut suspended membership (22Aug); Taysir Khalid (DF), ‘Abd al-Rahim Malluh (PF) & Abdullah Hurani all removed themselves from PLO-EC (10Sept). Nevertheless, Fatah-CC (3-5Sept) & PLO-EC (8-9Sept, albeit only by half the committee) approve.

9Sept: Exchange of letters: letter from ‘Arafat to Rabin recognises legitimate State of Israel, accepts SCR242&338, renounces use of terrorism & violence. Letter from Rabin to ‘Arafat recognises PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people.

13Sept: Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles (Oslo I), signed in Washington by ‘Abbas & Peres, to enter into force one month later. Authorises temporary Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority for Jericho & Gaza Str, for a transitional period not exceeding 5 years. This interim period is to begin when Israel withdraws from these regions; this withdrawal is to be arranged by an agreement to be concluded within 2 months of DoP’s entry into force. Israel is to redeploy in the rest of the West Bank. PIGSA has responsibility for laws, education, culture, health, social welfare, taxation, tourism, police force; Israel continues to have responsibility for external & internal security, & settlements; all Israelis can use roads in West Bank & Gaza Str. Creates Israeli-Palestinian Liason Committee to resolve disputes. Sets out framework for Palestinian elections for democratic Council within 9 months, whose powers are to be enumerated in an Interim Agreement (Palestinians of Jerusalem have the right to participate in elections). Permanent status negotiations put off, to begin within 3 years of interim period. Ratified by Knesset (23Sept) by 61-50-8; PLO-CC in Tunis approved (11Oct) by 63-8-9 with 25 not attending.

14Sept: Israeli-Jordan Common Agenda signed.

1Oct: Donors’ pledging conference in Ad Hoc Liason Commitee chaired by Norway, to coordinate aid to Palestinians.

Nov: Israeli-Turkish protocols on cultural exchanges, trade links & defence industry cooperation announced.

16Nov: Rabin states that Israel will withdraw from S Lebanon if Hizbullah is disarmed & brought under control.

17Nov: Multilateral working group agrees on approx. 20 environmental projects, eg for oil spills in the Gulf of Aqaba.

Dec: Under pressure for political participation, Saudi regime creates a 'Consultative Council' (majlis al-shura) of 60 members (increased to 90 in Jul97), mostly Western-educated technocrats, not Islamic leaders, with the power to question ministers and offer advice through its eight standing committees.

1994

7Jan: PLO-Jordan economic agreement: cooperation in banking & finance, trade, labour, investments, tourism & customs.

19Jan: Israeli air attack on PFLP bases, S of Beirut.

1Feb: Rafsanjani survives assassination attempt. Further bomb blast inside the women's section of Imam Ali Reza's mausoleum in Mashhad kills 26 (20Jun; on Ashura): blamed on MKO, who deny; Sunni militants more likely.

7Feb: 4 Israeli soldiers in S Lebanon killed by Hizbullah. Israeli retaliation.

18Feb: Iran-Iraq hold talks over return of POWs.

20Feb: Conflict between Yemeni leaders ‘Ali Salim al-Bidh (S) & ‘Ali Abdullah Salih (N) seem to be averted: 18-point reconciliation accords under Jordanian mediation in Amman.

25Feb: US-born Israeli settler, Baruch Goldstein, kills 29 Palestinians at Hebron Ibrahimi mosque.

27Feb: 11 Christians killed in bomb attack on Beirut's Zuq Mikael church. Leads to the arrest of Samir Geagea and the banning of the Lebanese Forces.

7Mar: 7 SLA soldiers killed; Israeli retaliation.

13Mar: Israel outlaws fanatical Jewish groups Kach & Kahane Chai.

Apr: Vice-President of Yemen Salim al-Bidh, aided by Saudi arms shipments, announces the secession of the S: civil war lasts 9 wks, with mutual air-raids on capitals. UN calls for ceasefire, but Nn forces defeat Sn forces. On 30Jun, N&S Yemen sign ceasefire; former S Yemen leaders flee Aden by boat (7Jul), government forces control all Yemen. New coalition formed between GPC & Islah.

6Apr: Hamas suicide bomb at a bus stop in Afula, Israel, 41 days after Goldstein massacre, kills 9 Israelis; further suicide bomb on Egged bus in Hadera, N.coast Israel, on 13Apr, the deadline for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza-Jericho under Oslo, kills 6. 1,600 suspected Islamists arrested by 21Apr.

29Apr: Agreement on Economic Relations between Israel & PLO signed in Paris; becomes Annex V of Interim Agreement.

4May: The Gaza-Jericho Agreement between Israel & PLO signed in Cairo; Palestinian Authority established, & its powers enumerated; but its legislation can be judicially questioned by Israel if a query over its legality arises. Israel undertakes to release 5,000 Palestinian prisoners & detainees. IDF evacuates Gaza strip & Jericho area; replaced by Palestinian forces (10, 13May respectively); Israeli military orders cancelled (24May).

