Joint Druze-Phalange committee does not meet as tensions in Chouf run high over kidnappings by both sides; large IDF force patrols area; cease-fire broken near Bhamdoun but...
Phalange militia ambushed in Aley's main square, rocket and artillery barrages exchanged, as Druze militia accuses Phalange of bringing in reinforcements; fighting...
Lebanese police move into buffer zones between battling militias, call cease-fire in Tripoli after four days of fighting; IDF lifts two-day old curfew in Aley, reimposes it...
US Marines expand Beirut role by adding heavy artillery, M-60 tanks to forces, widen patrol areas.
Casualties:
Lebanese Government frees all 14 Haddad...
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Military Action:
IDF uses loudspeakers to try to defuse Chouf tension as fighting continues.
Casualties:
2 IDF officers killed, three wounded when their vehicle hits a mine in eastern Lebanon; many villages in Chouf lack water and electricity because fighting has knocked out power lines; despite Israeli denials, three massacre survivors insist that some IDF soldiers were inside one of the camps during the killings, report talking to IDF soldier outside their home in Shatila camp and later saw as many as 10 IDF soldiers inside camp, talking in Hebrew on radios.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon tells Knesset committee that Syria has agreed to first phase of troop withdrawals, says Israel will not withdraw until all IDF POWs released, IDF bodies returned; Israeli military authorities lift restrictions on Bashir Bargouti, Samiha Khalil and Ibrahim al-Tawil, all alleged to be members of National Guidance Committee, later outlawed as PLO front.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO announces Palestine National Council will meet in early February in Algiers; Arafat, in Tunis, says only PLO can represent Palestinians in peace talks, will not relinquish negotiating power to King Hussein; Wazzan says talks with Israel may start in few days; 2 Lebanese representatives fly to Tunis for meeting with PLO leaders on withdrawal of forces.
US and Other Countries: Reagan and King Hussein meet at White House, Hussein avoids commitment to enter peace talks, says is contingent on US progress in getting Israel to halt West Bank settlements, both fail to find mutual strategy to bring Hussein and Palestinian representatives into negotiations with Israel, plan to meet again Thursday; PLO aide accompanying Hussein's party for briefings on talks; Hussein also meets with Caspar Weinberger; Chinese premier asserts Fez proposals are "practical" route to peace talks, expresses support for independent Palestinian state and independence for Israel, during press conference with Mubarak in Cairo.
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:
Joint Druze-Phalange committee does not meet as tensions in Chouf run high over kidnappings by both sides; large IDF force patrols area; cease-fire broken near Bhamdoun but reestablished after IDF arrives; IDF truck carrying ammunition goes up in flames near Deir al-Qamar; Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam visits Tripoli, negotiates immediate cease-fire after 4 hour meeting with local leaders.
Casualties:
IDF planning to reopen former PLO school at el-Mahshuk, near Tyre (many refugees still live in other schools, preventing reopening); students on strike in Chouf area; 2 killed, 25 wounded in Chouf; 3 IDF soldiers wounded in truck explosion.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon declines to testify again before Commisison of Inquiry; Chief of Staff Eitan, Director of Military Intelligence Saguy, head of Mossad, and Sharon's civilian aide Dudai all decide to give additional evidence or to cross-examine witnesses; Shamir meets with Argentine president and foreign minister to discuss Lebanese war, Malvinas, "disappeared" Israeli citizens, ends visit amid indications Argentina will seek large arms purchases; majority of World Zionist Congress vote for resolution, proposed by Labor Party, calling for peace settlement based on "territorial compromise," but parliamentary maneuvering blocks formal adoption.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat meets with former World Jewish Congress president Philip Klutznik in Tunis; Lebanese Foreign Minister Salem meets with Reagan, asks for more troops, also says Colombia, Brazil and Portugal have been asked to donate troops; Gemayel and Wazzan meet with Draper to discuss US proposal of partial withdrawal as first step to create momentum; to seek solution to disagreement on venue of peace talks; Draper departs to join Habib in Israel; Gemayel telephones Assad following meeting.
Arab Governments: Syria sends two high-level delegates to Tripoli port to try to end fighting.
US and Other Countries: Presidential adviser Edwin Meese says US will sell arms to Jordan without demanding its participation in peace talks, says issues unrelated; Honduran foreign minister denies arms deal with Israel but expects agreement on economic and technical assistance; Habib arrives in Israel; Britain postpones trade envoy's visit to Saudi Arabia in wake of tensions from postponing visit by Arab League delegation including PLO representative.
Military Action:
Phalange militia ambushed in Aley's main square, rocket and artillery barrages exchanged, as Druze militia accuses Phalange of bringing in reinforcements; fighting continues in Baal Mohsen and Bab el-Tabbaneh areas of Tripoli as both sides fire on police officers trying to arrange cease-fire; UNIFIL troops involved in firefight.
Casualties:
3 Phalange killed, one IDF soldier wounded in Aley; 7 dead, 12 wounded in Tripoli, where all businesses close during fighting; UNIFIL kills 1, wounded 3 militiamen; mothers and children of Phalange forces in Chouf hold protest march in Beirut demanding state intervention to end fighting; UNRWA says homes found for Palestinian refugees.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin aide David Levi confirms plans to expand settlements in West Bank; IDF officer links Sharon to brutality toward West Bank Palestinians.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat flies unexpectedly to Damascus, reportedly to heal rift between himself and PLO groups based in Syria, make friendly overture to Syrian government.
Arab Governments: Egyptian Foreign Minister Hassan Ali says Israel and PLO are delaying peace process, calls on PLO to recognize Israel.
US and Other Countries: US proposes shuttle diplomacy instead of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.
Military Action:
Lebanese police move into buffer zones between battling militias, call cease-fire in Tripoli after four days of fighting; IDF lifts two-day old curfew in Aley, reimposes it after 3 hours as fighting erupts; leader of Shiite Amal militia kidnapped by Phalange.
Casualties:
2 killed, 3 wounded by sniper fire in Aley during curfew break (110 estimated killed in Chouf fighting in past 6 weeks); US-led bomb squads searching for unexploded weapons and munitions have found 250 kinds of explosives from 17 countries.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon says only 479 killed in massacre (only 20 children, 15 women), contradicting his own Commission testimony; Ezer Weizman may head new center party.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Foreign Minister Elie Salem leaves Britain without firm commitment on troop expansion but is "satisfied."
US and Other Countries: India refuses visas for two Israelis to attend international airport chiefs' conference in New Delhi.
UN: General Assembly calls for creation of Palestinian state and Israeli withdrawal from lands seized in 1967 (Israel, US, Canada and Costa Rica vote no, 23 abstentions, 113 vote yes).
Military Action:
US Marines expand Beirut role by adding heavy artillery, M-60 tanks to forces, widen patrol areas.
Casualties:
Lebanese Government frees all 14 Haddad militiamen suspected of involvement in massacre after two-month interrogation, claiming lack of evidence.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: 5 Israeli Palestinians arrested after tires burned in West Galilee, walls painted with pro-PLO slogans; Sharon denies Israel has sold captured PLO weapons.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: New reports of killings and torture of Palestinian detainees by Lebanese, as Ambassadors of US, France and Italy reportedly exerting intense pressure on Gemayel to reveal status and condition of prisoners.
US and Other Countries: State Department announces Habib and Draper are being recalled to Washington for consultations, as Administration is concerned at lack of progress in negotiations, and holds Israel responsible; EEC warns Israel that continued West Bank settlement may lead to stronger EEC sanctions.
