Artillery exchanges between PSP, and LAF and LF throughout the day in Chouf, Metn and Aley regions, and in coastal area south of Beirut; sporadic artillery and machine gun...
Heavy shelling by PSP militia, rockets and artillery fall in area from East Beirut north to Jounieh, and in airport area; Pentagon reportedly decides to keep battleship New...
PSP and LF exchange artillery fire in Chouf area to south of Beirut; with only sporadic shooting, Tripoli cease-fire holds; Syria says its forces confronted US...
PSP shells LAF and LF positions near Khalde; US maintains stepped-up pattern of reconnaissance flights; cease-fire holds in Tripoli, some fighting around Baddawi.
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Military Action:
Artillery exchanges between PSP, and LAF and LF throughout the day in Chouf, Metn and Aley regions, and in coastal area south of Beirut; sporadic artillery and machine gun fire between rival militias in Tripoli; commander of IDF-backed militia in South Lebanon disbands his unit, joins Amal.
Casualties:
2 killed, 6 wounded in Tripoli fighting; 3 killed in Chouf; Beirut airport closed after 6 shells hit runway, schools in East Beirut closed; French military helicopter crashes into sea off Beirut, 2 crew members killed, 1 missing.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens, in US, calls for unrelenting diplomatic and political pressure to force Syria to withdraw from Lebanon, says Lebanese government should employ guerrilla activity against Syrian forces in Lebanon; Shamir, in US, says US support for Israel, from point of view of American interests, is a bargain; settlers continue to occupy position near Joseph's Tomb in Nablus; petrol bomb thrown at IDF vehicle in Nablus.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Tripoli Higher Coordinating Committee meets separately with Arafat and rebel leaders to coordinate details of cease-fire and withdrawal of forces.
Arab Governments: Saudi ambassador to US criticizes US-Israel program for increased cooperation, says Israel is strategic liability to US, not strategic asset.
US and Other Countries: Gemayel arrives in Washington for meetings tomorrow with Reagan and senior US officials.
Military Action:
Heavy shelling by PSP militia, rockets and artillery fall in area from East Beirut north to Jounieh, and in airport area; Pentagon reportedly decides to keep battleship New Jersey stationed off Lebanon indefinitely.
Casualties:
5-7 killed, 30 wounded in East Beirut; LF militiamen kidnap Shi'ite civilians south of Beirut, Amal militiamen kidnap 60 Christian employees of MEA from buses on way to airport, later released; Beirut power station damaged, electricity rationing resumes.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: 36th anniversary of UN vote to partition Palestine marked by demonstrations and protests throughout West Bank; IDF disperses Nablus demonstration with teargas; large demonstration in support of Arafat at Birzeit; settler injured by stone near Beit Omar, Hebron, 6 suspects arrested; estimated 500 Jewish settlers hold protest march through Nablus under heavy IDF protection, settlers establish command post near Tomb of Joseph in Nablus, say they will remain there until IDF takes stronger measures against Palestinians, chief-of-staff Levy flies in for meeting; President Herzog says IDF prisoners released by PLO had surrendered shamefully, press and military personnel question enthusiastic reception given to returnees.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat says he will leave Tripoli.
US and Other Countries: Reagan and Shamir end talks, agree on joint political-military committee, to begin meeting in January, to enhance Israeli-US cooperation, objectives include military planning, maneuvers, prepositioning of US equipment in Israel; other areas of agreement are: US willing to negotiate accord on duty-free trade and to permit $550 m. military aid to be spent on development of Lavi fighter, including $250 m. to be spent in Israel; US and Israel reaffirm commitment to May 17 Israeli-Lebanese troop withdrawal agreement; US reportedly will make cluster bomb technology available to Israel for production there, Shamir and Arens agree in principle not to use the weapons against civilians.
Military Action:
PSP and LF exchange artillery fire in Chouf area to south of Beirut; with only sporadic shooting, Tripoli cease-fire holds; Syria says its forces confronted US reconnaissance jet over Metn mountains; IDFconvoy attacked with light arms near Nabatiyeh.
Casualties:
2 civilians killed, 6 wounded by artillery fire in Chouf.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF intensifies patrols, roadblocks in West Bank, buses to travel with armed escorts or in convoy with military vehicles; windshields of Israeli buses driving near Nablus and Ramallah smashed by stones.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel travels to Rome for 3-day visit.
Arab Governments: Assad meets Ba'ath party leaders, is seen on television for first time since November 14.
Military Action:
PSP shells LAF and LF positions near Khalde; US maintains stepped-up pattern of reconnaissance flights; cease-fire holds in Tripoli, some fighting around Baddawi.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Demonstrations in support of Arafat occur in Jerusalem, Nablus, Gaza.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Representatives of Lebanese factions adjourn Geneva talks, will take proposals to leaders prior to start of second round of reconciliation conference, scheduled for next week; leader of Islamic Unification Movement militia in Tripoli says Arafat should remain in city as long as he likes.
Arab Governments: Syria agrees to visit by Gemayel next week.
USand Other Countries: Soviet officials end 2 days of talks with Syrian FM Khaddam, reportedly want Syria to restrain military pressure on Arafat, emphasize urgent need to end internal PLO conflict.
