The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers built a structure in the Homesh settlement outpost with approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Israeli settlers also set fire to palm trees in Burqa, near the Homesh outpost. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian intelligence officer and injured 8 others during a late-night raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also demolished 1 house in Artas and 1 in Jericho. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized a tractor and construction tools in Beitunia. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Tammun, Jenin, Nablus, and Dura. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Bayt Hanina. (HA 5/28; AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/29; ALM, HA, MDW 5/30; PCHR 6/1; UNOCHA 6/2)

PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh met with EU representative to Palestine Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff in Ramallah, calling on the EU to pressure Israel to end unilateral measures. (WAFA 5/29)

The U.S., UK, and EU criticized the Israel decision to allow Israeli settlers to build a new structure at the Homesh settlement outpost and to allow settlers a permanent presence there. The U.S. said it was “deeply troubled” and that it “violates Israel’s commitment to the Biden administration.” The UK urged Israel to “honor recent commitments made in Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh.” (HA 5/30; MDW 6/1)

At a cabinet meeting, Israeli justice minister Yariv Levin defended his position that the government needs more control over the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court, saying “Arabs buy apartments in Jewish communities in the Galilee and this is causing Jews to leave these areas because they don’t want to live with Arabs,” noting that judges should understand that. (HA, MEE 5/29)

The Israeli military said it had successfully tested the C-Dome, a naval version of the Iron Dome system. (HA 5/29)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis open fire on Palestinians nr. the border fence gathering to commemorate Land Day, injuring 2. In the West Bank, thousands of Palestinians gather in several villages and cities for Land Day; IDF troops violently disperse protests in villages nr. Nablus and Ramallah, causing a number of Palestinians to suffer tear gas inhalation. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 nr. Jenin, and Tulkarm, arresting 4 Palestinians; patrols in 5 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 nr. Jericho, and al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron. Israeli forces deliver demolition notices to 7 Palestinian-owned agricultural structures and water wells in a village nr. Nablus and to 7 residential structures in a village nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians marching through the Old City to commemorate Land Day, injuring 1 and arresting 2. They also arrest 3 Palestinians at Haram al-Sharif, 3 in the Old City, and 1 during a house search in Silwan. Meanwhile, Palestinian citizens of Israel gather in Jerusalem, Dayr Hanna in the Galilee, and Rahat in the Negev to commemorate Land Day, but the Arab High Follow-Up Comm. does not call for a general strike as it did in 2014. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 3/30; YA 3/31; PCHR 4/2)

The Jerusalem Municipality announces that it has approved tenders to build 142 new residences in the Har Homa settlement in East Jerusalem. Also, the Interior Ministry’s District Planning and Building Comm. approves a plan to construct over 2,200 new residences for Palestinians in Jabal Mukabir, East Jerusalem, and to retroactively approve hundreds that have already been built in the neighborhood. (WAFA 3/30; TOI 3/31; HA 4/1)

The PA Ministry of Civil Affairs announces that it will be providing 1 year of financial support to the approximately 15,000 Palestinian families in Gaza whose homes were destroyed during OPE. The project will be funded by international donors, primarily Arab League mbrs., and will grant families between NIS 1,000 and 1,500 per mo. ($250 to $378). (MNA, WAFA 3/30)

A bipartisan group of 4 U.S. senators sends a letter to Pres. Obama stating their opposition to the admin.’s reported reassessment of its policies regarding Israel and the possible end of U.S. support of Israel in international institutions, such as the UN. (TOI 3/31)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish settlers open fire on demonstrating secondary school students in Gaza Strip; 1 schoolgirl is killed [WP 11/11]. Police arrest 2 Galilee Arabs on suspicion of murdering Israeli soldier [FJ 11/15].

Arab World: PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat meets with King Hussein of Jordan in Amman [FJ 11/15].

