The Palestine Chronology

In an Israeli cabinet mtg., PM Barak admits that 4 past PMs (Yitzhak Shamir, Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Benjamin Netanyahu) had affectively guaranteed to withdraw fr. the Golan Heights to the 6/4/67 border with Syria; says he will not "erase the past." (MM, NYT, WP 2/28; CSM, MM 2/29; XIN 2/29 in WNC 3/1; WJW 3/2; AYM 3/5 in WNC 3/9; JP, MEI 3/10)

In Ramallah, Palestinians march to PA headquarters to protest the arrest of a total of 69 Birzeit students since the 2/26 attack on French PM Jospin. 3,000 Palestinian students in Hebron, Lebanese in Sidon hold anti-Jospin demonstrations. (LAW, NYT, WP, WT 2/28; al-Quds 2/29 in WNC 3/3; MEI 3/10)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian shot, wounded when he allegedly tried to attack Israeli soldier in al-Burayj camp 3/4 dies in Gaza hospital [WP 3/6].

Other Countries: Sec. of State Shultz retums to U.S. from Middle East trip [NYT 3/6]. New York Times reports former Sec. of State Henry Kissinger urged Am. Jewish leaders to withhold criticism of Israel and voiced support for media ban in W. Bank and Gaza Strip and Israeli use of force [NYT 3/5]. Reagan administration endorses letter signed by 30 senators criticizing P.M. Shamir for rejection of land for peace formula [WP 3/8].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF troops fire on demonstrators in Dahariyyah near Hebron, killing 2 Palestinians. In northem Israel, 4 Israelis are wounded by Katyusha rocket fired from S. Lebanon. Soldiers raid Jalazun refugee camp near Ramallah and arrest about 50 Palestinians [WP 3/6]. Troops conduct mass nighttime arrests in several W. Bank camps [FJ 3/13]. Palestinian youth is shot dead by Israeli troops during clash in Mazra'ah al-Sharqiyyah village [WQP 3/28]. In Qalandiya refugee camp, near Jerusalem, protesters attack IDF patrol with stones, Molotov cocktails [Fl 3/13]. Students demonstrate in Ramallah after failed attempt to enter Birzeit U. [Fl 3/13]. Clashes between Israeli troops and tire-burning Palestinians are reported in Ramallah, Qalqiliyyah, and Abu Dis village. At least 3 are injured by army gunfire in Jenin. Curfews are in force in Burayj, Dayr al-Balah, and 'Arrub camps, Khadir village, and Bani Na'im village [Fl 3/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy arrives in Israel for meetings with P. M. Shamir. Director of UNRWA in Gaza accuses IDF of intensifying beatings in recent days. Gazan youth beaten 2/8 dies in Beersheba hospital; 3 Palestinians have died from military-inflicted beatings [NYT 2/10]. Closure of Birzeit U. is extended for another month [FJ 2/14]. Settlers from Ma'aleh Adomim, between Jerusalem and Jericho, raid neighboring village of al-'Azzariyyah (Bethany), attacking houses, breaking doors and windows [FJ 2/14].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian is shot, killed in 'Attil, village near Tulkarm [NYT 2/10]. Demonstrators and troops clash in Gaza City; reports indicate at least 50 are injured by soldiers. Settlers and soldiers battle demonstrators in W. Bank town of Halhul; town is placed under curfew. Demonstrations are reported in Hebron, Sa'ir, Jenin-district village of Qabatiyyah, Bethlehem, Silwan, and jerusalem. Curfews remain in force for Nablus region, Qalqiliyyah, Tulkarm, Bayt 'Ur al-Tahta, Bayt Ummar, Bani Na'im, 'Anabta, refugee camps of Balatah, 'Askar, 'A'idah, Shu'fat, and Gaza Strip's Burayj camp. Al-'Azzah camp, Hibla village, and Jabal al-Mukabir ae under siege [FJ 2/14].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Knesset com. votes to deny Rabbi Kahane his free postal privileges after he sent "hate mail" to Israeli Arabs [WP 2/18].

Arab World: PLO delegation led by Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad) ends talks with Minister of Occupied Territories Affairs Marwan Dudin and other Jordanian officials in Amman with agreement on how to distribute Saudi contribution to joint PLO-Jordanian fund [WP 2/18].

Other Countries: Israeli P. M. Shamir and U.S. Sec. of State Shultz meet in Washington, discuss disagreement over international Middle East peace conference [NYT, WP 2/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: One woman is shot by police during 9th day of demonstrations in Khan Yunis [BG 2/18]. Authorities order Bethlehem University closed for 4 days, Birzeit U. for 2 days following demonstrations at both campuses. Demonstrations are reported in Gaza City, Rafah, and several camps [FJ 2/20].

Arab World: Amal temporarily lifts siege of Shatila and Burj al-Barajinah camps after PLO fighters agree to withdraw from posts in Maghdushah [FJ 2/20].

Military Action:

US Marines in Lebanon celebrate Corp's 207th birthday; IDF ends first large-scale military exercises since Lebanon invasion.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Commission of Inquiry hears testimony of IDF officers in closed session and investigators interview soldiers and Israeli reporters; Shamir charges Egypt with peace treaty violations, says it courts PLO and allows domestic anti-Semitic campaign; Civil Administration orders a Jordanian and 2 US lecturers at Birzeit Univ. to stop teaching and leave area after they refuse to sign anti-PLO pledge; World Zionist Organization announces plans to double number of Jewish settlers in West Bank in 1983, and by 2010 to total of 1.4 million.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat, interviewed in Tunisia, says US is partly to blame for Beirut massacres and shows unofficial negotiating documents with US written guarantees of security for camps, also says 3,000 Palestinians and 2,000 Lebanese prisoners released so far.

Arab Governments: Egypt strengthening defensive positions in Sinai; Egyptian Defense Minister Ghazala calls for "unified Arab strategy" to meet threat of Israel; King Hussein, in interview, says he backs Reagan peace proposals but wants US to gain concessions from Israel before he will join peace talks.

US and Other Countries: US officials concede Arafat's statements on US guarantees, says US accepted only oral commitments from Israelis and Phalange on safety of camps; Representative Lee Hamilton (D-IN) meets with West Bank and Gaza mayors in Jerusalem.