Voice of Peace Key Dates 7

Voice of Peace - Key Dates (7)

1990

9th February 1990	Abie Nathan was freed from jail (due to good behaviour).
15th May 1990	Abie Nathan arrested again when he returned to Israel after further meetings with Yasser Arafat.
21st November 1990	Test transmissions for the Voice of Peace took place on shortwave.

1991

15th January 1991	With the impending start of the Gulf War, large quantities of supplies were taken on board the MV Peace.
16th January 1991	After the UN deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait had passed without compliance, the Peace ship was moved to a safer position off Tel Aviv.
17th January 1991	The Voice of Peace played peace music all day, but closed its transmissions early at 7.30pm due to the emergency situation and a desperate shortage of on-board broadcasting staff.
18th January 1991	Two Iraqi missiles fell in the sea off Herzliya, just a few miles north of the MV Peace.
25th January 1991	Another air raid alert was sounded at 6.00pm just as Voice of Peace DJ, John McDonald was in the middle of reading the evening news. He asked listeners to re-tune to Kol Israel because the Voice of Peace was about to close until the alert was over. Shortly afterwards, the crew on board the MV Peace watched as a US Patriot missile intercepted an incoming Iraqi Scud near Tel Aviv, while two other Patriots actually fell on the city. Abie Nathan instructed the crew, not to re-open the station until the all-clear was given.
11th February 1991	A further Iraqi missile attack was directed at Tel Aviv, but this time the Voice of Peace remained on the air relaying broadcasts of the Army station Galee Zahal as well as Kol Israel until what had by then become its normal closedown time of 7.30pm.
27th April 1991	Abie Nathan began another of his 'Fasts for Peace' to promote talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
14th May 1991	Abie Nathan was admitted to hospital with heart problems and celebrations for the Voice of Peace's 18th Birthday were cancelled.
17th June 1991	After a personal request from the President of Israel Abie Nathan eventually ended his fast, after 40 days without food.
end of June 1991	Abie Nathan again met Yasser Arafat in Tunis. When he returned to Tel Aviv Airport two weeks later he was arrested by the Israeli authorities.
early July 1991	The Voice of Peace adopted a contemporary music format.
early October 1991	Following a short trial Abie Nathan was sentenced to a further 18 months in prison for having made repeated contact with the PLO.
November 1991	While Abie Nathan was in jail a further format change was introduced involving more up-beat music during the day.

11th February 1990 In South Africa Nelson Mandela was released after being detained for 27 years.

22nd November 1990

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, announced her resignation.

15th January 1991 The United Nations' deadline for the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from occupied Kuwait expires, preparing the way for the start of Operation Desert Storm.

17th January 1991 Iraq fires 8 Scud missiles into Israel injuring seven people.

25th January 1991 During the Gulf War Iraq sabotaged Kuwait’s main supertanker loading pier, dumping an estimated 460 million gallons of crude oil into the Persian Gulf.

18th February 1991 The Provisional Irish Republican Army explodes bombs at Paddington and Victoria stations in London, killing one person and wounding forty.

14th May 1991

In South Africa, Winnie Mandela was sentenced to six years in prison for her part in the kidnapping and beating of three black youths and the death of a fourth.

3rd July 1991

Former corporate enemies Apple Computers and IBM joined forces to swap technologies and develop new machines.

14th November 1991

US and Britain announce indictments against two Libyan intelligence officials over the downing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988.