The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Military courts in Gaza and W. Bank begin hearing cases of Palestinians arrested during recent violent disturbances. Additional courts have been set up in Hebron, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. Military confirms that officer has been suspended after opening fire without adequate cause during W. Bank demonstration [WP 12/28]. W. Bank schools reopen; Gaza Strip's 92 schools remain closed [NYT 12/29]. Raja' Ighbariyyah and Raslan Mahajnah, members of Abna' al-Balad Movement from Umm al-Fahm, are placed under administrative detention [FJ 1/3]. Week-long curfew on Jabalya refugee camp is lifted [FJ 1/3].

Arab World: Amal releases 10 Palestinians [FBIS 12/30].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli navy attacks cargo ship sailing from Sidon, S. Lebanon [FJ 1/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Minister of Industry and Trade Ariel Sharon moves into apartment in Muslim quarter of Jerusalem's Old City; merchants close shops in protest [LAT 12/16]. Complete commercial strike closes stores in E. Jerusalem, Nablus, Jenin, Ramallah, al-Birah, and other W. Bank towns [FJ 12/20]. Israel bans distribution of al-Sha'b in W. Bank and Gaza Strip for 12 days [FJ 12/20]. Khan Yunis youth shot 12/12 by Israeli soldiers dies in Barzali Hospital [FJ 12/20]. Palestinian journalists from occupied territories hold sit-in at Arab Journalists' Association's Jerusalem office to protest administrative detention of Radwan Abu 'Ayyash [FJ 12/20]. Israeli police announce capture of 2 Palestinians charged with murder of Israeli soldier [FJ 12/20].

Arab World: Arab League calls for emergency session to discuss Israeli actions in occupied territories [CSM 12/16].

Other Countries: Trial of Ibrahim Khalid, only survivor of 4-man team that attacked Leonardo da Vinci Airport in 1985, opens in Rome. Abu Nidal and Rashid Hamida are being tried in absentia [LAT 12/16]. U.S. calls for Israeli restraint in handling disturbances in W. Bank and Gaza Strip [NYT 12/16]. Israeli Def. Min. Rabin meets with U.S. congressional leaders in Washington [WP 12/19].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF soldiers fire on Palestinian demonstrators at Gaza's Shifa Hospital, killing at least 2, wounding more than 11. Dozens are arrested. Palestinians at hospital attack Western journalists. UN reports 2 Palestinians are shot, killed: 1 at Bayt Hanun, in northern Gaza Strip, and 1 at Dayr al-Balah refugee camp. Palestine Press Service reports another demonstrator is killed by soldiers during protest march from Beach refugee camp to Shifa Hospital [LAT, NYT 12/16]. In W. Bank, demonstrations are reported in Nablus, Bir Zeit, Abu Dis village near Jerusalem, and Qalandiya, Am'ari, and Jalazun refugee camps [FJ 12/20].

Arab World: With tank and helicopter support, Israeli troops move north of S. Lebanon security zone, raid Shi'i villages of Maydun and Kafr Hunah. Lebanese sources report 6 fighters are wounded, 20 captured [NYT 12/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: MK Abba Eban testifies in Mordechai Vanunu's trial for espionage and treason. Trial is adjourned for 2 weeks [WP 12/11]. Palestinian wounded in Gaza clash with Israeli troops 12/9 dies [FJ 12/13]. In Nablus, Ahmad 'Ali Abu Jabir receives life sentence for killing Israeli soldier [FJ 12/13]. In Dhahriyyahrea, Israeli officials demolish 5 houses alleging they were built without permits [FJ 12/13]. Islamic U. in Gaza suspends classes for 3 days because of tension in the Strip [FJ 12/13]. Israeli High Court denies Faysal Husayni's appeal for early release [FJ 12/13]. Com. to Protect Journalists, non-partisan, New York-based group, protests administrative detention of Radwan Abu 'Ayyash to Def. Min. Yitzhaq Rabin [FJ 12/27].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: Palestinians bum tires, block roads, throw stones in demonstrations throughout Gaza Strip. In Khan Yunis, at least 8 Palestinians are wounded when soldiers open fire on crowd throwing Molotov cocktails; 2 others are wounded in Gaza. In Nablus soldiers use live ammunition against youths throwing rocks, iron bars; 1 Palestinian is killed. In Qalandiya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, Israeli police clash with Palestinian students; 6 policemen, 6 students are reported injured [NYT 12/11]. Israeli troops fire tear gas, bullets at demonstrators in Balatah refugee camp, wounding 3. Curfew is imposed on Balatah; shopkeepers strike [FJ 12/13]. Demonstrators in Rafah raze gate dividing Egyptian and Israeli-occupied sections; Israeli soldiers open fire, injuring 1 [FJ 12/13].

Arab World: Lebanese militiamen attack Israeli patrol boat off coast of S. Lebanon; 1 Israeli naval officer is killed before Arab fishing boat is sunk [WP 12/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Government commission investigating Shin Bet methods reports the security service has routinely tortured suspects and lied about interrogation methods in court; commission calls for "purification process" but no prosecutions of Shin Bet officers [LAT 10/31]. Authorities place 15 Dahayshah residents under administrative detention [FJ 11/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli soldiers fire at 'A'idah refugee camp demonstrators protesting killing of Bethlehem U. student Ishaq Abu Surur; 3 are wounded [FJ 11/1].

