Chronology October 16, 1983-January 15, 1984

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Source: Middle East Journal, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Spring, 1984), pp. 285-306
Published by: Middle East Institute
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OCTOBER 16, 1983-JANUARY 15, 1984
ABBREVIATIONS:
AN, Arab News
CSM, ChristianScience Monitor
FBIS, Foreign BroadcastInformationService
Daily Report-Middle East & North Africa and
South Asia
JP, The Jerusalem Post
LM, Le Monde
MEED, MiddleEast EconomicDigest
MEES, MiddleEast EconomicSurvey
NYT, TheNew YorkTimes
WP, The WashingtonPost
WSJ, The WallStreet Journal
Arab-Israeli Conflict
(See also, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Morocco, Syria, Tunisia)
1983
Oct. 16: One US Marinewas killedand 3 wounded
in repeatedattackson US positionsnearthe Beirut
Airport from adjacent Shi'i neighborhoods. In
southern Lebanon, a confrontationbetween Is-
raeli troops and a large crowd of Shi'as gathered
to mark the festival of Ashura left 10 people in-
jured. [10/17WP]
Italy's Prime MinisterBettino Craxi announced
Italy's willingness to participate in a UN-spon-
sored peacekeepingforce in Beirut. [10/17WP]
Two militant Palestinian leaders, George
Hlabashof the PopularFront for the Liberationof
Palestine (PFLP) and Nayif Haw&timaof the
Democratic Front for the Liberationof Palestine
(DFLP) openly joined the ranks of Palestine Lib-
eration Organization(PLO) factions opposed to
PLO Executive Committee Chairman Yasir
'Araft. [10/17JP]
Oct. 17: From Damascus, the Head of the Pales-
tine LiberationArmy (PLA), Brig. Tariq Khudra,
joined anti-'Arafat PLO rebels demanding
'Arafat'sremovalas PLO chairman.[10/19WP]
Oct. 18: The Syrian-sponsoredPLO organization
al-$i'iqa said it no longer recognized 'Arafat's
leadership.[10/19WP]
THE MIDDLEEAST JOURNAL, VOLUME38, NO. 2, SPRING1984.
Chronology
Oct. 19: A car bomb explosion near the Kuwaiti
Embassy in Beirut injured4 US Marines. [10/20
WPI
.In a news conference, PresidentRonaldReagan
said US Marineswouldremainin Lebanon.He ac-
cused Syria of obstructingnegotiationsseeking a
settlementof Lebanon'scrisis. [10/20WP]
US officials threatened to withdraw from the
UN if Israel's delegation was evicted from the
GeneralAssembly. [10/20WP]
Jordan's Prime Minister Mudar Badran held
talks in Ammanwith 2 senior officialsof the pro-
'Arafa-tFatb PLO faction. [10/21MEED]
Oct. 20: The UN GeneralAssembly voted 79-43,
with 19 abstentions,to adjournconsiderationof a
challengeto Israel's credentials.[10/21WP]
Oct. 22: Syriathreatenedto fire surface-to-airmis-
siles at US planesin responseto an alleged US de-
cision to "terrorizeSyria." [10/23WP]
Oct. 23: A truckloaded with explosives destroyed
a Marine headquarters in Beirut, killing and
woundinghundredsof Marines. A second truck-
bombenteredthe headquartersof the Frenchcon-
tingent in Beirut, destroying the 8-story building
and killing56 French troops. Reagan and French
Prime Minister Pierre Mauroy each condemned
the attack and reaffirmedtheir determinationto
keep US and French troops in Lebanon. Middle
Eastern and Europeanleaders deplored the inci-
dents. [10/24NYT]
Three Shi'a were killed and several wounded
285
when Israelitroops firedto dispersea crowdin the
southernLebanese village of Jibshit. [10/24JP]
Oct. 24: Respondingto the destructionof Marine
headquartersin Beirut, Reagan said the presence
of Marinesin Lebanonwas "centralto [US] cred-
ibility on a global scale," and preventedthe So-
viet Union or its "surrogates" from dominating
the country. [10/25WP]
French President Francois Mitterrandvisited
Beirutto reaffirmhis country'scommitmentto re-
main in Lebanon in the wake of the explosion at
French military headquarters the day before.
[10/25WP]
Iran and Syria rejected statements by US offi-
cials suggestingthe 2 countries were involved in
the attack on the US Marine compound. [10/25
WP]
US Marine Corps CommandantGen. Paul X.
Kelly flew to Beirut to investigate events sur-
rounding the blast at US Marine headquarters.
[10/25NYT]
Lebanese Druze leader Walid Junblat said
bombingssuch as that of the Marineheadquarters
building in Beirut could be repeated if the US
"continue[d] its hostile policy toward the Arab
and Islamic world...." [10/25NYT]
The Soviet press agency Tass said Reagan in-
tended to "take advantage"of the Beirut bomb-
ing as a "pretext for a further increase" of US
forces in Lebanon. [10/25NYT]
Oct. 25: In Beirut, MarineCommandantKelly ex-
pressed satisfaction with the security measures
employed by US Marinespriorto the October23
bomb attack. The death toll from the explosion
rose to 216. Vice PresidentGeorge Bush departed
for Lebanon to underscoresupportfor maintain-
ing the Marinepresence in Lebanon. [10/26WP]
Franceannouncedit wouldhost a meetingof the
foreign ministersrepresentingthe 4-nationpeace-
keeping force in Beirut. The talks were expected
to focus on how to react to the bombingof French
and US headquarters.[10/25WP]
Greece said it would reconsider dispatching
troops to participate in a proposed UN-backed
multinationalforce in Beirut. [10/26NYT]
Oct. 26: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir
held Syria responsiblefor the attacks on US and
Frenchinstallations.
Oct. 27: The foreignministersof the Beirutmulti-
nationalforce countriesmet in Paris.A US official
said talks focused on the possibilityof reprisalsfor
the October 23 bombingof US and French head-
quartersin Beirut. [10/28NYT]
Reagan said in a televised address that US
troops in Lebanon were intended to prevent the
MiddleEast frombecoming"incorporatedinto the
Soviet bloc." [10/28WP]
Oct. 29: Two US Marineswere woundedin Beirut
by unidentifiedgunmen. In WashingtonUS De-
fense SecretaryCasparW. Weinbergersaid a for-
286
mal inquiryon the October23 bombingof Marine
headquarterswould be opened. [10/30NYT]
Oct. 30: Israeli officials said that Lebanese na-
tional reconciliationtalks must not seek to under-
mine the May 17 Israeli-Lebanese agreement.
[10/31JP]
Oct. 31: US officialsclaimed Syria might be pre-
paringto threatenUS Navy ships off the coast of
Lebanon.[11/1WP]
Kelly called Marinesecurity at the US Marine
Beirut compoundinadequate,but said the bomb
attackwas unforeseeable.[ 1/1 WP]
US Marinesin Beirutendedtheirsearchfor sur-
vivors from the October 23 bomb blast. The US
death toll in the explosion was set at 241 with
about 70 injured.[11/1 JP]
In response to a Knesset inquiry, Israel's De-
fense MinisterMoshe Arens said stone-throwing
on the West Bank had killed one and injured260
Israelissince April 1983.He said there were 17 in-
cidents of bombing, arson and land mines since
1977.[11/1JP]
Libya recently orderedPLO representativesto
leave the country,accordingto radioVoice of Pal-
estine from Algiers. [I1/1 FBIS]
Nov. 1: Israelsaid it wouldkeep its troopsin Leba-
non, and restrict access into Israeli-occupied
southernLebanon,if Lebanonabrogatedthe May
17 agreement.[11/2 WP]
Nov. 2: Israelclosed BethlehemUniversityon the
West Bank for 2 months following 2 days of
clashes betweenstudentsand securityforces. [11/3
NYT]
FromGeneva, Shi'i leaderNabih Birricalledfor
the withdrawal of US Marines from southern
Beirut. [11/3WP]
Nov. 3: Reagan announced the appointmentof
formerDefense SecretaryDonaldH. Rumsfeldas
new presidentialenvoy to the Middle East. [11/4
WP]
Syrian-backedanti-'ArafatPLO fightersbegana
major offensive against the remainingpositions
held by PLO forces loyal to 'Arafft in the Badawi
and Nahr al-Baridrefugee camps near Tripoli in
northernLebanon. [ 1/4 WP]
Nov. 4: A truck carrying explosives entered
Israel's militaryheadquartersin southern Leba-
non, killing and wounding an undetermined
numberof Israeli troops, Lebanese and Palestin-
ian civilians. [11/4 WP]
Casualties in the bombing of Israel's head-
quarters near Tyre reached 39 dead and 32
wounded. Israelijets attacked Palestiniantargets
near the Beirut-DamascusHighwayin retaliation.
Up to 60 people were reportedkilledin the attack.
[11/5 NYT]
Anti-'ArafatPLO forces continuedtheir attacks
againstloyalist troopsinside 2 refugeecamps near
Tripoli.From the camps, 'Arafatpledged to con-
tinueresistingthe rebels, saying"we shallnot bow
to Syria." [11/5WP]
Nov. 5: Israeli troops continued to seal off south-
ern Lebanon, prompting a strong protest by the
Lebanese government. [11/6 WP]
Israel charged Syria with responsibility for re-
cent bomb attacks and threatened sharp retalia-
tory action. The death toll from the bombing of
Israel's military headquarters near Tyre rose to 60.
[1 1/6 WP]
Palestinian violence continued in northern Leba-
non. The death toll from 3 days of battles was said
to be over 145, with over 500 wounded. [11/6 WP]
Israeli officials said that the troops of Christian
militia leader Sa'd Haddad would be deployed in
areas limited to those around his headquarters in
Marj'uyun. [1 1/6 NYT]
Nov. 6: Anti-'Arafat forces captured the Nahr al-
Barid refuge camp, I of 2 remaining loyalist out-
posts near Tripoli. [II1 WP]
US Marine positions in Beirut came under
heavy fire, temporarily closing Beirut airport. [11/7
NYT]
Nov. 7: Rallies in support of 'Arafat were held in
East Jerusalem, Nablus, and in numerous refugee
camps throughout the West Bank. [11/8 NYT]
Following a Syrian decision to mobilize its
armed forces, Israel reassured Syria it had no in-
tention of mounting an attack. [11/8 NYT]
The US urged Syria to show "restraint and pru-
dence" in its policies, and denied reports of a US
plan to attack Syria. [11/8 NYT]
Some PLO forces loyal to 'Arafat withdrew
from their positions in the Badawi refugee camp
and began taking up positions in Tripoli. [11/8
NYT]
Israel rescinded its requirement that non-resi-
dent instructors on the West Bank sign a pledge
not to assist the PLO. [11/8 NYT]
Saudi King Fahd bin 'Abd al-'Aziz and Jordan's
King Husayn expressed support for 'Arafat and
called for an end to inter-Palestinian feuding. [11/8
JP]
A second US aircraft carrier was deployed off
the coast of Lebanon. [11/8 WP]
Nov. 8: A force of 200 Marines withdrew from an
exposed position in southeast Beirut after it came
under heavy fire from surrounding neighborhoods.
[I 1/9 WP]
Tripoli's religious and civic leaders appealed to
'Arafat to "avert a bloodbath in Tripoli," as Pal-
estinian fighters took up positions in the city.
Fighting in the north between rival PLO factions
continued. [ 11/9 WP]
After 4 days, Israel partially reopened bridges
across the Awali River into southern Lebanon.
[11/9 WP]
Nov. 9: The first high-level talks between Israel
and Egypt in over a year took place in Cairo be-
tween David Kimche, Director General of Israel's
Foreign Ministry, and Egyptian Foreign Minister
Kamal Hasan 'All. [I 1/10 WP]
Israeli Prime Minister Shamir said that Israel
would reduce its military presence in Lebanon "in
the near future" and that a total withdrawal was in
sight. [Il/1OJP]
Demonstrations in support of 'Arafat continued
throughout the West Bank. [11/10 JP]
The leader of a local Israeli-backed Shi'i militia
in southern Lebanon was shot, the second such in-
cident in one week. [I t/10 WP]
Nov. 10: Syrian antiaircraft batteries fired on US
Navy jets on reconnaissance flights over Syrian-
held Lebanon. [Il/ Il NYT]
Egypt agreed to dispatch an official to Israel to
resume talks on a number of issues dividing the 2
countries. [11/11 NYT]
Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rashid
Kar&misaid in Damascus that 'Arafat should leave
Tripoli to prevent civilian bloodshed. In Tripoli, a
ceasefire between rival PLO factions broke down.
[11/11 NYT]
Israel's Defense Minister Arens said Israel
would "probably" extend Israeli law to the occu-
pied territories if autonomy plans could not be im-
plemented, according to Jerusalem radio. [11/10
FBIS]
Nov. 11: The Soviet Union told visiting Syrian For-
eign Minister 'Abd al-Halim Khaddam that inter-
nal conflicts within the PLO must be brought to an
end. [11/12 NYT]
Nov. 12: Israeli border police killed 2 Arab teen-
agers in Tulkarm on the West Bank during a dem-
onstration in support of 'Arafat. [1I1/13WP]
Newly appointed Middle East envoy Rumsfeld
left Washington for a trip to the Middle East.
[11/13 WP]
'Arafat said guarantees for the security of Pal-
estinian civilians would be necessary before he
would leave Tripoli. [II1/13NYT]
Nov. 13: Three Palestinians were shot in the Dah-
isha refugee camp near Bethlehem by 5 men de-
scribed by Israeli military sources as "undercover
operatives." [11/14 WP]
US National Security Advisor Robert C.
