The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Al-Fajr reports Jordan has blacklisted 34 West Bank journalists and given orders for their detention if they enter Jordan. Press agencies and newspapers that criticize Jordan's PLO policy are to be boycotted. Ban affects al-Fajr, al-Quds, and al-Mithaq [FJ 6/13].

Arab World: Muslim religious and political leaders meet in Damascus with Syrian V. P. Khaddam; reach agreement on Lebanese security; extend Lebanese law to Palestinian camps.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Some hundred Jewish extremists are arrested by Israeli police while trying to reach al-Aqsa Mosque during demonstration by nearly 10,000 celebrating the 19th anniversary of the "reunification of Jerusalem" [AFP 6/6]. According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, "united Jerusalem" now has 460,000 inhabitants, including 331,000 Jews (71.5%). Al-Fajr reports that 2 released members of the Israeli settler underground have been reinstated into the army reserves and given duty [FJ 6/6]. Al-Fajr reports MK Abba Eban told dovish members of Knesset he recently met with PLO officials while in the U.S., that he believes there can be no peace without the participation of the PLO [FJ 6/6]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Herut party convention ends in chaos and intra-party violence; no new party chairman is named [JTA 3/13; NYT 3/14]. Foreign Ministry expresses official dissatisfaction with Egypt's report on Ras Burqa massacre [JP 3/14].

Other Countries: Hanna Siniora, editor of al-Fajr newspaper, states during visit to Washington, D.C. he is exploring possibility of an international conference without preconditions, in which individual Palestinians would be part of a single Arab delegation [JTA 3/13]. Pakistani Pres. Zia al-Haq urges PLO to recognize Israel's right to exist, supports peace plans put forward by King Fahd and King Hussein UP 3/14]. U.S. Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy ends visit to Tunis, Cairo, and Jerusalem with no significant progress made [JP 3/14].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jerusalem Post reports nearly 2 dozen Nablus Palestinians have been detained, questioned for 2 weeks without charges on suspicion of involvement in land fraud scandal [JP 1/10]. Al-Fajr reports Israel's Land Administration and Green Patrol uprooted 6,000 olive and almond trees near Qattaneh village in past week; villagers are appealing to High Court for compensation [FJ 1/10].

Other Countries: British P.M. Thatcher states retaliatory or preemptive strikes to punish or prevent terrorism are "against international law" and a policy which could lead to "much greater chaos" [WP, LAT 1/11]. Jewish Week reports Jerry Falwell's new group, the Liberty Federation, advocates strong support for Israel, moving U.S. embassy to Jerusalem [JW 1/10]. W. German Interior Minister Karl Blecha states 2 forged passports used in Rome and Vienna airport attacks were taken from Tunisian workers in Libya last year [MG 1/11].