The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

3 US ships carrying standby Marine force of 2000 leave coast of Lebanon, head for US by way of Indian Ocean.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet devalues shekel 23%, now worth approx 80 to $1 [2 months ago it was 53 to $1]; food subsidies cut 50%, bread and dairy prices rise 50%, gasoline rises 23%, panic buying ensues; government to make $ lb in budget cuts, offers plan to protect commercial bank stockholders.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Jumblatt rejects presidential palace as meeting site, proposes Greek ship anchored inside Lebanese waters; LAF Chief of Staff travels to Jumblatt's village, meets Druze defectors, delays return to his command; IDF reportedly establishing new militias in South Lebanon; Haddad cites medical reasons, relinquishes command of his militia.

Military Action:

IDF reportedly constructing series of large and sophisticated military bases across South and central Lebanon, including airstrip at Damour, barracks and transport facilities at Sidon, fortified posts in Arkoub and Bekaa Valleys, logistics HQ near Marjayoun; Syrian forces and IDF exchange artillery fire in Bekaa; Haddad says he must formally be made military governor of South Lebanon.

Casualties:

9 suspects indicted for grenade attack that wounded 5 US Marines on March 16.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF seals 4 Dahariya homes of Palestinians who reportedly admitted to attacks in Hebron area, including stone-throwing that killed Israeli woman in January; IDF orders West Bank schools to remain closed until April 19, Jenin schools closed indefinitely; Umm Safa and Gibya residents report thousands of dunams seized for nearby Ateret settlement; molotov cocktail thrown at border police patrol in Bethlehem; Jerusalem Mayor Kollek warns civic and religious leaders of Shufat and Beit Hanina if they don't stop stone-throwing along road to Neve Ya'acov settlement then police and army will; Peace Now begins protests near site of proposed Upper Nablus settlement; court orders Ministry of Defense to pay compensation of IS2m. to family of Palestinian woman shot by Israeli soldier in April 1982, soldier given 5 months suspended sentence; Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs spokesman offers 3,939 apartments and building plots in West Bank and Gaza, announces campaign to expand 68 settlements, increase Jewish population in occupied territories 30-50,000 in next 18 months; Chief of Staff Eitan, in farewell statement to Cabinet, says there should be 10 new Jewish settlements for each stone-throwing incident, when Israelis have settled the land all the Arabs will be able to do about it is scurry around like drugged roaches in a bottle; 2 Likud MKs recommend that soldiers be instructed to aim higher if shooting at demonstrators' legs doesn't stop stone-throwing; Israeli Electric Corporation completes 4-year project to supply electricity to West Bank settlements and villages at cost of IS360m.; Association for Civil Rights says ban on section of '83 film is attack on freedom of expression, asks for its revocation.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO stresses importance of continuing relations and dialogue with Jordan; Habib participates for first time in troop withdrawal negotiations at Netanya.

Arab Governments: Mubarak says it is imperative PLO join Jordan to facilitate negotiations; Moroccan sources say proposed Arab summit later this week likely to be postponed; Jordan reportedly considering reducing ties to West Bank; King Hussein meets British Foreign Secretary; Syria says Hussein's refusal to enter talks shows US does not hold key to Middle East peace.

US and Other Countries: Shultz says there is no alternative to the Reagan plan, suggests PLO should lose its 1974 Arab League mandate as sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people if this authority is not exercised constructively; House Foreign Affairs subcommittee links sale of advanced US weapons to Jordan to commitment to recognize Israel and enter into direct negotiations with it, increases Reagan's requests for economic aid to Israel from $785m. to $850m., all grants, increases grant portion of military aid from $550m. to $850m. out of $1.7b. total, and approves same amount for FY 1985 in largest single legislative package of aid for Israel ever approved; CIA director Casey reportedly travelled secretly to Israel last week to convince Israelis that Lebanese Army can control South Lebanon.

Military Action:

Syrian Army halts battle after Lebanese Army unit is ambushed by Amal militia and Iranian Revolutionary Guards near Baalbek; National Guard of 40 armed men formed at Ain el-Hilweh camp, led by Mossad-trained Palestinian Abdullah Nassar; fighting in Chouf maintains near Nabrah, IDF meets with rival leaders to restore 3 week-old cease-fire.

