The Palestine Chronology

The IDF makes a brief incursion into n. Gaza in the morning to level lands and clear lines of sight along the border e. of Jabaliya r.c., firing on nearby residential areas to keep Palestinians indoors. In Dura and Ithna villages nr. Hebron, the IDF destroys 1 Palestinian home, part of 2 other homes, 9 agricultural pools and irrigation networks, 4 water tanks, and 5 wells, also confiscating 15 water pumps and other agricultural equipment. The IDF also patrols in 3 villages nr. Qalqilya and 1 nr. Jenin in the evening; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem and neighboring Dahaysha r.c. Washington Jewish Week reports that in the previous wk., Israel’s Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court rejected 2 lawsuits demanding the eviction of Palestinian families fr. their Silwan homes; the suits were brought by Eldad, an organization seeking to Judaize Jerusalem in part by settling Jews in the predominantly Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, nr. the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. (WJW 12/22; PCHR 12/29; OCHA 1/5)

At the close of 2 days of talks in Cairo, Fatah’s Abbas and Hamas’s Mishal agree that they will both sit on the comm. that will prepare for the next elections of the PLO’s parliament-in-exile, the Palestinian National Council (PNC), marking a major step toward Hamas joining the PLO. They also agree to form an interim unity government by the end of 1/2012 and to bring elected Hamas-affiliated legislators back into the PA’s parliament, the Palestinian Council (PC), in 2/2012. (NYT, AP, WP, WT 12/23; HA 12/28)

Reports indicate that Hamas is scaling back its presence in Syria because of violence there, but overall feels buoyed by the Arab Spring. Senior Hamas official Mahmud Zahar states that Hamas feels strengthened and validated by the popular support shown for Islamist parties in countries affected by the Arab Spring, suggesting that the new Tunisian model of power-sharing among Islamist and secular nationalist parties could be a model for the Palestinians. (WP 12/22)

With the completion of a section of the separation wall bordering Shu’fat r.c. in East Jerusalem, the IDF closes its Shu’fat checkpoint into Jerusalem and redirects traffic to a new modern checkpoint (begun in 2009 to serve as a future international crossing into Jerusalem). The move leaves more than 50,000 Palestinians living in Shu’fat r.c. and several surrounding Jerusalem suburbs (Ras Shihada, Ras Khamis, al-Salam, and part of ‘Anata) who hold Jerusalem IDs completely isolated fr. Jerusalem. In the West Bank, the IDF clashes with mourners taking part in the funeral for Palestinian activist Mustafa Tamimi (see 12/10), causing no serious injuries; conducts daytime patrols in 3 villages nr. Salfit, 2 nr. Qalqilya, and 1 nr. Jenin; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, in Bethlehem, and in Tulkarm; conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya. (PCHR 12/12, 12/15; OCHA 12/16; JPI 12/23)

The Israeli cabinet unanimously approves $160 m. for the next stage of construction of the security fence along the border with Egypt, expansion of detention centers, and increased policing of companies that hire illegal workers. Since 1/2006, nearly 50,000 illegal workers, mostly fr. Eritrea and Sudan, have entered Israel via the Sinai, raising concerns among Israelis that the mounting influx of illegal African workers could undermine Israel’s Jewish character. (NYT, WP 12/12)

The IDF carries out an air strike on a car in a crowded section of Gaza City, assassinating senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbr. Issam al-Batash and his nephew Subhi al-Batash, a mbr. of Hamas’s armed wing, the Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades (IQB), wounding 4–6 bystanders; Israel claims the 2 men planned to infiltrate Israel and that Issam al-Batash was involved in plotting an AMB–Islamic Jihad suicide bombing in Elat on 1/29/07. Overnight, in the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids targeting the PFLP in Hebron, arresting 3; the IDF spokesman states that 9 other PFLP mbrs. are arrested in raids in Bethlehem, Jenin, and Qalqilya, but there is no corroboration. During the day, the IDF confiscates 150 d. of Palestinian agricultural land nr. the Gush Etzion settlement bloc nr. Bethlehem. Late at night, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 each nr. Jenin and Salfit. (AP, HA, IDFS, MNA 12/8; JP, NYT, WP 12/9; PCHR 12/15; OCHA 12/16)

