The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: U.S. ambassador to Lebanon John McCarthy returns to that country, presents credentials to Pres. Moawad. U.S. embassy in Beirut was evacuated on 9/6 [NYT, WP 11/19].

Other Countries: President Bush telephones Egyptian President Mubarak to discuss peace process efforts. Mubarak later telephones Arafat to discuss conversation with Bush [FBIS 11/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: W. Bank Palestinian dies of wounds received 10/24 [NYT 11/19].

Gaza woman suspected of collaboration is killed [MET 11/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Housing Ministry Director Sasson Shila says Israel wants to double number of housing units in settlements in occupied territories from 60,000 now under construction (Fl 10/3).

Arab World: Former Jordanian P. M. Ahmad 'Ubaydat and 12 former Jordanian ministers send cable to Egyptian President Mubarak denouncing Egyptian-Israeli summit, which issued joint statement with no mention of Palestinian rights (FBIS 9/25).

Military Action

Arab World: In S. Lebanon, gunmen attack two Nepalese UNIFIL posts, wound one soldier (raising to 35 the number of UNIFIL soldiers wounded in last month) (NYT, WP 9/25). Underground group announces it has kidnapped Frenchman from East Beirut (NYT 9/25).

Military Action:

Marines prevent IDF from entering Bourj-al-Barajneh for second time, but IDF moves into Lailaki using random anti-tank grenades and machine gun fire to search area; after fourth encounter between IDF and Marines in 1 week, US Embassy in Beirut expresses concern; truce in Tripoli policed by PLO because Lebanese security forces refuse to patrol area so long as opposing forces maintain positions.

Casualties:

1 PLO member killed, 3 wounded in Tripoli.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Government rejects US-proposed compromise on agenda for Lebanon negotiations; at Cabinet meeting Begin promises Deputy Premier David Levy and Communications Minister Mordechai Zipori, both Herut Party critics of Sharon, that Cabinet will hold special debate on Lebanon; Young Guards of Labor Party elects as chairman Moshe Cohen, a political centrist who will seek to end leftward lurch of party, to terminate Labor's alignment with Mapam and a rapprochement with religious parties; all police units launch anti-terrorist drive following attack on bus, reveal several bomb incidents since summer, including 280 kg bomb in car in Negev defused, bomb under bench in Herzliya which wounded 4, 4.5 kg bomb in Jerusalem defused, security forces played down and withheld information on incidents; Israeli trade with Lebanon valued at $8 million each for November and December; Peace Now group demonstrates outside Prime Minister Begin's office; dozens of Palestinians arrested in Tel Aviv after yesterday's grenade attck, 2 molotov cocktails thrown at police station in Dheisheh refugee camp, no injuries, security forces seal area, search but no arrests; 10 Najah University students arrested, charged with incitement; Kiryat Arba residents pull down Hebron municipality electricity poles for second time, and Acting Mayor Mustafa Natshe says he received threatening letter from Kiryat Arba council demanding removal of the utility poles; Elon Moreh settlers fire shots into Nablus Dal al-Tafel kindergarten and its bus, military authorities seal off Nablus market area.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat holds talks with King Hussein in Amman, also attending are members of Joint Committee, as Hussein tells Arafat his talks with Reagan were positive and successful; Lebanese Director General of Internal Security Forces Hisham Shaar says conscription may be necessary to keep balance of Christians and Muslims in police force; reports circulating in Beirut that AUB President David Dodge, kidnapped during war, may be alive and held in Bekaa Valley; Internal Security Chief Hisham Shaar and Syrian Deputy Chief of Staff General Ali Aslan meet in Tripoli, agree to patrols there by Lebanese security forces.

Arab Governments: Egyptian President Mubarak calls on Hussein and Arafat to negotiate on the basis of the Reagan plan, before US presidential elections and more settlements make it too late to reach agreement, says that only thing that bothers him about US foreign policy is US Congress' decision to increase aid to Israel; Egyptian Foreign Minister Kamal Hassan Ali says Egyptian ambassador to Israel will return to his post as soon as agreement is reached on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon; Saudi King Fahd holds series of meetings with Walid Jumblatt, Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohammed Boucetta, Fateh Executive Committee member Abu Mazen.

US and Other Countries: Senator Charles Percy (R-IL) states support for Israeli position that withdrawal from Lebanon should be accompanied by business-like relations; columnist Jack Anderson publishes opinion poll of the world's worst leaders with Menahem Begin ranking fifth after Khomeini, Qaddafi, Mobutu and Duvalier; 1,500 New York area Jews who have applied for aliya attend speech by Israeli President Navon in synagogue.

Military Action:

Explosion in Beirut Shiite suburb of Shiyah kills 6, wounds 20, traps others in flames and debris, cause of blast unknown; US Marines enjoy Thanksgiving meal in Beirut, despite anonynmous bomb threat phone call; Israeli Border Police company which lost 35 members in Tyre building collapse to return to normal duties in Tyre; IDF completes program to improve security of IDF vehicles on Lebanese highways.

Casualties:

Palestinian refugees in South Lebanon spurn Israeli-made prefab houses.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Haaretz and Jerusalem Post quote source close to Begin that he may call new elections if Commission of Inquiry faults him for negligence of duty; Commission spokesman clarifies that warnings are not interim findings but represent only "worst case" scenario, notes others may subsequently receive similar warnings; Habib presents new proposals to Begin on starting Lebanon-Israel peace talks; Jerusalem Post poll shows marked increase in Israeli opposition to Reagan plan; Israel and US sign agreement on exchanging lessons of Lebanon war; 16 Bethlehem organizations not receiving Jordanian subsidies join notables in signing statement rejecting US initiative and its "Jordanian" interpretation, seen as response to pro-Jordanian West Bank leaders' document urging PLO recognition of Israel and praising "positive elements" of Reagan proposals; Deputy Agriculture Minister lays cornerstone of Nofim, first Samaria settlement to be developed entirely by a private company.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat opens meeting of 66-member PLO Central Council seeking united stand on Reagan plan, adopts new membership roll for PNC expanding representation from occupied territories; PLO official denounces US refusal to allow Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish to enter US for UNICEF poetry festival in New York; Lebanese officials say proposals given Begin ask IDF and Syrian forces to withdraw nine miles from Beirut-Damascus highway as first phase, Israelis would then move back to 25- 31 miles from Israeli border as Syrians withdraw into Bekaa from central mountain areas; Lebanese government announces team to negotiate with Israelis to be headed by Gen. Hamdan, including UN Ambassador Ghassan Tueni and Gemayel aide Antoine Fattal; Lebanese government plans to draft men into army for first time.

Arab Governments: Egyptian President Mubarak, at joint press conference with French President Mitterrand, urges PLO to recognize Israel without waiting for simultaneous Israeli recognition of PLO, says move would assist Reagan peace plan, allow PLO to dialog with US; Mitterrand says Israel should state mutual recognition of PLO.

US and Other Countries: US State Department denies Tuesday talks with West Bank Palestinian mayors is beginning of indirect talks with PLO; Italian Socialists reaffirm reciprocal, simultaneous recognition between Israel and PLO necessary for recognizing PLO.

Military Action:

Gunmen in car open fire on IDF jeep in Sidon, "Armed Struggle Organization" claims credit for this attack, and for Tyre building blast.

Casualties:

Phalange sources report Lebanese authorities arrest, charge 12 Muslims and Christians from Haddad area in South Lebanon in connection with Beirut massacre; IDF soldier killed, 3 wounded in Sidon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel rejects Shultz statement criticizing anti-PLO "loyalty pledge," says it is an "internal" matter; West Bank Palestinians express encouragement at Shultz' statements; CIA sources report Israel selling PLO arms to Iran.

