The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: John Cardinal O'Connor tours Baqa'a refugee camp near Amman and expresses sympathy for Palestinian plight [NYT 12/30]. Reports indicate Lebanese Pres. Jumayyil is ready to back Amal against PLO if Syria can ease Muslim resistance in his cabinet [PI 12/29]. Amal leader Nabih Berri calls for immediate cease-fire in Beirut and S. Lebanon and announces his forces will allow food and medical supplies into 'Ayn al-Hilwah camp. Egypt's Pres. Mubarak and Jordan's King Hussein hold third round of talks in 'Aqaba [LAT 12/30].

Other Countries: U.S. Justice Dept. confirms Lt. Col. North told investigators that the idea to use profits from arms sales to Iran for the Nicaraguan contras originated with "a senior Israeli official." David Kimche denies suggesting such a plan [NYT 12/30].

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Arab League Sec. Gen. Chedli Klibi meets with Pres. Gemayel, Nabih Berri but fails to secure ceasefire in Beirut. Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia press Syria for intervention in fighting. In Tunis, PLO Central Comm. holds emergency meeting to discuss Beirut fighting [NYT 5/27].

Military Action

Arab World: Fighting continues between Shi'ite, Palestinian forces in Beirut; at least 3 killed, 57 wounded; 26,000 have fled; Amal fires on Red Cross convoy attempting to enter Burj al-Barajneh [NYT, WP, LT 5/27]. IDF kill 13 resistance fighters inside "security zone" in S. Lebanon [LT 5/28].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jewish underground defendant Menachem Neuberger pleads guilty to charges of plotting to blow up al-Haram al-Sharif [WP, PI 5/24]. PM Peres asks Attorney Gen. Yitzhak Zamir for legal opinion concerning release of Jewish underground defendants; opposes executive branch interference in legal process [JTA 5/24].

Arab World: Officials from Amal, Palestine National Salvation Front meet in Mukhtara, Lebanon to seek resolution of Shi'ite-Palestinian fighting in Beirut [NYT 5/24]. PFLP, DFLP, Chmn. Arafat accuse Shi'ite fighters of massacres against Palestinian civilians in Beirut camps; Arafat also accuses Nabih Berri of making secret agreement with Israel to hinder anti-Israeli resistance in S. Lebanon [WP 5/24, LM 5/25]. Syrian FM Faruq al-Shara accuses Chmn. Arafat of provoking recent Amal-Palestinian fighting in Beirut [MG 5/24].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Settlers attack homes of Talib Gheith in Hebron, Muhammad Abu Kishik in Askar camp (both former prisoners releasd 5/20) [NYT 5/25].

Arab World: Action in Lebanon: fighting continues between Amal, Lebanese Army's 6th Brigade and Palestinian fighters in Beirut camps; Palestinians launch Katyushas against Shi'ite areas of city; 33 killed, 193 wounded [NYT, MG 5/24]. Amal stages searches for Palestinians throughout Beirut; at least 200 arrested [PI 5/25].

Military Action:

10,000-13,000 Lebanese Army troops cordon off 14 sq. km. area around Hayy al-Sollom and Burj al-Barajneh, begin sweep against Muslim militias, heavy fighting from dawn to noon, Army occupies 2 sq. km., claims to have captured Amal HQin Burj al-Barajneh; Druze gunners in Upper Metn fire artillery and rockets at East Beirut and industrial areas, and in support of Amal militia; US Marines come under fire, use 155 mm artillery, 81 mm mortars, rockets from Cobra helicopter gunships against Shi'ite positions near airport and in foothills; Amal militia drives Lebanese Army from garrison and checkpoints in West Beirut, Mourabitoun militia takes control of streets; Amal takes over Beirut TV station; snipers posted on rooftops, firing continues throughout day and evening.

Casualties:

2 US Marines killed, 14 wounded by mortar fire; 11 Lebanese soldiers killed, 60 wounded, estimated 12-50 kidnapped; civilian casualties estimated at 20 dead, 100+ wounded, 1 Lebanese Air Force fighter bomber destroyed at airport, 2 damaged; 2-4 Lebanese Army APCs, several tanks captured.

Political Responses:

PalestiniansI Lebanese: Gemayel convenes emergency session of Cabinet; Amal leader Nabih Berri says he wants no problems with US, denies that US positions were fired on by Amal militia.

US and Other Countries: Reagan accepts recommendation of crisis management group, headed by VP Bush, that there is no need to expand size or change role of US force in Lebanon; members of Congress press for declaration that fighting in Lebanon triggers provisions of War Powers Resolution; White House says attack on Marines was outgrowth of Syria's refusal to withdraw its troops and Syrian influence over Lebanese factions.

UN: 10-day Conference on Palestine opens under heavy security in Geneva, more than 90 countries participate, US, Canada, Israel boycott.

Military Action:

Several hundred Lebanese Shiite followers of Hussein Mousavi (who broke from Amal organization headed by Nabih Berri) storm Baalbek's town hall, and take over city, say immediate purpose is to prevent celebration of Independence Day and denounce Gemayel administration; later leave city hall but retain control of and rename central square after Khomeini, set up checkpoints, express support for Islamic state similar to Iran; Chouf area tense but calm.

Casualties:

Israeli military commission report, approved by Cabinet, says Tyre building collapse was accident caused by unexplained leaking of bottled gas on first floor of building and faulty construction, although original Army report had cited booby-trapped car as cause.