The IDF patrols in Jenin and nearby ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c., 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Salfit in the morning; sends undercover units into Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem in the afternoon, arresting 1 Palestinian; conducts evening patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, 2 nr. Salfit, and 1 nr. Ramallah; carries out latenight arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c. nr. Nablus, in Hebron, and nr. Bethlehem. (PCHR 12/8; OCHA 12/9)

U.S. Dep. Secy. of State Burns meets with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ways of reviving peace talks with the Palestinians. U.S. officials say that they are trying to find ways around Palestinian demands for a settlement freeze in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, but give no details. (NYT 11/22; JPI 12/2)

The IDF makes a late-night incursion into s. Gaza, patrolling in and firing on residential areas of Rafah, causing no injuries and making no arrests. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them back to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF raids and searches the home of a PA police officer nr. Jenin, arresting him; patrols in 7 villages nr. Ramallah, in 1 instance firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them. (PCHR 11/24; OCHA 11/25)

PA Tourism and Antiquities M Hamdan Taha says that now that Palestine has full membership in UNESCO (see QU in JPS 162), it is planning to seek world heritage status for the old cities of Hebron and Jericho. An application for Bethlehem is already in the works and is expected to have a better chance now that Palestine has membership. The PA also plans to seek recovery of artifacts looted by Israel, increase funds for preservation and excavations, and use its status to force Israel to stop calling West Bank sites “Israeli antiquities.” (WP 11/22)

King Abdallah of Jordan makes an official visit to Ramallah (his 1st in 10 yrs.) to hold talks with PA pres. Abbas on their independent efforts to reconcile with Hamas and personally to inform Abbas that Jordan has invited Damascus-based Hamas leader Khalid Mishal (barred fr. visiting Jordan since 1999) for an official visit to Amman. The king stresses that any improvement in ties with Hamas is not intended as a move against the PA or as a gesture to Jordan’s Islamist opposition. The U.S. reportedly has expressed displeasure to Jordan over the Mishal visit and hinted that U.S. aid could be cut if Jordan reconciles with Hamas. (NYT, WP 11/22; JPI 12/2)

The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border e. of al-Qarara. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers working their land nr. the border fence, forcing them to flee but causing no injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian house under construction nr. Bethlehem; patrols in Tulkarm in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron (including in al-‘Arrub r.c.), Jenin, and Qalqilya (arresting 4 Palestinian children ages 15–17). In 2 separate incidents, Jewish settlers fr. Karnei Shomron nr. Qalqilya chase off Palestinians harvesting olives nearby; the IDF intervenes both times, removing the settlers but barring the Palestinians fr. resuming the harvest. (PCHR 10/13; OCHA 10/14)

After meeting with the PLO Exec. Comm. in Ramallah, Abbas says that the 9/23 Quartet proposal for resuming talks has “encouraging elements,” but can only be viable if Israel “clearly commits” to 1967 lines with agreed swaps as the basis of talks and imposes a settlement freeze (which Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected). (WP 9/30)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, damaging an empty building; the IDF responds with 2 late-night air strikes on a Hamas training site nr. al-Maghazi r.c. in c. Gaza, causing heavy damage but no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts synchronized late-night patrols in Jenin town and r.c. and 5 nearby villages. The IDF also announces plans to confiscate 800 d. of Palestinian land in Bayt Umar for a new settler-only bypass road linking Hebron and Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Hebron uproot 50 olive trees and spray paint Stars of David on rocks on Palestinian agricultural land in nearby al-Zahiriyya village. (IDFS 9/30; PCHR 10/6; OCHA 10/7)

EU foreign policy chief Ashton extends her regional visit through at least 9/15 for more talks with Palestinian, Israeli, U.S., and Arab officials regarding the Palestinian statehood bid at the UN and a possible Quartet statement on reviving talks. (Independent, Turkish Weekly [Internet] 9/15)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes an auto parts store and a Palestinian home under construction nr. Hebron; patrols in 1 village nr. Salfit in the evening; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Gil’ad settlement stone Palestinian vehicles on the Nablus–Qalqilya road, injuring 1 Palestinian. One of 2 Palestinians who confessed to the 3/11/11 murder of a Jewish family in Itamar is sentenced to life in prison. PA police release on bail Palestinian journalist George Cantawi pending his trial in 10/2011; Cantawi was recently arrested and charged with defamation and slander for criticizing medical services in Bethlehem after PA governor of Bethlehem ‘Abd al-Fattah Hamayil filed the complaint and suit against him. (PCHR 9/15; OCHA 9/16; JPI 9/23)

