The Palestine Chronology

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]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli High Court issues order nisi blocking deportation of ex-prisoner Khalid Muhammad Tantash until court hears his case. Tantash was released in the 5/20 prisoner exchange agreement. Last week Tantash was notified through the Red Cross of the Israelis' intention to deport him because he does not have an identity card [FJ 7/26]. Kiryat Arba local council concludes agreement to fire town's Palestinian employees, press institutions to hire only Jewish laborers, and work for total Sabbath observance. Kach party is represented in council [JP 7/21]. Thirteen American black leaders in govemment, civil rights, and the church arrive for ten-day "crash course on Israel" organized by the American-Israel Friendship League [JP 7/19].

Arab World: Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal Hasan 'Ali is quoted as urging U.S. to go ahead with preliminary peace talks with Jordanian-Palestinian delegation despite Israeli objections [JP 7/21].

Military Action

Arab World: Shi'ite militiamen capture 6 SLA soldiers in Markaba village in Israel's security zone, reportedly free 8 held prisoner there [LT 7/20].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Govt. assures US that recent Ethiopian Jewish immigrants will not be settled in occupied territories; states those in Kiryat Arba are not recent immigrants [JP 3/12]. Palestinian students at Haifa U. strike to protest police action during 3/10 sit-in [FJ 3/15].

Military Action

Arab World: IDF raid Zrariya, N. of new defense line; 34 killed, 7 wounded, over 100 arrested including at least 10 Lebanese Army soldiers who tried to resist; 11 homes destroyed; IDF fire upon Intl. Red Cross ambulances attempting to enter town [NYT, MG 3/12]. IDF extend 2/26 travel ban on cars with fewer than 2 passengers to all areas under Israeli control (previously applied only to predominantly Shi'ite areas in which IDF had been attacked in the past) [JTA 3/12].

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2 more suspects arrested (one Kiryat Arba security officer) in connection with bus bombing plot (4/27/84). When asked in interview if practice of demolishing homes of terrorists will be applied to Jews, DM Arens refuses comment, but admits existence of "legal anomoly."

Arab World: Chrmn. Arafat tells Kuwait newspaper al-Qabas of hopes to establish base in Egypt. Lebanon announces formation of new national unity gov't.; Shi'ite leader Berri refuses to join cabinet, criticizing lack of important Druze and Shi'ite role.

Other Countries: Swiss Socialist Party issues May Day statement of full support and sympathy for the PLO and its struggle (as well as freedom movements in El Salvador, Turkey & for Polisario); Zionist MP Hurvitz resigns from Swiss parliament and Socialist Party in protest.