Hours after IDF lifts curfew in area, 5 Phalange killed in Druze village of Aitat, raising fears of renewed communal strife in C.houf; IDF forces move into village to...
IDF begins pulling out troops from West Beirut under mounting world pressure; thousands of Palestinians flee camps in panic, fearing return of Phalange/Haddad militias to...
PLO forces continue evacuation (IDF initially blocks departure with warships, claiming shipping of PLO jeeps violates accord); 265 PLO fighters arrive in Jordan (other...
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Military Action:
Tripoli fighting continues; heavy artillery exchanges in Chouf.
Casualties: 5 killed, 10 wounded in Tripoli, including 4 dead from artillery shell in Palestinian refugee camp.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Government seeks to patch up rift with US on eve of Habib's return to Israel; Sharon says Israel insists on direct negotiations with Lebanese authorities concerning withdrawal; Sharon says Israel does not intend to annex West Bank but would retain security responsibilities for at least next 50 years, vows there will never be a Palestinian state; Village League leader Duddin claims US acts against Palestinians wishing to negotiate with Israel.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO and Jordanians announce agreement on "special and distinctive relationship" between Jordan and future Palestinian entity; PLO reportedly divided over federation proposals.
Arab Governments: Jordan reportedly concerned that time is running out for Middle East settlement, looks to US pressure on Israel to halt settlements on West Bank; Mubarak and West German leader Hans Kohl join in calling for talks based on the Reagan peace plan.
Military Action:
Lebanon formally asks three nations to send more troops.
Casualties:
IDF soldier dies of wounds from Tyre building collapse; Wazzan promises to investigate raid on Palestinian-run hospital, says it won't happen again (drugs taken now estimated at $500-650,000 in value).
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Palestinian survivors of massacre testify before Commission; Shamir, accompanied by high-ranking officers and industrialists, arrives in Zaire in first official visit to Black Africa since 1973 war; Defense Ministry senior adviser Tamir to present Mobutu with overall strategic plan for Zaire drafted by Israelis at Zaire's request; Labor and Likud Knesset members criticize Cabinet approval of IS 16.5 b. supplementary budget (9.3 b. to help pay for Lebanon war); protests in West Bank on 35th anniversary of UN partition resolution, Israeli policeman injured by stones in Ramallah after reinforced security forces try to restore order, curfew imposed on Deheisha refugee camp and Nablus market, tear gas fired to disperse crowds, schools close early; pro-PLO nationalist slate ousts Moslem Brothers in student elections at al-Najah University in Nablus; about 100 foreign lecturers teaching at West Bank universities decide to continue to refuse to sign anti-PLO pledge in new permit form; head of Village Leagues Duddin meets Sharon before both travel to US on separate visits.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanon's military prosecutor-general orders arrest of nine, including Hussein Mussawi, pro-Iranian leader of Baalbek's Shiites, accused of Islamic raids in Baalbek nine days ago; Wazzan, after meeting with Gemayel, urges US to increase pressures on Israel to withdraw.
Arab Governments: Mubarak and Habib issue joint statement calling for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, urging Jordanian and Palestinian inclusion in Mideast peace talks; Habib leaves for Morocco for talks with King Hassan and Saudi King Fahd; Egyptian Foreign Minister Hassan Ali says US sent message to PLO through Cairo saying PLO recognition of Israel would enable US to deal with PLO; semi-official al-Ahram criticizes PLO rejection of Reagan plan.
US and Other Countries: US State Department asserts PLO Central Council did not reject Reagan plan.
Military Action:
Hours after IDF lifts curfew in area, 5 Phalange killed in Druze village of Aitat, raising fears of renewed communal strife in C.houf; IDF forces move into village to prevent retaliation from Phalange based at Souk al-Gharb.
Casualties:
6 IDF soldiers held by PLO, in interview at Chtaura, say treatment good.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Over 200 Israeli academics sign petition to end anti-PLO pledge requirement for West Bank; 3 Palestinian residents of Nazareth sentenced to jail for participating in "illegal demonstrations" following September massacre; Israeli authorities order Palestinian to demolish 2 rooms of house in Kalandia refugee camp for lack of permit, despite lack of court decision in case.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel meets with Habib on troop withdrawal talk prospects, says Lebanon has rejected Israeli conditions of permanent military outpost on Baruk mountain, free trade, quasi-diplomatic missions, right to patrol Lebanese airspace and territorial waters; government officials and Jumblatt indicate they will seek Habib's involvement in Chouf crisis; Arafat arrives in Algeria at head of military delegation, confers with Algerian President Chadli.
