In This Issue
From the Editor
The Arab/Muslim Nazi Connection
Old Man and the Sea
IDF Leaving Lebanon After Assad Sinks Golan Deal
Oslo in a Rut
Schedule Revised, But Same Old Issues Plague Israel-PA Talks
Mixing Faith And Politics
Israel, PA Court Pope During Holy Land Tour
Viewpoint - Les Enfants Terribles
News Briefs
Middle East Hourglass

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Middle East Hour Glass
- 20 February 2000: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak sets May
deadline for final-status framework.
- 20/2: Experts predict Iranian support for Hizb’Allah will not end,
despite reformist gains in recent elections.
- 20/2: Israel to market Arrow-2 abroad.
- 21/2: Shas MKs vote no-confidence for first time against Barak over
Jerusalem policy.
- 21/2: European Union president tells Knesset Palestinian state will
be established.
- 21/2: Megiddo Forest murderer gets two life terms.
- 22/2: US special Mideast envoy Dennis Ross, Palestinian Authority
chairman Yasser Arafat meet in Ramallah after anti-US riots by
Palestinian students.
- 22/2: Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh says Israel must retain
Hermon listening post.
- 22/2: Arafat rearrests Abdel-Sattar Qassem, author of anti-PA
manifesto.
- 23/2: Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy delivers "blood for
blood" warning in Knesset.
- 23/2: British Prime Minister Tony Blair admits Lord Levy is personal
envoy to Mideast.
- 23/2: Israeli pop music queen Ofra Haza dies of AIDS at forty-one.
- 24/2: French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin labels Hizb’Allah as
"terrorists."
- 24/2: Vatican says Pope John Paul II will visit baptism sites on both
sides of Jordan.
- 25/2: Annual US report on human rights abuses finds Israel improved,
PA deteriorating.
- 25/2: Arab world and French President denounce Jospin’s
straight-talk on Hizb’Allah.
- 25/2: Hamas praised at Hebron rally marking Machpela Cave massacre.
- 26/2: Palestinian students at Bir Zeit University stone Jospin;
Arafat calls attack "barbaric."
- 26/2: Pope urges religious tolerance at Mt. Sinai mass.
- 26/2: Iraq, Syria renew diplomatic relations after twenty-year
freeze.
- 27/2: Barak suggests giving entire Golan back, but keeping Kinneret.
- 27/2: Israel releases Adolf Eichmann prison memoirs to Deborah
Lipstadt for use in libel suit by Holocuast-denier David Irving.
- 27/2: Three SLA soldiers wounded by Hizb’Allah roadside bomb.
- 28/2: Ross leaves Israel without breakthrough in Palestinian talks.
- 28/2: Joerg Haider resigns as head of Austria’s Freedom Party,
remains governor of Carinthia.
- 29/2: Palestinian police ban unlicensed demonstrations.
- 29/2 FM Levy says PA allows terrorists to operate.
- 29/2: SLA soldiers defuse several Hizb’Allah roadside bombs.
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- 1 March: Likud bill for special majority in Golan referendum
passes first reading.
- 1/3: Education Minister Yossi Sarid to introduce works by extremist
Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish in Israeli schools.
- 1/3: Five SLA soldiers killed in Hizb’Allah ambush in zone.
- 1/3: Trial of 13 Iranian Jews on spy charges set to begin April 13.
- 2/3: Israeli forces raid Hamas hideout in Taiba: four killed, one
escapes, one captured.
- 2/3: Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara terms unilateral IDF
withdrawal from Lebanon "suicidal."
- 3/3: Palestinian legislature declares September 13 as deadline for
statehood.
- 3/3: Israeli poll reveals majority favor Likud Golan referendum bill.
- 3/4: Nationwide terror alert and search for Hamas fugitives grips
country.
- 3/4: US President Bill Clinton admits Israel-Syrian deal in the
works.
- 3/5: Barak cabinet votes to leave Lebanon by July.
- 3/5: Israeli Treasury turns down aid request for northern settlements
pending IDF withdrawal.
- 3/6: Barak predicts gaps with Syria may never be bridged.
- 3/6: PA releases Bir Zeit students who pelted Jospin with stones.
- 3/6: SLA leaders meet Israeli officials over IDF pullout.
- 3/7: Cabinet Minister Yitzhak Mordechai takes temporary leave over
sexual harassment charges.
- 3/7: Barak, Arafat, Ross try to restart peace talks.
- 3/7: Vatican statement apologizes for past failures of Catholics.
- 3/7: Two SLA soldiers killed in security zone.
- 3/7: Syrian cabinet resigns.
- 3/7: Arafat vows to declare Palestinian state before end of year.
- 3/8: Barak, Arafat agree to re-launch talks in Washington.