7May: Rivalry between Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) & Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), coalition partners for 5 years, breaks out into open conflict in N.Iraq; builds upon conflict between the PUK and the Islamic Movement of Iraqi Kurdistan that had been underway since Dec93. INC, based at Salahuddin (north of Irbil) since Oct92, brokers truce, but fighting continues until Sept, and intermittently thereafter despite peace plan of Nov94. 3000 killed by Jun96, with PUK controlling half the territory but 2/3rds of the population. National Assembly is prorogued, not meeting again until Oct02.

1July: ‘Arafat arrives in Gaza & assumes power.

29Aug: Israel-Palestinian Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers & Responsibilities signed at Erez: transfer of 5 civilian authorities to PNA.

26Sept: Rabin unveils plans for new settler homes in the West Bank.

30Sept: GCC partially lifts economic boycott of Israel.

8-10Oct: Iraq deploys troops nr the Kuwaiti border; SCR expresses concern & US, Fr & UK move troops to the region. Iraq announces redeployment.

9Oct: Israeli soldier, Nashon Wachsman, kidnapped by Hamas; killed, along with 3 Hamas & 1 further Israel soldier, with bungled IDF rescue operation.

19Oct: Hamas suicide bomb on a Tel Aviv commuter bus, killing 21 Israelis & 1 Dutch, claimed as revenge for deaths of 3 Wachsman kidnappers. PA, under Israeli pressure, arrests 100s of suspected Hamas sympathisers.

26Oct: Jordan & Israel sign peace treaty at Wadi‘ Araba, formally ending the 46 year old war. Israel recognised, & Jordan agrees to bar foreign forces on its territory, Israel’s primary demand. US writes off $833 million of Jordan's debt, gives it access to advanced weaponry.

31Oct: New Algerian President, Liamine Zeroual (from 31Jan94), promises elections before end of 1995, but excludes involvement of FIS.

2Nov: Hani Abed, Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza, is killed by Israeli car bomb; IJ revenge attack on 11 Nov, with bicycle suicide bomber killing 3 IDF soldiers at Netzarim checkpt in Gaza.

6Nov: Iran fires Scud missiles at bases of Mujahedin al-Khalq in Iraq.

10Nov: Iraqi National Assembly officially acknowledges Kuwait’s sovereignty; ratified by RCC in a decree signed by Saddam Husayn (who had taken on additional title of PM of Iraq since 29May) on the same day.

18Nov: Palestinian Police Force shoot dead 13-6 Palestinian protestors outside Palestine Mosque in Gaza (‘Black Friday’).

26Nov: 10,000-20,000 Palestinians attend Hamas rally in Gaza.

Dec: Algeria & Egypt push, unsuccessfully, for an anti-terrorist ‘code of conduct’ at Casablanca Islamic Summit.

5Dec: Bahrain arrests Shi‘a leaders, including Shi‘a cleric Shaykh Ali Salman who had criticised the ruling family (deported to UK in Jan95). Widespread Shi‘a protests follow, with attendant government crackdown.

7Dec: Yemen accuses Saudi Arabia of illegally entering its territory and erecting observation posts there. The 1934 Treaty of Ta'if, defining the north-western frontier, had lapsed earlier this year, and Saudi forces may have been attempting to establish a de facto frontier ahead of arbitration.

23Dec: Fighting erupts again between Kurdish factions in North Iraq, with PUK seizing Irbil.

27Dec: West Bank Palestinians clash with Israeli forces over building of new settlements nr Bethlehem.

1995

Jan: 27 leading members of the Muslim Brotherhood arrested in Egypt. Held on charges of plotting to overthrow the state, amid accusations of involvement of Iran & Sudan.

10Jan: Saudi-Yemen border clashes escalate, with 14 Saudis, 40 Yemenis killed. Egypt & Syria begin mediations, that lead to a joint statement on 15Jan, and the establishment of a joint commission (22Jan) to settle the dispute.

13Jan: St Egidio conference of Algerian opposition parties promises multiparty democracy if FIS legalised & prisoners released.

22Jan: 2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers kill 21-2 Israelis (all but one were young IDF) in Beit Lid, nr N.coast town of Netanya » increased Israeli calls for permanent separation & ending reliance on Palestinian labour.

30Jan: Suicide car bomb attack on Algiers central police station kills 42, wounds hundreds.

Feb: NATO begins dialogue with states of Mediterranean., Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco & Mauritania. Its S-G Willy Claes claims that Islam is becoming the West’s primary security threat.

26Feb: Saudi-Yemeni negotiations in Mecca: a Memorandum of Understanding reached, renewing the Ta’if treaty of 1934. Joint Commmissions formed to define borders & prevent further clashes.

9Apr: 2 Islamic Jihad bombs at Gaza settlements kill 7 Israeli soldiers & one US citizen.

14Apr: SCR986 approves an “oil-for-food” plan for Iraq, allowing Iraq to sell $1bn worth of oil every 90 days.

