Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Shimon Peres, speaking at UN General Assembly, calls for direct talks with Jordanian or joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation,...
IDF new appeals committee in Ansar prison in South Lebanon, has considered 1,000 cases, recommended release of 50 which must be approved by Northern Commander General Amir Drori...
Cease-fire holds despite IDF jets zooming low over Beirut in the late afternoon, provoking anti-aircraft fire for the first time in days; IDF and PLO gunners exchanged fire...
Cease-fire holds, reportedly due to Haig resignation; IDF claims to have destroyed SAM batteries; 560 IDF tanks, 2400 armored personnel carriers, 120 howitzers around...
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Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Shimon Peres, speaking at UN General Assembly, calls for direct talks with Jordanian or joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation, states willingness to attend international peace conference if it were convened in 'Amman this year [NYT 10/21]. Christian Science Monitor reports P.M. Shimon Peres recently confirmed, for the first time, U.S. participation in "Operation Moses" airlift which moved thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel [CSM 10/21].
Arab World: Jordan and Syria announce agreement to reject "partial and unilateral" peace settlements with Israel, agree to pursue peace plan adopted at Arab League summit in Fez, Morocco in September 1982; Syria and Jordan will exchange ambassadors after a 4-year diplomatic freeze. Agreement concludes 2 days of talks [FT 10/21; LAT, WP 10/22; MG 10/23]. Yasir Arafat calls for Arab boycott of U.S. products to protest U.S. policy in M.E. Arafat states PLO has been working for release of 3 Soviet diplomats being held hostage in Lebanon [LAT 10/22]. Pres. Mubarak meets with Deputy Asst. Sec. of State Whitehead [NYT, WP 10/22].
Other Countries: Reagan admin. formally notifies Congress of plan to sell proposed $2 billion in advanced planes and air defense systems to Jordan [NYT, WP 10/22]. The Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) condemns the "violation of Tunisian airspace by Israel which endangered international civil aviation." The U.S. delegate disassociates himself from the vote [JTA 10/23]. First World Assembly of Moroccan Jewry ends in Montreal with calls for Arab-Israeli coexistence and pledge to help promote just and lasting peace in the M.E. [JTA 10/22].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb explodes outside entrance of military headquarters in Gaza City and hand grenade is thrown at military govt. headquarters in Khan Yunis, also in Gaza Strip; no injuries in either incident. Police Min. Haim Bar-Lev tours Gaza City headquarters later in the day [JP 10/22].
Casualties:
IDF new appeals committee in Ansar prison in South Lebanon, has considered 1,000 cases, recommended release of 50 which must be approved by Northern Commander General Amir Drori; bulldozers begin removing rubble from Martyr's Square in downtown Beirut in $450 million first stage of 5 year rehabilitation plan.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Interior Ministry stops issuing permits for Israeli tourists to visit Lebanon due to security situation, Lebanese citizens may enter Israel without restrictions, but Palestinians need special permit as some have visited relatives and not returned to Lebanon; Central Bureau of Statistics publishes 1982 inflation rate at 131.5%, second highest ever, and trade deficit at $3 billion, an increase of 18%o; head of Israeli Olympic committee and Hapoel Games Iaaac Ofek says athletes from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Kenya, Ivory Coast, and Zaire will participate in Hapoel Games in May; Tourism Minister Avraham Sharir at Israel Bonds meeting in Paris says invasion of Lebanon prompted to prevent nonaggression pact PLO sought with Israel through US diplomatic channels, amends statement to cease-fire rather than nonaggression after controversy arises in Israel and Sheli Party demands resignation of Government, but Likud MK Benny Shalita confirms IDF said before invasion that PLO wanted non-aggression pact.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat goes to Iraq to talk with Saddam Hussein; US envoy Habib arrives in Beirut to speed up negotiations, suggesting first stage of withdrawal of troops to begin on Feb. 12.
Arab Governments: Arab League Secretary General Chedli Klibi in Bonn meeting with Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich Genscher, calls on West Germany and its European allies to recognize the PLO and press for the establishment of a Palestinian state. US and Other Countries: Angolan news agency ANGOP says Israeli experts are training UNITA troops in northern Namibia.
UN: Secretary General Perez de Cuellar says Lebanon seeks to expand role of UNIFIL, calls for renewal of UNIFIL mandate, (UNIFIL troops now excluded from Sidon and Tyre), expresses concern over $152 million shortfall in UNIFIL financing.
