The Palestine Chronology

The IDF reoccupies Bethlehem following Christmas celebrations, reimposes a 24-hr. curfew on residents; assassinates local AMB head Jamal Yahya in Tulkarm; assassinates Hamas mbr. Bassam Ashqar, ambushing his car in Ramallah, also killing a Palestinian bystander; raids Qabatiyya, assassinating local Islamic Jihad leader Yusif Abu Rub, demolishing his family house, arresting local Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades head Natzir Nazal, senior Hamas mbr. Talal al-Baz; sends undercover units into a hospital in Ramallah, fatally shooting wanted Palestinian Samir al-Shamali, who was working there as a guard, in what may be an assassination, sparking demonstrations, clashes with local residents that leave 1 Palestinian stone thrower dead; fatally shoots 2 Palestinians “approaching” Netzarim settlement; fires on demonstrators protesting the curfew in Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 20; raids a village n. of Ramallah, firing stun grenades, causing an elderly Palestinian to suffer a fatal heart attack; imposes a curfew on Beitunia, sends 30 tanks into the town; conducts house-to-house searches, arrest raids in Qalqilya; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. The PA accuses Israel of stepping up attacks on Palestinians in an effort to scuttle Fatah-Hamas talks in Cairo. The IDF also announces that it has begun building 300-yd.-wide buffer zones around several Jewish settlements in the West Bank (see Quarterly Update in JPS 126). Palestinians fire 2 mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing damage but no injuries. This evening, Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz orders the IDF to step up pressure on militant groups in the territories. (HP, LAW, PCHR, PM 12/26; HA, NYT, WP, WT 12/27; AYM, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, al-Quds 12/27, De Standaard 12/28 in WNC 12/31; NYT, WT 12/28; LAW, PCHR 1/1)

The IDF fatally shoots wanted Hamas mbr. Yasin al-Agha in Khan Yunis and wanted Palestinian Usama Badra in Balata r.c. in what may be assassinations, also demolishing Agha’s house; bars a Palestinian woman in labor fr. reaching a hospital in Nablus, allowing her baby to die; conducts arrest sweeps in Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, al-Qarara, Ramallah; bulldozes 45 dunams of land in al-Qarara. Israel says it will not allow PA head Yasir Arafat to attend Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem this yr.; Sharon spokesman Gissin says Arafat’s presence at Christmas Eve ceremonies would be “an offence to humanity and a slap in the face to Christianity.” (AP 12/10; al-Quds 12/10 in WNC 12/12; LAW, NYT, PCHR 12/11; PM, PR 12/18)

A Palestinian suicide bomber fr. Bethlehem detonates a device on a bus in Jerusa-lem, killing 11 Israelis, wounding 48 (8 of them seriously). Hamas, Islamic Jihad both take responsibility, but family, friends of the bomber say he supported Islamic Jihad. Sharon convenes his security cabinet; does not invite fmr. PM and current FM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is challenging him for the PM candidacy in the upcoming Likud primaries on 11/28. Fearing that Sharon will stage a major retaliatory attack, the PSF evacuates its offices in Bethlehem. After the mtg., Sharon spokesman Raanan Gissin states that in light of U.S. military intentions against Iraq, “We are not going to allow any kind of escalation.” The IDF shells a PA military intelligence post nr. Netzarim settlement, killing 1 PA intelligence officer; makes a predawn raid on 3 villages nr. Khan Yunis in s. Gaza, demolishing the home of a senior DFLP mbr., firing on residential areas, wounding 4 Palestinians; bulldozes 39 dunams of Palestinian land e. of Dayr al-Balah, 11.5 dunams and several structures nr. Bayt Lahia. (HA, MM, NYT, WP 11/21; ATL, Interfax 11/21 in WNC 11/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/22; QA 11/22, MA 11/24 in WNC 11/25; LAW, PCHR 11/27)

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon visits Hebron, calls for the expanding of Jewish settlements in and around Hebron to create “settlement contiguity” btwn. 4 Jewish enclaves in He-bron, the outlying Kiryat Arba settlement, the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs site. In response, Jewish settlers declare a new settlement on the site of the olive grove bulldozed by the IDF on 11/16 and move in 3 shipping containers, tents, cisterns; the IDF constructs a 7-ft. concrete wall around the site. IDF undercover units attempt to assassinate Riad ‘Abd al-Ghani in Tulkarm, missing him, killing his brother, wounding a 2d brother. The IDF fires rockets, tank shells at the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Preventive Security Force (PSF) headquarters complex in Gaza, sends troops in to set fire to 2 buildings, injuring 2 PSF officers, 1 Palestinian journalist. The IDF also fires on Palestinians in Gaza City, Nur al-Shams refugee camp (r.c.); bulldozes 8 dunams of Pal-estinian land in Bayt Lahia; blows up 2 Palestinian homes in Balata r.c.; detains for 2 hrs. a PRCS ambulance carrying Palestinians seriously injured in a car accident; fires on 2 ambulances outside a hospital in Gaza, nr. Shati‘ r.c.; detains, searches 6 ambulances, including 1 transporting a patient, for up to 70 mins. at checkpoints. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/18; MENA 11/18 in WNC 11/19; AFP 11/19 in WNC 11/21; PCHR 11/20; WJW 11/21; MEI 11/22; PRCS press release 11/23)

