The Palestine Chronology

In Nablus, the IDF conducts arrest raids, searches homes; bulldozers block entrances to Nablus's old city with dirt; tanks, APCs patrol, tightly enforcing curfew. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian driving a truck in Hebron just after a curfew had been reimposed without warning; demolishes 8 Palestinian homes (1 Hebron, 5 Jenin, and 2 Nablus) belonging to relatives of Palestinian militants; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. (NYT, WP, WT 8/4; LAW, PCHR 8/7)

In retaliation for the 7/31 bombing, the IDF stages a predawn raid into Nablus, which Israel says is the "possible source" of the bomb, sending in more than 150 bulldozers, tanks, APCs; conducting house-to-house searches in the old city, moving fr. building to building by breaking through walls; ordering all men ages 15-50 to surrender for questioning; arresting 10s of Palestinians; demolishing 2 apartment buildings allegedly housing bomb-making labs; meeting light resistance, leaving at least 2 Palestinians dead, 5 wounded. The IDF also detains, questions, handcuffs, then fatally shoots Hamas mbr. Amjad Jabour outside his home Salim, nr. Nablus; shells residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, killing an 85-yr.-old Palestinian woman in her home; clashes with Palestinian gunmen in Rafah, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes (1 Hebron, 3 Rafah, 1 Tulkarm, 1 elsewhere in the West Bank) belonging to the relatives of Palestinian militants; prepares to expel 2 brothers of 2 assailants to Gaza. (AP, MM, NYT, UPMRC, WP, WT 8/2; al-Haq, NYT, WP, WT 8/3; LAW, PCHR 8/7; WJW 8/8)

The IDF soldiers stationed in Netzer Hazani settlement direct shells, machine gun fire at nearby residential areas of al-Qarara, fatally shooting a 9-yr.-old Palestinian girl. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 7/15. The body of a bound, fatally shot Israeli businessman is found in a Tulkarm industrial zone. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land nr. Dayr al-Balah, Rafah; demolishes the home of local Islamic Jihad military cmdr. Muhammad Abu Tabikh in Jenin; blows up a home in al-Brazil, damaging 7 nearby houses; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm. (MM 8/1; NYT 8/2; LAW, PCHR 8/7)

In Washington, King Abdallah holds talks with Bush on the peace process, dangers of striking Iraq. Abdallah urges Bush to outline specific steps, time line for moving the peace process forward. Bush says that he's still committed to the creation of a Palestinian state in 3 yrs. but he does not think any new steps by Israel are necessary at the moment. (JT 8/1 in WNC 8/2; NYT, WP, WT 8/2; DUS 8/2 in WNC 8/7)

A package bomb explodes in a crowded Hebrew University cafeteria in Jerusalem, killing 4 Americans (including 1 U.S.-French dual national), 1 U.S.-Israeli dual national, 2 Israelis, injuring around 80; Hamas claims responsibility. Residents of Nablus continue to defy the IDF curfew. The IDF temporarily lifts the curfew in Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, Tulkarm; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, Nablus; blows up the home of relatives of a suicide bomber in Bayt Jala; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Jenin, arrests the owner; partially demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Qalqilya, Tulkarm. (AP, HA, LAW, MM, PCHR 7/31; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/1; ATL, JT, al-Quds 8/1 in WNC 8/2; WP 8/2; PCHR 8/7; JPI 8/9)

Israel's inner cabinet orders the expulsion to Gaza of a relative of Palestinian involved in the 7/16 Emmanuel bus ambush, giving him 12 hrs. to appeal. Regarding whether the man was directly involved in supporting the attack (per Atty. Gen. Rubinstein's conditions; see 7/21), Internal Security M Uzi Landau says, "it's enough for a relative of a relative of a suicide bomber to set up a mourning tent or visit a mourning tent" to qualify for expulsion. The inner cabinet also formalizes a policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinian attackers. (HA 7/31; WP, WT 8/1; MA 8/4 in WNC 8/5; PCHR 8/7)

A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device in a Jerusalem restaurant, lightly wounding 5 Israelis. AMB gunmen lure 2 Jewish settlers (diesel fuel salesmen) to Jamayn village, fatally shoot them; 1 of the assailants is later arrested. 1,000s of Nablus residents defy the 24-hr. curfew for a 3d day. The IDF removes the curfew on Qalqilya; bulldozes 3 Palestinian apartment buildings in Jenin allegedly housing bomb-making labs; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, injuring 2 women, 2 children sleeping in their homes. In the Israeli town of Ashkelon, an Israeli Jew (recently emigrated from Morocco) walking the beach nr. the home of a senior Israeli security official is stopped, searched, shot, seriously wounded by guards who thought he was a Palestinian attacker. An Israeli prosecutor charges 2 Palestinian detainees with masterminding attacks that killed 17 Israelis, marking the 1st indictments handed down in an civilian court against Palestinians detained during the al-Aqsa intifada. (AP, MM 7/30; JTA, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 7/31; NYT 8/1)

