10 / 15150 Results
  • May 24, 1986

    Social/Economic/Political

    Occupied Palestine/Israel: Margaret Thatcher arrives in Jerusalem, first official visit by British P.M. to Israel [NYT 5/24].

    Arab World: King Hussein...

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  • March 14, 1985

    Social/Economic/Political

    Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish underground defendant Yossi Edri concludes plea bargain with prosecution; charges against him are reduced [JP 3/15]. Several...

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  • March 18, 1983

    Military Action:

    IDF patrol attacked southeast of Beirut, Lebanese National Resistance Front reportedly responsible; 2 grenades thrown at French MNF position in Beirut; Israeli jets break...

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  • February 21, 1983

    Military Action:

    MNF units assist Lebanese Army and civil defense forces in rescue operations for civilians trapped by severe blizzard, responsible for at least 38 deaths.

    Political...

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  • February 2, 1983

    Military Action:

    US Marine captain with loaded pistol orders IDF tanks away from checkpoint in Beirut, the sixth incident between the two forces in past month; mortar explodes near US...

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  • January 11, 1983

    Military Action:

    Artillery duels between Druze and Phalange militia near Baabda.

    Casualties:

    5 killed, 9 wounded in Druze-Phalange fighting.

    Political Responses:

    ...
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  • January 2, 1983

    Military Action:

    IDF attacked twice in Sidon; fighting continues in Tripoli.

    Casualties:

    Tripoli death toll for weekend is 17.

    Political Responses:

    Israel/...

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  • July 22, 1982

    Military Action:

    Israel, alleging cease-fire violations by Syrians and PLO, attacks on both fronts with artillery and air strikes (ordered following ambush deaths of 5 IDF soldiers near...

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  • June 16, 1982

    Military Action:

    Israel fortifies position around Beirut, capturing Lebanese University science campus; uncovers arms caches in Tyre and elsewhere; IDF fails to capture USSR-supplied T-72...

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  • June 6, 1982

    Military Action:

    The Israeli Army invades Lebanon, with over 250 tanks and thousands of infantrymen rolling past UNIFIL forces at 11 AM; Sidon is bombarded, the coastal road cut, the...

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Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Margaret Thatcher arrives in Jerusalem, first official visit by British P.M. to Israel [NYT 5/24].

Arab World: King Hussein travels to Damascus to meet Syrian President alAsad, aiming to reconcile Syria and Iraq, isolate Fateh [LT, JP 5/26; MG 5/28]. Yasir Arafat travels to Algeria to discuss steps for intra-Palestinian reconciliation. PLO in Tunis launches appeal to "halt the new plot in which certain Arab parties are implicated againsthe Palestinian people and their camps in Lebanon."

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish underground defendant Yossi Edri concludes plea bargain with prosecution; charges against him are reduced [JP 3/15]. Several hundred students demonstrate outside Haifa U. protesting police action during 3/10 sit-in on campus [JP 3/15].

Other Countries: After meeting with British PM Thatcher in London, Pres. Mubarak fails to get UK support for his 2/24 peace proposals, although Thatcher affirms British support for direct negotiations [MG, FT 3/15].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Green Patrol seizes 45 goats belonging to Bedouin shepherds near Dimona; goats later sold by Green Patrol officers [JP 3/31].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: IDF kill 3 resistance fighters near Tyre. Roadside bomb south of Qasmiya Bridge explodes near IDF vehicle; no casualties.

Military Action:

IDF patrol attacked southeast of Beirut, Lebanese National Resistance Front reportedly responsible; 2 grenades thrown at French MNF position in Beirut; Israeli jets break sound barrier over Beirut, fly mock bombing runs in South Lebanon.

Casualties:

1 IDF wounded; IDF reportedly investigating deaths of 7 men whose bodies were found in Israeli detention center in Sidon soon after invasion; IDF arrests sheikh of Jibsheet, Shiite village in South Lebanon, on suspicion of aiding terrorist activity; prisoner in Ansar camp murdered by other prisoners; Committee of Prisoners' Families reports more than 200 Palestinian women arrested or kidnapped by Phalange in Beirut area between October and February.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Science and Development Minister Ne'eman says he will demand extension of Israeli law to West Bank and Gaza and massive Jewish settlement; IDF and Defense Ministry reply to US Marine Commandant's charges, accuse US of failing to honor agreement to delineate military patrol zones in Beirut; Arens tells Weinberger that IDF under strict instructions to avoid incidents with US Marines, proposes agreement on demarcation lines, liaison arrangements between forces.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese Army Commander Tannous says non-Lebanese parties are masterminding and staging attacks on MNF to drive it out of Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Arab League delegation, led by King Hussein, with Walid Khalidi representing Palestinians, meets PM Thatcher in London, who reaffirms commitment to self-determination for the Palestinian people.

