The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: With order nisi, High Court blocks demolition of 7 Jabaliya camp houses as "unlicensed." PM Peres presents options to cabinet for partial or total troop withdrawal from S. Lebanon. In Tel Aviv, US Defense Sec. Weinberger pledges US will buy $100 million more in Israeli products in 1984 to offset large Israeli purchases of American military equipment. Al-Bireh Arab Nursing College students begin slowdown strike to protest administrative measures. Abu Dis Science and Technology College students strike over newly required English proficiency & minimum passing grade requirements.

Arab World: Lebanese parliament elects (Shi'ite) Hussein al-Husseini as speaker. King Hussein meets Pres. Sadam Hussein in Baghdad.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF imposes new prohibition against travelers crossing Awali without permit.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bethlehem Mayor Elias Freij heads delegation to Jordan to observe Arafat-Hussein talks; says will urge Arafat to join peace process.

Arab World: Chairman Arafat arrives from Tunis for talks with King Hussein on future of PLO-Jordan coordination.

Other Countries: Richard Arens, international human rights lawyer and board member of Search for Justice and Equality in Palestine/Israel, dies of heart failure in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: Marine contingent completes withdrawal to warships off coast of Beirut; Shi'ite militia and rebel Lebanese Army units take bunkers vacated near airport; within hour after last Marine retreat, USS Caron and New Jersey blast anti-government positions in hills over Beirut; Israeli jets bomb positions around Souq al-Gharb as Druze militia fights last LAF holdout there.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Arab local councils in the Triangle and Galilee strike for 2 hours to demonstrate their severe fiscal problems. Ramallah lawyer Shukri Aboudi fined IS50,000 and given 6-month jail term on charges of membership in illegal organization.

Arab World: Gemayel informs opponents he will annul May 17 agreement in exchange for their participation in reconciliation talks.

Other Countries: King Hussein flies to London for talks with PM Thatcher and FM Howe. Chairman Arafat nominated for post of rector of Glasgow University by students, election March 5.

MILITARY ACTION:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish settlers break into home of 84-year-old Tulkarm man; chop off his finger when he refuses to sign over property to Israeli buyers.

Arab World: Advancing Druze militia discover 117 Druze corpses in Kfar Matta, S. Lebanon, massacred by Christian Phalange militia in 1983. Israeli tanks patrol north-coast highway to Damour demonstrating support for Phalangist takeover there. Israel-backed death-squad kills Shi'ite leader, Raghib Harb, while walking home in Jabsheet near Nabatiya.