The Palestine Chronology

Arab-Israeli negotiations resume in Washington. (Radio Monte Carlo 2/26 in FBIS 2/27)

Addressing the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, Secy. of State Baker states U.S. will not provide loan guarantees to Israel unless it ceases settlement activity, noting that "the choice is Israel's". (WP 2/25)

Gunmen kill Israeli guard accompanying a fuel truck in Janin. (MM 2/24)

Lebanese PM 'Umar Karami, FM Faris Buwayz meet with UN Under-Secy. Gen. Marrack Goulding in Beirut, request UN permission to expand Lebanese army presence in UNIFIL zones in S. Lebanon. Following a meeting with Pres. Ilyas al-Hirawi and Speaker of Parliament Hussein al-Husseini, Karami states that Lebanon has decided to stop armed elements from firing rockets at Israel, adding that this is not considered an acceptable form of resistance [see 2/21]. (MM 2/24; Radio Free Lebanon 2/25 in FBIS 2/25)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Labor Minister Moshe Katsav says workers from S. Lebanon and Europe will join Israeli high school students to replace Palestinian laborers. Education Minister Yitzhaq Navon orders mobilization of high school students to help harvest citrus crops [NYT 1/18]. Police Minister Chaim Bar-Lev denies Israeli police fired tear gas into mosques in 1/15 clash. UNRWA sends 8 trucks of food to wait at gates of refugee camps until army allows them to enter. UN Undersec. Gen. Marrack Goulding ends week-long visit [LAT 1/18]. Israeli High Court delays deportation of 4 Palestinians until after their appeals are heard [LAT 1/18; CSM 1/19]. Peace Now stages demonstration outside P. M. Shamir's office to begin week of activities protesting situation in occupied territories [FBIS 1/21]. Demonstration at UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City condemns occupation, demands UNRWA be allowed access to camps [FJ 1/24]. Military court orders Gaza attorney Raji al-Surani to pay IS 1,500 fine or spend 15 days in prison for refusing to defend a client [FJ 1/24].

Arab World: Amal leader Nabih Birri announces end of 3-year siege of W. Beirut's Burj al-Barajinah and Shatila refugee camps and S. Lebanon's Rashidiyyah camp [LAT 1/18].

Other Countries: In interview, PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat denies local leaders in occupied territories challenge his position, calls for UN peacekeeping force in W. Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Benjamin Netanyahu said violence must be ended before talks begin, denies Israel is preventing food from reaching W. Bank and Gaza Strip [LAT 1/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel maintains round-the-clock curfews on all 8 Gaza Strip refugee camps, lifts all W. Bank curfews except in town of Salfit [LAT, NYT 1/18]. Soldiers teargas demonstrators outside Ramallah church. Youths stone soldiers breaking locks on Ramallah stores to force owners to open; at least 1 soldier is injured. Residents of al-Mazra'ah al-Sharqiyyah are prevented from leaving village for 10th straight day. Several are injured in Balatah when Israeli troops open fire on protesters. Demonstrators in Jalazun blockade roads, stone soldiers, attack Israeli central region commander [FJ 1/24].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: More than 1,000 regular and border police are deployed in Jerusalem as Palestinians in E. Jerusalem and occupied territories hold day of mourning to commemorate victims of recent violence. Israel confirms deaths of 2 Palestinians inearlier clashes [NYT 1/16]. General strike is observed in W. Bank [FJ 1/17].

Arab World: In Biqa' Valley village of Kasara, 4 deported W. Bank Palestinians set up tents across from International Com. of the Red Cross office, begin hunger strike [WP 1/16].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: At least 70 Palestinians are injured by tear gas, clubs, and rubber bullets when Israeli police, border police attack worshipers at al-Haram al-Sharif. Reports indicate tear gas is fired into Dome of the Rock, al-Aqsa Mosque. [NYT 1/16] In Gaza Strip's al-Shaykh 'Ajlin soldiers shoot, kill Palestinian who stabs soldier in leg [WP, NYT 1/17]. Family says youth is shot at home after quarrel with soldiers [FJ 1/17]. Military-imposed curfew continues for 6 W. Bank and 7 Gaza Strip refugee camps [WP, NYT 1/16]. Israeli forces fire rubber bullets to disperse crowd of Palestinians surrounding UN envoy Marrack Goulding in Balatah refugee camp [WP 1/17]. On W. Bank, roadblocks and clashes between soldiers and protesters occur in Ramallah and al-Birah. Al-Fajr reports demonstrations in 'Arrub, Fawwar, Balatah, and 'Azzah refugee camps, Bayt Fajjar, Bethlehem, Kissan, and Nablus. At least 2 are injured by Israeli army gunfire in Nablus-district town of Salfit, and at least 7 are wounded in Qalqiliyyah [FJ 1/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel deports 4 Palestinians to S. Lebanon; PFLP takes the 4 to base in Biqa' Valley [CSM 1/15]. Child injured in demonstration dies [FJ 1/17]. Commercial strike continues in many W. Bank towns and cities; at least 23 shops in Tulkarm and Qalqiliyyah are welded shut for joining the strike [FJ 1/17].

