The Palestine Chronology

Casualties:

IDF releases 10 Syrians from Ansar camp for medical and humanitarian reasons.

Political Responses:

US and Other Countries: Asst. Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Veliotes leaves position to become ambassador to Egypt, will be replaced by present ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Military Action:

IDF reports that army engineering corps is building fortifications on 50 km. line along Awali river, constructing 40 km. of new roads, improving 50 km. of existing roads, redeployment cost estimated at $30 m.; IDF statistics show 263 attacks against IDF positions and personnel during 1983, with 32 killed and 180 wounded.

Casualties:

Christians from villages near Kfar Falus hold sit-in demonstrations at Phalange barracks, block IDF removal of militiamen.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: McFarlane meets Shamir and Arens, who reportedly reject Lebanese request that Israel publish timetable for complete withdrawal of IDF; Druze IDF captain resigns from army to protest treatment of Lebanese Druze, will form group to support demand for IDF expulsion of Phalangists from Chouf.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Central Council meets in Tunis.

Military Action:

IDF and Syrian Army exchange fire in Beqaa; heavy fighting between PLO factions, and between Lebanese Army and Palestinian forces of Col. Said Musa near Army's Baalbek base, Syrians intervene; IDF surrounds, occupies Phalangist barracks at Kfar Falus, east of Sidon, in effort to evict militiamen.

Casualties:

1 IDF officer killed by Syrian fire; 2 killed, 8 wounded in Baalbek fighting; Christian and Druze militias permit convoys of food and medicine to reach Chouf towns of Bhamdoun and Aley, blockaded for past 35 days; bombs explode in 5 shops selling Israeli goods in Ain al-Hilweh camp; IDF releases following statistics on effect of redeployment: it is withdrawing from 600 of 3,400 sq. km. it now holds, 200,000 of the 750,00 civilians in this total area will come under control of Beirut, IDF frontline will be reduced from 118 to 113 km; more than 100 Palestinian and Lebanese women at Prime Minister's office demand intervention to secure release of men presumably kidnapped by Phalangists at time of Sabra and Shatila massacre.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: 2 Birzeit students sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for participating in last week's demonstration over killing of Hebron students; IDF imposes curfew on Tulkarm-Nablus road after settlers wounded by shots near Anabta.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat asks OAU and Nonaligned Movement to intervene against Syrian and Libyan attacks on PLO; McFarlane meets Gemayel, then flies to Israel.

UN: US vetoes, Zaire abstains, 13 states support Security Council resolution that Israeli settlements in occupied lands have no legal validity and constitute major and serious obstruction to peace.

Military Action:

Rival militias exchange RPG and machine gun fire in Tripoli.

Casualties:

2 killed, 1 wounded in Tripoli.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Heavy fighting resumes between PLO factions around Taanayel, Saidnayel, and Fateh training camp near Baalbek.

Arab Governments: Celebrating Syria's Armed Forces Day, Assad says US cannot be fair mediator between any Arab party and Israel when it has been backing Israel's continuous aggression against the Arabs.

US and Other Countries: State Dept. acknowledges reports that Reagan is considering increasing US aid to Israel.

UN: 2nd UN Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination opens in Geneva, US and Israel boycott.

Military Action:

Palestinian guerrillas and unidentified gunmen exchange heavy weapons fire in Tripoli.

Casualties:

Parts of Tripoli's grain market set on fire during pre-dawn fighting.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: US special envoy McFarlane arrives in Beirut for 2 days of meetings with Lebanese officials.

US and Other Countries: Chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Beirut, meets Gemayel, Lebanese Army commander.

Casualties:

Reports range from 30 to 42 killed, more than 70 wounded in past 8 days of fighting between PLO factions in Beqaa.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Cease-fire between PLO factions breaks down, fighting continues near Shtawra and Jdita; Arafat cables Arab heads of state asking for intervention to halt organic and political liquidation of PLO, says Syria and Libya have instigated the fighting

Military Action:

Rival militias occupy positions vacated yesterday by Syrian Army in Tripoli; rockets hit IDF position on Beirut-Damascus highway.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fighting continues between rival PLO factions in the area of Jdita; Phalangist militia calls an end to demonstrations in South Lebanon against IDF order to close bases, negotiations underway between IDF and Phalange in Beirut.

