The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: During negotiations to heal rift in Herut party following convention, Ariel Sharon proposed that party posts be split three ways between Yitzhak Shamir, David Levy, and Sharon; Shamir and Levy reject the proposal. (Sharon currently controls only 15% of the party) [NWK 3/31].

Other Countries: P. M. Peres arrives in U.S. for 4-day visit [CSM, LT 4/1]. Peres is seeking support for his "Marshall Plan," whereby the 7 main industrialized nations would put together an aid package to help the pro-Western Arab states overcome the potentially disastrous effects of the drop in oil prices [DT, LT 4/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli troops kill 1 Palestinian youth in al-Burayj refugee camp, injure 3 others while quelling several Palestinian nationalist demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to an army spokesman [NYT, LT, MG, WP 4/1; JP 4/2].

Arab World: Fighting continues between Palestinian and Shi'ite fighters around Sabra and Shatila refugee camps [WP 4/1]. Sixteen have been killed, 62 wounded [DT 4/1].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel deports 2 more Palestinians to Jordan: 'Adnan Ghanim and A. 'Abd al-Majid Radad, both West Bankers released in the 5/20/85 prisoner exchange. Ghanim was brutally tortured during his detention since 12/22/85, suffering severe head injury [FJ 2/14]. Peres proposes "devolution" of local, municipal affairs into hands of occupied territories residents states he is not advocating "unilateral autonomy" [JP 2/11]. Israelis, Palestinian leaders in occupied territories reject unilateral autonomy [MG, JP 2/11].

Arab World: Jerusalem Post reports 2 leading Palestinian diaspora leaders, Prof. Walid al-Khalidi, of Harvard University, and Hassib al-Sabbagh, Geneva-based financier, visited Amman last week to participate in negotiations between King Hussein, Yasir Arafat [JP 2/10]. Al-Fajr editor Hanna Siniora and Gaza lawyer Fayiz Abu Rahmah also participated in negotiations between Wat Cluverius and Yasir Arafat [JTA 2/10].

Military Action

Other Countries: Newsweek reports U.S. 6th Fleet jets have secretly been practicing precision attacks in the Negev desert for over 3 months [NWK 2/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Arafat deputy Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad) states Cairo Declaration means PLO retains right to use violence in all territories occupied by Israel, including Israel proper [FT 11/12].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian is killed when bomb he is making explodes in his hands; military refuse to release name of victim, from Nakhlin village near Bethlehem [NYT 11/12]. Palestinian student, 17, is shot and wounded in confrontation with Israeli settler after students stone his car in Nablus; Israeli military close Qadri Tuqan school in Nablus and arrest 17 Palestinian students [NYT 11/12; JTA 11/13].

Other Countries: Newsweek reports combined unit of Israeli and SLA troops last week forced their way through Norwegian UNIFIL roadblock, exchanged gunfire and seized a jeep and machine gun. Norway filed an official protest with Israeli ambassador in Oslo, sent fact-finding team to Israel to investigate [NWK 11/11].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Defense Min. official Nachman Shai admits Israel obtained US-made krytron timing devices in violation of US export laws (devices can be used for nuclear weapons) [NWK 5/12, WP 5/14]. Border Police fine, dismiss officer for granting privileges to Jewish underground defendants; MK Meir Kahane states he will pay officer's fine [NYT 5/13, LT 5/14, JP 5/24]. Jewish underground defendant Yehuda Etzion admits participation in 1980 bombing against Nablus Mayor Bassam Shak'a; describes plot to destroy al-Haram al-Sharif as "cleansing" of a Jewish holy site [JTA 5/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 3 bombs explode in Jerusalem; no injuries. Police defuse 4th bomb near hotel in which US Sec. of State Shultz is residing; Abu Musa faction of Fateh, pro-Arafat Force 17 [based in S. Yemen] both claim responsibility [LAT MG 5/13].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Proposed state budget denominated in US dollars instead of shekels for 1st time [JP 1/21]. 1 Lebanese, 5 Galilee Palestinians convicted on terrorist charges in Haifa; group arrested in August 1983 on charges of plotting to blow up Shalom Tower in Tel Aviv as agents of PFLP-GC [JP 1/21].

Arab World: IDF begin first of 3-stage withdrawal from Lebanon as vehicles leave Sidon area; no troops scheduled to leave until 2/18 [JP 1/21].

Other Countries: US intelligence sources indicate Libyan leader Qadhafi has created pro-Libyan commando group, "Palestinian Arab Revolution Committees," in Beqaa Valley [NWK 1/21].

Military Action

Arab World: According to IDF sources, S. Lebanon resistance carried out over 900 attacks against IDF during 1984 [NYTM 1/20].