The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized 1 tractor and 1 other vehicle in al-Maleh in the Jordan Valley and delivered stop-work orders for 14 structures south of Hebron. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Nablus, al-‘Arub refugee camp, Tulkarm, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli municipality demolished a wall next to the staircase leading to the Haram al-Sharif compound that was demolished on 11/29. 1 Palestinian was arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian shepherds east of Bayt Hanun; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also fired an artillery shell at an uninhabited Palestinian house east of Gaza City, causing extensive damage but no injuries. (WAFA, WAFA 12/14; PCHR 12/17)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Qatari emir Shaykh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha. (AJ, TOI 12/15)

Hamas denied Israeli reports that Israel and Hamas are progressing in talks of a prisoner swap. 1 Hamas spokesperson said that the reports were a ploy by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bolster his position as new Israeli elections loom. (HA 12/14; JP, TOI 12/15)

For the 1st time, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani directly accused Israel of assassinating the Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakrizadeh on 11/27. Other Iranian officials have accused Israel of carrying out the assassination and it is the general perception among major news outlets that Israel was behind it. (HA 12/14)

Moroccan police prevented pro-Palestinian activists from protesting the country’s normalization deal with Israel. Riot police with water cannons blocked the entrances to the square that the activists were trying to reach in Rabat. (HA 12/14; MEE 12/15)

The U.S. formally removed Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terror after a 45-day congressional reviewing period that started after U.S. president Donald Trump announced the country would be removed from the list as part of its normalization deal with Israel. (AJ, HA, REU 12/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers clashed with Palestinians while touring an evacuated settlement outpost south of Jenin. Israeli forces raided the headquarters of the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, an office of the PFLP, and the Abu Judeh Print Shop. Israeli forces also seized 1 coffee shop cart in Huwwara. 26 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around al-‘Arub refugee camp, Bayt Umar, Tubas, Kaubar, Abu Dis, and Jericho. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli settler attacked a 6-year-old boy in Silwan. 1 Palestinian began demolishing his grocery store in Jabal Mukabir and 1 Palestinian family received a demolition order for their house in Silwan. 2 Palestinians were arrested in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 12/10; PCHR 12/17)

The Tulkarm, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Hebron, governorates entered a week-long lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. (WAFA 12/10)

U.S. president Donald Trump announced that Morocco had decided to normalize relations with Israel in a deal where the U.S. reverses decades of policy to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara. As part of the deal, Morocco will open a diplomatic office in Tel Aviv and Israel in Rabat, which eventually will be turned into embassies; both will also grant overflight rights to each other. The UN recognizes the legitimate rights of the Sahrawi people to self-determination as it does the Palestinian people. U.S. officials later told Reuters that the U.S. is negotiating with Morocco to sell 4 sophisticated drones to the country. According to the prime minister of Morocco Saad-Eddine El Othmani, the king of Morocco Mohammed VI and PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke on the phone after the announcement of the normalization deal. Prime Minister El Othmani also said Morocco still rejects the U.S. peace plan and remains “supportive of the Palestinian cause.” Hamas called the normalization deal a betrayal while the PA has been silent. Moroccans protested the normalization in several cities after the announcement. It was reported by the New York Times that the U.S. also promised Morocco to facilitate an investment of $3 billion over 3 years as part of the deal. (AJ, AP, AX, BBC, GDN, HA, POL, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU 12/10; AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, REU 12/11; AJ, AJ, REU, TOI 12/12; AJ, GDN, HA 12/13)

India contributed $2 million to the UNRWA. (WAFA 12/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Artas, 1 house under construction in Dayr Sharaf, and 2 warehouses in Anata. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians during a raid in Bayt Umar, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 10 Palestinians were arrested, including 9 during late-night raids in and around Kaubar, al-‘Arub refugee camp, Bayt Umar, and Sa‘ir, 1 Palestinian was arrested at the Qalandia checkpoint. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers interrupted a press conference held by EU members in the area where Israeli announced plans to construct more than 1,200 settler units on 11/15; among the disrupters was West Jerusalem deputy mayor Arieh King. The EU delegation eventually gave up carrying out its press conference at the site and moved it to the EU offices. 6 Palestinians were arrested. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (HA, Twitter, Twitter, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/16; WAFA 11/17, PCHR 11/19)

