The Palestine Chronology

PM Rabin rejects UN Secy.-Gen. Butrus Ghali's 1/25 report as it "totally ignores terrorism"; Foreign Ministry says there is "no room" for intl. observers in the o.t. (WT 1/27)

PLO submits draft UNSC res. imposing sanctions on Israel-restrictions on foreign companies doing business with Israeli firms in the o.t., and a ban on Israel's participation in any UN-sponsored human rights meetings-designed to force Israel to comply with UNSCR 799. (NYT 1/27)

U.S. amb. to Israel William Harrop says the U.S. does not want to see sanctions imposed on Israel, nor does it want to use its veto in the UNSC, which it hasn't used in 2 1/2 years. (NYT 1/27)

Hadashot finds 78% of Jewish Israelis favor the deportations. (NYT 1/30)

PLO Chmn. Arafat asserts his right to choose Palestinian delegates to peace conference, again rejects Israeli veto over delegation's composition. Arafat also indicates that Palestine National Council will convene in Algeria next month to discuss peace initiative. (NYT 8/7)

In statement to U.S. press, King Hussein states not every city in occupied territories need be represented at peace conference, in reference to PLO insistence that E. Jerusalem Palestinians be allowed to participate in peace conference. (MEM 8/6)

Israeli press reports Prime Min. Shamir told Israeli cabinet he will walk out of peace talks if Syria demands return of Golan Heights. (LAT 8/7)

Israeli activists demonstrate at Eshkolot, Israeli settlement established 8/5. (MEM 8/6)

U.S. and Iraqi admins. air differences over when Bush-Aziz and Baker-Saddam meetings should take place; Iraq suggests Baker come to Baghdad on 1/12, but U.S. says it is too close to UN deadline of 1/15 for Iraqi troops to leave Kuwait [NYT, WP 12/11].

For 2d time, U.S. postpones Sec. Council vote on resolution endorsing Middle East peace conference; hopes to change text so that it can avoid using in Israel's defense veto that could weaken Arab support for U.S.-led coalition in Saudi Arabia [NYT, WP, MEM 12/11; CSM 12/12; JPI 12/22].

Sec. Baker asks F.M. Shevardnadze to commit token Soviet troop contingent to multinational force in Gulf; Shevardnadze says USSR cannot do so [WP 12/11].

Kuwaiti officials says Iraq owes them $64 billion for stolen property, unpaid debts, and damage caused by 8/2 invasion [IRNA 12/11 in FBIS 12/12].

Israeli army steps up 3-month-old policy of deploying hidden snipers along highways in the West Bank with authorization to shoot Palestinians seen throwing stones at Israeli cars. Snipers use live ammunition and are permitted to fire without warning if they be- lieve the stone throwers are endangering lives [HAM 12/11 in FBIS 12/11; MEM 12/12; NYT, WT, CSM 12/13; MET 12/25].

Israeli military prosecutors are ordered to demand harsher sentences for those Palestinians convicted of stonethrowing; D.M. Arens sets maximum sentence at 20 years in prison [JDS 12/11 in FBIS 12/11].

Labor MK Yossi Beilin presents initiative of dovish Mashov Circle group, calling for "negotiations between Israel and a Palestinian delegation with a primary purpose of bringing about Israel's evacuation from the Gaza Strip, to create in the Gaza Strip a Palestinian state. . . ." [MEM 12/11].

28 American Jewish community leaders, celebrities, and law professors send letter to Pres. Bush urging him to raise at his 12/11 meeting with P.M. Shamir the human rights cases of Palestinian journalists Radwan Abu Ayyash and Ziad Abu Zayyad, who were placed in administrative detention on 11/13. Letter urges they be either formally charged with a crime or else released. Copy of letter is sent to P.M. Shamir [MEM 12/11].

EC says it will give $6 million to help 8 hospitals in o.t. keep functioning during Gulf crisis [MEM 12/11].

After 3 days of negotiations, UN Sec. Council members struggle to draft resolution on Haram al-Sharif incident that is acceptable to U.S.; majority ready to support resolution sponsored by nonaligned countries, but U.S. threatens veto [NYT, WP, LAT 10/12].

