The Palestine Chronology

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.

Casualties:

Second group of 15 wounded Lebanese and Palestinian children arrive for treatment in US under American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee program.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Foreign Ministry expresses bafflement, denies Soviet statement that Israel is planning to attack Syria; 20 residents of Sakhnin and Arrabe in western Galilee arrested, charged with disturbing the peace and raising Palestinian flags during Wednesday's Land Day celebrations; Arab youth arrested after windows of Israeli department store smashed in Nazareth; police investigating Feb. 10 grenade attack on Peace Now demonstration have no suspects; AI-Fajr chief editor released on IS 5,000 bail, after police question him about alleged PLO contacts and attendance at PNC Algiers meeting; IDF lifts curfew at Jalazon camp after 24 days, residents say 2 infants died during period due to inadequate medical care; curfew resumed in Tarqumiya village after youth shot and killed by IDF, family ordered to conduct burial at night to avoid further disturbances; Israeli medical experts say illnesses of some 400 persons in Jenin district in past week were mass panic reaction triggered by possible environmental irritant in nearby village of Arraba, Health Ministry asks US Center for Disease Control in Atlanta to send team of experts to assess Israeli finding that illnesses not caused by poison; 106 persons still hospitalized.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat arrives in Amman for talks with King Hussein; Lebanon negotiations continue at Kiryat Shmona, progress reported on question of joint military patrols, no agreement on role of Haddad.

US and Other Countries: Reagan says US forbidden by law to release 75 F-16s to Israel while its forces are in the position of occupying another country that has asked them to leave; Habib returns to US.

Military Action:

Grenades, mortars, rockets fired in Tripoli fighting between Lebanese Communist Party rnilitia and Soldiers of God militia; land mine explodes near Khiyam; Italian MNF patrol attacked with RPGs near airport; remote-controlled bomb explodes near IDF vehicle outside refugee camp near Tyre, area closed and searched; IDF surrounds town of Barja, arrests 3 Lebanese suspected of involvement in ambushes.

Casualties:

2 killed, 7 wounded in Tripoli fighting, schools and shops closed in old quarter of city; 9 Italian MNF wounded in 2 Beirut attacks, 2 vehicles destroyed; Lebanese Army informs residents of Burj al-Barajneh camp in Beirut that government prohibits repairs of bombed-out roofs, arrests 15 on charges of abusive construction, threatens to arrest additional 34 tomorrow.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Defense Minister Arens orders drastic cuts in ministry's National Security Unit, expanded by Sharon to proportions of alternative general staff; Arens tells Knesset Foreign Affairs committee there is no need to freeze West Bank settlements to entice King Hussein to enter peace negotiations; Cabinet selects Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Moshe Levy to replace IDF Chief of Staff Eitan; Central Bureau of Statistics says inflation rate is 130% a year; 3 suspects in attempt to take over Temple Mount released on bail; Nazareth municipal employee sentenced to 3 months in jail for participating in illegal Land Day demonstration in 1982; two new Chief Rabbis elected for 10-year terms, say that West Bank and South Lebanon are part of Israel; Bedouins call off hunger strike after Agriculture Ministry official agrees to meet them; curfews remain in force in Halhoul, Dheisheh, Aida, Jalazon and Ein Beit Alma, new curfew imposed on Balata camp; IDF seizes house opposite al-Amari camp for lookout post; 5 Village League members armed with automatic rifles enter village of Nuba, threaten to destroy it unless alleged demonstrators are turned in, IDF later arrests 3 residents,on charges of calling Hebron Village League head a traitor.

Arab Governments: Syrian officials say troops will not be withdrawn from Lebanon if any Israeli-Lebanese agreement provides for Israeli troops in Lebanon and formal trade, tourist, or diplomatic ties; Egyptian and Israeli officials hold second round of talks in Cairo on reviving trade relations.

US and Other Countries: State Department announces progress after third day of talks between Shultz and Shamir, emphasizes proposals for increased US responsibility for security, including training and equipping elite Lebanese force to patrol border, expansion in size and responsibility of MNF, and creation of a joint Lebanese- Israeli-US military commission to oversee security zone in South Lebanon; US officials say incentives to Israel such as high aid levels and release of F-16s are likely to accompany agreement to troop withdrawal accord; in statement read to conference on Soviet Jewry, Reagan says plight of Soviet Jews who are denied right to emigrate will remain in forefront of US foreign policy and human rights concerns.

