The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: King Hussein denounces Camp David before Egyptian parliament; refuses to negotiate in place of PLO; calls for PLO role in peace talks [PI 12/3, NYT 12/3]. PLO announces move of formal PNC seat to Amman, PLO secretariat to Tunis, both from Damascus [JP 12/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Explosion at Qalandiya camp; no injuries [JP 12/3].

Arab World: IDF soldier wounded in ambush near Sidon, S. Lebanon. In Nabatiya, S. Lebanon, grenade injures 14 in market; bomb explodes near IDF convoy, no casualties [JP 12/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: New IS10,000 note [approx. $16] bearing Golda Meir portrait begins circulation.

Arab World: US & Iraq resume full diplomatic relations. French Pres. Mitterrand begins 3-day official visit to Damascus. Rifa'at Assad returns to Syria from 51/2- mo. exile.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF patrol near Ansar comes under light arms fire; IDF returns fire, killing 1 gunman. IDF positions near Adwer & Kafr Kuk fired upon; no casualties reported. Israeli troops kidnap 3 from Kafr Seer, incl. head of Amal social services.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Energy Min. Shahal recommends suspending indefinitely Dead Sea canal project due to economic non-feasibility.

Arab World: Palestinian dissidents reportedly move into Sabra & Shatila camps to confront Arafat loyalists there. US envoy Murphy travels to Damascus to meet Pres. Assad in attempt and press for resumption of Israeli-Lebanese talks; Assad maintains support for Lebanon's refusal; Murphy flies to Tel Aviv.

Other Countries: Ariel Sharon's $50 million libel suit vs. Time magazine opens in New York Federal Court. Meir Kahane denied entry into Canada for 2nd time. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: From Ramallah to Bethlehem, Palestinian shops, schools and public transport strike in non-violent protest at Israeli police occupying al-Haram al-Sharif. Israeli officials give amount of 1985 US-aid request as $5 billion.

Arab World: Fateh Central Com. announces PNC will convene in Amman 11/22; Syria criticizes move as divisive. In Damascus, Nayef Hawatmeh announces DFLP will attend 17th PNC session. Al-Saiqa spokesman denounces Arafat's call for PNC session as treasonous. Lebanese PM Karami suspends talks with Israel in response to Israel's detention of 4 Shi'ite leaders (since 11/8).

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Herut Executive mtg., FM Shamir says Reagan plan no longer exists.

Arab World: To avoid Arab criticism that they are upgrading relations with Israel, Lebanese cabinet proposes direct talks with UN-sponsored Lebanese-Israeli Mixed Armistice Commission framework; Israel refuses. Popular Palestinian Committees of al-Yarmouk camp (Damascus) cable Syrian gov't. to protest arrest campaign of camp residents in past week. Morocco refuses entry to 2 Israelis invited to attend World Conference on Poetry in Marrakesh.

Other Countries: French chrmn. of World Jewish Congress named by France to its UN delegation.

Military Action

Arab World: 3 guerrillas reported killed, 1 captured by IDF near Bater al-Chouf, Lebanon.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: On Israeli radio, Bethlehem Mayor Freij welcomes renewed Jordan-Egypt ties. High Court grants injunction to 9 Beit Amin villagers halting Israeli development on their land. Israeli FM Shamir meets with Spanish FM Moran to discuss possible future diplomatic relations.

Arab World: Palestinian Natl. Alliance condemns Jordan for renewed relations with Egypt. US envoy Murphy returns to Damascus for further talks with Syrian officials.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Min.of Police Bar Lev refuses Jewish terror suspects' request for prison leave over Jewish holidays.

Arab World: In Damascus, Democratic Alliance calls for convening PNC.

Other Countries: US envoy Murphy arrives in Tel Aviv to discuss with PM Peres possible mediation between Israel and Syria over IDF withdrawal from Lebanon. Israeli FM Shamir meets Egyptian FM Abd al-Meguid in New York. US threatens withdrawal from Intl. Atomic Energy Agency if it does not recognize Israel.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF and SLA patrols come under light arms fire near Jezzine and in Tyre, S. Lebanon. 1 IDF soldier & 1 Shin Bet agent killed, 1 soldier wounded in ambush near Mishki village, eastern Beqaa.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Jerusalem press conference, staff and student representatives of West Bank universities condemn closure of Najah Nat'l. U. (since 7/30/84). Military orders ban Gaza table tennis tournament (scheduled for 9/21).

