The Palestine Chronology

The IDF expands Operation Summer Rains overnight, sending 50 tanks, troops back into n. Gaza in and around Gaza City, engaging in intense clashes with and conducting air strikes on Palestinian gunmen, leaving at least 7 Hamas mbrs., 5 Islamic Jihad mbrs., 9 civilians dead, at least 57 Palestinians wounded, bulldozing wide tracts of land. In at least 3 incidents in Jabaliya r.c., the IDF phones Hamas mbrs. warning them to evacuate their houses, then conducts air strikes destroying the homes. The IDF also closes the Qarni crossing. Palestinians fire 13 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, lightly injuring 1 Israeli in Sederot. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units in a car with Palestinian license plates into Kafr Qadim nr. Qalqilya, surrounds a home, evacuates and checks residents, demolishes the home, arrests 1 Palestinian, injures 1; bars a Palestinian heart attack victim fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a Qalqilya hospital, allowing him to die; patrols, searches cars in Yatta nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, and in al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Jenin, Nablus. In Rafah, a Palestinian is killed in an exchange of fire btwn. PA security forces, armed Palestinians. Israeli security sources reveal that Israeli-Canadian citizen Falah, arrested on 7/8 and held without access to a lawyer, was detained for photographing a military antenna nr. Ras al-Naqura, alleging that he was sent “to photograph and report where rockets have landed in Israel,” noting that he visited Beirut, Tehran within the last 2 yrs.; Falah, who was arrested before Hizballah’s 7/12 cross-border raid and the firing of rockets into Israel, said the photos were for academic purposes, he did not know the antenna was military, and his trips to Lebanon, Iran were public knowledge. (REU, NYT, WP 7/26; NYT, WP, WT 7/26; PCHR 7/27; OCHA 8/2; PCHR 8/3)

The IDF faces intense fighting in s. Lebanon, where some 100 Hizballah mbrs. ambush an elite IDF Golani Brigade unit in Bint Jubayl, pinning them down for 1 hr. under a heavy barrage of mortars, antitank rounds, RPGs, and small-arms fire before they could return fire, killing 8 IDF soldiers, wounding at least 22; the IDF estimates that it killed around 20 Hizballah mbrs. A 9th IDF soldier is killed, 5 are wounded by antitank fire in clashes nr. Maroun al-Ras. Meanwhile, the IDF continues air strikes nr. Beirut and in s. Lebanon, including hitting an Amal command center and the Hizballah headquarters in Tyre. In Anjar nr. the Syrian border, a truck carrying emergency food, medical supplies donated by the UAE (see 7/18) is hit, killing the Syrian driver. Hizballah fires around 150 rockets into Israel, striking Carmiel, Haifa, Jish, Safad, Tiberias. Israel allows 2 Jordanian military transports carrying humanitarian aid to land at Beirut airport, though it still will not provide safety guarantees for trucks transporting the supplies southward on the coastal highway or across the border fr. Syria, where relief goods for 20,000 people have been stockpiled. The UN moves 5 convoys of supplies (containing wheat, soap, diapers, water purification tablets, medical kits) to the south on 5 routes approved for one-time use by the IDF. (NYT, WP, WT 7/27)

Overnight, the IDF withdraws fr. alMaghazi r.c., leaving a total of 207 d. of land, 4 Palestinian homes demolished, 9 other homes partially demolished. Also in Gaza, the IDF fires a tank shell at a home in Gaza City, alleging that a Hamas mbr. on the roof was preparing to fire an RPG, killing a handicapped Palestinian on the roof, 3 relatives inside, wounding 2; shells areas nr. Khan Yunis and the Sufa crossing in the south and in n. Gaza, wounding at least 6 Palestinian civilians. In the West Bank, the IDF withdraws troops fr. Nablus, ending a 3-day operation; before leaving, troops blow up the main government offices (killing a Palestinian bystander), fire on stone-throwing Palestinians youths, wounding 21. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. (WP 7/21; NYT, PCHR 7/22; PCHR 7/27; B’Tselem 8/3)