May: Israel attempts to confiscate Arab land around Jerusalem. UNSC condemnation is blocked by US veto. Confiscation is prevented by threat of vote of no-confidence in Israeli government.

8May: Clinton signs executive order banning US companies from trading with Iran; had been announced at meeting of the World Jewish Congress in New York on 30Apr.

Jun: Shaykh Khalifa deposed by his son, Shaykh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, in Qatar. Considerable liberalisation, esp of the media, allowing the outspoken al-Jazira satellite channel to be launched in 1997.

Jun: Asmara agreement between SPLA & Nn opposition groups in Sudan, to coordinate in their attempts to overthrow the Sudanese government = formation of the National Democratic Alliance.

26June: Gema’a lslamiya attempt assassination of Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa, as he arrives for an OAU summit. Mubarak blames Sudan & vows to overthrow Sudanese government.

24July: Tel Aviv bus bomb kills 6 Israelis.

27Aug: Israel-Palestinian Protocol on Further Transfer of Powers & Responsibilities signed at Cairo.

Sept: Syria proposes Israeli balloon borne sensors stationed on Syrian soil could act as an early warning mechanism.

Libya expels resident Palestinians to protest at peace process.

21Sept: Peres & ‘Arafat agree & sign (28 Sept) Taba accord (Oslo II) for withdrawal of Israeli troops from main West Bank cities (Zone A), which will be under Palestinian control (7% of West Bank). Israel has ultimate control over security in Zone B, consisting of Palestinian villages (24% of West Bank); commitment to further redeploy forces & hand over authority to PA. Zone C (69% of West Bank) remains under exclusive Israeli control until final status talks. Hebron in dual-control. Sets out detailed plan for elections to PLC, & the structure of the Council.

Oct: Fathi Shqaqi, head of Islamic Jihad, is assassinated in Malta by Mossad.

4Nov: Yitzhak Rabin assassinated by right-wing Jewish opponent, Yigal Amir. Funeral draws numerous Arab leaders to Jerusalem, & tributes from many more. Silence from Syria, joy in Iran. 300k Israelis attend memorial rally. Shimon Peres takes over.

13Nov: US military mission in Riyadh destroyed by truck bomb, killing 7 (inc 5 US personnel).

Israel withdraws from Jenin 6 days ahead of Taba schedule.

16Nov: Algerian presidential election - high pro-Zeroual (60%) turnout (75%), despite call by FIS for a boycott.

Nov: 54 Muslim Brotherhood members standing in Egyptian Parliamentary elections imprisoned; Mubarak’s National Democratic Party uses intimidation & fraud to secure victory, winning 416 seats, and leaving the opposition with only 28.

27-8Nov: Euro-Med Conference of EU, Israel & Arab Mediterranean states (exc Libya) held in Barcelona. Aims are to prevent spread of ‘fundamentalism’, ‘terrorism’ & ‘illegal’ immigrants into Europe. Also economic benefits promised for Arab countries.

Dec: Israel withdraws from main West Bank towns: Tulkarm, Nablus, Qalqiliya, Bethlehem, Ramallah.

4Dec: Qatari walkout of GCC summit in Muscat over Saudi domination.

9Dec: Prominent Jordanian Islamist Layth Shubaylat arrested.

10,3Dec: Turkey: ‘Abdullah Ocalan (PKK) calls a unilateral ceasefire. EU Customs Union joined.

18Dec: Eritrea seizes Hanish islands (Red Sea) from Yemen.

24Dec: Turkish parliamentary elections: Necmettin Erbakan’s Refah (Welfare) party (established 1983; led by Erbakan since 1987) emerges as largest, with 21.4% of the vote. Is also in charge of 28 major municipalities, including Istanbul and Ankara, since 1994 local elections.

31Dec: US Congress authorises $18m CIA covert operation in Iran, who reply with counter bill.

1996

3Jan: UK government orders Saudi dissident Muhammad al-Masari out of UK after Saudi threat to end arms deals, but is thwarted by its courts.

5Jan: The “Engineer”, Yahya Ayyash of Hamas, killed by Shin Bet bomb: almost 100k Palestinians attend his funeral, the largest gathering in Gaza’s histy.

20Jan: First Palestinian elections for the 88 members of the unicameral Palestinian Legislative Council (on a multi-member constituency basis, in 16 electoral districts) & for the head of the PNA. Intimidation by Israel in Jerusalem, but elsewhere turnout high (Central Election Committee: 73% in West Bank, 88% in Gaza). Presidential elections won by ‘Arafat (88%) against Samiha Khalil; but many strong independent candidates elected to Council, inc Haidar ‘Abd al-Shafi who received most votes of any candidate, running on an anti-Oslo platform in the PA’s ‘capital’, Gaza City. Fatah wins 68 seats (47 official, 21 unofficial, classed as ‘Independent’), 12 secular-non-affiliated, 7 Islamists & 1 secular party. Welcomed by Security Council.

