The Palestine Chronology

The IDF seals the West Bank and Gaza and tightens restrictions on Palestinian movements (including reimposing all Gaza checkpoints removed after the Palestinian ceasefire declaration on 6/29), expecting retaliation for its 9/6 attempt to assassinate Shaykh Yasin. In Khan Yunis, the IDF fires 4 missiles at the home of Hamas mbr. ‘Abd al-Salam Abu Musa, claiming it is a Hamas arsenal; Abu Musa escapes moments before the attack, which injures 15 bystanders, damages 9 surrounding homes. The IDF alsoarrests PA official Akram Tubasi on charges of smuggling weapons fr. Egypt to Gaza; demolishes a Palestinian home in Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Jaba’, Khan Yunis, Qalqilya, Ramallah; fires on residential areas of Rafah. Hamas mbrs. detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol in Gaza, lightly wounding 3 soldiers. (Israel National News 9/7; NYT, WP, WT 9/8; PCHR 9/11)

Arafat nominates PC speaker and Oslo architect Ahmad Qurai‘ to replace Abbas as PM. Qurai‘ says he would accept the nomination, provided he receives assurances of cooperation fr. the EU, Israel, U.S. (AP, BBC, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/8; HA, NYT, WP, WT 9/9; AYM, ITAR-TASS 9/9 in WNC 9/11; MM 9/10)

Israel seals its borders with the occupied territories, citing warnings of attacks by Hamas during the Jewish holiday of Purim. (WT 2/28; JP 3/5)

Netanyahu retracts 2/26 statement that Jordan might ally itself with Iraq if Baghdad attacked Israel. (WT 2/28)

Iran begins 9-day naval maneuvers in the Gulf, nr. the islands of Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb, which are claimed by both Iran, the UAE. (WT 3/3; MM 3/4, 3/5)

Gaza funeral of Muhammad Abu Sha'ban attracts over 2,000 mourners; message fr. PLO Chmn. Arafat calls on Palestinians "to reject violence and terrorism." (NYT, WT 9/23)

Egyptian Pres. Mubarak and Syrian Pres. al-Asad hold 3 hours of talks in Alexandria, agree Israel must pursue negotiations with Syria. Al-Asad foresees no early breakthrough in talks, while Mubarak insists "the Golan should be returned back to Syria" to secure peace. (MM 9/22; NYT 9/23)

Syrian VP Khaddam meets Sa'id Musa Muragha ("Abu Musa"), leader of Fateh-the Uprising, 1 of 10 Palestinian factions opposed to DoP. (RMC 9/22 in FBIS 9/24)

Association of Israeli-Palestinian Physicians for Human Rights petitions Israeli High Court of Justice to close Ketziot ("Ansar III") prison camp because of "inferior conditions of imprisonment" of Palestinians detained there. (MM 9/23)

Jordanian Min. of State Jawad al-Anani says Palestinians living in Jordan will not be allowed to vote in both Jordanian and o.t. elections, saying King Hussein and PLO Chmn. Arafat agreed to avoid "duplication." (MM 9/23)

Second day of talks between Iran and UAE are suspended after 15 minutes by the Iranian negotiators, as UAE seeks total Iranian withdrawal from Greater and Lesser Tumb islands in addition to Abu Musa. (AFP 9/28 in FBIS 9/28; MM 9/29)

PM Rabin warns of governing coalition's collapse as he sharply criticizes Education Min. Shulamit Aloni for her remarks on the Golan Heights, as well as for angering the ultra-Orthodox community with her secularist education program. (Qol Yisra'el 9/27 in FBIS 9/28; NYT, WP 9/28)

Over 3,000 Palestinian prisoners in 5 Israeli and 2 W. Bank jails embark on indefinite hunger strike to protest conditions in Israeli jails. (MM 9/28)

Iranian and UAE negotiators begin talks on status of Abu Musa island. (AFP 9/26, 9/27 in FBIS 9/28; MM 9/28)

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton says recent Lebanese elections were not free and fair, and that withdrawal of Syria's 40,000-strong "occupying" force is essential to Lebanon's independence. (MM 9/29)

