The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

IDF Border Police and General Security Services HQ in Tyre destroyed by car bomb, Islamic Jihad group claims responsibility; Israeli Air Force attacks PSP and Palestinian targets in Aley, Bhamdoun and Sofar areas near Beirut-Damascus highway, Syrian positions at Sofar reportedly hit, 16 T-54 tanks destroyed; heavy fighting continues in Tripoli around Baddawi and Nahr al-Bared refugee camps.

Casualties:

29 IDF personnel, mostly Druze border police, 10 Palestinian and Lebanese detainees killed, 29 Israelis, 3 Palestinians and Lebanese wounded in Tyre bombing, 7 more IDF soldiers wounded when ammunition explodes in rubble; up to 60 killed, 100 wounded in Israeli air attacks, PFLP-GC HQ destroyed; 24-hour curfew imposed on Tyre; 6 prisoners killed at Ansar when bulldozer collapses escape tunnel.

Political Responses:

Israeli/ Occupied Territories: Arens says it doesn't matter who mounteid attack on IDF HQ in Tyre, Lebanon is one big network of murderers and Israel will hit back strongly; advocate Lea Tsemel reveals that Israeli prison service used teargas against 30 Palestinian women prisoners in their cells at Neve Tertza prison on October 3 1.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Geneva talks adjourn, Gemayel to travel to US, European and Arab capitals, talks to resume on November 14; Arafat, under fire in Tripoli, says Syrians want to eliminate him so as to gain control of PLO as part of American-Syrian deal.

US and Other Countries: US Intelligence reportedly focuses on Islamic Amal movement, based in Baalbek, as being associated with Beirut bombings; Defense Department tests and plans to order $200 million worth of Israeli-designed anti-tank weapons, to be manufactured in US.

Military Action:

LAF and Shi'ite militiamen exchange small arms and rocket fire in southern Beirut suburbs; explosives thrown at French MNF patrol in Beirut; cease-fire security committee orders halt to Druze-Christian fighting in Kharroub mountains.

Casualties:

1 LAF soldier, 2 civilians killed in Beirut fighting; IDF raids office of Lebanese national news agency in Sidon, arrests and interrogates 2 reporters, confiscates film.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese government asks UNIFIL to renew its mandate, expiring October 19, for further 6 months.

Military Action:

Cease-fire holds generally; LAF positions in southern suburbs and in Beirut come under sniper fire; grenade thrown at IDF vehicl in Sidon.

Casualties:

1 LAF soldier, 2 civilians killed by sniper fire; Druze and Phalange militias exchange 44 civilian hostages; 1 IDF soldier wounded in Sidon attack; Red Cross convoy permitted to enter Deir al-Qamar, where estimated 25,000 Christian refugees and 3000 Phalange militiamen remain under siege; fighting during past month has created an estimated 140,000 new refugees in South Lebanon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens confirms IDf is considering closing the 2 bridges across its Awali line to vehicles (currently 8000 per day), restricting traffic to pedestrians with special passes.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat says he expects Syrian at.ack on Baddawi and Nahr al-Bared camps within two or three days.

Military Action:

Fierce tank and artillery battles continue between PSP and LF militias in Chouf, focus on control of Bhamdoun; LAF moves troops into Dar aI-Wahch, near Aley.

Casualties:

31 killed, including 3 LAF soldiers, 83 wounded; LAF reports 40 Druze killed in Kfar Matta, says LF responsible, PSP accuses LAF of participating in massacre; Phalange report murder of civilians and militiamen by PSP forces near Bhamdoun; 4 US Marines wounded by mortar fire.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel warns PSP not to occupy areas it has evacuated, says fall of Bhamdoun to PSP would be seen as a change in the status quo, extending Syrian territory.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Pro- and anti-Arafat Fateh forces resume fighting near Baalbek.

Arab Governments: Syria calls for Arab League boycott of Lebanon.

US and Other Countries: McFarlane returns to Beirut.

Military Action:

Druze militia attacks Lebanese Army at 3 outposts east of Damour, captures 2 positions; rocket and artillery duels follow Druze attack, Beirut airport closed after shells fall on runway, terminal building, nearby residential areas; IDF supports Lebanese Army at Kfar Matta; US Marines fire flares as warnings to Druze gunners in Chouf.