Feb: Turkish-Israel Military Cooperation Agreement: exchange of information & permission for Israel to use Turkish air bases for fighter “training” areas.

25Feb - 6 March: Four Izz al-Din al-Qassam (Hamas military wing) suicide bomb attacks on Jerusalem twice, Ashqelon & Tel Aviv; 58 killed. ‘Arafat made to arrest 100s of Hamas leaders; 1.3m Palestinians confined to 465 villages, 6 autonomous & 2 occupied towns.

9Mar: Iranian Parliamentary elections: pro-Rafsanjani faction gains. Supported by the "Servants of Construction", established as a political grouping in Jan96, when 16 officials published a letter calling for modernization; headed by Gholam Hussein Karbaschi (governor of Isfahan 1982-90, mayor of Tehran from 1990).

13Mar: “Summit of the Peace-makers” in Sharm al-Shaikh, arranged by US & Israel. Peres & Major accuse Iran of masterminding attacks. In total, 27 nations represented. Final statement pledges support to the Oslo agreements.

28Mar: Mass arrests by Israel forces around Bir Zayt: approx 370 Palestinians detained.

30Mar: Two Lebanese civilians, building a water tower in Yater, are killed by Israel troops.

4-6Apr: President Chirac visits Lebanon, reaffirming Lebanese sovereignty.

8-9Apr: Lebanese boy killed by bomb, Bradchit; Israel suspected. Hizbullah fire 28 Katyushas, 13 Israelis wounded.

11Apr: Israel launches “Operation Grapes of Wrath” on Lebanon. Bombs land on S Beirut, Beqaa valley, Nabatiya: 147 towns & villages targetted. Approx 400,000 Lebanese flee, & a naval blockade is implemented. 4 children & 2 women killed when rockets hit their ambulance (13Apr); 2 power stations & Beirut airport hit, 20Apr: UN base at Qana is hit by US-manufactured artillery. 105 Lebanese civilians, sheltering in base, are killed. Total death toll of 200 Lebanese civilians & 15 Hizbullah fighters. Ceasefire understanding (26Apr) establishes an Israel-Lebanon Monitoring Group (reps from US, France, Israel, Lebanon, Syria) to oversee the truce. UN report on 7 May claims that massacre at Qana was deliberate.

21-24Apr: 21st PNC (Gaza) votes to accept Oslo accords by 504-54-14 at Gaza meeting, and to abrogate provisions of the Palestinian National Charter "that are contrary to the exchanged letters between the PLO and the Government of Israel of 9 and 10 Sept 1993".

28-30Apr: Peres visits US; Clinton arranges more aid & weapons for Israel (inc $200m for a missile project) & signs an “anti-terrorism” cooperation agreement. The 30th is the date of the mass burial of the Qana victims.

18, 23May: Egypt’s High Constitutional Court bans the wearing of the niqab (veil) on university campuses. Meanwhile, in Algeria, the Armed Islamic Group, GIA, kills 7 kidnapped French Trappist monks.

18May: Iyad Sarraj, head of the Independent Commission on Citizens’ Rights in Palestine is detained for 8 days for accusing Palestinian security forces of repression & corruption.

29May: Israeli elections; Presidency won by Benyamin Netanyahu (b. Tel Aviv, 1949), Likud retains 32 Knesset seats.

3Jun: Bahrain’s interior ministry accuses Iran of organising uprisings against the government through “Hizbullah-Bahrain” group; recalls ambassador to Iran; arrests 1600. Main opposition parties, inc Bahrain Freedom Network, deny links with Iran.

6Jun: Yilmaz coalition government resigns in Turkey, preempting failure in vote of no confidence; Erbakan’s Refah party takes over, in coalition with Tansu Ciller’s True Path Party (DYP) (28June). Erbakan visits Iran on first foreign visit.

21Jun: 26th Arab Summit held in Cairo. Final communique indicates that Arab governments would reconsider steps taken during peace process if Israel reneges on land-for-peace formula.

25Jun: Huge bomb explodes at al-Khobar, residential complex for US personnel stationed at Dhahran airbase in Saudi. 19 US military personnel killed, 300 injured. US Defence Secretary Perry describes Iran as “the leading candidate” in planting the bomb; House Speaker Gingrich advocates a military strike. Suspicion later shifts to ‘Usama bin Laden. US forces concentrate at less accessible locations, especially Prince Sultan Air Base, south of Riyadh.

26Jun: In Afghanistan, President Rabbani reaches a deal with Hikmatyar, who lifts his blockade on Kabul from the Silk Gorge in return for being appointed PM again. They decide to enforce the burqa on women in Kabul.

28July: 72-hour incursion by Iranian forces into Kurdish “safe haven”, focused on Mas’ud Barzani’s KDP camp at Koi Sanjaq. Iraq takes up a stronger stance against Iran’s ally, Jalal Talabani’s PUK.

5Aug: Clinton signs D’Amato bill imposing sanctions against any company doing business with Iran or Libya. France, UK, Japan etc all strongly react against the bill.