U.S. bipartisan Congressional Budget Office reports that limits of weapons sales to the Middle East could save the U.S. $10 billion a year, while costing U.S. arms manufacturers $3 billion a year. Sales of arms for domestic rather than foreign policy reasons thwart the peace process and can damage long-term regional stability. Report also details European arms sales estimates. (Reuters 9/27 in MM 9/28)

PM Rabin implies Israel is willing to return part of the Golan Heights to Syria, expresses tacit acceptance of "land-for-peace" regarding Golan in speech to Knesset. (NYT 9/10)

PFLP, PLF, DFLP (Nayif Hawatima wing), and Palestinian Popular Struggle Front reiterate 9/5 rejection of Palestinian autonomy plan in Damascus. (RMC 9/10 in FBIS 9/10)

Israeli undercover forces open fire on group of Palestinians near Janin, kill masked youth reading nationalist statement over a loudspeaker. (MM 9/9)

Gulf Cooperation Council ends 2-day meeting in Jidda, issues final statement strongly condemning Iranian claim of sovereignty over island of Abu Musa, which is UAE property. Statement also criticizes Iraq, offering tacit support of Western imposed "no-fly zone." The 6 GCC members then meet in Doha, Qatar, with FMs from Egypt and Syria to discuss their March 1991 Damascus Declaration. Egypt is taking the lead in calling for an Arab joint military command and rapid deployment force for the Gulf war coalition members. (MM 9/9; SPA 9/9 in FBIS 9/10)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Clerks Union and Finance Ministry sign new wage agreement ending nationwide strike [CSM 9/28]. Palestinian-owned house in 'Isawiyyah village north of Jerusalem is demolished by Israeli bulldozers [FJ 10/4].

Arab World: Shaykh Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah and Saudi government deny allegations published in Washington Post that Saudi Arabia paid Fadlallah $2 million bribe to end bombing attacks on Westem targets [WP 9/28]. Libyan leader Mu'ammar Qadhdhafi receives Abu Musa in Tripoli [FJ 10/4].

Other Countries: Faruq al-Qaddumi, head of PLO's Political Department, holds talks with Egypt's F.M. 'Ismat 'Abd al-Magid in New York [FJ 10/4].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Pres. Herzog reduces from life to 24 years the prison sentences of 3 Jewish settlers convicted in connection with the July 1983 attack on Arab students at Hebron's Islamic College [WP 3/27].

Arab World: Statement drafted by representatives of 5 factions within the Palestine National Salvation Front at end of 5-day meeting in Tripoli calls for new PLO chairman to replace Arafat, restructuring of National Council. Al-Sa'iqah and Abu Musa's faction of Fateh did not participate in the talks [NYT 3/28].

Other Countries: Reagan administration announces shift to a more "activist" policy in the Middle East in an effort to restore credibility [WP 3/29]. Israeli Foreign Ministry official and China's UN ambassador hold talks on prospects for international conference on Middle East peace [WP 3/29].

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: Abu Musa faction member Nasir Hasan al-'Ali is arrested after planting bomb at El Al desk at Madrid airport [NYT 6/29; BG 6/28]. Yasir Arafat concludes 9-day tour of 5 African states, including Ghana, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, during which he reportedly discussed opening new PLO offices to bring the total in Africa to 36 [FJ 7/4]. U.S. Asst. Sec. of State Murphy arrives in Stockholm for talks on the M.E. with his Soviet counterpart, Vladimir Polyakov [WP 6/26].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy meets in Jerusalem with 9 leading Palestinians from the occupied territories in what is described as "routine" discussion of peace prospects. The 9 include Zafir al-Masri, Rashad al-Shawa, lliyas Furayj, and Hanna Siniora [JP, JTA 12/5; FJ 12/6]. Israeli authorities issue deportation order against Yunis Jabir Rajub from Dura village, near Hebron, stating he has been working for Abu Musa faction of Fateh since his release in 5/20 prisoner exchange [JP 12/5]. Avi Tzur and Claude Malka, former aides to former Agriculture Min. Michael Dekel, are arrested in connection with investigation into fraudulent West Bank land sales [JP 12/5]. Pres. Chaim Herzog addresses Israeli Communist party convention in Haifa, the first Israeli president to do so [LT 12/5].

