The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Bomb explodes near military outpost close to Ain el-Hilweh; PRG grenade fired at Israeli civilian vehicle near Aley.

Casualties:

2 IDF soldiers killed, 1 wounded, 2 Lebanese wounded near Ain el-Hilweh.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin's office announces talks will begin next week on troop withdrawals, but questions grow over whether Lebanese government backs "negotiating" draft; Israeli tourism way down during traditionally busy Christmas season; goodwill delegation of Israeli religious dignitaries leave for Lebanon hoping to arrange reconciliation between Druze and Christians in Chouf; curfew reimposed on Balata refugee camp near Nablus, second high school ordered closed after students allegedly participate in rock-throwing.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Ousted Mayor Milhem of Halhoul, in Amman, says PLO must approve any negotiators who speak for the Palestinians.

Arab Governments: King Hussein leaves US for home; Arab League and PLO foreign minister to meet January 21 to assess efforts to promote Mideast peace plan.

US and Other Countries: Reagan optimistic but cautious after second meeting with King Hussein; White house officials later say in next 2-3 weeks Hussein will publicly announce whether or not he will join peace talks; Israeli consulate, Jewish club bombed in Sydney, Australia.

Military Action:

Rocket, mortar and artillery battles in 11 Chouf villages; armed clashes continue in Tripoli.

Casualties:

Lebanese merchants in Aley and Bhamdoun strike to protest renewed fighting; 20 killed, 4 injured in Chouf.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Commission of Inquiry recalls Sharon to submit to cross-examination; Sharon tells Knesset committee Israel is opposed to stationing any international forces in proposed security zone in South Lebanon; senior Israeli officials outline proposed Lebanon security zone, where it would set up monitoring posts manned by Israelis; ban all but small arms, carry out surveillance overflights; curfews briefly lifted, then reimposed on Nablus market and Balata camp; West Bank Palestinians upset at Christmas pilgrimages of Maronite Christians to Holy Places.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel meets with envoys of US, France and Italy to brief them on deteriorating situation in Chouf and Tripoli; Gemayel rejects Israeli demands for security zone as gross infringements on national sovereignty.

Arab Governments: King Hussein meets with Shultz in Washington.

US and Other Countries: Weinberger says US may send more troops once progress on pull-out is shown; Habib stops in France for talks with foreign ministry; British announce willingness to join multinational peacekeeping force in Beirut, will send armored unit with 80 men for three months.

Military Action:

RPGs, mortars and light weapons used in clashes around Aley; IDF convoy is ambushed in hills overlooking Beirut airport, IDF sets two shops ablaze while responding to attack; IDF holds Lebanese Druze suspected of shooting IDF officer in Aley last week.

Casualties:

1 killed, 4 wounded in Aley area.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet meets to discuss Sharon initiative and Habib proposals, drops condition that some of talks be held in Jerusalem; Habib meets with Begin to receive report on Israeli-Lebanese agreement; curfews maintained in Nablus and refugee camps of Balata and Deheisha; Peace Now demands that shooting incident be debated in Knesset.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Government, reacting to Israeli Cabinet decision, says it is ready to negotiate on withdrawal of IDF forces from Lebanon; Foreign Minister Salem says agreement is Israeli agenda for talks, but "we have ours," says US must be partner in talks; Lebanese officials avoid discussing alleged Sharon document.

US and Other Countries: Washington Post article reveals two unpublished letters signed by Habib last August guaranteeing safety of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

Military Action:

Mortar and artillery exchanges, sniper fire in Chouf; fighting in Tripoli despite Syrian checkpoints.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF shoots, kills Nablus-area youth, seriously wound another during protest by several hundred high school students over curfew imposed on Balata refugee camp two days earlier (students wave PLO flags, pictures of Arafat); school closed indefinitely, curfew imposed on marketplace; Israeli Palestinians approach Israeli government with offers to aid Palestinian refugees with goods and services.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat, in interview, hints he may order pullback of PLO forces; Gemayel and Wazzan meet with Habib who proposes holding talks in neutral country.

Arab Governments: Syrian information minister, in Kuwait, says Syria lost 5,000 people in invasion, several billion dollars worth of planes and military equipment; King Hussein arrives in Washington for meeting with Reagan.

US and Other Countries: Reagan at press conference, calls for removal of "armies of occupation" for Lebanon.

Military Action:

IAF patrols Bekaa for second day, to check Syrian moving in 2 SAM batteries; IDF pulls out of 2 Druze villages.

