The Palestine Chronology

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:

IDF chief Eitan and northern commander Drori meet with Phalange commanders in Beirut at 3:30 AM; IDF invades major parts of West Beirut in 6-pronged thrust starting at 5:30 AM, hours after Gemayel death officially announced; IDF request that Lebanese Army enter Palestinian refugee camps to "purge" them of PLO guerrillas refused twice as Lebanese Army deployments disintegrate; LNM militias knock out 2 IDF tanks; 14 Israeli gunboats take up positions and shell Ramlet el-Baida; by evening, IDF force of tanks, APCs and infantry has penetrated 2.5 miles into West Beirut, surrounded camps and set up control points; Phalange symbols found painted on signs and buildings near camps.

Casualties:

West Beirut residents panic amidst shellings; Phalange estimates 26 dead, 60 wounded in bomb blast that killed Gemayel; 2 IDF killed, 42 wounded by LNM attack in West Beirut.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin, Sharon and Shamir meet in early morning, approve entry into West Beirut "to prevent bloodshed"; Israeli government states IDF advance taken to prevent anarchy after Gemayel's death; IDF command describes entry as a "police action"; Israeli radio claims Israelis assure Reagan of end to military moves in 24 hours; Peres calls for re-entry of multinational force into Beirut; Peace Now calls for IDF withdrawal from Lebanon; Draper holds talks with Begin; Israel expresses "shock" at Pope receiving Arafat, condemns meeting.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: West Beirut Muslim leaders meet in emergency session at Salam's home, appeal urgently to Reagan and Fahd to "curb the Israeli invasion of our capital"; Lebanese of diverse factions pay respects to Gemayel family.

Arab Governments: Egypt rejects Reagan plan for "self-governing" Palestinian entity federated with Jordan, insists on IDF pullback from Beirut as precondition for continuing autonomy talks.

US and Other Countries: Arafat meets Pope at Vatican following lunch with Italian President Pertini and an address to international Inter-Parliamentary Union (membership from 98 countries).

Military Action:

Eight IDF soldiers captured by Syrians near Bhamdoun (IDF claims their capture is breach of cease-fire, asks US and ICRC to intercede for their release); clash between Syrian and IDF soldiers near Hadet el-jebbe northeast of Beirut.

Casualties:

Three IDF, one Syrian soldier killed in clash; US, Israeli officials confer on reopening Beirut airport (Lebanese reject Israeli presence there as mockery of government control); Lebanese security forces occupy two buildings formerly held by PLO; Murabitun relinquish more outposts; thousands of West Beirut residents return to find looted, damaged homes, thousands still displaced in South Lebanon or the Bekaa (150,000 estimated to have fled West Beirut during war).

Political Responses:

lsrael/ Occupied Territories: Following Begin's letter of protest to Reagan, Israel allocates $18.5 m. to build 3 new settlements on West Bank, announces approval for 7 more (9 of 10 to be located near Hebron); Shamir meets Draper on further withdrawals from Lebanon; Mayor Freij calls on Arab leaders to support Reagan plan, bring Egypt back into fold.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO says it will continue to study Reagan plan; Saeb Salam calls US offer of $95 m. to rebuild Lebanon "chickenfeed," says Israel should pay reparations.

Arab Governments: Assad confers with Kings of Jordan, Morocco and Saudi Arabia on Reagan plan and possible joint Arab proposal; Arab leaders gather for Fez summit.

US and Other Countries: Shultz says any Palestinian homeland must be "totally demilitarized," calls settlements "unwelcome development"; Reagan Administration strongly condemns Israeli plan for more settlements; Reagan responds to letter from Bethlehem Mayor Freij.

Military Action:

First PLO units to be evacuated to Syria publicly welcomed in Tartus (Israeli claim that overland evacuation "postponed" at Syrian request denied in Damascus); IDF tanks head north from Beirut; PLO, Syrians fortify positions in Bekaa; two PLO groups leave Beirut for Syria, Sudan following massive public farewells (PLO overland evacuation to Syria postponed again, for "technical reasons"); Sharon allows Syrians to send trucks to remove heavy vehicles from Beirut; US Marines land at Beirut and US officer meets with PLO leadership to discuss guarding port area; IDF forces "thinned" near Beirut.

