MIDDLE EAST HOURGLASS:

• April 14, 1998: Israel denies charges of spying during flights inside Cyprus "radar airspace".
• 14/4: PA investigation reasserts dispute in Hamas military wing, but unable to pinpoint who ordered killing of Hamas bombmaker Muhi Sharif.
• 15/4: Israel releases PFLP's Ahmed Katamesh after over five years' detention.
• 15/4: Inflation rate in Israel at surprisingly low 0.1% for first quarter.
• 16/4: Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu holds secret rendezvous with Jordan's King Hussein in Eilat.
• 17/4: British Prime Minister Tony Blair meets Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as part of heralded Mideast tour.
• 18/4: PLO chairman Yasser Arafat repeats vow to declare Palestinian state next year, even without Israeli agreement.
• 18/4: Armenian and Syrian Orthodox sects clash during ceremonies in Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
• 19/4: Blair arrives in Jerusalem for state visit; gets nod from Netanyahu on London meetings with US, PA in May.
• 19/4: Jewish settler shot to death by Arab shepherds in land dispute in Hebron hills.
• 20/4: Controversy swirls over origins, form, and substance of proposed London summits between US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Israel, PA.
• 20/4: Visiting US Defence Secretary William Cohen commits to US funding development of a third Arrow missile battery.
• 21/4: Blair ends visit to Israel with note of caution on EU role, expectations for upcoming London meetings.
• 21/4: Netanyahu discusses bringing right-wing Moledet party into coalition.
• 22/4: Holocaust Remembrance Day begins with evening event at Yad Vashem.
• 23/4: PM Netanyahu leads over 7000 in "March of the Living" at Auschwitz.
• 23/4: Senior US official declares next 10 days crucial for peace process.
• 24/4: Lebanese president Elias Hrawi reportedly ready to discuss Israeli offer on south Lebanon with UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.
• 25/4: PM Netanyahu says US intends to officially air plan for 13.1% withdrawal.
• 25/4: Swiss release Mossad agent nabbed in wiretap attempt.
• 26/4: New York Times poll reveals 58% of US public supports Israel over Palestinians, a 20-year high in similar polls.
• 26/4: Israeli Finance Minister Yaakov Neeman nearing agreement in talks with US over reducing aid package.
• 27/4: US President Bill Clinton claims US has lowered PA expectations on withdrawal.
• 27/4: IDF doctor, five others wounded in south Lebanon fighting.
• 28/4: Netanyahu holds "gloomy" pre-London summit with Egypt's Mubarak.
• 28/4: Neeman announces major Israeli currency reform plan.
• 29/4: Israel begins 48 hours of jubilee celebrations.
• 30/4: Jubilee Bells show highlights Israel's 50th Anniversary, viewed by millions worldwide.
• May 1: US Vice President Al Gore holds talks with Netanyahu on peace process; Insists US wants to stop Russian missile aid to Iran.
• 1/5: Protests erupt over Batsheva dance troupes withdrawal from Jubilee Bells event, after orthodox protests about offensive dance routine; liberals decry "culture war".
• 2/5: Leaders of 11 European nations reach agreement on euro and economic union.
• 3/5: London talks begin with Netanyahu and Arafat firmly at odds on depth of withdrawal.
• 3/5: Israel military court sentences Hamas member to four life terms for his role in nine deaths.
• 4/5: London talks between Albright, Netanyahu, Arafat and Blair result in neither "breakthrough" nor "breakdown".
• 4/5: Tel Aviv Mayor Ronni Milo announces run for prime minister in wake of religious/secular dispute over Batsheva dance.
• 5/5: Inconclusive London summit ends with US invites for final status negotiations in Washington, conditioned on Israel accepting 13% pullback.
• 5/5: Few ministries spared criticism in State Comptoller Miriam Ben-Porat's annual report.
• 6/5: Proposed Washington summit awaiting moves by Netanyahu's cabinet.
• 6/5: Yeshiva student Haim Kerman fatally stabbed in Old City terrorist ambush; Border police wound 2 Palestinians to foil attempted kidnapping in north Jerusalem.
• 6/5: Lebanese president Hrawi claims major world banks are controlled by Jews.
• 7/5: White House on defensive after first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton voices support for Palestinian state; Washington summit still in doubt.
• 7/5: Motive unclear as Arab is stabbed in Jerusalem's Mea She'arim neighbourhood.
• 8/5: Netanyahu holds stormy session with US envoy Dennis Ross over perceived ultimatum, Hillary Clinton's remarks.
• 8/5: Nine foreign workers killed in work accident at Ashkelon power plant.
• 9/5: US official: Washington summit postponed pending agreement on pullback.
• 9/5: Thousands demonstrate in Tel Aviv against censorship of the arts.
• 10/5: Reported deal on pullback clears way for Washington summit sometime in May.
• 10/5: Israeli Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai picks Major-General Shaul Mofaz as next IDF Chief of Staff.
• 11/5: Israel finally recognises convicted US Navy spy Jonathan Pollard as an agent.
• 11/5: Labour Party leader Ehud Barak submits bill to draft yeshiva students.
• 11/5: First Israeli Arab judge, Abdel Rahman Zuabi, named to Supreme Court.
• 12/5: Albright in National Press Club speech denies US is giving Israel an "ultimatum".
• 12/5: Barak: settlements are "here to stay".
• 12/5: World reacts strongly after Indian nuclear tests; Pakistan expected to follow suit in near future.
• 13/5: Netanyahu and Albright huddle in Washington to resolve redeployment differences.
• 13/5: IAF reports strike in Bekaa Valley kills 10 Abu Musa group terrorists.
• 13/5: Moscow synagogue firebombed.
• 14/5: Palestinian Al Naqba marches turn violent; up to ten dead in Gaza riots.
• 14/5: Russian ambassador denies Moscow is helping Iran with missiles or nuclear weapons.
• 14/5: European Union decides to exclude from Israel-EU free trade agreement any produce originating in eastern Jerusalem, Judea-Samarai, Gaza and the Golan Heights.
• 15/5: Netanyahu speaks of the "thread" of a possible agreement with US over size and timing of second IDF pullback.
• 15/5: Argentina announces recall of ambassador to Iran over link to Buenos Aires bombings.
• 16/5: Palestinian Al Naqba clashes with Israeli police continue into weekend; Palestinian group cuts number of dead from Thursday's riots in half.
• 16/5: Death toll reaches 500 in week of riots against Indonesian president Suharto.
• 17/5: US, Israel working on new document to guide peace talks with PA.
• 17/5: Opposition leader Barak demands Arafat restrain Palestinian rioters in Oslo meeting.
• 18/5: Upon return from Washington talks, PM Netanyahu tells Israeli press he never agreed to 13% withdrawal; PA refuses to budge from US plan.
• 18/5: Ezer Weizman is sworn in for second term as Israel's president.
• 18/5: Major Russian arms deal with Syria reported.

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