The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a 13-year-old Palestinian in Bayt Liqya village nr. Ramallah during a patrol. Meanwhile, PA security forces kill a man in Hebron during a raid. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron during the day. Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Gaza City, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen, sinking 1 boat. (MNA, REU 10/16; PCHR 10/23)

Senior Hamas official Musa Abu Marzuq confirms that indirect cease-fire talks with Israel will resume at the end of 10/2014 in Cairo. Meanwhile, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry calls for a resumption of the peace negotiations during remarks at a State Dept. event for ‘Id al-Adha. (AFP, REU, YA 10/16)

EU foreign affairs chief Ashton and Iranian FM Zarif hold a 2d day of talks in Vienna, and also meet with senior diplomats from the P5+1 group. The focus of the talks are remaining differences related to lifting sanctions and Iran’s uranium enrichment levels. (REU 10/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces clash with Palestinians at Haram al-Sharif, leaving 15 worshippers injured. (HA, MNA 9/24; PCHR 9/25)

Hamas and Fatah officials meet in Cairo to discuss further implementation of the national reconciliation agreement signed in 4/2014. They discuss the possible obstacles to the return of the PA unity govt. to the Gaza Strip. (AFP, REU 9/24)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets with PA Pres. Abbas in New York, as world leaders convene for the UN General Assembly (UNGA). (MNA 9/24)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages late at night; patrols in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Ramallah, and Salfit. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces raid a number of houses in Issawiyya, arresting 2 Palestinians. (PCHR 9/11)

Israeli soldiers deliver land confiscation orders to Palestinians nr. Yatta s. of Hebron, declaring the seizure of 2,000 dunams (around 500 acres) of Palestinian-owned land for military purposes. (MNA, WAFA 9/7) 

PA Pres. Abbas arrives in Cairo for a 3-day visit. On arrival, Abbas says that Hamas is jeopardizing the PA unity govt. “There are 27 under secys. of ministries who are running the Gaza Strip, and the national unity govt. cannot do anything on the ground,” he says. Meanwhile, ahead of a meeting with Abbas, Arab League secy.-gen. Nabil al-‘Arabi says that the Palestinian leader is ready for “real negotiations” with Israel in line with “the principles established in international resolutions.” (HA, ToI 9/6)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF continues its assault with strikes on around 53 targets, killing 12 Palestinians and injuring dozens more. Also, IDF troops stationed nr. the border shell areas across the fence with artillery in 2 incidents. The armed Palestinian groups launch over 120 projectiles into Israel; of which, 102 land in open areas, 4 in urban areas, and 16 are intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. Also, Israeli authorities reopen the Erez border crossing, after closing it on 8/24. In the West Bank, a Palestinian teenager dies from injuries sustained in clashes with IDF troops on 8/15. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in 2 neighborhoods in Ramallah, Tulkarm r.c., and 1 suburb of Tulkarm, arresting 4. During the day, IDF troops conduct patrols in al-Fawar r.c., Hebron, and 1 village nr. Hebron; establish mobile checkpoints in 1 village nr. Hebron and 2 villages nr. Ramallah. In a village nr. Salfit, PA security forces detain 3 armed Israeli settlers and turn them over to IDF troops. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces enter Silwan to set up a mobile checkpoint and raid several houses. Stone-throwing Palestinian youth clash with the soldiers, but there are no arrests or injuries. (HA 8/25; PCHR 8/28)

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators return to Cairo and reports appear in the press of a potential breakthrough. Senior Islamic Jihad officials Khalid al-Batsh and Ziad Nakhleh are quoted saying they believe an agreement will be made within hours. Lebanon-based Hamas official Usama Hamdan says “there has been positive and fast progress.” An anonymous Palestinian official says that the Palestinian delegation would accept the new Egyptian proposal that would open the crossings into Gaza for aid and construction material, and defer disputed points to further negotiations to be held in 1 mo. Notably, Egypt requires the Rafah crossing to be negotiated with the Palestinians directly, separate from the indirect negotiations with the Israelis. Later in the day, however, senior Hamas official Musa Abu Marzuq says that there has been no progress in talks. (HA, JP, MNA, ToI, Yahoo! 8/25)

