The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli army announces it has arrested Yusuf Muhammad Abu Armanah, 22, and Sa'id Fakhri Ibrahim Afanah, 23, both from Rafah, who have allegedly confessed to the 9/5 stabbing of an Israeli truck driver in Gaza. Their families' tar-paper residences have been destroyed [LAT 9/7; FJ 9/13]. MK Meir Kahane's Kach movement forms new group "Hatzala" (Parents for their Children) to oppose Min. of Education's plans to sponsor meetings between Israeli and Palestinian children. Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef strongly opposed the Ed. Min.'s plan last week, saying he would urge religious parents to remove their children from the national religious school network if it is implemented [JWP 9/6].

Arab World: Jerusalem Post reports 6 kidnapped members of the Lebanese Jewish community are being held by the Hizballah group [JP 9/61.

Other Countries: Congressional sources say administration has tentatively decided not to propose selling advanced F-15 fighter planes to Saudi Arabia. U.S. Sec. of State George Shultz announces U.S. is releasing the first $750 million of $1.5 billion in special economic aid approved last month by Congress for Israel. $250 million is going to Egypt, $53 million to Jordan, and $3 million is planned for aid to Palestinians in the occupied territories [WP 9/7]. Jewish Press reports the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council (NJCRAC) in the U.S. called on major Jewish groups and federations to condemn MK Meir Kahane during his upcoming visit to the U.S. and is putting pressure on the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. and television shows to cancel their invitations to Kahane to speak while here [JWP 9/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb explodes seriously wounding the man trying to place it in an Israeli market; 20 Palestinians are detained [LAT 9/7].

Arab World: Palestinian and Shi'ite gunmen battle for the 4th straight day around Burj al-Barajinah camp in south Beirut; 23 killed and 70 wounded ovemight. Shi'ite militia is backed by Soviet T-54 tanks. The DFLP issues a statement from Damascus accusing Amal militia of executing 17 Palestinian civilians in the street. The Druze and Murabitun militias have joined forces with the Palestinians against Amal militia [NYT, DT, WP, LT 9/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli army orders 3 Palestinians deported for "subversive political activity," jails 15 others without charge under administrative detention orders [WP 8/30]. Israeli security authorities are holding an American, an Australian, and 6 Palestinians. The Westerners are accused of transporting Palestinians -said to be a commando squad - to Lebanon, from which the squad allegedly planned to attack Israel [WP 8/30]. Israeli State Prosecutor's Department decides to appeal for tougher sentences for 5 members of Jewish underground [TA 8/30].

Other Countries: First Intemational Christian Zionist Congress ends with appeal to all Jews to emigrate to Israel and to all Christians to give active help to Israel. Final resolutions provide for the creation of a $100 million fund to invest in industrial projects in Israel via a Basel-based company [TA 8/30].

Military Action

Arab World: Rival Druze and Shi'ite militias battle for control of West Beirut; fighting continues along the green line between east and west Beirut; 6 dead and 15 wounded. Christian and Muslim militias exchange 22 kidnap victims [NYT 8/30]. Fighting breaks out in Tripoli between pro-Syrian and Muslim fundamentalist militias [PI 8/30]. The SLA shells Sidon, apparently in revenge for 8/28 suicide car bombing of its checkpoint [PI 8/30]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Cabinet approves Free Trade Agreement with U. S. whereby the two countries will lift trade restrictions on each other's products over next 10 years; it is expected to increase Israel's exports to U.S. by $200 million in the next two years [JTA 8/19]. One-man military disciplinary court rules Brig. Gen. Yitzhak Mordechai not guilty of using excessive violence in the interrogation of 2 Palestinians who hijacked bus in Gaza 12/4/84 [NYT 8/19]. Israeli MKs continue illegal occupation of house in Hebron. Inner Cabinet of senior govemment ministersplits 5-5 on the issue, putting problem back into the hands of the army [LAT 8/19]. Nazareth's annual municipality-sponsored work camp ends after 7,000 volunteers build bypass road and fence for local school [JP 8/18]. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish residents of Mea She'arim shatter windshield of car, try to overtum it and set it afire, and beat the 2 Palestinian occupants, who fled from the scene. Orthodox residents say the incident was in retaliation for previous attacks on members of their community by "secular" youths. Orthodox also stoned a "secular" family living near Mea She'arim. No arrests made [JP 8/18].

Arab World: U.S. special envoy Richard Murphy returns to Washington without meeting with a Jordanian-Palestinian delegation [NYT 8/19].

Military Action

Arab World: Car bombs explode outside a cafe in Druze-controlled quarter and a mosque in Shi'ite-controlled quarter of West Beirut, killing 29 and wounding 82 [NYT 8/20].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Prime Minister Peres announces last stage of IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon will be completed by 6 June; but unspecified number of soldiers will remain in "security zone" [NYT 6/3]. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Samuel Lewis ends 8-year tour of duty [JTA 6/3]. Council of Jewish Settlements in West Bank calls for official action to deport Palestinians released 20 May [JTA 6/3]. Council Chair Yisrael Har'el says harassment tactics used againsthem by settlers igenerating sympathy for Palestinians among some Israelis. Wives of Jewish underground defendants end 13-day hunger strike after receiving order from rabbi to desist and assurances Knesset bill will be introduced to grant defendants clemency. Defendants tell court attempted Temple Mount sabotage was intended only "to frighten," not kill. Summer visiting season for relatives to West Bank residents begins. 2,500 visitors will be allowed to cross Allenby Bridge per day, up from 1,250; 1,100 over Damiya Bridge, up from 800 [JP 6/3]. Israeli settlers in West Bank and Gaza meet at Pesagot near Ramallah to discuss how to torpedo the envisaged peace talks with Jordan and how to force out of the country Arabs freed May 20 [JP 6/3]. Rejecting Hussein Plan and U.S. overtures, Shamir and Likud want direct talks with non-PLO/PNC-Jordanian or Jordanian-Palestinian delegation. Peres and Labor party take "wait and see" position on delegation that includes PNC members.

Arab Countries: Red Cross evacuates 29 from Burj al-Barajinah [FT 6/3]. 93 Palestinians taken to hospitals in Druze-held mountain town of Shuwayfat. Shi'a militiamen take 5 Palestinians from ambulances, later let them be evacuated.

Other Countries: Sec. of State Shultz sends message to P. M. Peres seeking Israeli backing for projected American talks with Jordanian-Palestinian delegation as step toward direct talks with Israel [NYT 6/3]. U.S. accepts PNC representation idelegation. Shultz says he is glad PLO has accepted UN resolutions 242 and 338 but says U.S. needs public statement before considering talking to PLO [JTA 6/3]. He opposes Hussein's proposal of Soviet participation in peace talks.