The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: MKs Miari & Peled petition DM Rabin to allow Palestinian delegates under occupation to attend PNC mtg. Central Bureau of Statistics reports annual inflation rate now 1, 260%. FM Shamir leaves for US to attend Israel Bonds event honoring oilman Armand Hammer.

Arab World: Lebanese & Israeli military delegations resume talks in Naquora; Lebanese propose Lebanese Army control S. Lebanon after IDF pull-out, and demand $8-10 billion in reparations.

Other Countries: 26 Lebanese women representing women's orgs. in Lebanon hold silent vigil at UN in New York, protesting Israeli occupation of their country.

Military Action

Arab World: In Beirut, US embassy guards fire on private Saudi aircraft over ambassador's residence.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Nuseirat camp (Gaza) man sentenced to 5 1/2 yrs. for selling weapons. 1st Palestinian judge appointed to "Judea & Samaria" Judicial Appointments Com. Histadrut Exec. Com. mtg. turns into brawl as MK Ran Cohen calls MK Sharon "criminal." PM Peres says he will decline US offer to defer for 90 days $500 million loan now due. US and Israeli officials discuss joint Central America & Third World development & other programs.

Arab World: In special session, Lebanese cabinet meets to discuss deteriorating economic situation. Lebanese Pres. Gemayel flies to Libya for mtg. with Col. Qadhafi.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2 Israelis found slain in valley between Bethlehem & Jerusalem; Dheisheh resident held suspect.

Arab World: Lebanese Army 6th Brigade surrounds Bourj al-Barajneh camp, Beirut in response to reported PFLP-DFLP shoot-out there.

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Jordan gov't. places former PM Mudar Badran & Minister of Occupied Territories Ibrahim under town arrest for suspicion of embezzling over $500,000 from Joint Committee funds.

Other Countries: Arab league amb. to US Clovis Maksoud urges US to renew peace efforts in Middle East, says recent events have not irreparably damaged US influence in region. AFL-CIO Executive Council votes to endorse boycott of El Al Airlines for its union-breaking policies.

Military Action

Arab World; Lebanese army reportedly repels 2 IDF gunboats approaching West Beirut coast. Military post atop Nabatiya building attacked with grenade; 1 Israeli killed, 1 wounded. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Both Labor and Likud blocs reject Meir Kahane in coalition-building schemes. Umm al-Fahm residents demonstrate against Kach and Meir Kahane's threat to open Jewish immigration office there.

Arab World: Lebanese army begins 2nd phase of security plan by bulldozing barricades dividing Beirut.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Mtg. of national institutions in Jerusalem to endorse reconciliation agreements reached in Aden.

Arab World: Lebanese Army takes control of Beirut with "march of salvation" through city.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Dheisheh camp under curfew after stone-throwing incidents occasioned by border police shooting at 5 Bethlehem students (7/3).

Arab World: IDF attacked by small arms fire near Tyre and in Adaiseh village.

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Unity is central theme as Palestinian workers commemorate International Workers Day in rallies and celebrationsponsored by local trade unions.

Arab World: In Nouvel Observateur interview, Chrmn. Arafat proposes mutual recognition and talks with Israel under UN auspices. 3 Israeli members of Israeli-Lebanese Liaison Com. arrested by Lebanese Army near Berbara, central Lebanon; Israeli spokesman explains the 3 were "apparently lost."

Other Countries: US House Foreign Affairs Subcom. hears 7 public witnesses on issue of embassy relocation to Jerusalem. Egypt warns of break in relations with US if Washington decides to relocate embassy.

Military Action:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: After arguing with Israeli soldiers ordering him to demolish his home in Gaza, Hassan Abu Amra is arrested, beaten and rendered blind in one eye.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bethlehem Mayor Elias Freij heads delegation to Jordan to observe Arafat-Hussein talks; says will urge Arafat to join peace process.

Arab World: Chairman Arafat arrives from Tunis for talks with King Hussein on future of PLO-Jordan coordination.

Other Countries: Richard Arens, international human rights lawyer and board member of Search for Justice and Equality in Palestine/Israel, dies of heart failure in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: Marine contingent completes withdrawal to warships off coast of Beirut; Shi'ite militia and rebel Lebanese Army units take bunkers vacated near airport; within hour after last Marine retreat, USS Caron and New Jersey blast anti-government positions in hills over Beirut; Israeli jets bomb positions around Souq al-Gharb as Druze militia fights last LAF holdout there.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Arab World: General strike from Tyre to Sidon to protest Israeli-backed death-squad killing of Shi'ite leader Raghib Harb (2/16/84).

