Grenade thrown at IDF convoy near Sidon; IDF reports 4 other attacks on its positions over weekend; Syrian forces maintain encirclement of loyalist PLO positions.
IDF and Syrian tanks reportedly exchange fire in Beqaa valley, IDF denies report; IAF planes practice dives over Tyre, fly into Syrian airspace; light arms fire at IDF...
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...
Read more
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:
Grenade thrown at IDF convoy near Sidon; IDF reports 4 other attacks on its positions over weekend; Syrian forces maintain encirclement of loyalist PLO positions.
Casualties:
2 IDF soldiers wounded in grenade attack.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Grand Mufti of Jerusalem issues statement urging PLO rebels to support Arafat, promises martyr status to any Muslim who assassinates Assad; 700 West Bank representatives of student, professional, political and trade union organizations meet at Al-Aqsa mosque, criticize Syrian and Libyan intervention in Palestinian affairs, call on rebels to support present PLO leadership; Habib arrives in Israel for talks with Begin, Shamir, Arens, reportedly will seek to delay IDF redeployment until Begin-Reagan meeting on July 27.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat returns to Tunis; PFLP official calls Arafat expulsion from Syria an insult to the entire PLO; PFLP and DFLP, split since 1969, announce merger to enhance unity of PLO.
Arab Governments: Syria describes Arafat as a defeatist who has chosen the path of the wilderness.
Military Action:
IDF and Syrian tanks reportedly exchange fire in Beqaa valley, IDF denies report; IAF planes practice dives over Tyre, fly into Syrian airspace; light arms fire at IDF convoy near Nabatieh.
Casualties:
Mass escape from Ansar camp reported, IDF tanks and helicopter gunships lead search, IDF denies escapes; Shi'ite religious and political leaders appeal to UN over IDF siege of Deir Qanoun an-Nahr, where 200 residents arrested after Friday's bomb attack; 2 Palestinians, said to be collaborators, killed in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: IMF report on Israeli economy predicts $6.2 b. trade deficit for 1985 if present policies continue.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat meets PLO officers in eastern Beqaa, says joint Lebanese-Palestinian higher command has been formed to coordinate operations against IDF in Lebanon.
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.