McFarlane said Syria should take a "sober view"
of the US commitment to Lebanon, and that US
forces could not "be attacked with impunity."
[I 1/14 NYT]
Nov. 14: Rumsfeld met in Beirut with Lebanese
President Amin Jumayyil and other senior Leba-
nese leaders. [11/15 WP]
Israeli troops in southern Lebanon shot and
killed a Shi'i Muslim who attempted to throw a hand-
grenade at an Israeli guardpost. [11/15 WP]
Israel's Cabinet rejected a military report on the
truck-bombing of Israel's headquarters in Tyre on
November 4. The inquiry had exonerated the mili-
tary of blame for the blast. [11/15 WP]
Israel's Ministerial Committee for Settlement
Affairs approved the construction of 6 West Bank
settlements. [11/15 FBIS]
287
Nov. 15: Anti-'Arafat PLO forces resumed their at-
tack against loyalist troops in the Badawi refugee
camp and in Tripoli. Over 100 civilians were re-
ported killed in the fighting. [11/15 WP]
Nov. 16: Israeli jets bombed positions in eastern
Lebanon suspected of housing militia forces in-
volved in truck-bomb attacks on US, French and
Israeli military compounds. [11/17 NYT]
In a speech to the UN, Israel's President Chaim
Herzog called for Arab-Israeli dialogue. [11/17
NYT]
Anti-'Arafat forces entered Badawi refugee
camp in heavy fighting. Nearby, Tripoli came un-
der increasingly heavy fire as loyalist forces fell
back into the city. [1I1/17NYT]
Nov. 17: One Israeli soldier was killed and 6 oth-
ers wounded by a bomb in Sidon, southern Leba-
non. [I1/20JP]
French jets bombed a military barracks housing
Shi'i Muslim militiamen near Baalbak. Lebanese
police said 39 people were killed and 150 wounded.
[I 1/18 WP]
'Arafat vowed to continue fighting Syrian-
backed PLO troops from positions in Tripoli.
[11/18 WP]
The Soviet paper Pravda said the US and Israel
were poised to attack "Lebanese progressive
forces." [1 1/18 WP]
Two Palestinians were wounded during pro-
'Arafat demonstrations in the Gaza Strip. [11/18
JP]
Nov. 19: Palestinian fighting continued around the
Badawi refugee camp. The city of Tripoli came un-
der artillery attack. The Red Cross put casualties
from 2 weeks of violence in northern Lebanon at
460 killed and 1050 wounded. [11/20 WP]
Syrian Defense Minister Mugtafa Tlas said Syria
would respond to a US attack with "kamikaze at-
tacks on American warships." Tlas called the Oc-
tober 23 truck bombing of the Marine compound
in Beirut "heroic." [ 1 1/20 JP]
Nov. 20: Israeli jets bombed Syrian and Palestin-
ian positions in eastern Lebanon. One Israeli jet
was shot down during the raid. [11/21 NYT]
Nov. 21: Anti-'Arafat troops advanced to within
half a mile of 'Arafat's Tripoli headquarters be-
fore unilaterally declaring a cease fire [11/22 WP]
Soviet state television criticized "fratricidal"
Palestinian violence in Tripoli. [11/22 NYT]
Israeli officials released a $1.5 billion plan to re-
settle West Bank Palestinians in new housing
units. Palestinian Arabs rejected the plan. [11/22
CSM]
US Defense Secretary Weinberger said Iranians
exploded the truck bomb in the October 23 attack
on Marine headquarters in Beirut, with the "spon-
sorship and knowledge and authority of the Syrian
government." [ 1 1/23 NYT]
Nov. 22: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Sa'ud bin
Faysal arrived in Damascus to seek an end to Pal-
estinian conflict in Tripoli. [I 1/23 WP]
288
Nov. 23: 'Arafat agreed in principle to a Saudi plan
for the disengagement of rival Palestinian forces in
Tripoli. [11/24 JP]
Nov. 24: Israel released 4,500 Palestinian and other
prisoners in exchange for the return of 6 Israeli
prisoners held by the PLO in Lebanon. [11/25 WP]
Syrian forces shot down a pilotless Israeli drone
over the Biqa' Valley. [11/25 WP]
Nov. 26: Anti-'Arafat rebels postponed a threat-
ened attack against loyalist positions in downtown
Tripoli. Rebel spokesman NMjih Ya'quib said the
rebel forces would give more time to negotiate
'Arafat's withdrawal from the city. [11/27 NYT]
Syria claimed to have "forced" back US recon-
naissance flights over eastern Lebanon. [11/27
NYT]
Bethlehem University re-opened after being
closed due to student demonstrations. [11/27 JP]
Nov. 28: An Israeli settler was wounded in an at-
tack in Nablus on the West Bank. [11/29 NYT]
Nov. 29: In Nablus Arab protests marked the 36th
anniversary of a UN resolution approving the par-
tition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states.
[I 1/30 NYT]
During a visit to Washington by Shamir and Ar-
ens, the US and Israel established a joint military-
political committee to coordinate enhanced co-
operation, according to Shamir. The US also
agreed to resume shipping cluster bombs to Is-
rael-embargoed since mid-1982-to increase mili-
tary grant aid to Israel, to allow US funds for the
development of the Lavi fighter jet, and to nego-
tiate a free-trade agreement between the US and
Israel. [1 1/30 WP]
About 30 Jewish settlers occupied Joseph's
Tomb, an ancient Jewish site in the West Bank
city of Nablus. [ 11/30 JP]
Nov. 30: Shamir said recent agreements on US-Is-
raeli cooperation would assist the cause of Leba-
nese independence and deter Syrian ambitions.
Syria harshly criticized the agreements. [12/1
NYT]
Arens called for increased political and diplo-
matic pressure to force the withdrawal of Syrian
troops from Lebanon. [12/1 WP]
Jewish settlers occupying the Tomb of Joseph
said they would remain at the site until demands
concerning security for West Bank settlers had
been met. [ 12/1 JP]
Dec. 1: King Husayn of Jordan said that US-Is-
raeli cooperation agreements would have a "nega-
tive effect" on US credibility in the Arab world.
Husayn criticized "attempts to subjugate the Pal-
estinian movement to the will and policies of a cer-
tain Arab state...." He said 'Arafat was wel-
come in Amman to resume Jordanian-Palestinian
negotiations. [12/2 WP]
Israeli religious students attacked Arab resi-
dents and vandalized Arab property in the old city
of Jerusalem. Border police halted the rampage.
[12/2 JP]
 Squatters at the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus
agreedto leave if the Armyorderedthem to do so.
[12/2JP]
Dec. 3: Israelijets bombed positions of "several
terroristorganizations"in Syrian-controlledLeba-
non, in retaliationfor a "long array" of anti-Is-
raeli attacks, accordingto an Israelimilitarystate-
ment. [12/4 NYT]
The UN Security Council unanimouslyagreed
to permitpro-'Arafatforces to withdrawfromTrip-
oli underthe protectionof the UN flag. [12/4NYT]
In an interview, 'Arafat said he was ready to
withdrawfrom Tripoli. He criticized the "Syrian
regime and its gangsters" for support of rebel
forces and accepted an offerfrom King Husaynto
return to Amman and resume Palestinian-Jor-
daniantalks. [12/4 NYT]
Egypt's President Husni Mubarakcalled steps
toward closer US-Israeli relations "an obstacle"
to peace. [12/4 WP]
Dec. 4: US Navy jets attackedSyrianpositions in
Lebanon. Two US jets were downed duringthe
raid, killingone flierand leavinga second prisoner
of the Syrians. Syrian and Druze artilleryshelled
Marinepositions in Beirut, killing 8 Marinesand
wounding2 others. US offshorenavalbatteriesre-
turnedfire. Reagansaid the US did not desire an
escalation of conflict with Syria, but had acted in
self-defense. [12/5 WP]
Italy's Defense MinisterGiovanniSpadolinisaid
that US and Israeliattackson Syrianand Shi'i po-
sitions could prompta reassessmentof Italy's role
as the largest contributorof troops to the Beirut
peacekeepingforce. [12/5WP]
Syria's ForeignMinisterKhaddamcalledfor ac-
tion againstAmerican"aggression."[12/5NYT]
Israeli religious students fought with Arab resi-
dents of the old city of Jerusalem.[12/5JP]
Dec. 5: Syria said it wouldnot release capturedUS
flier Robert 0. Goodman until the "war" ended
and US troops pulledout of Lebanon.[12/6NYT]
US Secretaryof State George Schultz called on
the Soviet Union to pressureSyria not to escalate
the conflict in Lebanon. [12/6 NYT]
Shamirurged privateIsraelidevelopersto build
on the West Bank. [12/6JP]
Dec. 6: A bomb explodedon a Jerusalembus, kill-
ing 4 people and wounding43 others. Both pro-and
anti-'Arafatfactions of the PLO claimed respon-
sibility. [12/7 WP]
England'sPrimeMinisterMargaretThatcherre-
affirmedBritian'sdeterminationto keep its troops
in Beirut. [12/7 NYT]
Dec. 7: Palestinianfactionsin Tripoliagreedon the
final details of a plan for the withdrawalof pro-
'Arafatforces. [12/8 NYT]
Five West Bank Palestinianleaders criticized
the bombingof an Israeli bus in Jerusalem.[12/8
NYT]
Greece agreed to dispatch4 passengerships to
evacuate pro-'Arafatforces besieged in Tripoli.
[12/8WP]
Arens said Israel would "have to find local
forces" to take over securityoperationsin south-
ern Lebanonif the Lebanese Army were not de-
ployed there. [12/8WP]
US Secretaryof State Schultz met with Italy's
Foreign MinisterGiulio Andreottito discuss the
multinationalforce in Beirut. [12/8WP]
Dec. 8: The 4 Westernnationsparticipatingin the
Beirutmultinationalforce agreedto remainindefi-
nitely in the Beirut area, to push for a coalition
Lebanese governmentand the withdrawalof for-
eign forces. [12/9NYT]
Shamircondemnedthe UN SecurityCouncilfor
permittingthe evacuationof PLO forces in Tripoli
to take place underthe UN flag. [12/9NYT]
Pro-'Arafatspokesmensaid France and Greece
had offered to provide ships to evacuate about
4000 PLO forces fromTripoli.[12/9NYT]
In Nablusan 11 year-oldArabgirl was shot and
killed, and her 9-year old sister wounded, by an
unidentifiedgunman.[12/9JP]
Dec. 9: Israeli gunboats off the coast of Tripoli
shelled positions of pro-'Arafaitforces, killing I
and injuring3 others. [12/10WP]
Italy rejectedjoining Greece in a proposednon-
aligned peacekeepingforce intended to monitor
ceasefirecompliancein Beirut. [12/10WP]
Dec. 10: Israeligunboatsfiredon PLO positionsin
Tripoli.In southernLebanona bomb killed an Is-
raeli soldier. [12/11WP]
Israel refused to offer guaranteesfor the safe
evacuationof pro-'ArafatPLO troops from Trip-
oli. [12/Il JP]
Israeli police expressed the belief that a Jewish
terroristgroup was operatingin Arab-populated
areas of the West Bank. Five Army hand gre-
nades placed around Jerusalem were defused.
[12/11JP]
Dec. 11: Schultz said he "expect[ed]" the peace-
ful evacuation of 4000 pro-'Arafatfighters from
Tripoli.[12/12WP]
Police confirmedthat a Jewish group, Terror
Against Terror, had claimed responsibility for
placing hand grenades at Muslim and Christian
sites aroundJerusalem.[12/12WP]
A Jewishsettlerwas detainedin connectionwith
the murderof an Il-year old girl in Nablus. [12/12
JP]
Dec. 12: Israelisecurityforces blew up 3 houses in
Hebron and sealed 4 others in connection with
criminalcases pendingin militarycourts. The de-
molishedhomes belongedto 3 men who had con-
fessed to the July 7, 1983,killingof Jewish settler
AharonGross in Hebron.[12/13WP]
Three IsraeliArmy handgrenadeswere discov-
ered in the Arab West Bank village of Husan.
[12/13JP]
289
Dec. 13: US warshipsshelledSyrian-controlledpo-
sitions after US reconnaissanceplanes were fired
upon by antiaircraftbatteries.US officialssaid the
American response initiated a policy of "instant
retaliation"againstthose firingon US flightsover
Lebanon. [12/14WP]
Iran's delegate to the UN, Sa'id Raja'i
Khfirassani,warnedthat US involvementin Leba-
non would prompt "furtherretaliations"against
US forces. [12/14NYT]
Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Yehuda Ben
Meir said Israel did "not have the least intention"
of obstructingthe withdrawalof PLO forces from
Tripoli. [12/14JP]
Dec. 14:The US battleshipNew Jerseyand 2 other
warshipsfired heavy artilleryagainst Syrian anti-
aircraftpositions in the eastern mountains.Syria
threatenedto "respondto force by force." Israeli
gunboats again shelled PLO positions in Tripoli.
[12/15NYT]
Reagansaid US Marineswould remainin Leba-
non until the Lebanese governmentresumedsov-
ereigntyover its territoryor there was a total "col-
lapse" of public order. [12/15NYT]
Dec. 15: US warships shelled Druze positions in
the mountains east of Beirut after US Marines
came underheavy fire. [12/16WP]
Dec. 16: Syria criticized US policy in Lebanonas
"gunboatdiplomacy" and said there could be no
"constructive dialogue" between Syria and the
US until US policy changed. [12/17WP]
Dec. 17: The withdrawalof PalestiniansfromTrip-
oli began with the evacuationof 93 woundedpro-
'Arafatfighterson an Italianhospital ship. [12/18
WP]
Dec. 18: Syrianantiaircraftbatteriesbased in east-
ern Lebanon fired on US reconnaissanceplanes.
