The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Underground Shi'i group seizes U.S. citizen Edward Austin Tracy in Beirut, accuses him of spying for Israel and U.S. (NYT, WP 10/22). Amal confirms it holds Israeli airman shot down over Lebanon (WP 10/22).

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Peres and Shamir reach compromise on new government, ending three-day deadlock (WP, NYT 10/17). Israeli Foreign Ministry delivers protest to Egyptian ambassador on PLO statement of involvement in 10/15 bombing in Jerusalem announced from Cairo (NYT 10/17). Israeli police arrest two Palestinians in connection with 10/15 bombing (JP 10/20). Israel bans suspects (residents of West Bank) from crossing Jordan River into Jordan (NYT 10/17).

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli Phantom jet shot down over Lebanon, while IDF warplanes launch large-scale attack on Palestinian camp of Mieh Mieh, 13th and reportedly largest raid this year (4 are killed, 12 wounded). Warships bombard camp from Sidon coast. Israeli helicopters rescue one of the crewmen 90 minutes after plane was shot down; other crewmen are reportedly held by Shi'i militiamen (WP, NYT 10/17; WP 10/18).

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli authorities drop distribution of Arabic daily al-Fajr for seven days for censorship violations (JP, FBIS 10/2). Jerusalem Post reports occupation authorities in West Bank are blocking distribution of new Arabic evening paper for territories, al-Masa', wanting paper to take a pro-Jordanian editorial line. Publisher Mahmud Abu Zuluf says paper is independent (JP 10/1).

Other Countries: U.S. Sec. of State Shultz meets Syrian F.M. Faruq al-Shar' in New York to discuss Syrian help in releasing U.S. hostages in Lebanon; al-Shar' in UN speech reiterates Syrian denials of involvement in terrorism and declares readiness to assist international efforts against terrorism (WP 10/2).

Military Action

Arab World: Shi'i militiamen ad Palestinians continue fighting around Rashidiyyah camp near Tyre (CSM 10/2).

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Two West Bankers - Muhammad 'Ali Muhammad Faraj, 18, from Dheisheh camp, and Khamis Tawfiq Abu Kishik, 20, from Fara'a camp - are arrested and placed under 6-month administrative detention, without being charged or tried [FJ 8/8]. Egyptian-Israeli talks on Taba open [NYT 8/11].

Other Countries: Reagan administration says 8 Israeli officials in New York are contesting subpoenas issued in investigation of whether Israel illegally exported cluster bomb technology to Israel [NYT 8/5]. Soviet Union announces it will start discussions with Israel this month on the opening of consulates [NYT 8/5].

Military Action

Arab World: Syrian and Lebanese soldiers deploy in Shi'ite suburbs of Beirut [NYT 8/5]. Bomb kills 2, wounds 28 in East Beirut cafe [BG 8/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli authorities release on bail 67 villagers from Zbaidat and al-Khawalid villages arrested 7/15 while confronting Israeli soldiers attempting to destroy unlicensed houses in the 2 villages [FJ 8/1]. Israeli authorities close off al-Najah University for 3 days, apparently to prevent demonstrations against U.S. Vice Pres. Bush's visit to the area, preventing students from taking exams or registering for next semester [FJ 8/1].

Arab World: Shi'ite group Islamic Jihad releases "because of failing health" Rev. Lawrence Martin Jenco, former head of Catholic Relief Services in Lebanon, kidnapped 1/8/85. Jihad says it still holds 3 other Americans [WP 8/2].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Israeli editor of HaOlam HaZeh, Uri Avneri, traveling on a West German passport, arrives in Jordan for a visit [BG, CSM 3/6; JP 3/7]. Yasir Arafat tells press conference PLO is preparing a reply to King Hussein's 2/19 speech, states that the PLO considers the 11 February accord "still working" [BG 2/28].

Other Countries: Common Cause reports spending by pro-Israel political action committees on congressional campaigns has increased at far sharper rate in 1980s than election spending by PACs as a whole [NYT, LAT 2/28].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli forces bombard several Shi'ite villages in S. Lebanon hours after Israeli command announces 1 soldier was killed, 4 wounded in clash with Lebanese guerrillas [NYT, WP 2/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Committee to Confront the Iron Fist sponsors press conference on treatment of Balata refugee camp residents, who state 258 people from the camp - 80% of them minors - have been detained by security forces for varying periods in past 3 months [JP 2/25; FJ 2/28].

Arab World: Iranian News Agency reports that Iranian govt. has decided to set up an Islamic Republic in Lebanon in coordination with Lebanese Shi'ite leaders who are visiting Iran [LN 2/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ibrahim Abu Hamad is appointed mayor of Yatta, near Hebron; Col. Ephraim Sneh, head of the civil administration, provides Abu Hamad initial grant of $50,000 [JTA 2/19]. P.M. Peres announces Israel's willingness to allow residents ofoccupied territories greater authority in running municipal affairs and to appoint mayors for al-Birah, Ramallah, and Hebron [JP 2/17]. List of 7 willing to run al-Birah was submitted to civil administration; Ibrahim al-Far, head of Ramallah Chamber of Commerce, also submitted his candidacy. In al-Birah, opponents of the plan held a meeting on 2/12, led by former Mayor Ibrahim al-Tawil [JP 2/17]. Tel Aviv contractor Avraham Gindi pleads not guilty to charges of fraudulent West Bank land sales, breach of trust, tampering with evidence, attempts to suborn witnesses [JP 2/18]. Central Bureau of Statistics announces inflation rate for January was negative (-1.3%) for first time in 14 years [JC 2/18; DT 2/19].

