The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Eighty prominent rabbis, led by former Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi and former Israeli Army Rabbi Shlomo Goren, formally call for the construction of a Third Temple on the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount); state survey maps drawn up by Israeli army engineers in 1967 indicate the ideal place for synagogue is on the site of the Dome of the Rock Mosque [NYT 8/6; FJ 8/8].

Arab World: Jordanian Prime Minister Zayd al-Rifa'i announces Jordan has drawn up $1.3 billion 5-year development plan for the occupied territories [FJ 8/8]. U.S. V.P. Bush ends Middle East tour [NYT 8/7].

Other Countries: U.S. Justice Department withdraws subpoenas issued to Israeli officials in investigation of illegal export of U.S. cluster bomb technology to Israel, after Israeli government promised to cooperate in investigation [NYT 8/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: U.S. V.P. Bush arrives in Egypt to meet President Husni Mubarak [WP 8/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli court appointees raid 3 offices of Jerusalem Electricity Company in unsuccessful attempt to confiscate JEC funds they claim were being spent without proper approval from its court-appointed guardian, the Israeli Electric Company [FJ 8/8].

Arab World: U.S. V.P. Bush in Jordan suggests meeting between P.M. Peres and King Hussein. Suggestion rejected by Jordan [LT 8/1].

Other Countries: Reagan administration will funnel $4.5 million in American development aid for Palestinians living in the occupied territories through Jordan; the decision is expected to make it more difficult for Israel to determine how American money is spent in the occupied territories [NYT 8/1]. (The U.S. is already providing $14 million to enhance the "quality of life" of the Palestinians in the territories) [NYT 8/1].

Military Action

Arab World: An Israeli soldier and 2 unidentified Arabs are killed in a gun battle in S. Lebanon according to an Israeli army spokesman [WP 8/1].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Leaflet signed "Preparatory Committee of a JordanianPalestinian Gathering" is distributed in Jerusalem and Gaza calling on "silent majority" to block the "opportunists" and support King Hussein's policies [FJ 8/1]. Israeli High Court rules the govt. may expel 45 American-born "Black Hebrews"; Interior Ministry spokesman says they will be deported within a few days [NYT 7/30].

Arab World: U.S. V.P. Bush arrives in Amman to meet King Hussein [NYT 7/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. V.P. Bush in Jerusalem meets 18 West Bank and Gaza Palestinians, most of them known to be pro-Jordanian, who urge U.S. to recognize the PLO [NYT 7/30, FJ 8/1, 8/8]. Israeli Central Planning Committee hears objections by 7 West Bank villages to an Israeli plan to confiscate 3,500 dunums of village land for constructing a highway linking Jerusalem with the village of Kufr Qasim [FJ 8/1].

Military Action

Arab World: Car bomb explodes in Muslim West Beirut, killing 25 and wounding 180, while mass funeral is being held in East Beirut for the victims of 7/28 bombing [NYT, WP 7/30].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Peres states in keynote speech opening Labor party convention that Israel recognizes the Palestinians "as a nation," states Israel is trying to "create interim conditions for an interim arrangement" in the occupied territories until their final status is resolved [DT 4/10]. Egyptian delegation headed by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Butrus-Ghali attends the convention, as well as delegations from 20 other countries [JP 4/9].

Arab World: Former chief of intelligence for the PLO, 'Atallah 'Atallah (Abu Za'im), is reported to have been touring Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan delivering speeches critical of policies of Yasir Arafat and blaming him for the collapse of dialogue with King Hussein; Abu Za'im's statements have been given front-page coverage in Amman [JP 4/8; NYT 4/9]. Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Abba Eban arrives in Cairo for a visit [JP 4/9].

Other Countries: U.S. Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy, originally scheduled to accompany Vice Pres. George Bush on his M.E. tour, stops instead in Cairo and then proceeds to Israel; Bush tells press conference Murphy is investigating a new peace initiative [LAT, BG 4/9].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Firebomb is thrown at bus on northern edge of Jerusalem, injuring 9 Israeli passengers; police detain 17 Palestinians for questioning [LAT, WP 4/9]. A bomb explodes in Afula, injuring a soldier; WAFA, the Palestine News Agency, states the PLO is responsible for placing the bomb [WP, LAT 4/9].

Arab World: Suicide bomber drives car into checkpoint near Hasbayya, at edge of Israeli-declared "security zone," killing himself and injuring 3 SLA militiamen and 3 civilians; the pro-Syrian Lebanese Ba'th party claims responsibility [WP, NYT 4/9]. Car bomb in Christian port city of Juniyah kills 10, injures over 100; no one claims responsibility [WP, NYT 4/9].