The Palestine Chronology

As Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 5 Palestinians dead, 45 injured. At Qarni crossing, the IDF shoots a CNN reporter in the back with live ammunition. The most severe clashes are in Gaza, where Palestinians for the 1st time fire 3+n4 antitank grenades at an IDF post, causing no injuries. The PA says it has not authorized its security forces to use their weapons to date but warns that could change depending on Israel actions. Nr. Bethlehem, IDF troops, Jewish settlers reportedly fire on Red Crescent ambulances attempting to reach injured Palestinians. (ADM, LAW 10/31; LPA 10/31 in WNC 11/1; HA [Internet], MEZ, NYT, WP 11/1; see Jane's Defence Weekly 10/10)

This evening, Israeli Transportation M Amnon Shahak, Barak security aide Ginnosaur secretly go to Gaza for talks with Arafat. No details are released. (NYT 11/2)

Israel revives plans for construction of 3 new neighborhoods on the Golan Heights totalling 1,500 housing units, plus related infrastructure. (HA [Internet] 11/1)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military reopens checkpoints on Israel-Gaza Strip border [CSM 8/6; FJ 8/9]. Israeli border police shoot, injure Palestinian protester during demonstration in Nablus [CSM 8/7].

Other Countries: Jane's Defence Weekly reports Jordan and U.S.S.R. are close to finalizing sale of Soviet MiG-29 aircraft to Jordan UP 8/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Saudi Arabia has given $28.5 million to the PLO, believed to be a quarter of the $114 million earmarked for the PLO for this year [JDW 4/5]. Former first vice president of the Sudanese government under Pres. Numayri, Maj. Gen. 'Umar Muhammad al-Tayyib, is sentenced to 2, 30-year jail terms for his role in airlifting Ethiopian Jews out of Sudan to Israel [NYT 4/6; LT 4/7].

Other Countries: U.S. Vice Pres. George Bush arrives in Saudi Arabia for start of 8-day, 4-country tour aimed largely at demonstrating continuing U.S. commitment to Arab states of the Persian Gulf; Bush promises U.S. arms to Saudi leaders [WP, NYT 4/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: King Hussein calls on Palestinian people to decide who should lead them [NYT 2/23]. Syrian Pres. Hafiz al-Asad has called King Hussein about a joint approach to M.E. peace following Hussein's decision to suspend talks with Yasir Arafat [LT 2/22].

Other Countries: UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar summoned Israeli UN ambassador this week and demanded Israel withdraw all its invading forces from S. Lebanon, expressed concern over extensive military operations Irael carried out in S. Lebanon in violation of international law [DW 2/22]. France has freed and expelled 2 members of the Abu Nidal organization who served half of their prison terms for assassinating a PLO leader and another Palestinian in France in 1978 [NYT, LT 2/22].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli army thins out forces in S. Lebanon, withdraws most mechanized infantry units to "security zone." Army sources confirm 2,000 Lebanese suspects were interrogated and "between 50 and 100" are still held. It is unclear how many of the estimated 3,000 Israeli troops used in the search remain in Lebanon [WP 2/23].

Other Countries: Soviet navy has increased number of vessels off Israeli coast to 3 warships, 1 spy ship, 2 support vessels [JDW 2/22].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Over 150 Palestinians, Israelis replant olive saplings uprooted by the Nature Reserves Authority 3 weeks ago, north of Jerusalem; 6 Israeli officials reportedly try to uproot some replanted saplings, army disperses both groups UP 1/26]. Israeli military delegation ends 5-day visit to Liberia for talks on "future cooperation" [JDW 1/25].

Arab World: Yasir Arafat arrives in Amman for talks with King Hussein [CSM 1/27]. Jordanian govt. sends parliament a new electoral law that would reassert Jordan's responsibility for the West Bank, provide representation for Palestinian refugees in Jordan; parliamentary legal committee is studying the law [NYT 1/26].

