Fierce fighting between LNM militia and Lebanese Army along Green Line as final French contingent prepares to leave (during 4-hour battle French ammunition truck on way to...
Eight IDF soldiers captured by Syrians near Bhamdoun (IDF claims their capture is breach of cease-fire, asks US and ICRC to intercede for their release); clash between...
IDF building first Israeli settlements in South Lebanon; IDF reinforces positions in western Bekaa. establishes radar station; Palestinian women arrested in Sidon for...
First PLO units to be evacuated to Syria publicly welcomed in Tartus (Israeli claim that overland evacuation "postponed" at Syrian request denied in Damascus); IDF tanks...
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Military Action:
IAF patrols Bekaa for second day, to check Syrian moving in 2 SAM batteries; IDF pulls out of 2 Druze villages.
Casualties:
199 foreigners lacking proper papers deported from Lebanon; Meridor asks IDF to enter refugee camps to ensure security, housing for residents, announces plans to distribute 10 bags of cement to each family to build more permanent housing, contrary to Lebanese Government policy; Ain el-Hilweh refugees tear down first tent put up by UNRWA, ask to be allowed to build own housing.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Palestinian teenager killed, 1 wounded by Israeli civilian settler at Balata refugee camp near Nablus during protest triggered by 3 more expulsions of Najjah University staff for refusing to sign anti-PLO pledge; Najjah students stage sit-in, 16 detained, 9 Israeli vehicles destroyed; 2 Nablus high schools closed for week, Balata camp under curfew; leader of Kach movement convicted of trying to blow up the Dome of the Rock; Israeli censors ban Israeli theatrical satire on Israeli chauvinism, but play staged despite court order.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fathi Arafat of Palestine Red Crescent Society, visiting London, asks Britain for material medical support for Palestinians in Lebanon.
Arab Governments: Egypt protests to US and Israel imminent completion of Israeli hotel on disputed Taba coastal strip on Gulf of Aqaba.
US and Other Countries: US officials expect Israel-Lebanon talks to start in few days; Pentagon announces 1,800 US Marines to be replaced by Marine units as part of normal rotation schedule.
Military Action:
Fierce fighting between LNM militia and Lebanese Army along Green Line as final French contingent prepares to leave (during 4-hour battle French ammunition truck on way to port is hit); machine-gun fire, rocket-propelled grenades exchanged in Ras Nabeh area near recently reopened Sodeco crossing point; IDF jets destroy Syrian SAM-9 anti-aircraft missile site in Central Lebanon near Dahr al-Baydar as tension continues along Beirut-Damascus highway (third air strike in four days); guerrillas again attack IDF troops using rocket-propelled grenades in Bekaa; IDF background paper claims 98 Syrian/Palestinian cease-fire violations since July 23.
Casualties:
Fighting burns some buildings; 1 Lebanese Army soldier killed, 13 wounded, 2 civilians killed, several in LNM militia killed and wounded.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet warns Syria against violating cease-fire or war of attrition, says it will seek to prevent Arafat meeting with Pope; roads extended to new Jewish settlements near Nablus; 3 Najah University professors ordered deported after refusing to sign anti-PLO pledge.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat, in Algeria, reviews PLO fighters, plans to tour PLO camps in Syria, Tunisia, South Yemen, and Sudan; Prime Minister Wazzan goes on TV to urge backing for Army; Gemayel issues call for Christians and Muslims to work together.
US and Other Countries: Shultz, addressing United Jewish Appeal (UJA) fundraiser for Israel, urges Israel to remain "open" to Reagan peace initiative, reiterates US promise to not pressure Israel economically or militarily; Senator Arlen Specter (R.-Pa) visits Begin in Jerusalem after talks with Gemayel and Sarkis in Lebanon.
Military Action:
Eight IDF soldiers captured by Syrians near Bhamdoun (IDF claims their capture is breach of cease-fire, asks US and ICRC to intercede for their release); clash between Syrian and IDF soldiers near Hadet el-jebbe northeast of Beirut.
Casualties:
Three IDF, one Syrian soldier killed in clash; US, Israeli officials confer on reopening Beirut airport (Lebanese reject Israeli presence there as mockery of government control); Lebanese security forces occupy two buildings formerly held by PLO; Murabitun relinquish more outposts; thousands of West Beirut residents return to find looted, damaged homes, thousands still displaced in South Lebanon or the Bekaa (150,000 estimated to have fled West Beirut during war).
