The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Shamir acknowledges U.S.-Iran arms deal included promises to release Israeli soldiers [BG 12/9].

Arab World: Arab League foreign ministers begin emergency meeting in Tunis to discuss Amal-PLO fighting in Lebanon.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli soldiers shoot and kill 12-year-old Palestinian boy, wound 6 [FJ 12/12; WP 12/9]. Preliminary reports indicate shot which killed the Balatta camp youth was not from army issue gun [FJ 12/12]. Shops closed in E. Jerusalem for third straight day [LAT 12/9]. Students at Hebrew University condemn the use of tear gas to disperse demonstrators, call for release of arrested students. Authorities close al-Najah University and old campus of Birzeit University. Al-Najah will reopen 12/16. Old BZU campus will open after Christmnas holiday [FJ 12/12].

Arab World: Continuing clashes between PLO and Amal forces at Shatila and Burj al-Barajinah refugee camps leave 2 dead, 8 wounded. PLO holds off Amal attack at Maghdushah. Syrian, Iranian, and Libyan mediators urge PNSF to call for acease-fire [LAT 12/9]. Cease-fire is broken less than 24 hours after going into effect, but Fateh announces 4-point plan to end fighting [BG 12/9]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli reports contend that Israel became involved in the arms deal with Iran after the U.S. requested help in freeing William F. Buckley, CIA agent held hostage in Lebanon [LAT 12/6; BS 12/7]. F. M. Peres calls for international ban on sale of chemical weapon materials to Iraq and Syria UP 12/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: Israeli soldiers fire at stone throwers in Balatta refugee camp, killing 14-year-old Palestinian boy [WP, GU 12/6]. Reports indicate the boy was not among those throwing stones. Shops and businesses in Ramallah and Jerusalem close in a 3-day mourning for the victims of the Birzeit University clash [FJ 12/12].

Arab World: Cease-fire talks in Damascus collapse. Reports say as many as 20 are killed, 59 wounded in Palestinian-Amal clashes around Shatila and in hills near Sidon [NYT 12/6; PI 12/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel's Supreme Court rules that authorities cannot legally discriminate against converts to Judaism [BG 12/2; LAT 12/3]. P.M. Shamir denies Israel knowingly helped channel funds to Nicaraguan rebels [NYT 12/3].

Other Countries: W. German reports indicate 2 Arabs found guilty of bombing at W. Berlin club in March may have been double agents working for Israel [WP 12/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops, attempting to control demonstration at UNRWA Teachers Training Center in Ramallah, shoot and wound a student in the head. At least 15 others are arrested in protests in the W. Bank 11/30 and 12/1 marking anniversary of the 1947 Palestine partition plan. Four colleges are ordered closed for a week [FJ 12/5].

Arab World: Amal, Sixth Lebanese Army Brigade, and Syrian commandos unite to launch major offensive against Shatila refugee camp. Palestinian forces hold off attackers [FJ 12/5]. Forty-six are killed, 111 wounded in heavy fighting between PLO and Amal forces in Beirut and S. Lebanon. One-day general strike in Sidon protests the on-going battle in that city [BG 12/2]. The Amal and the PNSF are reported to reach agreement on cease-fire in S. Lebanon [JP 12/2]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Spain's first ambassador to Israel, Pedro Lopez Aguirre de Goa, arrives to take up his post [JP 4/7]. Twenty black union leaders from South Africa are attending a course at the Histradrut's Afro-Asian Institute in Tel Aviv [JP 4/6]. They are receiving training in social organizing and economic leadership skills, in preparation for power sharing in the event of a transition from white rule [WP, LAT 4/8].

Arab World: Syrian-sponsored cease-fire takes effect around Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, ending 10 days of fighting between Amal and Palestinian fighters; at least 46 have been killed [BG 4/7].

Other Countries: West Germany's defense minister arrives in Israel for 4-day visit [JP 4/7]. American Israel Public Affairs Committee begins 27th Annual Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. [JTA 4/8].