The Palestine Chronology

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)

Before dawn, IDF helicopters fire 5 missiles at a school in Khan Yunis, extensively damaging it; fatally shoots a Palestinian drummer going alley-to-alley in Askar r.c. nr. Nablus despite the curfew to declare the start of the day’s Ramadan fast (Ramadan began on 11/6), bars an ambulance fr. reaching him, allowing him to bleed to death. During the day, the IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian driving in Bethlehem; holds a Palestinian woman in labor at a Bethlehem checkpoint for 2 hrs., causing her baby to die; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Nablus; raids an emergency clinic in Hebron, vandalizing patient files. A PFLP suicide bomber detonates a car bomb nr. an IDF post in Gaza, killing himself but causing no other injuries. Palestinians fire 5 mortars at Gush Katif settlement, causing no damage or injuries. (LAW, PCHR, PM, UPMRC, WT 11/27; HA, WP 11/28)

Israel’s Interior M Eli Yishai announces his decision to strip Israeli Arab Qays Obeid, now residing in Lebanon, of his Israeli citizenship for allegedly spying for Hizballah, marking the 2d time Yishai has stripped an Israeli Arab of his citizenship. (HA 11/27)

Israel says it will delay its military response to the 10/21 Hadera bombing in deference to U.S. regional concerns, but will reimpose curfews, blockades across the Palestinian territories and suspend steps to ease restrictions. The IDF bars Palestinians across the West Bank fr. harvesting olives, saying troops cannot protect pickers fr. Jewish settlers; the ban is lifted late in the evening after Arab MKs file a petition with the Israeli High Court opposing the order. Israel's Infrastructure M Efi Eitam orders a halt to all drilling for water by West Bank Palestinians, freezes the issue of permits for future drilling. The IDF bars a Palestinian heart attack victim fr. crossing an IDF checkpoint to reach a hospital, allowing him to die; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes (Balata r.c., Nablus, Rafah); demolishes 4 barracks, 3 Palestinian homes, 3 bakeries, several cattle sheds in Yatta; bulldozes 10 dunams of land in Bayt Lahia; conducts arrest raids in Khan Yunis, Rafah. Israel releases AFP photographer Hussam Abu Alan, detained without charge on 4/24/02. (HA, PM, REU 10/22; LAW, NYT, PCHR, PR, WP 10/23; WT 10/24; AYM 10/24 in WNC 10/28; al-Quds 10/30 in WNC 10/31)

Israel ends the siege on Arafat's compound in Ramallah, allowing Arafat, all those inside with him to leave; troops remain in Ramallah however. A Palestinian heart attack victim dies at an IDF checkpoint nr. Khan Yunis when troops deny his passage to a hospital for several hrs. Palestinians in Nablus defy the curfew by reopening schools. The IDF surrounds 3 Nablus schools, forces them to close; fires on curfew breakers in nearby Balata r.c., injuring 3 children. The IDF also fires tear gas into an education center for children and the mentally disabled in Shu`fat r.c., injuring 150 children; demolishes 4 Palestinian houses nr. Netzarim settlement; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian children nr. Bayt Hanun and Khan Yunis, injuring 4. (AFP, JT 9/29, Interfax, MENA, QA 9/30 in WNC 10/1; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/30; CSM 10/1; LAW, PCHR 10/2; MEI 10/11; WP 11/8)

The Jerusalem Report, citing Britain’s respected Jane’s Foreign Report, claims that IDF special forces are currently operating inside western Iraq, with the knowledge of the U.S., to locate missile launchers that could be used against Israel. (JP 9/29)

Israeli border police manning a West Bank crossing intercept a car carrying a 1,300 lbs. fertilizer-gasoline bomb, with a cell phone rigged as a detonator; 2 Palestinians escape. No group claims responsibility, but the IDF suspects Islamic Jihad. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Nablus, Surif; raids a clinic in Bayt Lahia, halts an ambulance, detains and beats 1 paramedic; fires on residential areas of Rafah, on Palestinians waiting to cross a Dayr al-Balah + n. Khan Yunis checkpoint. Late in the evening, Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket in Gaza, luring a Merkava tank to the scene, then detonating a large roadside bomb under the tank, killing 2 IDF soldiers, wounding 2 (marking the 2d fatal roadside bombing of a tank; see 3/14/02); the popular resistance comms. (PRCs) take responsibility. Nr. Bayt Lahia, a Palestinian gunman ambushes an IDF patrol, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 1 before being shot dead. The IDF issues evacuation orders to 4 Palestinian families in Ras al-Amud, Silwan. (AP, MM 9/5; NYT, WP, WT 9/6; NYT 9/7; LAW, PCHR 9/11)

In response to the 2 Gaza attacks, Ben-Eliezer formally calls off implementation of Gaza First agmt. (WP 9/6)

In Khan Yunis, a Palestinian on trial for collaborating with Israel is killed by Palestinian militants when the trial is disrupted by an IDF air strike nearby, leaving him unguarded. The IDF F-16s hit the home of senior Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Ahmad Yusif `Abd al-Wahhab, who escapes; at least 5 Palestinian bystanders are wounded. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian farmer working in his field nr. Dugit settlement; claims it was responding to mortar fire fr. the area directed at the settlement. At checkpoint nr. Balata r.c., an Israeli border policeman fatally shoots a Palestinian who allegedly tried to knife him. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis. (NYT, WP, WT 7/15; LAW, PCHR 7/17)

The ZOA gives Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson the State of Israel Friendship Award for being "a major Christian leader who strongly supports Israel and its religious, historical, and legal right to the holy land." (ZOA press release 7/9, JTA 7/12) (see 7/10)

