The Palestine Chronology

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bethlehem Mayor Elias Freij heads delegation to Jordan to observe Arafat-Hussein talks; says will urge Arafat to join peace process.

Arab World: Chairman Arafat arrives from Tunis for talks with King Hussein on future of PLO-Jordan coordination.

Other Countries: Richard Arens, international human rights lawyer and board member of Search for Justice and Equality in Palestine/Israel, dies of heart failure in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: Marine contingent completes withdrawal to warships off coast of Beirut; Shi'ite militia and rebel Lebanese Army units take bunkers vacated near airport; within hour after last Marine retreat, USS Caron and New Jersey blast anti-government positions in hills over Beirut; Israeli jets bomb positions around Souq al-Gharb as Druze militia fights last LAF holdout there.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Arab World: General strike from Tyre to Sidon to protest Israeli-backed death-squad killing of Shi'ite leader Raghib Harb (2/16/84).

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: LAF officials say "at least 3,000 Palestinian fighters" in Bhamdoun; Israel F-15s bomb Bhamdoun, Mansuriya and Rweisat; Syrian gunners repell attackers. Ambush on Israeli patrol claims 1. 

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 4 Israeli Cabinet ministers oppose continued IDF forays north of Awali River line at risk of Israeli involvement in factional fighting. DM Arens sharply criticizes LAF performance against Druze and Shi'ite militias; justifies forays to north as defense against "terrorist infiltration." Representatives of Arab local councils meet in Shefa Amr; protest to gov't. and Histadrut increasing number of dismissal notices served Arab workers.

Other Countries: US suspends shipment of 130 armed personnel carriers to Lebanon, may not sell 35 tanks already planned. Israeli Industry and Trade Minister visits Bucharest for talks aimed at doubling Israeli exports to Rumania. US physicist Sam Cohen, veteran of Los Alamos atom-bomb project, proposes impregnable radiation barrier, or "nuclear wall" for Israeli borders to "end the tragedy of war in the Middle East." Reagan admin. clarifies stand against moving US-Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Arab World: Christian Phalange officers confirm Israel promised regular army patrols to aid in fighting back Druze and Shi'ites

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: DM Arens warns Druze to stop assisting Palestinians and Syrians against Israel or it "will have no choice but to react." Druze MK Amal Nasser al-Din says Israel has nothing to lose in abrogating May 17 agreement and cooperating with S. Lebanese Shi'ites and Druze.

Other Countries: 2 Britons expelled from USSR for smuggling Zionist literature into country.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: LAF collapses as Druze forces link up with Shi'ites in south Beirut .

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Arab World: Lebanese Shi'ite and Druze leaders call for Pres. Gemayel's resignation.

Other Countries: US Senate Finance Committee begins hearings on issue of establishing free trade relations with Israel. US Sec. of State Shultz, in Brazilia, accuses Syria of "trying to dominate Lebanon by force." Pres. Reagan orders use of air and naval forces against anti-gov't. positions around Beirut. Late American journalist Fred Sparks' $25,000 bequest to PLO diverted to Red Cross for work with Palestinians; decision results from protest suit taken up by 3 American Zionist organizations. Speaking in Melbourne, former Pres. Carter calls for US withdrawal from Lebanon. European Parliament Pres. Dankert criticizes Israeli policy in Middle East before Knesset and in mtg. with PM Shamir.

MILITARY ACTION:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Nisreen Ahmed Shrouf, 5 years old, killed, 2 brothers and 2 sisters wounded in Bethlehem when grenade explodes in hand; grenade suspected planted by "TNT."

Arab World: Shi'ite and Druze forces take over most of West Beirut from LAF/Phalange; demand Gemayel's resignation. 2 Israelis wounded when grenades hit IDF patrols south of Zahrani River; grenade attacks on IDF patrols in Sidon and Nabatiya market. US gunships Garcia and JF Kennedy and A-6 Intruder bombers pound mountain positions near Beirut.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 40,000 join Peace Now demonstration in Tel Aviv against Israel's occupation of Lebanon.

Arab World: Lebanese Shi'ite leader, Nabih Berri, calls on Muslim cabinet ministers to resign and Muslim LAF soldiers to quit army.

MILITARY ACTION:

Arab World: IDF position at Sidon port and patrol 8 miles north of Tyre subject to light weapons ambushes.