The Palestine Chronology

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2 Palestinian students arrested in Beer Sheba (Bir Sab'a) on charges of possessing banned printed material. Al-Fajr poll finds 94% of Palestinians in Israel support Arafat leadership. 200 residents of Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem attend mtg. at UNRWA office to protest Israeli threat of camp school closure. Galilee priest, Fowzi Khouri, released on IS100,000 bail after 1 month detention on charges of contact with PLO. 

Arab World: Gemayel ends talks with Reagan admin. with no further commitments of US assistance. Second-ranking Druze official murdered in Beirut; Christian Phalange blamed.

Other Countries: 2 Israeli firms sign deals for 1st Israeli factory in Ciskei tribal homeland, S. Africa; Israeli trade there includes sale of American-made Mooney light planes for fledgeling Ciskei airforce plus military training. [Israel and Taiwan lead investment in S. African "Bantustans."] British High Court decides to refer Israel's protest at UK's refusal to sell it North Sea oil to European Court of Justice. UN Security Council considers Arafat's request for assistance in evacuating Tripoli.

MILITARY ACTION:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 3 Palestinian workers shot for not stopping at Gaza checkpoint while driving to work in Israel. About 30 Birkat Avraham yeshiva students go on rampage armed with iron rods, smashing windows, injuring 2 Arab men; 3 Arabs and 2 Jews arrested and released. IDF uproots five dunums of fruit trees belonging to Palestinian farmers along Kfar Saba-Qalqilya road where IDF believes petrol bomb attacks on Israeli traffic launched; farmers not to be compensated and ordered not to replant.

Arab World: Heavy artillery exchanges in Tripoli between rival Palestinian forces as talks on evacuation of loyalists stall. Bazooka attack on Israeli army vehicle kills 1 IDF soldier in Lebanon.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Imam of Katibeh Mosque in Gaza given 18 mos. prison term for "incitement" after denouncing murder of Hebron U. students last July. Gaza artist, Fathi Ghabin's detention extended for producing "inciting" posters. Raphael Eitan and Chaim Herzog lead public castigation of 6 Israeli POWs returned by PLO in November prisoner exchange and 2 others still captive for cowardly surrender. Gush Emunim settlers camp at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus declaring to create permanent Jewish presence there; Peace Now warns of demonstration next day, supports DM Zipori's position that encampment is illegal. Teachers in 10 Israeli gov't. schools in Ramallah and al-Bireh strike over low wages. Life sentences given 2 Palestinians charged with killing Ramallah Village League head (1981), and an attack on IDF officer imposed as "(mayor" of al-Bireh; 2 others sentenced to 12-14 years for attacking Israeli settler in Hebron.

Arab World: Arafat accepts outline of Saudi-organized ceasefire in Tripoli. After letter from Pres. Reagan reiterating US position, King Hussein says he is prepared to resume talks with Arafat on joint Palestinian-Jordanian approach to negotiations with Israel; in light of current struggle in Tripoli, Hussein promises to put "no conditions on him. " Rebel spokesman asserts Tripoli fighting results from Arafat's refusal to heed Coordination Committee proposals. Tyre municipality opens special employment office for men released from Ansar prison; appeals to UNRWA to provide jobs.

Other Countries: Meeting in Washington, Pres. Gemayel and Reagan agree to stand by May 17 Lebanese-Israeli agreement. US Sec. of Defense Weinberger tells Jewish leaders of Synagogue Council of America that Arafat is "irrelevant" to future of Middle East. Chile's FM ends visit to Israel; agreement reached to expand mutual trade and agricultural cooperation. Abu Ja'far, Dir. of PLO Political Dep't holds talks with Soviet charge d'affaires in Tunis; also received GDR, DPRK, Rumanian, Polish and Czech ambassadors on occasion of Int'l. Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People. Major oil co.s shipping under Liberian flag pressure Liberian gov't. to cancel plans for embassy in Jerusalem; ambassador reported looking for alternative location in Tel Aviv.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: Palestinian casualties in Lebanon mountain artillery exchanges: 2 PFLP fighters, 1from Struggle Front, 2 from Liberation Army and 1 from al-Saiqa killed; 2 from Struggle Front wounded. Israel-backed militia chief in S. Lebanon, Abu Saleh, quits to renew loyalty to Amal militia. 1983 to date, 71 Druze quit Israeli military for religious reasons (compares with 19 in 1982).

Military Action:

Phalange militia ambushed in Aley's main square, rocket and artillery barrages exchanged, as Druze militia accuses Phalange of bringing in reinforcements; fighting continues in Baal Mohsen and Bab el-Tabbaneh areas of Tripoli as both sides fire on police officers trying to arrange cease-fire; UNIFIL troops involved in firefight.

