The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Nablus after she allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli border police officer. No Israelis are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day and arrest 3 Palestinians on late-night raids nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, more than 10,000 Jewish worshippers gather at the Western Wall for Sukkot. Meanwhile, around 1,000 worshippers tour Haram al-Sharif and police remove 8 of them from the sanctuary for violating the rule against non-Muslim prayer. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in the Old City, Silwan, and al-Ram. They also confiscate equipment from a printing house in al-Ram. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Bayt Hanun; and open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Bayt Hanun later in the day, causing no injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/19; MNA, PCHR 10/20; JP 10/21; PCHR 10/27)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 2d time this week, allowing passage in both directions. A Palestinian official says that they intend to keep it open for 4 days in a row. (MNA 10/19)

Israeli amb. to the UN Danny Danon says he plans to demand that the UN end its funding of B’Tselem because of its criticism of the Israeli occupation on 10/14. (HA, JP, TOI, YA 10/19; JP 10/20)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathering at Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the killing of a resident of the camp; at least 10 Palestinians are injured (1 critically). The IDF also conducts late-night raids nr. Nablus, Hebron, and Jenin, arresting 5 Palestinians, demolishing a door and threatening demolitions; and patrols nr. Hebron and Qalqilya. Meanwhile, a Palestinian armed with a knife allegedly assaults an Israeli border police officer outside a settlement nr. Jerusalem, causing minor injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmland nr. Gaza City, causing no damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police arrest a Palestinian nr. the Old City who was allegedly planning a stabbing attack. Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in Silwan and Abu Dis; and impose a temporary closure on Bayt Surik village n. of the city, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing residents; 2 Palestinians are injured. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/15; PCHR 10/20)

The IDF imposes a general closure over the West Bank and Gaza, barring all passage through border crossings, except humanitarian cases, for the Jewish Sukkot holiday. The closure is set to extend through 10/17. (MNA, TOI 10/15)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for passage in both directions for the 1st of 2 planned days. (JP, MNA 10/15)

Israeli PM Netanyahu accuses B’Tselem and Americans for Peace Now of joining the “chorus of slander” against Israel because they participated in the UNSC meeting on Israeli settlements on 10/14. Netanyahu also says he is working to deny B’Tselem its right to a national service volunteer. The group only is allotted 1 such volunteer, and the post is currently unfilled. (HA 10/16)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c. and Jabaliya r.c.; 1 Palestinian is injured. Also along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmland nr. Khan Yunis, causing no serious damage. Elsewhere in the West Bank, they demolish property and threaten demolitions during late-night raids nr. Nablus and Hebron; and patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian farmlands nr. Qalqilya, destroying 50 olive trees. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian from Silwan while he is walking n. of the city. (MNA 10/14; PCHR 10/20)

At Egypt’s request, the UNSC holds a special meeting to discuss Israeli settlement building in the oPt, particularly the obstacles it presents to a 2-state solution. Two major anti-occupation groups, B’Tselem and Americans for Peace Now, address the UNSC. (HA, MNA, TOI, YA 10/14; AP 10/15)

In the West Bank, around 500 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops conduct arrest raids and weapons searches in al-Fawar refugee camp (r.c.), sparking major clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; at least 33 Palestinians are injured (1 bystander succumbs to his injuries later in the day). Initial reports of the clashes say that IDF snipers were aiming at Palestinian youths’ lower bodies; an autopsy of the fatally injured youth later shows that he was shot in the heart. B’Tselem will report on 9/9 that the Palestinian killed did not, in fact, take part in the clashes, despite media reports at the time. The IDF remains deployed in the camp for nearly 24 hours. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct further raids and house searches late at night nr. Ramallah and nr. Hebron, arresting 10 Palestinians and issuing an arrest summons to 1; and patrol during the day nr. Hebron, Nablus, and Qalqilya. Israeli forces uproot around 50 olive trees outside a village nr. Tulkarm, and demolish 7 homes outside Sa‘ir village nr. Hebron, 3 homes and a room in Bayt Jala nr. Bethlehem, and 1 home outside Duma village nr. Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a stable in Jabal Mukabir and a car showroom in Anata, and forcibly disperse Palestinian protesters at a sit-in in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners at a Red Crescent office in Sheikh Jarrah. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops arrest 4 Palestinians after they cut through the border fence and enter Israeli territory. It is unclear what they intended to do. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 8/16; MNA, TOI 8/17; PCHR 8/18; HA 8/21; MNA 9/10)

In the 2d attack this week, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Tulkarm after she allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier. No Israelis are injured. Meanwhile, around 4,000 Jewish settlers pray at Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and stone-throwing Palestinian residents; 10 Palestinians are injured (1 will succumb to his injuries on 6/6). Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids and house searches in Silwad and Kafr Malik villages nr. Ramallah, issuing 2 Palestinians arrest summons and sparking minor clashes in which a Palestinian is mildly injured. IDF troops patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries or damage. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. For the 2d day in a row, the Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing to traffic in both directions. (EI, HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 6/2; MNA 6/3; OCHA, PCHR 6/9)

Israel’s Justice Ministry releases a list of 27 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that might be affected by the so-called NGO Transparency Bill, which is currently under discussion in the Knesset. Twenty-five of the 27 NGOs are distinctly left-wing human rights groups, including B’Tselem and Yesh Din. This lends credence to accusations that the Transparency Bill is simply an attempt to silence opponents of the right-wing govt. (HA 6/3)

French FM Jean-Marc Ayrault announces 2 main goals for the international peace summit in Paris on 6/3: the parties agree to meet again by the end of 2016, with Israeli and Palestinian participation, and they agree to form several working groups to facilitate resolutions on various final status issues, such as Israeli security and economic incentives for both sides. (JP, TOI 6/2)

For a 2d day in a row, IDF troops stationed along Gaza’s border shoot and injure a Palestinian e. of Gaza City. Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion across the border fence to level land nr. Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian at a junction nr. Hebron after he is found to be carrying a knife. IDF troops conduct a raid in a village nr. Nablus late at night, arresting 1 Palestinian and sparking clashes with stonethrowers in which 2 Palestinians are injured. They conduct further late-night raids and house searches in Jalazun r.c. and 5 villages nr. Ramallah, as well as s. of Hebron, arresting 8 Palestinians, including an activist with the leftwing Israeli NGO B’Tselem. Israeli forces demolish a home and a cement wall in a village nr. Hebron. Palestinian workers are barred from entering Israeli settlements for the 2d and final day, pursuant to the IDF’s 1/18 decision. (MNA, MDW, TOI, WAFA 1/20; PCHR 1/21; HA 1/22; PHCR 1/28)