Occupied Palestine/Israel: Thousands demonstrate against MK Meir Kahane, drowning out his words, at Givatayim; Kahane threatens audience, leaves [JP 9/23].
Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF close UNRWA-run boys preparatory school in Qalandiya for 1 mo. after stones allegedly thrown at IDF from school [FJ 3/22]. Green Patrol seizes...
Other Countries: US Sec. of State Shultz assures visiting DM Rabin of US opposition to intl. conference on Middle East under UN auspices or with participation of...
48 Israeli air strikes are reported in the areas of Nabatiyeh, Beaufort Castle, Arnoun, Hasbaya and Aichiye; Israeli jets and gun-boats bomb and strafe several dozen...
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U.S. refuses Arab demand to reschedule negotiations due to Israeli refusal to attend 12/4 talks in Washington. (WP 12/6)
Islamic Resistance Movement fires rockets into Marjayun, S. Lebanon in retaliation for Israeli, SLA shelling of Shiite villages. (NYT 12/9)
Israeli communications ministry and telephone company Bezek end several days' experiment by which selected customers were allowed to call unnamed Arab countries directly through American installations. Experiment came in order to prepare Israel in the event that peace talks lead to agreement on direct communications between Israel, Arab world. Palestinian negotiator Faisal Husseini was among those who called, speaking to his brother in Jordan. (MM 12/5, 12/6)
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Thousands demonstrate against MK Meir Kahane, drowning out his words, at Givatayim; Kahane threatens audience, leaves [JP 9/23].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Booby-trapped van discovered in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox Mea Shearim quarter is defused; no injuries [JP 9/23]. Al-Am'ari refugee camp and 'Anabta town are put under curfew. Settlers reportedly joined Israeli soldiers' search-and-arrest campaign in al-Am'ari [FJ 9/27].
Arab World: Israeli forces shoot and kill 2 armed men near Hasbaya [JP 9/24]. Mines explode near wreckage of Israeli helicopter in Tyre, killing 1 Shi'ite militiaman and wounding 8 others [JP 9/24]. 107-mm. katyusha rocket fired at SLA strongpoint near Bint Jubayl; no injuries. UNIFIL dismantles 2 katyushas north of Marjayun. SLA dismantles 100-kilo bomb near 'Ayshe [JP 9/23].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF close UNRWA-run boys preparatory school in Qalandiya for 1 mo. after stones allegedly thrown at IDF from school [FJ 3/22]. Green Patrol seizes large flock of Bedouin goats near Mitzpe Ramon (2nd time since 3/14); goats later sold by Green Patrol officials [JP 3/31].
Arab World: IDF sources indicate intention after final withdrawal to erect "security zone" in S. Lebanon to be patrolled by SLA; also state that "extremists" in zone will be deported [LT 3/19]. IDF raid Abba, S. Lebanon; 1 killed, 1 wounded; 1 home destroyed, undetermined number arrested. IDF close road from Israeli border to Marjayoun [JP 3/20].
Social/Economic/Political
Other Countries: US Sec. of State Shultz assures visiting DM Rabin of US opposition to intl. conference on Middle East under UN auspices or with participation of USSR [JP 1/29].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: 3 settlers injured when their bus is stoned near Halhoul; authorities detain 1 Halhoul resident [FJ 2/1]. Nature Reserve Authority (Green Patrol) officials drive onto olive orchards in al-Mill (Area 9), destroy more than 140 trees; land was scene of recent (1/9, 1/25, 1/27) incidents [FJ 2/1].
Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: fighting breaks out between commandos and collaborators in 'Ain al-Hilweh. Reports indicate IDF kill 7-yr.-old Hawra Hadrag when troops at checkpoint open fire on car in Sidon [LT 1/29]. Mine wounds 3 IDF troops near Marjayoun. 2 IDF personnel injured as bomb explodes near convoy over Qasimiya Bridge [JTA 1/29]. Bomb explodes in Burj al-Shamali as IDF patrol passes; no injuries. Explosion occurs near SLA patrol in Deir Qanun, shots fired at SLA patrol in Sidon; no injuries. Katyusha launched at IDF position, undisclosed location; no injuries [JP 1/29].
SOCIAL/POLITICAL:
Arab World: Maj. Saad Haddad dies of cancer at his home in Marjayoun, Lebanon. US envoy Rumsfeld meets with Hafez al-Assad in Damascus.
Military Action:
48 Israeli air strikes are reported in the areas of Nabatiyeh, Beaufort Castle, Arnoun, Hasbaya and Aichiye; Israeli jets and gun-boats bomb and strafe several dozen targets along a 25-mile corridor from Tyre to Naameh (8 miles south of Beirut); Israeli bombardment of the Chouf region (a Lebanese left stronghold) is reported; Israeli tanks move into Haddad-controlled enclave in southern Lebanon and heavy artillery batteries move into Marjayoun 6 miles inside Lebanon; Damour area attacked for two hours as Israeli helicopters conduct reconnaissance flights.
Syria's estimated 30,000 troops inside Lebanon remain uninvolved, and no Syrian aircraft engage Israeli jets.
Casualties:
PLO sources claim 130 killed, 250 wounded and 3 Israeli jets shot down yesterday; Lebanese and Palestinian sources report many civilian casualties; the Rashidiyeh refugee camp near Tyre hit; thousands of civilians jam northern road as Sidon and other southern Lebanese towns empty in fear of an Israeli attack.
Political Responses:
Israel/Occupied Territories: Military censors UN accounts of fighting inside Lebanon; Labor party urges government to "control" Lebanese action and seek to restore cease-fire, complains about lack of prior consultation; 2000 protest in Tel Aviv against Israeli hostilities and criticize Israeli policies in the "occupied territories."
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat, in Saudi Arabia to mediate Iran/Iraq war, says PLO will respond strongly; Lebanese Foreign Minister Butros, noting lack of response from Arab world, asks "confrontation states" to stop being spectators, provide concrete solidarity and confrontation.
US: Secretary of State Alexander Haig, in Versailles, calls Israeli bombing of Lebanon "very serious," announces Philip Habib will seek to restore July 1981 cease-fire.
UN: Security Council meets in emergency session and issues unanimous call for cease-fire in Lebanon.