Casualties:

3 Phalange killed, one IDF soldier wounded in Aley; 7 dead, 12 wounded in Tripoli, where all businesses close during fighting; UNIFIL kills 1, wounded 3 militiamen; mothers and children of Phalange forces in Chouf hold protest march in Beirut demanding state intervention to end fighting; UNRWA says homes found for Palestinian refugees.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin aide David Levi confirms plans to expand settlements in West Bank; IDF officer links Sharon to brutality toward West Bank Palestinians.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat flies unexpectedly to Damascus, reportedly to heal rift between himself and PLO groups based in Syria, make friendly overture to Syrian government.

Arab Governments: Egyptian Foreign Minister Hassan Ali says Israel and PLO are delaying peace process, calls on PLO to recognize Israel.

US and Other Countries: US proposes shuttle diplomacy instead of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

Military Action:

Car bomb explodes in Druze town of Aramoun; Phalange militia occupies Lebanese Army barracks in Beit Eddin and Deir al-Qamar; IDF vehicle fired on near Nabatiyeh.

Casualties:

One killed, 4 wounded in Aramoun, brings to over 50 total killed in Chouf incidents in past two weeks; Tyre curfew lifted and road to Israeli border reopened; PLO protests to ICRC over treatment of prisoners in South Lebanon detention camps.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin's 62-year old wife dies and Begin leaves US for Israel to begin 30-day mourning period, postponing indefinitely meeting with Reagan; 47 Israeli victims of Tyre explosion buried; General Meir Zorea, head of military inquiry, reports to Cabinet that explosion not caused by a bomb, and Energy Minister Modai says it was probably caused by leaking cooking gas; Deputy Prime Minister Ehrlich chairs Cabinet meeting devoted to mourning Aliza Begin and Tyre victims; Shamir reports on meetings with Draper and lack of Lebanese response to Israeli proposals on format/ content of proposed talks; Modai proposes IDF unilaterally withdraw from parts of Lebanon to get talks going and to test Syrian/Lebanese intentions; al-Hamishmar demands withdrawal of IDF from Lebanon and resignation of Sharon in wake of Tyre disaster; IDF source indicates Defense Ministry postponed plans to raze abandoned Ein Sultan refugee camp north of Jericho on night following Beirut massacres (razing reportedly related to efforts to build more Jewish settlements in area); three Nahal settlements of Elisha, Beit Arava, Tzurif currently being "civilianized"; at Commission of Inquiry, senior IDF officer and Eitan aide Ze'ev Zecharin contradicts Sharon and Begin, says Sharon spoke of Phalange entry into camps September 14 (not September 15 as Sharon asserted), says Eitan told him Saturday morning, September 18, that Begin had requested information on Gaza Hospital in Sabra camp (denied by Begin), says Eitan instructed IDF to restrict artillery support to minimize civilian casualties, to impose a curfew on all areas of Lebanon under IDF control, to ask Phalange to mobilize forces to take camps regardless of timing of IDF advance into West Beirut, says Eitan flew to Beirut Wednesday, September 17, to detail IDF plans to Phalange but Phalange asked for 24-hour delay to get organized, and agreed that Mossad officer not IDF would act as liaison with Phalange, says Sharon ordered Phalange to enter camps after Wednesday morning arrival at IDF Beirut divisional command post, says no Phalange irregularities raised and no questions asked in Eitan's meeting with Phalange commanders Friday afternoon, says Phalange, during Sunday morning meeting with Eitan, admitted killing civilians but said "We won't go with this to the media, that we did it, because it will hurt us in the Presidential elections"; Zecharin's testimony curtailed at IDF request after contradiction with Dudai testimony highlighted; Foreign Ministry official Ariel Kenet testifies that two inquiries from ministry's Beirut representative Friday afternoon noted US envoy Draper's concern at seeing Phalange inside camps and Lebanese Prime Minister Wazzan's report of patients being killed at Gaza Hospital, asserts he alerted David Kimche, who instructed him to notify Defense Ministry.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Executive Committee member Hanna Nassir says Palestine National Council meeting may not occur before January; Arafat attends Brezhnev funeral in Moscow; Amin Gemayel and Wazzan arrive in Riyadh for 2 days of talks with King Fahd, seeking Saudi help in rebuilding Lebanon, support for withdrawal of PLO and Syrian forces; Wazzan, before departing, says Lebanon wants Israel out of Lebanon, is uninterested in direct negotiations.

US and Other Countries: Reagan phones condolences to Begin; State Department indicates it hopes Israel will not retaliate for Tyre explosion; fears raised that Begin's return to Israel is setback for Reagan peace plan.

UN: UNRWA says by next June, $43.4 million will have been spent on emergency aid to Lebanon but only $31 million has been raised to date.

