CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS- 1998-1999

1998
2 January	Defense Minister Mordechai says Israel accepts resolution on withdrawal from Lebanon, but insists on security guarantees.
4 January	Foreign Minister David Levy resigns. The Prime Minister assumes responsibility for the Foreign Ministry. The Cabinet wants to approve any FRD decision prior to Netanyahus meeting with Clinton scheduled for 20 January.
6 January	Special Envoy Dennis Ross arrives in the region to prepare for the Arafat and Netanyahu meetings with President Clinton.
7 January	Israel, Turkey and the U.S. begin joint naval maneuvers in the Eastern Mediterranean. Jordan sends an observer.
9 January	Prime Minister Netanyahu says that the U.S. cannot expect Israel to fulfill its obligations for FRDs unless the PA keeps its own. He proposes one limited further redeployment instead of three.
13 January	Israel issues a list of conditions for its agreeing to FRD.
14 January	The Cabinet approves eight zones in the West Bank as areas of vital national interest, not to be alienated under any deal with the PA. Georgian President Eduard Shevradnazde pays a one-day visit to Israel.
18 January	On the eve of Netanyahus visit to the U.S., the Cabinet decides not to set percentage of land in the next FRD. Secretary of State Albright holds talks in Paris with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
19 January	Prime Minister Netanyahu holds talks in Washington with Jewish and Christian leaders as well as House Speaker Gingrich.
20 January	Prime Minister Netanyahu meets President Clinton in the White House. The U.S. presents a plan for a three stage FRD of at least 10% of the West Bank. Netanyahu also meets twice with Secretary of State Albright.
22 January	Arafat holds talks with President Clinton. He rejects the 10% FRD plan. In a letter to Clinton he states which PLO Covenant clauses were annulled in May 1996. He also demands time out on Israel settlement expansion.
25 January	Israel and Jordan hold talks on air transport agreement.
26 January	Following phone conversations with Albright, Netanyahu announces his support for U.S. plan for stages of the FRD based on reciprocity. Defense Minister Mordechai briefs King Hussein on the Clinton-Netanyahu talks in Washington.
27-28 January	Finance Minister Neeman holds talks in Washington on phasing down the $1.2 billion of Americas economic aid to Israel.
29 January	In view of mounting tension over Iraq, Israel and the U.S. Defense Department inaugurate an emergency hot line.
31 January	Secretary of State Albright meets with Netanyahu in Jerusalem expressing her dismay over lack of progress in the peace process. The PLO Executive Committee approves by voice vote the annulment of offensive PLO Covenant clauses given to President Clinton.
1 February	Following a meeting with Arafat, Albright announces that Israel and PA envoys will meet in Washington in a week, in an effort to move the peace process forward. She also held talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
3-7 February	Turkeys Chief of Staff Hussein Kizrikoglu visits Israel for talks on military cooperation.
4 February	The Prime Minister freezes plans for construction in the Ras el-Amud section in Jerusalem.
8 February	EU President Jacques Santer holds talks with Netanyahu in Jerusalem. King Hussein sends President Weizman a check for $1 million for compensation to families of seven girls slain by a Jordanian soldier in Naharayim in 1997. Defense Minister Mordechai holds urgent talks with the U.S. Defense Secretary Cohen is in Munich on mounting tension over Iraq. The U.S. offers Israel defense weapons and says it will provide Israel with an early warning system in case of an attack on Iraq.
10 February	Israeli and PA negotiating teams hold separate talks in Washington with Envoys Ross and Miller. No progress is made. Iraq, in a message to Israel through the Russian Federation, says it does not intend nor is it capable of attacking Israel. The PA, at Israels demand, and Jordan, ban pro-Iraqi demonstrations.
12 February	Arafat threatens to "cross out" the peace arrangements and proclaim a Palestinian state in 1999 if no progress is achieved.
16 February	Netanyahu and Mahmud Abbas hold talks. Arafat meets with Netanyahus adviser Yitzhak Molcho. The Ciechanover Commission on the Mashal Affair issues its findings.
17 February	Minister Sharon holds talks with Abbas and PC Speaker Ahmad Qurai.
19 February	The U.S. sends 10 Patriot missile batteries to Israel. Swiss police arrest five Israelis and charge them with wire-tapping a house in Bern. Four agents are released, one detained.
22 February	UN Secretary-General Annan reaches an agreement with Iraq, thus defusing the crisis and allowing UNSCOM to resume unlimited inspections.
23 February	Netanyahu calls for a Camp David style summit with Arafat under U.S. auspices to discuss core issues. A day later, the idea is rejected by Arafat and King Hussein.
26 February	Three Israeli soldiers are killed in southern Lebanon.
27 February	Israel apologizes to the Swiss government for the incident involving its agents. Mossad head Danny Yatom resigns.
1 March	Netanyahu offers Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in return for adequate Lebanese security guarantees. Lebanon rejects the proposal.
