The Palestine Chronology

In response to the Aley Sinai raid on 10/2, the Israeli inner cabinet suspends cease-fire implementation, security coordination with the PA; cancels planned mtgs. of the trilateral security comm., btwn. Peres and PC speaker Qurai`; authorizes the IDF to resume initiated actions against Palestinians, possibly including assassinations; demands that Arafat immediately arrest "militants." The State Dept. says that to maintain calm and restore trust, the PA must take "preventive action" to preclude attacks, Israel must halt incursions into PA-controlled territory and house demolitions. DM Ben-Eliezer says Israel will not resume cease-fire talks until the PA has "reined in terror." (al-Haq press release, JP [Internet], MEZ, MM, REU 10/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/4; HP 10/5; LAW 10/10; JP, MEI 10/12; LAW 10/13)

The IDF sends tanks, armored bulldozers into Gaza to carve out a 1-mi. buffer zone around Aley Sinai, flattening 100 dunums of Bayt Lahia's agricultural land, demolishing 7 PSF posts, and shelling a PSF jeep, killing 4 PSF officers, 2 Palestinian farmers. Some 6,000 Palestinians turn out for the funeral of 1 of the Hamas mbrs. who perpetrated the 10/2 raid. Elsewhere, Palestinian gunmen open fire on Jewish settlers celebrating Sukkoth in Hebron, wounding 2; fire on a vehicle nr. French Hill settlement in East Jerusalem, wounding 2 settlers. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Hebron, Satih Marhaba; occupies the roof of a Palestinian home in Hebron as an observation post; sets up 3 new checkpoints in East Jerusalem. (al-Haq press release, JP [Internet], MEZ, MM, REU 10/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/4; HP 10/5; LAW 10/10; JP, MEI 10/12; LAW 10/13)

The PFLP elects Ahmad Sadat as its new gen. secy., replacing Mustafa, who was assassinated by the IDF on 8/27. (PFLP press release 10/3)

Hizballah fires mortars at 2 IDF positions in Shaba` Farms, causing no injuries. (MM, WT 10/4; SAF 10/5 in WNC 10/9; MM 10/22)

In response to Islamic Jihad gunfire in the Jordan Valley that leaves a Jewish settler dead, Peres sides with Sharon against holding a mtg. with Arafat. Fatah tanzim leaders, a senior mbr. of the Fatah-linked AMB state that, despite Arafat's recent calls, they will continue to view the IDF and settlers in the West Bank and Gaza as legitimate targets. Palestinians fire 1 mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage. Israel's new 18 mi. buffer zone along the Green Line n. of Jerusalem goes into effect. The IDF bulldozes 20 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Oranit settlement; declares the Hebron market a closed military zone; begins work on a new settlement bypass road to Kefar Darom, damaging agricultural land, water networks belonging to Dayr al-Balah residents; conduct arrest raids in villages around Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Salfit; confiscates 1 Palestinian home in Harmala for use as an IDF outpost; reinforces the closure on Jinin. (HP, Los Angeles Times [Internet], MM 9/24; CNN, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/25; al-Quds 9/25 in WNC 9/26; MEI 9/28)

The U.S. freezing assets of 27 individuals, organizations with reported links to Bin Laden; threatening to freeze U.S. assets of foreign financial institutions that do not follow suit. Affiliates of Hizballah, Palestinian opposition groups are not included. (NYT, WP, WT 9/25)

Bush prepares the U.S. for a long, sustained "war on terrorism." Admin. officials say they are considering lifting the 25-yr.-old ban on U.S. involvement in foreign assassinations, loosening restrictions on FBI surveillance and detention of foreigners. Iran, Hizballah spiritual leader Shaykh Fadlallah denounce the 9/11 attacks. (NYT, WP, WT 9/17; WP 9/18; MM 10/4)

