The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Lebanese Army moves in force across Green Line into southern suburbs of Beirut for first time since PLO evacuation; bazookas fired at IDF positions in Bekaa as tensions rise between Syrian and IDF troops there (Israeli planes fly reconnaissance missions over valley); Lebanese Army hastily moves into Jnah (north of Bir Hassan) after Sharon indicates IDF may advance if militias not pulled back; IDF pull back from West Beirut positions after 4 days; PLO leader Abu Iyad reportedly tours eastern Bekaa, Baalbek, Tripoli.

Casualties:

1 of 8 captured IDF soldiers shown to journalists in Chtaura; following clash between Haddad and Phalange forces, IDF bans Phalange rally in Sidon after Phalange refused to support peace treaty with Israel.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shamir claims US favors Arabs, is no longer disinterested broker; Israel steps up pressure for pact with Lebanon (Sharon statement on need for "special status" for southern Lebanon criticized by Labor Party).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Bashir Gemayel seeks expanded armed force to control Lebanon, looks to US for funds and arms (issue reportedly raised last week during meeting with Weinberger); Wazzan asks US to press for IDF withdrawal from around city, says IDF violates Geneva Conventions by treatment of captives taken since June 6.

Arab Governments: Formula acceptable to Syria sought at Fez summit.

US and Other Countries: Weinberger, in London, denies US will apply sanctions to get Israeli agreement on plan; Pentagon readies team of weapons specialists to assess Lebanon's military needs; Reagan awards Habib with Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Military Action:

IDF jets attack in Bekaa (claims 3 Syrian SAM-8 batteries south of Chtaura, 1 F-4 destroyed; Syria claims IDF loses 24 tanks, 4 rocket launchers, admits it loses 16 tanks); jets also attack Palestinian targets in Beirut after mock air raids, reconnaissance flights (Fakhani, Bir Hassan, Ramlet el-Baida, Sabra, airport areas hit, 1 jet reportedly hit); shelling of airport, Burj al-Barajneh, Sabra, Shatila, as IDF warships shell Burj al-Chatila, as IDF wat ships shell Burj al-Barajneh and Ouazi (2 IDF armored cars, 1 tank, 1 mortar position reportedly knocked out) .

Casualties:

Four Syrian soldiers killed, 6 wounded in IDF raids; WAFA reports 51 wounded, killed in today's raids; Lebanese officials report 11 IDF soldiers killed in Wednesday's guerrilla attack in Sidon; PLO reports two IDF soldiers killed, four wounded last night near Sidon as halftrack hits landmine; 12 IDF casualties reported near Aley; IDF troops enter Karantina power station in East Beirut, turn off electricity to West Beirut at 11 PM (results in loss of all water to West Beirut as water pumps are halted; cutoff interrupts Bashir Gemayel TV address in which he nominates himself as Lebanese president); Sidon authorities begin bulldozing remains of Ain el-Hilweh (IDF disclaims any responsibility for plight of camps' refugees, refuses to allow tents to be brought in).

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet gives diplomatic process more time, is reportedly split over all-out attack on Beirut; Minister Yitzhak Moda'i says Israel rejects linking PLO-IDF withdrawals, accepts linking only Syrian-IDF withdrawals.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Bashir Gemayel nominates self as Lebanese president; PLO opposes withdrawal until safeguards arranged for 650,000 Palestinian civilians in Lebanon, acceptable host countries found, and Palestinian right to self-determination affirmed by US or UN; two-hour battle between Phalange and Druze flares in Aley (two killed; IDF separates forces); Sarkis and Cabinet hold emergency meeting to discuss IDF undermining of government authority in southern Lebanon using Haddad militia (Sarkis publicly condemns IDF occupation of southern Lebanon for first time); Wazzan says Lebanese government rejects proposals for interimpartial withdrawal of PLO from all of Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Syria threatens major response, with new weapons, if IDF continues attacks.

US and Other Countries: Habib meets Saudi leaders, then flies to Cairo; Habib's consultant status with Bechtel Corporation initiates call by Senator Pressler (R-SD) for him to resign (rejected strongly by White House); US AID says $850,000 in aid for American University Hospital to be flown to Cyprus for shipment.

UN: UN delays Security Council meeting sought by France, Egypt to discuss Lebanese situation.