Chronology February 16, 1978-May 15, 1978

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Source: Middle East Journal, Vol. 32, No. 3 (Summer, 1978), pp. 323-335
Published by: Middle East Institute
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4325771 .
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 CHRONOLOGY
February16, 1978-May 15, 1978
Arab Israeli Conflict
(See also, Lebanon)
1978
Feb. 16: Egypt signed a $27m agreement with 2 US oil
companies for oil exploration rights in the buffer zone
separating Israeli and Egyptian forces in the Sinai.
[NYTI
Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan conferred
with US President Jimmy Carter and Secretary of
State Cyrus Vance in Washington. [NYT]
Feb. 18: The Palestinian press agency WAFA said that
Israeli troops and Lebanese Christian militia were
"pushing into seven Lebanese border villages" in
southern Lebanon. [NYT}
Two Palestinian terrorists assassinated Y-usuf al-
Siba'i, editor of Al Ahram, in Nicosia and then
took 30 people hostage. [NYT}
The hijackers released all but 11 hostages and
boarded a plane at Larnacaairport. [NYT]
Feb. 19: After being refused landing permission at
several airports, the hijacked plane landed in Djibouti.
The plane refuelled and returned to Cyprus where
negotiations for release of the hostages began.
[NYTI
Egyptian commandos flew to Cyprus and stormed
the aircraft. A gunbattle between the commandos and
the Cypriot National Guard left 15 commandos dead.
[NYTI
Cyprus said that the Egyptian commando raid had
taken place without Cypriot permission and that it had
disrupted negotiations with the terrorists. [NYT]
The hijackers surrendered to Cypriot authorities
and freed the hostages. [NYT}
Cypriot President Spyros Kyprianou protested the
Egyptian commando action. [NYT)
List of Abbreviations
CSM, The Christian Science Monitor; EG, Egyptian Gazette; FBIS, Foreign Broadcast Information Service Daily
Report-Middle East and North Africa; JP, The JerusalemPost; MEED,Middle East EconomicDigest; MEES, Middle
East EconomicSurvey; NYT, The New York Times; TDN, Turkish Daily News; WP, The Washington Post.
323
An Arab was killed and a second wounded in an
explosion on the Hebrew University campus in
Jerusalem. [NYT]
Feb. 20: Egyptian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Butrus Butrus Ghali flew to Cyprus for discussions
on the Egyptian commando raid. [NYT]
Cyprus agreed to free the surviving Egyptian com-
mandos but demanded the recall of the Egyptian
military attache. [NYT]
Egypt announced the withdrawal of its diplomatic
mission from Cyprus and ordered Cypriot diplomats
to leave Cairo. [NYT]
Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad arrived in Moscow
for 3 days of talks with Soviet leaders on the Middle
East situation. [MEED]
The Israeli Cabinet opened a debate on settlement
policy within occupied Arab lands. [NYT}
Feb. 21: US Assistant Secretary of State Afred
Atherton, Jr., held separate talks with Israeli Premier
Menahem Begin and Foreign Minister Dayan in Israel
on a joint "declaration of principles" by Egypt and
Israel. [NYT]
Feb. 22: Egypt broke diplomatic relations with Cyprus.
[NYT]
US Assistant Secretary of State Atherton flew to
Cairo from Israel as part of his shuttle diplomacy
mission. [NYT]
A proposal for the creation of 31 new settle-
ments in occupied Arab territories was presented in
Jerusalem to a congress of the World Zionist Or-
ganization. [NYT]
Feb. 23: Atherton met with Egyptian Foreign Minister
Muhammad Ibrahim Kamil in Cairo to discuss the
proposed declaration of principles. [NYT]
Feb. 24: US Secretary of State Vance warned Congress
that a proposal to provide Israel with 90 warplanes
would be withdrawn if Congress blocked a proposed
sale of planes to Egypt and Saudi Arabia. [NYT]
Feb. 26: The Israeli Cabinet decided not to change its
policy on settlements. [NYT]
324 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Feb. 27: Egyptian Premier MamdluhSalim said that spe-
cial privileges previously granted to Palestinians living
in Egypt would be withdrawn. [NYT}
Syria said it had rejected a proposed visit by
Atherton to Damascus because it would "not serve a
just and lasting peace in the area." [NYT]
Atherton presented Israeli Premier Begin with an
Egyptian draft for a declaration of peace principles.
[NYT]
Feb. 28. Atherton met with Egyptian Foreign Minister
Kamil and later said the Palestinian question re-
mained the "most difficult part"of negotiations toward
a declaration of peace principles. [NYT}
March 1: Atherton met with Egyptian President Anwar
al-Sadat in Egypt and later flew to Israel. [NYT]
WAFA said that a firing squad had executed a
Palestinian for his part in the killing of a Palestinian
official in Paris more than 5 years earlier. [NYT]
The New YorkTimes reported that former US Presi-
dent Lyndon Johnson had been informed by the CIA
in 1968 that Israel had nuclear bombs. [NYTI
March 2: US President Carter said that one of the
"crucial elements" necessary for peace in the Middle
East was a "cleaving to the commitment" that UN
Security Council Resolution 242 was a basis for
continued negotiations. [NYT]
Atherton met with Begin and delivered a personal
note from Egyptian President Sidat. [NYTI
The US Embassy in Tel Aviv said an Israeli in-
vestigation into charges that a Palestinian-American
charged with being a member of a guerrilla group had
been mistreated by Israeli authorities had deter-
mined he had not been mistreated in any way. [NYT]
March 3. Dayan suggested that Israel put into effect
parts of the peace plan granting administrative self
rule to the West Bank and Gaza even if negotiations
with Egypt remained stalled. [NYTI
March 4: The New York Times reported that Israel had
informed the US it did not accept the US view that
UN Resolution 242 obligated Israel to withdraw from
parts of the West Bank and Gaza. [NYT]
Atherton met with King IHusaynin Jordan. Later a
Jordanian spokesman said thatJordan was unwilling to
take part in the peace talks "under the present
conditions." [NYT]
March 6: Dayan said that there was "no contradiction"
between the Israeli position on the West Bank and
Gaza and the meaning of UN Resolution 242. [NYT]
Atherton met with Sadat and delivered to him a
letter from Begin. [NYT]
Israeli Defense Minister Ezer Weizman told Begin
that he would terminate a visit to the US and resign
if work was started on a new Israeli settlement in
the West Bank. [NYT]
March 7. A group of about 350 Israeli reservist officers
and soldiers called on Begin in a letter to choose peace
with the Arabs over territories. [JP}
March 8: Israeli Defense Minister Weizman met with US
Defense Secretary Harold Brown in Washington on
security matters and arms requests. [NYT]
March 9. Carter said that if any nation rejected the
application of UN Resolution 242 to the occupied
territories, "including the West Bank," it would be a
"very serious blow" to the prospects for peace in the
Middle East. [NYTI
March 10: Carter and Weizman held talks in Wash-
ington on the situation in the Middle East. [NYT]
March 11.: Palestinian terrorists landed on a beach in
Israel, seized a bus and fought with police on the out-
skirts of Tel Aviv. The attack left 34 Israelis, an
American and 9 of the 11 terrorists dead. [NYT)
Al Fath claimed responsibility for the terrorist at-
tack. [NYT)
Begin postponed a trip to the US because of the
Palestinian attack. [NYT]
March 12: A curfew for Jews was placed on parts of
Israel. It was lifted after the bodies of 3 of the ter-
rorists were found. [NYT]
March 13. Begin warned that Israel would "cut off the
evil arm" of those who were responsible for the raid.