American warships retaliated, shelling the pre-
sumed source of Syrianfire. [12/19WP]
The foreign ministers of Lebanon, Syria and
Saudi Arabia met in Damascus to discuss differ-
ences over the May 17 Israeli-Lebaneseagree-
ment. [12/19WP]
Israeli gunboats shelled Palestinianpositions in
Tripoli,damagingsome houses. [12/19WP]
In Damascus, PLO rebels called for 'Arafat's
resignation.[12/19WP]
Dec. 19: Israeli gunboatsshelled Palestinianposi-
tions in Tripoli, delaying the evacuation of pro-
'Arafat forces on Greek ships. The US said it
"hopes and expects" Israel to permitthe evacu-
ation to take place. [12/20NYT]
Dec. 20: US officialssaid Jumayyil'sfailureto form
a nationalreconciliationgovernmentcould lead to
the withdrawalof US troops from Beirut. [12/20
WP]
Over 4000 Palestinians,including'Arafat,were
evacuatedfrom Tripolion Greek ships, underthe
protectionof French warships.[12/21WP]
290
Reagandefendedthe presenceof US Marinesin
Beirutas necessaryto preventan escalationof vio-
lence. [12/21WP]
Italy announcedit would reduce the numberof
its troops in the Beirutmultinationalforce. [12/21
WPI
Two Muslimclerics were woundedwhen a hand
grenadeexploded in an Arab village outside East
Jerusalem.[12/21JP]
In Damascus,PalestineNationalCouncilChair-
man Khalid Fahfimurged reconciliationbetween
pro-'Arafatand rebel Palestinianfactions. "Two
PLOs mean the end," he said. [12/21NYT]
Dec. 21: Arens said Israelwouldcontinueto strike
at "terrorist gangs" in Syrian-controlledLeba-
non. [12/22NYT]
A truck bomb exploded near a French military
commandpost in West Beirut. A second explo-
sion occurredin a hotel bar in East Beirut. About
19 people were killed and 40 woundedin the ex-
plosions. [12/22NYT1
Dec. 22: 'Arafat and Mubarakheld an unsched-
uled 2-hourmeetingin Cairo,the firsttime 'Arafat
had met with an Egyptian leader since before
former President Anwar al-Sadat's 1977 trip to
Jerusalem. US officials praised the meeting. Is-
raeli leaders criticized it as a "severe blow" to
MiddleEast peace. [12/23WP]
A militant Shi'i organization, Islamic Jihad,
threatenedUS and Frenchforces with furthervio-
lence if they did not leave Lebanonwithin10days.
[12/23NYT]
France'sMinisterof Defense CharlesHernude-
scribed France as "the indispensable Western
power in the Middle East," and pledged to keep
Frenchtroops in Beirut. [12/23NYT]
The CentralCommitteeof the Fath Palestinian
organizationand other Palestinianfactions criti-
cized the 'Arafat-Mubarak meeting.[12/23JP]
Dec. 23: Britain'sDefense SecretaryMichaelHes-
eltine arrivedin Beirut to review British units of
the Beirutpeacekeepingforce. [12/23FBIS]
Italy's PresidentAlessandroPertinisaid Italian
troops shouldbe withdrawnfrom Beirut.The Ital-
ian governmentreaffirmedItaly's commitmentto
the multinationalforce. [12/24NYT]
Dec. 24: In an interview, Reagan said conflict in
Lebanon was not an obstacle to movement to-
ward a broaderArab-Israelisettlement. He said
the 'Arafat-Mubarak meetingcould drawthe PLO
into the peace process. In responseto critics who
held US Marineofficersresponsiblefor failing to
detect and preventthe October23rd truck bomb-
ing, Reagansaid he took full blamefor the actions
of US troops in Lebanon.[12/25WP]
Israel's military command reported an Israeli
soldierwoundedin a bombblast outside of Sidon,
in southern Lebanon. Press agencies reported
highercasualties. [12/25WP]
 In an interview with the Saudi paper al-Yawm,
'Arafat called for the creation of a Palestinian gov-
ernment-in-exile. [12/25 WP]
An unidentified gunman attacked Israel's charge
d'affaires in Malta, Esther Millo. She was not
wounded. [12/25 WP]
Dec. 25: The Israeli Cabinet charged Mubarak with
violating the 1979 peace treaty by meeting with
'Arafat. [12/26 WP]
Dec. 26: 'Arafat and 1000 PLO forces arrived in
San'a', North Yemen, from Tripoli. [12/27 NYT]
Four Israeli soldiers were injured in 2 separate
incidents in southern Lebanon. [12/27 JP]
Dec. 27: Shamir said "the American government is
mistaken if it thinks the 'Arafat-Mubarak meeting
increases the chances of advancing the Reagan ini-
tiative." [12/27 NYT]
Reagan again took full blame for failure to pre-
vent the attack on US Marines in Lebanon, saying
he opposed punishing the Marine commanders in-
volved. [12/28 NYT]
Arens said Israel's Defense Ministry was con-
sidering harsher measures against West Bank Arab
stone throwers. [12/28 JP1
Israeli troops in Sidon killed 3 local residents, al-
legedly members of a militant religious group, in a
shoot-out. [12/30 WP]
Dec. 28: The US Defense Department released a
report critical of administration policy in Leba-
non, and called for an "urgent . . . reassessment"
of the role of US Marines in Lebanon. The report
charged military commanders with responsibility
for the October 23 attack on Marine headquarters
in Beirut. [12/29 WP]
Israel's Finance Minister Yigal Cohen-Orgad
proposed a 1-year freeze on development projects,
including West Bank settlements, as part of a
planned austerity budget. [12/29 WP]
One Israeli soldier was killed and 2 wounded
when their patrol in central Lebanon was at-
tacked. [12/29 JP]
Dec. 29: An Israeli Army post in southern Leba-
non was attacked; one soldier was wounded. In
Sidon, a general strike was held to protest the Is-
raeli occupation. [12/30 WP]
Egypt's Assistant Foreign Minister Shafi'i 'Abd
al-Hamid met in Jerusalem with Shamir and other
senior Israeli officials, the first high-level Egyptian
visit to Israel in over a year. [12/30 WP]
Dec. 30: 'Arafat arrived in Tunis for talks on the
future of the PLO. [12/31 NYT]
The Israeli Army closed off all crossing points
from northern to southern Lebanon for 48 hours.
[12/31 NYT]
Hand grenades exploded in two Hebron
mosques, injuring one person. Terror Against Ter-
ror, a Jewish terrorist group, claimed responsibil-
ity. [12/31 WP]
Muslims throughout Lebanon staged protests
against Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon.
[12/31 WP]
Dec. 31: Lebanon's Foreign MinisterElie Salem
protestedto the US over Israel's closure of cross-
ing points into southernLebanon,and Israel's re-
ported arrest of up to 800 people for undisclosed
reasons. [1/1 WP]
Italy informedthe Lebanese government, and
the other 3 countrieswith troops in Beirut, that it
plannedto reduce its forces in Lebanon by one-
half, to 1100 soldiers. Two French multinational
force memberswere woundedby unidentifiedgun-
men. [1/1 NYT]
1984
Jan. 1: The 11-memberFath CentralCommittee
opened meetingsin Tunis. [1/4 WP]
Jan. 2: France transferred500 of its troops serv-
ing in Beirutto southernLebanon,to take up du-
ties with the UN InterimForce in Lebanon(UNI-
FIL). [1/3 WP]
Israelrestoredaccess to southernLebanon.[1/3
WP]
'Arafat again rejected the 1982 Reagan peace
plan and vowed to continue fightingfor an in-
dependentPalestinianstate. [1/3 NYT]
Husayn called for PLO-Jordaniantalks to co-
ordinatea joint West Bank strategy.[1/3 NYT]
Nablus was placed under curfew following a
demonstrationand a petrol bomb attack on an Is-
raeli patrol. [1/2JP]
Israel'sKnessetextendedemergencylaws in the
occupied territories,and added a clause permit-
ting the extension of Israeli law to Jewish resi-
dents in the territories.[1/3 FBIS]
Jan. 3: Speakerof the US House of Representa-
tives Thomas P. O'Neill said that without "mea-
sureable progress" in Lebanon he would take
steps to revoke congressionalauthorizationfor the
Marinesin Beirut. [1/4 WP]
Israelijets attacked positions held by pro-Syr-
ian Palestinians in Bhamdun, on the Beirut-
Damascushighway.[1/4 NYT]
Jan. 4: Israeli planes bombed militantShi'i posi-
tions in Baalbak, causing heavy casualties and
damage. Casualty estimates placed the toll at
about 100dead and 400 wounded. [1/5 NYT]
Israeli-backedChristianmilitiamanHaddadhad
his formerrankin the LebaneseArmyof majorre-
storedby the Lebanesegovernment.[1/5 NYT]
Egyptian presidential advisor 'Usama al-Baz
said Egypt would participatein PLO-Jordanian
talks seekinga joint approachto negotiationswith
Israel. [1/5 WP]
The Fath CentralCommitteeconcludeda 5-day
meeting in Tunis. The committee affirmedthat
'Arafat'smeetingwith Mubarakhad been a "per-
sonal initiative." The Fath MilitaryCouncil ex-
pelled 5 membersfor "high treason." [1/5 WP]
Jan. 5: Lebanonrequestedthe US to deploy Ma-
rinesalongthe southerncoast to assist the govern-
ment in expandingits authoritythere. US officials
291
expressed doubt that the proposal would be ac-
cepted. [1/6 NYT]
Israeli police arrested right-wing Rabbi Meir
Kahane for inciting violence against Arabs, but
Kahaneescaped from the police station where he
was being held. [1/6 NYT]
Jan. 6: The Reagan administrationrejected a re-
quest to deploy US Marines into areas south of
Beirutalong the coast. [1/7 WP]
Senior PLO leader Salah Khalafdeclaredpoliti-
cal rejection of the 'Arafat-Mubarakmeeting in
December. [1/7 WP]
Israel said it was planningto redeployits forces
away from major urban areas in southern Leba-
non, to reduceattackson Israelitroops. [1/7 NYT]
Jan. 7: In Sidon, southern Lebanon, local resi-
dents reportedIsraeli armoredcrews opening fire
in a main street, wounding3 people. Israel called
the claims "completely untrue." [1/8 NYT]
Two US Marineswere wounded when an artil-
lery shell hit their position near Beirut's airport.
[1/8 NYT]
Jan. 8: A US Marinewas killed when an unidenti-
fied gunmen opened fire on a US helicopter in
northwestBeirut. [1/9 WP]
Israel's Cabinet Secretary Dan Meridordenied
that Israel would withdrawfrom Lebanonwithout
a simultaneous Syrian withdrawal. US officials
earlier had suggested that the Israeli position on
withdrawalhad eased. [1/9 NYT]
The leaders of 3 rejectionist PLO factions re-
fused to participatein a Tunis meetingof the PLO
Executive Committeeand returnedto Damascus.
[1/9 NYT]
Jan. 9: Gunmenin Beirut attackeda French mili-
tary guardpost, killing I soldier and wounding2
others. [1/10 NYT]
Jan. 11: The Israeli Army's Central Command
issued regulationsrestrictingthe use of firearmsby
Jewish settlers in the occupied territories.Settler
spokesmencriticizedthe ruling.[1/12JP]
Jan. 12: Gunmenambushedan Israeli convoy in
southern Lebanon, wounding 3 soldiers. [1/13
NYT]
Jan. 14: Syria's President Asad said the with-
drawalof Syrian troops from Lebanon would not
take place until US Marines and other foreign
troops had pulledout. [1/15 NYT]
Israeli-backedmilitiamanHaddad died in his
home town of Marj'uyunat the age of 47. [1/15
NYT]
Jan. 15: US Navy warships fired on Druze posi-
tions in hills east of Beirut,after US Marinescame
underheavy fire. [1/16 WP]
Israeli soldiers came under fire in 4 towns in
south Lebanon.No casualtieswere reported.[1/16
WP]
292
General
1983
Oct. 17: US President Ronald Reagan named
MiddleEast envoy RobertMcFarlaneto the post
of NationalSecurityAdvisor. [10/18WP]
Petroleum Affairs
1983
Oct. 27: The Organizationof PetroleumExporting
Countries'(OPEC)MarketMonitoringCommittee
met in Vienna to discuss alleged overproduction,
in contraventionof OPECguidelines, by Nigeria,
Iranand SaudiArabia.[10/27WSJ]
Nov. 8: The appointmentwas announcedof 'All
Na'imi as presidentof Aramco, the first Saudi to
hold the post. [11/18MEED]
Nov. 23: The MinisterialCouncilof the Organiza-
tions of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OAPEC)met in Kuwait.CouncilChairand Saudi
Oil Minister Shaykh Zaki Ahmad Yamani de-
scribed Iran's threatto close the Gulf as "a mat-
ter for the entireinternationalcommunity."[11/25
FBIS]
Nov. 24: Iraq said it would request an increase in
its shareof OPEC's 17.5mbarrelproductionlimit.