Arab World: Portuguese & Eritrean labor delegations visit Chrmn. Arafat at Tunis HQ. PDR Yemen leader Ali Nasser Mohammed arrives in Damascus for talks with officials on PLO-Syria reconciliation.

Other Countries: Israel announces appointment of Benjamin Netanyahu as its amb. to UN.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2nd anniversay of massacres at Sabra and Shatila camps; Israeli troops respond with tear gas to demonstrations in Jalazoun and Dheisheh camps. Israeli bus ambushed near Bethlehem, 5 Israelis, 2 Palestinians in nearby car injured; police search, impose curfew on Dheisheh camp & al-Khidr village. Arab World: IDF position near Jezzine shelled by Katyushas fired from south of Awali River.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gaza military court charges 2 Israeli officers with 5/1/84 attack & blinding of Gaza man M. H; Abu Amra.

Arab World: 3 Palestinian Nat'l. Action leaders in Jordan voice opposition to PNC mtg. before agreement between all PLO groups. Lebanese Pres. Gemayel meets Pres. Assad in Damascus for talks on security and political reforms. Palestine Higher Military Council meets in Tunis, endorses Aden-Algiers agreement (6/27). Chrmn. Arafat meets with Algerian (FLN) officials.

Other Countries: Nigerian gov't. sanctions chiefs Oba Sijuade II and Alhaji Ado Bayero for recent visit to Jerusalem for talks with Israeli officials. Israel Aircraft Industries recruits 10 engineers from Lear Fan plant in Belfast, N. Ireland to accelerate production of Lavi jets. France's Chief Rabbi Rene Sirat condemns Kahane as "contrary to all ideals of Judaism." Venezuelan Confederation of Jewish Associations denounces Pan American Gymnastics Federation support for Palestine's membership in International Gymnastics Federation. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli border guards and archaeological dep't. officials escort settlers in constructing first structures on 100 dunums of Battir lands (near Bethlehem) owned by local families and recently confiscated by Israel as "state lands." Military court sentences 5 Village League members to 2 yrs. for arson and attacks on Palestinian nationalists in West Bank. Central Bureau of Statistics reports unemployment over past 9 mos. rose from 27,000 to 85,000. Israel radio reports caretaker gov't. plans to press US for early remittance of 1984 financial aid balance.

Arab World: Palestine National Alliance issues statement in Damascus criticizing PDA-Fateh proposal (8/19/84) to convene National Council before reaching national consensus.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF close only crossing point between S. Lebanon and rest of country for 3 days. Passing car fires grenades on IDF patrols near Nabatiya. Roadside bomb explodes as IDF vehicle passes Deir Kanoun. IDF vehicle at Burj Shemali refugee camp near Tyre ambushed with grenades and automatic weapons. [Casualty figures unavailable].

Social/Economic/Political:

Arab World: Lebanese Pres. Gemayel returns from Damascus with Syrian agreement that he should form new gov't. giving increasing power to Lebanese Muslims.

Other Countries: Haaretz reports Israeli FM Kimche to visit US to discuss establishing special fund for Israeli assistance to Central American countries. 15-member Islamic Conference Organization committee to safeguard Islamic and Arab character of Jerusalem announces Islamic countries will break relations with Costa Rica and El Salvador for locating their embassies in Jerusalem. Reagan admin. warns Eastern bloc gov'ts. relations with US cannot improve if they continue support for Palestinians and other "international terrorists."

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli-run Hebron municipality serves orders to Palestinian shopowners in building near Sultan's Pool to vacate as city is "repossessing" it. Israeli bulldozers begin work on access road to Elon Moreh site through Palestinian-owned land. Poll by Jewish-Arab center of Haifa U. shows 55% of Israeli Jews support preventing Arabs becoming majority in Palestine again; 49% urge gov't. to encourage Arabs to leave; 64% urge tightened control over Arabs; 65% believe Arabs can't be trusted. In response to reports of Iraq's use of chemical weapons, Min. of Science Neeman asserts "Arabs have always been known to have no scruples about using unconventional weapons."

Arab World: Syria expells UNRWA director in Damascus without explanation.

Military Action:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Unknown assailant reportedly throws bomb at demonstrators in Gaza; 3 IDF soldiers, 7 Palestinians injured; local residents claim Arab victims shot by soldiers.

Arab World: Israeli troops open fire on car at road block near Saksakiyah, S. Lebanon, killing driver.