[NYT]
March 14: Sadat condemned the raid, calling it "ir-
responsible." [NYT}
Israeli troops crossed into Lebanon late at night to
root out the terrorist bases" there. [NYT]
March 15: Kimil denounced the Israeli incursion as
an act of "organized genocide" which was a "flagrant
violation" of Lebanon's sovereignity. [NYT]
Israeli forces occupied a "security belt" about 6
miles into Lebanese territory. [NYT]
Israeli planes struck at Damur and at Palestinian
camps on the outskirts of Beirut and Tyre. Israeli
gunboats lobbed shells into residential sections near
the port of Tyre. Civilian deaths were reported.
[NYT]
Lebanon protested against the Israeli "naked ag-
gression". [NYT]
The Soviet press agency Tass condemned the
invasion as a "bandit sally". [NYT]
March 16: Israeli military forces engaged in "mop-
ping-up" operations in southern Lebanon. [NYTI
The US said the territorial integrity of Lebanon
was "a matter of fundamental concern" to the US
and that it expected Israel to withdraw from
Lebanon. [NYT]
March 17: Beirut radio reported that Israeli forces
had advanced beyond the 6 mile "security belt" and
taken a guerrilla strongpoint at Tibnine. [NYT}
Lebanon asked the UN Security Council to demand
that Israel withdraw its troops from Lebanese ter-
ritory. [NYT]
Syrian Foreign Minister 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam
met with President Ilyas Sarkis and Foreign Affairs
Minister Fu'ad Butrus in Beirut on the invasion.
[MEED]
The Vatican said that Pope Paul VI was saddened
by "Israel's indiscriminate bombardment of defense-
less refugee camps and Lebanese cities." [NYT]
Palestinian guerrillas fired rockets and mortars into
northern Israel. [NYT]
Jordan called for an Arab summit meeting to deal
with the invasion of Lebanon. [NYT]
March 18: Israeli Chief of Staff Mordechai Gur said
that Israel might move deeper into Lebanon if
 CHRONOLOGY
Palestinian rocket attacks against Israeli settlements
were to continue. [NYT)
Syrian President Asad declared that Syrian ter-
ritory would be open to all Arabs to pass through
to fight against Israeli forces in Lebanon. [NYT]
The US proposed that the UN Security Council
call for immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from
Lebanon and that the UN should form a peace-
keeping force in Lebanon. [NYT)
March 19: Israeli forces took control of most of
Lebanon south of the Litani River. An Israeli spokes-
man said 7 more villages had been captured. [NYT)
The UN Security Council voted by 12 to 0 in
favor of a resolution which called on Israel to with-
draw its forces from all Lebanese territory and which
decided to establish a UN interim peacekeeping
force in Lebanon. [NYTI
Representatives from Syria, Algeria, South Yemen,
Libya and the PLO met in Damascus. Syrian Foreign
Minister Khaddam called on Arab nations to counter
the "dangerous situation" caused by the Israeli in-
vasion. [NYTI
March 20: Israeli troops occupied positions about 2
miles from Tyre. [NYT)
Palestinian positions at Beaufort Castle were
bombed by Israeli planes. [NYT)
March 21: Weizman issued a ceasefire order to Israeli
troops in all areas of southern Lebanon. [NYT}
Israeli soldiers dispersing a demonstration in Beit
Jallah against the invasion of Lebanon threw tear gas
grenades into a classroom of an Arab secondary
school. [NYTI
Carter and Begin met in Washington. A White
House spokesman described the talks as "serious and
candid." [NYT)
Lebanese Premier Salim al-Huss met with Asad in
Damascus. [FBIS)
March 23: Lebanon appealed for aid to help 200,000
Lebanese and 65,000 Palestinian refugees who had
fled from Israeli troops. [NYT)
March 24: Lebanon and the Arab peacekeeping force in
Lebanon announced a total ban on the entry of
material and manpower assistance for the Palestinian
guerrillas in Lebanon. [NYT)
March 25: The PLO reported it had conducted raids
inside Israeli lines. [NYT)
March26: Swedish troops of the UN peacekeeping force
near the Litani River were caught in a crossfire be-
tween Palestinians and Christian militiamen. The UN
troops withdrew unhurt. [NYT)
The Israeli Cabinet unanimously endorsed the
peace position of Begin as "a fair basis for negotiating
with the Arab states." [NYT)
March 27. The Arab League opened a council meeting
in Cairo. Iraq, South Yemen, Algeria, Libya and
Syria boycotted the meeting. [NYT)
The US State Department denied published re-
ports that the US was using an Israeli airfield in
occupied Sinai for reconnaissance flights. [NYT)
Weizman toured northern Israel near the Leb-
anese border. [NYT)
UN troops were blocked by Palestinians from
325
taking up positions around a bridge over the Litani
River on the coastal road. [NYT)
Lebanese Premier Huss visited Tyre. [NYT}
March 28: Arab League representatives called on
Sudanese President Ja'far al-Numayri to head a high
level committee that would "settle Arab differences"
and pave the way for a summit meeting of Arab
leaders. [NYT}
Begin disclosed he had sent a letter to Sadat urging
resumption of contacts between Egypt and Israel.
[NYT)
PLO leader Yasir 'Arafat said the PLO would
provide "all facilities" to the UN peacekeeping force
"to facilitate the withdrawal of Israeli forces"
from Lebanon. [NYTI
March 29: A Swedish soldier in the UN peacekeeping
force was killed and another wounded in a mine
explosion near a bridge over the Litani River. [NYT)
The New YorkTimes reported that Israel had begun
producing oil from 2 wells offshore in the Gulf of
Suez south of the occupied Sinai town of El Tur.
[NYTI
March 30: UN peacekeeping troops took up positions
in the south. There were no reports of fighting in
Lebanon. [NYT}
Weizman met with Sadat in Cairo. An Egyptian
spokesman said that no progress had been made in
the talks. [NYT)
March 31: Talks between Weizman and Sadit resumed.
Later Weizman returned to Israel and met with
Begin. [NYT)
April 1: About 30,000 Israelis of the "Peace Now"
Movement rallied in Tel Aviv to urge that Israel take a
more flexible negotiating stance in order to achieve
peace. [JP}
Huss said that PLO leader 'Arafat had assured
him that the Palestinians would continue to observe
the ceasefire. [NYT]
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
(PFLP) said that Wadi' Haddad, a founder of the
PFLP, had died of cancer in East Germany on March
28. [NYT)
April 2: Syria charged Israel with responsibility for
the deaths of 12 Syrian soldiers and civilians in mine
explosions in the Jawlan region. Israel denied re-
sponsibility. [NYT}
Arab students in Nablus, Tulkarim and Jenin
demonstrated against the Israeli invasion of Leb-
anon. [NYT}
The Israeli Cabinet expressed its "regret" that
Egypt had rejected a resumption of negotiations.
[NYT]
April 3: Israel announced it had begun withdrawing its
forces from Lebanon the week before. [NYT]
April 4: Sporadic gunfire broke out in south Lebanon
between Israeli troops and guerrillas. [NYT}
A Cypriot court sentenced 2 Palestinians to death
for their part in the assassination of an Egyptian
editor in February. [NYT]
Rumanian President Ceausescu told Dayan in
Bucharest that Israel should withdraw from occupied
Arab lands. [NYT]
326 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
April 5: Vance sent a letter to Congress saying that an
Israeli violation of the 1952 Mutual Defense As-
sistance Agreement "may have occurred by reason of
the Israeli operations in Lebanon" but that he was not
recommending "any further action." [NYT]
An Arab was slain in Jerusalem at the site where
a Jewish soldier had been killed 12 hours earlier.
[NYT}
Sadat said that Begin "should be more flexible"
in peace negotiations. He added that Weizman could
return to Cairo for talks "whenever there are new
ideas." [NYT]
April 6: Three Israeli soldiers who had entered
Palestinian controlled territory in Lebanon without
authorization were killed by guerrillas and 4 others
were wounded. [NYT]
Israel presented to the UN peacekeeping co-
ordinator a 2 stage initial plan for an Israeli troop
evacuation from parts of Lebanon. [NYT]
April 7: US officials said that Israel had apparently
broken an agreement with the US when it used US
made cluster bombs in the invasion of Lebanon.
[NYT}
UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim criticized as
inadequate the Israeli plan for initial withdrawal
from Lebanon. [NYT}
April 8: Huss called for "complete and early" with-
drawal of Israeli occupation forces from Lebanon.
[NYT}
April 10: The Israeli military command confirmed that
it had used American made cluster bombs during its
invasion of Lebanon. [NYT}
A security alert in Israel was ended when reports
that Arab terrorists had landed south of Tel Aviv
turned out to be a hoax. [NYT]
April 11.' Israeli forces began the first stage of a partial
withdrawal from Lebanon. Areas,vacated were filled
by troops of the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL). [NYT]
April 12: Fighting took place between Christian and
Muslim areas of Beirut. Syrian peacekeeping troops
bombarded the Christian districts involved. [NYT]
Syria accused Israel of having planted a booby
trapped eavesdropping device that had exploded near
the Damascus to Jordan highway April 1 and killed
12 persons. [NYT]
April 13: Syrian peacekeeping troops and Christian
forces announced a ceasefire in Beirut after 5 days of
fighting. [NYT]
US State Department officials said that the US
had begun talks with Israel to insure that cluster
bombs would not be used by Israel against civilian
targets again. [NYT]
April 14: Israeli forces completed the second stage of
their initial withdrawal, pulling back from 25 square
miles of territory. [NYT]
April 15: At least 25,000 Israelis demonstrated in
support of Begin in Tel Aviv. [NYT]
The Lebanese government charged that Israeli
troops remained in parts of south Lebanon which
they had said they would leave under their 2 stage
withdrawal plan. [NYT]
April 16: The Israeli Cabinet issued a statement re-
affirming that UN Resolution 242 remained the basis
for negotiations with Arab countries. [NYT}
April 17: UN Secretary General Waldheim met with
Weizman in Israel on the question of withdrawal
from Lebanon. [NYT}
April 18. Waldheim conferred with Begin and Dayan
in Jerusalem on the situation in Lebanon. [NYT}
UN and Israeli military commanders agreed to
schedule Israeli withdrawals from Lebanon by the
following month to a line 6 miles from the Israeli
border. [NYT}
April 20: Weizman said the use of US supplied cluster
bombs by Israel during the invasion of Lebanon had
been the result of a mistake. [NYT}
The New YorkTimes reported that US Jews had sent
a message of support to leaders of an Israeli "peace
group" which had held a rally to urge Begin t-oward
greater flexibility" towards the Arabs. [NYT]
Christian and Muslim political leaders in Lebanon
met to try to reach agreement on a program of
national unity as the first step for the formation of
a new government. [NYT]
April 21. Atherton arrived in Cairo for talks with
Egyptian leaders. [NYT)
April 22: Al Ahram reported that Egypt had arrested
about 20 people including some Europeans, con-
nected with a terrorist ring that had planned as-
sassinations and sabotage in Egypt. [NYT]
April 23. Atherton met with Sadat in Hurghada and
said they had reached a "much clearer understand-
ing" on approaches to resume negotiations. [NYT]
Lebanese Christian and Muslim political leaders
reached agreement on a program of national unity.
Details of the plan were not released. [NYT]
April 24: Begin told Israelis living in the West Bank
town of Hebron that they were "only the start of the
development." [NYTI
Atherton concluded 3 days of talks with Egyptian
officials in Egypt. [NYT]
April 25: The PLO said it would not disarm its guerrilla
groups in Lebanon despite the national unity pro-
gram. [NYT]
Atherton ended his shuttle trip to the Middle East
and returned to the US with a message from Sadat
for Carter. [NYT}
A petition signed by 360 Israeli professors and in-
tellectuals in support of the "Peace Now" movement
was published in a Tel Aviv newspaper. A group of
300 religious Israelis said they had written Begin
saying seeking peace was more important than retain-
ing the West Bank. [NYT]
April 26. Israeli tanks took up positions near the city
of Tyre after automatic weapons fire between
Palestinian guerrillas and Israeli occupation forces
had broken out. [NYT]
About 4,000 Israelis of the "Peace Now" move-
ment held a vigil along the road from Jerusalem to
Tel Aviv to urge a change in Israel's West Bank
policy. [NYT]
Dayan met with Vance in Washington. [NYTI
A terrorist bomb exploded in a bus in the West
 CHRONOLOGY
Bank town of Nablus, killing 2 West Germans. [NYT]
A Palestinian woman was convicted in Somalia of
air piracy for her part in the hijacking of a German
jetliner the previous October. [NYT)
April 27: Villagers near the town of Tyre said that
Israeli troops had unearthed a Phoenician tomb nearby
and carried away archeological artifactsfrom it. [NYT]
The Lebanese Parliament voted to ban all private
militia activity and all Palestinian guerrilla activity
in Lebanon. [NYTJ
The PLO said that Israeli gunboats and helicopters
had attacked a refugee camp south of Tyre. [NYT]
Vance and Dayan ended discussions in Washington.
Dayan said relations between Israel and the US were
"not bad". [NYT}
April 30: A French contingent of the UN force near
Tyre clashed with guerrillas, leaving 2 Lebanese
dead. [NYT}
Israel began the third phase of its troop with-
drawal by evacuating its forces from positions near
Tyre. [NYTI
May 1. A land mine blew up a vehicle of the UN
forces in Lebanon, killing 3 Senegalese soldiers.
[NYT}
A Palestine Information Office, financed by the
PLO, opened in Washington. [NYT]
'Arafat said that the Soviet-American declaration
of the previous October "could be considered a
fundamental basis for a realistic settlement in the
Middle East." [NYT}
May 2. The Israeli Defense Ministry announced that
the commander of the military government in the
occupied West Bank had been dismissed from his
post over an incident in March in which Israeli
soldiers threw tear gas into a classroom of an Arab
secondary school. [NYT]
Clashes between French peacekeeping soldiers and
Lebanese gunmen in southern Lebanon left 3 UN
soldiers dead and 7 wounded. [NYT)
A "resolution of disapproval" of a proposed pack-
age sale of US planes to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and
Israel was signed by 21 of 37 members of the House
International Relations Committee. [NYT}
May 3: The UN peacekeeping force called off all
patrols to help reduce tension created by the clashes
the day before. [NYT}
The UN Security Council voted to increase the
UNIFIL contingent from 4,000 to 6,000 men.
[MEED}
May 4: A special committee of the World Health
Organization reported that there had been "some
improvement" in medical care in occupied Arab ter-
ritory but that health care had "not attained the
technical level" it should have in so long a period of
occupation. [NYTI
The PLO said it was -using "maximum political
and military pressure" to prevent further attacks on
UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon. [NYT}
May 5. Commander of the United Nations peacekeeping
force in Lebanon Emmanuel Erskine met with
'Arafat in Beirut. [NYT]
May 6: Begin urged US Jews to consider whether
327
public statements of dissent from Israeli policy "would
strengthen or weaken those who negotiate for Israel."
