The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Artillery fire exchanged between LF and PSP militias in Kharroub area south of Beirut; sniper fire continues against LAF and LF positions; Western military sources say Syria is blocking entry of Palestinian guerrillas to Chouf and evacuating those already there.

Casualties:

1 LF militiaman killed, several wounded by snipers in Deir al-Q;mar.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Talks on formation of government of national unity between PM-designate Shamir and Labor leader Peres break down.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Cease-fire security committee agrees to put roads leading to airport under LAF control, remove militia checkpoints on roads south of Beirut, exchange persons kidnapped during fighting by opposing militias, permit Red Cross to enter battle areas.

Arab Govemnments: Mubarak, on official visit to US, meets Reagan, other administration officials, calls for reactivation of September 1982 Reagan plan.

US and Other Countries: Shultz and Syrian Foreign Minister discuss monitoring of Lebanon cease-fire, Syria reportedly objects to use of UN observers.

Military Action:

Rival militias exchange RPG and machine gun fire in Tripoli.

Casualties:

2 killed, 1 wounded in Tripoli.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Heavy fighting resumes between PLO factions around Taanayel, Saidnayel, and Fateh training camp near Baalbek.

Arab Governments: Celebrating Syria's Armed Forces Day, Assad says US cannot be fair mediator between any Arab party and Israel when it has been backing Israel's continuous aggression against the Arabs.

US and Other Countries: State Dept. acknowledges reports that Reagan is considering increasing US aid to Israel.

UN: 2nd UN Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination opens in Geneva, US and Israel boycott.

Military Action:

Bomb explodes as IDF vehicle passes in Beirut suburb of Baabda; IDF vehicle detonates mine near Ein Zahlata; IDF tank hits mine in Bekaa region.

Casualties:

6 IDF soldiers wounded in Baabda attack, 3 in Ein Zahlata; Lebanese police report 3 Palestinians killed in two attacks on IDF positions in South Lebanon; stray machine gun fire by IDF penetrates US Marine base after Baabda attack, no injuries; UNRWA officials report escalation in attacks on Palestinians in Sidon, said to coincide with arrival there of Phalange officer Elie Hobeika, armed and masked men of Guardians of Cedars threatening Palestinians, 4 killed, 2 wounded since April 28.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shultz returns to Jerusalem, meets with Begin, Shamir, Arens; Begin says he will call Cabinet meeting to decide on draft troop withdrawal agreement; Ministry of Absorption reports that only 11 of the 114 Jews leaving the Soviet Union last month came to Israel; Elon Moreh settlers fire on Nablus youths when stones are thrown at their car, 13 students arrested, school closed; window of Israeli truck broken by stones near Kalandia camp; 400 students hold sit-in demonstration at Tireh UNRWA Training Center.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: President Gemayel says the danger of signing an agreement with Israel without obtaining the withdrawal of Syria, the PLO and some Iranians is that Israel will not withdraw and the agreement will have no value; PLO seeks guarantees for security of Palestinians in Lebanon as precondition for withdrawal of PLO forces, Saudi information minister to intervene with Lebanese officials this week on issues of murders of Palestinians, threats to refugees, bombings of shops, expulsions, detention, attacks by Lebanese Army on Palestinian women crossing into East Lebanon to visit husbands and fathers with PLO forces.

Arab Governments: Jordan considering limitations on export of West Bank produce to East Bank, restrictions on entry of West Bank students to University of Jordan, holding of elections on East Bank only.

US and Other Countries: Shultz continues talks in Beirut, then returns to Jerusalem; Reagan says PLO council was never elected by the Palestinian people, referendum on alternative leadership might not be practical; French foreign minister meets PLO official, asks PLO to cancel UN conference on Palestine scheduled for UNESCO's Paris headquarters in August.

Military Action:

Rival militias battle in Tripoli; Druze militia surrounds Lebanese Army barracks in Hammana, warns army and police to keep off roads in Chouf mountains; in response to attacks by Lebanese National Resistance, IDF steps up security in and around Sidon; Syrian small-arms fire directed at IDF fortification on eastern front.

Casualties:

3 killed, many wounded in Tripoli fighting, shops close as armed men roam streets; 3 wounded by Nabatiyeh car bomb.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: 12 Bedouin men begin hunger strike in Israel to protest harassment by Green Patrol, demand talks with Ministry of Agriculture; Central Bureau of Statistics figures show $557m. trade deficit for first 2 months of 1983, nearly 20% higher than 1982; trial begins of two Kiryat Arba officials charged with illegal possession of explosives and destroying evidence police believe may be connected with June 1980 bomb attacks on West Bank mayors; 2 IDF injured by stones during incidents in East Jerusalem and Ramallah; general strike in Ramallah; Nablus market under curfew; Birzeit University reopens; 3 Birzeit students beaten, 1 detained by settlers; IDF uses helicopters to patrol West Bank; 35 Gaza youths sentenced by military tribunal to fines and suspended prison sentences for disturbing the peace by throwing stones last week; 6 teenagers in Ramallah sentenced to 6 to 8 months imprisonment and fined $400 to $900 for participating in recent disturbances; 3 girls in Ramallah convicted of stone-throwing, fined up to $2800 and given suspended prison terms; youth arrested in Jerusalem for wearing shirt in colors of Palestinian flag; special prayers held at Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosques to protest plot by Jewish zealots, uncovered by police last week, to seize Temple Mount.

Arab Governments: Egyptian-Israeli talks on normalization of trade and commercial relations, suspended since June, resume in Cairo.

