The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Israeli inner cabinet discusses F. M. Peres' plan for international peace conference; no vote is taken [JP 5/14]. Authorities renew for another 6 months town-arrest order of journalist Nabhan Khurayshah; this, his 10th consecutive town-arrest order, is the longest town arrest on the W. Bank [FJ 5/17]. Israeli military court sentences 3 Palestinians from Gaza to 40 years imprisonment for attempting to plant bomb near Asqalan Prison [FJ 5/17].

Arab World: Pres. Mubarak of Egypt urges PLO officials to participate in international peace conference [BG 5/14].

Other Countries: Five U.S. senators introduce bill that would close PLO offices in U.S. [WP, NYT 5/14].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: In interview with The Jerusalem Post Robert Rhodes-James, aide to former UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim from 1972-76, charges Waldheim acted on behalf of Arabs and Soviet Union during October 1973 war [JPI 5/9]. Group of about 200 Arabs and Jews protesting 4-month closure of Birzeit U. and expulsion of student council head is stopped on road to university by military roadblock [JP 5/16; FJ 5/17]. Body of missing Palestinian youth is discovered on reef near Tel Aviv [FJ 5/17].

Arab World: Abu Nidal's Fateh Revolutionary Council threatens toattack American targets if U.S. extradites Mahmud 'Ata, accused of W. Bank bombing of bus in 1986, to Israel [WP 5/12].

Military Action

Arab World: Bomb explosion in North Lebanon town of Zgharta during a visit by Lebanese Pres. Jumayyil kls 1, wounds 34 [BG 5/10]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: F. M. Peres says he has no secret agreements with Jordan and has not discussed "any territorial questions" during recent talks; P. M. Shamir calls for direct negotiations with King Hussein without the involvement of "distant lands" [JP 5/8]. Qalqiliyyah is again placed under curfew after 3 firebombs were thrown at Israeli car. Settlers rampage through town, vandalizing cars and shooting at houses [FJ 5/10]. Explosion in Kiryat Gat settlement injures 4 Israelis, 1 seriously [FJ 5/10]. Military authorities impose curfew on al-Qassabah quarter of Nablus after firebomb is thrown at army patrol [FJ 5/10].

Arab World: Reports indicate Jordan has informed U.S. that Syria will participate in peace talks with Israel under auspices of UN-sponsored international conference [WP 5/8].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli army patrol in S. Lebanon kills 2 Palestinian fighters, captures 3 others [WP 5/9; FJ 5/17].