The Palestine Chronology

Hamas officials in Gaza say that since 5/30, Egypt has returned a high number of travelers to Gaza and imposed new limitations on the number of Palestinians allowed to enter and exit via the Rafah crossing, keeping the number to between 350 and 400/day entering Egypt (up only slightly from the average 300/day in recent mos.) and effectively undoing Egypt’s “permanent opening”. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night raids into Dayr al-Ghusun village to arrest Hamas-affiliate PC mbr. ‘Abd al-Rahman Zidan, into Balata r.c. to arrest Fatah PC mbr. Yasir al-Badrasawi, and into Nablus to arrest local Hamas leader Ghassan Thougan; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem. More than 40,000 Israeli Jews march through East Jerusalem to mark Jerusalem Day, celebrating Israel’s seizure of the Arab part of the city during the 1967 war. (AFP 6/1; JP, REU 6/1; NYT, PCHR, WP 6/2; PCHR 6/9; OCHA 6/10)

The IDF conducts a major late-night operation targeting Islamic Jihad in and around Jenin, raiding and searching the homes of at least a dozen local Islamic Jihad figures (arresting all but 1) and raiding, searching, and confiscating the files of 2 charities affiliated with Islamic Jihad. The Jenin offices of the Palestine People’s Party are also searched. During the day, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian construction company building in Jinsafut nr. Qalqilya; sends undercover units in a civilian vehicle with Palestinian license plates into al-Bireh to raid and search a restaurant, arresting 4 Palestinians and seizing surveillance tapes; conducts early morning patrols in Silat alDahir nr. Jenin (photographing old houses and alleys), Iraq Burin nr. Nablus (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing youths who confront them, seriously wounding 1), and Tulkarm; conducts afternoon and evening patrols in ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya (without incident) and in Bayt Liqya and Nabi Salih (in both cases firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stonethrowing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries); conducts late-night patrols in Alar nr. Tulkarm and late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar set fire to Palestinian crops s. of Nablus; the IDF hinders Palestinian fire crews from reaching the scene. The IDF escorts 1,600 Jewish worshipers to visit Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus; some 200 Israelis who did not have authorization for the visit sneak in with the group, refuse to leave, and are forcibly removed by soldiers. (MNA 5/30; PCHR, WJW 6/2; OCHA 6/3)

At a massive rally in Istanbul commemorating the 1st anniversary of Israel’s 5/2010 attack on the aid flotilla to Gaza that killed 9 Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara, the flotilla organizers, the U.S.-based Free Gaza Movement (FGM), and the Turkish charity Humanitarian Relief Foundation (known by its Turkish acronym IHH), announce plans for at least 1,500 activists and 10 boats to set sale in late 6/2011 as part of the “Freedom Flotilla II” to break the Gaza siege. Israel denounces the effort as supporting “a designated terrorist group” (Hamas) and warns it will use force if necessary to halt the flotilla. (DPA, REU 5/30)

Obama gives a major address to the American Israel Public Affairs Comm. (AIPAC). While he restates his belief that discussion of final borders should take the 1967 lines as the starting point for negotiations, he clarifies that agreed land swaps would be necessary and would certainly result in “a border that is different than the one that existed on June 4, 1967,” stating that any controversy over his 5/19 speech was “not based on substance.” (JTA, NYT, WP, WT 5/23)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Jericho; patrols in al-Jarushiyya village nr. Tulkarm, randomly stopping cars and checking IDs; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around al-‘Arub r.c. and nr. Tulkarm; searches the home of Hamas politburo mbr. Aysha Dar Suleiman in ‘Arura village nr. Ramallah, arresting her. Jewish settlers heavily damage a Palestinian home located between the Gush Etzion and Efrat settlements nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Tafuh settlement s. of Nablus attack 3 Palestinian women traveling on the Nablus–Ramallah road. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim settlement uproot 70 olive trees fr. neighboring Kafr Qaddum village. (PCHR 5/26; OCHA 5/27)