The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Lahia (injuring a 14-yr.-old boy), Khan Yunis (injuring 2 9-yr.-old boys), Rafah (injuring a 4-yr.-old girl). 100s of Nablus residents defy the IDF curfew for a 2d day; the IDF does not intervene. Late this evening, a Palestinian infiltrates Itamar settlement, stabs and lightly wounds 2 Jewish settlers before being shot dead by IDF troops. A Palestinian run over by a Jewish settler on 7/21 dies of his injuries. (NYT, WT 7/30; LAW, PCHR, WP 7/31)

Following a funeral for settlers killed on 7/26, some 100 Jewish settlers rampage through Palestinian neighborhoods of Hebron, attacking Palestinian homes and cars, firing on homes, killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian girl, injuring 15; 1 group of settlers breaks into a Palestinian home, destroys furniture, stabs and seriously injures an 8-yr.-old Palestinian boy; some settlers beat, destroy the cameras of 2 photographers (an American free-lancer and a Yedi'ot Aharonot rep.), a journalist (Yedi'ot Aharonot). The IDF raids an area nr. Ramallah, capturing 4 Hamas mbrs., including senior mbrs. Furayj Rumayna and Hussein Abu Kuwayk (whom the IDF attempted to assassinate on 3/4/02), fatally shooting 1 Palestinian as he watches the incursion; shells residential areas of, bulldozes 6 dunams of land in Khan Yunis. The mayor Nablus, where the IDF's 24-hr. curfew has been temporarily lifted only 5 times in the past 40 days, calls on residents to ignore the curfew in an act of civil disobedience; 10s of Nablus residents open shops, banks, markets, go about their day-to-day duties; the IDF does not interfere. (XIN 7/28 in WNC 7/29; MM, NYT, UPMRC, WP, WT 7/29; NYT, WT 7/30; LAW, PCHR 7/31; WJW 8/1; HA 8/3)

The IDF enters Khan Yunis, fires on residential areas, bulldozes land; raids Wadi Burkin, demolishing a Palestinian home, arresting 2 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin; bulldozes land in Beitunia; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Lahia. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian home in Hebron, setting 2 rooms on fire. (LAW, PCHR 7/31)

AMB gunmen fire on 2 Jewish settler vehicles s. of Hebron, killing 4 Jewish settlers, wounding 3. Palestinians fire an antitank missile at a settler bus nr. Gaza City, causing damage but no injuries. 2 Palestinians die of injuries received on 7/22, bringing the toll of the Shihada assassination to 17. The IDF conducts house-to-house searches in Qalqilya, firing on residential areas, killing 1 Palestinian-American standing nr. a window in his kitchen; bulldozes 3 auto repair shops in Gaza City suspected of manufacturing Qassam rockets, injuring 5 Palestinians; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. Jewish settlers take over a Palestinian home in Hebron, set a room on fire, destroy water tanks. (NYT, WP, WT 7/27; XIN 7/29 in WNC 7/30; LAW, PCHR 7/31)

Palestinian gunmen open fire on a Jewish settler vehicle near Aley Zahav near Qalqilya, killing 1 Jewish settler rabbi, wounding 1; then open fire on ambulance workers who arrive on the scene, causing no additional injuries; AMB, Popular Army Front and Return Battalions take responsibility, with the latter reportedly issuing a "hit list" of Israeli officials, including Sharon. The IDF sends tanks, APCs into Gaza City, demolishing a PSF post and 2 buildings, firing tank shells and heavy machine guns at residential areas; raids the home of, detains Arafat refugee affairs adviser `Abd al-Fattah Ghanem; raids homes in Khan Yunis, destroying property, bulldozing 6 dunams of land, vandalizing a children's summer camp; conducts arrest raids in Aida r.c., Bethlehem, Qalqilya (arresting local Fatah secy. Ahmad Shuraym), Tal. Israeli police arrest another Jewish settler on charges of selling ammunition to the Palestinians (see 7/16). (MM, NYT, WT 7/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/26; LAW, PCHR 7/31; WJW 8/1)

