Thursday, January 24, 1985

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Manufacturers, govt. and Histadrut union agree on 8-mo. proposal to cut wages, subsidies [JP 1/25, LAT 1/26]. Over 600 Ethiopian Jews airlifted to Israel have been drafted into IDF; plans indicate induction of additional 2,000, creation of Ethiopian battalion in W. Bank [DW 1/24].

Other Countries: New York jury clears Time magazine of libeling Ariel Sharon in controversial article (11/12), but criticizes Time's reporting; previously ruled that article was inaccurate and had defamed Sharon [NYT 1/25]. [Many of Sharon's legal bills paid by rich Americans, Israeli residents of U.S.] [VV 1/29]. US Pres. Reagan asserts PLO, Col. Qadhafi, Ayatollah Khomeini assisting Nicaragua, creating "new danger" in Central America [NYT 1/25].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2 Israeli vehicles hit by gasoline bombs near Dheisheh camp; no injuries [FJ 2/1].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: bomb injures 2 IDF troops near Deir Zahrani. RPGs fired at IDF liaison bldg., Nabatiya; no injuries. Katyusha fired at SLA position in Deir Qanun; no injuries. RPGs fired at SLA roadblock near Nabatiya; none reported wounded. IDF kill Palestinian in gun battle with masked men near 'Ain al-Hilweh; kill 6 commandos near jezzine [JP 1/25]. SLA soldier killed by resistance near 'Abassiya [JP 1/27].