U.S. pres. Barack Obama gives a major speech on the Middle East meant to reassess U.S. priorities in the region, particularly in light of the recent prodemocracy uprisings (the “Arab Spring”). He speaks extensively about the peace process at the close of the address (including denouncing the Palestinian statehood initiative, urging against Hamas participation in a national unity government, and endorsing the 1967 lines with agreed land swaps as the basis of border negotiations) but does not offer a new U.S. peace initiative. Netanyahu immediately denounces the reference to 1967 lines, saying they would jeopardize Israeli security. (HA, MNA, MA, NYT, WP, YA 5/19; NYT, WP, WT 5/20)

Israel’s Jerusalem planning commission approves construction of 1,600 new settlement housing units in East Jerusalem (Har Homa/Jabal Abu Ghunaym and Pisgat Ze’ev). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tulkarm, 3 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 village nr. Jenin during the day and in Jericho and Birzeit nr. Ramallah late at night; conducts arrest raids nr. Bethlehem (targeting stone-throwing youths) and Qalqilya. (WAFA, YA 5/19; PCHR 5/26; OCHA 5/27)

In an op-ed in the New York Times, PA pres. Mahmud Abbas publicly announces plans to put a resolution to the UNGA in 9/2011 calling for recognition of a Palestinian state on 1967 borders and admission of Palestine as a full member of the UN. (NYT 5/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols, arrest raids, and house searches in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers raid a school and beat students in their classrooms. (PCHR 5/19; OCHA 5/20)

At the close of 2 days of extensive talks in Cairo, Fatah and Hamas agree on a mechanism to implement their unity deal. No details are released. (MENA, WP 5/18)

As the quarter opens, Israel maintains a tight siege on Gaza, aimed at unseating the governing Hamas authority. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) enforces a 300-meter no-go zone inside the full length of the Gaza border and limits the Palestinian fishing zone off Gaza to 500–1,000 m off Bayt Lahiya and Rafah and 3 naut. mi. elsewhere. In the West Bank, governed by the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA), IDF operations and restrictions on Palestinian movement are relatively low. Today, the IDF patrols in Far‘un village nr. Tulkarm in the evening, firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, causing no serious injuries; patrols in Jit village nr. Qalqilya late at night. (PCHR 5/19; OCHA 5/20)

In Cairo, Hamas and Fatah open their first round of talks on implementing their 5/4/11 national reconciliation agreement that would reunite West Bank and Gaza institutions and prepare for new elections. (REU 5/16)

In a speech to the Knesset before leaving for the U.S., Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu lays out his conditions for accepting a Palestinian state, but still does not go far enough to satisfy minimum Palestinian demands, stating that “the root of the conflict is not the absence of a Palestinian state,” but rather “the refusal to recognize a Jewish state.” (HA 5/16; NYT, WT 5/17; WP 5/18; JPI 5/27)

Italy upgrades the status of the Palestinian representation in Rome from a delegation to a full diplomatic mission. (HA 5/16)

On the anniversary of the Nakba, 1,000s of Palestinians fr. the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria stage marches (mostly nonviolent, though some stone throwing) toward the Israeli border. In Lebanon, though troops, riot police, and UNIFIL soldiers deploy to prevent marchers fr. reaching the border, a large group succeeds in reaching the border fence nr. Hizballah-controlled Maroun al-Ras village, where they throw stones at IDF troops. IDF troops open fire into Lebanon, leaving 10 Palestinians dead and at least 112 wounded. Palestinians refugees marching fr. Syria knock down the border fence into the Golan Heights, enter the Druze village of Majdal Shams, and rally in the village square, erecting Palestinian flags. IDF troops open fire to drive them back across the border, killing 4 Palestinians and wounding around 200. On the border with Jordan, Jordanian troops fired tear gas and scuffle with some 800 Palestinians, preventing them fr. reaching the border, leaving 14 demonstrators and 3 police officers lightly injured. In Egypt, govt. forces reinforce their border, preventing some 250 Palestinians fr. marching to the Rafah crossing. In Cairo, riot police fire tear gas, disperse protesters converging on the Israeli embassy, injuring around 120. On the Gaza border, IDF troops fire live ammunition and artillery at Gazans marching toward the border, wounding at least 125. In the West Bank, IDF troops fire tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse around 1,000 stone-throwing Palestinians marching toward the Qalandia crossing (injuring 10s) and violently beat scores of Palestinians marching fr. Palestinian-controlled area A toward Israeli security-controlled area B in Hebron (injuring 10s). A large peaceful rally commemorating the Nakba is held in Ramallah. Numerous smaller and protests clashes are also reported in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; rights groups say some 185 Palestinians have been injured in these clashes over the past 3 days, 153 of them in Jerusalem. Netanyahu accuses the demonstrators of “incitement” and challenging “the very existence of Israel.” Other Israeli officials accuse Iran and Syria of instigating the Palestinians, noting that Syrian security did nothing to prevent Palestinians fr. approaching the border. (DS, IFM, IsRN, JAZ, JP, MA, YA 5/15; Christian Science Monitor, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/16)

