The Palestine Chronology

Casualties:

Armed Phalangists enter Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp in Sidon, force adults and schoolchildren to make blood donations.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Foreign Ministry officials meet Habib to discuss clarifications of agreement; after funeral of Netivot resident shot in Gaza, 5 bakery workers from Gaza beaten by Jews in Netivot; Beit Sahour mayor meets head of Israeli Civil Administration, breaking national consensus of non-cooperation; senior police officer says that in West Bank there is a see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil attitude among Jews about Jewish vigilantism; Deputy Attorney General Y. Karp, head of a Justice Ministry committee investigating Jewish vigilantism, reportedly resigned last month because no action taken in year on recommendations for stricter law enforcement, including criticism of intervention by politicians on behalf of arrested suspects and the dependence of the police on the Military Government; Foreign Minister Shamir on tour of West Bank settlement says the Green Line has been erased in political consciousness and on the ground.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Foreign Minister Salem meets President Assad in Damascus; Lebanese Cabinet discusses agreement, gives no formal endorsement of it; Lebanese Parliament extends Cabinet's emergency powers until end of September, extends its own life by 18 months to end of 1984; Haddad calls on IDF to disarm Phalange and Guardians of the Cedars militias operating in his area to carry out death sentences against Palestinians; 34th tripartite session of withdrawal talks takes place at Netanya to work out final wording of agreement.

Arab Governments: Syrian Air Force and Soviet advisers reportedly complete sophisticated 230-mile long anti-aircraft missile defense system stretching from Latakia in north to Jordanian border in south; Jordanian minister of health says he cannot fully accept results of WHO inquiry into West Bank illnesses, even if it is psychological pressure this is a poison of the mind.

US and Other Countries: US Defense Secretary Weinberger meets Saudi Defense Minister Abdel Aziz in Paris, reportedly asks Saudi assistance to persuade Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon, US considering direct talks with Syria on troop withdrawal; State Dept. letters show US knew last September that 300-600 armed PLO fighters remained in Beirut in violation of August cease-fire agreement.

UN: WHO assembly votes 65 to 17, with 25 abstentions, for direct supervison of health services in Israeli occupied territories, expresses great concern over epidemic.

Military Action:

2 122mm Katyusha rockets fired over residence of US ambassador while Secretary Shultz and other officials are sleeping there.

Casualties:

2 Israeli POWs held by PFLP-GC seen on videotape in Vienna, POWs to be turned over to PLO Executive Committee, visited by Red Cross.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Window of IDF vehicle smashed in Nablus; curfews on central Nablus, and Balata, al-Aza and Askar refugee camps; Jacobo Timerman's son Daniel jailed for second time for refusing military service in Lebanon.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat in Damascus for meetings with PLO military and political officials.

US and Other Countries: Shultz continues meetings in Beirut, then travels to Jerusalem, meets Shamir, Arens and Begin, also meets families of 4 Israeli POWs who ask him to intervene for their release; IDF marching band leads 19th Salute to Israel Parade down Fifth Avenue in New York.

Military Action:

Massacre continues in refugee camps by Phalange and Haddad militia (allowed into camps by IDF), eyewitnesses say Phalangists enter camps from access road formerly controlled by IDF, spray houses with machinegun fire while bulldozers bury victims under rubble as quickly as possible; houses in camps bulldozed, dynamited into rubble, often with inhabitants inside; many refugees flee north into Hamra district through IDF lines; 20 US and European doctors and nurses removed from Gaza Hospital by Phalange, forced to abandon patients and march through camps, see 400 civilians held by Phalangists, freed only after IDF intervention; eyewitnesses say units dressed in Haddad militia uniforms involved in Shatila massacre, Haddad, in Beirut, denies involvement; thousands reported missing or removed from camps by militiamen; IDF claims Phalangists slipped into camps without IDF knowledge (two days earlier, IDF claimed control of "all key points" in Beirut, all refugee camps "encircled"); Phalange units withdraw from camps through IDF lines with truckloads of Palestinian prisoners; Drori orders IDF into Fakhani neighborhood north of Shatila; late in day, IDF seals off access to Shatila.

Casualties:

ICRC reports hundreds of bodies litter camp streets, doctors and patients kidnapped, some patients killed in their hospital beds, victims include babies, whole families; Washington Post correspondent counts 46 bodies, UPI correspondent counts 100 bodies; large pit excavated near southern entrance to camp feared to be mass grave.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel denies responsibility for killings, says IDF prevented more deaths; Foreign Ministry "strongly condemns" massacre; Begin claims he first learned of massacres from radio report; Labor Party demands special parliamentary session to discuss incident; Najah University condemns expulsion of 9 lecturers for refusing to sign anti-PLO pledge, fears another 20 expulsions.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO's UN representative Terzi calls for dispatch of UN troops; Arafat, in Damascus, appeals to USSR, White House, Vatican to intervene to prevent further massacres, blames Israel and US; Saeb Salam blames US, Israel and Christian forces for massacre.

