The Palestine Chronology

PA FM Riyad al-Malki says that 11/15 or 11/29 are possible dates for a UN vote on the Palestinian bid to be recognized as a non-member state, adding that consultations are ongoing for the formation of the draft resolution. (AFP 10/31)

Unidentified armed Palestinians fire 2 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, causing no injuries. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border open fire nr. Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries. Israeli naval vessels open fire at fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, 2 villages nr. Hebron, and Tulkarm at night. (ToI 10/31; PCHR 11/8)

The Israeli NGO Peace Now reports that Jewish settlers have set up 2 new settlement outposts with utilities infrastructure in the West Bank for the 1st time since 2005, located nr. Ramallah and Qalqilya. (AFP, JP 10/31)

A PLO official tells Reuters that they expect at least 12 ‘‘yes’’ votes from EU mbr. states at the UNGA vote in 11/2012 for recognition as a non-member state. (REU 10/30)

Israeli DM Barak says that Iran has pulled back from its ambitions of building a nuclear weapon, but that Israel may still have to decide in 2013 whether to launch a military attack. (REU 10/30)

An Israeli border police officer is acquitted of causing the death of a 10-yr.-old Palestinian boy shot during a protest in the West Bank village of Ni‘lin in 2008. (HA 10/30)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm in the morning, in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 6 villages nr. Jenin at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 5 nearby villages, and in 4 villages nr. Jenin at night. (PCHR 11/8)

Fighting between the Syrian military and the opposition spills over into Yarmuk Palestinian r.c., with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine– General Command reportedly joining on the side of the army. (AFP 10/30)

Palestinian officials confirm that PA pres. Abbas will pursue the UN bid despite warnings by the U.S. and Israel. (AP 10/29)

Israeli polls show that the NetanyahuLieberman alliance would not necessarily translate into a gain in votes, though it is likely that a right-wing coalition would emerge with a Knesset majority. (ToI, 972mag 10/29)

The Israeli NGO Peace Now states that the Jerusalem municipality has approved plans for a new neighborhood for retired police and soldiers in the East Jerusalem district of Sur al-Bahir. (AFP 10/29)

The Israeli media report that over the previous few months, the Israeli security agency Shin Bet has arrested around 30 Hamas activists in the West Bank on suspicion of rebuilding the organization’s infrastructure. (NYT, YA 10/29)

IDF troops on the Gaza border fire shells nr. Gaza’s Islamic Martyrs cemetery at night, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 villages and the al-Fawar r.c. nearby; invades 1 village nr. Hebron to demolish a home, arresting a resident and firing tear gas and rubber bullets at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them. (PCHR 11/8)

Armed Palestinians fire around 80 rockets and mortars into Israel, injuring 5 Israelis. The IDF retaliates with air strikes, killing 3 armed Palestinians and 1 civilian. Israel closes the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings in both directions. A number of Israeli ministers and politicians urge a full-scale attack on the Gaza Strip. (Arutz Sheva, CNN, JP, MNA, REU 10/24)

EU foreign policy chief Ashton begins a visit to Israel and the West Bank, with planned meetings with Israeli PM Netanyahu and other officials, as well as with PA PM Fayyad and pres. Abbas. Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman warns Ashton of the ‘‘consequences’’ of the Palestinians’ UN bid. Meanwhile, Abbas says he would be ready for negotiations with Israel immediately after the UN recognizes Palestine as a non-member state. (ToI 10/23; HA, REU 10/24; MNA 10/25)

Palestinians and international activists protest in a supermarket in Sha’ar Binyamin, a Jewish settlement in the southern West Bank, calling for a boycott of Israeli products. (972mag 10/24)

In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes agricultural facilities and wells in a village nr. Jenin and an area nr. Hebron; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron. (MNA, WAFA 10/24; PCHR 11/8)

The Sudanese government accuses Israel of carrying out an air strike on an arms factory in Khartoum that killed 2 people. (Guardian 10/24; AFP 10/25)

Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, accompanied by his wife and the Qatari PM, arrives in the Gaza Strip, becoming the 1st head of state to visit since Hamas took control of Gaza in 6/2007. The emir inaugurates reconstruction projects worth $400 mi. and calls on Hamas and Fatah to reconcile. Hamas authorities did not invite Fatah officials to meet the emir, leading some in Fatah to call for a boycott of the emir’s visit. The U.S. reacts cautiously, saying it shares Qatar’s ‘‘deep concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people.’’ (REU 10/21; MNA 10/22; AFP, BBC 10/23)