Military Action:
Cease-fire holds despite IDF jets zooming low over Beirut in the late afternoon, provoking anti-aircraft fire for the first time in days; IDF and PLO gunners exchanged fire around southern suburbs; 6 artillery rounds land near IDF checkpoint in Beirut port, interrupting activities on the docks.
Casualties:
Fuel seems to be the only commodity in short supply in W. Beirut; South Lebanon increasingly "Israelized" as Hebrew road signs multiply, El Al offices are set up; Beirut police now estimate 354 people have died in the capital since the June 25 air strikes, bringing known dead to 10,207 (excluding Syrian casualties along highway, casualties from battles around Aley, many hospital casualties).
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Leaders of Druze community in Golan Heights call off 5-month strike protesting Israeli annexation of the area; Shamir makes secret 2-day visit to Europe; Israeli official projects 150 percent increase in number of active duty reservists until March 1983; four percent compulsory "loan," based on earnings, announced by Israeli government to pay for invasion.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO and Lebanese police join in search for abducted AUB acting president; negotiations on PLO withdrawal suspended as participants await outcome of Washington talks.
Arab Governments: Saudi and Syrian foreign ministers send Arafat message saying that if PLO accepts UN Resolution 242, US will recognize PLO; Saudi foreign minister, in Washington, says Lebanese situation can be defused by pushing Palestinian self-determination and pledging to protect countries that take PLO guerrillas from attack by Israel; Syrian Information Minister Iskander calls on US to end its military and political support for the Israeli invasion.
US and Other Countries: Non-Aligned Movement fails to gain access for committee to Beirut; Saudi and Syrian foreign ministers meet with Reagan, outline plan for temporary evacuation of PLO to northern Lebanon before evacuation to other Arab countries; stress any agreement on evacuation must be endorsed by Arab League, scheduled to meet in a few days; envoys reportedly want US to guarantee IDF withdrawal; USSR endorses use of UN force to end Beirut impasse.
Military Action:
Cease-fire holds, reportedly due to Haig resignation; IDF claims to have destroyed SAM batteries; 560 IDF tanks, 2400 armored personnel carriers, 120 howitzers around Beirut; IDF units skilled in urban fighting reportedly brought up from Golan; IDF and Syrians reinforcing units.
Casualties:
Fathi Arafat estimates 35,000 killed or wounded since June 4; in Beirut, people buried in mass graves; urgent appeals made for doctors, medical supplies; bodies rot in some buildings; refugees line up at social centers; Berbir Hospital (on Green Line) reports whole families killed, tnostly civilians; some patients victims of cluster bombs, burned by phosphorous and many amputations necessary; Bhamdoun casualties high, with 70 or more bodies along the highway; 2-day toll put at 300 killed, 2000 wounded; Lebanese newspaper shows babies burned by phosphorous, and elderly who are wounded and unable to flee fighting; most Beirut businesses, banks closed in western section; milk and eggs scarce and water low; "Begin amputations" commonplace in hospitals as a result of high-velocity projectiles which smash muscles, bones from pressure without break-ing skin; Islamic hospital hit, houses 850 elderly and mentally retarded.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Eitan, visiting highway taken by IDF, says he is "going to Damascus"; Sharon admits, in TV interview, IDF "exploited" cease-fire violations by Syrians to take highway; Rabin urges indirect talks with PLO to get them out of Beirut.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese and PLO meet to discuss US plan; Habib meets Sarkis; PLO jubilant at Haig departure as Arafat tours Fakhani district; PLO reports strong backing by USSR, France, Saudis (says Saudis threatened oil cutoff, withdrawal of Saudi investment in US, opening of diplomatic relations with USSR); PLO rejects Habib proposals, characterizing them as demanding unconditional surrender, not providing safety guarantees for withdrawing forces; Haddad forces stopping Palestinians at checkpoints, in joint work with IDF.
Arab Governments: Arab League meets in Tunis, fails to agree; Hussein in USSR on state visit; Egypt opposes forced disarming of PLO.
UN: US vetoes Security Council resolution calling for Israeli withdrawal; US and Israel are only countries voting against General Assembly resolution calling for IDF withdrawal and possible sanctions should it refuse; UN team formed to assess relief needs; 2 UN convoys reach Beirut with supplies (first relief shipments since Beirut encircled).
