The Palestine Chronology

In Geneva, King Hussein tells UN conference on global warming that Gulf war would result in an ecological catastrophe and death toll "beyond our wildest fears" [WP 11/7]; Hussein meets with P.M. Thatcher to discuss Gulf crisis [NYT 11/7].

Sec. Baker holds short meeting with Pres. Mubarak in Cairo to discuss Gulf crisis [MENA 11/6 in FBIS 11/6].

Pentagon announces it is considering a call-up of army combat reserve units; Def. Sec. Cheney has given permission for Marines to summon 3,000 reservists to fill out brigade [WP 11/7].

Saddam orders the release of at least 77 Japanese hostages and 31 more from Western Europe after his meetings with former Japanese P.M. Nakasone [INA 11/6 in FBIS 11/6, 11/7; WP, NYT 11/7].

Two W. Bank Palestinians are shot to death near Nablus, apparently by Israeli civilian seeking revenge for Meir Kahane's 10/5 assassination; Kahane's followers in Israel threaten more retaliatory attacks, while gov't leaders appeal for restraint. In Brooklyn, thousands of Jews attend memorial service for Kahane [JDS 11/6 in FBIS 11/6; MEM 11/6; WP 11/7].

UNIFIL troops prevent Israeli soldiers from stationing surface-to-surface missile launcher into UNIFIL's area of operations in S. Lebanon; IDF says area is in "security zone" controlled by Israel [BVL, YA 11/7 in FBIS 11/7; MEM 11/8].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Israeli D.M. Rabin says that Israel has temporarily halted W. Bank deportations. The announcement comes after complaints from Israeli human rights activists and a U.S. State Dep't call for more flexibility in deportations [WP 2/1].

Jerusalem Domestic Service reports that 4,600 Soviet Jews arrived in Israel during January [FBIS 2/1].

Arab World: The Fifth Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches ends 6- day meeting in Nicosia with a call to support Palestinian independence [FJ 2/5].

Arafat meets with Soviet envoy Gennedy Tarasov in Tunis over emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel [MET 2/13].

ACC parliamentary committee opens meeting in Baghdad [FBIS 2/7].

Other Countries: UN Sec. Council extends the mandate of UNIFIL for another 6 months [MET 2/13].

Many of the Soviet Jews emigrating to Israel tell of rampant anti-Semitism in the USSR [NYT 2/4].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military demolishes 2 homes in Qabalan village, near Nablus [FJ 2/12].

General strike called for by UNLU is observed in O.T. [FBIS 2/1; FJ 2/5].

At least 12 Palestinians are wounded in clashes in O.T. [FBIS 2/1; FJ 2/5].

Israeli military closes 7 Gaza Strip schools for security reasons [FJ 2/5].

Gazan accused of collaborating with Israel is killed [MET 2/13].

Arab World: Army troops loyal to Aoun battle militias outlawed on 1/30. At least 28 people are killed [WP 2/1; MET 2/13].