The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian youth from Beach camp wounded in 12/11 clash with Israeli troops dies in Gaza hospital [NYT 12/22; FJ 12/27]. Def. Min. Rabin returns from U.S. visit [NYT 12/23]. Al-Fajr Arabic daily resumes publication after 10-day closure [FJ 12/27]. Arab and Israeli Hebrew U. students demonstrate outside Knesset in solidarity with Palestinians in W. Bank and Gaza Strip [FJ 12/27]. Military extends closure of Gaza's Islamic U. and Palestine Religious Institute until 12/27 [FJ 12/27]. Israel releases 60 Gazans arrested during recent demonstrations [FJ 12/27].

Arab World: In Cairo, 'Ayn Shams U. students demonstrate in support of Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories [FBIS 12/29].

Other Countries: UN Security Council meeting on recent violence in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip, W. Bank adjourns after PLO and some Arab governments push for more strongly worded resolution against Israel [NYT 12/22]. Midhat Hilali, Arab League official, is shot, wounded by unknown assailant in Athens [FJ 12/27]. Ibrahim Khalid, Palestinian gunman who survived December 1985 attack on Leonardo da Vinci airport, refuses to attend his trial [FJ 12/27].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Inside the green line, hundreds of thousands of Arabs join general strike in solidarity with Palestinians in occupied territories. Israeli police, border guards respond to large demonstrations with tear gas, water cannons. About 200 Palestinians are arrested; 17 Israeli police, border guards injured [WP 12/22; FJ 12/27]. Stone-throwing, tire-burning crowds of demonstrators are reported in Jaffa, Nazareth, Lydda, Ramlah, and Abu Ghawsh. IDF troops fire on West Bank Palestinian crowds throwing Molotov cocktails, killing at least 2 in Jenin-area town of Tubas and 1 in Jenin. At least 22 are wounded by gunfire [NYT, WP 12/22]. Official Israeli death toll of Palestinians killed since 12/9 is now at 19 [CSM 12/22].

Arab World: Israeli and SLA forces raid Hizballah-held villages in S. Lebanon [FJ 12/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Jerusalem, 31st World Zionist Congress ends 5-day meeting after fight between American Jews and Likud supporters over control of Jewish Agency [WP 12/13]. Israel imposes 10-day distribution ban on al-Fajr in Gaza Strip and W. Bank, charging newspaper violated censorship rules. Newspaper's editorial board votes to cease publication until ban is lifted [FJ 12/13].

Arab World: Hizballah claims responsibility for attack on Israeli patrol boat 12/10, says Israeli boat was sunk, 35 sailors killed [NYT 12/12].

Other Countries: UN General Assembly's Com. on International Legal Matters votes 100 to 1 on resolution affirming PLO's right to maintain observer mission [NYT 12/12].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: During demonstrations after noon prayers at Balatah refugee camp, at least 3 Palestinians are shot dead by Israeli troops; at least 7 others shot, wounded. Palestine Press Service reports 4 dead, at least 11 injured. Israel reports 3 police injured in day's fighting. Balatah sources charge Druze border guards have been harrassing, beating camp residents and today shot at Palestinians leaving mosque. Demonstrations are also reported in 'Askar and 'Ayn Bitilma refugee camps, Nablus, and Bayt Furik village. Balatah and 'Askar refugee camps are placed under curfew [WP 12/12; FJ 12/13]. In Gaza Strip's Jabalya refugee camp, 3 Palestinians are wounded by army gunfire [LAT 12/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Knesset votes in favor of continuing development and production of Lavi jet fighter [WP 8/12]. Dr. Thabit Ahmad Thabit, official of W. Bank dentists union, is released after 4 1/2-month administrative detention [FJ 8/16]. Israeli troops remove barbed wire barricades in Gaza City, allowing stores to reopen [FJ 8/16].

Other Countries: The Washington Post reports that in September 1985 Israel and U.S. attempted tolocate and rescue U.S. hostages in Beirut not released after arms shipments toIran [WP 8/9].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian and Lebanese groups claim responsibility for Katyusha rocket attacks on N. Israel and S. Lebanon security zone [CSM 8/11].