Unrelated to the “March to Palestine,” IDF troops fired across the border into Gaza, killing a Palestinian who allegedly was planting an explosive device. Inside Israel, an Israeli Palestinian drives his truck into several cars, a bus, and pedestrians in Tel Aviv, killing 1 Israeli and injuring 17 in what Israeli police say was a deliberate terrorist attack; the driver, who is arrested, strongly denies deliberately harming anyone, saying he lost control of his vehicle when a tire blew. The IDF also patrols in 2 village nr. Qalqilya (arresting 1 Palestinian teenager for throwing stones) and 2 nr. Tulkarm; sends undercover units into Nur al-Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm late at night, surrounding and raiding a house and arresting 1 Palestinian; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around al-‘Arub r.c. and Hebron, and nr. Salfit. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron throw 4 Molotov cocktails at a nearby Palestinian home, causing minor damage. Israel resumes transferring VAT taxes to the PA (see 5/1), having received PA assurances that none of the money would be accessible to Hamas under the new Fatah-Hamas unity deal, but warning that it would reconsider suspending transfers if Hamas was allowed to join a PA govt. (NYT 5/16; PCHR 5/19; OCHA 5/20)

At quarter’s end, fierce fighting is ongoing in Libya and NATO intervention continues. Rebel-held areas increasingly report shortages of food and medical supplies. No reliable figures on casualties are available since independent media access and communications are extremely difficult. Deaths are thought to be well into the 1,000s and perhaps as high as 10,000. (WP 5/16; REU 6/9)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tulkarm and several nearby villages repeatedly during the day; patrols in a major show of force in Nabi Salih late at night, firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades in the streets to harass residents and temporarily occupying the local council headquarters as an observation post. Palestinians and international activists demonstrate in Bayt Umar against settlement expansion; the IDF fires stun grenades and beats several demonstrators, injuring 4 Palestinians (including 1 child). In Gaza City, Hamas authorities break up a demonstration by 10s of Salafists protesting the U.S. assassination of Osama Bin Laden. (WP 5/8; OCHA, PCHR 5/12)

In Syria, troops and tanks surround, cut off, and raid Baniyas and Zabadani village outside Damascus. (NYT, WP 5/8)

Fatah/PA head Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mishal formally sign their national unity deal in Cairo. (MNA, YA 5/4; NYT, WP 5/5; MNA 5/11; OCHA, PCHR 5/12)

In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into ‘Araba village nr. Jenin, surrounding a home and arresting a wanted Palestinian; makes a late-night incursion into Siris village nr. Jenin, surrounding a home, firing percussion grenades, ordering all men to leave the house, checking their IDs, and arresting 1; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun, Bayt Liqya, and Tubas. A Hamas mbr. dies in a Cairo hospital of injuries received during IDF shelling of Rafah on 4/8. Hamas authorities in Gaza execute a Palestinian convicted of collaborating with Israel and sentenced to death in 10/2009. (PCHR 5/5)