In closed meetings at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S. diplomats present principles for a UNSC res. that would call for a cease-fire in Gaza and conduct meetings with their German, French, and British counterparts, as well as Jordanians, in the hope of reconciling the 3 different proposals. The U.S. has sent Israel and Egypt a draft of the principles in the past 2 days. The Jordanian draft includes an international monitoring mechanism and the other 2 do not. (JP, REU 8/25)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF continues its assault with attacks on 41 targets, killing 11 Palestinians and injuring dozens. Israeli fighter jets and drones strike targets in n. Gaza, as well as nr. Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, while IDF troops fire smoke bombs and live ammunition across the Israel-Gaza border in 1 location and Israeli artillery shelling hits 2 others. The armed Palestinian groups fire over 100 projectiles into Israel; of which, 3 land in urban areas, 73 land in open areas, and 17 are intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. Meanwhile, Hamas executes 4 alleged collaborators with Israel in the courtyard of a mosque in Jabaliya r.c. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts patrols in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, as well as 1 village nr. Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with a group of Palestinian youth outside a checkpoint nr. Shu‘fat, and 1 Palestinian is wounded when the soldiers open fire with tear gas and rubbercoated metal bullets. (AFP, AP, HA, MNA 8/23; PCHR 8/28)

Following talks between Hamas leader Mishal and PA Pres. Abbas in Doha on 8/21 and 8/22, Hamas publicly agrees to support Abbas’s application to join the ICC. According to PLO chief negotiator Erakat, only Islamic Jihad has not yet approved the document Abbas is asking all Palestinian factions to sign before he moves forward. (AFP, AP, MNA 8/23)

On the diplomatic front, Abbas travels to Cairo for talks with Egyptian pres. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. After their meeting, Abbas says “my main goal is for the truce talks to resume in Egypt as soon as possible.” In an interview on Egyptian television, Abbas says that he is planning a major diplomatic initiative and that he will present the plan to U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry, who is scheduled to visit the region in the coming days. The plan reportedly includes asking the UN to set a timetable for the Israeli occupation and signing the Rome Statue on behalf of the PA, which would give the ICC jurisdiction over cases relating to the occupation. For its part, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry releases a statement after the Abbas/al-Sisi meeting inviting the Israelis and Palestinians to return to Cairo for further cease-fire negotiations. (AJ, HA, WSJ 8/23)

Israeli PM Netanyahu holds talks with UN Secy.-Gen. Ban Ki-moon. Netanyahu compares Hamas to ISIS, in reference to the group’s 8/22 execution of collaborators, and blames the group for the latest escalation in violence. (AJ, HA, REU 8/23)

In the evening, 2 rockets are fired from Lebanon into n. Israel. No group claims responsibility for the attack, though Lebanese military officials suspect a small, local Palestinian group. Late at night, 5 rockets are fired from Syria into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israeli military officials say that a Palestinian group, not Syrian govt. forces, is responsible. Between the 2 sets of rocket attacks, 8 Israelis are lightly injured. (DS, JP, REU 8/23; AFP, HA, YA 8/24)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF continues its assault, launching air strikes on approximately 47 targets, killing 38 Palestinians and injuring dozens. Among the 38 are 3 high-ranking commanders in al-Qassam Brigades, who are killed overnight by Israeli fighter jets in Rafah. Five Palestinian civilians are also killed in the strike and at least 40 are injured. The armed Palestinian groups fire 109 rockets and mortars into Israel, with 7 landing in built-up areas and 13 intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. One Israeli man is injured with mortar shrapnel nr. Eshkol. Meanwhile, Hamas executes 3 alleged collaborators with Israel, and arrests 7 others. In the West Bank, IDF troops level land nr. Salfit to clear space for an Israeli settlement to expand. Also, the IDF conducts house searches and raids in 4 villages nr. Hebron, Dayr Istya, ‘Askar r.c., al-Bireh, and Bayt Liqya, arresting 9 and issuing summons to 2. Clashes break out with Palestinians in Bayt Liqya, and the Israeli soldiers open fire with live ammunition, tear gas canisters, and sound bombs. Separately, the IDF conducts 4 separate incursions into Hebron and 3 villages n. of Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces and municipal officials enter Silwan to hand demolition notices to the owners of 2 apartment buildings where 19 Palestinians live. (MNA 8/21; HA 8/22; PCHR 8/28)