US and Other Countries: Reagan, expressing "outrage and revulsion," blames Beirut killings on IDF, demands their immediate pull-back; Israeli Ambassador Arens meets Shultz.

UN: Secretary General announces Israeli and Lebanese agreement on Lebanese Army entering camps on Sunday to prevent further massacre; in Security Council, Jordan proposes sending 5,000 UN peacekeeping troops to protect West Beirut civilians; US, France, Italy advance plan to immediately send observers to scene of massacre; two UN observer teams reach Sabra, find clusters of bodies killed in groups of 10 to 20.

Military Action:

Israeli planes shower leaflets on Beirut warning people to "flee for their lives" and suggesting two escape routes (pandemonium in streets as people try to enter E. Beirut; Phalangists refuse to let Palestinians through their lines); Phalange reported openly cooperating with IDF; large IDF troop maneuvers along Beirut-Damascus highway; Israel dis-plays stockpile of weapons from PLO bases in Lebanon; Israeli Government acknowledges use of US-supplied cluster bombs in Lebanon; car bombings continue in Beirut; 700 IDF tanks, 1000 armored cars, 210 heavy artillery pieces surround Beirut; special IDF unit trained in street fighting arrives from Golan.

Casualties:

Three killed, 20 injured in explosion near Agence France Presse building in Beirut; French paper says 209 died and 153 were wounded in mountains; latest Lebanese police figures are 10,112 dead, 19,000 wounded (expected to be higher); foreign correspondents are still not allowed into Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp (near Sidon) and Rashidiyeh (near Tyre); less than half of Palestinian refugees remain in 3 Palestinian camps, few have anywhere to go.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet issues "peace plan" demanding that all PLO members, not just leadership, exit to Syria, urges Lebanese Army to enter West Beirut; government officials express some concern over George Shultz; Sharon denies Begin promised Reagan IDF would not invade Beirut; former IDF chief of staff Gur says past 2 weeks of fighting and Israeli deaths pointless; Labor Alignment demands that IDF not ente: Beirut (300 Labor doves demonstrate outside Prime Minister's office); group of army reservists, back from serving in Lebanon, announces round-the-clock protests; 20,000 protest the war in Tel Aviv; blood bank in Gaza sends blood to Sidon victims through Red Cross; 2 mukhtars from Nablus area fired by Israeli government for refusing to join Israeli-sponsored Village Leagues; Nablus Mayor Shakaa condemns US veto of French resolution at the UN.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel's Phalangists expand control in areas seized by IDF (re-ports of interrogations regarding political sympathies at gunpoint, beatings, even killings); hostility of villagers toward IDF in Bekaa area and mountains reported; Prime Minister Wazzan meets with Arafat; Arafat agrees in principle on PLO disarming and leaving Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Advisor to Mubarak says PLO will be radicalized; Saudi Arabia reportedly presses for IDF pullback; Syria reluctant to take PLO guerrillas, fearing Syria would become target for IDF raids; Tunis meeting of Arab foreign ministers reported as a fiasco (though ad hoc committee formed to pressure 5 permanent members of UN Security Council to demand IDF withdrawal).

US and Other Countries: US issues stern warning to Israel not to invade Beirut; Finnish medical therapist says IDF arrested bedridden patients in Sidon.

Military Action:

Israeli jets pound PLO, Syrians in big offensive, though truce reported later; Israeli tanks, planes begin large-scale offensive along Damascus highway (involves 200 tanks, heavy artillery, rocket launchers); Palestinian camps, residential areas bombarded in first Israeli jet action over Beirut in 9 days; Lebanese government says IDF about to cut high-way in several places as IDF gains 4-5 miles; Syrian tank losses heavy, but Syrian troops restrain responses in effort to contain fighting; "wall-to-wall" Israeli tanks reported south of Beirut; two Israeli troop buses come under fire south of Tyre; Israeli artillery continues through night; IDF closing in on Aley; 50 Syrian tanks move across Syrian border to reinforce units in Lebanon; PLO units return Israeli gunfire from Burj al-Barajneh; general military mobilization in Syria.

