The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish underground member Uri Meir receives presidential pardon and is freed after serving half of his prison sentence. His health is cited as a reason for the pardon [JWP 9/13]. Israel frees remaining 119 Lebanese and Palestinian detainees from Atlit prison near Haifa; they are released in Tyre, Lebanon. They are the last of the group of over 700 prisoners whose release was demanded by the hijackers of TWA Flight 847 in June [NYT, JP 9/11]. "Operation Independence," spearheaded by a group of businessmen from the U.S. and other countries, begins meetings in Jerusalem to plan ways for Israel to reduce its chronic trade deficit and reduce financial dependence on the U.S. by increasing Israeli exports by $500 million, and tourism revenue by another $500 million [WP 9/11].

Other Countries: Jerusalem Post reports Britain has blocked a proposed Israeli sale of 16 U.S.-made Skyhawk jets to Argentina [JP 9/10].

Military Action

Arab World: Syrian observers are deployed around Burj al-Barajinah refugee camp to monitor the 9/9 cease-fire; however, sporadic fighting continues. Palestinian residents are trapped inside the camp. Palestinian homes in mixed neighborhoods outside the camp are looted and burned [MG 9/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: The Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce announce the economy ismoving into a recession [JP 8/28]. Defense Week reports U.S. is acting to prevent Israel from concluding $100 million deal to sell old American-built A-4 Skyhawk attack jets to Argentina. Israel reportedly concluded the deal before asking for required "third-party transfer license" from U.S. According to the report, at least 12 A-4s are at Ben-Gurion Airport waiting to be transferred [BG 8/28]. Energy Min. Moshe Shahal announces $5 million international center for solar research will be set up at Sde Boker. First phase will be completed by 1989 [JC 8/29]. IDF artillery corps announces it has developed 2 new pieces of equipment which give Israeli gunners "first shot accuracy" and make maps "almost superfluous" [JTA 8/29].

Military Action

Arab World: Suicide car bomber attacks a SLA post near Jazzin, killing about 15 people, including undetermined number of SLA soldiers. State-owned Lebanese radio says member of "Asad brigade" of Lebanese branch of the Ba'th carried out the attack [FT 8/29]. In Tyre, Amal militiamen take Palestinians atgunpoint from convoy of 113 prisoners released from Atlit prison in Israel and drive off with them, terming them "Israeli collaborators." Some 66 Palestinians were said to have been released from Israel. Most others were said to belong to Hizballah [MG 8/29].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel tells U.S. it would object to meetings between a Palestinian-Jordanian delegation and Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy, who arrived in 'Amman today for talks with Jordanian leaders [NYT, WP 8/14]. Hanna Siniora and Fayez Abu Rahmeh arrive in 'Amman, timing arrival to coincide with that of Richard Murphy [CT 8/14]. Attomey General Yitzhak Zamir calls for prosecution of a general, 5members of the Shin Bet, 3 soldiers, and 3 police officers in connection with the beating of 2 captured Palestinian bus hijackers who died shortly afterwards [NYT 8/14]. Zamir accepts the recommendation of a special investigating committee that a general implicated inthe deaths not be charged with homicide [WP 8/14]. Israeli army officers break into apartment in Hebron's old market and evict group of 8 settler squatters who had moved in 8/12 after the stabbing of a settler [JP 8/14]. P. M. Peres says IDF soldier Samir Asad, missing in action from the war in Lebanon, is being held captive by the DFLP in Damascus [JP 8/14]. Israel releases 101 more Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners from Atlit prison; 230 more prisoners remain in Atlit [JP, MG 8/14]. Visiting Honduran Foreign Minister Dr. Edgardo Paz Bamica meets with Foreign Min. Shamir; discusses possibility ofupgrading diplomatic relations between the two countries [JTA 8/14].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: All shops close in East Jerusalem in general strike to protest Israeli closure of the Hospice Hospital in Jerusalem's Old City [FJ 7/26]. P. M. Peres says Israel should not give up part of Golan Heights in deal with U.S.S.R. for emigration of Soviet Jews UP 7/25]. Kiryat Arba's new nine-member local council - pledged to firing its Arab employees, pressing private businesses to do likewise, and to preventing economic ventures with Arab investors - is formally installed; dozens of secular residents enter building to protest [JP 7/25]. Israeli civil administration governing the occupied territories announces high school matriculation exam results improved on West Bank this year; schools were closed less than in the past; 64 percent of West Bank students passed their exams this year, compared with 54 percent last year [JP 7/25].

Arab World: Jordanian diplomat Ziad Sati, 40, is assassinated in Turkey; Islamic Jihad takes credit [CSM 7/26, NYT 7/25].

Other Countries: Reagan administration presents Middle East arms transfer study to special closed session of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee as basis for request to sell new arms to Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Congressional supporters of Israel warn administration against pursuing the arms sale, saying it would provoke an "enormously divisive" debate [WP 7/24, 25, JTA 7/25, BG 7/26].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel frees 74 Lebanese Shi'a, 6 Lebanese Sunnis, and 20 Palestinians held at Atlit prison since April, when Israel transferred 1,200 detainees from its Ansar prison in south Lebanon to Israel. Three hundred are still in detention. Any prisoner now detained in south Lebanon by Israel is sent to new prison run by SLA at Khiyam village, in the security zone [NYT 7/24].