14 / 15150 Results
  • November 11, 2012

    The IDF carries out air strikes on a number of targets in the Gaza Strip, killing 1 armed Palestinian and wounding a number of civilians. Palestinian groups fire around 100 rockets and mortars...

    Read more
  • November 9, 2010

    Pres. Obama, asked during his trip to Indonesia about his reaction to Israel’s 11/8 construction announcement, states sharply that “this kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace...

    Read more
  • May 6, 2009

    Hamas mbrs. fire 5 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF retaliates with 3 air strikes on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, injuring 4 Palestinians. In the West...

    Read more
  • January 5, 2009

    As OCL enters day 10, IDF ground forces tighten the circle around Gaza City and continue to operate against Palestinian rocketlaunching units across n. Gaza, still avoiding entering densely...

    Read more
  • July 1, 2008

    Israel reseals Gaza’s border crossings in the morning, saying that overnight its radar detected a Palestinians rocket launched from n. Gaza toward Israel (though admitting it has not found any...

    Read more
  • August 17, 2005

    Before dawn the IDF moves troops into Gaza en masse to begin the forcible evacuation of Jewish settlers and disengagement protesters who have not yet left, begins demolishing settler homes in n....

    Read more
  • April 13, 2004

    The IDF conducts predawn arrest raids, house searches in Nablus in search of wanted Hamas activist Jafar Masri, arrests Masri’s wife and brother but does not find him. The IDF also begins work on...

    Read more
  • August 2, 2001

    The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian said to be planting a bomb nr. Nablus, sparking a gun battle lasting several hrs., leaving 2 Palestinians wounded. Another Palestinian is caught attempting to...

    Read more
  • May 17, 1994

    Secy of State Christopher visits Jericho, commends "skill and efficiency" of Palestinian self-rule area.  After mtg. local admin., Christopher is escorted by Faisal Husseini on tour of Hisham...

    Read more
  • January 14, 1988

    Social/Economic/Political

    Occupied Palestine/Israel: Shin Bet agents arrest 10 prominent Palestinians in W. Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem; 4 are released after questioning [CSM 1/15]. At...

    Read more
  • April 24, 1987

    Social/Economic/Political

    Occupied Palestine/Israel: Attomey for 'Izzat Nafsu, former IDF officer convicted of espionage in 1981, petitions High Court to order military to lift secrecy...

    Read more
  • March 4, 1986

    Social/Economic/Political

    Occupied Palestine/Israel: More Palestinians withdraw their candidacies for mayoralities of West Bank towns, including jamil Tarifi of al-Birah and Muhammad Rashid...

    Read more
  • October 30, 1985

    Social/Economic/Political

    Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli govt. officials state Jordan has provisionally agreed to be involved in choosing and appointing Palestinian mayors for some of...

    Read more
  • August 6, 1985

    Social/Economic/Political

    Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli authorities arrest 4 al-Najah U. students without charges, jail them under administrative detention orders. Army claims they are...

    Read more

The IDF carries out air strikes on a number of targets in the Gaza Strip, killing 1 armed Palestinian and wounding a number of civilians. Palestinian groups fire around 100 rockets and mortars into Israel, causing 3 injuries and structural damage. Israeli PM Netanyahu tells the weekly cabinet meeting that the army is prepared to intensify its attacks; a number of ministers urge an escalation in military operations (such as assassinations), as well as other measures, like cutting off electricity. A source in Netanyahu’s office says that the PM is preparing international public opinion for a military operation in Gaza. (AP, HA 11/11; JP 11/12; PCHR 11/14)

U.S. pres. Barack Obama tells PA pres. Abbas that his administration opposes a Palestinian bid for non-state membership of the UN. Abbas tells a rally in Ramallah marking the anniversary of Yasir Arafat’s death that the PA is under huge pressure to stop the UN initiative, but that they would continue regardless, as it is intended to save the two-state solution. (AFP, JP 11/11)

PA pres. Abbas announces that Russia will join an international investigation into whether Yasir Arafat was murdered. French and Swiss experts will exhume the late Palestinian leader’s body later in the month, after an Al Jazeera report in July suggested he was murdered with polonium. (REU 11/11)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (firing rubber bullets and tear gas at children going to school) in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 1 village nr. Ramallah. Israeli police deliver notices to 13 Israeli activists, banning them from taking part in weekly demonstrations in West Bank villages. (972mag 11/11; PCHR 11/14)