US and Other Countries: Former President Carter meets President Gemayel in Beirut, calls for immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, says he hopes Israeli occupation of West Bank will not be repeated in Lebanon.

UN: UN officials say France has expressed concern over August Question of Palestine conference to be held at Paris UNESCO HQ will not take part in preparations or send delegation.

Military Action:

MNF units assist Lebanese Army and civil defense forces in rescue operations for civilians trapped by severe blizzard, responsible for at least 38 deaths.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Secret Appendix B to Commission of Inquiry Report said to detail Sharon visit to Gemayel family after assassination of Bashir, including discussion on need for the Phalangists to take revenge; Jerusalem police arrest three men on charges of harassing Peace Now demonstrators during February 10 march.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat, in speech to PNC, supports endorsement of Fez plan, says Reagan plan is not enough but to turn it down flatly would deprive the PLO of its links with the US and of sources of badly needed financial aid; PNC Political Committee decides that Reagan plan is not acceptable as basis for just solution of Palestine problem, endorses Fez plan, gives no mandate to Jordan to negotiate on behalf of PLO, approves concept of eventual confederation between independent Palestinian state and Jordan, approves contacts with democratic and progressive forces in Egypt and with Mubarak government, and with democratic and progressive Israelis advocating establishment of an independent Palestinian state, decides to merge all PLO armed forces into single PNLA with unified command structure.

Arab Governments: Arab League mission to visit Britain around mid-March; King Hussein, in UK on private visit, has working lunch with Prime Minister Thatcher.

Military Action:

US Marine captain with loaded pistol orders IDF tanks away from checkpoint in Beirut, the sixth incident between the two forces in past month; mortar explodes near US Marine position at airport; UNIFIL headquarters complains of IDF restrictions on their movements south of Beirut.

Casualties:

2 French soldiers wounded by gunfire from passing car; official IDF casualty figures to date for Lebanon war are 466 killed, 2567 wounded, from all causes; report on Ansar detention camp shows it has received 9200 detainees since out-break of war, with 5412 Palestinians and Lebanese still held, at a cost of IS lm. a day; 293 Syrian prisoners of war, of whom 24 are officers, also held at Ansar.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Socialist International mission meets Begin and Shamir and visits West Bank; Israel's foreign debt totals $20.1 billion, an increase of $2.2 billion in last year, while interest payments are expected to total $5.3 billion in the 1982-83 period; delegation of Lebanese Christian officials meets Sharon and other Israeli ministers in Tel Aviv; Village League head Mustafa Dudeen announces that the Palestinian Democratic Peace Movement will be formed at Hebron convention on February 12.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Leaflets distributed in Sidon area call on residents to deport strangers from Lebanon, no more Palestinians on Lebanon's land.

Arab Governments: Arab League delegation to Britain postponed for second time over question of PLO representation; President Mubarak meets PM Thatcher in London, seeks support for early withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.

US and Other Countries: Reagan tells 150 World Jewish Congress members that Israel should freeze settlements on the West Bank, rules out use of sanctions or pressure to force withdrawal from Lebanon, urges King Hussein to negotiate directly with Israel; Reagan to seek $250 million in emergency supplemental aid to Lebanon, of which $100 million will go to rebuild army; administration officials expect US Marines will remain in Lebanon for at least another year; Anti-Defamation League releases 100 page handbook on "Pro-Arab Propaganda in America"; Rev. Jerry Falwell, at National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, urges Christians to support Israel; Chinese Foreign Minister tells Shultz in Peking that US should pressure Israel to pull its troops out of Lebanon; chairman of foreign affairs committee of Dutch parliament says in Jerusalem that no solution can be found to the Palestine problem without the involvement of the PLO.

Military Action:

Artillery duels between Druze and Phalange militia near Baabda.

