The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Egypt's Pres. Mubarak returns from Jordan visit, saying the 2 countries agree on strategy to settle Palestinian problem, but Jordan would not necessarily join US-sponsored Camp David "peace process."

Military Action

Arab World: 1 Druze IDF soldier killed, 1 Lebanese resistance fighter killed in exchange of fire near Jezzine, S. Lebanon. Lebanese resistance fighters kill 5 SLA members, wound 1, in Marjayoun, S. Lebanon.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Nablus Chamber of Commerce submits memorandum to "civil administration" outlining city's urgent social and economic problems; no response from authorities. 19 Palestinians arrested for stone-throwing during MK Kahane's attempted entry into Umm al-Fahm (8/29). Israeli troops raid Qalandiya refugee camp, detain several youths suspected of commandeering bulldozer from nearby quarry and flattening Israeli-built barrier at camp entrance.

Arab World: Druze leaders meet in Majd al-Shams (Golan) to demand dismissal of 30 teachers accepting Israeli ID cards. Chrmn. Arafat meets with French FM Cheysson in Tunis.

Other Countries: Chrmn. Arafat cables Chrmn. Truong Chinh on occasion of Vietnam's nat'l. day. 2nd anniversary of Reagan Middle East peace initiative. US Navy announces Israel will lend 12 Kfir jets on no-cost 4-yr. lease for use in combat training; Israel Aircraft Ind. will maintain jets for "firm fixed price."

Military Action

Arab World: Palestinian & Lebanese resistance detonate remote-control bomb as IDF patrol near Marjayoun, S. Lebanon, destroying jeep, wounding occupants.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Major Haddad, in testimony before Commission of Inquiry, denies his militiamen were involved in massacre, says three militiamen caught in fight involving IDF and Druze forces near Beirut at time were far from camps and in Beirut on private visit, says on Friday, September 17, he flew to Beirut on IDF aircraft to offer condolences to Gemayel family, visited Jounieh, then returned by car to Marjayoun, accuses Saeb Salam of covering up for Phalangists on orders from Saudi Arabia by blaming Haddad forces; Foreign Ministry official Hana Bar-On testifies he relayed US official's report on "irregularities" in Beirut camps to Begin's military secretary, Colonal Azriel Nevo, Friday evening, September 17; political storm rages over New York Times opinion piece that implies Labor Party leaders want US to reduce aid to Israel as means to pressure Begin but Peres denies Labor Party supports cut in US aid; two leaders of Gush Emunim settlement of Qiryat Arba charged with destroying possible clues to unsolved bombings that crippled two Palestinian Mayors in 1980, trial is set for December 9; 25,000 Israeli settlers now estimated living in occupied territories, is twice as many as in 1980, five times as many as in 1977; Knesset finance committee defers decision on funding 9 new settlements (Labor Party criticizes 8 planned for West Bank, and IDF outposts in territories being turned over to right-wing Kach).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Walid Jumblatt, in interview, accuses Phalange of planning massacres of Druze and says talks are useless; Phalange spokesman Hayek denies charge, says Phalange militiamen only seeking to return to their former villages in Chouf.

Arab Governments: King Hussein, ending Arab League delegation visit to France, accuses Israel of holding up peace process through continued West Bank settlements, refusal to consider Reagan peace proposals, says question of Israel's eventual borders remains major obstacle to peace; Syrian President Assad tells visiting US Congressional delegation that Reagan plan is "incomplete" solution.

US and Other Countries: Habib leaves several days early for Mideast in wake of cancellation of Begin-Reagan meeting, as State Department expresses concern at lack of progress on troop withdrawals; Shultz meets with Habib, Veliotes, Fairbanks, M. Charles Hill and Samuel W. Lewis to review lack of progress on peace plan; Britain announces Arab League mission planned to arrive next week has been postponed to December, and it will continue to refuse inclusion of PLO representative in delegation; West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, in New York, tells US Jewish leaders he intends to strengthen West German relations with Israel, and supports Camp David process.

Military Action:

Fighting continues between Phalange and Druze in Chouf area (mainly Kfar Matta, Abey, Bahourta), including artillery exchanges but no shellings; IDF moves into area; atmosphere tense as Druze villagers express fear of another massacre; Information Minister Shikhani says Lebanese Army will not move into area as IDF still occupies it; Army takes up positions around Baabda presidential palace.

Casualties:

Lebanese Army reports 1,441 detained in 10 days, 23,000 forged identity papers. seized, 972 still detained, others released; explosion in Marjayoun market kills 3, wounds 19; 2 IDF soldiers wounded by sniper fire near Kfar Kuk in East Lebanon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli officials report Sharon sent letter to Weinberger inviting Pentagon team to examine captured Soviet weaponry; Jerusalem Post poll gives only 49 percent support for Begin policies; Commission of Inquiry appoints three investigators; dozens of Palestinian refugees allowed to visit Israel under special IDF permission refuse to return to Lebanon when their permits expire and are hiding in Arab villages.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Mounir Abu Fadel, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, appeals for multinational force or Lebanese Army to occupy Chouf area.

US and Other Countries: Shamir and Shultz meet for 4 hours, set up working group to consider withdrawal proposals (agree on need for early IDF withdrawal); Israel suggest US troops replace IDF in South Lebanon, White House rejects; Israel argues for strong Haddad role.