Israeli forces fire into Syria in what the military calls a warning, after stray munitions from fighting between Syrian troops and rebels hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The incident, described by Israel Radio as the 1st direct engagement of the Syrian military on the Golan since the countries’ 1973 war, highlights international fears that Syria’s civil war could ignite wider regional conflict. An Israeli security source said the military fired in the direction of a Syrian army mortar crew that had launched a shell that overshot the Golan disengagement fence on Sunday, exploding near a Jewish settlement without causing casualties. (REU 11/11)

Pres. Obama, asked during his trip to Indonesia about his reaction to Israel’s 11/8 construction announcement, states sharply that “this kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotations. I’m concerned that we’re not seeing each side make the extra effort . . . to get a breakthrough. Each of these incremental steps can end up breaking trust.” Hours later, Netanyahu’s office responds saying “Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is the capital of the State of Israel. . . . Israel sees no link between the peace process and its development plans in Jerusalem.” (IFM, Israel Radio News [Internet], MNA, REU 11/9; NYT, WT 11/10)

Israeli tax authorities and border police seal the entrances to the Jerusalem suburb of Issawiyya, checking Palestinians leaving and entering the village and raiding businesses in search of Palestinian tax evaders. Border police fire rubber-coated steel bullets at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, injuring 19 Palestinian children (ages 10–15); 1 Israeli border policeman is also injured. Also in East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities raid, search 2 Palestinian homes in Silwan, arresting 2 Palestinians. Silwan residents report that in recent weeks, Israeli authorities have stepped up arrests of young Palestinian men in Issawiyya and Silwan, and that Jewish settlers and settlement guards in Silwan have been accosting local Palestinians more frequently, generating almost daily low-grade clashes. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Issawiyya later in the evening; and conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and nearby al-‘Arub r.c., in al-Bireh (searching the home of Palestinian Council secy. Mahmud al-Ramahi, but making no arrests; Ramahi was one of the Hamas-affiliated elected PC mbrs. that Israel arrested after the 2006 capture of Shalit to pressure Hamas but he was recently released; 7 Hamas-affiliated PC mbrs. are still jailed by Israel), and nr. Tulkarm. Meanwhile, the IDF makes brief incursions into n. Gaza nr. Bayt Lahiya and c. Gaza e. of al-Maghazi r.c. to bulldoze Palestinian lands along the border fence to clear lines of sight. Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 mortars fr. Gaza toward Israel, 1 landing in Israel and 1 inside Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. OCHA (11/11) reports that in the previous wk., the IDF imposed at least 8 new barriers to Palestinian travel around Hebron. (YA 11/9; NYT 11/10; OCHA, PCHR 11/11)

Hamas mbrs. fire 5 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF retaliates with 3 air strikes on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, injuring 4 Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who tries to take the gun of a soldier posted outside the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs; conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 4 villages nr. Jenin, making no arrests; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-‘Arub r.c. and Bayt Umar nr. Hebron. (Israel Radio News 5/6; NYT, PCHR 5/7; OCHA 5/13; PCHR 5/14)

As OCL enters day 10, IDF ground forces tighten the circle around Gaza City and continue to operate against Palestinian rocketlaunching units across n. Gaza, still avoiding entering densely populated areas. Troops deploy to segment the Strip into 3 main operational zones: a northern zone running fr. the n. Gaza border south to Netzarim Junction (the Qarni Crossing–Netzarim settlement line drawn on 1/4); a central zone fr. Netzarim Junction to Khan Yunis; and a southern zone fr. Khan Yunis to the Rafah border. While IDF troops are still entering Gaza, IDF reservists have not yet been sent in.

Meanwhile, French pres. Nicholas Sarkozy begins a regional tour to press for a 48-hr. humanitarian cease-fire, meeting with Mubarak in Cairo and Olmert in Israel).

Combat notes: In Gaza City, residents and medical workers report that IDF troops are concentrated in the al-Shuja‘iyya, al-Tuffah, and al-Zaytun neighborhoods (al-Zaytun is a strategic high point, providing a view over the breadth of the Strip) and that fighting is so intense (involving heavy Israeli tank and helicopter fire) that bodies of the dead have been left lying in the street and ambulances are unable to reach the area. IDF troops occupy at least 3 high-rise buildings in eastern areas of Gaza City as observation posts, expelling the residents and exchanging heavy gunfire with Palestinian gunmen. Israeli aircraft drop leaflets over Gaza City warning residents to evacuate their neighborhood; 1,000s of Gazans report receiving automated phone messages form the IDF saying “We are getting rid of Hamas.”

