The Palestine Chronology

Military Action

Arab World: Palestinian guerrillas battle Shi'ite militiamen in Sabra and Shatila refugee camps; 2 Palestinian and 2 Amal gunmen are reportedly killed, 30-civilians wounded [NYT, WP 3/30].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli police announce they have arrested 6 members of a West Bank Palestinian family in connection with kidnap-slaying of Israeli soldier David Manos, whose remains were found in a West Bank cave 2 weeks ago [JTA 3/28].

Arab World: Shi'ite Amal militia announces it holds 3 Palestinian guerrillas who the PLO claimed were killed in cross-border raid into Israel in which 4 Israeli soldiers were also claimed to have been killed [JP 3/26]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: The Arab Students Front, affiliated with the Israeli Communist party, wins the majority of seats in elections for the Arab student committees in 4 of the 5 Israeli universities [FJ 3/28].

Arab World: Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad) states thousands of guerrillas who left Lebanon during 1982 Israeli invasion have returned to take up fighting positions [NYT 3/20].

Other Countries: Head of PLO political department Faruq al-Qaddumi holds talks in London with British Labor party leader Neil Kinnock, in apparent effort to win support for the organization following last month's collapse of PLO-Jordanian peace initiative [MG 3/20].

Military Action

Arab World: Gunmen in Cairo open fire on car carrying 2 Israeli diplomats and their wives, killing 1 woman, injuring 3 others; anonymous letter claims responsibility by "Egypt's Revolution." (Attack is 2nd on Israeli diplomats in Cairo in less than a year by the previously unknown group) [NYT, WP 3/20].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli security authorities seal 1 house and 3 rooms belonging to 4 residents of Tulkarm accused of throwing fire bombs at Israeli vehicles [JP 3/7].

Arab World: Israeli journalist Uri Avneri is expelled from Jordan to Egypt after reportedly holding contacts with Jordanian and PLO officials in Amman; Avneri retums to Israel, states he met with senior Jordanian and Palestinian personalities, including at least 1 cabinet minister and PNC members, denies he was expelled. (Avneri's trip was approved by P.M. Peres, Foreign Minister Shamir, and Defense Minister Rabin) [JP 3/7; WP 3/8]. Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shar' concludes 2 days of apparently unproductive talks in England with senior British officials; he states in press conference that Israel is main obstacle to peace in the M.E., that Syria allows Abu Nidal group to maintain political press office in Damascus but it "has nothing to do with violence" [WP, MG, LT 3/6].

Military Action

Arab World: SLA soldier is killed by roadside bomb; Israelis kill 2 Arab guerrillas in S. Lebanon "security zone"; Lebanese security sources say Israeli troops kill 1 farmer, injure another in raid outside "security zone" [MG 3/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: An Israeli army intelligence report dated 6/30/48 has recently surfaced which states more than 70 percent of the Palestinian exodus from Palestine by June 1948 was caused by Jewish military attacks [JP 3/2]. In last 3 days, Israeli security forces have freed 32 Palestinians held under administrative detention orders because 6-month detention period had ended; freed detainees were asked to sign document sating they would not commit future offenses; some refused to sign [JP 3/3]. Israel has agreed to allow Golan Heights Druze to export apples to Syria, possibly through Jordan or directly; P.M. Peres also favors renewing family reunions between Golan and Syrian Druze, which were stopped by Syrians several years ago [JP 3/2].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli-appointed Palestinian mayor of Nablus, Zafir alMasri, is shot dead by a single, unidentified assailant. In Damascus, the PFLP claims responsibility; in Beirut, a telephone caller claims responsibility on behalf of Fateh Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal group) [NYT, PI, CT 3/3]. Nablus city council appoints Deputy Mayor Hafiz Tuqan mayor [CSM 3/3].

Arab World: Israeli army patrol north of the S. Lebanon "security zone" intercepts guerrilla squad, kills 1 [JP, JTA 3/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Deputy head of the DFLP Yasir 'Abd Rabbu states PLO is considering abrogating 11 February Hussein-Arafat agreemento heal rifts in the PLO and head off what he called attempts by King Hussein to create a substitute Palestinian leadership [NYT 3/2].

Other Countries: Thirty-four members of Congress serving on committees that deal with foreign policy received nearly half the $853,520 in contributions made last year by 65 political action committees advocating strong support for Israel, according to a report by Common Cause [WP 3/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Two guerrillas from the DFLP wearing Israeli army uniforms and carrying Israeli army weapons are caught after crossing Lebanese border into Israel; both are killed [LT, NYT, JP 3/3].