The Palestine Chronology

U.S. accuses Iraq of releasing millions of gallons of Kuwaiti crude oil into Gulf; officials say it will have little military significance, but threatens ecology on scale larger than Exxon Valdez disaster. Pres. Bush says spill is "sick" act of desperation, orders Pentagon to find way to stop leak [WAKH 1/26 in FBIS 1/28; NYT, LAT 1/26].

Iraqi SCUD missile hits Riyadh, killing 1 person and wounding 6; 7 missiles are fired at Israel, all are reportedly intercepted by Patriot missiles, but falling debris kills 1 and injures 42 others [RIDS, JAA, IDF 1/25 in FBIS 1/28; NYT, LAT 1/26].

New York Times reports that Pan American World Airways has refused to carry Iraqi passengers since 1/16, for fear of terrorism like that which destroyed Pan Am flight over Lockerbie 2 years ago [NYT 1/26].

Iranian Pres. Rafsanjani restates neutrality in Gulf war; strongly rejects idea that Iran join with Iraq, saying that would be suicide and would mean Iran approved of Iraq remaining in Kuwait [NYT 1/26].

Soviet F.M. Alexander Bessmertnykh meets with members of PLO Executive Committee to explore ways to end Gulf war [LAT 1/26].

EC lifts all restrictions on Israel because of its restraint under Iraqi missile attack; restrictions were imposed in January 1990 to protest closure of Palestinian schools [MEM 1/25].

After day of multinational force bombing successes against Iraq, Baghdad fires as many as 8 SCUD missiles at Israel, hitting Tel Aviv, Haifa, and less populated areas [NYT, LAT, WT, WP, MEM 1/18].

Saddam Hussein defies 2d day of bombing in Baghdad by touring Iraq's capital; vows to defeat multinational force and liberate Palestine; calls on all Arabs to help resist U.S. [NYT, LAT, WP, MEM 1/18].

Anti-U.S. demonstrations erupt in Algeria, smaller protests in European cities but European gov'ts. give full backing to war effort; Iran condemns U.S.-led invasion; Pres. Gorbachev blames Iraqi intransigence for war, but only after trying to get Pres. Bush to postpone attack long enough for Soviet diplomats to try to speak to Saddam Hussein; Japan pledges additional aid for allied effort [MEM 1/17; NYT 1/18].

Turkey's parliament authorizes U.S. fighters and bombers to launch attacks on Iraq from Incirlik Air Base near Adama on the Mediterranean [NYT, LAT, MEM 1/18].

New York Times reports of CIA's psychological warfare against Iraq: broadcasting anti-Saddam propaganda into Iraq, circulat- ing audio and video cassettes depicting Saddam's regime as corrupt, and smuggling radios into Iraq to receive American broadcasts [NYT 1/19].

Curfew in Gaza continues; Israel places West Bank under curfew [JDS, IDF 1/17 in FBIS 1/17].

PLO Executive Committee issues statement decrying U.S. for beginning Gulf war and calling for worldwide resistance [AVP, MAP, AFP 1/17 in FBIS 1/18; MEM 1/17; WP 1/18].

In advance of human rights report to be issued 2/21, U.S. State Dep't. says Israeli soldiers continue to violate Palestinian human rights, causing "avoidable deaths and injuries." State Dep't. also reports "significant increase in violence by Palestinians directed at other Palestinians" (cf. 2/21) [NYT 2/21].

Washington Post article cites recent statements by Israeli gov't. officials to the effect that PLO is continuing terrorism [WP 2/21].

Jordan's P.M. and D.M. Mudar Badran says financial considerations have forced Jordanian fighter pilots to train with Iraqi counterparts; this does not mean joint squadron is being formed. Badran accuses Israel of exploiting the subject [RAY 2/21 in FBIS 2/21].

Egypt's ambassador to Israel, Muhammad Basyuni, says "Egypt does not oppose Jewish immigration to Israel, but does oppose the settling of new immigrants in the territories" [MAA 2/21 in FBIS 2/22].

PLO envoy Hakam Balawi meets with U.S. ambassador to Tunisia Robert Pelletreau to discuss Soviet Jewish emigration to Israel [SVP 2/21 in FBIS 2/23].

Hundreds of Israeli Arabs demonstrate against Interior and Finance ministries, urging them to honor pledge to aid Arab local councils in Israel [FJ 2/26].

Chrmn. of the Supreme Soviet International Affairs Committee, A.S. Dzasokhov, meets in Moscow with PLO Executive Committee members Mahmud Abbas and Sulayman Najjab to discuss strengthening Soviet-Palestinian relations [IZV 2/21].