Israeli Arab passenger carrying only a pen knife that he does not wield attempts to hijack an El Al plane bound for Istanbul fr. Tel Aviv. He is quickly captured and detained, without injury to any other passen-gers; says that he intended to hijack the plane to protest Israeli actions against Palestinians, that he is not affiliated with any group. He is described by peers as frail, nervous, eccentric young man with a heart condition, who craves popularity and attention. (MM, NYT 11/18; ATL 11/18 in WNC 11/19; CSM, NYT, WP 11/19; NYT, WJW 11/21; NYT 11/26, 11/27; JPI 11/29

IDF commandos ambush, assassinate wanted PA intelligence officer Ayid Mansur outside his home in Nablus. The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian nr. the new security wall in Zita; raids a makeshift PSF jail in Tulkarm, arresting 6 PSF officers, 12 prisoners (the PSF officers, 9 prisoners are later released); conducts arrest raids, searches houses, blows up 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas, bulldozes 1 Palestinian home and part of a mosque in Brazil r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house-to-house searches, fires on residential areas in Askar r.c.; raids Qalandia r.c., detaining 50 Palestinians; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Lahia, Gaza City, Rafah; bulldozes 17.5 dunams of Palestinian land s. of Khan Yunis. Some 40 prominent Israelis outraged by recent Jewish settler attacks on Palestinian olive pickers travel to the West Bank to participate in a Palestinian olive harvest. (GS, LAW, PCHR 10/30; PCHR, PR 11/6; MEI 11/8)

DM and Labor party head Ben-Eliezer resigns fr. the government hrs. before Sharon’s FY 2003 budget passes (67-45) in the Knesset, with all 25 Labor party MKs voting against. Afterward, the 5 other Labor Ms, including FM Shimon Peres, resign. (HA, MM 10/30; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/31; JT 10/31 in WNC 11/1; al-Quds 11/2, MENA 11/3 in WNC 11/5; AYM 11/2 in WNC 11/8; JPI, MEI 11/8)

An IDF undercover unit assassinates senior Hamas mbr. Asim Sawafta in Tubas. The IDF also shoots a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy in the head in Tubas, seriously wounding him; shells residential areas s. of Gaza City, in and around Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Aqraba, Khirbat Karma; blows up 1 Palestinian home in Jenin r.c.; detains 2 ambulance workers in Jenin town. A Palestinian gunman infiltrates the West Bank settlement of Hermesh, opens fire on residents outside their homes, killing 3 Jewish settlers (including 2 teenage girls), injuring 2 before being shot dead. Jewish settlers begin rebuilding the Havat Gilad site. A PA security court sentences a Palestinian to death for collaboration with Israel. (JTA 10/29; al-Quds 10/29 in WNC 11/5; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR 10/30; WP 10/31; MEI 11/8)

Arafat announces the make up of his new cabinet. Although most PC mbrs. angrily criticize Arafat’s failure to remove old EA mbrs. accused of corruption, they approve (56-18) the new cabinet. (AP, HA 10/29; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT10/30; ITAR-TASS 10/30 in WNC 10/31; MM 10/31; AYM 10/31 in WNC 11/1; QA 10/31, 11/1 in WNC 11/5; MEI 11/8)

The IDF opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Jenin, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian, seriously injuring 2 others; fires on residential areas of Rafah, killing 1 Palestinian in his home; demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Jala (arresting wanted Hamas mbr. Fawaz Amru), Qalqilya. A 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/13. A PA security court sentences a Palestinian to death for collaborating with Israel. Israel formally charges 1 of 10 bedouin IDF soldiers arrested on 9/12 for allegedly spying for Hizballah, stressing that he was motivated by greed, not nationalism. (HA, MM 10/24; WP, WT 10/25; MM 10/29; LAW, PCHR 10/30)

The IDF moves troops back into Jenin, after withdrawing to the outskirts of the city on 10/18; fires on Palestinian farmers in Jenin; bulldozes 18 Palestinian homes (15 in Jiftlik, 1 in `Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., 1 in Balata r.c., 1 in Rafah, 1 in Salim); bars a Palestinian heart attack victim fr. crossing and IDF checkpoint to reach a hospital for 2 hrs., allowing him to die; raids 2 homes in Hebron, sets fire to residents’ belongings. IDF commandos raid Balata r.c., arrest 2 Palestinians, leave behind their van, booby trapped with explosives; the van later explodes, injuring 10 Palestinians. With the IDF’s pledge of protection, Palestinian residents of Yanun return to their homes (see 10/18). The PA complains that btwn. 9/4 and 10/16, the IDF has taken 750 single-bed truckloads, 250 double-bed truckloads of sand out of Gaza for use in construction projects inside Israel. (LAW, PCHR 10/23; AYM 10/23 in WNC 10/28; NYT, WT 10/24; HA 11/15)

