The Palestine Chronology

Pres. Mubarak receives Palestinian delegation to peace talks, which is in Cairo attending a conference [see 4/11]. (MENA 4/14 in FBIS 4/15)

Palestinian People's Party (formerly Palestine Communist Party) announces it will suspend participation in peace talks. Party also states it will withdraw completely if Palestinian leadership does not insist upon halt to settlement activity asa central element of negotiations strategy and does not make delegation's consultative committee more democratic. (al-Ray 4/25 in FBIS 4/27)

IDF court upholds deportation orders of 7 Gaza residents. (Ha'Aretz 1/21 in FBIS 1/21)

Several former activists from Palestine Communist Party announce formation of "Palestinian Democratic Grouping" in statement distributed in o.t. (MM 1/20)

E. Jerusalem newspapers list names of some 30 new members of the political committees in the o.t. The committees already count some 150 members, reportedly largely Fateh activists but some from the Palestine Communist Party, DFLP-'Abd Rabbuh faction. (Qol Yisra'el 11/12, 11/14 in FBIS 11/14)

Fateh leaflet circulated in o.t. orders political committees to disband after receiving orders to this effect from Yasir Arafat. The order stated that the committees should be reorganized by a special committee made up of seven representatives from both the West Bank and Gaza, plus a president. Fateh leaflet asserts that the underground committees of the intifada, not the political committees, should form the basis for the future Palestinian state. (Qol Yisra'el 11/12, Al Ha'mishmar 11/15 in FBIS 11/15)

Some 200 supporters of Hamas, leftist factions demonstrate against peace talks at a gathering ofsome 500 supporters ofthe peace process who were listening to a presentation made by Faisal Husseini in Hebron. (MEM 11/14)

Celebrations marking the third anniversary of Palestinian "declaration of independence" [11/15/89] begin in the occupied territories. (MEM 11/15)

Two alleged Palestinian collaborators are found dead in Gaza. (MEM 11/15)

Fighting continues in S. Lebanon as SLA artillery shells Iqlim al-Tuffah, Nabatiyya areas of S. Lebanon. Israeli helicopters attack PFLP office in Rashidiyya cmp, S. Lebanon. Aircraft later bomb Hizbullah bases in Malita village, Jabal Safi area of S. Lebanon. (MEM 11/14)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Air Force source tells the Jerusalem Post that U.S. intends to sell 24 Apache attack helicopters to Egypt and 19 to Israel [JP 2/10].

Arab World: PLO sends to European Community amessage regarding Soviet Jewish emigration to Israel [FBIS 2/14].

Other Countries: New York Times reports on poll sponsored by Tel Aviv's Israel-Diaspora Institute of 1,310 U.S. Jewish leaders; 74 percent of respondents favor talks between Israeli officials and PLO "moderates" [NYT 2/10].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF troops shoot, wound at least 30 Rafah Palestinians in clash at funeral of Arab killed 2/7 [FBIS 2/12; MET 2/20].

IDF seals off Nablus, Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and parts of Gaza Strip as Palestinians celebrate the 8th anniversary of the outlawed Palestine Communist Party [MET 2/20].

Palestinian dies of wounds received 2/8 [FBIS 2/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Peres states he is considering ways to promote self-rule among Palestinians in the occupied territories, outlines plans to nominate mayors in 3 major West Bank towns, would consider easing restrictions on travel to Jordan [NYT 2/27]. Israeli Army Chief of Staff Moshe Levy states 170 people were arrested during 6-day sweep in S. Lebanon, some have been transferred toprisons in Israel [NYT, TS 2/27].

Arab World: Radio Monte Carlo broadcasts statements by Nayif Hawatmah, general secretary of the DFLP, and a representative of the Palestine Communist party outlining conditions for rapprochement with Yasir Arafat's Fateh faction: (1) cancellation of the 11 February Amman agreement; (2) convening of the PNC; (3) creation of a collective leadership in the PLO [FJ 2/28].

Military Action

Arab World: Car bomb explodes outside entrance to 'Ain al-Hilwah refugee camp, near Sidon, killing driver and wounding 10; explosion occurred a half-hour before Palestinian students were to join a march to commemorate a slain Sidon leader [NYT, WP, CT 2/27].

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Justice Minister Nissim asks cabinet to reconsider approval (5/11/84) of 2 new settlements (Neriya & Yaarit) as legal expropriation papers in dispute. Rakah councilor Karkaby protests Haifa housing discrimination, denying Arab newlyweds access to apartments reserved for young couples. Central Bureau of Statistics announces April inflation rate of 20.6, auguring 406%o inflation rate for 1984. Candidate Rabin pledges Alignment gov't. could withdraw IDF from Lebanon within 6 mos., thus saving $200-250 million yearly.

Arab World: PFLP, DFLP, Palestine Communist Party & Fateh representatives meet in Algiers to form unified stand before next PNC meeting. Egyptian Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee holds conference on "Solidarity with the Palestinian People" in Cairo. In interview with Akher Sa'a, Egypt's Dep. FM Ghali calls for new Arab League that will recognize and cooperate with Israel. Residents of Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp demonstrate against Israeli occupation.

Other Countries: US gov't. turns over files to Israel on completed and pending cases of Nazis and pro-Nazis living in US.

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2 former Ansar prisoners Ghassan Zeidan & Mohammed Yunis held in Atlit prison submit habeus corpus petitions to High Court that Israel violated Nov. exchange agreement for their release. 3 Black Americans (2 bishops and 1 journalist) detained at Lydd airport because of skin color; no official apology offered; Tourism Ministry spokesman Shoshani explains Blacks singled out as part of "security check."

Arab World: PFLP-DFLP Joint Command, Palestine Liberation Front and Palestine Communist Party meet in Aden to discuss unification and revitalization of PLO.

Military Action:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Mutilated and decapitated body of Bilal Jamal Najjar, Najah U. student who disappeared (3/11/84), and was last seen in Israeli prison, found near Majdal Fadel village.