The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Lawyers Felicia Langer and Lea Tsemel win High Court injunctions staying deportation of 12 former Palestinian prisoners released in the 5/20 prisoner exchange [FJ 8/9]. The Jerusalem Post reports Gush Emunim has decided not to build new settlements but to expand existing ones, starting with Eli, on the Nablus-Ramallah road [JP 8/8]. Peres wams Jordan against continuing to harbor Palestinian fighters [JP 8/9]. P. M. Peres tells U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Whitehead Israel would like to start direct peace negotiations with Jordan and the Palestinians immediately. Foreign Min. Yitzhak Shamir stresses Irael's objections to any meeting between Murphy and the Palestinian delegates now proposed [JP 8/8]. Israeli authorities arrest Khalil Abu Ziad, bookstore owner from Azzariya, and announce they have issued a deportation order against him [MG 8/9]. Abu Ziad is charged with involvement in "subversive activities" and representing Fateh. Abu Ziad is appealing the order in Israeli court [NYT 8/9]. Israeli army reports arrest of several Palestinians suspected in the gasoline bomb attack on border guard patrol near Nablus [JTA 8/9]. Education Minister directs ministry's religious education division to ignore instruction of 8/7 forbidding social meetings between Israelis and Palestinians [JTA 8/9].

Other Countries: President Reagan signs $25.4 billion foreign aid bill, which provides $3 billion for the next two years to Israel, plus a one-time infusion of $1.5 billion in emergency economic aid. Egypt gets $2.1 billion for the next 2 years, plus $500 million in emergency economic aid [JP 8/9].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gasoline bomb is thrown at army truck on the outskirts of Tulkarm; no injuries or arrests are made [JP 8/9].

Arab World: Israeli jets bomb PFLP-GC base in the Biqa'; no casualty reports given [NYT, JP 8/9].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel, PFLP-GC complete prisoner exchange; 1,150 prisoners held by Israel released in return for 3 IDF soldiers held by PFLP-GC; freed prisoners include Ziad Abu Ain (extradited by the US to Israel in 1981), Kozo Okamoto (convicted of 1972 attack at Lydda airport); 605 freed within Occupied Palestine/Israel [WP, NYT, JP 5/21]. Hundreds of Israeli demonstrators potest against prisoner release, demand parallel release of Jewish underground defendants [JP 5/21, NYT 5/22].

Arab World: In Amman, Chmn. Arafat accuses Syria of instigating Amal's attacks against Palestinian camps in Beirut [DT 5/22].

Military Action

Arab World: Action in Lebanon: Amal, Lebanese Army's Shi'ite 6th Brigade battle Palestinian fighters in Sabra, Shatila, Burj al-Barajneh camps; at least 35 killed, 125 wounded [NYT 5/21].