The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers used pepper spray and stones to attack Palestinians in Kisan. Israeli settlers also stole 1 water tank from a Palestinian in al-Maleh. Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian home under construction in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Deir Sammit, Zeita, al-Yamun, Nablus, Kafl Haris, Salfit, Aida refugee camp, and Bayt Jala. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler shot and injured 1 Palestinian man who allegedly stabbed another settler with a screwdriver in the Ramot settlement. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Shu‘fat refugee camp. In Gaza, after claiming that gunfire from Gaza hit an industrial building in Israel, Israeli forces conducted air strikes on 2 structures near Beit Hanun; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, 2 Palestinians were arrested near the Gaza fence. (AP, HA, JP, JP, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/19; MEE, TOI, WAFA 7/20; PCHR 7/21; UNOCHA 8/5)

Israel legalized the Mitzpe Dani settlement outpost near Deir Dibwan and approved plans to expand the settlement with 114 new housing units. (WAFA 7/19)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz ordered Israeli police and military forces to prevent followers of the Nachala settlement organization from setting up settlement outposts in the West Bank, as the organization had publicly announced its plans to erect settlement outposts for months. (HA, JP 7/19; HA 7/21)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Romanian president Klaus Iohannis and prime minister Nicolae Ciucă in separate meetings in Bucharest. (WAFA, WAFA 7/19)

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Military authorities order 1-mo. closure of Bir Zeit U. after Land Day demonstrations there. Elon Moreh settler, convicted of destroying evidence in murder of Aisha Bahash (12/8/83), sentenced to 3 mos. jail and 33 mos. suspended. Deputy sheriff of Albuquerque, NM Mike Mansour arrested without charge during family visit to Deir Dibwan, West Bank.

Arab World: At Beirut news conference, Ali Kamil Bishri captured by Amal militia says IDF paid him and 3 others in Israeli-sponsored death squad to murder Imam Raghib Harb in Jibsheet, S. Lebanon (2/16/84). Pres. Mubarak says he hopes to restore full diplomatic relations with USSR soon. Egypt and Cyprus agree to restore diplomatic relations.

Other Countries: Norwegian Palestine Solidarity Committee hosts 3-day conference in Oslo on "The State of Israel and the Palestine Question." Mayors of 10 US cities attend Jerusalem Conference of Mayors sponsored in part by American Jewish Congress.

Military Action:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 3 Arab men throw grenades and open fire on shoppers in occupied Jerusalem, wounding 48; 1 gunman killed by armed shopkeepers, 2 arrested; DFLP and Abu Nidal group claim responsibility.

Military Action:

IDF convoy ambushed south of Damour, 3 IDF wounded.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Police search settler houses in Kiryat Arba for illegal arms and other evidence relating to attacks on Palestinians; 12 carloads of Kiryat Arba settlers block road outside Dheisheh camp, break into school, detain principal after he refuses their demand to line up students for identification; 25 Palestinian familes in Hebron receive warnings to emigrate; American supporter of Kach movement arrested at airport in connection with shooting of 4 year-old Hebron girl; soldier, border policeman injured, a dozen cars damaged in stone-throwing incidents; 1000 dunums of fertile land seized from Deir Dibwan near Ramallah for garbage processing plant; each of 6 Village Leagues receives IS 5 m. annual operating budget from Defense Ministry for salaries of clerks and officials, guards, entertainment and office expenses; 4 Druze residents of Golan sentenced to 3 to 8 years in jail for spying for Syria; IDF says mines that killed 5 Bedouin in Negev last week were laid by unknown persons who crossed the border to Egypt.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese-Israeli-US negotiations held at Netanya, progress reported on movement across borders, early warning stations; President Gemayel sends envoy to assure Saudi Arabia that Lebanon will not be infiltration point for Israeli goods, Saudi imports from Lebanon valued at $400m in 1982.

Arab Governments: Egyptian-Israeli talks on Taba end without resolving dispute over ownership of the 700 meter Red Sea coastal strip.

US and Other Countries: 18 rabbis end 2 days of lobbying in Washington to demonstrate alternative views among American Jewish leadership, support for Reagan plan and freeze on settlements; EEC expresses regret over Israel's settlement policy, reiterates its commitment to 1980 Venice Declaration calling for association of PLO with peace process.