US and Other Countries: McFarlane leaves Washington on first regional tour as special envoy, will visit Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia; Weinberger meets Arens.

Military Action:

Heavy fighting between rival militias in Tripoli as Syrian troops pull back from 7 positions in the city.

Casualties:

Christian villages near Sidon and Nabatieh hold demonstrations to protest IDF order that 3 Phalangist barracks and offices in South Lebanon be closed, IDF says only Kfar Falus base affected, Phalangist forces refuse to remove bases; truck loaded with fresh fish from Israel blown up in Beirut.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens, in Washington, says IDF move in Lebanon is contingent on nothing except Israeli security interests, will occur in one step rather than phases.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Artillery, RPG and machine gun exchanges continue between rival PLO factions near Shtawra.

US and Other Countries: Reagan meets Shamir, Arens; Shultz describes IDF redeployment as step in direction of total withdrawal, not part of effort by Israel to stay in Lebanon; US officials say IDF pullback does not comply with actual provisions of Lebanese-Israeli agreement but it is being accepted as consistent with its spirit.

Political Responses:

Israell Occupied rerritories: Birzeit students protest attack on Islamic college, IDF responds with tear gas, rubber bullets, automatic weapons fire, 4 to 8 students reported wounded.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fateh rebels continue attacks on loyalist positions in Jdita.

US and Other Countries: Shultz reportedly tells Shamir and Arens US would like postponement of partial IDF withdrawal so that formula for withdrawal of all foreign forces can be found; US accepts Israeli position that no date will be set for second phase of IDF withdrawal.

Casualties:

3 IDF border police injured in Sidon attack.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Masked gunmen enter Islamic college in Hebron, kill 3, wound 33 students and teachers with automatic weapon fire, grenade; no suspects held in Hebron attack, editorials speculate that Jewish settlers responsible; 1 woman killed, another wounded when settlers open fire in Nablus; curfews imposed on Hebron, Halhoul, Nablus.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fighting between PLO factions continues in and around Jdita, 14 persons reportedly killed, 20 houses destroyed.

US and Other Countries: Shultz meets Shamir and Arens.

Military Action:

2 rockets land near IDF HQin Sidon; IDF checkpoint at Damour comes under fire from gunmen in car.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens and Shamir travel to Washington at Reagan's invitation for 3 days of talks.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat travels to Saudi Arabia for meeting with King Fahd; rival PLO units engage in artillery and RPG battles near villages of Taanayel and Jdita, loyalists reportedly hold positions; Gemayel meets Mitterrand in Paris, calls for UN plebiscite in Syrian and IDF held areas.

Military Action:

Fighting continues overnight in Chouf, as cease-fire breaks down.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens tells Cabinet he is not inclined to allow any more political demonstrations in Hebron.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Central Committee calls for emergency meeting of Palestine Central Council; Arafat meets French foreign minister; July 2 cease-fire broken as Fateh rebel units attack 3 loyalist positions near Shtawra, casualties estimated at 2-5 killed, 9-14 wounded.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Jumblatt announces formation of National Salvation Front led by himself, Franjieh and Karami, with support of Amal leader Nabih Berri, to administer areas in northern and eastern Lebanon.

Military Action:

Druze forces attack Beirut airport, Lebanese Army positions, with rockets and artillery; remote-controlled bomb explodes near IDF patrol in Aley.

Casualties:

22 killed, 65 wounded, including 3 US military personnel, in Beirut shelling; cumulative statistics on Chouf fighting in past year show more than 420 killed, 600 wounded, 700 kidnapped or detained; 11 IDF soldiers wounded in Aley explosion.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: 2 IDF reservists court martialled for refusing to serve in Lebanon, total now 72.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Executive Committee begins 2 days of meetings in Tunis.