There is no major diplomatic progress as disagreements that led to the breakdown of talks on 8/19 remain between the Palestinian factions and the Israeli negotiators. Mishal says in an interview with Turkish Anadolu News Agency that Hamas will keep fighting until Israel meets its terms for a permanent truce, while Israel’s Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai says that Israel will not hold cease-fire negotiations as long as rocket fire from Gaza continues. PA Pres. Abbas travels again to Doha where he will meet with Qatari emir Bin Hamad al-Thani and Hamas leader Mishal to discuss the continued Israeli assault and possible future cease-fire negotiations. Also present are head of the Palestinian delegation in Cairo Azzam al-Ahmad, PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erakat, and PA intelligence chief Majid Faraj. (AA, HA 8/21; MEMO, MNA 8/22)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF continues its assault, launching air strikes on approximately 65 targets, killing at least 30 Palestinians and injuring over 100. The armed Palestinian groups fire more than 150 rockets and mortars into Israel, primarily toward Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and areas in the s. One rocket lands in the Israeli settlement Mod’in Ilit in the West Bank, causing damage but no injuries, and 23 are intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. In the West Bank, IDF troops, accompanied by bulldozers, enter areas nr. Nablus, the Jordan Valley, and Ramallah to demolish 3 homes and confiscate 6 tents, leaving 63 Palestinians homeless. Late at night, the IDF conducts house searches and raids in Ramallah, Hebron, 2 villages nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Jenin, arresting 7. (AA, AFP, HA, REU, YA 8/20; PCHR 8/21)

In the evening, Israeli PM Netanyahu says in a press conference that the assault on Gaza will continue, but alludes to a new, regional “diplomatic horizon.” He calls on PA Pres. Abbas to play a “significant part” in his longterm plans. Earlier in the day, a Hamas spokesperson says that the Palestinian delegation has not been instructed to return to talks in Cairo and that “the Egyptian offer was a stillborn, and it was buried today.” (AFP, AP, HA, NPR, REU 8/20)

In the Gaza Strip, armed Palestinian groups and the IDF maintain the 5-day cease-fire on its final day. Palestinians in Gaza continue emergency relief efforts and, as more bodies are found in the rubble and more people succumb to their injuries, the Palestinian death toll since the beginning of OPE rises above 2,000. Overnight in the West Bank, IDF troops enter Hebron overnight and destroy the homes of the 3 Palestinians they hold responsible for the kidnapping and killing of 3 teenage Israeli settlers in 6/2014, demolishing 2 and sealing 1 with concrete. During the demolitions, local residents clash with Israeli soldiers, and several Palestinians are injured with rubber-coated metal bullets. The IDF also conducts house searches and raids in 2 villages s. of Jenin, Jenin refugee camp (r.c.), Hebron, and Ramallah, arresting or detaining 9 Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, IDF troops demolish an unlicensed home in al-Tur. (HA, JP, MNA, YA 8/18; PCHR 8/21)

