Washington Report, August 6, 1984, Page 6

Facts For Your Files: A Chronology of U.S. Middle East Relations

July 17:

In a speech at the Democratic National Convention, the Rev. Jesse Jackson an unsuccessful candidate for the party's nomination criticized current U.S. policy toward the Middle East. He said: "Our present formula for peace in the Middle East is inadequate. It will not work. There are 22 nations in the Middle East. Our nation must be able to talk and act and influence all of them. We must build upon Camp David and measure human rights by one yardstick. In that region we have too many interests and too few friends."

July 23:

The Pentagon informed Congress of its plans to sell Egypt and Jordan modification kits for upgrading their U.S. made Hawk anti aircraft missiles. The kits, including installation and support services, will cost Egypt an estimated $63 million and Jordan $70 million. The Pentagon also notified Congress that it will begin a five year English language training program with 150 Kuwaiti pilots, costing approximately $78 million.

July 25:

Richard Murphy, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, credited Syria with helping bring greater stability to Lebanon in recent weeks. Mr. Murphy told the House Europe and Middle East subcommittee: "We believe that Syria has been one of the helpful players in these recent developments. We also believe that Lebanon needs peaceful, cooperative relations with both Syria and Israel. No lasting solution is possible which fails to take into account the interests of both of these important neighbors."

July 26:

Pentagon spokesman Michael Burch said that on July 22, U.S. F 14 jet fighters flew "routine" exercises" over the Gulf of Sidra and had come to within 38 miles of Libya's coast, but were not challenged. Four more U.S. jets staged a similar exercise today. Libya which claims its territorial waters extend up to 200 miles from its coast, fired on U.S. jets over the Gulf of Sidra in 1981.

July 26:

The State Department raised the possibility that the election of Rabbi Meir Kahane to the Israeli parliament July 23 could result in his U.S. citizenship being revoked. Department spokesman Alan Romberg said U.S. laws state that "accepting, serving in or performing the duties of any office, post or employment under the government of a foreign state" can lead to the loss of citizenship. But, such a step, he said, was not automatic. In the Israeli elections, neither of the two major parties gained a majority, or even a large plurality, forcing negotiations over who would lead the next government.

July 30:

About 90 U.S. marines, who stayed behind in Beirut to guard the U.S. diplomatic mission after the withdrawal of U.S. troops last February, were today returning to their units in the Sixth Fleet. Security needs at the U.S. mission have diminished since most embassy functions are now being administered at a new site in the Christian town of Aukar, six miles north of East Beirut.

August 1:

The Pentagon dispatched a 15 member team of mine warfare experts to Egypt to help it investigate a series of recent explosions involving freighters in the Gulf of Suez. At least two ships have so far been rocked by what are believed to be small, floating mines.