In Cairo, reps. of 15 small Palestinian factions initial the national unity deal agreed by Fatah and Hamas on 4/27. Fatah and Hamas plan to sign the text on 5/4. (WP, WT 5/4)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers illegally enter Nablus to pray at Joseph’s Tomb and refuse to leave, barricading themselves inside the tomb and sparking stone-throwing clashes with Palestinians. The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, arresting Hamas-affiliated fmr. PC mbr. Issa alJabari. Palestinians report the arson of a mosque in Hawara nr. Nablus, blaming Jewish settlers. OCHA reports that since 4/27, 3 Gazan children have been injured when they accidentally triggered unexploded IDF ordnance (UXO). (WP 5/4; PCHR, WJW 5/5; OCHA 5/6)

Israel delays the monthly transfer of VAT taxes it collects on behalf of the PA ($90 m.), saying it fears the money will go to Hamas now that Abbas has agreed to form a temporary unity govt. The IDF makes an incursion into Izbat al-Tabib village nr. Qalqilya to bulldoze and fence off a plot of land; beats and disperses residents and international activists who confront them, moderately injuring 1 Palestinian woman and arresting 5 international activists. The IDF also patrols in 5 villages nr. Qalqilya, 2 nr. Jenin (firing stun grenades in 1 village), and 1 nr. Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Jericho, Qalqilya. (NYT, WP 5/1; PCHR 5/5; OCHA 5/6)

Fatah and Hamas officials announce an (unsigned) reconciliation agreement, pledging to form a transitional national unity govt. made up of independent technocrats chosen by consensus that would prioritize planning for legislative and presidential elections within a year (including agreeing on new mbrs. for the Central Elections Commission), rebuilding Gaza, and reunifying West Bank and Gaza institutions. Netanyahu denounces the agreement, saying the PA “must choose between peace with Israel or peace with Hamas.” The PA replies that “Netanyahu must choose between a just peace with the united Palestinian people . . . and settlements.” (IFM, REU 4/27; NYT, WP, WT 4/28; NYT 4/29)

The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level lands and clear lines of sight e. of Dayr al-Balah. In Egypt’s Sinai, a new explosion damages the recently repaired natural gas pipeline to Israel and Jordan, cutting supplies once again. (NYT, PCHR 4/28; OCHA 5/6)

In Gaza, Hamas authorities surround a house in Nussayrat r.c. and trade gunfire with suspects in the 4/15 Arrigoni murder inside the house, leaving 3 Hamas policemen wounded; 1 suspect (a Jordanian) then detonates a grenade inside the house to prevent his partners (both Gazans) fr. being taken alive, killing 1 Palestinian and wounding 1, before fatally shooting himself. Another Palestinian detained by Hamas authorities on 4/15 as a suspect in the Arrigoni murder dies in police custody. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized evening patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Givat Arousa outpost nr. Nablus vandalize nearby Palestinian homes; then stone-throwing Palestinians confront them, 1 settler opens fire, wounding 1 Palestinian; the IDF then intervenes, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades and beating Palestinians, lightly injuring 2 Palestinians and seriously beating 2 Palestinian journalists who arrive to cover the clash. (NYT, WT 4/20; PCHR 4/21; OCHA 4/29)

Israel imposes a closure on the West Bank through 4/26 for the Passover holiday. Israeli police announced that after nearly 2 wks. in detention, 2 Palestinian teenagers fr. Awarta village have confessed to the 3/11 Itamar murders, adding that the teens had connections to the PFLP but it was unclear if the PFLP was involved in the attack. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at farmers working their land nr. the border fence, forcing them to leave; no injuries are reported. The Israeli teenager injured in the 4/7 missile strike on an Israeli school bus dies. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at 10s of Palestinians demonstrating nr. Ramallah to mark Prisoners Day, injuring 1 Palestinian and arresting 1; patrols in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm, 2 nr. Qalqilya, and 1 nr. Jenin during the day; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Palestinian youths who have stayed in Ramallah’s Manara Square since 3/15 end their hunger strike for Palestinian reconciliation after being informed that the PA has released 11 Hamas political prisoners and issued an official order to “end media incitement” against Hamas. (NYT, WP 4/18; PCHR 4/21; OCHA 4/29)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza shore, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts separate synchronized patrols in 3 villages s. of Jenin, 2 nr. Salfit, and 2 nr. Tulkarm in the morning; raids a home in Hebron in the afternoon, arresting a Palestinian teenager for stoning an IDF patrol earlier in the day; conducts evening patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya and Tulkarm. Hamas authorities in Gaza arrest another 5 Palestinians in connection with the 4/15 Arrigoni murder. (PCHR 4/21; OCHA 4/29)