Military Action:

Lebanese Army takes over Beirut Pier 5 from Phalange, estimated to have generated $250-$500m. a year in import duties since 1980; registration for compulsory military service begins, Lebanese Army expects 25,000 men to register.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Defense Minister Arens orders evacuation of Kach's El Nakam settlement near Hebron; police arrest 2 Kiryat Arba residents (in addition to 3 Americans) in connection with shootings in Hebron area; Arens tells Council of Jewish Settlements he favors expanding settlements in West Bank within the law, emphasizes that industrial enterprises there should be staffed only by Jews; settlers present Arens with list of demands for their security; Committee Against the War in Lebanon asks High Court to intervene over police refusal to grant march permit; government defeats 4 motions in Knesset critical of Sharon's appointment to 2 cabinet committees; Newsweek says secret annex to Kahan Commission Report contains evidence that IDF, alerted by Mossad, had prevented Phalange attack on Mieh Mieh camp prior to Sabra and Shatila massacre; Nazareth Mayor Tewfik Zayyad calls on government to include Arab villages in the Project Renewal scheme; bus passenger injured by stone near Dahariya camp; Jewish settlers demonstrate on road opposite Dheisheh camp; settlers enter Kalandia refugee camp, threaten to evict residents unless stone-throwing stops; curfews imposed on Nablus market, Jalazon camp, and on Aida camp in Bethlehem after fire bomb attack on border police patrol; Village League office in Hebron stoned by students at Hussein school; bomb found in Hebron elementary school.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat addresses Non-Aligned summit in New Delhi, calls for committee to work for Palestinian rights; Issam Sartawi, in London Times interview, says PLO should give priority to winning recognition from Western governments, especially US, should amend National Charter to conform to PNC resolutions, and should accept Reagan plan as basis for negotiation.

Arab Governments: Iraqi Embassy in London denies Guardian report that organizer of the attack on Israeli Ambassador Argov was an Iraqi intelligence officer; President Mubarak and King Hussein hold talks during Non-Aligned summit in New Delhi.

Casualties:

Lebanese economic journal estimates 25% of larger industrial units, scores of smaller plants, destroyed in war.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet rejects latest Habib proposals after report from Foreign Minister Shamir; Defense Minister Arens refuses to answer Cabinet ministers' questions about West Bank violence; Kach supporter, one of 3 American suspects arrested in shooting of Palestinian, confesses to police, is remanded for 15 days; 870 persons arrested in Nablus region in 1982 on suspicion of belonging to terrorist organizations or taking part in acts of terror; government drops legal action against journalist Uri Avneri over his meeting with Yasser Arafat in June 1982; Jerusalem police chief refuses license for demonstration by Committee Against the War in Lebanon; at first public meeting between Jewish and Arab chairmen of local authorities, held in Tiberias to improve relations between the two populations, Nazareth Mayor Tewfik Zayyad says government pursues racist policy against Israeli Arabs, Interior Ministry official says there are no plans to change ownership or expropriate Arab land for new Misgav council; petrol bomb thrown through Israeli bus window in northern West Bank, no injuries reported; acting Hebron Mayor Natshe refuses to respond to summons from Kiryat Arba court to answer charges of setting up electricity pylons on Kiryat Arba land.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat, in British TV interview, says he is prepared to negotiate with US without conditions on peace in Middle East.

Arab Governments: 4 SA-5 missile batteries now operational in Syria, with estimated 500 Soviet air defense personnel on sites, Syria says missiles are under control of Syrian Army.

Military Action:

Hours after IDF lifts curfew in area, 5 Phalange killed in Druze village of Aitat, raising fears of renewed communal strife in C.houf; IDF forces move into village to prevent retaliation from Phalange based at Souk al-Gharb.

Casualties:

6 IDF soldiers held by PLO, in interview at Chtaura, say treatment good.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Over 200 Israeli academics sign petition to end anti-PLO pledge requirement for West Bank; 3 Palestinian residents of Nazareth sentenced to jail for participating in "illegal demonstrations" following September massacre; Israeli authorities order Palestinian to demolish 2 rooms of house in Kalandia refugee camp for lack of permit, despite lack of court decision in case.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel meets with Habib on troop withdrawal talk prospects, says Lebanon has rejected Israeli conditions of permanent military outpost on Baruk mountain, free trade, quasi-diplomatic missions, right to patrol Lebanese airspace and territorial waters; government officials and Jumblatt indicate they will seek Habib's involvement in Chouf crisis; Arafat arrives in Algeria at head of military delegation, confers with Algerian President Chadli.

Arab Govemnments: Assad, in speech marking 12th anniversary of coming to power in Syria, strongly attacks US policy in the Mideast and criticizes Reagan peace plan as seeking "capitulatory negotiations" by Arab countries with Israel, reaffirms Syrian insistence on unconditional Israeli withdrawal, says Syria may not withdraw if it disapproves of conditions attached to IDF withdrawal.

