The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Commercial strike continues in E. Jerusalem. Stores open in Gaza City [WP 1/27]. Shopowners heed call of Unified National Command for the Uprising in the Occupied Territories, strike in many W. Bank cities and towns [LAT 1/27]. Trials of Gazans arrested during uprising slow to "standstill" as scores of defendants demand full hearings [FBIS 1/27]. Moshe 'Amirav leaves Herut Movement after being removed from its central com. [FBIS 1/27]. Israeli authorities order al-Fajr's Gaza office closed for 1 year [FJ 1/3 1]. Hebron U. reopens after 1-month military-ordered closure [FJ 1/31].

Arab World: In Beirut, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine says fate of 4 Beirut University College professors it is holding hostage is linked to Israeli arrests of Palestinians inoccupied territories [WP 1/27].

Other Countries: U.S. State Dept. announces Sec. of State Shultz will meet with al-Fajr editor Hanna Siniora and Gaza attorney Fayiz Abu Rahmah. Egypt's Pres. Husni Mubarak arrives in Washington for 3-day official visit. Elyakim Rubinstein, Israeli cabinet sec., holds talks with Charles Hill, aide to Sec. of State Shultz [NYT 1/27].

Military Action Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops open fire on demonstrators in Gaza Strip's Jenin refugee camp, wounding 1. Curfew on Jabalya is lifted but reimposed after crowds throw Molotov cocktails at Israeli patrol [WP 1/27; FJ 1/31]. In the West Bank, military imposes curfews on village of Qabatiyyah and Jenin camp following violent demonstrations. Curfews imposed on Tulkarm and Bayt 'Ur al-Tahta are lifted; military lifts curfew on Balata, declares camp closed military zone. Sa'ir village remains under siege and nearby village of al-Shuyukh is also blockaded. Israeli troops use rubber bullets to disperse stone-throwing crowd in Jalazun refugee camp, injuring 1; another Jalazun resident is severely beaten. Curfew is imposed on camp. Demonstrations are also reported in al-Birah and Ramallah [FJ 1/31].

Arab World: Israeli warplanes stage mock raids over Sidon, drawing anti-aircraft fire [FBIS 1/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli army evicts 7 MKs from apartment in Hebron, declares area "a closed military zone." The 7 leave but promise to appeal legality of eviction to the High Court [NYT 8/21]. Inspector General David Kraus, Plia Albek, a senior Justice Ministry official responsible for land registration, ad Bank of Israel Governor Moshe Mandlebaum appear before Knesset State Comptroller Committee for largescale investigation into land fraud cases begun by police after upsurge in complaints following arrest of several West Bank judges early in summer on bribery charges [JP 8/21]. Ahmad Odeh, wealthy West Banker, was arrested last week on charges of involvement in illegal land sales. Al-Fajr reported he contributed $30,000 to the Likud election campaign last year [JP 8/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Booby-trapped car is detonated minutes before it explodes at central bus station in Netanya. Police round up 100 Palestinians in the vicinity. A telephone caller claims responsibility for Fateh's Force 17 [FJ 8/23].

Arab World: Israeli diplomat Albert Atrakchi, 30, an administrative attache, is killed and 2 embassy employees wounded when 3 men spray their car with kalashnikov assault rifles in Cairo. "Egypt's Revolution" takes responsibility, threatens attacks until all "Israeli colonialists" leave Egypt [NYT, WP, JP 8/21]. Amal militia and the sixth brigade of the Lebanese army attack Burj al-Barajinah and Shatila with heavy bombardments; 24 refugees are injured [FJ 8/25]. Unidentified jets raid Hazerta village in the Biqa' Valley. Israel denies responsibility [JP 8/21]. Car bomb explodes in Tripoli, killing 44 and wounding 90. Caller claims responsibility on behalf of the Revolutionary Christians of the Cedars [NYT 8/21]. In Beirut, 40 are reported killed and 143 wounded in round-the-clock fighting between Christian and Muslim militias [NYT 8/21].

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian lawyer Raja Shehadeh and Israeli author Amos Kenan honored in Israeli Peace Council ceremony commemorating late Issam Sartawi on anniversary of his murder. Knesset Ministerial Settlement Com. approves 4 new settlements in West Bank and 2 in Negev.

Other Countries: Al-Fajr managing editor Sam'an Khoury addresses members of National Union of Journalists convention in London on subject of press conditions in the occupied territories. Group of 54 US congressmen petition Int'l. Olympic Com. to reject any application by PLO to participate in summer games, saying "recognition of PLO ... would be morally repugnant" and that "PLO represents neither a geographical area nor the Palestinian people."

Military Action:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli army reserves called up for exercises.

Arab World: 3 attacks against IDF in S. Lebanon.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Former chief of staff Yigael Yadin submits affidavit stating IDF seizure of Hebron central bus station is not justifiable for reasons of security. PM Shamir survives 3 no confidence motions in Knesset. Al-Fajr journalist, Awad Abdel Fattah, denied access to West Bank and Gaza for 1 year by Israeli occupation authorities. Yaqoub Hijazi, owner of Akka publishing house, summoned by Israeli police for questioning about new book of short stories; police confiscate copies of the book, claiming it is "inciting."

Arab World: Lebanese Shi'ite leader, Raghib Harb, makes last public appearance in Hallusiyeh rally after fellow Shi'ite leader arrested by IDF.

Other Countries: Israeli Pres. Herzog ends African visit, returning from Liberia with wide-ranging commercial cooperation agreement. Washington Post alleges presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson privately made anti-Jewish remark; Zionist anti-Jackson campaign accuses candidate of "racism" and "anti-Semitism."

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: 500 settlers from southern kibbutzim demonstrate before PM's office in Jerusalem for immediate IDF withdrawal from Lebanon. Occupation authorities ban Al-Fajr journalist from entering West Bank for 1 year and Gaza for 6 months; no explanation given. [The journalist recently served 4 mos. in jail for possession of "banned printed material."]

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: 2 grenades thrown at IDF patrols in central Sidon; 1 in Nabitiya; roadside bomb explodes by remote control as IDF passes near Ansar.