The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Fierce fighting between LNM militia and Lebanese Army along Green Line as final French contingent prepares to leave (during 4-hour battle French ammunition truck on way to port is hit); machine-gun fire, rocket-propelled grenades exchanged in Ras Nabeh area near recently reopened Sodeco crossing point; IDF jets destroy Syrian SAM-9 anti-aircraft missile site in Central Lebanon near Dahr al-Baydar as tension continues along Beirut-Damascus highway (third air strike in four days); guerrillas again attack IDF troops using rocket-propelled grenades in Bekaa; IDF background paper claims 98 Syrian/Palestinian cease-fire violations since July 23.

Casualties:

Fighting burns some buildings; 1 Lebanese Army soldier killed, 13 wounded, 2 civilians killed, several in LNM militia killed and wounded.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet warns Syria against violating cease-fire or war of attrition, says it will seek to prevent Arafat meeting with Pope; roads extended to new Jewish settlements near Nablus; 3 Najah University professors ordered deported after refusing to sign anti-PLO pledge.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat, in Algeria, reviews PLO fighters, plans to tour PLO camps in Syria, Tunisia, South Yemen, and Sudan; Prime Minister Wazzan goes on TV to urge backing for Army; Gemayel issues call for Christians and Muslims to work together.

US and Other Countries: Shultz, addressing United Jewish Appeal (UJA) fundraiser for Israel, urges Israel to remain "open" to Reagan peace initiative, reiterates US promise to not pressure Israel economically or militarily; Senator Arlen Specter (R.-Pa) visits Begin in Jerusalem after talks with Gemayel and Sarkis in Lebanon.

Military Action:

IDF jets, artillery attack Palestinian areas of West Beirut for second day (Fakhani and stadium areas, Burj al-Barajneh, Shatila, Ramlet el-Baida, Lailake, road into airport hit); Bekaa quiet (IDF rebuilding, resurfacing roads in area); two PLO attacks on IDF, one an ambush of soldiers near Bhamdoun, the other on military command center in Sidon (IDF, assisted by Phalangists, seals off city, sets curfew, searches vehicles and houses for guerrillas).

Casualties:

Salam says David Dodge (US educator kidnapped earlier in July) reportedly alive; WAFA says 56 killed, wounded in today's raids (estimates 182 casualties from IDF raids on West Beirut, Bekaa valley yesterday); civilians remain despite extensive damage in Fakhani (many buildings burn); IDF makes little effort at civil administration in the Bekaa, allowing Phalange to be in control; IDF continues blockade of West Beirut (despite some food getting through, doctors report rise in nutrition-related diseases).

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shamir says PLO does not want to leave Beirut, warns US of "grave danger" in tampering with UN Resolution 242; General Eliezer, in London, claims only 31,000 refugees have resulted from the Lebanese war (excluding Beirut), puts Arab deaths at 1,300 (including 1,000 "terrorists"); Eitan says Israel will not tolerate "war of attrition"; Israel plans to sell some of captured PLO weapons to Third World countries to offset the cost of the war; Begin signs agreement with the ultranationalist Tehiya Party (which opposes the Camp David Accords); 40 Palestinian women's societies in the occupied territories issue a statement demanding an end to the invasion, reaffirming their support for the PLO.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO denounces IDF raid as political act; PLO security actively seeking Dodge's release; PLO-Lebanese negotiations at a standstill while Habib tours Arab capitals; PLO spokesman says negotiations could be helped if US spoke directly to the PLO; Salam meets Wazzan, proposes timetable to make interim PLO withdrawals to other parts of Lebanon more acceptable; Bashir Gemayel, seeking support for his presidential bid, meets with Druze leader Arslan as slayings raise tensions between Phalange and Druze; Shiite Deputy Al-Zani released by Haddad forces; PLO representative in Paris slain by bomb (Abu Nidal and Jewish Armed Resistance both claim responsibility); Arslan meets with Israeli Druze leader Tarif, accompanied by Likud MK.

Arab Governments: Habib meets with Assad and Khaddam in Damascus (Syria reasserts view that focus of negotiations should be on achieving IDF withdrawal).

US and Other Countries: Weinberger cancels trip to California in concern over possible IDF invasion of Beirut; US officials reportedly see possibility of direct dealing with PLO if US forces sent to Beirut; Interior Secretary Watt's letter to Israeli Ambassador Arens, urging American Jews to support Administration energy policies to ensure US support for Israel, causes furor and is disavowed by White House.