The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Occupation authorities close al-Najah National U. for 4 mos. claiming "anti-Israeli material" found at Palestine Week Exhibit there; soldiers confiscate all material & artifacts displayed, arrest 10 students. Att. Gen. Zamir meets with senior police officers to discuss measures for dealing with Meir Kahane.

Military Action

Arab World: "TNT" sends letter to King Hussein via Amman Agence France Presse office, threatening death to him and family. 2 booby-trapped cars explode in Naqoura, S. Lebanon, IDF claims no casualties.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel rejects recent USSR peace proposal based on Brezhnev plan. Jerusalem mayor Kollek tells news conference of drive against Kach and Meir Kahane with appeal to support anti-racism bill. Defendents Amjad Rabaya and Wafiq Sawalha tried for armed attack on W. Jerusalem street (4/2/84) admit charges, insisting on POW status. Najah student sentenced to 10 mos. charged with membership in Palestinian organization. Police summon head of Gaza Citrus Producers' Union, warning of legal retaliation against Union for assisting farmers to obtain financialid.

Other Countries: USSR calls for renewal of Geneva Middle East peace talks including USSR, US, Israel, PLO & Arab states.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli-made bomb thrown at Shefa 'Amr home; no injuries. Kach members beat up 2 Palestinian laborers; victims hospitalized in serious condition.

Arab World: IDF units attacked by rocket fire near Jezzine and S. of Tyre.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Both Labor and Likud blocs reject Meir Kahane in coalition-building schemes. Umm al-Fahm residents demonstrate against Kach and Meir Kahane's threat to open Jewish immigration office there.

Arab World: Lebanese army begins 2nd phase of security plan by bulldozing barricades dividing Beirut.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In radio interview, MK Sharon dissociates himself from Meir Kahane's words and deeds, but warns movements on left far more dangerous. No. 2 man in Kach party & dual US-Israeli citizen Yehuda Richter found guilty of attack on Palestinian bus (3/4/84), injuring 6; charges of arson against Arab homes and property still outstanding. New 15% tax imposed on Israelis traveling abroad who buy dollars or overseas tour packages.

Other Countries: In London, Marwan al-Banna, Nanof al-Rosan & Hussein Said sentenced to 30 to 35 yrs. for attempted assassination of Israeli amb. to UK Argov in June 1982; their appeals rejected.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF kill 1 Lebanese suspected of laying roadside bomb near Sidon; shoot 2 motorcyclists failing to halt at Sidon roadblock. 2 IDF troops wounded when grenade thrown at patrol in Nabatiya.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Muhammad & Mufid Kak both sentenced to 25 yrs. for planting 5 bombs in Petah Tikva-Kfar Sava in 1982.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF impose curfew and close shops in Nabatiya in response to local disturbances.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IS13 million exacted from Azza camp shopowner in 1st taxation of refugee camp shops. Qabatya youth sentenced to 2 mos. & charged IS100,000 for demonstrating. Jamal Awarneh gets life sentence for killing Jewish settler in Bethlehem (1982).

Arab World: In al-Ra'i (Amman) both Jordanian and PLO officials quoted saying Israeli election aided extremism and will lead to more Arab-Jewish violence in Palestine. Israeli liaison office in Dubayeh officially closed; Israel gov't. threatens closure "will necessarily cause great harm and suffering to the Lebanese people."

Other Countries: Chrmn. Arafat received by Malaysia's Sultan Iskandar in Kuala Lumpur for 3-day visit. US State Dep't. study possibility of revoking Meir Kahane's US citizenship for allegiance to foreign gov't.; officials say official action against him unlikely. Reagan aides meet Antiochian Orthodox and national Council of Churches leaders, reaffirm US stand against embassy transfer to Jerusalem. US Asst. Undersec. of State testifies before House Foreign Affairs Subcom. that, with outcome of Israel's elections, its economic situation is much worse than earlier suspected, and that US will resuscitate Reagan peace initiative.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Molotov cocktail hurled at IDF soldier patroling al-Ibrahimi Mosque, Hebron; curfew imposed, several passersby arrested & searched.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli political parties begin negotiating for coalition partners. Kach party members celebrate Meir Kahane's win, stage violent march through Jerusalem, toting pistols and shouting "death to the Arabs." Arab press editorials express pessimism over election as augur of Zionist extremism.

Arab World: IDF reopens single road between Beirut & S. Lebanon; IDF governor at Sidon links S. Lebanon blockade policy to Karami's decision to close IDF liaison office.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2 bombs hurled at IDF patrols in Jabaliya refugee camp, Gaza; no injuries.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Today's elections yield no clear victor; of a total 120 Knesset seats, Alignment wins 45, Likud 41; "Progressive Slate for Peace" gains 2; Meir Kahane as Kach candidate wins 1.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli court sentences American-Jewish settler Matthew Liebowitz to 39 mos. for shooting Palestinian bus (3/4/84), wounding 6. Tulkarm police intervene tostop destruction of Bidya village land by Israeli construction companies. Bir Zeit U. petitions High Court to intervene against Planning Department's interference with university activities. WZO establishes new settlements-Rafiah Yam, Nitzanit& Netzarim in Gaza Strip; Tirza, NE of Nablus. Private investigator discovers bugging device in Time magazine's Jerusalem offices.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF erects iron gate at Qasabeh neighborhood, Nablus, imposing blockade as further retaliation for grenade incident (7/20/84).

