The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: About 50,000 mourners attend Zafir al-Masri's 2-hour funeral procession through Nablus, carrying Palestinian flags and pictures of Yasir Arafat, and chanting pro-PLO slogans [WP, CT 3/4]. P.M. Peres states Israel will not be deterred from implementing policy of "devolution" in occupied territories, will continue to hand over administrative powers to residents there [JP 3/4]. Nadim Zaru, of Ramallah, and Walid Mustafa Hamad, of al-Birah, withdraw candidacies for mayoralities of those 2 towns [JP 3/4; WP 3/5]. Plans for delegation of senior pro-Jordanian figures to visit Amman to express support for King Hussein are also shelved [JP 3/4]. Sephardic speakers at press conference called by the Jerusalem Committee for Sephardic Jewry and the World Sephardic Federation state Jewish communities in Syria and Lebanon are being neglected [JTA 3/4].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian Muhammad Mahmud Abu Dar'a, 57, is shot in the head and killed, and his son Mahmud Muhammad Abu Dar'a, 22, is wounded in separate demonstration in Balata refugee camp in which the murdered man reportedly tried to strangle an Israeli soldier; 4 Palestinians are arrested [WP, CSM, CT, JP 3/4].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: An Israeli army intelligence report dated 6/30/48 has recently surfaced which states more than 70 percent of the Palestinian exodus from Palestine by June 1948 was caused by Jewish military attacks [JP 3/2]. In last 3 days, Israeli security forces have freed 32 Palestinians held under administrative detention orders because 6-month detention period had ended; freed detainees were asked to sign document sating they would not commit future offenses; some refused to sign [JP 3/3]. Israel has agreed to allow Golan Heights Druze to export apples to Syria, possibly through Jordan or directly; P.M. Peres also favors renewing family reunions between Golan and Syrian Druze, which were stopped by Syrians several years ago [JP 3/2].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli-appointed Palestinian mayor of Nablus, Zafir alMasri, is shot dead by a single, unidentified assailant. In Damascus, the PFLP claims responsibility; in Beirut, a telephone caller claims responsibility on behalf of Fateh Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal group) [NYT, PI, CT 3/3]. Nablus city council appoints Deputy Mayor Hafiz Tuqan mayor [CSM 3/3].

Arab World: Israeli army patrol north of the S. Lebanon "security zone" intercepts guerrilla squad, kills 1 [JP, JTA 3/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military court orders journalist Hamdi Farraj, 11 other Dheisheh refugee camp residents held since 2/1/85 without trial released on grounds general prosecutor failed to prove charges against them [FJ 1/10].

Arab World: Christian Science Monitor reports King Hussein and Pres. Asad agree to restore diplomatic relations between their countries at ambassadorial level [CSM 1/2]. Egypt and U.S. sign agreement on $140 million in U.S. aid to Egypt, the second installment of $500 million grant approved by Congress last year [JP 1/2]. SLA releases 20 Shi'ite prisoners from Khiam detention center in S. Lebanon as New Year's gesture. (Red Cross has not been allowed to visithe Khiam center) [JP 1/3].

Other Countries: Austrian Interior Ministry states 3 Palestinians who attacked Vienna airport had instructions to take Israeli hostages, hijack El Al plane to Tel Aviv, blow up plane "in or over Tel Aviv" [DT, FT 1/3]. Peter Goldman, director of Americans for a Safe Israel, and Rabbi Avraham Weiss, coordinator of Americans Against Terrorism, announce start of nationwide campaign to remove PLO offices from U.S. [JTA 1/3]. Nadav Safran, director of Harvard U.'s Center for Middle Eastern Studies, will resign post in wake of discovery he accepted $152,000 from CIA for writing book, sponsoring conference on Islamic fundamentalism [DT, LT 1/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Rocket fired from S. Lebanon damages property in Kiryat Shmona [BG 1/3]. Israeli taxi driver is found shot twice in head near Lod (second such incident in 2 days); 4 Palestinians are detained for questioning [FJ 1/10].

Arab World: Israeli and SLA troops shell targets in S. Lebanon in retaliation for shelling of Kiryat Shmona [TS 1/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Shimon Peres, speaking at UN General Assembly, calls for direct talks with Jordanian or joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation, states willingness to attend international peace conference if it were convened in 'Amman this year [NYT 10/21]. Christian Science Monitor reports P.M. Shimon Peres recently confirmed, for the first time, U.S. participation in "Operation Moses" airlift which moved thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel [CSM 10/21].

Arab World: Jordan and Syria announce agreement to reject "partial and unilateral" peace settlements with Israel, agree to pursue peace plan adopted at Arab League summit in Fez, Morocco in September 1982; Syria and Jordan will exchange ambassadors after a 4-year diplomatic freeze. Agreement concludes 2 days of talks [FT 10/21; LAT, WP 10/22; MG 10/23]. Yasir Arafat calls for Arab boycott of U.S. products to protest U.S. policy in M.E. Arafat states PLO has been working for release of 3 Soviet diplomats being held hostage in Lebanon [LAT 10/22]. Pres. Mubarak meets with Deputy Asst. Sec. of State Whitehead [NYT, WP 10/22].

Other Countries: Reagan admin. formally notifies Congress of plan to sell proposed $2 billion in advanced planes and air defense systems to Jordan [NYT, WP 10/22]. The Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) condemns the "violation of Tunisian airspace by Israel which endangered international civil aviation." The U.S. delegate disassociates himself from the vote [JTA 10/23]. First World Assembly of Moroccan Jewry ends in Montreal with calls for Arab-Israeli coexistence and pledge to help promote just and lasting peace in the M.E. [JTA 10/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb explodes outside entrance of military headquarters in Gaza City and hand grenade is thrown at military govt. headquarters in Khan Yunis, also in Gaza Strip; no injuries in either incident. Police Min. Haim Bar-Lev tours Gaza City headquarters later in the day [JP 10/22].

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].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: All shops close in East Jerusalem in general strike to protest Israeli closure of the Hospice Hospital in Jerusalem's Old City [FJ 7/26]. P. M. Peres says Israel should not give up part of Golan Heights in deal with U.S.S.R. for emigration of Soviet Jews UP 7/25]. Kiryat Arba's new nine-member local council - pledged to firing its Arab employees, pressing private businesses to do likewise, and to preventing economic ventures with Arab investors - is formally installed; dozens of secular residents enter building to protest [JP 7/25]. Israeli civil administration governing the occupied territories announces high school matriculation exam results improved on West Bank this year; schools were closed less than in the past; 64 percent of West Bank students passed their exams this year, compared with 54 percent last year [JP 7/25].

Arab World: Jordanian diplomat Ziad Sati, 40, is assassinated in Turkey; Islamic Jihad takes credit [CSM 7/26, NYT 7/25].

Other Countries: Reagan administration presents Middle East arms transfer study to special closed session of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee as basis for request to sell new arms to Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Congressional supporters of Israel warn administration against pursuing the arms sale, saying it would provoke an "enormously divisive" debate [WP 7/24, 25, JTA 7/25, BG 7/26].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel frees 74 Lebanese Shi'a, 6 Lebanese Sunnis, and 20 Palestinians held at Atlit prison since April, when Israel transferred 1,200 detainees from its Ansar prison in south Lebanon to Israel. Three hundred are still in detention. Any prisoner now detained in south Lebanon by Israel is sent to new prison run by SLA at Khiyam village, in the security zone [NYT 7/24].