The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Pickering meets with Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhaq Rabin, says U.S. will send diplomatic observers to military trials of Palestinians arrested during recent violence [WP 12/29]. More than 300 Palestinian women hold 3-hour sit-in at UNRWA's Gaza office. Similar protest is held at Red Cross headquarters in Jerusalem [FJ 1/3]. Israel orders 2 Ramallah UNRWA schools, al-Tirah College and Teachers' College, closed for 1 month effective 12/22 [FJ 1/3]. Family of youth killed in recent Gaza uprising is ordered to pay IS 5,000 in medical costs related to shooting [FJ 1/3].

Arab World: Fateh Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal) announces execution of 5 charged with spying for Jordan and Israel [FJ 1/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF begins military maneuvers in Golan Heights and eastern Galilee [FBIS 12/29]. In Gaza Strip, military lifts curfew on Jabalya refugee camp; 2 entrances to Burayj camp are sealed [NYT 12/29].

Arab World: Amal militiamen capture, kill 4 members of Fateh near Beirut's Shatila refugee camp [FJ 1/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque join demonstration after noon prayers; in Nablus, troops disperse demonstration, order al-Rawda College closed until 4/24 [FJ 4/12]. Explosion causes extensive damage to new Sultan al-Atrash monument on the Golan Heights. Residents blame Israeli authorities [FJ 4/12].

Other Countries: Turkish police reporthey have foiled plan to kidnap Americans and Israelis living in Turkey and exchange them for 200 members of Islamic Jihad held in Israel [NYT 4/11].

Military Action

Arab World: Syrian military observers escort delegation of Amal officials and pro-Syrian Palestinians to Sidon in S. Lebanon for peace talks. UNRWA delivers 4 truckloads of supplies donated by Australia to Shatila refugee camp [GU 4/11]. Hizballah fighters kill 9 Israelis, wound at least 2, during attack near Qantara, inside S. Lebanon "security zone" [FJ 4/19].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel's Supreme Court rules that authorities cannot legally discriminate against converts to Judaism [BG 12/2; LAT 12/3]. P.M. Shamir denies Israel knowingly helped channel funds to Nicaraguan rebels [NYT 12/3].

Other Countries: W. German reports indicate 2 Arabs found guilty of bombing at W. Berlin club in March may have been double agents working for Israel [WP 12/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops, attempting to control demonstration at UNRWA Teachers Training Center in Ramallah, shoot and wound a student in the head. At least 15 others are arrested in protests in the W. Bank 11/30 and 12/1 marking anniversary of the 1947 Palestine partition plan. Four colleges are ordered closed for a week [FJ 12/5].

Arab World: Amal, Sixth Lebanese Army Brigade, and Syrian commandos unite to launch major offensive against Shatila refugee camp. Palestinian forces hold off attackers [FJ 12/5]. Forty-six are killed, 111 wounded in heavy fighting between PLO and Amal forces in Beirut and S. Lebanon. One-day general strike in Sidon protests the on-going battle in that city [BG 12/2]. The Amal and the PNSF are reported to reach agreement on cease-fire in S. Lebanon [JP 12/2].