Casualties:

6 Lebanese Army soldiers killed, 12 wounded, 3 militiamen killed, 5 wounded in Bekaa Valley fight; villages in South Lebanon ordered by IDF and Haddad forces to pay thousands of Lebanese pounds for protection, and to obtain release of villagers held at Ansar detention camp; Lebanese Foreign Minister Salem says that 300,000 illegal aliens, mostly Palestinians, will eventually have to be removed from the country.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Bomb found and dismantled at entrance of al-Aqsa mosque, 16 detained for questions, Jewish extremist group suspected; Foreign Minister Shamir says Israel will not freeze settlements as a condition for King Hussein's joining peace talks; Foreign Ministry denies reports that Israel signed agreement to sell arms to Ciskei bantustan; Israeli Journalists Association instructs members to boycott February 24 press conference on treatment of Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners at Ansar camp, called by Israeli Committee Against the War in Lebanon; central Ramallah under curfew after stone-throwing incidents; 24-hour guard on deposed Nablus Mayor Bassam Shakaa lifted; 300 women representing Women's Work Committees on West Bank hold 2nd annual conference in Jerusalem; Village League and Civil Administration open private electricity generating system in Bil'in in violation of Jerusalem Electricity Company concession.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Foreign Minister Salem says if Lebanon errs in the area of normalization with Israel it could lose its existence, Lebanon will not close 22 frontiers to open one; special envoy Habib presents latest compromise proposals on Lebanese-Israeli negotiation to Foreign Minister Shamir, then leaves for US.

Arab Governments: Jordan announces it will not enter any peace negotiations without PLO approval.

US and Other Countries: Unnamed UK oil prospecting company to sign contract with Israel to carry out Mediterranean offshore exploration.

Military Action:

IDF moves 2 convoys of tanks, APCs, heavy armor, from South Lebanon to cease-fire line in Bekaa; Lebanese Army seals off and searches southern Beirut suburbs from Bourj al-Barajneh to Lailaki; fighting continues in Bab Mohsen and Bab el-Tabbaneh areas of Tripoli.

Casualties:

9 killed in Tripoli; 40-50 detained by Lebanese Army.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli, Lebanese and US negotiators meet at Kiryat Shemona, fail to agree on draft agenda proposed by US delegate Draper; Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan says Soviet SA-5 missiles in Syria are not a military threat, but of major political significance, as could be manned by Soviet personnel, and confirms that Syria is undergoing intense military expansion to have 2 additional armored divisions by 1984, all its artillery self-propelled, most tanks to be T-72s, more commando battalions; President Navon in Washington, says consensus within Israel is opposed to Palestinian state and returning to 1967 borders; Yesh Gvul ("There's A Limit") demonstration in front of Defense Ministry demands rights for conscientious objectors and freedom for those in jail; Costa Rican Minister of Public Security Angel Edmondo Solano Calderon and wife visit Israel as guests of Defense Minister Sharon; Kiryat Arba local council tears down 4 electricity poles providing electricity to 25 Palestinian families, claiming land is allocated to Givat Harsina settlement; military authorities close Nablus technical school for I week; American Principal of Ramallah Friends Girls School summoned by military governor, but refuses (along with 4 US teachers) to sign work permit containing anti-PLO clause.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat says in interview he will set up government in exile once the US recognizes the Palestinians' right to self-determination; Lebanese militia and political leaders meet in Tripoli to try to stop fighting.

US and Other Countries: Actress Elizabeth Taylor in Israel on a mission of peace and understanding decides not to go to Lebnon as Lebanese Government cannot guarantee her security, but Saad Haddad goes to Tel Aviv to meet Taylor.

Military Action:

IDF starts destroying PLO tunnels used to cache arms in South Lebanon; 3 Irish UNIFIL soldiers killed in South Lebanon.

