Chronology November 16, 1969-February 15, 1970

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Source: Middle East Journal, Vol. 24, No. 2 (Spring, 1970), pp. 178-202
Published by: Middle East Institute
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 CHRONOLOGY
November 16, 1969-February 15, 1970

Arab IsraeliConflict The Israeli police broke up a demonstrationof

1969
Nov. 16: Two Israeli ships at Elath were damaged
by explosives. Both Fath and Egyptian military
spokesmenclaimed credit for the alleged sabotage.
Nov. 17: Israel reported her jets striking artillery
positions in Jordan manned by Jordanian,Syrian Nov. 24: A UAR spokesmansaid that jets had struck
and Iraqi units, at guerrillapositions south of the
Sea of Galilee and at an Egyptian radar base in
Jordan at Mazar.
Nov. 18: A UAR military spokesmansaid comman-
dos had attackedal-'Arish,setting fuel depots on
fire and bombardingthe military governor'sresi-
dence.Israelreportedthe raid,sayingthat 5 Israelis
were wounded in the attack.
The Gaza militarycourt sentenced6 Bedouin to
imprisonmentto from 2 to 20 yearsfor belonging Nov. 25: Israeli officialsannouncedthe arrest of a
to a spy ring and passing military intelligence to
Egypt.
Nov. 19: UAR spokesmanIsmat 'Abd al-Majidsaid No-. 26: Israel announced her jets attacking long
that although war with Israel was being discussed
as "inevitable,"the problem could be solved by
implementation "as a whole" of the 1967 UN
Security Council resolution.
Three Israelis were wounded in an ambush
north of Gaza. A curfew was imposed on the
Jabaliyyarefugee camp and on Beit Hanun.
An Arab threw a grenadeat an Israeli bank in
Khin Yuinis killing an Arab and wounding 5
others.
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan warned
that security authoritieswould take strictermeas-
ures if terrorist activities continue in the Gaza
and al-'Arish areas.
Nov. 20: Je'usalemRadio reportedthat securityforces
had discovered"last week" 2 sabotagegroups in Nov. 27: The UAR newspaperal-Jumhi-riyyahre-
east Jerusalemand Hebron and arrested20 men.
The UN Social,Humanitarianand CulturalCom-
mittee condemnedthe Israeli policy of "collective
and area punishment"in the occupied territories.
Nov. 22: A UAR spokesmansaid that 60 commandos
attacked Israeli armored units 3 miles into the
Sinai Peninsula destroying3 tanks and killing an
unspecifiednumber of Israelis with a loss of 3
soldiers. Israel reported the attack saying 30
Egyptians landed north of Isma'iliyyah and at-
tacked,wounding 2 Israelis.
Two Israeli Arabs were killed when their car,
carryingexplosives, blew up in Acre.
500 youths marchingon the Arab section of Acre.
Nov. 23: Israelipolice in Acre twice broke up gangs
of Jewish residentsattemptingto storm the Arab
section of the city. Violence followed the arrest
of 10 Arab residents with 3 policemen and 4
civilians injured.
Israeli supply bases at al-Qantarahand missile
sites at Pelusium. Israelreportedthe strikessaying
1 civilian was wounded and 2 trucks damagedat
Pelusium and no damageoccurredat al-Qantarah.
The Central Office for the Boycott of Israel
warnedthat boycottregulationswould be enforced
against any companywhich explored for or pur-
chased crde and minerals from occupied Arab
territory.
former Jordanianintelligence officer and reported
key figure in guerrilla organizations.
range artillerybatteriesnear Kufr Asad in Jordan
with all planes reported safe. Baghdad Radio
reportedthe attack saying Iraqi troops had come
under attackand had downed 2 Israeli jets.
After Israeli jets attacked Egyptian positions
along the central and southern sectors of the
Canal, Egyptian planes attackedpositions east of
Isma'iliyyah and al-Qantarah.Egypt denied an
Israeli reportthat 2 Egyptianplanes were downed.
US Assistant Secretaryof State Joseph Sisco
said that "some progress has been achieved" in
the 4 power talks, but that "fundamentaldiffer-
ences remain"and said the Soviet attitude "raises
doubts regarding its willingness to play an actively
constructiverole" in the Middle East.
ported a note from Foreign Minister Mahmdd
Riyad to US Secretaryof State William Rogers
rejecting"the principle of a piecemealsettlement"
and said that any acceptablepeace proposal must
deal with the Middle East as a whole.
A Jordanian tossed a hand grenade into the
IsraeliEl Al officein Athens,wounding 15 people.
The PopularFront for the Liberationof Palestine
(PFLP )confirmedthe Jordanian'smembershipin
the PFLP.
Nov. 28: The US mission to the UN announcedthat
the 4 powers would resume consultationsin New
York on December 2.

178
 CHRONOLOGY 179
The Jewush Observerpublished statements by solution for the Middle East.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eban that the Arabs in The InternationalRed Cross supervisedan ex-
the occupied territories representeda politically change of 2 Israeli prisoners for 58 Egyptian
consciouscommunitywhich would not be satisfied prisoners.
with merely economic and social gains and said Dec. 7: The captainof a Japanesevessel said Israeli
"we cannot accept an ideology of collective or boats had fired at his ship while it was on an
environmentalpunishment." internationalroute south of Aqabah. Israel said
Nov. 30: The UAR reported a commandounit at- her vessels had set off explosive charges to warn
tacking a fortified position at al-Shatt, killing a a Japanesecargo ship from strayinginto Elath.
large number of Israelis and destroying military Dec. 8: Israeli jets struck at alleged guerrilla bases
vehicles. Israel reportedher troops repulsing the near al-Shunahin Jordan after shelling from the
attack. area.
Israel reportedher jets attackingmilitary posi- Syria began an hour long artillery and tank
tions along the centraland southernsectorsof the clash in the Jawlan area in which Syria reported
Canal. A UAR spokesmansaid the jets were driven destroying4 bulldozersand inflictingover a dozen
off by anti-aircraftfire. casualties. Israel reportedthe clash, saying that 2
Dec. 1: The Egyptian newspaperal-Mussawarpub- machineswere damagedand no casualtiesreported.
lished an editorial criticizing the November 27 An Egyptianmilitary spokesmansaid that 250
grenade attack saying that such acts of violence Egyptiansoldiers had occupiedIsraeli positions in
abroadmight turn public opinion againstthe Arabs. the northernsectorof the Canal,destroyedmilitary
Dec. 2: Representativesof the 4 powers issued a installationsand returnedsafely. Israel described
joint statementsaying that the Arab Israeli con- the report as "morale-boostingfantasy."
flict "must not be permitted to jeopardizeinter- Al-Ahnim accused the US of an international
national peace" and warned that the situation in crime in supplying Israel with "mighty mouse"
the area was becoming "increasinglyserious and rockets which reportedlyhurl metal darts over a
urgent." wide area and said the Egyptian government
Arab commandos struck near Massada in the would protest to the UN Human Rights Com-
Jawlin area (Golan Heights) attacking 3 Israeli mission.
vehicles with grenadesand gun fire and wounding Dec. 9: US Secretaryof State Rogers said US policy
2 Israelis. in the Middle East "is and will continue to be a
Dec. 3: Israel reporteda 2 to 3 hour clash by her balanced one" and outlined US policy on key
commandoswith guerrillas in the Arqub region elements of the 1967 SecurityCouncil resolution
with 1 Israeli killed and 5 wounded and 12 guer- including a peace agreementleading to "a lasting
rillas killed and "manymore" wounded. Lebanon peace, . . . sustained by a sense of security on
reported the "airborneraid" saying "our artillery both sides" and recognizedpolitical borderswhich
positions shelled the enemy forces until they with- "should not reflect the weight of conquest." He
drew" from the village of Ayta al-Sha'b. said "therecan be no lasting peace without a just
Israeli Defense Minister Dayan was reportedto settlement"of the refugeeswho have "a new con-
have met with Arab officials in Gaza and em- sciousness"which "needs to be channeled away
phasized that the existing curfew would remain from bitterness"and, on the questionof Jerusalem,
in effect until they could maintain peace there. said "we cannot accept unilateral actions by any
Dec. 4: Speakingbefore the UN, US Representative party to decide the final status of the city." The
Joseph Johnson critcizedboth the Arabs and the city should be a "unifiedcity" with free accessfor
Israelis for using "violent" language in the UN all faiths and nationalities.
and said the internationalcommunitywould not Al-Nahir publishedwhat it said was a 10 point
tolerate"extremism"of either side. The US would peace plan submitted by the US to Egypt as a
not accept any solution which ignored the wishes basis for a UAR-Israelipeace settlement. The set-
of the Palestinianrefugees but "the free choice" tlement would be reached using the "Rhodes"
of the refugees was limited by the "legitimatein- formula and would include a timetable for Israeli
terests"of Israel. withdrawal from Egyptian territory, freedom of
In separate incidents in Gaza, a grenade was navigationfor Israeli ships throughthe Suez Canal
thrown at an Israeli patrol with Israelis,shooting and the Straitsof Tiran and fair conditions for a
at the assailant, killing a passerby. Another at- refugee settlement. The final settlement would
tack on an Israeli patrol ended with one suspected include secureand recognizedbordersand security
guerrilla killed and another wounded. arrangementswhich could include demilitarized
Dec. 5: Syriareleasedthe 2 Israelisheld since August zones.
29 in exchangefor 13 Syrianmilitarypersonnel. Israeli Chief of Staff Bar-Lev said that the
Dec. 6: UAR spokesmanMajidsaid the US was help- demolition of houses was an effective deterrent
ing an "aggressive"country and said there were which had proved itself and said that according
"not even remnants of hope" for a non-violent to objective calculationsthere was no danger of
180 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
a general war breaking out.
Dec. 10: Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Yigal Allon
said that "no part of the Old City is closed to
Jewish settlement."
The UN General Assemblyadopteda resolution
expressing "grave concern" that the denial of
Palestinianrefugee rights "has been aggravatedby
the reported acts of collective punishment, ar-
bitrary detention, curfews, destruction of homes
and property, deportation and other repressive
acts" and directing attention to the "continuing
critical financial position" of the UN Relief and
Works Agency (UNRWA).
Dec. 11: Syria reporteda clash in the Jawlan area
saying Israeli jets launchedattacksagainstmilitary
targetsnear Damascusbut Syrianaircraft"stopped
the enemy aircraft from reaching their targets."
Israel said her planes were patrolling the border
when approachedby Syrian aircraft.
Pledges totalling $13,878,786 were made by
41 countriesfor UNRWA.
Dec. 12: IsraeliPrime MinisterGolda Meir criticized
Rogers' December 9 speech saying the US was
"moralizing"on the subjectof peace and said that
major powers "cannot make peace on behalf of
the Arabs."
Dec. 14: An Israeli spokesmansaid 1 soldier was
killed, 1 wounded and 1 taken prisoner when an
Egyptianreconnaissancepatrol ambushedan army
vehicle. Egypt reported the incident saying that
1 Israeli was capturedand 5 killed when a patrol
crossedthe Canal.
Writing in Pravda, Vladimir Mikhailov said
that Rogers had tried to present US policy as
"balanced"but that the US would "fail to conceal
the evident facts" of US support for Israel in its
"aggressive actions" and its "stubborn attempts
to annex the seized territories."
Dec. 16: Two Israelisoldierswere killed by Egyptian
artilleryfire while trying to assist a civilian bull-
dozer also hit by artilleryfire.
Dayan said that Israeli authoritieshad demol-
ished 516 dwellings in occupied areas since the
June war as punishment for suspected terrorist
activity.
Dec. 17: The military governor of Gaza and the
northernSinai coast imposed a night curfew along
the Mediterraneancoast until further notice and
banished 6 Arab leaders in Gaza, accusing them
of aiding commandos.
Israel announced her jets had bombed and
strafed Egyptianpositions across the Canal in re-
taliation for the deathsDecember 16 of 2 soldiers
and a civilian.
Dec. 19: Israelannouncedher commandoshad crossed
the Canal north of al-Balah, had fired rockets
"against an Egyptian Army camp" in the area
and returnedsafely.
Dec. 21: Israeli jets bombed and strafed Iraqi and
Jordanianarmypositionsinside Jordanfor 5 hours
in response to a reportedsharp increasein bom-
bardments of Israeli settlements, with 10 Arab
soldiers killed and 10 wounded.
Dec. 22: The New York Times publisheda summary
of an American proposal for a Jordanian-Israeli
peace settlementto be reachedunder UN Special
RepresentativeGunnarJarring'sauspices. Included
were provisions for Israeli withdrawal, allowing
"for alterationsbased on practicalsecurityrequire-
ments," for agreementon Jerusalem"recognizing
that the city should be unified with free traffic
through all parts of it and with both countries
sharing in civic and economic responsibilitiesof
city government,"for a Jordanianaffirmationthat
the Straitsof Tiran and the Suez Canal were in-
ternationalwaterways,and for the establishment
of an internationalcommissionby Jarring "to de-
termine the choice of each refugee on returning
to Israel."
UN Secretary-General U Thant said the 4 pow-
ers "genuinelywant to facilitatethe work" of Jar-
ring and said he felt they would "come to some
substantive agreement regarding the guidelines
under which AmbassadorJarringcan operate."
A Swiss court sentenced3 Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) members to 12 years im-
prisonmentfor their machinegun attackin Zurich
last February.An Israeliguard was acquittedof a
murdercharge under extenuatingcircumstances.
Dec. 23: Israelannouncedone of its commandounits
crossedthe Red Sea and shelled an Egyptiannaval
base at Safagawith the unit reportedsafe. Egypt
denied the report.
Israeli jets attackedpositions across the Jordan
River south of the Sea of Galilee.
The Israeli military command said that Arab
guerrillasfired rockets from Jordan and Lebanon
on the Israeli settlement Qiryat Shmona with no
casualtiesreported.
US State Department spokesman Robert Mc-
Closkeysaid that the Soviet responseto US peace
proposals, as relayed by Soviet AmbassadorDo-
brynin, was "not constructivelyresponsiveto our
October28 formulations."
The PFLPsaid it would halt Israeli construction
of a road linking Israel with the Jawlan area
saying the road was meant for strategicuse and
was partof Israel'splans for annexationof the area.
Dec. 24: Three hundred merchantsin Gaza signed
a letter saying the irresponsibleacts of terrorists
had inflicted casualtiesupon peaceful citizens and
createdeconomic hardshipsfor the merchantsand
told the local militarycommanderthey would hire
a watchman to guard against a recurrenceof
grenade attacks.
Dec. 25: Israel announcedher jets had launchedan
8 hour attack on Egyptian positions along the
Canal,destroyingall ground-to-airmissile sites be-
ing rebuilt and denied an Egyptianreport that 4
Israeli planes were downed in the attack.
 CHRONOLOGY 181

Dec. 26: Israelissued a communiquesaying her com- no 4 power talks were scheduled,"we are prepared
mando units had attacked an Egyptian position to resume them."
at Ras Gharib and had demolishedthe naval post A Fath spokesmansaid that "certainArab states"
and captured4 Egyptianprisoners. Egypt reported had told his organizationthat they were willing
the raid as abortive and said 2 Egyptians were "to receive back" Jews who emigrated to Israel
killed and 4 missing. and now wish to returnto their countriesof origin.
Dec. 27: Dayan warned Lebanon that its villages Israeli jets made two raids 8 miles from the
would be destroyedif Arab guerrillasused them Lebaneseborder injuring 9 civilians.
as bases for operationsagainst Israel. Contributionsto UNRWA of $297,777 and
An American tourist was killed when com- $15,000 were reported from Saudi Arabia and
mandos ambusheda sight-seeingbus near Hebron. Greece respectively.
Dec. 28: The Kuwayti al-Ra'i -'Anmconfirmedthat Jan. 3: The LebaneseArmy reported its units had
Kuwayt will pay ilOm in addition to the aid killed 3 Israeli soldiersduring a raid on the Leba-
paid under the KhartuimSummit arrangement. nese village of Qala. Israelis blew up several
Israeli Minister of Tourism Moshe Kol said he buildings and captured21 Arab prisoners before
would recommend that the Jerusalem-Hebron- withdrawing.
Beershebaroad not be used for tourists and said An Egyptianmilitaryspokesmanannouncedthat
it would be wise for buses traveling in occupied a commandounit crossedthe Canaland ambushed
areas to carryarms. an Israeli military vehicle, killing or wounding
Israeli jets attacked Egyptian positions in the its 5 occupants.
southernsector of the Canal. Egypt said its forces Israeli General Herzog said Israeli commandos
had downed 2 jets. had removed a Soviet anti-aircraftradar system
Israeli jets hit reportedguerrillapositionsin the from Ras Gharib on December26.
BaysanValley from which shelling on Israeli vil- Jan. 4: Israel reported a clash at al-Qantarahin
lages was thought to emanate. which 2 EgyptianMIGs were destroyed20 miles
Dec. 29: Israel said her planes bombed a Jordanian inside Egyptianterritory.Egypt reportedthe clash
radarstation at 'Ajlun east of the JordanRiver. saying an Israeli plane had been downed.
Dec. 30: The JerusalemCentralCourtorderedMichael Three of the LebanesecapturedJanuary3 were
Rohan committed to a mental asylum for an in- released.
definite period. The court ruled he was not pun- Jan. 6: Israel reportedthat Egyptiancommandoshad
ishable for his deed because he had acted under landed on the East Bank of the Canal near Port
an uncontrollablepathologicalimpulse. Tawfiq but were repulsed by Israeli fire, leaving
Dec. 31: An Israeli watchmanfrom the Israeli set- 9 Egyptian commandoskilled.
tlement Metullahwas abductedby Arab guerrillas Israel reportedan Egyptianair attackby 4 jets
across the Lebanese border when he discovered north of al-Qantarah,causing no damage.
them laying explosive charges and mines. Israeli jets attacked positions in Lebanon on
The Israeli town of QiryatShmona came under Mt. Hermon, reportedlyguerrillabases and supply
heavy rocket attack from Lebanon. routes.
Jan. 7: Israel reportedher jets had bombed 3 Egyp-
tian military camps at Dahshur, Inshas and Tall
1970 al-Kabir. Egypt said her jets and anti-aircraftfire
Jan. 1: Israeli Minister of Information Galili said had driven the Israeli jets back across the Canal.
Israel would have to take action if the Lebanese Jan. 8: JordanianKing IHusaynsaid that "we are
border was to be "wide open to terroristinfiltra- still committedto work for peace based on right
tion and shelling" and said such action would be and justice"but that "we will not take any uni-
aimed at "forcing the Lebanese authorities to lateral step nor will we give in to settlement
adopt precautionarymethodsagainstthe terrorists." that does not return all the Arab territory and
UAR President Nasir said Egypt would put a restoreall the usurpedrights."
million men under arms and would struggle until Israel reportedher jets had shot down 3 Syrian
victory was achieved. He said the US peace pro- MIG-21s as they approachedthe Jawlan area. A
posals' aim was "to divide the Arabs" and said Syrian spokesman reported the clash saying her
"we seek peace and not surrender." pilots had downed 2 Israeli Mirages.
Jordan said that Israeli jets had knocked out Jan. 9: Israeli Ambassadorto the UN Tekoah said
the East Ghor Canal during raids on Irbid and Israel would not permit a 3 member UN com-
military installationsopposite the Negev in which mittee to inquire into the observanceof human
11 people were killed. rights in occupiedterritory,saying the group was
An Arab was killed and 4 wounded when a biased against his country.
grenade was tossed into a crowd in the Dabarrah Israelimilitaryauthoritiesreportedthat 24 Arab
Squarein Jerusalem. terrorists had been captured and 2 large arms
Jan. 2: The US State Department said that while caches discoveredin the occupiedWest Bank.
182 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Israel reported her jets had attackedtargets in
the northernsector of the Canal and in Lebanon.
Lebanon reported the raid, calling it one of the
heaviest ever on Mt. Hermon with 6 Lebanese
wounded.
Jan. 10: Israel reported her missiles had destroyed
2 bombers during an Egyptian raid on the Sinai
Peninsula at Ras Sudr in which 1 Israeli was
wounded. Egypt said her planes had destroyed
an Israeli anti-aircraftmissile site in the attack.
Jan. 11: Israelsaid she "wouldbe preparedto discuss
an exchange of prisonerswith the LebaneseGov-
ernment provided Lebanon assures Israel of the
release of the watchman"capturedJanuary3.
Jan. 12: The Israeli military command announced
that her jets had attackedEgyptianmilitarytargets
in the northernsector of the Canal.
An Israeli taxi passed over a mine detonating
it near a refugee camp in Gaza. The driver was
killed and 3 Arabswounded.
Jan. 13: The New York Times published the Soviet
reply of December23 to US proposalsfor a peace
settlement. The note called US proposals "one-
sided" and said they "cannot facilitate ways of
resolving the Middle East situation." The note re-
jected the use of the Rhodes formula "in view
of the sharp differences which have recently
emerged in the interpretation"of it and said the
proposals mentioned nothing new on the "key
question of the settlement," Israeli withdrawal
from occupied territories.
US State Department spokesman McCloskey
said the US continues "'to feel that the Rhodes
formula is the best arrangementby which the
parties might come together" and said the pub-
lished version of the Soviet note appearedto be
"an accuratetranslation."
An Israeli military spokesmansaid her jets had
attackedan Egyptian Army base south of Cairo
and one at Tall al-Kablir.Egypt reported Israeli
air penetration to within 9 miles of Cairo but
said the jets were driven off by Egyptiandefenses.
Jan. 14: UAR spokesman Majid called the Israeli
air attackson Cairo futile effortsto achieve "politi-
cal and psychologicaleffects"and said they were
"clearproof that Israel is laboring under a severe
state of nervousnessand tension."
Jan. 16: IsraeliPrime MinisterMeir warnedLebanon
to returnthe kidnappedwatchmanor Israel would
bring about his release. The Lebanese Foreign
Ministry said the watchmanwas not on Lebanese
soil and the governmenthad had nothing to do
with his capture.
An Israeli plane was downed by Egyptiananti-
aircraft fire during a raid on an Egyptian radar
stationat Bir Udayb. Israel said that the pilot had
been seen bailing out and denied an Egyptian
report that 2 additional planes were downed.
Jan. 17: An Israeli Army spokesmanreported that
a commando unit had destroyed electricity and
telephone pylons between Port Suez and Cairo
and that a second unit had attackedan administra-
tive center at Ras Zafarinah.
Jan. 18: Israelreportedher jets raidingmilitarytargets
including the Huckstep military installation and
a weaponsdepot at Jebel Hof. Egypt reportedthe
raids saying the Israeli planes missed their targets
and that 1 Israeli Skyhawkhad been downed.
Jan. 19: An Israeli Army spokesman said that at
least 586 saboteurswere killed during 1969.
Jan. 20: Al-Ahram reported that Egyptian defense
forces killed at least 10 Israeli frogmen attempting
to swim across the Canal near Isma'iliyyahon
January18. Israel denied the report.
Jan. 21: US Deputy Assistant Secretaryof State
Rodger Davies said that since the December 23
Russian rejection, progress had been made for a
Russian reconsiderationand said "if we can get
the Arabs to acceptthe obligations of peace, then
we can get the Israelis to accept territorial ad-
justments."
An Israelimilitaryspokesmansaid armoredunits
completed an operation against Arab guerrillas
near al-$afi in Jordan, capturing arms and am-
munition. The units encounteredno resistanceand
suffered no casualties or damage in the attack.
Jordan reported the attack saying that a Saudi
battalion and commandosfought with Jordanian
troops in the 24 hour battle which killed 7 Arabs
and wounded 13. The Palestine Armed Struggle
Command (PASC) reportedthat 2 Israeli tanks
were destroyed.
King Husayn said he welcomed US peace pro.
posals as a "step forward"but cautionedthat "if
there is a solution it has got to be a general solu-
tion, not a piecemealone."
Jan. 22: US State DepartjnentspokesmanMcCloskey
said that, in a meeting with Soviet Ambassador
Dobrynin, US Assistant Secretaryof State Sisco
"pointed out the shortcomings"of the December
23 Soviet note and warned there was no point to
continuing 2 power talks unless Russia adopted a
more flexible attitude.
Israel announcedthat a task force had captured
the Egyptianisland of Shadwanafter 6 hours of
fighting in which 10 Egyptiansand 3 Israeliswere
killed and 2 Egyptiantorpedoboats sunk 10 miles
south of the island. An Egyptianmilitary spokes-
man said thatat least 30 Israelisoldierswere killed
or wounded and 2 Israeli planes downed in the
attack.
Jan. 23: Israel reportedthat its task force withdrew
from Shadwan after the 30 hour operation in
which the outpost was completelyneutralizedas a
military base. All its installationswere reported
destroyed and its military equipment removed.
Seventy Egyptians were reported killed and 62
taken prisoner. Egypt said that 80 Egyptianswere
killed, wounded or missing in the fighting and
estimatedIsraeli casualtiesat 50 dead or wounded.
 CHRONOLOGY
Four Israeli planes struck at targets near Cairo,
attackingan Armycampnearthe InternationalAir-
port and others south of Cairo.
Iraqi Defense MinisterTakhitisaid that a plane-
load of arms for the Palestinianguerrillas would
arrive in Beirut the next day.
Jan. 24: Dayansaid that becauseEgyptwantedneither
peace nor a returnto the cease fire, "all of Egypt
is the battlefield."
Jan. 25: US PresidentNixon sent a message to the
Jewish Conferencesaying the US was "prepared
to supply military equipmentnecessaryto support
the efforts of friendly governments,like Israel, to
defend the safety of their people" and said that
the US would prefer "restraint"in arms shipments
to the area but the US is "maintainingcareful
watch on the relative strengthsof the forces there,
and we will not hesitateto providearmsto friendly
states as needed."
Israel reported disabling a 120 ton Egyptian
"auxiliaryship used to carry men and supplies."
The UAR accused Israel of attacking a civilian
freighter.
The Lebanesegovernmentsaid that 2 Lebanese
were killed and 2 wounded by Israeligunfire near
Bint Jubayl.
Egypt reported her commandos destroying an
Israeli radarstation in the Sinai Peninsula. Israel
describedthe report as "pure imagination."
Saudi Arabia said that its gunners stationed
south of the Dead Sea had downed 2 Israeli jets
in a raid on the area.
Jan. 27: Pravda published an article warning that
the situation in the Middle East was "inflamed"
and called for a peace formula which would in-
clude Israeli withdrawalfrom all occupied terri-
tory and the establishmentof a "just and reliable
peace.
Jan. 28: US State DepartmentspokesmanMcCloskey
said there was "urgent need for scrupulousres-
toration"of the cease fire in the Middle East by
both Israel and the Arabs.
Dayan said that the targets of an Israeli jet
raid near Cairo were army camps at Ma'di and
Dahshur. UAR spokesmanMajid said 3 Egyptis
were killed, 12 woundedand 3 buildings destroyed
in the attack.
Jan. 29: Syria reported that a formation of Syrian
aircrafthad flown over Haifa, breakingthe sound
barrierand doing much damage. Israel said only
1 Syrian plane overflew Haifa and reported that
Israeli jets had overflown Damascus, Homms,
Hamma, Latakiaand Aleppo, breaking the sound
barrier.
Jan. 30: Nixon said US policy was neither pro-Arab
nor pro-Israeli but pro-peace and said the US
would "considerthe Israeli arms requests to the
extent that we see . . . that they need additional
arms." The US decision to supply arms "will be
made within the next 30 days."
183
Jan. 31: Israel said that Egyptian commandoshad
crossed the Canal at night and laid an ambush
north of Ismai'iliyyah.An Israeli patrol clashed
with the unit, throwing it back to the Canal with
2 Israelis wounded in the exchange. Egypt said
the unit ambushedan Israeliarmoredpatrolkilling
all Israeli patrol members and destroying their
vehicles.
Feb. 1: Israel reportedhitting 3 Syrian tanks and 3
military positions in a clash in the Jawlin area.
Syria said 1 Israeli plane was downed and 5
Israelitanksdestroyed.
Feb. 2: The New York Times reported statements
by "highly placed informants"that the USSR had
warnedthe US of its plans to immediatelyincrease
its arms shipmentsto the UAR.
Israeli and Syrian forces clashed over a 19
mile area in the Jawlan area in a 4 hour tank
and artillery battle. Israel reported one of its
planes downed. Syria reported downing 4 Israeli
planes and destroying3 Israeli tanks and several
military positions.
A UAR spokesman said that Israeli planes
dropped time bombs in the residential area of
Manaqbad,causing 31 casualties.
Feb. 3: Egypt reportedher jets attackingIsraeli posi-
tions in the Sinai Peninsula,bombing bunkersand
artillerypositionsnorthof al-Qantarahand reported
a commandounit crossing the Canal and firing
rockets at Israeli positions. Israel denied the re-
ported landing and said that the "hit and run"
jet raid had only slightly damaged an Israeli
position.
Syria reportedits armed forces had fought with
Israel February2 "to show that all Arab fronts
with the enemy are one."
Mrs. Meir said that "the moment the Arabs
decide that the cease-fireis binding on both sides
then there will be no more bombing on our part."
Feb. 4: PresidentNasir said he would "have to go
to the Soviet Union" for arms if the US supplied
Phantomsto Israel and said "we have to work for
a peaceful solution, but we have to establish our
military force."
Feb. 5: The New York Times published reports of
a reply by Nixon to a letter from Kosygin of
January 31. Nixon repeated US efforts to en-
courageobservanceof the cease-firelines, expressed
willingness to begin talks on limitation of arms
deliveriesto the area and called for a more favor-
able Soviet responseto US peace proposals.
A spokesmanfor U Thant said he would "in
principle . . . favor an arms embargo in the
context of the Middle East situation."
Egypt said a commando unit had crossed the
Canal and ambushed an Israeli armored column
south of Port Said, destroying 2 tanks and 2
armoredcars. Israel reported that fierce fighting
acrossthe Canal followed an Egyptianambush in
which 4 Israelis were killed.
184 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Feb. 6: Izvestia said the situation in the Middle
East "is fraught with extremely serious conse-
quences" and said the situation "demands that
all governmentsinterestedin restoringa just peace
in the Middle East take the most urgent measures"
induding 4 power talks "to put an end to the
military escalationof Israel against the UAR and
other Arab states."
Israel reported that her jets had sunk a 700
ton minelayerwith a crew of 80 in the Gulf of
Suez. Egypt said the sunken craft was a 120 ton
supply craft and that the crew had been rescued.
Israel reported that an Israeli naval vessel was
sunk in Elath harbor,apparentlyby sabotage. No
casualtieswere reported.
Israel reporteda jet attackon Egyptianmilitary
positions at Tall al-Kabirand Ganakla.
Feb. 7: The New York Times quoted "high official
sources" as saying that the administrationhad
decided to sell Israel new aircraftand other war
materiel. The US State Department denied the
report.
Feb. 8: Israel reported her jets attacking military
targets at Inshas and Helwan and reporteddown-
ing 2 MIG-21s. Egypt reported the raid saying
the jets had wounded 12 civilians at Helwan and
said 1 Israeli jet had been downed.
FormerIsraeli Prime Minister Ben Gurion said
that PresidentNasir must be replacedif there is
to be peace in the Middle East and said Nasir's
"position is becoming more and more critical."
He called US supplies of arms to Israel "decisive."
A PLO spokesmansaid that commandoleader
Yasir 'Arafit would lead a 7 man delegation on
a week's visit to the USSR, beginning February9.
Feb. 9: All 12 of the East JerusalemArabs elected
to municipal committees announced their resig-
nations.
An Israeli military spokesman reported dog-
fights between Egyptian and Israeli planes over
the Canal in which 1 Egyptianplane was downed
and 1 Israeli plane downed and its pilot taken
prisoner.
Feb. 10: Three Arabs launched a grenade attack
on a bus and a lounge at the Munich airport.
The attackwas thoughtto be an attempton Dayan's
son's life.
Thirty-fourArabs were wounded in a grenade
explosionin Khin Yunis.
Feb. 11: An Egyptian military spokesman said an
infantry company crossed the Canal, occupied a
fortified position and ambushedan armored col-
umn, with at least 20 Israelis killed or wounded
and 2 captured.
Feb. 12: In an Israeli jet raid on a suburbof Cairo
a bomb was dropped on a scrap metal plant at
al-Khanka,killing 70 civiliansand woundingmany
more. Israel describedthe attackas aimed at mili-
tary installations and said one plane may have
"inadvertently"hit a civilian target. Dayan sent
a warning to UNTSO Head Odd Bull that some
of the bombs dropped were timed to explode in
24 hours and should be defused.
US Acting Secretaryof State Elliot Richardson
said the US deplored"this attack,which apparently
has resulted in considerableloss of life and in-
juries. Neither can we disregard the tragic loss
of life and injury to civilians resulting from re-
newed attacks by terrorists against civilian pas-
sengers traveling in internationalair transports."
US Ambassadorto the UN CharlesYost called
for 4 power discussionson arms limitation for
the Middle East and declaredthat the 4 powers
should make a joint appeal for an immediate
restorationof the cease-fire.
Tass published an Izvestia editorial warning
that "firmsteps" should be taken "to help relieve
the growing tension and prompt Israel to heed
the voice of reason" and cautioning against the
belief that "time is workingfor the aggressorsand
those supportingthem."
The Rumanianweekly Lumeapublisheda state-
ment by a Secretaryof the Grand National As-
sembly stressingRumania's"constructive"posture
in the search for a Middle East settlement and
offering the country'sincreasedcooperationwith
all partiesinvolved.
Feb. 13: U Thant orderedHead of UNTSO Odd Bull
to return to New York for urgent consultations.
Israel reported that her anti-aircraftfire had
downed 1 of 6 Egyptianbombersstriking at the
central and northern sectors of the Canal, with
no Israeli casualtiesreported.
Feb. 14: Two Arabs were killed and 2 wounded
in Gaza when Israeli troops opened fire on a
suspectedcommando.
The US increasedits contributionto UNRWA
by $1m to $23.2m.
Feb. 15: Israel reportedher jets attackingEgyptian
artillery positions in the northern sector of the
Canalwith all planesreportedsafe.
General
1969
Dec. 7: The IndustrialDevelopment Centre for the
Arab Countries ended a 10 day conference in
Cairoaftertalks on the establishmentof specialized
industrial institutes.
Dec. 16: The Organizationof PetroleumExporting
Countries (OPEC) ended a 3 day meeting in
Qatar for talks on "a number of issues, notably
participation, the production programme and
Algeria's negotiations with the French govern-
ment."Nadim Pichahchi was named Chairmanof
the Board of Governors for 1970.
Dec. 20: The opening session of the Arab summit
conferencein Rabat was postponedfor a day.
 CHRONOLOGY
Dec. 22: The confereesat the Rabat summit agreed
to set up a fact finding committee of Iraq and
Algeria to investigate the Saudi-South Yemeni
disputeover the Wadi'ih area.
The Kuwayti al-Siyasahpublished a statement
by the Acting Secretary-General of the Organiza-
tion of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OAPEC) that the Organizationwas planning to
constructa giant dry dock in the Arabian Gulf
to provide repair services for tankersof all sizes.
Dec. 23: UAR President Nisir, commando leader
'Arafatand Secretary-General of the Arab League
Hassuinahwalked out of a session of the Rabat
Conferenceafter a discussion on additional con-
tributions for the Arab conflict with Israel.
Kuwayt reportedly refused to increase payments
to Arab countries,Saudi Arabia, to increasepay-
ments by more than ?50m and Libya,by more than
i1Om.
The second Conference on Development and
Trade Exchangeended a week's session in Cairo
afterrecommendingthe establishmentof an African
commonmarketand increasedeconomicand finan-
cial cooperation.
Dec. 24: The closing session of the 3 day Rabat
summitwas boycottedby the Syrian,South Yemeni
and Iraqi delegations. Speaking on the boycott,
MoroccanKing Hasan said it was the result of
"doctrinal divergencies" and did not represent
divergencies of purpose.
Dec. 27: The Egyptian,Sudaneseand Libyan heads
of state ended a 3 day meeting in Tripoli after
agreeing to hold regular meetings and coordinate
military, political and economic activities against
Israel.
Dec. 28: The Regional Cooperationfor Develop-
ment (RCD) MinisterialCouncil ended a 2 day
meeting in Tehran after reviewing progress of
its projects in member countries.
Dec. 30: A Turkish-ArabChamber of Commerce
was established to promote trade and economic
relations.
1970
Jan. 7: The national oil companiesof Iraq, Algeria,
Libya and the UAR announcedtheir decision, at
the end of a 3 day meeting in Baghdad,to "co-
ordinatetheir activitiesin all fields of the national Nov. 26: A delegationof the Soviet-AfghanFriend-
oil and gas industry . . . particularlyas regards
the unificationof their attitudesto foreign monop-
olist companiesexploiting Arab resources."
Jan. 13: The foreign ministers of the UAR, Libya
and Sudan ended a 3 day meeting in Cairo as
called for in the December 27 agreement.
Jan. 15: The French bank Credit Lyonnais signed
an agreementin principle to set up a French-Arab
bank.
Jan. 16: Decisions of the DecemberOPEC meeting 1970
were announced.The budgetwas set at $1,308,572 Jan. 7: US Vice President Spiro Agnew ended a
and the Secretary-General would be a Libyan, to
185
be named by his government. The conference
expressedsupport for Algeria and Libya in their
upcoming price negotiations on oil.
Feb. 2: The Arab EconomicUnity Councilended a 5
day meeting in Cairo after adopting resolutions
including one calling on Arab states to transfer
imports from countriessupplying Israel with arms
to countriessupportingthe Arab cause.
Feb. 3: Iraq, Syria and the UAR signed a protocol
in Cairo agreeing to establish a permanentcom-
mission for economiccoordinationand integration
among the countries.
Feb. 9: A 3 day meeting of the "confrontationcoun-
tries" of the UAR, Syria, Jordan,Iraq and Sudan
ended in Cairo after "affirminganew" their deter-
mination to liberate "violatedArab territory"and
assertingthat "the Arab nation refuses to see its
resources and wealth being exploited into as-
sistanceand weaponsfor Israel."
Feb. 11: Leadersof Libya,the UAR and Sudanopened
their second meeting in Cairo.
Feb. 12: The Kuwayti Oil Ministry confirmedthat
Algeriahad appliedfor membershipin the OAPEC.
Afghanistan
1969
Nov. 17: The KabulTimesannouncedthe new Cabi-
net as follows:
Nur AhmedEtemadi:PrimeMinister
Abdulla Yaftali: First Deputy Premier
Abdul Kayeum: Second Deputy Premier and
Minister of Education
Khan Mohammed: Defense
M. BasheerLodin: Interior
Abdul Wahid Sorabi: Planning
Abdul SatarSeerat: Justice
MohammedAkbar Omar: Commerce
MohammedAman: Finance
MahmoudHabibi: Information& Culture
MohammedAzeem Geran: Communication
EbrahimMajid Seraj: Public Health
AmanullahMansouri:Mines & Industry
Abdul Hakim: Agriculture& Irrigation
The Ministerswithout Portfolioare ShafiqaZiayee
and Ghulam Ali Aeen.
ship Society arrived on a visit.
Dec. 16: Algeria agreed to establish diplomatic re-
lations with the countryat the ambassadoriallevel.
Dec. 17: A Soviet trade delegation arrivedfor talks
on a price and exchangeof commoditiesprotocol.
Dec. 25: A Soviet militarydelegationled by Defense
Minister Grechko arrived for an official visit.
2 day official visit.
186 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Jan. 21: The USSR signed a protocol for the export
of 2.5 billion cubic meters of Afghani naturalgas
in 1970.
Jan. 26: Defense Minister Khan Mohammedbegan
an officialvisit to the US.
Algeria
(See also General, Afghanistan,Libya,
Saudi Arabia, Tunisia)
1969
Nov. 17: The state oil company SONATRACHan-
nounced the discovery of new layers of oil and
gas at Oued Noumer with an estimatedproduction
of 4m cubic meters of gas daily.
Nov. 22: El-Moudjahidpublished planned increases
in the agriculturalsection of the 4 year plan with
earnings in that sector expected to increase by
about ? 59.3m.
Nov. 24: A Frenchdelegationbegan negotiationson
the financial provisions of the 1965 Franco-
Algerian agreementwith talks expected to center
on Algeria's demand for an upward revision of
tax referenceprices on oil.
Dec. 4: A delegationled by Foreign MinisterBoute-
flika ended a 4 day visit to Mauritania.
Dec. 17: Tunisia signed a 20 year treatyof brother-
hood and cooperationproviding for equal treat-
ment of citizens of both countries, the establish-
ment of a joint committee to implement border
agreementsand settle border problems, the estab-
lishment of a mixed chamber of commerce to
regulate and promote trade and an agreement
on cooperationin fuel, gas and power.
Dec. 18: South Yemeni Foreign Minister 'Ali Silim
al-Baydended a 3 day visit.
Dec. 30: The country'sbudgetfor 1970 was reported
at ? 926.7m with the developmentbudget set at
? 551.4m.
1970
Jan. 9: North Vietnam signed a trade agreement
with the country.
West GermanChancellorWilly Brandtended a
2 week private visit.
Jan. 13: The OfficialGazetteannouncedthat Minister
of InteriorAhmed Medeghriwas assumingrespon-
sibility for the Ministry of Industryand Energy.
Jan. 20: Governmentsourcessaid that 'Abd al-Salam
was away from his portfolio of Industry and
Energy "for reasons of health."
The USSR signed an agreementproviding for
a 130m rouble rise in trade in 1970.
Jan. 21: PresidentBoumediennesigned a decreepro-
mulgating the 4 year plan to "consolidate"the
socialist economy and "reinforce"economic inde-
pendence. The mean annual GNP growth rate
was set at 9% with the investmenttotal for the
plan set at Ds 26.4m.
Jan. 31: President of Mali Moussa Traore ended a
2 day visit
Feb. 6: Syrian PresidentAtas; ended a 5 day official
visit after agreeing on expanded cooperationin
oil, technicalassistanceand culture.
Cyprus
(See also Turkey)
1969
Nov. 20: Presidentof the Cypriot House of Repre-
sentativesGlafcosCleridessaid he was not inclined
to continue negotiations with President of the
Turkish CypriotCommunalChamberRauf Denk-
tash within the framework of the inter-Cypriot
talk.
Nov. 21: PresidentMakariosexpressedhis "absolute
confidence"in Cleridesand said he had asked that
Clerides continue with the talks. Clerides an-
nounced that, at President Makarios'request, he
would continue with the talks.
Nov. 24: The Police Constable in Limassol was
wounded in an ambush.
Nov. 25: Denktash said what the Turkish side was
seeking through the inter-Cypriottalks was not
to dominate Greek Cypriot life but to cooperate
to maintain securityand propertywhile maintain-
ing their rights.
Dec. 1: The inter-Cypriottalks resumed, with dis-
cussion on procedurefor upcoming talks.
Dec. 4: The House of Representativespassed a bill
enabling the Interior Minister, with the Council
of Ministers'approval,to use the National Guard
for internal security purposes when he judges it
necessary.
Dec. 11: The UN SecurityCouncil voted to extend
the UN Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for 6
months.
Dec. 12: Two explosions occurredat British bases
at Akrotiri.
A strong explosion occurredin Limassol.
Dec. 14: InteriorMinisterKomodhromossaid Greek
Cypriots would continue to struggle with faith
to open the road "whichwill lead us to the desired
goal of our struggle,union of Cypruswith mother
Greece."
Dec. 15: Cleridessaid that Komodhromos'December
14 speech did not reflect the government'sviews.
Dec. 18: The 1970 budget of ? 27.6m was sub-
mitted to the House of Representatives.The de-
velopment budget was set at ? 13.058m and a
surplusof ? 3.6m will be transferredto the coun-
try's permanentfund.
Dec. 19: Bomb explosions occurredin Nicosia and
Limassol.
Dec. 20: The British High Commissionerprotested
to the Foreign Ministry over recent bomb in-
ddents.
 CHRONOLOGY 187

Dec. 24: The World Bank announcedit had agreed Jan. 26: Clerides and Denktash met for talks on
to lend $5m to help expandelectricpowerfacilities. judicial authority for the island.
Jan. 29: The House of Representativespassed the
1970 January15 draft bill on detention.
Jan. 7: Twenty men of the National Front raided Jan. 30: Iran contributed $4,000 toward the
the village of Omadhos and seized over 1,000 UNFICYP, it was reported.
weapons belonging to the National Guard. Feb. 15: A Bulgarian trade delegation arrived for
Jan, 8: The police force began an operationto collect talks on a 5 year trade and paymentsagreement.
arms and ammunition from civilians.