Casualties:

5 killed, 9 wounded in Druze-Phalange fighting.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan says Israel may face 100 years of terrorism, that in practice the war in Lebanon has not ended, and one cannot solve all the problems of terrorism in one war, that if the IDF remains in Lebanon for long it may have to mount an intensive campaign to root out terrorist cells as was done in the Gaza Strip after the 1967 war; Defense Minister Sharon flatly rejects any PLO participation in future peace talks with Jordan, and dismisses Iraq's declaration of recognition of Israel's security needs as merely effort to get US arms for war against Iran; Israeli Foreign Minister legal adviser Elyakim Rubenstein says the recall of Egypt's Ambassador to Israel is a violation of the Camp David accords; Avid Kedar, head of Foreign Ministry's Egypt Department, says contacts between Israel and Egypt frozen since Peace for Galilee Campaign; Sgan Nitzav Albert Hayut, new director of Beersheba prison announces 500 security prisoners to be moved to new maximum security prison, equipped with latest electronic monitors, near Nablus; attorney Nissim Shakar of the Committee for Jaffa's Arabs says they will appeal proposed law that non-Jews must close shops on Yom Kippur as well as own religious holidays, and not transport goods on Saturday and Jewish holidays; Israeli officials announce requests by Palestinians to visit relatives in Lebanon decline due to security situation, 5 Israeli Palestinians disappeared recently in Lebanon; bomb near Zedekiah's Cave outside Jerusalem's Damascus Gate critically wounds a Palestinian worker; military authorities surround Najah University, effectively closing the campus, prevent Israeli Association for Civil Rights representative from entering, detain 9 student council members; in Nablus students stone troops who use tear gas and close off market area; rock throwing incidents in Ramallah, al-Bireh aid Dheisheh camp, now defined as District of Binyamin, also in jenin where placards and leaflets are found attributed to National Liberation Movement denouncing as treasonous Arafat's and Hussein's attempt to reach accommodation with Israel.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Chairman Arafat goes to Moscow; 5 Palestinian leaders and Lebanese Communist Party meet in Tripoli.

Arab Governments: King Hussein tells local leaders that he has a letter from Reagan commiting the US to pressure Israel to restore Arab rights in the occupied territories, and that time is running out for achieving a unified Arab approach by March; Moroccan Foreign Ministry announces agreement with Britain on Arab League delegation to include non-PLO Palestinian; Egyptian Socialist Labor Party poll of 1,486 persons shows 82% want Israeli ambassador expelled, 76To want to sever relations with Israel.

US and Other Countries: State Department says Israeli settlement promotion campaign is unfortunate and counterproductive; Administration officials say US is counting on King Hussein to declare his readiness to join talks on basis of Reagan plan if the PLO and Saudi Arabia support it, if progress is made on troop withdrawals from Lebanon, and if Israel temporarily halts settlement activity; Secretary of State Shultz meets for 2 hours with 14 members of Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and leading Jewish Republicans, tells them of growing fears that Israel and Syria have tacit agreement to keep status quo in Lebanon, they tell him they want US to support Israel's demand for normalization of relations with Lebanon; delegation of Conservative MPs from Britain meet with Begin, give him message of support from Prime Minister Thatcher; European Parliament calls for establishment of a Palestinian state as a factor in a Middle East settlement, direct PLO-Israel dialogue, immediate halt to settlements in the West Bank, Israeli withdrawal from occupied territory, recognition of PLO as representative of Palestinian people if it drops from its charter all paragraphs calling for Israel's destruction, and sovereignty of all states in the region; Habib arrives in Israel.

Military Action:

IDF attacked twice in Sidon; fighting continues in Tripoli.

Casualties:

Tripoli death toll for weekend is 17.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet discusses fighting in Chouf, is briefed on Lebanese negotiations by Foreign Minister Shamir and David Kimche, hears of new security measures to be taken to reduce Israeli casualties in Lebanon; 3 members of Committee Against the War in Lebanon on trial for breach of peace after distributing leaflets in Haifa; Government agrees to 12% wage increase for public employees, averting general strike; official statistics show GNP did not increase in 1982, while real wages declined 3%; Begin's adviser on Arab Affairs Ben-yamin Gur-Arye says Begin will see if evacuation of Negev Bedouin families can be postponed; Bedouin township of Rahat forms labor council, the first in the Negev; Commission of Inquiry completes hearing of testimony, allowing Sharon to submit written answers instead of appearing for questioning; Moshe Reich, Israeli builder on West Bank, acquitted of blackmail, assault and threatened assault based on charges by Palestinians that he tried to force them to sell land; Jenin military governor warns Attorney Zuhair Jarrar not to complain to press about December 29 cut off of his electricity and water ordered by Israeli-appointed mayor Shihab Sanouri; Theodore Mann, chair of National Conference on Soviet Jews, announces 2,600 exit visas issued in 1982; PM Begin meets with relatives of Israeli prisoners, promises them no withdrawl of IDF from Lebanon until release of prisoners; Jerusalem police report series of raids on Jerusalem bookstores, seizing Palestinian flags, cassettes, T-shirts and other pro-PLO material.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Rashid Karami appeals to Syria to send envoy to stop fighting in Tripoli.

