The Palestine Chronology

Military Action:

Bomb explodes as IDF vehicle passes in Beirut suburb of Baabda; IDF vehicle detonates mine near Ein Zahlata; IDF tank hits mine in Bekaa region.

Casualties:

6 IDF soldiers wounded in Baabda attack, 3 in Ein Zahlata; Lebanese police report 3 Palestinians killed in two attacks on IDF positions in South Lebanon; stray machine gun fire by IDF penetrates US Marine base after Baabda attack, no injuries; UNRWA officials report escalation in attacks on Palestinians in Sidon, said to coincide with arrival there of Phalange officer Elie Hobeika, armed and masked men of Guardians of Cedars threatening Palestinians, 4 killed, 2 wounded since April 28.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Shultz returns to Jerusalem, meets with Begin, Shamir, Arens; Begin says he will call Cabinet meeting to decide on draft troop withdrawal agreement; Ministry of Absorption reports that only 11 of the 114 Jews leaving the Soviet Union last month came to Israel; Elon Moreh settlers fire on Nablus youths when stones are thrown at their car, 13 students arrested, school closed; window of Israeli truck broken by stones near Kalandia camp; 400 students hold sit-in demonstration at Tireh UNRWA Training Center.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: President Gemayel says the danger of signing an agreement with Israel without obtaining the withdrawal of Syria, the PLO and some Iranians is that Israel will not withdraw and the agreement will have no value; PLO seeks guarantees for security of Palestinians in Lebanon as precondition for withdrawal of PLO forces, Saudi information minister to intervene with Lebanese officials this week on issues of murders of Palestinians, threats to refugees, bombings of shops, expulsions, detention, attacks by Lebanese Army on Palestinian women crossing into East Lebanon to visit husbands and fathers with PLO forces.

Arab Governments: Jordan considering limitations on export of West Bank produce to East Bank, restrictions on entry of West Bank students to University of Jordan, holding of elections on East Bank only.

US and Other Countries: Shultz continues talks in Beirut, then returns to Jerusalem; Reagan says PLO council was never elected by the Palestinian people, referendum on alternative leadership might not be practical; French foreign minister meets PLO official, asks PLO to cancel UN conference on Palestine scheduled for UNESCO's Paris headquarters in August.

Military Action:

IDF seals off Ein al-Hilweh camp near Sidon, detaining 70 Palestinians, after informer working for IDF ambushed; US Marines land M-60 tanks on beaches near airport after mine clearing activities completed.

Casualties:

1 US Marine killed, 3 wounded by US-made cluster bomb near airport; Beirut airport opens for first commercial flight since June 6; Israeli Minister of Economic Cooperation Dan Meridor says Israel may prepare Palestinian refugee camps in South Lebanon for winter if UNRWA doesn't act soon; although raw sewage and garbage remains in streets in some areas, roads are being repaved.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: "There is a Limit" group of anti-war reservists and soldiers call for IDF withdrawal from Lebanon and present a petition with 1,000 signatures which states "there is no military solution to the Palestinian problem"; Village League associate in Hebron attacked; heads of Israeli Druze community demand that IDF prevent Phalange assault on Lebanese Druze (claim 3 Druze abducted, new Phalange roadblocks in Druze villages set up since Gemayel assassination); Shamir addresses UN (will meet US Jewish leaders this week, travel to Chicago and Los Angeles before October 14 meeting with Shultz).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Amin Gemayel declares end to Green Line, in ceremony celebrating Beirut as reunified capital (traffic surges across line following ceremony); Lebanese police deny receiving complaints of IDF soldiers looting Lebanese houses; 100,000 Palestinians led by Arafat mourn Abu Walid.

Arab Governments: Habib meets with Egyptian Foreign Minister Hassin Ali, assures him agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon will be concluded within a couple weeks; Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam meets with Shultz in New York, explains Syrian withdrawal conditions.

US and Other Countries: Senator Percy says Marines need to be out of Lebanon within 90 days unless Congress approves an extension; White House denies US knew of massacre one day before Begin says he knew; Shultz, at UN, affirms heart of Reagan plan is Israeli return of occupied territories; British Labor Party says PLO represents Palestinian people; meeting of British, Israeli foreign ministers in New York ends with "basic disagreements"; West Germany, at UN, stresses its support for participation by all parties, including the PLO, in peace settlement; Simon Weisenthal, in Vienna, says those responsible for massacre were "las guilty as the Nazis" and should bear same punishment.

Military Action:

Israeli planes shower leaflets on Beirut warning people to "flee for their lives" and suggesting two escape routes (pandemonium in streets as people try to enter E. Beirut; Phalangists refuse to let Palestinians through their lines); Phalange reported openly cooperating with IDF; large IDF troop maneuvers along Beirut-Damascus highway; Israel dis-plays stockpile of weapons from PLO bases in Lebanon; Israeli Government acknowledges use of US-supplied cluster bombs in Lebanon; car bombings continue in Beirut; 700 IDF tanks, 1000 armored cars, 210 heavy artillery pieces surround Beirut; special IDF unit trained in street fighting arrives from Golan.

