The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Explosion 400 yards from Lebanon Beach Hotel in.Khalde delays talks for 30 min., Israel charges was 107mm Katyusha rocket fired from behind Marine lines in Hay el-Sellom, Phalange says was rocket-propelled grenade, Lebanon state radio says was 120mm mortar, Lebanese Army says shell was detonated by explosives on the spot; IDF tries to use road under MNF jurisdiction.

Casualties:

1 IDF at checkpoint near hotel wounded; IDF detains 4 Lebanese in Khalde area, cuts off road.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Government defeats 2 no-confidence motions on social policies put forward by Labor and Democratic Front following release of survey that shows 300,000 Israelis live under poverty line; General Amir Drori criticizes US Marines for failing to prevent guerrilla infiltration from its sector; General Yaacov Even, IDF chief spokesman, says Marines are buffer for PLO's hit and run attacks, that since Dec. 22, 9 incidents near US lines resulted in 1 IDF killed, 25 wounded; Government denies reports that relations with Ethiopia have improved and Israeli advisers are now in Addis Ababa; week long Canal Founders Conference of Israel Bonds begins, attended by 200 Jewish leaders from US and Canada; security forces arrest 2 from Gaza who admit to Jan. 8 Tel Aviv grenade attack, say they are members of Fateh and were trained in Egypt.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: After 6 hours, negotiations stalled on Israel's demand to have IDF remain in security installations in Lebanon and nature of future relations, with Lebanon proposing protocol accord to regulate ties.

Arab Governments: King Hussein returns to Jordan from tour of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman.

US and Other Countries: State Department denies press reports that Reagan is prepared to sign document drafted by National Security Council, State and Defense Departments to cut off military aid to Israel; Reagan Administration says it is extremely concerned over slow pace of Lebanon negotiations, following Habib's return to US, with 2 stumbling blocks of normalization and surveillance stations; National Executive Committee of the Zionist Organization of America is told by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) that Reagan Administration is not a mediator in the Middle East but coddles Saudi Arabia and entices King Hussein to peace table with airplanes and missiles, that it was never disclosed publicly that intelligence officials told the State Department that armed PLO members remained in Beirut; ZOA President Ivan Novick says Reagan Administration uses West Bank settlements to divide American Jews, but Jewish settlements are valid based on right to security and self-defense, historical connection, and according to international law Israel holds better title to this land; British press reports that secret documents accidently released recently indicate that Britain dissuaded Jordan, Syria and Iraq from concluding peace agreements with Israel in 1949.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Major Haddad, in testimony before Commission of Inquiry, denies his militiamen were involved in massacre, says three militiamen caught in fight involving IDF and Druze forces near Beirut at time were far from camps and in Beirut on private visit, says on Friday, September 17, he flew to Beirut on IDF aircraft to offer condolences to Gemayel family, visited Jounieh, then returned by car to Marjayoun, accuses Saeb Salam of covering up for Phalangists on orders from Saudi Arabia by blaming Haddad forces; Foreign Ministry official Hana Bar-On testifies he relayed US official's report on "irregularities" in Beirut camps to Begin's military secretary, Colonal Azriel Nevo, Friday evening, September 17; political storm rages over New York Times opinion piece that implies Labor Party leaders want US to reduce aid to Israel as means to pressure Begin but Peres denies Labor Party supports cut in US aid; two leaders of Gush Emunim settlement of Qiryat Arba charged with destroying possible clues to unsolved bombings that crippled two Palestinian Mayors in 1980, trial is set for December 9; 25,000 Israeli settlers now estimated living in occupied territories, is twice as many as in 1980, five times as many as in 1977; Knesset finance committee defers decision on funding 9 new settlements (Labor Party criticizes 8 planned for West Bank, and IDF outposts in territories being turned over to right-wing Kach).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Walid Jumblatt, in interview, accuses Phalange of planning massacres of Druze and says talks are useless; Phalange spokesman Hayek denies charge, says Phalange militiamen only seeking to return to their former villages in Chouf.