Casualties:

4 civilians, 2 IDF soldiers killed, 24 wounded, including 8 Lebanese soldiers, 4 IDF, 1 US Marine, in shelling of airport area; 3 government ministers, attempting to mediate, detained at Jumblatt's residence.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli shekel devalued by 7.5%, brings cumulative devaluation in 1983 to 72%.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Dany Chamoun meets Shamir, other Israeli officials in Jerusalem.

US and Other Countries: Draper named new US ambassador to Tunisia, other US Middle East diplomatic positions shuffled.

Military Action:

Heavy artillery and rocket exchanges between Christian and Druse militias, shells fall on beaches north of Beirut.

Casualties:

7 IDF soldiers wounded in attack on APC; IDF shoots, kills 2 passengers in car that fails to heed roadblock south of Beirut, military commission appointed to inquire into incident.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Bank of Israel statistics show foreign debt has reached record $21 b., highest per capita in the world; 200 armed settlers hold rally in Hebron, call for Jewish settlement in center of all Arab towns.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat returns to Tunis from 3-day visit to Iraq, meets Cubans on mediating mission between Syria and Fateh.

Military Action:

Druze militia and Lebanese Army exchange fire in Beirut; IDF vehicle attacked by bazooka fire west of Ansar camp.

Casualties:

Maronite archbishop of Tyre kidnapped by Druze forces, later released after intercession of President Gemayel; between 83 and 104 kidnap victims exchanged, estimated 25 remain unaccounted for in Chouf; Lebanese Army arrests 17 Druze militiamen after Beirut battle; 1 IDF soldier killed, 1 wounded in bazooka attack; IDF releases 3 Syrian detainees from Ansar for health reasons.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: PM Begin opposes deadline for Syrian withdrawal or for unilateral IDF redeployment; IDF and Interior Ministry agree to establish 2 new border police companies, of 100 each, in West Bank; Health Ministry issues doctors with back to work orders, threatens to put them under military orders, doctors agree to resume negotiations; suspect in grenade attack that killed Peace Now activist February 10 remanded for 15 days in Jerusalem.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: DFLP leader Hawatmeh says Syria should impose economic blockade on Lebanon to force Lebanese bourgeoisie to decide whether its true interests lie with Israel or the Arabs; Arafat says Qaddafi seeks to split Palestinian revolution, will not succeed; 5 dissident Fateh officers refuse orders placing them under Arafat's command.

US and Other Countries: Coalition of trade unionists, political figures, and Palestinians in Quebec sends telegram to Prime Minister Trudeau asking him to forbid former Israeli Defense Minister Sharon from entering Canada on June 1 for fund raising campaign.

Military Action:

Phalange and Druze exchange artillery and small arms fire in Chouf after Druze sheikh killed by land mine in Kfarhim.

Casualties:

23 killed, up to 100 kidnapped in Chouf fighting.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Detectives investigating murder of 2 Russian nuns suspect fanatical Jewish opponents of Christian activity in the Holy Land, Russian convent and other Christian institutions in Jerusalem recently daubed with swastikas; 90% of government-employed doctors refuse to work in escalation of strike actions for higher wages begun March 2; High Court rules that Druze residents of Golan Heights must carry Israeli identity cards; Chief of Staff Levy says reserve duty will average 60-65 days this year if IDF remains in Lebanon for protracted period; Cabinet formally ratifies agreement with Lebanon.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Foreign Minister Salem, in Paris, says Syrian position on Lebanese-Israeli-US accord is not final; Habib arrives in Beirut for meetings with Lebanese officials.

Arab Governments: Iraq says US-arranged Lebanese-Israeli accord constitutes a chain on Lebanon's sovereignty; Kuwait minister says agreement is an infringement on the rights of the whole Arab nation; Col. Qaddafi says rebellion in PLO has his material and moral support.

Military Action:

Syria fires at unmanned Israeli reconnaissance aircraft, shells IDF positions in Bekaa Valley; IDF patrol attacked in Chouf where cease-fire continues; US State Dept. reports steady infiltration of PLO forces into Lebanon, Pentagon estimates overall PLO strength at 12,000-15,000, Syrian forces at 35,000-40,000, IDF at 15,000; other estimates place number of PLO forces returning to Lebanon at 1500 over past 4 days.