Jan. 10: The Council of Ministers decided to pass
emergency legislation making possible the arrest Iran
and detention without trial of persons for at least
3 months on the strength of a Supreme Court (See also General, Cyprus,Iraq, Turkey)
warrant.
Jan. 13: Komodhromossaid that 75% of the regis- 1969
tered weapons in the country had been collected Nov. 16: A spokesmanfor the InternationalFairs
and that as soon as collectionof registeredweapons and Exhibitions Corp. said that business trans-
was complete, the police would begin collecting acted at the Second Asian InternationalFair in
illegally held arms. Tehran in October amountedto $25m.
Jan. 14: Clerides said the bill proposed January 10 Nov. 18: The IranianOil Explorationand Producing
had been abandoned because it was contraryto Co. announced that oil had been discovered at
the Human Rights Conventionand said the Coun- Sarkan Lurestan, in southwest Iran, testing at
cil of Ministerswould considera new bill on "pre- 17,000 b/d.
ventative custody." Nov. 21: Hungarian President Pal Losonczi, lead-
Jan. 15: Police were placed on full alert to prevent ing an economic and political delegation, ended
incidents on the anniversaryof the pro-enosis a 6 day visit and announcedthat bartertrade be-
plebiscite of 1950. tween the 2 countrieswould be steppedup.
The Council of Ministersapproveda draft bill Nov. 29: CzechoslovakPresident Ludvic Svoboda
providing that in cases where there is reasonable ended a 5 day visit.
grounds to believe that a crime of violence will Dec. 14: Ten people were executed, convicted of
be committed,the judge may issue a court arrest using Army vehicles to smuggle large quantities
warrantand the period of detention may exceed of opium into Iran from Turkey.
3 months. Dec. 16: Poland signed a 5 year trade and payments
Jan. 16: An explosion occurred behind a British agreement to exchange goods worth $45.5m in
club in Famagusta,causing no casualties. 1970/71.
Komodhromoscalled on all people in possession Dec. 19: The ruler of Ra's al-Khaymahbegan a 6
of arms to surrenderthem within 10 days. day official visit for talks with the Shah and
President Makarios ended a 2 week visit to government officials.
Tanzania,Zambia and Kenya. Dec. 20: Prime Minister Abbas Hoveida arrived in
Jan. 17: Three bomb explosions occurred in the Moscowfor talks with Soviet PremierKosygin.
Nicosia area.
PresidentMakariosended a day'svisit to Greece 1970
for talks with Prime Minister Papadopoulos. Jan. 7: A consortium of French companies was
Jan. 18: Makariosended a meeting in Rome with awardeda ?40m contractto build the Reza Shah
former Greek King Constantine. Great Dam on the KarunRiver, it was announced.
Makarios said that if the inter-Cypriottalks Jan. 20: The Shah and EmpressFarahbegan a visit
fail, "I do not think another procedurewill have to Englandand Switzerlandfor a medicalcheck-up
greater chances of success" and said that the and a vacation.
Greek Cypriots"will never cease to be united in Jan. 22: The governmentnotified the Iraqi ambas-
spirit with Greece." sador and 4 of his staff they were to leave the
Unofficial reports said that govemment forces countrywithin 24 hours. All Iraqi consulateswere
had prevented an attempt on Makarios'life. closed and Iraqi consular officers expelled. Ex-
A harbor station in Limassol was raided and plaining the action, the Foreign Minister accused
blown up. the ambassadorand his staff members of "inter-
Jan. 25: Clerides said that both Greece and Turkey fering in the internal affairs of Iran."
believed that Cyprus should be an independent The ruler of Sharjahended a 6 day visit for
state, allowing unity while providing for Turkish talks thought to cover the proposedGulf federa-
minority rights, and said the government would tion, demarcationof the continentalshelf and ex-
take strict security measuresagainst underground pansion of trade.
activities. Jan. 30: Troops rescued 1,063 people and recovered
188 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL

43 bodies from the January29 avalanchesin the Dec. 18: INOC and the Hungarian state company
Elburz Mountains. Komokomplexsigned a general cooperationagree-
Feb. 8: Prime MinisterHoveida presentedthe 1970/ ment including granting INOC $15m credit for
71 budget to the Parliament,and said the increase equipmentand technical services.
of almost 50% in defense was necessarybecause Dec. 19: The Voice of Iraqi Kardistanreportedthat
of Iraqi provocationsand the critical situation in its forces had shot down 2 Air Force MIG-17s in
the Middle East and the Gulf. the first week of December.
Feb. 15: India signed an agreement under which Dec. 29: A law was issued requiringall Palestinians
Iranian petrochemicalswould be barteredfor In- residingin the countryto pay 39%of their salaries
dian industrialproducts. to the Palestine Fund.
The New York Times quoted "qualified in-
formants"from Baghdad as saying that a high
Iraq level government delegation was ready to meet
with Kurdish leader Barazaniif he were willing
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, General, Iran, to confer.
Lebanon,Libya, Persian Gulf, South Yemen, Dec. 30: Changesin the provisionalconstitutionwere
Turkey,Yemen) announced including the abolition of the post
1969 of Deputy Premier and an amendmentchanging
Nov. 17: Membershipof the Revolution Command weekly Cabinetmeetings to meetings convenedby
Council (RCC) was expanded with members of the President.
the Council to include: President Bakr, $alih Dec. 31: The following new ministers were an-
Mahdi 'Ammish, Hardan al-Takriti, Hammad nounced:
ShihTb, Sa'd-unGhaidan, Sidam Husayn Takrtfi, 'A-iz Sharif: Justice
'Abd al-Karim Shaykhli, 'Abdallah al-Sallam al- Sa'd 'Abd al-Baqi: Education
Slmarrd'i, 'Izzat Mustafa, Shafiq al-Kamali, 'Abd Suad Khalil Isma'il: Higher Educatio-n
al-Khaliq al-Samarra'i,SalaLh'Umar 'Ali, Murtada Hamid al-Jubunri: Culture and Information
Hadithi, 'Izzat Khiirl and Taha Jazriwi. Mawlud Kaimil:Agriculture
Nov. 22: Spain agreed to build a $5.5m pipe plant, 'Izzat IbrThimal-Duri: AgrarianReform
with the cost to be covered by Spanish credit. Sa'duin Hamadi: Oil and Minerals
Repaymentwill be in crude. Ahmad 'Abd al-Sattaral-Juwari:State for Pres-
Nov. 25: BaghdadRadio announcedthat full diplo- idential Affais
matic relations would be established with the Rashid al-Rifi'i: State
Provincial Revolutionary Government of South 'Abdallah al-Sall-umal-Samarra'i:State
Vietnam.
Nov. 27: The Beirut weekly al-Sayyadreportedthat
6 people includingformerInteriorMinisterRashid 1970
Muslih were sentencedto death for spying for the Jan. 5: LebaneseMinister of Interior Junblat ended
US CIA. Former Premier Bazzaz was acquitted a 2 day visit for talks on economic and political
of spying charges but sentenced to 15 years im- issues.
prisonmentfor conspiringagainstthe government. Le Monde reported that 200 tons of "muni-
Dec. 4: Czechoslovakiasigned a protocol on a wide tions" were shipped from Franceon January3 in
ranging oil-for-goods barter deal under which an Iraqi cargo ship.
Czechoslovakiawill build a 70,000 b/d refinery Jan. 10: The Ministryof Affairsof the North autho-
at Basrah and supply other industrial plant in rized the use of amountsallocatedin the 1969/70
exchange for crude. budget for the constructionof houses and roads
The Ir'aqiNews Agency reported that oil had in the northernprovinces.
been discoveredin the Anarag Province. Jan. 12: Le Figaro reportedthe arrival "a few days
Dec. 8: The Kurdishradio announcedthat its forces ago" in Paris of an arms purchasingmission to
attackedIraqi Army camps in two assaults "last negotiatea contractfor 50 Mirages. The Foreign
week" killing 25 Iraqi soldiers and wounding Ministry denied the report.
many others. Jan. 13: INOC announcedthat the Frenchoil group
Dec. 9: Chief of Staff Shihib ended a 10 day official ERAP had discoveredoil in commercialquantities
visit to the USSR for talks with officialson "ques- in the Tayib region.
tions of mutual interest." Jan. 18: The Foreign Ministry announcedit would
Education Minister al-Sattar al-Juwari ended close its embassyin Switzerlandin protest against
brief visits to Saudi Arabia and South Yemen the convictionby a Swiss courtof 3 Arabsinvolved
saying his mission had been "highly successful." in the February1969 Zurich indident.
Dec. 16: BaghdadRadio reported2 agreementswith Jan. 21: The RCC issued a communiquesaying that
the USSR to survey the Shatt al-'Arabcanal and on the night of January20, "a traitorous,malicious
build a ship yard in the country. group, in collusion with foreign elements" at-
 CHRONOLOGY
tempted to overthrowthe government. All mem-
bers of the plot were arrested.
Baghdad Radio announced that 16 people, in-
cluding 11 Army officers,2 police officersand 3
civilians were executed in connectionwith the at-
tempted coup.
Jan. 22: The government,chargingIraniandiplomats
with meddling in its internal affairs,ordered the
expulsion of the Iranian ambassadorand 4 em-
bassy officials. The Iranianconsulatesin Baghdad,
Kerbala and Basrah were closed.
The Iraqi radio announcedthat 8 Army officers
and 3 civilians were executedfor their part in the
attempted coup.
Jan. 24: A 3 man special court said that the last
3 of the plotters in the attempted coup were
executed.
The government reportedlyoffered amnesty to
all Kurdish tribesmenwho participatedin insur-
rection in the north.
Deputy Premier Takriti said that talks with
Barazani"to lay down a final peace formula"had
begun.
Jan. 26: INOC signed an agreementwith the Ceylon
Petroleum Corp. to supply Iraqi crude beginning
in 1972.
Jan. 28: Le Monde Weekly reported that Kurdish
leader Jala Tala'bgnihad been sent into exile.
Feb. 5: INOC concludedan oil-for-goodsbarterdeal
with the Italian firm Cosint.
Le Monde reported that the Iraqi government
had requestedand would receiveTurkishmediation
in its dispute with Iran.
Feb. 11: Oil MinisterSa'd-unHamadiannouncedthat
the countrywould build a 750 mile pipeline from
the Rumaylahfields to the Mediterranean.
Feb. 12: Hamidi announced the cancellation of
Article 3 of Law #80 underwhich the government
could allocate other lands as reserve to the IPC
group whose concession areas had been expro-
priated.
Israel
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict,General)
1969
Nov. 19: Prime Minister Golda Meir appealed to
world governmentsto "employthe full weight of
their influence"in assistingSoviet Jews to emigrate
to IsraeL
Nov. 21: The Middle EastEconomicSurveyreported
Israel's plans to drill off the west coast of the
Sinai Peninsula. The operation is reportedly being
handledby a US firm,King Resources,Inc., through
a British affiliate,Midbar,Ltd.
Nov. 24: Chairmanof King ResourcesJohn King
predicted that drilling would start soon on both
land and sea off the Sinai Peninsula but denied
that his company would actually carry out the
drilling in the Gulf of Suez which would be
189
done by Kenting of Canada. A Kenting spokes-
man said his firm had merely "loaned"the drilling
rig to Midbar, Ltd.
Nov. 26: Governor of the Bank of Israel David
Horowitz said that the state'sforeign currencyre-
serveswould fall by more than $200m and warned
against permitting an increase in the balance of
payments deficit.
Nov. 30: PresidentShazarsaid he had granted Mrs.
Meir an additional10 days to form a new govern-
ment becauseof difficultyin forming a coalition.
Dec. 11: The new Cabinet under Prime Minister
Meir was announcedas follows:
Yigal Allon: Deputy Premier and Education
Moshe Dayan: Defense
Abba Eban: Foreign Affairs
Pinhas Sapir: Finance
Zeev Sharef: Housing
Joseph Almogi: Labor
Israel Galili: Minister without portfolio
Shlomo Hillel: Police
Yaacov Shimshon Shapira: Justice
Shimon Peres: Minister without portfolio
Chaim Gvati: Agriculture
MenachemBegin: Minister without Portfolio
Joseph Saphir: Tradeand Industry
Ezer Weizmann: Transport
ElimelechRimalt: Post
Chaim Landau: Development
Ayeh Leon Dulzin: Minister without portfolio
Moshe Chaim Shapiro: Interior
Joseph Berg: Social Welfare
Zerah Warhaftig: Religious Affairs
Moshe Kol: Tourism
Israel Barzilai: Minister without portfolio
Victor Shemtov: Minister without portfolio
AP reported an official British rejection of an
Israeli request to buy British Chieftain tanks in
view of the arms balance in the area.
Dec. 15: In presentingthe new Cabinetto the Knesset,
Prime Minister Meir emphasized the need for
more immigrationand the intention to intensify
"the establishmentof security outposts and per-
manent settlementson the soil of the homeland."
She called for the development of Jerusalem to
"consolidateits unification"and said that Israel's
credo was "this time only a true peace."
Dec. 16: Foreign Minister Eban met with US Sec-
retary of State Rogers in Washington for talks
"relatedalmost exclusivelyto our respectivepoints
of view" on the Arab Israelisituation.
Dec. 20: Mrs. Meir announced that the Cabinet
would meet on December 22 to discuss "recent
developments in Israel-Americanrelations" and
that Ambassadorto the US Itzhak Rabin would
return to the country for consultations.
Ebanmet with BritishForeignSecretaryMichael
Stewart in London for talks on the Middle East
situation.
Dec. 21: Temporaryappointmentswere announced
190 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
giving Agriculture Minister Gvati the Health
portfolio and Minister without portfolio Peres the
Immigrant Absorption portfolio.
Dec. 26: The French news agency disclosed that
5 gunboats built for Israel had left Cherbourg
"clandestinely"early December 25. The French
Defense Ministrysaid the gunboatshad been sold
to a Norwegian commercialconcern,Starboatand
Weill S.A., and that, becausethey were unarmed,
the vessels were not consideredmilitary craft.
Dec. 27: The Norwegian Foreign Minister protested
to the French embassyin Oslo that no company
named Starboatand Weill existed and the gun-
boats had no right to fly the Norwegian flag.
Dec. 28: A Finance Ministry spokesman said that
FinanceMinisterSapirwould not acceptconditions
of the IMF on an additionalloan of $45m saying
that the size of the loan did not warrant such
conditions and that the IMF did not take into
accountthe country'sproblemssuch as its defense
expendituresand its absorptionof immigrants.
L'RxPresspublished a statementby Mrs. Meir
denying that the Cabinet would prepare a new
peace plan saying it was useless because "none
of our Arab neighbors are preparedto consider
one" and said "with the new Cabinet barely
formed, it would be absurd to begin by fruit-
lessly dividing the country."