The IDF calls up 3 battalions (several 1,000) additional reserves, positions troops and armor on the n. Israel border in preparation for “limited” ground operations to “mop up” Hizballah strongholds and weapons sites, continues pinpoint special forces operations inside s. Lebanon, urges residents to evacuate n. of the Litani River immediately (see 7/20; local officials estimate that 70% of the southern population has left). The U.S. approves Israel’s request to expedite delivery of precision-guided missiles (including at least 25, possibly 100, 5,000-lb GBU-28 bunker busters) to maintain the intensity of IDF air strikes. IDF artillery hits a UN observation post in Zarit, s. Lebanon, causing extensive damage but no injuries; makes air strikes on the Beirut–Damascus highway and several bridges, targeting empty passenger busses returning fr. Syria after evacuating foreigners; continues air strikes on Baalbek (killing at least 5 Lebanese civilians, wounding 20) and on s. Lebanon. At least 12 Lebanese are killed during the day. Hizballah fires 35–50 rockets into n. Israel, 10 of them hitting Haifa (injuring 3 Israelis) and others hitting Carmiel, Kiryat Shimona, Nahariya, Safad, Tiberias, and several n. Israeli villages. Hizballah acknowledges that 6 Hizballah mbrs. have been killed since 7/12, whereas Israel claims that around 100 have been killed. UN humanitarian relief coordinator Jan Egeland estimates that 500,000 Lebanese are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, but says that the UN cannot provide it without Israel, Lebanon guaranteeing safe corridors for movement of civilians and aid. Today, Israel allows 1 Greek ship carrying 22 tons of humanitarian goods to enter Beirut. (AP 7/21; NYT, WP, WT 7/22; NYT 8/11)

Overnight and during the day, the IDF continues to expand its presence in n. Gaza, entering populated areas for the 1st time since disengagement, meeting strong resistance fr. Palestinians, who use RPGs, rifles, roadside bombs and fire 8 rockets toward Israel (only 4 land inside Israel, causing no damage or injuries). The IDF uses air strikes, artillery, tanks, and gunfire as well as bulldozes fields, roads, and open areas to widen the n. Gaza buffer zone; the clashes, mostly concentrated in Bayt Lahiya but also in s. Gaza, leave at least 24 Palestinians (many reportedly Hamas mbrs., but also including at least 2 children), 1 IDF soldier (hit by friendly fire) dead and wound some 80 Palestinians (nearly a third of them children), 1 IDF soldier. The IDF also bulldozes areas around Khan Yunis, demolishing 3 Palestinian homes; opens Erez and Qarni crossings for several hrs. for the movement of international aid workers, humanitarian goods. Palestinian gunmen also fire on an al-Jazeera TV car in Bayt Hanun, believing it to be an IDF undercover unit, wounding the driver, 1 journalist. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into a memorial service in Jenin r.c. for an AMB mbr. killed on 7/5, attempts to assassinate the AMB’s n. West Bank cmdr. Zakariya Zubaydi and local Islamic Jihad leader Mahmud al-Sadi, fatally shooting 2 Palestinian teenagers, wounding 18; Sadi, Zubaydi escape. The IDF also raids an Islamic charity nr. Hebron; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Jerusalem; patrols in ‘Anabta nr. Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, nr. Hebron and Qalqilya; issues military orders confiscating 45 d. of land along settler bypass road 60 nr. Hebron for construction of a military base nr. the separation wall. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa set fire to a Palestinian home; the IDF prevents firefighters fr. reaching the area. Israeli police arrest 5 senior Hamas mbrs. in East Jerusalem for illegally helping Change and Reform PC mbrs. conduct Hamas affairs in the city. (IMEMC, OCHA, NYT, WT, YA 7/6; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT, YA 7/7; HA, NYT, WP 7/8; PCHR 7/13)

