Wednesday, July 20, 1983

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.