The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Artillery barrages continue sporadically in Israeli held-areas of Chouf, IDF bolsters forces in area, attempts to arrange cease-fire; strikes and demonstrations in Sidon, Tyre, Nabatiyeh and many villages to protest Friday's killing of Lebanese student by IDF.

Casualties:

Local Amal commander shot and wounded in Zifra during anti-IDF protests; 15 killed in Druze attack on Chouf village of Mtoulle; 65 men and women from Qaroun, western Bekaa, reportedly arrested by IDF after overnight search and interrogation of residents; 6 arrested by IDF in villages of Mazbut and Keter Mya.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Special envoy Habib meets Israeli officials with Lebanese response to clarifications; heads of Israeli and Lebanese delegations, and US special envoy Draper will sign agreement; WZO Settlement Department proposes establishing 6 settlements south of Hebron, expanding 4 existing ones; 1600 dunums from Akrabe village declared state land last week for settlement of Tel Haim; military authorities permit re-opening of Islamic University, closed since second week of March; former Defense Minister Sharon, in New York, opposes troop withdrawal agreement, says MNF prevents necessary steps being taken against terrorists in West Beirut.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Executive Committee calls on all Arab states to reject withdrawal agreement, says PLO presence in Lebanon is governed by bilateral, Arab and international agreements and cannot be abrogated unilaterally, the legitimate right to delineate borders with Lebanon belongs to the Palestinian people; Lebanese officials say that 8 pages of Israeli clarifications would change whole balance of agreement.

Arab Govemments: Syrian foreign minister, in Jeddah, says Syria rejects withdrawal agreement; King Hussein in London for meetings with PM Thatcher, other British officials; clandestine organization claims responsibility for bomb attacks against two American offices in Amman.

US and Other Countries: State Dept. official says Israel not expected to withdraw its troops until Syria agrees to withdraw its forces; 87 dependants of Soviet diplomats leave Beirut on orders from Soviet ambassador, Lebanese employees of Moscow Narodny Bank in Beirut advised they are being laid off.

Military Action:

4 hours of artillery and rocket barrages between Phalange and Druze militias over 20 mile arc from Chouf to Junieh, Beirut suburbs worst hit since last summer; helicopter carrying US Marine commander fired on, no injuries; artillery and rocket battles in Tripoli between pro- and anti-Syrian militias; Gemayel orders Lebanese Army and Air Force to attack and silence any positions firing on Beirut; IDF officers in Bekaa say Syrian military activity in the area is defensive, no signs of preparation for attack.

Casualties:

6-7 killed, 25-34 injured in artillery barrages in Chouf and Beirut; 1 IDF soldier killed, 9 injured by artillery shell near convoy; 1 killed, 4 wounded in Tripoli; American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee resumes shipments of cement to assist in reconstruction of refugee camps in South Lebanon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli officials seek clarification of points in draft troop withdrawal agreement, special envoys Habib and Draper answer questions at Foreign Ministry; Chaim Herzog sworn in as president of Israel, says that political and ethnic tensions among Israeli Jews constitute a danger from within; 500 Arab college and high school students demonstrate in Nazareth against discriminatory recommendations for university tuitionfee policy; Nablus court issues 6 more injunctions preventing private company from preparing land for Elkana D settlement near Bidya; Jerusalem resident, beaten by yeshiva students while rescuing elderly woman last month, hospitalized in serious condition after being beaten again; physician and lawyer in Ramallah jailed after their offices searched by Israeli tax collectors seeking retroactive payment of value added tax, boycotted by West Bank professionals and merchants.

Arab Governments: Jordanian official says there are no prospects for the resumption of political dialogue between King Hussein and PLO Chairman Arafat on a joint stand to enter peace process; Syrian President Assad visits Riyadh, meets King Fahd; Ba'ath Party official says that after Syria's heavy sacrifices it has the right to discuss, take issue with and even oppose particular PLO action, criticizes Arafat for treating all Arab states alike.

