The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Kol Ha'Ir reports Herut Central Com. member Moshe Amirav has been holding secret meetings with Faysal Husayni, BZU Professor Sari Nusaybah, and al-Sha'b editor Salah Zuhaykah [FJ 9/27].

Arab World: PLO and Amal representatives announce agreement to end 3-year-long battle. PLO will give up posts near Sidon captured 10 months ago; Amal will halt siege of Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut and S. Lebanon [NYT 9/12; WP 9/13].

Other Countries: Israel confirms former ambassador to U. S. Meir Rosenne will serve as legal counsel to Israeli government in negotiations between U. S. and Israel to resolve Pollard spy case [WP 9/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfew on Balatah refugee camp is lifted [FJ 6/7]. House of Ramallah family, one of whose members is accused of participating in 1983 bus bombing, is partly destroyed by Israeli soldiers [FJ 6/7]. Ramallah military court agrees to investigate charges made by Rasmi Muhammad 'Asi of torture during police interrogation [FJ 6/7]. Deputy P.M. David Levy attends inauguration celebration for new Israeli settlement at al-Radar Hill [FJ 6/7]. It is revealed before Knesset Financial Com. that civil administration collected U.S. $235 million in direct and indirect taxes from occupied territories, a sum which exceeds annual allocated budget of the civil administration [FJ 6/7]. Israeli authorities attempt to confiscate 4,000 dunams of land from Nablus-area village of Salim and 5,000 dunams from Bayt Dajan village; owners of land are appealing the confiscation order [FJ 6/7]. At least 5 prisoners are injured in clash between prisoners and guards at Hebron Prison; prisoners declare hunger strike in response to incident [FJ 6/7].

Arab World: Lebanon's Prime Minister Rashid Karami is assassinated in helicopter explosion en route from Tripoli to Beirut; 3 others are wounded in blast; Pres. Jumayyil declares national week of mourning [CSM, NYT 6/2].

Other Countries: Assignment of Meir Rosenne, Israeli ambassador to U.S., expires. No new ambassador has been named [NYT 6/3].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli tanks reach Jazin, 12 miles north of Israeli border [CSM 6/2].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Coalition government of P.M. Peres survives 5 votes of no-confidence in Knesset over Shin Bet scandal but calls for limited investigation into the security agency [WP, JTA 7/1]. Five are slightly wounded in explosion Tel Aviv bus; Syrian-based faction Fateh Uprising takes responsibility [NYT 7/1]. Jordan supports appointment of 4 local Palestinians as West Bank mayors and promises to supply money to their cities if they are appointed [JP 7/1; LAT 7/10].

Other Countries: High-level Israeli delegation, including Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Meir Rosenne, concludes talks with U.S. Justice Dept. regarding prospects for bringing criminal charges against Israeli Air Force Colonel Aviem Sela (and 3 other Israelis) as contacts for Jonathan Jay Pollard, who earlier pleaded guilty to spying for Israel; Israel says recruitment of Pollard was unauthorized move by lowerlevel Israeli officials operating on their own initiative, and that by Israeli law they cannot be forced to testify [NYT 7/2; WP 7/4]. 

Military Action:

6 separate attacks against IDF include tank damaged by mine near Kafr Shima, explosion on road south of Damour near IDF patrol, APC hit by explosion at Kabar Shamoun, small arms fire at IDF trucks in Beirut, bomb near troop buses, small arms fire at IDF patrols near Zaharani river.

Casualties:

IDF reports 1 soldier killed, 3 injured in attacks, Lebanese National Resistance Front says 20 IDF killed or wounded.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel makes no official response to Hussein's decision regarding negotiations, reportedly considers Reagan plan dead; new WZO settlement department plan calls for 57 new settlements in next 4 years, bringing total to 165, with Jewish population of West Bank 100,000 by 1986 and Jewish-Arab population parity at 1.3 million in 30 years; spokesman for Israeli Embassy in US says West Bank land is being sold in the US not by government but by private group associated with Kedumim settlement; 10,000 dunums from Surif village near Hebron declared state land under military order 59; High Court legalizes 1976 imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) in occupied territories; Cabinet nominates Meir Rosenne, ambassador to France, to replace Arens as ambassador to US.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO officials deny Jordanian statement that Hussein and Arafat had reached agreement on a course of political action; Issam Sartawi assassinated at Socialist International congress in Portugal, Abu Nidal group claims responsibility.

Arab Governments: Jordan says Hussein and Arafat had reached agreement in principle and detail, PLO now proposes different course, so Jordan will not enter peace talks on basis of Reagan plan, will not act separately or in lieu of any party, and will leave it to PLO and Palestinian people to choose the ways and means for the salvation of themselves and their land.

US and Other Countries: Reagan says radical elements in PLO introduced changes in peace proposals that are an impediment, and are unacceptable to King Fahd, King Hussein and to US; Reagan telephones Kings Fahd, Hussein, and Hassan II of Morocco.

Casualties:

UNRWA Field Director in Sidon says Palestinians in Akbieh village near Sidon being harassed by armed men demanding that they leave.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Knesset confirms Arens as Defense Minister by 61 to 51 vote; Meir Rosenne, Israel's ambassador to France, leading candidate to replace Arens as ambassador to US; Begin tells war veterans Israel will not deviate from Camp David formula, which does not provide for an independent state or for self-determination, which means the same thing; Defense Ministry exhibits Israeli-built Python 3 air-to-air missile, tested effectively in Lebanon air war, and said to be equal to US Sidewinder 9L; a West Bank civil administrator sentenced to 9 months in prison for accepting bribes to carry out residents' requests; 4 Druze residents of Golan Heights convicted of spying for Syria; Air Force Commander Lapidot says Israel needs Lavi fighter, US is witholding technological assistance.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Rashad al-Shawa, deposed mayor of Gaza, says PNC indirectly delegated Jordan to proceed with talks with Israel.

US and Other Countries: Reagan says that resolution of the Palestinian issue will require providing something in the nature of a homeland for the Palestinians, but not creating a nation, that the greatest security for Israel is to create new Egypts, more nations, more neighbors that are willing to sign peace treaties with them.