Arab Governments: Saudi Arabia says British Foreign Secretary Pym not welcome to visit after Thatcher government refuses PLO representative in Arab League delegation; Iraq announces that Saddam Hussein told Congressman Stephen Solarz (D-NY) on August 25, he accepts Israelis' need for security.

Military Action:

Israel, alleging cease-fire violations by Syrians and PLO, attacks on both fronts with artillery and air strikes (ordered following ambush deaths of 5 IDF soldiers near Mansura in the Bekaa); jets bomb PLO artillery emplacements near the stadium and airport following wounding of IDF soldier near airport; PLO estimates 6 people killed or wounded in the attacks; PLO operates behind Syrian lines in the eastern Bekaa; 5 IDF wounded in machinegun attack near Tyre; bombs dropped after 30 minutes of mock attacks in Fakhani quarter and camps of Burj al-Barajneh, Sabra and Shatila, as well as the stadium and the neighborhood of Ramlet el-Baida; IDF launches air and land attacks along entire cease-fire line in eastern Lebanon (jets strike barracks near Baalbek, several Syrian-controlled villages).

Casualties: Palestinian sources estimate 62 killed, injured in attacks on Beirut; 2 IDF soldiers killed, 2 wounded during fighting.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin summons Cabinet for special meeting to discuss Lewis report; retaliatory measures reportedly agreed on at the meeting; IDF spokesman claims 75 PLO violations of the cease-fire in the past 3 weeks, claims Syrians try to advance their lines; denies final Israel assault on Beirut.

Arab Governments: Attacks come as Habib undertakes a weeklong mission to Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and possibly other Arab nations to get them to accept PLO fighters from Beirut; King Hussein of Jordan meets UK Prime Minister Thatcher in London.

Military Action:

Israel fortifies position around Beirut, capturing Lebanese University science campus; uncovers arms caches in Tyre and elsewhere; IDF fails to capture USSR-supplied T-72 tanks but claims huge numbers of fighters taken; IDF claims Phalangist forces took university (denied by Gemayel); Phalangist artillery used to pound Burj al-Barajneh Pales-tinian camp. Port access to Beirut cut for 8 days, roads for 5, air access cut. Arafat tours PLO military positions in Beirut; PLO opens 12 new medical facilities in last 10 days, with 2,000 beds, to deal with casualties.

Casualties:

80 bodies uncovered under Sidon building hit by Israeli shelling; 400 Sidon residents reported killed; Lebanese sources estimate over 25,000 casualties and 250,000 displaced persons (1 of 16 living in Lebanon); Israeli government claims only 70,000 home-less in Lebanon as result of fighting; IDF administrator in Sidon says IDF plans to bury bodies in pits where they lay; ICRC negotiates with IDF to fly 2 planes from Cyprus to Beirut; most Beirut businesses closed. 30-vehicle relief convoy leaves Israel for southern Lebanon for 2-week stay; Israeli banks set up mobile units inside Lebanon for Israeli soldiers (will also service local Lebanese); Israeli Trade Minister Patt says Lebanese merchants wishing to buy Israeli goods may place orders through military commanders (to be filled in 24 hours); Israel claims 6,000 guerrillas captured, 60 Syrians.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Begin, in New York, tells Israeli Cabinet to disregard US pressures in setting war policy; Shimon Peres claims military actions lacked necessary Cabinet approval, calls for meeting of foreign affairs committee; Israeli Cabinet reportedly orders Sharon not to enter Beirut; Israeli government claims possession of documents showing PLO hosting of groups "such as" the Japanese Red Army, Italian Red Brigade, and German Baader-Meinhoff Gang; public criticism surfaces on conduct of war and casualty levels.

Palestinians/Lebanese: PLO's Hani Hassan urges direct US-PLO talks; former Lebanese Premier Salam meets Habib to convey PLO views on fighting; Phalangists deny cooperating with Israelis during fighting; some Lebanese Christians reported cooling toward Israeli presence.

Arab Governments: Saudis urge US pressure to force Israelis to withdraw, suggest arms embargo to Vice-President Bush, Senator Percy, Defense Secretary Weinberger (in Saudi Arabia for funeral of late Saudi King).