Early in the morning, Hamas authorities in Gaza storm a house in Gaza City where they believe Italian peace activist Vittorio Arrigoni is being held by Tawhid and Jihad, only to find that he had already been hung; 5 suspects are arrested in the raid. During the day, Palestinians fire 2 Grad rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Hamas sends a message to Israel stating that it is doing everything possible to prevent rocket fire. The IDF makes 2 latenight air strikes on empty Hamas training sites in Gaza City and Shati’ r.c., causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah; makes a latenight raid into Bayt Umar, harassing and beating the family of an organizer of the weekly demonstrations against the separation wall for 2 hrs. before leaving; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and nr. Qalqilya. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 2 Palestinians (including a child). (IsRN, NYT 4/15; JP, NYT, WP 4/16; PCHR 4/21; OCHA 4/29)

In Gaza, the radical Salafist group Tawhid and Jihad issues a statement saying it has kidnapped an Italian national in Gaza and will kill him by 5:00 p.m. local time on 4/15 if Hamas authorities do not release its imprisoned leaders (Hisham Saidani and Shaykh Abu Wali al-Makdisi, arrested in 3/2011), other supporters, and “global jihadists.” A Palestinian wounded by IDF shelling in Gaza on 4/8 dies of his injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Jericho and Ramallah in the morning and 4 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 nr. Nablus, and 1 nr. Tulkarm late at night. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus attack Palestinian farmers working their land nearby; when the Palestinians throw stones at the settlers, the IDF intervenes, firing tear gas at the Palestinians to disperse them. (NYT 4/15; PCHR 4/21; OCHA 4/29)

Overnight and during the day, Palestinians fire another 65 projectiles fr. Gaza into Israel, including at least 15 Grads (5 of which are intercepted by the Iron Dome system), damaging 1 house and a water main, but causing no injuries. The IDF carries out 4 more air strikes (3 dropped fr. warplanes, 1 drone strike), killing at least 1 senior Hamas mbr. and 1 PRC mbr., and wounding 3 militants (1 Hamas, 2 PRC). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Qalqilya and Tulkarm during the day and 1 nr. Ramallah late at night; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem. In 2 separate incidents Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar nr. Nablus vandalize Palestinian homes and stone a Palestinian woman in nearby Asira village, and stone laborers and vandalize cars in nearby ‘Urif village. (JP 4/9; HA, IFM, IsRN, NYT 4/10; PCHR 4/14; OCHA 4/15)

The IDF continues heavy air strikes (including 1 missile dropped fr. a war plane and 13 missiles fired fr. helicopters and drones) and artillery attacks (more than a dozen) hitting at least 19 targets across Gaza, killing another 11 Palestinians (5 civilians and 6 militants), wounding 20 (19 civilians and 1 militant), and damaging a commercial building and several homes. Israeli DM Barak stresses that the assaults are in response to the bus attack on 4/7 and not the start of a major offensive. Palestinians fire another 24 mortars and 6 rockets, causing damage in 2 incidents but no injuries. Various factions claim responsibility for firing, including the AMB, DFLP, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the PRCs. Israel’s new Iron Dome system intercepts 3 of the rockets. In addition, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fired warning shots at Palestinian farmers nr. the border fence, forcing them to flee. Israeli naval vessels fired toward the Gaza City beach and at Palestinian fishermen off the coast w. of Nussayrat r.c., causing no injuries. With the past 24 hrs. marking the worst flare-up in crossborder violence since OCL, UN Secy.-Gen. Ban calls on both sides to observe a ceasefire immediately. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jericho and 2 villages nr. Ramallah (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries); conducts morning arrest raids, house searches nr. Jericho. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih/Dayr Nizam. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no serious injuries; 5 Palestinians are arrested. (IsRN, JP, MNA 4/8; JP, MNA, NYT, WP 4/9; IFM 4/10; PCHR 4/14; OCHA 4/15)

