The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: D. M. Rabin says IDF efforts to control intifada have been unsuccessful, but that intifada accounts for "only 4 percent" of Israel's defense budget [NYT 12/5].

Arab World: Jordan's P.M. Zeid bin Shaker resigns and is replaced by Mudar Badran, who has held the office twice before. King Husayn asks Badran "to work with the PLO" and support the intifada [NYT, WP 12/5].

Arab Tripartite Committee on Lebanon concludes 2-day Riyadh meeting, issues communique calling on all parties involved to abide by Taif agreement [FBIS 12/5].

Other Countries: Arab nations at UN ask U.S. not to threaten UN with financial sanctions in future, and to allow PLO observer's seat to be placed near observer nations; in return Arabs will drop campaign to recognize Palestinian statehood [NYT, WP 12/5].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: 2 Israeli army reserve units made up of W. Bank settlers are deployed in Jericho and Ma'radah in W. Bank [FBIS 12/5].

General strike is observed in O.T. [FBIS 12/7].

Arab World: SLA and Amal forces exchange artillery fire in S. Lebanon [NYT 12/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: PLO officials in Tunis and Arab diplomats in Paris say Libya has placed Abu Nidal, leader of Fateh Revolutionary Council, under house arrest [NYT 11/28].

Other Countries: U.S. warns it will pull out of UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) if agency recognizes PLO [NYT 11/29].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Military orders 2 Palestinian houses near Ramallah and 4 in Rafah destroyed [FBIS 11/30; FJ 12/4].

General strike called by Fateh is observed in Gaza Strip and parts of W. Bank. 4 firebomb and molotov cocktails are thrown in O.T.; no injuries [FBIS 11/ 29].

Arab World: Lebanese Pres. Hrawi orders dismissal of Gen. Aoun; Aoun refuses to vacate presidential palace [WP 11/29];

Syrian tanks, forces, take up positions near Aoun stronghold [WP, NYT 11/29]

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: Soviet official Gennady Tarasov meets with senior PLO officials in Tunis to discuss U.S. plans for Israeli-Palestinian talks [MET 11/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinians in Nablus kill 54-year-old suspected collaborator [MET 11/7]. General strike in Tulkarm. 2 Palestinians are shot, wounded by IDF forces in clashes in O.T. [FBIS 10/31].

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

Arab World: PLO defers bid to become full member of UNESCO [NYT 10/12; JP 10/ 21]. Syrian pilot flies Soviet MiG-23 to Israel and asks for political asylum [WP 10/12; MET 10/24].

Other Countries: Roman Catholic archbishops John Cardinal O'Connor of New York, Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles, and William Keeler of Baltimore, draft policy statement for the church hierarchy calling for Palestinian "territorial and political sovereignty" [NYT, WP 10/12].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Dahayshah camp near Bethlehem, soldiers close school indefinitely, arrest 20 students, impose camp-wide curfew after petrol bomb is thrown at IDF vehicle. Gazans end 5-day general strike. 4 villagers from Bayt Sahur are arrested for not paying taxes. 5 Palestinians are wounded in Gaza during clashes [FBIS 10/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Defending decisions not to negotiate with PLO, P.M. Shamir says "were we to sit together, it would not be for negotiations but surrender talks" [NYT, LAT 9/27]. Moshe Arens urges President Mubarak to meet with Shamir [WP 9/27].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Nablus resident suspected of collaboration is killed [FBIS 9/26]. Soldier injured by rock in Gaza. General strike in Tulkarm [FBIS 9/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinians observe general strike to protest Israel's proposal for elections in O.T. [FJ 7/24].

Other Countries: U.S. Senate defeats attempt to prohibit U.S. contact with PLO officials responsible for acts of terrorism against Americans; passes watered-down version [NYT, LAT 7/21]. Senate also passes bill making it easier for Soviet Jewish refugees to enter U.S. [LAT 7/21].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Burin troops shoot, kill 17-year-old Palestinian. At least 18 Palestinians are injured in W. Bank. Israeli troops shoot, wound 59 Palestinians in Gaza Strip [FJ 7/24].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ariel Sharon, minister of industry, states that Israel must "eliminate the heads of the terrorist organizations, first of all Arafat" [WP 7/18]. Palestinians observe general strike throughout O.T. [FJ 7/24]. F. M. Arens states that it is impossible to hold free elections in O.T., while U.S. is holding talks with PLO [WP 7/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Soldiers demolish 2 Palestinian homes in Gaza City. At least 35 Palestinians are reported injured in O.T. [FJ 7/24]. Al-Fajr cites army sources as saying it costs Israel $500,000 per day to fight intifadah [FJ 7/17].

Arab World: SLA shells Palestinian positions near Sidon [FJ 7/24]. Israeli tanks fire on Sunni villages near Tyre, killing 1, wounding 10 [MET 7/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: General strike is observed throughout O.T. [FJ 7/17].