[NYT]
The New York Times reported that the UN Relief
and Works Agency had decided to move its head-
quarters out of Lebanon for security reasons. [NYT]
May 7: The PLO said it had launched a "heavy rocket
attack"on Jerusalem to commemorate the anniversary
of the Israeli occupation. Israel said 1 person had been
injured in an explosion of a single rocket. [NYT]
May 8: UNIFIL moved its headquarters from the out-
skirts of Tyre to a village south of the city as a
result of recent clashes. [NYT)
May 9" Vance tentatively offered to sell 20 additional
F-15 fighters to Israel as part of a compromise to
allow the arms sale to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt
to pass Congress. [NYTI
May 10: US Defense Secretary Brown said that Saudi
Arabia had agreed to "prohibitions and restrictions"
on the use of F-1 5 fighter planes. [NYT]
Sadat suggested that the West Bank be returned to
Jordan and Gaza to Egypt as interim steps toward
peace. [NYT)
May 11': 'Araf-at said that the Palestinians hacd not
agreed to a ceasefire in southern Lebanon. [NYT)
The National Association of Arab Americans filed
suit in US Federal District Court to stop US military
sales to Israel until it withdrew all its troops from
Lebanon. [NYT]
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee de-
feated a resolution of disapproval of the plane sale
by a vote of 8 to 8, but voted to refer the matter
to the entire Senate. [NYT)
May 12: Israeli Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan said Israel
should treat the Arabs "as if they wish to destroy us"
until they make a "truthful declaration that they no
longer want the liquidation of Israel." [NYTI
Military commanders of the UN and Israel con-
ferred on further Israeli withdrawals from occupied
Lebanon. [NYT}
The New YorkTimes reported that Israel had signed
a secret agreement with the US renewing a pledge
not to use US supplied cluster bombs except under
stipulated conditions. [NYT]
May 13: Begin said Israel reiterated its refusal to
withdraw to "the aggression-provoking, bloodshed-
causing" lines it held before 1967. [NYTI
Saudi Arabian King Khalid said that Saudi Arabia
sought US planes to blunt "Communist expansion in
the area." [NYT]
May 14. The Israeli Cabinet discussed charges that
Chief of Staff Eitan had meddled in political matters
by making his statements. It then voted to cut off
debate. [NYTI
Israel said that the sending of aircraft to Saudi
Arabia and Egypt would constitute a "serious danger
to Israel's security." [NYT]
May 15. The US Senate voted 54 to 44 against a
move to reject the proposal to sell Israel, Saudi
Arabia and Egypt jet fighters. [NYT]
About 80 armed Palestinian guerrillas, surrounded
for 2 days by UN peacekeeping troops in south
328 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Lebanon, agreed to withdraw from their positions.
[NYTI
General
1978
March 14. France signed a military cooperation agree-
ment covering arms production and technical as-
sistance with 4 Arab states. [NYT]
May 5: A French Defense Ministry spokesman said that
French military planes had helped Mauritanian forces
stop a column of insurgents advancing on Zouerate 2
days earlier. [NYT]
Petroleum Affairs
1978
March 7: UAA Oil Minister Mina' Sa'id al-'Utaybah
called on oil producing states to adopt an oil price
fixing system based on a basket of currencies.
[FBIS]
March 8: Kuwayti Finance Minister 'Abd al-Rahman
al-'Atiqi flew to Saudi Arabia for discussions on the
decline of the US dollar with respect to other
currencies. [NYT}
March 30: IranianFinance Minister Muhammad Yiganah
warned that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Counties (OPEC) would have to take steps if the
dollar weakened further. [NYT]
May 6: An OPEC Ministerial meeting opened in
Ta'if, Saudi Arabia. The question of pricing oil in a
currency other than the US dollar was discussed.
[NYTI
May 7: The OPEC Ministerial meeting ended in
Ta'if. No action was taken on the problem of the
decline in value of the US dollar. [MEES]
May 10: Oil Ministers from the Organization of Arab
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) met in
Kuwayt. [MEED]
Afghanistan
(See also, Kuwayt, Pakistan)
1978
Feb. 19: Seyyed Abdol Elah was appointed Vice
President. [FBIS]
Feb.21: President Mohammad Daud left Kabul for Bel-
grade on an official visit to Yugoslavia. [FBIS)
Feb. 24: The Middle East EconomicDigest reported that
a trial of 25 people accused of plotting to assassinate
President Daud had begun in Kabul. [MEED]
Feb. 25: Daud arrived in Libya for talks on bilateral
relations. [MEED}
March 4: Daud met with Indian Premier Morarji
Desai in New Delhi. [FBIS]
April 25: It was reported from Hong Kong that Aqbar
Khabir, one of the founders of the Afghanistan
Communist group Parcham, had been murdered in
Kabul on April 17. {FBIS}
April 27: The government was overthrown in a coup led
by insurgents in the armed forces, and a military
revolutionary council assumed power. Government
radio reported that Daud was "gone forever." [NYT)
April 28: Sporadic fighting between rival military units
continued. [NYT)
April 29: The government radio reported that the
Defense Minister, Interior Minister, Vice President
and the Defense Chief Commander had been killed
in the coup along with Daud and his brother. [NYT]
April 30: A "Revolutionary Council" was proclaimed.
Nur Mohammad Taraki was named President and
Premier of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.
[NYT]
The Revolutionary Council selected the following
ministers:
Babbrak Karmal:Deputy Premier
Hafizollah Amin: Deputy Premierand Foreign
Mohammad Aslam: Deputy Premier and Communi-
cations
Abdol Qader: National Defense
Shah Wali: Public Health
Nur Ahmad Nur: Interior
Dastagir Panishiri: Education
Sultan Ali Keshtmand: Planning
Soleyman La'eq:Radio & Television
Saleh Mohammad Iayee: Agriculture
Abdol Karim Wesa: Finance
Barek Shafe'i: Information& Culture
Abdol Hakim Shara'i:Justice and Attorney General
Anahita Patebzad: Social Affairs
Abdol Qadu Ghorbandi: Commerce
Mohammad Ismail Danesh: Mines & Industries
Mohammad Rafi: Public Works
Mohammad Mansur Hashmi: Water & Power
Pohand Mahmud Suma: Higher Education
Nezamoddin Tahzib: Tribal Affairs [FBISI
May 1: Shah Mohammad Dost and Abdul Hadi Mokamel
were named jointly as Foreign Minister. [NYT]
May 6.' Premier Taraki said Afghanistan was "non-
aligned and independent." [NYT}
May 9.' Libyan Foreign Secretary 'Ali 'Abd al-Salam
al-Turayki arrived in Kabul and met with Taraki.
[FBISJ
Algeria
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict)
1978
March 25: President Houari Boumedienne announced a
33% cost of living increase in the minimum
monthly wage. [NYTI
 CHRONOLOGY
March 27: The Algerian based subsidiaries of 3 French
companies were nationalized by Presidential decree.
[MEED}
May 10: Sudanese President Ja'far al-Numayri arrived
in Algeria and met with President Boumedienne.
[FBIS]
Bahrayn
1978
March 31: The Middle East Economic Digest cited
Minister for Development and Industry Y-usufAhmad
al-Shirawi as saying the Cabinet had accepted a
"recommendation for 100% ownership of the produc-
ing and local marketing facilities" at present exer-
cised by the Bahrain Petroleum Company. [MEED]
April 13: Yemeni Premier 'Abd al-'Aziz 'Abd al-Wali
arrived in Manama on a 3 day visit and met with
Amir Shaykh 'Isa bin Salman Al Khalifah. [FBIS)
April 21: The Middle East EconomicDigest quoted Crown
Prince and Defense Minister Shaykh Hamad bin
'Isa Al Khalifah as saying the "entire border" between
Qatar and Bahrayn needed to be settled. [MEED]
May 8: Libyan Foreign Secretary 'Ali 'Abd al-Salam
al-Turayki arrived in Manama and met with Foreign
Minister Shaykh Muhammad bin Mubarak. [FBIS]
Cyprus
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Turkey)
1978
Feb. 28: Spyros Kyprianou was inaugurated President
for a 5 year term. [MEED]
March 8: A new Cabinet was announced:
Nicos Rolandis: ForeignAffairs
Andreas Patsalides: Finance
George loannides: Minister to President
Khristodoulos Veniamin: Interior and Defense
George Tombazos: Agriculture & Natural Resources
Andreas Mikellidhis: Health
Khrisostomos Sofianos: Education
Andreas Papageorghiou: Commerce& Industry
Marios Eliades: Communications& Works
Emilios Theodolou: Labor & Social Insurance
Petros Michaelides: Justice
Stelios Katsellis: Deputy Interior
Kostas Hadiistephanou: Deputy Education [MEED]
March 24: The Premier of the self-declared "Turkish
Federated State of Cyprus," Necat Konuk, resigned
following demonstrations against price increases.
