The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli High Court orders investigation into death of Palestinian who is believed to have wounded an Israeli soldier in Rafah stabbing incident [NYT 12/20]. Large demonstrations are reported in Nazareth [FJ 12/20]. Israel orders Gaza's Islamic U. and Palestine Religious Institute closed for 1 month [FJ 12/27].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian protesters attack Israeli-owned banks, barricade streets in Arab E. Jerusalem with burning tires and roadblocks; 6 policemen are injured, 33 protesters arrested. On W. Bank, disturbances break out in Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, Bethlehem, and other towns. Army imposes curfews on Balatah and 'Askar refugee camps, uses tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Palestine Press Service reports 2 Arabs are shot, wounded near Bethlehem [NYT 12/20]. Hebron U. is ordered closed following campus protests against Israeli use of force in occupied territories; Palestinian student is wounded by army gunfire during demonstration [FJ 12/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian youth shot 12/16 dies [NYT 12/19]. Petrol bomb thrown at British consulate in E. Jerusalem causes no damage [FJ 12/20]. Italian Pres. Francesco Cossiga and F. M. Giulio Andreotti arrive in Israel for private visit [FBIS 12/22].

Other Countries: Speaking in U.S., Israeli Def. Min. Rabin reiterates Israel's intention to continue using live ammunition against violent demonstrations in occupied territories [WP 12/19].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: Spontaneous demonstrations break out after Friday noon prayers in Gaza City's Sha'jiyyah neighborhood and al-Burayj refugee camp; 2 Palestinians are killed, 20 wounded when IDF troops open fire. On grounds of Shifa Hospital, Israeli forces use tear gas and live ammunition against demonstrators throwing stones and Molotov cocktails; 1 Palestinian is shot to death. Hospital employees complain of harassment and assault by soldiers. Police in Jerusalem use tear gas to disperse about 300 stone-throwing Palestinian demonstrators [NYT, WP 12/19]. Demonstrations are also reported in Balatah, Am'ari, and Qalandiya refugee camps and in Hebron and Bethlehem. Old city of Hebron and Balatah camp are placed under curfew [FJ 12/20].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: UNRWA Commissioner General Giorgio Giacomelli expresses concern to Israeli defense and foreign ministry officials over Israel's "rather heavy-handed reaction" to protesting Palestinians. Palestinian wounded by gunfire 12/16 after stabbing Israeli soldier in Rafah dies. Gen. Yitzhaq Mordechai, commander of southern military district, orders arrest of Shin Bet officer who fired on protesters 12/16 [LAT 12/18]. Shops in Arab E. Jerusalem remain closed to protest Ariel Sharon's move into a Muslim quarter apartment [NYT 12/18]. Curfew on Jabalya refugee camp is lifted [FJ 12/20]. Israeli settler who shot, killed Gaza student 11/10 is released on bail [FJ 12/20]. Soldiers seal 4 Ramallah stores participating in general strike [FJ 12/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Scattered demonstrations are reported in W. Bank and E. Jerusalem [NYT 12/18; FJ 12/20]. Israeli troops use tear gas to disperse large demonstration related to 12/11 clash at Balatah. Balatah and Rafah are ordered under curfew [LAT 12/18].

Arab World: Israeli and SLA troops kill 6 Lebanese National Resistance Front fighters in battle near S. Lebanon security zone [NYT 12/18].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Commercial strike continues in E. Jerusalem, Nablus, and Ramallah [FJ 12/20]. Police use tear gas to break up demonstration by Arab and Jewish Hebrew U. students outside P. M. Shamir's residence [FBIS 12/17; FJ 12/20]. Group of 12 Balatah refugee camp residents file complaint against defense minister and military commander of occupied territories in Israeli High Court charging border guards used excessive force in controlling demonstrations [FJ 12/20].

Other Countries: U.S. Senate passes measure temporarily prohibiting denial of visas to and expulsion of foreigners because of their political beliefs; bill also includes provision to close PLO observer mission to UN and PIO in Washington, D.C. [NYT 12/17].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli army sends reinforcements into Gaza Strip. In Jabalya refugee camp, at least 3 Palestinians are shot, wounded when troops open fire on crowd demonstrating atfuneral of youth killed 12/15; about 20 others are arrested. Israeli soldier is stabbed in Rafah; members of patrol open fire, wounding at least 3. Army fails to break general strike [NYT 12/17]. Israel begins using water canons to control demonstrating crowds in occupied territories. Widespread arrests are reported [WP 12/17]. Tire-burning, bottle-throwing demonstrators clash with soldiers in Jerusalem [FJ 12/20].

