The Palestine Chronology

Secy. of State Christopher is kept waiting 6 hrs, before mtg. with Saudi Arabia's King Fahd in Jidda; encourages support for Middle East Development Bank, easing of Arab boycott on Israel, funding of PA's daily operations, NPT. King gives no response. (MM, NYT, WP 3/13; WT 3/14; WT 3/21)

FM Peres, Crown Prince Hassan meet in Amman; discuss implementation of peace treaty, possibility of establishing free-trade zone in Elat-Taba-Aqaba region, water projects, regional security, creation of regional bank; announce plans to meet with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in Bonn regarding dam project 3/15. (RJ 3/12, JT 3/13 in FBIS 3/13; MM 3/13; QY 3/13 in FBIS 3/14)

In 1st visit by British head of state to Israel in 9 yrs, PM Major arrives in Israel for 2-day visit; promises to build closer trade ties to Israel, increase aid to the PA. (IGPO, QY 3/12, IGPO, QY 3/13 in FBIS 3/13; MM, WT 3/13; MEI 3/17; JP 3/18)

PA rearrests Shaykh al-Safadi fr. Gaza's Filastin Mosque for giving anti-PA sermon. (QY 5/14 in FBIS 5/15) (see 3/3)

Senior Israeli military officials say 100s of plainclothes Palestinian police are operating in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah in a semiofficial manner, with the IDF's knowledge, settling civil disputes, investigating crimes. PA Planning M Shaath denies report. (HA, RMC, VOP 3/13 in FBIS 3/14)

Palestinian police find 2 bombs planted along road scheduled to be travelled by Arafat. IDF detonates them. (AFP 3/12 in FBIS 3/14)

SCUD missile fired at Israel lands in uninhabited area, 2d missile hits residential area, light injuries are reported; missile launched at Riyadh is intercepted by Patriot missile [SPA, IDF 2/11, IDF 2/12 in FBIS 2/12; LAT, NYT, WP, WT, MEM 2/12].

As part of previously announced aid package, Germany delivers to Israel check for $3.3 million to help repair missile damage to Tel Aviv [LAT, MEM 2/12].

Environmental experts say oil slick in Gulf will severely damage Gulf states' fishing industry [LAT 2/12].

Israeli D.M. Moshe Arens meets with Pres. Bush, other U.S. officials in Washington; Arens describes "casualties and damage that have affected the Israeli civilian population" [IDF 2/11 in FBIS 2/12; LAT, NYT, WP, WT 2/12].

Iraqi cabinet min. Abdullah Fadel says "thousands" of Iraqi civilians have been killed in allied bombing raids, and adds that several mosques and churches have been destroyed; U.S. calls statement "propaganda" [NYT 2/12].

Pentagon offers cumulative U.S. combat losses: 12 killed in action, 12 wounded, 28 missing, and 8 POWs, with 18 aircraft lost in combat. More defections push number of Iraqi POWs past 1,000 [NYT, WP 2/12].

P.M. Major meets in Bonn with Chancellor Kohl to discuss Gulf war; King Hussein meets in Amman with Chrmn. Arafat [ADS 2/11 in FBIS 2/12; NYT 2/12].

Knesset rejects 3 motions of no-confidence submitted because of continuing curfew in o.t. [IDF 2/11 in FBIS 2/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ramallah military court convicts American Roger Heacock, Birzeit University professor, ofdisturbing the peace, hands down $1,000 fine and suspended 2-month jail term [PI, NYT 6/10]. Curfew is imposed on Dahayshah refugee camp; large military force raids camp, conducts house-to-house search, interrogates all male residents over age 13; at least 90 are arrested [FJ 6/14]. Three unlicensed Arab houses are demolished by Israeli authorities in Hebron district [FJ 6/14]. Palestinian youth is stabbed by 4 unidentified attackers a tBayt Jala-Hebron junction [FJ 6/14].

Other Countries: Togo announces renewal of official relations with Israel, becoming the 5th black African nation to do so [CSM 6/11]. High-level U.S. delegation meets with W. German officials in Bonn to urge extradition of Muhammad Hamadi to U.S. for trial [WP 6/10]. W. German Chancellor Kohl indicates to U.S. Pres. Reagan that Bonn does not intend to extradite Hamadi [LAT 6/11]. 

Casualties:

IDF new appeals committee in Ansar prison in South Lebanon, has considered 1,000 cases, recommended release of 50 which must be approved by Northern Commander General Amir Drori; bulldozers begin removing rubble from Martyr's Square in downtown Beirut in $450 million first stage of 5 year rehabilitation plan.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Interior Ministry stops issuing permits for Israeli tourists to visit Lebanon due to security situation, Lebanese citizens may enter Israel without restrictions, but Palestinians need special permit as some have visited relatives and not returned to Lebanon; Central Bureau of Statistics publishes 1982 inflation rate at 131.5%, second highest ever, and trade deficit at $3 billion, an increase of 18%o; head of Israeli Olympic committee and Hapoel Games Iaaac Ofek says athletes from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Kenya, Ivory Coast, and Zaire will participate in Hapoel Games in May; Tourism Minister Avraham Sharir at Israel Bonds meeting in Paris says invasion of Lebanon prompted to prevent nonaggression pact PLO sought with Israel through US diplomatic channels, amends statement to cease-fire rather than nonaggression after controversy arises in Israel and Sheli Party demands resignation of Government, but Likud MK Benny Shalita confirms IDF said before invasion that PLO wanted non-aggression pact.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat goes to Iraq to talk with Saddam Hussein; US envoy Habib arrives in Beirut to speed up negotiations, suggesting first stage of withdrawal of troops to begin on Feb. 12.

Arab Governments: Arab League Secretary General Chedli Klibi in Bonn meeting with Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich Genscher, calls on West Germany and its European allies to recognize the PLO and press for the establishment of a Palestinian state. US and Other Countries: Angolan news agency ANGOP says Israeli experts are training UNITA troops in northern Namibia.

UN: Secretary General Perez de Cuellar says Lebanon seeks to expand role of UNIFIL, calls for renewal of UNIFIL mandate, (UNIFIL troops now excluded from Sidon and Tyre), expresses concern over $152 million shortfall in UNIFIL financing.

Military Action:

IDF completes preparations for moving military headquarters at Tyre into former UNRWA building.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin arrives in Israel for funeral of his wife and day of mourning for Tyre victims, as Knesset meets in special session; several hundred Birzeit students and faculty protest dismissals in solidarity rally as first teacher (a US citizen) is deported under new Israeli restrictions; Israeli authorities erect barriers around cam- pus, preventing Israeli Committee In Solidar- ity with Birzeit and two busloads from Teachers Training Institute from attending; Bethlehem University also halts classes; US authorities indicate they have appealed to Israeli government, as 19 Americans among the 31 (one fourth of Birzeit faculty) now facing deportation for refusing to sign anti- PLO pledge.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel and Wazzan return home after asking Saudi help in getting pullback of all foreign troops.

Arab Governments: Cairo papers report US initiative, at Egyptian urging, to resolve Taba dispute following conclusion of Foreign Minister Ali's visit to US, and that US agrees hotel opening violates April agreement.

US and Other Countries: Holland refuses to join Beirut peacekeeping force, saying it prefers UN auspices for such forces and al- ready has 800 Dutch soldiers serving in UNIFIL in Lebanon; Knesset member, in Bonn, announces West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl will visit Israel next year.