The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Cease-fire holds generally; LAF positions in southern suburbs and in Beirut come under sniper fire; grenade thrown at IDF vehicl in Sidon.

Casualties:

1 LAF soldier, 2 civilians killed by sniper fire; Druze and Phalange militias exchange 44 civilian hostages; 1 IDF soldier wounded in Sidon attack; Red Cross convoy permitted to enter Deir al-Qamar, where estimated 25,000 Christian refugees and 3000 Phalange militiamen remain under siege; fighting during past month has created an estimated 140,000 new refugees in South Lebanon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens confirms IDf is considering closing the 2 bridges across its Awali line to vehicles (currently 8000 per day), restricting traffic to pedestrians with special passes.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat says he expects Syrian at.ack on Baddawi and Nahr al-Bared camps within two or three days.

Military Action:

Shi'ite refugees in West Beirut resist eviction from building by police, Lebanese Army units called in, battle with Muslim militiamen through day in most serious fighting in Beirut since September/ October; militia unit in South Lebanon fires on Irish UNIFIL position.

Casualties:

2 Lebanese soldiers killed, 10 wounded, 3 militiamen killed, 11 civilians wounded, at least 70 arrested in West Beirut fighting; 8 journalists arrested by Army while covering Beirut fighting, 3 say they were physically abused; ICRC visits 6 Israeli prisoners held by Fateh, reports they are in good spirits and physical condition.

Military Action:

Syrians fire two anti-aircraft missiles at IAF jets overflying Bekaa, both miss, Israeli military command accuses Syria of cease-fire violations; plans to deploy 1,800 Lebanese Army soldiers in East Beirut delayed by tensions in Chouf area; new fighting flares before IDF reimposes curfew; fighting in Aley erupts day after Druze militiamen ambush Lebanese Army soldiers; artillery battles break out after gunmen fire on car in village of Kaifoun; gunbattles continue in village of Souk el-Gharb; IDF jeep comes under fire in village of Bchamoun; explosion in West Beirut flat kills 2, wounds 8; Sidon placed under tight IDF control following 2 attacks on IDF soldiers in past week, allegedly by newly-formed Lebanese National Patriotic Front.

Casualties:

One Lebanese Army soldier killed, 3 wounded in ambush; some Palestinians released from Answar have been rearrested in past few days; 6 Israeli soldiers captured by PLO are interviewed by ICRC team in camp near Barr Elias in eastern Bekaa.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shamir warns that Syrian missile attacks may delay withdrawal of foreign forces; Meridor says Israel willing to make political commitment to welfare of Palestinian refugees in upcoming negotiations with Lebanese, will seek guarantee that Lebanese will not tear down houses built by refugees who lost their homes in the fighting; Mapam leader Shemtov says PLO willingness to dialogue with Israel should not be ignored; Israeli Cabinet says Israel will agree to negotiate Taba issue only if Egypt resumes talks on all outstanding issues between two countries and ends diplomatic freeze; Israeli Ambassador to US Moshe Arens proposes 6-month moratorium on new settlements, but Begin rejects request and Arens is heavily criticized in Jerusalem; Drori testifies that he did not know of hundreds of civilian deaths until Saturday afternoon, yet feared mass civilian killings by Phalange, may have been told of Eitan decision to let Phalange enter camps only at time Phalange learned of it, and says Phalange asked IDF for tractors, were given one with IDF markings removed.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Information Minister Roger Shikhani warns press of need for "wisdom" in deciding what they print to avoid imposition of censorship; Lebanese Cabinet endorses plan to use existing military liaison committee for future talks, expanded to include at least one civilian legal expert and US representatives; PLO's Abu Jihad says PLO will not withdraw until IDF does first and Lebanese Government signs written guarantee of safety of civilians, says US guarantee no longer reliable after massacre, PLO uninterested in Draper negotiations and will deal with Lebanese separately, would like to retain PLO military presence in Lebanon, perhaps through Lebanese PLA unit; PLO official Khalid al-Hassan, in New York, says establishment of Palestinian state a prerequisite to PLO acceptance of US peace plan.

Arab Governments: Egypt asks Israel to delay opening of luxury hotel at Taba.

Military Action:

Attacks against IDF in Bekaa valley and near Tyre; 200 IDF soldiers withdraw from one village in Chouf; Lebanese Army resumes house-to-house search in Ouzai and Burj al-Barajneh for protestors who assaulted troops Friday.

Casualties:

Two dozen Shiite protestors move into unfinished mosque in shanty town where 5 were killed; Army arrests 11, seizes weapons; ICRC announces repatriation of third Syrian soldier by Israel (was wounded during invasion); 5 IDF wounded in Bekaa and near Tyre.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli authorities threaten to replace Hebron Mayor Natshe, dissolve town council; Israeli Druze threaten general strike, demand IDF protection for Lebanese Druze in protest in Usfiya; Israeli officials express optimism on quick agreement on security zone in South Lebanon (Cabinet reviews results of Shamir talks with Shultz, US and Israel reportedly still at odds over Haddad).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel presides over early morning meeting between Druze and Phalange leaders (they agree on Wazzan's proposals to establish effective truce); Gemayel arrives in US to attend UN, hold talks with Reagan; Alfred Mady, aide to Gemayel, says Lebanon needs $10 billion for reconstruction.

US and Other Countries: East German leader Honnecker meets Arafat in East Berlin.

Military Action:

Druze and Phalange forces clash in Bekaa; Lebanese Army reveals elaborate network of concretelined tunnels linking PLO strong-holds with 3 refugee camps, which sheltered Palestinian guerrillas and military supplies from IDF bombardment; Lebanese Army continues door-to-door searches and arrests.

