The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel demands Lawrence Walsh, independent counsel investigating Iran-contra affair, withdraw subpoenas of David Kimche and Al Schwimmer in exchange for continued cooperation of Israeli government [LAT 8/8]. Worshippers at al-Aqsa Mosque protest Saudi army actions in Mecca [FJ 8/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli soldiers capture 1of 6 Palestinian political prisoners who escaped from Gaza Prison on 5/18 [FJ 5/24]. After bombing incident near Gaza Strip's Netzarim settlement, Israeli soldiers shoot, kill Palestinian youth running from scene [WP 5/23; FJ 5/31]. Army reveals discovery of 4 Palestinian military cells near Bethlehem [FJ 5/31].

Other Countries: U.S. federal court excuses former Israeli official David Kimche from testifying before grand jury but reserves righto order him to return to U.S. and testify infuture [NYT 5/23].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli troops attack S. Lebanon town of Arnun, half mile north of security zone, destroying houses allegedly occupied by Shi'i guerrillas; Pres. Jumayyil calls for UN intervention [BG 5/23].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Pickering attacks Israel's policies in the occupied territories UP 5/22]. Arab local councils in Israel launch 2-day strike protesting authorities' refusal to help relieve educational and financial crises [FJ 5/24]. Military administration imposes curfew on Nablus-area villages of Salim, Dayr al-Hatab, and 'Azmut after discovery of body of murdered 8-year-old Israeli boy [WP 5/22].

Arab World: Lebanon's parliament votes to annul 1969 Cairo Agreement and U.S.- sponsored 1983 mutual recognition agreement with Israel [WP 5/22].

Other Countries: Former U.S. Sec. of State Henry Kissinger says international peace conference is certain to end in deadlock. Israeli F.M. Peres and MK Simha Dinitz voice disagreement UP 5/22]. Israeli government complains that subpoena served on former Foreign Ministry official David Kimche violates agreement between Israeli and U.S. governments [BG 5/22]. Viennese court sentences 2 Palestinians to life imprisonment for December 1985 airport attack [PI 5/22]. U.S. District Court in Los Angeles rules that it lacks authority to decide constitutionality of McCarren-Walter Act, under which 7 Palestinians and 1 Kenyan are threatened with deportation [LAT 5/22].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Heads of Israeli universities set tuition rate at U.S. $1,600 for all students [FJ 5/24]. Bayt Jann residents demonstrate at Ministry of Education in Upper Nazareth to protest ministry's indifference to 3-week-old school strike [FJ 5/24]. Military court sentences 3 bedouin accused of Fateh membership to prison terms of 18 to 24 months [FJ 5/24]. W. Bank Israeli military commander states more than 350 Palestinians are being held in detention camps built for no more than 150 [FJ 5/24].

Other Countries: Former director general of Israeli Foreign Ministry David Kimche, on business visit to New York, is served with subpoena by independent counsel Lawrence Walsh [BG 5/22].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ira Rappaport, leader of Israel's Jewish settlement movement, is charged with 1980 bombing that seriously wounded Bassam Shaka'a, former mayor of Nablus. Rappaport surrendered to police when he returned from 3-year stay in U.S. [WP 12/10].

Arab World: Egypt accuses Israel of using "violent repressive measures" against Palestinian protestors in occupied territories [BS 12/10; FJ 12/12].

Other Countries: Before the House Foreign Affairs Com., former U.S. National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane testifies that Israeli official David Kimche supplied him with a list of more than 800 "moderate" Iranian leaders. Vice Adm. John Poindexter, Lt. Col. Oliver North, and retired Air Force Gen. Richard Secord refuse to answer questions before the committee [WSJ 12/10].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Estimated 1,000 students and faculty members hold peaceful march from Birzeit U.'s new campus to the closed old- campus. Israeli troops force businesses in Ramallah, al-Birah, and Nablus to open [FJ 12/12]. Israeli military spokesman says troops fired in self-defense and student demonstration was "prepared in advance" [JP 12/10]. Palestinian youth is shot and seriously wounded in fight with Israeli soldier in Gaza; another is wounded when soldiers fire at stone-throwing marchers. Four Palestinians have been killed, at least 27 wounded in the last 6 days of Arab rioting [NYT, WP 12/10].