Arab World: Katyusha rockets fired on IDF outpost in Lebanon's eastern sector.

Military Action

Arab World: Hijacker surrenders after attempt to commandeer MEA jet from Beirut "to dramatize plight of occupied S. Lebanon."

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli settlers ceremoniously inaugurate new settlements- 1 S. of Hebron, and 3 in Gaza Strip. Dheisheh camp expels 3 men by decision of sulha, with 500 attending, for their attack on 65-yr.-old resident Hassan Mana'a.

Arab World: Israeli officials resist order to close liaison office in Lebanon, warn closure will delay IDF withdrawal.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Grenade hurled at IDF patrol in Nablus injuring 1;soldiers react by indiscriminate shooting at passersby, injuring 5; IDF impose 6-hr. curfew, arrest 70 local resident.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2-yr. town arrest ends for Qalqilya elected mayor Haj Amin Nasser. New settlement Yitzhar, SE of Nablus inaugurated. Settler Yehuda Cohen sentenced to 18 mos. (with 2 yrs. suspended) for plot to blow up Dome of the Rock. Nablus court issues 2nd order to halt destruction of Arab-owned land in Bidya by Israeli construction companies.

Arab World: Israel stops issuing permits to Lebanese to cross into occupied South.

Other Countries: US State Dep't. says it will regret any move to close Israel's liaison office in Lebanon.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF kill 1 resistance fighter in clash in Amiq village, S. Lebanon. Resistance fighters open fire on Israeli-backed "South Lebanon Army" checkpoint.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Military court sentences Redha Kadoura to 30 yrs. on charge of grenade attack in Tel Aviv (2/28/84). New settlement Hagai dedicated south of Hebron.

Arab World: Lebanon announces closing of Israel's liaison office in Dubayeh, N. of Beirut. S. Lebanon residents strike to protest Israeli-backed kidnapping of Sheik Shams al-Din (7/17).

Other Countries: Lebanon restores diplomatic relations with Iran.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli air force unveils new mobile radar equipment which detects small, low-flying aircraft.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel Electric Corp. announces power cutoff in Kafr Qassem and Ras el-Naqab airbase (Sinai) for unpaid debts.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian guards thwart Jewish fanatic from ramming car into al-Aqsa Mosque grounds; driver detained by police. IDF turns over Yitzhar post SE of Nablus to "civilian" settlers.

Arab World: Israeli-backed troops kidnap Sheikh Muhammed Shams al-Din from Sidon and hand him over to IDF custody. Israel claims to have thwarted seaborne raid by PLO loyalists by capturing 720- ton ship Ulah near Tripoli with its 8-man crew.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Army turns over Asfar settlement, SE of Bethlehem to "civilian" yeshiva students from abroad in inauguration ceremony. PM Shamir lays cornerstone of new West Bank settlement Givat Ehud. Nazareth Central Court renews indefinitely detention of 7 Golani Druze suspected of raising Palestine flag and threatening destruction of collaborators' houses.

Military Action

Arab World: RPGs destroy IDF guardpost in S. Lebanon, killing 1. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gal and Ya'e Yaqir construction companies' bulldozers uproot 60 trees in Bidya village in defiance of court order (4/83) prohibiting work on the Arab-owned land. Cabinet authorizes immediatestablishment of 4 settlements in West Bank, 1 in Golan. Kawkab residents boycott ceremony installing Israeli-backed local council. 2 Jabaliya camp (Gaza) youths sentenced to 1/2 & 2 yrs. for possession of grenades.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF ambushed near Sidon, 3 troops wounded.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In political debate, DM Arens says Israel is ready to meet King Hussein for talks anywhere & anytime without preconditions.

Arab World: Algerian news agency reports Fateh signs unity agreement in Algiers with 4 other PLO groups.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 4 former Ansar inmates, now detained in Atlit prison, petition DM Arens to allow them to send message to families via Israeli TV.

Other Countries: Ontario Divisional Court rejects Jewish civil servant's refusal to pay union dues to protest 1982 Ontario Federation of Labour resolution urging Canadian gov't. to recognize PLO.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Immigration Ministry reports immigration in 1st half of 1984 dropped 2.5% from 1983.

Other Countries: US Federal Bureau of Investigation announces new investigation into leak to AIPAC of confidential report on free trade prospects with Israel.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish settlers beat up Tu'aimeh Hamad of Ouja village near Jericho, fire warning shots at fellow villager attempting to rescue Hamad, and threaten to attack Ouja by night.

Social/Economic/Political Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel releases 2 more passengers of ferry boat hijacked 6/29, including school-boy Mazen Masri kidnapped by IDF while returning home from school in Britain. Central Elections Com. censors Meir Kahane campaign broadcast.

