The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF makes an overnight raid on Nablus, reportedly uncovering an Islamic Jihad pipe bomb factory in the Old City, exchanging fire with Islamic Jihad mbrs., causing no reported injuries. Troops withdraw and then reenter Nablus before dawn, this time declaring the start of Operation Hot Winter— the largest military operation in the West Bank since 7/06 and the largest in Nablus in 3 yrs.—sealing the city, imposing a curfew, taking over TV and radio stations, conducting house-to-house searches, barring access to 2 hospitals, reportedly uncovering a 2d bomb-making factory and finding a LAU hand-held guided missile and launcher (either stolen from the IDF or purchased on the Israeli black market); 2 IDF soldiers, 6 Palestinians are wounded in exchanges of fire; an Associated Press photographer films IDF soldiers forcing a Palestinian man to act as a human shield, leading troops into Palestinian homes—a violation of international and Israeli law. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin. Nr. Hebron, suspected Palestinian assailants fatally stab a Jewish settler. Jewish settlers fr. Avigail nr. Hebron uproot 30 Palestinian olive trees. Overnight in Khan Yunis, 5 Palestinians are killed, more than 40 wounded in a family feud with factional overtones, raising concerns that intra-Palestinian fighting, which has tapered off since Fatah and Hamas reached a national unity agmt. in Mecca on 2/8 (see Quarterly Update in JPS 143), might resume: The fighting begins when mbrs. of the Khawareh clan, relatives of a Fatah mbr. killed in factional fighting on 1/07, fatally shoot Hamas mbr. Muhammad Ali Ghalban, whom they blame for his death, sparking exchanges that leave 2 Khawareh relatives, 2 bystanders dead. On the Rafah border, 1 Palestinian is killed, 6 are injured when a smugglers’ tunnel they are digging collapses. Palestinian workers at Qarni crossing strike for the day, forcing the crossing to close. Unidentified gunmen in Bureij r.c. fire on an ESF post, causing no injuries. In Israel, Israeli police raid 2 companies in Ramat Gan that do business with companies in Gaza, arresting several employees on suspicion of funneling money to Hamas, Islamic Jihad. (AP, HA, NYT, WP, WT 2/25; AP, HA, NYT, WP 2/26; OCHA 2/28; AP, PCHR 3/1; WP 3/3)

PLO-Israel talks on Israeli withdrawal fr. Gaza and Jericho resume in Cairo. Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath reports progress on release of Palestinian prisoners. (MENA 11/23 in FBIS 11/23; NYT, WT 11/24)

PLO-Israel talks on economic cooperation resume in Paris. (MM 11/24)

22 Palestinian graduates of Egyptian police academy cross into Gaza Strip to form nucleus of Palestinian police force. (NYT 11/24)

Muhammad 'Ali Fara of Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, shot dead trying to evade IDF roadblock in Jabaliya camp. In Idnah, nr. Hebron, 'Abd al-Razzaq Shahada killed by premature detonation of roadside bomb. (Qol Yisra'el 11/23 in FBIS 11/23; NYT 11/24; WT 11/25)

12th Jordanian parliament opens; frmr. PM Tahir al-Masri elected speaker of lower house 57-22, defeating Islamic Action Front candidate. (MM 11/23)

King Hussein meets with Syrian Pres. Hafiz al-Asad in Damascus to discuss recent U.S., Soviet peace initiatives. Both countries agree that goal should be settlement based on land for peace. (WP 5/19)

Israeli warplanes attack Amal base in Shabriha, S. Lebanon, killing four and wounding 15. Attack is response to 5/17 bombing in Nabatiya carried out by Islamic Resistance Movement, which operates in newly-established alliance with Amal after years of rivalry. (NYT 5/19)

Four alleged members of Fateh deported from Gaza, taken to Israel's "security zone" in S. Lebanon by helicopter and released, bringing total to 69 Palestinians deported since intifada began in 1987. Deportees were: Jalal Yasin Abu Habbal, Mu'in Muhammad Musallim, Hasan Muhammad 'Ali Dahlan, Jamal 'Abd Rabbuh Abu'l-Jidyan. (NYT 5/19; MEM 5/20)

Israeli troops kill Jenin youth after confrontation in al-Masahiliyya village. (Radio Israel 5/18)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gazan demonstrator wounded in earlier violence dies. Bomb in Christmas card explodes, injuring 2 Israelis; at least 7 other card bombs were sent from same address. Trials continue for Palestinians charged in connection with recent rioting in W. Bank and Gaza Strip [WP 12/31]. Israel renews JEC's concession for 12 years; JEC directors appoint Muhammad 'Ali al-Husayni chairman [FJ 1/3].