Other Countries: Israeli Pres. Chaim Herzog holds talks with U.S. Pres. Reagan and Sec. of State Shultz, addresses U.S. Congress [WP 11/11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops use tear gas, live ammunition to disperse Islamic University students protesting murder of schoolgirl; 2 students are reported injured [WP 11/11]. Israeli soldiers and border guards uproot 1,200 olive trees from Negev land owned by al-Nassarah tribe; 3 tribe members are injured [FJ 11/15].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Body of missing Israeli soldier is discovered near kibbutz in W. Galilee [FJ 10/4]. Israeli police arrest 3 Jerusalem residents for allegedly plotting to bomb W. Jerusalem bus station [FJ 10/4]. Curfew on Jinsafut village is lifted [FJ 10/4]. Keren Keyemet official occupies Arab-owned house in Silwan, claiming building was bought by Jews in 1920 [FJ 10/4]. Residents of Tulkarm-district village of Bala'ah are ordered not to leave the country [FJ 10/4].

Other Countries: In Wall Street Journal interview, Israeli P. M. Yitzhak Shamir voices opposition to proposed U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia, says Arab states should look to Israel for military protection [WSJ 9/29]. Speaking before UN, Israeli F. M. Shimon Peres outlines proposal for Middle East peace conference [NYT 10/1]. After meeting with U.S. Sec. of State George Shultz in New York, Egypt's F.M. 'Ismat 'Abd al-Magid expresses support for Shultz's upcoming visit to Middle East [FBIS 10/2].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Bayt Jann village in the Galilee, hundreds of Palestinian Druze clash with Israeli soldiers and nature reserve officers when authorities try to evict Druze from village land annexed by Israel for a nature reserve; at least 16 Israelis and 6 Druze are injured [BG 7/7; FJ 7/12]. Office of Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek announces mayor will boycott French Consulate's Bastille Day celebration to protest practice of holding separate receptions for Arabs in E. Jerusalem and for Jews in W. Jerusalem [WP 7/7].

Arab World: U.S. envoy Vernon Walters meets in Damascus with Syrian Pres. al-Asad for 2d day of discussions aimed at improving U.S. -Syrian relations [WP, NYT 7/7].

Military Action

Arab World: Combined Israeli ground and air forces fight Hizballah guerrillas in daylong battle near Yatir in S. Lebanon [BG 7/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli authorities ban distribution of al-Fajr Arabic daily on the W. Bank and Gaza for 2 weeks on charges that the newspaper violated censorship regulations [FJ 12/25]. Israeli police and border guards demolish 5 Arab houses in al-Khawalid in Galilee, leaving -more than 30 homeless. Several residents who were trying to block the demolitions are arrested [FJ 12/25]. Israeli soldiers shoot and wound Bayt Sahur youth suspected of firebombing an army bus [FJ 12/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: F.M. Peres defends Israel's role in the U.S.-Iran arms sales [WP 11/25]. Authorities demolish mosque and private Arab house in Galilee village of Kammani. Government does not recognize Kammani and claims mosque was built illegally [FJ 11/28].

Other Countries: Representatives of Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, U.S., and Turkey meet to discuss U.S. policy on water resources in the Middle East at conference sponsored by Georgetown University's Center for Strategic and International Studies [WP 12/15].

Military Action

Arab World: Palestinians break through Amal lines near Sidon. At least 50 are killed, 85 wounded in the battle [WP, NYT 11/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Northern District Commissioner Yisrael Koenig resigns "because various ministers had blocked court orders to destroy illegal building by Arabs." (Koenig gained notoriety for document 10 years ago urging drastic measures to restrict Palestinians in Israel, to Judaize the Galilee) [FJ 2/7]. East Jerusalem shuts down in strike protesting Israeli moves againsthe Haram al-Sharif in past weeks; strike coincides with call by Morocco-based Jerusalem Committee for 30-minute work stoppage in all Muslim countries [FJ 2/7].

Other Countries: Morris Draper begins tour of duty as U.S. Consul General in Jerusalem, replacing Wat Cluverius, who has been appointed special advisor on the M.E. peace process to Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy [JTA 2/6].