US and Other Countries: US lifts unofficial ban on Navy ships visiting Israel, supply ship USS Savannah docks at Haifa to replenish stocks of Sixth Fleet ships anchored off Beirut; Jewish businessmen in Virginia form political action committee (PAC) to back pro-Israeli candidates; National Association of Arab Americans' spokesman says 24 PACs have been formed by pro-Israeli, Jewish American activists, NAAA considers forming PACs as well.

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.

Military Action:

Druze militia takes control of Aley in Chouf, destroys Phalange headquarters; IDF arming and assisting Palestinian Village League style administration in Ain el-Hilweh camp; IDF announces written peace agreement between Druze and Phalange forces and will enforce its provisions for a cease-fire, removal of road blocks, exchange of hostages; artillery exchanges continue at night; three men arrested while reportedly setting rocket launchers near site of Israeli-Lebanese-US negotiations in Khalde.

Casualties:

2 IDF wounded by gunfire in Sidon; 25 Phalange killed in Aley, bringing to 60 number killed in past week of fighting between Phalangist Lebanese Forces and Druze Progressive Socialist Party; French soldier loses leg when land mine explodes.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Report of the Kahan Commission of Inquiry into Beirut massacres delivered to Begin.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: President Gemayel says Israeli conditions for troop withdrawal are impossible and Lebanon is not prepared to accept them; South Lebanon village brigades, acting as vigilantes, receive uniforms and arms from IDF; Arafat meets with King Hussein in Amman, who reportedly wants PNC approval for non-PLO Palestinians to join Jordanian delegation for talks with US and Israel.

US and Other Countries: Reagan criticizes Israel for unnecessarily delaying troop withdrawal from Lebanon, being technically in the position of an occupying force; Habib returns to Middle East.

UN: UN documents IDF harassment of villages in South Lebanon, instructs UNIFIL to prevent IDF setting up village militias.

Military Action:

Druze and Phalange militia exchange fire in Chouf; US Marines on full alert and deploy in firing positions as IDF patrol confronts Marines at checkpoint near Lebanese University; IDF armored car backs into barbed wire fence at another Marine checkpoint; US Embassy expresses concern over incidents to Israeli Government.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Following week of meetings in Tripoli, Libya, PFLP, DFLP, PFLP-GC, Saiqa and PSF statement rejecting Fez and Reagan plans and any form of recognition or negotiation with the expansionist Zionist entity, adherence to armed struggle to liberate Palestine and all the occupied Arab territories; Lebanese- Israeli-US negotiators, meeting for 51?2 hours at Khalde, discuss ending state of war and security zone, make enough progress to turn issues over to subcommittee of Antoine Fattal, Eli Rubenstein, Christopher Ross, and form another subcommittee to deal with timetable for withdrawal of troops.

Arab Governments: Egyptian President Mubarak says Arabs must act on Reagan plan by end of year, PLO Chairman should recognize Israel, unilaterally if necessary; Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam tours Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and Qatar; King Hussein returns to Jordan from talks with King Fahd in Saudi Arabia.

US and Other Countries: Habib and Draper will divide responsibilities to accelerate the peace process; State Department refuses to qualify last week's statement suggesting possibility of shortening the autonomy period; US says USSR has sent 90 aircraft, mostly MiG-21s, and 12 SA-5 missiles to Syria, which would be particularly effective against E2-C Hawkeye surveillance aircraft used by Israel in Lebanon war; 2 US soldiers in multinational force in Sinai wounded in mine explosion near Ofira; former Presidents Carter and Ford, in joint article, say that Israeli occupation of West Bank and Gaza is a major obstacle to any moderate Arab initiative for peace in the Middle East, and urge King Hussein to join autonomy talks; West German Foreign Minister Genscher attacks Israeli settlement policy, does not recognize the PLO or support an independent Palestinian state, but supports the June 1980 Venice Declaration that the PLO be involved in the peace process.

Military Action:

Bomb explodes near military outpost close to Ain el-Hilweh; PRG grenade fired at Israeli civilian vehicle near Aley.

