The Palestine Chronology

The IDF conducts overnight arrest raids in Qalqilya, targeting the PFLP, exchanging gunfire with some wanted men, leaving 1 Palestinian injured; conducts other arrest raids in Nablus, Tamun; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Balata r.c.; arrests Hebron’s Shaykh Taysir Tamimi after Friday prayers on charges of incitement. The IDF also releases 73 Palestinian prisoners, including 1 woman, most of whom were convicted of being in Israel illegally. Israel eases restrictions on Bethlehem Palestinians’ entry into Israel, says it will allow 2 colleges in Hebron to reopen. (HA, MM8/15; HA 8/18)

Dahlan accepts Mofaz’s proposal to redeploy fr. Jericho and Qalqilya. Israel agrees to consider redeployment fr. Ramallah, Tulkarm. (HA 8/15; HA, NYT, WP, WT 8/16)

Israeli warplanes fly low-level sorties over Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad’s summer palace in Latakia, on the Syrian coast, as a warning that he must curb Hizballah actions in Lebanon. (HA 8/17)

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: King Hassan II of Morocco and P.M. Peres meet for several hours at the king's summer palace at Ifrane, but officially Morocco has still not acknowledged the Israeli leader's presence [NYT, WP 7/23]. Syria severs diplomatic ties with Morocco to protest Peres' visit [NYT 7/23]. Egyptian Pres. Mubarak states his complete support for the meeting [WP 7/23].