Chronology of Events: January 1, 1999 to April 1, 1999

5.1.99 The Israeli tax authority confiscates four cars belonging to employees of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, on grounds that they had not paid their income imposed applied by Israel on the residents of East Jerusalem. The employees claim that they are not required to pay taxes to Israel since the status of Jerusalem has not been determined yet. Paying taxes to Israel by a diplomatic mission implies a de facto recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, as taxes are seen as a political tool used to achieve a political goal. 6.1.99 The Israeli army reopens the coastal road in Gaza, running along the Israeli settlement of Gush Katif, to Palestinian traffic. The Israeli authorities had closed the road to the Palestinians for years after repeated attacks in the area. 20.3.99 The Israeli cabinet revokes the VIP cards of Palestinian leaders Faisal Husseini, Hanan Ashrawi and Ziad Abu-Zayyad in a reprisal for their receiving foreign diplomats at Orient House in Jerusalem. Minister Abu-Zayyad is barred from entering Jerusalem, although he was elected by the city's Palestinian residents to represent them in the PLC. This act was seen as a desperate ploy in [Binyamin Netanyahu]'s election campaign by emphasizing the Jewishness of Jerusalem.