The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian policeman outside the Beit El settlement nr. Ramallah after he opens fire on Israeli soldiers at the Beit El checkpoint, injuring 3. The IDF raids the assailant’s Jenin-area home after the attack, arresting his brother and confiscating the family’s work permits. They also shut down the Beit El checkpoint (it will remain closed through 11/14). Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces close down the entrance to Marah Rabah village nr. Bethlehem, as well as 2 side roads, after reports of stone-throwing in the area. They also demolish 10 residential structures and animal sheds in the n. Jordan Valley, confiscate 4 tractors from families living nr. Tubas, and deliver stop-work orders to several homes under construction nr. Hebron. IDF troops arrest 10 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during raids nr. Qalqilya, Nablus, and Hebron, as well as in Tubas; and patrol nr. Qalqilya and Hebron during the day. Early in the morning, PASF troops conduct raids in Balata r.c. nr. Nablus, sparking 6 hours of clashes and minor firefights with the alleged criminals they came to arrest. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid a middle school in Silwan and attempt to arrest a number of students accused of stone-throwing before 2 administrators intervene. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level lands nr. Khuza‘a. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no injuries or damage. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/31; HA 11/1; MNA 11/2; PCHR, REU 11/3; MNA 11/14)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities temporarily limit the number of trucks permitted to pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing bearing goods for Gaza. Around 70 trucks are denied access. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem and Jayyus nr. Qalqilya, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians in both. IDF troops also arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Tubas and nr. Tulkarm and Nablus; and patrol during the day nr. Hebron. Israeli forces bulldoze an agricultural road nr. Nablus, then block the road with a sand barrier. Unidentified vandals scrawl swastikas and the words “Death to Jews” on an IDF outpost nr. Hebron late at night. In response, the IDF suspends the Palestinian olive harvest in the area indefinitely. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking clashes with stonethrowing residents; at least 12 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 3 Palestinians during further raids in Sur al-Bahir. (MNA, WAFA 10/27; HA 10/30; PCHR 11/3)

PA pres. Abbas meets with Hamas leader Khalid Mishal and his dep. Ismail Haniyeh in Doha. They discuss steps they could take toward Palestinian national reconciliation. Senior Palestinian officials say the meeting is the start of a new reconciliation process, but they add that Abbas and Mishal did not agree on the aims of the new process. (HA, NYT, TOI, YA 10/27; MNA 10/30)

For a 2d day in a row, Gazan fighters fire a rocket into s. Israel. It lands in an open area, causing no serious damage or injuries. The IDF fires retaliatory tank shells across the border at Hamas sites, causing an undetermined amount of damage. After the exchange, DM Lieberman says that Israel will not seek an escalation of violence, but that it will not hesitate from retaliating against all rocket attacks. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 10/6; PCHR 10/13)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Rafah. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts a late-night raid in al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Tubas, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 3 Palestinians are injured and 2 are arrested. IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians during raids nr. Bethlehem, Nablus, and Tulkarm; and patrol nr. Hebron. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish the “unrecognized” bedouin village of al-Araqib in the Negev for the 104th time since 2010. They also shut down several organizations affiliated with the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Nazareth and Umm al-Fahm, including 1 media group. The branch was accused of incitement and outlawed in 11/2015 (see JPS 45 [3]). (MNA 10/6; MNA 10/7; PCHR 10/13)

PA pres. Abbas is admitted to hospital in Ramallah after suffering chest pains and undergoes cardiovascular testing. PLO secy.-gen. Erekat says that the tests confirm that Abbas is in “good health.” (HA, MEMO, MNA 10/6)