In an ad for an upcoming route to Tel Aviv, the UAE-owned airline Etihad featured a drawing of the 2d Temple as point of interest for visitors. The 2d Temple was destroyed in 70 CE and was located where the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque are now. Etihad later pulled its ad from Twitter. (HA 11/16)

The foreign minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said, during a virtual conference on security, that Sudan, Bahrain, and the UAE normalization deals with Israel undermines efforts to create a Palestinian state. (HA, REU, TOI 11/16)

4 Republican senators sent a letter to U.S. president Donald Trump, urging him to change the guidelines on how products from the West Bank are to be labeled when entering the U.S. The 4 senators, Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), wrote that products from “Judea and Samaria” should be allowed to be labeled as “Made in Israel.” (Senator Tom Cotton 11/16; ALM, WAFA 11/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot 1 Palestinian near al-Fawar refugee camp; Israeli forces alleged that the man was wielding a knife when he was shot. Israeli forces also assaulted 1 minor near Jenin; he was taken to a hospital for treatment. 3 Palestinians were arrested trying to enter Israel near Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 6 Palestinians were arrested in al-Tur and the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian bird hunters northeast of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also opened fire on agricultural lads east of Abasan; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA 11/8; PCHR 11/12)

1 Palestinian sued 1 Israeli settler for vandalizing his property in a Nablus court. The suit against an Israeli settler in a Palestinian court is the 1st of its kind. (WAFA 11/8)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas congratulated president-elect Joe Biden on his victory in the 2020 U.S. presidential elections. In a statement, President Abbas said, “I look forward to working with the President-elect and his administration to strengthen the Palestinian-American relations and to achieve freedom, independence, justice and dignity for our people, as well as to work for peace, stability and security for all in our region and the world.” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated President-elect Biden in a tweet and immediately after, in another tweet, thanked President Donald Trump for “recognizing Jerusalem and the Golan, for standing up to Iran, for the historic peace accords and for bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights.” (HA, REU, Twitter, Twitter, WAFA, WAFA 11/8; HA, WAFA 11/9)

A delegation of Israeli settlers led by Yossi Dagan of the Samaria Regional Council met with Emirati businesspeople to promote their settler businesses. The settler business trip in the UAE is set to commence on 11/12. An aide to President Abbas called it “painful to witness Arab cooperation with one of the worst manifestations of aggression against the Palestinian people, which is the Israeli settlements on our land.” (AP, HA 11/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian near the separation wall west of Jenin. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting in Kafr Qaddum; 2 were injured by rubber-coated bullets. Elsewhere, Israeli forces and Palestinians clashed during raids in al-‘Arub refugee camp, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 3 Palestinians were arrested in and around Anata, Hebron, and Bethlehem. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen 1 nautical mile west of Bayt Lahiya; 1 Palestinian was lightly injured by 1 rubber-coated bullet. (WAFA 11/7; PCHR 11/12)

For the 20th Saturday in a row, thousands of Israelis protested prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside of his official residence and throughout Israel. (HA, WAFA 11/7)

Lebanese president Michel Aoun asked the Lebanese foreign ministry to retrieve evidence of U.S. claims against Christian politician Gibran Bassil after the U.S. put sanctions on him on 11/6. Bassil is also President Aoun’s son-in-law. (HA, HA, REU 11/7)