Abbas tells a group of 20 left-leaning Israeli intellectuals that the Palestinians want above all to resume negotiations, stating that “no matter what happens at the [UN], we have to return to negotiations,” but also that even if there is a last-minute deal to resume talks, the UN bid will proceed. He confirms that in recent months he met 3 times secretly with Israeli pres. Shimon Peres in Amman, London, and Rome to discuss reviving talks. He also reveals that he met secretly on 8/27/11 with Israeli DM Ehud Barak, who asked him to drop the statehood bid. (NYT 9/6; WJW 9/8; OCHA 9/9)

The IDF carries out an air strike on a house in Nussayrat r.c. in c. Gaza, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian woman. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning house searches in Sirris village nr. Jenin, summoning several Palestinians for interrogation; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah (arresting Hamas-affiliate PC mbr. Muhammad Abu Tair). The IDF razes 3 buildings in Migron outpost, ordered removed by Israel’s High Court; settlers scuffle with the IDF, which arrests 6. Soon after, Jewish settlers set fire to a mosque in a nearby Palestinian village and spray graffiti saying “Migron.” In other apparent reprisals, Jewish settlers fr. Beitar Ilit nr. Bethlehem pump wastewater on agricultural lands in nearby Husan and Nahalin villages, damaging 100s of trees and crops; Jewish settlers vandalize a Palestinian home in Hebron; Jewish settlers fr. Shilo settlement set up a roadblock on the Nablus–Ramallah road and stone passing vehicles, seriously damaging 1 car and injuring 1 Palestinian; Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim settlement stone Palestinian vehicles on the Qalqilya– Nablus road, causing light damage but no injuries. In addition, Jewish settlers accompanied by IDF soldiers and border police uproot 88 trees on confiscated Palestinian land in al-Walaja nr. Bethlehem. (NYT, WP 9/6; PCHR 9/8)

In Doha, PA pres. Mahmud Abbas meets with Arab League FMs and Arab League secy.-gen. Nabil Elaraby to discuss plans to seek recognition of Palestinian statehood at the UN in 9/2011. Abbas meets on the sidelines with U.S. asst. secy. of state Jeremy Feltman. (WAFA 8/23)

The IDF carries out a late-night drone missile strike on a car nr. Rafah, assassinating the head of Islamic Jihad’s military wing Isma’il Asmar, injuring a girl nearby. Islamic Jihad responds by firing 4 Qassam rockets and several mortars into Israel, lightly wounding an Israeli infant. (Egyptian officials say that a Palestinian rocket fired fr. Rafah landed on the Egyptian side of the border, in Egyptian Rafah, injuring 1 woman.) Israel responds with 2 drone missile strikes on a suspected rocket-launching team nr. Dayr al-Balah, wounding 2 armed Palestinians. In the West Bank, IDF soldiers enter Tulkarm, randomly stopping Palestinians and checking their IDs; conduct late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Bet Ayn nr. Hebron uproot 10s of olive and plum trees on nearby Palestinian land. The Israeli High Court rejects an appeal by residents of al-Walaja who challenged the separation wall route on the grounds that it would cut off the village from Bethlehem, holding that the residents did not prove that the planned route would severely harm the village. (JP, JTA, WAFA, WP, WT 8/24; PCHR, WP 8/25; OCHA 8/26; PCHR 10/27)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border e. of Juhur al-Dik fire on a Palestinian shepherd who strays nr. the border fence, wounding her and killing 8 sheep. Israeli bulldozers working nr. the fmr. Nahal Oz crossing sever fiber-optic lines providing all mobile, landline, and Internet service to Gaza; Hamas authorities blame the IDF, but the IDF says it was not responsible. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-‘Arub r.c. and Bayt Umar. Jewish settlers escorted by the IDF enter Palestinian areas nr. Bethlehem and in Hebron to hold religious services. (Press TV [Tehran] 8/10; PCHR 8/11; OCHA 8/12)