Arab World: Soviet ambassador in Beirut says his government is trying to mediate in battle between Amal and PLO [BS 12/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Reports about Israel's role in U.S. arms sales to Iran implicate senior Israeli officials, including P.M. Shamir, F.M. Peres, Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Director-General of Israeli For. Ministry David Kimche, and Israeli businessmen Al Schwimmer and Ya'akov Nimrodi, both involved in the nation's arms industry [WT 11/27]. Israeli officials state that Kimche and Amiram Nir, Peres' adviser on terrorism, are willing to cooperate in American investigation of the arms deal [LAT 11/28]. Former Armenian Bishop Shahe Ajamyan, accused of attempting to bribe the Jerusalem district commissioner, is released after 21 days in detention [FJ 12/5]. Social Improvement Association is established to protect Jerusalem's Arab residents [FJ 1/2].

Arab World: Saudi Arabian government denies 'Adnan Khashoggi organized U.S. shipment of arms to Iran [PI 11/28].

Other Countries: W. Germany expels 2 Syrian diplomats and 2 military attaches, delays replacing its ambassador to Damascus, but maintains diplomatic ties [WSJ 11/28].

Military Actions

Arab World: Israeli jets attack Palestinian bases near Sidon, killing at least 4 and wounding 3. (The Los Angeles Times reports 11 killed and 20 wounded in the raid.) Palestine National Salvation Front and Amal representatives rportedly have agreed to 9-point plan to end the fighting which has so far left 131 dead and 351 wounded [WP, LT 11/27; LAT 11/28]. PLO fighters in Lebanon reject the agreement [FJ 12/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Foreign Min. official David Kimche summons diplomats from UNIFIL, UN Sec. Council nations for explanation of recent anti-resistance campaign in S. Lebanon; accuses Pres. Gemayel of provoking violence [PI 3/6]. MK's Meir Cohen-Avidov, Yuval Ne'eman return from US with pledges of $70,000 for Keren Hebron fund, a taxdeductible US charity for families of Jewish underground defendants [JP 3/5]. Palestinian prisoners at Jnaid, Nafha prisons initiate hunger strike in solidarity with striking inmates at Ashkelon prison (begun 2/22) [FJ 3/8]. Clash between nationalists and Islamic fundamentalist factions injures 8 at Islamic U., Gaza; 20 arrested; studies suspended for one day [FJ 3/8]. Jewish underground defendant Dan Be'eri plea bargains with Jerusalem District Court to reduce number of charges against him in connection with plot to blow up al-Haram al-Sharif [JP 3/6]. Strike called by 52 Palestinian town councils ends after Interior Min. promises to cover their municipal debts totalling IS 1.4 billion [FJ 3/8].

Arab World: Thousands of Shi'ites march in Beirut protesting 3/4, IDF raid on Ma'rakah [WP 3/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Grenade thrown at IDF patrol in Sa'ir; IDF detain over 150, destroy property; 24-hr. curfew imposed. [MG, FJ, JP 3/7].

Military Action:

Cease-fire holds; 1,800 US Marines set sail from Naples for Lebanon to participate in peacekeeping force.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: David Kimche arrives in Baabda, plans to stay to represent Israeli position and expedite accord; Israel says release of IDF pilot is one unresolved issue; families of IDF soldiers held in Syria appeal to Begin to bar ICRC visits to Syrians until Syria provides accurate information on soldiers.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Habib works to resolve reportedly minor differences blocking final agreement on withdrawal of PLO forces from Beirut; Habib briefs Wazzan; Wazzan expects tomorrow's cabinet meeting to designate beginning for evacuation; PLO, Lebanese work out details of PLO political representation in Beirut following withdrawal.

Arab Governments: Arab League announces plans for August 28 ministerial meeting in Morocco to deal with Lebanon issue; Egypt says it refuses to resume autonomy negotiations with Israel while IDF occupies Lebanon.

US and Other Countries: Shultz confers with Senators concerning long-term solutions to Middle East issues (Percy reportedly presses Shultz to seek homeland for Palestinians).

UN: Third World nations open emergency meeting of General Assembly with drive to broaden support for a Palestinian state.