U.S. Asst. Secy. of State William Burns arrives in Jerusalem to meet with Israeli, PA officials regarding a U.S. draft road map; presents the PA with the draft for the 1^st time (see 10/16). (HA, MM, PR 10/23; HA, MM, NYT 10/24; MM, NYT, WT 10/25; AYM 10/25, 10/26 in WNC 10/28; WP 10/26; MEI 11/8)

The Knesset rejects (23-51) a proposed bill that would ban fr. the parliament any party trying to incite the expulsion of Palestinians, Israeli Arabs. (AFP 10/23)

Israeli security forces guarding the U.S. emb. in Tel Aviv capture a Palestinian suicide bomber when he bolts fr. the entrance of a nearby cafe after his explosives belt set off a metal detector; no one is injured. 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received on 9/30. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian in her home in Nablus, shells residential areas of Bayt Hanun. Israel bars access to al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers to Palestinians under age 40. Jewish settlers retake the only inhabited settler outpost removed by the IDF on 10/10; the IDF says it has shut 17 of 24 unauthorized outposts it aims to close. (HA, MM 10/11; NYT, WP 10/12; WT 10/13; MM 10/14; LAW, PCHR, PR 10/16)

Some 5,000 Christian evangelicals hold a rally in solidarity with Israel on the sidelines of a Christian Coalition conference in Washington. Addressing the rally, Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson states that "Palestine has been occupied by Yasir Arafat and his thugs . . . [and] we cannot turn it over to them." House majority whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) declares that when he visited the Jewish state, "I didn't see any occupied territory--what I saw was Israel." (WJW 10/17; JPI 10/25; Guardian 10/28)

Senate passes (77-23) a concurrent res. approved by the House (296-133) on 10/10 giving Bush the authority to strike Iraq unilaterally, meaning he needs no further congressional approval to deploy troops, order air strikes, wage a ground war with Iraq. The Pentagon issues orders for the army's V Corps, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force to deploy headquarters staffs, which would coordinate an attack on Iraq, to Kuwait, marking the 1st official nonroutine dispatch of conventional ground forces to the Gulf. (NYT, WP, WT 10/11; NYT 10/12)

IDF snipers occupy buildings overlooking Arafat's Ramallah compound, including at least 1 Palestinian home and the PA Culture Min.; Ben-Eliezer says the purpose is "to put [our] hands on all those inside who are suspects if they try to come out." After allowing visits twice in the past 2 wks., Ben-Eliezer orders the IDF to bar Jewish worshipers fr. Joseph's Tomb in Nablus for safety reasons. (HA 10/1; NYT, WT 10/2)

The IDF demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Dura; bulldozes 3 homes and farm land nr. Netzarim settlement in Gaza; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths nr. Bayt Hanun and Kefar Darom, wounding 13; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian in his Jenin home; raids a UNRWA hospital in Qalqilya, assaulting several staff mbrs. Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets into the Negev, lightly injuring 4 Israelis, damaging 1 house; fire on a settler vehicle nr. Ramallah, injuring 2 Jewish settlers. Jewish settlers announce the completion of 14 permanent housing units in Rehalim nr. Nablus. The PA says it has arrested 11 Palestinian collaborators who aided Israel in various assassinations. (HA, LAW, PCHR 9/25; al-Quds 9/25 in WNC 9/26; CNN, HA, LAW, NYT 9/26; UN press release 10/1; LAW, PCHR 10/2)

Before dawn, the IDF launches a major incursion (90 tanks, bulldozers, helicopter cover) into Gaza City and Bayt Lahia, killing 9 Palestinians (including wanted local AMB leader Muhammad Kishku, senior Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Yasin Nassar in what may be assassinations), wounding 24, blowing up 1 Palestinian home, 13 metal workshops. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb underneath 1 of the 20 tanks entering Gaza City, disabling it, injuring 2 IDF soldiers (see 9/5). Israel says the incursions are the start of a major campaign in the Gaza Strip targeting Hamas, though troops withdraw fr. Gaza City by the end of the day. The IDF also fires live ammunition at stone-throwing children in Bayt Hanun and Khan Yunis, wounding 8 and 2 respectively; fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian protesters defying the curfew in Hebron; conduct arrest raids in al-Ram. Israeli police place Fatah secy. in Jerusalem Salah al-Zuhaykha under house arrest for allegedly arranging protests under orders fr. Arafat. (AP, HA, MEZ, MM, PCHR, WP, WT 9/24; AFP 9/24 in WNC 9/25; HA, LAW, NYT, PCHR, PR, WP 9/25; al-Quds 9/25 in WNC 9/26; MEI 9/27, 10/11)

