The Palestine Chronology

British hostage Jack Mann released by Revolutionary Justice Organization in Beirut amid indications that pace of comprehensive hostage-prisoner exchange may be quickening. (NYT 9/25)

Soviet FM Boris Pankin repeats Pres. Bush's 9/23 call for UN General Assembly to repeal "Zionism-racism" resolution. (NYT 9/25)

PFLP Gen. Secy. George Habash and Nayif Hawatma, lead attack on conditions of participation in peace conference at PNC meeting and are poised to stop Fateh's strategy of having the PNC avoid deciding on whether or not to attend but instead leaving the decision to the PLO Exec. Comm. (MEM 9/24, Radio Monte Carlo 9/24 in FBIS 9/25)

At a ceremony dedicating Tzur Yigal, a new Israeli town being built in Israel just across the "green line" separating Israel proper from the West Bank, Israeli health min. Ehud Olmert declares that the border between the two areas is "dead." The town is being built as part of the "seven stars" project designed some two years ago which aimed to build seven new towns on Israeli side of the "green line" which would eventually spread into the West Bank, effectively erasing the border. Prime Min. Shamir later told Israeli television that "the 'green line' doesn't exist." (NYT, WP 9/25)

In New York, Lebanese pres. Ilyas al-Hirawi, Prime Min. 'Umar Karami, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hussein al-Husseini meet with Pres. Bush to discuss Lebanese demand that Israel withdrawal from S. Lebanon, as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 425, will be treated separately from question of Israeli withdrawal from Arab territories it occupied in 1967. In comments to the press shortly before meeting with al-Hirawi, Bush states U.S. cannot unilaterally pressure Israel to withdraw. (MEM 9/25)

Military Action:

US and Israeli officials in Beirut agree to demarcate formal boundary between their two forces, using brightly painted barrels; IDF reported using tactic of "reconnaissance by fire," driving along Sidon road and spraying the orchards with machine gun fire; 160 French marines added to French contingent in MNF, another 140 to follow; Syrian Press Agency in West Beirut shattered by bomb.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: 10 new settlements under preparation, 30 awaiting approval; World Zionist Organization predicts population parity between Jews and Arabs in West Bank could be achieved with 1.4 million Jews by year 2010.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PFLP leader George Habash tells Damascus press conference he will ask forthcoming PNC meeting in Algiers to reject Reagan plan and Arafat/ Hussein talks; Major Haddad tells press conference in Metulla that Lebanese government is too weak to guarantee agreement with Israel.

Arab Governments: Mubarak ends one day visit to France.

US and Other Countries: Reagan Administration reported to favor increased grant to loan ratio in $2.5 billion economic and military aid package for Israel; international commission headed by Sean MacBride announces findings that Israel's invasion of Lebanon violated international law and that Israel was involved in the "planning and preparation" of the Beirut massacres; in London, hearing continues on shooting of Israeli Ambassador Argov, currently hospitalized in Jerusalem suffering near total blindness and paralysis.