The Palestine Chronology

Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosts Egyptian pres. Mohamed Morsi and Hamas chief Khalid Mishal at a conference of his ruling party. Erdogan, Morsi, and Mishal express their support for the Palestinian and Syrian people in their respective struggles against Israel and the Asad regime. (AP, YA 9/30)

Qatar announces the opening of a diplomatic office in the Gaza Strip intended to oversee aid projects funded by the Qatari government. (AP 9/30)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers fr. Daniel settlement establish caravans on the land of al-Khadir village, nr. Bethlehem. The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; conducts arrest raids and house searches in 1 village nr. Qalqilya. (PCHR 10/4)

Israel’s FM Avigdor Lieberman says that while it was not possible to stop the UNGA voting in favor of the PA’s bid for recognition as a non-member observer state, the Israeli government would ‘‘exact a price’’ from Abbas in response. (HA 9/29)

Israel’s planning comm. approves establishment of a new Jewish community in the n. Negev in place of the Bedouin village Umm al-Hieran, whose roughly 500 residents will be forcibly relocated. (YA 9/29)

Israel releases 2 Hamas-affiliated mbrs. of the Palestinian Council after 15 mos. in administrative detention. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Jericho in the afternoon, and in 1 village nr. Jenin at night. Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists protest land confiscation nr. Karme Tzur settlement nr. Hebron. (MNA 9/29; IMEMC 9/30; PCHR 10/4)

PLO Executive Comm. mbr. Hanan Ashrawi said that a UNGA vote on Palestinian statehood would likely be held on 11/29/12, the 65th anniversary of the UN partition plan for Palestine, and not postponed until next year’s session. Israeli vice premier Moshe Ya’alon described Abbas’s speech at the UN as proof that the Palestinian leader has no intention of making peace with Israel. (JP 9/28)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire on 2 Palestinian fishermen tending their nets on the beach nr. the fence, killing 1 and wounding 1. It is the 1st fisherman fatality recorded since 9/2010. In the West Bank, Palestinians, along with Israeli and international activists, hold weekly nonviolent protests against Israeli land confiscation and settlement expansion in Bil‘in nr. Ramallah and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and are attacked by IDF soldiers with tear gas. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night; conducts arrest raids and house searches in 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night. (IMEMC 9/28; PCHR 10/4; OCHA 10/5)

Jordan names diplomat Walid Obeidat as the new ambassador to Israel, a position vacant since 2010, when the previous ambassador was not replaced once his term expired. (AFP 9/28; BBC 10/9)

PA pres. Mahmud Abbas addresses the UNGA in New York, announcing as expected that his government will seek non-member observer state status for Palestine (see Doc. B4 in JPS 166). Abbas also refers to current Israeli policies as ‘‘ethnic cleansing,’’ singling out settlement construction and home demolition for particular criticism. Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) criticize the speech for not offering anything new, but Fatah praises it as ‘‘historic.’’ Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also addresses the assembly, notably literally drawing a ‘‘red line’’ on a cartoon of a bomb to illustrate his claim that Iran would be capable of making a nuclear weapon within a year. In contrast, U.S. officials play down the notion that Iran is on the brink of achieving a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Iran is making progress in building a research reactor capable of potential weapon material, and Israeli media describe the Netanyahu government as urging the EU to impose further sanctions on Iran in light of the economic damage achieved by sanctions to date. (AP, HA, MNA, REU, ToI 9/27)

Israel approves a proposal to allow 5,000 additional entry permits for Palestinian construction and agricultural workers, bringing the total number of work permits issued by Israel to West Bank Palestinians to over 45,000. Israel also allows, for the 1st time since 2007, 3 truckloads of furniture to be exported from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, destined for PA-run schools. This marks the 3d time in 2012 that Israel permitted the passage of goods from Gaza to the West Bank. Meanwhile Egypt informed Palestinian officials of their intention to ease travel through the Rafah crossing over coming days. (JP, MNA 9/27)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers fr. Beitar Ilit settlement nr. Bethlehem dump sewage water on agriculture lands in the Fukin valley. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Burin village s. of Nablus cut down over 60 olive trees. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning; patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the afternoon; patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 village nr. Tulkarm (firing sound bombs), and 1 village nr. Hebron at night; conducts a house raid and summons in Qalqilya in the morning and house raids in 1 village nr. Hebron at night (beating 2 residents, arresting another 2, and firing tear-gas canisters at homes) at night. (PCHR 10/4)

