The Palestine Chronology

PA pres. Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mishal hold separate meetings with Egyptian pres. Mohamed Morsi in Cairo to discuss ending the split between Fatah and Hamas. The focus of the talks is on forming a Palestinian unity government and holding overdue presidential and parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Hopes are not high that substantial progress will be made on implementing the national reconciliation deal agreed in Cairo in 2011. The developments are condemned by Israeli PM Netanyahu. (JP, REU 1/9)

PA labor min. Ahmad Majdalani says that the PA hopes that forthcoming regional meetings will result in promised aid transfers from Arab countries. Meanwhile, West Bank public transport workers go on strike following what they view as an unsatisfactory response from the Transportation Ministry to their demands for a reduction in fuel prices. (MNA 1/8; MNA, WAFA 1/9)

Israeli NGO Peace Now says that the government has legalized the status of unauthorized settlement outpost Nofei Nehemia nr. Nablus. (AFP 1/9)

Palestinian human rights group al-Haq says that the death of a Palestinian man in Hamas custody on 12/27 in the Gaza Strip must be thoroughly and transparently investigated. (MNA 1/9)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 4 villages nr. Jenin at night. (PCHR 1/17)

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: U.S. Congressman Douglas W. Owens (D-UT) of House Foreign Affairs Committee arrives in Damascus and meets with Vice Pres. 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam [FBIS 12/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military closes indefinitely Khalid Ibn al-Walid School in Nusayrat camp [FJ 12/15].

3 Palestinians from W. Bank village of Bayt Immar wounded by plastic bullets during clash with IDF [FBIS 12/19].

Arab World: 2 Fateh commandos are killed in clash with Lebanese militiamen in S. Lebanon [NYT 12/17].

Syrian soldiers in Alman, S. Lebanon fire on Palestinian patrol, sparking halfhour battle [MET 12/26].

Egyptian Interior Minister Zaki Badr survives assassination attempt in Cairo [MET 12/26].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Shin Bet head tells reporters that during the intifada's 2 years, more than 500 "terrorist squads" have been uncovered, and over 170 Fateh squads exposed since Arafat renounced terrorism [FBIS 12/5].

Arab World: PLO delivers to Cairo and U.S. Ambassador Pelletreau memorandum conditionally accepting Baker's 5- point formula [FBIS 12/4; WP 12/7].

Arab Countries: agree to postpone until 12/3 UN vote recognizing Palestinian state [NYT 12/2].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: IDF forces ambush members of Palestinian "Black Panther" group in Nablus, kill the group's leader and 3 others; 3 more are wounded. IDF imposes curfew on Nablus [FBIS 12/ 7; MET 12/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: D.M. Yitzhaq Rabin announces Fateh has refrained from attacking Israeli positions [WP 3/29].

Arab World: Saudi Arabia's King Fahd and Egypt's Pres. Mubarak meet in Egypt, discuss Middle East peace, bilateral relations [FBIS 3/29]. Chedli Klibi is reelected chairman of Arab League for 3rd 5-year term [FBIS 3/29]. PLO Executive Committee nominates Arafat to be president of State of Palestine [FBIS 3/29]. In Cairo, Arafat meets with leaders of Muslim Brotherhood [FBIS 4/5].

Other Countries: French Pres. Mitterand announces he will meet with PLO chairman Arafat [FBIS 3/29, FJ 4/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 19-year-old Palestinian from Salim dies from wounds received 3/13 [FJ 4/3]. At least 10 Palestinians are injured during clashes in O.T. In Balata 3 women are treated after receiving cut wounds on the head during clashes with troops [FBIS 3/29].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli government rejects U.S. plan to end Taba border dispute with Egypt [LAT 1/2). General strike in W. Bank, Gaza Strip, and E. Jerusalem marks Fateh Day [FJ 1/3].