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: LAF officials say "at least 3,000 Palestinian fighters" in Bhamdoun; Israel F-15s bomb Bhamdoun, Mansuriya and Rweisat; Syrian gunners repell attackers. Ambush on Israeli patrol claims 1. 

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 4 Israeli Cabinet ministers oppose continued IDF forays north of Awali River line at risk of Israeli involvement in factional fighting. DM Arens sharply criticizes LAF performance against Druze and Shi'ite militias; justifies forays to north as defense against "terrorist infiltration." Representatives of Arab local councils meet in Shefa Amr; protest to gov't. and Histadrut increasing number of dismissal notices served Arab workers.

Other Countries: US suspends shipment of 130 armed personnel carriers to Lebanon, may not sell 35 tanks already planned. Israeli Industry and Trade Minister visits Bucharest for talks aimed at doubling Israeli exports to Rumania. US physicist Sam Cohen, veteran of Los Alamos atom-bomb project, proposes impregnable radiation barrier, or "nuclear wall" for Israeli borders to "end the tragedy of war in the Middle East." Reagan admin. clarifies stand against moving US-Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Arab World: Christian Phalange officers confirm Israel promised regular army patrols to aid in fighting back Druze and Shi'ites

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: DM Arens warns Druze to stop assisting Palestinians and Syrians against Israel or it "will have no choice but to react." Druze MK Amal Nasser al-Din says Israel has nothing to lose in abrogating May 17 agreement and cooperating with S. Lebanese Shi'ites and Druze.

Other Countries: 2 Britons expelled from USSR for smuggling Zionist literature into country.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: LAF collapses as Druze forces link up with Shi'ites in south Beirut .

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Dep. PM Levy says Reagan decision to pull out of Lebanon shows "poor judgement and certain weakness." Israeli Chief of Staff Eitan says IDF must remain in S. Lebanon forever to ensure safe northern border.

Other Countries: King Hussein, Pres. Mubarak and Pres. Reagan meet at White House to discuss ways to negotiated settlement of West Bank and Gaza status; Reagan disassociates self from Mubarak's appeal for "direct dialogue" with PLO. US amb. to Israel Samuel Lewis tells presidents of American Jewish organizations at Jerusalem Hilton that US Embassy should have been moved to Jerusalem in 1950s. British FM Howe states position that May 17 agreement "must not be allowed to become an obstacle to national reconciliation" in Lebanon.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: Druze militias make gains against LAF; US responds by shelling Druze areas with 45 rounds from destroyers offshore.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Karp report criticizing Israeli law enforcement practices toward Arabs in West Bank made public; report reveals Jewish settlers who kill West Bank Palestinians enjoy high degree of immunity from police investigation. Israeli gov't. announces no intention of intervening to salvage Gemayel presidency in Beirut, in spite of reported pleas from Phalange emissaries. Interior Ministry official attacks Jerusalem Mayor Kollek for accusing political motives behind gov't. refusal to approve 5 replacement generators for Arab-owned Jerusalem Electric Co. Spokesman for Council of Jewish Settlements ("Judea & Samaria") reveals IDF commander Aluf Ori Orr instructed settlers not to cooperate with civilian police after attacks on Arabs. PM Shamir and US amb. Lewis meet for urgent talks on LAF setback. Gaza-Majdal Road checkpoints withdrawn by Israel, thereby removing only visible demarkation of 1948 border.

Other Countries: US Pres. Reagan announces plan to withdraw Marines from Beirut to warships offshore. European Parliament Pres. Dankert, speaking to Knesset, suggests Israel coordinate efforts with Morocco and Tunisia to protect agricultural exports to Europe if Spain and Portugal admitted to EEC. 

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Arab World: Lebanese Shi'ite and Druze leaders call for Pres. Gemayel's resignation.

Other Countries: US Senate Finance Committee begins hearings on issue of establishing free trade relations with Israel. US Sec. of State Shultz, in Brazilia, accuses Syria of "trying to dominate Lebanon by force." Pres. Reagan orders use of air and naval forces against anti-gov't. positions around Beirut. Late American journalist Fred Sparks' $25,000 bequest to PLO diverted to Red Cross for work with Palestinians; decision results from protest suit taken up by 3 American Zionist organizations. Speaking in Melbourne, former Pres. Carter calls for US withdrawal from Lebanon. European Parliament Pres. Dankert criticizes Israeli policy in Middle East before Knesset and in mtg. with PM Shamir.

