The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Top PLO military strategist Abu Walid killed in ambush in Bekaa 45 miles east of Beirut (Abu Walid organized PLO resistance during two-month siege, helped negotiate withdrawal); units from France, Italy enter Sabra and Shatila camps to take up security duties, remove land mines; Lebanese Army bulldozes illegal shops along waterfront built during civil war; more IDF forces withdraw, but some return.

Casualties:

Prayers for those killed in the massacre held at a mass grave at Shatila; 4 more victims found; Lebanese authorities now estimate 600 killed; leftist political groups report homes, offices ransacked by Lebanese Army; Lebanese Army detains 3,000, deports about 300 mostly to Syria; hundreds of Palestinians flee Ein al-Hilweh after rumor that Haddad forces were coming; about 12,000 people have returned to Ein al-Hilweh since Israeli invasion.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet is scheduled to meet, decide on establishment of full inquiry into massacres.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese government considering a plan to reduce the number of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon from 500,000 to 50,000 by moving them outside major cities and then to other countries and eventually closing all refugee camps; government concerned that any continued Israeli presence at airport will make other Arab airlines boycott Lebanon.

US and Other Countries: Shultz, at UN, says US favors extension of UN force mandate beyond October 19 expiration date (US feels this force could oversee demilitarized buffer zone); US may allow Israelis to remain at airport.

Military Action:

Lebanese Army moves in force across Green Line into southern suburbs of Beirut for first time since PLO evacuation; bazookas fired at IDF positions in Bekaa as tensions rise between Syrian and IDF troops there (Israeli planes fly reconnaissance missions over valley); Lebanese Army hastily moves into Jnah (north of Bir Hassan) after Sharon indicates IDF may advance if militias not pulled back; IDF pull back from West Beirut positions after 4 days; PLO leader Abu Iyad reportedly tours eastern Bekaa, Baalbek, Tripoli.

Casualties:

1 of 8 captured IDF soldiers shown to journalists in Chtaura; following clash between Haddad and Phalange forces, IDF bans Phalange rally in Sidon after Phalange refused to support peace treaty with Israel.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shamir claims US favors Arabs, is no longer disinterested broker; Israel steps up pressure for pact with Lebanon (Sharon statement on need for "special status" for southern Lebanon criticized by Labor Party).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Bashir Gemayel seeks expanded armed force to control Lebanon, looks to US for funds and arms (issue reportedly raised last week during meeting with Weinberger); Wazzan asks US to press for IDF withdrawal from around city, says IDF violates Geneva Conventions by treatment of captives taken since June 6.

Arab Governments: Formula acceptable to Syria sought at Fez summit.

US and Other Countries: Weinberger, in London, denies US will apply sanctions to get Israeli agreement on plan; Pentagon readies team of weapons specialists to assess Lebanon's military needs; Reagan awards Habib with Presidential Medal of Freedom.