The Palestine Chronology

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: Jerusalem Domestic Service announces Israel and Jordan signed memorandum on joint responsibility for new Arab bank in Nablus. Agreement is reached after intervention by U.S. Sec. of State Shultz in secret talks in London (FBIS 10/2). Israeli Trade Minister Ariel Sharon is fined by Israeli High Court of Justice for illegally appointing two trade attaches to New York and Bonn (JP 10/3).

Other Countries: Washington Post reports Reagan administration launched secret and deliberate campaign of deception aimed at convincing Qadhdhafi he was about to be attacked by U.S. bombers and ousted in coup. Plan was proposed 8/14 in memo by National Security Adviser Admiral John Poindexter. Pres. Reagan and government spokesman later deny planting false reports; Shultz justifies using press to scare Qadhdhafi (NYT 10/3).

Military Action

Arab World: Palestinian sources report mortar battle at Rashidiyyah camp (population 20,000) between Amal and Palestinians (MEI 10/12).

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: More Palestinians withdraw their candidacies for mayoralities of West Bank towns, including jamil Tarifi of al-Birah and Muhammad Rashid Ja'bari, of Hebron; Fathi Fahmawi, of Janin, abandons plan to organize municipal council acceptable to Israel [WP, PI 3/5]. Israel Radio reports gun used to kill al-Masri is same as one used in killing of Israeli border policeman in January and an Israeli merchant last August, both in Nablus [WP, PI, LT 3/5]. Jerusalem District Court sends Israeli bailiffs to Palestinian-run Jerusalem Electricity Company to evaluate and mark company's equipment; bailiffs give company 3 weeks to pay $10 million debt to the Israel Electric Corporation before JEC's property will be seized; workers declare partial strike in protest of the measure [JP 3/5, 6].

Arab World: PLO leadership meets in Tunis to discuss response to King Hussein's unilateral break from joint M.E. peace approach [MG 3/5].

Other Countries: New White House National Security Advisor Vice Admiral John Poindexter will replace 2 top M. E. staffers, James Covey and Howard Teicher with Dennis Ross, former senior Pentagon official and strong supporter of close U.S.-Israeli strategic cooperation [JP 3/4].

Military Action

Arab World: Hizballah publishes names of 11 people it executed in reprisal for massive car bombing in W. Beirut last March which it said was intended to kill Hizballah's spiritual leader, Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah; organization states the 11 worked for section of Lebanese intelligence that cooperated with Israeli and U.S. intelligence [JP 3/5].