US and Other Countries: Reagan meets Gemayel, says US is committed to full withdrawal of all foreign forces; Deputy National Security Affairs Adviser Robert McFarlane replaces Habib as special envoy to Middle East, Draper also replaced

Military Action:

Syrian anti-aircraft downs Israeli RPV over eastern Beqaa, IDF denies report.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fateh Central Council reportedly has dismissed 2 military commanders criticized for behavior during Lebanon invasion, appointed 5-member command for PLO forces in Lebanon.

US and Other Countries: Shultz meets Gemayel and Wazzan; White House announces that David Dodge, acting president of AUB, has been freed with help of Syria after being kidnapped in Beirut in July 1982.

Military Action:

2 Katyushas fired from Lebanon into western Galilee area of northern Israel.

Casualties:

6 killed, at least 15 wounded (including commander of Italian contingent of MNF) when car bomb explodes outside West Beirut Summerland hotel; 3 killed, 24 wounded in East Beirut; 1 prisoner at Ansar camp killed, 2 wounded when IDF opens fire on protest demonstration; tractor hit and field set afire by rockets in Galilee.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet gives unanimous approval to plans for withdrawing IDF from Beirut suburbs and Chouf mountains and redeploying along Awali river, no withdrawal on eastern front.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel and Prime Minister Wazzan, meeting congressional leaders in Washington, oppose IDF redeployment.

US and Other Countries: US says Israel makes its own decisions, partial withdrawal of IDF should be within the framework of full withdrawal of all foreign forces; potential financiers of Lebanon's reconstruction begin 2-day meeting in Paris under World Bank auspices.

Military Action:

Christian suburbs north of Beirut fired on from Syrian-controlled mountains; Syrian Army position attacked in Tripoli; fighting continues in Chouf.

Casualties:

1 Syrian soldier wounded in Tripoli; dozens of marked and unmarked graves, used by IDF to bury bodies of Palestinians, Lebanese and Syrians killed in Lebanon, discovered in northern Galilee, IDF denies it is mass grave site.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin, citing personal reasons, postpones visit to Washington scheduled for July 26-29; leaders of Druze community in Israel ask government to remove Phalangist militia from Chouf before IDF withdraws, say they fear massacres.

US and Other Countries: Gemayel arrives in Washington for 3 days of official meetings.

Casualties:

2 killed, 3 wounded in West Beirut shootout between Amal militia and gunmen firing at restaurant from passing car; guard in Baath party office in Tripoli killed when shell hits building.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel in France en route to US, meets with King Hussein in Nice.

UN: Security Council extends mandate of UNIFIL peacekeeping force in South Lebanon to October 19.

Military Action:

Heavy artillery and rocket exchanges between Christian and Druse militias, shells fall on beaches north of Beirut.

Casualties:

7 IDF soldiers wounded in attack on APC; IDF shoots, kills 2 passengers in car that fails to heed roadblock south of Beirut, military commission appointed to inquire into incident.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Bank of Israel statistics show foreign debt has reached record $21 b., highest per capita in the world; 200 armed settlers hold rally in Hebron, call for Jewish settlement in center of all Arab towns.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat returns to Tunis from 3-day visit to Iraq, meets Cubans on mediating mission between Syria and Fateh.

Military Action:

Artillery duels between Christian and Druse militias continue in Chouf, shells fall in Beirut suburbs; Lebanese Army surrounds Wadi Abu Jamil quarter in West Beirut where yesterday's fighting occurred.

Casualties:

General strike by Shi'ite Muslims to protest yesterday's actions by Lebanese Army closes shops in Beirut, shuts down Tyre, Baalbek and many villages; 1 man killed in Tyre when IDF fires warning shots to disperse demonstration; 13 wounded in Chouf.

Political Responses:

US and Other Countries: Shultz meets with Lebanese foreign minister to discuss new diplomatic initiatives on troop withdrawal, further meetings scheduled next week in advance of Gemayel visit.

Military Action:

Shi'ite refugees in West Beirut resist eviction from building by police, Lebanese Army units called in, battle with Muslim militiamen through day in most serious fighting in Beirut since September/ October; militia unit in South Lebanon fires on Irish UNIFIL position.