Military Action:

Lebanese Army continues searches in West Beirut for arms caches, patrols Kfar Matta and seeks to expand into other areas of Chouf once IDF has withdrawn; assassination attempt against Abu Jihad in eastern Bekaa fails.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Protests break out in Nablus and Ramallah as students mark 40th day since Beirut massacre, barricades erected, stones thrown at Israeli vehicles, partial commercial and school strike in East Jerusalem; in Nazareth, 2,000 Muslims and Druze attend memorial organized by People's Committee Against the War in Lebanon and People's Committee for Israeli-Palestinian Peace; Israeli government rejects Israeli Palestinians' proposal to finance construction of 500 flats for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon; tourism slump severe since invasion.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat sends letter to Gemayel saying PLO will not be barrier to withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon; Gemayel briefs cabinet on 5-day tour, says Lebanon will seek partial pullback by foreign troops as opening gesture aimed at total withdrawal; Fady Frem, commander of Phalange militia, says Phalange massacre inquiry results turned over to Lebanese Government investigator Geagea, denies Phalange commanders conferred with IDF on mopping up operations in West Beirut, says Habib Chartouni, a Christian from southeast of Beirut, is being held in conjunction with Bashir Gemayel's death.

Arab Governments: King Hassan, at news conference, says recognition of Israel depends on its withdrawing from all territory occupied since 1967 war; Egypt and Italy issue joint statement saying no peace is possible until Israel withdraws from Lebanon.

Military Action:

Heavy fighting breaks out east of Beirut between Syrian and Phalangist forces following election of Bashir Gemayel as President of Lebanon (artillery and machine gun fire around Kubbeih, Krayeh,. Ras al-Harf near Beirut-Damascus highway); two rockets from West Beirut hit port city of Jounieh; reprisals mount against parliament members who voted for Gemayel presidency (houses and offices of 11 members set afire in West Beirut and Tripoli); fighting between Phalange and PLO/LNM forces; Franjieh forces occupy 3 army positions; Bank of Beirut and Riyadh in West Beirut's Hlamra section blown up, looted overnight; land evacuation of PLO forces delayed because of fighting (500 PLO guerrillas sent to Latakia by ship instead, 600 depart for Yemen); PLO/Lebanese government spokespersons say 2,192 PLO members evacuated to Jordan, Iraq, South Yemen in last 3 days; PLO guerrillas scheduled to leave to Sudan; IDF destroys orchards along Tyre-Sidon road to "prevent PLO attacks"; clashes between IDF and Lebanese villagers northeast of Lake Karoun; new international units arrive in Beirut; Pentagon announces 4 US Marines arrive in Beirut for preliminary inspection, consultations.

Casualties:

3 IDF soldiers buried yesterday; freighter "Lotus" with relief supplies and Egyptian opposition parliament members aboard allowed to land by IDF; first Israeli planes land at Beirut airport; private Israeli airline begins flights to southern Lebanon; IDF begin releasing some of estimated 7,400 Palestinian prisoners held at al-Ansar detention camp.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Grenade thrown at IDF vehicle in Gaza Strip (no casualties; fourth incident of its kind in occupied territories in a week); Begin, Shimon Peres clash in Knesset debate after Peres condemns IDF advance, cutting off water supplies to Beirut; following Sharon meeting with Draper, Israel agrees to allow US, Italian contingents to take up positions in Beirut immediately rather than waiting until all PLO forces gone; Yitzhak Rabin speaks out against renewing war in northern Lebanon; pamphlets by 3 Arab groups in Nazareth ask Israeli Arabs to support PLO.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Muslims meet at Salam's house, issue statement strongly critical of Gemayel; Gemayel reportedly seeking "mini-Marshall Plan" aid from US to rebuild Lebanon; Gemayel reported by Israeli paper to have met secretly inside Israel with Sharon several times since 1976.

Arab Governments: Tunisia seeks "realistic decisions" on Arab-Israeli peace in statement one day after Bourguiba revives proposal for pan-Arab acceptance of 1947 UN partition plan; Saudi Arabia allocates $2 billion to rebuild Beirut; Egyptian, French officials confer on joint peace initiative.

US and Other Countries: Reagan Administration affirms decision to land Marines in Beirut despite renewed fighting; Shultz invites Sharon to meet Friday during Sharon's fundraising trip to US; Austrian Chancellor Kreisky, in Der Stern article, strongly criticizes Israel.