U.S. and Lebanese government officials allege that Hizballah has sent military advisers to help the Asad government in Syria. UNRWA estimates that the total number of refugees fleeing Syria will reach 700,000 by the end of 2012. (REU, WP 9/27)

Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries, in the morning. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Balata r.c. and Nablus at night. Jewish settlers assault a Palestinian farmer nr. Jerusalem, causing multiple injuries. The farmer had gone to check his land after reports that settlers had cut down 150 olive trees. (MNA, PCHR 9/27; PCHR 10/4)

An Israeli court hands former PM Ehud Olmert a suspended jail term and a $20,000 fine, sparing him a potential prison sentence for his conviction for cronyism in 7/2012. (REU 9/24)

Israel announces a general closure of the West Bank and Gaza Strip for 48 hrs. during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries, in the morning; the IDF levels ground nr. al-Bureij r.c., and live fire injures 1 Palestinian man. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Qalqilya, and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron at night. (MNA 9/24; PCHR 9/27)

Egyptian pres. Mohamed Morsi tells the U.S. media that Egypt’s peace deal with Israel depends on the Jewish state’s policies toward the Palestinians and that the U.S. government needs to help create a Palestinian state to reduce anger in the region. (REU 9/23)

The PA says that in a village nr. Nablus, its security forces discovered an underground bunker used by Hamas mbrs. that contained communications equipment. (MNA 9/23)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols in 3 villages nr. Salfit, 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, and 1 village nr. Hebron at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 3 villages nr. Hebron. (PCHR 9/27)

Hamas says that PA security forces have arrested or summoned for questioning 120 party mbrs. across the West Bank over the last few days. (MNA 9/22)

Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Gaza City in the morning, damaging a boat but causing no injuries; attack fishermen in locations nr. Gaza City and Bayt Lahiya in the afternoon, damaging boats but causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the morning, and in 1 village nr. Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya. (PCHR 9/27)

Three unidentified gunmen enter Israel from the Egyptian Sinai nr. Mount Harif, where Israel’s new border fence is currently under construction. They are killed in an exchange of gunfire with IDF soldiers that also leaves 1 IDF soldier dead. (HA, MNA, REU 9/21)

Palestinian protesters angered at the EU’s policies toward Israel and Palestine demonstrate under the banner of ‘‘Palestinians for Dignity’’ outside the Ramallah offices of the European mission training Palestinian police. (MNA 9/21)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village in Ramallah in the morning; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron in the morning; patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; patrols in Hebron, 1 village nr. Jenin, and 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron, 2 villages nr. Hebron, and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. (PCHR 9/27)

Israel’s opposition leader MK Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) says that Israel will not attack Iranian nuclear sites this year and that the U.S. must take the lead in any attack on Iran. (MNA 9/21)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 village nr. Jenin, and 2 villages nr. Tulkarm (firing tear gas in 1 of them at stonethrowing Palestinians). (MNA 9/20; PCHR 9/27)

Freedom Theater director Zakaria Zubeidi suspends a hunger strike after the PA agrees to release him within days. (MNA 9/20)

PLO officials in Yarmuk r.c., an unofficial Palestinian r.c. outside Damascus, report that Syrian government forces have killed at least 18 Palestinians in recent fighting in the area. (MNA 9/20)

The IDF makes an air strike on a car traveling in Rafah, assassinating 2 mbrs. of the al-Aqsa Guards Group, which is closely affiliated with Hamas, and wounding a 3d. Israel alleges that the men were responsible for smuggling explosives into Gaza through the Rafah tunnels and plotting attacks on Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF confiscates 60 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of land in Wadi Fukin village nr. Bethlehem; patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, 1 village nr. Hebron, and ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. (MNA 9/19; MNA, PCHR, REU 9/20; PCHR 9/27)

