The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Phalange and Druze exchange artillery and small arms fire in Chouf after Druze sheikh killed by land mine in Kfarhim.

Casualties:

23 killed, up to 100 kidnapped in Chouf fighting.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Detectives investigating murder of 2 Russian nuns suspect fanatical Jewish opponents of Christian activity in the Holy Land, Russian convent and other Christian institutions in Jerusalem recently daubed with swastikas; 90% of government-employed doctors refuse to work in escalation of strike actions for higher wages begun March 2; High Court rules that Druze residents of Golan Heights must carry Israeli identity cards; Chief of Staff Levy says reserve duty will average 60-65 days this year if IDF remains in Lebanon for protracted period; Cabinet formally ratifies agreement with Lebanon.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Foreign Minister Salem, in Paris, says Syrian position on Lebanese-Israeli-US accord is not final; Habib arrives in Beirut for meetings with Lebanese officials.

Arab Governments: Iraq says US-arranged Lebanese-Israeli accord constitutes a chain on Lebanon's sovereignty; Kuwait minister says agreement is an infringement on the rights of the whole Arab nation; Col. Qaddafi says rebellion in PLO has his material and moral support.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Leaflets circulated in Damascus by dissident Fateh military officers criticize Arafat for intending to withdraw PLO forces from Lebanon, call for committee to supervise finances; Arafat, in Tripoli, says no Arab regime with its money or arms can confront the Palestinian revolution; Fateh Executive Committee places all PLO units in Lebanon under command of Gen. Ahmed Afani, orders dissident officers into unit under Arafat's direct command, plans to call full scale congress.

Arab Governments: Syria criticizes US over decision to implement sale of F-16s to Israel; Syrian envoy travels to Saudi Arabia; President Mubarak meets special envoy Habib in Cairo.

Casualties:

3 IDF soldiers wounded by grenade in Sidon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF builds cement walls to close off two roads connecting al-Arub refugee camp to Bethlehem-Hebron highway after stone-throwing incidents; IDF develops military vehicle for use in occupied territories equipped with tear gas, water hoses and TV camera for collecting evidence in demonstrations; 2 nuns found stabbed to death in convent of Russian Orthodox Church near Jerusalem, no suspects.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese finance minister travels to Iraq for meeting with President Saddam Hussein.

US and Other Countries: US officials say they still do not know who carried out attack on Beirut US Embassy, will not confirm evidence of Iranian involvement; Reagan formally lifts year-long ban on sale of F-16s to Israel, delivery of planes not expected before September 1986; Senate approves $25 lm emergency military and economic aid to Lebanon, ties it to requirement that substantial expansion of US forces in Lebanon, or creation of new or expanded MNF, be approved by Congress; Greece rejects European Parliament vote calling for it to establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel.