The Palestine Chronology

On this 1st Friday of Ramadan, Israel lifts age restrictions on Palestinians attending prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque and places Israeli riot police surrounding the mosque compound under strict orders to avoid actions that could spark riots. The IDF, however, bars West Bank Palestinians from entering East Jerusalem, some Jerusalem Palestinians from entering the Old City. Though there are several stone-throwing incidents after prayers, the police do not respond with gunfire as in previous weeks. Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue in the West Bank and Gaza, leaving 3 Palestinians dead. The IDF fires antitank missiles and heavy machine guns at residential areas in Hebron, Ramallah. Israel partially reopens the Gaza airport (closed since 11/8). (LAW 12/1; NYT, WP, WT 12/2; PCHR, WT 12/3)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinians order 3-day general strike in W. Bank and Gaza Strip [CSM 1/12]. In E. Jerusalem, police use tear gas and clubs to break up women's demonstration; 9 are arrested. Police arrest 19 following demonstration in Sa'diyyah quarter of Jerusalem's Old City [FJ 1/17]. Palestinian shot 12/16 in Rafah dies in Israeli hospital [LAT 1/11; FJ 1/17]. Def. Min. Rabin tells Israeli cabinet that calm will not be restored soon. Cabinet endorses iron fist policy. West Bank commander, General Amram Mitzna, orders Birzeit U. closed for 1 month [LAT, CSM 1/11]. W. Bank students sit for tawjihi exam [FJ 1/17]. Israeli youth is sentenced to 28 days in prison for refusing to serve in occupied territories [FJ 1/17]. Gaza lawyers decide to continue strike for another week. Reports indicate prisoners at Gaza Central prison have declared hunger strike as sign of support for uprising. School closings in Gaza Strip are extended indefinitely by Israeli authorities [FJ 1/17].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF reinforces its presence in W. Bank and Gaza Strip. Soldiers open fire on stone throwers in numerous clashes in Gaza Strip, killing 1 in Gaza City's Sha'jiyyah quarter. Military conducts house-to-house raids in Sha'jiyyah, imposes curfew. UN officials report at least 2 others wounded in Gaza City. Khan Yunis residents claim pregnant woman was suffocated by tear gas [WP 1/11]. UN sources report at least 30 wounded in Gaza [LAT 1/1 1]. Demonstrations break out in Ramallah, al-Birah, and surrounding villages and camps. Balatah and 'Askar camps are placed under curfew following demonstrations [FJ 1/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: New Israeli Attorney General Yosef Harish assumes office [BG 6/6]. Antioccupation protests mark anniversary of 1967 occupation: an Israeli settler in Nablus fired at and injured; the city put under curfew; a bomb in Jerusalem injures 2 Israeli women; a telephone caller claims responsibility for both actions on behalf of Fateh's Force 17; explosion in Afula causes no injuries; 2 petrol bombs hurled at Israeli buses in Janin, no injuries; demonstrators at Birzeit University raise the Palestinian flag and stone Israeli army troops, who respond with tear gas; 3 petrol bombs in Gaza are hurled at Israeli army vehicles, no injuries; one Gaza resident is shot in the leg. Meanwhile, several dozen Israeli "Down with the Occupation" activists demonstrate at Damascus Gate; another group of Israelis tries to carry Israeli flag into the Haram al-Sharif compound; a Gush Emunim march of 2,000 proceeds through the Old City and to Mount of Olives [FJ 6/13]. Prominent Israeli real estate agent Avraham Gindi, implicated in major land scam, commits suicide [FJ 6/12].

Other Countries: Italian Parliament votes to recognize PLO as representative of Palestinians [MG 6/6].

Military Action

Arab World: Fighting in south Beirut continues; estimated death toll exceeds 100 [WP 6/6]. Amal leader Nabih Birri calls for ceasefire in recognition of 'Id al-Fitr holiday [MG 6/10]. SLA demolishes 14 homes at Ruman, one mile north of security zone in south Lebanon, in retaliation for ambush [JP 6/6].

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Hundreds of former residents of Birim, Maronite village on Israel's northern border evacuated in 1948, call on government to allow them to return now that security prevails, government reportedly will not agree to setting precedent since estimated 50,000 Arabs in Israel might also demand return to their original homes; another outbreak of mass sickness on West Bank causes hospitalization of 164 girls from Tulkarm and Anabta, 240 in Yatta; results of International Red Cross investigation of illnesses, released by Israeli Health Ministry, indicate no evidence of poison or toxic material, conclude that epidemic is mass phenomenon devoid of danger; curfew imposed in Yatta, 6 other areas; 2 IDF soldiers, border policeman, and 2 Nablus residents wounded by hand-grenade in Nablus; Israeli bank ransacked during protest demonstrations in Tulkarm; Israeli targets stoned in other West Bank towns; 18 year-old boy shot in arm and stomach by settler driving past al-Arub refugee camp, police question settler and impound his rifle; 2 Israelis injured by stones in Qalqilya; 2 Arab youths injured when Israeli driver swerves his car into group throwing stones; 65 year-old Jerusalem woman hospitalized after being beaten and stabbed, members of Jewish religious school seeking to take over her property are suspected; IDF investigating 2 settler-related shooting incidents in Hebron and Nablus areas; Muslim religious leaders call students to hold protest gathering at Dome of Rock against last year's Easter attack by Israeli soldier; police use teargas to disperse demonstration near Damascus Gate, 8 arrested; police prevent group of 50 Jewish religious nationalists, including Meir Kahane, from entering Temple Mount, group then holds prayers outside gates; teenage nephew of Kahane arrested after firing Uzi at Palestinian demonstrators.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat and Hussein hold third round of talks, Arafat tells news conference he is still committed to Fez summit resolutions, Farouk Kaddoumi says Reagan plan is not a vehicle for negotiation, Abujihad says PLO is not giving a mandate to anyone.

Arab Governments: Mubarak, in Peking, urges PLO and King Hussein to enter talks on Reagan plan soon, before next US election campaign.

US and Other Countries: US diplomats in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem reportedly sceptical of official Israeli explanation of mass illnesses, point to fact that Israelis on West Bank displayed same symptoms.