[MEED]
April 13: A Turkish Cypriot delegation met with UN
Secretary General Kurt Waldheim and said it was
prepared to discuss territorial questions with Greek
Cypriots. Proposals for the establishment of a federal
government were also presented. [NYT)
329
April 19: UN Secretary General Waldheim transmitted
Turkish proposals for settlement of the Cyprus ques-
tion to President Kyprianou. Kyprianou termed the
proposals "ridiculous". [NYT)
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denkta? accused
Kyprianou of rejecting the proposals in order to
prevent the US arms embargo on Turkey from being
lifted. [NYT)
April 24: A new Cabinet of the self-proclaimed "Turk-
ish Federated State of Cyprus" was formed:
Rauf Denkta?: Head of State
Osman Orek: Premier
Orhan Zihni Bilgehan: Defenseand Interior
Huseyin Erdal:Economyand Finance
Vedat ;elik: Tourism and Information
Erol Kazim Anda~: Public Works& Communications
Kenan Atakol: Education & Culture
Ihsan Kiiuiik: Agriculture & Resources
Mustafa Cagatay:Labor,Social Affairs & Health
Hakki Atun: Housing & Rehabilitation
Feridun Adahan: Village Affairs & Cooperatives
Tansel Fikri: Enterprises& Industry [MEED)
May 2: Turkish Premier Bulent Ecevit called for the
resumption of intercommunal talks on Cyprus.
[MEEDI
Egypt
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict)
1978
Feb. 16: Egypt impounded 2 Kenyan passenger planes in
reaction to the interception by Kenya of an Egyptian
plane bound for Somalia the day before. [FBIS]
March 1: The New York Times reported that Egypt had
ordered 46 Mirage F-1 jets from France. [NYTI
March 19: Five members of the religious organization
Jama't al-Takfir wa al-Hijrah were executed for their
parts in the killing of a former Cabinet Minister the
year before. [NYT)
March 28: The People's Assembly voted 279 to 19 to
expel a member from Alexandria for having insulted
the People's Assembly and the President. [FBIS]
April 28: Deputy Premier for Financial and Economic
Affairs 'Abd al-Mun'im al-Qays5ni departed for the
US for medical treatment. [MEED]
May 4: Sudanese President Ja'far al-Numayri met with
President Anwar al-Sadat in Alexandria. [FBIS]
May 7: Sudanese President Numayri arrived in Alex-
andria for talks with President Sadat. [FBIS)
A new Cabinet was announced:
Mamduh Salim: Premier
Muhammad 'Abd al-Ghani al-Jamasi:Deputy Premier
and War & War Production.
Ahmad Sultan: Deputy Premier for Production and
Electricity& Energy
Ahmad Fu'id Muhyi al-Din: Statefor People'sAssembly
Affairs
330 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
Ahmad 'Izz al-Din Hilal: Industry, Petroleum &
Mining
Mustafa Kamal Hilmi: Educationand Statefor Scientific
Research
Muhammad Hamid Mahmiud:State for Local Govern-
ment, Youth & Political & Popular Organizations
Zakariyya Tawfiq 'Abd al-Fatt-ah:Trade
'Abd al-'Azim Abiu al-'Ata: Irrigation & State for
Sudan Affairs
'Isa 'Abd al-Hamid Shahin: State for Cabinet Affairs
Hamid 'Abd al-Latif al-Sayyih: Economy& Economic
Coofperation
Ibrahlm Jamil Mustafa Badran: Health
Mahmiud Salah al-Din Hamid: Finance
Shaykh Muhammad Mutawalli 'Abd al-Hafiz al-
Sha'rwil: Awqaf and State for Al Azhar Affairs
'Abd al-Mun'im Mahmuid al-Sawi: Information &
Culture
IbrThim MahmiudShukri: Land Reclamation
Muhibb Ramzl Istinu: Tourism & Civil Aviation
Amal 'Uthman: Insurance & Social Affairs
Muhammad Nabawi Ismail: Interior
Hasaballah Muhammad al-Kafrdwi: Reconstruction&
New Societies
Muhammad Ibrahim Kamil: ForeignAffairs
Butrus Butrus Ghil1: State for ForeignAffairs
Na'im Mustafa Abu- Talib: Transport & Communi-
cations and Maritime Transport
'Abd al-Sattar Mujahid 'Arafah: State for War
Production
Sa'd Muhammad Ahmad: Manpower & Vocational
Training
'All al-Silmi: State for Administrative Development
'Abd al-Razzaq'Abd al-Majid: Planning
Ahmad Mamduih.'Atiyyah:Justice
Mahmud Muhammad Da'id: Agriculture
Ahmad Tal'at Tawfiq: Housing
Nasif 'Abd al-Maq$iudIbrahim Tahun: Supply [FBIS}
May 13. Numayri met with Sadat in Egypt and said
the Arab world was "on the threshold of a new stage
based on Arab solidarity." [NYT}
May 14. Sadat called for a national referendum to
consider whether opponents of the r6gime should
have positions of responsibility in the government.
[NYTI
Iran
(See also, Petroleum Affairs, Iraq, Jordan)
1978
Feb. 18. Foreign Minister 'Abbas 'All-i Khal'atbari said
Iran had decided to close its Embassy in Nairobi,
Kenya. [NYT]
Riots against the government took place in Tabriz,
leaving 6 dead and 125 injured. [NYT)
Feb. 20: Tanks and soldiers patrolled Tabriz following
the riots. [NYT]
Feb. 21. It was reported that the death toll from riots
in Tabriz had reached 9. [NYTI
Feb. 23: Troops were withdrawn from Tabriz. [NYT)
Feb. 27: East German police stormed the Iranian
Embassy in Berlin and arrested Iranian students who
had occupied the building. [NYT]
March 6: The New York Times cited a "high official" in
the government as saying that Iran would defend
Somalia "if the Ethiopians and Cubans were so un-
wise as to push across its borders." [NYTI
March 16: A motion to censure the government for its
handling of riots in Tabriz was introduced in
Parliament. [NYT)
The New York Times reported that the government
had announced a "shakeup" in the Tabriz branch of
SAVAK. [NYTI
March 23: Jordanian King Ijusayn arrived in Tehran
for talks with the Shah. [MEED]
April 2.' Demonstrators in 3 towns attached public
buildings, causing some damage. [NYT]
April 6: Iran said it had smashed a Soviet espionage
network and arrested a retired Iraniangeneral. [NYTI
April 13: East German Foreign Minister Oskar Fischer
ended a 24 hour visit to Tehran during which he had
talks with the Shah concerning the incident in Berlin
in February. [FBISJ
April 22: West German President Walter Scheel had
talks in Tehran with the Shah on bilateral economic
cooperation. [FBIS]
Police arrested a total of 83 people for distributing
anti-government pamphlets in a number of towns and
villages. [NYT}
May 2.' It was reported that security forces had sur-
rounded Azarabadegan University in Tabriz after
"a long and violent clash" between supporters and
opponents of the Shah. [NYT)
May 6.' Security policemen arrested 23 students in
Babol after an anti-government demonstration turned
violent. [NYT)
May 8: Police clashed with dissidents in several cities.