4 March	Ezer Weizman is re-elected for a second term as Israels president.
4-8 March	Prime Minister Netanyahu holds talks with the leaders of Spain, Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom. He focuses his talks on an Israel-PA summit and IDF withdrawal from Southern Lebanon.
5-9 March	Defense Minister Mordechai visits France and Holland for talks on southern Lebanon withdrawal.
8 March	Commerce and Industry Minister Sharansky holds talks in Amman with King Hussein.
10 March	Prime Minister Netanyahu holds talks in Tel Aviv with Jordan Crown Prince Hassan. Relations between the two countries strained due to the Mashal Affair are back on track. Three Palestinian workers are erroneously killed by the IDF near Dura. Violence erupts in the West Bank.
12 March	Violence continues on the West Bank and lasts for one week.
17 March	British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, in his capacity as EU Chairman, visits Har Homa in Jerusalem. He holds talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu who later cancels dinner in his honor. The UN General Assembly, in an emergency session on the Har Homa issue, condemns Israel by a vote of 120 for, three against, five abstentions.
22 March	The Cabinet unanimously states that 13.1% FRD is unacceptable.
24 March	Israeli ministers Limor Livnat and Natan Sharansky urge the U.S. not to publicize its FRD plan. Israel and Turkey sign a trade protocol in Ankara.
25 March	Defense Minister Mordechai holds talks with U.S. Special Envoy Dennis Ross in Miami.
26 March	Prime Minister Netanyahu holds talks with Dennis Ross in Jerusalem, and rejects the U.S. plan for 13% FRD.
27 March	Secretary of State Albright tells Jewish leaders that the U.S. is not pressing Israel on FRD plan.
28 March	Defense Minister Mordechai meets secretary Albright in Washington.
29 March	Special Envoy Ross ends his current Middle East tour with no visible achievements. The U.S. threatens to disengage from the peace process.
1 April	The Israeli Inner Cabinet formally accepts UN Security Council resolution 425 (of March 1978).
3 April	In a letter to Clinton, 81 senators urge him not to issue the FRD plan. The PA announces acceptance of the U.S. proposal for 13% FRD.
8 April	The Inner Cabinet discusses a proposal to offer a 9% FRD plus 2% to be defined as nature reserve in area C.
16 April	Prime Minister Netanyahu and King Hussein hold talks in Eilat. A day later, the King sends a letter to Netanyahu expressing dismay over the stalled peace process.
19 April	Prime Minister Netanyahu holds talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. A day later, after meeting with Arafat, Blair announces that Arafat and Netanyahu will hold talks in London on 5 May with him and Secretary Albright.
25 April	U.S. envoys Ross and Indyk meet with Netanyahu to prepare for the London talks.
28 April	Prime Minister Netanyahu holds talks in Cairo with President Mubarak - their first meeting since 27 May 1997.
29 April	Israel celebrates its 50th anniversary. Vice President Al Gore represents the United States.
3 May	Vice President Gore holds talks with Netanyahu on the peace process. He also meets with President Mubarak.
4 May	Netanyahu and Arafat meet separately with Prime Minister Blair in London and then with Secretary Albright. Israel offers informally the idea of 3% Area C in addition to 10% FRD.
5 May	Netanyahu and Arafat continue their talks with Albright. She invites them to Washington on 11 May for talks on 13% FRD and to start final status talks. Arafat accepts the invitation. Netanyahu says he must consult his Cabinet.
6 May	Netanyahu briefs his Inner Cabinet on the London talks. Israel asks for a visit by Special Envoy Dennis Ross. 21 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives call on Clinton not to pressure Israel on the FRD plan.
8 May	Netanyahu holds talks with Envoy Ross, and announces he cannot attend the Washington summit due to lack of time to prepare for the talks. The meeting in Washington is cancelled. Foreign ministers of the G-8 nations call on Israel to accept the U.S. 13% FRD plan.
10 May	Netanyahu proposes new ideas for the FRD to Ross. The PA rejects the ideas.
11 May	Israel officially recognizes Jonathan Pollard as its agent.
13 May	Prime Minister Netanyahu meets in Washington with Secretary Albright. He also meets congressional leaders, addresses the AIPAC convention and briefs the media. No visible progress is achieved.
14 May	Another Netanyahu - Albright meeting yields no progress. Five Palestinians are killed in West Bank violent demonstrations.
17 May	In a meeting with Envoy Ross, Netanyahu proposes a two-stage 13% FRD.
18 May	Secretary Albright briefs Arafat on the latest Israeli ideas. He rejects them.
20 May	EU delegation holds talks in Jerusalem with Finance Minister Neeman on export of goods produced in the territories.
21 May	During a visit to Moscow, Commerce and Industry Minister Sharansky gives the Russian government a list of Russian companies exporting military technology to Iran.
23 May	A U.S. congressional delegation in Israel to celebrate Israels Jubilee and Jerusalem Day, headed by Speaker Gingrich, cancels plans to lay cornerstone for the proposed U.S. embassy building in Jerusalem.
25-29 May	Prime Minister Netanyahu visits China.