After 2 days of debate, the UN Security Council (UNSC) passes (14-0, with the U.S. abstaining) Res. 1435 on the siege in Ramallah, which expresses grave concern over the Palestinians' humanitarian plight and reoccupation of Palestinian cities, "demands" Israel's immediate halt attacks on the PA headquarters. The IDF says its operations will continue "until their objectives are met." (HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/24; ATL, MENA 9/24 in WNC 9/25; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/25; al-Quds, XIN 9/25 in WNC 9/26; DUS 9/25 in WNC 10/1; AP, HA, MM, NYT, WJW, WT 9/26; JT 10/7 in WNC 10/8; MEI 10/11)

The IDF raids Beitunia, imposes a curfew, fires on and raids the local PA General Intelligence office, killing wanted Palestinian Mahmud Harfush, wounding 2 General Intelligence officers; conducts arrest raids in Dahariyya, Nablus; fires on Palestinian stone throwers in Yatta nr. Hebron, injuring 11; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Jenin. (LAW, PCHR 9/11; PCHR 9/18)

The PC opens debate on approving the new Executive Authority (EA or cabinet) appointed by Arafat in 6/02; the vote confidence is not held for lack of time. Many PC mbrs. argue that they should reject the EA to underline the need for substantive change of PA policy and style and because several of EA mbrs. have been cited for corruption. (HA, MM, WT 9/10; NYT, WT 9/11)

Israel says there will be no further IDF redeployments fr. PA areas at least until late 9/02, after the Jewish holidays. The IDF raids the home of, arrests PFLP politburo mbr. al-`Alim Yunis Da'na; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Salfit (demolishing several Palestinian homes); fires on residential areas of Jenin, Khan Yunis; bulldozes 13 dunams of agricultural land along the Shuhada Junction + n. Qarni settler bypass road. (XIN 8/25 in WNC 8/26; NYT 8/26; PCHR 8/28; MEI 8/30)

The IDF turns over control of Bethlehem, the main n.+ns. road in Gaza to the PA Preventive Security Force (PSF), lifts the curfew on Bethlehem, keeps troops on the outskirts of the city, poised to reinvade if the PA fails to maintain security control; 400 PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) officers take up posts around the city. The IDF fatally shoots a 14-yr.-old boy in Jenin for no apparent reason; blows up a building in Nablus that it claims to be a bomb-making factory; raids a PSF post nr. Ramallah, detaining 6 PSF officers; bulldozes 9 dunams (4 dunams = 1 acre) of agricultural land, 1 Palestinian home in Satar al-Gharbiyya; conducts arrest raids in Jenin r.c. (MM 8/19; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/20; LAW, PCHR, WP 8/21; AKH 8/22 in WNC 8/23; PCHR 8/26)

Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC) head Sabri al-Banna (Abu Nidal), who broke with the Fatah organization in the 1970s, is found dead in his Baghdad apartment. Iraqi officials say he committed suicide, but do not explain how he suffered multiple gunshot wounds. (HA 8/19; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/20; NYT, WP, WT 8/21; DUS 8/21 in WNC 8/22; MA 8/29 in WNC 8/30; MM 9/20)

The IDF temporarily lifts the curfew on Hebron; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, destroying 1 Palestinian home; bulldozes 3 Palestinian homes s. of Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Khan Yunis, Karabatha Bani Harith, Rafah (taking 8 Palestinians to Morag settlement for interrogation); temporarily detains, beats, confiscates the camera of Palestinian journalist for Reuters. Israel's National Religious Party (NRP) reports that 4 new settler bypass roads are under construction in the West Bank. (Hatzofe 8/18 in WNC 8/20; LAW, PCHR 8/21; PCHR 8/26)

In Tel Aviv, Israeli DM Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, PA Interior M `Abd al-Razzaq Yahya agree on implementation of Ben-Eliezer's Gaza First plan: the IDF is to withdraw fr. parts of Gaza and fr. Bethlehem within 48 hrs.; the PA is to take control of security in areas evacuated; if calm is maintained, Israel would extend the arrangement to Hebron. Israel makes no promises to halt assassinations, arrest raids, home demolitions; the PA makes no promises to make preventive arrests of mbrs. of opposition groups. National unity talks among the 12 Palestinian factions making up the National and Islamic Higher Coordinating Comm. of the Intifada (NIHC) reportedly continue in Gaza. (XIN 8/18 in WNC 8/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/19; AFP 8/19, AYM 8/20 in WNC 8/21; MM 8/21; al-Quds 8/21 in WNC 8/22, 8/23; MM 8/22; MA 8/25 in WNC 8/26; JPI, MEI 8/30)

