The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhaq Rabin says new policy of "power, force, and beating" has brought "relative calm" to W. Bank and Gaza Strip. Striking shopowners in Ramallah charge soldiers have been beating them indiscriminately [WP 1/26]. Yediot Aharonot reports Palestinian workers are refusing to make wooden clubs for the army [LAT 1/26]. P. M. Shamir lifts travel restrictions on journalist Hanna Siniora. Cabinet Sec. Elyakim Rubinstein leaves on official visit to U.S. [WP 1/27]. Almost total commercial strike in E. Jerusalem keeps stores closed [FBIS 1/26]. Four Gazans facing deportation withdraw appeals to Israeli High Court [FBIS 1/25].

Arab World: In Sidon, Palestinian Revolutionary Council releases Amal official Hasan Darwish al-Darwish [FBIS 1/26].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfews on new and old 'Askar refugee camps are lifted; Bayt 'Ur al-Tahta curfew and Sa'ir blockade remain in force [FBIS 1/25]. Soldiers beat and teargas stone-throwing demonstrators in Rafah camp [FBIS 1/26]. Demonstrators blockade roads in al-Tur and other Jerusalem neighborhoods. Military lifts Jabalya camp curfew allowing workers to go to jobs in Israel. Curfew on Rafah camp is also lifted. In village of Idna, soldiers seize Arab-owned buses to raid village, attack protesters using tear gas and rubber bullets. Several villagers are injured. Many Palestinians are injureduring army's night raid of 'Ayn Bayt al-Ma' camp. Throughout territories, reports indicate many Palestinians suffer broken bones, other injuries caused by army beatings. In Gaza Strip's Nusayrat camp, troops force about 10,000 men to spend night in open air [FJ 1/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: Al-Fajr reports the Merkovitch Committee, formed to investigate issue of unlicensed construction in the occupied territories, recommends that, of 5,400 unlicensed Arab homes currently scheduled for demolition, 2,600 be given legal status, 300 be destroyed immediately, and 2,500 be scheduled for demolition at a later date [FJ 2/6]. Israeli military authorities order al-Najah University closed for 1 day to prevent possible campus protests [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: Starving residents of Beirut's Burj al-Barajinah refugee camp ask religious leaders for dispensation to eat human flesh [IN 2/7].

Other Countries: Arab-American groups charge 1/27 arrests of Palestinians in Los Angeles are beginning of U.S. plan to round up and deport Arabs [WP 2/7]. Amnesty International spokesman reports Arab prisoners held in S. Lebanon's SLArun al-Khiyam Detention Camp were tortured with electrical shockwaves [FJ 2/13].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Two Israeli soldiers are injured by stones thrown at them while they patrolled Balatta refugee camp [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: Israeli navy stops Maria R., freighter enroute from Cyprus to Lebanon, arrests 8 Egyptian crewmen, 50 unarmed Palestinians [LM 2/10; WP 2/8]. SLA and Israeli forces engage in heavy fighting with Hizballah forces in Israel's "security zone" in S. Lebanon. At least 8 Hizballah, 1 SLA fighters are killed [IN 2/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: During a visit to Jerusalem, Australian P. M. Hawke indicates he is willing to mediate between Israel and the PLO, calls for mutual recognition [FJ 1/30]. Landowners from Bayt 'Ula village hold news conference, allege Israeli authorities are threatening to confiscate all their agricultural and grazing lands [FJ 1/30]. Near Bethlehem, Neve Daniel settlers and soldiers uproot 200 olive trees and grape vines in ongoing land dispute with Arab residents of al-Khadir village [FJ 2/6]. Jewish extremists vandalize 25 cars in Silwan village, near Jerusalem [FJ 2/6]. Military officials close Gaza City's al-Azhar school for one week in connection with anti-occupation protests [FJ 2/6].

Arab World: Nayaf Khalil al-Bayad is hanged in Jordan for the murder of PLO Executive Com. member Fahd al-Qawasmi [Fl 2/13].

Other Countries: U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee releases report on Iran-contra affair, indicating Israel played major role in deal and Israeli official may have used some profits from the arms sales for "other projects" [NYT 2/2; WP 1/31].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli soldiers shoot and wound 3 demonstrators and arrest hundreds more during protest in Khan Yunis mosque against deportation of Muhammad Dahlan [WP 1/30; FJ 2/6]. Army uses tear gas to break up demonstration at Balatta refugee camp [FJ 2/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Al-Fajr English weekly reports 34 faculty and administration of Islamic U. in Gaza, including the president, were forced to leave the country last week after university rejected conditions placed on issuing work permits which would have allowed military interference in university affairs [FJ 8/9]. Israeli Defense Ministry sources state decision to expel 22 ex-prisoners released in the 5/20 prisoner exchange is not act of deportation. The 22 are part of group of 31 prisoners allowed to stay in occupied territories pending determination of right of residency: 22 have been found to be non-resident [JP 8/11]. The Jewish-Arab Committee for Jaffa begins a week-long work camp to improve conditions in the Palestinian sector of Jaffa, which residents claim municipality wants to tum into fashionable Israeli neighborhood [JP 8/7].

Arab World: Arab summit in Casablanca ends by "noting" the joint Palestinian-Jordanian accord outlining a joint effort for negotiations with Israel; does not endorse the accord [WP, NYT 8/10]. No agreement is reached on issue of recent attacks on Palestinian camps in Beirut [LAT 8/10].

Military Action

Arab World: Fighting breaks out along the green line separating east and west Beirut, killing 6 [NYT 8/10].