The Palestine Chronology

Israeli forces surround 2 Jenin-area homes of Palestinians suspected of participating in the 1/9 killing of an Israeli settler overnight, sparking a brief firefight and clashes with stonethrowing residents of the area; 1 Palestinian is killed, 7 are injured, and at least 4 are arrested. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 4 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids near Jenin, Bethlehem, and Hebron; and patrol near Hebron and Nablus. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian farmers working near Hebron, causing no major injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 10 Palestinians during latenight raids in Abu Dis and Hizma. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 2/3; PCHR 2/8)

The PLO Executive Committee meets in Ramallah and calls on the PA to immediately put together a plan for “disengagement” with Israel on all levels, including security coordination and economic cooperation. Meanwhile, Arab League asst. secy.-gen. Said Abu Ali says that the Arab League has adopted the Palestinian goal of pursuing a UN-mandated multilateral mechanism to administer a new round of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. He says that various Arab MKs are working with several international groups to build support for the idea. (WAFA 2/3)

Following the 8/24 IDF assassinations, Gaza Palestinians fire rockets at Sederot and the Negev for the 1st time since disengagement was completed, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus, in and around Hebron, and in al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers rampage through a shopping district of East Jerusalem, vandalizing Palestinian stores, chanting “We don’t want Arabs,” threatening to expel Palestinians. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai in Hebron stone, vandalize a Palestinian home, tear down a fence outside the home; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (IMEMC 8/25; NYT 8/26; PCHR 9/1)

Military Action:

Israeli planes destroy four more Syrian missile batteries in Lebanon (Syria acknowledges losing three) east of Bhamdoun; shooting breaks out in Burj al-Barajneh refugee camp, as Lebanese Army moves in; PLO guerrillas returning to northern Lebanon and Bekaa.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin accuses Reagan of undermining political authority by encouraging internal Israeli dissent over rejection of Reagan plan.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: LNM seeks retention of multinational force to protect Palestinian refugees; Gemayel threatens to shut down any newspapers run by radical Arab regimes.

Arab Governments: Syria requests end to mandate under which troops kept in Lebanon (Arafat opposes as leaving his forces operating alone against IDF); Syria calls for synchronized withdrawal of its and IDF forces; Arab states agree on peace plan offering implicit recognition of Israel (8-point proposal calls for Israeli withdrawal from all lands occupied since 1967, establishing Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, recognition of PLO as representative of Palestinian people.)

US and Other Countries: Shultz urges joint withdrawal of IDF and Syrian forces from Lebanon at House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing; Brezhnev urges Israeli removal from South Lebanon in meeting with UN Secretary General; US urges Israeli restraint in pressing Lebanon for treaty.