The IDF shells residential areas of Jenin r.c. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel and several mortars fr. Gaza at settlements inside the Strip, causing no damage or injuries. An Israeli dies of injuries received in the 7/17 bombing, bringing the death toll of the attack to 4. An Israeli military court extends the detention without charge of a Palestinian photographer for Agence France-Press, who was taken into custody by the IDF at a West Bank checkpoint on 4/24; a Palestinian photographer for Reuters detained by the IDF on 4/30 is also still in custody. (JTA, PCHR 7/24; MM, NYT 7/25; WT 7/26; Le Monde 7/26 in WNC 7/29)

A Palestinian farmer dies of injuries received on 7/19. The IDF shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Ramallah. In Gaza, 100,000 Palestinians attend the funeral for those killed in the 7/22 air strike targeting Shihada. (LAW, PCHR 7/24)

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)

Israel backs off plans to expel to Gaza 21 male relatives of suspected Palestinian militants (see 7/19). Sharon tells his cabinet that he will abide by Atty. Gen. Rubinstein's ruling that family mbrs. would have to have been directly involved in supporting the attacks in order to be deported. A small remote controlled bomb explodes underneath a commuter train in Rehovat nr. Tel Aviv, slightly injuring the driver; no one takes responsibility. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Jenin; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. A Jewish settler driving in Hebron deliberately runs over a Palestinian man, seriously injuring him. (MM, NYT, WT 7/22; MM 7/23; PCHR 7/24; LAW 7/31)

Sharon, Housing M Natan Sharansky announce plans to create 14 new Jewish localities in the Negev and Galilee to strengthen Jewish control of the land, create a security buffer btwn. Jenin and Afula (the site of numerous Palestinian attacks). (HA 7/22; Between the Lines 8/02)

The IDF shells, bulldozes an auto repair shop in Rafah r.c., also damaging a house; shells residential areas of, conducts arrest raids in Khan Yunis; temporarily lifts curfews in Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah. (WP 7/21; LAW, PCHR 7/24)

The IDF blows up the family homes of senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades member Ali Ajuri (allegedly behind the 7/17 Tel Aviv bombing) in Askar refugee camp, Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades member Nasser Assida (allegedly behind the 7/16 Emmanuel bus ambush) in Tal, also damaging 6 other homes; arrests their 21 male relatives, whom Israel threatens to expel to Gaza as a deterrent to other militants; neither suspect is captured. The IDF also shoots, seriously injures a Palestinian farmer working in his field nr. Qalqilya; fires stun grenades and teargas at Palestinians leaving Friday services at the Bani Na`im Mosque; ransacks the offices of a Bani Na`im charity, confiscating computers; demolishes the science lab of an elementary school in Hebron. Residents of Arak Burin nr. Nablus say they have been without water for 34 days, since the IDF began barring water trucks fr. entering the village. (Amnesty International, GS, al-Haq, LAW, MM 7/19; NYT, WP 7/20; MENA, QA 7/20, AN, JT 7/21 in WNC 7/22; AYM 7/21 in WNC 7/24; LAW, PCHR 7/24)

A Jewish settler injured in the 7/16 bus ambush dies of her injuries, bringing the toll in that attack to 9. A previously unknown group called al-Nathir claims responsibility for the 7/17 Tel Aviv bombing, originally claimed by Islamic Jihad. The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian house, aviary nr. Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Hebron (including confiscating files fr. Hebron University student union offices), Jenin, villages around Khan Yunis, the al-Mawasi area, Nablus, Tal; fires on residential areas of Rafah. (NYT 7/19; LAW 7/18; LAW, PCHR 7/24)

The FMs of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia hold a 30-min. mtg. with Bush, White House chief of staff Andrew Card, Powell, Rice to discuss ways of keeping the peace process moving and to present a working paper (drafted with the PA, approved by Arab League FMs on 7/12). (WP 7/18; MENA 7/18 in WNC 7/22; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/19; QA 7/19, al-Safir 7/20 in WNC 7/22; AYM 7/21 in WNC 7/23; MM 7/25; MEI 7/26)

