The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Three Palestinians are deported to Jordan: Amin Ramzi Dawish Maqbul, of Nablus; Walid Ahmad Mahmud Nazzal, of Jenin district; and Bahjat Mustafa Hasan al-Biyadi Jayyusi, of Tulkarm district. Nazzal is accused of being a senior leader in the DFLP, Maqbul of being a Fateh leader for the Nablus area, and Jayyusi of incitement and stone throwing [JP 10/3]. Students in Gaza, W. Bank demonstrate in support of PLO, against Tunis raid; Palestinian flag raised, Arafat's photo raised, tires bumed, stones thrown. Soldiers shoot to disperse crowds. Passenger on Israeli bus injured by breaking glass [NYT 10/3]. Israeli settler Yosef Hamoi, from Elon Moreh settlement, is convicted of manslaughter in the 1983 killing of an 8-year-old Nablus girl, and of causing grievous bodily harm to her sister. Settler Ephraim Segal, with Hamoi at the time, is convicted of trying to subom witnesses, and Pinhas Mahrabis convicted of destroying evidence. Sentencing will follow [JP 10/3].

Arab World: PLO officials estimate 67 dead, over 100 wounded in Tunis attack; hospital reports 47 dead, 65 wounded [NYT 10/3]. Anti-American demonstration in Tunis draws 7,000 [LAT 10/3].

Other Countries: Pres. Reagan expresses his "sincere condolences" to Tunisia for Israel's 10/1 raid on PLO headquarters there. White House spokesman Larry Speakes says the Israeli attack is "understandable as an expression of self-defense," but "cannot be condoned" [CT, NYT 10/3; TI 10/14].

Military Action

Arab World: SLA patrol is attacked by gunfire in the security zone. SLA troops later direct mortar and tank fire at Shi'ite village of Kafra north of security zone [JP 10/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Peres criticizes U.S. Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy's plan for preliminary meeting with joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation and vetoes another suggested Palestinian delegate Nabil Sha'th. Peres expresses confidence in King Hussein's desire for peace, says Israel wants to open negotiations with joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation immediately [JP 9/6]. Negev Bedouin given o.k. to elect 15-member delegation to the soon-to-be-established regional committee on Bedouin affairs [JP 9/6].

Other Countries: Washington Post reports U.S. administration is considering sending Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy to meet with Jordanian-Palestinian delegation that would include Nabil Sha'th, a close personal advisor to Arafat. Israel vehemently protestshe proposal [WP 9/3, 9/7]. Jerusalem Post reports Reagan administration iformed Congress in July in classified 17-page report that Israel's "qualitative" military edge over the Arabs is "secure and likely to grow stronger, under present policy, at least through the rest of this decade" [JP 9/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli truck driver Moshe Fitusi, 28, is critically stabbed in Gaza City; Israeli settlers torch Palestinian home in the West Bank in retaliation. Gaza City sealed off and 500 residents reportedly detained by army for questioning. Home of Palestinian exprisoner freed in 5/20 prisoner exchange set afire in Dura village by Israeli settlers, home of another painted with threatening slogans and its windows smashed in Balata refugee camp near Nablus. Groups of armed settlers reported roaming streets of Ramallah and Nablus. Israeli authorities briefly detain 9 Tehiya members who squat at Tel Rumeida in Hebron [CSM, PI, NYT, JP 9/6; JTA 9/9].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin fails to persuade 3 MKs occupying apartment in Hebron to end illegal sit-in [WP 8/20]. Peres says govemment will remain sole body to authorize timing and location of settlement in occupied territories. Four more MKs join the protest sit-in: Yuval Ne'eman, Tehiya; Haim Druckman, Morasha; Benny Shalita and Dov Shilansky, Likud [JP 8/20]. Reports indicate Fara'a prison near Nablus has stepped up use of torture and intimidation. Water is often cut and quality of food is deteriorating. Overcrowding continues [FJ 8/23]. West Bank land dealer Moshe Zar submits defense in 9-month-old suit brought against him by 9 Beersheba residents who say he failed to deliver on IS 54 million of land purchases [JP 8/20]. Rabbi Meir Kahane, founder of Jewish Defense League, states he has resigned as group's leader, in move to save chances of getting visa to the U.S. since Knesset passed bill 7/31 outlawing MKs from having dual citizenship, which Kahane now has. Irv Rubin, 40, is appointed new leader [NYT 8/20].