Arab World: Israeli troops strike Hizballah and Amal targets north of S. Lebanon security zone [LAT 10/31]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel lifts blackout on 10/6 shoot-out between IDF patrol and Palestinians in Gaza Strip [FJ 10/11]. District court in Jerusalem upholds 6- month administrative detention order for Faysal Husayni, director of the Arab Studies Society [FJ 10/11]. Birzeit University students protest expulsion of Zakaria al-Nahhas, a graduate of BZU [FJ 10/11]. Military officials declare Gaza coast a closed military area, prohibiting fishermen from going to sea [FJ 10/11]. Sabah Hindi, brother of girl who died while in police custody, is released from prison [FJ 10/11]. Gen. Yitzhak Mordechai warns of clampdown on activities of Islamic Jihad [FBIS 10/8].

Arab World: PLO Central Com. ends 2-day meeting in Tunis [FJ 10/11]. Nabih Birri meets with Algerian Ambassador Hadi Missa'ud, requests Algerian intervention to enforce cease-fire in camps war [FBIS 10/8].

Military Action

Arab World: Palestinian fighters battle Amal forces in Maghdushah, Jinsnaya, and Baysur near Sidon [FBIS 10/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Jerusalem, Israeli police use tear gas and water hoses in clash with ultra-Orthodox Jews protesting showing of films on Friday nights in the city [NYT 8/30; FJ 9/6]. Ibrahim Abu Salim is released from Junayd Prison after 3' months in administrative detention [FJ 9/6].

Arab World: Peaceful demonstrators in Sidon, in S. Lebanon, and Rashayah, in the Biqa' Valley, protest rising food prices; shops remain closed [NYT 8/30].

Other Countries: Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-'Ali dies in London hospital [NYT 8/30].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli army sets up roadblocks at entrances to Birzeit University [FJ 9/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Knesset votes in favor of continuing development and production of Lavi jet fighter [WP 8/12]. Dr. Thabit Ahmad Thabit, official of W. Bank dentists union, is released after 4 1/2-month administrative detention [FJ 8/16]. Israeli troops remove barbed wire barricades in Gaza City, allowing stores to reopen [FJ 8/16].

Other Countries: The Washington Post reports that in September 1985 Israel and U.S. attempted tolocate and rescue U.S. hostages in Beirut not released after arms shipments toIran [WP 8/9].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian and Lebanese groups claim responsibility for Katyusha rocket attacks on N. Israel and S. Lebanon security zone [CSM 8/11].

Arab World: Israeli helicopters raid Hizballah base near Tibninah, S. Lebanon [WP 8/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Faysal Husayni, director of the Arab Studies Society and spokesman for Com. Confronting the Iron Fist, is released from prison after serving 3-month administrative detention [FJ 7/12]. JEC workers observe 1 -hour strike to protest inner cabinet's decision to split company's concession rights [FJ 7/12]. Israeli military closes road connecting Balatah refugee camp to Nablus-Ramallah road after several vehicles at the camp are stoned [FJ 7/12].

Arab World: Reports indicate Jordanian UN delegation is protesting Israeli plans to divert water from W. Bank Palestinian towns to Jewish settlements [BG 7/9].

Other Countries: Israeli F.M. Peres and Egyptian Pres. Mubarak discuss proposed UN-sponsored peace conference in Geneva [BG, CSM 7/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Shamir leaves for Paris where he hopes to "undermine European support for an international conference" [NYT 4/28]. More than 100 Palestinians and Israelis join in demonstration at al-Hakawati Theater in show of support for Faysal al-Husayni, held under administrative detention, and Birzeit U., closed for 4 months [FJ 5/3]. At press conference, Higher Council of Education members protest Israeli harassment of universities in the occupied territories [FJ 5/3]. Estimated 1,000 residents of Palestinian Druze village of Bayt Jann gather in Jerusalem to protest government's landuse and budget policies; village holds commercial and school strike [FJ 5/3].

Arab World: Egypt orders PLO offices in Cairo and Alexandria closed in reaction to PNC criticism of Camp David accords [NYT 4/28; CSM 4/29].

Other Countries: Members of U. S. congressional panels investigating Iran-contra affair review material submitted by Israel; negotiations between U.S. investigators and Israel over confidentiality of report continue [WP 4/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian delegation meets with left-wing members of Knesset to discuss administrative detention, W. Bank universities [LT 4/18]. Israeli military authorities extend al-Najah University closure order for 1 week [FJ 4/26].

Arab World: PLO sources report Chairman Arafat has invited Syrian Pres. al-Asad to attend PNC meeting in Algiers [GU 4/18].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Defense Minister Rabin orders at least 80 Palestinians, including Arab Research Society head Faysal Husayni and former al-Fajr editor Ma'mun Sayyid, held under administrative detention [NYT 4/14; FT 4/16]. Israeli troops raid Ramallah's UNRWA Teacher Training Institute; 17 students are wounded, almost 150 arrested [FJ 4/19]. Unidentified arsonists, believed to be Jewish extremists, set fire to Episcopal church in Acre (Akka), paint racist slogans on walls [FJ 4/19]. Al-Najah University reopens after 2-week closure [FJ 4/19].