All major news outlets called the 2020 U.S. presidential election for Joe Biden after 5 days of vote counting. It took news outlets longer to call the 2020 president election because of the large amounts of mail-in ballots cast due to the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. president Donald Trump refused to concede the elections, making unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud. (AP, NYT 11/7; CNN, NYT, REU 11/8; WAFA 11/9; WP 11/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole ladders, cloth, and saws used for olive harvesting in Jalud. Israeli forces demolished 3 residential structures near Abu Dis. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Kafr Malik and Bethlehem; during raids in Kafr Malik, Tammun, and Jab‘a, confrontations with Palestinians erupted, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 store and 1 apartment in Sur Bahir. 3 Palestinians were arrested in and around the Old City, al-Tur, and Shu‘fat refugee camp. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28; PCHR 10/29)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to UN secretary-general António Guterres urging him to convene an international conference for Middle East peace. (WAFA 10/29)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman signed an agreement on scientific cooperation, which extends the area that the U.S. considers Israel to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Golan Heights. In a statement, Ambassador Friedman said that the agreement “remove[s] geographic restrictions . . . These geographic restrictions are no longer consistent with U.S. policy.” According to Haaretz, the American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who is a major donor for U.S. president Donald Trump and the Ariel University in the Ariel settlement, where the signing ceremony was held, has been pressuring the U.S. administration to fast-track the agreement. Member of the executive committee of the PLO Hanan Ashrawi said that President Trump is seeking to bolster his position in the presidential race by making “a clear recognition of Israel’s annexation of Palestinian territory,” calling the U.S. an active participant in war crimes. (AX, JNS, JP, REU 10/27; HA, REU, U.S. Embassy in Israel, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 nursery in al-Samou and 1 house south of Hebron. 10 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around al-‘Arub refugee camp, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, 1 minor was arrested during a raid in al-Tur. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; PCHR 10/29)

Haaretz reported that Israel had asked the U.S. to approve sales of F-22 fighter jets to Israel so Israel can preserve its quantitative military edge in light of U.S. sales of F-35 fighter jets to the UAE as part of the normalization deal. The U.S. is the only country that operates F-22 fighter jets. (HA 10/27)

U.S. president Donald Trump told reporters that up to 10 other countries are in talks to normalize ties with Israel, saying “We have five, but we really have probably nine or 10, that are right in the mix. We have a lot. I think we’ll have all of them . . . It will be after the election. We’re doing a lot of work right now.” (HA, TOI 10/27)

The Islamic Development Bank contributed $6.58 million to a number of PA projects in the health sector. The German government donated 50 ventilators to the PA to help it treat COVID-19 patients. (WAFA, WAFA 10/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers emptied sewage and wastewater on Palestinian agricultural lands in Dayr al-Hatab near Nablus. Israeli settlers also attacked 2 Palestinian journalists from WAFA as they were reporting on settler encroachment in Dayr Istya. Israeli forces demolished 1 residential structure and 1 water well, and seized 1 vehicle and 1 power engine near Tubas. 9 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around al-‘Arub refugee camp, Bethlehem, Qalandia refugee camp, Qalqilya, and Izzariya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities issued demolition orders for 13 Palestinian-owned houses in Silwan inhabited by 76 people. 10 Palestinians were arrested in and around the Old City and Issawiyya, including 2 Waqf guards. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/19; PCHR 10/22)

Israel handed over control of 3 power stations to the PA. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh supported the deal and said the PA “seek[s] to establish a single Palestinian power company” that will be responsible for electric supply in all the West Bank. The PA took control of another power station in Jenin in 2017. At the same time, Israel granted the Israeli company Bezeq a license to operate in the West Bank, a move that the PA Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology condemned. The PA ministry said that the move impedes the development of Palestinian telecommunication development. (WAFA 10/19; HA 10/20)

Israel reported that PLO secretary general Saeb Erakat was in critical condition as he is being treated for COVID-19 at the Hadassah University Hospital in West Jerusalem. (AJ, HA, WAFA 10/19)

The Fatah Central Committee announced that its members had approved the understandings made with Hamas unanimously. (WAFA 10/19)

The UAE cabinet approved the Israel-UAE normalization deal. (HA, REU 10/19)

