The Palestine Chronology

Los Angeles immigration judge refuses to deport Palestinian student Bashar Amer, 1 of 7 Palestinians arrested in January 1987 for subversion. Justice dep't. maintains the 7 (and 1 Kenyan) should be deported because of their alleged association with PFLP. All 8 deny belonging to PFLP [LAT 7/17].

Amnesty Intermational issues its 1990 report detailing human rights abuses for 1989. Amnesty criticizes Israel for excessive force and deliberate killings; report mentions for first time killing of accused collaborators by Palestinians [WP, NYT 7/11]; report is criticized by Israeli Justice Ministry UDS 7/10 in FBIS 7/11].

Soviet ambassador in Tunis gives Yasir Arafat message from Mikhail Gorbachev [KUNA 7/11 in FBIS 7/11; AVP 7/11 in FBIS 7/12].

Due to illness, F.M. David Levy postpones planned Paris meeting with U.S. Sec. of State Baker [JTS 7/10 in FBIS 7/11; MEM 7/11].

Lebanese foreign ministry asks its UN mission to submit strongly-worded complaint against Israel for repeated air attacks in S.Lebanon [BDS 7/10 in FBIS 7/11].

Sec. of State James Baker tells reporters there can be no dialogue between Israel and Palestinians from O.T. without "acquiescence" of PLO, as evidenced by Israel's vain attempts to find PLO alternative for 22 years [MEM 6/22].

Arab League issues statement saying suspension of U.S.-PLO dialogue was not in best interests of Middle East peace, adds that U.S. will be held responsible for deterioration of situation inside O.T. [KUNA 6/21 in FBIS 6/22].

Jean-Claude Amie, UN special envoy, arrives in Israel to begin fact-finding mission [MEM 6/21; JDS 6/22 in FBIS 6/ 25; MET 7/3].

In television interview, Nelson Mandela describes Yasir Arafat as "a comrade in arms" and says it would be "a grave mistake" to change his view of Arafat "on the basis of the interests of the Jewish community" [WP 6/22].

PLO Exec. Committee, meeting in Baghdad, issues statement saying U.S. decision to end dialogue constitutes "a challenge" to Arab League, calls on Arab states to implement resolutions adopted at Baghdad summit in May [WP, LAT 6/22; BVP 6/21, DUS 6/22 in FBIS 6/22]; further Arab reaction is mixed [NYT, LAT 6/22].

French Pres. Francois Mitterrand tells reporters that U.S. should display same firmness with Israel as it has with PLO: "One must be able to speak to Israel and the PLO at the same time. . .If steps were taken that would permit speaking to Israel with the same firmness, that would be a good thing" [WP 6/22].

Senate Foreign Relations Committe unanimously approves commendation of Pres. Bush for suspending U.S.-PLO dialogue; entire Senate is expected to approve commendation soon [WP, WT 6/ 22].

New York Times reports of emergence of "tent towns" in Israel; mass immigration has driven up rent prices and housing is in such short supply that rents are beyond reach of young Israeli families, who are forced to live in tents. Soviet immigrants receive gov't. subsidies and are more able to afford higher rents [NYT 6/22].

Appearing on Israeli television, Shamir says that if UN votes to send observer force to O.T., it should know that "this decision would not be implemented, as many other UN decisions against Israel [have not been]" [WP 5/25]; Yitzhak Rabin believes Israel must oppose idea of UN observers, says "It is inconceivable that we, who observe international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention. . should accept the supervision of an element which. . .has participated in almost no peaceful process" [JDS 5/24 in FBIS 5/25; MET 6/5].

Bush admin., in effort to avoid confrontation with Israel, says it will discuss possibility of UN observer force in O.T., but objects to any permanent UN presence [LAT 5/25].

Members of House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East blast State Dept's. 3/19 report saying PLO has honored its commitment to renounce terrorism, call report a "whitewash and a pack of lies"; ass't.sec. of state John Kelly defends report [WP 5/25J.

PLO Exec. Committee member Mahmud Abbas meets in Moscow with Soviet F.M. Eduard Shevardnadze to discuss past week's violence in O.T. [TASS 5/24; KUNA 5/25 in FBIS 5/25].

Head of Israeli Army's Central Command, Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Mordekhay, meets with 24 W. Bank Palestinians to explain Army curfews and actions following 5/20 killings. Palestinians are top officials in education and commerce [JDS 5/25 in FBIS 5/25].

5-member Soviet delegation arrives in Israel to investigate violence in O.T.; head of group, Mikhail Kapitsa, accuses Israel of acting like "an elephant in a china shop" [MEM 5/25; MET 6/5]; Bernard Kouchner, French minister of state for humanitarian aid, also arrives for fact-finding tour, says he is "deeply depressed" by conditions in Gaza [MEM 5/25; FJ 5/28].