The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: With order nisi, High Court blocks demolition of 7 Jabaliya camp houses as "unlicensed." PM Peres presents options to cabinet for partial or total troop withdrawal from S. Lebanon. In Tel Aviv, US Defense Sec. Weinberger pledges US will buy $100 million more in Israeli products in 1984 to offset large Israeli purchases of American military equipment. Al-Bireh Arab Nursing College students begin slowdown strike to protest administrative measures. Abu Dis Science and Technology College students strike over newly required English proficiency & minimum passing grade requirements.

Arab World: Lebanese parliament elects (Shi'ite) Hussein al-Husseini as speaker. King Hussein meets Pres. Sadam Hussein in Baghdad.

Military Action

Arab World: IDF imposes new prohibition against travelers crossing Awali without permit.

SOCIAL/POLITICAL:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 4 Israeli Cabinet ministers oppose continued IDF forays north of Awali River line at risk of Israeli involvement in factional fighting. DM Arens sharply criticizes LAF performance against Druze and Shi'ite militias; justifies forays to north as defense against "terrorist infiltration." Representatives of Arab local councils meet in Shefa Amr; protest to gov't. and Histadrut increasing number of dismissal notices served Arab workers.

Other Countries: US suspends shipment of 130 armed personnel carriers to Lebanon, may not sell 35 tanks already planned. Israeli Industry and Trade Minister visits Bucharest for talks aimed at doubling Israeli exports to Rumania. US physicist Sam Cohen, veteran of Los Alamos atom-bomb project, proposes impregnable radiation barrier, or "nuclear wall" for Israeli borders to "end the tragedy of war in the Middle East." Reagan admin. clarifies stand against moving US-Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Arab World: Christian Phalange officers confirm Israel promised regular army patrols to aid in fighting back Druze and Shi'ites

Military Action:

Small arms, machine gun and RPG fire hits Marine positions at airport and university science faculty building during 7-hour battle, Marines use Dragon missiles; LAF positions near airport also attacked; IDF patrol attacked, battles civilians during Shi'ite religious festival in Nabatieh.

Casualties:

1 Marine killed, 3 wounded by sniper fire in Beirut; 1 civilian killed, 7-10 wounded when IDF opens fire in Nabatieh, 4 IDF soldiers injured, 4 military vehicles burned, curfew imposed.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Estimated Im Israeli workers strike for 2 hours to protest government economic policies.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Officer of Higher Islamic Council of Lebanon calls on Shi'ite residents of South Lebanon to resist IDF occupation, warns Israel not to close bridges across Awali river.

Military Action:

Fighting continues at Souq al-Gharb, Aley, Beit Eddine and Deir al-Qamar; PSP forces capture Qabr Chamoun junction; shells fall in Khaldeh, Yarze, Baabda and other suburbs, and around airport, near US Marine positions; LAF engages Shi'ite militiamen in Beirut district of Chiah; US Navy warship fires first rounds of 5-inch shells at PSP artillery position near Chemlan, southeast of Beirut, Marines also return fire; US jet overflies village of Deir al-Qamar; IDF patrol crosses Awali River, removes roadblock at village of Amayle.

Casualties:

LAF reports 2 killed, 6 wounded; PSP accuses Phalange militiamen of killing 40 Druze civilians in Abey, near Qabr Chamoun; bomb destroys Islamic lUnification Movement sports club in Tripoli, 5 killed, 25 wounded.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: McFarlane meets Gemayel, Wazzan in Beirut, Jumblatt in Damascus; Jumblatt says PSP forces will not fire on targets endangering MNF units.

Arab Governments: Saudi Arabia renews its diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire, sends Prince Bandar Ibn Sultan to Damascus.

US and Other Countries: Rep. Clarence Long (D-MD) says he will seek legislative cut-off of funds for US MNF contingent unless Reagan seeks formal Congressional authorization under 1973 War Powers Act.

Military Action:

IDF attacked in Sidon and Bekaa, no reported casualties; Israeli intelligence attributes US embassy bomb to fundamentalist Shiite organization closely connected to Iran and Syria.

Casualties:

Lebanese lawyer shot and killed by French member of MNF when he fails to stop at roadblock.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet debates withdrawal of IDF to Awali river, no decision reportedly reached; at Cabinet meeting, Sharon attacks government's failure to launch reprisals against PLO for attacks on IDF; 3 molotov cocktails thrown at IDF vehicle in Beit Jala, 2 at Jalazon camp, no injuries reported.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO military documents seized by IDF in Sidon during war in Lebanon, edited by Hebrew University faculty member, are published in London under title PLO in Lebanon-Selected Documents; Lebanese merchants informed by government they have until May 7 to cut commercial ties with Israel.

US and Other Countries: Shultz starts Middle East tour, says his objectives are finding secure arrangements for Israel, removing foreign troops from Lebanon, and finding some manner of recognizing the legitimate needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people; British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs says US should exert more pressure on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon and freeze West Bank settlements.