2 UNIFIL soldiers are killed, at least 6 are wounded by artillery fire directed at S. Lebanon outpost from inside Israel's "security zone"; initial Israeli army statement says bombing occurred during gunfire between SLA and Hizballah [JDS 2/20 in FBIS 2/20; NYT 2/21]; UN protests to Israeli gov't. [WP 2/21].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: More than 200 Jews and Arabs demonstrate outside Shamir's office demanding reopening of Palestinian universities [FJ 12/25].

The 3 leading religious patriarchs in Jerusalem cancel Christmas celebrations in O.T., except for those religious ceremonies that call for justice and peace [FJ 12/ 18].

Arab World: PLO Executive Committee opens 2-day meeting in Tunis [FBIS 12/ 20].

Other Countries: Soviet Union says it will not support U.S. effort to have UN Gen. Assembly repeal "Zionism equals racism" resolution [NYT 12/16].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: "Black Panther" group takes responsibility for killing of accused collaborator on 12/14. The killing comes less than 2 weeks after Israeli army said they eliminated the group [JP 12/23; MET 12/26].

Israeli military bulldozes Palestinian home in village of Battir [FJ 12/25].

Shots are fired at IDF patrol from Egypt; no injuries [FBIS 12/19].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: PLO Executive Committee member Jamal al-Surani arrives in Cairo carrying PLO response to Baker's 5 point framework [FBIS 11/21].

Other Countries: USSR has encouraged Syria to abandon quest for military parity with Israel, saying Soviet "new realities" stress "reasonable defensive sufficiency" for Syria [WP 11/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military prohibits Gaza Islamic University's board of trustees from traveling to Kuwait for university conference [FJ 11/27].

Israeli Minister of Police Haim Bar Lev says Civil Administration ispreparing to issue magnetic ID cards to W. Bank Palestinians [FJ 11/27].

Petrol bomb thrown at Israeli fuel truck in Nablus, misses truck but causes minor damage. Soldiers shoot, injure 13- year-old girl. Palestinians report 19-year-old is hospitalized from beating injures when soldiers chased suspects [FBIS 11/ 28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: PLO Executive Committee member Salah Khalaf (Abu lyad) addresses (via videotape) Jerusalem-based International Center for Peace in the Middle East, urges direct PLO-Israeli talks [FBIS WP 2/23].

Arab World: In Cairo Israeli F.M. Arens meets with Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze [NYT 2/23].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Israeli soldiers, disguised as Arabs, shoot, kill 57-year-old Palestinian shopkeeper. In Gaza suspected collaborator is shot, killed [MET 3/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Following all-night session, Israeli Inner Cabinet approves package compromise dal to send Taba dispute to binding international arbitration if conciliation fails; agreement conditional on Egypt's return of ambassador to Tel Aviv, full normalization of relations. P.M. Peres threatened tobring down govt. if cabinet disagreed [WP, NYT 1/14]. Thirteen Palestinians are detained in connection with land fraud case, bringing total to 30 [JP 1/15]. Haifa U. sociologist Sami Smooha publicizes recent poll results showing 58% of Israelis believe it is "impossible to trust most Arabs," 47% want Palestinians to be encouraged to leave the country [JP 1/14]

Arab World: PLO Executive Committee begins meetings in Baghdad; 4 seats belonging to opposition factions remain empty, Muhammad 'Abbas does not attend. PLO spokesman tells Toronto Star the Soviet Union offered to help reunite PLO factions in return for a guaranteed part in M.E. peace negotiations [TS 1/15]. Egyptian chief coroner confirms Sulayman Khatir committed suicide [LT 1/14].

Other Countries: Reagan administration urges Syria to expel Abu Nidal group from Syrian-controlled Biqa' Valley [JTA 1/14].

Military Action:

Artillery barrages continue sporadically in Israeli held-areas of Chouf, IDF bolsters forces in area, attempts to arrange cease-fire; strikes and demonstrations in Sidon, Tyre, Nabatiyeh and many villages to protest Friday's killing of Lebanese student by IDF.

Casualties:

Local Amal commander shot and wounded in Zifra during anti-IDF protests; 15 killed in Druze attack on Chouf village of Mtoulle; 65 men and women from Qaroun, western Bekaa, reportedly arrested by IDF after overnight search and interrogation of residents; 6 arrested by IDF in villages of Mazbut and Keter Mya.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Special envoy Habib meets Israeli officials with Lebanese response to clarifications; heads of Israeli and Lebanese delegations, and US special envoy Draper will sign agreement; WZO Settlement Department proposes establishing 6 settlements south of Hebron, expanding 4 existing ones; 1600 dunums from Akrabe village declared state land last week for settlement of Tel Haim; military authorities permit re-opening of Islamic University, closed since second week of March; former Defense Minister Sharon, in New York, opposes troop withdrawal agreement, says MNF prevents necessary steps being taken against terrorists in West Beirut.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Executive Committee calls on all Arab states to reject withdrawal agreement, says PLO presence in Lebanon is governed by bilateral, Arab and international agreements and cannot be abrogated unilaterally, the legitimate right to delineate borders with Lebanon belongs to the Palestinian people; Lebanese officials say that 8 pages of Israeli clarifications would change whole balance of agreement.