Arab Governments: King Hussein, ending Arab League delegation visit to France, accuses Israel of holding up peace process through continued West Bank settlements, refusal to consider Reagan peace proposals, says question of Israel's eventual borders remains major obstacle to peace; Syrian President Assad tells visiting US Congressional delegation that Reagan plan is "incomplete" solution.

US and Other Countries: Habib leaves several days early for Mideast in wake of cancellation of Begin-Reagan meeting, as State Department expresses concern at lack of progress on troop withdrawals; Shultz meets with Habib, Veliotes, Fairbanks, M. Charles Hill and Samuel W. Lewis to review lack of progress on peace plan; Britain announces Arab League mission planned to arrive next week has been postponed to December, and it will continue to refuse inclusion of PLO representative in delegation; West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, in New York, tells US Jewish leaders he intends to strengthen West German relations with Israel, and supports Camp David process.

Military Action:

Lebanese Army moves into Chouf replacing Israelis; IDF, reluctant to leave, keeps two tanks, squad of soldiers in Kfar Matta; Norwegian UNIFIL units set up post in Haddad militia's area of operation, prompting exchange of gunfire; IDF attacked by bazooka and light weapons east of Doha and at IDF roadblock near Sil, south of Beirut; Syrian radio reports IDF reinforcing armor units in Bekaa, a few miles south of Beirut-Damascus highway.

Casualties:

One IDF soldier wounded by bazooka fire east of Doha; 300 West Beirut residents spontaneously protest rumor of Lebanese Army withdrawal from their neighborhood.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Foreign Minister Shamir returns from 3-week visit to US; Israeli Ambassador Moshe Arens says US approved Israeli weapons, spare parts sales to Iran in attempt to make contacts in Iranian military that could be used to bring down Khomeini government; Israel reportedly agrees to provide arms and counter-insurgency training to Costa Rica; former Mossad head Meir Amit says net results of invasion are negative ("We've encouraged anti-Semitism,... highlighted the Palestinian problem instead of solving it" and by hitting PLO too hard, increased Arab solidarity); IDF mental health unit report indicates high mental illness rate among Israelis fighting in Lebanon (23 percent of total Israeli wounded are suffering psychiatric injuries, double "normal" wartime rate; 78 percent of 600 affected men are reservists).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel returns home, calling trip a success (government announces US has agreed to equip 7,500 of 28,000-man Lebanese Army, France has pledged $86 million in military equipment); Salam, in interview, accuses Sharon of arming Phalange and Druze to promote sectarian tension in Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Arab League delegation headed by Moroccan King Hassan (with Foreign Ministers of Morocco, Syria, Algeria, Jordan, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia) meets with Reagan for 3 hours and later with State Department, stresses only PLO agreement will enable Jordan to play negotiating role for West Bank; US officials refuse to meet with PLO representative Khalid al-Hassan who is accompanying Arab League delegation.

US and Other Countries: Reagan urges Arab League delegation to begin direct negotiation with Israel to achieve Palestinian rights; Shultz tells delegation simultaneous Israeli-PLO recognition" moot as Israel totally rejects idea; Hassan's use of word "coexistence" seen by US officials as implying Arab recognition of Israel; Jewish medical team, back in Britain after visiting 4 refugee camps. in Lebanon, says Palestinians want to be more self-reliant but Israelis are preventing them from rebuilding homes, reorganizing health services.

UN: Britain blocks move to bar Israel from UN-sponsored International Telecommunications Union at Nairobi meeting; Arab states at UN agree to postpone efforts to expel Israel from General Assembly.

Military Action:

US Marines land by sea and helicopter, take control of the airport minutes after IDF soldiers leave; Lebanese Army takes over internal airport security; new IDF lines are 2 km. south of airport, through Hazmieh to Beirut-Damascus Highway and Aley; US Ambassador Dillon says IDF may only use airport in emergencies and with prior Lebanese consent (airport was used to airlift IDF soldiers to occupy West Beirut); IDF forces move near Bhamdoun; Phalange sets up military camps in 40 km. zone previously controlled exclusively by Haddad.