16Aug: Jordanian PM ‘Abd al-Karim Kabariti implements a second wave (after 1989) of lifting government subsidies, as required by the IMF: 200% bread price increase causes rioting in Jordan, esp in South; army takes control of Karak for 5 days.

31Aug: Iraq, working with the KDP, occupies Irbil (12 miles into NFZ) & destroys Western-backed opposition bases. The KDP takes over most of Iraqi Kurdistan, & Iraqi forces withdraw (2Sept). Saddam Husayn lifts internal economic embargo on the Kurdish region. US launches military strikes against Sn Iraq & extends Sn no-fly zone to 33rd parallel, the suburbs of Baghdad (3-4 Sept). Little international backing for these actions, exc from UK. UN postpones implementation of SCR986. PUK offensive, with Iranian help, in N Iraq recaptures most areas lost in recent KDP offensive, except Irbil, by 21Oct. Ceasefire (the Ankara accords) between PUK & KDP on 23Oct, brokered by US & UK.

Sept: Lebanese parliamentary elections give general victory to Hariri’s pro-Syrian candidates. Hizbullah are generally outmanoevred by Amal, winning only 9 seats out 128 in parliament, though generally received a higher vote from Shi‘a communities.

23Sept: Netanyahu decides to open “Hasmonean tunnel” in Jerusulem, running alongside al-Aqsa Mosque to exit onto Via Dolorosa. Ensuing rioting leaves 61 Palestinians & 15 Israelis dead, largely in Ramallah. Strict closure again implemented by Israel. SCR1073 (28Sept) indirectly calls for the closure of the tunnel; US abstains.

27Sept: The Taliban capture Kabul after Massud's forces abandon it, following their victory in Jalalabad (5Sept), seemingly with help of Hikmatyar's disillusioned local leaders. Taliban seize Najibullah from the UN compound & hang him.

Oct: France’s President Chirac visits Syria, Israel, Palestine & the Arab Gulf; calls for greater European role & strongly backs Palestinian statehood.

27Oct: Israeli settler, Nahum Korman, beats Hilmi Shawasha, a 10 year-old Palestinian child of Husan nr Bethlehem, to death; but is acquitted as Israeli district judge (Ruth Orr) cites “insufficient evidence” (Aug99). This decision is overturned by the Supreme Court, which finds him guilty of manslaughter (not murder) and is sent back to the district court for sentencing. Korman receives a 6 month community service sentence (21Jan01).

19Nov: Israel Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai approves construction of 1,200 housing units in settlement of Emmanuel, on land confiscated from village of Dayr Istiya, nr Nablus.

28Nov: Referendum in Algeria on constitutional reforms vests greater powers in Pres Zeroual & bans religious & culturally-based (ie Berber) parties; accusations of widespread fraud, with government claiming 85% support. Takes place in a month of massacres in South Algeria. Total death toll in 4 year war is approx. 80,000.

Dec: Bahrain refuses to attend GCC annual summit over border dispute with Qatar over Hawar isles. UAE exacerbates tensions by criticising continued isolation of Iraq.

10Dec: Oil flows for the first time since 1990 from Iraq, through Turkish pipeline. SCR986 (14Apr95) had permitted exports under the oil-for-food programme; this was accepted by Iraq on 22May96. In six months, $lbn of revenue generated will be spent on food & medicine for 18m Iraqis living under Baghdad rule; $260m goes to 3m people in Kurdish areas, only $17m permitted for essential infrastructure.

10Dec: Israel permits the building of 132 housing units in Ras al-Amud, Palestinian area of East Jerusalem.

12Dec: Saddam Husayn’s eldest son, Uday, is seriously wounded in an assassination attempt in al-Mansur district, Baghdad.

1997

1Jan: Israeli off-duty soldier, Noam Friedman, opens fire in Hebron central market, injuring 8 Palestinians.

15Jan: protocol agreed on IDF redeployment from 80% of Hebron (signed 17Jan; Knesset ratifies on 19Jan by 87-17). A note for the record (15Jan), prepared by the US, lays out the structure of future negotiations.

2Mar: Netanyahu launches the building of the Har Homa settlement at Jabal Abu Ghneim.

13Mar: Jordanian soldier shoots 7 Israeli schoolgirls dead at border.

21Mar: Palestinian suicide bomber kills 3 Israeli women in a Tel Aviv restaurant.

Apr: Khartum agreement between Sudanese government & most Sn opposition groups, exc SPLA, to work towards autonomy for the South.

11-2Apr: US-brokered Palestinian-Israeli talks in Washington get nowhere, though demands for Palestinian security crackdown causes PA to arrest various Hamas members.

