The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, FM Peres, Arafat discuss industrial parks. In a gesture of goodwill in light of land conflict, Peres increases number of Palestinians allowed to work in Israel to 35,000, says PA will be allowed to take over 8 more spheres (5 agreed upon 5/16 plus agriculture, census and statistics, local administration) before 7/1. (MM 5/22; IDF Radio, QY, VOP 5/22 in FBIS 5/23; NYT 5/23; PR 5/28)

PM Rabin suspends confiscation of 134 acres of land in Jerusalem, killing no-confidence vote brought by Arab and rightist MKs that could have collapsed the government (see 5/17). Arab nations postpone minisummit on Jerusalem (see 5/21). (MM 5/22; ESC Television, IDF Radio, MENA, QY, VOP 5/22, MA, MENA, QY, VOP 5/23 in FBIS 5/23; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/23; CSM, MM 5/24; WJW 5/25; MEI 5/26; PR 6/28; JP 6/3; WSJ 6/6; MEI 6/9)

FM Peres tells Arafat that Israel will loan the PA $125 m.--the sum Israel should hand over for tax collection on behalf of PA but cannot due to delays in Knesset legislation. (QY 5/22 in FBIS 5/23)

PLO's Qaddumi meets with heads of Palestinian opposition groups in Damascus, incl. DFLP's Nayif Hawatmeh, Islamic Jihad's Fathi Shiqaqi, Palestinian National Grouping's (PNG) Bassam al-Shak'a, a Hamas rep. (RMC 5/23 in FBIS 5/24)

UNRWA Commissioner Gen. Ilter Türkman meets with Arafat in Gaza to discuss UN activities in Gaza, Jericho. (UNRWA News 6/2)

IDF soldier opens fire on, throws grenades into Jaffa church, causing extensive damage but no casualties. 11 Palestinians are injured when clashes erupt outside church btwn. Palestinians, Israeli police. (ITV, QY 5/22 in FBIS 5/23; WT 5/23; MM, WT 5/24)

Military Action:

Syrian and Israeli jets carry out reconnaissance flights over Bekaa Valley; PLO forces fire anti-aircraft guns at IDF planes in northern Lebanon.

Casualties:

About 100 Palestinian families in Sidon tell UNRWA officials that local residents have broken into their homes and threatened harm if they do not leave.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: 18 opposition MKs call Eitan's cockroach remark shocking and severe phenomenon that cannot be ignored, ask Arens to reprimand him, Arens refuses comment, says Eitan a national hero; Arens and Haddad meet in South Lebanon, Arens says Haddad is a great patriot; government investment in West Bank settlements and infrastructure estimated at $200m. a year; "No to Campaign Ribbons" group says thousands of reservists have refused to accept Lebanon ribbon; IDF lifts month long curfew on Dahariya; illegal publications confiscated at el-Bireh nurses' training college book fair, college closed; Interior Ministry bans publication and distribution of Palestine Press Services's daily newsletter on events in the West Bank, demands it be licensed like a newspaper and subjected to military censorship; southern district police commander accuses West Bank Waqf of interfering in politics and engaging in political activities.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Executive Committee meeting in Tunis postponed, Arafat travels to Bulgaria for 2 day visit.

Arab Governments: Egyptian Foreign Minister travels to Washington with message for Reagan; Mubarak meets Kissinger in Cairo; Egypt and Jordan agree to resume trade after 4-year interruption; Syrian President Assad meets DFLP's Naif Hawatmeh and PFLP-GC's Ahmed Jibril in Damascus.

US and Other Countries: US air and ground forces experts visit Israel to begin studying military data from Lebanon war; Albert Spiegel, Los Angeles businessman, quits as Reagan's Jewish affairs adviser.