Casualties:

Sources in Beirut charge that massacre was directed by top Phalange military commanders including Elias Hobeika (an aide to Bashir Gemayel and liaison between Phalange, Mossad and US embassy); 9 Jewish women married to Palestinian Muslims believed to be among massacre victims; 4 Palestinian refugees murdered, dozens wounded, several abducted from Ein al-Hilweh camp by Lebanese.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Polls show Begin, Sharon popularity slips, but Labor Party popularity does not rise; Labor Party agrees to cancel Knesset debate; Sharon links Syria to Gemayel assassination; IDF sources say US will not press for further Israeli withdrawals from Lebanon until Syria pullout, IDF refuses to respond to allegations of looting of Lebanese private homes, businesses; Shamir arrives in US on 10 day visit; Israeli exports, especially trade with Egypt, adversely affected by invasion.

Arab Governments: Habib visits Egypt after stopping in Saudi Arabia to update Egyptians on talks with Jordanians, Syrians, Israelis.

US and Other Countries: State Department officer tells House subcommittee that IDF may have turned over US weapons to Phalangists involved in the massacre (some accounts specifically mention Phalange having M-60 tanks and M-16 rifles).

Military Action:

US Marines sail from Naples to Beirut; IDF continues to pull out troops from Beirut, but continues house-to-house searches for militia and arms; IDF troops seen loading trailer trucks with captured vehicles, weapons, PLO files, materials from Arab banks; Algerian government charges IDF soldier stormed Algerian embassy in Beirut, stole documents; IDF denies it flew Haddad forces to Beirut for operations in camps; IDF lifts curfew imposed in South Lebanon following Gemayel assassination.

Casualties:

Burj al-Barajneh residents say Lebanese Army demanded they disarm as condition for Army protection, and then Army disappeared; rumors of massacre sweep camp so residents leave camp at night to sleep elsewhere; Haaretz reports Phalange was given IDF aerial photographs of Sabra and Shatila, that forces involved were commanded by top Phalange liaison officer with IDF in Beirut.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli government accepts redeployment of multinational force in Beirut, but refuses to specify deadline for IDF withdrawal or to establish inquiry into massacre; Palestinians in Israel, West Bank, and Gaza stage strikes at schools and businesses, stone bus and several police stations, burn tires on highways to protest massacre; 2 Israeli policemen wounded, 8 Palestinians arrested; strikes 95 percent effective, but broken in Ramallah, Hebron, and Nablus when Israeli soldiers force open store windows; disturbances in Bethlehem and Israeli-Palestinian towns of Taibeh, Kaukab, Sakhnin, where residents carried pictures of Arafat; demands for national inquiry into massacre grow; Begin still staunchly opposed; Begin sends congratulations to Amin Gemayel as president-elect of Lebanon, still hopes for peace treaty.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat says Begin and Sharon are not Jews because such a massacre is outside Jewish morality and tradition; Arafat meets Saudi King Fahd in Jiddah, says Reagan personally responsible for massacre because Habib had given the PLO a signed guarantee for security of Beirut and its people; Amin Gemayel, elected Lebanon's President by 77 of 80 votes, calls for national unity; several Phalange militia commanders refuse to accept Amin's authority.

Arab Governments: King Hussein charges US with "direct moral responsibility" for massacre, supports Reagan's peace initiative but rejects Camp David structure for negotiations and peace talks with Begin government; Arab League emergency meeting accuses US of moral responsibility for massacre but stops short of endorsing PLO-sponsored call for sanctions against US.

US and Other Countries: Reagan Administration officials get wary approval for dispatch of Marines from House Foreign Affairs Committee, which sees Israel bearing some responsibility for massacre; Congressman Crockett blames Israeli government and US for "aiding, abetting" massacre; Congressional opposition to increasing aid to Israel grows as Begin refuses to open inquiry; Habib meets Mitterrand on way back to Lebanon.

UN: PLO persuades non-aligned group to call for one-day special emergency General Assembly session to request a UN inquiry; Jeane Kirkpatrick says she will oppose any such inquiry unless Lebanese Government supports it.

Military Action:

IDF jets, artillery shell PLO positions for third day as IDF tanks move into strategic positions in northern Lebanon (IDF forces now poised for strike on northern port of Tripoli or east into Lebanon's central mountain range; IDF pounds Burj al-Barajneh; fighting resumes near Museum); gunboats hit Ain Mraisi; Israelis attempt to advance into W. Beirut along Corniche Mazraa.

