The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Central Bureau of Statistics reports October inflation rate of 24.3%. No Confidence motions presented in Knesset by Mapam, Civil Rights Movement, Progressive List for Peace & Hadash.

Arab World: IDF release 3 of 4 Shi'ite leaders held since 11/8, but retain Mahmoud al-Faqih; with UN mediation, Lebanon's cabinet decides to resume talks with Israel.

Military Action

Arab World: Shi'ite Imam Abdulla alAmin assassinated in Tawana village, S. Lebanon; Nabih Berri blames Israel.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Kinneret Research Laboratory reports Sea of Galilee [source of 40% of Palestine's drinking water] reaching dangerous pollution levels. Mapam Party votes to end its political partnership with Labor Alignment to protest Labor/Likud accord and proposed cabinet post for Ariel Sharon.

Arab World: At Beirut rally, Nabih Berri encourages suicide attacks on Israeli occupiers in S. Lebanon.

Other Countries: PLO Political Dept. Chrmn. Qaddoumi holds press conf. in Malta. About 150 Jews & Arabs protest appearance of Meir Kahane at Silver Spring, MD (US) Jewish Community Center.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Labor & Likud agree on basis for coalition gov't. economic & social policy.

Military Action

Arab World: al-Safir (Beirut) reports Lebanese Justice Min. Berri urges increase in ambushes of IDF occupiers in S. Lebanon. Bazooka fire hits IDF post near Tibnin, central Lebanon. Resistance fighters open light weapons fire on IDF near Kfar Kuk in E. Lebanon.

Other Countries: Madrid police report PFLP "special commando" leader Zaki al-Hallou shot, seriously wounded there.

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israelis commemorate 36th "Independence Day" (by Jewish calendar); Naturei Karta's Rabbi Hirsch calls it "[day of] independence from God, society, family and civilization"; Mea Sharim Orthodox quarter flies black flags, police investigate reports that Palestinian flags raised in West Bank towns and villages.

Arab World: PLO representative in Kuwait urges Palestinians holding travel permits to return to Palestine, as Israel has informed it will discontinue issuing permits July 30. Shi'ite leader Berri agrees to join Lebanese cabinet with new appointment as Minister of State for South Lebanon Affairs.

Other Countries: Chrmn. Arafat meets with China's premier Deng Xiaoping in Peking before moving on to Pyongyang, PDR Korea for official visit there. 

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Arab World: Lebanese leaders reject Gemayel's 8-point plan; Nabih Berri quoted as saying he will not consider the plan until Gemayel accepts "responsibility for massacres of the southern suburbs." 

Other Countries: US approves use of $250 million of military grants for development of Lavi jet fighter. Israeli FM Kimche attends founding of Japan-IsraelbParliamentary Friendship League in Tokyo.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 40,000 join Peace Now demonstration in Tel Aviv against Israel's occupation of Lebanon.

Arab World: Lebanese Shi'ite leader, Nabih Berri, calls on Muslim cabinet ministers to resign and Muslim LAF soldiers to quit army.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: IDF position at Sidon port and patrol 8 miles north of Tyre subject to light weapons ambushes.