Arab World: Israeli helicopters raid Hizballah base near Tibninah, S. Lebanon [WP 8/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Bayt Jann village in the Galilee, hundreds of Palestinian Druze clash with Israeli soldiers and nature reserve officers when authorities try to evict Druze from village land annexed by Israel for a nature reserve; at least 16 Israelis and 6 Druze are injured [BG 7/7; FJ 7/12]. Office of Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek announces mayor will boycott French Consulate's Bastille Day celebration to protest practice of holding separate receptions for Arabs in E. Jerusalem and for Jews in W. Jerusalem [WP 7/7].

Arab World: U.S. envoy Vernon Walters meets in Damascus with Syrian Pres. al-Asad for 2d day of discussions aimed at improving U.S. -Syrian relations [WP, NYT 7/7].

Military Action

Arab World: Combined Israeli ground and air forces fight Hizballah guerrillas in daylong battle near Yatir in S. Lebanon [BG 7/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Settler violence in Dahayshah camp continues; Israeli soldiers disperse settlers and Palestinians with tear gas and live ammunition; 6 settlers are arrested; curfew is imposed on camp. Military breaks up protest at Askar refugee camp and imposes curfew. Estimated 1,500 students gather at Islamic University in Gaza to protest 20 years of occupation [BG 6/8]. Israeli cabinet approves nomination of Moshe Arad as new ambassador to U.S. [WP, CSM 6/8].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli and SLA forces clash with Amal and Hizballah fighters in Biqa' Valley; at least 3 Lebanese are killed. In separate incident, Israeli soldier is killed, 2 wounded by bomb in town of Taybah, 3 miles north of security zone [WP 6/8].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Islamic University in Gaza reopens [FJ 4/26]. Estimated 1,000 Naqab residents participate in rally and march in Laqiya village to protest house demolition and land confiscation policies [FJ 4/26]. Thousands join in Nazareth demonstration supporting Palestinian political prisoners and protesting arrests of Palestinian activists and Israeli measures at Birzeit University [FJ 4/26].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli and SLA troops kill at least 18 Hizballah fighters inside Israel's security zone in S. Lebanon; 4 Israelis are wounded [NYT 4/20; JPI 5/2]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque join demonstration after noon prayers; in Nablus, troops disperse demonstration, order al-Rawda College closed until 4/24 [FJ 4/12]. Explosion causes extensive damage to new Sultan al-Atrash monument on the Golan Heights. Residents blame Israeli authorities [FJ 4/12].

Other Countries: Turkish police reporthey have foiled plan to kidnap Americans and Israelis living in Turkey and exchange them for 200 members of Islamic Jihad held in Israel [NYT 4/11].

Military Action

Arab World: Syrian military observers escort delegation of Amal officials and pro-Syrian Palestinians to Sidon in S. Lebanon for peace talks. UNRWA delivers 4 truckloads of supplies donated by Australia to Shatila refugee camp [GU 4/11]. Hizballah fighters kill 9 Israelis, wound at least 2, during attack near Qantara, inside S. Lebanon "security zone" [FJ 4/19].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military court sentences 2 Palestinians convicted of 1984 kidnapping and killing of Israeli soldier to life imprisonment [FJ 3/6].

Military Action

Arab World: Hasan Hashim, allegedly tied to both the PLO and Hizballah, fails in attempt to usurp Da'ud Da'ud as head of S. Lebanon's Shi'a [JP 3/5]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Over 500 Birzeit University student marchers protest Amal and Syrian actions against Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and Israeli policies in occupied territories. Students in Ramallah boycott classes, attack Israeli troops with stones. Palestinian artists hold allnight vigil in Jerusalem theater in solidarity with besieged camps in Lebanon [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: Reports indicate Salah Khalaf (Abu lyad) intervened to urge kidnappers holding 4 professors in Beirut not to execute hostages, stressed U.S. would likely retaliate if any of 4 were killed [SG, WT 2/13].

Military Action

Arab World: Joint Syrian-Lebanese patrol kills Hizballah member at Beirut checkpoint. Hizballah responds by capturing 12 Syrian soldiers, 13 Lebanese policemen, burning patrol vehicles [JP 2/13]. Israeli air force jets strike Fateh base at Mieh Mieh refugee camp near Sidon, killing 3, wounding 12 [WT 2/13; BG 2/12]. In Damascus, Syrian troops raid offices of Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, arrest senior official [NYT 2/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Estimated 200 Palestinians gather in Jerusalem to protest Israeli policy preventing family reunification [WP 2/8; FJ 2/13]. Thousands of Umm alFahm residents rally to protest Israeli refusal to release funds for financially crippled town and plans to confiscate town's land [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: Revolutionary Justice Organization, captors of American and French hostages, issues statement warning against U.S. military attack on Lebanon [WP 2/7]. In Damascus, Amal leader Nabih Berri proposes to release Israeli pilot in exchange for freedom of 400 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel and 4 professors held hostage in Beirut, says Terry Waite will be freed "very soon" [WP 2/8].