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators, as well as Egyptian mediators, conduct 6 hours of talks in Cairo during the day, with the goal of extending the 5-day cease-fire that is set to expire at midnight. They also work on the outline of an agreement, based on the 8/15 Egyptian proposal, that reportedly includes the opening of some crossings between Israel and Gaza, the importation of construction materials with international supervision, and the extension of the permitted fishing area to 12 naut. mi., with larger points of disagreement being deferred to future negotiations. The Israeli negotiators leave Cairo to brief PM Netanyahu and senior defense officials in the evening. PA Pres. Abbas travels to Doha, Qatar, for talks with Hamas leader Mishal and Qatari emir Shaykh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani. Late at night, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators confirm that the ceasefire will be extended an additional 24 hours, at the request of the Egyptian mediators. (AFP, AJ, HA, JTA, MNA 8/18)

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry announces that it plans to cohost a conference with Egypt in Cairo for reps. of donor countries to attend so they can coordinate the reconstruction of Gaza. The conference will be held on 10/12. (HA, REU 8/18)

The IDF continues its assault on the Gaza Strip attacking over 30 targets with aircraft, tanks, and naval vessels, killing 17 Palestinians. Palestinians fire some 30 rockets into s. Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Palestinian gunmen open fire on Israeli soldiers nr. Nablus, causing no injuries. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Salfit, and ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. nr. Jericho at night; patrols during the day in 8 villages nr. Ramallah, Jericho, and Salfit. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/9; PCHR 8/10)

Egyptian and Palestinian officials reportedly reach a new draft cease-fire agreement to present to Israel, which stipulates that the PA would take control of the Rafah crossing. Anonymous Israeli officials tell the media that their negotiators will not return to Cairo “as long as the shooting goes on.” Senior Hamas official Abu Marzuq says that the Palestinian delegation will leave Cairo on 8/10 unless Israel agrees to return to Egyptian-mediated negotiations. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/9)

In the Gaza Strip, a 72-hour cease-fire begins at 8:00 A.M. local time. The IDF withdraws grounds forces, which are, according to the IDF, “redeployed in defensive positions outside the Gaza Strip.” Shortly before the cease-fire begins, al-Qassam Brigades fires a salvo of rockets, with 1 hitting a house in Bayt Sahur nr. Bethlehem, causing damage but no injuries. During the day, the cease-fire holds. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Jenin r.c. in the morning. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/5; PCHR 8/6)

Additional Islamic Jihad and Hamas reps. join the Palestinian delegation in Cairo. Israel sends officials to join the discussions. Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ofer Gendelman says that Israel is willing to agree to the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip in exchange for the disarmament of the armed groups. Meanwhile, Palestinian FM al-Maliki visits the ICC in The Hague to meet with prosecutors concerning evidence of war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. Al-Maliki tells reporters that he had discussed a timeline with prosecutors for the PA to sign the Rome Statute. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 8/5)

The IDF continues its assault on the Gaza Strip by land, air, and sea, attacking over 90 targets and killing 104 Palestinians. One IDF strike on a UN-run school in Bayt Hanun kills at least 15, and wounds 200, mostly women and children seeking shelter. The Israeli army says it is investigating the incident and that “terrorists” opened fire at IDF personnel from the area of the school. Palestinians fire around 60 rockets into Israel, 15 of which are intercepted by Iron Dome, causing no damage or injuries (including 5 over Tel Aviv). On the ground in Gaza, al-Quds Brigades and al-Qassam Brigades claim to have killed 4 and 8 Israeli soldiers, respectively. In the West Bank, a reported 10,000 Palestinians gather in protest of the assault on Gaza and march from c. Ramallah to Qalandia checkpoint, where clashes with IDF troops break out. IDF troops kill 2 and injure more than 200 protesters, including 60 with live ammunition. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Nablus in the morning. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces set up checkpoints to restrict access to Haram al-Sharif, leading to clashes and the arrest of 12 Palestinian youth. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 7/24; PCHR 7/25)

