The Palestine Chronology

Sec. Baker holds 4-hour meeting with Soviet F.M. Shevardnadze in New York on Gulf situation; agree on need to increase pressure on Iraq. Baker begins meeting by praising Shevardnadze's UN speech [NYT, WP 9/27].

Sec. Baker also meets with Israeli F.M. Levy [JPD 9/26 in FBIS 9/26]; Levy says Israel will not move forward with Israeli-Palestinian peace process until after Gulf crisis is settled [JPI 10/6].

USSR and EC issue joint statement in New York on resolved conflicts in Middle East  [NYT 9/27].

In 1st phase of planned over $20 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, Pres. Bush decides to include the most sophisticated M- 1 tanks and other weapons worth $7.5 billion as immediate response to Iraqi threat [NYT, WP 9/27; LAT 9/28].

With spot-market oil prices topping $40 a barrel, Pres. Bush announces plans to sell 5 million barrels of oil from U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to curb "intensive and unwarranted speculation in oil futures" [LAT, NYT, WP 9/27; CSM 9/28].

25 Jordanian trucks with 400 tons of Palestinian-financed food parade through Baghdad as Iraq tries to demonstrate ineffectiveness of embargo (LAT 9/27].

PLF leader Abul Abbas warns of "war without limits" if Iraq is attacked; threatens to strike against U.S. and W. Europe [LAT 9/27].

Diplomatic note from Iraq to embassies in Baghdad threatens death to anyone caught hiding Western civilians; Sec. Baker calls the note "repugnant" [WP, WT 9/27].

Palestinians in O.T. observe general strike in support of Iraq [WT, CSM 9/27; FJ 10/1]; while leading Palestinians, including Faisal Husayni, meet with Israeli members of Peace Now group [FJ 10/1; MET 10/9].

Palestinian economic experts estimate O.T. losses from Gulf crisis to be about $405 million [QDS 9/26 in FBIS 9/27]. 

Military Action:

Israeli jets overfly Beirut, making mock bombing raids with flares and smoke bombs; Israeli arming of Phalangists and Haddad forces undermining role of Lebanese Army and government officials.

Casualties:

Former MK and "dove" Arie Eliav confirms UNRWA estimate of damage to Lebanese refugee camps, calls for refugee aid scheme; trash piles mount in W. Beirut (main shopping area desolate, filled with debris); Sharon instructs IDF to ensure safety of Druze from Phalange attacks in Israeli-controlled areas.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin says Haddad should be a member of the Lebanese government; Interior Minister Burg says, in radio interview, Lebanese invasion might create better conditions for autonomy talks by discrediting PLO; Sharon reported to support future overthrow of Jordan's Hussein to make way for Palestinian state in Jordan; Cabinet plans Sunday meeting to assess progress in negotiations; (postpones meeting at request of US envoy); Peace Now sends letters to all government ministers except Sharon urging no entry into Beirut; West Bank unions issue statement supporting PLO, condemning invasion.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Habib reportedly wants leftist allies of PLO in Beirut disarmed, but not Phalange forces in E. Beirut (rejected by Wazzan, Jumblatt, Berri); Muslims now reportedly support PLO demands; Gemayel flies to Saudi Arabia, meets Arab League representatives; negotiations slow down; Phalangist adviser Pakradouni rejects any future PLO political role in Lebanon, says only one-third of current number of Palestinian refugees should remain; senior PLO official sent to Cairo for talks.

Arab Govemments: Egyptian minister Ghali says US gave Israel a "green light" for inva-sion; over 100 faculty at American University in Cairo condemn invasion in petition to US Ambassador in Cairo; Canadian and Norwegian only missions left in West Beirut (Canadians celebrate Canada Day).

US and Other Countries: Morris Draper, in Jerusalem, confers with Begin, Sharon, Shamir, asks and gets postponement of Cabinet meeting; USSR calls for Arab countries to use oil weapon against US/Israel; Arab students occupy offices of Arab League in Dallas, Texas; as Butros of Egypt meets with French officials, Foreign Minister Cheysson stresses political indispensability of PLO; Amnesty International appeals to Israeli government to account for all prisoners, citing reports they are being held incommunicado.