Arab Govemments: Syrian foreign minister, in Jeddah, says Syria rejects withdrawal agreement; King Hussein in London for meetings with PM Thatcher, other British officials; clandestine organization claims responsibility for bomb attacks against two American offices in Amman.

US and Other Countries: State Dept. official says Israel not expected to withdraw its troops until Syria agrees to withdraw its forces; 87 dependants of Soviet diplomats leave Beirut on orders from Soviet ambassador, Lebanese employees of Moscow Narodny Bank in Beirut advised they are being laid off.

Military Action:

Italian MNF attacked 4 times in Beirut, returns fire; IDF completes massive military exercise in South Lebanon and Golan Heights, Arens tells IDF in eastern Lebanon to be patient; 500 Iranian Revolutionary Guards reportedly arrive in Baalbeck.

Casualties:

1 Italian soldier wounded in Beirut; in South Lebanon, Dutch UNIFIL soldier stabbed.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: After talks in Cairo, Trade Ministry Director General says Egyptians promised to resume issuing licenses for import of Israeli goods; indictments for conspiring to incite hostility between Muslims and Jews, other acts, filed against 29 Jews in connection with Temple Mount incident; head of Islamic Committee in Jerusalem asks UN Secretary General to protect al-Aqsa from further attacks; fourth school in 10 days closed in Beit Sahour after students demonstrate, raise Palestinian flag.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Executive Committee meets in Tunis.

US and Other Countries: US Ambassador to Israel Samuel Lewis gives Shamir detailed, written proposals for security arrangements in South Lebanon as part of agreement for Israeli troop withdrawal; Pentagon releases US Marine Corps Commandant letter to Defense Secretary Weinberger saying that IDF has been deliberately threatening lives of US officers in Lebanon, reveals previously classified incidents; Garter, in Damascus, says Reagan Administration suggestion that Syria has become puppet of Soviet Union is ridiculous.

Military Action:

Syria permits US helicopters to enter Syrian-held territory to aid in rescue of blizzard victims, with deaths now numbering 47.

Political Response:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin tells visiting American Jews no Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon without adequate security arrangements, no halt to settlements, no deviation from Camp David, no independent Palestinian state; Foreign Minister Shamir says Reagan offer to guarantee security of northern border cannot replace a direct agreement between Israel and Lebanon, calls PNC meeting a deception and a fraud, repeats Israel's willingness to conduct negotiations with King Hussein only in framework of Camp David agreement, not in order to return Jerusalem to the PLO; one man remanded in custody by Jerusalem court in connectin with threats to life of Peace Now demonstrator; 500 Jews assemble near Dahariya village on West Bank to mourn death of woman hit by stones thrown at car, Rabbi Levinger of Kiryat Arba says there comes a moment for vengeance and the moment is now; Defense Minister Arens says Israel might resort to pre-emptive strike against Soviet SA-5 missiles based in Syria if build up continues and Israelis conclude they are faced with a mortal threat.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PNC re-elects Arafat as Chairman of PLO Executive Committee, approves Political Committee recommendations, modifying one on Reagan plan to state that PNC refuses to consider it as sound basis for a just and lasting soution to the Palestine problem, authorizes Executive Committee to pursue contacts with Jewish progressive and democratic forces; Abu Iyad tells press conference that PLO would step aside and let West Bank mayors negotiate with US or Israel if Reagan recognized Palestinian right to self-determination and creation of a state; 17th session of Lebanese-Israeli-US talks takes place at Netanya.

Arab Governments: Syria says it will withdraw all its 30,000 troops from Lebanon after all 30,000 Israeli troops have left.

US and Other Countries: Reagan says King Hussein should be supported in efforts to set up a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation to negotiate future of West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem, and that US is prepared to take all necessary measures to guarantee the security of Israel's northern borders in the aftermath of the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army; Weinberger tells House Foreign Affairs Committee agreement near on transfer of Israeli military and intelligence data from Lebanon war to US, says delay in shipment of 75 F-16s to Israel due to examination of whether Israel had used US supplied weapons strictly in self-defense, says Israel does not need to develop the Lavi jet except to promote exports.

