Occupied Palestine/Israel: Students of West Bank vocational institutes and colleges strike to protest renewed attempts by Jordan Ministry of Education to impose...
Bomb explodes near IDF patrol between Tyre and Sidon, unreported number of casualties, road closed; 2 rockets explode near IDF positions south of Beirut.
Syrian planes fire 2 air-to-air missiles at Israeli jets on reconnaissance flight over northern Lebanon, no hits reported; Israelis deny Lebanese report that pilotless...
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Brig. Gen. Shmu'el Zucker assumes duty as commander of IDF forces in Gaza; replaces Brig. Gen. Tzvi Poleg [IDF 2/28 in FBIS 3/1].
Sec. Baker indicates Bush admin. would back $400 million loan guarantee program for housing Soviet Jews in Israel only if Israel stopped settlements in O.T.; also says he favors cuts in U.S. aid to Israel, Egypt, other major recipients in order to provide money for emerging democracies [NYT, WP, WT 3/2; NYT 3/3].
Pres. Bush denies U.S. is holding direct or indirect talks with Iran or Syria about release of American hostages in Middle East [WP, WT 3/2].
Appearing before House Foreign Affairs Committee, Defense Sec. Richard Cheney defends plan to give Egypt 700 surplus U.S. tanks made obsolete by reduction of European forces, says Israel was consulted and did not object [WT 3/ 2].
Arab diplomatic sources say ACC leaders have agreed Egypt, Iraq, and Yemen Arab Republic will intervene militarily in event of Israeli military threat to Jordan [WFD 3/1 in FBIS 3/8].
British Foreign Sec. Douglas Hurd meets with PLO advisor Bassam Abu Sharif in London; Hurd reiterates Britain's objection to settling immigrants in O.T. [WAKH 3/2 in FBIS 3/2].
Speaking in Jerusalem, Shimon Peres reiterates it is not Israeli gov't. policy to settle Soviet Jews in O.T. [JDS 3/2 in FBIS 3/2].
3 trade union groups in W. Bank end 9-year rift, merge into 1 group: General Federation of Trade Unions in the West Bank, headed by Shahar Saeed [MET 3/ 13-19].
Explosion detonated by "resistance fighters" kills 2 Israelis in S. Lebanon [BDS 3/1 in FBIS 3/2]; security sources report Israel has brought additional armored reinforcements into its "security zone" in S. Lebanon [BNR 3/1 in FBIS 3/1].
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.
Military Action:
Bomb explodes near IDF patrol between Tyre and Sidon, unreported number of casualties, road closed; 2 rockets explode near IDF positions south of Beirut.
Casualties:
4 IDF prisoners held by PLO say they are in good health and are well treated; demonstrations by Ansar prisoners continue, Gemayel says all innocent detainees should be released.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Ambassador to US denies charge that water resources were aim of Lebanon war; Druze religious leader in Israel asks Foreign Minister to protect Lebanese Druze from harassment by Phalangists.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat travels to North Yemen.
Arab Governments: Qadhafi visits North Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
US and Other Countries: State Dept. officials and senior US Middle East diplomats meet in Washington to discuss policy; European Parliament calls on EEC to resume normal relations with Israel and lift economic sanctions imposed in June 1982, also supports financial and material aid to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
Military Action:
Syrian planes fire 2 air-to-air missiles at Israeli jets on reconnaissance flight over northern Lebanon, no hits reported; Israelis deny Lebanese report that pilotless drone plane was shot down over Bekaa by SA-6 missiles, say that reconnaissance flights will continue; Phalange and Druze militias exchange fire south of Beirut.
Casualties:
1 IDF soldier killed, 14 injured when explosion damages troop bus in eastern Lebanon; Lebanese military prosecutor demands death penalty for pro-Iranian Lebanese Shiites charged with killing 6 Lebanese Army soldiers in March.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: MK Shulamit Aloni says over a period of years settlers in West Bank have committed many dozens of murders, assaulted and harassed Arabs, and committed hundreds of acts of vandalism all with backing of military government and former Defense Minister Sharon; Knesset votes 41-32 against motion calling for full parliamentary investigation of Jewish vigilantism in West Bank, Defense Minister Arens says only way of ameliorating legal situation in occupied territories is by applying Israeli law; police release suspect in grenade attack during February 10 Peace Now demonstration; Israeli Druze communities call for total strike to protest inability of IDF to halt Phalange-Druze battles in Lebanon; Arab local councils in Galilee and Triangle hold 2-hour strike to protest inclusion of Arab-owned land in jurisdiction of new Misgav regional council; Israel warns Syria not to play with fire after attack on Israeli jets; prototypes of Israeli-made missiles shown at International Aerospace show at Le Bourget, Israel Aircraft Industry spokesman says prototype of Lavi jet fighter will make first flight in February 1986; Israeli bus and car damaged by stones in West Bank; anti-Arab slogans written on walls near Bethlehem; security forces disperse residents of Hussan, in Bethlehem area, trying to stop Israeli surveyors.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fateh Central Committee, meeting in Damascus, cuts off food, fuel and pay to dissident PLO forces, estimated to number 150-500; Lebanese Foreign Minister meets ambassadors of 10 countries contributing to UNIFIL, would like troops to be deployed in Chouf region.
Arab Governments: North Yemen opposes Israeli-Lebanon agreement, calls for immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops.
US and Other Countries: All European Community members except Greece support Israeli-Lebanese troop withdrawal agreement.
