The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Defense Minister Rabin denies White House allegations cited in Tower Commission report that Israel offered military advisers to Nicaraguan contras [NYT, WP 2/28].

Arab World: Israeli F. M. Peres ends 2-day visit to Egypt, issues joint statement with Egypt emphasizing support for 1987 international conference on Middle East peace. Reports indicate Egypt agreed during talks to exclude PLO from future peace talks [JP 3/7].

Other Countries: Convicted spy Jonathan Pollard states Israel provided highly detailed requests for documents and therefore doubts he was part of "renegade operation" [NYT 2/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Authorities close Hebron University for 3 days [FJ 2/27].

Arab World: Reports indicate PLO has received UAE permission to move Palestine National Fund from Amman to Abu Dhabi [FJ 2/27].

Other Countries: In report on human rights, U.S. State Dept. issues "generally mild critique" of Israel's treatment of Arabs in the occupied territories [CSM 2/24]. European Economic Community officially states support for international conference on Middle East peace [FJ 2/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Military authorities order Gaza's Islamic University closed for 10 days [FJ 2/27].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Grenade explodes during changing of Israeli border guard at Jerusalem's Damascus Gate, wounds 12 soldiers, at least 2 Israeli citizens, 3 Palestinians. PLO claims responsibility [FJ 2/27]. Explosion destroys soldiers' hitchhiking station at entrance to new Jewish settlement town of Efrat, midway between Jerusalem and Hebron [JP 2/27]. At Jalazun refugee camp near Ramallah troops use tear gas to disperse protestors who had blocked roads, thrown stones. Merchants strike in Gaza City to protest continued detention of over 135 university students [FJ 2/27].

Arab World: Syrian troops enter W. Beirut [BG 2/23].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Members of Gaza Trade Union of Carpenters and Construction Workers defy Israeli ban, vote in first union election in Gaza in 20 years [NYT 2/22; FJ 2/27]. Jerusalem Post cites reports Israel has doubled size of forces in Lebanon to almost 3,000 UPI 2/21]. Meir Ya'ari, one of the founders of Hashomer Hatzair Zionist youth movement and a long-time leader of Mapam party, dies at age 90 UPI 2/28].

Other Countries: Head of PLO Political Dept. Faruq al-Qaddumi ends 3-day official visit to Rome [FJ 2/27].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Estimated 200 students participate in protest in Ramallah, throw stones at Israeli soldiers [FJ 2/27].

Arab World: Advance party of Syrian troops and tanks arrives in S. Beirut; 4,500 Syrian and Lebanese soldiers are expected to enter W. Beirut 2/22. Lebanese Pres. Jumayyil, returning from 10-day trip to European capitals, terms Syrian plan "illegal and unconstitutional" [WP 2/22].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Knesset com. votes to deny Rabbi Kahane his free postal privileges after he sent "hate mail" to Israeli Arabs [WP 2/18].

Arab World: PLO delegation led by Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad) ends talks with Minister of Occupied Territories Affairs Marwan Dudin and other Jordanian officials in Amman with agreement on how to distribute Saudi contribution to joint PLO-Jordanian fund [WP 2/18].

Other Countries: Israeli P. M. Shamir and U.S. Sec. of State Shultz meet in Washington, discuss disagreement over international Middle East peace conference [NYT, WP 2/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: One woman is shot by police during 9th day of demonstrations in Khan Yunis [BG 2/18]. Authorities order Bethlehem University closed for 4 days, Birzeit U. for 2 days following demonstrations at both campuses. Demonstrations are reported in Gaza City, Rafah, and several camps [FJ 2/20].

Arab World: Amal temporarily lifts siege of Shatila and Burj al-Barajinah camps after PLO fighters agree to withdraw from posts in Maghdushah [FJ 2/20].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Poice raid W. Jerusalem Alternative Information Center, confiscate material, arrest director, and order center closed for 6 months on charges center has been "rendering services" to PFLP [NYT 2/18; FJ 2/20]. Trial of John Demjanjuk, accused of being Treblinka concentration camp prison guard known as "Ivan the Terrible," opens in Jerusalem [GU 2/17].