The IDF sends undercover units into Tulkarm in a car with Palestinian license plates to arrest a wanted Palestinian; later sends a 2d undercover unit into Tulkarm that is intercepted by PA security forces, withdraws after an exchange of fire, causing no injuries; sends undercover units into Jenin, who exchange fire with local gunmen, withdraw under IDF support, without making any arrests; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Jenin next to the separation wall; patrols in Tubas, firing on residential areas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, Tulkarm and in Aida r.c., al-Fara‘a r.c. (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops). In Rafah, at least 100 Fatah, Hamas gunmen clash, leaving 1 Hamas mbr. and 1 Palestinian bystander dead and 15 Palestinians wounded, with Hamas firing antitank weapons and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at the local PSF headquarters. (Hamas says that Fatah gunmen fired on a Hamas funeral procession, precipitating the clash, while Fatah says that Hamas mbrs. in the procession fired first on the PSF headquarters along the route.) Soon after, 100s of Fatah-dominated PA security forces and AMB mbrs. reacting to the Gaza violence rampage through Ramallah, raiding, firing on, vandalizing, setting fire to the PC building and the cabinet headquarters in a show of force against Hamas. Later, Fatah gunmen kidnap Change and Reform PC mbr. Khalil Rabei, set fire to his Ramallah office; Rabei is freed hrs. later at Abbas’s intervention; 7 other Change and Reform PC mbrs. take refuge in the Muqata‘a under Abbas’s protection. Abbas declares a state of emergency and curfew. Inside Israel, Israeli police arrest 7 Palestinians in Shafa ‘Amr suspected in the 8/4/05 killing of an IDF soldier who boarded a bus in the town and opened fire, killing 4 Palestinians before being beaten to death. In addition, unknown assailants vandalize the Orthodox Christian Church in Majdal nr. Nazareth; the recently refurbished church, which tends to a growing Russian Orthodox population, has been threatened on several occasions by local right-wing Jews. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/13; PCHR 6/15)

The IDF officially “suspends” Operation First Rain, which began on 9/24, to “see if the Palestinian Authority is willing and capable of taking advantage of the new situation.” PA security forces clash with Hamas mbrs. in Gaza City, with violence spreading to Shati‘ r.c., leaving 1 PA police officer, 2 Palestinian bystanders dead, at least 50 Palestinians wounded over several hrs. in the first intra-Palestinian fighting in Gaza since the Israeli withdrawal, sparked when PA security forces allegedly tried to arrest Muhammad Rantisi, Hamas activist and son of assassinated Hamas leader ‘Abd al- ‘Aziz Rantisi; during the clashes Hamas mbrs. fire RPGs at 2 PA police stations, PA police run out of ammunition. Separately, shots are fired at the Gaza City home of Hamas political leader Mahmud Zahhar, causing damage but no injuries. Late in the evening, the IDF launches arrest raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm and in and around Bethlehem, Hebron. Israeli border police report that over the previous 2 days they have arrested 1,200 Palestinians in Jerusalem for failing to have travel or work permits. (AFP, IMEMC, YA 10/2; REU, UPI, WP, WT 10/3; HA, REU, WT, XIN 10/4; PCHR 10/6; DS 10/8; MEI 10/12)

The Israeli FMin. adopts a new “national image management” strategy to improve Israel’s image abroad, “rebranding” it as “cool,” “hip,” “relevant and modern,” by downplaying religion and “avoiding any discussion of the conflict with the Palestinians.” (Forward 10/14)

The IDF bulldozes Palestinian land n. of Bayt Hanun, some 200 m. inside Gaza, as part of a plan (drafted before disengagement) to create a buffer zone controlled by the IDF along the n. Gaza border. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of Nablus; imposes a curfew on Budrus nr. Ramallah, patrolling streets, searching homes. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai throw stones, bottles, rotten vegetables at Palestinian homes in Hebron. In Gaza City, 10,000 Hamas supporters attend a military-style victory parade celebrating disengagement, displaying RPGs, rockets, assault rifles. Also in Gaza City, PA security forces and Hamas mbr. intervene to stop the kidnapping of 1 American, 1 Palestinian journalist by unknown militants. (JP, REU 9/18; AP, XIN 9/19; PCHR 9/22; HA 9/25)

A 5-day summit on Israeli-Palestinian issues opens in Israel attended by 17 mainline Protestant and Jewish officials. The summit, organized by American Jewish groups, is aimed at convincing Americans to halt steps toward divestment following a move a yr. ago by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to consider divesting church funds fr. 6 corporations undertaking activities that support the Israeli occupation. The World Council of Churches issued similar recommendations to its mbrs. in 2/05, followed by the United Church of Christ in 7/05, raising serious concerns in Israel and among U.S. Jewish groups. Evangelical Christian groups were not invited to these mtgs., as they are already considered solidly supportive of Israel. (WT 9/17)