Other Countries: Sir Crispin Tickell, pres. of UN Security Council, and International Com. of the Red Cross condemn Israeli deportation of 4 Palestinians. U.S. says it "regrets" Israeli action [NYT 1/14]. China announces its Red Cross Society will send medicine, food to PLO for Palestinians in W. Bank, Gaza Strip [CSM 1/14].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: All refugee camps are declared under curfew. Demonstrations continue. In Khan Yunis camp, protesters attack soldiers with clubs, knives before being arrested; 2 soldiers are reported injured. In Bayt Hanun, several Palestinians are injured after clash with soldiers. Military reports more than 500 Palestinians attack army vehicles in Rafah during visit of UN Undersec. Gen. Marrack Goulding [FJ 1/17]. Soldiers fire on crowd, killing 1, in Ramallah-district village of Kafr Ni'mah. Palestinian sources report that 2 children die from tear gas in village of Dayr 'Ammar, near Ramallah; Israel denies report. Jerusalem Post reports child is wounded in throat during clash between soldiers and about 40 stone-throwing demonstrators in Qalandiya camp [FJ 1/17]. Death toll of Palestinians killed since 12/9 is now at 34 [CSM 1/15].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops declare Gaza's Jabalya refugee camp a closed military zone, deny UN Undersec. Gen. Marrack Goulding entrance. Goulding decides not to enter Maghazi camp because of demonstration atcamp entrance. Lawyers for 4 W. Bank Palestinians scheduled to be deported announce their clients have dropped their appeals [WP 1/13]. General strike continues in most parts of W. Bank, E. Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip [FJ 1/17]. Housing Min. David Levi attends ceremony marking establishment of Lifna, new settlement near Hebron [FJ 1/17]. Israeli authorities demolish 12 houses in Gaza Strip's Nusayrat camp [FJ 1/17].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Rafah, 1 Palestinian is shot, killed, at least 3 others wounded when they allegedly try to stab an Israeli soldier; part of Rafah, 6 Gaza refugee camps and 4 W. Bank camps (Jalazun, Camp No. 1, 'Askar, and Tulkarm) are placed under curfew [NYT, WP 1/13]. Al-Fajr reports 'Ayn Bayt al-Ma', old and new 'Askar, and 'Arrub camps, as well as old city of Nablus are also under curfew [FJ 1/17]. In Rafah, military drops tear gas bombs into houses from helicopters, declares town closed military zone. Violent demonstrations are also reported at Jabalya, where several Palestinians are reported injured. Israel sends more troops into Gaza. At least 4 Palestinians are injured by Israeli gunfire during demonstration in Nablus. In Ramallah-district village of 'Ayn Yabrud, soldiers use live ammunition to disperse hundreds of demonstrators protesting killing of youth in Baytin 1/11 by settlers; at least 1 is injured [FJ 1/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In W. Bank town of Baytin, 2 prominent Jewish settlers open fire on demonstrators whose barricade blocks road, killing 1 and wounding another [CSM, WP 1/12]. F. M. Shimon Peres meets with UN Undersec. Gen. Marrack Goulding [WP 1/12]. Rafah resident shot 1/8 and Khan Yunis resident also wounded in earlier clash die in Israeli hospital [FJ 1/17]. General strike is observed in E. Jerusalem, W. Bank, and Gaza Strip [FJ 1/17]. Reports indicate 4 Palestinians ordered deported have withdrawn their appeals because their lawyers have been denied access to files [FJ 1/17]. Heads of private schools decide to remain closed until 1/18 [FJ 1/17].

Other Countries: Abraham Sofaer, legal adviser to U.S. State Dept., says closing PLO's UN observer mission would violate international law [NYT 1/13].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops clash with 20 Palestinian women protest ng in front of Qalandiya refugee camp UN office [CSM 1/12]. Khan Yunis demonstrator who allegedly tried to grab soldier's gun is shot dead [WP 1/12]. Balatah refugee camp and Nablus-area village of Bayt Hilma are placed under curfew. Soldiers use tear gas and rubber bullets against crowds waving Palestinian flag at Qalandiya refugee camp. Clashes are also reported in Duhayshah and Tulkarm camps, Bethlehem and 'Azzariyyah (Bethany) [WP 1/12; FJ 1/17]. Palestinian sources report a Khan Yunis resident is beaten to death. Demonstrations are reported in Gaza City, Bayt Hanun, and Jabalya camp. Curfews are imposed on 5 Gaza Strip refugee camps: Khan Yunis, Dayr al-Balah, Maghazi, Nusayrat, and Burayj. Strip is declared closed military zone [FJ 1/17]. Military imposes curfew on 'Askar camp [FJ 1/17]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli army announces about 40 activists have been placed under administrative detention in the past 3 days. UN Undersec. Gen. Marrack Goulding arrives in Israel on factfinding mission to W. Bank and Gaza [WP 1/9]. Israel announces discovery of armed cell in Gaza Strip [FJ 1/17]. Kach followers vandalize 7 Arab-owned cars in Jerusalem's Old City. Israeli authorities close off an entrance to Shu'fat camp [FJ 1/171.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: At Gaza's Burayj refugee camp, crowds exiting mosques throw stones at Israeli troops. Soldiers respond with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition; 1 is killed, 5 others wounded. Scattered disturbances are reported in W. Bank [WP 1/9]. Balatah, Jalazun, Am'ari, Nusayrat, and Khan Yunis camps remain under curfew [FJ 1/17]. In al-Mazra'ah al-Sharqiyyah, near Ramallah, residents clash with settlers and troops; village is placed under siege [FJ 1/24].