The Palestine Chronology

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military spokespersons tell reporters armed attacks in the northern West Bank have nearly doubled in the past year, while attacks in the Bethlehem-Hebron area have declined by 11% [JP 3/27]. Students at Bethlehem U. stone cars and pedestrians following Land Day demonstration, unfurl Palestinian flag, throw makeshift gasoline bombs at Israeli soldiers, set up roadblocks; Israeli troops fire in air to disperse them [JP 3/27].

Arab World: Car bomb explodes near Phalange party office in East Beirut, killing 10, wounding 80; 2 hours earlier, 6 were wounded by bomb outside another Phalange party office [NYT, WP 3/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Thirteen apartments renovated for Jewish occupancy are consecrated at religious ceremony in heart of Hebron; Housing Ministry has invested $1 million this year for Jewish housing in Hebron [JTA 1/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb explodes in Afula (8th attack in recent months), causing light injury UTA 1/22].

Arab World: Car bomb explodes in East Beirut 30 yards from Phalange party office; 30 killed, 133 injured [FT, CT 1/22; TI 2/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Farmers from Surif and Jib'a villages near Hebron claim settlers have recently prevented them from entering 2,000 dunums of their land planted with olive and other trees [JP 9/4].

Arab World: Yasir Arafat arrives in Cairo for talks with 'Usama al-Baz, Pres. Mubarak's chief political advisor UP 9/5].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli soldier Avraham Sorek, 37, stabbed to death, another soldier seriously wounded by two unidentified men in Hebron's old marketplace. Hebron declared "closed military area"; many arrests reported. Sorek is 15th Israeli killed this year, allegedly by Palestinian guerrillas [NYT, WP, LAT, FT 9/4; LT 9/5].

Arab World: Fighting breaks out between Palestinian and Shi'ite militiamen around Burj al-Barajinah refugee camp in southem Beirut [MG 9/12]. Car bomb explodes at a South Lebanon Army checkpost; Israeli sources say only the driver, Ahmad Husayn Khadr, 24, is killed. Pro-Syrian Lebanese Ba'th party claims responsibility, states 30 SLA militiamen died in attack [WP, NYT, PI 9/4]. Beirut radio states SLA gunners shell 10 villages in retaliation [WP 9/4].

Other Countries: Attacker believed to be linked to Black September organization throws two hand grenades into Greek hotel, injuring 18 British tourists. Woman telephones Greek newspaper threatening Black September will "fill Athens with bombs" unless Greek police release Palestinian arrested 8/31 near Jordanian embassy with suitcase full of weapons [PI 9/4].

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: DM Rabin charges recent attacks against Israelis in W. Bank coordinated in Amman. IDF allow Ramallah shops closed 2/4 to re-open [MG 2/6]. al-Mithaq reports prefabricated houses being erected on Arab-owned land of Aqbat Ni'meh east of Dhahriya in the Hebron area [FJ 2/8].

Arab World: Chrmn. Arafat arrives in Algiers; Syrian VP Khaddam also in Algiers [MG 2/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gasoline bomb thrown at police post, al-Arroub camp; no injuries [JP 2/6].

Arab World: In Damascus, PFLP claims responsibility for 2/4 killing of IDF soldier in Ramallah [JTA 2/6]. 2 IDF troops wounded by bomb near Burj al-Shamali camp, S. Lebanon; car-bomb later in the day near the camp injures 10 IDF troops [JP, WP 2/6]. SLA roadblock fired upon in Kafr Kharroub, S. Lebanon [JP 2/6]. IDF attack Jabal Amal Professional Training School in Tyre, S. Lebanon; at least 6 teenagers killed, 57 wounded, 150 arrested for unknown reasons [Fl 2/8].

Military Action:

Car bomb explodes near pro-Israel Voice of Hope television station studio on Lebanese side of border near Metulla.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Municipal park in Jerusalem dedicated to memory of Emil Grunzweig, Peace Now demonstrator killed by grenade on February 10; guarded by 850 police, 1000 supporters of Committee Against the War in Lebanon march in Jerusalem for freedom of expression and against political violence; Foreign Minister Shamir says Israel will do utmost to strengthen ties with African regimes, is grateful to Zaire for being first Black African nation to resume diplomatic ties with Israel; Likud MK Y. Hurwitz says Israel has no choice but to sell arms to any country willing to buy them; 9 yeshiva students arrested after windows of Arab-owned stores smashed in Jerusalem's Old City, 5 charged; police fire shots and teargas, arrest 94, during protests against Carter visit in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm, Yatta, Halhoul, BeitJala, Ramallah, Jenin and Nablus; 3 women soldiers, 1 settler injured by stones in Hebron during protests against Defense Minister Arens visit; bombs discovered in two Hebron schools; Halhoul girls' high school closed until April; Jewish settlers fire on stone-throwing youths at Dheisheh camp and in Bethlehem.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat has talks with King Hussein at New Delhi Non-Aligned summit.

Arab Governments: Mubarak says he is in no hurry to resume diplomatic relations with Arab states that cut ties after 1979 peace treaty with Israel; Information Minister Iskander says Syria has no objection to withdrawing its troops from Lebanon if Israel does so at same time and if Lebanese authority and sovereignty over all Lebanon are established.