A day after the IDF completes withdrawal fr. Gaza, Sharon, DM Mofaz separately vow that Israel will “make every effort to direct resources to the development” of West Bank settlement blocs. Meanwhile, Palestinians continue looting fmr. Gaza settlement sites for a 2d day, overwhelming PA security forces to strip some greenhouses. Egypt, daunted by the number of Palestinians seeking to cross the Rafah checkpoint, declares the border open for several days as a good-will gesture, allowing 1,000s on either side of the border to cross; many Palestinians rush to buy Egyptian goods (including food, medicine, sheep for the upcoming Ramadan holidays) that are dramatically cheaper than those in Gaza, and visit family and friends they have not seen in yrs. before the border is resealed. Israel criticizes the lax Egyptian, PA security; Egypt, the PA blame Israel for failing adequately to coordinate disengagement. Egyptian border guards patrolling the border find a smugglers tunnel containing 38 fire arms, 3 rocket propelled grenades (RPGs); the PA security forces seize the weapons. Palestinian militant groups hold larger rallies than on 9/12 (including 10,000s of Palestinians at a Hamas rally in Gaza City), celebrating the disengagement as a victory of the resistance; at Islamic Jihad rallies, mbrs. display their arms, but at Hamas rallies, mbrs. do not; Abbas warns that he will no longer tolerate the “chaos of weapons.” In the West Bank, the IDF occupies the top floor of a 4-story residential building nr. Hebron as an observation post, fires on stone-throwing youths who challenge the troops, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 4; demolishes a Palestinian home in ‘Issawiyya, East Jerusalem, nr. French Hill settlement. (HA, NYT, YA 9/13; AFP, IMEMC, Independent, NYT 9/14; PCHR 9/15)

Citing retaliation for the death of an Israeli woman on 7/14, the IDF launches overnight missile strikes on 4 sites in Gaza: a Hamas cultural center in n. Gaza, 2 sites Palestinians have used to launch rockets in s. Gaza, and a metal workshop (alleged weapons factory) in central Gaza; at least 2 Palestinians are injured. Later in the day, an IDF drone fires a missile at a car driving in Gaza City, assassinating 4 Hamas mbrs. (Sabir Abu Assi, ‘Assim Abu Ras, Amjad Arafat, ‘Adil Haniyeh), wounding more than 12 bystanders; an IDF helicopter and ground troops fire 3 missiles at a car driving in Salfit, assassinating 3 wanted Hamas mbrs. (Muhammad Ayyash, Samir Dawahqa, Muhammad Mar’ai); an IDF helicopter fires at 3 Palestinians firing mortars at Gush Katif, injuring them. In clashes in Salfit after the assassinations, the IDF fatally shoots a stone-throwing Palestinian teenager. The Israeli strikes mark the definitive end of the 2/8 cease-fire; Hamas announces that it is considering massive retaliation. Israel blames Abbas for failing to crack down on militant groups. The IDF also continues operations in and around Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus. Overnight, PA police searching for Hamas gunmen clash again with Hamas mbrs., this time in Gaza City, leaving 2 Palestinian children dead; during the clash, Hamas mbrs. destroy a PA armored personnel carrier with rocket-propelled grenades, burn a police station and a PA office building; Hamas, Fatah quickly convene an emergency mtg. to defuse tensions. Palestinians fire a barrage of at least 19 rockets and 10s of mortars at Neve Dekalim, lightly injuring 2 settlers, damaging 5 houses; 1 shell hits an industrial zone in the Negev, sparking a fire. A Jewish settler seriously injures a Palestinian teenager in a hit-and-run incident in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai throw stones, bottles at Palestinian homes in Hebron and at a Palestinian teenager, lightly injuring him. An Israeli court sentences an East Jerusalem Palestinian to 5 mos. in jail for joining Force 17 in 2000, calling it a “severe crime”; says at least 80 “Jerusalem Arabs” have been indicted on similar charges since 9/00. (IMEMC, JTA, NYT, UNIS, WP, YA 7/15; VOI 7/15 in WNC 7/15; Interfax, ITARTASS, JP, MENA, VOI, VOP, XIN 7/15 in WNC 7/16; HA, IMEMC, NYT, PRCS, REU, WP, WT, YA 7/16; VOP 7/16 in WNC 7/17; HA 7/17; OCHA, PR 7/20; PCHR 7/21)

