The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: The treasurer of Jewish. Agency, Meir Shitrit, says organization will have to turn its immigrant-absorption services over to Israeli government unless Americans contribute more money [NYT 12/21].

Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University publishes annual report on military balance in Middle East. Study says Israeli military strong-arm tactics have not reduced protests in O.T. [WP 12/21; FBIS 12/28].

Arab World: Asad will visit USSR and is planning meeting with Mubarak in what political analysts in Damascus describe as reappraisal of Syrian policy in light of changing international and regional conditions [NYT 12/21].

Other Countries: Responding to NBC news report of 12/18, State Dep't says Israel informed U.S. about a month ago that it had purchased oil from Iran [NYT 12/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: Israeli electric company cuts electricity to Tulkarm village of Azzun [FJ 12/25].

Lydda military court sentences Khalid al-Amuri to life in prison for affiliating with PLO and throwing Molotov cocktails [FJ 12/25].

IDF declares Ramallah and al-Bireh market areas closed military zone, orders merchants to close shops [FJ 12/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: U.S. Congressman Douglas W. Owens (D-UT) of House Foreign Affairs Committee arrives in Damascus and meets with Vice Pres. 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam [FBIS 12/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military closes indefinitely Khalid Ibn al-Walid School in Nusayrat camp [FJ 12/15].

3 Palestinians from W. Bank village of Bayt Immar wounded by plastic bullets during clash with IDF [FBIS 12/19].

Arab World: 2 Fateh commandos are killed in clash with Lebanese militiamen in S. Lebanon [NYT 12/17].

Syrian soldiers in Alman, S. Lebanon fire on Palestinian patrol, sparking halfhour battle [MET 12/26].

Egyptian Interior Minister Zaki Badr survives assassination attempt in Cairo [MET 12/26].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Reuters reports that Labor Knesset member Lova Eliav met PLO official Nabil Sha'ath in Cairo. Eliav says meeting did not violate Israeli law, as it was conducted in lieu of a conference hosted by Egypt [FJ 12/18].

Arab World: Mubarak meets with Libyan leader Qaddafi in Libyan town of Sirt to discuss strengthening Arab ties [FJ 12/18].

In Amman, demonstrations in support of intifada continue for third consecutive day [FBIS 12/12].

Egypt Air commercial flight from Cairo to Damascus ends 12-year hiatus of air links them [FBIS 12/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Yedi'ot Aharonot publishes interview with Shamir in which Shamir says a Palestinian state already exists, and that is Jordan [FBIS 12/11].

Arab World: U.S. State Dep't confirms Iraq has successfully tested satellitelaunching rocket; it is first Arab nation to do so [WP 12/9].

In Jordan, more than 1,000 Palestinians block Amman-Damascus highway, demonstrate against new P.M. Mudar Badran. The demonstration is dispersed by police firing tear gas [FBIS 12/11].

Military Action

Arab World: Hizballah and Amal agree to cease-fire; it does not hold and at least 10 persons are killed [FBIS 12/8].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Syria releases 140 Fateh activists held in Damascus jails [MET 6/20]. Boutros Ghali returns from 2-day trip to Israel, briefs Arafat [FBIS 6/13].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Troops seal 11 homes throughout O.T. on pretext that occupants engaged in anti-occupation activities. Troops injure at least 8 Palestinians in Gaza. In Meguiddo prison soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian prisoners; 12 detainees are treated for inhalation [FJ 6/19]. In Nablus and Jenin troops arrest more than 50 Palestinian activists [NYT 6/14].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Hani al-Hasan, adviser to Arafat, states that Algerian delegation is currently visiting Damascus to prepare for reconciliation between Syria, PLO [FBIS 4/5].

Other Countries: U.S. calls Soviet sale of SU-24 aircraft to Libya "dangerous" [WP 4/6]. U.S. trade policy committee rejects appeal made by Arab-Americans to strip Israel of preferential trade privileges [NYT 4/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Soldiers shoot, wound 2 Palestinians in O.T., including 13-year-old boy in Balata camp [LAT 4/6]. In "humanitarian gesture" Israel releases 450 Palestinian prisoners [WP, LAT 4/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel closes al-Raya, an Umm al-Fahm-based newspaper, on grounds that it is PFLP front [FBIS 3/3, FJ 3/6]. Number of Israelis applying for unemployment benefits for the first time reaches new record in February; unemployment in Israel in February is up 78% over same period in 1988 [FBIS 3/16].

Arab World: Arafat declares that PLO will continue military raids across Israel's northern border [WP 3/4].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: At least 5 Palestinians are shot, wounded in W. Bank [FBIS 3/6].

Arab World: Israeli commander speaks of expanding Israeli-imposed "security zone" in S. Lebanon [FBIS 3/3]. PFLP-GC captures, later releases 2 American diplomats near camp outside of Damascus, accuses them of spying [LAT, WP 3/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Polof Israeli Jews shows 38% favor some form of territorial compromise [FBIS 2/24].

Arab World: Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze arrives in Damascus to begin 11-day Middle East tour [NYT 2/18]. Other Countries: U. S. vetos Security Council resolution deploring Israeli actions in O.T. [NYT 2/18, MET 2/28].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: In Kafr al-Dik Palestinian is killed by Israeli troops. 15-year-old Palestinian from Rafah dies from wounds received previous week. At least 5 other Palestinians are injured in Nablus area [FBIS 2/21].