Casualties: 1 IDF soldier dies after being shot by sniper in Galerie Semaan (333rd IDF soldier killed); mine kills 4 Lebanese villagers near Jouayeh; Bekaa front quiet; 9 civilians killed, 27 wounded accidentally in farewell fusillades by LNM forces.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Temritories: Sharon meets with West Bank Village League heads concerning their participation in "autonomy" talks (later states opposition to Palestinian state because "it already exists" in Jordan); grenade hurled at IDF vehicle in Gaza Strip (fourth such incident in Occupied Territories in one week); Union of Palestinian Women's Committees from West Bank visit Palestinian and Lebanese victims of Israeli invasion in Haifa hospitals; Begin calls for resumption of autonomy talks with Egypt, claims "war" with PLO in West Beirut over; government announces 7 more settlements planned for West Bank, Golan Heights; Sharon says he expects Lebanon to sign peace treaty with Israel; Peres calls for establishment of commission of inquiry to examine government conduct of Lebanese war.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Opposition to Gemayel presidency among Lebanese Muslims remains strong.

Arab Govemments: Syria warns Gemayel against signing peace treaty with Israel; Saudi Prince Saud meets Assad in Damascus (Saudis reportedly involved in negotiations with US on withdrawal of forces from Lebanon); Saudi King Fahd donates $500 m. to repair damage to Sidon.

US and Other Countries: Habib, in Tel Aviv, asks Sharon to allow French soldiers to safeguard section of Beirut-Damascus road during evacuation and to restrain Phalange attacks; 3 US congressmen meet Begin in Israel; Reagan assures Congress of Marines' noncombat role in Lebanon in notification required under War Powers Act.

Military Action:

IDF attacks West Beirut by land, sea, air as IDF armored units advance on Palestinian areas on southern edge of city (negotiations broght to standstill; PLO puts up fierce resistance; all of West Beirut under rocket, artillery attack; offices of Wazzan, Lebanese Ministry of Information, Al-Nahar news-paper, UPI hit; Bristol, Commodore hotels hit; IDF takes up new positions in Lebanese army barracks, close to Bir Hassan-Kuwait Embassy junction; IDF tries to enter Sabra Shatila camps; IDF advances only 300-500 yards near Museum crossing); PLO fires on IDF forces backed up in East Beirut, shelling Ashrafiya, Yarze and Baabda areas.

Casualties:

Casualties estimated in hundreds, 80 percent civilian (American University Hospital alone receives 55 dead, 200 wounded; Beirut radio reports 300 killed, 670 wounded); fires rage throughout town; IDF maintains tight blockade; streets of East Beirut deserted; Islamic Asylum hit for third time; rescue capabilities deteriorate as fuel in short supply; only 80 firemen remain working (many casualties left to die in rubble); 19 IDF soldiers killed; 50 killed in East Beirut.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Begin tells 190 United Jewish Appeal contributors war will end soon because PLO cannot hold out., angrily attacks reported Percy statement asking Reagan to "bring Israel to its knees."

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Sarkis accuses Habib of stalling to allow IDF time to finish off PLO; volunteers in thousands flock to fight with PLO (most in eastern Lebanon).

Arab Govemments: Egyptian Ambassador to Israel called home "for consultations"; Egypt may not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel if IDF makes full-scale attack on Beirut.

Political Responses:

US and Other Countries: Reagan cables strong protest to Begin, saying attacks undermine Habib efforts (White House issues statement emphasizing necessity of re-establishing cease-fire); US discusses possible sanctions against Israel for first time in crisis management group and at session of National Security Council; France protests to IDF regarding attacks on embassy.

UN: Security Council draft resolution proposed by Spain, Jordan revised after US objections but still expected to be vetoed; Egypt, at UN, warns that Israeli actions threaten Camp David Accords.