28 May	Defense Minister Mordechai meets in Tel Aviv with Turkey Chief of Staff General Cevik Bir.
28 May	Two IDF soldiers are killed in southern Lebanon.
2 June	Defense Minister Mordechai holds talks in Cairo with President Mubarak.
7 June	Defense Minister Mordechai holds talks in Amman with King Hussein.
9 June	Israel and Jordan hold talks in Tel Aviv on agricultural goods exports.
18 June	Netanyahu presents a new plan to expand Jerusalems municipal boundaries. The U.S. criticizes the plan.
21 June	The Cabinet approves the governments plan for new Jerusalem boundaries.
7 July	The United Nations General Assembly votes to upgrade the PLO Observers status to that of a non-voting member.
9 July	PA negotiators Erakat and Shaath hold talks in Washington on the U.S. FRD proposal. Secretary Albright admits U.S. cannot make Israel accept the 13% plan and suggests renewed direct Israel-PA talks.
13 July	The Security Council calls on Israel not to expand the Jerusalem municipal area.
19 July	Prime Minister Netanyahu holds talks with Jordans Foreign Minister Anani.
22 July	The Knesset adopts a bill requiring an absolute majority of Knesset members, and referendum majority before any territorial concessions are made on the Golan Heights. The bill won final approval on 26 January 1999.
27 July	Netanyahu says that Israel is now proposing a new FRD proposal based on 10% + 3% nature preserve in the Judean desert.
30 July	Israel transfers to Jordan the $50 million it owes under the Peace and Stability Fund agreement.
7 August	The U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam are destroyed leaving 256 dead and thousands wounded. The IDF dispatches a rescue team to Nairobi.
12 August	Jordans Trade Minister Hani Al Mulqi holds talks in Jerusalem with Netanyahu and Sharansky.
23 September	Netanyahu addresses the United Nations General Assembly.
28 September	Netanyahu, Clinton and Arafat hold a meeting in the White House clearing the way for summit talks in October.
3 October	Ariel Sharon is appointed Foreign Minister of Israel.
7 October	Secretary Albright meets separately with Netanyahu and Arafat. She announces convening of a summit at Wye River Plantation due to start on 15 October.
15-23 October	Israel and the PA negotiate an agreement at the Wye River Plantation.
23 October	Netanyahu and Arafat sign the Wye River Memorandum in the White House in the presence of President Clinton and King Hussein.
11 November	The Cabinet ratifies the Wye River Memorandum by 8-4 with 5 abstentions, but adds conditions.
14 November	In a speech in Nablus, Arafat calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on 4 May 1999.
15 November	Foreign Minister Sharon calls on settlers to expand the Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
17 November	The Knesset adopts the Wye River Memorandum by 75 in favor, 19 against, nine abstentions and 13 absent.
19 November	The Cabinet votes 7-5 (3 abstentions) to authorize the first phase withdrawal.
20 November	The IDF carries out the first of the three FRDs outlined in the Wye agreement. Israel releases 250 Palestinian prisoners.
24 November	Israel allows the opening of Gaza International Airport.
7 December	Foreign Minister Sharon meets with Secretary Albright in Washington.
13 December	President Clinton arrives in Israel and holds talks with Netanyahu.
14 December	The Palestinian National Council in Gaza reaffirms the annulment of the anti-Israel provisions of the PLO Covenant, in the presence of President Clinton.
15 December	Clinton, Netanyahu and Arafat meet at the Erez crossing point. Israel states its preconditions for additional FRDs.
16-19 December	International tension mounts again as U.S. and British planes bomb targets in Iraq.
21 December	The Knesset votes 81-30, four abstentions and five absent, to dissolve itself. Next elections to be held on 17 May 1999.

1999
6 January	Foreign Minister Sharon holds talks in Bonn.
7 February	Death of King Hussein of Jordan.
8 February	A large Israeli delegation headed by President Weizman and Prime Minister Netanyahu attends the funeral of King Hussein in Amman.
19-21 February	Foreign Minister Sharon holds talks in Moscow.
28 February	Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Sharon hold talks in Amman with King Abdullah and Prime Minister Tarawneh. General Erez Gerstein, head of IDF Liaison Unit in Lebanon, is killed by a roadside mine placed by Hizbullah with three others. IAF jets strike at Hizbullah bases in Lebanon.
10 March	The EU, in a letter to the Foreign Ministry, says it is committed to the 1947 partition resolution determining Jerusalem as a Corpus Separatum. Israel rejects this interpretation.
14 March	The Cabinet unanimously rejects the EU position on Jerusalem.
26 April	Foreign Minister Sharon meets the Pope in the Vatican.
25-30 April	President Weizman visits China.
17 May	In the elections for the 15th Knesset, Ehud Barak is elected Prime Minister of Israel. One Israel Party wins 26 seats, Likud - 19, Shas - 17, Meretz - 10, Shinui, Merkaz and Israel Baaliyah - 6 each, Arab parties - 10, the NRP - 5, The United Torah List - 5, The National Union and Israel Our Home - 4 each, and Am Echad 2.