New York Times reports Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders are beginning to raise moral questions about U.S. policy in Gulf, moving away from support voiced 2 months ago [NYT 10/12].

Independent investigations discredit Israeli gov't's version that Haram al-Sharif kill-ings resulted from carefully planned Palestinian attack [NYT 10/12].

At press conference, al-Maqasid Hospital doctors say many of the dead and wounded of 10/8 were shot in the back, indicating they were shot while fleeing [JDP 10/12 in FBIS 10/12]; Palestinians are barred from Haram al-Sharif [MEM 10/11].

One by one foreign embassies in Kuwait that defied orders to close by Iraq on 8/24, have been forced to shut down for lack of water, food, and electricity. German and Belgian embassies close leaving only 4 embassies - U.S., France, Britain, and Canada- open [NYT 10/12; WP 10/13].

Despite appeal from Saudi Arabia, German gov't rules out the sale of weapons to Arab states since sale would severely damage sensitive relations with Israel [LAT, MEM 10/121].

Tank-led Syrian troops close in on major routes to E. Beirut; Syrian military intervention to oust Gen. Aoun is at Hrawi gov't's request [NYT, LAT, WP 10/12].

Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze tells Sec. Baker in Copenhagen that USSR will not curtail or halt emigration of Soviet Jews [WP, WIT 6/7].

Soviet legislature postpones final approval of law relaxing emigration restrictions which was condition for Congress to ratify new U.S.-Soviet trade agreement [WP 6/6].

PLO rep. Hakam Balawi meets in Tunis with U.S. ambassador Robert Pelletreau, who delivers letter to Arafat from Bush admin. explaining U.S. 5/31 UN veto [TDS 6/5 in FBIS 6/6].

Israeli army and intelligence officials tell Knesset For. Affairs and Defence Committee that they believe 5/30 attempted raid by PLF members was directed at military, not civilian, targets (cf. 6/6) [JDS 6/5 in FBIS 6/6].

General strike called for by UNLU to commemorate 23d anniversary of 1967 war is observed in W.Bank; 2 Palestinian youths in Nablus are killed by IDF bullets [IDF, JDS 6/5 in FBIS 6/7; WT, LAT 6/6].

IDF lifts collective bans on travel to Jordan that had been imposed on some 25 W.Bank communities for periods up to 2 years [JPD 6/5 in FBIS 6/6].

Clashes in S.Lebanon between Shiite militiamen and SLA and Israeli soldiers; no injuries reported [BVL 6/5 in FBIS 6/6].

European Community issues 2d statement in 2 weeks calling for greater UN involvement in O.T. and for international conference  [JTS 6/3 in FBIS 6/4].

Pres. Mubarak cables Pres. Bush asking for explanation of U.S. 5/31 veto [RMC 6/3 in FBIS 6/5].

PLO official Salah Khalaf says of U.S. demand to condemn 5/30 PLF attempted raid and expel Abul Abbas: "We reject the [demand] because it considers any military act a type of terrorism. This is not support or rejection of the Abul Abbas operation. It's a question of principle" [NYT 6/3].

Citing U.S. 5/31 UN veto, Palestinian leaders in Israel, O.T. announce they are suspending contacts with American officials in Israel, they ask Arab gov'ts. to put economic pressure on Washington [JDS 6/1 in FBIS 6/1; LAT 6/2; MET 6/ 12]; Fateh statement says U.S. has lost credibility because of veto [MENA 6/1 in FBIS 6/1; FJ 6/4].

Abu Ayash, Faisal Husayni, other Palestinian leaders conclude 13-day hunger strike in protest of the Rishon le Zion killings [JDS 6/1 in FBIS 6/1; LAT 6/2; FJ 6/4].

Maj. Gen. Amnon Shahak, Israel's military intelligence chief, says Yasir Arafat probably did not know beforehand about seaborne raid on Israel [LAT, NYT 6/2].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel orders 4 W. Bank universities, 800 secondary and grade schools closed for 1 month [WP, NYT 2/3]. Commercial strike continues in occupied territories [FJ 2/7]. Settlers attack al-'Azzah camp in Bethlehem, clash with residents [FJ 2/7]. 'Izz al-Din al-'Aryan, sec. of Red Crescent Society in occupied territories, is served 3-month administrative detention order [FJ 2/7].

