The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Sec. of State Shultz flies from Tel Aviv to Damascus to Cairo, presents P.M. Shamir, Pres. al-Asad, and Pres. Mubarak with letters formally detailing U.S. peace proposal. Shultz asks leaders to reply by 3/16 [WP 3/5]. Jerusalem police defuse car bomb found outside hotel where Shultz is staying [NYT 3/5; LAT 3/6].

Arab World: Two British Oxfam workers disappear from Sidon after visiting 'Ayn al-Hilwah refugee camp [WP 3/5].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Soldiers use live ammunition against Palestinian demonstrators blocking roads and stoning cars in village of Khadir near Bethlehem; 1 is killed. Injuries from Israeli army gunfire are reported in W. Bank village of Burqa, Balatah refugee camp, Jenin, and Gaza's Burayj refugee camp [WP, NYT 3/5]. In 'Arrab village, near Jenin, army intervenes to prevent demonstrators from buming house of alleged collaborator; soldiers use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowd; 1 Palestinian is killed [FJ 3/13]. IDF bars joumalists from 5 major W. Bank cities and parts of Gaza [WP 3/5; LAT 3/6]. In Gaza Strip, bomb attack injures 4 Israeli soldiers [NYT 3/5]. Israeli authorities close Salah al-Din mosque in Gaza City [FJ 3/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhaq Rabin says new policy of "power, force, and beating" has brought "relative calm" to W. Bank and Gaza Strip. Striking shopowners in Ramallah charge soldiers have been beating them indiscriminately [WP 1/26]. Yediot Aharonot reports Palestinian workers are refusing to make wooden clubs for the army [LAT 1/26]. P. M. Shamir lifts travel restrictions on journalist Hanna Siniora. Cabinet Sec. Elyakim Rubinstein leaves on official visit to U.S. [WP 1/27]. Almost total commercial strike in E. Jerusalem keeps stores closed [FBIS 1/26]. Four Gazans facing deportation withdraw appeals to Israeli High Court [FBIS 1/25].

Arab World: In Sidon, Palestinian Revolutionary Council releases Amal official Hasan Darwish al-Darwish [FBIS 1/26].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfews on new and old 'Askar refugee camps are lifted; Bayt 'Ur al-Tahta curfew and Sa'ir blockade remain in force [FBIS 1/25]. Soldiers beat and teargas stone-throwing demonstrators in Rafah camp [FBIS 1/26]. Demonstrators blockade roads in al-Tur and other Jerusalem neighborhoods. Military lifts Jabalya camp curfew allowing workers to go to jobs in Israel. Curfew on Rafah camp is also lifted. In village of Idna, soldiers seize Arab-owned buses to raid village, attack protesters using tear gas and rubber bullets. Several villagers are injured. Many Palestinians are injureduring army's night raid of 'Ayn Bayt al-Ma' camp. Throughout territories, reports indicate many Palestinians suffer broken bones, other injuries caused by army beatings. In Gaza Strip's Nusayrat camp, troops force about 10,000 men to spend night in open air [FJ 1/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF chief of staff, Gen. Dan Shomron, orders soldiers to use force only when necessary to quell disturbances. P. M. Shamir's office prevents journalist Hanna Siniora from leaving for U. S. Shops open in Gaza. More than 40,000 Gazans return to jobs in Israel. General strike and scattered violence continue in and around E. Jerusalem [CSM, WP 1/25]. Soldiers use crowbars, break locks in attempt to force shops to open in W. Bank and Gaza Strip [FJ 1/3 1]. W. Germany's F. M. Hans Dietrich meets with 7 W. Bank and Gaza Strip Palestinians [FBIS 1/27]. Al-Sha'b editor Salah Zuhayka, arrested 1/14, receives 6-month administrative detention order [FJ 1/31]. Administration of Haifa's Rambam Hospital fires dozens of striking Palestinian workers [FJ 1/31].

Arab World: Jordanian police quickly disperse 150 protesters marching illegally to support Palestinian uprising in W. Bank, Gaza Strip, and E. Jerusalem [NYT 1/25]. Arab foreign ministers meeting in Tunis pledge financial and moral support for Palestinians inW. Bank and Gaza Strip, call for international peace conference [NYT 1/25]. Tunis and Egypt announce resumptionf full diplomatic relations [FJ 1/31].

