The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel Radio announces Israeli occupation authorities have appointed fourth Arab mayor, Tahir Hijazi, as mayor of 'Anabta municipality in Tulkarm district (FBIS 10/24). Jerusalem Post reports total of four Palestinians have been arrested in connection with 10/15 Jerusalem bombing (JP 10/22).

Arab World: In Lebanon, kidnappers release Lebanese Christian AUB professor after five month detention (NYT 10/23).

Other Countries: Car bomb in Athens kills high-ranking PLO official Munthir Abu Ghazalah (NYT 10/22).

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Eight West Bank families obtained an order nisi from the Israeli High Court this week barring the authorities from demolishing or sealing their homes before the court hears the cases against 10 of their sons and daughters arrested in early August for alleged membership in Fateh and military actions against the occupation [FJ 8/14].

Other Countries: Spain grants official representation to PLO: ambassadorial-level recognition [PI 8/15].

Military Action

Arab World: Car bomb is exploded in East Beirut, kills 20, wounds 100 [WP 8/14].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Al-Fajr reports 5 major PLO factions (Fateh, DFLP, the Palestinian Communist party, the Arab Liberation Front, and the Palestine Liberation Front) recently agreed in Tunis to convene the PNC within 45 days [FJ 8/8].

Military Action

Arab World: Car bomb explodes in West Beirut, kills 17, wounds over 50 [WP 8/9].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Maj. Gen. Amos Yaron, on "study leave" since being criticized for not alerting his superiors to the Sabra and Shatila massacres 4 years ago, has been appointed Israel's military attache to the U.S., the Israeli army announces [WP 8/2]. Rev. Riah Abu al- 'Assal, of Nazareth, secretary of the Progressive List for Peace, is banned from leaving the country for one year [FJ 8/8].

Arab World: Lebanese President Jumayyil proposes emergency parliamentary session, calls for Syrian help in Lebanon [LT, PI 8/2].

Military Action

Arab World: Car bomb explodes in East Beirut, kills one, injures 30 [NYT 8/2].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. V.P. Bush in Jerusalem meets 18 West Bank and Gaza Palestinians, most of them known to be pro-Jordanian, who urge U.S. to recognize the PLO [NYT 7/30, FJ 8/1, 8/8]. Israeli Central Planning Committee hears objections by 7 West Bank villages to an Israeli plan to confiscate 3,500 dunums of village land for constructing a highway linking Jerusalem with the village of Kufr Qasim [FJ 8/1].

Military Action

Arab World: Car bomb explodes in Muslim West Beirut, killing 25 and wounding 180, while mass funeral is being held in East Beirut for the victims of 7/28 bombing [NYT, WP 7/30].

Military Action

Arab World: Car bomb explodes in East Beirut, kills 32, injures 140 [CT 7/29].

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]. 

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military spokespersons tell reporters armed attacks in the northern West Bank have nearly doubled in the past year, while attacks in the Bethlehem-Hebron area have declined by 11% [JP 3/27]. Students at Bethlehem U. stone cars and pedestrians following Land Day demonstration, unfurl Palestinian flag, throw makeshift gasoline bombs at Israeli soldiers, set up roadblocks; Israeli troops fire in air to disperse them [JP 3/27].

Arab World: Car bomb explodes near Phalange party office in East Beirut, killing 10, wounding 80; 2 hours earlier, 6 were wounded by bomb outside another Phalange party office [NYT, WP 3/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: PLO issues statement on King Hussein's 2/19 speech ending joint Jordanian-PLO peace efforts; PLO expresses "great regret" at the rift, blames it on "Washington's continued bias in favor of the Zionist enemy," hopes to "transcend any negative developments" in its relationship with Jordan [WP, JP 3/9; 3/14]. King Hassan of Morocco urges PLO to form a government-in-exile toncrease its credibility and prestige [JP 3/9].

Military Action

Arab World: Arafat loyalists fight opposition groups inside Shatila refugee camp in S. Beirut [NYT 3/9]. Car bomb explodes in East Beirut near offices of Lebanese Pres. Amin Jumayyil's Phalange party headquarters, killing 5, wounding 30 [NYT, WP 3/9].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Peres states he is considering ways to promote self-rule among Palestinians in the occupied territories, outlines plans to nominate mayors in 3 major West Bank towns, would consider easing restrictions on travel to Jordan [NYT 2/27]. Israeli Army Chief of Staff Moshe Levy states 170 people were arrested during 6-day sweep in S. Lebanon, some have been transferred toprisons in Israel [NYT, TS 2/27].

Arab World: Radio Monte Carlo broadcasts statements by Nayif Hawatmah, general secretary of the DFLP, and a representative of the Palestine Communist party outlining conditions for rapprochement with Yasir Arafat's Fateh faction: (1) cancellation of the 11 February Amman agreement; (2) convening of the PNC; (3) creation of a collective leadership in the PLO [FJ 2/28].

Military Action

Arab World: Car bomb explodes outside entrance to 'Ain al-Hilwah refugee camp, near Sidon, killing driver and wounding 10; explosion occurred a half-hour before Palestinian students were to join a march to commemorate a slain Sidon leader [NYT, WP, CT 2/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Thirteen apartments renovated for Jewish occupancy are consecrated at religious ceremony in heart of Hebron; Housing Ministry has invested $1 million this year for Jewish housing in Hebron [JTA 1/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb explodes in Afula (8th attack in recent months), causing light injury UTA 1/22].

Arab World: Car bomb explodes in East Beirut 30 yards from Phalange party office; 30 killed, 133 injured [FT, CT 1/22; TI 2/3].