On the Road to Statehood

1994

April 12: Israel-PLO agree on Palestinian police force figures(9,000 from OPT and 7,000 from outside).
April 28: Israel, Palestinians sign the Paris Economic Protocol.
May 3: In Cairo, PLO announces the establishment of a Palestinian national airline
May 4: Israel, Palestinians sign 186 page Gaza-Jericho self-rule accord (Cairo Agreement).
May 10: A total of 157 Palestinian policemen cross into Gaza Strip from Egypt at Rafah crossing.
May 13: PLA’s Al-Aqsa Bridge takes up duties as Palestinian police force in Jericho.
July 1: Arafat returns to homeland, crossing Rafah border.
Aug 29: Israel, PA sign Early Empowerment Agreement on the transfer of five civilian authorities, beginning with education ( social affairs follows on Nov.13; tourism on Nov. 15; health and taxation on Dec. 1)
Sep. 27: Jordan surrenders Waqf and Religion Courts in the West Bank ( excl. East Jerusalem).
Oct.31- Nov. 1: takes up position at Rafah border crossing and at Allenby Bridge
Nov. 16: PLO Executive Committee holds first ever meeting on Palestine territory.
Dec: Palestine is declared member of the International Olympic Committee.

1995

Jan. 1: The first letter with a Palestinian stamp is sent from Gaza-by Arafat to the PLO office in Sweden.
Jan. 31: For the first time the Palestinian (Mufti of Jerusalem) announce their own beginning of Ramadan. Feb. 6: Direct Palestinian-Jordanian mail services begin.
April 10: State Security Courts begin operating in Gaza.
April 21: The first group of pilgrims carrying Palestinian passports leaves Gaza for Saudi Arabia and the hajj.
June 6: Palestinian TV broadcasts for the first time in the OPT from 9-11p.m.
June:for the first time Tawjihi takes place under PA control and exams are corrected by Palestinian teachers.
Aug. 27: In Cairo, PA and Israel sign an agreement on the transfer of eight civilian authorities (agriculture, trade, industry, labor municipal affairs, postal services, fuel, statistics/census)(formally transferred on 10 Sept).
Sept 18: Jenin Municipality handed to the PA after 28 years of occupation.
Sept. 28: PLO, Israel sign the ‘OSLO II’ Agreement on the second stage of Palestinian autonomy in Washington.
Oct. 11: The Israeli army withdraws from the Qabatiya area.
Nov. 8: The PA takes charge of the postal services in the West Bank
Nov. 18: Transport, licensing, weather, passport, employment, population and land registry are transferred to the PA.
Nov. 28: PNC convenes for first time since 1964 in OPT at Al-Bireh Municipality.
Dec. 3: Palestinian police arrive in the Bethlehem area.
Dec. 11: Israeli army pulls out of Nablus; Palestinian forces arrive in the Ramallah area.
Dec. 17: Some 450 Palestinian police enter liberated Qalqilya.
Dec. 21: Israel evacuates Bethlehem, Palestinian police enter.
Dec. 22: Last day for nominations of candidates to be elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Dec. 26: Israeli army pulls out from five villages near Hebron:Dura, Yatta, Bani Naim, Thahariyeh, and Nuba.
Dec. 27: Israeli army leaves Ramallah.

1996

Jan. 17: Israel redeploys from Abu Dis.
Jan. 20: First Palestinian elected take place.
Feb. 12: Yasser Arafat sworn in as first elected Pres. Of Palestine.
March 7: The PLC holds its inauguration session in Gaza, Ahmad Qrei’a is elected as speaker. First regular session follows on 21 March.
April 24-26: In Gaza, PNC votes to amend the PLO Convenient by 504-54, with 14 abstentions.
June 2: Pres. Arafat plane inaugurates Gaza International Airport, coming from Sinia.
June 16: A Moroccan plane loaded with medical and food supplies becomes the first forign plane to land at Gaza Airport.
July 20: Runner Majdi Abu Mraheel carries the Palestinian flag into the stadium at Atlanta, marking the first ever appearance of Palestinians at the Olympic Games.
Oct.: West Bank and Gaza granded trade status by the US.

1997

Jan. 10: Palestine Airlines has its inaugural flight, leaves from Port Said to Saudi Arabia with 48 pilgrims aboard.
Jan. 15: PLO, Israel conclude Hebron Protocol. On 17 Jan., Israel redeploys from 80% of the city(H1/), but keeps control of 20% (H2).
Feb. 18: The Palestinian Security Exchange (stock market) opens for trading in Nablus.
Feb. 24: PLO-EU Partnership Association signed, providing assistance and certain free trade arrangements.
June 13: The first national soccer match takes place in Jericho between Palestine and the Jordanian national team.
Aug. 20: Pres. Arafat inaugurates the headquarters of the civil Aviation and Palestine Airlines.
Nov.: The PA begins issuing Palestinian ID cards.

Feb. 4: Egypt and the sign a custom exemption agreement.
Feb. 24: The PA announces that the first Palestinian school curriculum will be in force in the year 2000.
July 7: The UNGA approves a resolution upgrading the status of the PLO, which will now be allowed to put its signature as ‘co-sponsor’ on proposed resolutions.
Sep. 27: Palestine gains observer status at the international Agency for Nuclear Energy.
Oct. 23: PA, Israel sign Wye River Memorandum (approved by the PA cabinet on 30 Oct).
Nov. 4: The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) assigns the Palestinian areas their own international telephone code: 970.
Nov. 24: Palestinians inaugurate Gaza International Airport.
Nov.: At the UN, Palestine is moved ( now placed after non-member states and before inter-governmental organizations), and its category is changed from ‘Organizations’ to ‘Entities Having Received a Standing Invitation to Participate as Observer Missions at Headquarters’.

1999

Jan. 23: The Palestinian territories have officially been given their own telephone country code 970 by the ITU.
March 26: At the close of the Berlin European Council, the Heads of State and Government of the EU reaffirm the “continuing    and unqualified Palestinian right to self-determination including the option of a state”.
April 27: The UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva adopts a resolution acknowledging the right of Palestinian     self-determination and the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
June 21: PA Pres. Yasser Arafat officially launches a new international dialing code for Palestine (970) and unveils the first cellular telephone service dedicated to the Palestinian territories (Al-Jawal).
Aug. 15-31: At the Pan-Arab Games in Amman the Palestinian national team wins 9 bronze medal (one in football) and I silver   medal.
Aug. 19: The PA, Israel sign an agreement on the exchange of postal services that allows Palestinians to send/receive mail directly to/from Egypt and Jordan , without routing it through Israel
Sep. 4: Israel, the PA sign the revised Wye Accord (Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement).
Oct. 5: Israel and Palestinian negotiators have reached a compromise agreement on the southern safe passage route.
Oct. 11: Palestine gets its own independent code, ending addresses with ‘ps’.
Oct. 18: The southern safe passage from Eretz checkpoint to Tarkumiya near Hebron opens.
Oct. 26: The cornerstone for the first independent Palestinian plant, which eventually will have a 140 MW capacity, is laid in Gaza. 

Source: PASSIA