The Palestine Chronology

Joint EA, PLO Exec. Comm. mtg. is held in Nablus. (VOP 7/20 in FBIS 7/22)

Israel lodges formal complaint with the PA over the arrest of Israeli Arabs by PA police in the self-rule areas, accuses police of stealing Israeli cars. (QY 7/19 in FBIS 7/19)

Nr. Nablus, more than 100 Palestinians tear down fences, throw stones at settlers who illegally confiscated Palestinian land for Karyut settlement. 10s of settlers attack Palestinians with clubs, destroy Palestinian cars, beat 3 journalists, confiscate film fr. their cameras. IDF fires teargas to break up clash, imposes curfew. (JMCC, QY 7/19 in FBIS 7/22; NYT 7/20)

Palestinian Omar Muhammad Ali Rizaq, who admitted killing 2 passengers (incl. 1 American) during a 1985 hijacking of an Egyptair flight fr. Athens to Malta, is convicted in the U.S. Rizaq was convicted, served 7 yrs. in Malta, and was released by Maltese officials before being arrested by U.S. agents in Nigeria in 1993. He was tried under U.S. antiterrorism statues that permit prosection when Americans are victims. (NYT 7/20)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Reuters reports that Labor Knesset member Lova Eliav met PLO official Nabil Sha'ath in Cairo. Eliav says meeting did not violate Israeli law, as it was conducted in lieu of a conference hosted by Egypt [FJ 12/18].

Arab World: Mubarak meets with Libyan leader Qaddafi in Libyan town of Sirt to discuss strengthening Arab ties [FJ 12/18].

In Amman, demonstrations in support of intifada continue for third consecutive day [FBIS 12/12].

Egypt Air commercial flight from Cairo to Damascus ends 12-year hiatus of air links them [FBIS 12/13].

Military Action:

Lebanese Army patrol opens fire on illegal protest against withdrawal agreement by Shiite Muslims in Beirut suburb of Bir Abed, grenade reportedly thrown at patrol; demonstration also in Baalbek; fighting in Tripoli between Palestinian forces and Muslim militia.

Casualties:

1 killed, 10 injured in Beirut protest; Syria cuts off road, telephone and telex links between Syrian controlled areas of Lebanon and rest of country; many schools in Beirut closed; 4 persons killed in Tripoli fighting.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Uri Lubrani, former senior Israeli representative in Uganda, Ethiopia and Iran, reportedly selected to coordinate relations with Lebanon under terms of withdrawal agreement.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanon, Israel and US sign troop withdrawal agreement at consecutive ceremonies in Khalde and Kiryat Shemona.

Arab Governments: Saudi Arabia and Sudan support Lebanon on agreement; Libya asks Lebanese ambassador in Tripoli to leave, withdraws its ambassador in Beirut; Jordan announces that Palestinians from West Bank and Gaza can enter the country only across Jordan River bridges; Egypt Air lands first flight in Beirut since 1979.

US and Other Countries: State Dept. says Congress, but not public, will be informed of all details of secret US agreements with Israel and Lebanon; agreement with Israel reportedly recognizes its right of self-defense to retaliate against attacks in Lebanon, acknowledges that it can delay withdrawing troops until Syria and the PLO withdraw, pledges to help bring about Syrian and PLO withdrawal and to see that Lebanon lives up to its agreement with Israel; Reagan indicates he is ready to release 75 F-16 jet fighters to Israel.