The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Tripoli fighting at a minimum, all forces reinforce positions around central part of city; LAF and PSP continue artillery exchanges around Souq al-Gharb; IDF moves troops and armored vehicles toward Sidon, Nabatiyeh placed under curfew.

Casualties:

Residents of Tripoli leave city in anticipation of renewed fighting in central areas; Red Cross puts civilian and military casualties in Tripoli since November 3 at 438 killed, 2100 wounded.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: 3 youths from jenin area sentenced to 5-7 year terms for using petrol bombs.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat agrees in principle to Saudi-Syrian proposals to end Tripoli fighting, including indefinite cease-fire, withdrawal of all Palestinian forces from Tripoli, and a democratic dialogue to resolve intra-PLO questions; Jibril says there are no negotiations, Arafat should be tried by revolutionary tribunal on account of political and morale deviations during last 18 years.

Arab Governments: Iraq reportedly closes Baghdad office and expels members of Abu Nidal group; Syria rejects Weinberger's charges on truck bombing of Marine base, says it will strike blow for blow if there is retaliation.

US and Other Countries: Soviet FM Grormyko says PLO would be stronger if it were unified and worked closely with national patriotic forces of the Arab world, above all with Syria; 13 Iranian revolutionary guards killed in Israeli and French air raids buried in Tehran.

Military Action:

Israeli jets bomb guerrilla bases in areas around Sofar, Falougha and Bhamdoun, reportedly hit as-Saiqa, Syrian Baath party, PFLP-GC and Druze positions, intense and effective anti-aircraft fire deployed; brief exchanges of artillery fire between LAF and PSP around Souq al-Gharb; fierce fighting continues around Baddawi, PLO loyalists and rebels both claim control of major parts of camp; all areas of Tripoli come under rocket and artillery fire.

Casualties:

1 Israeli jet shot down by shoulder fired SAM-7, pilot is rescued by LAF patrol after parachuting into Beirut suburb, Syria says 2nd jet was downed; casualty reports from air raid range from 2-18 killed, 8 wounded, damage to targets reportedly minimal; no reliable estimates possible of casualties in Tripoli, ambulances unable to move; Red Cross estimates 13,000-15,000 refugees from fighting at camps are in Tripoli.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF says air raid in Lebanon is reaction to long chain of terrorist attacks against IDF in South Lebanon, 35 IDF soldiers killed, 64 wounded since redeployment to Awali on September 4; Arens, addressing Moral Majority delegation in Jerusalem, says there will be no withdrawal from the West Bank; minister without portfolio Ben Porat says his plan to rehouse 250,000 Palestinians now living in refugee camps will cost between $2 and $1.5 b. over next six years, Shamir to raise the subject in forthcoming meetings with Reagan; IDF say group of Muslim extremists has confessed to the killing of a Jewish religious student in Hebron on July 7; settlers block road near Halhoul after stone throwing incident, enter town, break windows of cars and houses.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel ends 2 days of meetings in Saudi Arabia with King Fahd.

US and Other Countries: Rumsfeld makes first official visit to Damascus, meets FM Khaddam; Iranian official says 14 Revolutionary Guards and about 30 Lebanese were killed in Israeli and French air raids near Baalbek last week; Soviet Union calls on PLO factions to cease senseless bloodshed, resolve differences through political means.

Military Action:

Israeli jets attack Islamic Amal and Hisballah militia training camps and an ammunition dump at Nabih Chit, near Baalbek; PSP artillery shells East Beirut, LAF positions in West Beirut; PSP positions in Chouf exchange fire with LAF and LF; PLO rebels occupy Baddawi after heavy fighting, hand to hand combat; rockets, shells fall in Tripoli; 3 IDF patrols attacked near Sidon and Tyre; grenade thrown at Marine position near airport.

Casualties:

30 estimated killed, 80 wounded in Nabih Chit attack; 2 civilians killed in East Beirut; casualties at Baddawi estimated at 62 killed, 136 wounded.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: 1500+ dunums confiscated for military purposes from Ramallah, Beitunia and Rafat.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel, Syrian FM Khaddam meet in Beirut; PFLP-GC head Ahmed Jibril, at Baddawi, says battle with Arafat is finished and so is Arafat.

US and Other Countries: Rumsfeld meets Shamir on first visit to Israel as special envoy; US expresses satisfaction with Israeli air raid on Islamic Amal bases, says there was no Israeli-US coordination.

Military Action:

Heaviest shelling since September 26 cease-fire engulfs Beirut, Chouf; LAF and PSP battle around Souq al-Gharb, LF and PSP exchange rocket, artillery fire between East Beirut and Chouf positions; cease-fire ends in Tripoli as PLO rebels launch heavy artillery and tank attack on Baddawi camp, move to within 200 yards of perimeter but are pushed back; shells, rockets fall in Tripoli.

Casualties:

3 killed, 7 wounded in East Beirut, 2 wounded in West Beirut; schools close, Parliament does not meet; 3 Fateh fighters killed, 26 wounded in Baddawi fighting, 100 civilians killed or wounded, up to 10,000 camp residents reported to have taken shelter in Tripoli; 4-8 civilians killed, 12 wounded in Tripoli.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Head of West Bank civil administration stoned by residents of Dura; demonstrations, curfews and arrests in numerous camps and villages on West Bank; consumer price index rises by 21.1% in October, biggest increase in state's history, inflation rate of 180% anticipated for 1983.