PA employees continue to strike over late and incomplete payment of salaries, as the PA cabinet calls on civil servants to go back to work. (MNA 23/10)

Armed mbrs. of the PFLP fire a mortar at an IDF patrol on the Gaza border, injuring 1 officer. The IDF kills 3 Hamas mbrs. it says were preparing to fire rockets into Israel. Unidentified Palestinians fire 7 rockets and mortars into Israel at night, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Nablus. (AKH, REU, ToI 10/23; PCHR 11/8)

Palestinians in the West Bank vote in local elections, the 1st elections in 6 yrs. Out of the 353 municipalities, the poll was held in only 92; 181 municipalities form councils without elections due to a lack of candidates. Hamas boycotts the elections. The Central Elections Commission reports that around 515,000 Palestinians were registered to vote, of which 55% turned out to vote (by comparison, three-quarters cast ballots in the 2006 parliamentary elections and twothirds in the 2004 and 2005 municipal elections). Fatah has mixed results, partly due to the fact that its own mbrs. ran against each other, some as independents (27 Fatah mbrs. were subsequently expelled from the party for running in non-Fatah lists). (AP, BBC, NYT 10/20; AP, MNA 10/21; see also MNA 10/18; AP 10/19)

Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman criticizes European countries for their 10/19 opposition to plans for 100s of new homes in Gilo settlement, and PM Netanyahu vows to continue construction in East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Israeli NGO Peace Now reveals government plans to build a military academy on the Mount of Olives in occupied East Jerusalem. (AFP, ToI 10/20; JP 10/21)

The Israeli navy intercepts a boat (Estelle) of pro-Palestinian activists en route to the Gaza Strip. The IDF boards the vessel 30 naut. mi. off the Gaza coast and tows it to Ashdod. Separately, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, and in 1 village nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. (BBC 10/21;  PCHR 10/24)

Israel transfers tax revenues to the PA 2 weeks ahead of schedule in recognition of the economic crisis. The PA fin. min. announces it will pay partial salaries to workers. (MNA 10/18, 10/20)

Israel grants final approval to a plan for 800 new homes in East Jerusalem, meaning an expansion of Gilo settlement. (AFP 10/18)

Bedouin citizens of Israel hold a protest outside government offices in Beersheba to call for an end to the pending demolition orders in Bir Hadaj village in the Negev. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities demolish the Bedouin village al-Araqib for the 43rd time. (JP 10/18; MNA 10/19)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya, 3 villages nr. Ramallah, and 2 villages nr. Jenin in the morning; in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 2 villages nr. Hebron in the afternoon; and in al-Bireh, 2 villages nr. Jericho, 1 village nr. Jenin, and 2 villages nr. Hebron (in 1 of which the IDF uses tear gas against stone-throwing Palestinians) at night. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli naval vessels open fire at Palestinian fishermen, causing no injuries. (PCHR 10/24)

In a report submitted to the UN Security Council (UNSC), UN secy.-gen. Ban Ki-moon calls the Hizballah drone sent into Israeli airspace a ‘‘reckless provocation,’’ and criticizes Israel’s use of drones and fighter jets in Lebanese airspace as a violation of sovereignty. (AP 10/18)

PA pres. Mahmud Abbas sends a letter to U.S. pres. Barack Obama to inform him that if the UN bid is successful, he intends to resume negotiations with Israel. (AFP, HA, REU 10/16)

Qatar announces a $254 m. plan for reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, the largest such injection of aid since the end of Operation Cast Lead in 1/2009. (REU 10/16)

Israeli government officials say that Palestinians deployed an anti-aircraft missile for the 1st time in the Gaza Strip the previous week, missing their target. (AFP 10/16)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets from Gaza into Israel, 1 of which lands by a house nr. Ashqelon, causing no injuries. The IDF fires missiles at an IQB training site in the n. Gaza Strip at night, causing no injuries. IDF troops on the Gaza border open fire on Palestinians and internationals staging nonviolent protests nr. Bayt Hanun and the Erez crossing against Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone inside the Gaza border, causing no reported injuries. (JP 10/16)

Palestinian and international protesters block a key highway linking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv (Road 443) in the West Bank to protest the uprooting of olive trees by Jewish settlers. The IDF forces them off the road, firing shock grenades. (AIC, IMEMC 10/16)