In disputed circumstances, the IDF fires 2 missiles at Hamas mbrs. reportedly driving a car transporting a rocket launcher in Khan Yunis, but the Hamas mbrs. escape unharmed; around the same time Hamas mbrs. fire 9 mortars, 1 Qassam rocket at nearby IDF targets and settlements, damaging a bus, lightly wounding 2 IDF soldiers; The IDF says it retaliated against the Hamas mbrs., who attacked 1st; Hamas says the IDF targeted its mbrs. 1st, and they responded. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Gaza’s al-Mawasi area and nr. Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm. A Palestinian teenager stabs, wounds an Israeli policeman in West Jerusalem, is arrested. Jewish settlers set fire to a Palestinian store in Hebron. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 6/7 in Khan Yunis. (PRCS 6/8; AFP, VOI, VOP, XIN 6/8 in WNC 6/9; NYT, PCHR, WT 6/9; OCHA, PR 6/15; PCHR 6/16)

The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian with a hearing problem who fails orders to halt nr. Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs; fires on a Palestinian vehicle that passes an IDF post nr. Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian; tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement around Bayt Jala nr. Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Nablus. A Palestinian is killed in Khan Yunis when the rocket-propelled grenade he launches toward a Jewish settlement misfires. Nr. Gaza City, 2 AMB mbrs. are killed, 3 (including at least 1 Hamas mbr.) are injured allegedly when a roadside bomb they are planting explodes prematurely. In Ramallah, an unidentified masked gunman fatally shoots Palestinian journalist Samir Rantisi, an aide to fmr. PA Information M Yasir ‘Abid Rabbuh; the PA suspects a criminal motive, while the Rantisi family believes he was killed because he was involved in an investigation into certain corrupt PA officials. A Palestinian wounded during an attack on an IDF post nr. Mevo Dotan on 5/28 dies. (IMEMC, PRCS 5/29; XIN, YA 5/29 in WNC 5/30; IMEMC, JAZ, JP, NYT 5/30; OCHA 6/1; PCHR 6/2)

The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., causing a 65-yr.-old Palestinian woman to suffer a fatal heart attack; fires on a taxi nr. Erez crossing carrying 2 international aid workers, seriously injuring the driver; shoots, wounds a Palestinian working in a field nr. Jabaliya. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Islamic Jihad claim joint responsibility for firing a rocket-propelled grenade at an IDF jeep nr. Netzarim, causing no damage or injuries. Hamas fires 3 mortars at Jewish settlements in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. (PCHR 1/13)

After the Knesset approves (58–56, with 6 abstentions) the formation of a Likud– Labor–United Torah Judaism coalition, the new Israeli government is sworn in. 13 Likud mbrs. vote against the coalition or abstain. (HA 1/10; NYT, WP 1/11; PR 1/12; MEI 1/21)

The IDF continues operations in Khan Yunis, shelling, firing on, and conducting air strikes on residential areas, killing at least 11 Palestinians (1 PA security officer, 3 armed Palestinians, 7 civilians, including an 11-yr.-old boy) wounding at least 70, demolishing at least 26 Palestinian homes; 2 IDF soldiers are also wounded by a rocket-propelled grenade. The IDF arrests Tulkarm dep. Hamas cmdr. Ahmad Awad; sends troops into Bayt Furik, fires on residential areas, then fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding a 13-yr.-old Palestinian; sends troops into Shaykh Ajlin, demolishes 1 Palestinian home, bulldozes 4 d., conducts arrest raids; bulldozes 20 d. surrounding Gaza’s Dugit settlement; conducts arrest raids, house searches, sets fire to 2 workshops in Hebron; fires on residential areas of Yamun. Jewish settlers occupy a vacant Palestinian home in the Rachel’s Tomb complex in Bethlehem that they claim to have purchased 2 yrs. ago; local Palestinians deny this. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai settlement nr. Hebron occupy a vacant Palestinian home (residents had been forced to leave because of repeated settler attacks). Palestinian female prisoners in Israel’s Tel Monde prison begin a hunger strike to protest their living conditions, frequent strip searches. (BBC, MM, PM, PRCS 10/25; VOI, VOP 10/25 in WNC 10/27; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/26; PCHR 10/28; PR 11/3)

