The year 2002,
The tide has changed on U.S. sympathy for Palestinian-Israeli peace talks resuming after cease-fire failure,
Palestinian state gets backing by EU again,
Suicide bombings in Israel intensify,
Israel describes aggressive actions as an anti-terrorism operation,
Russia and the EU throw in the towel on Mideast peace, give support for U.S. to do something,
Arafat and Israel still making demands before any action can be taken,
Arab leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria try to restore peace with Palestinians, leave America to deal with Israel,
Arafat disappointed with U.S. position, U.S. will veto pro-Palestinian resolution if not changed to accomodate Israel's concerns,
U.S. brokers a so-called "road map," with three phases leading to a Palestinian state in 2005,
U.S. sponsors Mideast peace meeting to include U.N., Russia and Europeans as support roles,
Hamas still threatens Israel, ignores Palestinian Authority.

• 1/1/2002 - Arafat promises people a state in 2002.
      Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat used his year-end speech to promise his disheartened people a state in 2002, while thousands of his supporters took to the streets in a show of force.
      Arafat said he stood by his decision to enforce a truce with Israel, but warned that "patience has limits."    Arafat has complained that Israel has not reciprocated for his crackdown on Islamic militants.
      Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said that Arafat must do more to prevent attacks on Israelis, if peace talks are to resume.
• 1/31/2002 - Sharon says Israel should have killed Arafat 20 years ago by Laurie Copans, The Associated Press.
      Jerusalem -- Israel should have killed Yasser Arafat 20 years ago, while he was under Israeli siege in Beirut, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said in an interview.    Sharon said he was "sorry we didn't liquidate him," but added that Arafat could yet become a partner for peace if he cracked down on Palestinian militants.
      Even now the Islamic militant group Hamas is claiming responsiblity for detonating a roadside bomb and opening fire on a truck in Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.    Israel accuses the Palestinian Authority of doing little to prevent attacks on Israelis by these militants, forcing Israeli troops to have to track them down.
      The militant Islamic Jihad group said it would carry out more attacks against Israelis.
      Neither side is talking to each other.    Arafat is trying to go to Washington to clarify their position, as the U.S. administration grows less sympathetic to their cause.    This will precede Sharon's trip to meet President Bush on Feb. 7.    Arafat remains virtually trapped in Ramallah, with Israeli tanks parked about 70 yards from his compound.
• 2/10/2002 - Israeli surround refugee camp.
      Nablus, West Bank -- After several attacks and a mother who was shot dead in a car, Israeli troops surrounded the Askar refugee camp, a known center for armed militants from Fatah.    Palestinians exchanged heavy fire with the Israelis.
• 2/10/2002 - Palestinian state and vote backed by EU ministers by Robert Wielaard, The Associated Press.
      Caceres, Spain -- Breaking ranks with the United States, EU foreign ministers backed the outlines of a new Mideast peace plan.    It calls for Palestinian elections and the creation of a Palestinian state to be immediately recognized by Israel and admitted to the United Nations.
      Creation of a Palestinian state must be the "starting point of a negotiating process," French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine said as he presented a blueprint of the plan, drawn up by France, to his 14 European Union colleagues.    Future meetings are scheduled to develop it.    Europeans have in the past supported a Palestinian state, but it would be unlikely Israel's Sharon will get involved until the calm is brought back to the region.    Even the Bush administration scaled back its involvement by putting efforts on hold after a cease-fire failed, and Arafat's failure to crack down on militants.    The EU is at odds with Washington, and now are tilting toward the Palestinians.
• 3/31/2002 - Palestinian suicide bomber's blast ravages cafe - 31 people injured by spray of nails and broken glass - by Tennessean News Services.
      Tel Aviv, Israel -- A suicide bomber struck a Tel Aviv cafe at the close of the Jewish Sabbath, a time Israelis have come to fear after two major bombings over the past month.    It was the third Palestinian suicide attack since Wednesday, when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a hotel in the coastal resort of Netanya, killing 22 people attending a Passover Seder.    On Friday, a bomber blew herself up at the entrance of a Jerusalem supermarket, killing a guard and shopper.
      Shortly after the blast, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group associated with Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, claimed responsibility and identified the bomber as Muhaned Parhat, a Palestinian.    The explosion sent nails and pieces of metal flying into the air.