IDF commandos raid Tulkarm, assassinate local AMB cmdr. Ziad Da'as, also killing 2 Palestinian bystanders. In Khan Yunis, an IDF sniper fatally shoots Hamas mbr. Hussam Hamdan, son of top Hamas political leader Ahmad Nimr. The IDF makes a predawn raid on Bayt Lahia, firing on residential areas (killing 1 Palestinian sleeping on his roof), arresting 3 relatives of a wanted Hamas mbr.; fires on residential areas of Dayr al-Balah (seriously injuring a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy), Khan Yunis; arrests local AMB leader Yahya Dahamsa in Bethlehem, demolish his rented home; demolishes the family homes of relatives of 3 other Palestinian militants elsewhere; shoots at 2 PRCS ambulances in Gaza, disabling 1. A small bomb explodes underneath a fuel truck in Rishon Letzion, lightly injuring the Israeli driver; no group claims responsibility (see 5/24). Israeli police arrest 2 19-yr.-old Israeli Arab women for failing to prevent the 8/4 Meron Junction bus bombing. In Hawara, Palestinians, international peace activists stage a nonviolent march in defiance of the IDF curfew; the IDF responds with live fire, tear gas, percussion grenades, and arrests International Solidarity Movement (ISM) leader Adam Shapiro and 1 Palestinian; Shapiro is transferred to Ramla prison pending deportation. (AP, ISM press release, LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP 8/7; NYT, WP, WT 8/8; WT 8/9)

Arafat convenes an EA mtg. to grant "preliminary approval" to Ben-Eliezer's Gaza First plan. Israeli, PA security teams meet in the evening to discuss implementation but fail to agree on terms. (HA 8/7; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/8; AFP, al-Quds, XIN 8/8 in WNC 8/9; MM, WP 8/9; AYM, al-Quds 8/9, SA 8/11 in WNC 8/12; AYM 8/11 in WNC 8/15; WJW 8/15; MEI, MM 8/16)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus at Meron Junction in n. Israel, killing 3 IDF soldiers, 2 Israeli civilians, 2 Philippine workers, 2 Israeli Arabs and wounding 40 (mostly soldiers); Hamas says it will not release the name the bomber to prevent Israel fr. retaliating against his relatives. In Jerusalem, an AMB gunman fatally shoots an Israeli guard, an Israeli telephone employee nr. Damascus Gate; Israeli policemen, soldiers open fire indiscriminately in the direction of the shooter, who is near a café, killing him, a Palestinian café patron, wounding 17. Nr. Aley Sinai settlement in Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian frogman as he emerges fr. the sea carrying a rifle, grenades in a sealed bag. AMB gunmen detonate a roadside bomb nr. a settler car nr. Ramallah, fire on passengers, injuring 3 Jewish settlers. PFLP gunmen fire on a settler bus nr. Tulkarm, injuring 4 Jewish settlers. A roadside bomb injures 4 IDF soldiers nr. Ramallah. The IDF demolishes an 18-dunam PA Youth and Sports Min. complex, a 20-dunam PSF training center, 4 privately owned buildings, several boats in Bayt Lahia. Jewish settlers attack a PRCS ambulance nr. Ramallah, injuring 2 paramedics. (AFP 8/4 in WNC 8/5; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/5; LAW, PCHR 8/7)

The IDF exchanges gunfire with 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. nr. Gush Katif settlement, leaving the 2 Palestinians dead, 2 soldiers wounded; fires on residential areas of, conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm; reopens PLO Jerusalem affairs rep. Nusseibeh's offices at al-Quds University. Late in the evening, the IDF assassinates Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades founder and head Shaykh Salah Shihada, no. 1 on Israel's most wanted list, sending an F-16 to fire a 1-ton guided missile at a building where he is staying in Gaza City, collapsing 3 buildings, heavily damaging 20 others, killing 14 Palestinian bystanders (including 9 children, 4 women), injuring 140. Palestinians across Gaza take to the streets to demonstrate against the assassination, which comes hrs. after the AMB, tanzim, Hamas, Islamic Jihad agreed to declare a unilateral cease-fire after wks. of intra-Palestinian talks. (HA, JP, MM, REU 7/22; AFP 7/22 in WNC 7/23; AP, B'Tselem press release, HA, MEZ, MM, NYT, PCHR, UN press release, WP, WT 7/23; ATL 7/23 in WNC 7/24; HA, LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT, YA 7/24; ITAR-TASS, MENA al-Quds 7/24 in WNC 7/25; Gulf Times 7/24, AFP, JT, MA, al-Quds, SA, XIN 7/25 in WNC 7/26; HA, MM NYT, WJW, WP, WT 7/25; MEI 7/26; JT, al-Nahar 7/26 in WNC 7/29; MM 7/29, 7/30; JPI, MM 8/2; MA, SA 8/2 in WNC 8/5; MEI 8/16) (see 5/14/00)

