The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jerusalem's Palestinian theater and art complex Nuzha-al-Hakawati Center opens. Popular Gaza artist Fathi Ghabin sentenced to 6 mos. prison on charge of "incitement through his painting." Israeli police investigate complaint by prisoner Nasir Ibrahim of torture while imprisoned in Shefa 'Amr after arrest for demonstrating without permit during Shimon Peres visit to Kabul (4/8/84). In Bethlehem U. Student Council elections, Students' Progressive Front Bloc wins 8 seats, Youth Bloc wins 1. Jerusalem police arrest 4 American-Israeli Jews for planting at least a dozen booby-trapped grenades at churches, mosques and Arab homes in recent months; police announce these arrests wrap up "TNT" case investigations. In radio interview, Science & Development Min. Ne'eman says the 1980 car bombings of Palestinian mayors "had a positive effect." Herut elects Sharon to fourth-place position in party. 2 new settlements inaugurated: "Tel Haim" [see 3/29/30], and "Ma'aleh Levona" on Nablus-Ramallah road.

Other Countries: US State Dep't. spokesman indicates US will not support any resolution calling for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon that does not also call for secure northern border for Israel. Simon Wiesenthaler Center in New York requests papacy investigate possible Catholic Church role in sheltering former Nazi Walter Rauff, after Israeli gov't. failure to extradite him from Chile.

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.