Military Action:

IDF bombards PLO positions, residential areas in West Beirut by land, sea, air for 14 hours in fiercest fighting since invasion began; IDF makes only slight gains in advances on PLO positions, refugee camps south of airport and along coastal highway from Ouzai; IDF occupies Beirut airport, approaches edge of Burj al-Barajneh camp; Eitan says operations tightened siege; IDF strikes hit Sabra, Shatila, Burj al-Barajneh, Corniche Mazraa, Museum and Galerie Semaan crossings, Salam's house, Muslim residential areas on east side of West Beirut not previously shelled; 150 IDF bombing runs across Beirut drop an estimated 260 tons of bombs; IDF attempt to land troops along coast repulsed; ninth cease-fire called at 5 PM; PLO shells 10 East Beirut neighborhoods; PLO claims 30 IDF tanks, troop carriers destroyed.

Casualties:

IDF says 9, PLO says 80, Israeli soldiers wounded in fighting; heavy damage to buildings; Lebanese radio station reports 55 neighborhoods hit, most distant from Palestinian camps; all hospitals except one reported hit, as well as ICRC offices; fires burn out of control as smoke blankets city; 15 Lebanese killed, 40 wounded by PLO barrages into Phalangist-held territory; lack of electricity to operate water pumps continues shortage of water (one hour after cease-fire, IDF cuts water again); Lebanese police estimate 200 dead, 400 wounded from IDF bombardment; 50 IDF soldiers serving in Lebanon sentenced for looting since invasion began (in some cases, stole items from prisoners being transported to Israel from Sidon, Tyre); while damage to Palestinian neighborhoods enormous, PLO military losses reported small; reports of IDF use of phosphorus shells in civilian areas growing; parliament building hit; one of West Beirut's two remaining fire stations is destroyed, leaving three trucks to cover 10 square miles and protect a population estimated at 600,000.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon, in interview with David Brinkley, claims Beirut Airport under IDF control, reaffirms Israel's willingness to allow further time for mediation efforts, claims PLO seeks "immunity among the civilian population"; Israeli official, rejecting US appeals for military restraint, says IDF will respond maximally to PLO cease-fire violations, will not accept "war of attrition"; Cabinet meets, again postpones decision on whether IDF will enter city; Peace Now sends telegram to Begin claiming capture of West Beirut will not serve Israeli interests; Labor leader Danny Rosolio appeals for urgent meeting of Knesset's foreign affairs/defense committee; Shamir arrives in Washington for meeting with Reagan; Cabinet sets up ministerial committee under Mordechai Ben-Porat to work with Lebanese government on finding winter accommodations for thousands of Palestinian refugees left homeless in wake of invasion and to explore resettlement of refugees (must decide on UNRWA request to import tents for refugees); Mapam central committee urges government not to try to occupy West Beirut but to seek diplomatic solution; thousands participate in Rakah-sponsored demonstration against Lebanon war in Nazareth (participants include leaders of local Arab councils).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Sarkis protests IDF moves when negotiations are moving ahead; Salam calls Habib 10 times trying to arrange cease-fire; Wazzan makes passionate appeal to world leaders to intervene, as sit-in by Lebanese Muslim women continues at American University of Beirut.

US and Other Countries: Reagan stresses need for cease-fire as State Department says fighting undermines chances for peaceful PLO withdrawal from Beirut.

UN: Security Council debates resolution calling for deployment of independent observers to monitor situation around Beirut; Council later unanimously demands immediate cease-fire throughout Lebanon, authorizes Secretary General to deploy military observers to check compliance (Israel reportedly withholding agreement, pending Cabinet decision, to deployment of observers around Beirut).

Military Action:

Waves of Israeli F-16s, in their third raid in 6 weeks, strike 4 Palestinian refugee camps, a Fatah training school, a soccer stadium housing PLO members, and the airport in Beirut; Israeli aircraft also strike PLO strongholds near Nabatiyeh and other towns in southern Lebanon. PLO units respond with rocket and artillery attacks on northern Israel and the Israeli-backed enclave controlled by Major Haddad in southern Lebanon

Casualties: Three of four Palestinian refugee camps, housing 125,000, are heavily damaged, and Nazareth Children's Hospital outside the Sabra camp, suffers a direct hit; Lebanese government reports 45 killed and 150 wounded (later raised to 60 killed, 200 wounded). PLO rocket attacks kill 1 Israeli, wound 4.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Israeli military command says air strikes are retaliation for shooting of Argov; PLO denies responsibility for attack on Argov; peace rally held in Acre.

Palestinians/Lebanese: Lebanese President Elias Sarkis meets with US Ambassador Robert Dillon; Lebanese Premier Chafik Wazzan calls for emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the Israeli raids.

US: The US State Department appeals to all parties to "refrain immediately from any further acts of violence."