Secy. of State Kerry meets with UN Secy.- Gen. Ban in Cairo once more. Meanwhile, in Amman, PA Pres. Abbas meets with Jordan’s King Abdallah and says “there is hope for a cease-fire” along the lines of “the Egyptian initiative” before fuller negotiations about wider demands. Kerry reaches out to Turkish and Qatari diplomats in an effort to garner support from Hamas’s regional allies for his cease-fire initiative. (AFP, AP, JP, MNA, REU, YA 7/24)

Rivlin is sworn in as the new pres. of Israel, succeeding Peres. (HA 7/24)

The IDF continues its attacks on the Gaza Strip from land, sea and air, killing 78 Palestinians, including 25 people from a single family nr. the border with Egypt and 10 who die in Khan Yunis after shells hit their home repeatedly as they try to flee. An air strike on a tower in c. Gaza City kills 11, including 5 children. IDF troops shell al-Aqsa Hospital in c. Gaza, killing 4 and wounding 70. Palestinian fighters kill 9 Israeli soldiers during the fighting on the ground. Al-Qassam Brigades target Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Ashdod with rocket fire, with over 50 rockets fired into Israel, causing no injuries. In an al-Qassam Brigades operation, 12 Palestinian fighters enter Israel by a tunnel nr. Bayt Hanun and attack an IDF site, killing 4 and destroying a jeep with an RPG shell. Ten of the Palestinian fighters are killed in the operation and the other 2 return through the tunnel. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron, 1 nearby village and al-Fawar r.c., and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 village each nr. Hebron and Ramallah during the day. (AFP, AP, JP, MNA, REU, YA 7/21; PCHR 7/22)

Speaking in a televised address, former Hamas PM Haniyeh says that “Gaza has decided to end the blockade by its blood and its heroism,” adding, “We cannot go back to the silent death” of the siege. Israeli DM Ya’alon tells a parliamentary comm. that the operation will continue “as long as necessary until the completion of the task.” However, Ya’alon mentions that the Israeli govt. would welcome the PA unity govt. exercising authority in Gaza, in an apparent reversal of policy. In Doha, Hamas leader Mish‘al meets with Pres. Abbas for the 1st time since the war began. PA spokesperson Abu Rudayna reiterates the PA leadership’s call for an immediate cease-fire as a way of realizing “the national goals of the Palestinian people.” In Cairo, UN Secy.-Gen. Ban holds talks with Egyptian FM Shoukri aimed at pressing for an immediate truce. Secy. of State Kerry also arrives in Cairo to facilitate the cease-fire talks. Kerry announces that the U.S. will send $47 m. in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Meanwhile, the IDF requests access to the U.S. War Reserves Stockpile based in Israel to resupply its munitions. (AFP, AP, HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 7/21)

IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip continue, except in the hours following the govt.’s acceptance of the Egyptian cease-fire, killing 13 Palestinians. The IDF warns 100,000 residents of the al-Zaytun and al-Shuja‘iya neighborhoods to evacuate before morning on 7/16. Palestinians fire more than 120 rockets into Israel, including dozens directed at Tel Aviv, in a barrage claimed jointly by al-Qassam Brigades and al-Quds Brigades. Nr. the Erez crossing, 1 Israeli civilian is killed by a mortar shell while distributing food supplies to IDF soldiers. Nine rockets are intercepted by Iron Dome, and the rest caused no damage or injuries. (AFP, AP, HA, MNA, REU, WAFA 7/15)

Israel’s security cabinet votes 6–2 in favor of accepting the Egyptian cease-fire proposal from the previous day, and the IDF stops all strikes for several hours. PM Netanyahu says that if Hamas rejects the initiative, Israel will have “legitimacy” to take further action “to restore quiet.” PA Pres. Abbas, in Cairo for talks with Egyptian pres. al-Sisi, calls for the acceptance of the proposal. However, Hamas rejects the text, describing it as “an initiative of kneeling and submission,” and both the armed Palestinian groups and the IDF continue hostilities. Hamas spokesperson Abu Zuhri says that the group was ignored by Egyptian mediators, with Islamic Jihad official Khalid al-Batsh commenting that “initiatives shouldn’t be proposed through media outlets, but rather through the obvious channels, which are resistance factions and their leaders.” An unnamed senior PLO official says that “the Egyptians coordinated the initiative with Abbas and ignored Gaza,” and thus “Hamas leaders felt humiliated by the fact that the proposal was released without them being consulted about its contents ahead of time.” (AFP, AP, HA, MNA, REU, WAFA 7/15; PCHR 7/16)

