The Palestine Chronology

Speaking to Jerusalem Post in first interview since forming new gov't. Yitzhak Shamir blames U.S. criticism for stirring up Arab hostility; lays down restrictive condition for peace talks, saying Israel will not negotiate with any Palestinian who opposes limited autonomy for O.T.; new gov't.'s guidelines also stipulate no role for E. Jerusalem Palestinians in any part of peace process [MEM 6/ 13; WP, NYT, LAT 6/14; LAT 6/16].

New Israeli police minister Roni Milo says Sec. James Baker's formula for talks is "no longer relevant" to his gov't. [NYT 6/14]; while F.M. David Levy says Baker plan had "distorted" the Israeli peace initiative it was to implement; calls for U.S. to "get back to basics" with Israel. Agriculture minister Rafael Eitan calls for deportation of Palestinian intifada leaders [WP 6/14].

Speaking before House Foreign Affairs Committee, Sec. Baker expresses impatience at peace process and especially with Israel, implying that if positive moves are not forthcoming quickly, U.S. will disengage from Middle East peace process: "When you're serious about peace, call us," he says, giving out White House telephone number [NYT, WT, WP, LAT, MEM 6/14; MET 6/19].

Shamir, responding to Arab requests, authorizes UN fact-finding mission to O.T.; move prompts harsh rebuke from far right-wing supporters of Shamir's gov't. [JDS 6/13 in FBIS 6/13; NYT 6/ 14].

Immigration min. Yitzhak Peretz says that 50,000 Jews, over 90% from USSR, have immigrated to Israel in 1990; nearly 200 have settled in O.T. [MET 6/ 26].

New D.M. Moshe Arens spends day visiting 2 largest Jewish settlements in W.Bank; says he is making a statement about his priorities [NYT 6/14; MET 6/ 26].

Israeli army jails for 10 days soldier who threw tear gas grenade into UN maternity clinic in Gaza. 66 infants were treated for gas inhalation in 6/12 incident [WT 6/14; MET 6/26].

Beirut radio reports of skirmish in S.Lebanon between Israeli and SLA troops and Shiite militias; no injuries [BVL 6/13 in FBIS 6/13]. 

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Electric Co. official announces Israel will build first nuclear power plant in Negev [JP 1/1].

Arab World: King Hussein and Pres. Asad end two days of talks; no official statement is issued [NYT, TS 1/1]. Yasir Arafat issues statement blaming unnamed Arab intelligence services for backing renegade Palestinian groups, denounces terrorism [WP 1/1], vows to continue legitimate armed struggle against Israeli occupation [TS 1/1].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ha'Aretz reports attacks on Israeli military have increased in past 10 days (leading up to 21st anniversary of founding of Fateh), cites 4 grenade and arson attacks, including 12/22 arson of Egged buses in Gaza [FJ 1/3]. Israeli troops and SLA militia raid S. Lebanese Shi'ite village of Kunin, arrest 32 men, force 2,000 residents to leave, blow up and burn houses, according to witnesses quoted by Lebanese police; Israeli military state SLA searched Kunin for gunmen who attacked SLA patrol night before, killing 4 [NYT 1/1].

Arab World: Unidentified gunmen ambush Pres. Jumayyil's empty limousine, in apparent assassination attempt [WP, TS 1/1]. Asad Shaftari, intelligence head of the Lebanese Forces (Christian) also narrowly escapes death when his car is attacked [LAT 1/1].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Foreign Min. official David Kimche summons diplomats from UNIFIL, UN Sec. Council nations for explanation of recent anti-resistance campaign in S. Lebanon; accuses Pres. Gemayel of provoking violence [PI 3/6]. MK's Meir Cohen-Avidov, Yuval Ne'eman return from US with pledges of $70,000 for Keren Hebron fund, a taxdeductible US charity for families of Jewish underground defendants [JP 3/5]. Palestinian prisoners at Jnaid, Nafha prisons initiate hunger strike in solidarity with striking inmates at Ashkelon prison (begun 2/22) [FJ 3/8]. Clash between nationalists and Islamic fundamentalist factions injures 8 at Islamic U., Gaza; 20 arrested; studies suspended for one day [FJ 3/8]. Jewish underground defendant Dan Be'eri plea bargains with Jerusalem District Court to reduce number of charges against him in connection with plot to blow up al-Haram al-Sharif [JP 3/6]. Strike called by 52 Palestinian town councils ends after Interior Min. promises to cover their municipal debts totalling IS 1.4 billion [FJ 3/8].

Arab World: Thousands of Shi'ites march in Beirut protesting 3/4, IDF raid on Ma'rakah [WP 3/6].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Grenade thrown at IDF patrol in Sa'ir; IDF detain over 150, destroy property; 24-hr. curfew imposed. [MG, FJ, JP 3/7].

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: About 400 foreign business people attend Jerusalem Economic conference "Isratech '84" marketing Israeli high-tech goods and weaponry. Alternative Movement head Matti Peled demands gov't. explain disappearance of Saleh Baransi; police refuse to disclose any information.

