The Palestine Chronology

Mourners at Ashkelon funeral of Zipporah Sasson chant "death to Arabs!" but cabinet declines to close off o.t., FM Peres saying "there is no need at the moment to renew the closure," closure "neither effective nor required."  Environment M Yossi Sarid warns, "if [PLO Chmn. Arafat] and his people do not bring down the level of terrorism, terrorism will bring them down."  Israeli cabinet discusses closure of o.t. as possible response to Sasson murder, but FM Peres says "it is unfair to punish innocent people." (MM, NYT, WT 2/21)

Police M Moshe Shahal announces plans to deploy Civil Guard units in all major settlements in o.t. as part of IDF redeployment plans.  (MM 2/21)

Associated Press reports Israel preparing to evacuate Palestinian informers and their families to Israel fr. villages of Dahaniya in the Gaza Strip and Fahmi in the West Bank in anticipation of Palestinian autonomy.  Report says 13 of 100 families in Dahaniya and 24 of 105 in Fahmi have received Israeli i.d.s  (WT 2/20)

Jordan arrests 15 FRC ("Abu Nidal") mbrs. in raid on Amman office posing as trading company.  Most had served prison terms in 1970s for terrorist crimes.  Move follows arrests in Lebanon of FRC mbrs. for murder of Jordanian diplomat, Jordanian accusations of Libyan complicity.  (MM, WP 2/23)

King Fahd announces Saudi fund-raising drive for restoration of Islamic holy places in Jerusalem.  (MM 2/24)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Deposed Ramallah mayor Karim Khalaf supports 2/11 Arafat-Hussein accord [deposed Nablus mayor Bassam al-Shak'a, Abna' al-Balad movement oppose agreement] [FJ 2/22]. 25 women prisoners end hunger strike [begun 2/12] at Neve Tertza prison after receiving promises of better treatment [FJ 2/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli bus stoned near al-Amari camp; one passenger injured; authorities close furniture shop in vicinity [JP 2/18]. After High Court of Justice refuses 2 stays of deportation, authorities deport Fateh figure 'Abd al-'Aziz Shahin to Lebanon [imprisoned in 1967 for "armed infiltration;" released in 1982, he was forced to live incommunicado in Dahaniya, Gaza strip until his deportation] [JP 2/18, FJ 2/22].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: assassinations of collaborators continue in wake of Israeli withdrawal from Sidon area [NYT 2/18]. Roadside bomb kills IDF soldier, wounds 3, in al-Bazouriya UP 2/18]. IDF soldier killed in ambush near Nabatiya [WP 2/19].