The Palestine Chronology

Conference marking 30th anniversary of PLO held in Jerusalem despite Israeli ban. IDF prohibits mtg. fr. convening at Ambassador Hotel, site of 1964 PLO founding conference. Participants led by Rev. Jesse Jackson march to Orient House to hold session. (NYT, WT 4/10)

Palestinian opposition factions attack 2 SIA posts nr. 'Ali Tahir, southern Lebanon; IDF/SLA kill 3, wound 3. IDF, SLA casualties not reported. (WT 4/10)

Frmr. Melkite (Greek Catholic) Archbishop of Jerusalem Hilarion Capucci, expelled by Israel in 1977 for 1974 arms-smuggling charge, claims Israel offered to allow him to return but he rejected offer because "it was tied to me not saying anything regarding the Palestinian cause or giving my opinion when I return." (NYT 4/10)

19-yr-old Palestinian fr. Shatti r.c., Gaza Strip, attacks Israeli bus with stolen Uzi submachine gun nr. Ashdod, killing 1 passenger and wounding 4. IDF, Israeli civilian shoot him dead. Islamic Jihad claims responsibility. (MM, WP 4/7; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/8)

2 Israelis stabbed and wounded at Gaza Strip entrances. Hamas claims responsibility, threatens series of attacks on Israelis in reprisal for Hebron massacre. Leaflet says Afula bombing 1st of 5 attacks to come. (MM 4/7; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/8)

Total closure imposed on o.t. for 1 week in response to Afula, Ashdod attacks. (MM 4/7; NYT, WP, WT 4/8)

5,000 attend funeral of 4 victims of Afula bombing, broadcast nationwide. Dep. Education M Micha Goldman, representing Rabin govt., booed by mourners. Funeral coincides with observances of Holocaust Day. 300 Israeli youths clash with police in tire-burning incidents. PLO in Cairo issues statement expressing regret over Afula bombing, but U.S. State Dept. spokesman Michael McCurry says U.S. wants stronger condemnation. (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 4/8)

IDF denies permit to conference scheduled 4/9-10 at which Jesse Jackson was to have spoken to 100s of Palestinian academics. IDF says conference, marking 30th anniversary of PLO and organized by Hebron Islamic University, cannot be held in Hebron or Jerusalem but could be held in Nablus or Ramallah. (WP, WT 4/8)

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: Police discover huge cache of weapons, including 107 grenades, 80 loaded magazines, mines, anti-tank bazooka shells and several dozen kilos of explosives in evacuated Palestinian village of Lifta near Jerusalem; suspected to be linked with "TNT" cells. MK Tsaban's motion to establish a committee of inquiry into the invasion of Lebanon defeated in Knesset vote (42-33). PM Shamir accuses Egypt of "tretreating from the Camp David framework, " citing Egypt's failure to return its ambassador to Israel. MK Rabin says PLO operations against Israel were "child's play" compared to Shi'ite "terror" against IDF in S. Lebanon. Chief of Staff Levy tells Foreign Affairs & Defense Com. 2,000 [Palestinian] "terrorists" have returned to Beirut, and IDF withdrawal from S. Lebanon would not guarantee Israel secure borders. 4 American-Israeli youths arrested for last Sunday's attack on Arab bus near Ramallah. 5 Galilee Palestinians arrested on prima facie evidence of membership in religiousnationalist organization that may have set fire to 30 vehicles in recent months. Nablus mayor Shaka'a rejects military authorities' conditions placed on his travel permit to US.

Other Countries: US amb. to OAS Middendorf affirms US and Israel have mutual strategic interests in Central America where a battle is being waged by "atheistic Communism to destroy our 'Judeo-Christian civilization'." "Moral Majority" leader Jerry Falwell reaffirms support for Israel before group at Herzl Institute, NY, stating Israel's best friends in US are "Bible-believing Christians" and US should not have interrupted Israel's "liberation" of Lebanon from Syrian and PLO "slavery." Rev. Jesse Jackson's US presidential campaign staff compile evidence of "hounding" by some Jewish-American organizations.

Military Action:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 3 Israelis killed and 9 wounded in booby-trapped bomb explosion on bus near Ashdod; Abu Nidal's PDFLP-GC in Damascus claims responsibility; 150 Arab men rounded up as suspects.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Former chief of staff Yigael Yadin submits affidavit stating IDF seizure of Hebron central bus station is not justifiable for reasons of security. PM Shamir survives 3 no confidence motions in Knesset. Al-Fajr journalist, Awad Abdel Fattah, denied access to West Bank and Gaza for 1 year by Israeli occupation authorities. Yaqoub Hijazi, owner of Akka publishing house, summoned by Israeli police for questioning about new book of short stories; police confiscate copies of the book, claiming it is "inciting."

Arab World: Lebanese Shi'ite leader, Raghib Harb, makes last public appearance in Hallusiyeh rally after fellow Shi'ite leader arrested by IDF.

Other Countries: Israeli Pres. Herzog ends African visit, returning from Liberia with wide-ranging commercial cooperation agreement. Washington Post alleges presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson privately made anti-Jewish remark; Zionist anti-Jackson campaign accuses candidate of "racism" and "anti-Semitism."

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 3 Galilee youths held since 9/27/83 sentenced to 6-15 mos. prison for participation in 1983 Land Day demonstration; lawyer says youths subjected to physical and psychological torture while in Jalameh and Akka prisons. Israeli Ministerial Economic Committee sets Friday deadline for gov't. dep'ts. to present budget proposals with 9% overall spending cut; DM Arens rejects notion of cutting budget for development of Lavi bomber. Jerusalem Post poll reports 72% favor cut in spending for West Bank settlements. Settlers from Yakir and Kedumim, bitter over arrest of 3 Israelis suspected of Nablus killings (12/8/83), return IDF-issued weapons to Israeli authorities.

Arab World: Rev. Jesse Jackson meets Pres. Assad in Damascus, appeals release of US airman downed 12/4/83.

MILITARY ACTION:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Incendiary bomb thrown at Israeli military patrol at Balata refugee camp; no casualties.

Arab World: Israelis reopen Awali River crossings after 3 days.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Students of West Bank vocational institutes and colleges strike to protest renewed attempts by Jordan Ministry of Education to impose comprehensive exam. Heads of Jewish settlements in occupied Golan complain that Israeli gov't. neglecting development there. PM Shamir says there is no chance for revival of Reagan peace initiative. Dr. Khalil Budeiri, 1st Palestinian opthamologist and respected patriot, dies.

Arab World: Arafat arrives in Yemen Arab Republic with loyalists aboard Greek ship; 10 marriages and 1 birth took place on board during weeklong voyage.

Other Countries: US presidential candidate, Jesse Jackson, invited to Damascus for talks by Pres. Hafez al-Assad.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: 1 Israeli soldier killed in Sidon ambush.