[11/25WSJ]
Dec. 6: OPECministersgatheredin Genevafor the
annualwinterOPECmeeting. [12/7WP]
Dec. 7: Meeting in Geneva, OPEC ministers
agreedto maintainthe existingprice ceiling of $29
per barreland a productionceiling of 17.5m bar-
rels per day. [12/8WP]
At the Geneva OPEC meeting, Saudi Oil Min-
ister Yamanisaid SaudiArabia"will never . .. in-
crease our [oil] prices . . . even if others are talk-
ing otherwise." [12/8WSJ]
The US JusticeDepartmentdroppeda 6-yearin-
vestigationof allegedcollusionon the partof 4 US
Aramcooil companies.SaudiArabiahad strongly
criticizedthe investigation.[12/8WSJ]
Regional Affairs
(See also, Arab-IsraeliConflict)
1983
Oct. 17: US Secretaryof State George P. Shultz
said the US could not permitIran or other states
to threatenthe Straitof Hormuz.[10/18NYT]
Oct. 19: US President Ronald Reagan said the
"free world" would not allow Iran to close the
Gulf if Iraq attacked Iranian installations with
French Super Etendard jets. [10/20 WP]
The chiefs-of-staff of the 6 Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) met
in Riyadh following 3 weeks of joint military ex-
ercises. [10/21 MEED]
Oct. 20: Iran announced a limited assault into
northeastern Iraq, allegedly to drive Iraqi and
Kurdish forces out of range of 2 Iranian border
towns.
Oct. 21: Iraq and Iran issued conflicting reports on
the outcome of recent fighting in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Iran claimed to have captured garrisons at Panjwin
and Garmak, killing or wounding 3500 Iraqi
troops. Iraq said it "completely foiled" Iran's as-
sault. [10/22 WP]
Oct. 22: Iraq announced it had mined the ap-
proaches to Iran's port of Bandar Khumayni. Iran
reported 95 civilians killed and 400 wounded in
Iraqi missile attacks on the cities of Dizful and
Masjid-i Sulayman. [10/23 WP]
Oct. 24: Iran claimed its troops captured the Kalu
Heights in Iraq and were advancing on the town of
Panjwin. Iraq said its forces had halted Iran's of-
fensive. [10/25 CSM]
Oct. 25: Iraq claimed 19,239 Iranian troops killed
in 5 days of fighting in the northern sector of the
front. [11/26 FBIS]
Oct. 26: Iraq formally informed Japan that it would
bomb a multi-billion dollar Japanese-Iranian petro-
chemical plant at the Bandar Khumayni port.
[10/27 WP]
Oct. 27: Iraq reported 2436 Iranians killed in con-
tinuing battles on Oct. 25-26 in the northern sec-
tor. Iranian communiques claimed significant ad-
vances in the fighting. [11/28 FBIS]
Iraqi missile attacks killed 24 and wounded 17 in
the villages of Sayyid Sadiq and Shandari, accord-
ing to Iranian radio. [10/28 NYT]
Oct. 26: Iran charged the UN Security Council
with favoring Iraq and said it would not accept any
Security Council resolutions until the Council
changed its stand. [10/29 NYT]
Oct. 29: Oman's Information Minister 'Abd al-
'Aziz Ru1wassaid Oman and South Yemen agreed
to re-establish diplomatic ties. [10/30 JP]
Oct. 30: Iraq reiterated its willingness to support a
ceasefire with Iran and insure security of shipping
in the Gulf. Iran reported that its troops shot down
an Iraqi fighter jet. [10/31 NYT]
Oct. 31: The UN Security Council called on Iran
and Iraq to safeguard passage through the Gulf.
Iran rejected the resolution. [11/1 WP]
Iraq reported sinking 3 "enemy naval targets"
in the northern waters of the Gulf. [11/1 NYT]
Nov. 1: The Ministerial Council of the GCC held
preparatory meetings in Doha in advance of a
scheduled GCC summit. [1 1/2 FBIS]
Following a joint meeting of Iraq's Revolution-
ary Command Council and regional leaders of the
Ba'th party, Iraq announced its acceptance of the
UN Security Council's call for a ceasefire in the
Gulf War. [11/2 NYT]
Nov. 2: Iraq's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime
Minister Tariq 'Aziz confirmed the arrival in Iraq
of French Super Etendard fighter jets. [11/3 WP]
Nov. 3: Debate on the question of the Western Sa-
hara began in the UN Decolonization Committee.
[11/4 FBIS]
Iran and Iraq reported heavy fighting around the
Iranian-held town of Panjwin. Both sides claimed
advances in the fighting. [11/4 NYT]
Nov. 5: Iraq's elite Presidential Guard joined com-
bat units on the northern front of the Gulf war, ac-
cording to Baghdad radio. [11/6 NYT]
Nov. 6: GCC delegates convened the 4th annual
GCC summit in Qatar. Talks were expected to fo-
cus on Lebanon, Palestinian rivalry, the Iran-Iraq
war and regional concerns. [11/7 NYT]
Iran's leader Ayatallah Ruhallah Khumayni re-
jected retaliation for Iraqi missile attacks on Ira-
nian towns, saying "The inhabitants of Iraqi towns
are as dear to our heart as those of our own
towns." [11/11 MEED]
Nov. 8: An Iraqi military communique reported
3216 Iranians killed in fighting between November
2-7. [11/9 FBIS]
Nov. 13: Iran's Majlis speaker 'All Akbar Hashimi
Rafsanjani reiterated Iran's threat to close the Gulf
if Iraq disrupted Iran's oil shipments. [11/14 NYT]
Nov. 21: An Iranian military communique claimed
over 1500 Iraqi troops killed in recent fighting near
Panjwin. [ 11/22 FBIS]
Iraq claimed to have sunk 7 Iranian ships and
downed an Iranian F-14 fighter jet. Iran claimed to
have killed hundreds of Iraqi troops and to have
shot down an Iraqi jet in clashes near the town of
Marivan. [ 11/22 WP]
Nov. 22: Iraq sunk a Greek merchant ship in a
rocket attack in the Gulf. [11/23 WP]
Nov. 25: The State Department said the US would
view "with grave concern" any attempt by Iran or
Iraq to hinder shipping in the Gulf. [11/26 WP]
Iraq repeated warnings to keep ships out of the
northern end of the Gulf. [11/26 NYT]
Nov. 27: Iran claimed that Iraqi dissidents had ex-
ploded 2 truck bombs, one at the headquarters of
Iraq's intelligence service in Baghdad, killing over
100 people, and a second near a military head-
quarters. Iraq denied the claim. [1/28 WP]
Nov. 29: GCC Interior Ministers concluded a 4-day
meeting in Riyadh. [1 1/30 FBIS]
Dec. 3: Officials from the Islamic Conference Or-
ganization (ICO) met in Bangladesh to plan a 5-day
meeting to seek an end to Palestinian violence,
urge a settlement of the Iran-Iraq war, and en-
courage the withdrawal of US troops from Leba-
non. [12/4 NYT]
293
Dec. 7: The General Assembly of the Organization Jan. 12: ICO ForeignMinistersmet in Rabatprior
of African Unity (OAU) adopted a resolution ex- to the opening of an ICO summiton January16.
horting Morocco and the Polisario Liberation [1/13NYT]
Front to undertake direct negotiations. [12/10 LM] Jan. 13: Foreign Ministersof the ICO states ap-
Dec. 8: Iraq reported sinking 6 enemy naval tar- proved a resolutioncondemningthe Soviet inva-
gets in northern Gulf waters. [12/9 NYT] sion of Afghanistan.[1/14WP]
Dec. 10: Ministers concluding a 5-day ICO meet-
ing in Bangladesh did not reach any agreement on
how to end the Iran-Iraq war, or other regional
problems. [12/11 WP]
Dec. 13: Iraq launched surface-to-surface missiles
against 5 Iranian towns, reportedly in retaliation
for December 12 car bomb attacks against 6 sites Afghanistan
in Kuwait. [12/15 NYT] (See also, Iran)
Dec. 15: Iraqi jets struck at 8 border cities in Iran.
The death toll from 2 days of shelling and air at- 1983
tacks was reported at 32 civilians killed and over
Oct. 25: A Westerndiplomatcited reportsindicat-
300 wounded. [12/17 NYT]
ing that "several hundred"civilians were report-
Dec. 16: Iran reported killing 95 Iraqi troops in re-
edly killedin Soviet and Afghanattackson the vil-
sponse to shelling attacks earlier in the week.
lage of Istalif, in the Shomali Valley, from Oct.
[12/17 NYT]
12-17. [10/26NYT]
Dec. 21: The Polisario claimed that 25,000 Moroc- Oct. 31: Rebel sources in Pakistansaid increased
can troops had begun a major offensive in the Soviet bombingattacks had slowed the pace of
Western Sahara. [12/22 NYT]
rebel activities. (11/1NYT]
Dc. 22: Reliable Moroccan sources confirmed that
Nov. 15: Westerndiplomatssaid Soviet helicopter
fighting continued on the third day of the Moroc- gunshipskilled50-80 Mujahidinlast week northof
can offensive in the Western Sahara, 50 kilom-
Kabulon the ShomaliPlain. [11/16WP]
eters from Bou-Craa. [12/24 LM]
Nov. 22: Muj&hidin shot down a militaryhelicop-
Iraq reported sinking 2 Iranian ships and dam-
ter, killingan AfghanArmygeneraland 11 others,
aging a third in the northern Gulf. [12/23 NYT]
includingRussianadvisors, accordingto Western
Dec. 25: lran reported 18 people killed and 92
diplomats.[11/23NYT]
wounded by an Iraqi missile fired at the town of
Nov. 23: The UN GeneralAssembly called for the
Masjid-i Sulayman. [12/26 NYT]
immediatewithdrawalof Soviet troops by a vote
Dec. 28: Iraq's President Husayn said Iraq would
of 116-20with 16 abstentions.[12/16MEED]
use "new weapons" against any future "aggres-
Dec. 5: Agence FrancePresse reporteda majorof-
sion" by Iran. [12/29 WP]
fensive involvingover 2500 Soviet troops and "a
Dec. 29: Citing concern for a possible Iranian mili-
few" Afghansoldiersduringthe week of Novem-
tary offensive against Iraq, US administration of-
ber 27-December3 in the ShomaliPlain north of
ficials revealed that Iran had begun "a concerted
Kabul. [12/7FBIS]
surveillance effort" over US Navy ships in and
Dec. 6: According to Western diplomats, rebel
near the Gulf. [12/30 WP]
forces pushedback a Soviet and AfghanArmy of-
Polisario rebels claimed to have killed over 100
fensive north of Kabul. The Associated Press of
Moroccan troops in heavy fighting at Khechbiyine,
Pakistanreportedthe defection of Afghan Briga-
in the Western Sahara. [12/31 NYT]
dier GeneralMuhammadRahim,who said the Af-
Dec. 31: The WashingtonPost reporteda shift in ghan Army had declined to about 35,000 troops.
US policy toward Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war. Ac-
[12/7WP]
cording to the Post, US officials told Gulf states
Dec. 27: The Afghangovernmentsaid it would re-
that an Iraqi defeat would be "contrary to US in-
quest the departureof 105,000Soviet troops if it
terests." [1/1 WP]
received internationalguaranteesthat all opposi-
tion wouldend. [12/28NYT]
1984
Jan. 1: The Polisario Front claimed to have killed 1984
154 Moroccan soldiers and destroyed 40 vehicles Jan 2.: The governmentcalled on all eligiblemales
in large-scale fighting east of Bou-Craa. [1/2 NYT] to enlistin the armedforces underthe threatof im-
Jan. 7: Iran claimed to have captured 30 villages prisonmentfor failingto comply. [1/3 WP]
and killed 230 Kurdish fighters in a weeklong drive Jan. 4: Westerndiplomatsreporteddaily fighting
into Iraqi Kurdistan. [1/8 NYT] in the southerncity of Kandahar,includinga De-
Jan. 8: President Husayn threatened to attack cember22 assault by rebel forces that left 31 gov-
Iran's "vital interests" and "deal heavy blows" to ernmentsoldierskilled.Governmentcontrolin the
Iran if Iran attacked Iraqi-territory. [1/9 CSM] city was reportedto be "virtuallynil." [1/5 NYT]

294
Jan. 10: Western diplomats reported heavy
fighting January 1-3 in Ghazni and Kandahar. So-
viet MIGs reportedly destroyed 11 bridges and
killed over 100 civilians. Rebel forces were re-
ported to have shot down 3 MIG jets. [1/11 NYT]
Algeria
(See also, Libya, Tunisia)
1983
Nov. 7: President Chadli Benjedid visited France,
the first visit by an Algerian head of state to
France since 1962. [11/8 FBIS]
Nov. 29: Former Oil and Heavy Industry Minister
Belaid Abdesslam was charged with incompetence
by an Algiers revenue court in connection with
business contracts approved in the mid-1970s.
[12/9 MEED]
Dec. 2: Former Agriculture Minister Tayebi Larbi
was charged with misuse of over $410,000 in pub-
lic funds during his time in the government from
1968-1979. [12/9 MEED]
Dec. 7: Chief of Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces
Marshal Nikolay Ogarkov arrived in Algiers on an
official visit. [12/7 FBIS]
Dec. 9: A visit by Secretary of State George P.