23May: Muhammad Khatami, head of the National Library & former minister of culture & Islamic guidance, wins 69% of vote in Iranian Presidential elections, with 88% turnout. Had been backed by both the pro-Rafsanjani Servants of Construction and the leftist Society of Combatant Clerics due to his reformist agenda. Ali Akbar Nateq-Nuri, backed by the conservative Association of Combatant Clergy, wins only 25%. The pro-Khatami alliance in the Majlis (made up the Servants of Construction, the Militant Clerics' Association, the Solidarity faction and the Participation Front) takes on the name of the Second of Khordad movement, after the date of this election victory.

24May: Taliban capture Mazar-i Sharif in N.Afghanistan; but after 3 days, General Abdul Malik breaks alliance with them, & with help of Hizb-i Wahdat, kills 2500 Taliban troops. Taliban, on recapturing city (8Aug98), kill 5000 Hazaras & Uzbeks, as well as 9 Iranian diplomats.

3Jun: Ehud Barak elected leader of Israeli Labour Party.

18Jun: The military in Turkey, who had declared their opposition to the Refah-led government at a meeting of the National Security Council on 28Feb, finally force Erbakan to resign; succeeded by Mesut Yilmaz, president of the Motherland Party (ANAP).

30July: 2 suicide bombs in Jerusalem Mahaneh Yehuda Market.

31July: PLC votes 56-1 that the entire PA be replaced on suspicion of corruption. The vote is taken on the basis of a report by PA Comptroller Jarar al-Qidwa, which concludes that two-thirds of the entire PA budget had been either mismanaged or misspent. ‘Arafat in reponse appoints a Presidential Commission to investigate; the conclusions of their report have been kept secret, though are thought to have expanded on Qidwa's findings.

4Sept: Bomb in W.Jerusalem Ben Yehuda shopping street kills 4, inc Matti Peled’s 14yr old granddaughter; her mother blames Netanyahu.

25Sept: Mossad agents, posing as Canadian tourists, unsuccessfully attempt to assassinate a Jordanian Hamas official; Husayn demands the return of Shaykh Ahmad Yassin in return for agents » released with 22 others (1Oct). Yassin returns to Gaza, followed by a 4 month tour of Arab capitals to build international support for Hamas.

29Oct: Iraq demands US members of UNSCOM leave Iraq; Security Council condemns in SCR1137 (12Nov), which imposes a travel ban on Iraqi officials; all UNSCOM inspectors withdrawn (13Nov), but allowed back later that month after Russian urging.

1998

16Jan: Turkey’s Constitutional Court outlaws the Welfare party; bars Erbakan from political activity. Welfare’s members go on to form bulk of the Virtue (Fazilet) Party.

Feb: building tension between US & Iraq, over denial of access for UNSCOM to ‘presidential & sovereign’ sites; airstrikes narrowly averted through deal brokered by UNSG Kofi Annan, in Memorandum of Understanding of 23Feb (endorsed in SCR1154 of 2Mar): senior diplomats must accompany inspectors at 8 defined presidential sites.

10Mar: extensive rioting in Hebron following the IDF killings of 3 Palestinian workers at a checkpoint.

29Mar: Hamas ‘Izz al-Din al-Qassam leader Muhieddin Sharif dies in an explosion in Ramallah: autopsy shows he was shot 1st. Hamas blames Israel, PA blames internal Hamas feuding. Following Hamas threats of revenge, PA arrests Hamas members, inc Rantisi. Further killings of Awadallah brothers (Adel & Imad; Qassam leaders) nr Hebron by Israeli police (11Sept).

25Jun: Lounes Matoub, highly popular Berber singer in Algeria, and critic of both military government & FIS, is murdered, probably by the GIA.

20Aug: US cruise missile strikes on al-Shifa' pharmaceutical plant in Sudan & Afghan training camps near Khost, both allegedly due to their connection with ‘Usama bin Laden, after bomb attacks on US embassies in Kenya & Tanzania (7Aug).

17Sept: the Washington agreement between the PUK & KDP, announced at the US State Department. Sets up the Higher Coordination Committee to coordinate between the separate administrations in Irbil and Sulaymaniyya, which holds more than 80 sessions before the reconvening of the National Assembly in 2002. Although municipal elections are held in 2000, the regional elections planned for within 6 months do not.

23Oct: The Wye River Memorandum between Israel & Palestinians: Israel agrees to transfer a further 13% of West Bank to Areas B & C, in return for enhanced US role in deciding Palestinian internal security policy. In opposition, the “Damascus 10” (established Sept92) reestablish themselves in Damasus as the “Palestinian Follow-up Committee”. DFLP expelled after Aug99 meeting with PLO leadership.

31Oct: President Clinton signs the Iraq Liberation Act, which authorizes the president to provide assistance to Iraqi opposition organizations. In response, Iraq on 1Nov halts cooperation with UNSCOM (withdrawn by 7Nov); US aborts missile strike after Iraq agrees to cooperate (15Nov).

24Nov: Emile Lahhud, army C-in-C, replaces Hrawi as president of Lebanon.

