CHRONOLOGY# 16: LEBANESE WAR ERA, 1981-1987 Part 1 (1981-1982)
THE PLO IS EVICTED FROM LEBANON; ISRAEL ATTEMPTS TO PERSUADE LEBANESE CHRISTIAN LEADERS TO JOIN FORCES WITH IT TO MAKE LEBANON A CHRISTIAN STATE ALIGNED WITH ISRAEL
NOTE: By this time the Lebanese Civil War was one of shifting alliances among the Christian, Sunni and Shia factions, difficult to keep track off. Syria, which had been a major influencer of events in Lebanon, had it’s hand in keeping the war going. The PLO and other Palestinian groups ensconced in southern Lebanon had grown stronger although not attacking Israel. However, Begin and Sharon were intent on invading Lebanon and once offered a pretext invaded it. The goals were three: eliminating the PLO threat in Lebanon, confronting the Syrian military presence there and eliminating the SAM missiles stationed in the Beka’a Valley, and establishing a friendly Christian government that would sign a peace agreement. The IDF fairly quickly reached the suburbs of Beirut, and massively bombed Palestinian fighters positions, including inside Beirut. The PLO was overrun and as part of a ceasefire its leaders and headquarters decamped to Tunisia, while other fighters were spread among 6 other Arab nations.. There was conflict with the Syrian army but SAM missile bunkers destroyed in part. The full invasion was complex and its details are not the subject of this blog.
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March 1981, a PLO commando unit from Lebanon landed by boat south of Haifa in northern Israel, seized a bus and clashed with policemen, killing more than 30 people.
April, 1981 Israeli IDF invaded south Lebanon in a bid to drive PLO fighters north of the Litani river. The fighting killed 1,000 Lebanese and Palestinians - the bulk of whom were civilians - and 18 Israeli soldiers.
May28, 1981 IAF begins aerial operations against the PLO in southern Lebanon, mostly aerial bombardment, which was called off once it was clear the PLO got the message that Begin meant business. The PLO did not want another ground attack.
June 17, 1981 The IAF bombs PLO in Beirut killing several hundred people..
June 30, 1981 Begin narrowly reelected and puts together an entirely right wing coalition including Ariel Sharon. Voters continued their exodus from the left and centre towards the right.
July, 1981 Intense fighting started by rocket fire and bombings between the PLO and IDF. Civilians on both sides killed. Panic spread in northern Israel border towns.
July 24, 1981 A ceasefire was negotiated with US assistance ending the bombings and rocket fire. Many felt Israel had been defeated by the PLO.
Fall, 1981, Arial Sharon was appointed Minister of defence, and a new, civil administration, separate from but subordinate to the military one was established to oversee civil matters in Gaza and the West Bank.
Oct 6, 1981 Anwar Sadat was assassinated.
Dec, 1981 Israel extends its law to the Golan Heights, passing the Golan Heights Law, which grants permanent residency, ID cards, and Israeli citizenship to its Jewish residents, but does not formally annex the territory
Aug, 1981-June, 1982 Israel seeks a pretext to invade Lebanon again, although during this period calm reigned on the northern border for first time since 1968. Sharon, now Minister of Defence was leading the effort.
Jan, 1982, Sharon meets secretly in Beirut with PIerre Gamayel (1905-1984) and Camille Chamoun (1900-1987) including tours of various areas. He negotiates a military and political strategic alliance with these two. They are visited by various Israeli military and intelligence heads.
April, 1982 various Israeli military people killed by attackers, none PLO, although Israel accused the PLO. Israel retaliated.
May, 1982 Shelling and bombing intensify from both sides, with more loss of civilian lives in both countries. The US warned Israel not to invade unless clear provocation, and if it did, make it swift.
May, 1982 Major-General Erskine (Ghana), Chief of Staff of UNTSO reported to the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council that from August 1981 to May 1982, inclusive, there were 2096 violations of Lebanese airspace and 652 violations of Lebanese territorial waters.
June 3, 1982, assassination attempt by Abu Nidal group on Israel’s ambassador to the UK. Begin states it was in effect an attack on Israel and it didn’t matter who was responsible, the PLO was behind it all. He thus used the attempt as the pretext to invade Lebanon. The PLO made public statements deploring the attack.
June 4, 1982, with full cabinet approval the IAF launched massive aerial attacks on various PLO targets in Lebanon, including in Beirut. PLO responds with rocket attacks on Northern Israel communities along the entire border.
June 5, 1982 The Israeli cabinet meets and Sharon and Begin present “Little Pines” plan, which limited intrusions to 40 km north
June 5, 1982, head of IDF flies into Beirut and meets with Gamayel to make several requests for Phalange military action, all turned down.
June 6, 1982 The IDF invades Lebanon, quickly overtakes the PLO in the south quickly as it was fighting alone until the IDF reached outskirts of Beirut, where it ran into a Syrian infantry brigade. It was dubbed “peace for Galilee”.
June 7, 1982 Begin tells US that Israel only intended to go 40km north. UNSC passed Resolution 509 calling for IL to withdraw immediately and unconditionally to the international frontier. US votes for the resolution. However, some highers up were ambivalent, as wish Israel to drive Syria and PLO out of Lebanon.
Summer, 1982 Significant criticism of the invasion by the left. 100,000 Israeli citizens march for peace, organized by Peace Now, a newly formed NGO fighting for the 2 state solution.
July, 1982 Beirut under siege, the PLO refuses to leave
June and July, 1982 saw extensive fighting in the Beka’a valley where the Syrian army was effectively ensconced, but also used PLO fighters and rising Shi’ite militias, including a group called Hezbullah, to resist the IDF
Aug12-31, 1982, Arafat finally agrees to terms offered by US negotiator, Phillip Habbib.
August 21, 1982 PLO leaders decamp to Tunisia where it sets up headquarters, and about 22,000 of its fighters scatter to 7 Arab countries, including Jordan & Syria.
Sept 1, 1982 President Reagan of the US unveiled a peace proposal that would bring
self government to the West Bank and Gaza
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THE NEXT POSTING IS CHRONOLOGY#17, THE CONTINUATION OF THE LEBANESE WAR 1982-1985