In Qalqilya, IDF soldiers chasing curfew breakers toss stun grenades into a building, sparking a fire that kills 1 Palestinian. The IDF fatally shoots a 2d Palestinian during an arrest raid in Bayt Lahia; bulldozes 4 dunams of Bayt Lahia farmland nr. Dugit settlement; raids the Ramallah offices of the largest Palestinian Internet service provider, PalNet, disabling email, Internet access; conducts house-to-house searches in Hebron. (UPMRC, WT 7/16; LAW, PCHR 7/17; LAW 7/19)

In Alexandria, Ben-Eliezer confers with Mubarak, reportedly presents a "Gaza First" plan, which has not been endorsed by Sharon. Mubarak also meets with PA Local Government M Saeb Erakat; there is no evidence that Ben-Eliezer and Erakat meet. (MM 7/15; MENA 7/15, QA 7/16 in WNC 7/17; MM, NYT, WT 7/16; WT 7/17; JPI 7/26; MM 7/29)

The IDF directs live fire at Palestinians crossing into Ramallah at Surda checkpoint just after a curfew had been reimposed without warning, seriously injuring an 18-yr.-old Palestinian girl; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, destroying the 1 Palestinian home; direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis. (LAW 7/8; PCHR 7/10)

Sharon authorizes Peres to reopen high-level meetings (suspended in 3/02) with senior PA officials, excluding Arafat, but bars him fr. discussing political issues. Peres meets with new PA Finance M Fayyad, new Interior M Yahya. (MM, NYT, WP 7/9; XIN 7/9 in WNC 7/10; WT 7/10; SA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; WJW 7/11; AYM 7/12 in WNC 7/16; AFP 7/20, XIN 7/21 in WNC 7/22; HA, NYT, WP 7/21; JP, MM, WT 7/22; WT 7/23)

Bush says that Israel is justified in occupying the West Bank until "security improves." (NYT 7/9; WJW 7/11)

The IDF overtly assassinates senior al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Muhannad Tahir in Nablus, also killing a 2d Hamas mbr. The IDF lifts closures in most areas for several hrs.; orders Palestinian men ages 15-55 in Amari r.c., Ramallah to surrender for questioning; confiscates a mobile clinic transporting a heart patient to a Ramallah hospital, arresting the patient, the driver; bulldozes Palestinian land in Bayt Lahia, Dayr al-Balah, Shaykh Ajlin; arrests 2 Palestinian journalists working for Reuters for filming international peace activists barring an IDF tank, bulldozer fr. approaching a house in Nablus. In Lod, a bomb placed on a railroad track explodes, lightly injuring 2 Israelis. The IDF dismantles 2 Jewish settlement enclaves built without Israeli permission; each has only 1 family in residence. (GS, HA, UPMRC 6/30; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/1; NYT, WT 7/2)

The IDF reportedly transfers 10s of PA security officers detained in the West Bank to Gaza through the Erez crossing at dawn. Palestinian sources claim to have seen several other groups of PSF officers brought into Gaza through the crossing in recent days and apparently freed, suggesting that Israel is quietly implementing plans threatened previously to "deport" to Gaza West Bank Palestinians suspected of plotting or staging attacks on Israeli targets. (AYM 7/3 in WNC 7/8; AYM 7/4 in WNC 7/5) (see 6/21)

The IDF continues to shell the PA headquarters in Hebron, threatens to raid the complex if those still inside do not emerge; the IDF claims that 1 of those inside the complex is a senior Hizballah mbr. who slipped in fr. Lebanon to train Palestinians. (Israeli prosecutors also charge a Lebanese-born Israeli, son of a Jewish mother and Shi'i Muslim father, of being a spy for Hizballah.) The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians, wounds 10 during clashes in Balata r.c.; fatally shoots a 9-yr.-old Palestinian child, wounds 3 others in Qalqilya during a temporary lifting of the curfew, later admitting the soldiers fired in error; fatally shoots an 8-yr.-old Palestinian boy in Jenin; raids a PSF jail in Nablus, taking 20 Palestinians, including several naval police officers, into custody; demolishes 10 Palestinian homes in Rafah r.c.; imposes 24-hr. curfews on Anin, Azariyya, al-Bireh, Halhul. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/28)

MK Benny Elon (Moledet), on a lobbying trip to the U.S., says he has received "quiet support" fr. several mbrs. of Congress for his 7-part "Elon peace initiative," based on the idea of the "voluntary transfer" of Palestinians to Jordan, which would become a "Jordanian-Palestinian state." Palestinian refugees would be resettled in their host countries. West Bank and Gaza Palestinians would be given Jordanian-Palestinian citizenship and could remain in their homes, but those who "violate the terms of the plan" would be expelled to Jordan. (JPI 6/27)