Arab World: Reports indicate Jordan's King Hussein has reservations about new U.S. proposal to restart peace negotiations because proposal contains "nothing new" [WP 2/2; NYT 2/3].

Other Countries: In Athens, PLO officials announce plan to charter ship, return Palestinian deportees to Israel [NYT 2/3]. U.S. officials state new peace proposal includes U.S. -mediated Israeli-Jordanian negotiations by September to achieve limited Palestinian self-rule in W. Bank and Gaza Strip and direct negotiations in December to reach final settlement on territories [WP 2/3]. In New York, U.S. veto defeats UN Security Council resolution demanding Israel abide by terms of 4th Geneva Convention and calling for international conference on Arab-Israeli dispute [FJ 2/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfew remains in force in Nablus, village of 'Anabta, old and new 'Askar camps, 'Ayn Bayt al-Ma', Tulkarm, Jalazun, Bani Na'im, village of Hibla near Qalqiliyyah, and Gaza's Burayj camp. Jabalya remains a closed military area [NYT 2/3; FJ 2/71. Palestine Press Service reports Palestinian is shot, wounded in Tulkarm clash with IDF; 20 are beaten by soldiers in Hibla demonstration. Hibla, Tulkarm refugee camp, and 8 other towns and camps are placed under curfew. [WP 2/3]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. says Israel cannot veto list of Palestinians for talks [NYT 7/19]. State Department says chief criterion for deciding to procede with negotiations is "whether it would help promote direct Arab-Israeli negotiations" [WP 7/19]. East Jerusalem newspaper al-Quds publishes list of 7 names for proposed joint delegation: Khaled al-Hasan, head of the PNC's foreign affairs committee; Fayez Abu Rahmeh, ex-head of Gaza Bar Association; Hatim al-Husseini, professor at Shaw University, Raleigh, N.C.; Salah al-Ta'amari, member of the PLO's Supreme Military Council; Nabil Sha'th, PNC member; Hanna Siniora, editor of al-Fajr newspaper; and Muhammad Subayh, PNC member. Henry Cattan, Paris-based lawyer and historian, is also mentioned as alternate [NYT 7/19, LAT 7/19]. Modi'in Ezrahi poll finds 12.7 percent of Israelis favor peace talks, regardless of which Palestinians participate; 33 percent oppose talks with any Palestinians [JP 7/19]. U.S. military delegation headed by Undersecretary of State William Schneider and General Philip Gast begins annual talks in Tel Aviv on scope of future U.S. military aid to Israel [JTA 7/19]. Orthodox Jews hold mass pray-in at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City to protest construction of Mormon center they fear will be used to convert Jews. Israel's two chief rabbis endorse the event [LAT 7/19].

Arab World: Office of Arab Boycott of Israel, at biannual meeting in Damascus, removes Ford, Bayer, Colgate Palmolive, and 6 companies and individuals from other countries from its blacklist; 28 new companies added [FT, LAT 7/19].

Other Countries: Bomb explodes, wrecking house and car of the PLO's acting chief representative in Cyprus, Malath 'Abdu; no injuries reported [WP 7/18]. The Guardian reports 2 Palestinians were arrested by police in Madrid last week while allegedly planning to blow up Syrian embassy and assassinate ambassador. Suspects allegedly belong to Fateh's Force 17; police discovered TNT, arms, ammunition, a detonator, and a time fuse when they raided a flat in connection with the arrests [MG 7/19].

Other Countries: Soviet spokesman denies Moscow would make deal with Israel on increased Jewish emigration to Israel [DT 7/19]. Israel Radio reports Soviets want emigration guaranteed to Israel, not to other countries; want anti-Soviet propaganda stopped in the West [CT 7/21]. Moscow states goal as progress on Golan Heights [NYT 7/20]. U.S. officials state U.S. would welcome Soviet resumption of ties with Israel as constructive behavior in Middle East [LT 7/20].