Dec. 30: El Al will open a new service to Ethiopia
on January8, it was reported.
Dec. 31: The gunboats arrived in Kishon Harbor.
The Frenchgovernmentsuspended2 defenseof-
ficials involved in the gunboat affair and asked
Israel for the recall of its arms purchasingagent
in the country,Adm. MordechaiLimon.
1970
Jan. 1: The Foreign Ministry issued a statementon
the French actions saying "the Government does
not consideras justifiedany action implying criti-
dsm of Israelor its representatives."
Jan. 5: Finance Minister Sapir said that the coun-
try's direct defense budget for 1970 will be about
?500m, about 40% of the total budget.
Jan. 9: The US Israel Bond Organizationreported
that $159,041,750 in bonds were sold in the US
and abroadin the past year.
Jan. 11: The government approved an order re-
quiring importers to deposit 50% of the value
of all imported goods for six months after the
goods are taken out of customs.
Jan. 14: Eban said that France "has become, with
the Soviet Union, the most active element in up-
setting the balance of security" in the Middle
East and said "the answeris to look to the United
States for equipment and loans and to increase
our self sufficiency."
Jan. 16: An economic delegation ended a week's
visit to Ethiopiafor talks on providingthe country
with Israeli agriculturaland industrialexperts.
Jan. 18: The ministerial committee on the state
budget decided to reduce the 1970/71 develop-
ment budget by I? 250m and requestedall min-
istries to cut their development budgets by at
least 15%.
Jan. 23: The High Court decided by a 5 to 4 vote
that an Israelicould registerhis childrenas Jewish
by nationalityrather than religion, even though
their mother was non-Jewish.
Jon. 25: An explosion occurredat a military dock
in Elath, killing 18 soldiers and wounding 42.
An Army spokesmansaid the explosionwas "with-
out any doubt" accidental.
The National Religious Party said it would re-
sign from the governmentcoalition unless a law
was introducedin Parliamentreversingthe High
Court'sJanuary23 decision.
Jan. 27: The Chief RabbinateCouncil issued a ban
against the signing by anyone of any document
certifying that someone was Jewish when, under
Jewish law, he was not.
The Swiss governmentannouncedthat a ship-
ment of aircraft parts found aboard an El Al
airliner during a stopover in Geneva had been
seized under laws governing the exporting of war
materiel.
Feb. 1: Representativesof the ManufacturesAsso-
ciation and the Histadrut signed an agreement
giving workers 4% raises on their gross salaries
in interest bearing bonds and tax-free cash in-
creasesamountingto 4% of the first $200 of their
monthly salariesto compensatefor the rise in the
cost of living. Employerswill buy bonds valued
at 4% of their payroll.
Feb. 2: Two people were killed and severalwounded
in an explosion in a factory north of Tel Aviv.
Feb. 9: The Swiss government announced that a
shipment of radar parts being sent to Israel had
been seized "provisionally"under laws governing
the exportingof war materiel.
Feb. 10: The Knesset passed the first reading of a
bill acceptingthe rabbinicaldefinitionof a "Jew"
in civil legislation. Includedwas a clauseentitling
non-Jewishspouses,children and grandchildrenof
Jewish immigrantsto the benefits under the Law
of Return.
A 15 man Rumaniandelegationended a week's
visit for talks on economic and scientific co-
operation.
Feb. 12: The WashingtonPost reportedIsraeli news-
paperaccountsof proposalsby Eban in a February
8 Cabinet meeting for a new Israeli political
initiative to restorethe cease-firewith Egypt. The
proposal were reportedly rejected.
Mrs. Meir said she wanted to "stress that the
Cabinet discussionsare secret and that the things
that have been published in several newspapers
are not at all correct"and said there were "no
differencesof opinion at all in the Cabinet."
 CHRONOLOGY
Feb. 13: The EEC reached an agreementwith the
government, effectve upon approval of the EEC
Council of Ministers, providing for an eventual
45% reductionon industrialand agriculturalim-
ports from Israel while Israel would eventually
grant tariff cuts on industrial imports from EEC
countriesby from 10-25%.
Feb. 15: The government said that the oil storage
tank at Ashkelon was filling normally with oil
from the Ashkelon-Elathpipeline which had been
completed in December.
Eban began a 3 day officialvisit to The Nether-
lands.
Jordan
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict,Kuwayt,
Libya, Morocco,UAR)
1969
Nov. 19: The government approved the appoint-
ment of a Soviet military attache in Amman.
Nov. 20: The Chairmanof the Natural Resources
Authorityreportedthat a consortiumof West Ger-
man firms, Deminex, was joining the Yugoslav
INA in exploring for oil in the country.
Nov. 22: Prime Minister Bahjat al-Talhiini won a
vote of confidencein the House of Representatives
34 to 6.
Dec. 14: Talhiini describedthe USSR as "a faithful
friend" and said there was no doubt that relations
between the 2 countries "will become better and
better."
Dec. 15: Zayd Rifa'i was appointed Chief of the
Royal Cabinet.
Dec. 17: Turkish President Cevdet Sunay ended a
3 day state visit after affirmingTurkish "friend-
ship and support" for its "Arab brothers"and
opposing "the use of force as a means of imposing
unilateral solutions."
Dec. 18: The governmentannouncedreceipt of the
Kuwayti aid installmentof JDs 1.156m.
Dec. 19: The government received JDs 1.156m as
a Saudi installment of aid.
Dec. 21: Amman's security court sentenced 14 Jor-
danians including Taki al-Din Nabahini to sen-
tences rangingfrom death to 2 yearsimprisonment
for conspiracyto overthrow the government.
1970
Jan. 1: A Russian friendship delegation arrived on
a 4 day visit.
Jan. 6: King Ilusayn ended a 2 week private visit
to London.
Jan. 8: King .Iusayn said that although the Rabat
conference achieved some positive results, the
"maximumlevel of common Arab action" would
have to be decided at the "front-line" states'
summit. 1969
Jan. 14: Husaynreassertedhis intentionto armJordan Nov. 17: An Interiot Ministr spokesman denied
with weapons and said "if we cannot meet our
191
needs in the West, we will turn somewhereelse."
Jan. 17: The Cabinet approved the 1970 budget
with total revenue set at JDs 88.4m and defense
allotted JDs 42m.
Jan. 18: Minister of National EconomySami Judah
announced agreement in principle with Iran to
expand trade in industrialproductsand raw ma-
terials.
Feb. 2: Prime Minister Talhuiniended a 9 day of-
ficial visit to West Germany during which West
Germany agreed to make about ?7m worth of
credit availableto the country.
Feb. 4: UAR War MinisterMuhammadFawzi ended
a 3 day visit.
Feb. 10: The governmentannouncedsecurity meas-
ures on commandoactivitywithin the countryin-
cluding prohibitions against carrying arms in
towns, against demonstrationsand unauthorized
publications and all political party activity and
requiredthat all carshave licenseplates,all dtizens
have identity cards and all weapons stockpilesbe
surrenderedwithin 2 weeks.
Ten commandogroups formed The Emergency
Unified Command to deal with the government
securitymeasures. The Commandsaid that meas-
ures "weremeant to push the countryto the verge
of civil war" and said that the return of normal
conditions in the country depended on the gov-
ernment'srescindingthe measures.
Government troops were stationed around
Amman.
Feb. 11: The Command said it would resist with
force any attemptto enforcethe securitymeasures.
Fath reporteda clash between governmentand
commando forces with several Jordaniansoldiers
wounded.
The New York Times quoted "high officials"as
saying that a Pakistaniregiment had moved into
the country.
Feb. 12: Eight commandoswere killed in a clash
last night between soldiers and commandos fol-
lowing an attempt by the Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine to hold a meeting in a
suburbof Amman.
King Husaynand commandogroups reachedan
agreement providing for the "freezing" of gov-
ernment security measuresand the end by com-
mandos of provocationsthat could cause tension.
They agreed to begin discussionson their differ-
ences and said that all their "energies shall be
mobilized in our battle of destiny."
The government received the Libyan aid pay-
ment of Ds 2,216,583.
Kuwayt
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict,General,Jordan)
reports that the new residencelaws were respon-
192 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
sible for the country'seconomicstagnationand said
"the doors of Kuwaytare wide open for merchants
and businessmen desiring to visit the country"
and "our frontier authoritiesand embassiesabroad
have been instructedto facilitatethe issue of entry
visas to merchantsand expedite commercialtrans-
acions."
Nov. 29: Seventeenpeople were given sentencesrang-
ing from 1 to 7 years for trying to overthrowthe
government.
Dec. 12: Pakistan signed an agreement with the
KuwaytFertilizersCompanyfor the supply of $5m
worth of urea to Pakistan.
Dec. 17: Akhbaral-Kuwaytreportedthat India signed
a $3.7m barteragreement.
Dec. 18: Saudi Arabia signed a supplementalagree-
ment on the partitionof the mainlandof the neutral
zone.
Dec. 26: Pakistani Minister of CommerceAhsanul
Haque ended a 5 day visit.
Dec. 28: The Daily News quoted an "officialsource"
as saying the government had promised an addi-
tional ilOm in aid to the UAR and Jordanat the
Rabat Summit.
Dec. 29: Al-Siyisahreportedthat Kuwayt'sadditional
aid payment was a contribution and not to be
regardedas an annual payment.
1970
Jan. 3: Yugoslav CommerceMinister Izzet Zobovic
began a 4 day visit for talks on expanding bi-
lateral trade.
Jan. 8: KuwaytRadio reportedan EastGermanagree-
ment to establish commercial relations and ex-
change representativeswith the country.
Al-Siydsah quoted a "highly placed official
Kuwayti source"as saying that "Kuwaytis ready
to cut off oil supplies to the West if the other
Arab oil producing countries are willing to act
in consort with it."
Jan. 12: Commandoleader Yasir 'Arafatended a 2
day visit for talks with the Crown Prince.
Jan. 19: Finance Minister 'Atiqi said the new state
budget totalled about Ds 300m, with Ds 65m
allotted for "Arabsteadfastness."
Jan. 23: The Middle East EconomicSurvey reported
that a parliamentarycommittee approved a draft
law authorizing the government to apply an ac-
celerated schedule for tax payments by oil com-
panies in the country.
Jan. 26: Al-Ra' al-'Am was suspendedfor 10 days
for violating the press law, reportedlyfor its criti-
cism of an editorial in al-Ahrim by Muhammad
Haykal.
Feb. 2: Kuwayt Radio reported an agreement by
the Kuwayt Flour Mills Co. on 20% capital
participationin the projectedBahrayniFlour Mills
Co. and an agreementbetween the 2 countriesto
work for the establishmentof a Kuwayti-Bahrayni
bank.
Feb. 11: Akhbir al-Yawmreportedthat the UN De-
velopment Programme will provide $637,000
worth of aid to establish an industrial training
center.
Feb. 13: A 5 man Rumaniandelegationled by Foreign
Trade MinisterCornel Burticaended a 5 day visit
for talks on improving trade relations.
Lebanon
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, Iraq, Syria, UAR)
1969
Nov. 19: Prime Minister designate Rashid Karami
announced the formation of a 4 man "national
committee"to help form a new Cabinetinduding
$abni Hamadah, Pierre al-Jumayyil,Kanail Jun-
blat and Henri Firt'awn.
Nov. 20: A military spokesmanreporteda clash be-
tween Army troops and commandosin Nabatiyah,
with 3 guerrillas killed and 6 wounded and 6
soldiers wounded. The statement said the clash
began when about 100 guerrillas opened fire on
the Army post at Nabatiyah and was an attempt
by "suspiciouselements"to undermine the Cairo
agreement.
Nov. 25: A new Cabinetwas formed as follows:
Rashid Karimi: Prime Minister and Finance
Fu'id Ghusni: Deputy Premierand Posts, Tele-
graphs & Telephones
'Adil 'Usayrin: Justice
Majid Arsilan: National Defense
Kamil Junblat: Interior
Pierre al-Jumayyil:Public Works
Nasim Majdalani:Foreignand ExpatriateAffairs
Khatchik Babkian: Tourism
SulaymanFranjiyyah:Economy
Maurice al-Jumayyil:Planning
'Uthman al-Dana: Information
Rafiq Shahin: Social Affairs
Yusuf Abu Khatir: Education
Anwaral-Khatib:Waterand Power
'Abd al-LadifZayn: Agriculture
Habib Mutran: Health
Nov. 26: The decree of December 1968 placing the
country's security forces at the disposal of the
Army was repealed.
Nov. 27: The National LiberationParty decided to
withdrawfrom the Cabinet although the decision
will not be implementedimmediately.
Dec. 1: The Beirt Court of Appeals handed down
a decision saying that a statementof religious af-
filiationwas no longer requiredon Lebaneseiden-
tity cards.
Dec. 4: In a policy statementbefore the Chamberof
Deputies, Prime Minister Karami promised eco-
nomic, social and fiscal reforms and called for
more effective tax collection. He welcomed the
Rabat conference,hoping it would lead to a clos-
ing of the ranks against Israel and emphasized
 CHRONOLOGY
that Lebanon'ssovereignty would "remain com-
plete, covering all parts of the country."
Dec. 5: The Ministry of Interior announcedrestric-
tions on funeralsof guerrillaskilled in actionunder
which guerrilla organizations will have to ask
government authorities for a funeral permit, all
processionswill be escorted by Lebanesesecurity
men and no armed men will be allowed to par-
ticipate.
Dec. 6: The governmentwon a vote of confidence
in the Chamberof Deputies.
Dec. 9: Minister of Agriculture'Abd al-Latif Zayn
said that while the Green Plan for southernLeba-
non had been interruptedbecause of a shortage
of credit, the governmenthad a "specialinterest"
in the Plan and it would be resumed under the
1970 budget.
Dec. 13: JordanianPrime Minister Talhuni ended a
3 day private visit.
Dec. 16: The EEC agreed to make 15,000 tons of
wheat available.
Dec. 19: PresidentHili, accompaniedby the Prime
Minister and the Ministersof Foreign Affairs and
Defense, ended a 3 day visit to France for talks
with PresidentPompidou which were called "suc-
cessful."
Dec. 31: Al-Amal reported that Interior Minister
Junblat had informed the Parti Populaire Syrien,
the Arab Nationalist Movement, the Ba'th Party,
the CommunistParty, the Tachnekand the Hent-
chak that they could resume operations in the
country.
1970
Jan. 4: Minister of Public Works Jumayyil wrote
in al-Amal that Lebanonmust now "turn to our
brothersthe commandosand ask them to eliminate
their presence" from the country because it
threatens"to bring destructionto Lebanon."
Jla. 7: The Cabinet removed Commanderin Chief
of the Armed Forces Bustani and named his suc-
cessoras Brig. GeneralJean Nujaym.
Jan. 8: Interior Minister Junblat announced that
agreement was reached in which the guerrillas
would refrain from shooting across the border
into Israel, that they would not establish camps
closer than 500 yards from villages and that they
would halt military training of other Palestinians
in refugee camps.
Jan. 9: A TWA airliner en route from Paris to
Rome was hijacked to Beirut.
Jan. 12: Prime Minister Karami announced a
?Leb lOOm plan to "fortify"villages along the
southern border. Villagers will be provided with
weapons and trained by the Army and emergency
medical supplies provided. He also announcedthe
country'sdecision to ask for Arab assistancefor
the defense plans.
Jan. 15: Demonstrationsoccurredin the villages of
Nabatiyah and Hasbayyahafter the burning of a
193
reportedal-$i'iqahoffice. The demonstrationswere
reportedly by citizens against the opening of a
commandooffice near villages.
After meeting with the Internal SecurityCoun-
cil, Minister of Interior Junblit said that com-
mandos must leave the towns of Nabatiyah and
Hasbayyahand said "Lebanonsupports the com-
mandos but the commandosmust rememberthat
they have agreed to stay away from inhabited
places so that they may not unnecessarilyexpose
women and old men to harm."
Jan. 18: A dynamiteexplosion in a Jewish school in
Beirut shatteredhundredsof windows and injured
several patients at a nearby hospital. An Internal
Security spokesman said the explosion was the
work of a criminal and was designed to defame
Lebanon.
The UAR signed a new tradeprotocolproviding
that the UAR will annuallybuy at least $250,000
worth of Lebanesesupplies in exchange for UAR
commodities.
Jan. 19: Junblit said that, after a meeting with com-
mando leader 'Arafat, "commandoshave agreed
that responsibilityfor law and order in the refu-
gee camps is that of the Lebaneseauthorities."
Jan. 27: Iraqi Minister of Defense Takriti ended a
5 day visit for talks which he called "satisfactory."
Jan. 28: The Chamber of Deputies approved the
?Leb 827,665,000 1970 general budget.
Feb. 13: Members of the country's9 trade unions
announced they would go on a general strike
March 4 if their demandsfor better health insur-
ance coverage and higher wages were not met.
LibyanArabRepublic
(See also General, Jordan, Sudan)
1969
Nov. 18: Sudanese Council Chairman Numayrl
ended a 2 day visit with a communiquecalling
on the Arab states to mobilize their economies
"to become an influential world force in the
service of the fateful struggle."
Nov. 19: The AgricultureMinister announcedplans
designed to stop the migration of farm workers
to the cities and increase agriculturalproduction.
Nov. 27: The Finance Minister ordered the re-
moval of the September 1 banking restrictions
except those concernedwith transfer of currency
and bearer'ssavings accounts.
Nov. 30: The RevolutionCommandCouncil (RCC)
lifted the curfew imposed September1.
Dec. 3: The RCC acceptedthe resignationof Min-
ister of EducationMustafaBin 'Amirand appointed
Ahmad Rajab Fayturto replace him.
Dec. 9: An Algerian delegationled by Foreign Min-
ister Bouteflika ended a 5 day visit after an-
nouncing agreements to set up joint companies
for cooperation in the exploration, exploitation
and marketingof oil.
194 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Dec. 10: The RCC announcedthat the government
had foiled a counter-revolutionary "plot" to over-
throw the governmenton December 7. The plot,
motivated by "egotism,""hidden foreign hands"
and the belief that the first of September "was
the beginning of a series of military coups," in-
cluded the Defense and Interior Ministers and
military men.
Dec. 11: The government announced that a court
martial would be held for those accusedof trying
to overthrowthe government.
The RCC announceda constitutionunder which
the RCC would be the "highestauthority"in the
country. The RCC will appoint a Council of
Ministersand is empoweredto proclaimwar, con-
clude treaties and declaremartial law and a state
of emergency. Under the constitution, the state
"aims at materializingsocialismby applying social
justice" and "public ownership is the basis to
evolve and develop the society." However, "the
unexploiting private ownership is guaranteedand
will not be expropriatedsave in accordancewith
the law."Freedomof opinion is guaranteed"within
the limits of the people's interest and the prin-
ciples of the Revolution."
Dec. 13: Britain agreed to withdraw all its forces
from the countryby March 31, 1970.
Dec. 16: The South Yemeni Foreign Minister ended
a 2 day visit.
Dec. 23: The US and Libya issued a joint com-
munique announcingagreementthat all American
forces and equipment would be withdrawnfrom
Wheelus base by June 30, 1970.
Dec. 29: The British Aircraft Corp. announced it
had cancelled a ?100m contract with Libya for
an aerial defense networkfollowing Libya'srefusal
to make payments on contracts negotiated with
the Idris government.
UAR PresidentNasir ended a 5 day visit.
1970
Jan. 5: Iraqi Minister of State al-Samarra'ibegan a
4 day visit
Jan. 7: FrenchspokesmanLMoHamon confirmedthat
his government was engaged in negotiations for
"cooperationin all fields."
Jan. 9: Agence PrancePresse quoted official sources
saying that a Libyan arms mission had signed
an agreementwith GeneraleAe'ronautiqueMarcel
Dassault for the purchaseof about 50 Mirage jet
fighter planes.
Jan. 10: Members of the RCC were announcedas
follows: Col. Mu'ammaral-Qadhdhafi,Chairman,
Capt. 'Abd al-SalamJalliad,Capt. Mukhtar'Abdal-
lih al-Qarawi,Capt. Bashir al-Saghiral-Hawwadi,
Capt. 'Abd al-Mun'im al-Tahir al-Hfini, Capt.
Mustafl al-Kharriibi, Capt. al-Khuwayldi al-
Hamidit, Capt. Muhammad Najm, Capt. 'Awad
'A1l Hamzah,Capt. Abu Bakr Yunis Jibir, 1st Lt.
'Umar 'Abdallahal-Muhayshland 1st Lt. Muham-
mad Abu Bakr al-Muqaryif.
Libya agreed to establish relations with Mauri-
tania and Somalia.
Jan. 12: JordanianChief of Staff Hayiri ended a
2 day visit.
Jan. 15: The RCC appointedAbuiBakr Yunis Jibir
as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
Jan. 16: The RCC acceptedthe resignationof Prime
Ministeral-Maghribiand announcedthe following
Cabinet:
Mu'ammaral-Qadhdhifi: Prime Minister and
Defense
'Abd al-Salim Jallud: Vice Premier, Interior
and Local Government
Bashir al-Hawwadi: Education and National
Guidance
'Umaral-Muhayshi:Economy,Industry
Muhammadal-Muqaryif:Housing and Public
Buildings
Silih Buwaysir: Unity and Foreign Affairs
'Umar Ramadin: Communications,Works
Muhammadal-Jadi: Justice
Miftah al-Usti 'Umar: Health
Jum'ahShurayhah:Agricultureand Agricultural
Reform
'Izz al-Din al-Mabrfik:Petroleumand Minerals
'Abd al-'Ati al-'Ubaydi:Laborand Social Affairs
MuhammadHulayyil al-Rabi'i: Treasury
The RCC decreedthe formationof the National
Defense Council to include the Ministers of De-
fense and Interior,the Intelligence Service Chief,
and Army Chief of Staffand membersof the RCC
and be chaired by the RCC Chairman.
Jan. 20: The Petroleumand Minerals Minister met
with representativesof the 22 oil exporting com-
panies in the country to begin negotiations on
raising the posted price of crude.
Jan. 21: FrenchDefense Minister Michel Debre an-
nouncedthe sale of combataircraftto Libyawould
include the delivery over the next 4 years of 50
Mirage jets, 30 Mirage III interceptorsand 20
trainer reconnaissanceplanes.
Jan. 24: Agence FrancePresse quoted "authoritative
circles"as saying that reportsof Egyptianpartici-
pation in armsnegotiationswith Francewere "pure
fiction."
Jan. 25: Minister of Economy 'Umar al-Muhayshi
announcedthe 1970 developmentbudgetwill total
?559m.
Jan. 27: An Algerian oil delegation ended a 4 day
visit for talks on cooperationbetween the 2 coun-
tries on oil problems and coordinationin the 2
countries' demands for an increase in the tax
referenceprices.
Jan. 31: Greek officialssaid that 112 Libyanswere
being trained at the Greek Air Force Academy
and that about 120 Libyan pilots had graduated
from the school over the last 4 years.
Feb. 7: AP reported the denial by Libyan officials
 CHRONOLOGY
of an Israeli report that al-Qadhdhafihad been
injured in an assassinationattempt 2 weeks ago.
Feb. 10: The first session of the Special Military
Court was held, trying 30 men including the Jan. 22: King Hasansaid Moroccanswould contribute
former Defense Minister Hawwaz and former In-
terior Minister Muisa Ahmad, for plotting the
armed overthrowof the government.
Feb. 12: A French delegation led by Director of Jan. 23: King Hasanannouncedthat the recentfloods
Economic Affairs in the Foreign Ministry Jean
Pierre Brunet ended a 5 day visit for talks on
"possible avenues of French cooperation with
Libya."
Morocco
(See also General, Syria)
1969
Nov. 16: President of the World Bank Robert
McNamaraended a visit to the country after sign-
ing agreementsgranting$60m in loans and saying
that he looked forwardto "substantialexpansion"
of IBRD lending to the country.
Nov. 18: Cuba signed a trade and paymentsagree-
ment under which 300,000 metric tons of Cuban
raw sugar will be bought over the next 3 years.
Nov. 21: Police seized the day's issue of L'Opinion, Feb. 15: Spain extraditedto Moroccan officials in
reportedlyfor its editorial criticizing the lack of
freedom of the press in the country.
Dec. 13: The IMF agreed to make a stand-bycredit
of $25m availableto the countryover the next year.
Dec. 16: It was announcedin Paris that the 2 coun-
tries had agreed to reestablishdiplomaticrelations
on the ambassadoriallevel.
Dec. 20: Canada agreed to lend $4.4m to finance
a land survey of 630,000 hectares.
Syria agreed to reestablishdiplomatic relations
with the country.
1970
Jan. 2: Le Monde reported the announcementby
Finance Minister Mamoun Tahiri that the 1970
budget would be ?244.3m, with ?96.5m alloted
for investment.
Jan. 5: The French AmbassadorClaude Lebel pre-
sented his credentialsto King Hasan.
Jan. 6: Jordanian Chief of Staff 'All Ahmad al-
Hayiai began a private visit to the country.
Jan. 12: Tunisian Minister of Foreign AffairsHabib
BourguibaJr. ended a 2 day official visit.
Jan. 14: The World Bank announcedits approvalof
a $15m loan to provide foreign exchange for a
development finance company, Banqae Nationale
poNrle De'veloppementtconomique.
Jan. 16: A delegationled by Ministerof the Interior
Oufkir ended a 4 day visit to Mauritaniawith
the announcementthat diplomaticrelationswill be
established between the countries at the ambas-
sadoriallevel.
Jan. 17: The InternationalRed Cross said that over
100,000 people were homeless in the Kenitra,
195
Meknes, Fez and Taza areas after 2 weeks of
torrential rain ended January 15 and said the
Red Crescentwas running out of supplies.
up to ?1.6m to the PalestineLiberationOrganiza-
tion through indirect taxes on such items as
cigarettesand tobacco.
had left 150,000 hectaresof cultivatedland under
water, resulting in a ?12.5m loss of agricultural
products.
Jan. 26: Italian Foreign Minister Aldo Moro ended
a 5 day visit for talks which "confirmed"the
countries' wish to "strengthen the traditional
friendship between them and to explore ways in
which cooperationcould be developedin all fields."
Feb. 8: King Hasan ended a week's "private"visit
to Francefor talks in which PresidentPompidou
promisedcontinuedand increasedFrench aid and
cooperation.
US Secretaryof State William Rogers met with
Foreign MinisterBoutalebfor what was described
as a friendly talk about the Moroccan economy
and the forthcoming appointment of a US am-
bassadorto the country.
MadridMohammadAjar and Ahmed Ben Geloun
who had been sentencedto death in absentia by
Moroccan judiciary. Spain also handed over to
Syrian authorities4 Moroccanswho were holding
Syrianpassportsand who, together with Ajar and
Geloun, were arrestedin Januaryby Spain at the
request of the Moroccanauthoritiesfor plotting
to overthrowthe Moroccangovernment.
Pakistan
(See also General, Jordan, Kuwayt)
1969
Nov. 19: The AID signed a $20m loan agreement
under which more than 200,000 tons of American
fertilizers will be supplied to Pakistani farmers.
Nov. 21: One person was killed in Karachi when
police opened fire on demonstratingworkers.
Nov. 23: The New York Times reportedgovernment
actions "this week" induding the arrest of 78
people including local leaders in Hyderbad for
going on a hunger strike demandingthe division
of West Pakistan into 4 provinces and the an-
nouncement by the Election Committee of its
"final"decision to print election lists in Urdu in
West Pakistan and Bengali in East Pakistan.
Nov. 26: PresidentYahya will visit the USSR next
Spring, it was announced.
Nov. 28: President Yahya announced that general
elections will be held on October 5, 1970, on
the basis of "one man, one vote," to elect a Na-
tional Assembly which, within 120 days, will
form a new constitution or be dissolved. The
196 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Presidentalso announcedthat West Pakistanwill
be split into 4 provinces: Sind, the Punjab, the
Northwest Frontier and Baluchistan.
Nov. 29: Twenty-threepeople were arrested,charged
with an attempt on former Foreign Minister Ali
Bhutto'slife.
Dec. 7: PresidentYahya announcedhis decision to
have 303 governmentofficialstried before military
tribunalson chargesof corruptionand malpractice.
Dec. 9: The USSR signed an agreement changing
the patternof goods exchanged,with Pakistanim-
porting 10% more raw materialsfrom the USSR
and exporting 59%more manufacturedgoods.
Dec. 13: IDA approved a credit of $800,000 to
finance the foreign exchange costs of engineering
services for the East Pakistan Water and Power
Development Authority.
Dec. 20: An Indian official spokesmancharged that
East Pakistaniborderforces fired acrossthe border
at Bamangola. The Defense Ministry denied the
report.
Dec. 21: PresidentYahya issued guidelinesfor politi-
cal activityin the countryincludingthe prohibition
of the use of force or the offer of monetarygain
in seeking support for the views of any political
party, safeguardingthe independenceof the press,
radio and television, and making provision for
keeping order during campaigningfor the October
elections.
Dec. 22: The Chief Martial Law Administratoran-
nounced the cancellation,effective January 1, of
the regulation banning public meetings and pro-
cessionsof a political nature.
Dec. 26: Foreign SecretaryM. S. Yusuf ended a 6
day visit to the USSR.
1970
Jan. 1: A letter from Ayub Khan dated December
22 was made public in which he delegatedall his Dec. 20: It was reported that the Ruler of Dubai
powers and responsibilitiesas the Presidentof the
PakistaniMuslim League to Fazlul Adir Chowd-
hury.
Jan. 12: Poland signed an agreement to exchange 1970
115m rupeesworth of goods in 1970.
Jan. 18: About 350 people were injured in Dacca
when fighting broke out during a political rally
when a Jam'at-i-Islamispeakercriticizedthe poli-
cies of left wing parties.