17-20Dec: extensive US & British bombardment of Iraq in ‘Operation Desert Fox’, after UNSCOM executive chairman Richard Butler reports Iraq’s failure to fully cooperate and withdraws staff on US advice (16Dec); after end of the operation, Iraq refuses UNSCOM permission to reenter Iraq, & US & UK continue low-intensity bombardment, purportedly aimed at Iraq’s air defence capacity.

Dec: Netanyahu government falls after successful vote of no confidence. Various Likud leaders - Dan Meridor, Roni Milo & Yitzhak Mordeechai (who leaves in Jan) - desert the party & join former IDF commander, Amnon Lipkin-Shahak in a new centrist party.

1999

7Feb: King Husayn of Jordan dies, from cancer. Immediately succeeded by his son, ‘Abdullah II, who nominates his half-brother, Hamza, to be crown-prince.

16Feb: Abdullah Ocalan is captured in mysterious circumstances by Turkey, at the Greek embassy in Nairobi, & is flown to Turkey. Despite international Kurdish protests, is charged with treason, is convicted after rapid trial & sentenced to death (29Jun). His appeal is rejected (25Nov), so applies to ECHR (which rules that he had been unfairly tried: 12Mar03). The death sentence is formally commuted by a Turkish court in late 2002. The PKK change their name to KADEK, and maintains its ceasefire.

5Mar: Death of Shaykh Isa Bin Salman al-Khalifa of Bahrain. Succession of Shaykh Hamad al-Khalifa.

5Apr: UNSC votes to suspend sanctions on Libya after the 2 Libyans suspected of planting the Lockerbie are handed over for trial by Scottish judges at Camp Zeist, Belgium. Britain later reestablishes diplomatic ties with Libya (7Jul).

15Apr: ‘Abd al-Aziz Bouteflika is elected President of Algeria by 73.8% of the electorate (on a 60.9% turnout) after Zeroual’s resignation (1998) & other candidates withdraw amid accusations of unfairness (inaugurated on 27Apr); Bouteflika promises reconciliation; promotes a new “civil concord” (supported in a referendum), offering amnesties to Islamist fighters. However, power remains largely in the hands of les décideurs, including Gen. Larbi Belkheir, Bouteflika's chief-of-staff; Mohamed Lamari, army chief-of-staff from Jul93; Smain Lamari, head of counter-espionage from 1992; Gen. Mohamed Mediene ("Toufik"), head of Military Security; and Khaled Nezzar, former defence minister (1990-93).

17May: Israeli elections won by Ehud Barak. One Israel forms government with Shas, Meretz, Mafdal & minor parties by early July.

24-5Jun: Israeli military attacks on Lebanese civil infrastructure, targeting two power stations, one near Tripoli in the north, in attempt to force Lebanese government to exert control over Hizbullah. Context is the withdrawal of Israel's SLA militia from Jezzine, the northernmost Lebanese town under Israeli control, which had begun earlier this month, under Hizbullah's continued attacks.

9Jul: Extensive student-led protests in Iran, esp Tehran, peak after a popular magazine (Salam) is shut down & student dormitories are violently raided.

23Jul: Hassan II of Morocco dies; replaced by his son, Muhammad VII.

4Sept: Due to Barak’s pressure, an “implementation agreement”, modifying the original Wye Memorandum, is signed at Sharm al-Shaykh; 6.1% of West Bank eventually transferred to PA on 21Mar00, but fewer prisoners released than originally anticipated by Palestinians.

13Sept: Final status talks open at Erez, between Mahmud Abbas & David Levy.

27Nov: 20 leading West Bankers & Gazans (inc ‘Abd al-Jawad Salih, Bassam Shak‘a, Hussam Khadr, ‘Abd al-Sattar Qasem, Adnan Odeh, ‘Adil Samara, Ahmad Qatamesh) sign a petition, ‘The Homeland Calls Us’, damning the Oslo process & ‘Arafat’s leadership. PA imprisons 8 of the signatories; one (Mu'awiya Masri) is shot in the leg; Salih is assaulted by PA intelligence officers.

15Dec: Formal peace talks between Syria (represented by FM Faruq al-Shara) & Israel recommence after a 3.5yr suspension.

17Dec: SCR1284: civilians sanctions will be suspended on Iraq if Iraq complies with the new inspection body, UNMOVIC, for a 120-day period. Russia, France & China are among the 4 who abstain.

29Dec: Reconciliation between Qatar & Bahrain, with visit of Qatari emir to Bahrain (reciprocated on 6Jan00) & agreement to exchange ambassadors.

2000

7-8Feb: Following successful Hizbullah attacks on Israeli soldiers in occupied Lebanon (including the assassination of Akl Hashim, second in charge of the SLA, on 30Jan), Israel again launches attacks, which destroy 2 power stations & injure 20.

18Feb: Parliamentary elections in Iran. Major gains for the Left, under the pro-Khatami Mosharekat (Participation Front): won 170/290 seats, with conservatives winning 44.

22Mar: 1st tour of Middle East by the Pope since 1964; visits Bethlehem, Dhayshah camp, and Jerusalem.

