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Chronology May 16, 1969-August 15, 1969 Source: Middle East Journal, Vol. 23, No. 4 (Autumn, 1969), pp. 503-528 Published by: Middle East Institute Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4324514 Accessed: 29/07/2009 12:32

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http://www.jstor.org CHRONOLOGY

May 16, 1969-August 15, 1969

Arab Israeli Conflict Jordan reportedan Israeli jet strike on Kuray- yimah. denied the report. May 17: Israel reportedthat an Arab guerrilla band May 28: An Israeli spokesmanreported an Arab com- raided a fortifiedIsraeli position acrossthe Jordan mando rocket attack on Jericho, wounding a resi- river and retreatedunder Jordaniancover fire. One Israeli and 12 Arabswere reportedkilled. dent and destroyinga building. May 29: Israel reportedan air battle in the Jawain May 19: The PalestinianArmed Struggle Command area in which a Syrianplane was shot down. Syria (PASC) reported a clash with an Israeli patrol acknowledgedthe loss and reportedshooting down south of the Sea of Galilee in which severalIsraelis an Israeli jet. were reportedkilled and severalvehicles destroyed. May 21: Israel reported its ground forces had de- May 30: The Israelinewspaper Ha'aretz reported that stroyedbuildings in the Jordanianvillage of al-Safi a new NAHAL outposthad been establishedin the which were reportedly used by Arab guerrillas Sinai Peninsulawest of Raf'ah. operating in the area. Jordan reported destroying May 31: The Tapline pilpelinewas sabotagedin the an Israeli tank and shooting down an Israeli plane Jawlan area, west of Banyas, with an estimated in the attack. 3,000 tons of crude spilied from the line causing An Israeli military spokesman reported that a 14 hour fire. A splinter group of the Popular Israeli jets had downed 3 of 4 Egyptian jets rev Front for the Liberationof Palestine (PFLP) led portedly on a reconnaissancemission near al- by Ahmad Jabril claimed responsibility for the Qantarah. reported the clash saying that blast and said "we shall continue to strike against Israeli jets were attempting an intrusion into the US imperialistinterests in the area, interestswhich Canal zone, that an Israeli jet had been hit and are inseparable from the interests of Zionist that all Egyptianplanes had returnedsafely. Israel." May 23: The United Kingdom confirmeda $4.5m June 1: Reutersreported an Israeli warningto Jordan pledge to UNRWA, it was reported. against allowing its regular forces to collaborate May 24: Syria complainedto the UN that Israel was with the commandos. removing archeologicaltreasures from the Jawlan The West Bank newspaper al-Quds published area (Golan Heights). the announcementof the formationof a new com- May 25: Jordancomplained to UNESCO over Israeli mando organization,the Arab LiberationFront. excavationsin the Haram al-Sharif area of Jeru- The UAR newspaper al-Ahram strongly criti- salem, saying that the excavationswere being done cized the pipeline sabotage saying that the action unscientificallyand incompetently and that the did not harm Israel and was not justifiable. digging threatenedthe Aqsa mosque. June 2: Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan called May 26: The US submitted proposals for a peace for developmentof industriesin the occupiedareas, settlementin the Middle East to the USSR. the introductionof socially progressivemeasures, May 27: An Israeli military spokemanreported that particularlyin electoralreform and emphasizedthe Syrians had fired on an Israeli patrol north of need to establish lasting contacts with the Arabs al-Qunaytirah.No casualtieswere reported. in the region.

The quarterlychronology of the Journalis compiledfrom a large number of sources;somewhat more than half of the items are drawn from the New York Times; other sources include Middle East Economic Digest of London, Daily Report of Foreign Broadcast Information Service of Washington, Arab News and Views of New York, bulletins of the United Nations Office of Public Information, United Nations, New York, United Nations Newsletter, Middle East Economic Survey of Beirut, the Washington Post of Washington, D. C., Arab Report and Record of London, the Baghdad Observer of Baghdad, The New Middle East of London,Africa Report of Washington,D. C., and Middle East Newsletter of New York, regular and occa- sional bulletins from the offices of press attachesof Middle Eastern Embassiesin Washington, Pakistan Affairs of Washington, Pakistan News Digest of Karachi and The Maghreb Digest of the School of Inter- national Relations, Universityof SouthernCalifornia in Los Angeles.

