The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Th deficit in the balance of goods and services between the occupied territories and Israel increased by 49% in 1985 to total $219 million; the West Bank's trade deficit declined to $425 million in 1985, compared to $428 million the previous year, while the West Bank's surplus in services fell to $206 million in 1985, compared to $281 million in 1984, due to the erosion of Israeli salaries and the cutback in construction work [JP 4/29]. Israeli police announce arrest of members of a "terrorist ring" suspected of 2 killings and 2 attempted killings in Jerusalem in last 6 weeks; Jerusalem court declares news blackout on the case [NYT, PI, MG 4/30]. Later reports indicate 20 Palestinians are arrested [JP 5/6]. Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin has instructed the security authorities to bring to trial the West Bank settlers who blocked a road north of Halhul a fortnight ago to prevent people from reaching a Peace Now symposium in nearby Hebron [JP 4/29].

Arab World: The Jordanian minister for the occupied territories, Tahir Kan'an, was dismissed over the weekend [LT 4/29]. New departments are dedicated for hospital in S. Lebanese Christian town of Marja'uyun; SLA commander Gen. Antoine Lahd thanks Israel for its help in training workers and doctors for the hospital; some $2 million was donated for the hospital, coming from Israel, Middle East Television, and the SLA command [JP 4/29].

Military Action

Arab World: Guerrillas clash on slopes of Mt. Hermon with Israeli army troops; 2 guerrillas are killed, 3 Israeli soldiers wounded [JP, JTA 5/2]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel has quietly moved hundreds of Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to the West Bank, despite U.S. opposition [PI 4/16]. Israeli military authorities order Hebron Polytechnic closed for 2 weeks following riots at the campus on 4/14 [FJ 4/18]. Foreign Minister Shamir states P.M. Peres spoke as the leader of the Labor party, and not as the leader of the country, when he last week called for recognition of the Palestinian nation [JP 4/17]. Students at al-Najah U. protest U.S. attack on Libya; Palestinian students at Ben-Gurion U. in Beersheba and Hebrew U. in Jerusalem also protest the attack [JP 4/17; FJ 4/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In al-Birah, an Israeli soldier kills a Palestinian running away from a bus at which he is said to have thrown something [JP 4/17]. West German tourist isshot and injured by unidentified gunman in Jerusalem's Old City [JP 4/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: A Jerusalem court convicts Israeli army Capt. Shlomo Leviatan and Maj. Ronnie Gila of complicity in bombings carried out by anti-Arab Jewish underground group [JP, WP 4/15]. U.S. Asst. Sec. of State Murphy meets with Bethlehem Mayor Iliyas Furayj at reception at American consulate in East Jerusalem; reports circulate that they discussed the "Gaza first" proposals being floated by some circles in Jerusalem; Murphy confirms he attempted to ease tensions between Israel and Syria during recent meetings with Syrian Pres. Hafiz al-Asad [JP 4/15]. Students at Hebron Polytechnic demonstrate in protest of Tehiya convention; 70 students are arrested [JP 4/15; FJ 4/18].

Arab World: West Bank Palestinians travelling to Jordan are experiencing increased bureaucratic harassment, including passport confiscation and interrogation by Jordanian authorities; moves seem to be targetting Fateh supporters [JP 4/14].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli cabinet resolves 8-day coalition government crisis by agreeing that Justice Minister Moshe Nissim and Finance Minister Yitzhak Modai change jobs, to satisfy P.M. Peres' demands that Modai be ousted from his post for insulting Peres [NYT, WP 4/14]. Tehiya party convention opens in Jerusalem, to be followed by working sessions at Kiryat Arba; party leader Yuval Ne'eman calls for transfer of 500,000 Palestinian refugees from occupied territories to Arab countries as precondition for peace negotiations [JTA 4/16]. Several hundred Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip demonstrate near Rafah, protestingovernment plans to resettle some 7,000 Palestinian refugees from the Egyptian side of the town [JP 4/14].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Three Israelis are wounded, one seriously, when their bus is attacked by gunfire in the West Bank; roadblocks are erected on road to Ramallah for several days [CSM 4/14; FJ 4/18].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Peres states in keynote speech opening Labor party convention that Israel recognizes the Palestinians "as a nation," states Israel is trying to "create interim conditions for an interim arrangement" in the occupied territories until their final status is resolved [DT 4/10]. Egyptian delegation headed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Butrus-Ghali attends the convention, as well as delegations from 20 other countries [JP 4/9].

Arab World: Former chief of intelligence for the PLO, 'Atallah 'Atallah (Abu Za'im), is reported to have been touring Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan delivering speeches critical of policies of Yasir Arafat and blaming him for the collapse of dialogue with King Hussein; Abu Za'im's statements have been given front-page coverage in Amman [JP 4/8; NYT 4/9]. Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Abba Eban arrives in Cairo for a visit [JP 4/9].

Other Countries: U.S. Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy, originally scheduled to accompany Vice Pres. George Bush on his M.E. tour, stops instead in Cairo and then proceeds to Israel; Bush tells press conference Murphy is investigating a new peace initiative [LAT, BG 4/9].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Firebomb is thrown at bus on northern edge of Jerusalem, injuring 9 Israeli passengers; police detain 17 Palestinians for questioning [LAT, WP 4/9]. A bomb explodes in Afula, injuring a soldier; WAFA, the Palestine News Agency, states the PLO is responsible for placing the bomb [WP, LAT 4/9].

Arab World: Suicide bomber drives car into checkpoint near Hasbayya, at edge of Israeli-declared "security zone," killing himself and injuring 3 SLA militiamen and 3 civilians; the pro-Syrian Lebanese Ba'th party claims responsibility [WP, NYT 4/9]. Car bomb in Christian port city of Juniyah kills 10, injures over 100; no one claims responsibility [WP, NYT 4/9]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Peres demands resignation of Finance Minister Yitzhak Modai, who publicly criticized Peres over the weekend [LAT, CT 4/8]. Smith Research Center poll finds 54% of Israeli public wants rotation agreement between P. M. Peres and Foreign Minister Shamir to be honored [JP 4/7].

Other Countries: Greece and Israel sign a cultural and scientific cooperation agreement [JC, JTA 4/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ten people are injured, one seriously, by gasoline bomb thrown through back window of Egged bus in north Jerusalem suburb of Neve Ya'acov UP 4/9].

Arab World: Israeli planes attack Palestinian guerrilla bases around Sidon, killing 2 and wounding 20 [NYT, WP 4/8].