The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli authorities close Nablus offices of Construction and Public Institutions Unions and Union of Public Service Workers for one year for "security reasons," alleging groups are linked to PFLP (Fl 9/26).

Arab World: Egypt's ambassador to Israel assumes functions in Tel Aviv (WP 9/24).

Other Countries: UN Security Council adopts resolution calling on Israel to withdraw troops from S. Lebanon and to permit UNIFIL to move up to border. U.S. abstains; 14 members of council vote in favor of resolution (WP 9/24).

Military Action

Arab World: IDF warplanes bomb Palestinian targets in Druze-controlled Shuf mountains southeast of Beirut, the tenth airstrike in Lebanon this year; two women are wounded. New York Times reports five wounded, four Druze villages bombed (NYT 9/24). Defense Minister Rabin tours SLA outposts before raid, vows to crush attempts to attack SLA which has lost 16 men in recent weeks. French continue to evacuate positions for safer ground (NYT, WP 9/23). Shamir says Israel is not planning an invasion (NYT 9/24).

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: Israeli P.M. Peres meets Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze for 90 minutes at UN. Peres calls meeting "beginning of dialogue" (WP 9/23); it is highest level meeting since 1967 rupture. Peres says they agree to consider normalizing relations (NYT 9/23). At request of France, Israel tells UN Security Council that it won't dismantle "security zone" inside Lebanon as Security Council demands (NYT 9/23).

Military Action

Arab World: IDF mass troops and equipment on both sides of the Lebanese border; military sources repeat warnings that Israel will use "all means necessary" including use of troops to defend SLA from new attacks by Muslim guerrillas and to maintain control of "security zone." Mobilization is largest concentration of troopsince June 1985 withdrawal (WP, NYT 9/23).

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: King Hussein states in press conference that he has no new peace initiatives for M.E. following breakdown in joint efforts with Yasir Arafat, states, "We believe in the PLO's being the sole legitimate rpresentative of the Palestinian people at least as far as the institution is concemed" [WP 7/13]. Hussein praises recent Soviet proposal for meeting of permanent members of UN Security Council on M.E. Washington Post reports 2 of the 5 permanent members, the U.S. and Britain, have rejected the proposal [WP 7/13]. Palestinian renegade officer 'Atallah 'Atallah (Abu Za'im) calls for directalks between the PLO and Israel and for convening a conference in Amman to oust Arafat [FJ 7/18].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Defense Ministry dismisses a"unfounded" allegations Israel tried to obtain illegally technology to manufacture cluster shells [WP, NYT 7/10].

Other Countries: On third day of talks in Moscow between French Pres. Frangois Mitterrand and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, spokesmen for French and Soviet govts. state that both sides favor in principle a M. E. peace conference hosted by the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council [WP 7/10; FJ 7/11].

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Dole urges Secretary of State Shultz to deny PLO Chairman Arafat visa to visit U.S. for UN Security Council meeting in June [LAT 5/23].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: King Hussein has frozen all West Bank funds in Jordanian banks and has suspended all aid to public institutions in the territories, according to a report in 'Al Hamishmar [JP 4/18]. Inspectors of income tax and VAT departments, assisted by a strong force of police, raid Palestinian villages of Kafr Qasim, Jaljuliyyah, and Kafr Bara to collect debts; they impound TV sets, furniture, and 2 motor vehicles [JP 4/21].

Arab World: Radio Monte Carlo broadcasts that Yasir Arafat has notified Jordan that Amman-based Fateh military officer Abu Za'im has been relieved of his duties and that Jordan should suspend all contact with him [JP 4/18].

Other Countries: A U.S. federal judge rules that PLO Permanent Observer to the UN Zuhdi Tarzi may travel from New York to Cambridge, Mass. for a debate with Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, despite State Department travel ban [PI 4/20]. UN Security Council votes to extend UNIFIL mandate in S. Lebanon an additional 3 months; Soviet Union concurs in vote for first time since UNIFIL's creation, states it will begin contributions to UNIFIL budget [NYT 4/19; WP 4/20].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli authorities have arrested scores of West Bankers and 1 Gazan on charges of committing attacks that have wounded at least 8 Israelis; most of the suspects are said to belong to Fateh cells active in the Jerusalem and Ramallah areas, to have been responsible for series of bombings since last September [JP, JTA 3/24].

Arab World: Yasir Arafat repeats PLO offer to trade acceptance of UN resolutions 242 and 338, and therefore acceptance of Israel, in return for guarantees by the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council of the Palestinians' rights to selfdetermination [BG 3/25]. Morocco's King Hasan proposes a summit conference between a chosen Arab leader and P.M. Peres to hear Israel's views on the Fez peace plan [JP 3/25].

Other Countries: U.S. is reportedly pressuring Israel to sell arms to Iraq, including Israeli "drone" reconnaissance aircraft and Soviet weapons captured by Israel during past wars with Arab neighbors [DT 3/24].