Military Action:

IDF postpones withdrawal from Chouf to prevent massacre of Druze; Lebanese Army sends 3 tanks, 20 soldiers to join 30 soldiers stationed in Kfar Matta.

Casualties:

600 IDF soldiers reportedly suffered mental breakdowns during Lebanon invasion (100 still undergoing treatment); Israeli Minister Meridor, inspecting camps at Sidon and Tyre, charges UNRWA rejects Israeli offers to help prepare refugee camps in south for winter.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Parliament backs Begin's West Bank policy with 56-50 vote of confidence; Commission of Inquiry formally launches probe into role of IDF and Cabinet; Attorney-General Zamir says Uri Avnery will not be prosecuted for interview with Arafat; Israeli officials reportedly dismayed at Gemayel's UN speech calling Israel withdrawal prerequisite for peace in Lebanon, endorsing Palestinian self-determination, and appealing for UNIFIL to remain; hundreds of Israeli Druze protest outside Begin's home claiming Israeli attempt to create massacre of Druze in Chouf region.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel, in 2 hour meeting with Reagan, requests increase in size of US peacekeeping unit, strongly endorses peace initiative (later meets with Shultz, World Bank head Clausen, and Weinberger); Lebanese official says official investigation of massacre continuing.

UN: USSR backs effort to expel Israel from UN agencies but not General Assembly; vote on Israeli expulsion delayed.

Military Action:

Druze, Phalange clashes in Central Lebanon escalate as fighting spreads to two villages in Bhamdoun area; demilitarization of East Beirut postponed pending completion of West Beirut sweeps; French troops ordered not to participate in Lebanese searches as concern grows over Lebanese brutality.

Casualties:

Lebanese Army arrests another 132 Palestinians and Lebanese; Lebanese plan to reopen ground satellite station next week, closed since June 6; clearing of squatters suspended near airport, continues in Ouzai and other areas; Meridor rejects UNRWA charges that Israel is preventing erection of permanent structures, forcing refugees to live in tents; US AID head urges Israel to protect refugee camps in South Lebanon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon reveals map of "security zone" Israel hopes to create in Lebanon, which covers almost entire area now occupied by IDF; Nablus Mayor Shakaa charges Israeli harrassment, forced house arrest for 3 months; delegations from Gaza, Galilee, West Bank pay respects to family of recentlyslain PLO strategist Abu Walid near Nablus.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel considering expansion of peacekeeping force from present 3,500 to 15,000, deployed outside Beirut (US reportedly opposed); Arafat arrives in Amman from Bahrain for talks with King Hussein.

Military Action:

IDF seals off Ein al-Hilweh camp near Sidon, detaining 70 Palestinians, after informer working for IDF ambushed; US Marines land M-60 tanks on beaches near airport after mine clearing activities completed.

Casualties:

1 US Marine killed, 3 wounded by US-made cluster bomb near airport; Beirut airport opens for first commercial flight since June 6; Israeli Minister of Economic Cooperation Dan Meridor says Israel may prepare Palestinian refugee camps in South Lebanon for winter if UNRWA doesn't act soon; although raw sewage and garbage remains in streets in some areas, roads are being repaved.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: "There is a Limit" group of anti-war reservists and soldiers call for IDF withdrawal from Lebanon and present a petition with 1,000 signatures which states "there is no military solution to the Palestinian problem"; Village League associate in Hebron attacked; heads of Israeli Druze community demand that IDF prevent Phalange assault on Lebanese Druze (claim 3 Druze abducted, new Phalange roadblocks in Druze villages set up since Gemayel assassination); Shamir addresses UN (will meet US Jewish leaders this week, travel to Chicago and Los Angeles before October 14 meeting with Shultz).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Amin Gemayel declares end to Green Line, in ceremony celebrating Beirut as reunified capital (traffic surges across line following ceremony); Lebanese police deny receiving complaints of IDF soldiers looting Lebanese houses; 100,000 Palestinians led by Arafat mourn Abu Walid.

Arab Governments: Habib meets with Egyptian Foreign Minister Hassin Ali, assures him agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon will be concluded within a couple weeks; Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam meets with Shultz in New York, explains Syrian withdrawal conditions.

US and Other Countries: Senator Percy says Marines need to be out of Lebanon within 90 days unless Congress approves an extension; White House denies US knew of massacre one day before Begin says he knew; Shultz, at UN, affirms heart of Reagan plan is Israeli return of occupied territories; British Labor Party says PLO represents Palestinian people; meeting of British, Israeli foreign ministers in New York ends with "basic disagreements"; West Germany, at UN, stresses its support for participation by all parties, including the PLO, in peace settlement; Simon Weisenthal, in Vienna, says those responsible for massacre were "las guilty as the Nazis" and should bear same punishment.