Political Responses:
lsrael/ Occupied Territories: Following Begin's letter of protest to Reagan, Israel allocates $18.5 m. to build 3 new settlements on West Bank, announces approval for 7 more (9 of 10 to be located near Hebron); Shamir meets Draper on further withdrawals from Lebanon; Mayor Freij calls on Arab leaders to support Reagan plan, bring Egypt back into fold.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO says it will continue to study Reagan plan; Saeb Salam calls US offer of $95 m. to rebuild Lebanon "chickenfeed," says Israel should pay reparations.
Arab Governments: Assad confers with Kings of Jordan, Morocco and Saudi Arabia on Reagan plan and possible joint Arab proposal; Arab leaders gather for Fez summit.
US and Other Countries: Shultz says any Palestinian homeland must be "totally demilitarized," calls settlements "unwelcome development"; Reagan Administration strongly condemns Israeli plan for more settlements; Reagan responds to letter from Bethlehem Mayor Freij.
Military Action:
IDF building first Israeli settlements in South Lebanon; IDF reinforces positions in western Bekaa. establishes radar station; Palestinian women arrested in Sidon for belonging to armed cells (following an assassination attempt of doctor close to Phalange); IDF harrassing LNM militia with sniper fire; Lebanese Army column enters West Beirut, occupies position behind and to south of IDF positions; PLO Lebanon representative Shafiq al-Hout presides over transfer to Lebanese Army of PLO stores, heavy weaponry; Abu lyad returns to Tripoli three days after evacuation; Major Haddad erects roadblocks north of Tyre as IDF forces sweep through orchards, fields arresting 75.
Political Responses:
lsrael/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Communist Party Rakah strongly criticizes US proposals as hegemonic, aimed at splitting Arab liberation movement; protests against invasion of Lebanon by Democratic Front for Peace and Equality in the Galilee banned by Israeli police; youth killed during demonstrations in Nablus; Israelis split over Reagan proposals (Sharon says Israel won't discuss proposals; Peres says Jordan has agreed to participate in peace process on basis of Reagan proposals).
Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Central Committee meets in Tunis to define PLO position before Arab summit and respond to Reagan proposals; Lebanese divided over attitudes toward continued Israeli military presence in Lebanon.
Arab Governments: Assad meets with PLO delegation; Egypt praises positive aspects of proposals following talks with Weinberger.
US and Other Countries: Austrian Chancellor Kreisky calls Sharon, Begin fascists.
Military Action:
First PLO units to be evacuated to Syria publicly welcomed in Tartus (Israeli claim that overland evacuation "postponed" at Syrian request denied in Damascus); IDF tanks head north from Beirut; PLO, Syrians fortify positions in Bekaa; two PLO groups leave Beirut for Syria, Sudan following massive public farewells (PLO overland evacuation to Syria postponed again, for "technical reasons"); Sharon allows Syrians to send trucks to remove heavy vehicles from Beirut; US Marines land at Beirut and US officer meets with PLO leadership to discuss guarding port area; IDF forces "thinned" near Beirut.
Casualties: 1 IDF soldier dies after being shot by sniper in Galerie Semaan (333rd IDF soldier killed); mine kills 4 Lebanese villagers near Jouayeh; Bekaa front quiet; 9 civilians killed, 27 wounded accidentally in farewell fusillades by LNM forces.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Temritories: Sharon meets with West Bank Village League heads concerning their participation in "autonomy" talks (later states opposition to Palestinian state because "it already exists" in Jordan); grenade hurled at IDF vehicle in Gaza Strip (fourth such incident in Occupied Territories in one week); Union of Palestinian Women's Committees from West Bank visit Palestinian and Lebanese victims of Israeli invasion in Haifa hospitals; Begin calls for resumption of autonomy talks with Egypt, claims "war" with PLO in West Beirut over; government announces 7 more settlements planned for West Bank, Golan Heights; Sharon says he expects Lebanon to sign peace treaty with Israel; Peres calls for establishment of commission of inquiry to examine government conduct of Lebanese war.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Opposition to Gemayel presidency among Lebanese Muslims remains strong.
Arab Govemments: Syria warns Gemayel against signing peace treaty with Israel; Saudi Prince Saud meets Assad in Damascus (Saudis reportedly involved in negotiations with US on withdrawal of forces from Lebanon); Saudi King Fahd donates $500 m. to repair damage to Sidon.
US and Other Countries: Habib, in Tel Aviv, asks Sharon to allow French soldiers to safeguard section of Beirut-Damascus road during evacuation and to restrain Phalange attacks; 3 US congressmen meet Begin in Israel; Reagan assures Congress of Marines' noncombat role in Lebanon in notification required under War Powers Act.
