The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: The Washington Post reports Hamas made considerable gains in O.T. at expense of Fateh [WP 12/17].

Israeli government says missing air force navigator Ron Arad, shot down over Lebanon in 1986, is still alive and being held captive by Iran [MET 12/26].

French P.M. Michel Rocard arrives in Israel for meetings with Shamir and Peres [FBIS 12/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 7 Palestinians, including 10-year-old girl, are wounded when bomb is thrown into E. Jerusalem store [FJ 12/25].

Military closes indefinitely al-Tufah School in Gaza for stone-throwing incident [FBIS 12/19; FJ 12/25]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: 41 current and former officials of American Jewish organizations deliver letter to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir expressing "profound differences" with Shamir's views of Middle East peace process [NYT, WP 11/17].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: 4 Palestinians are deported to Jordan. Army issues orders for the destructionf 8 Khan Yunis houses [FJ 11/27].

At least 10 Palestinians are injured in clashes throughout the O.T. [FBIS 11/ 20].

Israeli security forces ban for 3 days for printing and distribution of E. Jerusalem's Al-Nahar newspaper. [FBIS 11/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli inner cabinet votes 9-3 to accept Baker's 5-point plan with conditions [NYT, WP 11/6; JP 11/11; MET 11/14].

Arab World: Members of Lebanon's parliament meet at northern airbase in Syrian-controlled territory toelect Rene Moawad as the country's new president [NYT, WP 11/6]. PLO Executive Committee ends meetings in Cairo; reaffirms right of PLO to a role in the peace process [FBIS 11/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military breaks up demonstration by some 2,000 Arabs, clergy, and American visitors supporting Bayt Sahur's tax revolt [MET 11/ 14]. 2 Palestinians accused of collaboration are killed. In Bethlehem, soldiers shoot, wound masked Palestinian. Palestinian wounded 11/3 dies. Security forces declare Bayt Sahur a closed military zone to prevent participation in a peace prayer service, prompting demonstrations there. Firebomb is thrown at Israeli vehicle patrolling E. Jerusalem. At least 5 Palestinians are wounded throughout the O.T. [FBIS 11/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Moshe Arens cables James Baker that Israel will accept Baker's 5-point plan if U.S. agrees to "minor" changes [NYT, WP 10/25]. Israeli officials claim having letter that shows PLO is hiring local Palestinians for assassinations and "terrorist actions" [NYT 10/ 24].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: General strike in Nablus and Tulkarm; 1 Palestinian is shot, killed, another is wounded by IDF gunfire. 2 Israeli cars are torched in E. Jerusalem [FBIS 10/25]

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Shamir accuses U.S. of trying to force Israel to negotiate with the PLO, says he will not compromise with Palestinians even if it means his govemment falls [LAT 10/18; NYT 10/ 19].

Other Countries: UN General Assembly rejects annual Arab motion-introduced this year by Libya-to unseat Israeli delegation; U.S.S.R. abstains for first time [NYT, WP, LAT 10/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Army closes second school in E. Jerusalem as demonstrations continue. Arab resident of E. Jerusalem is stabbed. Settlers block W. Bank road, prevent Arabs from going to work in Israel. 6 Palestinians are arrested, 1 soldier wounded by thrown rock [FBIS 10/18]; at least 12 Palestinians are wounded throughout O.T. [FBIS 10/25]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Army inquiry determines that human error allowed defecting Syrian pilot to penetrate Israeli air space [NYT 10/17].