In addition to carrying out air strikes in support of advancing ground troops, the IDF reports making 40 air strikes targeting tunnels on the Rafah border, weapons caches, homes of senior Hamas and PFLP mbrs. (most of whom are in hiding), the Gaza airport site. Target areas include Abasan, Bayt Hanun, Bani Suhayla, Bayt Lahiya, al-Bureij r.c., Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City (the center city, al-Tuffah, al-Shuja‘iyya, Tal al-Hawa, alZaytun), Jabaliya, Khan Yunis, Khuza, the al-Mawasi area (w. of Khan Yunis), Nussayrat, Rafah, al-Shabura r.c. (nr. Rafah), Shati’ r.c., al-Shuka, Yibna r.c. (nr. Rafah).

Of particular note: A home in Gaza City’s al-Zaytun neighborhood, where the IDF placed 110 Palestinians it had rounded up on 1/4, is hit by an air strike and repeatedly shelled, killing at least 30 mbrs. of an extended family (including 5 children age 4 and younger) and wounding scores; the IDF bars relief workers fr. reaching the scene until 1/7. A shell fired from an Israeli naval vessel hits a Palestinian home in Shati’ r.c., killing a family of 7 asleep in their beds. A late-night air strike hits an UNRWA school in Shati’ r.c. being used as a shelter, killing 3 members of a single family. The IDF also makes air strikes hitting the offices of the Hamas-affiliated al-Risala for a 2d time (see 1/3). Photographs and live footage of the ongoing operations clearly show IDF artillery firing white phosphorus shells on densely populated areas, though Israel denies using the munitions. The IDF fires flechette shells on residential areas nr. Bayt Hanun, killing at least 1 Palestinian, wounding at least 3.

Palestinians fire 28 rockets, 5 mortars into Israel, hitting Ashdod, Ashqelon, Beersheba, Sederot, and Shaar Hanegev, damaging an empty kindergarten in Ashdod, injuring 2 Israelis in Shaar Hanegev.

More than 40 Palestinians are killed today (almost half of them children), bringing the estimated Palestinian toll to 550 dead, 2,500 injured. The Israeli toll reaches 9–10 dead, more than 70 wounded: 3 IDF soldiers are killed, 24 wounded (4 seriously) by friendly fire when their unit is hit by an Israeli tank shell outside Gaza City; an IDF officer is killed during an exchange of fire in n. Gaza, possibly by an IDF tank shell; 6 IDF soldiers are wounded in clashes with Palestinians nr. the e. Gaza border.

Humanitarian notes: Israel allows 80 truckloads of food, medicine, and medical equipment into Gaza, but the UN says much more is needed. Relief agencies (including the ICRC, UNRWA, and UNSCO) warn that two-thirds of the Strip is still without power, suffering freezing winter temperatures; 250,000 Gazans are without any running water; and water supplies for another 500,000 Gazans are expected to run out within days because of lack of fuel for pumps and backup generators. Shifa hospital, which has been running fully on generators for 3 days, warns that it has only a 2-day supply of generator fuel. (BBC, CNN, IDF, IDF Radio, MM, NYT, REU, RFM, UNIS, UNOSAT, WT 1/5; AFP, BBC, Guardian, HA, IDF, IFM, Israel Radio News, MA, MM, NYT, WP, WT, YA 1/6; IFM, PCHR, WJW, WT 1/8; Committee to Protect Journalists, MM, YA 1/9; NYT, WP 1/10; NYT 1/17; WP 1/27; BBC 2/23)

The IDF arrests 2 12-yr.-old Palestinians at an OCL protest nr. Hebron; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem and in al-Bireh, Ramallah. Clubwielding PASF officers violently disperse a protest against OCL by students attempting to march fr. Ramallah’s Birzeit University to a main IDF checkpoint at Atarot. (PCHR 1/8)