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)

IDF operations continue in Balata r.c. and Nablus, expand to Bayt Wazzan. In Balata r.c., the IDF blows up the home of AMB Nablus cmdr. Titi (assassinated 5/22), an alleged bomb-making factory; says 3,000 Palestinians fr. the camp have been detained, 100s released (but reportedly warned against returning to the camp). In Nablus, the IDF arrests a Jordanian journalist, 7 foreign peace activists for being in a closed military zone; arrests 6 Palestinian students, including 4 women, at al-Najah university on charges of plotting attacks. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm, occupying 1 Palestinian home as an IDF post; imposes a closure on Jalazone r.c.; bulldozes a Palestinian olive grove nr. Bayt Jala, 120 dunams of agricultural land in Sawahira al-Sharqiyya; confiscates Palestinian property in Bayt Hanina; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, damaging several homes, buildings. (HP 6/2; NYT, WT 6/3; LAW 6/5; JPI 6/14)

CIA Dir. George Tenet arrives in Cairo on the first leg of a 4-day regional tour to consult with Egyptian, Israeli, Palestinian leaders on PA security reforms. (HA, NYT, WT 6/3; JT 6/3 in WNC 6/4; WP, WT 6/4; HA, NYT, WP, WT 6/5; QA 6/5 in WNC 6/6; MM 6/7; AYM 6/7 in WNC 6/10; MEI, NYT 6/14; NYT 6/15)

Retaliating for the firing of Qassam-2s on 3/5, the IDF launches air, land, sea strikes on PA targets across the West Bank and Gaza, striking and partially demolishing Arafat's residence in Gaza City and a UNRWA school for the blind, among other sites. The IDF also shells the PA compound in Ramallah while Arafat is meeting with EU special envoy Miguel Moratinos; they are not injured. Sharon vows to continue the strikes "without letup" until the Palestinians stop attacking Israeli soldiers, civilians. During the day, at least 13 Palestinians are killed, including senior Hamas mbr. `Abd al-Nassar Ghazal in a possible assassination in Gaza, 4 PA naval police killed by IDF shelling in Gaza, 1 Palestinian shot dead nr. Nablus, 1 killed in a questionable explosion nr. Qalqilya, 4 who die of injuries received earlier. 2 IDF soldiers are killed in clashes in Khan Yunis and Rafah. F-16s bomb a Gaza police headquarters where PSF officers had been scheduled to meet, leading the PA to believe the attack was a failed assassination attempt against PSF chief Brig. Gen. `Abd al-Raziq Majayda. The IDF also makes arrest raids and demolishes at least 2 Palestinian houses in Gaza; fires on a Palestinian school in Silat al-Dahir, injuring 4 students; bulldozes Palestinian land in al-Khadir; maintains closure on Balata, Jenin. Over 20 Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar fire on a neighboring Palestinian village; attack IDF soldiers who intervene, beating them, puncturing tires on their jeeps. Jewish settlers also cut down 300 Palestinian-owned olive trees nr. Hebron; IDF troops reportedly fire warning shots at Palestinians who attempt to intervene. (AP, HP, MM 3/6; AFP, al-Quds 3/6 in WNC 3/7; JP [Internet], LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/7; MENA, RNE 3/7 in WNC 3/8; JP 3/15)

In the morning, the IDF sends troops, tanks into Balata (an AMB stronghold); surrounds and attacks Jenin r.c. without entering it. The massive two-pronged operation, called Colorful Journey, meets strong resistance, touching off fierce gun battles that continue into the night, leaving 1 IDF soldier and at least 11 Palestinians dead (4 in Balata, including Balata AMB leader Kayid Abu Mustafa; 7 in Jenin, including 6 PSF officers), wounding over 150 Palestinians (over 100 in Balata, 40 in Jenin). Troops bar ambulances fr. entering the camps to aide the wounded. In the afternoon, the IDF declares a brief cease-fire, ordering unarmed residents to leave Balata, but few do--most fearing permanent exile. The IDF cuts electricity and water to the camp; evicts, demolishes several Palestinian homes at the edge of the camp; conducts house-to-house searches, breaking through walls to move fr. building to building, demolishing at least 5 homes, damaging 100; occupies a UN-operated boys school. Israel says the operation is designed to arrest Palestinians wanted for "terrorist attacks," but none are arrested during the day. As the day progresses, violence spreads to other West Bank towns, especially in the Bayt Jala-Gilo area. The IDF also sends tanks to surround Tulkarm; tightens closures on Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, Qalqilya, Ramallah, as well as access to Jerusalem; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; occupies a PSF post in Tamun; directs heavy machine gun fire at Aida r.c., Bayt Jala, Bethlehem; bulldozes Palestinian land in Azariyya for construction of a settler bypass road. The PA suspends trilateral security comm. talks. (AP, HP, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP 2/28; BDL, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/1; AFP 3/1, AYM 3/2, XIN 3/3 in WNC 3/4; WP, WT 3/2; LAW 3/6; MEI 3/8)

The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian nr. Balata. A Palestinian woman in labor looses her baby when IDF troops bar her transportation to a hospital. The IDF also fires on Palestinians outside al-Nur mosque in Brazil, wounding 6; demolish 3 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina; raid Khan Yunis, temporarily occupy a Palestinian home. (PCHR, WT 2/27; LAW 3/6)

Late this evening, the CIA convenes a trilateral security comm. mtg. with Israeli, PA security officials in Herziliya. The PA, which cancelled security contacts on 2/24, agreed to resume mtgs. at the European Union's (EU) request. (HA, MM, WT 2/27; al-Quds 2/27 in WNC 2/28)