Arab World: PLF claims responsibility for 12/25 Jordan Valley attack [FBIS 12/30].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF patrol kills Palestinian youth trying to cross border into Jordan [WP, FBIS 12/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Hundreds of W. Bank Jews and W. Bank Palestinians gather in Sur Bahir to protest Israeli government's plan to uproot Arab olive trees on government expropriated land [NYT 2/11; FJ 2/13]. Abba Eban, chair of Knesset panel investigating U.S.-Israel-Iran arms deals, acknowledges Israel first put U.S. in touch with Iranian radicals [WP 2/11]. Amal militia indicate negotiations with Israel are underway; P. M. Shamir says Israel would deal with terrorists in some cases if demands were made through official channels, not the media. Defense Minister Rabin indicates Israel may require the release of 6 Israeli servicemen missing in Lebanon [WP 2/11].

Other Countries: Christian Science Monitor reports W. Germany is likely to try Muhammad 'Ali Hamadi on explosives charges before formally deciding whether to extradite him to the U.S. [CSM 2/10]. Kenyan woman arrested in Los Angeles 15 days ago on charges of overstaying her visa is accused of subversive activities linked to PFLP [LAT 2/11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Al-Najah U. students defy closure order, hold small demonstration on campus. Balatta curfew is lifted; residents gather to demonstrate but disperse peacefully when confronted by Israeli troops armed with tear gas and machine guns. Ramallah secondary school students march through city in support of those injured during 1/9 al-Najah and Balatta protests. Pres. of Hebron University receives official warning following student march outside campus. Secondary school students in Gaza City boycott classes, stone Israeli troops. Estimated 100 youths are taken into detention after late night raid by Israeli troops; military spokesman says youths are suspected of inciting demonstrations and threatening army collaborators [FJ 2/13]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In meeting with officials of 5 W. Bank institutions, Defense Minister Rabin threatens to close Palestinian universities and colleges permanently "if they continue to be the source of unrest." After the meeting Rabin revokes the order which has shut down al-Najah University since 1/3 [FJ 1/23].

Other Countries: U.S. formally requests W. Germany to extradite Muhammad 'Ali Hamadi, suspected of hijacking TWA flight 847 [WT 1/21].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli UN ambassador Johannan Bein proposes 6-month cease-fire in S. Lebanon as first step toward completing Israel's withdrawal [LT 1/17].

Other Countries: German customs officials in Frankfurt seize Muhammad 'Ali Hamadi, believed to be 1 of 3 men who hijacked TWA flight 847 in June 1985 [LAT 1/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Two West Bankers - Muhammad 'Ali Muhammad Faraj, 18, from Dheisheh camp, and Khamis Tawfiq Abu Kishik, 20, from Fara'a camp - are arrested and placed under 6-month administrative detention, without being charged or tried [FJ 8/8]. Egyptian-Israeli talks on Taba open [NYT 8/11].

Other Countries: Reagan administration says 8 Israeli officials in New York are contesting subpoenas issued in investigation of whether Israel illegally exported cluster bomb technology to Israel [NYT 8/5]. Soviet Union announces it will start discussions with Israel this month on the opening of consulates [NYT 8/5].

Military Action

Arab World: Syrian and Lebanese soldiers deploy in Shi'ite suburbs of Beirut [NYT 8/5]. Bomb kills 2, wounds 28 in East Beirut cafe [BG 8/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian political prisoner Mahmud Muhammad Mustafa al-Ajrami is deported to Jordan; Israeli authorities refused to release him from prison when he completed his 6- month sentence nearly 11 months ago; his lawyer's only alternative was to seek deportation [FJ 6/20]. Israel grants Hebron industrialists permission to establish Chamber of Industry in West Bank [FJ 6/13].

Military Action

Arab World: Iranian envoy, deputy foreign minister Muhammad Ali Bisharati, calls for peace in south Beirut. Injured are removed from Burj al-Burajinah but fighting continues [LT 6/11; WP 6/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: DM Rabin indicates Israel will establish 3 to 10 mile "security zone" in S. Lebanon; states UNIFIL played "negative" role in area and that Israel would be "better off" without its presence [MG 4/20]. Jewish Press reports Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Nissim Ze'ev charged city's Arab-Jewish youth activities encourage inter-ethnic dating, marriage; demanded Palestinians be banned from such activities [JP 4/19].

Other Countries: In Washington, Intl. Center for Research and Public Policy releases survey indicating 55% of American public believes peace will come to Middle East only when Palestinian state is created; only 27% felt such a state would constitute a threat to Israel; 70% feel US policy in region should be evenhanded [FJ 4/26].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb explodes in Jerusalem street; no injuries; 77 arrested [JP 4/21]. IDF raid, close Bethlehem U. indefinitely [LT 4/20]. In al-Bureij camp, Border Police fire on crowd, killing 12-yr.- old 'Issa Isma'il 'Issa, wounding 2nd youth; over 250 arrested in subsequent demonstrations [JP 4/21]. Israeli taxi driver shot, killed on W. Bank; 3 suspects arrested, contend motive was robbery [JP 4/21, 22]. IDF arrest 35 young boys from 'Ain Arik, including 5-yr.-old Muhammad 'Ali Dhyab, on charges of participating in 2/85 stone-throwing incident; older boys beaten [FJ 4/26].