[NYT]
May 9.' Disturbances in Qum and Tabriz left at least
7 people dead. [FBIS]
May 10.' Rioting against the government broke out in
Qum. Other cities experienced disturbances. INYT)
May 11.' The Shah postponed a trip to Eastern Europe
and took command of troops acting to break up
demonstrations by thousands of rioters in Tehran.
[NYTI
May.15.' Troops patrolled Tehran after opponents of the
Shah called for the closure of stores in the capital.
[NYT]
Iraq
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, South Yemen)
1978
Feb. 18: The government was reshuffled:
 CHRONOLOGY
Muhammad 'Ayish lIamad: Minister of Industry and
Minerals
Khalid 'Abid 'Uthman: State for Coordinating Ac-
tivities in the AutonomousArea
'Adnan Husayn: Planning and Acting Minister of
Higher Education & Scientific Research[FBIS]
Feb. 26: Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas
'All-i Khal'atbari arrived in Baghdad to attend talks
of the Joint Ministerial Committee for Economic
and Technical Cooperation. [FBISi
March 22: Cuban Foreign Minister Isidoro Malmierca
arrived in Baghdad on a 4 day visit. [FBIS}
March 24: A son of President Ahmad Hasan al-Bakr
died in an accident. INYT]
April 28: Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din Ma'rif ar-
rived in Madrid on a 3 day official visit. [FBISJ
May 7: Sudanese President Jafar al-Numayri arrived in
Baghdad and met with President Bakr. [FBIS]
Israel
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict)
1978
Feb. 17: The New York Times reported that Israel had
told the South Korean government that it would close
its Embassy in Seoul. [NYT)
Feb. 19: A government commission reported that
organized crime was widespread in Israel and received
some cooperation from officials. [NYT)
Feb. 22: Arye Dulzin was elected chairman of the
World Zionist Executive. [JP}
Feb. 28: Non-Orthodox delegates at the World Zionist
Congress in Jerusalem passed a resolution over
Orthodox opposition calling for "equal government
support for all religious movements within Ju-
daism." [NYT]
March 5: Communications engineers began a 24 hour
strike, disrupting radio and television services. [NYT]
March 10: A 24 hour strike by civil aviation workers
closed Ben-Gurion International Airport. [NYT)
March 14: Former Premier Golda Meir was hos-
pitalized. [NYT]
March 24: Defense Minister Ezer Weizman called for a
"national peace government" that would include the
Labor Party and present a united front for a peace
settlement. [NYT]
April 5: Israeli Foreign Ministry officials said Israel had
informed the UN that it would comply with an arms
embargo against South Africa. [NYT]
El Al cancelled all flights after employees called for
a work stoppage to protest negotiations on a new
labor contract. [JP]
April 12: Radio and television journalists ended a
strike that had shut down most broadcasting for 11
days. [NYT]
April 16. Rafael Eitan became Chief of Staff of the
Israel Defense Forces. [JP]
April 23. An Israeli held in Mozambique was released
331
from prison as part of a multinational prisoner
exchange. [NYT]
May 3: Former Justice Minister Pinhas Rosen died,
aged 91. [NYT)
Jordan
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Iran, Libya)
1978
Feb. 22: King Husayn met with British Premier James
Callaghan while on a private visit to London. [NYT]
Feb. 25: British Foreign Secretary David Owen arrived
in Jordan for a 2 day visit. [NYT}
March 23: King Husayn left Amman for a private visit
to Iran. [FBIS]
April 19. A National Consultative Council was ap-
pointed. [MEED]
April 26: King Husayn left Amman for a 3 day visit to
Yugoslavia. [FBIS}
April 29. King Husayn met with Pope Paul VI in the
Vatican. Later he conferred with Italian leaders.
{NYT}
May 3: Jordan and Czechoslovakia signed a scientific
and cultural agreement in Jordan. [FBIS]
Kuwayt
(See also, Petroleum Affairs, Saudi Arabia)
1978
Feb. 16: A new government was formed:
Shaykh Sa'd al-'Abdallah Al Sabah: Premier
Shaykh Jabir al-'All al-Silim Al Sabah:Deputy Premier
and Information
Shaykh $abah al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah.: Deputy
Premier,ForeignAffairs and Acting Interior
Jasim Khalid al-Marzuq: Education
Hamad Mubarak al-'Ayyar: Housing
Hammud Yusuf al-Nisf: Public Works
Shaykh Salim Sabah.al-Salim Al $abah.:Defense
Sulayman Hammiud al-Zayd al-Khalid: Communica-
tions
'Abd al-Rahman Silim al-'Atiqi: Finance
'Abd al-Rahman 'Abdallah al-'Awadi: Public Health
'Abd al-'Aziz Mahmud: Social Affairs & Labor
'Abdallah IbrThimal-Mufarrij:Justice
'Abdallah Y-usuf al-Ghanim: Electricity& Water
Shaykh 'Ali Khalifah Al Sabah: Oil
'Abd al-Wahhab Yusuf al-Nafisi: Trade & Industry
Muhammad Yusuf al-'Adasini: Planning
YiusufJisim al-Haj ji: Awqaif & Islamic Affairs
Shaykh Salman al-Du'ayj Al Sabah: State for Legal
& Administrative Affairs
'Abd al-'Azlz Husayn: State for Cabinet Affairs
[MEED & MEES]
332 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
March22: Maltese Premier Dom Mintoff met with Amir
Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad Al Sabih. [FBIS)
March 28: South Yemeni Premier 'Ali Nasir Muham-
mad met with Amir Shaykh Jabir during a visit to
Kuwayt. [FBISJ
March 31: Middle East EconomicDigest reported that
Amir Shaykh Jabir had appointed Shaykh Nawaf al-
Alhmad Al Sabah Interior Minister. [MEED}
April 4: The government closed the stock exchange.
[MEED]
April 5: Afghan President Mohammad Daud met with
Amir Shaykh Jabir in Kuwayt. [FBIS]
April 10: Yemeni Premier 'Abd al-'Aziz 'Abd al-Ghani
arrived in Kuwayt for a 2 day visit. [FBIS]
May 8: Mauritanian President Mokhtar Ould Daddah
arrived in Kuwayt for talks with Kuwayti leaders.
[FBIS]
Lebanon
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Syria)
1978
Feb. 28: Foreign Minister Fu'id Butrus met with Syrian
President HIfiz al-Asad and Syrian Foreign Minister
'Abd al-Halim Khaddam in Damascus. [MEED}
March 28: The Arab League Council, meeting in Cairo,
decided to extend the mandate of the Arab peace-
keeping force in Lebanon. [NYT}
April 19: The Cabinet of Premier Salim al-Huss
resigned. President Ilyas Sarkis accepted the resig-
nation but asked the Cabinet to remain in office pend-
ing formation of a new one. [NYT)
April 28: President Sarkis asked Premier Huss to
form a new Cabinet. [NYT}
May 12: Fighting between units of the Phalanges and
National Liberal parties in a Christian suburb of
Beirut left 3 people dead. [NYT}
May 15. Huss announced that he had withdrawn the
resignation of his Cabinet. [NYT)
Libya
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Afghanistan, Bahrayn,
Pakistan, Turkey)
1978
Feb. 18: An economic and technical cooperation agree-
ment with the Soviet Union was signed during a visit
to Moscow by General Secretariat Member 'Abd
al-Salam Jallud. [MEED]
Chad and Libya agreed to restore diplomatic
relations. [MEED]
Feb. 22: Secretary General Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi an-
nounced a ceasefire in the war in northern Chad
between insurgents and Chadian troops. [MEEDI
Feb. 23: Delegations from Libya, Sudan, Niger and
Chad met in Sabhah to discuss internal hostilities in
Chad. [FBIS]
Feb. 24: A 5 point agreement to end the civil war in
Chad was signed. [NYT]
General Secretariat Member Jalliud returned to
Tripoli at the end of a 2 day official visit to
Turkey. [FBIS}
March 1: Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre visited
Libya for talks with Secretary General Qadhdhafl.