Arab World: Arafat states that PLO would no longer consider supporting Israel's plan for elections in O.T. [NYT 7/10].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Ramin Israeli troops open fire, kill 20-year-old Palestinian. In Madma 21-year-old Palestinian is killed during clash with army troops. At least 15 Palestinians are shot throughout O.T. [FBIS 7/10, FJ 7/17].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel's attorney general orders investigation into whether Ariel's order that Palestinian workers wear special identification badges incites racism [NYT 6/6]. President Herzog reduces sentences of 3 members of Jewish underground; originally sentenced to life in prison, they will most likely serve 7 years for murdering 3 Palestinians, wounding 30 [FBIS 6/6]. General strike observes 22nd anniversary of 1967 war [FBIS 6/5].

Other Countries: Labib al-Tarazi, PLO envoy to UN, meets with U. S. ambassador to UN Thomas Pickering. Pickering says that he met with PLO representative in role of president of Security Council for June, not as U.S. representative [FBIS 6/8].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel carries out "initiated operation" in Bayta, wounds 2 Palestinians [FBIS 6/5]. In O.T. at least 10 Palestinians are injured during clashes with troops [FBIS 6/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: General strike is observed throughout O.T. [FBIS 5/9].

Other Countries: PLO officially asks UNESCO to upgrade its status from observer status to full membership [FBIS 5/10]. U.S. Justice Department official states that U.S. representatives met with Israeli representatives concerning the Pollard case [WP 5/10].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Salfit troops shoot, kill Palestinian, wound 2 others [FBIS 5/9, FJ 5/15]. At least 6 Palestinians are injured throughout O.T. [FJ 5/15].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: More than 80 leading Palestinians from O.T. issue statement rejecting Shamir's call for elections in territories, calling on Israel to negotiate with PLO, attend international peace conference [NYT, LAT 4/27]. General strike is observed throughout O.T. [FJ 5/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Tulkarm camp troops shoot, kill 8-year-old Palestinian; 7 Palestinians are wounded at funeral. In Sabra troops open fire, kill 16-year-old Palestinian, wound 9 during demonstration. Troops shoot, kill 14-year-old Palestinian in Beach camp. In al-Shaja'iyah 14 Palestinians are wounded during protests [FBIS 4/27, FJ 5/1]. At Ansar 3 guards open fire with rubber bullets, tear gas and wound 5 during protest [FBIS 4/27].

Arab World: According to Beirut radio, IDF, SLA kill 8 Arabs in al-Qawzah [FBIS 4/27].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinians observe general strike in O.T. [FBIS 4/10].

Other Countries: President Bush reiterates opinion that "that the provisions of Security Council resolution 242 and 338 have not been fulfilled. The territory that has been ceded for peace [the Sinai] is not the end. It simply isn't" [LAT 4/8]. ABC-Washington Post poll indicates that majority of Americans believe that Israel should negotiate directly with PLO and that peace in Middle East is unattainable without such talks [WP 4/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Following Friday prayers large demonstration erupts at al-Aqsa mosque; 4 Palestinian are injured, 37 are arrested, 8 Israelis are injured. At least 10 Palestinians are injured in West Bank. In Khan Yunis soldiers open fire, injuring 2 Palestinians [FJ 4/10]. Members of group of progressive Jewish women praying at Westem Wall are punched, bitten by group of ultra-orthodox women [LAT 4/8].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Paestinians in W. Bank, Gaza, Israel mark Land Day by observing general strike [FJ 4/3]. Knesset approves $29 billion austerity budget, avoids vote on funding of settlements, religious institutions, kibbutzim [MET 4/ 11].

Arab World: PLO executive committee proclaims Arafat president of State of Palestine [NYT 3/3 1].

Other Countries: Canadian diplomats for first time meet with PLO representatives at UN [NYT 3/31].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Tulkarm soldiers shoot, kill 17-year-old Palestinian. In al-Jib 22-year-old Palestinian is shot, killed by Israeli troops. In Jabalya camp soldiers open fire, kill 24-year-old Palestinian [FBIS 4/3]. In Salfit 20-year-old Palestinian is shot, killed by Israeli troops. In Hebron at least 6 Palestinians are shot by Israeli troops. In Bayt Ummar 7 Palestinians are shot. At least 30 other Palestinians are wounded in O.T. [FJ 4/3]. IDF destroys the homes of 4 Palestinians in Gaza and demolishes part of a 5th house [FBIS 4/3]. In the Galilee, Israeli authorities arrest 17 Palestinians for possessing "inciting material" [FJ 4/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Al HaMishmar reports that Shamir has met with Sari Nuseibeh, Hanna Siniora, Elias Freij, Faysal Husayni; the Palestinians received PLO permission to meet with the Israeli P.M. and reported the results to the PLO leadership [FBIS 3/27]. General strike is observed throughout O.T. Curfews throughout O.T. confine 400,000 Palestinians to homes [FJ 4/3].

Arab World: Saudi King Fahd arrives in Cairo for 4-day visit [FBIS 3/28].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops open fire near Jenin, kill 4-year-old Palestinian [FBIS 3/27, FJ 4/3]. In Nablus 4 Palestinians are wounded by troops [FBIS 3/27]. At least 19 other Palestinians are injured throughout O.T. [FJ 4/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies issues report calling for Israeli-PLO talks, prolonged transitional period that could lead to Palestinian state [WP, NYT 3/9]. General strike is observed in O.T. [FJ 3/13]. Ministry of Tourism announces that in February tourism was down 15% from same period in 1988 [FBIS 3/16].