Arab World: Israeli troops enter eastern Lebanon, battle Lebanese militias, killing 1 [FJ 12/20]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel announces arrest of close to 50 "suspected terrorists" in Gaza Strip [LAT 10/15]. Mother of escaped prisoner recently killed in Gaza is released from detention [FJ 10/18]. Travel ban on Gaza residents is reinstated [FJ 10/18].

Arab World: Amal and PLO officials announce new agreement to end fighting around Sidon camps [CSM 10/15].

Other Countries: U.S. State Dept. announces PIO has been granted 6-week extension to comply with order closing the office [CSM 10/16].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinians throw stones at IDF troops in E. Jerusalem. Israeli soldiers use tear gas to disperse demonstrating schoolgirls in Ramallah [LAT 10/15].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel's Foreign Ministry announces it has granted permission to Soviet delegation to extend its stay for an additional 3 months [NYT 10/14]. Israeli security officials disclose arrest of about 50 suspected guerrillas in Gaza Strip [LAT 10/15]. Students at Birzeit University protest killing of Ramallah woman 10/12 [FJ 10/13]. Jerusalem Electric Company rejects Israeli cabinet decision to reduce utility's area of service [FJ 10/18]. Palestinian political prisoners in Asqalan Prison end strike against visits after meeting with prison officials [FJ 10/18]. Members of Kach movement atempt to set fire to Natanya apartment of 4 Arabs [FJ 10/18]. Mother of recently slain Gazan is being held in Asqalan Prison on charges of hiding her son [FJ 10/18]. W. Jerusalem municipality demolishes Arab-owned house in Walajah, near Bethlehem, charging house was built without license [FJ 10/18]. Khadduri College in Tulkarm is closed by school's administration for 1 week; students protest closure [FJ 10/18]. Residents of Kisan village, southeast of Bethlehem, hold sit-in at Bethlehem Red Cross offices to protest planned destruction of their village. Israel plans to erect settlement on the site [FJ 10/25].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops fire tear gas to disperse demonstrating schoolgirls in Ramallah. Soldiers clash with stone-throwing student demonstrators in E. Jerusalem [LAT 10/15; FJ 10/18]. Soldiers force some Ramallah shopkeepers to end commercial strike [FJ 10/18].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: At least 500 Muslim demonstrators clash with members of Temple Mount Faithful attempting to pray near al-Aqsa Mosque. Police escorting Jewish worshipers respond with tear gas and waming shots; 3 Palestinians and 3 policemen are injured. [WP 10/12] E. Jerusalem strike and Nablus march protest al-Aqsa clash [FJ 10/18]. Yigdal Shahaf dies of injuries sustained in 10/10 attack [MET 10/24]. Israeli driver shoots Palestinian youth allegedly throwing stones [FJ 10/18]. In Hebron, Muslims and Jews clash at Ibrahimi Mosque [FJ 10/18]. Employee strike at Abu Dis College of Science and Technology ends [FJ 10/18].

Other Countries: Morris Abram, head of Conference of Presidents ofMajor American Jewish Organizations, says he has pledged noninterference by U.S. Jews in intemal Israeli affairs [NYT 10/12].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Gaza City, protesters burn tires, throw stones at soldiers. Soldiers force merchants to open shops; curfew is lifted [LAT 10/12].

Arab World: Palestinian fighters repulse Amal attack near 'Ayn al-Hilwah; 7 are killed [WP 10/12]. Mustafa Sa'd, leader of Nasserite Popular Liberation Army, announces his forces, which are serving as buffer between Amal and Palestinian fighters, are withdrawing [WP 10/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Reports indicate Israeli authorities are seeking to deport Faysal Husayni. Under Israeli law, Husayni cannot be deported because he is a resident of E. Jerusalem [JP 9/21]. Sari Nusaybah is attacked, badly beaten by 4 or 5 masked men on Birzeit U. campus [NYT, WP 9/22]. Walid Zurba, leaseholder of Jerusalem house partially occupied by Jewish settlers, files complaint in court. Soldiers join settlers guarding the house [FJ 9/27]. Three Palestinian prisoners escape from Nafha Prison [FJ 9/27]. Employees of Gaza's Palestine Religious Institute strike because they have not been paid for 5 months [FJ 9/27].

Other Countries: American Jewish Congress issues statement supporting international peace conference [NYT 9/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops use tear gas to break up demonstration at Bethlehem University [FJ 9/27].