Israel reseals Gaza’s border crossings in the morning, saying that overnight its radar detected a Palestinians rocket launched from n. Gaza toward Israel (though admitting it has not found any rocket fragments); Hamas denies a rocket was fired, accusing Israel of looking for excuses not to honor the truce agmt. Meanwhile, IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on 2 Palestinian women working a field nearby, seriously wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF fires on residential areas of Bayt ‘Awa nr. Hebron, then enters to raid and search homes, claiming that barbed wire nr. the separation wall nearby had been tampered with, threatening to shoot dead anyone to approaches the wall; sends undercover units into Tulkarm to raid an apartment building, arrest a wanted Palestinian; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and in Dahaysha r.c., Jenin town and r.c., and Tulkarm r.c.; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (wounding 5). In the 1st such incident reported, Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus fire 2 mortars toward the nearby Palestinian village of Burin, landing inside a residential area but causing no damage or injuries. (OCHA, WT 7/2; PCHR 7/3)

Syrian and Israeli negotiating teams open a 3d round of indirect peace talks in Istanbul. (Israel Radio, MM 7/2)

Before dawn the IDF moves troops into Gaza en masse to begin the forcible evacuation of Jewish settlers and disengagement protesters who have not yet left, begins demolishing settler homes in n. Gaza. By the end of the day, evacuations of Bedolah (est. 1986, pop. 220, size 1,456 d., hrs. to evac. 6), Ganei Tal (est. 1979, pop. 350, size 2,050 d., hrs. to evac. 11), Kerem Atzmona (est. 2001, pop. 24, hrs. to evac. 6), Morag (est. 1972, pop. 220, size 1,300 d., hrs. to evac. 7), Tal Katifa (est. 1992, pop. 60, size 183 d., hrs. to evac. 5) are completed; most residents of Gadid leave voluntarily. Settlers in Atzmona agree to evacuate voluntarily by 8/21, those in Netzarim by 8/22. Settlers who have not arranged their evacuation with the government will be housed temporarily in hotels, mobile homes: e.g., more than half of Morag’s settlers take up temporary residence in the West Bank settlement of Ofra; Israel’s Jerusalem municipality temporarily houses 1,000 Neve Dekalim settlers who have left voluntarily in a Jerusalem hotel. Generally there is little strong resistance; the IDF optimistically says it hopes that the evacuations could be completed within days instead of wks., as earlier estimated. During the day, some scuffles btwn. soldiers, settlers are reported; in some areas settlers set fire to tires and in garbage bins to prevent soldiers fr. entering settlements; at least 2 settlers set fire to their homes before leaving. In Morag, a female IDF soldier is stabbed with a syringe, lightly injured by a disengagement protester. (In total, 13 Israeli soldiers and police are lightly injured during the day.) Gaza settlers and protesters also attack Palestinians: some 200 Kefar Darom settlers rampage through nearby Palestinian areas, set fire to a Palestinian house; 20 Neve Dekalim settlers march through al-Mawasi, spread nails on roads to damage Palestinian cars, try to provoke Palestinian residents (the IDF intervenes, removes the settlers); other Jewish settlers fire on Palestinian homes, vandalize Palestinian greenhouses in the same area. The IDF also demolishes a Palestinian home, conducts arrest raids in al-Mawasi. Meanwhile, Palestinians in Khan Yunis begin returning to their homes on the edge of town facing the settlements, which they had fled since the start of the intifada in 9/00 because of IDF gunfire. Islamic Jihad mbrs. in some 50 boats, carrying banners and weapons, hold a seaborne victory parade off Gaza to celebrate disengagement. Some disengagement protests in Israel turn violent: a disengagement protester tosses a grenade at an IDF checkpoint in s. Israel, wounding 5 IDF soldiers; a female settler fr. Keddumim in the West Bank sets fire to herself during a demonstration in Netivot, is seriously injured. In the West Bank, a Jewish settler fr. Shvut Rachel steals a gun fr. an Israeli security guard at the industrial area of Shilo settlement, fires on Palestinian workers, killing 4 Palestinians, wounding 1. Sharon denounces the attack as “Jewish terror”; Palestinian Authority (PA) PM Mahmud Abbas calls on Palestinian factions to maintain calm, refrain fr. retaliation. At Sanur (to be evacuated under disengagement), 600 Jewish settlers hold an antidisengagement rally. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and in Nur al-Shams refugee camp (r.c.), Tulkarm. Also in Hebron, 4 bedouin children herding goats are injured when they accidentally trigger an unexploded IDF phosphorus shell; the IDF says it uses the shells only in training. A 9-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received when she accidentally triggered unexploded IDF ordnance nr. Karmil. (Arutz 7, BBC, HA, IMEMC, NYT, REU, USA Today, WP, WT, YA 8/17; Voice of Israel, VOP 8/17 in WNC 8/18; BBC, HA, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 8/18; MENA 8/18 in WNC 8/19; NYT 8/20; PCHR, PR 8/25; IMEMC 9/22; HA 11/10) 

