The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli cabinet votes to cancel 7-year-old Lavi jet fighter project. Demonstrating Israeli Aircraft workers block highway near factory [LAT 8/31]. In Rafah, Palestinian child is shot in leg by Israeli truck driver who alleges he opened fire after group of children threw stones at him [FJ 9/6]. Trial of Mordechai Vanunu begins under extraordinarily heavy security; Vanunu faces life imprisonment for selling The Times of London information about Israel's nuclear facility at Dimona [WP, LAT 8/3 1]. In Jenin area, 5 people are injured when 2 gas bombs are thrown at Arab bus. In Gaza, Israeli police order 30 stores closed after gas bomb is thrown at Israeli car [FJ 9/6]. Palestinian-owned poultry farm in Nablus-area village of Naqura is demolished by Israeli bulldozers. It is the 3d farm destroyed in the past week [FJ 9/6]. Israeli authorities reopen Rafah crossing to Egypt after 4-day closure. The crossing was closed after acollaborator was attacked [FJ 9/6].

Arab World: Jordanian Ministry for Occupied Territories Affairs agrees to allocate JD 140,000 for development projects in Gaza Strip [FJ 9/6].

Military Action

Arab World: Shi'i guerrillas claim 4 Israeli soldiers were killed in overnight clash in S. Lebanon security zone. Israeli sources state 4 Shi'i fighters were killed north of the security zone [CSM 8/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli settlers, with support of border guards, occupy 4 Arab houses in Jerusalem's Old City; settlers claim to have boughthe houses [FJ 8/30]. Jericho receives JD 34,000 from Amman for development projects [FJ 8/30]. Residents of Rahat village demolish large section of mosque in compliance with Israeli court order [FJ 8/30]. Israeli authorities demolish 5 houses in Bita village near Nablus, Idna village near Hebron, and Dura village; 4 of the houses were built without licenses [FJ 8/30].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli police break up Damascus Gate demonstration sponsored by Com. Confronting the Iron Fist to protest detention of Hasan Jabarin on charges of meeting with PLO members in Rome [FJ 8/23]. Israeli authorities order expropriation of 1,500 dunams of land in Nablus area [FJ 8/23].

Arab World: American journalist Charles Glass escapes from Shi'i captors in Beirut [WP 8/19; MEI 8/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: A 1-day general strike in support of Jerusalem Electric Company closes most shops in E. Jerusalem [FJ 8/23]. Israeli police announce arrest of 4 Palestinians in connection with 4 murders, including assassination of Nablus Mayor Zafir al-Masri in 1986, and 3 attempted murders in Nablus and Jenin [FJ 8/23]. In Rahat village, 1,500 demonstrators inside mosque prevent court-ordered demolition of mosque by Israeli soldiers and police [FJ 8/23]. Jerusalem planning com. approves project to build 10,000 housing units for Palestinians innorthern Jerusalem [FJ 8/23]. Lina Tubaylah, member of Women's Work Com. in Nablus, receives 6-month town arrest order [FJ 8/23]. Israeli authorities ban 22 books from use in Palestinian schools on W. Bank [FJ 8/23]. Israeli authorities approve building of 4 new settlements in Jordan Valley, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem [FJ 8/23]. Israeli authorities inform landowners in Hebron-area villages of Dura and Dhahriyyah of plan to expropriate 2,000 dunams of village land [FJ 8/23]. Members of Village League open fire on Bayt 'Ula residents, injuring 2 [FJ 8/23].

Arab World: Maronite leader Camille Chamoun dies in Lebanon [MEI 8/28]. Arab committee studying terrorism ends session in Damascus; meeting was attended by an official delegation of the PLO [FJ 8/23]. Khalid Yasin, member of DFLP, is released from Israeli prison after 14 years, arrives in al-Baddawi refugee camp in N. Lebanon [FJ 8/23].

Other Countries: Scotland Yard reveals arrest of Isma'il Hasan Suwan, Palestinian researcher, in connection with attempted assassinationf Naji al-'Ali and seizure of large arms and explosive cache believed to be for use by PLO guerrillas in Europe [NYT 8/19; FJ 8/23].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: More than 50 Israeli soldiers raid al-Najah University in Nablus, confiscate books and files from administrative and student council offices [FJ 8/23]. In Gaza, 2 Israelis are injured in gunfire attack [FJ 8/23].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli cabinet decides to postpone vote on continuing Lavi project [NYT 8/17]. Palestinian prisoners in Nablus prison begin 2-day hunger strike to protest worsening conditions [FJ 8/23]. Dr. Zakaria al-Agha, chairman of Arab Medical Assoc., is dismissed from his position at Nasir Hospital in Khan Yunis for making political statements to the press without military permission [FJ 8/23]. Israeli court orders demolition of mosque in Beersheba-district village of Rahat on grounds that it was constructed without a license [FJ 8/23]. Police raid Jerusalem offices of Alternative Information Center, confiscate equipment and documents; center reopens after 6-month, police-ordered closure [FJ 9/20].

Arab World: Jericho Mayor Jamil Sabri Khalaf visits Amman for discussions of municipal projects with Jordanian officials [FJ 8/23].

Other Countries: Reports indicate Italian government is donating over $500,000 to UNRWA vocational school in Gaza [FJ 8/23].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli soldier and a civilian are shot, wounded in attack near Jabaliyyah refugee camp on Gaza Strip. Israeli troops seal off camp with barbed wire [FJ 8/23]. Soldiers in Nablus respond to stone-throwing Palestinian youths with tear gas and live ammunition; 3 Palestinians are wounded in the clash [CSM 8/17; FJ 8/23].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Nablus, Israeli troopshoot, injure 3 Palestinians after firebomb attack on military patrol [FJ 8/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U.S. envoy Charles Hill meets with P.M. Shamir before ending 3-day visit to Israel [LAT 8/13]. Former Israeli cabinet ministers deny charges made by Ariel Sharon that the full cabinet was responsible for all decisions and actions made during the invasion of Lebanon in 1982, call for commission of inquiry JP, NYT 8/13]. Israeli troops raid Birzeit University student hostel [FJ 8/16]. Israeli authorities close an entrance to Balatah refugee camp and another to Nablus [FJ 8/16].

Arab World: More than 300 Palestinian refugees demonstrate at Syrian checkpoint outside Beirut's Shatila refugee camp demanding Syria lift siege and allow residents to rebuild camp [CSM 8/13; FJ 8/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military reopens checkpoints on Israel-Gaza Strip border [CSM 8/6; FJ 8/9]. Israeli border police shoot, injure Palestinian protester during demonstration in Nablus [CSM 8/7].

Other Countries: Jane's Defence Weekly reports Jordan and U.S.S.R. are close to finalizing sale of Soviet MiG-29 aircraft to Jordan UP 8/6].