[MEED}
March 6: German Democratic Republic Politburo Mem-
ber Werner Lamberz was killed on a visit to Libya in
a helicopter crash. [FBIS]
April 5. Jordanian Premier Mudar Badran met with
Qadhdhafi in Benghazi. [FBIS}
April 8. Chadian President Felix Malloum arrived in
Tripoli for talks with Libyan leaders. [FBISJ
April 15: Mauritanian President Mokhtar Ould Daddah
left Tripoli after 3 days of talks with Qadhdhifi
and other government officials. [MEED]
April 20: French Foreign Legionnaires were sent to
Chad at the request of the Chadian government to
help repulse an attack by Libyan-backed guerrillas.
[NYT]
May 4. Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and In-
ternational Cooperation Abdel Kader Kamoyue ar-
rived in Tripoli for talks with Libyan leaders. [FBIS]
May 15: Tunisian Premier Hedi Nouira left Tripoli at
the end of a 4 day visit. [FBISJ
Morocco
1978
March 14: Premier Ahmed Osman returned to Morocco
at the end of a 5 day visit to the Soviet Union,
during which agreements for the construction of a $2
billion phosphate mine in Morocco were signed.
[NYTII
April 12: Workers at Khouribga phosphate mine began
a 48 hour strike. [MEED}
April 19: The Moroccan-Mauritanian joint (lefense
council ended 2 days of talks chaired by King Hasan
in Fez. [FBIS]
May 12: Sudanese President Ja'far al-Numayri met with
King Hasan in Morocco. [FBISJ
Oman
1978
March 18: Sultan Qabuis bin Satid returned to Muscat
from a private visit to several European nations.
[FBISJ
April 9: Yemeni Premier 'Abd al-'Azlz 'Abd al-Ghani
met with Sultan Qabus in Oman. [FBIS]
April 13: UAA Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmad Khalifah
al-Suwaydi met with Sultan Qabus. [MEEDI
 CHRONOLOGY 333
April 26: It was announced in Muscat that a new oil May 9: Libyan Foreign Secretary 'All 'Abd al-Salam al-
well in the Rahab area of southern Dhofar had been Turayki met with Zia-ul-Haq in Rawalpindi. [FBIS]
discovered. [FBISJ May 10: Four newspaper people were arrested for hav-
ing joined a hunger strike to protest the closing of
the opposition newspaper Musawat. [NYT}
Pakistan
(See also, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Amirates) Qatar
1978 (See also, Bahrayn, Sudan)

Feb. 20: A military court in Lahore sentenced 7 union

members to prison for their part in the occupation of 1978
government television stations in a number of cities April 12: Yemeni Premier 'Abd al-'Aziz 'Abd al-Ghani
the week before. [NYTI
arrived in Doha for a 2 day visit. [FBIS]
Feb. 28: Chief Martial Law Administrator Mohammad
April 29: Amir Shaykh Khalifah bin Hamad Al Thini
Zia-ul-Haq banned all political activity for 1 month. issued a decree extending the term of the Consulta-
[NYTI tive Council 4 years. [FBIS]
March 2: Three passengers attacked a hijacker on board
a jetliner, foiling the hijack attempt. A grenade ex-
ploded during the scuffle, wounding the hijacker and
his assailants. [NYT] Saudi Arabia
March 4: A military court sentenced to death a man who
had hijacked a plane in January. [NYT] (See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Petroleum Affairs,
March 6: Afghan President Mohammad Daud met with Sudan, United Arab Amirates)
Chief MartialLaw Administrator Zia-ul-Haq in Rawal-
pindi. [FBISJ
March 12: The government placed the wife of former
1978
Premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto under house arrest. Feb. 21: Sudanese President Ja'far al-Numayri met with
[NYT] King Khalid in Riyadh for talks on bilateral relations
March 18: Former Premier Bhutto was sentenced to and the Horn of Africa. [MEED]
death after being convicted of charges of conspiracy March 4: Minister of State 'Abdallih Muhammad al-
to murder a political opponent. [NYT) 'Umran resigned. [MEED]
March 19: Bhutto's lawyer appealed for an "interna- March 21: Kuwayti Amir Shaykh Jabir al-Ahmad Al
tional campaign of pressure" to prevent the execu- Sabah met with King Khalid outside Riyadh. [FBIS]
tion. [NYTI March 26. Tunisian Premier Hedi Nouira met with
March 20. Amnesty International said it had appealed to Crown Prince Fahd during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
Zia-ul-Haq to commute the sentence. [NYT] [FBISJ
Supporters of Bhutto fought with police in Lahore April 10: South Yemeni Interior Minister Salih Muslih
and other cities to protest the conviction. The Uni- Qasim met with Interior Minister Nayif Bin 'Abd
versity of Sind was closed indefinitely. [NYT] al-'Azlz in Riyadh on "matters of mutual interest."
March 21: Bhutto denied from prison that he had [MEEDI
murdered a political opponent. [NYT} April 16: An explosion and fire at the Abqa'iq oil field
March 25. Bhutto appealed the death sentence. [NYTJ killed 4 workers but did not disrupt oil flow. [NYTI
April 1. The Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal Pakistani Chief Martial Law Administrator Moham-
by Bhutto of his death sentence. [NYT] mad Zia-ul-Haq arrived in Riyadh for talks with
April 8: The New York Times reported that former King Khalid. [MEED}
Agriculture Minister Shaykh Mohammad Rashid and May 8. King Khalid arrived in Brussels for talks with
14 other people had been arrested in connection with Belgian officials. [MEEDI
a plot to blow up the Lahore High Court. [NYT]
April 14. India and Pakistan signed an agreement under
which India would build a dam on the Chenab River
in Kashmir. [NYTI South Yemen
April 20: President Fazal Elahi Chaudhry left Karachi
for a 2 week medical checkup in Vienna. Chief (See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Kuwayt, Saudi Arabia)
Justice Anwar-ul-Haq was sworn in as Acting Presi-
dent. [FBIS} 1978
April 30. Union officials said that 22 journalists and
other newspaper workers were detained as they were Feb. 19: Minister of Economy and Industry 'Abd al-
to start a hunger strike in defiance of martial law. 'Azlz 'Abd al-Wall met with $addam Husayn in
[NYTI Baghdad. [FBIS}
334 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL
March 7: The Iraq News Agency reported that Nasr
Nasir 'Ali had been appointed Acting Minister of
Labor and Social Service, 'Ali Asad Muthanna ap-
pointed Secretary of the Cabinet and 'Ali Salim al-
'Awar Presidential Secretary. [FBIS]
March 12: Cuban Foreign Minister Isidoro Malmierca
arrived in South Yemen and met with Foreign Min-
ister Muhammad Slih Muti'. [FBIS]
April 23. Premier 'Ali Nasir Muhammad left Aden on
an official visit to the People's Republic of China.
[FBIS]
May 4. Premier Muhammad returned to Aden at the end
of visits to China, North Korea and Vietnam.