Other Countries: Rabbi Alexander Schindler, pres. of Union of Am. Hebrew Congregations, criticizes Iraeli policy of "might, power, and beatings" in occupied territories as "morally wrong" [WP 1/25].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfews are lifted for Gaza Strip's Nusayrat, Burayj, and Maghazi refugee camps; only Jabalya camp and part of Rafah camp remain under curfew [CSM, WP 1/25]. In the W. Bank, old and new 'Askar camps and village of Bayt 'Ur al-Tahta remain under curfew; Hebron-region village of Sa'ir is still closed military zone [FJ 1/31]. Protesters blockade roads, throw stones in scattered incidents in Jerusalem and 'Anata refugee camp [FBIS 1/25]. In Ramallah, soldiers use tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition to disperse peaceful demonstration; Palestinian bystander is shot in back, seriously injured [FJ 1/31]. Several people are injured, arresteduring clash between army and demonstrators in Hebron district's Bani Na'im village [FJ 1/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Labor Minister Moshe Katsav says workers from S. Lebanon and Europe will join Israeli high school students to replace Palestinian laborers. Education Minister Yitzhaq Navon orders mobilization of high school students to help harvest citrus crops [NYT 1/18]. Police Minister Chaim Bar-Lev denies Israeli police fired tear gas into mosques in 1/15 clash. UNRWA sends 8 trucks of food to wait at gates of refugee camps until army allows them to enter. UN Undersec. Gen. Marrack Goulding ends week-long visit [LAT 1/18]. Israeli High Court delays deportation of 4 Palestinians until after their appeals are heard [LAT 1/18; CSM 1/19]. Peace Now stages demonstration outside P. M. Shamir's office to begin week of activities protesting situation in occupied territories [FBIS 1/21]. Demonstration at UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City condemns occupation, demands UNRWA be allowed access to camps [FJ 1/24]. Military court orders Gaza attorney Raji al-Surani to pay IS 1,500 fine or spend 15 days in prison for refusing to defend a client [FJ 1/24].

Arab World: Amal leader Nabih Birri announces end of 3-year siege of W. Beirut's Burj al-Barajinah and Shatila refugee camps and S. Lebanon's Rashidiyyah camp [LAT 1/18].

Other Countries: In interview, PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat denies local leaders in occupied territories challenge his position, calls for UN peacekeeping force in W. Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Benjamin Netanyahu said violence must be ended before talks begin, denies Israel is preventing food from reaching W. Bank and Gaza Strip [LAT 1/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel maintains round-the-clock curfews on all 8 Gaza Strip refugee camps, lifts all W. Bank curfews except in town of Salfit [LAT, NYT 1/18]. Soldiers teargas demonstrators outside Ramallah church. Youths stone soldiers breaking locks on Ramallah stores to force owners to open; at least 1 soldier is injured. Residents of al-Mazra'ah al-Sharqiyyah are prevented from leaving village for 10th straight day. Several are injured in Balatah when Israeli troops open fire on protesters. Demonstrators in Jalazun blockade roads, stone soldiers, attack Israeli central region commander [FJ 1/24].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. envoy Charles Hill meets with P.M. Shamir before ending 3-day visit to Israel [LAT 8/13]. Former Israeli cabinet ministers deny charges made by Ariel Sharon that the full cabinet was responsible for all decisions and actions made during the invasion of Lebanon in 1982, call for commission of inquiry JP, NYT 8/13]. Israeli troops raid Birzeit University student hostel [FJ 8/16]. Israeli authorities close an entrance to Balatah refugee camp and another to Nablus [FJ 8/16].

Arab World: More than 300 Palestinian refugees demonstrate at Syrian checkpoint outside Beirut's Shatila refugee camp demanding Syria lift siege and allow residents to rebuild camp [CSM 8/13; FJ 8/16].

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: F.M. Shamir denies involvement in cover-up of Shin Bet's activities in connection with killings of 2 Palestinians in April 1984 [BG 6/4]. Bank of Israel reports that 17,500 Israelis emigrated in 1985, against 12,500 new immigrants; second time since 1948 (1981 was other time) that net immigration negative [AFP 6/3]. Ten ultraorthodox Jews arrested in Jerusalem for damaging bus shelters carrying swimwear advertisements [JTA 6/4]. Israeli troops raid al-Najah University, beating 2 students, arresting 20, confiscating research material and nationalist literature [JP 6/5; FJ 6/6]. Israeli troops shoot into demonstrating crowd in Balata camp, wound 13-year-old Samir Shakir [FJ 6/6].

Arab World: King Hussein meets with Pres. Mitterrand in France.

Military Action

Arab World: Sunni February 6 militia continues to fight Amal in West Beirut, diverting Amal from battle for control of Palestinian refugee camps [WP 6/4]. Seventy are estimated dead, 750 wounded.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: During negotiations to heal rift in Herut party following convention, Ariel Sharon proposed that party posts be split three ways between Yitzhak Shamir, David Levy, and Sharon; Shamir and Levy reject the proposal. (Sharon currently controls only 15% of the party) [NWK 3/31].

Other Countries: P. M. Peres arrives in U.S. for 4-day visit [CSM, LT 4/1]. Peres is seeking support for his "Marshall Plan," whereby the 7 main industrialized nations would put together an aid package to help the pro-Western Arab states overcome the potentially disastrous effects of the drop in oil prices [DT, LT 4/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops kill 1 Palestinian youth in al-Burayj refugee camp, injure 3 others while quelling several Palestinian nationalist demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to an army spokesman [NYT, LT, MG, WP 4/1; JP 4/2].