26Mar: Unsuccessful meeting between Asad & Clinton in Geneva in attempt to reach a final agreement.

23May: Hizbullah launch concerted attack on occupied South Lebanon; the majority of the SLA surrenders or seeks refugee in Israel, and the IDF, who Barak claimed would withdraw by 7Jul, rapidly evacuate the zone (killing 8 Lebanese on the way). Hizbullah is in full control of the zone by 24May. 25May is proclaimed as Lebanese National Liberation Day. Hizbullah & Syria claim that Shaba'a farms, from which Israel has not withdrawn, are part of Lebanon; Israel claims they were part of pre-1967 Syria. UNSG reports on 16Jun that UN cartographers verify that Israel has withdrawn in accordance with SCR425; endorsed through SC Presidential statement (18Jun). After Lebanon complains of Israeli border violations, the SG reports that Israel has removed the violations, and this conclusion is endorsed by SCR1310 (27Jul). UNIFIL establishes its first posts at the frontier for 22 years on 28Jul, and the Lebanese military deploy in the zone from 9Aug.

10Jun: Hafiz al-Asad dies of a heart attack. Parliament is immediately convened to amend the constitutional provision that a president must be at least 40, so that his son, Bashar (34), can succeed him.

11-25Jul: Camp David summit between Barak, Clinton & ‘Arafat; in line with US non-paper, Barak offers to relinquish control of Jerusalem’s Nn suburbs (Shufat, Bayt Hanina &c), and “shared sovereignty” (under Israeli overall control, devolved powers to Palestinian bodies) over areas within Jordanian Jerusalem boundaries (inc Shaykh Jarrar, Wadi‘ al-Jawz); “religious sovereignty” over Haram & “autonomy” over Christian & Muslim quarters of Old City. ‘Arafat offers territorial swaps, inc allowing main Jewish settlements to remain. No agreement reached, but a trilateral statement (25Jul) commits both sides to the continuation of negotiations.

4Sept: Elections in Lebanon finish. Hizbullah again win 9 seats out of 128, the largest party block. Rafiq Hariri is returned as PM, though Hizbullah MPs vote against.

28Sept: Ariel Sharon takes 1000 Israeli armed police onto Haram al-Sharif. 5 Palestinian protestors are killed by Israeli soldiers (29Sept); French TV films 12 year old Muhammad al-Durrah being killed at Netzarim (30Sept). Within 1week, over 50 Palestinians are killed. Israeli police storm Haram (6Oct). SCR 1322 condemns Israeli disproportionate force (7Oct). 3 Israeli soldiers captured by Hizbullah at contested Shaba'a farms area (10Oct), & Israel bombs S.Lebanon for 1st time since May. 2 Israel soldiers straying into Ramallah are lynched at the police station; Israel responds by bombing PA offices & police stations in Ramallah, Jericho & Gaza, & ‘Arafat’s residence in Gaza (12Oct); death toll now stands at 90 Palestinians, 4 Israelis. Ceasefire agreed at Sharm al-Shaykh conference (17Oct). Approx 315 Palestinians (inc 13 in Israel) killed by end of year, inc 66 children; 37 Israelis killed.

12Oct: Rubber dinghy packed with explosives rams into the USS Cole, stationed outside Aden. 17 US sailors killed; US blames ‘Usama bin Ladin.

8Nov: Egyptian parliamentary elections completed, in reasonably fair circumstances (overseen by judiciary): Muslim Brotherhood win 17 seats (up from only 1 seat in previous Parliament), to constitute the largest opposition faction. At the same time, 15 Ikhwan leaders are tried & jailed for belonging to the org (19Nov). Brotherhood go on to win landslide in elections to Egyptian bar (25Feb01).

10Dec: Due to loss of coalition partners, Barak calls new elections in Israel.

23Dec: Meeting of Israeli and Palestinian representatives at the White House: Clinton presents a plan based on earlier negotiations.

2001

Conflict continues between Israelis & Palestinians: repeated assassinations of Palestinian leaders (inc Thabet Thabet, a leading Palestinian health official on 31Dec00; Massud Ayad, a Force 17 officer in Gaza, 13 Feb; Mahmud al-Madani, a Hamas leader in Nablus on 19 Feb), random Israeli attacks & bombardment from helicopter gunships & sea. Palestinian bus driver also kills 7 soldiers & 1 civilian in Tel Aviv (14Feb). US veto draft SCR creating an international observer force in the WBG; the 4 WEu States abstain (26Mar). Israel launches ground assaults on refugee camps, eg attack on Khan Yunis camp on 11Apr which destroyed 30 homes & killed 2 Palestinians. Israel begins temporary occupations of parts of WBG put under the control of the PA, starting with 24 hr occupation of Bayt Hanun on 17Apr (repeated twice within 3 days); coupled with air raids on a Syria radar post in Lebanon, which killed 2 Syria soldiers (17Apr). Further invasion & attack on Rafah camp (2May). Report o