Casualties:

ICRC visits 3 IDF soldiers held by Syria, reports them in good condition, 6 other IDF soldiers still missing; US protests arbitrary arrests of Palestinians to Gemayel; IDF in Beirut posts list of 12,276 killed in Israeli invasion (thousands more than Israeli Government previously acknowledged).

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli paratroopers sign petition accusing Sharon of slandering them, demand public apology (Sharon reportedly accused unit of refusing to fight in Lebanon); Likud and Alignment Knesset members visit refugee camps in South Lebanon.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Haddad says negotiated withdrawal must include continued links between Lebanon and Israel, permanently open border; Gemayel reported to favor special relationship with Syria (fuels speculation on possibility of mutual defense pact in return for Syrian withdrawal).

Arab Governments: Jordan grants amnesty to Palestinians accused of security offenses during 1970.

US and Other Countries: US developing plan for phased pullout; Habib briefs Reagan, Shultz and Weinberger; White House claims it has assurances from Lebanese authorities to safeguard Palestinian rights during crack-down on illegal Beirut residents (follows complaints from US, French and Italian diplomats in Lebanon); US delays talks on Israeli fighter project.

UN: Libya calls on UN to expel Israel.

Military Action:

ICRC plans to evacuate 56 wounded PLO guerrillas by sea to Greece tomorrow, two days after official end of evacuation; IDF officer wounded by light fire from passing car north of Tyre.

Casualties:

Lebanese police assumed control of West Beirut for first itme since 1975-76 civil war (Wazzan opens Green Line; only light army/police presence noted in East Beirut; Lebanese Army limited to barracks, defense of public buildings, can only act by order of Wazzan); Israeli planes continue to use Beirut airport, but Lebanese government resists Israeli demands that Israelis remain in control tower and check aircraft manifests, that El Al be allowed to open airport, and that Israeli military facilities be maintained there; Israelis advised to stay out of Beirut.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet meets in extraordinary session, angrily and unanimously rejects Reagan initiative as "worse than Rogers Plan"; Begin meets Weinberger, says Reagan initiative outside Camp David agreement; West Bank, Gaza reactions slightly positive after Kaddoumi response; Peres welcomes initiative; Nahum Goldmann buried on Mt. Herzl; West Bank Village League leaders invited to meet Weinberger at reception; residents of five refugee camps hold sit-in at Jerusalem UNRWA operations to protest cutoff of supplies; Jerusalem Post poll indicates over 50 percent of Israelis favor territorial compromise on occupied territories.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO studies Reagan proposals (Kaddoumi says proposals supplement Camp David; PLO Executive Committee plans meeting within 48 hours); Bourguiba receives Arafat on arrival in Tunisia; PLO, Syria warn Gemayel against signing treaty with Israel; Habib leaves Lebanon on vacation; Sarkis urges Reagan to allow Habib to negotiate withdrawal of Syrian, Israeli troops; Cabinet announces Lebanon will attend Fez Arab summit meeting, votes $1 m. to clean, repair Beirut streets.

Arab Governments: Most Arab governments withhold immediate comments on Reagan proposals, await Fez meeting; Jordan's Foreign Ministry says they have some positive aspects.

US and Other Countries: Weinberger, in Israel, visits Israeli weapons factories; Shultz expresses regret at Israeli rejection, says Hussein seriously studying proposals; proposals welcomed by Britain; former President Carter endorses intiative

Military Action:

IDF armored units, under artillery cover, invade West Beirut in apparent effort to cut off Palestinian areas south of city (tanks cross Green Line at Museum, head toward Hippodrome; IDF gunboat shelling sets fires in Palestinian areas south of city; IDF ground assault against PLO positions in Ouzai area; shelling of Ouzai, Jnah, Burj al-Barajneh; IDF jets make low-level passes over besieged city); two UN officers cross into West Beirut despite IDF opposition (one officer is American).

Casualties:

UN health officials warn of imminent danger of epidemic in West Beirut because of inadequate water supplies; two IDF officers killed; IDF casualties up to this week put at 295 dead, 1,800 wounded; fresh fruit and vegetables unobtainable in streets of West Beirut; ICRC reports 80 percent of hospital patients suffering from contagious diseases; many hospitals lack water, all using generators for electricity; eight of nine orphanages in Beirut destroyed by IDF shelling, bombs.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Druze meet Lebanese counterparts near Tiberias; Shamir, in Washington, rejects linking PLO withdrawal to wider accord on Palestinian problem.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Muslim leaders back PLO in pressing Habib to consider plan to allow simultaneous PLO evacuation as international peacekeeping forces are deployed; Wazzan meets with French ambassador over use of French troops; PLO, Lebanese military leaders meet with Wazzan to plan PLO evacuation details; Habib meets with Sarkis, Wazzan on withdrawal plans.

Arab Governments: Egyptian official says Egypt is abandoning aspects of Camp David accords dealing with Palestinian autonomy.

US and Other Countries: Habib reportedly sends "blistering" messages to Reagan warning negotiations may be scuttled by IDF undermining of cease-fire; Reagan again urges Israel not to enter West Beirut (Reagan later says escalating violence in Lebanon unacceptable); Shamir meets with members of Congress, tells them only IDF pressure will ensure PLO withdrawal from Beirut.

UN: UN announces cease-fire observer group formed from UN personnel in Beirut area, ordered to take up stations in areas "under Lebanese control" (this follows IDF refusal to let 30 soldiers of UN Truce Supervisory Organization-who had driven up from Israel-deploy inside Beirut).