Arab World: Washington Post describes Saudi Arabian arms build-up asresponse to Israeli military threat [WP 2/16]. Syria asks Amal to ease its siege of Burj al-Barajinah and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut and Rashidiyyah camp near Tyre [OB 2/17]. Kuwait announces plan to contribute $5 million to joint PLO-Jordanian fund [NYT 2/18].

Other Countries: Reports confirm U.S. has upgraded Israel's status to non-NATO ally [PI 2/16].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Soldiers shoot and wound 9 youths during 2 demonstrations in Gaza City. As punishment for campus demonstrations, military authorities order Islamic University of Gaza closed for 3 days. Demonstrations are also held in Khan Yunis and Rafah. Commercial strike closes most shops and students block roads in Jerusalem. Roger Heacock, American Birzeit University professor, isarrested on charges of incitement. Military attempto storm Ramallah's Teachers Training College and break up demonstration fails [FJ 2/20].

Arab World: At least 25 killed, 100 wounded in fierce street fighting between Amal, communist, Druze, Palestinian, and Murabitun forces in W. Beirut [BS 2/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Defense Minister Rabin defends Israel's involvement in Iran arm shipments, states Israel participated with U.S. encouragement and approval [WP 2/16].

Arab World: Representatives of PLO and Jordan meet in Amman to discuss reactivating joint committee for W. Bank and Gaza development [WP 2/16]. Kidnappers release advisor to Lebanese Pres. Jumayyil after 4days as hostage [BG 2/16].

Other Countries: Washington Post reports Jonathan Pollard supplied U.S. reconnaissance data on PLO headquarters in Tunisia, assessments of operations planned by the PLO, and related information to Israel [WP 2/15]. Jerusalem Post cites reports that Israel has doubled forces in Lebanon to nearly 3,000 in effort to support SLA [JP 2/15].

Military Action

Arab World: Police report at least 8 injured, 1 killed in heavy fighting near Beirut's Burj al-Barajinah and Shatila refugee camps. In W. Beirut, 4 are killed, 9 wounded in clash between Amal and Lebanese Communist party [BG 2/16]. Amal allows 30 families to leave Burj al-Barajinah; UN still unable to bring supplies into camp. Amal also allows some refugees to leave Tyre's Rashidiyyah camp and return with food and medicine [WP 2/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Acknowledging pleas from families, Lebanese groups, and the Indian government and "positive" indications from Israeli government, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine lets midnight deadline for release of 400 Arabs imprisoned in Israel pass "until further notice" [WP 2/10; MG 2/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli soldiers break up rally at Balatta refugee camp with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, wounding 4; impose curfew on camp. In response, demonstrators gather at alNajah University; Israeli troops injure 7 in attempt to disperse demonstration. University is ordered closed for one month [FJ 2/13]. Israeli army arrests members of 2 Palestinian cells in Tulkarm and Janin on suspicion of involvement in series of recent firebomb attacks [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: Amal officials accuse PLO of responsibility for Beirut car bomb which killed 15, wounded 80. Nearby battles between Palestinian forces and Amal for control of BurJ al-Barajinah and Shatila camps kill 4, wound 12. PLO blames Amal for food, medicine, and water shortages in camps [WP 2/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: F. M. Peres indicates willingness to discuss exchange of 400 Palestinian prisoners for Israeli pilot but not publicly or under ultimatum. Kidnappers of 4 professors reiterate threat to kill their hostages if the Palestinians are not released by 2/9 [LAT, WP 2/9]. Four Israelis who met with PLO representatives in November are charged under controversial new law banning unofficial contacts with terrorist organizations [IN 2/9; FJ 2/13]. Israeli military court sentences 3 Palestinians to life imprisonment for October grenade attack on Israeli soldiers and their families in Jerusalem [IN, BG 2/9]. Estimated 150 landowners from 2 Tulkarm area villages file complaint with Israeli Military Objections Com. charging Arab dealers forged sales of their land [FJ 2/13]. Minister of Housing David Levy inaugurates new Jewish settlement in Hebron [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: Union of Palestinian Writers and Journalists opens 4-day unification conference in Algeria [FJ 2/13].

Other Countries: Report cites memos of meeting between U.S. Vice Pres. Bush and Amiram Nir, indicates U.S. knew arms deals were with Iranian radicals, Israel was "running the operation at the strategic, tactical, and logistic level" [WP 2/8].