Arab World: PLO Executive Committee, meeting in Baghdad, calls Sec. of State Baker's proposal for talks between Palestinians and Israelis an attempt to promote Shamir plan [WP 10/17; NYT 10/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 5 police officers, 15 Arabs are wounded, and at least 40 Palestinian students are arrested in E. Jerusalem clashes [NYT 10/17]. 8-year-old Palestinian dies of wounds received 10/13. Army closes E. Jerusalem school indefinitely due to demonstrations [FBIS 10/18]

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: General strike is observed in O.T. 3 Palestinians are wounded, 8 arrested in Qibya. Qibya and Kafr Malik placed under curfew. 18- year-old masked Palestinian is shot, killed in Hebron by IDF troops. Arsonists bum 30 dunums in the Kennedy Forest in W. Bank. Israeli car is torched in E. Jerusalem. Unified National Command of intifada issues leaflet number 47 [FBIS 10/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: W. Bank is closed until 10/9 due to Yom Kippur [FBIS 10/ 11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 3 soldiers are wounded when their jeep is hit by Molotov cocktail in Nablus; another soldier is wounded by rock in Rafah. 2 Palestinians are shot, killed in clashes with troops. 5 Israeli cars are set on fire in E. Jerusalem [FBIS 10/11].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan is sentenced to six months in prison for meeting last year with Yasir Arafat [NYT, WP 10/4; MET 10/10; JP 10/14].

Arab World: Syrian official condemns proposals for elections in O.T., claiming they would not lead to independence for Palestinians [WP 10/4].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 16 W. Bank Palestinians are arrested for flying Palestine flags. Israeli court sentences 2 Palestinians to 6 years, 30 months, respectively, for membership in organizations. At least 18 Palestinians are wounded throughout O.T. [FBIS 10/3]. IDF soldier is wounded by rock in E. Jerusalem [FBIS 10/4]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: Switzerland decides it is unable to rule on PLO's request to join the 1949 Geneva Convention as a state [MET 9/26].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. diplomat's car is set on fire by Palestinians in E. Jerusalem [MET 9/26]. Israeli police drafts some 200 Israeli Arabs into O.T. service [FBIS 9/15].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Rabbi Moshe Levinger, afounder of Gush Emunim and indicted for the murder of a Palestinian merchant, demonstrates in front of the E. Jerusalem house of Faisal Husayni, calling for Husayni to be tried in his place [NYT, LAT 8/29; MET 9/5].

Arab World: Arab League UN representative Clovis Maksoud says that Arab countries will call for transferring General Assembly meetings to Geneva if Washington refuses to grant Arafat an entry visa [FBIS 8/29].

Other Countries: U.S. Consulate says there were 10,588 U.S. tourist-visa applications from Palestinians during the first six months of 1989 and 1,499 applications for permanent immigration visas. 48,500 Israelis applied for tourist visas during the first five months of 1989 [NYT 8/29].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In overnight skirmish, Israeli police in Beit Safafa shoot, kill 20-year-old Palestinian, then attempt to break up a memorial procession for him. 4 officers are wounded, as well as an Israeli cameraman who is shot with a rubber bullet. 23-year-old Palestinian dies of gunshot wounds received last week in Gaza Strip [NYT 8/29; MET 9/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Laflets distributed in E. Jerusalem announce birth of Hizballah in Palestine, declare jihad against Israel and U.S. [FBIS 8/28].

Arab World: In Aden for visit, Arafat says latest round of U.S.-PLO talks did not go as they should have, blames U.S. intransigence [FBIS 8/28].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 46-year-old Israeli is found in a W. Bank village after reportedly being kidnapped on 8/24 by masked Palestinians [FBIS 8/25; NYT 8/26; MET 9/5]. Israeli figures say 13 Palestinians have been killed in the O.T. in the past eight days; that the violence has increased because Palestinian leaders have vowed to step up the intifada [WP 8/26]. Acting under new regulation that allows troops to shoot at masked Palestinians, soldiers shoot, wound one of several masked youths who clashed with IDF patrol in Jabaliyyah [FBIS 8/28].

Other Countries: Five-vessel French Navy task force remains off the Lebanese coast [NYT 8/26]; the French are joined by eight U.S. ships, including the battleship Iowa. Soviet guided missile cruiser Kirov is also there [FBIS 8/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: CSM reports that by mid-August 91 alleged collaborators had been killed by fellow Palestinians since the intifada began [CSM 8/21].

