The Palestine Chronology

Knesset votes 39-20 to revise 1986 law to legalize contacts with all factions of the PLO. (MM 1/13, 1/19; NYT, WP 1/20)

U.S. State Dept. releases its annual human rights report, noting 62% rise in IDF killings of Palestinians during 1991. (MM 1/20)

Pres.-elect Clinton transition team announces Edward Djerejian will retain his post as Asst. Secy. of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs; Dennis Ross, of Policy Planning, will become a consultant to the State Dept. on the peace process; Martin Indyk, exec. dir. of AIPAC-affiliated Washington Institute for Near East Policy, will become chief advisor on Arab-Israeli issues at the Nat'l. Security Council. (NYT 1/19)

Settlers open fire on Palestinian youths stoning their car, killing a 12-year-old boy, in Gaza City. Since 1/14, 5 Palestinians under the age of 15 have been killed in the Gaza Strip. (MM 1/19)

Kyrgyzstan's Pres. Askar Akayev, during a visit to Jerusalem, calls for "independence for the Palestinians." He is the 1st Muslim head of state to visit Jerusalem since Anwar Sadat. (MM 1/20)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Detainees at Ansar 3 prison (also known as Ketziot) begin 2-day hunger strike demanding improved conditions [JP 7/20].

Arab World: In Baghdad Bassam Abu Sharif, spokesman for Yasir Arafat, tells Agence France Presse that Yitzhaq Shamir, through Romanian intermediaries, offered to let PLO take control of parts of the territories [NYT 7/19].

Military

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Petah Tikva 22-year-old Palestinian from Jit is shot dead by Israeli soldier [FJ 7/24]. In Nablus Palestinian is shot in the chest during demonstration [FJ 7/24]. In Kafr Haris settlers cut down 35 trees [FJ 7/24].

Arab World: 3 men convicted of taking part in the 1981 assassination of Pres. Anwar Sadat of Egypt escape from a maximum security prison outside Cairo [NYT 7/20].

Military Action:

Gunmen in car open fire on IDF jeep in Sidon, "Armed Struggle Organization" claims credit for this attack, and for Tyre building blast.

Casualties:

Phalange sources report Lebanese authorities arrest, charge 12 Muslims and Christians from Haddad area in South Lebanon in connection with Beirut massacre; IDF soldier killed, 3 wounded in Sidon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel rejects Shultz statement criticizing anti-PLO "loyalty pledge," says it is an "internal" matter; West Bank Palestinians express encouragement at Shultz' statements; CIA sources report Israel selling PLO arms to Iran.

Arab Governments: Egyptian President Mubarak, on fifth anniversary of Sadat's trip to Jerusalem, blames Israel for worsening relations, but says Egypt committed to Camp David peace process; Egyptian Army completes live-ammunition war games in Sinai.

US and Other Countries: Shultz renews criticisms of anti-PLO "loyalty oaths" as abridging academic freedom and unnecessary for Israeli security; US officials expect to reschedule Begin-Reagan meeting early next year; Habib arrives in Lebanon to get stalled negotiations back on track.