The IDF conducts predawn arrest raids, house searches in Nablus in search of wanted Hamas activist Jafar Masri, arrests Masri’s wife and brother but does not find him. The IDF also begins work on a stretch of the separation wall outside of Husan; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm r.c., Yatta; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Nablus; bulldozes a Palestinian home, levels several others that were previously heavily damaged in Rafah; bulldozes 1.5 dunams of agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis; announces that it has arrested 4 bedouin, 7 Egyptians, a Nablus Palestinian allegedly involved in a scheme to smuggle weapons fr. Egypt to Nablus. Palestinian gunmen fire on an IDF bus outside Hermesh settlement nr. Baqa‘ al-Sharqiyya, wounding 1 IDF soldier. A Palestinian stabs, wounds 2 Israeli police officers in French Hill settlement in East Jerusalem, is arrested. The IDF evacuates an illegal settlement outpost nr. Hebron that has been evacuated 7 times previously (most recently on 3/31), says 5 more outposts are due to be removed soon. At the same time, 50 armed Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba rampage through Palestinian areas of Hebron, vandalizing 6 Palestinian homes, injuring 4 Palestinians; IDF soldiers observe but do not intervene. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar bulldoze Palestinian land in neighboring ‘Ayn Abus. (HA, Israel Radio News 4/13; HA, NYT, WP 4/14; PCHR 4/15)

The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian said to be planting a bomb nr. Nablus, sparking a gun battle lasting several hrs., leaving 2 Palestinians wounded. Another Palestinian is caught attempting to plant a bomb on an Israeli bus in Kiryat Shimona. IDF commandos land a helicopter nr. a PSF post nr. Nablus, abduct low-level Fatah mbr. Murad Bisharat, who is released hrs. later; Israel Radio reports he was kidnapped by mistake, a senior Fatah mbr. was the intended target. Palestinians fire 2 mortars at Kefar Darom settlement in Gaza, causing no damage. In response, the IDF sends 3 tanks into a nearby PA-controlled area. The IDF also directs shells, heavy machine gun fire on residential areas of Bayt Sahur, Bethlehem, Hebron, al-Khadir, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Ramallah, Tulkarm; demolishes part of a girls' school in Hebron. Israel's Jerusalem Municipality confiscates 100 dunams of Palestinian land in the Jabal al-Mukabir neighborhood of East Jerusalem for a settler bypass road. A PA security court sentences a Palestinian to death for collaborating with Israel in the 7/25 Darwaza assassination. (HA, HP 8/2; NYT, WP 8/3; AYM 8/4 in WNC 8/10; MEI 8/10; HA 8/8)

Secy of State Christopher visits Jericho, commends "skill and efficiency" of Palestinian self-rule area.  After mtg. local admin., Christopher is escorted by Faisal Husseini on tour of Hisham Palace.  (MM 5/17; NYT, WP, WT 5/18; TJT 5/20)

Christopher meets twice with PM Rabin, discusses Israel-Syria negotiations.  "Officials" report 3-stage Israeli withdrawal plan, to take place over 5-8 yrs.  National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, in Washington speech, says U.S. seeks "real peace" btwn. Israel and Syria, will "participate in the security arrangements" reached by the parties. (NYT 5/18, 5/19)

IDF formally turns over Gaza Strip civil admin. to Palestinians in exchange of papers at Erez checkpoint btwn. Israel, Gaza Strip.  (MM 5/17; NYT, WP 5/18; Yediot Aharonot 5/18 in FBIS 5/18)

Israeli motorist kills Palestinian when he fires on stone-throwers in Nablus.  (TJT 5/20)

2 settlers killed, 1 wounded when their car ambushed nr. Bet Hagai settlement, south of Hebron.  Hamas claims responsibility for attack.  (MM 5/17; NYT, WP, WT 5/18; JP 5/28)