Arab World: Arab League meet in Tunis, focusing on Iran-Iraq war; postpone till November discussion of Syrian complaint against Morocco for its official welcome to 35-member Israeli delegation to Rabat Jewish congress this mo.; ministers revise voting requirements from consensus to majority rule. Israeli occupiers deny journalists access to S. Lebanon except with IDF escort.

Other Countries: UN Security Council considers complaints of Israeli attacks on Palestine refugees in S. Lebanon. Yugoslav gov't. denies entry visas to Hapoel Israeli delegation to European Federation of Cooperative Sport in spite of efforts by Belgian representative. US AID issues report severely critical of Israeli economic policies. Confronted by American Jewish Committee delegation on stage mtg. in Washington with Pres. Reagan, Mexican Pres. de Madrid says Mexico is a "defender of Israel."

Military Action:

Arab World: In Lebanon: hand grenade attack on IDF in Sidon results in exchange of fire, 1 Lebanese civilian killed, 2 wounded, 1 IDF soldier wounded; Israeli planes bomb Shi'ite villages of Janta and Deir al-Ghazal in Beqaa Valley; inJanta, 4 wounded, 1 farmer killed while plowing his fields.

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.

Military Action:

Lebanese Army patrol opens fire on illegal protest against withdrawal agreement by Shiite Muslims in Beirut suburb of Bir Abed, grenade reportedly thrown at patrol; demonstration also in Baalbek; fighting in Tripoli between Palestinian forces and Muslim militia.

Casualties:

1 killed, 10 injured in Beirut protest; Syria cuts off road, telephone and telex links between Syrian controlled areas of Lebanon and rest of country; many schools in Beirut closed; 4 persons killed in Tripoli fighting.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Uri Lubrani, former senior Israeli representative in Uganda, Ethiopia and Iran, reportedly selected to coordinate relations with Lebanon under terms of withdrawal agreement.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanon, Israel and US sign troop withdrawal agreement at consecutive ceremonies in Khalde and Kiryat Shemona.

Arab Governments: Saudi Arabia and Sudan support Lebanon on agreement; Libya asks Lebanese ambassador in Tripoli to leave, withdraws its ambassador in Beirut; Jordan announces that Palestinians from West Bank and Gaza can enter the country only across Jordan River bridges; Egypt Air lands first flight in Beirut since 1979.

US and Other Countries: State Dept. says Congress, but not public, will be informed of all details of secret US agreements with Israel and Lebanon; agreement with Israel reportedly recognizes its right of self-defense to retaliate against attacks in Lebanon, acknowledges that it can delay withdrawing troops until Syria and the PLO withdraw, pledges to help bring about Syrian and PLO withdrawal and to see that Lebanon lives up to its agreement with Israel; Reagan indicates he is ready to release 75 F-16 jet fighters to Israel.

Military Action:

Fighting between Sunni and Shiite militias in Tripoli; Chouf region tense following more clashes, IDF surrounds Brih and Kfar Nabrakh to stop fighting; Phalange calls on East Beirut residents to cooperate with Lebanese Army as it moves into center of East Beirut with support of French and Italian forces; US Marines postpone deployment into East Beirut; 6 Israeli Druze in IDF court-martialled for entering Lebanese Druze village without permission; Finland agrees to send 460-man battalion to replace Nepalese soldiers in UNIFIL in South Lebanon; grenade tossed at IDF vehicle in center of Sidon, following similar incidents along coastal road.

Casualties:

Estimates of 8 to 20 Lebanese killed, over 21 wounded in Chouf fighting; UPI reports death toll in Beirut massacre now estimated at 1,962; IDF concedes troops looted in Lebanon "in a number of isolated instances," but claims all looters were severely punished.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli foreign ministry official claims 2-3,000 PLO guerrillas have infiltrated into Bekaa since evacuation from Beirut in August, another 4-5,000 in camps around Tripoli; Shamir, in Knesset debate, defends Government policy in Lebanon against Labor Party attacks, says IDF will remain until "peace for Galilee" achieved, and berates Gemayel government for "negative tones"; aide Avi Dudai says Sharon personally gave order allowing Phalange to enter camp, in closed testimony before Commission of Inquiry; protests continue throughout Occupied Territories, leading to closure of Ramallah Teachers College; al-Fajr journalist Samaan Khoury gets one-year suspended sentence for possessing banned magazine; Jewish settlers hold emergency meeting to discuss growing attacks on settlers; Gush Emunim announces new yeshiva to be opened at site of Joseph's tomb in Nablus; Housing Minister David Levy announces plans for 5 more settlements on West Bank.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel meets with officials seeking to halt spread of fighting in Chouf; Wazzan says government has agreed on new measures to stop fighting.

Arab Governments: King Fahd visits King Hassan in Fez to discuss diplomatic campaign for peace settlement.

US and Other Countries: White House announces Begin to meet Reagan November 19 during "private" visit; Italian Prime Minister Spadolini, following meeting with Reagan in White House, says US and Italy exploring ways to increase presence in Lebanon.