Sunday, March 27, 1988

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu is sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for selling Israeli nuclear secrets to the Sunday Times (London) [WP 3/28]. Israeli soldier is sentenced to 18 months in military prison and 18 months suspended for fleeing his post during 11/25 hang glider attack on Israeli army base [WP 3/28; LAT 3/29].

Arab World: PLO statement terms meeting between U.S. sec. of state Shultz and 2 Palestinian American professors an "important political step" [WP 3/28].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinians use axes, iron bars, stones, and cars in attack on Israeli troops conducting early morning raid in village of Maythalun, north of Tubas; 3 Palestinians are shot dead. At least 1 Palestinian youth is killed in Salfit; Israeli sources claim youth was killed when soldiers came to aid of tour bus that had mistakenly entered village [WP 3/28; FJ 4/3]. Army uses tear gas, rubber bullets to break up demonstration in Ramallah. There are also demonstrations inHebron, Bethlehem, Bayt Sahur village, and Burqa village. In Gaza Strip, Palestinians protest in Gaza City, Rafah camp, and Khan Yunis camp. Curfews are in force in Rafah, Beach, Dayr al-Balah, and Khan Yunis camps [FJ 4/3].