The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 3 nearby villages at night; patrols in al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron at night. In Jenin, an IDF raid provokes clashes with residents of Jenin. (MNA 8/15; PCHR 8/22)

Muslim Brotherhood supporters take to the streets to protest against the previous day’s protest camp massacre. Arab leaders are divided in their response to the bloody developments in Egypt, with Turkey, Iran, and Qatar condemning the violent crackdown, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE back the military’s position. Meanwhile, gunmen in the Sinai shoot and kill 7 Egyptian soldiers at a checkpoint. (JP, MNA, REU 8/15)

A car bomb explodes in s. Beirut, killing 20 people and wounding 120. The attack is claimed by a group called Brigades of Aisha, which it says was as retaliation for Hizballah’s intervention in Syria on the side of Pres. Asad. (AP 8/15)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 1st Jewish suspect in 4/26/84 bus bombing plot admits membership in Jewish "terrorist organization." One suspect in Aisha Bahash murder (2/8/84) released on bail. 13,464 West Bank students take tawjihi exams; only 54% pass. Jurists' Union calls 2-day warning strike. Agricultural com. formed in Gaza to assist farmers with licenses for growing their crops. Israel prevents Hebron soccer team from attending Amman tournament.

Other Countries: Attending Italian CP chief Berlinguer's funeral in Rome, Chrmn. Arafat meets Italy's FM Andreotti. On pastoral visit to Switzerland, Pope John-Paul II meets Swiss Jewish leaders in Freibourg who urge Vatican relations with Israel.

Military Action

Arab World: 6 IDF troops injured in bomb blast near Bazuriya, E. of Tyre. IDF conducts campaign of arrests in Arab Salim, S. Lebanon.