Military Action

Arab World: Amal fighters shoot and kill 3 Palestinians attempting tobring a truckload of flour through Amal positions to Beirut's Burj al-Barajinah refugee camp [FJ 2/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: Al-Fajr reports the Merkovitch Committee, formed to investigate issue of unlicensed construction in the occupied territories, recommends that, of 5,400 unlicensed Arab homes currently scheduled for demolition, 2,600 be given legal status, 300 be destroyed immediately, and 2,500 be scheduled for demolition at a later date [FJ 2/6]. Israeli military authorities order al-Najah University closed for 1 day to prevent possible campus protests [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: Starving residents of Beirut's Burj al-Barajinah refugee camp ask religious leaders for dispensation to eat human flesh [IN 2/7].

Other Countries: Arab-American groups charge 1/27 arrests of Palestinians in Los Angeles are beginning of U.S. plan to round up and deport Arabs [WP 2/7]. Amnesty International spokesman reports Arab prisoners held in S. Lebanon's SLArun al-Khiyam Detention Camp were tortured with electrical shockwaves [FJ 2/13].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Two Israeli soldiers are injured by stones thrown at them while they patrolled Balatta refugee camp [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: Israeli navy stops Maria R., freighter enroute from Cyprus to Lebanon, arrests 8 Egyptian crewmen, 50 unarmed Palestinians [LM 2/10; WP 2/8]. SLA and Israeli forces engage in heavy fighting with Hizballah forces in Israel's "security zone" in S. Lebanon. At least 8 Hizballah, 1 SLA fighters are killed [IN 2/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P. M. Shamir rejects idea of international conference on Middle East peace [LT 1/31]. Golan Heights Arabs erect monumento Syrian nationalist leader Sultan Basha al-Atrash. Israeli authorities alter policy and permit statue to stand [FJ 2/6]. Officials order al-Najah University closed for the day, citing rumors of student demonstration [FJ 2/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian youth wounded 1/29 in clash between students and military dies, provoking further protests [FJ 2/6].

Arab World: Palestinian forces attack Amal positions in attempt to relieve military pressure on refugee camps. Police report 2 killed, 40 wounded [LAT 1/3 1]. PLO fighters turn over their positions in Maghdushah to Hizballah and troops of Popular Nasserite leader Mustafa Sa'd [FJ 2/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: John Cardinal O'Connor meets with F.M. Peres, visits Gaza Strip, and stresses poverty and statelessness of Palestinians before ending visit to Jordan and Israel [NYT, WP 1/6]. Two Arab houses in Yatta are demolished by Israeli authorities, leaving 15 homeless. Authorities charge the owners did not obtain proper construction permits. In the last week, 6 Arab houses have been demolished by Israeli authorities on similar charges [FJ 1/9].

Arab World: UN Undersec. Gen. for Special Political Affairs meets with Lebanese Pres. Jumayyil and P.M. Karami to discuss renewal of mandate for UN peace-keeping force in Lebanon [WP 1/6].

Military Action

Arab World: Bomb explodes under SLA armored personnel carrier, kills 4, wounds 6 near Markaba, in the "security zone." Police report Israeli helicopters attack Hizballah strongholds in retaliation; Israel denies carrying out such an attack [WP, NYT 1/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: John Cardinal O'Connor visits the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque and meets with Pres. Herzog at the president's mansion [NYT 1/6; WP 1/5]. U.S. defense official arrives in Tel Aviv in an effort to persuade Israel to drop American-funded Lavi project in favor of a less expensive warplane [WP 1/5]. Interior Affairs Minister Peretz resigns rather than obey court order requiring him to register an American convert as a Jew [PI 1/5].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli helicopters attack Khirbat Silim and Qabrikha, believed to be Hizballah bases, as Israeli armored vehicles mass near Bint jubayl. Reports list at least 15 villagers killed or wounded [WP, LAT 1/5]. Palestinian statement says Amal-PLO battles have destroyed more than 85% of Shatila and 50% of Burj al-Barajinah [WP 1/5].