PA security forces raid an apartment in Nablus and claim to have confiscated documents and weapons belong to the IQB. (MNA 10/16)

Israeli coalition party Yisrael Beiteinu announces it intends to request that the Central Election Comm. disqualify Balad party from the upcoming elections on the grounds that it ‘‘supports terror and acts against the existence of Israel as a Jewish, democratic state.’’ A Likud MK submits a similar petition. (JP, YA 10/16)

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announces that new elections will be held on 1/22/13, a day after the U.S. presidential inauguration. A poll carried out for Ha’Aretz shows that PM Netanyahu has no serious challenger in the election. (HA, ToI 10/11)

Israeli DM Ehud Barak allows Jewish settlers to reoccupy a house in Hebron evacuated in 2008, in light of a 9/13/12 court ruling that the acquisition is legal. Palestinians who claim ownership are expected to appeal the decision. (ToI 10/12)

The IDF launches an air strike against a location in the n. Gaza Strip after unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets into Israel; no injuries are reported in either instance. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho, 1 village nr. Jenin, 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; in 1 village nr. Jericho in the afternoon; and in 1 village nr. Jenin at night (where they fire tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinians). (AFP 10/11; PCHR 10/18)

Israel’s PM Netanyahu announces his intention to hold early elections in around 3 mos. time (elections were due to take place in November 2013). (972mag 10/9)

Unidentified Palestinians fire rockets from the Gaza Strip into s. Israel during the day, causing no injuries. At night, the IDF shells and opens fire at positions in the Gaza Strip, causing no injuries, and fires a missile at a warehouse nr. Bayt Lahiya, destroying it but causing no injuries. An Israeli military source claims that the target was a training camp used by Hamas fighters, and the strike a response to recent rocket fire. The IDF also enters the Gaza Strip nr. Rafah at night to level land near the border, directing sporadic shelling and live fire at the surrounding area, causing no injuries. Palestinian fighters identified as Salafists fire rockets overnight into Israel from Gaza, landing nr. Sderot and Netivot, causing no injuries. (AFP 10/10; PCHR 10/11)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tulkarm (firing stun grenades and teargas bombs at Palestinians throwing stones) and 1 village nr. Jenin at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 3 villages nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Ramallah (arresting Mohammad Tamimi of the Popular Committee against Settlements in al-Nabi Salih), and 1 village nr. Jenin (questioning Khader Adnan, arrested on 12/17/11 and released after a highly publicized hunger strike) (see QU in JPS 164). Jewish settlers cut down more than 120 olive trees in a village nr. Nablus, according to PA officials and eyewitnesses. (IDFS10/9; MNA 10/10; PCHR 10/11)

PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erakat reveals that the PA is in consultations with Arab countries and others over the text of a draft resolution requesting the UNGA accept Palestine as a non-member state. Erakat reiterates that the UN bid is intended to complement rather than harm the peace process. Reports indicate that the U.S. government is lobbying European countries to oppose the Palestinian initiative on the basis that it would be counterproductive and lead to negative consequences, such as sanctions, for the PA. (Guardian, MNA 10/1)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket from the Gaza Strip into s. Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, the IDF conducts house searches in Ras al-Amud neighborhood after clashes with local Palestinian youths; troops fire tear gas during the searches, moderately injuring a Palestinian woman. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and Hebron in the morning, 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and 2 villages nr. Qalqilya at night. (AFP, IMEMC 10/1; PCHR 10/4; OCHA 10/5)

Palestinian citizens of Israel hold protests across Israel, including a 2,000- strong march in Sakhnin, to mark the 12th anniversary of the killing of 13 Arabs by Israeli police during demonstrations in solidarity with the 2d intifada then underway. (AFP 10/1)

Freedom Theater director and former AMB commander Zakaria Zubeidi is freed from PA prison after having been charged in connection to a 1/5/12 attack that resulted in the death of former Jenin governor Qaddura Musa from a heart attack (see QU in JPS 164). (MNA 1/10)

Syrian state television attacks Hamas leader Khalid Mishal, accusing him of ‘‘selling out’’’ and being ungrateful for Syria’s years of patronage. Hamas closed its headquarters in Damascus earlier in 2012 after refusing to support the regime’s attacks on Syrian protesters and the opposition. (NYT 10/2)