2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers stage a double bombing outside a cafe in Tel Aviv, killing 1 Israeli, 2 foreign workers, injuring 3. An 8th victim of the Emmanuel bus ambush on 7/16, a baby born prematurely to a Jewish settler injured in the attack, dies. The IDF tracks, engages in a 3 hr. gun battle with the 3 Palestinian gunmen involved in the ambush, leaving 2 Palestinians and 1 IDF officer dead, 3 IDF officers injured; 1 of the Palestinians escape again. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Silat al-Dahir, leaving 2 suspected AMB mbrs. dead; fatally shoots a Palestinian allegedly attempting to sneak into Israel nr. Qalqilya; arrests senior Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Muhammad Nashteh in Ramallah. In Amari r.c., 2 Palestinian children are killed, 11 are wounded when they trigger an unexploded IDF shell. In Ramallah, a mysterious explosion kills 2 Palestinians. The IDF F-16s bomb, destroy a foundry in Gaza that the IDF claims was a Hamas bomb-making facility. In Ramallah, PalNet Internet service, raided on 7/15, is restored. The IDF orders the confiscation of 60 dunams of Palestinian land btwn. Gaza City and Netzarim settlement for construction of a settlement bypass road. (LAW, PCHR 7/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/18; WP 7/19; PCHR 7/21; MEI 7/26; XIN 7/28 in WNC 7/29)

Palestinian gunmen disguised as IDF soldiers ambush a bus nr. the West Bank settlement of Emmanuel, setting off a roadside bomb disabling the bus, then firing on passengers, killing 7 Jewish settlers, wounding 16; the attackers escape; AMB, DFLP, Hamas, Islamic Jihad take responsibility, though military analysts believe Hamas was responsible. Israel places nearby Palestinian villages under curfew. Israeli police arrest 4 IDF soldiers, 1 Jewish settler living in settlements nr. Hebron, 1 IDF soldier living in Israel on suspicion of stealing 60,000 rounds of IDF ammunition, selling 1,000s of rounds to Palestinian militants; the IDF also arrests a Palestinian fr. Tarkumiyya as the middleman. The IDF demolishes a Palestinian store under construction in Jerusalem; bulldozes 29 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qarni crossing; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids nr. Jaba'. (HA, REU 7/16; AFP 7/16 in WNC 7/17; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WP 7/17; WJW 7/18; AYM 7/18 in WNC 7/22; NYT, WP 7/19)

In New York, Powell hosts a senior-level Quartet mtg. to discuss ways of creating momentum for peace talks in light of Bush's 6/24 speech; holds separate mtg. with the FMs of Egypt, Jordan. The Arab FMs then dine with EU, Russian, UN Quartet reps. (MM 7/16; ITAR-TASS 7/16 in WNC 7/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/17; MM 7/18; Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 7/18 in WNC 7/19; MM 7/19)

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)

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 conducts arrest raids in Jenin; shells residential areas, bulldozes 5 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Khan Yunis; bulldozes 3 dunams nr. Kefar Darom settlement. (PCHR 7/17)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Birzeit (searching Birzeit University dorms, arresting 10s of students), Dayr al-Balah (fatally shooting 2 Palestinians, including a 13-yr.-old boy), Khan Yunis; fatally shoots a 3d Palestinian nr. Qalqilya; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Jenin, Rafah. A Palestinian photographer dies of injuries received on 7/11. The Armenian Patriarchate reports that the IDF has confiscated church land, buildings along the Green Line nr. Aida r.c. for Israel's new buffer zone. 32 international humanitarian agencies operating in the territories declare that it has become increasingly difficult over the past 2 mos. for them to work effectively given Israel's "unprecedented military restrictions on humanitarian access to the civilian populations." (AFP, al-Quds 7/12 in WNC 7/16; NYT, WP 7/13; LAW, PCHR 7/17; Arminfo [Yerevan] 7/18 in WNC 7/19; Interfax 8/1 in WNC 8/2)

In Jenin, IDF APC trapped under a collapsed telephone pole opens fire on, wounds 2 Palestinian news photographers (clearly identified as press) photographing the scene, fires on anyone trying to rescue them for more than 30 mins. A Palestinian gunman fatally shoots an IDF soldier in Gaza. A Palestinian dies fr. injuries received on 7/3. For no apparent reason, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians waiting to cross a Qalqilya checkpoint. The IDF also shells on residential areas of Bayt Hanun. (HA 7/11; WT 7/12; AFP 7/12 in WNC 7/16; WP 7/13; LAW, PCHR 7/17; HA 7/28)

The IDF directs tank fire at Palestinian youths violating the curfew in Nablus and throwing stones at soldiers, killing a 17-yr.-old Palestinian, injuring an 11- and a 13-yr.-old; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 86 dunams of crop land nr. Qarni crossing, Shuhada Junction. In Gaza, AMB gunmen fire on an IDF patrol nr. the Rafah border, killing 1 IDF soldier. A Palestinian heart attack victim dies in an ambulance detained at an IDF checkpoint for over an hr. (LAW, PCHR 7/10; NYT, UPMRC, WP 7/11)