Military Action

Arab World: Bomb explodes in East Beirut, killing 10, wounding 21 [NYT, WP 2/4].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ariel Sharon accuses P.M. Shimon Peres of "withholding information about important diplomatic talks from the govemment" [BG 10/18]. Knesset votes 39-22 to limit partially MK Muhammad Mi'ari's parliamentary immunity following speech he made in E. Jerusalem in which he expressed solidarity with Fahd Qawasmeh and Yasir Arafat [JP 11/7]. Nazareth district court finds Golan Heights Druze man Rafik Kalani, 20, guilty of giving information on Israeli army strength to Syria; Kalani allegedly confessed to the charges UP 10/16]. Galilee Palestinians demonstrate outside P.M. Shimon Peres' office while members of the Regional Committee of Arab Local Council Heads meet with Interior Ministry officials over $8 million in budget deficits plaguing the Arab councils inside the green line; Umm al-Fahm town has not been able to pay municipal employees for 5 months [FJ 11/18].

Arab World: King Hussein states there is "no truth at all" to PLO claims that last minute changes had been introduced toa statement Britain said 2 PLO delegates had agreed to sign; Hussein acknowledges that PLO rep. Muhammad Milham "was not aware, apparently, ofthe details" in the statement, negotiated by Jordan on behalf of the PLO, until it was shown to him in London [WP 10/16]. About 1,000 Sudanese demonstrators march on the U.S. embassy in Khartoum, buming the U.S. flag, after speech there by Yasir Arafat [NYT 10/16].

Other Countries: Pres. Reagan states he will "never" apologize to Pres. Mubarak for the interception of the Egyptian plane [NYT, WP 10/16]. British cabinet ministers have categorically denied the U.S. exerted any pressure to have the joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation meeting cancelled [CSM 10/16]. Italian Defense Ministry spokesman states U.S. evidence allegedly implicating Muhammad 'Abbas in the Achille Lauro affair arrived in Italy 30 minutes after 'Abbas had already been allowed to leave and it originally came from Israeli intelligence sources [WP 10/16]. Italy announces arrest and charging of 2 additional Palestinians for alleged involvement in the Achille Lauro hijacking [CT 10/16]. U.S. federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. begins hearings on Achille Lauro hijacking [LAT 10/17]. Friends and family of Leon Klinghoffer announce formation of memorial fund in his name to "fight international terrorism" [LAT 10/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gasoline bomb thrown at Israeli bus causes no injuries [JP 10/16].

Arab World: 2 Palestinians killed in clash with Israeli troops in security zone; no Israeli casualties reported [JP 10/16]. 2 Arabs on flight from Iraq are arrested in Rome airport carrying suitcase bombs; they carry false Moroccan passports [CT 10/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Central Bureau of Statistics announces Arab residents now outnumber Jews in Galilee district [1st time since 1948] [JW 2/1]. W. Bank settlers threaten vigilante action unless security forces half attacks on settlers [NYT 2/3]. Local councils of Sakhnin, 'Arrabeh, Deir Hanna strike to protest recent attempts to seize agricultural land in al-Mill (Area 9) [FJ 2/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Sttler injured 1/25 by gasoline bomb dies of wounds [JP 2/1]. Similar bomb thrown at Nablus office of Bank Leumi; no injuries [JP 2/1]. Military court in Ramallah sentences 2 teenagers to 7 and 8-year prison sentences respectively for throwing gasoline bombs last October; no damage or injuries had occurred [LAT 2/9].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: reports indicate pro-Syrian Palestinian commandos entering Kharroub region near Sidon, preparing to enter refugee camps subsequent to IDF withdrawal [PI 1/31]. Antitank missile fired at IDF liaison unit HQ in Nabatiya; no injuries. Bomb explodes near Border Police patrol in vicinity of al-Qalila [JP 2/1].