After Hamas rejects the deal, Netanyahu vows to “significantly expand our offensive,” saying that the group “will pay for its decision.” Meanwhile, Dep. DM Danny Danon describes the Israeli govt.’s response to the Gaza crisis as a “failure” and Netanyahu fires him. (AFP, AP, HA, REU 7/15)

Suspected Salafi jihadists fire 3 rockets from the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, into Israel, wounding 4 civilians in Eilat. (REU 7/15)

In Vienna, reps. of Iran and the P5+1 powers continue their negotiations leading up to the 7/20 deadline for a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s disputed nuclear program. U.S. Secy. of State Kerry says they “have made progress . . . but there’s still more work to do.” Iranian FM Zarif says that Iran wants to “arrive at a solution everyone can be happy about.” The key issues remaining are Iran’s centrifuges and its uranium enrichment capacity over the next 10 years. (ALM, NYT 7/15)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 1 nearby village, in Nablus and 1 nearby village, and 1 village nr. Jenin; patrols in Qalqilya and 1 nearby village, and in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Tulkarm and in Jenin at night. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently disperse dozens of Palestinians planting trees on their land in Anata that had been confiscated, causing no serious injuries. (MNA 3/9; PCHR 3/13)

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat says that the U.S. gave a commitment that Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners, as planned, on 3/29. Erekat speaks on his return from Washington, where he says that ideas were discussed with U.S. Special Envoy Martin Indyk. Erakat also emphasizes that the Palestinians will not take any unilateral action at the UN for the duration of the 9-mo. schedule for talks, which ends 4/29. Meanwhile in Cairo, Arab League FMs meet and release a statement endorsing PA Pres. Abbas’s rejection of the Israeli demand for recognition as a Jewish state. Speaking to Israeli media, PM Netanyahu says that should both sides accept a U.S.-proposed set of principles for the continuation of talks, negotiations would last at least another year. (HA, REU 3/9)

EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, on a visit to Tehran, says that reaching a longterm nuclear deal with Iran would be “difficult and challenging,” remarks made at a press conference alongside Iranian FM Zarif. Ashton is in Iran for a 2-day visit, the 1st by an EU foreign affairs chief since 2008.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces launch air strikes on 3 targets, causing no damage or casualties. Separately, Israeli forces open fire on 1 Palestinian collecting metal close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun, wounding him in the leg. Separately, during a protest, Israeli forces wound another Palestinian civilian close to the border fence with live ammunition. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning, in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Hebron and 1 village nr. Jericho at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 2 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in and Ni‘lin), 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian woman attempts, and fails, to stab a border police officer nr. Nablus Gate. (JP, MNA, YA 1/3; PCHR 1/9)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets with Israeli FM Lieberman in the morning, before meeting Netanyahu again, and then heads to Ramallah for talks with PA Pres. Abbas. Israeli media reports that in discussion with Kerry, Lieberman states his opposition to the return of Palestinian refugees to the West Bank. In Ramallah, meanwhile, Kerry’s visit is met with a demonstration by hundreds of Palestinians protesting against the U.S. official and the peace process. (AFP, JP, ToI 1/3)

In Egypt, clashes between supporters of ousted pres. Morsi and security forces leave 17 people dead, and 62 wounded, with 17 mbrs. of the security forces also injured. An anonymous govt. official says that 258 protesters were arrested. The violence took place in a number of cities, including Cairo, Giza, Ismailia, Fayoum, and Alexandria. (AP, REU 1/3)