Casualties:

ICRC urges "effective" cease-fire, says situation of civilians critical; World Vision says it has been barred by IDF since end of July from sending supplies into West Beirut; need for food critical; nine IDF soldiers wounded; Beirut's only synagogue shelled by IDF, sending Jewish families fleeing; UN Children's Fund has 20 tons of food awaiting authorization to enter W. Beirut; ME Council of Churches unable to send in shipment of powdered milk; Lebanese Red Cross finally able to get in two trucks with oxygen for hospitals.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Habib meets twice with Begin, mood optimistic; Habib returns to Beirut with new points raised by Begin.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Sarkis, Wazzan meet to discuss growing IDF grip on northern Lebanon, await Habib return from Israel; some Phalangists increasingly critical of Israeli presence in Lebanon.

US and Other Countries: US reportedly seeks expanded version of Camp David Accords using "momentum" of PLO withdrawal (expect to press Israel on issue of Palestinian autonomy, seeks to involve Saudis and Jordanians); Mother Teresa arrives in Lebanon as envoy of Pope; 200 Indians protest US support for Israeli invasion at US embassy in New Delhi.

Military Action:

IDF begins broadcasts urging Syrians and Palestinians in W. Beirut to flee or surrender; Sharon, in E. Beirut, says IDF may resume battle, urges Phalangists to join IDF in war against PLO; cease-fire holds despite IDF overflights of Beirut in morning and evening; PLO fortifies positions around camps and along coasts.

Casualties:

PLO, in press conference, charges wide-spread IDF use of cluster bombs; observers report no IDF effort to restore services to Palestinian refugee camps, only to nearby Lebanese towns, villages; Begin promises Israeli Druze leaders to protect Lebanese Druzes from Phalange harassment.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon, during tour of troops in Beirut, says Camp David process will be helped by elimination of PLO; Uri Avnery (former Sheli MK) meets Arafat and Israeli pilot POW in W. Beirut; General Eitan says invasion planned in its "final ver-sion" 1 year ago; Sharon reiterates opposition to any remaining PLO presence in Lebanon; Shamir tells French diplomats invasion will help autonomy talks, asks French to stay out of Lebanese negotiations; opinion poll says 93 percent of Israelis think invasion justified (98.5 percent of Likud, 90.7 percent of Labor), that Likud and Begin popularity surging up; government says US ammunition sold to Saudi Arabia turned up in Lebanon.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Negotiations stalled on issues of PLO retention of arms and future political role in Lebanon (Arafat, in meeting with Wazzan, reportedly proposes 2 units under Lebanese Army command that would leave only after all Syrian and Israeli troops leave Lebanon; Saudi plan reportedly has no provision for eventual removal); reports that PLO Executive Committee agrees to military pullout over 8-week period (other reports say meeting rejected all Israeli government demands); Salam, after meeting Arafat, says PLO seeks diplomatic role as it has in other Arab countries; Gemayel returns to Lebanon, indicates no compromise reached (Phalange issues statement saying IDF invasion "defensive" move to wipe out PLO, endorses Sharon statement on Jordan as place for a Palestinian state); Habash rejects Israeli terms.

Arab Governments: Egyptian foreign ministry officials say PLO, if it came to Egypt, would have to proclaim "temporary government in exile" and restrict itself to political activity; Arab League ends meetings in Saudi Arabia, failing to resolve differences (PLO proposals reportedly accepted by all but Gemayel); Egypt says strong political PLO essential.

US and Other Countries: In Paris, 3 leading Jewish figures (Nahum Goldmann, Philip Klutznick, Pierre Mendes-France) issue joint declaration asking for mutual recognition by Israel and the PLO (hailed by PLO as pro-gram to lead out of the Lebanese crisis; strongly criticized by mainstream US Jewish groups, Israel).

UN: France and Egypt call on UN Security Council to intervene without formally asking body to meet; seek resolution to preserve PLO political role in the Mideast (part of draft resolution resembles one vetoed June 27; part assures Palestinians of their right to self-determination).