In retaliation for a 4/1 air strike that killed 3 senior Hamas mbrs., Hamas militants fire an advanced Russian-made laser-guided Kornet antitank missile fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting a school bus and wounding the bus driver and 1 student and marking a serious escalation of crossborder violence. During the rest of the day, Palestinians fire around 45 rockets and mortars into Israel, damaging 1 house but causing no injuries; the barrage includes 2 Grad rockets that were intercepted by Israel’s new Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF retaliates with heavy artillery fire (10s of rounds fired) and more than 20 air strikes (including missiles dropped fr. war planes and fired fr. helicopters and drones) against at least 16 targets across the Gaza Strip, killing 5 Palestinians (1 Hamas mbr. and 4 civilians) and wounding 20 (at least 19 civilians), and collaterally damaging 10s of homes. In the West Bank, the IDF bulldozes 3 roads, 10 electricity poles, 2 walls surrounding a home, and part of a room of a house nr. Tubas; patrols in and around Tulkarm town and r.c., in al-Bireh, and in 3 villages nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries); conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon. (IsRN, JP 4/7; NYT, WP 4/8; IFM 4/9, 4/10; HA 4/11; PCHR 4/14; OCHA 4/15)

After 4 days of violent protests in Yemen (at least 12 dead, more than 270 injured), the GCC begins efforts to broker a deal for Saleh’s rapid transition fr. power. (NYT 4/8; see also NYT, WP 4/4; NYT, WP, WT 4/5–6)

In the morning, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fatally shoot 1 Palestinian who approaches the border fence for unclear reasons; there are no reports he was armed and no faction claims him as a mbr. During the day, Hamas convenes Gaza factions to urge them to reimpose a ceasefire. Late in the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds with air strikes on 2 “infiltration tunnels” on the n. Gaza border, lightly to moderately injuring 4 Palestinian bystanders and damaging a recycling center, a construction company, and 11 homes. In the West Bank, the IDF enters Jenin in the afternoon to search the theater run by Mer-Khamis (killed on 4/4) and question locals about his murder. The IDF also patrols in 4 villages nr. Jenin, 3 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 nr. Ramallah (firing tear gas at stone-throwing youths who confront them), and 1 nr. Tulkarm. The PASF says it has arrested a fmr. al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (AMB) mbr. for suspected involvement in the Mer-Khamis killing. (AFP, JP, XIN 4/5; IsRN 4/6; PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

Israeli pres. Shimon Peres arrives in Washington for a 3-day visit. He meets today with Secy. of State Clinton; no details are released. (WJW 4/7)

Israel’s Jerusalem planning comm. gives preliminary approval for 942 new settlement housing units in Gilo and the Israeli DMin. announces that it has finished new zoning plans for several West Bank Jewish settlements, retroactively legalizing construction already underway. The State Dept. expresses “deep concern,” stating that the “Israeli settlements [are] illegitimate” and “Israel’s actions run counter to efforts to resume direct negotiations.” Israel charges Gazan engineer Abu Sisi (see 3/10) with developing rockets for Hamas and establishing a “military academy” in Gaza to train Hamas commanders. Hamas and Abu Sisi deny the charges. In Jenin r.c., unidentified assailants fatally shoot Israeli actor Juliano Mer-Khamis (half Jewish and half Palestinian) who runs a theater troop for Palestinian children in the camp (see Quarterly Update for details). Meanwhile, the IDF patrols in ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. nr. Jericho in the morning and in 4 villages nr. Jenin and Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Awarta (possibly in connection with the 3/11 Itamar murders). Jewish settlers fr. Taffuh settlement attempt to fence off a nearby plot of Palestinian land; the PA district liaison intervenes with the IDF, which removes the settlers but leaves the fencing marking off the land in place. (AFP, HA, MNA, YA 4/4; NYT, WP, WT 4/5; WP 4/6; NYT, PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