Before dawn, the IDF sends troops into Palestinian areas in and around Hebron, storming the local PA headquarters, demolishing 1 building in the compound, killing 4 PSF officers, wounding 7, arresting around 200. With the reoccupation of Hebron, 700,000 West Bank Palestinians are under 24-hr. curfew. Curfews are lifted for several hrs. in Bethlehem, Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Tulkarm. The IDF also makes an incursion into Araba, shooting and seriously wounding an 8-yr.-old Palestinian girl; conducts arrest raids in Rafah, demolishing 2 Palestinian homes completely, 3 partially; fatally shoots a Palestinian who allegedly threw a grenade at an IDF post nr. Qarni crossing, causing no damage or injuries; halts an ambulance transporting 2 wounded Palestinians to a Ramallah hospital, forcing the driver, 1 patient to exit the ambulance for a search. (LAW, UPMRC, WP, WT 6/25; LAW, NYT, PRCS press release, WP, WT 6/26; MM, PCHR 6/27)

Israel begins broadcasting an Arabic language satellite channel. (MEI 6/28; MM 7/10)

The IDF calls up another 3,000 reservists; shells a building in Tulkarm r.c., killing 1 PSF officer (children nearby reportedly were stoning the tank); imposes 24-hr. curfews on Abu Dis, Anabta, Araqa, Bayt Jibrin r.c., Bayt Wazzan, al-Funduq, Hashimiyya, Kafr Rumman, Yamun, Zawata; conducts arrest raids and house-to-house searches in Jenin town and surrounding villages, fatally shooting a 2d Palestinian in Yamun; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at the al-Mawasi checkpoint and residential areas in Dahaysha r.c., Khan Yunis; fire live ammunition, rubber bullets at Palestinians approaching al-Bireh, Jawal, Surda checkpoints into Ramallah; bulldozes nearly 100 dunams of agricultural land n. of Bayt Lahia. The PA places Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin under house arrest, arrests 11 Hamas mbrs. in Gaza. An IDF soldier dies of injuries received on 6/15; a Palestinian boy dies of injuries received on 6/21. (HP 6/23; NYT, WP, WT 6/24; RMC 6/24 in WNC 6/25; NYT 6/25; QA 6/25 in WNC 6/26; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

The IDF reoccupies Qalqilya, imposes a curfew; Palestinians clash with troops, leaving 2 IDF soldiers, a local PA intelligence chief dead. The IDF continues operations in Jenin r.c. and town, fortifying a temporary IDF base outside the r.c. with 7 trailers, fuel and water trucks to create a barracks; conducting house-to-house searches, ordering all men ages 15-50 to surrender, using 3 doctors fr. a nearby hospital as human shields; firing a tank shell at al-Razi hospital. The IDF also reinforces tanks around Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Dura, Hebron, Umm Salamona; bulldozes 57 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Aley Sinai; imposes curfews on villages around Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Aldavid settlement set fire to 50 dunams of Palestinian crops nr. Bethlehem; IDF troops observe but do not intervene. An AMB suicide bomber, retaliating for the 6/17 assassination of an AMB leader, detonates a device at a bus stop in French Hill settlement in East Jerusalem during evening rush hr., killing 7 Jewish settlers, wounding 40. In response, the IDF sends troops into Ramallah; helicopter gunships fire missiles at least 5 alleged bomb-making workshops in Gaza City, Jabaliya, Khan Yunis; begins barring Palestinians with West Bank IDs fr. entering Jerusalem; raids a hospital in Shaykh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, sends home 30 employees with West Bank IDs; reportedly rounds up 1,400 Palestinian workers inside the Green Line, sends home 800 Palestinian workers with West Bank IDs. (HP, LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/19; XIN 6/19 in WNC 6/21; MM 6/20, 6/24; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27; JPI, MEI 6/28)

PA Planning M Shaath, still in Washington meeting with U.S. officials, says that he has given the U.S. a 20-30-page draft constitution for a Palestinian state (i.e., an expanded version of the Basic Law) that reportedly envisions a government headed by a PM, with a ceremonial pres. (WP 6/20)

IDF continues operations in Ramallah, conducting house-to-house searches, arresting 27 Palestinians, occupying a PSF post and detaining 30 PSF officers, surrounding hospitals and PRCS offices, firing on 2 ambulances. The IDF also continues arrest raids in Hebron, sends troops in and out of Tulkarm repeatedly during the day. A mysterious predawn explosion at the home of a senior PA military intelligence official in Jabaliya injures 40 Palestinians; an ill Palestinian dies at a checkpoint nr. Jenin; a 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 5/28. (LAW, NYT, PRCS press release 6/10; NYT, UPMRC, WP, WT 6/11)

Sharon meets with Bush at the White House. Afterward, Bush says that the time is not yet ripe to begin working toward a final status agmt.; PA must first make reforms. Asked about Israel's ongoing incursions into Palestinian towns, Bush says "Israel has a right to defend herself." (HA, MM 6/10; MA, XIN 6/10 in WNC 6/11; AYM 6/10, MENA 6/11 in WNC 6/12; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/11; JT, QA, al-Quds 6/12 in WNC 6/13; MM, Jerusalem Times, WJW, WP 6/13; MENA 6/13 in WNC 6/14; MEI 6/14; MA 6/14 in WNC 6/16; MA 6/14 in WNC 6/17; MM 6/17; al-Quds 6/18 in WNC 6/19)