[FBISJ
Sudan
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq,
Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia)
1978
Feb. 16: The air force took delivery of 6 Hercules C-130
transport aircraft from the US. [MEED]
March 13: Defense Minister Bashir Muhammad 'Ali
ended a tour of the UAA, Qatar and Saudi Arabia
during which he held discussions on economic as-
sistance for the Sudan. [MEED]
April 7. Middle East Economic Digest reported that
'Uthman Hashim 'Abd al-Salam had been appointed
Minister of Finance. [MEED}
April 12. A reconciliation between government and
opposition leaders was announced. An official state-
ment reported the dissolution of the opposition Na-
tional Front Party. [NYT)
Syria
(See also, Arab Israeli Conflict)
1978
Feb. 16.' A technical cooperation agreement with India
was signed in New Delhi. [MEED]
Feb. 22.' President Asad ended 2 days of talks with
Soviet leaders in the Soviet Union. [NYTI
March 16.' Romanian Premier Manea Manescu met with
Asad in Damascus. [FBIS}
March 27.: Asad issued a decree appointing $ubhi
Haddad Commander of the Air Force. [NYTI
March 30: A new Cabinet was formed:
Muhammad 'Ali al-Halabi: Premier
'Abd al-Halim Khaddam: Deputy Premierand Foreign
Affairs
Jamil Shayya: Deputy Premierfor EconomicAffairs
Fahmi al-Yusufi: Deputy Premierfor Services
Mustafa Talas: Defense
Taha al-Khayrat:LocalAdministration
Zuhayr Mushariqah: Education
Muhammad Ghabash: Supply & Internal Trade
'Abd al-Karim 'Adi: State for ForeignAffairs
Adib Milhim: State for Presidential Affairs
Subhi Kahhalah:EuphratesDam
Shakir al-Fah.him:Higher Education
Adib al-Nahawi:Justice
'Umar al-Sibi'i: Communications
Ah.mad Qabulan: Agriculture & Agrarian Reform
'Abd al-Sattar al-Sayyid: Awqa~f
Muhammad al-'Imidi: Economy& Foreign Trade
Madani al-Khaymi: Health
Zahir 'Abd al-Samad:State
Anwar Hamadah: State for Cabinet Affairs
Shutaywi Sayfu: Industry
Ahmad Iskandar Ah.mad:Information
'Adnan Dabbagh: Interior
$adiq al-'Ayyuibi:Finance
Ahmad 'Umar Yiusuf: Electricity
Naj-ah al-'Attar: Culture
'Isa Darwish: Oil & Natural Resources
Ghassan Shalhub: Tourism
Diya' Malldhil:State
Muharram Tayyarah:Housing & Utilities
Nazim Qaddu-r:Public Works& Water Resources
George H-uraniyah:State for Planning Affairs
YiusufJu'aydani: Social Affairs & Labor
Sharif Kutsh:State
Salim Yasin: Transport
Safwan Qudsi: State [MEED)
May 5. Sudanese President Ja'far al-Numayri arrived
in Damascus for talks with Syrian leaders. [NYT]
Tunisia
(See also, Libya, Saudi Arabia)
1978
Feb. 25: A state of emergency, imposed a month
earlier during a general strike, was lifted. [NYTI
May 9: Sudanese President Ja'far al-Numayri arrived
in Tunis and met with Premier Hedi Nouira. [FBISJ
Turkey
(See also, Cyprus, Libya)
1978
Feb. 24. Libyan Premier 'Abd al-Salam JaIlludended a
2 day visit to Turkey. A communique said that
 CHRONOLOGY
Libya had pledged to help Turkey with its balance of
payments problems. [TDNJ
The Middle East Economic Digest reported that
Turkey had closed its border with Syria at Nusaybin
to protest a Syrian ban on railway cars bound
from Turkey to Iraq. [MEED)
March 1: The lira was devalued by an average of 33%
against a number of Western currencies. [MEED]
March 6: President of the self-declared "Turkish
Federated State of Cyprus" Rauf Denkta? arrived in
Ankara for talks with Turkish leaders on proposals to
be submitted to the Greek Cypriots. [TDN)
March 9: US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance said the
US decision as to whether to press for approval of a
1976 defense agreement in Congress depended on
what progress would be made with respect to the
Cyprus question at an upcoming conference at
Montreux. [NYT]
March 10: Premier Bulent Ecevit and Greek Premier
Constantine Caramanlismet in Montreux on the ques-
tion of the Aegean Sea and other issues. [NYT)
March 1.1: Premier Ecevit and Greek Premier Cara-
manlis met again in Montreux. Ecevit said the talks
had been successful in establishing "a climate of
mutual confidence." [NYT]
The Secret Armenian Army claimed responsibility
for the bombing during the day of 3 Turkish
diplomatic cars in Athens. [NYT)
March 12: Ecevit criticized US President Jimmy Carter
for not supporting military aid to Turkey strongly
enough and said Turkey "cannot afford to keep its
defense arrangements suspended for long." [NYT]
March 16: A bomb attack at Istanbul University left
6 students dead and 44 wounded. [NYT]
The head of the political department of the
Istanbul police was wounded when gunmen ambushed
his car. [NYT]
March 24: Finance Minister Ziya Muezzinoglu signed a
letter of intent with the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) for a $450m IMF loan to Turkey.
[MEED]
Ecevit told the Senate that Turkey could no
longer fully depend on the US and NATO for its
security and would soon review its ties with the
Western defense system. [NYT]
A deputy prosecutor investigating a strike the
government considered illegal was assassinated.
[NYT]
March 29: US Deputy Secretary of State Warren
Christopher met with Ecevit on relations with
Turkey. [NYT]
April 3: The US State Department officially announced
that US President Jimmy Carter would ask Congress
to end the arms embargo on Turkey. [NYT]
April 5: Greek Cypriot students in Athens and Nicosia
demonstrated against the possible lifting of the arms
embargo. [NYT]
April 12' A bomb exploded in Ankara, injuring at least
20 people, most of them students. [NYT]
335
April 14: Ecevit met with Yugoslav President Josip
Broz Tito in Bugojna. [TDN)
April 18: A Kurdish chieftain serving as mayor of
Malatya was killed along with 3 relatives by a letter
bomb. Members of his clan rioted in the town,
leaving 2 dead and 60 injured. [WP)
April 25: Rumanian Premier Manea Manescu arrived in
Ankara on a 4 day official visit. [TDN)
April 26: Authorities imposed a curfew on Kars fol-
lowing clashes between rival student groups which
left 5 injured. [TDN)
May 3: The US House International Relations Com-
mittee voted 18 to 17 for a proposal to end an arms
embargo against Turkey. [NYT)
May 10: Ecevit left Turkey on a 4 day visit to West
Germany. [NYT]
May 11: The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee
voted 8 to 4 to maintain the arms embargo on
Turkey. [NYT]
United Arab Amirates
(See also, Petroleum Affairs, Oman, Sudan)
1978
Feb. 19: President Shaykh Zayd bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan
returned to Abiu Dhabi at the end of a private
visit to Pakistan. [FBIS}
March 6: Bangladesh President Ziaur Rahman met with
President Shaykh Zayd in Abiu Dhabi. [FBIS]
March 20: Maltese Premier Dom Mintoff arrived in
Abiu Dhabi for a 2 day visit. [FBIS]
March 23: President Shaykh Zayd left Abiu Dhabi for a
2 day visit to Saudi Arabia. [FBIS]
Yemen
(See also, Bahrayn, Kuwayt, Oman, Qatar)
1978
Feb. 25: Command Council Vice Chairman 'Abd al-
Karim al-'Arashi was elected speaker of the Con-
stituent People's Assembly. [FBIS)
April 9: Premier 'Abd al-'Aziz 'Abd al-Ghani left
$ana'i on a tour of Gulf states. [MEED]
April 17: Premier 'Abd al-Ghani returned to Yemen at
the end of a tour of Gulf states. [FBIS]
April 20: An economic agreement with the Soviet
Union was signed in San'a'. [FBIS)
April 22: Command Council Chairman Ahmad al-
Ghashmi was unanimously elected President for 5
years. [MEED]