Casualties:

2 Lebanese soldiers killed, 10 wounded, 3 militiamen killed, 11 civilians wounded, at least 70 arrested in West Beirut fighting; 8 journalists arrested by Army while covering Beirut fighting, 3 say they were physically abused; ICRC visits 6 Israeli prisoners held by Fateh, reports they are in good spirits and physical condition.

Military Action:

Druze residents of Aley resist Lebanese Army patrol on reconnaissance mission.

Casualties:

2 Druze killed by army vehicle, 4 Druze, 14 Lebanese soldiers wounded in Aley; 3 shops selling Israeli produce blown up in Nabatieh; IDF wounds civilian curfew breaker; US Marines report incidents of harassment during patrols of Shi'ite neighborhoods; Ansar prisoners begin hunger strike.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Labor Party leadership endorses proposal for 2-stage IDF withdrawal, an immediate pullback from Beirut and Chouf mountains, followed by complete withdrawal in 2-3 months, with Haddad and MNF forces occupying security strip.

UN: Secretary-General tells Security Council that recruitment and arming of village militias by IDF poses major problem for UNIFIL.

Military Action:

IDF Chief of Staff confirms that first stage of pullback will be to Awali river; IDF plans to double number of village militias in South Lebanon from 50 to 100.

Casualties:

IDF commander in Tyre says policy of large-scale detentions has proved its efficiency and will continue; Israeli High Court refuses POW status to Ansar prisoners, rules that Geneva Convention on treatment of populations in occupied territory does apply; curfew lifted on 2 South Lebanon villages.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens says restoration of Hebron Jewish quarter will be like that undertaken in Old City of Jerusalem after 1967.

Military Action:

Rockets fired at IDF position near Tyre; bomb explodes as IDF convoy nears Aley.

Casualties:

2 South Lebanon villages remain under curfew as IDF and Haddad militia search for guerrillas responsible for Monday's ambush.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens and senior IDF officers visit Chouf to consider redeployment positions; new figures show Israel's foreign trade deficit rose by 40To during first half of 1983 to $1.7 b., Treasury speeds up devaluation of shekel, drops 0.8% in one day.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO political department head Kaddoumi meets Soviet foreign minister in Moscow.

Military Action:

Land mine explodes as IDF convoy crosses bridge over Hasbani River in southeastern Lebanon; Druze and Christian militias exchange artillery and rocket fire north of Beirut.

Casualties:

2 IDF soldiers killed, 16 wounded in mine explosion; 3 civilians killed, 5 wounded by artillery shelling in towns north of Beirut.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Jumblatt says Druze militia will fight Lebanese Army endlessly if it moves into Chouf when IDF withdraws.

US and Other Countries: French Defense Ministry reportedly agrees to add 3,000 soldiers to its MNF contingent of 2,000.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet endorses dismissal of Hebron Mayor Natshe, will not allow formation of settler militias, decides to implement plan to restore old Jewish quarter, placing 500 Jewish families in central Hebron within 3 years.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO mediators say Arafat wants PFLP to appoint head of PLO forces in Lebanon, Fateh rebels propose Abu Musa.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO mediation team meets Syrian foreign minister, no progress toward reconciliation reported; Arafat's personal secretary in Damascus reportedly arrested by Syrian police.

Arab Governments: Syria announces it wants to cooperate with US, is ready for discussions and negotiations on Lebanon withdrawal; Syrian paper Tishrin calls Arafat a traitor, openly supports Fateh rebels.

Military Action:

IDF hands over checkpoint at Monteverde, east of Beirut, to Lebanese Army; anti-aircraft missile fired at IDF transport plane preparing for takeoff near Damour.

