The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Shell lands near Jordanian airliner at Beirut airport, fails to explode, Lebanese Army detains neighborhood residents.

Casualties:

UNRWA head says 73 Palestinian families have fled their homes in South Lebanon, says UN knows of 15 cases of murder.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin rejects settlement freeze, other Jordanian pre-conditions for entering talks; Eliahu Lankin refuses to accept post of Israeli ambassador to Britain; Israeli President Navon reportedly concerned about danger of civil war in Israel; Sharon files request with Treasury for a bureau in Tel Aviv and one in Jerusalem, in his capacity as Minister without Portfolio; IDF reports 5 Bedouin killed, 4 injured when their van hits land mine near kibbutz Zeelim in northwest Negev; Israel reported to have used more than 100 weapons systems in Lebanon that had not previously seen full-scale combat, such as F-15 and F-16 fighters, Sparrow AIM-7F missile; IDF reports recent demolition of four houses in Gaza belonging to Palestinians accused of throwing grenades in Tel Aviv and Gaza; bomb explodes outside mosque in Hebron, injuring two and damaging two cars.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Cabinet meets to discuss Habib proposals, reportedly calling for two security zones in South Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Egyptian Foreign Ministry announces meetings next week with Israel to discuss Sinai border dispute over Taba, normalization of commercial relations.

US and Other Countries: State Department officials reportedly believe Arafat, after PNC, still has running room to continue dialogue with King Hussein; 40-page analysis of Israeli settlement policy, prepared by US Consul General in Jerusalem, recommends blocking each of five stages of settlement process if freeze is to be truly effective.

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:

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:

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 begins pulling out troops from West Beirut under mounting world pressure; thousands of Palestinians flee camps in panic, fearing return of Phalange/Haddad militias to camps following IDF withdrawal, before Lebanese Army can restore calm; Phalange and Haddad forces sighted setting up own roadblocks in West Beirut.

Casualties:

Red Cross continues to recover bodies, 130 recovered so far, no mass graves opened yet.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Controversy grows as media report government officials were aware that civilians were being killed in camps 36 hours before they intervened (denied by government officials); Haaretz, Davar, Jerusalem Post, Maariv call for ouster of Sharon and/or Begin, convening of national board of inquiry into Israeli complicity in massacre; Begin's office concedes Cabinet gave advance approval for IDF to allow Phalange/Haddad militias to enter camps last week; Israeli President Navon calls for independent inquiry into the massacre, Begin favors only investigating commission; National Religious Party joins Navon in pressuring Begin to allow a full investigation; Labor, Mapam, Shinui and Peace Now call for mass rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday; Palestinian leaders voice outrage at massacre; Palestinian youth throw stones at Israeli vehicles, set fire to tires in Ramallah and Nablus, police disperse crowds with tear gas and rubber bullets with no casualties; many stores close in protest, are forced open by Israeli soldiers; school openings in occupied territories postponed for two weeks; over 40 representatives of West Bank and Gaza refugees occupy UNRWA Jerusalem office to protest food ration cuts announced Sept. 1, UNRWA Employees' Union joins protest.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Palestine Central Council ends one-day meeting with statement condemning Israeli role in massacre, blaming Lebanese Army, US, France and Italy, and pledges to avenge killings; Camille Chamoun withdraws from race for Lebanese presidency as it becomes clear Amin Gemayel has votes to win.

Arab Governments: Egypt recalls ambassador to Israel but does not break diplomatic relations; Jordan's King Hussein accuses Israel of responsibility for massacre but urges positive Arab response to Reagan proposals, calls on PLO to join him to draw up federation plan along lines of Reagan proposal; emergency Arab League meeting in Tunis called at request of PLO delayed until tomorrow.

US and Other Counties: Reagan agrees to Lebanese request for return of US Marines, asks Israel to pull out of Beirut; Congress gives troubled support to decision, Weinberger doubts presence of Marines would have prevented massacre; several US Jewish leaders call for inquiry, demand that Israel cut all ties with Christian groups involved in massacre; USSR condemns Israel but blames US for "encouraging" Israel's "criminal aggression," proposes joint US-Soviet action to curb Israel; Indian Prime Minister Gandhi condemns massacre; 10-member European Community condemns massacre, demands Israeli withdrawal; Danish Foreign Minister meets with PLO leader Kaddoumi, says PLO must be associated with Middle East peace talks; Italian workers go on hour-long strike and attend rallies protesting massacre; Britain condemns massacre, demands Israeli withdrawal.

Military Action:

Lebanese left militias clash with Lebanese Army (IDF head Eitan demands Murabitun be evacuated from West Beirut); Syrian forces scheduled to leave West Beirut today; 1,230 evacuated by road to Damascus as 500 PLO members arrive at Tartus by boat (an estimated 8,500 PLO members have been evacuated); PLO evacuees warmly welcomed in South Yemen.

Casualties:

People freely leaving West Beirut; IDF soldier dies of wounds from bus hit by land mine.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Temritories: Cabinet approves IS Sb. in budget cuts for use by Defense Ministry in paying for Lebanese invasion; Nahum Goldmann dies at 87; Begin takes vacation in Nahariya; government spokes-persons, following Cabinet meeting, say any attempt to alter Camp David will provoke Israel to apply Israeli law to West Bank, Gaza; students from Gaza and Jerusalem who seek to study at West Bank universities now required to obtain permission from West Bank military administration; UNRWA decides to reduce its supply to Gaza refugees starting September 1 because of financial crisis and diversion of supplies to Lebanon (protests follow in Gaza, West Bank); former Israeli Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur says Beirut battle is "black spot" in Israeli history and that the invasion is "unjust"; Bethlehem Mayor Freij says PLO remains sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, blames US for Israeli military intervention in Lebanon in NBC interview; Dr. Mordechai Avitzur (coordinator of international relief organizations working in southern Lebanon out of Israel) killed in car crash; draft treaty with Lebanon already circulating within Defense, Foreign ministries.

Palestinians/Lebanese: Abu lyad claims PLO knew of planned Israeli invasion since February, that several Arab countries also knew in advance; PLO denies Arafat has left Beirut (Arafat decides to evacuate to Greece initially); Lebanese Shiite leaders pass resolution opposing peace treaty with Israel.

Arab Govemnments: Arab foreign ministers continue to meet; Omani Sultan congratulates Gemayel on election; King Hussein stresses Jordan is not Palestine.

US and Other Countries: Greece prepares warm welcome for German hospital ship "Flora" carrying PLO wounded; anti-Israeli demonstration takes place in Washington, DC.