January 3
Following the outbreak of the intifada, deportation orders are issued for Palestinian leaders and activists.January 21
The media reports that soldiers were instructed to “break the arms and legs” of Palestinians as a means of punishment.February
All universities and colleges in the Occupied Territories are closed by military order for two years, until March 1990.March 14
Following distribution of a pamphlet in the Occupied Territories and the pressure and threats that come in its wake, more than four hundred Palestinian police officers resign.May
A permanent night curfew is imposed on the Gaza Strip. The curfew remains in force for six years.July
A new procedure in the Occupied Territories: The Civil Administration uses different markings on the identity cards of Palestinians and adds restrictions to the cards that state “The holder of this card is not allowed to exit for Israel.” A few months later, the Civil Administration will issue green identity cards (most residents of the Occupied Territories carry orange or red cards) to persons who are not permitted to exit the territories.July 31
King Hussein announces his decision “severing the administrative and judicial connection” between the Kingdom of Jordan and the West Bank.August
The IDF begins to use rubber-coated metal bullets to disperse demonstrations. A sharp increase in the number of Palestinian casualties follows.August
Israel bans the Palestinian popular committees.October 25
Reuters exposes the existence of the undercover units Shimshon and Duvdevan and that they carry out extrajudicial executions.November 15
The Palestine National Council decides to accept UN Resolution 242, which recognizes Israel. Yasser Arafat declares the establishment of a Palestinian state in exile. Electricity in the Occupied Territories is cut off to prevent Palestinians from watching the TV broadcast. Twenty-two countries immediately recognize the Palestinian state. From now on, this day will be commemorated as Palestinian Independence Day.December 17
Order No. 1262 is issued by the military commander. The order conditions the issuance of almost every kind of license and permit—including permits to leave the territories, work permits, drivers’ licenses, car registrations, building permits, permits to set up a business, and the like—on the payment of taxes. The taxes that the residents of the Occupied Territories have to pay are 35 percent higher, in real terms, than those paid by Israeli citizens.———
Three Israeli human rights organizations are founded: BTselem, Physicians for Human Rights, and Rabbis for Human Rights. These organizations will document violations of human rights in the Occupied Territories, file petitions in the Supreme Court, offer medical and practical assistance to Palestinians, and engage in public advocacy.