Arab World: King Hussein holds talks with top Egyptian official Usama al-Baz on yesterday's Arafat-Mubarak talks [JP 2/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Six people were injured when bomb exploded on Petah Tikva-Tel Aviv bus on 2/14 [JTA 2/18].

Arab World: Lebanese guerrillasmbush Israeli army patrol in S. Lebanon "security zone," capturing 2 soldiers; Islamic Resistance Front claims responsibility. Israeli army immediately sweeps through more than 10 Shi'ite Muslim villages in S. Lebanon, looking for the missing [NYT, LAT 2/18; GU 3/5]. Two SLA militiamen are killed during the ambush [WP 2/18].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Over 150 Palestinians, Israelis replant olive saplings uprooted by the Nature Reserves Authority 3 weeks ago, north of Jerusalem; 6 Israeli officials reportedly try to uproot some replanted saplings, army disperses both groups UP 1/26]. Israeli military delegation ends 5-day visit to Liberia for talks on "future cooperation" [JDW 1/25].

Arab World: Yasir Arafat arrives in Amman for talks with King Hussein [CSM 1/27]. Jordanian govt. sends parliament a new electoral law that would reassert Jordan's responsibility for the West Bank, provide representation for Palestinian refugees in Jordan; parliamentary legal committee is studying the law [NYT 1/26].

Other Countries: UN Undersecretary-General Brian Urquhart states PLO should accept UN resolutions 242, 338, that Israel should not dictate who represents Palestinians at peace talks [JP 1/26]. Interpol issues worldwide wanted notice for Abu Nidal [PI 1/31].

Military Action

Arab World: SLA shells Shi'ite village of Kafra in S. Lebanon, killing 1 UNIFIL soldier [NYT 1/26]. Libyan leader Col. Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi boards missile-bearing patrol boat, sails into Gulf of Sidra, 1 day after U.S. 6th Fleet began maneuvers off Libyan coast [WP 1/26]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Al-Fajr reports 30 West Bank residents have been arrested over past weeks in connection with land fraud investigation [FJ 1/17].

Arab World: W. German Nazi-hunter Beate Klarsfeld arrives in W. Beirut, offers to substitute herself for 5 missing Lebanese Jews held hostage by Shi'ite Organization of the Oppressed of the Earth until SLA, Israel release Shi'ite prisoners from Khiam detention center in S. Lebanon [JP 1/19].

Other Countries: U.S. Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy leaves for London for meetings with King Hussein, later with P.M. Peres [LAT 1/18; NYT 1/19]. Spain formally recognizes Israel [NYT, PI 1/18; NYT 1/19]. Govt. statement issued in Madrid states PLO should be included in M.E. peace talks, Spain does not recognize "any measures directed toward the annexation of Arab territories occupied since 1967" [CT, LT 1/18]. U.S. vetos UN Security Council resolution offered by Lebanon 'strongly deploring" Israeli violence in S. Lebanon, asking again all Israeli troops leave the area; vote is 11-1, with 3 abstentions [LAT, NYT 1/18; JTA 1/21].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Al-Fajr reports Iraeli troops destroyed or sealed homes of 10 Bethlehem and Hebron families in past week because members of the families were arrested on charges of membership in the PLO; none of the detainees had been tried [FJ 1/3]. Phone caller claims responsibility for 1/2 murder of Israeli taxi driver on behalf of Fateh's Force 17, states driver was Mossad agent [LT 1/4].

Arab World: Al-Fajr reports Jordan will permit daughter of Nablus Mayor Bassam Shaka'a to travel only one-way into the West Bank from Amman; she is refusing the condition [FJ 1/3].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli and SLA troops trade fire with Shi'ite, Sunni, leftist militias in S. Lebanon; SLA kills 2 [JP 1/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military court orders journalist Hamdi Farraj, 11 other Dheisheh refugee camp residents held since 2/1/85 without trial released on grounds general prosecutor failed to prove charges against them [FJ 1/10].

Arab World: Christian Science Monitor reports King Hussein and Pres. Asad agree to restore diplomatic relations between their countries at ambassadorial level [CSM 1/2]. Egypt and U.S. sign agreement on $140 million in U.S. aid to Egypt, the second installment of $500 million grant approved by Congress last year [JP 1/2]. SLA releases 20 Shi'ite prisoners from Khiam detention center in S. Lebanon as New Year's gesture. (Red Cross has not been allowed to visithe Khiam center) [JP 1/3].

Other Countries: Austrian Interior Ministry states 3 Palestinians who attacked Vienna airport had instructions to take Israeli hostages, hijack El Al plane to Tel Aviv, blow up plane "in or over Tel Aviv" [DT, FT 1/3]. Peter Goldman, director of Americans for a Safe Israel, and Rabbi Avraham Weiss, coordinator of Americans Against Terrorism, announce start of nationwide campaign to remove PLO offices from U.S. [JTA 1/3]. Nadav Safran, director of Harvard U.'s Center for Middle Eastern Studies, will resign post in wake of discovery he accepted $152,000 from CIA for writing book, sponsoring conference on Islamic fundamentalism [DT, LT 1/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Rocket fired from S. Lebanon damages property in Kiryat Shmona [BG 1/3]. Israeli taxi driver is found shot twice in head near Lod (second such incident in 2 days); 4 Palestinians are detained for questioning [FJ 1/10].

Arab World: Israeli and SLA troops shell targets in S. Lebanon in retaliation for shelling of Kiryat Shmona [TS 1/3].