The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: At least 15,000 Jews and Palestinians form human chain for peace 2.5 miles long around walls of Jerusalem's Old City. At several points police try to break up crowds by firing water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets. At least 50 are arrested, 70 wounded [NYT, WP 12/31; FBIS 1/3; FJ 1/8].

Military Action

Arab World: At Arafat's instruction, PLO militiamen south of Sidon take up positions to prevent clashes between Hizballah and Amal from spreading to PLO-controlled areas [NYT 12/31; FBIS 1/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa begins Christmas pilgrimage to Holy Land, offers support for creation of independent Palestinian state as well as for Israel's "independence and t rritorial integrity" [NYT 12/24].

Arab World: Syrian Vice President Khaddam arrives in Cairo for meetings with Mubarak [FBIS 12/26].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2 Rafah Palestinians are killed in clashes with IDF troops; at least 20 are wounded. Military orders closing of 11 Gaza schools, most of them operated by UNRWA, for stonethrowing incidents [FBIS 12/27].

Arab World: Fierce fighting between Amal and Hizballah forces breaks out in southern Lebanon; police report 17 killed, 40 injured [NYT 12/24].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Yedi'ot Aharonot publishes interview with Shamir in which Shamir says a Palestinian state already exists, and that is Jordan [FBIS 12/11].

Arab World: U.S. State Dep't confirms Iraq has successfully tested satellitelaunching rocket; it is first Arab nation to do so [WP 12/9].

In Jordan, more than 1,000 Palestinians block Amman-Damascus highway, demonstrate against new P.M. Mudar Badran. The demonstration is dispersed by police firing tear gas [FBIS 12/11].

Military Action

Arab World: Hizballah and Amal agree to cease-fire; it does not hold and at least 10 persons are killed [FBIS 12/8].

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: UN Security Council resolution calling on Israel to "lift its siege" in O.T. is vetoed by U.S. The 14 other members of the Security Council voted for the resolution [NYT 11/8].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Army reports it has arrested Hamas members from Gaza Strip in connection with killing an Israeli soldier and kidnapping another [WP 11/8]. Israeli police commander recommends that six Israeli Arab police officers be tried for fatally shooting an 18-year-old W. Bank Palestinian at close range two weeks ago, then reporting that he was shot when he ran a roadblock [NYT 11/8]. 13-year-old Qalqiliyyah resident is shot, killed, 29 others are wounded, and 10 are detained in clash with border police; curfew is imposed on Qalqiliyyah; 28-year-old Palestinian in Nablus accused of collaboration is killed, another is wounded [FBIS 11/9].

Arab World: Israeli Air Force planes bomb Hizballah bases in South Lebanon; a Katyusha rocket is launched from Lebanon into the "security zone," no one is injured [FBIS 11/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Lebanese Christian leader Aoun accepts the Arab League's 7-point peace plan, agreeing to, among other points, an immediate cease-fire [WP, LAT, NYT 9/23]. Lebanon's Hizballah movement threatens vengeance on Saudi Arabia for 9/21 beheading of 16 Shiite Kuwaitis [WP 10/23].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2 Palestinians accused of collaboration are killed, one in Gaza, the other inside Ketziot prison. General strike is observed throughout O.T. Israeli military says it has improved procedures for notifying families when relatives are detained; new detainees will be required to write postcards to their family [LAT 9/23].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Rejecting President Mubarak's call to trade land for peace, Israeli P.M. Shamir says, "I don't think he meant it seriously. He was only joking . . . There is no element in the Arab world willing to give us peace." Shamir aides call on Mubarak to "stop preaching" [LAT, NYT 9/22].

Arab World: After meeting with President Mubarak, PLO leader Arafat says he endorses "open talks" with Israel, and urges citizens to help him resisthe controversial I. D. cards required of O.T. residents. [LAT, NYT 9/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinians stone bus carrying West German tourists through Bethlehem, injuring two [LAT 9/22; MET 10/3].

Arab World: 16 pro-Iranian Shiite Kuwaitis are publicly beheaded in Saudi Arabia in connection with bombing during the annual pilgrimage in July [NYT, WP, LAT 9/22]. Lebanese Muslim member of parliament, Nazem Kaderi, 73, is assassinated in West Beirut [LAT, NYT 9/22]. Israeli troops attack Hizballah positions north of the "security zone" in Lebanon [MET 10/ 3]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF spokesperson says army has drawn up long-term plan that assumes Israel will still occupy the W. Bank and Gaza in the year 2000 [WP 8/31; MET 9/12]. Israeli defense source says over the past 3 weeks IDF and Shin Bet have rounded up some 170 W. Bank Palestinians who "make up the backbone of the hard core leadership of the intifada in the W. Bank" [FBIS 9/1].

Arab World: Yasir Arafat arrives in Cairo for talks with President Hosni Mubarak and senior Egyptian officials [FBIS 8/30].

Other Countries: UN Security Council adopts resolution "deploring" Israel's deportation of Palestinians, and calls on Israel to respect the Geneva Convention in the O.T. [WP 8/31]. The resolution passes with 14 of 15 Security Council members voting for it; the U.S. abstains [FBIS 9/1; MET 9/12].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Two Israeli soldiers are wounded by stones in Khan Yunis. Classes for 10th and 11th grade students resume in the W. Bank. Curfew in Bayt Sahur is lifted, curfew is imposed on Dayr al-Balah. IDF Radio reports that the departure of workers for jobs in Israel is sporadic [FBIS 8/30]. Army reports 3 Katyusha rockets fired into the Galilee panhandle causing slight damage but no injuries, claims Hizballah is responsible [FBIS 8/311.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel deports five Palestinians accused of leading the intifada in the W. Bank. 4 are deported to Lebanon, while the fifth, Dr. Taysir Aruri, is expelled to France [NYT, LAT 8/28; MET 9/5].