U.S. president Donald Trump said that the U.S. would remove Sudan from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism if Sudan paid $355 million to American victims of terror attacks in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. The U.S. has been pressuring Sudan to normalize ties with Israel and some analysts believed that a normalization deal was being worked on despite Trump not mentioning it in his statements. (AJ, GDN, HA, REU 10/19; BBC 10/20)

Japan donated $4.3 million to food programming in Gaza. (WAFA 10/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers opened fire at 1 Palestinian home in the center of Hebron; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians in Hebron, leading to several injures, including 1 Palestinian minor who was hit in the face with a rubber-coated bullet. Israeli forces also assaulted 2 Palestinians and seized their motorcycle near Jenin. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jiftlik and al-‘Arub refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family started demolishing their own home in Silwan. In several cities in Gaza, Palestinians protested the normalization deals between Bahrain, the UAE, and Israel. (AJ, REU, WAFA, WAFA 9/12; PCHR 9/17)

Thousands of protesters demanded Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation outside of his residence for the 12th week in a row. (REU, TOI 9/12; AJ 9/13)

According to journalist Bob Woodward’s forthcoming book Rage about U.S. president Donald Trump, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed President Trump doctored video clips of PA president Mahmoud Abbas on 22 May 2017. According to the book, Trump was starting to think Netanyahu was the main obstacle to peace prompting Netanyahu to show false videos of Abbas that portrayed him negatively. 1 day after watching the doctored clips Trump, had a heated conversation with Abbas calling him a “liar” and a “murderer.” (HA 9/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 1 Palestinian accused of attempting to stab an Israeli soldier near the Ariel settlement. Israeli forces also blocked the entrance to Jalazun refugee camp and 1 main entrance to Salfit. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Jericho, and Hizma, and 1 was arrested at a military checkpoint east of Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces installed 2 loudspeakers on the Haram al-Sharif compound. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested and later released to 5 days of house arrest in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also made incursions to level land east of Khuza‘a. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 9/6; PCHR 9/10)

Chairman of the Hamas politburo Ismail Haniyeh met with the secretary-general of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut to discuss political and military developments in the region. Chairman Haniyeh also visited the Palestinian refugee camp ‘Ayn al-Hilwa. (AJ 9/6)

The king of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud told U.S. president Donald Trump in a phone call that his country would not normalize relations with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state. (GDN, REU 8/6; AJ, HA 9/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian teen and injured 2 others during a raid in Dayr Abu Mash‘al. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against settlement expansion southeast of Tulkarm, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also demolished 1 wall and issued demolition orders for 1 pond and 1 barn in Hizma. Palestinians protested against the UAE-Israel normalization deal in Turmus ‘Ayya. Officials from the PA, PLO, Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad participated; Israeli forces injured 7 using rubber-coated bullets, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 9 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Qalandia refugee camp, al-Ram, Jenin, Tubas, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, 9 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces shelled multiple areas of Gaza, causing damage. According to Israeli officials, incendiary balloons sent from Gaza toward Israel started 28 fires. Palestinians in Gaza protested the Israel-UAE normalization deal in Gaza City. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing damage to 1 boat and minor injuries to 1 fisherman. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/19; AJ, REU, WAFA 8/20; PCHR 8/27)

The Sudanese foreign ministry fired its spokesperson after he said on 8/18 that Sudan was looking forward to normalizing ties with Israel, a claim that the foreign ministry denied that same day. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that “Saudi Arabia considers Israel’s unilateral policies of an annexation and building settlements as an illegitimate and detrimental to the two states solution . . . Saudi Arabia reaffirms its commitment to peace as a strategic option based on the Arab Peace Initiatives.” The Arab Peace Initiative stipulates normalization with Israel is predicated on the establishment of a Palestinian state. U.S. president Donald Trump said later that same day that he expects Saudi Arabia to follow the UAE and normalize ties with Israel. (AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU, REU 8/19; AJ 8/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 house and 1 water well, displacing 5 Palestinians west of Jenin; and demolished 1 house in Bayt Iksa. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 3 water pumps from Bayt Umar. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Hizma, Nablus, Jenin, Jericho, and Yatta. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Shu‘fat refugee camp and Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/10; PCHR 8/13)