Israel Radio broadcasts recording of 5/10 speech by PLO Chmn. Yasir Arafat to Muslim congregation in Johannesburg, South Africa, in which Palestinian leader calls for "jihad to liberate Jerusalem."  PM Rabin calls speech "a clear violation" of PLO commitments under 5/4 agreement.  (MM, WP, WT 5/18)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Shin Bet agents arrest 10 prominent Palestinians in W. Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem; 4 are released after questioning [CSM 1/15]. At press conference in Jerusalem, Gabi Baramki, acting pres. of Birzeit U., Sari Nusaybah, BZU professor, and Rev. 'Awdah Rantisi, deposed mayor of Ramallah, present list of 14 Palestinian demands [FJ 1/17]. Commercial strike continues in most cities and towns although some stores open briefly [FJ 1/17].

Arab World: PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat says he would recognize Israel's righto exist if Israel and U.S. would agree to an international conference with PLO participation [LAT, CSM 1/15].

Other Countries: U.S. abstains in UN Security Council vote calling on Israel to cancel deportations of 5 Palestinians and to allow return of 4 Palestinians deported 1/13 [NYT, WP 1/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Demonstrators in Hebron barricade roads, throw stones [CSM 1/15]. In Nusayrat camp, demonstrators protest arrest of 5 camp residents; soldiers respond with tear gas; 1 Palestinian dies from gas. Violent clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli troops also take place in 'Abasan and Bani Suhaylah. New detention camp (Ansar 4) and large military camp have been erected in Rafah. Siege of refugee camps continues. Many injuries are reported in Beach camp after army raid [FJ 1/17]. At least 13 camps are under curfew. Israel Radio reports 1 Palestinian isshot, killed in clash with troops in Ramallah. Numerous demonstrations are reported in the W. Bank and E. Jerusalem. Most are dispersed with tear gas, rubber bullets; live ammunition in Qalqiliyyah, Tulkarm, and Tubas. In Kissan, village near Bethlehem, Palestinian is shot while trying to prevent confiscation of 500 sheep from village [FJ 1/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Attomey for 'Izzat Nafsu, former IDF officer convicted of espionage in 1981, petitions High Court to order military to lift secrecy order on Nafsu's appeal [JPI 5/2]. Israel Radio reports Israeli authorities have recently discovered several military cells on the W. Bank [FJ 5/3]. Residents of Bayt 'Ula village in Hebron area hold Friday prayers on land scheduled for confiscation to protest government's plan [FJ 5/17].

Arab World: Egyptian delegation walks out of PNC session in Algiers [NYT 4/28]. Abu al-'Abbas says his future attacks will be aimed at Israel, not "innocents" [LAT 4/25].

Other Countries: Israeli Minister Moshe Arens meets with U.S. Sec. of State Shultz in Washington, reiterates Likud opposition to international peace conference [JPI 5/2]. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, speaking at dinner for visiting Syrian Pres. al-Asad, calls for international peace conference, blames U.S. and Israel for continuing conflict in Middle East [LAT 4/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: More Palestinians withdraw their candidacies for mayoralities of West Bank towns, including jamil Tarifi of al-Birah and Muhammad Rashid Ja'bari, of Hebron; Fathi Fahmawi, of Janin, abandons plan to organize municipal council acceptable to Israel [WP, PI 3/5]. Israel Radio reports gun used to kill al-Masri is same as one used in killing of Israeli border policeman in January and an Israeli merchant last August, both in Nablus [WP, PI, LT 3/5]. Jerusalem District Court sends Israeli bailiffs to Palestinian-run Jerusalem Electricity Company to evaluate and mark company's equipment; bailiffs give company 3 weeks to pay $10 million debt to the Israel Electric Corporation before JEC's property will be seized; workers declare partial strike in protest of the measure [JP 3/5, 6].

Arab World: PLO leadership meets in Tunis to discuss response to King Hussein's unilateral break from joint M.E. peace approach [MG 3/5].

Other Countries: New White House National Security Advisor Vice Admiral John Poindexter will replace 2 top M. E. staffers, James Covey and Howard Teicher with Dennis Ross, former senior Pentagon official and strong supporter of close U.S.-Israeli strategic cooperation [JP 3/4].