Shultz to Algeria was postponed at the request of
the Algerian government for reasons of schedul-
ing. [12/1 1-12 LM]
Dec. 13: Mauritanian Head of State Khouna Ould
Haydala arrived in Algiers to finalize Mauritania's
participation in an Algerian-Tunisian friendship
treaty. [12/4 LM]
Dec. 19: Over 5000 delegates attended the inaugu-
ral session of the 5th Congress of the National Lib-
eration Front (FLN) in Algiers. [12/20 LM]
Dec. 22: The 5th Congress of the FLN ended with
the reelection of Chadli Benjedid to the post of
secretary general of the party. [12/24 LMJ
Several former close associates of ex-President
Boumediene were ousted from the FLN Central
Committee. Mohamed Salah Yahyaoui, Ahmed
Draia, Slimane Hoffman and Mostefa Lacheraf
were defeated in elections held during the 5th FLN
Congress. [12/27 LM]
1984
Jan. 12: In national elections, President Benjedid
was reelected chief of state with 95.36 per cent of
the votes. Benjedid was the only candidate. [1/14
LM]
Bahrain
(See also, RegionalAffairs,Tunisia)
1983
Dec. 3: Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott
Trudeauarrivedon an officialvisit. [12/4NYT]
Egypt
(See also, Arab-IsraeliConflict,Iraq, Jordan,
Morocco, Sudan)
1983
Oct. 19: Rumania'sPresidentNicolae Ceausescu
arrivedin Cairofor an officialvisit. [11/21FBIS]
Oct. 29: The SupremeCourt ruled that the Neo-
Wafdparty was eligible to re-enterpolitics. [11/4
MEED]
Nov. 1: Egypt was elected to fill a 2-year seat on
the UN SecurityCouncil. [11/2FBIS]
Nov. 8: Sudan's PresidentJa'far al-Numayrivis-
ited Cairo, where he met with President Husni
Mubarak.[11/9FBIS]
Nov. 15: Special Middle East envoy Donald H.
Rumsfeldarrivedin Cairofor talks with President
Mubarak.[11/16NYT]
Nov. 22: NicholasVeliotes arrivedas new US Am-
bassadorto Egypt. [11/23NYT]
Dec. 18: US envoy Rumsfeldmet in Cairo with
Mubarak.[12/19NYT]
Dec. 22: Egypt's Trade and Economy Minister
MugtafdSa'id announcedJordan'sdecision to end
a 5-year trade boycott of Egypt duringa visit to
Cairoby a Jordaniantradedelegation.He said the
2 countrieswould sign a tradeagreementliftingall
tariffsand importtaxes. [12/23NYT]
Dec. 28: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
ButrfisGhali said 1984 would be a year of "far-
reaching developments" in Egyptian-Arabrela-
tions. [12/29JP]
1984
Jan. 7: Saudi Arabia's Prince Talal bin 'Abd al-
'Aziz arrivedin Egypton a fundraisingmissionfor
UNICEFand the ArabFund. PrinceTalalwas the
first member of the Saudi royal family to visit
Egypt since 1977. [1/9 WP]
Iran
(See also, Arab-IsraeliConflict, Petroleum
Affairs, Regional Affairs, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Turkey)
1983
Nov. 8: Interior Minister 'All Akbar Natiq-Ntiri
won a vote of confidenceby 146-72, with 13 ab-
stentions. [11/11MEED]
295
Nov. 10: Iran moved to sever economic relations
with France in retaliation for the French sale of
fighter jets to Iraq. [11/11 NYT]
Nov. 25: Air Force Commander Colonel Muinpur
was replaced by Colonel Hfishang Sadiq. [12/2
MEED]
Nov. 28: The Majlis approved a bill making the
Construction Crusade, established in 1979, a for-
mal government ministry. [12/9 MEED]
Dec. 1: Prime Minister Mir Husayn Musavi nomi-
nated 3 people for unfilled Cabinet posts: 'Abbas
'Ali Zilli: Agricultureand Rural Affairs; Husayn
Nili-Ahmadi: Mining and Metals; and Muhammad
Muruivat: Housing and Urban Development.
Three earlier nominations were rejected by the
Majlis. [12/9 MEED]
Dec. 6: The trial began in Tehran of sympathizers
and members of the Tudeh Party. The first defend-
ants were all former military officers charged with
abetting the Tudeh. [12/9 MEED]
Dec. 7: The Majlis approved 2 of 3 nominations to
fill vacant Cabinet posts, rejecting Muhammad
Muruvat as Minister of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment. [12/9 MEED]
Interior Minister Natiq-Nuiri said 2 people had
been killed in south Tehran protesting the pres-
ence of Afghan refugees. [12/16 MEED]
Dec. 8: In a speech to the Majlis Ayatallah Husayn
'All Muntazari urged governmental reforms, say-
ing the Revolution lacked "a certain moral cour-
age and administrative audacity." [12/23 MEED]
Dec. 12: The trial of 8 Tudeh Party members con-
cluded in Tehran. No verdicts were announced.
[12/16 MEED]
Dec. 24: The Iran press agency reported the arrest
of 100 members of the banned Mujahidin-i Khalq
organization. [12/25 NYT]
Dec. 25: Three French diplomats were expelled
from Iran for "activities incompatible with their
diplomatic status." [12/26 WP]
Dec. 30: France expelled 5 Iranian students it said
were trained terrorists. [12/31 NYT]
Dec. 31: The Soviet paper Pravda harshly criti-
cized Iran's leaders and the trial of Tudeh Party
members, calling the proceedings a "judicial
farce." [1/1 WP]
Iraq
(See also, Petroleum Affairs, Regional Affairs,
Iran, Kuwait, Turkey)
1983
Oct. 30: According to the Wall Street Journal,
President $addam Husayn removed Intelligence
Chief Barzan Ibrahim Al Takriti from his post in a
shake-up of leading officials. He was reportedly re-
placed by $addam's 20-year old son. [10/31 WSJ]
296
Oct. 23: Governor of Salah al-Din province, and
relative of President Husayn, Watban al-Tikriti,
was dismissed from his post, according to an of-
ficial announcement. [12/9 MEED]
Oct. 26: Egypt's Foreign Minister Kamal Hasan
'All arrived in Baghdad on an unscheduled 24-hour
working visit. [10/28 MEED]
Nov. 7: France's Foreign Minister Claude Cheys-
son said 5 Super Etendard jets had been delivered
to Iraq on October 8. [11/8 WP]
Dec. 20: US Middle East envoy Donald H.
Rumsfeld met in Baghdad with President Husayn
and other senior officials. [12/21 WP]
Dec. 27: Western diplomats said Husayn had
moved closer to Kurdish forces following Iranian
offensives into Iraqi Kurdistan. Kurdish sources
said Husayn made "major concessions" in return
for Kurdish support. [12/28 WP]
Israel
(See also, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Lebanon)
1983
Oct. 6: Nearly one million workers went on strike
for 2 hours to protest proposed economic auster-
ity measures. [10/17 WP]
Oct. 17: Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir named Yit-
zhak Cohen-Orgad as Finance Minister to replace
Yoram Aridor, who resigned October 13. [10/18
NYT]
Oct. 19: By a vote of 61-54, the government of
Prime Minister Shamir defeated a motion of no-
confidence over its handling of the economy [10/20
WP]
Over 500 neighborhood activists in Jerusalem
marched to the Knesset. Organizers called for cuts
in aid to West Bank settlements and higher sub-
sidies for Jerusalem's poor. [10/20 JP]
Oct. 25: Local elections were held throughout the
country. [10/25 JP]
Oct. 26: Voters re-elected Mayors Teddy Kollek of
Jerusalem, Shlomo Lahat of Tel Aviv and Arye
Gurel of Haifa. In Jerusalem, 20 per cent of eli-
gible Palestinian voters cast ballots, more than in
any other Israeli election. [10/26 JP]
Oct. 30: Former Chief of Staff Rafael Eitan an-
nounced the establishment of a new political party,
Tsomet, the Movement for Zionist Renewal. [10/31
JP]
Nov. 1: US Undersecretary of State for Political
Affairs Lawrence S. Eagleburger met with Israeli
officials to discuss US-Israeli cooperation. [11/1
WP]
Nov. 11: The US Congress passed a foreign aid bill
allocating $1.7 billion in military aid to Israel, half
in grants and half in loans, and $910 million in eco-
nomic aid grants. [I 1/18 MEED]
Nov. 15: The inflationrate hit 21.1 per cent for Oc-
tober, the highest monthlyrate in Israel's history.
[11/16WP]
Nov. 27: Shamirand Defense MinisterMoshe Ar-
ens arrivedin the US for talks with administration
officials. [11/28NYT]
Nov. 28: Shamir and Arens met in Washington
with President Ronald Reagan. US officials said
Reaganapprovedsteps to increase US-Israelico-
operation.[11/29WP]
Dec. 3: The Reaganadministrationagreedto an in-
crease in militarygrant aid to Israel to $1.4 bil-
lion. Congress earlierapprovedlegislationsetting
militarygrantsat $850 million. [12/4JP]
Dec. 4: Reagan reiterated US support for Israel
and promised that the US would withdrawfrom
the UN if Israel were ever forced to withdraw.
[12/5WP]
Dec. 18:At the requestof AgricultureMinisterPes-
sah Grupper,the Cabinetremoved DirectorGen-
eral of the Israel Lands AdministrationMeir
Shamirfrom his post. [12/19JP]
Dec. 22: Deputy Foreign Minister Yehuda Ben
Meir unexpectedly resigned, citing personal rea-
sons. [12/23JP]
Dec. 28: Thousands of civil servants held work
stoppagesor strikes to protestthe erosion of their
salaries. [12/28JP]
Several Cabinet members harshly criticized a
proposal by newly-appointed Finance Minister
Cohen-Orgadto freeze settlement construction.
[12/29JP]
Dec. 30: In a specialCabinetsession, Cohen-Orgad
said "budgetconstraints"might halt construction
of 18 new settlements. [12/31WP]
1984
Jan. 1: The Cabinetimposeda governmentspend-
ing ceiling of IS 1.4 trillion.Accordingto IsraelRa-
dio, US Secretaryof State George P. Shultz told
Israel'sAmbassadorto WashingtonMeirRosenne
that the US was "not impressed with the steps
taken so far" and desired stricterausteritymeas-
ures. [1/2 WP]
Jan. 3: Civil servants disruptedgovernmentserv-
ices to protest economic austerity measures. [1/4
WP]
The Ministerial Economic Committee recom-
mended9 per cent budgetcuts for every ministry,
includingDefense. [1/4 JP]
Former Cabinet member Aharon Abuhatzeira
concludeda 3-monthprisonsentencefor misuseof
funds and returnedto the Knesset. [1/4 JP]
Jan. 4: Shamirmet in Jerusalemwith a delegation
of IsraeliArabsto discuss the positionof Arabsin
Israel. [1/5 NYT]
Jan. 11: Israel's MinisterialEconomic Committee
backed off from recommendingacross-the-board9
per cent cuts in governmentministries,agreeingto
trim the total budget by $525m. The compromise
was accepted to preventa walk-outby some coa-
lition members.[1/12WSJ[
Jan. 12: MinisterWithoutPortfolio Ariel Sharon
heatedly requesteda Cabinetappointmentin the
Shamirgovernment.[1/13NYT]
Jordan
(See also, Arab-IsraeliConflict,Egypt)
1983
Oct. 21: US governmentofficials said US troops
had been traininga secret Jordanianrapiddeploy-
ment force for 21/2years. Estimatesof the size of
the force rangedfrom 3000to 8000. [10/22NYT]
Oct. 25: In Delhi, an unidentifiedgunman seri-
ously wounded Jordan's Ambassador to India,
Muhammad'Ali Khfurma.[10/26WP]
Oct. 26: In Rome, two gunmenseriouslywounded
Jordan'sAmbassadorto Italy, Taysir 'Ala al-Din.
Two groupsclaimedresponsibility,the AbuiNidal
organizationand the Syrian Front for Struggle.
[10/27WP]
Oct. 27: Egypt's Foreign Minister Kamal Hasan
'All arrivedin Ammanfor talks with CrownPrince
Hasan, the firsthigh-levelEgyptianvisit to Jordan
since 1979.[10/28MEED]
Nov. 1: The US Senate AppropriationsCommittee
deleted $220mfor a proposedJordanianRapidDe-
ployment Force from the 1984 militaryspending
bill. [11/2 NYT]
Nov. 5: In an interviewwith the Kuwaitipaperal-
Siyasa, King Husaynaccused Syria of attempting
to destabilizehis country. He also blamedSyrian-
backedterroristsfor recent attacks on two Jorda-
nian diplomats[11/6WP]
Nov. 7: Two employees at Jordan's Embassy in
Athens were shot by an unidentifiedgunman,kill-
ing one and seriously woundingthe second. [11/8
NYT]
Nov. 10: Police defused a time bomb in Amman
near the Saudi Arabian Airlines office. [11/11
NYT]
Nov. 11: Police defused a second time bomb in
Amman.[11/12NYT]
Nov. 12: A car bomb was defused in Amman.