Casualties:

199 foreigners lacking proper papers deported from Lebanon; Meridor asks IDF to enter refugee camps to ensure security, housing for residents, announces plans to distribute 10 bags of cement to each family to build more permanent housing, contrary to Lebanese Government policy; Ain el-Hilweh refugees tear down first tent put up by UNRWA, ask to be allowed to build own housing.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Palestinian teenager killed, 1 wounded by Israeli civilian settler at Balata refugee camp near Nablus during protest triggered by 3 more expulsions of Najjah University staff for refusing to sign anti-PLO pledge; Najjah students stage sit-in, 16 detained, 9 Israeli vehicles destroyed; 2 Nablus high schools closed for week, Balata camp under curfew; leader of Kach movement convicted of trying to blow up the Dome of the Rock; Israeli censors ban Israeli theatrical satire on Israeli chauvinism, but play staged despite court order.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fathi Arafat of Palestine Red Crescent Society, visiting London, asks Britain for material medical support for Palestinians in Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Egypt protests to US and Israel imminent completion of Israeli hotel on disputed Taba coastal strip on Gulf of Aqaba.

US and Other Countries: US officials expect Israel-Lebanon talks to start in few days; Pentagon announces 1,800 US Marines to be replaced by Marine units as part of normal rotation schedule.

Military Action:

In the fourth day of the blockade, IDF armored units are concentrated near checkpoints, move to port road as well; new fight-ing erupts, with Presidential Palace, US embassy hit; shelling begins in afternoon, continues into night; IDF bombardment by tanks/ artillery hits PLO ammunition dump in Burj al-Barajneh camp, also target near UNESCO building; USSR compound badly damaged (Syrian outpost nearby); cease-fire called at end of day.

Casualties:

Political and military groups organize garbage removal, flour deliveries to small bakeries, creation of small clinics (only 10 days of flour on hand in W. Beirut; oxygen in short supply, gas almost unavailable); World Council of Churches says hundreds of Lebanese civilians have disappeared, apparently to Israeli internment centers (also charges obstruction of relief efforts, delaying shipping, documentation, unloading and distribution of supplies); after initial denial, IDF admits cutting water/ electricity to W. Beirut (only revealed after journalists found IDF soldiers inside switching station); Lebanese Red Cross calls for intervention to spare the people of Beirut; International Commission of Jurists calls on Israel to grant POW status to estimated 4000 Palestinians taken prisoner; Israeli government considers appointment of Arye Eliav to head rehabilitation efforts for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon (Eliav tentatively accepts pending government decision); suffering of Lebanese civilians from IDF invasion reportedly significantly higher than PLO; danger of cholera/ typhoid epidemics grow in W. Beirut; 3 IDF soldiers wounded at Baabda by PLO shelling.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Israeli sources report US willingness to station US troops in Beirut (US government later agrees "in principle" to send US troops as PLO escort, but opposition from Congressional leaders grows); Telem faction joins Begin government, giving Likud Bloc one more vote; government reportedly sets July 9 as deadline for diplomatic solution; Sharon, in speech near Tel Aviv, says invasion pre-empted Syrian war plans against Israel; Cabinet rejects 2 parts of US plan (continued PLO political role and 2 PLO units to be attached to Lebanese Army); government dismisses elected mayor and towni council of Jenin (sixth pro-PLO West Bank mayor ousted since November 1981), reportedly for failure to cooperate with new Israeli administrators; tear gas used to disperse Bir Zeit students protesting invasion; curfew imposed on Balata refugee camp near Nablus after bus carrying IDF soldiers stoned; 3 people in Idna near Hebron detained on suspicion of inciting workers to strike.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat rejects PLO evacuation under US supervision or via Sixth Fleet (however, other PLO spokespeople say US/French troops will separate PLO and IDF units, allow PLO evacuation to east); Arafat refers to Habib's "blackmail"; Phalange calls up 2500-3000 high school graduates of 1982 to boost armed strength; Greek Catholic bishop and two priests abducted in the Bekaa area (apparent retaliation for ab-duction of Iranian charge d'affaires on Sunday).

Arab Governments: Syria rejects participation in US plan.

US and Other Countries: Reagan agrees "in principle" to US troops being sent to Lebanon, key Congressional leaders voice concern, opposition to plan; US appeals for restoration of water, electricity to Beirut.

UN: Discussion of French/Egyptian resolution continues.