Political Responses:

IsraeL/ Occupied Territories: Defense Ministry drops demand that foreigners teaching in Occupied Territories sign anti-PLO "loyalty pledge" (instead, will issue one-year work permits to be withdrawn if holder "gives aid or support to the PLO or any other hostile organization"); Molotov cocktail thrown at Israeli fuel tank in Jenin; 21 Palestinians arrested after bomb blast near railway station north of Tel Aviv wounds one IDF soldier; Bruce Kashdan, foreign ministry representative in Beirut, tells Commission of Inquiry that US envoy Draper had warned him Friday, September 17, of "horrible results" if Phalange forces entered West Beirut, that he received a second call from Draper at 10 AM Saturday, September 18, telling him a massacre had occurred at Shatila and Sabra camps and asking a message be passed to Sharon that "You must stop the massacres. They are obscene. I have an officer in the camp counting the bodies. You ought to be ashamed. This situation is rotten and terrible. They are killing children. You are in absolute control of the area and therefore responsible for that area," that Draper's second call was first information about massacre and that he passed information on to Sharon's office, that the IDF claimed Phalange entered camps from north and not through IDF lines, that he passed his and Draper's reports to Ariel Kenet and David Kimche; Lt. Col. Azriel Nevo, Begin's military secretary, denies having received call from Hanan Bar-On on Friday evening, backing up Begin's assertion of no knowledge of massacre until late Saturday; Agriculture Minister Aharon Uzan, in interview, says he favors unilateral iDF withdrawal from Chouf and to 30-mile line from border (follows similar position adopted last week by Energy Minister Modai); Cabinet sources reaffirm these as minority views, claim they undermine Israel's negotiating stance.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO official Ahmed Sidki Dajani, after meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Hassan Ali, who gives conditional approval for first visit in five years, says Arafat plans to visit Egypt in near future; Gemayel, in address to soldiers on eve of Independence Day, calls for vigilance toward dangers of dissidence; Saeb Salam meets Habib to discuss withdrawal of foreign forces; Jumblatt meets Habib to discuss increasing violence in Chouf.

Arab Governments: Syrian Information Minister Iskandar says Syrian forces will not withdraw until after last IDF soldier does.

US and Other Countries: Pentagon team, headed by Andrew Marshall, Defense Department's Director of Assessment, arrives in Tel Aviv to meet with Sharon, Eitan and other senior officers to finalize agreement on sharing information, evaluating performance of US/USSR weapons and lessons gained from Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

Military Action:

Israeli and Phalangist forces link in Beirut, encircling PLO forces inside city; Israeli tanks push NE of capital, move on Syrian positions; IDF seizes control of Baabda; Beirut radio says IDF, with Phalangist support, moves to coast north of Beirut; Israeli navy closes Beirut port; Sharon visits Beirut for meetings with Phalangist leaders.

PLO leaders tour camps, hospitals, troop positions in Beirut; fighting flares between IDF and Syrians near highway; Phalangist officers, dressed in Israeli uniforms, are seen giving directions to Israeli tanks.

Casualties:

Reports from Tyre indicate no buildings untouched by shrapnel (Israeli military governor estimates only 30 percent of buildings destroyed); Palestinian Red Crescent Hospital in Sidon reports many patients dismem-bered in fighting (only one doctor remains to tend 58 patients after Israelis arrest Canadian, Norwegian, Palestinian doctors); all Sidon men aged 17-55, required to report to IDF for permits, many are arrested after going to IDF headquarters; 90 busloads of Palestinians reportedly taken away for questioning; Lebanese police report 9,583 killed, 16,608 wounded since Israeli air raids began 11 days ago (dead in Beirut estimated at 750); Israel now controls about half of Lebanon; Nabatiyeh reported "sanitized" by IDF before foreign correspondents allowed in; Israelis report 170 Israelis killed, 700 wounded, 10 captured, and 6,000 Palestinian guerrillas and 60 Syrians held; UK embassy advises nationals to leave.

Political Responses:

Israel/Occupied Territories: Israeli Defense Minister Sharon says IDF has "no intention" of taking Beirut; General Eitan says IDF mission is to smash PLO's political and military nerve center; Begin leaves for the US; Israeli agencies plan relief for Lebanon.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO vows to stand and fight; Lebanese President Sarkis, meeting with 10 Cabinet ministers at Presidential Palace (Israeli tanks 200 metres away), calls for setting up a Council of National Salvation; 3 appointees to Council, however, refuse to attend; Habib delivers Israeli withdrawal terms to Sarkis, and US Ambassador Dillon sends limousine to fetch Walid Jumblatt; Jumblatt demands wider representation of Lebanese leftists on Council-other members are Gemayel (Maronite Phalangist), Berri (Shiite Amal), Maalouf (Catholic), Foreign Minister Butros (Greek Orthodox), Prime Minister Wazzan (Sunni), and Presi-dent Sarkis (Maronite); Christians in Baabda reportedly welcome Israelis, guide them; Bashir Gemayel reportedly pushed as future president of Lebanon (election of new Lebanese president by Parliament scheduled for late August); Haddad tours southern Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Egypt relays Palestinian request for cease-fire in Beirut area to Israel; Mubarak meets with Saudi King Fahd (first contact since 1973 peace treaty signed).