The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli High Court orders investigation into Shin Bet affair, gives government 14 days to explain why it did not carry out police investigation into Shin Bet killings of April 1984 and why investigation should not be held, gives former Shin Bet chief Shalom and his 3 still unnamed deputies 7 days to explain why they asked for amnesty [NYT, PI 7/2]. Israeli High Court rejects government motion to dismiss challenges to its handling of scandal and orders 10 respondents to submit new affidavits within 14 days [LAT 7/2]. In letter to Israeli President Herzog, offered as evidence in High Court, Shalom says, "My activities were carried out on authority and with permission to maintain the security of the state and to prevent disclosure of its most guarded secrets" [LT 7/2]. Shalom is quoted in today's Ha'Aretz as saying Yitzhak Shamir (at the time prime minister) had given him authorization to kill any "terrorists" who took hostages [NYT 7/2]. Forty-six Arab municipal councils in Israel go on strike over discriminatory Israeli budget policy [FJ 7/4].