- 3/8: High Court overrules bar on Arab residents in Jewish community.
- 3/8: Garbage piles up in Nazareth as municipal workers strike.
- 3/9: Doctors declare warning strike to protest wages.
- 3/9: MK Haim Ramon visits Vatican to discuss itinerary for papal
visit.
- 3/10: Arab League meets in Beirut to denounce Israel.
- 3/11: Israeli-PA negotiations formally meet for first time in a
month.
- 3/11: Italian police confiscate Nazi–theme float in Mardi Gras
parade.
- 3/12: Pope asks forgiveness for Catholic sins at papal Mass.
- 3/12: Barak says Jerusalem will never be divided.
- 3/12: PA releases eighteen prisoners in Muslim holiday goodwill
gesture.
- 3/13: Shas, NRP, Yisrael B’Aliyah vote against Barak in
no-confidence vote.
- 3/13: Family of American Jewish victim of Hamas terrorism files $250
million lawsuit against Arafat, PA.
- 3/14: IAF receives final components of first Arrow-2 missile battery.
- 3/14: Barak cancels turnover of Anata in 6.1% withdrawal from
Judea/Samaria.
- 3/14: Eighteen injured in Carmel Druse protest over antennas.
- 3/15: Security cabinet approves 6.1% YESHA withdrawal.
- 3/15: Via Dolorosa improvements unveiled in run-up to Pope’s visit.
- 3/15: Lipstadt counsel says Irving was exposed as a fraud during
trial.
- 3/16: Barak warns Lebanon of harsh response to post-withdrawal
violence.
- 3/16: Military sources say Hizb’Allah has long-range Katyusha
rockets.
- 3/16: PA captures two Hamas fugitives after Israeli tip-off.
- 3/17: PA police discover 32kg of Hamas explosives in Gaza
kindergarten.
- 3/17: US lifts import ban on Iranian luxury goods in bid to renew
relations.
- 3/18: Shas rabbi Ovadia Yosef compares Sarid to "Haman."
- 3/18: Separatist voted in as next Taiwanese president.
- 3/19: Full cabinet approves 6.1% YESHA withdrawal.
- 3/19: Israeli attorney general considers probe of Yosef for
incitement.
- 3/20: Israel, Jews mark Purim holiday.
- 3/20: Ten Palestinians convicted of attempted murder and killing
Israelis and collaborators released by Barak.
- 3/20: Pope begins historic Holy Land visit in Jordan.
- 3/20: Three Israelis wounded by terrorists in drive-by shooting.
- 3/21: Pope arrives in Israel for first-ever official visit.
- 3/21: Israel-PA open new round of final-status talks in Washington.
- 3/21: Israel turns over 6.1% of YESHA to PA control.
- 3/21: Hizb’Allah assassinates SLA security official in his home.
- 3/22: Pope visits Bethlehem and Dehaishe refugee camp, restates
support for Palestinians; riots erupt in Dehaishe.
- 3/22: Hizb’Allah shells land in Galilee.
- 3/22: Israel protests Arab "incitement" to UN.
- 3/23: Pope visits Yad Vashem; evades specific Shoah apology;
Inter-faith session marred by Muslim cleric’s tirade.
- 3/23: SLA soldier killed in Hizb’Allah attack.
- 3/23: Meretz threatens to leave coalition over feud with Shas.
- 3/24: Pope celebrates Galilee Mass for 100,000; meets Barak again.
- 3/24: Lebanese paper calls for Syrian army pullout.
- 3/25: Pope holds Mass in Nazareth as Muslim activists keep
low-profile; Jerusalem mufti degrades Holocaust.
- 3/25: Arafat meets Sarid in Ramallah; urges Meretz not to quit
coalition.
- 3/25: Lily Sharon, wife of Likud leader Ariel Sharon, dies.
- 3/25: Yosef calls Sarid "Pharaoh"; tensions soar again
between Shas and Meretz.
- 3/26: Pope visits Temple Mount, Western Wall, Church of Holy
Sepulchre before leaving Israel.
- 3/26: Clinton fails to sway Assad at Geneva summit.
- 3/26: Vladimir Putin wins Russian presidential elections.
- 3/27: A/G decides to investigate Yosef for anti-Sarid remarks; Shas
stays in coalition, but thousands rally in support of Rabbi.
- 3/27: Major Yonatan Begin, Menachem’s son, dies in F-16 crash off
Haifa.
- 3/27: Government survives five no-confidence votes.
- 3/28: Police recommend indicting former Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu and wife on charges of fraud, theft of gifts.
- 3/28: Clinton says "ball is in Assad’s court."
- 3/28: US pledges to help with Lebanon withdrawal.
- 3/30: Israeli High Court allows Arab cave-dwellers to return to
controversial Maon Farm area; settlers demand same.
