The Palestine Chronology

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].