The Palestine Chronology

The IDF apparently attempts to assassinate DFLP West Bank head Qays Samurai (Abu Layla) by planting an explosive device in his home in Ramallah; tanzim mbr. Anwar Aliya in an ambush by undercover units in Tulkarm. Samurai is not home at the time; Aliya is wounded. The IDF completes its withdrawal fr. Bayt Jala, taking up positions just outside the town and warning it will reenter if shooting at Gilo resumes. Clashes in Hebron, Ramallah, Tulkarm leave a total of 1 Israeli civilian, 3 Palestinian dead, 40 Palestinians wounded. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at Qarni crossing and residential areas of Bayt Wazan, al-Bireh, Brazil refugee camp, Yatta; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Rafah; blocks a marked UN convoy fr. entering Rafah to inspect the demolished Palestinian homes; sets up new roadblocks at the entrance to Tulkarm, on 3 roads to Jerusalem; reinforces troops around Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Ni'lin, confiscating papers fr. the local Fatah office, arresting 3 Palestinians; opens the main Gaza road that was sealed on 8/28. (HP, JP [Internet], MM, PMC 8/30; MENA 8/30 in WNC 8/31; HA, JT, NYT, WP, WT 8/31)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: US, Israel sign free trade agreements; all tariffs between the 2 countries to be eliminated within 10 yrs. [NYT 4/23].

Arab World: Chmn. Arafat indicates US must support PLO as legitimate representative of Palestinian people for negotiations to progress [JP 4/23].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF sink Fateh commando ship 100 miles off coast; 20 killed, 8 captured; Fateh Deputy-in-Command Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad) claims several fighters seached shore [WP, MG 4/23]. IDF confiscate five and one-half dunums of land in Beit Wazan belonging to al-Najah U. [FJ 4/26].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: Lebanese Forces announce unilateral ceasefire, plans to evacuate Sidon area; fighting continues [NYT 4/23]. Roadside bomb injures IDF soldier near Jwaiyeh [JP 4/23].