Casualties:

Lebanese police estimate 27 killed, 80 wounded in new IDF bombing of Beirut; Israeli demolition teams dynamite buildings in Rashidiyeh refugee camp as all males are rounded up in Tyre; remaining residents of Rashidiyeh without food or medical care as Tyre residents refuse to help them; no walls higher than a few feet left in Rashidiyeh; Israeli officials announce Palestinian refugees are being denied tents because they fear a "temporary" solution will become permanent; 200,000 Palestinian refugees are in southern Lebanon, mainly around Sidon and Tyre.

Mobile bank units offer IDF all services, including facilitating purchase/ sale of securities on Tel Aviv stock market.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel agrees to new cease-fire after Habib request; divisions within Labor Party between doves, hawks sharpen; 150 demonstrate against invasion in front of Knesset and Peace Now sends telegram asking no extension of the war; Labor Alignment opposes all military penetration of Beirut; Begin defends invasion before 36 angry US Senators who question use of cluster bombs; Israel denies ABC use of satellite in Israel because it broadcast interview with Arafat; Begin meets Haig.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: National Salvation Council meets, makes some progress on plani including IDF withdrawal from Beirut, PLO withdrawal into camps, Lebanese Army posted inside city; highway reopening; possible use of French troops being discussed; PLO denounces USSR for only symbolic support; Jumblatt accuses Habib of "hot di-plomacy"; Phalangists state opposition to any Syrian presence in Lebanon and, for first time, allow unarmed non-Lebanese civilians to evacuate Beirut; Lebanese government tells UN and Arab League it will not renew mandate for Syrian troops after July 19.

US and Other Countries: US embassy advises all Americans to move to E. Beirut (ship due in Jounieh to evacuate Americans); UK, West Germany also advise nationals to leave; PM Thatcher rules out use of British troops in Lebanon; Greek Premier meets with PLO's Kaddoumi; Dutch parliament condemns Israeli invasion, 144-6; Norwegian leaders re-ject Israeli invitation to visit Lebanon.

UN: UNIFIL says it will concentrate on helping civilians.

Military Action:

Lebanese cease-fire shattered as Israeli troops move on Baabda to control Beirut-Damascus highway and close last exit from city; repeated Israeli air strikes against Beirut; fierce fighting south of city; Israeli troops advance to within yards of Lebanese presidential palace (no fighting with Lebanese Army reported, as well as no resistance from units guarding Baabda); Palestinian camps and neighborhoods hit for seventh day, as well as Beirut Barbir district (not a Palestinian area, it suffers many casualties); Israel claims hundreds of PLO guerrillas surrender south of Beirut near Khalde; battles go on in Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp outside Sidon; Israeli ship intercepts Lebanese passenger ship leaving Beirut, diverts it to Haifa.

Syrian units hit by Israelis along highway, despite cease-fire; Syrians disappear from Beirut streets, leaving Palestinian units in their place.

Casualties:

Israeli casualties approach 150 dead, 900 wounded; ICRC says 600,000 made home-less by fighting (20 percent of Lebanese population); Lebanese Army sources say 1,500 Beirut residents, mostly civilian, killed so far and that Israeli cluster bombs have been dropped on Palestinian refugee camp (Burj al-Barajneh) near airport, as well as Armenian hospital 16 miles SE of Beirut; hospitals in Christian Beirut refuse to handle casualties among Palestinians or combatants; correspondents report bodies buried 30-deep in mass graves at southern Beirut refugee camp; bodies stacked up decomposing at Barbir hospital (Sharon denies numbers of dead, dislocated); conditions in Beirut deteriorate as garbage rots, water main is broken, raising fears of epidemics.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Some Israelis feel US troops in Lebanon would restrict Israeli moves, give de facto US recognition to the PLO on a day-to-day basis; Israel announces revenue-raising measures to pay for the war (costs estimated at $600 m. and may fuel inflation); as condition for withdrawal, Israel demands removal of Palestinian and Syrian forces from Lebanon, an internationally su-pervised demilitarized zone to guarantee security of Galilee; Israeli philanthropist Abie Nathan announces plans to take chocolate to Palestinian children as other Israelis offer to help rebuild Lebanon; several hundred Israelis demonstrate against invasion, massacre of civilians.

Palestinians/Lebanese: a 7-member committee is named by Sarkis to handle negotiations with the Israelis; Hasbaya merchants do business in Israeli shekels.

Arab Govemments: Saudi King Khalid dies; Egyptian President Mubarak flies to Saudi Arabia to give condolences; Syrians withdraw from Beirut.

US and Other Countries: Ships sent to Jounieh to evacuate Italians and French; Assistant Secretary of State Elliot Abrams, addressing the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, accuses the PLO of providing arms, training to guerrilla forces in El Salvador, Guatemala, perhaps Honduras.