Arab World: In Cairo, police quickly disperse hundreds of worshippers leaving al-Azhar mosque who try to demonstrate against Israeli policies; 22 protesters are arrested and 3 policemen injured [LAT 1/2].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel sends troop reinforcements io Gaza, W. Bank, and Arab East Jerusalem on anniversary of Fateh's first attack. Israeli troops use tear gas, rubber bullets to disperse stone-throwing crowds in Nablus. Minor clash is reported in Gaza's Jabalya refugee camp. Curfews are imposed on Gaza's Nusayrat and Jabalya camps, Nablus' Balatah camp, and Am'ari camp, near Ramallah [NYT, LAT 1/2].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel continues with plans to expel Palestinian newspaper editor, writer, and poet Akram Haniyyah although he has not been charged with any crime [WP 11/23]. Memorial march for a murdered Jewish student ends in anti-Arab violence in Jerusalem [LAT 11/24; FJ 11/28].

Arab World: Representatives of Fateh and the Syrian-based PFLP meet in Moscow to discuss plans to reconcile the two factions [NYT 11/24]. Egypt's Pres. Mubarak and Jordan's King Hussein end two days of talks in Cairo [LAT 11/24].

Military Action

Arab World: Palestinian forces seize Christian village of Maghdushah [F) 11/28]. 14 are killed, 39 wounded in fighting between Palestinians and Amal militiamen throughout Beirut and S. Lebanon [BS 11/24].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops raid homes in West Bank, place 5 Palestinians under administrative detention; military spokesman says nearly 100 Palestinians are now under administrative dtention [NYT 1/2]. Demonstrations are held throughout Gaza Strip to mark 21st anniversary of founding of Fateh. Israeli troops use clubs, tear gas, water cannon, live ammunition to break up protests; curfew is imposed on entire Gaza Strip [FJ 1/3; DW 1/4]. One Palestinian is shot and wounded by Israeli troops in Nablus [FJ 1/3]. Israel completes switch to new shekel, equal to 1,000 of the old shekels [WP 1/2].

Arab World: Jerusalem Post reports Fateh's Force 17 commando unit moved headquarters to Cairo last month. (Unit originally relocated to Amman in 11/85, was ordered out by King Hussein) [JP 1/1]. Col. Qadhdhafi warns any Israeli or American reprisal for the Rome and Vienna airport attacks would lead to full-scale war [NYT, WP 1/2].

Military Action

Arab World: Body of second Lebanese Jew killed by Organization of the Oppressed of the Earth is found, following group's statement he was killed in revenge for 12/31 SLA raid on S. Lebanese village of Kunin [WP, NYT 1/2].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli army evicts 7 MKs from apartment in Hebron, declares area "a closed military zone." The 7 leave but promise to appeal legality of eviction to the High Court [NYT 8/21]. Inspector General David Kraus, Plia Albek, a senior Justice Ministry official responsible for land registration, ad Bank of Israel Governor Moshe Mandlebaum appear before Knesset State Comptroller Committee for largescale investigation into land fraud cases begun by police after upsurge in complaints following arrest of several West Bank judges early in summer on bribery charges [JP 8/21]. Ahmad Odeh, wealthy West Banker, was arrested last week on charges of involvement in illegal land sales. Al-Fajr reported he contributed $30,000 to the Likud election campaign last year [JP 8/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Booby-trapped car is detonated minutes before it explodes at central bus station in Netanya. Police round up 100 Palestinians in the vicinity. A telephone caller claims responsibility for Fateh's Force 17 [FJ 8/23].

Arab World: Israeli diplomat Albert Atrakchi, 30, an administrative attache, is killed and 2 embassy employees wounded when 3 men spray their car with kalashnikov assault rifles in Cairo. "Egypt's Revolution" takes responsibility, threatens attacks until all "Israeli colonialists" leave Egypt [NYT, WP, JP 8/21]. Amal militia and the sixth brigade of the Lebanese army attack Burj al-Barajinah and Shatila with heavy bombardments; 24 refugees are injured [FJ 8/25]. Unidentified jets raid Hazerta village in the Biqa' Valley. Israel denies responsibility [JP 8/21]. Car bomb explodes in Tripoli, killing 44 and wounding 90. Caller claims responsibility on behalf of the Revolutionary Christians of the Cedars [NYT 8/21]. In Beirut, 40 are reported killed and 143 wounded in round-the-clock fighting between Christian and Muslim militias [NYT 8/21].