503 506 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL

violations of the cease-fireagreements were being sabotaged. deliberatelyrepaid "sevenfold"and said that the July 6: The Egyptian military command reported 4 powers' "intervention. . . is being construed that Egyptian planes on a reconnaissancemission by the Arab states as acquiescencewith their re- penetratedair space over the and fusal to open negotiations with Israel." She also shot down an Israeli jet in an air battle. announced Israel's decision not to interfere with Nine people were injured in grenade incidents repair work on the East Ghor Canal "on the in Gaza and N-abulus. assumptionthat Jordan takes effective measuresto Fath announcedthat an attempt on commando stop her army and Fatah from shelling our settle- leader'Arafat's life had been foiled. ments and infiltrating." July 7: In a special report, Thant said that the UN Israel announcedher commandoshad sabotaged truce observers "cannot be expected to serve as Egypt's electric power line between Cairo and the what amounts to defenselesstargets in a shooting Aswan Dam. Egyptian spokesmanZayyat denied gallery" and said "the conclusion is inescapable Israeli reports that commandos had damaged a that throughout the Canal cease-firesector power line on the Upper and said the Israeli open warfarehas been resumed." pilots "might have attacked some high-tension July 8: The UAR reportedan assault by its regular lines outside the UAR." infantry against Israeli positions north of Lake A car, reportedlypacked with over 200 pounds Timseh. Thirty Israelis were reported killed with of TNT, exploded in Tel Aviv wounding 10 a loss of 5 Egyptians.The infantry reported de- people and damaging buildings. stroying 2 tanks and 2 armored cars and rocket July 1: The 4 powers issued a joint communique installations and fortifications. announcingan indefiniterecess of meetings on the Israel reporteddowning 7 Syrian jets in a dog Middle East. No date was set for further meetings fight between Damascus and al-Qunaytirah.Syria because of "importantconsultations taking place reportedthe clash, saying it had downed 4 Israeli among the four governments." jets with a loss of 3 jets. Israel moved its national police headquarters July 9: An Egyptian military spokesmanannounced from Tel Aviv to East Jerusalem. that 2 Egyptian platoons supportedby army per- July 2: Israeli Defense officials reported that Israeli sonnel crossedthe Canal on July 3 and blasted 5 jets had downed 4 Egyptian jets west of the Israeli fortificationsnorth of Isma'iliyyah. Canal,with all Israeliplanes reportedsafe. July 10: The USSR news agency Tass reportedFor- An Israeli Army communique announced that eign Minister Gromyko's address in which he Israeli commandoshad attacked3 EgyptianArmy gave the conclusionsabout the 4 power talks that posts on the , killing 13 Egyptians and "it is a risky thing to leave the situation in the taking 1 prisoner. Middle East as it is" and that while that Arab Israel announced that 3 "instigators"of re- side "is expressingwillingness to settle the situa- bellion and terrorism in the Gaza Strip were tion" Israel rejects "any proposalsaimed at a set- being exiled to the Sinai desert. tlement." July 3: The UN Security Council voted to censure FrenchPresident Pompidou said that any change "in the strongest terms" all measures taken by in his country'sarms embargo on the area could Israelto alter the statusof Jerusalemand confirmed be changed only "as it existed before last January that "all measures and administrativemeasures" 3" and said "thereis no lasting solution, there is which "purportto alter the status of Jerusalem" no lasting outcome for Israel in war, or in the were invalid. victory of arms." Commandogroups ended a 3 day meeting in The Special Working Group of Experts of the Ammanwith the announcementthat the differences UN Human Rights Commission announced it between the groups had been resolved and that would leave for the Middle East on August 1 to the existence of several groups was a healthy investigate Arab charges of Israeli violations of sign "as long as their guns are aimed at the com- human rights in the occupied territories. mon enemy." An Israeli Finance Ministry spokesman an- July 4: Speaking to Syrian President Atisi in Mos- nounced agreementwas reachedwith Tapline pro- cow, USSR President Podgorny pledged to con- viding "maximum safeguards against terrorist tinue Soviet militaryaid to Arab countriesbut said attacks on the pipeline" and compensation for the USSR was against "attempts to change by damagecaused on May 30. force the borders that have taken shape between The UAR military command announced its states." troops had occupied an Israeli position near Port Israeli Information Minister Galili said he be- Tawfiq, destroyedartillery emplacements, killed or lieved "it can be definitely said that the Gaza wounded 40 defenders and returned safely with region will not again be separatedfrom the state 1 Israeli taken prisoner. An Israeli spokesman of Israel." said 3 Israeli soldiers were killed, 5 wounded and July 5: Two towers carryingelectric power lines to 1 missing and 2 tanks damagedwhile repulsing a Israeli settlements in the eastern Negev were raid in the area. CHRONOLOGY 507