Arab World: National Alliance [PFLPGC, Popular Struggle Front, Saiqa & the dissidents] issues statement criticizing Democratic Alliance for not publicizing ongoing dialogue. Lebanese cabinet appoints commission to investigate fate of missing persons. Other Countries: In Cairo, French and Egyptian presidents Mitterrand &Mubarak announce agreement that Reagan plan offers best chance for peace, but int'l. conference proposed by King Hussein is possible alternative. France authorizes assembly of Mirage 2000 warplanes in Egypt, and agrees in principle to their sale to other Arab states.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli squatters pitch tents on Abu Dis village land (6 km S. of Jerusalem) secretly declared closed; local landowners present written protest to authorities. Beit Sahour Arab Women's Union issues statement negating recent meeting with "civil admin." representative, and pledges to abide by boycott of "civil admin." Jerusalem police arrest Waqf official for allowing funeral with coffin draped with Palestinian flag.

Arab World: Beirut protesters end 4-day blockade of West Beirut and Beirut Airport after Pres. Gemayel promises to place issue of prisoners at top of cabinet agenda. French Pres. Mitterrand in Amman endorses King Hussein's call for UN-sponsored peace negotiations, including 15 members of Security Council and confronting Middle East states.

Other Countries: Chrmn. Arafat meets UN Sec. Gen. De Cuellar in Geneva to discuss proposed UN-sponsored peace negotiations.

Military Action

Arab World: Pro-Israel mayor Jawad Khalifa of Sarafand, S. Lebanon killed by car bomb.

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: West Beirut general strike calls for release of all prisoners held by militias; protesters disrupt Beirut Airport reopening.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF spokesman claims troops came under small arms fire before shooting indiscriminately at pedestrians in Jibsheet village, killing 1, wounding 3.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Nablus prisoners' families stage sit-in at Nablus ICRC office in solidarity with prisoners protesting maltreatment in new Nablus prison. Israel discloses hopes to exchange 120 Palestinian soldiers for 3 Israelis captured by PFLP-General Command. After IDF accuses PFLP of responsibility, Druze Initiative Com. issues counter-statement that Israel is to blame for death of Druze IDF soldier Samir As'ad killed in S. Lebanon, calls for Israel to exchange corpse for Palestinian prisoners held. About 35 prominent national figures from West Bank/Gaza issue statement of support for Democratic Front for Peace and Equality in July elections.

Arab World: Chrmn. Arafat meets briefly with King Hussein in Amman to discuss PLO reconciliation.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: About 15 Israeli settler families pitch tents near Bethlehem, declaring new settlement named Naot Adumim.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Al-Najah U. lecturer Sami Kilani gets 4th 6-mo. town arrest term in Ya'bad. Israel prevents journalist Raymonda Tawil from leaving Palestine to Jordan for television appearance.

Arab World: Families of missing civil war hostages burn tires in roadblock demonstration in Beirut, call for militias to release all prisoners.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestine Women's Union holds 1 st annual conference in Jerusalem, issuing statement supporting PLO unity. US-born Kach member gets 4-yr. term (with portion suspended) for raids on Arab property and arson. Hasim Abu Hamad placed under town arrest in Abasan al-Kabirah, Gaza, for membership in Palestinian organization.

Arab World: 3 Ansar escapees hold press conference in Beirut, urging Lebanese gov't. and ICRC to intervene to improve conditions of those imprisoned by Israel.

Military Action

Arab World: Various sources report Shin Bet arrests Rushdi Nahhas in his Bidyas, S. Lebanon bicycle shop, executing him in front of his wife & mother.

Other Countries: Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist authorities arrest 3 Mossad-linked Israelis in attempted kidnapping of Nigerian opposition figure Umaru Dikko, found in Lagos-bound crate.

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: Austrian Foreign ministry reports progress in efforts to negotiate PLO-Israel prisoner exchange.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb dismantled on Tel Aviv bus; police round up and arrest Arabs in area.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Mtg. of national institutions in Jerusalem to endorse reconciliation agreements reached in Aden.

Arab World: Lebanese Army takes control of Beirut with "march of salvation" through city.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Dheisheh camp under curfew after stone-throwing incidents occasioned by border police shooting at 5 Bethlehem students (7/3).

Arab World: IDF attacked by small arms fire near Tyre and in Adaiseh village.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Electric Corporation workers strike in wage dispute causing blackouts throughout country.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli border police shoot and wound 5 high school students from Volunteer Work Com. at police roadblock harassment of VWC buses near Qubbat Raheel (Rachel's Tomb), Bethlehem. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel releases 5 of 9 passengers seized from ferry Alizur Blanco hijacked on 6/29. Nablus authorities renew town arrest of al-Quds joumalist Moh'd. Amireh & lawyer Ghassan Shaka'a. Luxury hotel workers strike for higher wages. Interior & Religious Affairs Minister Burg says massive settlement of West Bank vital to security, will be carried out despite economic crisis.

Other Countries: 70 delegates from 15 countries attend 2-day Brussels seminar on "Freedom of Trade with Israel."

Military Action

Arab World: Light arms fire directed at IDF near Kafr Kuk, S. Lebanon. IDF reopens Sidon & Tyre ports after weeklong closure.