Arab Governments: Egyptian President Mubarak, on fifth anniversary of Sadat's trip to Jerusalem, blames Israel for worsening relations, but says Egypt committed to Camp David peace process; Egyptian Army completes live-ammunition war games in Sinai.

US and Other Countries: Shultz renews criticisms of anti-PLO "loyalty oaths" as abridging academic freedom and unnecessary for Israeli security; US officials expect to reschedule Begin-Reagan meeting early next year; Habib arrives in Lebanon to get stalled negotiations back on track.

Military Action:

Guerrillas use rocket-propelled grenades in attacks on IDF troops in Bekaa, IDF returns fire; 530 Italian troops leave Beirut by ship after 17-day stay.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli officials express concern at curtailed tourist, trade and communication links with Egypt since invasion; Israeli vehicles attacked near Nablus and Tel Aviv; pro-PLO slogans written on walls of Jenin.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Foreign Minister Butros "disappointed" at failure of Fez summit to support Lebanese delegation's call for withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon; North Lebanon areas under control of Franjieh family tense following Gemayel election (Franjieh declared "boycott" of election, visited Assad in Syria soon afterwards).

Arab Governments: Egyptian President Mubarak, in France, skeptical on Fez peace plan implementation, urges Reagan to continue his initiative, meets Mitterrand.

Military Action:

Lebanese cease-fire shattered as Israeli troops move on Baabda to control Beirut-Damascus highway and close last exit from city; repeated Israeli air strikes against Beirut; fierce fighting south of city; Israeli troops advance to within yards of Lebanese presidential palace (no fighting with Lebanese Army reported, as well as no resistance from units guarding Baabda); Palestinian camps and neighborhoods hit for seventh day, as well as Beirut Barbir district (not a Palestinian area, it suffers many casualties); Israel claims hundreds of PLO guerrillas surrender south of Beirut near Khalde; battles go on in Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp outside Sidon; Israeli ship intercepts Lebanese passenger ship leaving Beirut, diverts it to Haifa.

Syrian units hit by Israelis along highway, despite cease-fire; Syrians disappear from Beirut streets, leaving Palestinian units in their place.

Casualties:

Israeli casualties approach 150 dead, 900 wounded; ICRC says 600,000 made home-less by fighting (20 percent of Lebanese population); Lebanese Army sources say 1,500 Beirut residents, mostly civilian, killed so far and that Israeli cluster bombs have been dropped on Palestinian refugee camp (Burj al-Barajneh) near airport, as well as Armenian hospital 16 miles SE of Beirut; hospitals in Christian Beirut refuse to handle casualties among Palestinians or combatants; correspondents report bodies buried 30-deep in mass graves at southern Beirut refugee camp; bodies stacked up decomposing at Barbir hospital (Sharon denies numbers of dead, dislocated); conditions in Beirut deteriorate as garbage rots, water main is broken, raising fears of epidemics.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Some Israelis feel US troops in Lebanon would restrict Israeli moves, give de facto US recognition to the PLO on a day-to-day basis; Israel announces revenue-raising measures to pay for the war (costs estimated at $600 m. and may fuel inflation); as condition for withdrawal, Israel demands removal of Palestinian and Syrian forces from Lebanon, an internationally su-pervised demilitarized zone to guarantee security of Galilee; Israeli philanthropist Abie Nathan announces plans to take chocolate to Palestinian children as other Israelis offer to help rebuild Lebanon; several hundred Israelis demonstrate against invasion, massacre of civilians.

Palestinians/Lebanese: a 7-member committee is named by Sarkis to handle negotiations with the Israelis; Hasbaya merchants do business in Israeli shekels.

Arab Govemments: Saudi King Khalid dies; Egyptian President Mubarak flies to Saudi Arabia to give condolences; Syrians withdraw from Beirut.

US and Other Countries: Ships sent to Jounieh to evacuate Italians and French; Assistant Secretary of State Elliot Abrams, addressing the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, accuses the PLO of providing arms, training to guerrilla forces in El Salvador, Guatemala, perhaps Honduras.