The IDF announces that it is establishing an 18-mi.-long "closed military area," or buffer zone, along the Green Line btwn. Jinin and Tulkarm. In response to the 9/15 DFLP shooting, the IDF sends tanks into Bayt Hanun, al-Qarara, and Ramallah, shelling residential areas while helicopters fire missiles; 2 Palestinians and 1 IDF soldier are killed, 26 Palestinians and 1 IDF soldier are wounded before Israeli forces withdraws fr. areas A 4 hrs. later. In al-Qarara, the IDF confiscates 200 dunams of Palestinian land for a new settler bypass road to Gush Katif (see 9/12), confiscates a Palestinian home as an military post. The IDF also conducts an arrest sweep in Ramallah. (AFP, LAW, WP, WT 9/16; HP, NYT, PMC, WP, WT 9/17; NYT, WP, WT 9/18)

Arafat says he is ready to hold talks with Israel "any time, any place," but Sharon says he will only allow cease-fire talks to resume after 48 hrs. without a Palestinian attack. Sharon reiterates Israeli support for the U.S. effort to build a coalition but is "not prepared to pay the price" if it involves concessions to the PA. Arafat publicly reiterates his call on Palestinians to adhere to a cease-fire. (al-Quds 9/16, XIN 9/17 in WNC 9/18; MM 9/17; NYT, WT 9/18; AFP 9/18 in WNC 9/19; NYT 9/19; ATL 9/19 in WNC 9/20; MM 9/20; AYM 9/22 in WNC 9/26; MEI 9/28)

In Hebron, a Fatah sniper, retaliating for the Jawabiri assassination on 6/24, shoots and wounds a 7-yr.-old Jewish settler, sparking a firefight in which 12 Palestinians, 4 IDF soldiers are wounded. In response, the IDF seals, places a curfew on the Palestinian section of Hebron, bulldozes Palestinian land s. of Hebron; Jewish settlers place more caravans at a new illegal outpost site nearby. Jewish settlers also place caravans on Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya, attack Palestinian cars in Wadi al-Juz, cut off water to Palestinian villages nr. Halmish settlement. Palestinians fire on a settler bus nr. Jerusalem. A gunfight erupts nr. Neve Dekalim settlement, wounding an 11-yr.-old Palestinian. The IDF tightens closures on Qalandia, Tulkarm; confiscates 20 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya; bulldozes Palestinian land in Tulkarm; continues to impose curfews on Bayt Lahia, Bayt Lid, Safarin. Shin Bet announces that 11 days ago, it captured Aziz Salha, who has confessed under interrogation to being involved in the murder of 2 IDF reservists in Ramallah on 10/12/00. (PMC 6/25; AP, HP, MM, WP, WT 6/26; MA 6/26 in WNC 6/27; MM 6/27; JP 7/6; WP 7/7)

Fmr. U.S. senator George Mitchell, head of the Mitchell Comm., recommends that in order to move the cease-fire forward, Israel should immediately implement a full settlement freeze, the U.S. should invite Arafat to the White House. Meanwhile, in Israel, DM Ben-Eliezer says Israel plans to remove 15 illegal settler outposts that have been set up since the al-Aqsa intifada began, noting that they are a danger to security and cannot be defended adequately. (HA, HP, MM, WT 6/26; MA 6/26 in WNC 6/27; MM, WT 6/27; WJW 6/28)

As Israeli-Palestinian clashes pick up slightly, Israel says it is not satisfied with the PA's cease-fire efforts. A serious exchange of gunfire, grenades, missiles takes place in Rafah, leaving 22 Palestinians, 3 IDF soldiers wounded. Another Israeli injured in the 6/1 bombing dies, raising the toll to 20. The PSF arrests 2 Palestinians in connection to the 6/1 bombing. Palestinians fire 1 mortar in Gaza, causing no damage. The IDF bulldozes 50 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Kefar Darom settlement; shells residential areas of Asira. Jewish settlers shoot at Palestinian homes, vehicles in Hebron, Jinin; attack Palestinians nr. Dahiyat al-Barid, Tulkarm. (AFP [Internet], HP 6/4; NYT, WP, WT 6/5; MM, PMC 6/6; MM 6/11)

