The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: PM Peres issues statement indicating Israeli willingness to meet with Palestinian-Jordanian delegation, without PLO participation, "at any place and at any time" but opposes prior meeting between such delegation and US officials [BG 3/25]. Kach movement demonstrates at Haifa U., Technion; calls for expulsion of Palestinian students identifying with PLO from institutions of higher learning UP 3/25]. Govt. agrees to allow US Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty broadcasts [12/24] from Israel [NYT 3/25]. Interior Ministry approves application by Umm al-Fahm town council for municipal status [FJ 3/29].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 17-yr.-old Mir'i Salah Farhan shot by IDF during stone-throwing incident at Qalandiya camp [JTA 3/25, FJ 3/29]. Gasoline bomb thrown at IDF patrol in Tulkarm camp; no reported injuries [FJ 3/29].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 20,000 demonstrate at Peace Now gathering in Tel Aviv, demand immediate withdrawal of IDF from Lebanon [JP, JTA 3/17]. MK Meir Cohen-Avidov, supporters disrupt opening of Jewish-Palestinian anti-occupation art exhibit in Haifa [FJ 3/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: After stones were thrown at Israeli vehicle in Ramallah, IDF seals off central part of city. IDF set up roadblocks on way to Bir Zeit U. to prevent demonstrations against 3/8 closing of part of campus. Stone thrown at Israeli car in Nablus injures passenger [JP 3/17].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: IDF kill 3, wound 3 during raid on Toura [FJ 3/22]. IDF raid Burj Rahhal; 5 arrested. RPGs fired at IDF unit near Hmairi; no injuries reported [NYT 3/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish underground defendant Yossi Edri concludes plea bargain with prosecution; charges against him are reduced [JP 3/15]. Several hundred students demonstrate outside Haifa U. protesting police action during 3/10 sit-in on campus [JP 3/15].

Other Countries: After meeting with British PM Thatcher in London, Pres. Mubarak fails to get UK support for his 2/24 peace proposals, although Thatcher affirms British support for direct negotiations [MG, FT 3/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Green Patrol seizes 45 goats belonging to Bedouin shepherds near Dimona; goats later sold by Green Patrol officers [JP 3/31].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: IDF kill 3 resistance fighters near Tyre. Roadside bomb south of Qasmiya Bridge explodes near IDF vehicle; no casualties.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Over 300 Jewish and Arab students hold sit-in at Hebrew U. to protest harsh measures recently taken against students by Haifa U. [FJ 3/15].

Other Countries: In Washington, Pres. Reagan refuses to support Pres. Mubarak's 2/24 proposals [NYT 3/13]. US vetoes proposed UN Sec. Council resolution condemning Israel's "iron fist" policies in S. Lebanon; vote was 11 to 1, 3 abstentions [NYT 3/13].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 63-yr. -old Miriam Amru killed in al-Majd by IDF soldiers involved in weapons training at a nearby IDF base [FJ 3/22].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: 2 IDF soldiers killed, 2 wounded in ambush near Qasmiya Bridge. Car bomb explodes next to IDF vehicle S. of Jezzine; 1 injured. 2nd bomb explodes 2hrs. later; at least 2 IDF personnel wounded [NYT, LAT 3/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Govt. assures US that recent Ethiopian Jewish immigrants will not be settled in occupied territories; states those in Kiryat Arba are not recent immigrants [JP 3/12]. Palestinian students at Haifa U. strike to protest police action during 3/10 sit-in [FJ 3/15].

Military Action

Arab World: IDF raid Zrariya, N. of new defense line; 34 killed, 7 wounded, over 100 arrested including at least 10 Lebanese Army soldiers who tried to resist; 11 homes destroyed; IDF fire upon Intl. Red Cross ambulances attempting to enter town [NYT, MG 3/12]. IDF extend 2/26 travel ban on cars with fewer than 2 passengers to all areas under Israeli control (previously applied only to predominantly Shi'ite areas in which IDF had been attacked in the past) [JTA 3/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Yediot Aharonot reports secret talks between Jordanian Min. of State 'Adnan Abu Odeh and Dir. Gen. of PM's office Avraham Tamir on composition of joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation; PM Peres denies report [BG, JTA 3/11]. Cab. ministers Aryeh Nehamkin, Yosef Shapira appear as character witnesses in trial of Jewish underground member Uri Maier [JP 3/11]. More than 100 Palestinian students stage sit-in at Haifa U., protesting 3/6 punishment of student leaders; police intervention turns violent; 4 members of police injured, 11 students arrested [JP 3/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gasoline bomb thrown at IDF truck outside al-Am'ari camp; no injuries; 2-hr. curfew imposed, shops closed, 16-yr.-old arrested. Stones thrown at Israeli bus near Halhoul; passengers fire into the air, apprehend 12-yr.-old boy, hand him over to IDF [JP 3/11].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: car bomber detonates explosive-laden car in midst of IDF convoy less than one mile N. of Israeli border at Metulla; 12 IDF soldiers killed, 14 wounded [NYT 3/11]. IDF helicopters fire at civilians crossing Israeli front line N. of Tyre; 2 wounded [LT 3/11].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Central Bureau of Statistics reports 37% of occupied territories' work force employed in Israel during 1984: 50,000 from W. Bank, 40,000 from Gaza; 44,000 worked in construction, 13,000 in agriculture [JTA 3/7]. Housing Min. begins building permanent structures in 3 settlements formerly containing temporary housing: Atzmona in Gaza, Cadim in N. portion of W. Bank, and Na'ama in Jordan Valley [JP 3/6]. Haifa U. suspends Palestinian student leader Amir Makhoul, imposes sentences on 3 other Arabs, 1 Jewish student, for activities stemming from 1/17 disturbance at university during speech by MK Eitan [JP 3/7].

Arab World: After meeting with Pres. Mubarak in Hurghada, Egypt, King Hussein expresses support for 2/24 Mubarak proposal for talks between US, joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation [NYT, WSJ 3/7].

Other Countries: Reagan administration defersending Israel's $2.6 billion aid request to Congress for approval; states Israel has not made sufficient progress toward solving economic problems [NYT 3/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Authorities bulldoze 2 homes "illegally" built in Shuyuh [JP 3/7]. Roadside bomb explodes as settler's car passes in Hebron area; nearby note claims DFLP responsibility [JTA 3/8].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: RPGs, shots fired at IDF, SLA posts in Shukin, Ansar; no casualties [JP 3/7]. IDF kill 2, wound 1 resistance fighter in Kafr Sir. SLA soldier wounded in Yatar. IDF raid Bidias; arrest 20 [DT, CSM, NYT 3/7]. IDF, Shin Bet agents arrest dozens in Tyre. Taxi driver killed by IDF near Tyre. IDF raid Burj Eliya; 12-yr. -old boy killed. Civilians in Teir Dibba forced to sit outside village during IDF raid [LT 3/7]. 7 Beirut-based journalists arrested by IDF near Tyre; later released [on 2/26 Israel issued ban on Beirut-based journalists in areas under IDF control] [NYT MG 3/7].