Fmr. Christian Coalition leader Gary Bauer and Rabbi Daniel Lapin, head of the ultraconservative Jewish-Christian group Toward Tradition, announce the formation of the American Alliance of Jews and Christians (AAJC), which they will co-chair. AAJC aims to "unite Christians in support of Israel and work with American Jews and Christians on behalf of traditional values." Among the mbrs. of the AAJC board are Rev. Jerry Falwell, Rev. Pat Robertson. A similar Christian right lobbying group, Stand for Israel, cofounded by fmr. Christian Coalition exec. dir. Ralph Reed and IFCJ head Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, is doing a $400,000 media campaign targeting major newspapers, conservative radio talk shows. (Toward Tradition press release 7/10; MEI 7/26) (see 7/9)

IDF fatally shoots Islamic Jihad mbr. Mu`ammar Daraghma, as he drives nr. Jenin in what is likely an assassination. The IDF raids, shuts the admin. offices of al-Quds University in Jerusalem, confiscating files, computers; seals the office of university pres. Sari Nusseibeh, who is also the PLO official in charge of Jerusalem affairs. In Jerusalem's old city, an exchange of gunfire btwn. an Israeli police officer, a Palestinian motorist stopped for an ID check leaves 1 Palestinian bystander dead, the police officer wounded. The IDF also demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Rafah, severely damages 2 others; reoccupies Bayt Rima, ordering all men to surrender for questioning; imposes a curfew on Husan; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Awa, Bethlehem, Nur al-Shams r.c., Qalqilya, Tafuh, al-Til, Tulkarm r.c. Jewish settlers under IDF protection take control of 1,400 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Jaba', outside Jerusalem.(HP 7/9; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP 7/10; MA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; WJW 7/11; AFP 7/11 in WNC 7/15; MA 7/11 in WNC 7/16; MA 7/15 in WNC 7/17; MM 7/17, 7/19)

A group of 400 Jewish immigrants fr. the U.S. and Canada arrive in Israel; 75% of them will live in Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem. They arrive as part of a new Jewish Agency program to encourage entire established Jewish communities in N. America to immigrate to Israel with their rabbis. American Evangelical Christians representing the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) donated $5,000 to each of the 400 to help finance the move. Another group of 130 is expected to arrive in the next few mos. (JP 7/9; Trenton Times 7/10; WJW 7/11; MEI 7/26) (see 6/22)

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 says it captured 2 Palestinians following a gun battle nr. Aley Sinai settlement. The IDF fires on Palestinians at a Nablus checkpoint for no apparent reason during a lifting of the curfew, wounding 2; sends bulldozers into Shaykh Ajlin, damaging part of an agriculture storehouse and a well, leveling land; sends tanks into Bayt Lahia, firing on residential areas, crushing a car. A Palestinian child dies of injuries received on 6/27. (NYT 7/8; LAW, PCHR 7/10; MEI 7/12)

The Israeli cabinet endorses (17-2) a bill that would amend existing law to bar Israeli Arabs fr. leasing homes built on state land, declaring state land (90% of land in Israel) to be "for Jewish settlement only." State land cannot be purchased by anyone, only leased long term. (BADIL press release 7/7; HA 7/8; MM, NYT, WT 7/9; WJW 7/11; HA 7/12)

IDF soldiers fire on a taxi nr. Netzarim Junction, killing a Palestinian woman, child; the IDF says soldiers fired at "suspicious silhouettes" in the car. In Ramallah, the IDF fires tear gas at Palestinians who mistakenly believe the curfew has been lifted; an elderly Palestinian, overcome by tear gas, dies. The IDF positions tanks, snipers around Jenin hospital. The IDF bulldozes 4 bedouin homes in the Negev. (GS, UPI, UPMRC 7/6; WP 7/7; DUS 7/7 in WNC 7/8; NYT 7/8; LAW, PCHR 7/10; MEI 7/12)

IDF troops open fire on residential areas in Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian; raid Bayt Furik village, firing on homes, detaining 4 Palestinians ages 15 and 16; bulldoze 3 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Shuhada Junction; conduct arrest raids in Tulkarm. In Gaza City, 15,000 Palestinians attend the funeral of AMB mbr. Omarayn. (NYT, UPI 7/6; WP 7/7; LAW, PCHR 7/10)