[11/13JP]
Nov. 19: Jordanapplied restrictionson travel to
Syriafollowingthe discovery of several bombs in
Amman.[11/20NYT]
Dec. 3: Turkey's PresidentGeneralKenan Evren
arrivedin Ammanon an officialvisit. [12/5 FBIS]
Dec. 12: King Husayn began a 7-day visit to
France. [12/16MEED]
Dec. 13: King Husayn met in Paris with French
PresidentFrangoisMitterrandfor talkson the situ-
ation of the Palestiniansin Lebanonand Europe's
role in the MiddleEast. [12/14WP]
297
Dec. 29: An employee at Jordan's embassy in
Madridwas shot and killedand a second wounded Kuwait
by an unidentifiedgunman.[12/30WP] (See also, Arab-IsraeliConflict, Petroleum
Affairs,RegionalAffairs)

1984 1983
Jan. 5: King Husayn disbandedthe NationalCon- Oct. 29: DelegationsfromSouthYemenand Oman
sultativeCounciland summonedthe Parliamentto resumedbordertalks in Kuwait after a 10-month
a special session, its first meeting since 1974. [1/6 lapse. [11/31FBIS]
Nov. 8: The KuwaitiParliamenturgedthe suspen-
NYTI
sion of aid to Syriaoutstandingfor 1983and all of
Seven West Bank deputies to Jordan's sus-
1984, in response to Syria's role in Lebanon.
pendedParliamentwere called to Ammanas plans
[11/18MEED]
for the convening of a special session of the Par- Dec. 3: Canada'sPrime MinisterPierre Trudeau
liamentmoved forward.[1/5 JP] arrived from Bahrain on an official visit. [12/5
Jan. 6: SyrianofficialscriticizedJordan'sdecision FBIS]
to re-conveneits suspendedParliament.[1/7 WP] Dec. 12: A truckbomb was driveninto the Ameri-
Jan. 9: Jordan'sParliamentconvened to approve can embassycompoundin Kuwait,killing5 people
a constitutionalamendmentallowinggeneralelec- and wounding 62. Five other truck bombs ex-
tions to be held. [1/9 JP] ploded in other sites in the city. In Beirut, the Is-
Jan. 10: King Husayn appointeda new Cabinet, lamic Jihad organizationclaimed responsibility.
and urgedit to seek a "joint Palestinian-Jordanian [12/13WSJ]
negotiatingposition towardIsrael." [I/Il WP] Dec. 13:Followingthe explosionof 6 truckbombs,
The new Cabinet: security was tightened throughoutKuwait. The
Ahmad 'Ubaydat:Prime Minister& Ministerof NationalAssembly met in emergencysession and
Defense called on Kuwaitisto "foil foreign plots." [12/14
Sulayman'Arar:DeputyPrimeMinisterand In- WP]
terior Iran denied involvementin truck bomb attacks
Ahmad 'Abd al-Karimal-Tarawina:Ministerof against the US embassy and 5 other sites. [12/14
State for Prime MinistryAffairs & Justice NYT]
Dec. 16: The driverof a truckbombthat exploded
Tahiral-Masr:Foreign Affairs at the US embassy was identifiedas a pro-Iranian
MuhammadGhaufibal-Zabn:Communications Iraqi national. Iraq said the man had
previously
IbrahimAyuib:Supply been sentencedto death for "criminalactivities."
Hikmatal-Sakit:Education [12/17NYT]
Juiwadal-'Ainani:Industry,Tradeand Tourism Dec. 18: Ten Shi'i Muslimswith ties to Iran were
TahirHikmat:Transportation arrestedfor involvementin 6 recent truck bomb-
Hanna 'Audah:Finance ings. [12/19WP]
Layla Sharaf:Information Dec. 19: A state security court was establishedto
Hamadallahal-NablOsl:Municipal& Rural Af- try 10 people arrestedin connectionwith the De-
fairs and Environment cember 12 truck bombings. The 10 were report-
'Abd Khalaf Dalidiyya: Awqaf & Islamic Af- edly membersof an anti-IraqimilitantShi'i organi-
fairs zation, al-Da'wa.[12/20NYT]
MuhammadBashir:Agriculture Dec. 27: Authoritiesarrested7 more people for in-
Taysir 'Abd al-Jabir:Labor volvement in the December 12 truck bombings,
ShawkatMahmfid:OccupiedTerritoriesAffairs bringingthe total arrestedto 17. [12/28NYT]
Kamil 'Ajlumni:Health
Ra'if Najm:Public Works
'Abdallah'Uwaydat: Culture& Youthand An-
tiquities
'Abd al-SalamKan'an:Social Development
Marwanal-Kasim:Chief of the Royal Court Lebanon
'Adnan Abu 'Afudah:Minister of the Royal (See also, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Kuwait,
Court[1/11 FBIS] Libya, Morocco, Syria)
Jan. 11: King Husayndissolvedthe JordanianSen-
ate and issued a decree forminga new Senate ef- 1983
fective January 12. Thirty new Senate members Oct. 18:The governmentsaid talkson nationalrec-
were appointed. The first ordinary session of onciliationwould begin October 20 at Beirut air-
Jordan'sParliamentwas set for January16. [1/12 port. The Druze ProgressiveSocialist Partycalled
FBIS] the proposed meeting site "completely unaccept-

298
able." Near the airport, Shi'i militiamenclashed
with Lebanese Army troops. [10/19WP]
Oct. 19: The governmentannouncedthe postpone-
ment of nationalreconciliationtalks due to objec-
tions to the proposed meeting site by some fac-
tions. In the mountainseast of Beirut heavy artil-
lery exchanges between Druze militias and the
Lebanese Army killed 8 people and injured 27.
[10/20WP]
Oct. 20: Lebanesefactions agreedto hold national
reconciliationtalks in Geneva. It was agreed that
Syria and Saudi Arabiawould send delegationsto
the talks. [10/21NYT]
Oct. 22: Lebanese Army forces clashed with
Muslim militias in west Beirut and the Shuf re-
gion. The government said ceasefire violations
could lead to civil war. [10/23WP]
Oct. 26: French Prime Minister Pierre Mauroy
criticized US policy in Lebanon. [10/27WP]
Oct. 27: Fightingbroke out between the Lebanese
Armyand militiaforces in southernBeirutand the
Shuf region. In Damascus, WalidJunblat,Rashid
Karami, Sulayman Franjiyyahand Nabih Bir-i,
representing Druze, Sunni, Christian and Shi'i
communities,respectively, met with Syrianleader
HafiZal-Asad to discuss upcoming talks on na-
tional reconciliation.[10/28NYT]
Oct. 28: A bomb explosion on the coastal road
near Tyre killed 2 Lebanese. Israeli forces inves-
tigatedfollowingthe blast. [10/30NYT]
Oct. 30: Eight leading Lebanese politicians, rep-
resenting4 majorfactions, preparedin Genevafor
schedulednationalreconciliationtalks. [10/31WP]
Oct. 31: A national reconciliation conference
opened in Geneva with a speech by President
Amin al-Jumayyil.[11/1 WP]
Nov. 1: Syria's Foreign Minister 'Abd al-Halim
Khaddam, participatingas an observer in the
Lebanesenationalreconciliationconferencein Ge-
neva, demandedthat Lebanoncancel the May 17
agreementwith Israel. [11/2WP]
About 1000 of 30,000 Christianrefugees from
the besieged town of Dayr al-Qamarwere permit-
ted to leave on orders from Druze leaderJunblat.
[I 1/2JP]
Nov. 2: Franjiyyahproposedto delegates meeting
in Geneva that the May 17 agreementbe tempo-
rarily "frozen" to promote national reconcilia-
tion. [11/3 NYT]
Nov. 3: Lebanese leaders in Geneva authorized
PresidentJumayyilto re-opennegotiationswith Is-
rael on the May 17 agreement,to seek an end to
Israel's presence in southernLebanon. [11/4WP]
Nov. 4: Delegationheads at the nationalreconcili-
ation conference recessed for 10 days to permit
Jumayyil to explore opportunitiesfor modifying
the May 17 agreement.Talks continuedat lower
levels. [11/5 NYT]
The Soviet press agency Tass chargedthat the
US was planning a "massive attack" against
Lebanon. [ /115NYT]
Nov. 6: Lebanon's Army exchanged fire with
Druze and Shi'i forces in and aroundBeirut. [11/7
WP]
Nov. 7: Heavy street fightingeruptedbetween the
Lebanese Army and Shi'i militias southeast of
Beirut. [11/8NYT]
Nov. 11: Participantsin national reconciliation
talks in Geneva adjournedfollowing a week of
talks. Proposalswere producedfor legal, political
and electoralchanges. [I1/12 NYT]
Nov. 14: Heavy clashes occurredbetween Leba-
nese Army troops and Druze militias aroundthe
village of Suq al-Gharb.Fightingalso occurredin
East Beirut. [11/15NYT]
Nov. 15: Shelling hit both Christianand Muslim
sectors of Beirut as fighting continued in and
aroundthe city. [11/16WP]
Nov. 23: Lebanonbroke diplomaticrelationswith
Iranand "froze" relationswith Libya for interfer-
ing in Lebanon'sinternalaffairs.[11/24JP]
Nov. 25: Lebanese Army troops clashed through-
out the night with Shi'i Muslimmilitiasin Beirut.
The governmentannouncedit had orderedIran's
envoy to leave the country within 3 days. [11/26
NYTI
Nov. 26: Lebanese Army troops in Suq al-Gharb
came underartilleryattackfrom Druze militias.In
southern Beirut, Shi'i militiamen clashed with
LebaneseArmyforces. [11/27NYT]
Nov. 27: Druze and Chrisitianmilitias traded ar-
tillery barrages in the southern Shuf region.
Jumayyilleft Beirutfor officialvisits to Rome and
Washington.[11/28WP]
A delegationfrom Tripoli travelled to Damas-
cus to work out the details of a plan for the with-
drawalof rival Palestinianfactions. [11/28NYT]
Nov. 28: Artilleryshells woundedone US Marine
nearthe Beirutairport.[11/29NYT]
Meetingin Rome, Italy's ForeignMinisterBet-
tino Craxi told Jumayyilthat Italy hoped to con-
vene a meetingof the 4 states participatingin the
Beirut multinationalforce to speed reconciliation
amongLebanon'srivalcommunities.[11/29NYT]
Nov. 29: Heavy shellingbroke out in the Shuf re-
gion and spreadto the suburbsof Beirut. Shi'i mi-
litiamen temporarilydetained over 60 Christian
workers.[11/30NYT]
Nov. 30: After 3 days of heavy shelling around
Beirut, the internationalairport was closed. In
Tripolilocal militiasclashed, killing2 and wound-
ing 6. [12/1NYT]
Dec. 1: Jumayyilmet in Washingtonwith Presi-
dent Ronald Reagan, who reiteratedUS support
for the Lebanesegovernment.Reagandid not en-
dorse a proposalto seek Israel's withdrawalfrom
Lebanon without a concomitant Syrian pullout.
"We stand by the May 17 agreement," Reagan
said. He encouraged Jumayyil to work more
closely with Israel to achieve the withdrawalof
foreignforces. [12/2WP]
299
 A leading Druze religious figure Shaykh Halim
Taqi al-Din was killed in his home in Beirut by an
unidentified gunman. [12/2 NYT]
Dec. 2: US Secretary of State George P. Shultz
said the US and Lebanon had agreed to establish
joint economic and military committees to add
4"structure and coherence" to US-Lebanese ties.
[12/2 NYT]
Anti-'Arafat forces around Tripoli shelled loy-
alist positions as negotiations over the withdrawal
of 'Arafat's troops faltered. [12/3 NYT]
Dec. 4: Druze leader Junblat agreed to lift the siege
of 25,000 Lebanese Christians trapped in the Shuf
village of Dayr al-Qamar since early September.
[12/5 WP]
Dec. 5: A car bomb exploded in west Beirut, kill-
ing 14 people and wounding 83. [12/6 NYTI
Dec. 6: US officials said Lebanon's President
Jumayyil would try to form a "national reconcili-
ation Cabinet" including members of rival fac-
tions. [12/7 WP]
Dec. 7: Foreign Minister Elie Salem travelled to
Damascus to seek the resumption of national rec-
onciliation talks in Geneva. [12/8 JP]
Dec. 11: Heavy fighting broke out south of Beirut
between Lebanese Army troops and Shi'i militias.
[12/12 NYT]
Dec. 12: Druze artillery shells ceased falling on
Suq al-Gharb after the Lebanese Army warned of
retaliation. [12/13 WP]
Dec. 13: Jumayyil arrived in London for talks with
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. [12/14 NYT]
Dec. 14: A 3-month seige by Druze forces of Chris-
tians in the Shuf village of Dayr al-Qamar ended
with the start of an Israeli-supervised evacuation.
[12/15 WP]
Dec. 16: In Damascus, Lebanese factions an-
nounced a new ceasefire. Beirut airport reopened.
[12/17 NYT]
Dec. 19: The Lebanese Army fought with Shi'i mi-
litias southeast of Beirut. [12/20 CSM]
Dec. 24: Lebanese Army troops fought Shi'i mi-
litias for control of positions evacuated by French
troops in southern Beirut. In the Shuf region, ar-
tillery battles broke out between the army and
Druze militias. [2/25 WP]
Dec. 25: Lebanese Army troops took control of
former French positions in the Sabra and Shatila
refugee camps. At least 13 people were killed in
the heaviest fighting since the December 13 ceas-
efire was declared. [12/26 NYT]
Dec. 26: Intense fighting continued in Beirut be-
tween the Lebanese Army and Shi'i forces,
spreading into east Beirut. Government radio re-
ported 53 people killed in 3 days of heavy clashes.
[12/27 WP]
Dec. 28: Five bombs exploded near Christian-
owned properties in West Beirut, killing I person
and wounding 3. A security committee composed
of delegates from rival factions held its first meet-
ing in Beirut. From Damascus, Junblat said he was
300
doubtful about "reaching any agreement with
Amin Jumayyil." [12/29 WP]
Dec. 30: Radio Voice of Lebanon reported clashes
between the Islamic Unification Movement and
leftist militias in Tripoli. [1/3 FBIS]
1984
Jan. 1: Druze and Christian militiamen clashed in
the southern Shuf region. [1/2 WP]
Jan. 3: Jumayyil sought the agreement of rival fac-
tions for a 2-stage plan to enlarge areas under the
government's control, according to US officials.