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Defense commission inquiry reports 2 commandos, Subhi and Majdi Abu Juma'a, captured (4/12/84) in bus hijacking were bludgeoned to death by Israeli security men, full report censored and classified; DM Arens says neither he nor CoS Moshe Levy directly responsible, and "legal action" will be taken against those found responsible. Bulldozers working at night uproot olive trees belonging to Salah Abu Rajab, destroy wall of nearby Hajariyeh school. WZO Settlement co-chrmn. Drobles proposes new plan to attract Jews from Palestine coast to settle around Jerusalem and restrict Arab development, which he calls a "cancer." Jenin area melon growers report export permit delays caused 30% crop loss. Gaza military gov. orders 2450 dunums citrus groves closed to Beit Lahiya owners.

Military Action:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Arab-owned cars in Halhoul & Habil Riyah, Hebron vandalized in night. Firebomb hurled at Kiryat Arba garbage truck, no injuries.

Arab World: Israeli troops sweep through several east Beqaa villages, arresting, cuffing and blindfolding scores of people, driving them off toward Galilee. Israeli patrol fired upon from speeding car in S. Lebanon, 1 Israeli wounded.

Military Action:

Artillery duels between Druze and Phalange militia near Baabda.

Casualties:

5 killed, 9 wounded in Druze-Phalange fighting.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan says Israel may face 100 years of terrorism, that in practice the war in Lebanon has not ended, and one cannot solve all the problems of terrorism in one war, that if the IDF remains in Lebanon for long it may have to mount an intensive campaign to root out terrorist cells as was done in the Gaza Strip after the 1967 war; Defense Minister Sharon flatly rejects any PLO participation in future peace talks with Jordan, and dismisses Iraq's declaration of recognition of Israel's security needs as merely effort to get US arms for war against Iran; Israeli Foreign Minister legal adviser Elyakim Rubenstein says the recall of Egypt's Ambassador to Israel is a violation of the Camp David accords; Avid Kedar, head of Foreign Ministry's Egypt Department, says contacts between Israel and Egypt frozen since Peace for Galilee Campaign; Sgan Nitzav Albert Hayut, new director of Beersheba prison announces 500 security prisoners to be moved to new maximum security prison, equipped with latest electronic monitors, near Nablus; attorney Nissim Shakar of the Committee for Jaffa's Arabs says they will appeal proposed law that non-Jews must close shops on Yom Kippur as well as own religious holidays, and not transport goods on Saturday and Jewish holidays; Israeli officials announce requests by Palestinians to visit relatives in Lebanon decline due to security situation, 5 Israeli Palestinians disappeared recently in Lebanon; bomb near Zedekiah's Cave outside Jerusalem's Damascus Gate critically wounds a Palestinian worker; military authorities surround Najah University, effectively closing the campus, prevent Israeli Association for Civil Rights representative from entering, detain 9 student council members; in Nablus students stone troops who use tear gas and close off market area; rock throwing incidents in Ramallah, al-Bireh aid Dheisheh camp, now defined as District of Binyamin, also in jenin where placards and leaflets are found attributed to National Liberation Movement denouncing as treasonous Arafat's and Hussein's attempt to reach accommodation with Israel.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Chairman Arafat goes to Moscow; 5 Palestinian leaders and Lebanese Communist Party meet in Tripoli.

Arab Governments: King Hussein tells local leaders that he has a letter from Reagan commiting the US to pressure Israel to restore Arab rights in the occupied territories, and that time is running out for achieving a unified Arab approach by March; Moroccan Foreign Ministry announces agreement with Britain on Arab League delegation to include non-PLO Palestinian; Egyptian Socialist Labor Party poll of 1,486 persons shows 82% want Israeli ambassador expelled, 76To want to sever relations with Israel.