Casualties:

2 IDF soldiers killed, 1 wounded, 2 Lebanese wounded near Ain el-Hilweh.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin's office announces talks will begin next week on troop withdrawals, but questions grow over whether Lebanese government backs "negotiating" draft; Israeli tourism way down during traditionally busy Christmas season; goodwill delegation of Israeli religious dignitaries leave for Lebanon hoping to arrange reconciliation between Druze and Christians in Chouf; curfew reimposed on Balata refugee camp near Nablus, second high school ordered closed after students allegedly participate in rock-throwing.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Ousted Mayor Milhem of Halhoul, in Amman, says PLO must approve any negotiators who speak for the Palestinians.

Arab Governments: King Hussein leaves US for home; Arab League and PLO foreign minister to meet January 21 to assess efforts to promote Mideast peace plan.

US and Other Countries: Reagan optimistic but cautious after second meeting with King Hussein; White house officials later say in next 2-3 weeks Hussein will publicly announce whether or not he will join peace talks; Israeli consulate, Jewish club bombed in Sydney, Australia.

Military Action:

IDF curfew checks Chouf fighting, IDF tank opens fire on house after being fired on, IDF officers meet with Phalange and Druze leaders in attempt to preserve cease-fire.

Casualties:

One IDF soldier wounded by mortar shell at Kafr Barich; 500 women gather at West Beirut mosque to protest disappearances; Grand Mufti has compiled list of 3,000 persons detained or missing since Bashir Gemayel assassination; Army increasing sweeps to arrest activists.

Political Responses:

lsrael/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet issues statement expressing "astonishment" at Reagan Administration opposition to increasing aid; Commission of Inquiry denies Saad Haddad's request to examine evidence, question witnesses, says it lacks evidence of any Haddad involvement, despite Sharon report of IDF unit firing on Haddad men involved in killings and British physician's overhearing discussion of Haddad involvement by IDF officers; Ministry of Science announces Edward Teller-who helped develop the atomic and hydrogen bombs-is in Israel to advise the Government on building a nuclear reactor for peaceful uses, utilization of nuclear energy; Sharon leaves for trip to Honduras to "cement relations with a friendly country which has shown interest in connection with our defense establishment" will meet with Defense Minister Hernandez and President Cordoba; IDF civilian employees stage first strike ever in growing labor confrontation with government.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO leaders end 2-day conference in South Yemen with attack on US Mideast policies; Arafat flies to Saudi Arabia; Jumblatt, in Der Spiegel interview, attacks Gemayel for failing to disarm Phalange; Lebanese Army denies that 5 Palestinian activists have died from torture and mistreatment (Lebanese authorities, despite promises in early October, have not allowed international observers to visit prisoners, continue to round up members of Palestinian groups even though membership in them is legal).

Arab Governments: Arab League delegation, headed by King Hussein, arrives in China.

US and Other Countries: Senior Reagan officials, extremely concerned at stalled withdrawal negotiations, indicate US Marines will stay in Lebanon well into next year; Union of American Hebrew Congregations' national board decides to table vote until 1983 on resolution rejecting Begin's settlement plans and calling for territorial compromises.

Military Action:

Druze militia barricade roads, fight Phalange in aftermath of yesterday's attempted assassination of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt; Gemayel meets Jumblatt seeking to end new fighting; Israeli sources report new Soviet jets and tanks pouring into Syria; IDF patrol attacked with grenades near Shuweifat.

Casualties:

Shops close in West Beirut as Jumblatt and Druze allies bury bodyguard killed in yesterday's carbombing (3 others reported killed, 28 wounded); UNRWA says 11 employees seized by Lebanese Army in past few weeks, another 1 12 Palestinian employees detained by IDF in South Lebanon; IDF release 240 from Ansar camp (number of detainees at camp now put at 15,000); 2 detainees killed, 4 wounded at Ansar when security officer's gun "discharges accidentally."