Arab World: Palestine National Fund (PNF) offices in Amman are reopened [FBIS 8/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: At least 3 Palestinians are killed, 6 wounded in clashes throughout O.T. General strike in W. Bank. IDF soldier in Tulkarm injured by a rock. Molotov cocktail hurled at a patrol in Jabaliyyah camp, no injuries. Police use rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse stone-throwing youths in E. Jerusalem. Curfew imposed on al-Ram and Dahiyat al-Barid, north of Jerusalem, following clashes between youths and IDF [FBIS 8/22].

Arab World: UNIFIL places forces on alert because of heavy Israeli and SLA military activity in S. Lebanon [FBIS 8/21].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: PLO lists conditions under which it would approve elections in O.T.: residents of E. Jerusalem must participate, freedom of speech and immunity from prosecution must be ensured, army must withdraw from population centers on election day, Egyptians and Americans would serve as election monitors, Israel must agree to principle of land-for-peace [WP 7/27]. Jordanian branch of PFLP dissolves, forms New Jordanian People's Democratic Party to participate in Jordanian politics [MET 8/8].

Other Countries: Soviet Union starts issuing tourist visas to Israelis for 1st time since 1967 War [NYT 7/27].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: In Gaza Strip 16 Palestinians are wounded during clashes with Israeli troops. At least 4 Palestinians are shot in W. Bank [FJ 7/31]

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Shamir bowing to right-wing pressure pledges that Likud will never return O.T. to "foreign sovereignty"; Palestinians in E. Jerusalem will not be eligible to vote in O.T. elections; elections in O.T. will not be held until intifadah is over, and the Jewish settlements are expanded. Peres says that conditions place "heavy handcuffs on the peace process" [NYT, WP 7/6].

Arab World: Jordan announces that parliamentary elections, the first in 23 years, will take place 11/16 [FBIS 7/11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Nablus 20- year-old Palestinian from Bayt Lid dies from wounds sustained 10 days earlier. In Gaza 103 Palestinians are shot, injured by troops; 20 are overcome by tear gas [FJ 7/10]. Army arrests 100 Palestinians in O.T. [LAT 7/6]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Saying "the Arabs are not welcome here," mayor of Petah Tikva announces that Arab day laborers are banned from town; day laborers wanting work must reporto spot outside town. Jewish nationalists escorted by riot police march through E. Jerusalem to mark 22nd anniversary of Israel's rule over all Jerusalem [LAT 6/2]. Five new settlements in O.T. are to be started in next 5 months [FBIS 6/2].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Near Jenin Palestinians kill 57-year-old Palestinian accused of collaboration. In Nablus troops open fire, wound 5 Palestinians. Near Hebron settlers shoot, wound 2 Palestinians. At least 26 Palestinians are injured during clashes in Gaza Strip [FJ 6/5]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Letter from Baker to Arens implying that continued settlement of O.T. may lead to cut off of U.S. aid is made public [FBIS 5/30].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Kifl Harith settlers shoot, kill 16-year-old Palestinian, wound 2, burn house. In Tall Palestinian is shot, killed while farming [FBIS 5/30]. In E. Jerusalem 18-year-old Palestinian from Hebron dies of wounds received 5/18. In Khan Yunis 37-year-old Palestinian suspected of collaboration is killed. At least 6 Palestinians are injured throughout O.T. [FBIS 5/31]. Guerrillas in S. Lebanon fire Katyusha rockets at Metulla, slightly injure Israeli baby [FBIS 5/30].

Arab World: In south Lebanon SLA, IDF patrol kills 2 guerrillas attempting to infiltrate Israel [FBIS 5/30].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel lifts curfew on part of Gaza Strip, refuses to allow Gazans to reporto work inside green line. Palestinians report that Israeli authorities have ordered them to stop exporting citrus from Gaza. Tel Aviv mayor Shlomo Lahat says that the city will no longer employ Palestinians for street cleaning, garbage collecting, sanitation work: "I don't want to discriminate and make them take only this kind of job, which has been the case up until now" [NYT 5/19]. Israel bans Druze leader from Galilee from entering O.T. for 1 year [FBIS 5/18].