Jan. 20: Eighty people were arrestedin connection
with the January 18 violence in which 4 people
were killed and over 400 wounded.
Jan. 21: A Japanesedelegationled by Deputy Foreign
Minister Shinshaku Hogen ended a 2 day visit
for talks on increasing cooperation in the com- Jan. 19: The ruler of Bahraynannouncedthe coun-
mercial, technical and cultural fields.
Jan. 22: The Ruler of Abu Dhabi ended a 3 day visit.
The USSR firm Yazpromexportagreed to co-
operate with the PakistaniSteel Mills Corp. in a
study on the Karachi steel mill project.
Jan. 26: The Army was called out in Hyderbadafter
clashesbetweenSindhisand othergroupsand burn-
ing and looting in several sections of the city.
Officialssaid that 16 were injuredand 20 arrested.
Jan. 31: The governmentannouncedthe resignation
of Marshal Nur Khan as Governor of West
Pakistan.
Feb. 7: The governmentannouncedthat the country
will begin its 4th 5 year plan in July.
Feb. 8: Japanagreed to provide $3m worth of credit
for the purchaseof "developmentgoods."
Feb. 11: The IDA announcedit will lend the gov-
ernment $20m, who will relend the proceeds of
the loan to the IndustrialDevelopment Bank of
Pakistan.
PersianGulf
(See also General, Iran, Kuwayt, Pakistan)
1969
Nov. 19: The US OccidentalPetroleumCorp. signed
an agreementwith Umm al-Qaywayngetting ex-
clusive drilling rights for oil in a 775 square
mile offshoreconcessionarea.
Nov. 26: The Popular Front for the Liberationof
the OccupiedArabianGulf issued a communique
reportinga clash with 2 British ships at Rakhyut
during which one of the ships was severely
damaged. The Front reportedhitting one of the
British planes called in as reinforcement.
Dec. 8: The Trucial States Development Council
met in Shajahfor talks on the upcoming budget.
Dec. 13: BahraynRadio reportedthat talks between
the rulersof Qatarand Abu Dhabi on the proposed
Federationwere successful.
The UN General Assembly voted to deplore
continued British presence in Muscat and Oman.
Dec. 18: The Bank Melli Iran opened a branch in
Qatar.
agreed to grant BDs 2.5m to the Trucial States
Development Council in 1970.
Jan. 6: The Buttes Gas and Oil Co. announcedthat
it and the Clayco Petroleum Corp. had been
awardedoil explorationrights in 770 squaremiles
in Dubai.
Jan. 7: QatarorderedTiger Cat anti-aircraftmissiles
worth nearly ilm from a British firm, it was
reported.
Jan. 15: Commandoleader 'Arafat ended a 4 day
visit to the Gulf, meeting with governmentleaders
in Dubai, AbuiDhabi and Qatar.
try's first Cabinet, to be called the Council of
State, as follows:
Shaykh Khalifah bin Salman: President
Shaykh Hamad bin 'Isa Al Khalifah: Defense
Shaykh Muhammad bin Mubarak: Foreign
Affairs
 CHRONOLOGY 197
Sayyid Yudsufal-Shirawi:Finance Times said that the Saudi Army had driven the
MuhammadJabir al-Ansari: Information South Yemenis backover 7 miles from the post of
Ahmad al-Umran: Education al-Wadi'ah.
'Al Fakhroo: Health Dec. 6: Minister of State al-Saqqaf said that oil
Shaykh 'AbdallUh bin Khalid Al Khalifah: revenues which determine external aid depended
Municipalitiesand Agriculture upon a continuedflow of oil through Tapline and
Ustadh Jawad Salim Al Urayidh: Labor and that "if the pipelines are blown up again we shall
Social Affairs be obliged to reduce our aid."
Shaykh Khalid bin MuhrammadAl Khalifah: Dec. 7: Ministerof Defense Sultin bin 'Abd al-'Aziz
Justice said the countryhad resumed aid to the Yemeni
The new Council of State will replace the Royalists after a Yemeni air raid on Najran on
Council of Administration. November 14. He also said the governmenthad
Jan. 22: A Japaneseeconomic delegationarrivedon authorized its forces on the southern frontier
a 3 week visit for talks on participationin Qatari to pursue the enemy acrossthe "de facto border"
industrial projects and development. into South Yemen if that Army resumedits attack.
Feb. 9: The Ruler of Dubai ended a 2 day visit to Dec. 9: The US Tenneco Oil Co. reported that in-
Abut Dhabi for talks with Shaykh Zayd on the dications of a "prolific gas-condensatediscovery"
importanceof strengtheningfriendshipbetweenthe were made 10 miles off the Saudi coast at the
countries. head of the Red Sea.
An Iraqi goodwill delegation arrived in Qatar.
Feb. 10: The ruler of Dubai arrived in Qatar for 1970
talks reportedly on the proposed Federation. Jan. 15: King Faysal met with Tunisian President
Feb. 15: The Sunday Times (London) published Bourguiba in Paris for talks.
"reliable reports" of an attack by the Popular The governmentsaid it had carriedout 2 raids
Front for the Liberationof the OccupiedArabian on Yemen on January 14 in retaliation for the
Gulf "some weeks ago" on an airstrip at Salalah November 14 Yemeni raids.
which was reportedly "so accurate"that British Jan. 18: King Faysalended a 2 week visit to France.
RAF personnel "narrowlyescaped death" and the Reuters reported the discovery of new water
base had to be reinforcedby other British military reserves near Riyad, reportedlysufficient for the
personnel. city's needs for the next 15 years.
Jan. 27: A delegation from the Algerian SONA-
Saudi Arabia TRACH arrived for a week's visit for talks on
increasedcooperationbetween SONATRACHand
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict,General,Jordan, Petromin.
Kuwayt, South Yemen, UAR, Yemen) Feb. 5: Ukazreportedthat the newly formedSupreme
1969 AgriculturalBoardwill preparea 5 year develop-
Nov. 17: The daily al-Madina reported that the ment programto expand cultivatedareas and in-
CommunicationsMinistry was studying expansion crease agricultural productivity.
of the ports of al-Jubayl,Tarut and Qatif.
Nov. 18: Ministerof State for Foreign Affairs'Umar
al-Saqqif said the governmentwould maintain its South Yemen
financialaid, as agreed on at the 1967 Khartum
(See also General,Algeria,Libya,Saudi Arabia,
Conference, under all but the most compelling
circumstances. Sudan, Syria,UAR, Yemen)
Nov. 20: A UAR delegation led by EconomyMin- 1969
ister Zaki ended a visit for talks on increasing Nov. 18: The PresidentialCouncil was reportedto
bilateral trade. have decided to encouragelocal capital and "give
Nov. 26: Jiddah Radio said that South Yemeni the same facilities to foreign capital if it will
forces had captured the post at al-Wadi'ah and work in the development field."
said the country was "determinedto get its ter- Nov. 25: AP reportedthat governmenttroops "have
ritory back."The fate of the 26 Saudi guards at been placed on alert along borders amid reports
the post was unknown. of a possible attack by Saudi Arabian-backed
Dec. 1: The government announced its forces had mercenaries."
retaken al-Wadi'ih post. Nov. 26: Minister of Culture and Guidance 'Abd
Dec. 2: A military spokesmansaid that the Royal al-BariQisim said Saudi forcessupportedby Saudi
Air Force had carried out 2 raids on South aircraft attempted to occupy a position at al-
Yemeni positions destroying6 ammunitiontrucks Wadi'ah.
and 4 armored vehicles, with no Saudi casualties Nov. 27: Chairmanof the PresidentialCouncil Silim
suffered. 'All Rubaya announcedthe nationalizationof 36
Dec. 3: "Militarysources"quoted by The New York foreign firms operatingin the countryto "liberate
198 THE MlIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
the economy from foreign domination." Share-
holders and owners of the firms will be com-
pensated by 20 year bonds bearing 2% interest
annually.
Aden Radio reported a resolution making
FinanceMinister Mahmud'Abdallih 'Ashish Vice
Premier for Financial and Economic Affairs.
The government said that fighting was con-
tinuing in al-Wadi'ah area. In 2 Saudi attacks,
both repulsed, 60 Saudis were reported killed.
Nov. 29: The National Liberation Front's (NLF)
GeneralCommandannounceda year'sextensionof
its term of office and pledged that revolutionary
popular councils would be formed throughoutthe
country. A provisionalconstitutionfor the country
would be introducedin 1970.
Nov. 30: Council ChairmanRubaya said that fight-
ing between Saudi and South Yemen troops was
continuing with Saudi aircraft bombing South
Yemeni forces near al-Wadi'ih.
Dec. 1: The governmentreportedkilling, wounding
or capturing 30 Saudis in border dashes since
November 26.
Dec. 2: The government reported that her forces
had downed 2 Saudi planes and destroyedSaudi
convoys at al-Wadi'ah. Saudi Arabia denied the
report.
Dec. 3: Aden Radio reported the end of a 3 day
visit by Yemeni Ministerof Informationand Unity
Affairs Nu'min.
Dec. 5: Governmenttroops pulled out of what Saudi
Arabia claimed as its territory.
Dec, 6: Aden Radio reportedthat 18 foreign senior
staff members of 7 nationalizedbanks had been
dismissed.
Dec. 11: The General Commandof the NLF ended
a 10 day meeting with a statementincluding reso-
lutions to preparethe armedforces and the people
for the defense of the revolution and to provide
for the formationof popularcouncils of the NLF.
Dec. 16: 'Ali Ahmad Antar was appointedComman-
der in Chief of the Army, replacing'Ali 'Abdallah
Maysiri, and 'Abdallah MuhammadSadi was ap-
pointed Chief of Staff.
Dec. 27: Two Soviet warshipsarrivedon an unofficial
visit to Aden.
Dec. 30: The General Command of the NLF an-
nounced the dismissalof 20 membersof the NLF
including former President Sha'bi and former
Premier Faysal 'Abd al-Latif.The following min-
isters were announced:
'Abdallahal-'Amir: Culture and Guidance
Mahmuid'Abdallah'Ashish: Deputy Prime Min-
ister and Pinancialand AdministrativeAffairs
'Ali Salim al-Bayd:Poreign Affairs
'All Nassar Hasani: Defense
Muhammad $lih 'Awlaqi: Labor and Social
Affairs
MuhammadSilih Yafa'i: Interior
'Abdallah 'Abd al-Razzaq:Education
Anis Hasan Yahya: Economyand Commerce
MuhammadSulaymin Nasir: Agricultare and
Land Recla-mation
IHaydarAbu Bakr al-'AYtts:Public Works and
Transport
'Adil Mahfuz Khalifah: Justice and Waqfs
'Abd al-'Aziz al-Dili'i: Health
A new PresidentialCouncil was announcedin-
cluding 'Abd al-Fattah Isma'il, Muhammad 'All
Haythamand Salim 'Ali Rubaya.
1970
Jan. 5: The GeneralCommandof the NLF announced
the formationof a new NLF ExecutiveCommittee
to include members of the Presidential Council
and Mah.mud'Abdallah'Ashish,Muhammad$lil
'Awlaqi, 'Ali Salim al-Bayd and 'Abdallah al-
'Amiri.
The General Commandof the NLF announced
the names of the "elements of the pre-22 June
action"who hampered"all the revolutionarysteps
that the revolution could have implemented"had
been dismissed.
Jan. 8: Aden Radio reported the establishmentby
the Agriculture Ministry of an agriculturalde-
velopment fund "to improve the status of the
farmer and implement as many agriculturalde-
velopmentplans as possible for increasingagricul-
tural production."
Jan. 23: FLOSY leader Maq!wi signed a statement
announcingthe resignationsof 'Abdallih al-Asnaq
and MuhammadSalam Basindwa "in the interest
of unity" and calling for the unificationof "all
honorable national and progressiveforces in the
South."
Jan. 26: East Germanyagreed to provide aid under
an executive program on cultural and scientific
cooperation.
Jan. 27: Aden Radio reportedthe receiptof Sudanese
food aid of 2,000 tons of cereals.
Feb. 2: A 5 man Chinese delegationarrivedto con-
duct an economic survey of the country.
Feb. 5: Aden Radio reportedthat Saudi Arabia had
banned overflightsby the country'sairline Basco
en route to Kuwayt.
Feb. 7: Agence FrancePresse reporteda Soviet offer
of a 7m rouble loan and 5.5m roubles of aid.
Feb. 9: An Iraqi delegation led by RCC member
$ahih 'Umar al-'Ali ended a 2 day visit after
agreeingto lend ?3m to consolidateeconomicand
technical relations.
Feb. 15: A nationality law was issued providing
equalitybetweenNorth Yemeni and SouthYemeni
citizens in acquiring the country'scitizenship.
Sudan
(See also General,Libya, South Yemen, UAR)
1969
Nov. 19: A Yugoslav trade delegation ended a 5
day visit after signing an agreementproviding for
 CHRONOLOGY 199
bilateraltradeworth $4m annually. 1969
Nov. 24: Sudan News reported that, after meeting Nov. 16: Minister of Industry Marwan Habbish
with Minister of Communicationsand Tourism ended a 2 week visit to North Korea after signing
MahmuidKhatib, a World Bank official said a a protocol providing for expanded bilateraltrade.
Bank loan would be availablefor Sudan Railways Nov. 21: PresidentAtasi endeda 5 day visit to Poland
to increase its capacityand improve its facilities. for talkson the MiddleEastand economicrelations.
Sudan News reported the Revolution Com- Nov. 26: Minister of Information Hamud al-Kab-
mand Council (RCC) approval of the Imports bani said the country had given "vast" amounts
Registration Act providing that the Ministry of of military aid to the Republicansin Yemen.
Supply and Internal Trade keep a record of all Dec. 1: Minister of AgricultureMuhammadSayyid
imports and be empoweredto suspend or cancel Talib ended a visit to the USSR and said Russia
the registrationof any dealer. had offered "all the help Syria needs" in agricul-
Nov. 27: RCC ChairmanNumayri announced that tural development.
the USSR agreed to grant the governmenta ?4m Dec. 3: Eight people were found guilty of conspiring
loan and free technical aid for development to reconstitutethe banned Parti Populaire Syrien
projects,especiallythe irrigationscheme at Rahad and were sentencedto from 1 to 21 months im-
on the Blue Nile. prisonment.
Numayri announceda Libyanagreementto loan Dec. 13: South Yemeni Foreign Minister 'All Salim
?Sud 7.25m for developmentprojects. al-Baydended a day'svisit to meet with President
Dec. 4: Minister of Interior Hamadallahsaid that Atasi.
securityforceshad arrestedmany formerpoliticians Dec. 17: LebaneseInterior Minister KamAlJunblit
and retiredarmy officersbecauseof "certainactivi- began a short private visit for talks with govern-
ties by these persons against the present regime." ment officals.
