The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Heavy fighting during the night in Chouf; 5 artillery rounds fired at US ships off Beirut, fall short of targets.

Casualties:

5 killed in Chouf battles, total of 23 killed, 70 wounded in past 3 days.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Defense Minister Arens says IDF withdrawal from Lebanon is conditional on evacuation of Syrian and PLO forces, says it is too early to decide on unilateral withdrawal to the Awali line; Foreign Minister Shamir says IDF will deploy and position itself in safest possible arrangement if Syria does not fulfill its promise to evacuate its troops; Labor Party Chairman Peres says Alignment will not support the Lebanon agreement, the previous situation of informal agreements with Haddad was better and wasn't conditional on Syrian support.

US and Other Countries: Secretary Shultz holds 4 hours of talks in Damascus with President Assad, first high level US meeting with him since 1977, says Syrians are not enthusiastic about the agreement, question of Syrian and PLO withdrawal is primarily up to Lebanese; Shultz travels to Jeddah, meets King Fahd; in Nairobi, Kenya, Israeli Bat Dor Dance Company performs despite protests from political and trade union officials, PLO and Arab League representatives.

Military Action:

PLO makes withdrawal of 7,000 troops from Bekaa and Tripoli areas contingent on safety guarantees for half million Palestinians living in Lebanon; IDF sets up fortified position 100 yards from British forces' headquarters.

Casualties:

European Community grants $20 million for rebuilding Beirut drinking water system; Phalangists have evicted 70 Palestinian families from apartments in Sidon in past two weeks and forced them to move to Ain el-Hilweh camp; UNRWA HQ in Vienna, responding to intimidation of Palestinians in South Lebanon, calls on IDF to ensure safety of civilians in areas under its control.

Politicial Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet fails to reach agreement on whether to carry out Commission of Inquiry recommendation that Sharon and three senior generals leave their posts, considers early elections; Sharon says he has no intention of resigning; demonstrations outside Cabinet meeting; representatives of West Bank and Gaza settlements meet Begin and oppose removal of Sharon; Sharon welcomes Zaire's Defense Minister on official visit in Tel Aviv; Chief of Staff Eitan testifies in court-martial of 7 Israeli soldiers accused of beating, kicking and clubbing students in Hebron, defends orders from his office to harass West Bank Palestinians by repeated arrests, punishment of parents, collective punishment, etc.; Foreign Minister Shamir reiterates that Israel will not talk to PLO even if it recognizes Israel.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Chairman of PNC Foreign Relations Committee Khaled Hassan says revolutionary tactics is only option, which means violence until success; Arafat flies from Amman to Jeddah for talks with Saudi leaders.

Arab Governments: President Mubarak meets Bethlehem Mayor Freij in Cairo.

US and Other Countries: Defense Secretary Weinberger rejects proposal that Israel share military information it obtained in Lebanon because of Israeli conditions; American Jewish leaders praise Commission of Inquiry Report as evidence of Israeli democracy and moral strength; Austria mediating arrangements to exchange 6,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel for 8 Israelis held by PLO; trade between Britain and Israel in 1982 totals £498 million.