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel charges Israeli Army reservist Yitzhak Shor with flying secretly to Damascus, passing information on IDF troops positions and own service to Syrians; Israeli journalists report Israel to sell $18 m. in arms to Zaire to double Mobutu's palace guard.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: President Gemayel makes "urgent appeal" to the US through Draper to pressure Israel to withdraw from Chouf, seeks to deploy units of Lebanese Army in area.

Arab Governments: King Hussein and foreign ministers of 5 Arab governments meet with Soviet leader Andropov (is first known visit by Saudi envoy to USSR); Mubarak says Habib seeks simultaneous withdrawal of all armies by end of month.

US and Other Countries: Habib discusses Lebanon's request to expand multinational peacekeeping force with Italian foreign minister Emilio Colombo in Rome; NATO communique says US, on consultation with allies, should take action outside north Atlantic region to protect vital Western interests, including Mideast.

UN: US withholds regular $20.5 m. contribution to UNRWA pending report on use of schools as PLO training bases.

Military Action:

Phalange-Druze clashes erupt after fire-bomb thrown at local notable near Aley; 169 artillery shells fired into Aitat by Phalange.

Casualties:

UNRWA official in Sidon says IDF prodded refugees to reject tents, helping create a market for expensive prefab houses being sold by Israeli firms, many Palestinian refugees reportedly expect Israel to provide free housing.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shamir meets with Draper but fails to break deadlock on Israel-Lebanon talks; Communications Minister Zipori, testifying before Commission of Inquiry, says he learned of civilian "slaughter" in refugee camps Friday morning, September 17, informed Foreign Minister Shamir after failing to reach IDF military intelligence heads, testifies Shamir said he had already heard of deaths, asserts June 15 Cabinet decision did not constitute permission to allow Phalange to enter camps; Labor Party leader Peres charges Likud with "smear campaign" on basis of US editorial; Tehiya MK Ne'eman threatens to leave government if West Bank settlements are not continued on a massive scale; Defense Ministry dissociates itself from guidelines recently issued by West Bank Civil Administrator Colonel Yigal Karmon; West Bank military authorities preparing to require Christian clergy to sign anti-PLO pledges, causing concern among Jerusalem religious authorities and provoking protest abroad.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Wazzan accuses Israel of instigating conflicts in Chouf, calls for IDF withdrawal from area; procedural issues holding up beginning of Israel-Lebanon talks, as Lebanese resist attempt to involve civilians in talks or to discuss normalizing relations with Israel.

Arab Governments: King Hussein meets Turkish military ruler in Ankara during two-day visit; Egypt indicates Israel will resume talks on disputed Taba area.

US and Other Countries: Secretary of State Shultz denounces Israel's crackdown on West Bank universities as a threat to academic freedom reminiscent of the McCarthy era and as undermining peace process, and calls on Israeli professors to protest measure, but denies aid contributions to Israel are linked to halting West Bank settlements.

Military Action:

IDF jeeps and APCs come under RPG attack near Shuweifat; artillery, machine gun exchanges between Druze and Phalange in Aley, IDF rushes 50 APCs and tanks, 500 troops to area, imposes curfew and cuts traffic between Chouf villages; IDF forces withdraw from Yarze area housing Lebanese Army command and home of US Ambassador Dillon.

Casualties:

UNRWA begins distributing cement and stoves in Ain el-Hilweh; 1 attacker killed, 1 IDF soldier wounded in Shuweifat.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon tells Knesset committee Israel will withdraw to 40 miles above border only after PLO and Syria withdraw troops and Israeli prisoners are returned, but will stay there until Lebanon signs security agreement allowing direct IDF involvement in security arrangements; Shamir tells US Jewish leaders in Israel that multinational peacekeeping force is unnecessary for ensuring safety of South Lebanon; Jerusalem Post poll shows Sharon support dropping since massacre; Commission of Inquiry interviews Yiram Yair, IDF commander in area of camps during massacre, behind closed doors; Statistics Bureau puts price rise at 106 percent since start of year, and inflation rate may reach 138 percent by end of year; two week old memo revealed which ordered Israeli military governors to "neutralize to the maximum" pro-Jordanian elements among West Bank Arabs and to step up support for Village Leagues, in apparent attempt to block options for peace settlement involving Jordan; Likud MK Dror Zeigerman says government initiative in issuing memo would imply plan for ultimate annexation of occupied territories, and warns such a plan would turn the West Bank into "Israel's Viet Nam"; Peace Now issues statement condemning Civil Administrator for implementing "corrupt colonialist policies"; heads of Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Armenian churches in Jerusalem threaten to close holy places over Christmas unless expulsion order against Armenian Deputy Patriarch Karanjian is rescinded, but Interior Ministry refuses to reveal basis for decision to not renew visa; Tehiya Party, at annual meeting, demands that Israel annex West Bank and Gaza; Nahal plans five outposts, three settlements in West Bank in coming year; Bethlehem University student council leader put under town arrest for six months.

US and Other Countries: French President Mitterrand, in Paris meeting, tells Arab League delegation headed by King Hussein that Arabs and PLO should recognize Israel; State Department issues unusually strong 2 page statement that Israel's deportation of teachers from West Bank universities (which are partly funded by US foreign aid) undermines peace negotiations.

Military Action:

Fighting in Chouf region intensifies after Druze militia attacks Christian funeral, and Phalange pounds Druze village of Batlua with artillery, rockets, and fighting spreads to Brih, Fawwar; Haddad forces attack Norwegian UNIFIL troops, cutting off food supplies (Norwegian troops replaced Nepalese troops that had given Haddad militia free passage in area).

Casualties:

13 Lebanese killed, 25 wounded in Chouf fighting; winter rains begin, creating health hazards of rivers of mud and sewage in refugee camps.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin, testifying before Commission of Inquiry, says he wasn't informed of Phalange entry into camps until Cabinet meeting Thursday evening, did not imagine danger of atrocities (contradicted by Cabinet minutes showing Eitan saying "It will be an outburst the likes of which have not been seen. I already see in their eyes what they are waiting for"), denies Mossad warned him of possible massacre, claims he only learned of it late Saturday; delegation of Gaza Strip leaders visit Egypt and Tunisia seeking economic support for Gazan exports and high school graduates; in confrontation between Histadrut and government, Israeli university professors go on strike and 60,000 member Civil Servants Union declares work stoppage.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanon also asks Belgium, Austria, Norway, Canada and Australia to join peacekeeping force.

US and Other Countries: White House announces King Hussein will meet with Reagan December 21; Draper returns to Beirut with little progress to report on negotiations.

Military Action:

US Marines send first patrol of 14 men in 4 jeeps to Green Line dividing Ain al-Rumaneh from Shiyah; IDF send soldiers into 3 Chouf villages to disengage Phalange and Druze forces; Syrians dig new defensive positions in Bekaa.

Casualties:

First 24 tents to rehouse Palestinian refugees are set up at Ain el-Hilweh; 100 dignitaries from South Lebanon meet IDF official to ask for speedy release of Ansar detainees.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Ambassador Arens meets with Shultz to discuss Lebanon, Egyptian relations; Israeli officials say they plan to settle 1.4 million Jews in occupied territories in next 30 years; Israeli officials deny Egyptian statement that negotiations are to begin in 3 days.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: After emergency meeting between Phalange and Druze leaders, Gemayel announces special joint mediation committees and army units to be formed to stop fighting in Chouf; Lebanese Parliament postpones vote on government request for emergency powers until Monday; Draper meets Lebanese Foreign Minister Elie Salam following meeting with Khaddam in Syria.

Arab Governments: Egyptian foreign minister says Taba negotiations about to resume; King Hussein, in first interview following meetings with Arafat, urges PLO to recognize the right of Israel to exist.

US and Other Countries: US strongly criticizes Israel for continuing settlements on the West Bank, says it casts doubt on Israeli willingness to abide by UN Resolution 242 and is an obstacle to peace negotiations; Zaire asks to postpone Shamir visit.