Military Action:

Syria reported to have East German and Cuban military advisers assisting with newly acquired Soviet equipment and upgrading military command and control structure; Haddad declares he has taken control of 25-mile zone of South Lebanon, establishes garrison post in Sidon, says purpose is to help legitimate authorities to restore sovereignty throughout the country; 150 French soldiers added to French MNF contingent, now numbers 2,200; Lebanese Cabinet decree places police at disposal of military commander, gives army right to arrest and try people threatening national security; IDF says it will increase patrols in Sidon in response to requests from Wazzan.

Casualties:

45 thefts of autos from Palestinians in South Lebanon reported by police.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin tells visiting members of European Parliament that their support for Reagan plan is destructive; Begin announces appointment of Moshe Arens to replace Sharon as Defense Minister; Parliament votes 61 to 56, with 1 abstention, to approve Sharon remaining in Cabinet without portfolio; Sharon receives ceremonial farewell with full military honors at Tel Aviv Defense Ministry; Israel reportedly plans to increase air force strength from 19 to 24 combat squadrons, deploying 600 high performance aircraft, by mid-1990s; Kalandia refugee camp and its UNRWA school, al-Amari camp, and the old Nablus market are placed under curfews; bus window smashed near Dheisheh camp, windows of Israeli cars broken in Ramallah; tires burned near Ramallah; one IDF soldier, one civil administrator injured by stones in Ramallah; Bethlehem Mayor Freij says Palestinians have only two months to prevent Israeli takeover of West Bank and Gaza from becoming an established fact.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: 16th session of Palestine National Council opens in Algiers, 360 members from 90 countries present, 180 from West Bank and Gaza absent; PLO Executive Committee reportedly will make following recommendations: Reagan plan is insufficient but not rejected, closer ties with progressive and democratic elements in Egypt, special link with King Hussein, confederation between independent Palestinian state and Jordan, PLO members to participate with Jordanians in any negotiations, endorsement of Arab League resolution at Fez, PNC to decide on question of contacts between PLO leaders and Israelis; Lebanese-Israeli-US negotiators at Khalde end 15th round of talks, announce they are putting into writing points of agreement reached so far.

US and Other Countries: Austrian Chancellor Kreisky says Reagan plan represents a change of attitude but as for solving the concrete questions, he is doubtful; US aerospace companies such as Northrop oppose use of Foreign Military Sales credits by Israel for development of the Lavie fighter, expected to compete in export market with such aircraft as General Dynamics F-16 and Northrop F-20; Defense Secretary Weinberger has talks with outgoing Israeli Ambassador Arens; Habib travels to Israel from Beirut; State Dept. expresses concern over murders of Palestinians in Sidon area.

Military Action:

IDF ambushed in Tyre.

Casualties:

Some IDF wounded in Tyre; Ansar review committee recommends release of 150, 1,100 cases heard out of 5,400 detainees, review committee established under the Fourth Geneva Convention on civilians as Israel does not recognize detainees as POWs covered under Third Geneva Convention.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon, Shamir and chief negotiator David Kimche meet for 2 hours with Habib and Draper, discussion focuses on 3 main differences between US and Israel (surveillance stations, UNIFIL, role of Saad Haddad); Commission of Inquiry completes 3?/2 months of investigation covering 49 witnesses, 152 eyewitnesses, 65 hours of testimony, 17,703 pages of transcript, closing with oral arguments of lawyers for 9 senior officials (Sharon, Eitan, Drori, Yaron, Dudai and Mossad head); Begin meets with head of Association for Prevention of Emigration, agrees to consider setting up ministerial committee to combat emigration (now 200,000 Israelis in the US alone); Israeli Foreign Ministry paying $5,000 per month rent on Saudi-owned villa along Beirut-Damascus high-way as Lebanon headquarters; Education Ministry setting up a committee to review curriculum in Arab schools and examine educational, psychological and social causes for growing extremism among Palestinian Israeli youth; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Rakah) candidates win election of Arab student committees in Tel Aviv and Haifa universities; army uses tear gas and warning shots to disperse demonstrators in Hebron protesting arrest on Jan. 13 of 50 students, including entire student council, from Islamic University; Cabinet settlement committee votes to set up 2 new settlements in West Bank near Hebron, and 2 across green line in same area, approves referral center for prospective settlers.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Executive Committee, chaired by Arafat, meets in Damascus to plan for PNC; Walid Jumblatt criticizes compromise agenda in talks as concession to Israeli and US terms; Lebanese Forces Commander Fadi Frem urges Government to sign peace treaty with Israel to liberate Lebanon from psychological and political domination of Syria.

Arab Governments: Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmad Taleb Ibrahimi says Alteria purchased $20 million worth of arms direct from USSR for PLO in June, and later sent another 2 planeloads from Algiers; Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries reportedly removing British firms from list of eligible contractors due to dispute over PLO representative in Arab League delegation; Saudi Crown Prince Abdallah in Damascus for talks with Assad.