The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: PLO is about ready to begin distribution of Palestinian ID cards, according to Jerusalem Domestic Service. Cards will initially be given to Palestinians living in U.A.E., followed by those in Kuwait and Qatar. Rather than replace existing passports, the cards will serve as additional identification [FBIS 12/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel:- 30-year-old Palestinian accused of collaboration is killed [MET 12/26].

Arab World: Lebanese Defense Ministry states it will cut Aoun's 15,000 troops off payroll. Sources expect Aoun to continue paying salaries from foreign aid or taxes levied in enclave [MET 12/26].

Police arrest 10 students in Irbid, Jordan after opening of display marking anniversary of intifada leads to brawl between Palestinians and Jordanians [MET 12/26].

Syrian military intelligence post in al-Rumaylah, S. Lebanon is attacked, reports of dead and wounded vary. Syrian commander accuses Fateh forces of carrying out attack. PLO condemns raid, says it will investigate Fateh involvement [NYT, WP, FBIS 12/15]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel Aircraft Industries announces $1 billion in sales for 1985/86 fiscal year [JP 5/15]. Three border policemen are charged before a police tribunal with using excessive force in the 1984 arrest of a Palestinian [JP 5/16].

Arab World: Faruq al-Qaddumi, head of the PLO political department, meets French foreign minister in Paris, the first such meeting in two years [LM 5/16]. An undetermined number are killed, and as many as 200 students and 18 police injured in clashes during protests at University of Yarmuk at Irbid in northem Jordan [GU 6/14; MG 5/16]. (Estimates of death range from 3 to 18.) Riots, involving 2,000 students, are reportedly over growing Jordanian-Syrian cooperation against PLO, though nominal causes are high tuition fees and U.S. air strikes on Libya [NYT 5/21; JP 5/16].

Other Countries: Geneva-based WHO condemns for 11th successive year Israeli seizure of Arab territories and says foreign occupation is bad for mental and physical health; condemns diversion of water and hindrance of development of Arab health organizations [JP 5/15].