Arab World: Fighting continues between Palestinian and Shi'ite fighters around Sabra and Shatila refugee camps [WP 4/1]. Sixteen have been killed, 62 wounded [DT 4/1].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel's 10-member inner cabinet meets to discuss security situation in occupied territories, resolves to tell Jordan again to remove PLO "bases" recently set up there [LT, BG, FT 9/5]. Inner cabinet approves proposal from Ariel Sharon that the authorities conduct general review of institutions in occupied territories that are supportive of the PLO [FJ 9/6]. Israeli soldiers rebuild wall separating Hebron's main mosque from marketplace, which settlers destroyed after 9/3 stabbing of two soldiers [GD 9/5]. MKs Yossi Sarid and Dedi Zucker of the Citizen's Rights Movement present document to Police Min. Haim Bar-Lev alleging Jumbo construction company made millions of dollars from fraudulent and illegal land sales [JP 9/5]. P.M. Peres sends close aide Avraham Tamir to unannounced ovemight visit with Egyptian Pres. Husni Mubarak to discuss ways of advancing relations between the two nations [CSM 9/6]. Israeli settlers try to squat in Hebron where 2 Israeli soldiers were stabbed 9/3. Army evicts them [CSM 9/6]. Five hundred Ethiopian Jews demonstrate in Jerusalem against rabbinical demands that they undergo symbolic conversion before marrying [WP 9/7]. For. Min. Shamir leaves for Japan to try to persuade Japanese leaders to relax their adherence to Arab boycott and increase trade with Israel [JP 9/4].

Other Countries: Operation Independence, a group of 100 international Jewish business leaders wishing to strengthen Israel's economy, sponsors New York meeting of hotel, airline, and tourism groups and prominent Jewish business leaders to discuss ways to increase American tourism to Israel [JTA 9/5].

Military Action

Occupied Palesine/Israel: Several katyusha rockets land in Galilee; no injuries reported. This is 4th katyusha attack on Galilee in recent months [JP 9/5].

Arab World: Israeli jets bomb suspected PLO guerrilla base in Lebanon's Biqa' Valley, 11th such strike inside Lebanon this year [NYT 9/5]. Reports say 6 Palestinians killed and 10 wounded in the attack [CSM 9/6]. Shi'ite and Palestinian militias battle around Burj al-Baraj inah refugee camp south of Beirut in worst fighting since June, when Syrian-sponsored cease-fire ended fierce clashes in 3 Palestinian refugee camps. Latest fighting leaves 10 dead, 27 wounded [NYT, LAT 9/5].

Military Action:

IDF begins broadcasts urging Syrians and Palestinians in W. Beirut to flee or surrender; Sharon, in E. Beirut, says IDF may resume battle, urges Phalangists to join IDF in war against PLO; cease-fire holds despite IDF overflights of Beirut in morning and evening; PLO fortifies positions around camps and along coasts.

Casualties:

PLO, in press conference, charges wide-spread IDF use of cluster bombs; observers report no IDF effort to restore services to Palestinian refugee camps, only to nearby Lebanese towns, villages; Begin promises Israeli Druze leaders to protect Lebanese Druzes from Phalange harassment.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon, during tour of troops in Beirut, says Camp David process will be helped by elimination of PLO; Uri Avnery (former Sheli MK) meets Arafat and Israeli pilot POW in W. Beirut; General Eitan says invasion planned in its "final ver-sion" 1 year ago; Sharon reiterates opposition to any remaining PLO presence in Lebanon; Shamir tells French diplomats invasion will help autonomy talks, asks French to stay out of Lebanese negotiations; opinion poll says 93 percent of Israelis think invasion justified (98.5 percent of Likud, 90.7 percent of Labor), that Likud and Begin popularity surging up; government says US ammunition sold to Saudi Arabia turned up in Lebanon.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Negotiations stalled on issues of PLO retention of arms and future political role in Lebanon (Arafat, in meeting with Wazzan, reportedly proposes 2 units under Lebanese Army command that would leave only after all Syrian and Israeli troops leave Lebanon; Saudi plan reportedly has no provision for eventual removal); reports that PLO Executive Committee agrees to military pullout over 8-week period (other reports say meeting rejected all Israeli government demands); Salam, after meeting Arafat, says PLO seeks diplomatic role as it has in other Arab countries; Gemayel returns to Lebanon, indicates no compromise reached (Phalange issues statement saying IDF invasion "defensive" move to wipe out PLO, endorses Sharon statement on Jordan as place for a Palestinian state); Habash rejects Israeli terms.

Arab Governments: Egyptian foreign ministry officials say PLO, if it came to Egypt, would have to proclaim "temporary government in exile" and restrict itself to political activity; Arab League ends meetings in Saudi Arabia, failing to resolve differences (PLO proposals reportedly accepted by all but Gemayel); Egypt says strong political PLO essential.

US and Other Countries: In Paris, 3 leading Jewish figures (Nahum Goldmann, Philip Klutznick, Pierre Mendes-France) issue joint declaration asking for mutual recognition by Israel and the PLO (hailed by PLO as pro-gram to lead out of the Lebanese crisis; strongly criticized by mainstream US Jewish groups, Israel).

UN: France and Egypt call on UN Security Council to intervene without formally asking body to meet; seek resolution to preserve PLO political role in the Mideast (part of draft resolution resembles one vetoed June 27; part assures Palestinians of their right to self-determination).