The U.S. says it is “deeply concerned” by Israel’s 8/4 approval of 930 new settlement housing units in Har Homa/Jabal Abu Ghunaym in East Jerusalem, stating “such unilateral actions work against efforts to resume direct negotiations.” (WT 8/10)

The IDF patrols in Tulkarm at midday, randomly stopping and questioning Palestinians; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Tulkarm and late-night patrols in Bayt Sira nr. Ramallah. (PCHR 7/7, 7/14; OCHA 7/15)

The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya during the day; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Salfit, in Qalqilya, and nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Ashkalot settlement nr. Hebron raze 20 d. of Palestinian agricultural land adjacent to the settlement. (PCHR 6/16; OCHA 6/24)

After an extended delay of almost 5 months, Lebanon’s PM Najib Mikati forms a government, giving Hizballah and its allies 18 of 30 seats. (NYT, WP, WT 6/14; Carnegie Middle East Center, WT 6/15)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza shore, forcing them to return to shore. A Palestinian is fatally electrocuted in a smuggling tunnel under the Rafah border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized daytime patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin; patrols in Bil‘in in the afternoon, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem and nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police force Palestinian merchants in a market area to close their stores so right-wing Jewish groups can hold religious services. A Palestinian bystander injured when Israel assassinated Hamas leader Said Siyam on 1/15/09 during Operation Cast Lead, dies in an Israeli hospital where he had been receiving treatment since 5/2011. (PCHR 6/16; OCHA 6/24)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jericho, 3 villages nr. Qalqilya, and 2 villages nr. Ramallah during the day; in 1 instance (in Bayt Liqya nr. Ramallah), troops fire live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus beat a Palestinian shepherd grazing his flock nr. the settlement, severely injuring him. (PCHR 6/2; OCHA 6/3)

Egypt announces that as of 5/28 the Rafah crossing (closed since 1/29/11) will be open permanently, allowing Palestinians with passports to cross into Egypt from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, except for Fridays and holidays. Several high-ranking Israeli officials (including the speaker of the Knesset) attend the dedication ceremony for an apartment complex in East Jerusalem’s Ras al-Amud neighborhood as Israel’s newest Jewish settlement, Ma’ale HaZeitim. Meanwhile, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at farmers who stray nr. the fence, forcing them to flee. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. (HA, IsRN, JTA, MENA 5/25; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/26; PCHR 6/2; OCHA 6/3)

U.S. special envoy George Mitchell sends a letter to Pres. Obama stating his intention to resign. The letter is not reported publicly until 5/13. (WP 5/14)

Israel closes the Kerem Shalom crossing, citing specific security threats; carries out 4 air strikes on 1 “infiltration tunnel” on the n. Gaza border and 3 smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a late-night incursion into Awarta, raiding and searching homes, and detaining at least 70 men and women who are taken to Hawara military post to have DNA samples taken in connection with the 3/11 Itamar murders. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c., nr. Bethlehem and Hebron. (IsRN, PCHR 4/7; NYT 4/13; PCHR 4/14; OCHA 4/15)

Israeli naval vessels intercept a Palestinian fishing boat off the n. Gaza coast, escort it to Ashdod, confiscate the boat, and release the fishermen. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Jericho, Qalqilya, Salfit, and Tulkarm in the afternoon, and 1 village nr. Tulkarm late at night. From Ramallah, FCC mbr. Tawfik Tirawi calls for a “day of rage” against the 2/18 U.S. veto; protests denouncing the U.S. are held in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm. For safety, the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem restricts staff movement for 3 days. (HA, Oxfam International, WP 2/20; PCHR 2/24; OCHA 2/25)

In Libya, security forces in Benghazi open fire on some 20,000 mourners leaving funerals of antigovernment protesters killed in recent clashes, leaving at least 84 dead and scores injured and bringing the death toll in 3 days of clashes to as many as 200 dead and nearly 850 wounded in Benghazi alone. British embassy officials say they have received reports of govt. forces using heavy weapons and snipers against protesters. From this point, antigovernment demonstrations and fierce military repression escalate sharply, and opposition groups take up arms. (NYT, WP 2/20; NYT, WP, WT 2/21)