Arab World: Boston Globe reports PLO leadership decided in last week's meeting that fighting units must now seek approval from PLO military council before conducting any operations; attacks will only be carried out in Israel and occupied territories [BG 12/4].

Other Countries: World Jewish Congress launches global campaign to persuade Vatican to give formal diplomatic recognition to Israel [JTA 12/5; WP 12/7]

SociaL/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Another 20 Palestinians are put under administrative detention [NYT, LT 9/4]. Military review board rejects appeals submitted by 3 West Bank Palestinians against deportation orders issued against them a week ago. They are expected to appeal to Israeli High Court [FT 9/4]. Shafiqa Abu Sitteh, 25, "accidentally" shot by Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip last week, dies from her wounds in Beersheba Hospital [FJ 9/6]. Israeli army spokesman reports Iraeli navy seized another yacht, the Gandha, off the coast of southern Lebanon on 8/31, arresting 2 Palestinians, a Greek, and a Briton who were aboard. Spokesman states Palestinians confessed to being members of Fateh and to planning attack against targets inside Israel. Def. Min. Yitzhak Rabin states Israeli navy will intercept vessels anywhere in the Mediterranean to prevent attacks on Israeli targets [LT, CT, MG, JP 9/3]. Israeli Chief of Staff Moshe Levy tours Golan Heights and declares 2-kilometer-wide strip along demarcation line a closed military zone. Army is reportedly building new fortifications and strengthening forces in the Golan [FJ 9/6]. Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports a Modi'in Ezrachi poll shows 60% of Israeli adult public favor amnesty for imprisoned members of Jewish underground; 34% oppose it UTA 9/3].

Other Countries: New York Times reports U.S. administrations discussing convening a meeting of Western European states to sponsor direct Arab-Israeli negotiations as alternative to the international conference which King Hussein and PLO insist on, which would include the Soviet Union [JP 9/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb explodes at bus stop at Gilo settlement, south of Jerusalem, wounding 6; 11 Palestinians are arrested [JP 9/3]. Abu Musa faction of Fateh reportedly claims responsibility [MG 9/3]. Unidentified people ambush settler's car in Gaza Strip; Israeli police say several bullets hit the car. Several Palestinians detained by police [Fl 9/6]. Stones thrown at Egged bus smash its windshield near Ramallah; 3 Palestinian youths detained and released [Fl 9/6].

Arab World: Gunmen seriously wound Hussayn al-Hayabi, 50, Palestinian guerrilla official loyal to Arafat, after storming his home in 'Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. Hayabi is 7th Arafat loyalist attacked since July in 'Ain al-Hilweh, and only one to survive [BG,WP,MG 9/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Military court in Lydda sentences Haifa resident Ziad Tawfiq Ba'alul to 15-year sentence, father Tawfiq Mahmoud Ba'alul for 5-years, for smuggling arms from Lebanon to W. Bank in 1982 [JP 2/12].

Arab World: Meeting in Amman, Chrmn. Arafat, King Hussein reach "framework for common action" on Palestinian question; accord establishes joint delegation to intl. conference including all permanent mbrs. of UN Sec. Council; calls for "confederated states of Jordan and Palestine," total Israeli withdrawal (including E. Jerusalem); affirms previous UN resolutions on Palestinian issue; does not explicitly mention Res. 242 [WP 2/12, NYT 2/13, 2/15, JP 2/14].

Other Countries: King Fahd, on visit to Washington, urges Pres. Reagan to become "more vigorously" involved in search for Middle Eastern peace [NYT 2/12].

Military Action

Arab World: IDF jets attack HQ post of Abu Musa fighters near Ta'lbaya, S. Lebanon; at least 4 injured [WP 2/12]. IDF soldier wounded by grenade attack on SLA post in Sidon, S. Lebanon. Katyusha fired at IDF post near Burj al-Shemali, S.Lebanon; no injuries [JP 2/12].