Casualties:

Three killed, 20 injured in explosion near Agence France Presse building in Beirut; French paper says 209 died and 153 were wounded in mountains; latest Lebanese police figures are 10,112 dead, 19,000 wounded (expected to be higher); foreign correspondents are still not allowed into Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp (near Sidon) and Rashidiyeh (near Tyre); less than half of Palestinian refugees remain in 3 Palestinian camps, few have anywhere to go.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet issues "peace plan" demanding that all PLO members, not just leadership, exit to Syria, urges Lebanese Army to enter West Beirut; government officials express some concern over George Shultz; Sharon denies Begin promised Reagan IDF would not invade Beirut; former IDF chief of staff Gur says past 2 weeks of fighting and Israeli deaths pointless; Labor Alignment demands that IDF not ente: Beirut (300 Labor doves demonstrate outside Prime Minister's office); group of army reservists, back from serving in Lebanon, announces round-the-clock protests; 20,000 protest the war in Tel Aviv; blood bank in Gaza sends blood to Sidon victims through Red Cross; 2 mukhtars from Nablus area fired by Israeli government for refusing to join Israeli-sponsored Village Leagues; Nablus Mayor Shakaa condemns US veto of French resolution at the UN.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel's Phalangists expand control in areas seized by IDF (re-ports of interrogations regarding political sympathies at gunpoint, beatings, even killings); hostility of villagers toward IDF in Bekaa area and mountains reported; Prime Minister Wazzan meets with Arafat; Arafat agrees in principle on PLO disarming and leaving Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Advisor to Mubarak says PLO will be radicalized; Saudi Arabia reportedly presses for IDF pullback; Syria reluctant to take PLO guerrillas, fearing Syria would become target for IDF raids; Tunis meeting of Arab foreign ministers reported as a fiasco (though ad hoc committee formed to pressure 5 permanent members of UN Security Council to demand IDF withdrawal).

US and Other Countries: US issues stern warning to Israel not to invade Beirut; Finnish medical therapist says IDF arrested bedridden patients in Sidon.

Military Action:

Israeli jets pound PLO, Syrians in big offensive, though truce reported later; Israeli tanks, planes begin large-scale offensive along Damascus highway (involves 200 tanks, heavy artillery, rocket launchers); Palestinian camps, residential areas bombarded in first Israeli jet action over Beirut in 9 days; Lebanese government says IDF about to cut high-way in several places as IDF gains 4-5 miles; Syrian tank losses heavy, but Syrian troops restrain responses in effort to contain fighting; "wall-to-wall" Israeli tanks reported south of Beirut; two Israeli troop buses come under fire south of Tyre; Israeli artillery continues through night; IDF closing in on Aley; 50 Syrian tanks move across Syrian border to reinforce units in Lebanon; PLO units return Israeli gunfire from Burj al-Barajneh; general military mobilization in Syria.

Casualties:

Lebanese police estimate 27 killed, 80 wounded in new IDF bombing of Beirut; Israeli demolition teams dynamite buildings in Rashidiyeh refugee camp as all males are rounded up in Tyre; remaining residents of Rashidiyeh without food or medical care as Tyre residents refuse to help them; no walls higher than a few feet left in Rashidiyeh; Israeli officials announce Palestinian refugees are being denied tents because they fear a "temporary" solution will become permanent; 200,000 Palestinian refugees are in southern Lebanon, mainly around Sidon and Tyre.

Mobile bank units offer IDF all services, including facilitating purchase/ sale of securities on Tel Aviv stock market.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israel agrees to new cease-fire after Habib request; divisions within Labor Party between doves, hawks sharpen; 150 demonstrate against invasion in front of Knesset and Peace Now sends telegram asking no extension of the war; Labor Alignment opposes all military penetration of Beirut; Begin defends invasion before 36 angry US Senators who question use of cluster bombs; Israel denies ABC use of satellite in Israel because it broadcast interview with Arafat; Begin meets Haig.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: National Salvation Council meets, makes some progress on plani including IDF withdrawal from Beirut, PLO withdrawal into camps, Lebanese Army posted inside city; highway reopening; possible use of French troops being discussed; PLO denounces USSR for only symbolic support; Jumblatt accuses Habib of "hot di-plomacy"; Phalangists state opposition to any Syrian presence in Lebanon and, for first time, allow unarmed non-Lebanese civilians to evacuate Beirut; Lebanese government tells UN and Arab League it will not renew mandate for Syrian troops after July 19.

US and Other Countries: US embassy advises all Americans to move to E. Beirut (ship due in Jounieh to evacuate Americans); UK, West Germany also advise nationals to leave; PM Thatcher rules out use of British troops in Lebanon; Greek Premier meets with PLO's Kaddoumi; Dutch parliament condemns Israeli invasion, 144-6; Norwegian leaders re-ject Israeli invitation to visit Lebanon.

UN: UNIFIL says it will concentrate on helping civilians.