Hamas and a Palestinian rights groups say that the PA security forces have detained dozens of Hamas mbrs. across the West Bank, including 5 Hamas mbrs. in Nablus. (MNA 9/19)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron and in al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron (firing tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinians, injuring 1). (PCHR 9/20)

A Gaza court convicts several Palestinians identified as mbrs. of the Hamas security forces working for a Salafist group of the 2011 killing of Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni (see QU in JPS 160). (MNA 9/17)

A PA court in Jericho extends the detention of Freedom Theater director and former AMB commander Zakaria Zubeidi by 19 days. In response, Zubeidi renews his hunger strike, which he had previously relaxed. (MNA 9/17)

Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. Jewish settlers assault 3 Palestinian farmers in a village nr. Nablus. (MNA 9/18; PCHR 9/20)

Israeli naval vessels open fire at Palestinian fishermen nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, and in 1 village nr. Jericho, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 village nr. Hebron at night. (PCHR 9/20)

In Nablus, 100s of Palestinians protest against the PA’s economic policies in a trade union–organized demonstration. (MNA 9/15)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Jenin at night. Jewish settlers attack a Palestinian man in a village nr. Nablus. (MNA 9/17; PCHR 9/20)

The Israeli newspaper Ha’Aretz reports that the Israeli government is seeking court approval for the construction of settlement homes on privately owned Palestinian land, a development relevant to 44 settlements that were recently revealed to have been erected entirely or partially on private Palestinian land. (HA 9/14)

An Israeli court rules in favor of Jewish settlers laying claim to a Palestinian home in Hebron, saying it had been legally purchased. (HA 9/14)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF arrests a Palestinian child trying to cross the border fence nr. al-Bureij r.c. in the morning. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the morning. (PCHR 9/20)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning and in 2 villages nr. Hebron at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Nablus and 1 village nr. Hebron. Suspected Jewish settlers vandalize a mosque in a village nr. Hebron and try to set cars on fire. (MNA, ToI 9/12; PCHR 9/13, 9/20)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu orders the transfer of $60 million in VAT taxes collected on behalf of the PA, citing the PA’s current economic crisis and protests in the West Bank. (ToI 9/12)

Palestinian protesters march in Ramallah, calling for the end of the Paris Protocol and against the Oslo accords, in a continuation of the show of anger against rising living costs in the West Bank. PA PM Salam Fayyad announces an emergency economic package, including cancelling recent price rises for fuel and cooking gas and a VAT cut. A senior Palestinian trade union official describes the measures as insufficient. Fayyad also calls on donor countries to increase aid to the PA. (Guardian, MNA 9/11)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF levels land by the border fence nr. al-Bureij r.c. and Dayr al-Balah in the morning; opens fire from border positions nr. Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries, at night. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jenin, 2 villages nr. Jenin, and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Ramallah, 1 village nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night. (PCHR 9/13)

Palestinian economic protests continue in the West Bank, with a public transport strike and demonstrations in a number of cities. In Hebron, protesters throw stones at a police station, and Palestinian riot police fire tear gas. (MNA 9/10)

Freedom Theater director and former al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (AMB) commander Zakaria Zubeidi begins a hunger strike to protest his detention without charge by the PA since 5/13/12, in connection with the attack on the late Jenin governor Qaddura Musa, who died of a heart attack shortly after the shooting on 5/1/12 (see QU in JPS 164). (MNA 9/10)

Israeli naval vessels fire at Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids at night in 1 village nr. Salfit and in alNabi Salih village nr. Ramallah, where they fire rubber bullets and tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians, wounding 1. (PCHR 9/13)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket from the Gaza Strip into Israel, damaging a home but causing no injuries. Later, at night, the IDF launches 4 air strikes on Gaza, damaging property and wounding 8 Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the morning, and in 1 village nr. Qalqilya and in Hebron (shooting and wounding 1 Palestinian) at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 2 villages nr. Hebron at night. The Israeli cabinet approves a 7/17/12 Education Min. decision to upgrade a college in Ariel settlement to a full-fledged university (see QU in JPS 165). (Guardian, MNA 9/9; PCHR 9/13)