- 3/30: Hizb’Allah gunmen hit Israeli outposts near Upper Galilee.
- 3/31: "Land Day" riots leave dozens injured.
- 3/31: Barak blames Syria for Geneva summit failure.
- 3/31: Two SLA soldiers wounded by long-range Hizb’Allah assaults.
- 3/31: Israeli leftists oppose Syrian presence on Kinneret.
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- 1 April: Lebanese defense minister suggests Syrian troops fill
void after IDF withdrawal to threaten Tel Aviv with missiles.
- 4/1: Poll shows boost in Netanyahu’s popularity after police advise
indictment.
- 4/2: US Defense Secretary William Cohen arrives in Israel to start
regional tour.
- 4/2: European Union envoy campaigns to break Syrian track deadlock.
- 4/2: Shara acknowledges for first time Bashar Assad will succeed his
father Assad.
- 4/3: Barak defends sale of AWACS system to China against US pressure.
- 4/3: Barak admits renewal of Syrian talks now improbable.
- 4/3: SLA commander Gen. Antoine Lahad says SLA will stay and fight
after IDF pullback.
- 4/4: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan promises FM Levy support for
Lebanon redeployment.
- 4/4: Yosef submits evidence in incitement probe.
- 4/4: Arab students riot at Haifa University over "Land Day"
incident.
- 4/5: Lebanese president warns UN of constant border wars after IDF
withdraw.
- 4/5: Thousands attend pro-Yosef rally at Western Wall.
- 4/5: Lebanese detainee Ghassan Dirani released from Israeli detention
after 14 years.
- 4/6: Sneh admits Lebanon withdrawal could be bloody.
- 4/6: Police recommend closing Weizman case due to lack of evidence
and statue of limitations.
- 4/6: IDF again evicts Jewish settlers from Maon Farm.
- 4/7: EU supports unconditional Lebanon withdrawal.
- 4/7: Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz says no IDF bases
will be left in Lebanon.
- 4/8: Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien arrives in Israel for
regional visit.
- 4/9: Barak tells cabinet Jerusalem will stay united, but excludes Abu
Dis from capital.
- 4/9: Hizb’Allah anti-aircraft shell damages border moshav.
- 4/9: Interior Minister Natan Sharansky visits 26,000 Falsha Mura
in Ethiopia.
- 4/9: Chretien apologizes for Canada’s Holocaust errors at Yad
Vashem.
- 4/10: Lebanon criticizes UN plans to aid IDF pullback.
- 4/10: PA officials warn of violence if Jerusalem area settlements
annexed.
- 4/11: Barak meets Clinton in Washington to discuss PA track, Lebanon
withdrawal.
- 4/11: British court verdict slams Irving as
"Holocaust-denier", "racist",
"anti-Semite."
- 4/11: Arab student protests mar opening of Hebrew University’s 75th
anniversary.
- 4/12: High Court orders release of 13 out of 15 Lebanese detainees
held as bargaining chips for Israeli MIAs.
- 4/12: SLA soldier killed, two wounded in Hizb’Allah attacks.
- 4/12: Chinese President Jiang Zemin begins first official visit to
Israel amid AWACS controversy.
- 4/12: Canada’s PM offers to absorb 15,000 Palestinian refugees.
- 4/13: Barak lifts Golan building freeze.
- 4/13: Trial for 13 Iranian Jews is suspended until May 1.
- 4/13: Two roadside bombs explode near Netzarim in Gaza.
- 4/14: Barak stands firm on sale of one AWACS plane to China.
- 4/14: US stock markets record huge one-day points loss.
- 4/15: PM source says Barak ready to cede 70-80% of YESHA for
Palestinian state.
- 4/15: Austrian Jews file $18 billion restitution suit in US.
- 4/16: Police recommend indicting Mordechai for indecent contact on
three women.
- 4/16: Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) posts largest one-day loss in
history.
- 4/16: Lebanese prisoner release postponed.
- 4/17: Israel officially notifies UN of IDF pullout from Lebanon
pursuant to resolution 425.
- 4/17: Five convicted for criminal negligence in Maccabiah bridge
disaster.
- 4/17: Barak to submit Knesset bill allowing detention of
"illegal fighters."
- 4/17: PA rejects Barak proposal to move up part of last interim
withdrawal.
- 4/18: Lebanon finally welcomes IDF exit from security zone.
- 4/18: Release of Lebanese detainees delayed by Arad family petition.
- 4/19: Jewish Passover begins.
- 4/19: Hizb’Allah launches strikes to spoil holiday mood in North.
- 4/20: Clinton hosts Arafat at White House to spur sluggish talks.
- 4/20: Nation let down by Maccabiah Tel Aviv loss to Greek team in
European basketball final.
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