The Palestine Chronology

Meeting with Moshe Arens, Sec. Baker says it is time for Israel to accept his compromise formula for opening talks between Israelis and Palestinians [NYT, WP, LAT 2/24].

In letter to Jerusalem's International Center for Peace in the Middle East, Yasir Arafat writes PLO has "once more leaned over backward and approves the idea of a dialogue between representatives of the Israeli government and representatives of the Palestinian people" [NYT 2/ 23; LAT 2/24]; message also states emigrating Jews should be allowed to choose their destination, providing they do not displace another people [JTS 2/23, HAA 2/25 in FBIS 2/26].

Unnamed Capitol Hill sources say USSR's decision to bar direct commercial flights to Israel may spark congressional effort to maintain U.S.-Soviet trade restrictions [WP 2/24].

W. Bank Civil Admin. recently issued new regulation forbidding camp residents to build two or more stories on any house among first 3 rows adjacent to main Israeli highways. Several injunctions banning construction are issued, including one halting UNRWA's $250,000 community center in Duhayshah [HAA 2/23 in FBIS 2/23].

Israeli jets bomb PFLP base in Kfar Jara, S. Lebanon; no injuries [JDS 2/23 in FBIS 2/23; MET 3/6-12].