The Palestine Chronology

The IDF closes the Qarni crossing, citing intelligence that Palestinians are digging a tunnel nearby; raids Dahariyya nr. Hebron, occupies positions and patrols nr. a campaign rally for candidates in the 1/25 elections; arrests 3 campaign workers for independent candidate Fadwa Khadir, releases them later but confiscates their campaign materials; conducts arrest raids and house searches nr. Hebron (occupying a home as an observation post), in Jenin r.c. and town (arresting senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Tawalba). In Hebron, the IDF prepares to remove 15 settler families fr. 11 Palestinian stores they have occupied in the old market area since 2/94 by the DMin.’s 1/15 deadline; some 200 Jewish settlers riot in Hebron to protest, clashing with soldiers attempting to prevent them fr. vandalizing and occupying more Palestinian shops in the market (leaving 1 IDF soldier injured), torching a Palestinian home; DM Mofaz extends the deadline for the evacuation to 1/31. Separately, 100s of Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino rampage through Palestinian areas of Hebron, vandalizing buildings, slashing car tires. Jewish settlers fence off 150 d. of Palestinian land nr. Dura to expand the unauthorized settlement outpost of Mitzpe Lakhish nr. Nahal Negohot settlement. More than 100 armed Palestinians, including off-duty policemen, block Gaza’s 2 main north–south roads for several hrs., demanding retribution for the 1/11 death of a police officer fr. injuries received during a 1/7 drug raid, the resignation of Interior M Nasr Yusuf. (HA, IMEMC 1/14; NYT, WT 1/15; PCHR 1/19; PLO Negotiation Affairs Dept. press release 1/23; NYT 1/29)

Emergency meeting of Fateh Central Comm. convenes in Tunis to discuss agreement with Israel. (al-Ra'y 9/2 in FBIS 9/2; WP 9/3)

Former Nablus mayor Bassam al-Shak'ah criticizes accord, calling those who negotiated it "connected to foreign interests that have nothing to do with the Palestinian-Israeli struggle." (MM 9/2)

Israeli FM Peres visits EC hq. in Brussels, asks for European aid to implement PLO-Israel accord. EC Pres. Jacques Delors pledges both financial and political support. (MM 9/2, 9/3)

Palestinians in Jordan estimated to number 1.8 m., roughly 40% of population. (JTV 9/2 in FBIS 9/3)

IDF Nahal soldier killed in ambush by Palestinians near Hebron. (MM 9/3)

Palestinian delegates finally join Jordanians in leaving for peace talks in Washington after 10-hour delay at Amman airport during which negotiations continued between Palestinians and U.S. officials over whether or not certain PLO officials would be allowed visas to enter U.S. along with delegation. Palestinians eventually dropped the matter and left for Washington. (Jordan Times 12/3 in FBIS 12/3)

American hostage Joseph Cicippio released in Beirut by Revolutionary Justice Organization. (NYT 12/3)

Arafat holds talks with King Hussein in Amman. Usama Baz, advisor to Pres. Mubarak and most senior Egyptian leader to visit Jordan since Gulf war, also arrives for talks. Arafat later flies to Damascus. (MM 12/2)

IDF establishes Rachelim, a paramilitary Nahal camp, at site where two settlers were ambushed and killed 10/28. (MM 12/5)

UN Secy. Gen. Perez de Cuellar calls for UNIFIL troops to replace Israeli, SLA forces at certain locations in S. Lebanon to avoid future clashes like 11/15 incident in which Irish UNIFIL soldier died in a clash between UNIFIL, SLA. (MM 12/3)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gov't. orders Palestinian money-changers in Jerusalem stop trading in US dollars. Ramallah military court fines Fatmeh Ja'afari IS 20,000 for possessing "illegal literature" [purchased in Jerusalem]. DM Rabin meets with Mayor Freij, approves $700,000 Saudi grant for Bethlehem development projects. FM Shamir calls for creation of new UN including "only democratic countries." Nahal inaugurates 4 settlements: Rotem in Jordan Valley, Heahzut near Gush Etzion, Amitai & Ye'elon in Negev. Morechet Benyamin Co. dumps truckloads of rubble on jib village land, rendering it unusable for farming. FM Shamir expresses alarm to visiting US congressmen at apparent Jordanian-PLO rapprochement.

Arab World: PNC Chrmn. Khalid Fahoum declines to issue invitations to PNC mtg. called by Chrmn. Arafat pending further unity talks. Christians & Muslim unite in general strike through S. Lebanon to protest Israeli kidnapping of Amal Shi'ite leaders; Phalangist Joseph Ghanem sends letter of solidarity with demonstrators in Sidon.

Other Countries: 9th anniversary of UN resolution equating Zionism with racism. Special UN panel publicizes findings on Israeli activity in occupied territories; reports Israel continues to disregard Geneva Convention on civilian rights under occupation. In New York Federal Court, hearings begin for Ariel Sharon's libel suit against Time magazine.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfew imposed on Dheisheh camp after Border Policeman hit with thrown rock; boys' school raided by Border Police; area declared closed military zone.

Arab World: 2 Israeli soldiers wounded by light arms fire in Jibsheet; 2 wounded by RPG fire in Ghaziya village, S. Lebanon.

Other Countries: Bomb explodes in El AL office, Vienna; no injuries.

Military Action:

IDF jeeps and APCs come under RPG attack near Shuweifat; artillery, machine gun exchanges between Druze and Phalange in Aley, IDF rushes 50 APCs and tanks, 500 troops to area, imposes curfew and cuts traffic between Chouf villages; IDF forces withdraw from Yarze area housing Lebanese Army command and home of US Ambassador Dillon.

Casualties:

UNRWA begins distributing cement and stoves in Ain el-Hilweh; 1 attacker killed, 1 IDF soldier wounded in Shuweifat.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon tells Knesset committee Israel will withdraw to 40 miles above border only after PLO and Syria withdraw troops and Israeli prisoners are returned, but will stay there until Lebanon signs security agreement allowing direct IDF involvement in security arrangements; Shamir tells US Jewish leaders in Israel that multinational peacekeeping force is unnecessary for ensuring safety of South Lebanon; Jerusalem Post poll shows Sharon support dropping since massacre; Commission of Inquiry interviews Yiram Yair, IDF commander in area of camps during massacre, behind closed doors; Statistics Bureau puts price rise at 106 percent since start of year, and inflation rate may reach 138 percent by end of year; two week old memo revealed which ordered Israeli military governors to "neutralize to the maximum" pro-Jordanian elements among West Bank Arabs and to step up support for Village Leagues, in apparent attempt to block options for peace settlement involving Jordan; Likud MK Dror Zeigerman says government initiative in issuing memo would imply plan for ultimate annexation of occupied territories, and warns such a plan would turn the West Bank into "Israel's Viet Nam"; Peace Now issues statement condemning Civil Administrator for implementing "corrupt colonialist policies"; heads of Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian churches in Jerusalem threaten to close holy places over Christmas unless expulsion order against Armenian Deputy Patriarch Karanjian is rescinded, but Interior Ministry refuses to reveal basis for decision to not renew visa; Tehiya Party, at annual meeting, demands that Israel annex West Bank and Gaza; Nahal plans five outposts, three settlements in West Bank in coming year; Bethlehem University student council leader put under town arrest for six months.

US and Other Countries: French President Mitterrand, in Paris meeting, tells Arab League delegation headed by King Hussein that Arabs and PLO should recognize Israel; State Department issues unusually strong 2 page statement that Israel's deportation of teachers from West Bank universities (which are partly funded by US foreign aid) undermines peace negotiations.