The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Several W. Bank and Jerusalem Palestinian political activists are arrested, charged with organizing demonstrations [WP 9/17; FJ 9/20]. Bethlehem U. students hold symbolic funeral to commemorate 5th anniversary of Sabra and Shatila massacres [FJ 9/20]. Inner cabinet adopts economic and cultural sanctions against S. Africa [NYT, WP 9/17]. Palestinian political prisoners at Nafha Prison begin 2-day hunger strike to protest conditions; strike at Ashkelon Prison enters 6th week [FJ 9/20]. Authorities arrest 12 Palestinians in occupied territories: 3 are placed under administrative detention for 6 months; 9 receive 9-day detentions for planning strikes, demonstrations [FJ 9/20]. Israeli High Court rules non-striking Palestinian lawyers have right to form union [FJ 9/20]. Al-Najah U. administration adopts new regulations concerning campus mosque, religious celebrations [FJ 9/20]. Israeli authorities confiscate copies of Arabic dailies in the occupied territories [FJ 9/20].

Other Countries: Hasan 'Abd al-Rahman, director of Palestine Information Office in U.S., says he will sue to prevent State Dept.-ordered closure of PIO [LAT 9/18].

Military Action

Arab World: Lebanese National Resistance Front, groups of Syrian-sponsored Palestinian and leftist Lebanese fighters, attack Israeli patrol just north of Israeli border, killing 3 Israelis. Israeli sources allege guerrillas were trying to infiltrate border and take hostages. In Rashayyah, Israeli infantry and helicopters follow group of fighters spotted approaching Israeli border; 3 guerrillas are killed [WP 9/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli cabinet decides to postpone vote on continuing Lavi project [NYT 8/17]. Palestinian prisoners in Nablus prison begin 2-day hunger strike to protest worsening conditions [FJ 8/23]. Dr. Zakaria al-Agha, chairman of Arab Medical Assoc., is dismissed from his position at Nasir Hospital in Khan Yunis for making political statements to the press without military permission [FJ 8/23]. Israeli court orders demolition of mosque in Beersheba-district village of Rahat on grounds that it was constructed without a license [FJ 8/23]. Police raid Jerusalem offices of Alternative Information Center, confiscate equipment and documents; center reopens after 6-month, police-ordered closure [FJ 9/20].

Arab World: Jericho Mayor Jamil Sabri Khalaf visits Amman for discussions of municipal projects with Jordanian officials [FJ 8/23].

Other Countries: Reports indicate Italian government is donating over $500,000 to UNRWA vocational school in Gaza [FJ 8/23].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli soldier and a civilian are shot, wounded in attack near Jabaliyyah refugee camp on Gaza Strip. Israeli troops seal off camp with barbed wire [FJ 8/23]. Soldiers in Nablus respond to stone-throwing Palestinian youths with tear gas and live ammunition; 3 Palestinians are wounded in the clash [CSM 8/17; FJ 8/23].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: More than 400 students protesting arrest of Palestinians and supporting prison hunger strike clash with Israeli soldiers outside Birzeit University; 1 student shot dead, at least 3 others wounded, 40 arrested. BZU is ordered closed for 4 months [NYT, CSM 4/14]. Bethlehem U. ordered closed for a week [LAT 4/14]. Body of student killed in clash at BZU is smuggled to his family's home in Rafah refugee camp for burial [FJ 4/19]. Al-Najah U. closes until 4/18 in solidarity with BZU [FJ 4/19]. Arab bakers in Jewish quarter of Jerusalem remove bread from windows in response to threats from Orthodox Jews who object to displaying bread during Passover [BS 4/14]. Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails end hunger strike after Prison Authority Director David Mainmon promises humane treatment [FJ 4/19].

Arab World: Leaders of various PLO factions meet in Algiers [NYT, LAT 4/14]. Syrian troops smuggle British physician Pauline Cutting and her nursing staff out of Burj al-Barajinah because of threats from Amal [FJ 4/19].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfew is imposed on Ramallah after student protesters throw stones, molotov cocktail at troops. Curfew also ordered for Balatah and Tulkarm camps [FJ 4/12].

Arab World: Reports charge Jordanian Minister of Occupied Territories Affairs Marwan Dudin was involved in disappearance of funds [FJ 4/12].

Other Countries: Christian Science Monitor reports American Civil Liberties Union has filed lawsuit challenging use of McCarran-Walter Act in case of 7 Palestinians arrested by INS 1/26 [CSM 4/9]. Israeli F. M. Peres concludes 3 days of talks with Soviet representatives in Rome [NYT 4/10]. King Hussein and members of Jordanian government meet with British P. M. Thatcher to discuss possibility of Middle East peace conference [IN 4/10]. Israeli Pres. Herzog on state visit to W. Germany asks Bonn not to sell submarines to Saudi Arabia [LAT 4/10].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Military authorities impose curfews on 2 towns and 2 refugee camps on W. Bank after demonstrations in support of prison hunger strike [CSM 4/10].

Arab World: Four Israeli helicopters attack PLO positions in 'Ayn al-Hilwah in S. Lebanon, killing 2 and wounding 6 [NYT 4/10]. Syrian troops reinforce their posts around Beirut's Shatila and Burj al-Barajinah refugee camps; 47 wounded Palestinians are evacuated from Burj al-Barajinah [NYT, IN 4/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Poice arrest 7 women during Jerusalem rally supporting prison hunger strike [FJ 4/12]. More than 10,000 Syrians and Palestinians join in unveiling of monument to Syrian nationalist leader Sultan Basha al-Atrash in Majdal Shams on the Golan Heights [FJ 4/12]. Attorney for families of 2 students killed in confrontation with Israeli troops last year demands Defense Ministry conduct thorough probe of 12/4 incident at Birzeit U. [FJ 4/12]. Estimated 100 members of Palestinian Family Reunification Com. demonstrate outside P. M. Shamir's office [FJ 4/12].

Arab World: In presence of Syrian military observers, six trucks of food and other supplies donated by Kuwait enter Burj al-Barajinah camp. Equal amounts were given to Amal for distribution to Shi'i residents of the area [GU 4/6]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gaza military court upholds administrative detention of 9 students, aged 16 to 18, accused of participating in demonstrations [FJ 4/3]. More than 50 Palestinian women hold peaceful sit-in at Bethlehem office of International Committee of the Red Cross in support of striking prisoners [FJ 4/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Two Palestinians are wounded when Israeli soldiers fire into Balatah refugee camp crowd demonstrating in support of political prisoners participating in hunger strike [FJ 4/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: MK Abba Eban and other representatives of Labor party meet with 4 Palestinians; joint statement released after the meeting calls for international peace conference including representatives of Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinians [FJ 3/27]. Israeli authorities serve Khalil Ibrahim 'Ashur expulsion order [FJ 3/27]. Trial of Roger Heacock, American professor teaching at Birzeit University, opens [FJ 3/27]. Police and border guards use live ammunition and tear gas to break up demonstration at Jerusalem's al-lbrahimiyyah College [FJ 3/27]. Members of Peace Now, Citizens Rights Movement, and Mapam protest at inauguration ceremony for Betar, W. Bank settlement near Bethlehem [FJ 3/27]. Prisoners in at least 3 Israeli prisons begin hunger strike, demanding impartial inspection, improved conditions in all Israeli prisons within green line and occupied territories [FJ 3/27]. Israeli government promises 3 key witnesses in Pollard spy case that their testimony before Rotenstreich-Tsur board of inquiry will not be made available to U.S. [BS 3/26].