The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: PM Shamir calls for the removal of Avraham Tamir, dir.-gen. of the For. Min., for stating that Palestiniansee the PLO as their leadership [NYT 9/4]. The Israeli airline El Al announces that it will expand the number of flights to South Africa; South African Airways will also increase flights to Tel Aviv [JP 9/3]. In Tal, Israeli troops confiscate donkeys used to take Palestinian goods to market [FJ 9/11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Jabalya 2 Palestinians are shot during clashes with troops; in Rafah 2 Palestinians are seriously injured during demonstrations [FJ 9/11].

Arab World: PFLP guerrillas clash with fighters from Fateh-Uprising (Abu Musa) in the suburbs of Beirut; 3 Palestinians are killed [NYT 9/4].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Violence erupts against Arabs in Jerusalem after stabbing death of Jewish seminary student on 11/15. Three Palestinians have been charged with the murder [BG 11/18; JP 11/29]. Members of International Federation of Journalists meet with P.M. Shamir to request release of Palestinian journalist Akram Haniyyah and revocation of his expulsion order [FJ 11/21].

Arab World; Syrian Pres. al-Asad denies British and U.S. accusations of Syrian involvement in failed attempt to bomb El Al jet [NYT 11/17].

Other Countries: The Sunday Times (London) reports that then-P.M. Peres ordered Mossad in September 1986 to capture Mordechai Vanunu and return him to Israel [LT 11/16]. (Vanunu is a former nuclear technician who sold secrets related to underground atomic bomb factory in the Negev to The Times.) Pres. Herzog's visit to Singapore draws angry protest from Southeast Asian Muslims [LT 11/17].

Military Action

Arab World: Two Israeli bombers attack PLO bases near Sidon. Fateh reports heavy casualties and property damage [NYT 11/17]. Witnesses claim 2 PLO members were killed and 5 others wounded in the raid [PI 11/18].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military court orders journalist Hamdi Farraj, 11 other Dheisheh refugee camp residents held since 2/1/85 without trial released on grounds general prosecutor failed to prove charges against them [FJ 1/10].

Arab World: Christian Science Monitor reports King Hussein and Pres. Asad agree to restore diplomatic relations between their countries at ambassadorial level [CSM 1/2]. Egypt and U.S. sign agreement on $140 million in U.S. aid to Egypt, the second installment of $500 million grant approved by Congress last year [JP 1/2]. SLA releases 20 Shi'ite prisoners from Khiam detention center in S. Lebanon as New Year's gesture. (Red Cross has not been allowed to visithe Khiam center) [JP 1/3].

Other Countries: Austrian Interior Ministry states 3 Palestinians who attacked Vienna airport had instructions to take Israeli hostages, hijack El Al plane to Tel Aviv, blow up plane "in or over Tel Aviv" [DT, FT 1/3]. Peter Goldman, director of Americans for a Safe Israel, and Rabbi Avraham Weiss, coordinator of Americans Against Terrorism, announce start of nationwide campaign to remove PLO offices from U.S. [JTA 1/3]. Nadav Safran, director of Harvard U.'s Center for Middle Eastern Studies, will resign post in wake of discovery he accepted $152,000 from CIA for writing book, sponsoring conference on Islamic fundamentalism [DT, LT 1/3].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Rocket fired from S. Lebanon damages property in Kiryat Shmona [BG 1/3]. Israeli taxi driver is found shot twice in head near Lod (second such incident in 2 days); 4 Palestinians are detained for questioning [FJ 1/10].

Arab World: Israeli and SLA troops shell targets in S. Lebanon in retaliation for shelling of Kiryat Shmona [TS 1/3].

SOCIAL/POLITICAL: Occupied Palestine/Israel: Homes of 13 Palestinian families demolished in Ras al- Amoud near Jerusalem and Israeli court grants the land to Israeli construction company, Tomer. 32 refugee families from Beach Camp (Gaza), whose homes demolished by occupation forces, appeal to UNRWA & other humanitarian agencies for aid in 2nd winter without proper shelter. Israel declares Dheisheh refugee camp closed military zone, forcing Israeli Committee for Solidarity with BZU volunteers to stop helping pave road; 2 Israelis & TV crew detained. EL AL forbids flights over "Temple Mount" on advice of former Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren that the holiness of the site extends to the air above it; "therefore, there is fear that religiously unclean people will defile that airspace by flying through it."

Arab World: 97 wounded Palestinian loyalist fighters evacuated by Italian hospital ship to Tunis and PDRY. Senior Egyptian official, Shafi Abdel Hamid, declines invitation to visit Israel.

Other Countries: US Asst. Sec. of Health signs 5-year agreement with Israel providing for exchange of information on social services and human development.

Military Action:

IDF imposes curfew on several Chouf villages, including Kfar Nabrakh, Navrah and Brih, following artillery duels and Phalange attack on Druze doctor; Aley sealed off after land mine explodes near IDF jeep.

