The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops conduct raids in and around Nablus, sparking clashes in Balata r.c. and ‘Askar r.c.; 4 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 4 Palestinians on further raids in and around Jenin, and patrol nr. Nablus and Hebron during the day. Israeli forces demolish a number of agricultural structures and a water tanker nr. Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Rafah. (MNA, WAFA 12/27; PCHR 12/29)

PA pres. Abbas says he hopes the Paris peace conference set for 1/15 enables the international community to stop Israeli settlement construction. Meanwhile, the State Dept. announces that U.S. secy. of state Kerry intends to give a major speech on 12/28 outlining principles for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as he had announced on 12/23. In the evening, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov reportedly rejects Kerry’s request, made via telephone, for the Middle East Quartet to adopt the principles he plans to present. (AP, HA, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 12/27)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Rafah. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 15 Palestinians during raids in and around Tulkarm, Hebron, Ramallah, and Jenin; and patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian structure in Jabal Mukabir and an extension to a Palestinian home in Silwan. They also arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Issawiyya. (MNA 11/29; PCHR 12/1)

Fatah’s 7th General Conference kicks off in Ramallah amid rumors about PA pres. Mahmoud Abbas’s imminent retirement, succession of power, and exiled Fatah leader Mohammad Dahlan’s possible return to Palestinian politics. The conference attendees unanimously reelect Abbas as party chair. (AFP, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/29)

U.S. secy. of state John Kerry indicates that the Obama admin. is still weighing its options for launching a long-rumored peace push in its final mos. in office. (TOI 12/1)

Israeli fighter jets launch air strikes on a Hezbollah arms convoy w. of Damascus late at night, causing an unknown amount of damage and injuries. (JP, TOI, YA 11/29; HA 11/30)

IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth outside the Kiryat Arba settlement nr. Hebron after he allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and multiple locations along Gaza’s border; 3 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 8 Palestinians and issue 5 arrest summons during raids and house searches nr. Hebron and Salfit, as well as in and around Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. (EI, HA, MNA 9/23; PCHR 9/29)

For the 3d and final day in a row, the Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing to allow Palestinian pilgrims to return from their trip to Saudi Arabia. (MNA 9/23; MNA 9/24)

Leaders of the Middle East Quartet, including U.S. secy. of state John Kerry, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, and UN secy.-gen. Ban Ki-moon, reiterate the group’s call for the creation of “conditions for the resumption of meaningful negotiations that will end the occupation that began in 1967 and resolve all final status issues,” and reaffirm conclusions from the report they released in 7/2016 (see JPS 46 [2]). Afterward, Kerry meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (YA 9/23; MNA 9/24; HA 9/25)

Unidentified assailants open fire on an IDF vehicle in Qalandia refugee camp (r.c.), causing minor damage. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops detain 2 Israeli settler youths nr. Bethlehem who were threatening Palestinians with a toy gun. They also conduct late-night raids and house searches in Tulkarm, Jenin, and 1 nearby village, as well as in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Hebron, arresting 7 Palestinians; and patrol nr. Hebron. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces arrest 2 Palestinian fishermen and confiscate their boat nr. Bayt Lahiya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian homes nr. the Old City early in the morning. (MNA, WAFA 5/17; PCHR 5/19)

Egyptian pres. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi makes a major speech on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stating that he supports the French peace initiative and Palestinian national reconciliation, and will “make every effort” to advance an Israeli-Palestinian settlement. Meanwhile, French pres. François Hollande announces that he has postponed the meeting of FMs from 5/30 to sometime “in the summer” to allow U.S. secy. of state John Kerry to attend. (HA, JP, MNA, REU, TOI 5/17)

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian agricultural land nr. Rafah and Palestinian farmers working nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem overnight, Israeli forces demolish a playground and uproot a number of trees in Silwan, and arrest 3 Palestinians during latenight raids in al-Tur and Bayt Hanina. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a home, a farm, a water network, and some trees outside a village nr. Bethlehem, as well as 2 homes, a large barn, and a playground in n. Bethlehem. IDF troops conduct a raid on the Hebron home of the Palestinian activist who captured the video of the Israeli soldier shooting and killing an incapacitated Palestinian on 3/24. The IDF conducts further raids and house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin, as well as in Jenin itself, arresting 11 Palestinians; patrols nr. Hebron, Ramallah, and Jenin. Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) troops conduct a raid in c. Nablus, sparking armed clashes with Palestinian youths; 13 Palestinians are injured (5 of whom are PASF). (MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/29; WAFA 3/30; PCHR 3/31) 

Politico publishes a 2/17 letter signed by 11 mbrs. of the U.S. Congress, including Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), addressed to Secy. of State John Kerry and calling for investigations into the “disturbing number of reports of possible gross violations of human rights by security forces in Israel and Egypt.” The letter highlights “what may be extrajudicial killings” by Israeli forces in Israel and the oPt. (POL 3/29; HA, JP, MNA, TOI 3/30)

Israel’s Knesset passes a 1st reading of 2 bills that would create economic incentives for settlement growth. The 1st would reduce bureaucratic restrictions on home purchases in settlements, preventing settlers from paying taxes to both the govt. and the Civil Admin. The 2d would entitle settlers to tax breaks as long as they are eligible for a grant promoting capital investment. (HA 3/29)