The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Military orders all government schools in W. Bank closed for 2 days [LAT 12/21; FJ 12/27]. Israeli cabinet discusses violence in the occupied territories, defends army's handling of disturbances [LAT 12/21]. Davar reports police investigation into death of 'Awad Hamdan, Palestinian who died while in police custody, had uncovered evidence suggesting 1of 3 Israeli interrogators was involved in Hamdan's death; other interrogators will be reprimanded for lying to Landau Commission [FJ 12/27]. Israel orders Hebron U., Abu Dis College, and al-'Asriyyah Community College closed for 1 month because of recent student protests [FJ 12/27]. Umm al-Fahm residents protest Israeli measures in occupied territories, call for end to occupation [FJ 12/27]. In meeting with Pres. Herzog, Italy's Pres. Cossiga expresses concern about events in occupied territories [FBIS 12/22].

Arab World: Egypt delivers formal protest of Israel's handling of occupied territory disturbances to Israeli ambassador, the 5th such protest in 12 days. Hani al-Hassan, aide to PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat, arrives in Egypt for talks [NYT 12/21]. In Sidon, 7,500 Palestinian and Lebanese Muslim protesters join in anti-Israel march [CSM, LAT 12/21].

Other Countries: Pope John Paul II appeals for peace in Holy Land, expresses support for Palestinian people [WP 12/21].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Violent disturbances continue in W. Bank and Gaza Strip; at least 6 are shot, wounded in clashes with Israeli troops, 4 of them during large demonstration in West Bank's Far'ah refugee camp [LAT 12/21]. Curfews are imposed on Far'ah and 'Askar refugee camps [NYT 12/21]. Soldiers clash with large demonstration in Ramallah, and Am'ari, Jalazun, and Qalandiya refugee camps [FJ 12/27]. Protesters burn, destroy Egged bus carrying workers from Rafah [FJ 12/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ramallah's al-'Asriyyah Community College is given 1-week closure order following student demonstrations. Demonstration is also reported in Khan Yunis [FJ 12/6]. Islamic Bloc candidates win all seats in elections at Gaza's Islamic U. for women'student council [FJ 12/6]. Israeli border guards uproot more than 400 olive trees and 300 fruit trees in Husan village [FJ 12/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: At Gaza Islamic U., 2 Israeli soldiers raid campus, fire into air [FJ 12/6]. Israeli soldier is wounded in hand grenade and gunfire attack along Egypt-Gaza Strip border near Rafah [WP, NYT 12/2]. Israeli troops open fire on demonstrators in Khan Yunis [FJ 12/6].

Arab World: IDF planes conduct mock raids near Sidon, wounding 3 [CSM 12/2].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli cabinet votes to cancel 7-year-old Lavi jet fighter project. Demonstrating Israeli Aircraft workers block highway near factory [LAT 8/31]. In Rafah, Palestinian child is shot in leg by Israeli truck driver who alleges he opened fire after group of children threw stones at him [FJ 9/6]. Trial of Mordechai Vanunu begins under extraordinarily heavy security; Vanunu faces life imprisonment for selling The Times of London information about Israel's nuclear facility at Dimona [WP, LAT 8/3 1]. In Jenin area, 5 people are injured when 2 gas bombs are thrown at Arab bus. In Gaza, Israeli police order 30 stores closed after gas bomb is thrown at Israeli car [FJ 9/6]. Palestinian-owned poultry farm in Nablus-area village of Naqura is demolished by Israeli bulldozers. It is the 3d farm destroyed in the past week [FJ 9/6]. Israeli authorities reopen Rafah crossing to Egypt after 4-day closure. The crossing was closed after acollaborator was attacked [FJ 9/6].

Arab World: Jordanian Ministry for Occupied Territories Affairs agrees to allocate JD 140,000 for development projects in Gaza Strip [FJ 9/6].