Arab Govemnments: Assad, in speech marking 12th anniversary of coming to power in Syria, strongly attacks US policy in the Mideast and criticizes Reagan peace plan as seeking "capitulatory negotiations" by Arab countries with Israel, reaffirms Syrian insistence on unconditional Israeli withdrawal, says Syria may not withdraw if it disapproves of conditions attached to IDF withdrawal.
Military Action:
IDF begins pulling out troops from West Beirut under mounting world pressure; thousands of Palestinians flee camps in panic, fearing return of Phalange/Haddad militias to camps following IDF withdrawal, before Lebanese Army can restore calm; Phalange and Haddad forces sighted setting up own roadblocks in West Beirut.
Casualties:
Red Cross continues to recover bodies, 130 recovered so far, no mass graves opened yet.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Controversy grows as media report government officials were aware that civilians were being killed in camps 36 hours before they intervened (denied by government officials); Haaretz, Davar, Jerusalem Post, Maariv call for ouster of Sharon and/or Begin, convening of national board of inquiry into Israeli complicity in massacre; Begin's office concedes Cabinet gave advance approval for IDF to allow Phalange/Haddad militias to enter camps last week; Israeli President Navon calls for independent inquiry into the massacre, Begin favors only investigating commission; National Religious Party joins Navon in pressuring Begin to allow a full investigation; Labor, Mapam, Shinui and Peace Now call for mass rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday; Palestinian leaders voice outrage at massacre; Palestinian youth throw stones at Israeli vehicles, set fire to tires in Ramallah and Nablus, police disperse crowds with tear gas and rubber bullets with no casualties; many stores close in protest, are forced open by Israeli soldiers; school openings in occupied territories postponed for two weeks; over 40 representatives of West Bank and Gaza refugees occupy UNRWA Jerusalem office to protest food ration cuts announced Sept. 1, UNRWA Employees' Union joins protest.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Palestine Central Council ends one-day meeting with statement condemning Israeli role in massacre, blaming Lebanese Army, US, France and Italy, and pledges to avenge killings; Camille Chamoun withdraws from race for Lebanese presidency as it becomes clear Amin Gemayel has votes to win.
Arab Governments: Egypt recalls ambassador to Israel but does not break diplomatic relations; Jordan's King Hussein accuses Israel of responsibility for massacre but urges positive Arab response to Reagan proposals, calls on PLO to join him to draw up federation plan along lines of Reagan proposal; emergency Arab League meeting in Tunis called at request of PLO delayed until tomorrow.
US and Other Counties: Reagan agrees to Lebanese request for return of US Marines, asks Israel to pull out of Beirut; Congress gives troubled support to decision, Weinberger doubts presence of Marines would have prevented massacre; several US Jewish leaders call for inquiry, demand that Israel cut all ties with Christian groups involved in massacre; USSR condemns Israel but blames US for "encouraging" Israel's "criminal aggression," proposes joint US-Soviet action to curb Israel; Indian Prime Minister Gandhi condemns massacre; 10-member European Community condemns massacre, demands Israeli withdrawal; Danish Foreign Minister meets with PLO leader Kaddoumi, says PLO must be associated with Middle East peace talks; Italian workers go on hour-long strike and attend rallies protesting massacre; Britain condemns massacre, demands Israeli withdrawal.
Military Action:
PLO forces continue evacuation (IDF initially blocks departure with warships, claiming shipping of PLO jeeps violates accord); 265 PLO fighters arrive in Jordan (other welcomed in Iraq); emotional scenes in port area as PLO fighters leave.
Casualties:
Electricity restored to West Beirut for first time in weeks.
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin commits Israel to take steps toward comprehensive Middle East peace within Camp David framework.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Muslim leaders continue to call for boycott of Monday elections, urge postponement.
Arab Governments: Egypt urges US to agree to Palestinian self-rule, asks stop to Jewish settlements in occupied territories.
US and Other Countries: Reagan reportedly says Jewish settlement of West Bank "not constructive," says long-term settlement essential.