Casualties:

IDF medical teams treat wounded in Chouf villages, many evacuated; IDF arranges exchange of prisoners in Aley; Ain el-Hilweh a sea of mud after third day of heavy rains, only 16 UNRWA tents set up and 100 refugees sign up to purchase Israeli-made prefabricated houses.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shamir tells visiting US Congressmen that negotiations on IDF withdrawal from Lebanon could last many months, blames Syria; Israel links pull-out talks to Lebanese willingness to normalize relations with Israel (open borders, trade, tourism, unofficial missions in Jerusalem and Beirut); Tourism Minister Sharir reveals plan to promote tourism on West Bank to strengthen Israel's presence there; El Al workers go on strike.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO source in Tunisia says Fateh has approved plans to create Palestinian-Jordanian federation, with Jordan and Palestinian state as separate countries, has decided to reinforce PLO troops in Bekaa and North Lebanon, to resume military training for guerrillas evacuated from Beirut and to resume talks with Lebanese Government on Palestinian presence in Lebanon; PLO reportedly sets 2 conditions for "mutual and simultaneous recognition" with Israel-US pledge to talk to PLO in return and a US guarantee that PLO will be included in any peace negotiations on equal footing with other Arab parties; Lebanese Parliament, in 58-1 vote, gives Gemayel power to rule nation by decree for 6 months, gives vote of confidence to 10-member Cabinet, gives Gemayel full powers to deal with Israelis, Syrians, PLO and to restructure Army, revise tax structure, change criminal law, reschedule debts, control media, but Gemayel fails to win power to amend election laws, citizenship requirements and provincial boundaries without Parliamentary approval, also fails to extend special powers for 2 more months, as 32 legislators abstain or are absent; Gemayel meets with Druze and Phalange leaders, says he will seek US pressure on IDF to withdraw from Chouf area; Walid Jumblatt meets Gemayel at Baabda to discuss deteriorating security in Chouf area, declares Israel is responsible for bloodshed.

US and Other Countries: Assistant Secretary of State Veliotes, in interview, says PLO proposal for "mutual and simultaneous" recognition with Israel was step backward in negotiating process as Israel will never agree; British Foreign Secretary Francis Pym arrives for 2 day stay in Jordan.

Military Action:

Israeli warships, armored units bombard Palestinian camps and civilian neighborhoods in Beirut hours before Begin meets Reagan in Washington, hit USSR embassy, fashionable shopping area, hospital, near Commodore Hotel; Israeli and Syrian troops trade fire along highway, Israelis claim to de-stroy 4 Syrian tanks; artillery duels continue all day; WAFA says IDF attempting to push down hillsides toward 3 Palestinian camps, provoking response; massive IDF buildup continues as 70 Israeli tanks move toward Khalde; Israeli patrol ambushed outside Beirut.

Casualties:

Two Palestinian hospitals hit, killing 8, wounding 22; scores of casualties from Sabra and Burj al-Barajneh camps; mass graves in Sidon; 50,000 flee Beirut southward to escape expected fighting; high civilian casualties in Bekaa (possibly 1,200 dead) and Baalbek schools house 25,000 refugees; telephone lines in Bekaa cut by Israelis and many civilians attacked along highway by Israeli jets; at Aley, hotels are burned out, hospital hit by 4 Israeli bombs; many suffering from effects of cluster bombs; refugees begin returning to Ain el-Hilweh.

Israel says voluntary agencies can resume work in Lebanon; Israel withholding aid from civilian Palestinians; Eitan says prison camp to be set up in Lebanon for PLO members; ICRC asks to visit after being allowed to see 18 Syrian prisoners; Israel says Lebanese economy will take 6 months to one year to recover, says refinery, which supplies 40 percent of Lebanese oil needs, will be operational in 60 days.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Sharon reportedly lobbying Israeli Cabinet for permission to storm Beirut; one of several MKs, visiting IDF in Beirut, says attack on PLO headquarters in Beirut "almost inevitable"; Begin tells US audiences the war in Lebanon is almost over, as Sharon says the IDF has not achieved all its objectives; 13 Israeli Cabinet ministers tour parts of Lebanon (Beaufort Castle; near Lake Karoun; Tyre; Sidon; outskirts of Beirut airport); El Al reports 15 percent slump in bookings as a result of the invasion; Begin encounters sharp criticism from US Congress, claims Israeli approach endorsed by Reagan.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Habib meets with Sarkis, Wazzan with Arafat; Arafat attacks US role in backing Israeli "slaughter"; PLO seeks to retain political presence in Lebanon; Salam calls on Reagan to keep IDF from attacking, and to give time for Arafat to persuade PLO militants to disarm; Lebanon says 1 1 Arab countries agree to attend summit on Lebanon; Danny Chamoun, son of Camille Chamoun, in New York says invasion "overdue," meets with administration figures.

Arab Governments: Syrian Cabinet meets on crisis; Arab and non-aligned countries consider convening emergency session of UN General Assembly, reach no decision.

US and Other Countries: Weinberger makes veiled criticism of Haig policies; State Department says UN resolution 509, demanding immediate Israeli withdrawal, no longer relevant; National Security Council reportedly disagrees with Haig's conciliatory attitude toward IDF invasion; Reagan reportedly supports Israeli demands for Syrian troop withdrawal and creation of demilitarized zone, does not take position on US troop involvement in peacekeeping force.