In Gaza City, 1,000s of Palestinians turn out for the funerals of the 3 senior Hamas mbrs. killed on 4/1. The Popular Resistance Comms. (PRCs) announce they will no longer observe the cease-fire toward Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in al-Bireh and in 4 villages nr. Salfit (raiding 1 home and ordering a resident to appear for questioning), 2 nr. Tulkarm (randomly stopping 1 Palestinian on the street and detaining him briefly for questioning), 1 nr. Qalqilya. (NYT 4/3; PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

Israel makes an air strike on a car in Gaza City, assassinating 3 senior Hamas mbrs. (Muhammad Mahdi al-Dayah, Abdullah Lobbad, and Isma‘il Lobbad) and injuring 1 bystander. Israel claims the Hamas mbrs. were plotting to kidnap Israelis in Israel and Egypt during Passover later in 4/2011; Hamas denies that it operates outside the borders of historic Palestine but says the 3 were senior weapons developers. The DFLP says it will no longer observe a cease-fire toward Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night searches in Qalqilya, summoning 1 Palestinian for questioning. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no serious injuries; 3 Palestinians (including 2 children) are arrested. Jewish settlers fr. Beit Hadassah settlement in Hebron set fire to the awnings of several Palestinian stores. (NYT 4/2, 4/3; JTA 4/4; PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

In a Washington Post op-ed online (in print on 4/3), South African judge Richard Goldstone, head of the UN committee that investigated possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during OCL, says that “if I had known then what I know now,” he would have concluded that Gazan “civilians were not intentionally targeted as a matter of [Israeli] policy” and would have given more weight to crimes perpetrated by Hamas. (WP 4/1; IFM, NYT, WP 4/3; NYT 4/6; JTA, NYT, YA 4/7; NYT, 4/20)

Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in and around Tulkarm and in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya in the morning; enters the PA-controlled area of Hebron to search the home of and arrest Hamas-affiliated PC mbr. Muhammad Mahir Badr. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron vandalize several Palestinian stores and moderately beat 1 Palestinian. (IsRN 3/31; PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

An IDF drone makes an air strike on a motorcycle in Rafah, assassinating Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Abu Mu‘ammar and seriously wounding Islamic Jihad’s ‘Abdullah al-Ghalban; Israel alleges the men were responsible for the 3/29 rocket fire toward Israel. The IDF also makes a brief incursion into n. Gaza nr. Bayt Lahiya, firing warning shots at farmers to force them to leave the area, then leveling land to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Umar (first blocking off all entrances to the village), Dahaysha r.c., and Hebron. Hamas authorities in Gaza break up a small national unity rally. (JP 3/30; NYT, PCHR 3/31; PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

Netanyahu warns Hamas that Israel will retaliate if rocket and mortar fire fr. Gaza resumes. Though no rocket or mortar fire is reported during the day, the IDF makes a late-night air strike on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Tulkarm during the day and 1 nr. Jericho late at night; raids 2 villages nr Qalqilya late in the evening, searching homes for Palestinian youths who allegedly threw stones at troops earlier in the day, arresting 1 teenager. (WT 3/29; PCHR 3/31; OCHA 4/1)

The Knesset passes (37-11, with 72 abstaining or not voting) into law the “Citizenship Loyalty Law” which allows the court to revoke the citizenship status of anyone found guilty of treason, espionage, terrorism, or assisting a terrorist organization. The law is widely seen as being aimed at Israeli Palestinians. Knesset also votes to strip former Israeli Arab MK Azmi Bishara of his parliamentary benefits, including his pension. (Israel National News 3/29; JTA 3/30; JPI 4/8)

Early in the morning Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Later in the day, Hamas announces it has secured the agreement of other factions to renew observance of a cease-fire against Israel except in cases in which Israeli forces initiate aggression or cross into Gaza. In the evening, however, unidentified Palestinians fire a 3d rocket that lands harmlessly in Israel, but raises questions over whether the cease-fire is secure. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Qalqilya and 1 nr. Ramallah. Palestinians, with Israeli and international activists, conduct a nonviolent march through Bayt Umar to protest recent IDF raids on the town; the IDF fires tear gas and stun grenades at them, causing no serious injuries; 1 Palestinian, 1 Israeli, and 1 international activist are arrested. (AFP, IsRN, JP 3/26; NYT 3/27; PCHR 3/31; OCHA 4/1)