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 5th American Jewish Kach settler arrested in connection with shooting of Arab bus passengers (3/4/84) and other "TNT" activities. 6 Israeli settlers tried in Jersualem for rioting and arson of Hebron market last year. Tel Aviv police unit leader Hafetz suspended for leaking information of "TNT" to press. Knesset defeats bill to declare "Hatikvah" Israel's national anthem, with its theme of a historic Jewish yearning for the "land of Israel." National Com. of Arab Town Councils urges adoption of national anthem that expresses the notion of two nations living in a single country. Returning from 3-day visit to Cairo int'l. trade fair, Israeli Industry & Trade Minister Patt reports no improvement in Israel-Egypt relations in sight; says 50% decrease in exports to Egypt since 1982 linked to poor political relations. US Marine commander Gen. Kelley begins 2-day official visit with IDF and DM Arens. At Jerusalem rally PM Shamir claims USSR refused renewed relations with Israel because of its hatred of the Jewish people. Members of Makuya sect of Japanese Christian zealots conduct pro-Israel march in Jerusalem.

Arab World: Beirut cease-fire called by leaders at reconciliation talks in Lausanne.

Other Countries: French Minister of Industry Fabius and Israeli Trade Minister Patt agree to further cooperation in commerce and industrial research. Pres. Reagan defends proposed arms package to Jordan before United Jewish Appeal. Added to his recent refusal to assist in obtaining Israel's permission for West Bank delegates to attend PNC session, Reagan refuses to support or withhold veto on Jordan's draft resolution condemning Israeli settlements in occupied territories as illegal. 4 JDL members arrested for criminal trespass and possession of noxious chemicals, and held in suspicion of bomb threat at Greensburgh, NY Town Hall showing of Russian architecture film. [JDL seeks severance of all US relations with USSR until all Soviet Jews permitted to emigrate freely.] 

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).

Military Action:

Israeli planes shower leaflets on Beirut warning people to "flee for their lives" and suggesting two escape routes (pandemonium in streets as people try to enter E. Beirut; Phalangists refuse to let Palestinians through their lines); Phalange reported openly cooperating with IDF; large IDF troop maneuvers along Beirut-Damascus highway; Israel dis-plays stockpile of weapons from PLO bases in Lebanon; Israeli Government acknowledges use of US-supplied cluster bombs in Lebanon; car bombings continue in Beirut; 700 IDF tanks, 1000 armored cars, 210 heavy artillery pieces surround Beirut; special IDF unit trained in street fighting arrives from Golan.

Casualties:

Three killed, 20 injured in explosion near Agence France Presse building in Beirut; French paper says 209 died and 153 were wounded in mountains; latest Lebanese police figures are 10,112 dead, 19,000 wounded (expected to be higher); foreign correspondents are still not allowed into Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp (near Sidon) and Rashidiyeh (near Tyre); less than half of Palestinian refugees remain in 3 Palestinian camps, few have anywhere to go.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet issues "peace plan" demanding that all PLO members, not just leadership, exit to Syria, urges Lebanese Army to enter West Beirut; government officials express some concern over George Shultz; Sharon denies Begin promised Reagan IDF would not invade Beirut; former IDF chief of staff Gur says past 2 weeks of fighting and Israeli deaths pointless; Labor Alignment demands that IDF not ente: Beirut (300 Labor doves demonstrate outside Prime Minister's office); group of army reservists, back from serving in Lebanon, announces round-the-clock protests; 20,000 protest the war in Tel Aviv; blood bank in Gaza sends blood to Sidon victims through Red Cross; 2 mukhtars from Nablus area fired by Israeli government for refusing to join Israeli-sponsored Village Leagues; Nablus Mayor Shakaa condemns US veto of French resolution at the UN.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel's Phalangists expand control in areas seized by IDF (re-ports of interrogations regarding political sympathies at gunpoint, beatings, even killings); hostility of villagers toward IDF in Bekaa area and mountains reported; Prime Minister Wazzan meets with Arafat; Arafat agrees in principle on PLO disarming and leaving Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Advisor to Mubarak says PLO will be radicalized; Saudi Arabia reportedly presses for IDF pullback; Syria reluctant to take PLO guerrillas, fearing Syria would become target for IDF raids; Tunis meeting of Arab foreign ministers reported as a fiasco (though ad hoc committee formed to pressure 5 permanent members of UN Security Council to demand IDF withdrawal).

US and Other Countries: US issues stern warning to Israel not to invade Beirut; Finnish medical therapist says IDF arrested bedridden patients in Sidon.