Military Action

Arab World: Shi'i guerrillas claim 4 Israeli soldiers were killed in overnight clash in S. Lebanon security zone. Israeli sources state 4 Shi'i fighters were killed north of the security zone [CSM 8/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U. S. envoy Charles Hill meets with Israeli P. M. Shamir to discuss proposed international peace conference [LAT 8/13]. Fu'ad Ishkantna from Rafah is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on charges of Fateh membership and building explosives; another Rafah resident, Nabil Ghazi Sha'th, receives 15-year sentence on similar charges [FJ 8/16]. Israeli authorities confiscate nearly 300 sheep in 'Ayn Malih in Jordan Valley area; sheep are returned after owner pays JD 900 fine [FJ 8/16]. Palestinian is arrested trying to enter Baytar Ilit settlement near Bethlehem [FJ 8/16].

Arab World: Egypt cancels media coverage of upcoming joint Egyptian-U.S. land, sea, and air military maneuvers [WP 8/11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Katyusha rockets land in N. Israel and S. Lebanon security zone in 2d day of attacks [CSM 8/11].

Arab World: Israeli helicopter attack in Nabatiyyah region of S. Lebanon kills 1 Lebanese, wounds 2 others; retaliating Lebanese militiamen shoot, injure 6 Israeli soldiers in attack on Israeli-SLA post in security zone [WP 8/11; FJ 8/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: F.M. Peres reveals he met with Yugoslavian Pres. Lazar Mojsov in Geneva earlier this month [VP 7/28]. During speech in Netanya, Deputy Defense Minister Michael Dekel says U.S. and other Western countries have "moral and political" duty to oversee transfer of Palestinians from W. Bank to Jordan [NYT 7/31]. Al-Shabibah wins all 11 seats in al-Najah University student council elections [FJ 8/2]. Israeli military court in Ramallah acquits Nasir Nimr Iyad of Qalandiyyah refugee camp of security charges [FJ 8/2]. Nazareth's 12th voluntary work camp ends after completing 68 projects [FJ 8/2]. Knesset votes to approve "Galilee law," which would establish a council to oversee and finance increased Jewish development in the Galilee [FJ 8/2].

Arab World: PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat meets with Egypt's Pres. Mubarak in Ethiopia [FJ 8/2].

Other Countries: U.S.S.R. issues Israel its 3d waming of the week pressing Israel to abandon deployment of nuclear-armed Jericho II missile [NYT 7/29; WP 8/1].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli troops land on S. Lebanon shore, kill 7 Nasserite Popular Liberation Army soldiers in battle near Sidon [WP 7/28]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Attomey for 'Izzat Nafsu, former IDF officer convicted of espionage in 1981, petitions High Court to order military to lift secrecy order on Nafsu's appeal [JPI 5/2]. Israel Radio reports Israeli authorities have recently discovered several military cells on the W. Bank [FJ 5/3]. Residents of Bayt 'Ula village in Hebron area hold Friday prayers on land scheduled for confiscation to protest government's plan [FJ 5/17].

Arab World: Egyptian delegation walks out of PNC session in Algiers [NYT 4/28]. Abu al-'Abbas says his future attacks will be aimed at Israel, not "innocents" [LAT 4/25].

Other Countries: Israeli Minister Moshe Arens meets with U.S. Sec. of State Shultz in Washington, reiterates Likud opposition to international peace conference [JPI 5/2]. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, speaking at dinner for visiting Syrian Pres. al-Asad, calls for international peace conference, blames U.S. and Israel for continuing conflict in Middle East [LAT 4/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Demonstrators in Ramallah burn tires and throw stones at IDF patrols. Gaza confrontation results in wounding of 1 soldier and 1 protester [FJ 4/19]. Lydda military court hands down 20-year sentence in case of Shakir Mustafa 'Ayyash, convicted of planting bombs in Tel Aviv in 1979 [FJ 4/19]. Jerusalem's al-Ibrahimiyyah College and Gaza's Islamic U. suspend classes until 4/18 to protest harassment of universities in occupied territories [FJ 4/19]. Bethlehem U. ordered closed until 4/22 [FJ 4/19].

Arab World: Salah Khalaf (Abu lyad) announces PLO decision to abandon pact with Jordan and instead form wider accord with Arab governments [NYT 4/15]. Egypt's Pres. Mubarak says PLO decision to cancel Amman accords reduces chance for international Middle East peace conference in 1987 [SG 4/16].

Military Action

Arab World: Syrian troops reach Awwali River in S. Lebanon [BG 4/16].