The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Defense Minister Rabin defends Israel's involvement in Iran arm shipments, states Israel participated with U.S. encouragement and approval [WP 2/16].

Arab World: Representatives of PLO and Jordan meet in Amman to discuss reactivating joint committee for W. Bank and Gaza development [WP 2/16]. Kidnappers release advisor to Lebanese Pres. Jumayyil after 4days as hostage [BG 2/16].

Other Countries: Washington Post reports Jonathan Pollard supplied U.S. reconnaissance data on PLO headquarters in Tunisia, assessments of operations planned by the PLO, and related information to Israel [WP 2/15]. Jerusalem Post cites reports that Israel has doubled forces in Lebanon to nearly 3,000 in effort to support SLA [JP 2/15].

Military Action

Arab World: Police report at least 8 injured, 1 killed in heavy fighting near Beirut's Burj al-Barajinah and Shatila refugee camps. In W. Beirut, 4 are killed, 9 wounded in clash between Amal and Lebanese Communist party [BG 2/16]. Amal allows 30 families to leave Burj al-Barajinah; UN still unable to bring supplies into camp. Amal also allows some refugees to leave Tyre's Rashidiyyah camp and return with food and medicine [WP 2/16].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Estimated 350 Palestinians demonstrate in front of the Knesset to protest the destruction of Arab houses built without licenses, land confiscation, and other discriminatory policies. Representatives of the demonstrators meet with Labor and Likud members. Demolition orders against 8 houses near Haifa have been delayed [FJ 1/9].

Arab World: Richard Murphy, U.S. asst. sec. of state for Near Eastern and Asian affairs, arrives in Amman. He will also visit Israeli and Egyptian officials on this trip [CSM 1/7].

Other Countries: U.S. prosecutors claim Jonathan Pollard, convicted of spying for Israel, compromised more than 1,000 documents and request stiff sentence [NYT 1/7]. Israel has kept most of the documents supplied by Pollard [LAT, WP 1/7].