Abbas holds talks with 7 West Bank Hamas officials in Ramallah, proposing creation of a temporary unity govt. with the sole mandate of organizing legislative and presidential elections within 6 mos., after which the 1st priority would be to rebuild Gaza. The meeting marks the 1st of a series of Fatah-Hamas reconciliation talks that take place over the next month in the West Bank, Gaza, Egypt, and Syria. (MNA, NYT, WP 3/27)

Palestinians fire at least 7 mortars, 6 homemade Qassam rockets, and 2 manufactured Grad rockets fr. Gaza into Israel during the day, causing no injuries. Israel retaliates with several air strikes and tank fire on Hamas buildings and a launching site, lightly injuring 3 Palestinians. The largest strike (4 missiles) targets the fmr. PA General Intelligence building outside of Jabaliya in the evening, heavily damaging the building and collaterally damaging 30 homes, 4 businesses, and 2 schools. Sources say that Hamas seems to have stepped back fr. rocket and mortar fire since its large barrage on 3/19, with most fire now coming fr. Islamic Jihad and other groups. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 3 wells nr. Bethlehem (all more than 100 yrs. old); bulldozes a Palestinian road nr. Salfit for the 2d time in 3 mos. (Jewish settlers seek to annex the waterrich area to the Yakir and Revava settlements; Palestinian residents paved the road to claim ownership and repaved it after the IDF bulldozed the 1st time); patrols in 4 village nr. Qalqilya, 4 nr. Ramallah, and 2 each nr. Jenin (where troops fire tear gas at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no injuries) and Jericho, as well as searching 2 open areas nr. Tulkarm. (HA, IsRN, JP, JTA 3/24; NYT, WP, WT 3/25; PCHR 3/31; OCHA 4/1)

By this date, allied air strikes on Libya have reportedly “all but destroyed” the Libyan air force and air defenses and the focus has shifted to targeting Qaddafi’s ground forces. At this stage, NATO takes the lead fr. the U.S. in enforcing the no-fly zone. The intervention is not enough to give Libyan rebels the upper hand, however; fierce fighting continues nationwide through the end of the quarter. (NYT 3/24, 3/25)

In Yemen, Pres. Saleh, responding to growing pressure (see 3/18), reins in the military and states that he would step down if he could arrange “an honorable transfer of power” that would keep the govt. in “safe hands.” Over next 2 wks., Saleh and the opposition hold talks but cannot reach an agreement. Meanwhile, protests continue (mostly nonviolent, ranging in size fr. the 1,000s to around 100,000). (NYT, WP, WT 3/25; NYT, WP 3/26–27; WP 3/28, 3/29; NYT 3/29; NYT, WP 3/31–4/1;NYT 4/3)

In response to recent rocket and mortar strikes, Israel makes at least 10 air strikes (war planes and drones) on Hamas targets across Gaza (including a training camp, several factories, a mechanic’s garage, and a home), injuring at least 7 Palestinians (including 1 Hamas-affiliated police officer and 6 civilians, including 2 children) and collaterally damaging 10s of homes, 7 shops, and 2 cars; in at least 1 instance, Israeli intelligence officers phone a targeted house before a drone missile strike. Late in the evening, Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF for a 2d time (see 3/16) storms an al-Wataniya cell phone tower nr. Jenin, searching the area but making no arrests; patrols in al-Bireh, Jericho, Qalqilya and 3 nearby villages, 3 villages nr. Salfit (summoning 1 Palestinian for questioning). Jewish settlers stab 1 Palestinian and shoot 2 others in 2 separate, nonfatal incidents nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Harsina settlement nr. Hebron stone nearby Palestinian homes and cars, lightly injuring 1 Palestinian girl. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza hold their 7th straight day of demonstrations calling for national reconciliation. (IsRN, WP 3/22; PCHR 3/24; OCHA 4/1)