Other Countries: UN Undersecretary-General Brian Urquhart states PLO should accept UN resolutions 242, 338, that Israel should not dictate who represents Palestinians at peace talks [JP 1/26]. Interpol issues worldwide wanted notice for Abu Nidal [PI 1/31].

Military Action

Arab World: SLA shells Shi'ite village of Kafra in S. Lebanon, killing 1 UNIFIL soldier [NYT 1/26]. Libyan leader Col. Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi boards missile-bearing patrol boat, sails into Gulf of Sidra, 1 day after U.S. 6th Fleet began maneuvers off Libyan coast [WP 1/26]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Knesset passes, by vote of 60-0, law banning future election lists that advocate racism [FJ 8/9]. Clause proposed by Justice Minister Moshe Nissim bans election lists which reject the legitimacy of Israel as the "state of the Jewish people." Progressive List for Peace and the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Israeli Communist party) abstained in Knesset vote; PLP spokesman Kamil Dahir submits resignation in protest of abstention vote. Two Palestinians are found dead near car in West Bank village of Tubas, in what police say was apparently an accidental detonation of a car bomb [WP 7/31]. Palestinian sources speculate they may have been murdered [FJ 8/2]. U. S. Asst. Defense Sec. Richard Perle announces Israel agrees to participate in Strategic Defense Initiative research [BG 7/31]. Jane's Defence Weekly reports that Israel's clandestine arms sales to China have bolstered its international weapons trade to $1.2 billion annually [MJ 8/16].

Arab World: Jordanian and PLO officials say 2 Palestinians acceptable to Israel - Hanna Siniora and Fayez Abu Rahmeh - are intended only as "consultants" to joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation [WP 7/31]. Al-Fajr English newspaper reports sources in Tunis say PLO condemns new West Bank committee set up by local pro-Jordanian figures to lobby for joint Jordanian-Palestinian moves [FJ 8/2].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Albert Buchris, 32, from Afula, shot to death in Nablus market. Nablus and 2 nearby refugee camps put under curfew; residents are teargassed, house-to-house searches are conducted for the weapon used in the killing. Al-Najah University is closed [WP, LAT 7/31, JTA 8/1].

Arab World: Syria delivers 50 Soviet-made T-54 tanks to Amal in south Beirut [DT 7/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Shops in East Jerusalem go on general strike again to protest closure of Hospice Hospital [FJ 8/2]. Proposal to erect a settlement on spot where two Afula schoolteachers were murdered is presented to Zionist Executive by Jewish Agency Settlement Department Cochairman Nissim Zvilli [JP 7/29]. Shimon Barda, head of the "Lifta Gang," is convicted by the Jerusalem district court of conspiring to blow up the Dome of the Rock. Sentencing will follow [JP 7/30]. Knesset finance committee freezes IS 354 million for Kiryat Arba's local council until Attomey General Zamir gives legal opinion on council's proposal to dismiss Palestinian workers [JP 7/30]. Knesset appoints seven-minister committee to make recommendations regarding punishment of those convicted of politically motivated killings [BG 7/29]. Voice of America reports Israel seeks American banks to operate in Israel, to boost ailing Israeli banking system; at least one is reportedly interested [JTA 7/3 1]. Koterit Rashit reports Israeli firms are studying 70 proposed business projects in China, including construction of 2 hotels and an airport. The Daily Telegraph cites report in Jane's Defence Weekly stating secret military links were opened between Israel and China in 1979, a $3 billion arms deal was recently concluded, and Israeli military advisers have served with Chinese ground and air force units [JC, DT 7/29].

Arab World: The United Arab Emirates is second state to confirm attendence at upcoming Arab summit meeting. Syria, Lebanon, and South Yemen will not attend [FT 7/30, LT 8/2]. Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt back the summit call [JP 7/30, FT 7/31].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli planes attack Palestinian base used by the PFLP-GC in eastern Lebanon; no casualty reports [WP 7/30].