Casualties:

1 IDF soldier wounded in Chouf attack.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli officials describe withdrawal agreement as tantamount to peace treaty with Lebanon, predict dramatic improvement in US-Israel relations; Jewish Agency reports immigration for first 4 months of 1983 is 4538, 21% higher than same period last year, Latin America is currently largest source; Israeli settler shot and killed while shopping in Gaza's commercial center, curfew imposed; Ramallah military court sentences 5 men aged 17-22 to prison terms of 11-13 years for premeditated murder of Israeli woman killed by stones thrown at vehicle in January; Jerusalem Day celebrated; Housing Ministry announces plan for contiguous Jewish presence in northeast Jerusalem, connecting French Hill and Neve Ya'acov, using land expropriated in 1980 from Shuafat, Beit Hanina and Anata villages, private contractors to be invited to build luxury villas, other housing units; High Court of Justice permits Jewish prayer demonstration near Moghrabi Gate on Temple Mount.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese officials meet special envoy Habib; President Gemayel meets Jordanian foreign minister, ambassadors of 5 UN Security Council permanent members; Walid Jumblatt says Lebanese Parliament is illegal because it has not held elections for deputies since 1973; Druze leadership demands constitutional reform in Lebanon as condition for agreement with Maronites to end war in Chouf.

Arab Governments: Syria says any Israeli aggression against Syria, even in Lebanon, would mean unlimited war.

US and Other Countries: Soviet Union says US and Israel are trying to partition Lebanon; Shultz, in Paris, asks Soviet Union to use its influence to obtain Syrian withdrawal; House Foreign Affairs Committee votes 18-5 to increase grant portion of US military aid to Israel to $850m, $300m more than administration request, and to increase economic aid request by $ l00m, all grant; CIA and National Security Agency reportedly received warnings a month in advance that an Iranian-backed group planned to bomb the US Embassy in Beirut.

Military Action:

IDF planes fly reconnaissance missions over Tripoli, PLO forces fire anti-aircraft barrages; car bomb explodes near IDF vehicle in Sidon, joint searches conducted by IDF and Haddad forces; explosion on Sidon-Nabatiyeh road as IDF vehicle passes; Druze and Phalange in Chouf exchange artillery and rocket fire; extraordinary security precautions maintained at Beirut airport and in city during Shultz visit.

Casualties:

4 IDF soldiers wounded in Sidon; body of Ain el-Hilweh resident found in central Sidon square; 2 Druze wounded in Chouf.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel's external debt has risen 25% in past 2 years, at end of 1982 was $28b. gross, $15.5b. net, $2b. higher than 1981; curfews imposed on Balata and al-Aza refugee camps after stones thrown at IDF and civilian vehicles, 1 soldier wounded near al-Aza.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO representative in Beirut says if Israeli forces withdraw according to specific timetable, PLO and Syrian forces will also.

US and Other Countries: Secretary Shultz meets Begin, proposes indepth discussion of overall US-Israeli relations while Shultz is in the region; Shultz travels to Beirut, visits damaged US Embassy, meets Gemayel and other Lebanese officials, returns to Jerusalem; Senate Foreign Relations Committee tentatively agrees to $2.61b. aid level for Israel, $460m. more than proposed by Reagan Administration, $60m. more than approved by House committee.

Military Action:

IDF patrol attacked with bazooka fire east of Beirut.

Casualties:

1 IDF soldier killed, 2 injured, bringing total IDF casualties since PLO evacuation to 126 killed, 212 wounded; special envoy of Austrian Chancellor Kreisky meets PLO officials in Damascus to discuss Israeli-PLO prisoner exchange.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Ibna' al-Balad (Sons of the Village) activist in Umm al-Fahm placed under 6-month house arrest for fifth time in last 3 years; 250 Druze (about 2%) in Golan Heights have accepted Israeli citizenship; youths in West Bank village of Burka throw stones at police superintendent's car; car of Israeli police chief in Nablus badly damaged by stones; Health Ministry finds no traces of poison at schools, suggests possibility of psychosomatic illness with symptoms of mass hysteria; IDF helicopters fly medical teams to jenin after renewed outbreak of symptoms of illness, hospitalization overnight of further 70-80 cases; AI-Fajr Jenin correspondent arrested.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat travels to Baghdad, meets with Iraqi foreign minister, other officials; Habib returns to Beirut, meets Gemayel.

Arab Governments: Jordanian foreign minister meets with Farouk Kaddoumi in Amman; Jordan confirms that US has promised it will act to obtain freeze on Israeli settlements and will accept expelled West Bank mayors in joint Jordanian-Palestinian negotiating team if Hussein declares his intention to join peace talks; Saudi foreign minister returns for second meeting with King Hussein.