Dec. 8: AP reportedthat about 15 people had been Dec. 21: The government'sdecision to resume full
arrested"over the weekend"on suspicion of anti- diplomaticrelationswith Morocco"at the end of
government activities and about 60 people had the present summit"was announced.
been taken into custodyover the past 5 days. Dec. 31: North Vietnamsigned a tradeand payments
Dec. 12: The government announcedit had foiled agreementwith the country.
an attempt "by imperialism and the Muslim
brothers" to overthrow the government. South
Yemeni Defense Minister 'Awlaqi ended a 4 day 1970
Jan. 3: The Cabinet approved the 1970 general
visit for talks with officialson his country'sdispute
with Saudi Arabia. budget set at ?Syr 2.78 billion.
Dec. 14: The RCC acceptedthe resignationof the Jan. 8: MENA publishedan interviewin which Min-
government'sambassadorto the UAR, Ahmad al- ister of Economy 'Abd al-H1alImKhaddAmsaid
Dardiri Ismi'iL that during forthcomingtalks with the UAR, he
would present a draft agreement for the estab-
1970 lishment of joint industries "and the realiza-
Jan. 2: UAR President Nasir ended a 2 day visit tion of economic integration between the two
for talks with RCC ChairmanNumayri. countries."
Jan. 6: Jordan signed a cultural agreement calling Jan. 24: Under a government decree all industrial
for exchangesin "culture,literatureand art." firms not previouslynationalizedwere taken over
Jan. 7: The UAR signed an agriculturalagreement by the government.
on cooperationin agricultureand livestock. Bulgaria agreed to loan $15m for agricultural
Jan. 9: The Middle East Economic Digest reported projectsand plants.
that former Health Minister Ahmad Zayn Abdin
had been sentencedto 10 years imprisonmentfor
corruptionand abuse of his ministerialrights.
Tunisia
Jan. 13: Defense MinisterKhalid Hasan 'Abbis said (See also Algeria,Morocco,SaudiArabia)
that an attempted coup had been foiled by the
govermment.
1969
Jan. 18: Economy Minister Ahmad Sulayman an- Nov. 16: Tunis Radio reporteda Presidental order
nouncedthat the governmentwould take measures granting amnestyto 80 political prisonerson the
to revise laws governing the country'scommerce occasionof the Presidentialand legislativeelections.
to "develop the Sudaneseeconomy and liberateit Nov. 17: President Bourguibaarrived in Paris for
from foreign domination." medical treatment.
Nov. 21: French Foreign Minister Maurice Schum-
SyrianArabRepublic man, on the second of a 3 day visit, said France
had agreed to "substantiallyincrease"aid for the
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict,General, country's4 year plan, that the 2 countrieswould
Algeria, Morocco,UAR) increase cooperation in all fields and that both
200 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
countriesagreedon the need for a just and lasting
peace in the Middle East
No.v. 22: Italy granted the government?10m in aid
for the current4 year plan.
Nov. 26: The World Bank approveda $1Om loan
to a development finance company to provide
funds for loans and investmentin tourist and in-
dustrial enterprises.
Dec. 19: The Middle EastEconomicDigest published
a "recent"statementby the governorof the Central
Bank Hedi Nouira saying the country rejected
state controlled planning with no freedom of
choice,no initiativeand little responsibility.While
Tunisia would not rigidly control the economy,
it would, however, lay down broad planning
outlines.
Dec. 23: The National Assemblyapprovedthe 1970
budget of ?112.7m, with ?31.5m allotted for edu-
cation.
Dec. 27: The Ministry of National Education was
merged with the Ministry of Youth and Sports,
with the Minister of Youth and Sports assuming
responsibilityfor the new portfolio.
Dec. 29: The National Assemblyratifieda bill amend-
ing the constitution,conferringthe powers of the
President,in case of his illness, incapacity,resig-
nation or death, on the Premierfor the remainder
of the President'sterm.
The IMF granted the countrya stand-bycredit
of $7.5m in foreign exchange for 1970.
1970
Jan. 9: An Algerian delegationled by Foreign Min-
ister Bouteflikaended a 6 day visit.
West German ChancellorWilly Brandt ended
a 2 week private visit which included talks with
Prime Minister Ladgham and Foreign Minister
Bourguiba Jr.
Jan. 14: Prime Minister Ladghamannounceda re-
organization of the General Trades Union and
the appointment of a new Secretary-General for
the Union, Habib Ashour, becauseof a "malaise"
in the organizationbrought about by demandsby
mine workers and railway men for higher wages
and less hours.
Jan. 18: PresidentBourguibaorderedamnestyfor 31
political prisonerson the 15th anniversaryof the
revolution.
Jan. 24: Foreign Minister BourguibaJr. ended a 6
day visit to Belgium.
Feb. 5: The Councilof Ministersdecidedon measures
to be submittedto the National Assembly,includ-
ing fixing the prices of all essentialproductswith
these productsalso liable to direct taxation.
Feb. 11: US Secretaryof State Rogers ended a 3
day visit after talks with government leaders.
Turkey
(See also General, Cyprus,Iran, Iraq, Jordan)
1969
Nov. 21: President Sunay ended a 10 day state
visit to the USSR with a joint communiquesaying
the talks were conductedin "frankness,sincerity
and an atmosphereof understanding"and that the
2 countries "will search the possibilities of sign-
ing a long term trade agreement."
Nov. 27: President of the Turkish Cypriot Com-
munal ChamberRauf Denktash ended a visit to
the countryfor talks with governmentleaders.
Dec. 1: Minister of Finance Mesut Erez presented
the 1970 budget of $3.2 billion to the National
Assembly. Defense was allotted $528m, with the
budget defcit of $64.4m to be coveredby internal
borrowing.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman announced a
CommunicationsMinistryorder banning from the
country planes carrying Communist military aid
to Arab countries.
Dec. 9: A delegationfrom the IranianNIOC ended
a visit after signing a preliminaryagreementto
establish a joint NIOC-TPAO venture to build
and operate the proposed Ahwaz-Iskenderum
pipeline.
Turkish Foreign Minister Caglayangilended a
meeting with EEC representativesand said he was
returning to Turkey with a trade and payments
offerwhich the governmentwould have to consider.
Dec. 19: ThirteenAmericanservicemenwere injured
and 31 demonstratorsarrestedafter students pro-
tested the arrivalin Izmir of 5 ships from the US
Sixth Fleet.
Dec. 21: PresidentSunay ended a 5 day state visit
to Ethiopia.
1970
Jan. 5: CommerceMinisterAhmet Dalli resignedfor
health reasons with Minister of State Titrek as-
suming the portfolio.
Students hijacked over 30 buses in Ankara in
protest over a cancellationof reduced-farepermits
for students.
Jan. 9: The Middle East EconomicDigest reported
a US agreementto give 400 F-100 jet interceptor
planes as part of a military agreement between
the countries.
Jan. 18: Minister of AgricultureErtem announced
World Bank aid of $80m to develop livestock
farming.
Jan. 22: The New York Times reporteda decision
by the Interior Ministry on stricter measures to
cut down on opium smuggling on ships bound for
Europe including the establishmentof narcotics
control units at the ports of Trebizond and
Samsum.
Jan. 24: Prime MinisterDemirel defendedUS mili-
tary presencein the countrysaying "nothing that
will harm our independenceand sovereigntywill
ever come from the existence of these establish-
ments."
 CHRONOLOGY
Jan. 26: A British-Germanconsortium, Cleveland
Bridge Engineering Co. and Hochtief, signed a
contract with government officials for the con-
structionof a bridge acrossthe Bosphorus.
Feb. 3: Iraqi Minister of Interior 'Ammash arrived
in Ankarafor a "brief"visit
Feb. 10: The Yugoslav Minister of Energy ended a
week's visit after signing an agreementto increase
the countries'industrialand technicalcooperation.
Feb. 11: The government's1970 budget was voted
down 214 to 224 with 41 membersof the govern-
ment party voting against it.
Feb. 14: Prime Minister Demirel resigned and was
asked by President Sunay to form a new gov-
ernment.
United ArabRepublic
(See also Arab Israeli Conflict, General, Jordan,
Kuwayt,Lebanon,Libya,Saudi Arabia,Sudan,Syria)
1969
Nov. 16: SudaneseCouncilChairmanNumayriended
a 6 day visit for talks "reviewingthe currentphase
of the Arab struggle."
Nov. 17: The UAR signed a contractfor delivery
to the USSR of cold-rolled sheet steel produced
at Helwan.
The centenaryof the opening of the Suez Canal
was observed.
Nov. 25: Poland signed a trade and paymentsagree-
ment providing for a 10% rise in the exchange
of goods.
Nov. 28: US Deputy Assistant Secretaryof Defense
Robert Pranger arrived for a day's visit for talks
with ForeignMinisterRiyad.
The London FinancialTimes reportedthat "ex-
ploratory contacts"were made on November 25
and 26 with the EEC on the possibility of con-
cluding a preferentialtrade agreement.
Dec. 1: East Germany signed a protocol increasing
bilateral trade.
Al-Ahraimreported that the consortium Socea
which was awarded the contract for the Suez-
Mediterraneanpipeline had made arrangements
with France, Italy and West Germany for 75%
of the foreign exchange costs of the project.
Dec. 4: Al-Ahnim reported a budget surplus of
LE 8.3m in 1968/69 and said there was a LE 23m
surpluson currentaccount.
Dec. 6: AP published an al-Ahra-mreport that the
government had formally protested to the US,
Canadaand Britain for allowing companiesfrom
the 3 countries to participatein Israeli plans to
explore for oil in the Gulf of Suez.
Dec. 8: South Yemeni Defense MinisterMuhammad
Salih 'Awlaqi ended a 4 day visit for talks with
President Nasir over his country's dispute with 1969
Saudi Arabia.
Dec. 10: USSR member of the Central Committee
201
Shelepin welcomedan Egyptiandelegation led by
Anwar Sadat in Moscow and pledge the Palestine
organizationsthe supportof the "Sovietpeople."
Dec. 11: JordanianPrime MinisterTalhfini ended a
4 day private visit for talks with Nair.
Dec. 15: MENA quoted Economy Minister Hasan
'Abbis Zaki as saying that all issues involving
Saudi nationals'propertyconfiscatedby the UAR
had been settled.
Dec. 18: Nisir met with Saudi King Faysalin Cairo
for talks on the upcoming Rabat Summit.
Dec. 20: Nisir announcedthe reestablishmentof the
post of Vice Presidentand appointedAnwar Sadat
to fill it.
1970
Jan. 9: The USSR signed a protocolincreasingmutual
trade for 1970 by $46m to $391m.
The Middle East Economic Srrvey reported a
statementby Minister of Oil 'Azlz Sidqi that the
Nasr Petroleum Co. and the Suez Co. had been
moved from Suez to Masturud.
Jan. 15: The Libya News Agency reportedpayment
by Libya of ?L 5.3m as its aid installment.
A Syrian Ba'th Party delegation led by former
Prime Minister Yuisuf Zu'ayyin ended a 5 day
visit for talks with Nisir.
J1n. 20: JordanianForeignMinisterRifa'i ended a 6
day visit.
Jan. 23: "Reliable reports" in Beirut said that 4
Army officers had been executed and up to 12
given long prison terms in connection with the
Israeli captureof ShadwanIsland.
Editor of al-Ahrim Haykal published details of
the Israeli seizure of a radar station saying that
such losses should not be kept secret.
J1n. 30: The New York Times published reports
from Beirut that Nisir had secretly flown to the
USSR "last week" for talks with Soviet leaders.
Feb. 1: Lebanese Prime Minister Karami ended a
day's visit for talks with Na,siron "necessarypro-
cedures to be taken to defend our country from
Israel'srepeatedaggression."
Feb. 2: The Chinese news agency Hsinhua disclosed
a letter from Chinese Premier Chou En-Lai to
Nisir expressing Chinese support for the Arab
struggle against Israel.
Feb. 3: The CentralCommitteeof the ASU approved
a plan for all volunteer citizens' war committees
to deal with war damageand casualties.
Feb. 12: JordanianPrime Minister Talhuiniarrived
for a short private visit.
Yemen
(See also Saudi Arabia, South Yemen)
Nov. 28: A delegation including Minister of State
Yahya Jaghmanended a 5 day visit to West Ger-
 202 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
many after signing 4 technical agreements and
an agreement by West Germany to provide
DM 25m, DM lOm of which will be immediately
available as commodity aid.
Dec. 6: A South Yemeni delegation led by Local Feb. 5: Council PresidentIryini announcedthe fol-
Government Minister 'Arl Nassar Hasani ended
a 3 day visit for talks on the South Yemeni clashes
with Saudi Arabia.
Dec. 19: The Middle East EconomicDigest reported
Soviet aid to the country to develop the port of
al-Hudaydahand to help build a railway,a hospital
and schools.
Dec. 29: An Iraqi delegation led by Minister of
Cultureand Guidance'Abdallih al-Srmarr6'iended
a day's visit.
Dec. 31: The New York Times published reports
from Aden that fighting had resumed between
Republicansand Royalists outside of Sada.
1970
Jan. 10: The Royalist MutawakkiliteRadio reported
that members of the "National Unity Front"had
destroyeda customsbuilding in San'a'and caused
explosions in a military camp nearby.
Jan. 17: San'7 Radio reportedthat Republicanforces
had launched attacks at Royalist positions west
of Sada.
Jan. 31: The government announced that money
changers,shipping agents and import-exportcon- Feb. 9: A World Bank delegation arrived to study
cernsmust apply to the CurrencyControlAuthority
for permits to deal in foreign currency.
Feb. 1: MENA reported that President Iryini had
accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Qur-
shlimi and appointed Deputy Premier $abra as
actingPremier.
Feb. 3: The Foreign Ministry issued a statementas-
serting its "sinceredesire to establish its relations
with Saudi Arabia" and, commenting on Saudi
chargesof a Yemeni plane attack,said that if the
atack occurred,it was "certainlya mistake."
lowing ministerial appointments:
Muhsin al-'Ayni:Premierand Foreign Affairs
'Abd al-Salim $abra: Deputy Premier for Do-
mestic Afairs
MuhammadSa'id al-'Atiar:Deputy Premierand
Economy
Ahmad 'Abduh Sa'id: Deputy Premier for
Finance,Development and Service
Ahmad al-Rahlami:Interior
'Abd al-Karimal-Ansi: PresidentialAffairsand
National Council
Muhammadal-Junayd:Agriculture
Yahya Mansur:Local Administration
'Art al-Samman:Jastice
'Ali al-'Amri: Waqts
Muhammadal-Ansi: Communications
'Abd al-Karimal-Arafi:Treasury
'Abdallih Hamran: Informatin and Unity
Affairs
Ahmad Jibir Aqil: Education
$Ilih al-Ashwal:Public Works
$ilih Muhsin: Health
The World Food Programmeagreed to provide
$730,000 to droughtstrickenareasof the country.
the country'sdevelopmentpotential.
Feb. 12: San' Radio broadcast an interview in
which Prime Minister 'Ayni spoke of the need to
eliminate "reactionaryand sectarianremnants"and
said that economic policy would be focused on
development,budgetaryproceduresand reviewing
sources of revenue.