The IDF attempts a predawn raid on Bureij r.c., Nussayrat r.c. in Gaza, but meets fierce resistance (rifle fire, rocket-propelled grenades, homemade antitank weapons, Molotov cocktails) fr. Palestinian militants, who prevent them fr. entering the camps and almost cut off their exit; the IDF is forced to call in helicopter gunships, reinforcements to evacuate; at least 14 Palestinians (9 Hamas mbrs., 1 PRC mbr., 4 bystanders) are killed, 83 injured during the 8-hr. battle; no IDF soldiers are killed or wounded. The IDF also beats, injures 12 Palestinian protesters in Bayt Duqqu n. of Jerusalem; blows up a Palestinian home nr. Jenin; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, seriously wounding a woman inside her home; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Jenin, al-Qarara. (NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 3/7; DUS, VOP 3/7 in WNC 3/12; BBC, CSM, HA, MM 3/8; PR 3/10; LAW, PCHR 3/11; MEI 3/19)

The IDF fatally shoots a 8-yr.-old Palestinian girl in Khan Yunis; fires flechette shells at 2 unarmed Palestinians who stray too near the Israeli border nr. Bayt Hanun, seriously injuring them; fires rubber bullets, stun grenades at Palestinian students protesting in Bethlehem; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Dura; bulldozes 10 dunams of land nr. Dayr al-Balah. A car bomb explodes prematurely in East Jerusalem, lightly injuring the East Jerusalem Palestinian driver, who is arrested. Hamas mbrs. for the 1^st time fire a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at an IDF patrol in Gaza, destroying an armored car, seriously injuring 2 IDF soldiers. (HA 12/28; BBC, WP, WT 12/29; WP 12/30; LAW, PCHR 1/1; HA 1/14)

At economic summit in Britain, Group of Seven leaders (U.S., Canada, France, Italy, Britain, Japan, and Germany) endorse U.S.-led peace efforts, call for end to both Arab boycott of Israel and Israeli settlement-building. Prime Min. Shamir reacts to linkage of two issues with "disgust." (LAT 7/17; WP 7/20)

Fateh central committee mbr. Khalid al-Hasan criticizes PLO leadership for supporting Iraq in recent Gulf war, urges formation of provisional government comprised of Palestinian independents. He urged restoration of Palestinian-Arab relations. (MEM 7/17)

Hizballah fighters ambush Israeli troops in Kufr Huna, north of Israel's "security zone" in S. Lebanon. Three Israelis killed, including two officers; four others were wounded. One Hizballah fighter died. Clash was most lethal for Israeli troopsince Nov. 1990. Israel has recently begun dispatching patrols north of the "security zone" to engage anti-Israeli forces before their arrival in zone. (WP, MEM 7/18)

Lebanese Def. Min. Michel al-Murr accuses PLO of hiding medium and heavy weapons in refugee camps near Tyre, vows continued blockade of camps until weapons are surrendered. PLO denies it holds such weapons. Issue centers on definition of "medium" weapon: Lebanese army considers rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) as medium weapons; PLO does not. Lebanese army now has some 10,000 troops deployed in S. Lebanon. (MEM 7/16, 7/18)

PLO committee meeting in Tunis agrees to convene Palestine National Council (PNC) within three months, urges PLO executive committee to seek rapprochement with Hamas, Palestinian National Salvation Front groups, which boycotted the meeting after PLO invited only those PNSF groups which had membership in the Palestine National Council before 1983 to participate. PNSF, Islamic Jihad, Fateh-Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal) later call on committee to "reconsider" call for convening PNC in order to preserve "unity of Palestinian ranks." Committee also urged greaterepresentation from occupied territories within PNC. PNC currently has 637 seats, including 186 allocated to representatives from the occupied territories. PNC meeting would be first since August 1988, when it declared existence of independent Palestinian state, accepted U.N. Security Council resolution 242. (MEM 7/18, 7/26)

Egyptian-Syrian commission agrees to formulate joint foreign policies between the countries. (LAT 7/18)

Meeting of 6 March Damascus Declaration signatoriesnds. The eight states indicate "total agreement" about amendments to declaration but refuse to state what they are. Observers see move as signalling the effective end of the Syrian-Egyptian-led Gulf security plan. (MEM 7/17)