• 3/31/2002 - Arafat barricades office, awaits fate - Suicide bombing expected to spur more Israeli action - by Tennessean News Services.
      Ramallah, West Bank -- A defiant Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat barricaded his offices as he ran low on water, food and power.
      Yet another suicide bombing in Tel Aviv raises tension and prompts call for action against Arafat.    President Bush respects Israel's right to defend itself and demanded that Arafat do more to stem violence.
      Israeli miltary does not want to bring harm to Arafat, they just want him to hand over wanted militants they believe are with him.
      U.N. Security Council voted with U.S. support, for Israel to withdraw from its advance into the city and takeover of Arafat's compound.    European nations demaded Israel immediately comply.
      Israel stayed on track with what it described as an anti-terrorism operation.    Israel is expected to broaden its offensive in Palestinian-controlled areas in the coming days and already was in action on other fronts.
• 3/31/2002 - Palestinians want offer to include goal of statehood - Special envoy's report satifies Israelis - by New York Times News Service.
      Jerusalem -- The American special envoy last week handed Israelis and Palestinians a document titled "Joint Goals" that was intended to lay out the areas of agreement and disagreement.    The Israelis quickly said they were generally satisfied, but the Palestinians erupted, because there was no mention of talks toward their goal of creating a Palestinian state.
      Israel has more interest in a cease-fire than in a permanent settlement with an enemy it distrusts, while the Palestinians have little or no motive to halt their guerrilla campaign if they do not obtain concrete talks on statehood.
• 3/31/2002 - Bush clearly sides with Israel, claims Arafat can stop attacks by David E. Sanger, New York Times News Service.
      Crawford, Texas -- President Bush said that he held Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat personally responsible for the waves of suicide bombings in Israel, and strongly sided with the Israeli government but wanted them to temper military action.    Arafat has done nothing to stand up and condemn, in Arabic, these attacks, and daily acts of terrorism.
• 4/14/2002 - Europe, Russia fight uphill battle to play role in Mideast - Israel wary of all but U.S., experts say - by Colin McMahon, Chicago Tribune.
      Moscow -- Russia and European Union, both who have large Muslim populations, have given U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell full support from the sidelines for his Middle East mission.   
• 4/15/2002 - Arafat demands Israeli pullback - He tells Powell truce impossible before withdrawal - by The New York Times.
      Ramallah, West Bank -- Arafat told Secretary of State Colin Powell that no cease-fire with Israel was possible until it ends its military operation in the West Bank and withdraws its forces from the cities and towns they have recently occupied.
      The meeting alone was a victory for Arafat and a disappointment for Ariel Sharon, who has sought to isolate Arafat in his battered office in Ramallah, where Israeli soldiers watched Powell's arrival from 30 yards away.
      Powell's message to Arafat was its show time, you're on a dangerous path and you need to make a change.
      Powell met with Sharon in Tel Aviv, to discuss a proposal by Sharon for a meeting on the lines of the Madrid conference sponsored in 1991 by the first President Bush.    Sharon does not want Arafat in any such meeting.    Powell pressed President Bush's request for a full Israeli withdrawal.
• 5/12/2002 - Israelis demand new peace policy from government by Alfonso Chardy, Knight Ridder News Service.
      Jerusalem -- 50,000 Israelis rallied for peace with the Palestinians as authorities postponed a planned military offensive against Gaza in retaliation for a deadly suicide bombing at a pool hall near Tel Aviv.    The participants demanded a new policy of compromise instead of military reprisal for terror attacks.
• 5/12/2002 - Arab leaders discuss restoring peace efforts by Neil MacFarquhar, New York Times News Service..
      Cairo, Egypt -- The leaders of Egypt (President Hosni Mubarak), Saudi Arabia (Crown Prince Abdullah)) and Syria (Bashar Assad) emerged from a meeting to reaffirm their commitment to a peace initiative that envisions all Arab states recognizing Israel in exchange for its withdrawal to its borders before 1967.    Arabs would pressure Arafat to halt suicide bombings and the Americans could persuade Israel to negotiate a political settlement.
• 7/14/2002 - Arafat sends letter to Powell - Palestinians leader seeks U.S. help with changes - by Leslie Miller, The Associated Press.
