The Palestine Chronology

Secy of State Christopher meets PLO Chmn. Arafat, Egyptian Pres. Mubarak in Alexandria, Egypt.  Christopher rejects Arafat's demands for immediate negotiations over Jerusalem, warns PLO to adopt modern accounting procedures or risk delays in receiving international aid.  Christopher proceeds to Jerusalem for talks with Israelis.  (MENA 8/6, Jericho VOP 8/7 in FBIS 8/8; NYT, WP, WT 8/7)

Hamas, Marxist opposition lead 2-hr. protest by 700 at Gaza City Hall.  Demonstrators demand municipal elections, free press, resignation of Gaza City Council.  (WT 8/7)

Hizballah ambushes IDF patrol in southern Lebanon, killing 2 Israeli soldiers and wounding 3.  Hizballah fires 12 katyusha rockets into "security zone," northern Israel following ambush, wounding 3 Israeli civilians, and attacks IDF/SLA posts.  (NYT, WP, WT 8/7)

Sixth day of Israeli attack on Lebanon. Lebanese police report 17 killed, 47 wounded in day's fighting. UN sources report IDF fired 1,300 shells in 9 hours. Hizballah responds with katyusha barrages, attacks on IDF/SLA positions in "security zone." Kuwait, France, and Egypt send relief supplies to Beirut, as Arab FMs discuss situation in Damascus. Israeli FM Peres states Israel will not expand "security zone" or send ground forces to Lebanon. Ireland demands immediate cease-fire out of concern for Irish battalion of UNIFIL. (NYT, WT 7/31)

Palestinian delegation presents Israel with lengthy memo detailing human rights violations in the o.t., issuing 12 demands: closing Ansar III prison, lifting Gaza nighttime curfew, halting illegal tax collection, granting free travel to Jerusalem and around the W. Bank and Gaza, among others. (al-Dustur 10/28 in FBIS 10/28)

Hizballah fires Katyusha rockets into "security zone," killing 2 Lebanese, and into northern Israel, killing a 14-year-old recent Russian immigrant in Kiryat Shimona. Israel retaliates with air strikes and shelling of Hizballah, DFLP targets north of "security zone" and in Biqa' Valley, killing 4. Israel amasses tanks in "security zone" for possible advance north. (IDF Radio, Qol Yisra'el, VOL 10/27 in FBIS 10/27, 10/28; MM, NYT, WP 10/27, 10/28)

Palestinian gunmen shoot, wound Israeli couple in Janin, W. Bank. Palestinian attacks Israeli farmer with an axe in Gaza Strip settlement. (Qol Yisra'el 10/27 in FBIS 10/29; NYT, WP 10/28)

MKs Benyamin Netanyahu (Likud) and Rafael Eitan (Tsomet) call for suspension of peace talks due to violence in S. Lebanon. (Qol Yisra'el 10/27 in FBIS 10/27)

One thousand settlers stage angry protest outside PM Rabin's residence. (WP 10/28)

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Egyptian president Mubarak rejects offer to meet with Israeli P.M. Shamir in New York on the sidelines of UN meeting [FBIS 9/1].

Military Action

Arab World: In second attack in 24 hours, several Katyusha rockets are fired from S. Lebanon into Galilee. No injuries reported. IDF and SLA cannons return fire directed north of the "security zone" [FBIS 9/1]

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U. S. envoy Charles Hill meets with Israeli P. M. Shamir to discuss proposed international peace conference [LAT 8/13]. Fu'ad Ishkantna from Rafah is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on charges of Fateh membership and building explosives; another Rafah resident, Nabil Ghazi Sha'th, receives 15-year sentence on similar charges [FJ 8/16]. Israeli authorities confiscate nearly 300 sheep in 'Ayn Malih in Jordan Valley area; sheep are returned after owner pays JD 900 fine [FJ 8/16]. Palestinian is arrested trying to enter Baytar Ilit settlement near Bethlehem [FJ 8/16].

Arab World: Egypt cancels media coverage of upcoming joint Egyptian-U.S. land, sea, and air military maneuvers [WP 8/11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Katyusha rockets land in N. Israel and S. Lebanon security zone in 2d day of attacks [CSM 8/11].

Arab World: Israeli helicopter attack in Nabatiyyah region of S. Lebanon kills 1 Lebanese, wounds 2 others; retaliating Lebanese militiamen shoot, injure 6 Israeli soldiers in attack on Israeli-SLA post in security zone [WP 8/11; FJ 8/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jamal 'Awad, 18, dies of wounds sustained 9/18 when Israeli soldiers fired at him for reportedly refusing to stop at a checkpoint [FJ 9/27]. 'Umar Shihab, 5, of Gaza is critically wounded by bullets randomly fired by Israeli soldiers near where he is playing [FJ 9/27]. Marwan Jamjum, 20, is shot by Israeli soldiers in the center of Hebron [FJ 9/27]. Women relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Asqalan prison begin hunger strike at Gaza Red Cross offices topressure Israeli authorities into letting them know the condition of their relatives inside the prison [FJ 9/27]. Inquiry ordered by Israel's military chief of staff to investigate claims that Israeli soldiers ordered Palestinian to kiss donkey's backside, and other such harassments, finds the incidents to be "a few isolated cases" which will be dealt with by the commanding officers ofthe offenders [NYT, JP 9/24].

Other Countries: Jerusalem Post reports Sierra Leone has established Israel Friendship Society, headed by deputy minister of transport and communications [JP 9/24].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Meir Braverman shoots and kills mentally ill Hasan Husayn Mashara in Jerusalem after latter allegedly threatened Braverman's wife [JTA 9/27].

Arab World: Jerusalem Post reports PLO Executive Committee, meeting in Baghdad, agreed to accelerate armed struggle in occupied territories [JP 9/24]. Two katyusha rockets land in Galilee, causing slight property damage; rockets were fired from north of S. Lebanon security zone [JP 9/26].

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: Official UN Decade for Women Conference begins in Nairobi; 3,000 participants from 160 national delegations, including the PLO, attend [JTA 7/18, PI 7/23].

Military Action

Arab World: Lebanese Hisham 'Abbas, 22, kills himself, 2 South Lebanese Army soldiers, and 7 civilians in suicide car bomb attack at checkpoint in Israeli security zone [NYT 7/16]. 'Abbas belonged to pro-Syrian Ba'th Party in Lebanon. Katyushas are fired at SLA headquarters in Marja'yun.