MIDDLE EAST HOURGLASS:

October 16, 1996: Settlement activists call for return to demonstrations, to protest planned Hebron troop withdrawal.
16/10: PM Netanyahu accuses Yasser Arafat of trying to stir up Arab anger by refusing to acknowledge positive progress in Hebron talks.
16/10: President Bill Clinton: I'll consider Arafat's calls for US monitoring troops in Hebron.
17/10: Netanyahu assures settlement leaders he will advance their expansion plans.
17/10: Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri says Lebanon and Syria will not sign separate deals with Israel.
18/10: Israel-PLO talks on Hebron IDF redeployment stall again.
19/10: French President Jacques Chirac, visiting Damascus, says EU must intervene to save peace process. Israel says no to European mediation.
19/10: Row over Chirac's plan to visit PLO legislature, but not Knesset, during Israel trip.
20/10: Chirac agrees to visit Knesset.
21/10: US envoy Dennis Ross plans to leave Israel, having failed to achieve Hebron deal.
21/10: Top Syrian official says Damascus is ready for war if Israel continues "'to provoke".
21/10: Chirac arrives, says only a Palestinian state will bring Israel security.
21/10: Chirac asks for no Israelis to accompany him on visit to Jerusalem's Old City on 22nd, as this would be construed as backing Israel's claims.
22/10: Chirac threatens to cut short visit after protesting Israeli security during Old City visit.
22/10: Ross changes mind about leaving as Hebron talks reportedly progress.
23/10: Hebrew anniversary of Rabin assassination.
23/10: Security chiefs warn of bombing threats; territories temporarily closed.
23/10: Hebron settlers angry over reports that PA is arming city's Arab residents.
23/10: Chirac warmly received by PA legislature.
24/10: Jordanian diplomat claims Syria is preparing surprise attack against Israel soon.
25/10: Two IDF soldiers killed by Hizb'Allah roadside bombs.
27/10: Netanyahu warns that Israel will not be taken by surprise by Syrian military action.
27/10: Housing ministry begins process of freeing up 3 000 completed homes in Yesha settlements.
27/10: Clinton calls Netanyahu, Arafat to urge them to finalise a Hebron deal immediately.
28/10: Arafat leaves for European trip with no Hebron agreement reached; Dennis Ross leaves.
28/10: Hebron Jewish community spokesman says IDF withdrawal could prompt a "'massacre".
28/10: EU names Spanish ambassador to Israel as Europe's special Mideast envoy.
29/10: Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk a-Shara says Syria has no plans to attack Israel.
29/10: 10 000 demonstrate in Jerusalem in support of continued Israeli presence in Hebron.
30/10: Knesset passes first reading of 1997 budget, incorporating massive public spending cuts.
31/10: After visiting Damascus, Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov meets Netanyahu, says Russia does not believe Syria will attack Israel.
31/10: Netanyahu declares Hebron Jewish community will never be uprooted.
31/10: Security closure of territories partially eased.
November 1, 1996: Netanyahu suspends IDF Major-General Oren Shahor, chief negotiator with PA for civilian affairs, after he held "'irregular" meetings with Labour Party leaders.
2/11: Police placed on alert after intelligence received on planned Islamic Jihad terror attack. Netanyahu asks US and Germany to pressure Syria and Iran not to promote attacks.
3/11: Visiting British Foreign Minister Malcolm Rifkind says Jewish settlements are "'illegal".
3/11: Infrastructure Minister Ariel Sharon predicts major settlement expansion.
4/11: Syria's Assad reportedly tells US he will try block terror attacks being planned against Israel.
4/11: Irish, Italian and Dutch foreign ministers decide not to visit Israel offically because of Israel's request they not visit the PLO's Orient House HQ.
5/11: Netanyahu says US intervention helped reduce terrorism threat.
5/11: Defence Minister Yitzhak Mordechai warns Syria will escalate tensions now US vote is over.
6/11: US election: Netanyahu says he does not believe Clinton will now increase pressure on Israel.
6/11: Jordanian source says Jordan, Syria and Egypt are coordinating strategies on peace process, and expect US to up pressure on Israel.
7/11: Blast outside east Jerusalem government office slightly injures five.
7/11: US TV network reports Islamic Jihad plot to detonate carbomb at Tel Aviv tower-block was foiled after US pressured Syria to prevent it.
7/11: US Secretary of State Warren Christopher announces he will resign.
9/11: Israeli soldier killed, three hurt in Hizb'Allah assault in S. Lebanon.
9/11: Security closure of territories eased further.
9/11: Hebron settlement activist detained.
10/11: Palestinian shot dead, 11 wounded by Israeli soldiers when march to protest land confiscation turns violent.
10/11: Netanyahu phones Arafat to assure him Israel intends to redeploy troops in Hebron, but also warns that absence of security safeguards for Jews there could lead to explosion.
10/11: Visiting EU foreign ministers assure Arafat they will pressure Israel to push "'Oslo" forward.
11/11: Israeli Druse businessman Azzam Azzam, missing in Cairo, is under arrest on suspicion of spying for Mossad.
11/11: New Cabinet appointments: Justice Minister Tzahi Hanegbi; Health Minister Yehoshua Matza.
12/11: Cairo economic summit begins.
12/11: Netanyahu denies Azzam is a spy, demands his release.
12/11: Late-night talks held in bid to reach Hebron withdrawal; agreement expected at any moment.
14/11: Arafat and Israel accuse each other of refusing to settle on Hebron sticking-points.
15/11: Arafat tells the world press Israel is blame for the lack of progress.

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