US and Other Countries: Reagan delays sending Congress formal notice of long-planned sale of 75 F-16s to Israel; Israeli reassurance that IDF would not enter Beirut reportedly ensures Begin meeting with Reagan; US rejects PLO request for direct talks; UK Prime Minister Thatcher says PLO office can stay in UK; USSR reportedly replenishing Syrian supplies.

Military Action:

The Israeli Army invades Lebanon, with over 250 tanks and thousands of infantrymen rolling past UNIFIL forces at 11 AM; Sidon is bombarded, the coastal road cut, the Lebanese oil refinery at Zahrani bombed, setting oil storage tanks afire; a bridge spanning the Litani, north of Tyre, is blown up; balloons are used to neutralize heat-seeking missiles. Israeli troops move, in three columns, to close in on Tyre, to take Nabatiyeh and Beaufort Castle, and to move from the Golan Heights towards Chebaa. Israeli troops land near the Zahrani river, in an attempt to cut off Palestinians retreating northward. Amphibious vehicles land near Rashidiyeh refugee camp while Israeli paratroopers land at another camp north of Tyre. Israeli planes drop Arabic language leaflets warning Tyre's 50,000 residents not to harbor PLO guerrillas. Thousands of Lebanese and Palestinians fleeing up the coastal road are bombarded.

Several PLO outposts reported taken along the 33-mile front, but Palestinian resist-ance reported fierce; PLO antiaircraft batteries shoot down Skyhawk jet near Nabatiyeh (pilot is captured), another near Sarafand, and 2 helicopters; PLO rocket attacks continue on western Galilee and the Haddad-controlled enclave; PLO claims to have destroyed 42 Israeli armored cars; resistance in Tyre is fierce, leading Israelis to bypass it on their northward sweep; fighting intense around Beaufort Castle.

Syrian artillery opens fire on Israeli forces following Israeli shelling of Syrian positions; Syrian army battling near Hasbaya, 10 miles north of the border.

Several UNIFIL units come under fire; UNIFIL troops at Khardali Bridge, below Beaufort Castle, come under fire but prevent Israeli troops from crossing bridge; UNIFIL protests use of incendiary artillery shells by Israelis in attacking Tyre; UN and Lebanese troops come under heavy Israeli fire near Tyre.

Casualties:

More than 300 people are reported killed June 4 and 5, over 500 wounded; Palestinians estimate 200 Israeli casualties; thousands fleeing towns of southern Lebanon are bombed by Israeli jets along the coastal road; casualties from June 4 bombing of Beirut estimated at 60 killed, 30 wounded. Norwegian UNIFIL soldier killed.

Rocket attacks on northern Galilee result in 3 deaths, 15 wounded, but property damage is extensive, Qiryat Shemona is hit badly; captured Israeli pilot shown at Beirut press conference.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Israeli Ambassador to US, Moshe Arens, claims aim is to push PLO out of artillery range of northern Israel; Begin sends letter to Reagan asserting the same; Israeli Cabinet says Syrian forces will only be attacked if they engage Israeli troops; Yitzhak Rabin (Labor Party) calls on Israelis to support the government; Cabinet calls operation "Peace for Galilee"; Israeli Reserve Generals reported to plan visit to US and Europe to put Israeli case; extensive mo-bilization of Israeli reserves reported as over 1000 public buses mobilized to transport troops (the largest war call-up since 1978); Israel asserts it has no territorial claims on Lebanon.

Palestinians/Lebanese: Lebanese government holds emergency meeting, asks for immediate summit of 22-member Arab League; Lebanese media claim Israelis have used cluster and fragmentation bombs, warning civilians not to touch anything on the ground; President Sarkis summons ambassadors of US, USSR, France and the UK to the palace for a meeting; Arafat flies back to Beirut.

Arab Governments: Egyptian Cabinet and President Mubarak denounce Israeli invasion as aggression (strongest language since 1977); Saudi Arabian King Khalid sends messages to Reagan, other world leaders calling for "quick intervention" to halt Israeli ''massacre. "

US and Other Countries: Reagan joins 6 other leaders at Versailles urgently appealing for a cease-fire in Lebanon; Reagan urges "restraint" in letter to Begin; UK Prime Minister Thatcher says "hit list" of targets found on suspects arrested in Argov shooting include name of PLO London representative; USSR denounces Israel for launching fifth war against the Arabs.

UN: Security Council seeks a resolution acceptable to the US and Arab governments.