US and Other Countries: State Department says Israeli settlement promotion campaign is unfortunate and counterproductive; Administration officials say US is counting on King Hussein to declare his readiness to join talks on basis of Reagan plan if the PLO and Saudi Arabia support it, if progress is made on troop withdrawals from Lebanon, and if Israel temporarily halts settlement activity; Secretary of State Shultz meets for 2 hours with 14 members of Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and leading Jewish Republicans, tells them of growing fears that Israel and Syria have tacit agreement to keep status quo in Lebanon, they tell him they want US to support Israel's demand for normalization of relations with Lebanon; delegation of Conservative MPs from Britain meet with Begin, give him message of support from Prime Minister Thatcher; European Parliament calls for establishment of a Palestinian state as a factor in a Middle East settlement, direct PLO-Israel dialogue, immediate halt to settlements in the West Bank, Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory, recognition of PLO as representative of Palestinian people if it drops from its charter all paragraphs calling for Israel's destruction, and sovereignty of all states in the region; Habib arrives in Israel.

Military Action:

Israeli forces advance to 15 miles from Beirut; one of the biggest air battles since the 1973 war takes place over Beirut (6 Syrian, 2 Israeli jets reported down); heavy fighting in Tyre and Sidon continues, as Tyre residents are told via air-dropped leaflets to go to beaches to avoid bombings, city is shown in flames; 15,000 people try to enter city from countryside, saying they have no food; Israelis move 100 tanks into mountains east of PLO stronghold of Damour; Israeli shells re-portedly destroy a Red Cross center on the edge of Sidon; tank battles near Jezzine, and Israelis reportedly aim to cut highway to Syria; Israeli planes blast road 2 miles south of Beirut airport; fierce fighting between Israeli and Syrian troops on edge of Beirut; Israelis capture Lebanese president's summer residence at Beiteddine; third attack on Beirut sports complex.

Syrians engage Israelis on southern edges of Beirut, along Beirut-Damascus highway; major Syrian-Israeli tank battle shaping up in Chouf region, stronghold of PLO ally and Lebanese National Movement (LNM) leader Walid Jumblatt (temporarily out of country).

Fierce resistance from PLO units continues in Tyre and Sidon; a few PLO-fired rockets fall on northern Galilee, from enclave controlled by Syria; PLO and Lebanon accept UN call for a cease-fire.

Casualties:

Beirut residents stockpile goods and Palestinian suburbs almost deserted as residents fan out into city; Red Cross center in Sidon destroyed by Israeli shelling; thousands of refugees pour into Beirut from southern Lebanon; 10,000 people placed under Red Cross care in Tyre alone.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Prime Minister Begin lays out 4 conditions for withdrawal from Lebanon, including removal of all Syrian and PLO forces from Lebanon, creation of a 40 km demilitarized zone north of the Israeli border; Knesset defeats no-confidence vote, 94-3; Israeli Ambassador Arens meets with Deputy Secretary of State Stoessel, Defense Secretary Weinberger and Senator Percy as a former Israeli general meets the US press; Begin calls on Assad not to engage Israeli troops; UN reports continue to be censored; about 40 demonstrators opposed to the invasion are attacked in Tel Aviv.

Palestinians/Lebanese: Arafat meets with USSR Ambassador; Lebanese president appeals to Arab League to hold a meeting; Lebanon's UN Ambassador says casualties run into thousands, mostly civilians.

Arab Governments: Iranian volunteers reported arriving in Lebanon via Syria, as well as Palestinian volunteers from Jordan and Kuwait; Arab diplomats from Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrein, Jordan and Algeria ask the US to pressure Israel to withdraw immediately, accept cease-fire; Syria rejects any troop withdrawal from Lebanon, reacting to reports of new Israeli conditions for a withdrawal.

US: Reagan, in London, appeals for an end to hostilities; Haig later says US would not deny Israel the "right of legitimate self-defense."

UN: Lebanon and the PLO accept the UN call for a cease-fire; Israel rejects the Security Council demand for withdrawal. Lebanon circulates a petition condemning Israel, threatening sanctions if it does not withdraw. UNIFIL General Callaghan makes first offi-cial protest of the invasion to Israel.