Casualties:

UNRWA again fails to erect tents at Ain el-Hilweh as refugees resist; UNRWA asks IDF to protect its staff; Lebanese Ministry of Education again postpones opening of schools as many Palestinian and Lebanese refugees still housed in school buildings with nowhere else to go; Israeli officials say Palestinians in South Lebanon can be treated in Israel, but Lebanese will have to go to Beirut except for dialysis treatment.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Chief of Israel's General Security Services testifies secretly before Commission of Inquiry; Knesset moves to abolish film and theater censorship in wake of uproar caused by attempt to ban satirical play; West Bank disturbances grow following yesterday's fatal shooting-Ramallah students leave 4 high schools, stone Israeli vehicles, youth from Deheisha refugee camp stone Israeli vehicles, wounding one Israeli; El Al workers close Ben Gurion in labor dispute; Begin says Gemayel has not completely ruled out peace pact with Israel despite recent negative comments on client state, also reasserts Israeli desire for security zone in southern Lebanon, integration of Haddad forces into Lebanese security forces; IDF officer asserts Egyptian army in Sinai poses military threat to Israel; former Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meron Benvenisti, at American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC, estimates 50-60 percent of West Bank is already in Jewish hands or available for Jewish settlement under various laws, and says territorial concessions for peace settlement will be impossible after 36 months.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat reportedly ready to accept a future Palestinian-Jordanian federation following establishment of an independent Palestinian state; Lebanese officials say US premature in reporting Lebanon had agreed to direct diplomatic talks with Israel, Wazzan reaffirms Lebanese desire for IDF troop withdrawal, says Lebanon may add civilians to joint Israeli-Lebanese military committee.

Arab Governments: Egyptian government-controlled press attacks Israel as "fascist" after Sharon's testimony in Jerusalem.

US and Other Countries: US, planning to re build Lebanese armed forces, will send artillery, 75 APCs, 25 155-mm howitzers, communications gear, M60 tanks and will station US Military Advisor Group in Beirut to coordinate rearmament effort; US- Lebanese planning group being established to assess Lebanese military needs and plan procurement well into future; Marine Corps planners assessing requirments for enlarging Marine presence in Lebanon to 5-8,000; US examining whether US law violated when UN-run trade school used for military training by PLO, holds up $15 million UN contribution; Zaire resumes full military cooperation with Israel and welcomes Israeli military delegation.

Military Action:

Lebanese Army resumes searches in West Beirut; IDF and PLO exchange fire in eastern Bekaa near Yanta; Phalange (Damour Brigade) shells 5 Druze villages throughout day as fighting spreads southeast of Beirut; two IDF APCs come under fire; Lebanese Information Minister Shikhani announces Lebanese Army will move into area Thursday; electricity to capital cut to 8 hours after cable severed in fighting; Wazzan orders security police into area to stop fighting; Phalange turns back reporters trying to enter area; US Ambassador Dillon and Wazzan meet Druze leaders; Phalange militia notifies government it will refuse to turn weapons over to Lebanese Army (nominally under Amin Gemayel's command); IDF stops the fighting in late evening.

Casualties:

Pattern of violation of Palestinian human rights, including mistreatment at detention centers, beatings, crowded cells with no toilet facilities, denied food, meets with no action from relief agencies; 27 detained, total number of detainees estimated at 1,000 to 4,500; Israeli and foreign journalists protest new Army order barring them from driving Israeli vehicles in Lebanon without army jeep escort as IDF also refusing to provide escorts; Israel reverses standing policy, says it will actively seek housing and protection for Palestinian refugees in South Lebanon this winter; at least 3 deaths in Phalange-Druze fighting; Lebanese Government estimates almost 2,000 killed in Sabra and Shatila massacre (762 bodies recovered and 1,200 taken away by families for burial, 212 unidentified, buried in mass grave); only 37 percent were Palestinian, most were Lebanese, a few from other Arab countries; Israeli Minister Meridor says 600 detainees have been released from al-Ansar.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel demands security role for Haddad and written Lebanese guarantee of security zone in South Lebanon as condition for withdrawal; Begin orders protection for Lebanese Druze; Ambassador Arens presents Shultz with Israeli request for $3.2 billion for FY 1984 (currently receiving $2.2 billion); Begin postpones visit to Zaire; Peace Now refuses to testify before independent inquiry linked to Israel League for Civil and Human Rights, says it singles out Israel.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Franjieh reportedly called Gemayel last week to pledge support; Camille Chamoun, in private US visit, calls treaty with Israel impossible now, criticizes lack of expereince and prestige of new Cabinet named by Wazzan.

Arab Governments: Mubarak says autonomy talks at dead end because of Israeli obstruction, following 2 day meeting with Numeiri.

US and Other Countries: 100 picket Shamir in Chicago; Vatican says Arafat renounced terrorism during visit with Pope.