Arab World: Jordan's king Hussein calls Israel's election proposal an attempt to "waste time" [LAT 5/19]. PLO calls on UN to take "practical measures to protect the residents of the West Bank and Gaza" [FBIS 5/19].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In E. Jerusalem 20-year-old Palestinian from Duhayshah dies from wounds received 2 weeks earlier. In Jamma'in troops open fire, kill Palestinian [FBIS 5/18]. IDF troops shoot, kill Palestinian youth from Nusayrat camp [FBIS 5/19]. At least 3 Palestinians are shot, injured in Tulkarm camp [FBIS 5/18].

Arab World: Soldiers of the Israeli-backed South Lebanese Army (SLA) wound 2 Irish UNIFIL troops in the Israeli-imposed "security zone" [FBIS 5/19].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli officials state that Sec. of State Baker has sent letter to F. M. Arens pressing for specifics concerning Israel's proposed election for O.T.-status of E. Jerusalem residents, international supervision, link between autonomy and final settlement [WP 5/12].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF kills 17- year-old Palestinian in Hebron [FBIS 5/11, NYT 5/12]. Over 100 right-wing Israeli march through Ashkelon, chant, "Death to Arabs," stoning Arab cars [NYT 5/12].

Arab World: Egypt is considering forgoing production of U.S.-designed M-IA1 tank in favor of joint Egyptian-Iraqi production of tank based on Soviet T-72 [WP 5/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF, police block hundreds of Arabs from attending Friday prayers in Jerusalem [WP 4/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In E. Jerusalem 23-year-old Palestinian from Nahalin dies from wounds received 4/13 [FJ 4/24]. 19 Palestinians are injured during protests in O.T. [WP 4/22].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Nablus remains under curfew for 3rd consecutive day [FJ 4/24].

Other Countries: In Paris King Hussein meets with French president Mitterand to discuss Middle East [FBIS 4/17]. Shamir makes surprise visit to Hungary, discusses bilateral relations [FBIS 4/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Duhayshah 13- year-old Palestinian is killed during demonstration. In Jabalya camp troops open fire killing 12-year-old Palestinian. In E. Jerusalem 50-year-old Gaza resident dies from head wounds received 2 weeks earlier [FBIS 4/17, FJ 4/24]. Palestinian dies attempting to hang flag from electric pole. In Abassan troops shoot, wound 4 Palestinians. At least 10 other Palestinians are injured throughout Gaza [FJ 4/24]

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: South Africa's ambassador to Israel states that since Israel placed restrictions on trade with South Africa, trade has increased [FBIS 4/18]. Israel prohibits residents of O.T. (except E. Jerusalem) from worshipping at al[Asqa mosque [NYT 4/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops shoot, kill 18-year-old Palestinian in Nablus. 12-year-old boy from jenin dies from wounds received earlier. In Gaza troops shoot, wound 5 Palestinians. In 'Askar camp troops open fire, wound 7 Palestinians [FJ 4/17]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: General strike is observed in E. Jerusalem, Hebron [FJ 4/ 17].

Arab World: Egyptian president Mubarak travels to Amman to brief King Hussein on visit to United States [FBIS, NYT 4/13].