      Washington -- Arafat wrote a letter about democratic change to Secretary of State Colin Powell outlining a 100 day program he would put in place if he could.    He also asked for U.S. help to implement further measures.    Of course the bottom line is that terrorism must be stopped before the vision of a Palestinian state can become a reality.    The Arab world has the responsibility to help develop a Palestinian security force.
• 7/14/2002 - Israel plans incursions to last as long as year - 30 Palestinians, 7 children, killed in three weeks - by Greg Myre, The Associated Press.
      Ramallah, West Bank -- Sharon's government could spend a year undertaking an effort to stop suicide bombings.    Israelis new offensive (Operation Determined Path) has curtailed attacks sharply in the past three weeks.    Israel would have to build a security fence on or near the border with the West Bank.    Palestinians fear that this is Sharon's plan to dismantle the Palestinian Authority and seize West Bank land that the Palestinians want for a future state.
• 7/28/2002 - Arafat disappointed with U.S. position by Jamie Tarabay, The Associated Press.
      Jerusalem -- Arafat expressed disappointment that the United States intended to block a proposed U.N. resolution on Mideast violence if it did not contain language condemning attacks by Palestinians.    Although Arab nations introduced a U.N. resolution condemning Israeli miltary actions and Palestinian victims it had no mention of Palestinian attacks, thus leaving it as one-sided and the United States would oppose it if it came to a vote.    U.S. demanded that any mention of an Israeli troop withdrawal from Palestinian areas must also include references to Israel's security situation.
• 10/23/2002 - Bombing fails to derail Mideast peace plan - Electing restraint, Israel does not retaliate for blast - by Mark Lavie, The Associated Press.
      Jerusalem -- Israel held off retaliating for the deadliest Palestinian terror attack in three months (14 persons burned while trapped in a bombed bus), allowing a U.S. mediation effort to continue on a proposal to set up a provisional Palestinian state by next year.
      A Palestinian Cabinet minister welcomed the so-called U.S. "road map," while Israeli leaders met to consider it.    Israel might accept creation of a provisional Palestinian state if all violence stopped.
      The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibilty for the attack.    These concession are being made with the U.S. in a time when they are preparing for a possible strike against Iraq.
      The first phase of the plan, from November to April 2003, would include a truce, cessation of violence and an Israeli pullback to positions held before two years of violence erupted.
      The second phase would be the creation of a Palestinian state with temporary borders sometimes between May and December.
      The final phase, the sides would negotiate a peace treaty covering the tough issues that sank the previous round of peace talks, including permanent borders, Jewish settlements and control of Jerusalem.    The goal would be the middle of 2005, resulting in a full-fledged Palestinian State.
• 11/26/2002 - U.S. to sponsor Mideast peace meeting - Bush invites U.N., Russians, other Europeans to talks - by Barry Schweid, The Associated Press.
      Washington -- Amid a flare-up of Palestinian terror attacks, the Bush adminstration said it would play host to a conference of U.S., U.N., Russian and European officials next month on Dec. 20, with the aim of developing a road map for Mideast peacemaking.
      Progress towards establishing a Palestinian state in 2005 is impossible while suicide bombers are active.    Bush is behind Israel's right to combat terror, and he has also called for new leadership to replace Arafat.
      Bush is allowing the other groups in order to provide joint roles in making peace.
• 11/26/2002 - Recount sheds new light on conflict death toll - Two factions disagree over the definition of 'combatants,' 'civilians' - by Jason Keyser, The Associated Press.
      Jerusalem -- AP has found that 1,934 people have died on the Palestinian side and 678 on the Israeli side as of yesterday.    A total of 309 Israeli dead, or 45% were killed in suicide bombings.
• 12/14/2002 - More attacks on Israel threatened at Hamas rally by Karin Laub, The Associated Press.
      Jerusalem -- Hamas marked its 15^th anniversary with a rally led by armed miltiamen and bombers-in-waiting threatening new attacks on Israel.    At least 30,000 supporters heard a group founder, Ahmed Nimer Hamdan, say the fight against Israel will contiue.    The Islamic miltant group opposes peace talks with Israel and has refused to recognize the Palestinian Authority, established in 1994 as part of an interim peace deal.    Arafat's Fatah group have met with Hamas seeking to halt attacks on civilians in Israel.    But that is in question, with what is being said in the rally.
  
  

Last updated January 24, 2004.