The Palestine Chronology

PLO Central Comm. approves formation of joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation. (Radio Monte Carlo, Tunisian Republic Radio 10/18 in FBIS 10/18)

Soviet FM Boris Pankin arrives in Israel for talks with Israeli leadership, Palestinian negotiators, Secy. of State Baker. Visit is first visit by Soviet foreign ministry since USSR broke diplomatic relations with Israel in 1967. (WP 10/19)

Iranian Pres. Ayatollah 'Ali Khamane'i denounces peace conference, calls upon Muslims to participate in jihad to liberate Palestine. (MEM 10/23)

In Damascus, Presidents al-Asad, al-Hirawi co-chair first meeting of Syrian-Lebanese Supreme Council, set up by the May 1991 Syrian-Lebanese Treaty of Brotherhood, Cooperation and Coordination to coordinate affairs of the two countries. (Syrian Arab Republic Radio 10/17 in FBIS 10/21)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Laflets distributed in E. Jerusalem announce birth of Hizballah in Palestine, declare jihad against Israel and U.S. [FBIS 8/28].

Arab World: In Aden for visit, Arafat says latest round of U.S.-PLO talks did not go as they should have, blames U.S. intransigence [FBIS 8/28].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 46-year-old Israeli is found in a W. Bank village after reportedly being kidnapped on 8/24 by masked Palestinians [FBIS 8/25; NYT 8/26; MET 9/5]. Israeli figures say 13 Palestinians have been killed in the O.T. in the past eight days; that the violence has increased because Palestinian leaders have vowed to step up the intifada [WP 8/26]. Acting under new regulation that allows troops to shoot at masked Palestinians, soldiers shoot, wound one of several masked youths who clashed with IDF patrol in Jabaliyyah [FBIS 8/28].

Other Countries: Five-vessel French Navy task force remains off the Lebanese coast [NYT 8/26]; the French are joined by eight U.S. ships, including the battleship Iowa. Soviet guided missile cruiser Kirov is also there [FBIS 8/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli cabinet votes to examine Shin Bet interrogation methods [CSM 6/1]. Jewish settlers rampage through Gaza City stoning houses; thousands of settlers hold demonstration i Tel Aviv in memory of boy killed on W. Bank [BS 6/1]. Estimated 50 Jewish settlers attack 2 Palestinian truck drivers near Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Strip [FJ 6/7]. Israeli troops declare Balatah refugee camp closed military area to conduct comprehensive search, interrogations; more than 60 residents are arrested, 10 served with administrative dtentions. Jihad Musaymi, a camp leader, is ordered deported to Jordan for inciting demonstrations [BS 6/1; FJ 6/7]. Khan Yunis refugee camp resident Ahmad Nasr is expelled to Jordan [FJ 6/7]. Reports indicate head of Arab Bank in Jordan has turned down Jordanian request to open branch of bank in W. Bank, said bank would only open office if it was located in Jerusalem [FJ 6/7].

Military Action

Arab World: Estimated 250 Islamic Resistance Front militiamen battle Israeli and SLA troops in S. Lebanon for more than 7 hours; reports indicate between 16 and 31 are killed [CSM 6/1; PI 6/2].