MILITARY ACTION:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Nisreen Ahmed Shrouf, 5 years old, killed, 2 brothers and 2 sisters wounded in Bethlehem when grenade explodes in hand; grenade suspected planted by "TNT."

Arab World: Shi'ite and Druze forces take over most of West Beirut from LAF/Phalange; demand Gemayel's resignation. 2 Israelis wounded when grenades hit IDF patrols south of Zahrani River; grenade attacks on IDF patrols in Sidon and Nabatiya market. US gunships Garcia and JF Kennedy and A-6 Intruder bombers pound mountain positions near Beirut.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 40,000 join Peace Now demonstration in Tel Aviv against Israel's occupation of Lebanon.

Arab World: Lebanese Shi'ite leader, Nabih Berri, calls on Muslim cabinet ministers to resign and Muslim LAF soldiers to quit army.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: IDF position at Sidon port and patrol 8 miles north of Tyre subject to light weapons ambushes. 

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Israeli military court in Nablus sentences Nayef Sweitat to 9 mos. prison on charges of contact with PLO. Israeli National Insurance Institute releases figures indicating 10% of Israel's population lives below poverty level. Brigadier Shlomo Ilya, head of Israeli "civil administration" in West Bank, resigns in connection with military police investigation of corruption. Israel government workers stage warning strike in support of wage increases; public services, including radio and television broadcasts disrupted. High Court order nisi challenges Gaza military court decision to demolish 24 Palestinian homes in Jabaliya refugee camp.

Arab World: Several leaders of Palestine Liberation Front in Damascus reportedly kidnapped by rival members of PLF.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: Villages from Iqlim al- Kharrub to Souq al-Gharb resist LAF mass arrests and imposition of "mourning curfew" by IDF forces after Saad Haddad's death. 

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: 500 industrial, service & gov't. workers protest at Finance Ministry against yesterday's work sanctions. 2 Likud MKs present urgent agenda for freeze on new settlements in occupied territories. 15 Bedouin sheikhs present PM Shamir with complaints of deteriorating conditions as Israeli military continue to expropriate grazing and watering lands in Negev and Galilee; Shamir says the issue will be turned over to Agriculture Ministry. Mapam MK Elazar Granot proposes Alignment table bill abolishing state of emergency in effect in Israel since 1948.

Arab World: Jordanian Parliament meets for first time since 1976; amends constitution to permit Palestinians from Israeli-occupied West Bank to be appointed as members. Former Lebanese PM Saeb Salam protests to LAF commander Gen. Ibrahim Tannous recent LAF mass arrests of civilians carried out in Sabra and Shatila camps.

MILITARY ACTION:

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Grenade thrown under IDF patrol vehicle explodes without injury in Jericho.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Arab World: Sheikh Jalaleddin, Mufti of Sidon, issues statement accusing Israel of arbitrary and repressive measures designed to terrorize Sidon population. With MNF withdrawn, LAF conduct new round of mass arrests in Sabra refugee camp. 

MILITARY ACTION:

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Water mains connecting Esh'ar Israeli Army post blown up with make-shift bomb.

Arab World: Israeli Merkava tanks and armored vehicles spray Sidon streets with machine-gun fire three times; 3 wounded, cars and shops damaged.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: In response to report of arrest of 160 former Ansar detainees, DM Arens says only 16.

Arab World: Fateh Central Committee ends 3 days of talks in Tunis; 5 rebel officers expelled from PLO military ranks: Mohammed Tarki al-Khadra, Mohammed Zahran, Lt. Col. Mahmoud Hamdan (Abu Adwi), Maj. Yusef al-Ajjouri and Said Musa (Abu Musa).

Other Countries: Jury selection begins in Albufeira, Portugal for trial of Muhammed Hussein Rashid (a.k.a. Yousef al-Awad), for murder of Issam Sartawi (4/10/83); defendent denies guilt.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: 16 Israeli bombers inflict heavy casualties in Baalbek area; 40-100 killed, 360-400 wounded. Lebanese state court reinstates ailing Saad Haddad into Lebanese Army, reversing 7-year-old decision; Haddad being treated in Rambam Hospital, Haifa. 7 West Bank deputies cross to Jordan to attend session of reconvened Jordanian parliament.

Other Countries: Reagan says willing to meet Syrian Pres. Assad if it would help peace in the Middle East.