Washington Report, October 18, 1982, Page 6

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

September 30:

A U.S. marine serving with the multinational peacekeeping force in Beirut was killed and three other marines injured when an American-made cluster bomblet they were attempting to defuse exploded.

October 4:

After a new outbreak of fighting between Iran and Iraq on October 1, the United States voted in favor of a United Nations Security Council resolution calling again for an "immediate ceasefire" and the withdrawal of Iranian and Iraqi forces "to internationally recognized boundaries." The resolution, which passed unanimously, was similar to a resolution approved by the Council last July.

October 5:

U.S. Defense Department spokesman Benjamin Welles confirmed that the Reagan Administration had plans to allow Egypt to produce American warplanes—either the Northrop F5G Tigershark or General Dynamics' F16/J79—for sale to Mideast countries, including those in the Gulf region. Mr. Welles said that U.S. aerospace firms, with Administration approval, "have been discussing co-production with Egypt."

October 6:

A senior Reagan Administration official said that the Administration hoped to have a plan ready within about ten days for the withdrawal of Israeli, Syrian and Palestinian forces from Lebanon.

October 6:

The U.S. State Department, in a statement by spokesman Alan Romberg, publicly cautioned the Lebanese government not to let its desire to re-establish law and order result in the "basic violation of rights" of individuals. Observers in Beirut had reported that some Palestinians were beaten by Lebanese soldiers while others were detained for prolonged periods.

October 6:

U.S. Ambassador Philip Habib met separately in Washington with President Reagan and senior State Department officials to report on his latest trip to the Middle East, where he visited Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

October 7:

Two Israeli tanks that had been positioned within firing range of U.S. marines at the Beirut International Airport were withdrawn. The withdrawal took place after several days of negotiations between the U.S. and Israel, which had initially refused to move the tanks.

October 10:

The director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), Peter McPherson, said at a press conference in Beirut that the first tents for Palestinian refugees whose homes were destroyed in last summer's war will be put up in the next two weeks. AID is working with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in finding shelter for an estimated 60,000 homeless Palestinians in southern Lebanon.

October 12:

U.S. envoy Morris Draper returned to Washington from the Middle East to help prepare for high-level talks soon to take place between the Administration and Lebanese and Israeli leaders, as well as representatives of the Arab League. Ambassador Draper went to the Middle East just before the Israeli invasion of West Beirut in mid-September, and has been trying to negotiate an agreement for withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon.

October 14:

U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz met in Washington with Israel's Foreign Minister, Yitzhak Shamir, to discuss Israel's proposals for withdrawing its forces from Lebanon.