Other Countries: Senior administration official states U.S. will no longer defend Israeli settlement policy before UN [WP 4/13].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gush Emunim leader Rabbi Moshe Levinger is charged in killing of Palestinian shoe salesman in Hebron [FBIS 4/12, LAT 4/13]. At least 26 Palestinians are injured during clashes in O.T. In E. Jerusalem at least 10 Palestinians are arrested [FJ 4/17'].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: In Jordan, revised election law awaits cabinet approval; change was necessary after Jordan renounced claims to W. Bank [CSM 4/13].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli wearing army uniform opens fire on Palestinians in E. Jerusalem; 20-year-old Palestinian is killed, 3 others wounded. In Khan Yunis troops shoot, injure 5 Palestinians [FBIS 4/17]. Israel claims to have captured 4 members of Unified National Command of the Uprising (UNCU) [FBIS 4/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: In U.S. Israeli P.M. Shamir proposes elections in West Bank, Gaza to choose leaders to negotiate self-government with Israel [WP 4/7]. Washington Post [4/6] reports that Israel is setting aside $5,000 a month to serve as "nest egg" for convicted spy Jonathan Pollard; Pollard is currently serving life sentence in American prison for selling secrets to Israel.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: In E. Jerusalem 25-year-old Bethlehem man dies from gunshot wounds received 3/30; this brings to 4 number of people killed as a result of Land Day demonstrations [FBIS 4/6, FJ 4/10]. At least 21 Palestinians are shot, injured throughout O.T.; 8 of injured are from Bethlehem [FBIS 4/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Cabinet Minister Ariel Sharon calls for more Jewish settlement in E. Jerusalem [FBIS 3/29]. According to figures released by Ministry of Industry and Trade sales of Israeli agricultural products in the O.T. fell 60% from 1987 to 1988 [FBIS 4/4].

Arab World: Mubarak rejects Shamir proposal for meeting in Washington [FBIS 3/29].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Hebron 70- year-old Palestinian dies after exposure to tear gas. In Salfit soldiers shoot, kill 20- year-old Palestinian. In Salim 6 Palestinians are injured during demonstrations at funeral of Palestinian who died day before [FJ 4/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: Bush administration asks Syria to close down PFLP-GC operations [LAT 3/10].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Gaza City 16- year-old Palestinian is shot, killed by Israeli troops. Near Ramallah 26-year-old Palestinian forced to climb telephone pole to remove Palestinian flag is electrocuted. At least 12 Palestinians are woundeduring clashes throughout O.T. In Rafah camp troops destroy homes of 2 Palestinians [FJ 3/13]. Troops arrest 15 Palestinians in E. Jerusalem [FBIS 3/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: O.T.'s trade deficit with Israel is cut by 66% in 1988, according to Bank of Israel UP 2/18]. Curfew is imposed on Tulkarm. Israel lifts night curfew imposed on Gaza Strip in order to allow workers to leave Gaza during upcoming 3-day strike [FBIS 2/21]. Tourism in Israel drops 14% in 1988 [NYT 2/19].

Arab World: Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze meets with Syrian pres. Asad [NYT, WP 2/19]. 50 intemational delegations meet in Sanaa, N. Yemen for conference sponsored by Yemeni Council for Peace and Solidarity to discuss Palestinian uprising, nuclear weapons, development, security [AYA 2/27]. Faruq al-Qaddumi meets with U.A.E. pres. Nuhayyan [FBIS 2/23].

Military Action Occupied Palestine/Israel: 14-year-old Palestinian from Rafah dies from wounds received 2/13 [FJ 2/27]. In E. Jerusalem 21-year-old Israeli is stabbed, killed by Palestinian [FBIS 2/21, FJ 2/27]. At least 6 Palestinians are wounded by Israeli troops on W. Bank [FJ 2/27].

Arab World: Israel shells UN peacekeeping patrol in Israeli-imposed security belt in S. Lebanon; 2 Norwegian soldiers are wounded [FBIS 2/21, MET 2/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: General strike is observed in occupied territories. Curfews are in effect in Rafah, Khan Yunis, Beach camps, parts of Gaza City, Hablah, Ras 'Atiyyah [FJ 2/13].

Other Countries: U.S. formally notifies PLO of "serious concern" over attempted PLO border infiltration [NYT 2/9].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Guards shoot, kill Palestinian and wound 19 during riot in Meguiddo prison. In Qabatiyyah soldiers shoot, kill Palestinian teenager. Troops in Silat Harthiyyah open fire, killing Palestinian teenager. In Tel Aviv 20-year-old Palestinian from Rafah dies from gunshot wounds received 2/7 [NYT 2/9, FJ 2/13]. 8-year-old Palestinian dies from burns received 2/4. At least 17 other Palestinians are wounded by troops. Soldiers demolish 2 homes in E. Jerusalem. 75 newly replanted olive trees are uprooted by troops in Bir Nabala [FJ 2/13]