Palestinian demonstrators in Ramallah block traffic and march against economic policies of the PA, calling on Pres. Abbas to resign. (MNA 9/9)

An Egyptian army spokesperson confirms that Egypt and Israel are coordinating Cairo’s operation against militants in the Sinai, in which over 30 people have been killed. (REU 9/8)

Palestinians fire a rocket from the Gaza Strip into Israel, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron in the morning; patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon; patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, 2 villages nr. Jenin, and 1 village nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches in 2 villages nr. Hebron and 1 village nr. Jenin at night. Jewish settlers from the Esh Kodesh outpost invade the village of Qusra, provoking clashes with Palestinian residents, 15 of whom are injured. (MNA 9/8, 9/9; PCHR 9/13)

Palestinians demonstrating against rising living costs block streets and burn tires in Ramallah and Tulkarm. (MNA 9/8)

Following recent protests (9/6) Fatah official Nabil Shaath says that the resignation of PA PM Salam Fayyad would solve nothing, though protests against the difficult economic circumstances are understandable. (MNA 9/7)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, in 3 villages nr. Qalqilya and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. Jewish settlers set fire to olive trees in the northern West Bank. (MNA 9/7; PCHR 9/13)

The IDF kills 3 Palestinians from a small Islamist resistance group in a morning air strike nr. Bayt Hanun. The armed wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) fires Grad rockets from Gaza into Israel, causing no injuries. The IDF also makes a brief morning incursion into s. Gaza nr. Khan Yunis to level land along the border fence. IDF troops on the Gaza border nr. Jabaliya open fire into Gaza, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; in Palestinian-controlled areas of Hebron, 1 village nr. Qalqilya, and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon; and in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night. (MNA 9/6; PCHR 9/13)

Palestinians angry at rising prices and cost of living protest in West Bank cities, and taxi drivers observe a strike. One demand of demonstrators is that the PA abolish the 1994 Paris Protocol governing economic relations with Israel, claiming that it disproportionately benefits the latter. Some demonstrations call for the resignation of PA PM Salam Fayyad. (MNA 9/6)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF fires a missile at a group of armed Palestinians nr. al-Bureij r.c. at night, killing 3 Palestinian fighters. In the West Bank, unknown assailants shoot dead Hisham al-Rakh, a colonel in the PA security forces, nr. Jenin r.c. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Yatta village nr. Hebron, and conducts training and sets up tents nr. the village in the afternoon; patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Nablus, in Balata r.c. in Nablus, and in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers destroy dozens of olive trees in a village nr. Nablus. (MNA 9/5; MNA, PCHR 9/6; PCHR 9/13)

Unidentifed Palestinians fire 3 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; patrols in 4 villages nr. Qalqilya and 1 village nr. Hebron at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night. (MNA 9/3; PCHR 9/6)

After several legal delays (see QU in JPS 165), Israeli security forces evict Jewish settlers from Migron, an unauthorized settlement outpost nr. Ramallah. Around 50 families are moved out and relocated a short distance away in new housing built by the government for the purpose. Meanwhile, Jewish settlers accompanied by police move into a section of a Palestinian home in the Silwan neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, after a court ruling in favor of the settlers’ ownership claims. (MNA, REU 9/2)

Israeli naval vessels fire at Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya in the afternoon, causing no injuries. IDF troops on the Gaza border arrest 3 Palestinians crossing the border fence nr. al-Bureij r.c. in the afternoon to look for work in Israel; open fire nr. Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries, at night. Also at night, the IDF makes air strikes on Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades (IQB) training sites nr. Nussayrat r.c., causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho and 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 village nr. Jenin, and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon; patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya and 1 village nr. Jenin (firing tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians) at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. (PCHR 9/6)

The IDF launches 2 air strikes nr. Gaza City, injuring 3 armed Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, and 1 village nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin at night. Jewish settlers attack a Palestinian-owned vehicle in a village nr. Hebron. (MNA, WAFA 9/1; PCHR 9/6)