[1/4 WP]
Jan. 4: Lebanon's Intelligence Director Simon
Kassis flew to Damascus to present a plan for ex-
panding the authority of the Jumayyil govern-
ment. [1/5 WP]
Jan. 5: The government said all but one of the
country's major factions had accepted a disengage-
ment plan intended as the first step toward enhanc-
ing the government's authority. Junbl&tcontinued
to call for a "basic political solution" and said his
militia would refuse to permit Army troops into
"our areas." [1/6 NYT]
Jan. 6: Druze militias clashed with Christian forces
in the Shuf region and with Lebanese Army units
in Beirut. Expressing support for new disengage-
ment proposals, Syrian Foreign Minister Khaddam
told representatives from Lebanon's major com-
munities to reach agreement on the plan quickly.
[1/7 WP]
Jan. 7: Saudi, Syrian and Lebanese foreign min-
isters met in Riyadh to discuss proposals for the
disengagement of Lebanon's warring factions. [1/7
WP]
Heavy shelling broke out south of Beirut and in
the Shuf region. In Damascus, Khaddam met with
Birri, Lebanese negotiator Rafiq Hariri and
Junblat, to discuss Junblat's objections to recent
disengagement proposals. [1/7 NYT]
Jan. 9: Christian and Druze militias clashed in the
Iqlim al-Kharrfib region north of the Awali River,
killing 6 civilians and wounding 8 others. [1/10
NYT]
Saudi, Syrian and Lebanese foreign ministers
ended a meeting in Riyadh without reaching agree-
ment on the implementation of security proposals.
[1/10 FBIS]
Jan. 10: Junblat said major differences remained
between Lebanon's factions and that no agree-
ment could be expected soon. [1/11 WP]
Jan. 11: Lebanese Army troops and Muslim mi-
litia forces clashed in southern Beirut and the sur-
rounding hills. [1/12 NYT]
Jan. 12: US envoy Donald Rumsfeld met in
Damascus with Syrian officials to discuss a pro-
posed security plan for Lebanon. In Beirut, Druze
militias engaged in heavy artillery battles with
Lebanese Army troops and Phalangist forces. [1/13
WP]
Jan. 13: Beirut experienced its heaviest fighting in
several months as heavy artillery battles and rifle
fire broke out in the downtown area. [1/14 NYT]
Libya
(See also, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Lebanon,
Tunisia)
1983
Nov. 29: In its November 21 issue Zahf al-Akhdar,
the official organ of the Libyan "revolutionary
committees," called upon the Arab countries to
break relations with France and "spill the blood of
the French" to avenge French crimes against the
Arab nation. [1/29 LM]
Dec. 16: Lebanon's President Amin al-Jumayyil ar-
rived in Tripoli on a brief official visit. [12/19
FBIS]
Dec. 21: Libya officially asked to become a party
to the March 19, 1983, Treaty of Fraternity and
Accord between Tunisia and Algeria. Mauritania
became a party to the treaty on December 13.
[12/21 LM]
1984
Jan. 5: Head of State Mu'ammar al-Qadhdhafi
threatened to boycott French products and pre-
vent French investments in Libya if France failed
to change its policy toward Libya. [1/7 LM]
Jan. 11: Responding to Tunisian accusations,
Libya denied involvement in the explosion of a liq-
uid natural gas pipeline, but offered to pay the cost
of repairs. [1/3 LM]
Jan. 13: Mauritius ordered the Libyan embassy
closed and expelled all but one member of Libya's
diplomatic mission. No reasons for the decisions
were announced. [1/14 WP]
Morocco
(See also, Regional Affairs)
1983
Oct. 21: United Arab Emirates President Shaykh
Zayid bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan arrived in Rabat on
an official visit. [10/28 MEED]
Nov. 5: King Hassan II dismissed Prime Minister
Maati Bouabid and announced the imminent for-
mation of a national unity government. [11/11
MEED]
Nov. 13: Egypt's Foreign Minister Kamal Hasan
'Ali arrived in Rabat, the first high level Egyptian
visit to Morocco since the signing of the Camp
David Agreements in 1979. [11/18 MEED]
Nov. 19: King Hassan 1I named MohamedKarim
Lamrani,DirectorGeneralof the MoroccanOffice
of Phosphates,as primeministerin a new national
unity government.[11/22LM]
Nov. 30: King Hassan II announcedthe formation
of a nationalunity government:
MohamedKarimLamrani:PrimeMinister
Ministersof State
Ahmed Osman (National Assembly of
Independents)
MaatiBouabid(ConstitutionalUnion)
AbderrahimBouabid(Socialist Union of Popu-
lar Forces)
M'HamedBoucetta(Istiqlal)
MahjoubiAhardane(PopularMovement)
MohamedArsalane El Jadidi (National Demo-
cratic Party)
HadjM'HammedBahnini
MoulayAhmedal-Alaoui
Ministers
MoulayMustaphaBelarbiEl Alaoui:Justice
Driss Basri:Interior
AbdelouahedBelkziz:ForeignAffairs
AbdellatifFilali:Information
HachmiFilali:Endowments& ReligiousAffairs
M'Hamed Douiri: Planning, Staff Training&
VocationalTraining
AzeddineLaraki:National Education
Taieb Bensheikh: Minister Delegate to the
PrimeMinisterin Chargeof EconomicAffairs
AbdellatifJouahri:Finance
Azeddine Guessous: Commerce, Industry &
Tourism
Abbas El Fassi: Handicrafts& Social Affairs
MansouriBenali: Transport
MoussaSaadi:Energyand Mines
RahhaliRahal:Public Health
Bensalem Smili: Maritime Fisheries & Mer-
chant Marine
Abbas El Kaissi: SecretaryGeneralof the Gov-
ernment
Said Belbachir:CulturalAffairs
M'Fadel Lahlou: Housing & Development of
National Territory
MohamedKabbaj:Equipment
AbdelkrimGhallab: Minister Delegate to the
PrimeMinister
Mohand Laensar: Postal Services &
Telecommunications
OthmaneDemnati:Agriculture& AgrarianRe-
form
Ahmed Belhadj: Minister in Charge of Rela-
tions withParliament
AbdellatifSamlali:Youthand Sports
AbdelouahedRadi:Cooperation
MoulayZine Zahidi:Labor & National Promo-
tion
AbdelhaqTazi: Secretaryof State for Foreign
Affairs
KhaliHannaOuldRachid:Secretaryof State to
the PrimeMinisterin Chargeof SaharanAffairs
301
 Mohamed Tougani: Secretary of State to the
Prime Minister in Charge of AdministrativeAf-
fairs
AbdellatifHajaj: Secretary of State for Hous-
ing & Development of National Territory[11131
FBIS]
Dec. 11: In Rabaton a short visit, US Secretaryof
State George Shultz met with King Hassan II and
Minister of State and opposition leader Abderr-
ahim Bouabid. Concludinghis visit to North Af-
rica, Shultz admitted that he had encountereda
"very sharp reaction" in the Arab world to the
American-Israeliagreementon strategiccoopera-
tion. [12/13LM]
Dec. 15: Lebanon'sPresidentAminal-Jumayyilar-
rived in Morocco on a brief official visit. [12/19
FBIS]
Dec. 20: Moulay Abdallah, 48, only brother of
King Hassan II, died following an extended ill-
ness. [12/19FBIS]
Dec. 27: In a televised addressKing Hassan II an-
nounced new economic measures. He revealed
that he had signed a decree providingfor legisla-
tive elections to be held at the beginningof the
new year, and said the new Parliamentwouldmeet
on April 13, 1984. [12/30LM]
Jan. 8: Anti-governmentdemonstrationsbrokeout
in Marrakech.[1/24 LMJ
Jan. 13: Unrest reachedNadorand El-Hoceimain
northernMorocco, and interventionby the Army
resultedin "manywounded,"accordingto the As-
sociation of Moroccans in France and the Asso-
ciationof MoroccanWorkersin France. [1/26LM]
Oman
(See also, Regional Affairs, Kuwait, South
Yemen)
1983
Nov. 16: Sultan Qabus bin Sa'id opened the sec-
ond 2-year term of the Majlis. Hamud 'Abdallah
al-Harz4was namedPresident.He was replacedas
Ministerof Electricity and Waterby Khalfanbin
Ndsir. [12/2 MEED]
Nov. 17: Sultan Qabuisreleased 55 prisoners to
mark the 13th celebration of Oman's National
Day. [I 1/18FBIS]
Pakistan
(See also, Afghanistan)
1983
Oct. 19: A gun battle between securityforces and
villagers in Lakhat, in Sind Province, killed 5
302
people and woundedover 60, accordingto oppo-
sition sources. A governmentstatementclaimed 1
killedand 8 wounded.[10/20WP]
Oct. 23: A governmentspokesmansaid that over
4000 people had been arrestedin 10 weeks of civil
protest, with 2527 remainingin jail. [10/24NYT]
Oct. 25: PresidentMuhammadZia ul-Haq urged
the election commission to accelerate prepara-
tions for nationalelections. [10/25FBIS]
Oct. 26: Over 10,000 people participatedin anti-
government demonstrations in Lahore. [10/27
FBIS]
Nov. 10: InteriorMinisterMahmoudHaroon said
61 people were killed and 4691 wounded in anti-
governmentdisturbancesin Sind over the past 3
months. Unofficialestimates put the death toll at
300 and woundedat over 8000. [11/1I1WP]
Nov. 12: Police fired into a crowd of protestors
duringan anti-governmentdemonstrationin Sind
Province.[11/14NYTI
Dec. 3: Police in Kashmirarrestedabout 450 par-
ticipants in an 80-mile anti-governmentmarch.
[12/4NYT]
Dec. 24: PresidentZia extended a ban on mem-
bers of the PakistanPeople's Party for 10 years,
saying the PPP had broughtPakistanto the brink
of crisis and would not be allowed to rule again.
[12/25NYT]
1984
Jan. 7: Police firedon riotingprisonersattempting
to escape from a Sindjail. One inmatewas killed
and 5 wounded.[1/8 NYT]
Qatar
(See also, RegionalAffairs)
1983
Nov. 6: Financeand Oil MinisterShaykh'Abd al-
'Aziz bin Khalifa Al Thani said Qatar's 1983
budgetdeficitmay reachQR5billion.He said con-
trols on governmentspendingwere necessary to
avoid "superfluousexpenses." [11/10FBIS]
Dec. 10: The annualsession of the nationalAdvi-
sory Councilconvenedin Doha. [12/16MEED]
Saudi Arabia
(See also, Arab-IsraeliConflict, Petroleum
Affairs,RegionalAffairs,Egypt, Lebanon)
1983
Oct. 22: King Fahd bin 'Abd al-'Aziz appointed
'Abd al-'Azlz al-Zamilas Ministerof Industryand
Electricityand Ghazi 'Abd al-Qusaybias Minister
of Health. [10/28MEED]
Oct. 25: Prince Bandar bin Sultan presented his
credentials as Ambassadorto the United States.
[10/28MEED]
South Yemen
(See also, Regional Affairs, Kuwait, United
Arab Emirates)
1983
Oct. 27: Aden radio reportedthe formalestablish-
ment of diplomatic relations with Oman. [11/28
FBIS]
Sudan
(See also, Egypt)
1983
Oct. 18: Egypt's PresidentHusni Mubarakarrived
in Khartoumfor talks with President Ja'far al-
Numayri. [10/21MEED]
Oct. 22: Rumania'sPresident Nicolae Ceausescu
arrivedin Khartoumfrom Cairo. [11/24FBIS]
Oct. 28: President Numayri said selected provi-
sions of Sudan's recently-introducedIslamic leg-
islationwould apply to non-Muslims.[11/1FBIS]
Nov. 8: Numayri left Khartoumfor visits to Eu-
rope and the United States. [11/9 FBIS]
Nov. 13: EthiopianMIGs bombedareas in eastern
Sudan, killing I person and injuring9 others, ac-
cordingto Sudan's press agency. Ethiopianover-
flightson November 11 were also reported.[11/17
FBIS]
Nov. 14: PresidentNumayribegan a 5-day visit to
France. [11/18MEED]
Nov. 17: Army troops freed 2 foreignworkerskid-
nappedby rebels in southernSudan who had de-
mandedthe repeal of newly imposed Islamic leg-
islation. A second anti-governmentgroup contin-
ued to hold 9 other foreignworkers. [11/18NYT]
Nov. 19: An Army raid freed the 9 remainingex-
patriatehostagesheld by anti-governmentrebelsin
southernSudan. [11/20WP]
Nov. 21: Numayriarrivedin Washingtonfor meet-
ings with President Ronald Reagan and inter-
nationallendingagencies. [11/25MEED]
Dec. 6: An Americanoilmanwas shot and killedby
robbersin the upperNile valley. [12/7 NYT]
Dec. 17: Governmenttroops reportedlyrecaptured
the town of Nasir in the southern province of
Sobat, after it was occupied for 2 days by forces
of the Sudanese People's LiberationArmy. [12/23
MEED]
Dec. 20: Vice President 'Umar Mubammadal-
Tayyib said Army troops broke a rebel siege of
Nasir township in southern Sudan, killing 480
rebels. Al-TayyibchargedLibyaand Ethiopiawith
responsibilityfor unrest in southern Sudan and
said Sudanwouldrespondwith "deterrentblows"
if necessary. [12/21FBIS]
Syria
(See also Arab-Israeli Conflict, Jordan,
Kuwait,Lebanon)
1983
Oct. 29: Followingtests for newly-receivedSoviet
SS-21missiles, Defense MinisterMu$tafdTlas said
the weaponshad been successfully"absorbed"by
Syrianforces in preparationfor the "comingfate-
ful battle." [11/31FBIS]
Nov. 7: Syria declareda generalmobilizationand
put its armedforces on alert. [11/8NYT]
Nov. 10: ForeignMinister'Abdal-HalimKhaddam
travelled to Moscow for a brief working visit.
