MIDDLE EAST HOURGLASS:

• March 14, 1997: Nine Christian Copts and five other Egyptians are shot dead in Egypt.
• 15/3: PLO chairman Yasser Arafat hosts Gaza gathering of US, EU and Arab diplomats, to pressure Israel to abandon Har Homa project.
• 15/3: Justice Minister Tzahi Hanegbi warns Arafat that if violence follows building at Har Homa, he will return to a life of wandering in exile.
• 16/3: Jordan's King Hussein visits Israel, pays condolence calls on families of seven Israeli schoolgirls shot dead earlier by Jordanian soldier.
• 16/3: PM Binyamin Netanyahu tells Hussein Har Homa will go ahead.
• 16/3: IDF, police prepare for violence over Har Homa, warn of resumption of terror attacks.
• 16/3: New poll: 40 per cent of adult Palestinians support renewed suicide attacks against Israelis.
• 18/3: Israel says PA has given Hamas green light to renew terrorism should Har Homa go ahead; Netanyahu warns violence will jeopardise Oslo.
• 18/3: Work starts at Har Homa.
• 18/3: Jordanian opposition groups express support for soldier who shot Israeli schoolgirls.
• 18/3: Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak says in interview "the relationship between Egypt and Israel will stay cold ... for a long time to come."
• 19/3: South Africa says its controversial Syrian arms deal is off.
• 19/3: Palestinians protesting Har Homa erect three wooden crosses near the site, to represent "the crucifixion of the peace process, Jerusalem and Bethlehem".
• 19/3: Israeli soldier killed, three hurt in Hizb'Allah ambush in southern Lebanon.
• 19/3: PA rejects Netanyahu offer to replace Oslo-scheduled troop redeployments with a jump to final status talks, beginning immediately.
• 21/3: Rioting breaks out; Hamas suicide bomber kills three Israeli women in Tel Aviv restaurant.
• 21/3: Netanyahu accuses Arafat of giving Islamic groups "green light" to resume terrorist attacks, his claim based on intelligence received about a meeting between Hamas and PA, and Arafat's release of more than 100 Hamas prisoners.
• 21/3: Arafat denies claims, says Israel responsible.
• 22/3: Arafat addresses major Islamic conference.
• 23/3: Clashes between Arab rioters and Israeli troops continue in Bethlehem and Hebron.
• 24/3: Washington Post reports that Tel Aviv bombing "followed months of private warnings by Israel and the Clinton administration that ... Arafat had loosed the chains on" Hamas.
• 24/3: PA security head rejects Israel's demands for clampdown on Muslim militants.
• 25/3: Arafat's Fatah faction issues plan of action for confronting Israel, including stone- throwing.
• 26/3: US mediator Dennis Ross dispatched to region, meets Arafat in Morocco.
• 26/3: Report: Israeli security officials have drafted a list of 19 Hamas members linked to terror activities, who have been employed by PA police.
• 29/3: Arab League foreign ministers call for diplomatic and economic isolation of Israel.
• April 1: Two suicide-bombers wearing PA police uniforms blow themselves up in unsuccessful attempts to kill Israeli schoolchildren in Gaza.
• 1/4: Knesset passes first reading of controversial bill giving Orthodox Jewish establishment sole authority over all conversions to Judaism in Israel.
• 1/4: Netanyahu admits he is considering forming unity government with Labour.
• 3/4: Intifada-like violent protests continue.
• 3,4/4: More than 8O Algerians are murdered by suspected Islamic extremists in two-day rampage.
• 7/4: Netanyahu meets US President Bill Clinton, refuses to suspend settlement activity.
• 8/4: Three Palestinians shot dead one by Jewish civilian, two by soldiers and 70 hurt during violent clashes in Hebron.
• 8/4: US House Speaker Newt Gingrich calls on Clinton to turn up the heat on Arafat.
• 9/4: Egyptian Islamic cleric says suicide bombings are "permissible" against military targets.
• 10/4: German court convicts four men of murdering Iranian dissidents in 1992, finds that orders came from top Iranian leadership.
• 10/4: Israelis break up Hamas cell responsible for at least 11 murders, including that of missing soldier Sharon Edri, whose body is discovered.
• 13/4: Israeli experts defuse large bomb planted in Jewish community in Gaza.
• 13/4: Relations between EU and Iran at new low.
• 14/4: Labour party split over whether or not to join national unity government.
• 14/4: Senior Muslim cleric says Copts in Egypt should be forced to pay discriminatory Jizya tax.
• 16/4: Police recommend Netanyahu be charged over "Bar-On affair"; Labour demands resignation.
• 17/4: Former President Chaim Herzog dies at 79.
• 18/4: Poll: 55 per cent of Israelis think Netanyahu should resign if indicted; coalition in crisis as five ministers consider resigning.
• 20/4: Israel's AG announces Netanyahu won't be charged re: "Bar-On affair"; Shas leader Aryeh Deri will be indicted.
• 20/4: Arafat accuses US of failing to put pressure on Israel to push Oslo forward.
• 21/4: Coalition remains intact. Opposition groups take AG's decision to Supreme Court.
• 22/4: Netanyahu opponents form group calling for new inquiry into "Bar-On affair".
• 22/4: 93 civilians, including women and children, murdered by Islamic extremists in Algeria.
• 24/4: UN General Assembly holds "emergency session" over Israel's Jerusalem housing plans.

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