The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Gaza, 3 Israeli buses used to transport Palestinian workers to Israeli factories are torched [FJ 10/25]. In Jerusalem's Old City, rabbinical students attack 4 Arabs; police arrest 3 Jews [CSM 10/20].

Arab World: Palestinian child abducted in Beirut 3 months ago is released by his kidnappers [FJ 10/25].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Demonstrations are reported in Shu'fat refugee camp, Hebron, and E. Jerusalem [FJ 10/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Foreign Ministry blocks P. M. Shamir's message to Israeli embassies that international conference plan is dead, substitutes message that proposal is still alive [NYT 5/15]. Marwan Barghuthi, Birzeit U. student council pres., and Khalil 'Ashur, al-Najah U. student, are expelled to Jordan [FJ 5/17]. Arab local councils inside green line hold 1-day strike to protest budgetary and development inequality [FJ 5/17].

Arab World: Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine releases video of Alann Steen, previously reported near death, stating fate of American hostages held in Beirut is still tied to release of Arab prisoners from Israeli jails [WP 5/15].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Two Muslim Americans in Beirut to negotiate for release of American hostages leave country after militiamen ransack, rob their hotel rooms [NYT 2/20]. SLA commander Lahad rejects plan to swap Arab prisoners for foreign hostages, states willingness to swap them for Israeli soldiers [WP 2/20].

Other Countries: Israeli P. M. Shamir, on visit to U.S., says he will accept an international Middle East peace conference if U.S.S.R. and "militant" Arab states are excluded [PI 2/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Troops use tear gas to break up group of stone-throwing demonstrators in Ramallah; use tear gas and live ammunition against protestors blockading streets in Rafah, Khan Yunis, and refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, wounding at least 3 [FJ 2/27].

Arab World: Police in S. Beirut report "de facto truce" around Burj al-Barajinah and Shatila refugee camps [LAT 2/20].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P. M. Shamir reiterates his opposition to international Middle East peace conference [NYT 2/12]. Shamir also states U.S. should continue effortso reestablish contact with Iran, indicates disapproval of Israel's role in shipping U.S. arms to Iran [WP 2/12].

Other Countries: Two of the 6 Arabs arrested in Los Angeles 1/26 on charges of membership in PFLP claim prison officials are denying them basic rights [LAT 2/12].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops use tear gas and rubber bullets to break up group of approximately 120 women marching to Nablus. The women are relatives of Balatta camp youths arrested 1/20. Students at Nablus' al-Rawda College blockade campus-area roads, pelt Israeli soldiers with stones and empty bottles. Troops respond with tear gas and live ammunition; district military commander orders college closed for 2 weeks. Israeli troops arrest 30 Hebron University students after violent campus confrontation [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: Amal forces refuse to allow trucks of food to enter Burj al-Barajinah refugee camp in Beirut [IN 2/12].

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].