The YESHA settlers council launches a PR campaign to "stress the morality and justice of the Jews' right to the Land of Israel"; says it recently hired a company to handle overseas PR, organized a delegation to meet with U.S. congressmen and investors, held a seminar for settlement spokesman, published a brochure for settlers on how to deal with the media. (Hatzofe 6/10 in WNC 6/11)

The IDF continues its attack on the PA's Ramallah compound, flattening 6 buildings (including an intelligence office, jail) leaving 1 Force 17 mbr., 1 PA intelligence officer dead. Troops reportedly are "poised and ready" to capture or kill Arafat, but pull back and out of Ramallah before dawn, after Sharon promises Bush he will not harm the PA leader. The IDF pulls out of Jenin, Nablus in the evening; sends tanks into Beitunia, arrests 6 Palestinians. A Palestinian gunman fatally shoots a Jewish settler driving nr. Shiloh settlement. (AP, MM, WT 6/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/7; al-Quds 6/7 in WNC 6/10)

Mubarak meets with U.S. VP Dick Cheney, Secy. of State Colin Powell, mbrs. of Congress. (MENA 6/6 in WNC 6/7; MENA 6/6, 6/7 in WNC 6/10; MM, WP 6/7)

Rep. Hilliard loses a tight run-off election to a candidate backed with $1.4 m. fr. AIPAC. (AP 6/26; MEI 7/12) (see 6/5)

The IDF continues operations in Balata r.c., Nablus for the 5th day; blows up an alleged bomb-making factory, raids and damages a medical center in Balata r.c. In new Askar r.c., the IDF conducts house-to-house searches, breaking through walls; bulldozes 4 cars; damages 22 stores, a medical center. The IDF also sends tanks into al-`Ayn r.c., `Ayn Bayt Hilma r.c., calling on men ages 15-45 to turn them selves in, detaining 100s; conducts arrest raids in al-Bireh, Khan Yunis, Qalqilya (also confiscating files fr. the Qalqilya Charity Comm., Islamic Club), Tulkarm; shells residential areas of Rafah, destroying 1 Palestinian home, damaging 6; bulldozes 50 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Khan Yunis, areas around the Gaza airport. The IDF, Shin Bet also raid the Arab Chamber of Commerce in Jerusalem, arrest 6 Palestinian employees for violating the closure of the building imposed in 8/01. Israel seizes 30 dunams of Palestinian land along the Green Line nr. Issawiyya for creation of buffer zones, 120 dunams in the Jabal Mukabir neighborhood of East Jerusalem for Jewish housing, a tourists complex. Overnight, Palestinians detonate 2 roadside bombs nr. IDF convoys in the West Bank, causing no damage. (AP, HP 6/3; WP, WT 6/4; LAW 6/5; HA, WJW 6/6)

The PA High Court rules that the PA has no legal ground to hold PFLP head Saadat, must release him immediately. In response, the IDF sends tanks toward Jericho, where Saadat is being held; declares the Jericho area a closed military zone; warns it will kill Saadat if he is freed. Arafat quickly convenes the Executive Authority (EA), the PA's cabinet, which over turns the court decision. (AFP, HA, JP, LAW 6/3; RMC 6/3 in WNC 6/4; WP, WT 6/4; MM 6/5; AYM 6/5 in WNC 6/6) (see 5/19)

The U.S. announces it has just scheduled a mtg. btwn. Bush, Sharon at the White House on 6/10, after a visit by Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak. Israeli officials say Sharon asked for the mtg. out of concern that Israel's views were being overshadowed by the "near-constant stream" of Arab visitors to Washington. (JP, NYT, WT 6/4; MM, NYT, WP 6/5; AYM 6/7 in WNC 6/10)

Israeli-Palestinian violence continues at a moderate level. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) continues to surround all major Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, barring travel btwn. towns and villages except through heavily guarded checkpoints. The IDF raids Beitunia, assassinating a wanted Preventive Security Force (PSF) officer Ahmad Ghanem, arresting 3 others; makes arrest raids in al-Irsal nr. Ramallah; conducts house-to-house searches in Tallusa nr. Nablus; bulldozes 20 dunams (4 dunams = 1 acre) of Palestinian agricultural land in Gaza. 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received on 4/30. Late this evening, troops make incursions into al-Bireh, Tulkarm refugee camp (r.c.) and city. (LAW 5/16; AP, NYT, WP, WT 5/17; NYT, WP, WT 5/18; LAW 5/22)

Palestinian Authority (PA) head Yasir Arafat pledges to hold presidential, parliamentary elections within 6 mos., provided that Israel makes a substantial withdrawal fr. the West Bank and Gaza so that Palestinians can move freely to the polls. (HA, MM 5/16; XIN 5/16 in WNC 5/17; NYT, WP, WT 5/17; QA 5/18, MA 5/20 in WNC 5/21)