Casualties:

IDF disperses women demonstrating near Sidon for release of detainees at Ansar.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Soldiers and police fire bullets, tear gas, to break up demonstration near Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, 40 arrested; Arens says cycle of violence on West Bank is initiated generally by some elements of the Arab population, refuses requests from 40 leading West Bank and Gaza Palestinians for permission to travel to Tunis to convey support for Arafat; Shlomo Argov, Israeli ambassador to UK whose attempted assassination in 1982 was pretext for invasion, says the war was unjustified.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fateh rebels refuse Arafat's offer to withdraw PLO loyalist forces from Beqaa to Tripoli; Arafat says crisis in PLO serves Israel, has reduced attacks against IDF from one or two a day to 2 or 3 in past 15 days.

US and Other Countries: Shultz reports to Reagan on Middle East tour.

Military Action:

Assassination attempt on PM Wazzan.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shultz meets Begin, other Israeli officials, discusses consequences of IDF redeployment; Israeli official says redeployment is not withdrawal but entrenchment, IDF is willing to remain in Lebanon many years; Jewish religious student killed in Hebron, military government dismisses Acting Mayor Natshe and municipal council, curfew imposed, settlers ransack and burn market stalls and several stores in Hebron central market, 1 Arab killed; 2 Arabs sentenced to life imprisonment, 4 others jailed 7 to 18 years for murder of Jewish settler last year at Herodion; Jewish vigilante sentenced to 39 months imprisonment for shooting at car driven by Arab near Hebron.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO mediating team returns to Damascus.

US and Other Countries: Shultz ends Middle East visit with stops in Amman and Cairo, says he can't point to any substantive achievement, would not want to try to sell proposal to Congress that US troops with MNF take over positions abandoned by IDF redeployment.

Casualties:

IDF officer killed in eastern Lebanon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Cabinet meets in special session with Army general staff to discuss redeployment; Hebron settlers threaten to take law into their own hands.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fateh Central Committee announces new appointments to leadership positions, changes in administrative structure, appointment of committees to monitor expenditure, conduct; PLO delegation travels form Damascus to Tunis, meets with Arafat.

Arab Governments: Assad meets Shultz in Damascus, affirms Syrian opposition to Lebanese-Israeli agreement; US and Syria agree to continue dialogue through working forum on question of Lebanese sovereignty and independence.

US and Other Countries: Shultz says he sees no prospect for immediate mutual withdrawal of forces from Lebanon.

Military Action:

Katyusha rocket fired in direction of Israel from Beaufort Castle area explodes near Lebanese border village of Klea.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli officials announce IDF will undertake staged pullback to more secure positions in Lebanon.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO delegation in Damascus ends first round of talks with rebels, claims some progress; Abu Musa says in interview that rebels are committed to PLO national charter, no reconciliation, no recognition, no negotiation with Israel, and a Palestinian state in the whole of Palestine; Lebanese officials meet Shultz, oppose IDF redeployment as first step toward partition.

Casualties:

2 PLO officials and director of Palestine Research Center expelled from Lebanon.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fateh rebels agree on cease-fire with PLO delegation.

Arab Governments: Shultz arrives in Saudi Arabia from Pakistan at start of Middle East diplomatic circuit.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO delegation meets Syrian foreign minister, Fateh rebels; Habib returns to Beirut.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Fighting resumes between PLO factions in Beqaa valley, Lebanese officials report 6 killed, 10 wounded; 6-member delegation of PLO Executive Committee travels from Tunis to Damascus; Fateh Central Committee meets in Tunis.

US and Other Countries: Reagan orders Shultz, completing visit to Southeast Asia, to return to Middle East

Military Action:

IDF roadblock fired on east of Beirut; light arms fire at IDF patrol from Syrian-controlled territory in Beqaa.

Casualties:

Kidnappings, arson, and cutting of water and electricity supplies continue in Chouf region.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Grenade damages IDF jeep in Hebron, central area of city closed; Begin, other officials meet Habib, reportedly reject setting a deadline for unilateral IDF withdrawal; declassified Foreign Ministry files detail relations between Israel and Lebanese Phalangists during 1948-51 period.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Executive Committee calls for cease-fire between rival factions, sends mediation team to Syria.

Arab Governments: Joint Saudi-Algerian delegation leaves Damascus.