To demonstrate some accountability in light of the Palestine Papers and to give Abbas the chance to strengthen his base in advance of elections, his cabinet resigns. Abbas immediately reappoints Fayyad as PM to form a new government. (NYT, WP 2/15)

Israel’s Jerusalem municipal authority approves 120 new housing units in Ramot settlement in East Jerusalem. Israeli authorities also bulldoze 1 d. of Palestinian fruit trees in Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Timed with the swearing-in ceremony of Israel’s new IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel; coming after several days of relative calm on the Gaza border, Israel says it interprets the strike as a message fr. the Gaza factions that they will not “make life easy” for Gantz in his new position. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials in the fmr. settlement sites, wounding 1. OCHA reports that Gaza hospitals have received 2 shipments of medical supplies fr. the PA Health Min. in Ramallah in recent days (see 1/18), reducing the number of supplies at zero stock fr. 183 to 150 (out of 480 essential items tracked). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jericho, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and percussion grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them in 1 incident, causing no serious injuries; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Halamish settlement nr. Ramallah uproot 12 olive seedlings in neighboring Nabi Salih. (JP, YA 2/14; PCHR, WJW 2/17; OCHA 2/18)

Al-Jazeera and Britain’s Guardian newspaper release a set of documents written by Palestinian officials (the “Palestine Papers”) that they claim constitutes “the confidential record of 10 years of efforts to seek a peace agreement with Israel.” The more than 1,600 pages of documents dating from 1999 to 2010 are mostly from the PLO Negotiation Affairs Dept. (PLONAD) and its successor body, the Negotiations Support Unit (NSU), headed by chief negotiator Saeb Erakat, and include memos, emails, maps, minutes from private meetings, accounts of high-level exchanges, strategy papers, and Power Point presentations. The papers apparently were leaked to al-Jazeera by several PLONAD/NSU staff. Timed with the release, al-Jazeera begins a 4-night series (1/23–26) of hour-long programs to discuss the contents of the leaked material thematically: Jerusalem and settlements, refugees and right of return, PA security coordination with Israel, and the negotiations process. (AP, Globe and Mail, Guardian, JAZ, NYT, REU 1/23; BBC, Guardian, HA, MM, NYT, WP 1/24; MM, NYT, WP 1/25; MM 1/26)

In the West Bank, the IDF opens fire at a car driving quickly toward a checkpoint nr. Hebron, wounding 2 unarmed Palestinians; conducts daytime incursions into 2 villages nr. Qalqilya searching shops and questioning Palestinians; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem and Qalqilya. Israeli border police for unknown reasons enter Haris village nr. Salfit, beating several Palestinians and firing on 1 man who attempts to flee, wounding a bystander. Jewish settlers fr. Carmiel settlement nr. Hebron attack Palestinian shepherds grazing sheep nearby and 2 Italian human rights activists protecting them; the IDF intervenes to arrest the 2 Italians. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on settlement nr. Hebron attack a Palestinian family living nr. the settlement, shooting dead a sheep and a dog, attacking cattle, and threatening to shoot 2 children. (PCHR 1/27; OCHA 1/28)

Israeli naval vessels seize a Palestinian fishing boat off the Gaza coast, detaining but quickly releasing 4 fishermen. Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late in the evening, the IDF makes 2 air strikes on an IQB training site nr. Dayr al-Balah (partially damaging a building but causing no injuries) and a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border (injuring 1 Palestinian). In the West Bank, the IDF enters al-Ras village in the afternoon, arresting 3 Palestinians off the street; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolish a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanina neighborhood. (JP 1/4; AFP, JP, UPI 1/5; PCHR 1/6; OCHA 1/7)

The PFLP fires 4 mortars fr. Gaza at IDF targets just inside the Israeli border, only 1 of which lands inside Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late at night, the IDF makes 2 air strikes on empty IQB buildings in Jabaliya r.c. (causing heavy damage and injuring a Palestinian in his home nearby) and Nussayrat r.c. (injuring 1 bystander and damaging 2 nearby homes). In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Salfit. A Palestinian woman fr. the village of Bil‘in dies from severe tear gas inhalation on 12/31. (MNA, NYT, WP 1/2; HA 1/5; PCHR 1/6; OCHA 1/7)