In light of today's Gaza gun battle, the Bush admin. concludes the Israeli-Palestinian situation is on the verge of spinning out of control. After securing Sharon's consent, the State Dept. announces that CIA Dir. George Tenet will head to the region to seek a more durable cease-fire but emphasizes that the pressure will be on Arafat to demonstrate he is serious. Powell demands the PA arrest Islamists who may be planning attacks, resume security cooperation with Israel. (NYT, WP, WT 6/5; MM, NYT, WP 6/6; JT 6/7 in WNC 6/8; MEI 6/15)

A relative calm prevails in the West Bank and Gaza given the exceptionally tight closure. The IDF records only 3 Palestinian shooting incidents. Another Israeli injured in the 6/1 bombing dies, raising the toll to 19. The PA accuses the IDF of attempting to assassinate senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Bisharat, 1 of Israel's most wanted, by detonating a remote controled bomb nr. his car in Tulkarm. The IDF fires tank shells at residential areas of Tal al-Sultan; bulldozes 15 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. Jewish settlers occupy 10s of dunams of Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem. (HP, WP, WT 6/4; PMC 6/6; NYT 7/2)

PA security officials meet with reps. of all Palestinian factions to press Arafat's cease-fire call. (NYT, WP, WT 6/4; SA 6/5, MENA 6/6 in WNC 6/7; HJ 6/7 in WNC 6/11; MEI 6/15)

After an "intense internal debate," the Bush admin. decides not to send a high-level diplomatic mission to work with Israeli, PA officials to secure a more durable cease-fire, deciding instead to press Arafat to act more forcefully to suppress violence. Powell praises Israel for its restraint. When asked if he has urged Israel to avoid retaliation, Powell says, "I have not given that direct comment to the Israeli government." (NYT 6/4; WP 6/6)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue to abate. In Rafah, 4 Fatah mbrs. are killed, 5 are wounded in a mysterious explosion. Though some reports claim the men were assembling a bomb when it exploded, 1 of the 4 killed, Ramadan Azzam, is also head of Gaza's popular resistance comms., raising speculation that the explosion was an IDF assassination. Arafat's Fatah organization denies its mbrs. are involved in bomb making. The IDF bulldozes 50-60 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Dugit settlement, 20 dunams nr. Rafah. (AP, WP 4/25; HJ 4/27 in WNC 4/30; MEI 5/4)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. Another ailing Palestinian dies en route to a Nablus hospital when her family's car is turned back fr. an IDF checkpoint, forced to take a longer route to the hospital. A group of IDF soldiers in the Israeli-controlled section of Hebron assault a 14-yr.-old Palestinian whom they thought was making fun of him, beating him for 30 mins., leaving him unconscious. The IDF shells residential areas in Khan Yunis and Rafah, nr. Netzarim settlement, along Gaza's Salah al-Din road (destroying a Palestinian gas station); bulldozes 55 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land in Bayt Lahia to build a new settler bypass road linking the settlements of Dugit, Aley Sinai. (MEZ, WP 1/29; al-Ahram [Internet] 2/1; LAW 2/3; ADM 2/5)

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Arafat gives a speech condemning Israel's military action against Palestinians. In Israel, Barak, angry over Arafat's words, vows there will be no further talks with the PA before elections. (AFP 1/28 in WNC 1/29; MM, NYT, WP, WT, YA 1/29; al-Quds 1/29 in WNC 1/30; NYT, WP 1/30; al-Quds 1/30 in WNC 2/1; AYM 1/30 in WNC 2/5; al-Nahar 2/1 in WNC 2/13) (see 1/27)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue at the same lower level as the past few days, leaving 2 Palestinians dead. Israel says it will have to "see if the trend continues" before it can resume negotiations with the PA. 1,000s of Palestinians in Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarm protest Arafat's acceptance of the Clinton parameters. The IDF moves the Maccabim crossing point on the Green Line a few hundred m. east into the West Bank. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas in Bayt Hanun, Dahaysha camp, Hebron, al-Khadir, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Tulkarm; razes 77 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Bayt Lahia (destroying 2 homes), 96 dunams nr. Dugit settlement (demolishing 10 homes). Jewish settlers block roads nr. Nablus. (AFP [Internet] 1/5; HP, WT 1/6; MENL 1/7; LAW 1/8; MEI, PCHR 1/12)