Other Countries: Pope John Paul II, speaking in Casablanca, Morocco during an unprecedented visit to a Muslim country, states the status of Jerusalem, now under Israeli control, should be reviewed [WP 8/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gasoline bomb is thrown at Israeli military vehicle in Gaza Strip between Gaza City and Jabalya refugee camp. No casualties reported [FJ 8/23].

Arab World: SLA militia, trying to retaliate against Shi'ite attacks, mistakenly shell Irish UNIFIL post, narrowly miss killing troops [FT 8/20].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Four houses in 'Ain Beit al-Ma' refugee camp near Nablus are sealed. Israeli spokesman says houses belong to families of youth accused of several recent gasoline bomb attacks [FJ 8/23]. Balata refugee camp near Nablus is put under curfew following 8/15 shooting of the mukhtar. Residents are subjected to 48 hours of continuous search, harassment, and interrogation [FJ 8/23]. Foreign Min. Shamir, speaking at a public meeting in Ganei Tikva, says prosecution of individuals involved in fraudulent land deals in the occupied territories should not be allowed to challenge entire settlement process [JP 8/18]. Jewish Week reports 70,000 Palestinians from the occupied territories work inside the green line and as many as 50,000 of them sleep inside the green line without proper authorization from the labor exchanges, according to testimony presented to Knesset Interior Committee [JW 8/16]. The Washington Post reports Egyptian tour groups have started visiting Israel; Egyptian businessmen are being granted import licenses for Israeli goods for the first time since 1982 [WP 8/17]. Honduras announces it will send resident ambassador to Israel. Israel is reported to be planning aid to Honduras. Israeli officials state Honduras has not asked for military aid [JWP 8/16].

Arab World: The Economist reports on conditions in Sabra, Shatila, and Burj al-Barajinah, as observed by the British charity group Medical Aid for Palestinians, following the siege: of 70,000 original inhabitants of the camps, nearly 18,000 have fled to makeshift shelters in other parts of Beirut; 14,000 have moved to southern Lebanon; 1,500 were captured; Palestinians inside the camps have buried 638, mostly civilians; Gaza Hospital was bumed; there are only 9 Palestinian doctors and less than 20 foreign medical assistants left; water and food are being let through, but there is no protection for the Palestinians [EC 8/16]. U.S. special envoy Richard Murphy arrives in Egypt to confer with President Husni Mubarak on latest attempts to revive stalled Middle East peace negotiations [LAT, NYT 8/17].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Hand grenade is thrown at military car parked next to city hospital in Ramallah. Curfew is imposed, several youths are arrested [FJ 8/23].

Arab World: Fighting in Beirut spreads from southern Beirut to engulf the whole city; 19 killed and 82 wounded [NYT 8/17]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli government announces economic austerity program: 18.8 percent devaluation of shekel, 24 percent price increases in governments-subsidized products, dismissal of 9,000 government employees, government spending cut of $750 million, and three-month wage and price freeze [NYT 7/2, LAT 7/17]. Government predicts incomes will be reduced 30 percent. Riots follow the announcement [LAT 7/17]. Israeli authorities prevent Bank of Palestine in Gaza from selling 100,000 new shares in Gaza, Ramallah, and Nablus [FJ 7/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P. M. Peres opposes "preliminary talks" between U.S. and joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation [JP 6/10]. Eleven Palestinian women political prisoners at Neve Tertza prison near Ramleh begin work strike to protest decision to integrate them with criminal prisoners [FJ 6/14]. Women punished by being held in cells 23 hours a day. Israeli military officials announce that starting 6/10 no joumalists will be permitted to enter southern Lebanon from Israel [WP 6/10]. IDF declare Hebron village of Raq'ah closed military area; impose curfew after 6/4 grenade attack on military vehicle [FJ 6/14].

Arab World: At urging of PLO Chairman Arafat, Arab League meets in Tunis to discuss three-week-old crisis [NYT 6/10]; declines to conduct inquiry into massacres of Palestinians in camps [LT 6/10]. Syrian-sponsored peace talks are deadlocked: Palestinians refuse to surrender arms to Amal [LAT 6/10].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Petrol bomb is thrown into Israeli bus in Nablus, West Bank; no injuries. Tourist bus stoned near Hebron. Shots fired at IDF truck in Gaza [JP 6/10].

Arab World: Palestinian fighters in Druzec-ontrolled hills east of Beirut bombard Shi'ite militia attacking three Palestinian camps [NYT 6/10].