[11/11NYT]
Nov. 13: The US Congressvoted to cut off previ-
ously approvedaid to Syria. [11/18MEED]
President Hafiz al-Asad was hospitalizedfor an
undefinedailment.[11/14WP]
Nov. 20: US special MiddleEast envoy DonaldH.
Rumsfeld met with Foreign Minister 'Abd al-
HalimKhaddamin Damascus.[11/21NYT]
Nov. 26: Soviet MiddleEast specialistPavel Dem-
chenko wrote for the Novosti press agency that
"Syria enjoys [the] all-around support of the
USSR, [and]cannotregarditself alone in any situ-
ation." "AggressionagainstSyria is an extremely
dangerous venture," Demchenko wrote. [11/27
NYT]
Nov. 27: PresidentAsad appearedpubliclyfor the
firsttime since he was hospitalized.[11/28NYT]
Dec. 13: US Defense SecretaryCasparW. Wein-
bergerraised US estimatesof Soviet personnelin
Syria, saying8000technicians,advisorsandtroops
were in the country. Earlierestimates set the So-
viet presenceat 7000. [12/14NYT]
Dec. 14: US MiddleEast envoy Rumsfeldarrived
in Damascusfor talks with Syrianofficials. [12/15
WP]
Dec. 15: US envoy RumsfelddepartedDamascus
after 2 days of talks with Foreign Minister
Khaddam.[12/16WP]
Dec. 19: The governmentdissolved 6 religiousso-
cieties, citing concern for the spread of "a reli-
gious entity" withinSyria. [12/20NYT]
Dec. 25: US presidentialcandidateJesse Jackson
was invited by the Syriangovernmentto discuss
the release of captured US pilot Lieut. Robert
Goodman.[12/26NYT]
303
Dec. 28: Ministerof InformationAhmadIskandar Dec. 7: The CommunistParty's weekly publica-
Ahmad died of an "incurable disease." [12/28 tion Attariqal Jadid was suspendedfor 6 months
FBIS] for publishing informationabout the embezzle-
Dec. 29: PresidentialcandidateJackson left on a ment of funds by a Tunisianembassy emloyee in
self-proclaimed"pilgrimage"to Syria, seekingthe Paris. [12/10LM]
release of US prisonerGoodman.[12/30WP] Dec. 9: US Secretaryof State George Shultz ar-
Defense MinisterTlas said in an interviewthat rivedin Tunisfor a briefworkingvisit. In his meet-
Asad had been hospitalizedwith hearttrouble,not ing with Shultz, President Bourguibacriticized
appendicitisas announcedearlier. [12/30WP] US-Israelities. [12/13LM]
Dec. 16: The first congress of the Socialist Demo-
1984 crats Movementopened in Tunis. [12/17LM]
Jan. 2: Jackson met with Asad outside Damascus Dec. 29: Riots broke out in Nafgawa region of
to discuss Goodman'srelease. [1/3 WP] southernTunisia protestingincreases in price of
Jan. 3: In response to Jackson's request, Syrian bread and other cereal commoditiesas result of
authoritiesfreed Goodman.[1/4 WP] cuts in subsidies. [11/4WP]
Jan. 13: US envoy Rumsfeldand PresidentAsad
met for 3 hours in Damascus. The talks were de-
scribedas "fruitful."[1/14WP] 1984
Jan. 1: Riots broke out in the town of Kasserine
in southwestTunisia.[1/3 LM]
Jan. 2: Police and nationalguard units in Gafsa
opened fire on demonstratorsprotesting cuts in
Tunisia governmentfood subsidies. Unconfirmedreports
said 8 people were killedand 40 wounded.The In-
(See also, Algeria, Libya)
teriorMinistrysaid 4 people were killed in rioting
in the Kabili,Hamma,Kasserineand Gafsaareas.
1983 [1/3 NYT]
Oct. 18: President Habib Bourguiba reaffirmed Jan 3: A nationwidestate of emergency was de-
Prime MinisterMohamedMzali as his successor. clared and a 6 pm-5 am curfew imposed in Tunis
[10/28MEED] after rioting over sharp cuts in food subsidies
Oct. 20: A Cabinetdecision was announcedend- spread to the capital city. Prime Minister Mzali
ing governmentsubsidieson the retail sales of ce- said the protestswere aimedat "topplingthe gov-
reals. The price of bread was expected to double ernment." Up to 25 people were reportedkilled.
as a result. [11/4MEED] [1/4 WP]
Bahrain's Prime Minister Shaykh Khalifa bin Jan. 4: Anti-governmentriots subsidedas military
Salman Al Khallfa arrivedin Tunis on an official and police troopsenforcedemergencyregulations.
visit. [11/21FBIS] [1/5 WP]
Oct. 27: French PresidentFranqoisMitterandar- Jan. 5: The governmentreportedthe arrest of "a
rived in Tunisia for a 3-day official visit. [11/27 great numberof criminalsand professionalagita-
FBIS] tors" in the wake of country-widefood riots. [1/6
Tunisia and Algeria signed a defense coopera- NYT]
tion agreement at the close of a 5-day visit by The General Union of TunisianWorkers'Sec-
Algeria's Secretary-Generalof the Defense Min- retaryGeneralHabibAchour threatenedto call a
istry MustaphaBelloucif. [11/4MEED] generalstrikein responseto governmentausterity
Nov. 1: The first women were appointed to the moves. In Tunis, police firedover the heads of ri-
Cabinet.FethiaMzaliwas namedMinisterof Fam- oters protestingthe measures,as smalldemonstra-
ily and Women's Promotionand Souad Yaacoubi tions resumed.[1/6 WP]
was appointed Secretary of State to the Health Jan. 6: Bourguibarevokedcuts in basic food sub-
Ministry.[11/11MEED] sidies, ending nation-widedisturbances.Demon-
Nov. 19: PresidentBourguibalegalized two oppo- strators
sition political parties, the Socialist Democrats celebratingthe announcementcalled for
Movement, and the People's Unity Movement. Mzali'sresignation.[1/7 WP]
[11/20NYT] Jan. 7: Bourguiba dismissed Interior Minister
Nov. 25: BourguibaappointedSabokBen Jemaaas Driss Guigafor the conduct of security troops in
Minister of Public Works, replacing Mohamed recentfood riots. PrimeMinisterMzaliwas named
Sayah. Ben Jemaawas succeeded as a Ministerof ActingInteriorMinisteruntila permanentappoint-
Transport and Communication by Brahim ment could be made. [1/8 NYT]
Khouaja.[11/27-28LM] Jan. 9: The governmentprotestedto Libya over a
Dec. 2: Algeria's Press Minister Mohamed Ben commando attack on the Algerian-Tunisiangas
Ahmed Abdelghani arrived in Tunis for a brief pipeline.The attackersreportedlyoriginatedfrom
workingvisit. [12/5 FBIS] Libyanterritory.[1/10NYT]

304
Jan. 10: The establishmentof a commissionof in-
quiry to investigate the failures of police forces
during the riots of the previous week was an-
nounced. Bourguibadissolved the police depart-
ment in Tunis District until the commissioncom-
pleted its investigation.[1/13LM]
Turkey
( See also, Jordan)
1983
Oct. 19: Martiallaw authoritiesbanned publica-
tion of a right-wingpaperMilli Gazete. [10/20WP]
Oct. 20: Iraqi and Turkish delegations agreed in
Ankarato build a pipelineto carry Iraqiliquidpe-
troleumgas throughTurkey to a terminalon the
Mediterranean.[10/21WP]
Oct. 22: President Kenen Evren said martiallaw
wouldcontinueafterthe November6 generalelec-
tions, saying "there is a need for the continuation
of martiallaw in our countryfor some time more."
[10/28MEED]
Oct. 27: A militarycourt in Diyarbakirsentenced
94 Kurdish separatists to prison terms up to 24
years. [10/28JP]
Oct. 30: A majorearthquakekilled between 1000-
1500 people in the eastern province of Erzurum.
[10/31WP]
Military authorities banned the daily papers
Gunaydinand Tan. [10/31NYT]
Nov. 6: Generalparliamentaryelections were held.
Three parties competed: the Nationalist Democ-
racy Party, favored by the militarygovernment,
the MotherlandPartyand the PopulistParty. [11/6
NYT]
Nov. 7: The MotherlandParty, headed by Turgut
Ozal, won 44.8 per cent of the vote to take con-
trol of Turkey's government.The Populist Party
received 30.5 per cent of the votes and the Nation-
alist Democracy Party, received 23.5 per cent.
[11/7 WP]
Nov. 8: PresidentEvrencalled on all Turksto sup-
port the new government.Officialelection results
gave Ozal's MotherlandParty a majorityof 212
seats in Turkey's400-seat unicameralParliament.
The PopulistPartywon 117 seats, and the Nation-
alist DemocracyPartywon 71. [11/9 NYT]
Nov. 10: PrimeMinister-electOzal said he planned
to emphasize economic growth and an aggressive
pro-Westernforeignpolicy. [11/ 1 NYT]
Nov. 11: The militarygovernmentextended mar-
tial law for 4 months. [11/12NYT]
Nov. 12: The militarygovernmentapprovedpress
restrictionsseverely penalizingeditors, publishers
and writers convicted of publishingarticles harm-
ful to national security or public morality. [11/13
NYT]
Nov. 14: A militarycourt sentenced 23 leaders of
the Turkish Peace Association to prison terms
from 3 months to 8 years for establishinga sedi-
tious organization.[11/15NYT]
Nov. 18: A militarycourt in Izmir sentenced 111
members of the leftist Dev Yol organizationto
varyingjail terms. Four others were sentenced to
death and 68 were acquitted.[11/19NYT]
Nov. 19: US special Middle East envoy Donald
Rumsfeldmet with Evren. [11/20WP]
Nov. 21: The Anatoliapress agency said 89 people
were indicted in recent months on charges of at-
temptingto "establish a Communistregime" in
Turkey.[11/22NYT]
Nov. 24: The newly elected Parliamentheld its first
session. [11/25WP]
Dec. 1: Militaryauthoritiesin Istanbulclosed the
nation's largest daily paper, Hurriyet,for an in-
definiteperiod. [12/2WP]
Dec. 5: Hurriyet resumed publication. [12/9
MEED]
Dec. 6: Turkey's military government stepped
down after 3 years in power. [12/7NYT]
Dec. 13: Appointmentsto the new civiliangovern-
ment were ratified.
GeneralKenanEvren:President,Head of State
TurgutOzal:PrimeMinister
Kaya Erdem:Deputy Prime Minister,Minister
of State
Necat Eldem:Justice
Zeki Yavuzturk:Defense
Ali Tanriyar:Interior
Vahit Halefoglu:ForeignAffairs
VuralArikan:Finance & Customs
Vehbi Dincerler:Youth,Education& Sport
Safa Giray:Construction& Housing
MehmetAydin:Health & Social Security
Veysel Atasoy: Communications
Husnu Dogan: Agriculture,Forests & Village
Affairs
CahitAral:Industry& Commerce
CemalBuyukbas:Energy& NaturalResources
MukerremTascioglu:Culture& Tourism
MustafaKalemli:Labor
Ministers of State: Kazim Oksay; A. Mesut
Yilmaz;Sudi N. Turel;AbdullahRenekeci;Ismail
Ozdaglar;AhmetAlptemucin.[12/16MEED]
Dec. 21: Bomb explosions, apparentlydirected at
Iraqi targets, occurred in Istanbul and Ankara.
Threepeople were woundedin the blasts. Turkish
authoritiesarrested2 men in connection with the
incidents.[12/22NYT]
Dec. 24: The governmentof Prime MinisterOzal
won a parliamentaryvote of confidence. [12/25
WP]
Dec. 29: Ozal introducedeconomic liberalization
proposals calling for less restrictive import and
currencycontrols. [12/30WP]
305
1984
Jan. 12: Turkeyand Iranagreedto renew a lapsed
Regional Cooperation for Development trade
agreement.Turkeywas Iran'slargesttradingpart-
ner in 1983. [1/13 WSJ]
United Arab Emirates
(See also, RegionalAffairs,Morocco)
1983
Nov. 12: South Yemen's first ambassadorto the
United Arab Emirates arrived in Abu Dhabi.
[11/14FBIS]
Nov. 15: Accordingto the London paperal-Sharq
al-Awsat, the first Soviet trade exhibition in the
UAE was scheduled to open in February 1984.
[I 1/17FBIS]
Yemen
(See also, Arab-IsraeliConflict)
1983
Nov. 13: A new Cabinet was sworn in: 'Abd al-
'Aziz 'Abd al-Ghani:PrimeMinister
Ahmad 'Abd al-Malikal-AshbThi:Foreign Af-
fairs
AhmadQayd Barakat:Economyand Industry
MuhsinMuhammadal-Ulifi:Interior
MuhammadAhmadal-Junayd:Development
AhmadLuqman:Municipalitiesand Housing
'Abd al-Wahid'Aziz Zandani:Education
Al-Qadi Ahmad Muhammadal-Jawbi:Justice
[I 1/18MEED]

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