US and Other Countries: Foreign Minister Salem tells Shultz and other officials in Washington, that Lebanese Army is capable of controlling all Lebanon, Israeli military presence is unnecessary; Shultz and Shamir meet for 5 hours, focus on possible use of international troops and increased US presence to meet Israeli security concerns in South Lebanon; Shamir delegation meets with Reagan, Bush, Weinberger, Shultz, Habib and Draper, Reagan reportedly emphasizes urgency of Israeli agreement to withdrawal terms; 10 IDF touring US to offset impression that Lebanon campaign was overly aggressive; US Ambassador to UN Kirkpatrick, in Israel for conference on Soviet Jewry, meets Begin; former President Carter meets King Hussein in Amman, says Israeli settlements in West Bank are illegal and an obstacle to peace.

Militarv Action:

IDF is conducting detailed census of South Lebanon, distributing 27-page questionnaire to mayors.

Casualities:

Lebanese car mechanic killed by IDF in Barouk mountains, allegedly resisting arrest.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Labor Party nominates Chaim Herzog, former Israeli UN ambassador, as candidate for President, Likud nominates Supreme Court Justice Menahem Elon; 20 weapons stolen from security company in Tiberias; police request detention orders against 38 Jewish zealots held for plotting armed takeover of Temple Mount, but plot denied by head of Kiryat Arba yeshiva, who says some of his students had only planned to hold their morning prayers there; Carter motorcade tours towns and settlements of West Bank, protests continue; IDF uses water cannon with indelible dye for first time as large scale counter demonstration technique; Village League leaders meet on West Bank with Likud MP, offer to sell land for industrial zone.

US and Other Countries: Israeli Foreign Minister Shamir and Lebanon negotiations delegate David Kimche arrive in Washington for meetings with Shultz and Habib; Israel rejects latest US proposal for sharing of military data from Lebanon war, intends to provide information in absence of any formal agreement, hopes to resume delivery of F-16s and speed approval of US funds for production of Lavi jet; 57 members of House send letter to Defense Secretary Weinberger urging agreement with Israel on military data sharing, state that Israel used over 100 US-developed weapons systems in Lebanon not previously utilized in full-scale combat, including F-15 and F-16 fighters, Sparrow AIM-7F and TOW anti-tank missiles.

Military Action:

IDF patrol ambushed on perimeter of West Beirut; UN official charges Israel creating armed committees in 60 villages south of Litani, as part of plan to implement "Organization for a Unified South," with goal of 5,000 to 12,000 armed men; Amal forces and newly formed National Guard of Lebanon clash in coastal village of al-Ghaziyeh.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Foreign Minister Shamir arrives in Bonn for talks with West German leaders; Finance Minister Aridor to visit South Africa this week seeking increased economic aid; Ibna al-Balad (Sons of the Village) distributes leaflet calling for rejection of West Bank and Gaza groups supporting Reagan plan, police arrest some members on suspicion of having painted the walls of their club in the colors of the PLO flag; Uri Avnery, Matti Peled and Ya'acov Arnon, who met with Arafat in Tunis, leave Sheli party; Peace Now demonstrates outside Begin's office to protest continued Israeli presence in Lebanon; Defense Ministry says Israel will take all steps necessary for security of Galilee, even if this means a de facto division of Lebanon into spheres of influence; Village League head Mustafa Dudeen leaves for visit to US.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Issam Sartawi says previous Palestine National Council resolutions amount to recognition of state of Israel and that Arafat has accepted formula of Palestinian state in West Bank and Gaza; 800 residents of South Lebanon meet under Israeli guard in Klea, form Organization for a Unified South (OUS), call for peace treaty with Israel and support for Saad Haddad.

US and Other Countries: US evangelical groups such as Moral Majority, Religious Roundtable increasing support for Israel.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF receives instructions to avoid contact with multi-national force in Beirut; following eighth round of Lebanese-Israeli-US negotiations in Kiryat Shemona, Lebanon says Israel will not be permitted to operate electronic surveillance stations on Lebanese soil, all agree to forming 4 subcommittees for timetable of withdrawal, security arrangements, future Israeli-Lebanese relations, guarantees to final agreement, with subcommittees to meet 2 days per week in Khalde and Herzliya; public opinion poll shows, if Knesset elections today, Likud would win 52 seats against 42 with a Labor list headed by former President Navon; Matti Peled, Uri Avnery and Yaacov Arnon, members of the Israeli Council for an Israeli-Palestinian Peace, announce meeting with PLO Chairman Arafat last week; Israel lodges formal complaint that 2 Egyptian tractors crossed into no-man's-land near disputed Taba region of Sinai; Sheikh Kamal Maade of Yarka announces Israeli Druze fundraising campaign for Lebanese Druze will be renewed; Israeli intercommunal committee to foster peace between Druze and Christians in Lebanon calls on IDF not to withdraw until a reconciliation is reached in the Chouf; Defense Minister Sharon leaves Zaire after signing a series of military agreements; documents presented at courtmartial of Israeli soldiers show Chief of Staff Eitan recommended punishment by expulsion to curb unrest among Palestinians in the West Bank, also suggested detention/exile camp, such as the one for teenage detainees built at Fara'a, near Nablus.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Prime Minister Wazzan blames Israel for the near-stalemate in talks, rules out monitoring station in South with either Israeli or US personnel; Phalange official tells Western diplomats and journalists that suspected assassin of Bashir Gemayel, Habib Shartouni, was manipulated by Nabil Alam of pro-Syrian Syrian Social National Party (PPS), but results of official inquiry into Bashir's death not released.

Arab Governments: Egyptian Government withdraws tractors, saying it was an accident they strayed into disputed Taba territory; Syria condemns Lebanese-Israeli-US talks, complains to UN that Israel is threatening to attack.

US and Other Countries: US contacts Israel through diplomatic channels to express concern over incidents involving IDF and Marines in Beirut, total of 5 such incidents in January.