The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Moshe Levy, apologizes to UN and Ireland for killing an Irish UNIFIL soldier [CSM 1/15]. Al-Najah University is ordered closed for a second week [FJ 1/16]. Birzeit University lecturer Salih 'Abd al-Jawwad, held on charges of inciting a student demonstration on 12/4, is released after 39 days in prison [FJ 1/16].

Arab World: PLO Chairman Arafat arrives in Algiers where he is expected to participate in unity talks with other PLO factions [FJ 1/16].

Other Countries: In item based on leaked information from draft of Senate Select Com. on Intelligence report, the Washington Post reveals that Amiram Nir, aide to then P.M. Peres, first suggested sending funds from Iranian arms deals to Nicaraguan contras and that Israelater shipped Soviet-made arms to the contras. Report contradicts the official Israeli version of events surrounding the affair [WP 1/11].

Military Action

Arab World: Three Israeli helicopters fire on 4 Shi'i villages [FJ 1/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: UN Undersec. Urquhart meets with DM Rabin and Gen. Moshe Levy to discuss possible expanded UNIFIL role in Lebanon.

Other Countries: US Senate passes bill HR3398 (96-0) containing provision for a Free Trade Area with Israel. EL AL (London) reveals it has been supplying food to Arab airlines.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Youths on Ramallah-Nablus road and near Dhahariya village stone Israeli vehicles.

Arab World: After Israeli-led "South Lebanon Army" patrol ambushed nearby, killing 4, IDF troops and SLA forces herd together unarmed Shi'ite male villagers (between ages 15 & 60) and unleash revenge-seeking Druze SLA militia members to kill 13 and wound 27. Suicide truck bombing at US Embassy annex in Aukar (East Beirut) kills 23. IDF expels 4 British journalists from S. Lebanon [as Israel bars journalists without written IDF permission from area].