Military Action

Arab World: Hizballah publishes names of 11 people it executed in reprisal for massive car bombing in W. Beirut last March which it said was intended to kill Hizballah's spiritual leader, Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah; organization states the 11 worked for section of Lebanese intelligence that cooperated with Israeli and U.S. intelligence [JP 3/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli govt. officials state Jordan has provisionally agreed to be involved in choosing and appointing Palestinian mayors for some of the largest towns in the West Bank, including Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, and al-Bireh [LT 10/30]. Birzeit U. and Bethlehem U. students demonstrate against deportation orders issued 10/28. Another demonstration takes place outside Min. of Defense building in Tel Aviv; group of professors from Tel Aviv U. and Hebrew U. issue statement calling for cancellation of orders [JP 10/31]. Green Patrol evict 40 Bedouin families from Negev land, cutting down their tents [JP 10/31].

Arab World: PLO promises Jordan it will avoid repetition of incidents like Achille Lauro hijacking or "any act that would hurt the 11 February agreement" [NYT 10/31]. New York Times reports Pres. Amin Jumayyil of Lebanon is trying to open negotiations with Israel on S. Lebanon and has sent former For. Min. Elie Salem to Damascus for talks with Syrian For. Min. Faruq al-Shar' on the subject [NYT 10/31].

Other Countries: Israeli and U.S. officials state some Arab nations, including Jordan and Egypt, have recently urged the Soviet Union to restore diplomatic ties with Israel as a way to help promote peace talks [NYT 10/31]. Israel Radio reports Hungary has agreed to open diplomatic mission in Israel, will permit Israeli rep. to work from a foreign embassy in Budapest [JP 10/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli authorities arrest 4 al-Najah U. students without charges, jail them under administrative detention orders. Army claims they are local leaders of Fateh, PFLP, and DFLP [FJ 8/9]. Nine Palestinian ex-prisoners released in the 5/20 prisoner exchange are served with deportation notices. Army states they can be deported because they cannot prove residency before original detentions. The 9 are from a group of 31 (out of the 1,150 ex-prisoners released 5/20) who do not have West Bank or Gaza IDs. They had all been told upon release they must leave when their residency permits expire this week. Some have nowhere to go. The Red Cross is looking into their cases [CT 8/7].) The High Court orders a delay in the deportation of one of the ex-prisoners, 'Abd al-Mujid Rudad, who argued that his whole family lives in Tulkarm and that during his 17 years of detention he repeatedly expressed regret for his political activities [WP 8/7]. The defense minister and the military govemor of the Tulkarm area have 45 days to explain why they should not prevent his deportation [JP 8/7]. Defense Min. Yitzhak Rabin justifies recent security measures; says Israel will use "whatever means are effective" tomaintain order [LAT 8/7]. Israeli govemment inaugurates new settlement, Adura, near Hebron, first since Peres took office [PI 8/7]. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports announcement by Austrian-Arab Society in Vienna that Hospice Hospital will reopen as a full-scale hospital afterenovation. Agreement was reportedly worked out between Franz Cardinal Koenig, archbishop of Vienna, and Tahir Kan'an, Jordanian minister for the occupied territories [JTA 8/7]. Israel Radio announces that none of the security officers involved in storming of Israeli bus hijacked by Palestinians last year will be charged in the deaths of two of the four hijackers [NYT 8/7]. Reuters reports that Rabbi Meir Kahane is giving 60 youths paramilitary training in a summer camp in the West Bank [TS 8/6]. Thirty-member delegation including Texas and Oklahoma oilmen and 6 U.S. congressmen arrives in Israel on fact-finding mission organized by Council for a Secure America, group established last year to support U.S. legislation aimed at promoting domestic production of oil and gas [JP 8/6]. New U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Pickering presents credentials to President Chaim Herzog, reiterates U.S. opposition to new security measures, emphasizes U.S. support for Israel [CT 8/7].

Arab World: Seventeen representatives of Arab League member states assemble in Casablanca for Arab summit meeting [NYT 8/7]. Half the states attending are not represented by their heads of state [FT 8/7]. Fifteen pro-Syrian Muslim, Druze opposition leaders, and Greek Orthodox figures meet in Shtawra under Syrian sponsorship; proclaim National Unity Front to demand changes in Lebanon's system of political representation, now favoring the Maronites; call for a "democratic and secular" state with wide-ranging constitutional and electoral reforms [WP 8/7].

Military Action

Arab World: Suicide bomber riding a mule kills himself, the animal, and wounds at least one other in Hasbayya. Bomber is identified as Jamal Sati, 23, Sunni Muslim student and local Communist party chief [LAT 8/7].