Other Countries: U.S. State Dept. announces it will grant visas to PLO officials Afif Safieh, Nabil Shaath, Noha Tadros to attend conference at Columbia Univ.; Israel protests move [WP 3/9].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: In Gaza at least 5 Palestinians are wounded by IDF gunfire [FBIS 3/8]. In Rafah troops demolish 2 houses of Palestinians accused of participating in the Unified National Command of Uprising (UNCU) [FBIS 3/9]. At least 14 Palestinians are wounded throughout W. Bank. In 'Isawiyyah troops arrest 30 Palestinians [FJ 3/13]. Arab World: Ba'th party attacks SLA position in S. Lebanon. Amal attacks 2nd SLA position, kills 1 soldier. SLA responds by shelling Nabatiyyah [FBIS 3/9]

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]

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel charges PLO with breaking anti-terrorism promise with attempted border infiltration on 2/5 [WP, NYT 2/7]. In Gaza general strike is observed [FJ 2/13].

Arab World: PLO says attempted raid was not terrorist operation, as targets were Israeli soldiers [NYT 2/7].

Other Countries: Israeli embassy in Washington formally asks U.S. govemment to suspend relations with PLO [NYT 2/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: At least 4 Palestinians are shot, 50 wounded during clashes throughout O.T. [FJ 2/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfews continue in Dayr al-Balah, Rafah, Burayj camps. General strike is observed throughout O.T. [FJ 2/6].

Arab World: PLO office in Morocco is upgraded to embassy [FJ 2/6].

Other Countries: Non-Aligned members of UN Security Council drop proposal criticizing Israel after U.S. refuses to support resolution [NYT 2/21.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Dayr al-Balah troops shoot, wound 4 Palestinians. Troops shoot, wound 11 Palestinians in Jabalya camp. At least 6 Palestinians are injureduring protest in Jenin. Throughout the O.T. at least 10 more Palestinians are injured [FJ 2/6].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: D.M. Rabin issues orders allowing greater number of soldiers to fire at demonstrators, increased use of demolitions, sealings of stonethrowers' homes, more confiscation of Palestinian property; Rabin threatens to close schools of stonethrowers [NYT, WP 1/18]. General strike is observed in Gaza [FJ 1/23].

Other Countries: CBS/New York Times poll of American attitudes toward Middle East shows that 64% of 1,533 people sampled favor U.S.-PLO talks [NYT 1/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Far'ah camp soldiershoot, kill 17-year-old Palestinian during protest. In Jenin troops shoot, kill 17-year-old Palestinian, wound 2 others. In E. Jerusalem 19-year-old Palestinian dies from wounds received earlier [NYT 1/ 18, FJ 1/23]. In Rafah troops shoot, injure 9 Palestinians. In Burayj 3 Palestinians are shot by troops. In Nusayrat 3 Palestinians are injured during protests [FJ 1/23]. Army destroys 3 Palestinian homes, seals 5 [NYT 1/18, FJ 1/23]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: General strike is observed in Gaza, Bethlehem district. Curfew in Dayr al-Balah enters 11th consecutive day [FJ 1/23].

Arab World: British min. of state for foreign affairs William Waldegrave meets with PLO officials in Tunis [FJ 1/23].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 13-year-old Palestinian girl from Nablus, 12-year-old Palestinian girl from Beach camp die from wounds received earlier in uprising [NYT 1/15, Fl 1/23]. In Jerusalem 45-year-old Palestinian dies from injuries received 1/5 [FJ 1/23]. At least 8 Palestinians are shot in Gaza [NYT 1/15]. In Bethlehem soldiers open fire on demonstrators, at least 10 Palestinians are injured. In Duhayshah Palestinian is shot, injured [Fl 1/23].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Gaza general strike is observed. Balatah, Duhayshah, several villages near Jenin are placed under curfew [Fl 1/9].

Arab World: PLO pledges full cooperation in investigation of bombing of Pan Am flight 103 which killed 270 people [WP 1/4].

Other Countries: U.S. calls expulsion of 15 Palestinians "counterproductive," violation of Geneva Convention [WP 1/4].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Bayt Sira 9 Palestinians are injured during confrontations with troops. At least 3 other Palestinians are injured throughout W. Bank. In Jabalya troops demolish 2 Palestinian homes, seal 1 more [FJ 1/9].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Gaza general strike is observed. Curfew in Duhayshah enters 6th consecutive day [FJ 1/9]. Arab World: U.S. ambassador to Tunisia, Robert Pelletreau, only U.S. official authorized to talk with PLO, asks PLO for information regarding bombing of Pan Am flight 103 [WP, NYT 1/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Nusayrat camp troops clash with Palestinians leaving 2 Palestinians injured. In Beach camp soldiers shoot, wound 2 Palestinians. At least 8 more Palestinians are injured throughout Gaza. In W. Bank at least 8 Palestinians are shot, injured during protests [FJ 1/9]