Military Action

Arab World: Lebanese state radio reports Israeli forces shelled Nabatiyyah, killing 3 civilians and wounding 22 [NYT 3/25]. Jerusalem Post reports the SLA shelled Nabatiyyah in response to 12 katyusha rockets that landed in "security zone" in early morning [JP 3/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel deports West Bank Palestinian prisoner Ahmad Balu to Jordan. (Balu was never released from jail following completion of his 16- year term; although Israelis offered to let him go abroad, he chose to complete his sentence and be reunited with his family) [FJ 2/14].

Arab World: Christian Science Monitor reports King Hussein demanded written acceptance of UN resolutions 242, 338 from Yasir Arafat during last week's negotiations as basis for negotiating with Israel. Hussein had obtained 2 U.S. concessions in return: acceptance of intl. conference hosted by UN, including permanent members of Security Council, and direct negotiations with PLO (if it accepted 242, 338) [CSM 2/6].

Other Countries: U.S. vetos UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel for intercepting Libyan jet [PI 2/7; JTA 2/10]. Hundreds of evangelical American Christian leaders attend 5th annual pro-Israel National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. [WP, JTA 2/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Egyptian naval patrol rams Israeli pleasure boat off coast of Taba, injuring several tourists aboard [LT 2/6].

Other Countries: U.S. State Dept. issues legal brief stating an American Jew's religious and/or political affinity for Israel may form part of basis for depriving him/her of U.S. citizenship; brief was prepared in relation to MK Meir Kahane case [NYT 2/5].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli planes intercept Libyan executive jet over Mediterranean, force it to land in Israel; military sources state they were looking for Abu Nidal. Passengers are interrogated, plane released. Libya denounces action, charges U.S. complicity [NYT, WP 2/5]. Syria accuses Israel of air piracy, requests emergency session of UN Security Council to discuss interception of Libyan jet [NYT 2/5]. U.S. State Dept. refrains from making judgment on action [NYT 2/5]. Bomb explodes in Ramat Gan, injuring 3 [NYT, LAT 2/5].

Other Countries: Bomb explodes in Paris bookstore, wounding 4 [NYT 2/5]. Group calling itself the Committee of Solidarity with Arab and Middle Eastern Political Prisoners claims responsibility [NYT 2/5]. (A bomb found the day before in the Eiffel Tower was safely defused) [LAT, NYT 2/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Dr. 'Azmi Shu'aybi, 'Ali Abu Hilal, and Hasan 'Abd al-Jawad drop High Court appeal against deportation orders against them on grounds they cannot expect a reasonable decision [NYT 1/31]. Sephardi Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu proposes erecting a synagogue on the Haram al-Sharif [JTA 1/31].

Arab World: Talks break down between Yasir Arafat, King Hussein after 5days of discussion on how to secure role for PLO in M.E. peace process; PLO will accept UN resolutions 242, 338 only if the U.S. recognizes Palestinian righto self-determination within context of Jordanian-Palestinian confederation, and if U.S. guarantees effective peace conference [WP, BG 1/31]. Arab League condemns U.S. economic, military pressures against Libya, rejects Libya's demand for economic retaliation [WP, LAT 1/31]. Anonymous phone caller claims responsibility on behalf of Abu Nidal group for 1/29 killing of 2 Israeli soldiers in West Bank [BG 1/31].

Other Countries: U.S. vetos UN Security Council resolution stating "provocative" visit by Israel MKs "violated the sanctity of the Haram al-Sharif" in Jerusalem; vote is 13-1, with 1 abstention [NYT 1/31; JTA 2/3]. Reagan administration postpones indefinitely proposed $1.9 billion arms sale to Jordan [LAT 1/31; NYT, WP 2/1]. United Jewish Appeal announces its 1985 campaign raised total of $637 million, a $51. 1 million increase over the year before [JTA 1/31].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Two gunmen open fire from a moving car outside Jerusalem's Old City, killing an Israeli undercover police detective investigating drug cases, injuring 2 others; 4 Palestinians are arrested [WP, NYT 1/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: A senior Israeli official states P.M. Peres has proposed negotiating a settlement with Palestinian mayors in the occupied territories [CT 1/24]. Minister of Trade and Commerce Ariel Sharon and Time magazine reach out-of-court settlement in libel suit Sharon filed under Israeli law; Time apologizes, pays undisclosed amount of money [NYT, WP 1/23]. Israeli govt. agrees in principle to return $51 million to help U.S. meet budget cuts [JP 1/23].

Arab World: Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Committee set up by the 46-member Islamic Conference Organization meets in Morocco at request of Yasir Arafat, appeals for support in preventing further Israeli disruptions at Islamic shrines in East Jerusalem [JP 1/22; LT 1/23].

Other Countries: Security Council debates Moroccan, UAE resolution on "The Situation in the Occupied Arab Territories" in wake of confrontations at Haram al-Sharif; Egypt states Israel "must" withdraw from East Jerusalem, Palestinians in West Bank must have right to self-determination, Saudi Arabia warns of "wrath of hundreds of millions of Muslims" if "aggressions" continue [JP 1/22; JTA 1/23].

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].