The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: F.M. Shamir denies involvement in cover-up of Shin Bet's activities in connection with killings of 2 Palestinians in April 1984 [BG 6/4]. Bank of Israel reports that 17,500 Israelis emigrated in 1985, against 12,500 new immigrants; second time since 1948 (1981 was other time) that net immigration negative [AFP 6/3]. Ten ultraorthodox Jews arrested in Jerusalem for damaging bus shelters carrying swimwear advertisements [JTA 6/4]. Israeli troops raid al-Najah University, beating 2 students, arresting 20, confiscating research material and nationalist literature [JP 6/5; FJ 6/6]. Israeli troops shoot into demonstrating crowd in Balata camp, wound 13-year-old Samir Shakir [FJ 6/6].

Arab World: King Hussein meets with Pres. Mitterrand in France.

Military Action

Arab World: Sunni February 6 militia continues to fight Amal in West Beirut, diverting Amal from battle for control of Palestinian refugee camps [WP 6/4]. Seventy are estimated dead, 750 wounded.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli army evicts 7 MKs from apartment in Hebron, declares area "a closed military zone." The 7 leave but promise to appeal legality of eviction to the High Court [NYT 8/21]. Inspector General David Kraus, Plia Albek, a senior Justice Ministry official responsible for land registration, ad Bank of Israel Governor Moshe Mandlebaum appear before Knesset State Comptroller Committee for largescale investigation into land fraud cases begun by police after upsurge in complaints following arrest of several West Bank judges early in summer on bribery charges [JP 8/21]. Ahmad Odeh, wealthy West Banker, was arrested last week on charges of involvement in illegal land sales. Al-Fajr reported he contributed $30,000 to the Likud election campaign last year [JP 8/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Booby-trapped car is detonated minutes before it explodes at central bus station in Netanya. Police round up 100 Palestinians in the vicinity. A telephone caller claims responsibility for Fateh's Force 17 [FJ 8/23].

Arab World: Israeli diplomat Albert Atrakchi, 30, an administrative attache, is killed and 2 embassy employees wounded when 3 men spray their car with kalashnikov assault rifles in Cairo. "Egypt's Revolution" takes responsibility, threatens attacks until all "Israeli colonialists" leave Egypt [NYT, WP, JP 8/21]. Amal militia and the sixth brigade of the Lebanese army attack Burj al-Barajinah and Shatila with heavy bombardments; 24 refugees are injured [FJ 8/25]. Unidentified jets raid Hazerta village in the Biqa' Valley. Israel denies responsibility [JP 8/21]. Car bomb explodes in Tripoli, killing 44 and wounding 90. Caller claims responsibility on behalf of the Revolutionary Christians of the Cedars [NYT 8/21]. In Beirut, 40 are reported killed and 143 wounded in round-the-clock fighting between Christian and Muslim militias [NYT 8/21].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bank of Israel devalues shekel by 2.6%.

Other Countries: UN Regional Symposium on the Question of Palestine opens in New York. Israeli MK Rabin meets US Sec. of State Shultz to discuss ways of dealing with Jordan.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Labor alignment election headquarters in Mizpeh Ramon set ablaze.