Other Countries: PLO spokesman in Washington says Arafat is "seriously considering" coming to New York in September for the UN General Assembly, and that the purpose of the visit "would not be to challenge the United States . . . [but] to facilitate and encourage the peacemaking process" [NYT 8/28].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 14 Gaza residents are detained after Molotov cocktail is thrown at army post. Petrol bombs are thrown at soldiers in Gaza and Jabaliyyah. Curfews on Rafah and Jabaliyyah lifted, curfew imposed on 'Ayn 'Arik near Ramallah after stonethrowing incident. At least 18 Palestinians wounded in clashes with IDF forces throughout the O.T.; two children from Kafr Ni'mah are injured when a suspicious object explodes in their faces. Military court sentences 17-year-old Palestinian woman to 13 months in prison for attacking an IDF officer with a knife [FBIS 8/28].

Arab World: Israeli Air Force fighters bomb Hizballah camps in South Lebanon, killing 2 and wounding at least 10 [NYT 8/28]. At least 7 others are killed, 15 wounded in further Israeli raids on South Lebanon Hizballah bases [WP, LAT 8/29].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Laflets distributed in E. Jerusalem announce birth of Hizballah in Palestine, declare jihad against Israel and U.S. [FBIS 8/28].

Arab World: In Aden for visit, Arafat says latest round of U.S.-PLO talks did not go as they should have, blames U.S. intransigence [FBIS 8/28].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 46-year-old Israeli is found in a W. Bank village after reportedly being kidnapped on 8/24 by masked Palestinians [FBIS 8/25; NYT 8/26; MET 9/5]. Israeli figures say 13 Palestinians have been killed in the O.T. in the past eight days; that the violence has increased because Palestinian leaders have vowed to step up the intifada [WP 8/26]. Acting under new regulation that allows troops to shoot at masked Palestinians, soldiers shoot, wound one of several masked youths who clashed with IDF patrol in Jabaliyyah [FBIS 8/28].

Other Countries: Five-vessel French Navy task force remains off the Lebanese coast [NYT 8/26]; the French are joined by eight U.S. ships, including the battleship Iowa. Soviet guided missile cruiser Kirov is also there [FBIS 8/25].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Gaza Strip at least 8 Palestinians are shot, injured by Israeli troops. In Duhayshah troops shoot, wound 2 Palestinians. Nur Shams remains under curfew for 10th consecutive day. Israeli soldiers demolish or seal 3 Palestinian houses in Gaza [FJ 7/31].

Arab World: Israeli commandos kidnap Shaykh 'Abd al-Karim 'Ubayd, a leader of Hizballah, and 2 others from Jibsheet, 16 km north of Israeli border; soldiers kill 1 Lebanese villager in raid [LAT 7/29, MET 8/8].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel bans membership in Islamic Resistance Movement, Islamic Holy War, Hizballah; membership is punishable by up to 10 years in prison [NYT 6/19].

Arab World: Muhammed Milhem, member PLO executive committee in charge of O.T. affairs, states that PLO accepts election proposal as long as elections are conducted with superpower guarantees [FBIS 6/16].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish settler is found stabbed to death outside Ariel [FBIS 6/19, NYT 6/20]. Israeli troops shoot, kill 17-year-old Palestinian in Nablus [NYT 6/19, FJ 6/26]. Soldiers shoot, kill 20- year-old Palestinian in Nablus [FJ 6/26]. In Gaza Palestinian shoots at Israeli soldier, kills Palestinian bystander [NYT 6/19].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 24 MKs denounce as racist Ariel's decision to make Arab workers wear badges [NYT 6/1]. Knesset Finance Committee approves NIS (new Israeli shekels) 30 million for settlements, roads in O.T., NIS 10 million for Jewish Agency's settlement department [FBIS 6/ 1]. Bank of Israel reports that intifadah cost Israel's economy $650 million in 1988; Israel's trade surplus with O.T. dropped 76% to $42 million; overall exports fell 4.2%; tourism fell 15% [FBIS 6/2].

Other Countries: Amnesty International reports that Israel has detained 5,000 Palestinians without charge or trial since beginning of uprising [NYT 6/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops open fire, kill 20-year-old Palestinian, wound 3 in Khan Yunis [LAT, NYT 6/1]. In Tel Aviv 18-year-old Palestinian from Nusayrat dies from wounds received 5/30; 15-year-old Palestinian dies from wounds received 2 weeks earlier [FBIS 5/31, NYT 6/1]. An additional 13 Palestinians are injured in Gaza; at least 4 Palestinians in W. Bank [FBIS 6/1]. Arab World: Israeli warplanes bomb Hizballah, Abu Nidal bases near Beirut; 5 guerrillas are killed, 3 injured [LAT 6/1]. IDF troops shoot, kill 3 guerrillas in south Lebanon, several members SLA reported killed [FBIS 5/31, MET 6/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Hizballah, Amal end yearlong feud, agree to force Israeli army out of southern Lebanon [CSM, FJ 2/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: At least 17 Palestinians are injured in Gaza. In Rujay 10 Palestinians are arrested. In Fasayil 3 homes are destroyed by Israeli troops. In Qalqiliyyah soldiers uproot 120 citrus trees [FJ 2/6].