Washington Report, February 24, 1986, Page 9

Facts For Your Files: A Chronology of U.S. Middle East Relations  

January 20: 

The New York Times reported that the Reagan Administration, in an effort to combat international terrorism, was considering abducting terrorists abroad and bringing them back to the U.S. to stand trial for crimes committed against Americans. 

January 20: 

The price of crude oil dropped to below 20 dollars a barrel for the first time since the late 1970s. Analysts concluded that a key factor in the continuing slide in crude oil prices was Saudi Arabia's decision to maintain a market share by heavy pumping, a strategy designed to pressure other producers to limit their output. 

January 23: 

The U.S. began eight days of flight operations off the coast of Libya, in a move the Reagan Administration described as a "strong message" to Libya that it will act against terrorism. Two U.S. aircraft carriers stationed in the Mediterranean scheduled another exercise for mid February. Libya responded that its Air Force would conduct operations during the same period. 

January 31: 

The U.S. vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution accusing Israel of desecrating Muslim holy shrines in Jerusalem. The U.S. cast the sole dissenting vote against the resolution, calling it "unjustified" and "unfair." 

February 4: 

Hoping to capture Palestinian resistance leaders from a conference in Tripoli, Libya, Israeli warplanes intercepted a Libyan executive jet en route to Damascus, forcing it to land at an airbase in northern Israel. The Israelis found no Palestinians on boarding only Syrian officials and politicians. After interrogating the passengers for five hours, Israel allowed them and the plane to fly to Damascus. 

February 4: 

Under pressure from the pro Israel lobby in Congress, President Reagan formally suspended his proposed sale of $1.5 to $1.9 billion in arms to Jordan. Secretary of State George Schulz said the Administration would not move forward with the sale without first giving Congress 30 days to block it. 

February 6: 

The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israel for the February 4 seizure of a Libyan jet bound for Damascus. U.S. Ambassador Vernon Walters said that, although the U.S. opposed the interception, the resolution was "unacceptable" because it did not address the "overriding issue" of terrorism. 

February 9: 

PLO Chairman Yassir Arafat blamed the U.S. for the collapse of Mideast peace talks with Jordan's King Hussein. Hussein had insisted that Arafat accept U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which recognizes Israel, but Arafat refused to do so without U.S. recognition of the Palestinians' right to self determination. 

February 11: 

Testifying before the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, former Senator James Abourezk (D-SD) said the Arab oil embargo in the early 1970s and the Arab Israeli conflict had caused an "ugly, racist, type of anti-Semitism towards people of Arab descent living in the United States." In a subsequent testimony, the Associate Director of the Justice Department's Community Relations Service said his office recorded 160 acts of harassment or violence against Arab Americans in the past year. 

February 12: 

Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres announced a plan in the Knesset which would offer "unilateral autonomy" to the 1.3 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. The plan would give the Palestinians authority over health, education, welfare and municipal services.