MIDDLE EAST HOURGLASS:

• February 11, 1997: Israel frees 31 Palestinian women security prisoners, including several convicted murderers.
• 12/2: PM Binyamin Netanyahu heads for Washington, where talks will focus on restarting peace talks with Syria.
• 12/2: Israeli media publish list of 20 PA-linked institutions operating illegally in Jerusalem.
• 12/2: Ten Coptic Christians are killed and six hurt during an attack by Islamic militants on worshippers at a church in southern Egypt.
• 13/2: US President Bill Clinton says talks with Netanyahu have left him encouraged about prospects of resuming Israeli-Syrian peace talks.
• 14/2: Inquiry into the February 4 helicopter crash which killed 73 soldiers recommends that procedures for transporting troops be changed.
• 14/2: French Defence Minister Charles Millon pledges to revive a 1994 defence co-operation accord with Israel; says he wants to increase sales of military equipment between the two countries.
• 14/2: Report: Israel, Jordan and the US are trying to work out a deal to allow Hamas terror suspect Abu Marzook, imprisoned in the US, to be extradited to Jordan rather than to Israel.
• 14/2: Iranian Islamic body increases the reward for the murder of British author Salman Rushdie accused of blaspheming Islam to US$2,5 million.
• 16/2: Israel and the PA resume talks on broadening Palestinian self-rule.
• 17/2: Netanyahu under fire in coalition for delaying decision to build new Jewish neighbourhood at Har Homa in south-east Jerusalem.
• 17/2: New poll says 74 per cent of Israelis want a unilateral IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
• 18/2: Police investigating allegations of wrongdoing in appointment of Israel's attorney-general ("the Bar-On affair") question Netanyahu.
• 18/2: Syrian President Hafez el-Assad and Iranian Defence Minister Mohammed Farouzandeh discuss ways of boosting military co-operation.
• 19/2: Report: PLO is exploring the possibility of its autonomous zone joining the Commonwealth.
• 20/2: Israel complains to Egypt over decision to charge an Israeli Druse citizen with spying.
• 22/2: Israeli media speculate on Netanyahu's imminent fall over "Bar-On affair", following calls by opposition Labour Party to prepare for elections.
• 23/2: PLO warns that Har Homa housing project will result in violence.
• 24/2: Arafat and EU sign trade agreement placing PA on a par with Israel and other regional states.
• 24/4: Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai: Israel's Christian allies in southern Lebanon are "true patriots" and will continue to enjoy Israel's support.
• 24/2: Internal security head Ami Ayalon tells Knesset committee that Arafat is overseeing the smuggling of large quantities of weapons and ammunition into PA-controlled areas.
• 25/5: Arab press reports: PA police have uncovered an "Islamic fundamentalist" plot to kill Arafat.
• 25/2: Undercover IDF unit shoots dead Arab man in Hizme village near Jerusalem, after coming under attack while trying to arrest stone-throwers.
• 25/2: US warns its 40,000 citizens in Saudi Arabia after militant Islamic leader threatens American military personnel and civilians in the kingdom.
• 26/2: Israeli government approves plan to build at Har Homa. PA calls decision "declaration of war".
• 26/2: Har Homa plan draws global condemnation.
• 27/2: All Palestinian factions except Islamic Jihad discuss joint strategy for final status negotiations.
• 28/2: IDF soldier killed in Hizb'Allah assault.
• March 2: Hebron's old Jewish cemetery is desecrated, allegedly by local Arabs.
• 3/3: Arafat, visiting Washington, wins Clinton's support in opposing Har Homa project.
• 3/3: Israeli spokesman warns PA that unilateral declaration of a state will nullify Oslo accords.
• 3/3: PLO "police" help enforce general strike called by PA to protest Har Homa decision.
• 4/3: Israel orders PA to shut down four Jerusalem offices operating in contravention of Oslo accords; PA says it will refuse; US criticises Israel's move.
• 5/3: Netanyahu meets Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo; the two publicly differ over Har Homa and other issues.
• 6/3: Israeli Cabinet approves 9,1 per cent troop pullback from rural areas of Judea-Samaria.
• 6/3: Arafat cites Rome/Vatican as a model for Jerusalem, which he says can accommodate capitals for both Israel and a Palestinian state.
• 7/3: US vetoes UN security council attempt to condemn Israel over Har Homa decision.
• 8/3: US government says it expects more substantial pullbacks in two further redeployments.
• 9/3: Political groups in Gaza establish joint PLO-Islamic committee "to resist settlement".
• 9/3: Crisis in talks: PA calls Israeli withdrawal decision inadequate; PA's Yasser Abed Rabbo says talks breakdown could see a return to "battle".
• 10/3: Israeli official says Israel will not go ahead with withdrawal if PA refuses to cooperate.
• 10/3: Netanyahu, visiting Moscow, asks Russians to stop military aid to Syria and Iran.
• 10/3: Mubarak meets Clinton, who again criticises Har Homa decision.
• 10/3: Jordan's King Hussein sends critical letter to Netanyahu, who he says is jeopardising peace.
• 11/3: Arafat calls for multinational summit in Gaza to discuss crisis in peace talks.
• 13/3: Jordanian soldier shoots dead seven Israeli schoolgirls near Israel-Jordan border.

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