The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Following inquiries from Red Cross, Israeli army orders investigation into 9/17 killing of Munthir 'Awad, 18, of Gaza, by Israeli army [JP 9/19]. Women relatives of prisoners in Gaza prison begin sit-in at Red Cross office in Gaza to protest recent harassment and harsh measures used against prisoners [FJ 9/27]. Members of Lifta Gang who conspired to blow up Dome of the Rock last year are sentenced to 8 years in jail; 2 others who ordered the operation are found mentally incompetent and are institutionalized [JP 9/19]. The Central Bureau of Statistics announces Israel's population is 4.255 million: 82.5% Jewish; 13.5% Muslim; 2.3% Christian; 1.7% Druze and other. During the past year, the pop. increased 1.8%-1. 6% among Jews and 3.2% among Muslims [JTA 9/19]. Ethiopian Jews in Israel mark 15th day of sit-in protest on a Jerusalem street comer opposite the main offices of the chief rabbinate; the rabbinical authorities insisthe Ethiopians must undergo ritual conversion before marriage [LAT 9/19].

Other Countries: Asst. Sec. of State Richard Murphy testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East that arms sales to Jordan are necessary to continue the momentum of the peace process and that the administration will go ahead with plans to sponsor such a sale [LAT 9/19]. P.M. Thatcher, on visit to 'Amman, states opportunity for peace must be seized before the end of the year and asks all parties to the conflicto take risks for peace [LT, FT, MG 9/19]. Mexico agrees to buy $21 million worth of Israeli goods by the end of this year and agrees to raise the amount for next year, in an effort to induce Israel to continue oil purchases from Mexico [JP 9/18].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jamal 'Awad, 18, of Gaza, is shot 4 times, critically wounded by Israeli soldiers after reportedly refusing to stop when ordered [FJ 9/20, 27].

Arab World: Over last few days, 26 residents of Bint Jbail, allegedly members of Hizballah, arrested on suspicion of attacking Israeli army, SLA soldiers in area; weapons found [JP 9/19]. SLA reportedly captures one guerrilla, kills another trying to infiltrate Hasbaya from Biqa' Valley [JP 9/20].

Other Countries: Palestinian publisher Michel Numari, 37, is shot and killed in central Athens by unidentified gunmen. Numari, who published al-Nashra Arabic weekly magazine, was said to be close to Yasir Arafat [LT, JP 9/19]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Shops in East Jerusalem go on general strike again to protest closure of Hospice Hospital [FJ 8/2]. Proposal to erect a settlement on spot where two Afula schoolteachers were murdered is presented to Zionist Executive by Jewish Agency Settlement Department Cochairman Nissim Zvilli [JP 7/29]. Shimon Barda, head of the "Lifta Gang," is convicted by the Jerusalem district court of conspiring to blow up the Dome of the Rock. Sentencing will follow [JP 7/30]. Knesset finance committee freezes IS 354 million for Kiryat Arba's local council until Attomey General Zamir gives legal opinion on council's proposal to dismiss Palestinian workers [JP 7/30]. Knesset appoints seven-minister committee to make recommendations regarding punishment of those convicted of politically motivated killings [BG 7/29]. Voice of America reports Israel seeks American banks to operate in Israel, to boost ailing Israeli banking system; at least one is reportedly interested [JTA 7/3 1]. Koterit Rashit reports Israeli firms are studying 70 proposed business projects in China, including construction of 2 hotels and an airport. The Daily Telegraph cites report in Jane's Defence Weekly stating secret military links were opened between Israel and China in 1979, a $3 billion arms deal was recently concluded, and Israeli military advisers have served with Chinese ground and air force units [JC, DT 7/29].

Arab World: The United Arab Emirates is second state to confirm attendence at upcoming Arab summit meeting. Syria, Lebanon, and South Yemen will not attend [FT 7/30, LT 8/2]. Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt back the summit call [JP 7/30, FT 7/31].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli planes attack Palestinian base used by the PFLP-GC in eastern Lebanon; no casualty reports [WP 7/30].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel places Palestine Press Service editor Radwan Abu Ayyash under town arrest in Ramallah, preventing him from traveling to US on USIA-sponsored tour. Police arrest Shimon Barda, suspected arms supplier to Jewish terrorists (Lifta group). Hadashot publishes poll findings that 54% of Israelis want no Arabs in the country. Israel reaches labor agreement with Histadrut to increase public sector wages by some 15%.

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.