July 12: The PLO announcedthat the Arab Libera- the "easternfront." tion Front and the Popular Struggle Front had An Israeli military spokesmanconfirmed Egyp- joined the PASC. tian reports of hitting Israeli positions above An Israeli spokesman said that 3 Arab guer- Isma'iliyyah and reported the loss of 1 Israeli rillas were killed in a clash with an Israeli patrol soldier,with 6 wounded. near Mt. Hebron and 1 was killed in a clash with A bomb exploded at a bus station in Tel Aviv, an Israeli patrol in the northernJordan valley. killing 1 Israeliand woundinganother. The Action An Egyptian military spokesman reported an Committeefor the Liberationof Palestine claimed artillery duel with Israeli forces extending from responsibilityfor the incident. Suez to the Bitter Lake area. July 24: U Thant issued a note verbalewarning that JUly 14: A curfew was imposed on Nabulus while if voluntarycontributions to UNRWA did not in- Israeli troops searchedfor saboteursand weapons. crease markedly,its financial situation would be- About 5,000 Arabs were rounded up, with 20 come "critical." arrestedand 5 held. Commentingon Nasir's speech, Israeli Foreign The Beirut alI-Huriyyahpublished reports of Minister Eban said it was an "exact reflection of Jordanian restrictions on commando activity in- Egyptianpolicy" and should be taken seriously. cluding the requirementthat commandosnot cross Israeli and Egyptianforces clashed for 8 hours from the East to the West Bank without a permit along the Canal.Israel reporteddowning 13 Egyp- and that heavy weapons not be transportedto tian planes and damaging or destroying rocket occupied areas. installations,a radar station and anti-aircraftand July 16: A Lebanesemilitary spokesmanannounced artillerypositions. One Israeli was reportedkilled that an Israeli patrol blew up 3 houses near and 5 wounded,and all Israeliplanes reportedsafe. al-Majidiyyahinside Lebanon.No casualtieswere The Egyptian military command reported that 7 reported. Israeli planes had been downed in the clash with July 17: US AssistantSecretary of State Sisco ended a loss of 1 Egyptianplane. a 5 day visit to the USSR for talks with Foreign Tapline notified Lebanonthat it would resume Minister Gromykoon the Middle East situation. pumping Saudi oil through its pipeline to July 20: Israel reported that its forces had landed Lebanonon August 15. on an Egyptianmilitary fortress on Green Island July 25: Israel reportedher jets had attackedEgyp- in the Gulf of Suez, destroyinganti-aircraft and tian artillery positions along the Canal, meeting artillerypositions, with an estimated25 Egyptians with no interferencefrom the Egyptian airforce. killed and several wounded and an Israeli loss of Egypt reportedthe clash, saying its anti-aircraftfire 6 dead and 9 wounded. Egypt reportedthe clash, had brought down 3 Israeli jets. saying that Israeli forces had been repulsed after July 27: The Egyptianmilitary commandannounced intense fighting. its planes had attackedIsraeli positions in the Sinai An Israeli military spokesman reported Israeli Peninsula,with none of the "many squadrons"of jets bombing and strafingEgyptian ground to air aircraftlost and that the attackwent unchallenged missile bases and artillery positions between al- by the Israeli military. Israel reportedthe incident Qantarahand Port Said, downing 5 Egyptian jets saying that 4 Egyptianplanes had attacked,wound- with 2 Israeli jets downed. The UAR reported ing 7 Israelis before defensive measurescould be downing 19 Israeli aircraftin the clash. used. July 21: The Iraqi news agency reported that Syria A UN Truce Observer, Swedish Major Bo had deportedall membersof the Arab Liberation Roland Plane, was killed by Israeli artillery fire Front to Jordan. during an artilleryclash over the Canal near Port July 22: Israel reportedIsraeli jets striking Egyptian Tawfiq. positions between Port Said and al-Qantarah,meet- July 28: Israel reportedher jets had attackedEgyp- ing with no Egyptianaerial responseand suffering tian positions on the Canal north of al-Qantarah. no losses. Egypt reportedthe incident, saying that Egypt reported the clash, saying Egyptian anti- the planes had not destroyedEgyptian positions aircraftfire had downed 1 Israeli plane. and that Israeli planes were driven away by The Red Cross supervised an exchange of Egyptian anti-aircraftfire. prisoners at al-Qantarah,with Israel exchanging Israeli jets were reported to have struck at 2 Egyptian military personnel and 2 Egyptian ci- suspected guerrilla bases in the northern Jordan vilians for an Israelisoldier. valley. July 29: A Jordanianmilitary spokesman reported Jaly 23: UAR President Nasir said the situation an Israeli jet raid on Irbid which killed 3 Jor- since the Khartiumconference had "completely danian soldiers and wounded 12 others. changed"and that the UAR was passing into a July 30: U Thant said that the death of the UN "stage of liberation" in its war with Israel. He truce observer was "a dramaticsymptom of the condemned the US and Britain for their support breakdownof the ceas2-fire"and hoped "that it of Israel and proposed a conferenceto strengthen is still not too late for events to take a new turn 508 THE MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL

in the sector and in the Middle East safely. Jordan reported the attack saying that the in general." Canal had been damaged and that 3 Jordanian An Israeli Army spokesman said that Israeli soldiers had been wounded. An Israeli Foreign jets had attacked Arab guerrilla bases on Mt. Ministryspokesman said that the recent Jordanian Hermon in Syria and Lebanon and said that the attackswere in violation of an agreementof June attack was a response to increased guerrilla ac- 30 under which Jordan would control guerrilla tivity from the area. attacks on Israel and Israel would allow repair Lebanonsaid that attack was directedat Syrian work on the Canal to be carriedout. territory.Syria reported the attack saying that 11 Israeli securityforces orderedpeople living in a Syrian soldiers had been wounded in an attack section of Gaza to stay indoors while Israelis by 6 Israeli planes. searched for those responsible for an August 9 July 31: Syriaannounced that her planes and artillery attack on an Israeli patrol. were used in an attack on an Israeli post near Aug. 11: An Israeli Army spokesman reported Is- al-Qunaytirahwhich reportedlycaused heavy dam- raeli jets had struck at sites on Mt. Hermon 6 age and casualties,with no loss to Syria. Israel miles inside Lebanon describedas guerrilla bases, reported the attack saying there had been no saying the raid was in retaliation for increased casualties. guerrilla activity from the sites. Lebanon com- Aug. 4: Dayan said that if, in the past, the Russians plained to the UN, saying that Israeli forces had "distributedarms and told the Egyptianshow to used napalm in the raid which killed 4 civilians use them, Soviet expertsnow tell them what to do." and seriouslywounded 3. Aug. 7: Arab guerrillas blew up a bus in Israeli Aug. 12: Mrs. Meir said that the Israeli raid on territory,killing the civilian driver and a soldier Mt. Hermon had been aimed at guerrillas,not at and wounding 12 soldiers. Lebanon, but added, "if the Lebaneseauthorities Israeli tanks and planes attacked positions in do not deal with them, we shall have to do it." Jordan south of the Yarmuk River where the An Egyptian military spokesmanreported that guerrillas responsible for the attack on the bus Egyptian patrols had crossed the Suez Canal for were reportedlybased. Israel denied a Jordanian the past 3 nights and clashed with Israeli troops. report that 2 Israeli planes were downed in the Aug. 13: An Israeli Army communiquereported a attack. clash, begun by Egyptian shelling north of Port Aug. 8: The PASC announcedthat a joint commando Tawfiq, in which 13 Israeli soldierswere wounded. force had struck 3 Israeli settlementsand 3 mili- Lebanon requested a meeting of the UN Se- tary posts in the Baysanvalley, destroying4 tanks curity Council to discuss "the premeditatedand and killing and wounding several Israelis, with 6 unprovokedaggression committed by Israel against commandosreported wounded in the attack. civilian villages in southern Lebanon"on August An Israeli Army communiquereported a rocket 11. Israel called for a meeting to discuss "the attack against the Israeli potash works at Sodom. situation created by the intensificationof armed Israel reported no casualties and said its forces attacks carried out against Israel from Lebanese had returnedthe fire. territory." The New York Times published Israeli reports An Israeli Army spokesman reported a clash, that recent Israeli artillery and air attacks had begun with Jordaniantank and artilleryfire north smashed an Egyptian fresh-water canal running of the Dead Sea, which ended with Israeli jets from north of Cairo to Port Said. attacking the Jordanian positions. Aug. 9: Israel launched a jet attack on Jordanian Aug. 15: A pipeline and an electric pylon in the positions at Ghor and al-Safi in what was called Haifa port area were damagedby saboteurs,caus- a reprisal for the attack on Sodom. ing an hour's blaze and an hour without electricity Israel announcedthat 7 Arabs, reportedlymem- in the surrounding area. Fath claimed responsi- bers of a cell of the Palestine Liberation Front, bility for the sabotage. were arrested on charges of attempting to kill Editor of al-Ahram Haykal said that the US Arab communityleaders who workedwith Israel. decision to begin deliveries of Phantom jets to The Director of the International Committee Israel had quashed any hopes the Egyptians had of the Red Cross, Claude Pilloud, told a UN had of a new US initiative towardsa just solution human rights group that he had protested to to the Arab-Israeliconflict. Israel over the expulsion of several dozen c- Switzerlandbrought murder chargesagainst the vilians to Syriaand Jordanand over the destruction 3 Arabs involved in the February18 incident and of buildings in occupied territory. charged an Israeli guard with murder in extenu- Aug. 10: Israel announced that its jets had struck ating circumstances. at "a number of military targets" in Jordan in- The Israeli police announced their discovery cluding sections of the East Ghor Canal in re- of a large arms cache on the western shore of the taliation for new attacksfrom Jordan in the past Dead Sea which included 120 mines, grenades, 10 days. Israel reported all planes had returned rockets, rifles and machine guns.