The Israeli high court of justice blocked a punitive demolition of the family home of an alleged Palestinian attacker who is accused of killing an Israeli soldier on 5/12 during a raid in Ya‘bad. The majority opinion cited “serious damage to a number of basic rights, including property rights and human dignity.” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the decision a “miserable ruling.” (HA 8/10)

Prime Minister Netanyahu said in an interview that Israel had not annexed parts of the West Bank yet because the U.S. had not given him their final approval. Netanyahu said that U.S. president Donald Trump had been preoccupied by other issues and had put Israeli annexation on hold. (JP 8/11)

After daily protests since the massive explosion in the Beirut port on 8/4, Lebanese prime minister Hassan Diab and his cabinet resigned. Lebanese president Michal Aoun asked the prime minister to stay in a capacity as caretaker until a new government is formed. (AJ, REU 8/10; HA, REU 8/11)

In the West Bank, PA governors imposed lockdowns of several governates and cities, including Hebron city, Abu Falah village, and Nablus governate for 5 days, and several towns and villages in the Bethlehem governate for 7 days, to curb the spread of COVID-19. Later, the PA said it would impose a 5-day lockdown in the West Bank starting 7/3. Palestinians protested in Ramallah against Israel’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Israeli settlers razed land in ‘Ayn Bus and southeast of Qalqilya. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Jalazun refugee camp, Birzeit, Kafr al-Dik, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 house in Jabal Mukabir and 1 residential shack in Issawiyya. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around al-Tur, Silwan and Bayt Hanina. In Gaza, Palestinians in Gaza City protested the planned Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank. (AJ, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/1)

According to Haaretz sources in Gaza, Hamas’s military wing tested long-range missiles. (HA 7/1)

Israel’s foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi told Israel’s Army Radio that, “[i]t seems unlikely to me that this [announcement of plans for annexation of parts of the West Bank] will happen today . . . I reckon there will be nothing today.” Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously announced that annexation of parts of the West Bank would begin on 7/1. (AJ, HA, REU 7/1)

The Syrian, Russian, and Turkish president issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s attacks on Syria and U.S. president Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel. (AJ, HA 7/1)

In an op-ed in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, UK prime minister Boris Johnson warned Israel against annexation of parts of the West Bank, saying that it would be a violation of international law and that the “UK will not recognize any changes to the 1967 lines, except those agreed between both parties.” (HA, YNET, REU, WAFA 7/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 13 buildings in 2 settlement outposts; 6 settlers were arrested. Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian property in Aqraba, damaging animal barns and solar panels and stealing goods. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 at a military checkpoint west of Salfit, and 6 during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Salfit, Nablus, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 2 apartments and 4 storage units in Shu‘fat refugee camp. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during raids in al-Tur; 2 others were arrested while visiting a brother at the Russian Compound detention center. In Israel, Israeli authorities reported that 1 rocket was launched from Gaza; no injuries or damage were reported. Israel subsequently fired 3 missiles from a drone at open land east of Juhur al-Dik; no injuries or damage were reported. (HA, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/15; WAFA 6/16; PCHR 6/18)

Israel’s high court of justice ordered the Israeli government to explain why there has not been an investigation into the construction of unauthorized settlement units in the Hayovel settlement outpost. Peace Now petitioned the high court of justice in 2018 and no construction has resumed in the settlement outpost since the petition. (HA 6/16)

In a press conference, senior Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil called for united Palestinian resistance against Israel as plans for annexation of parts of the West Bank intensify. Al-Bardawil also called for meetings between Hamas and the PLO. (AJ 6/15)

Reuters reported that sources had told the news agency about plans to build a 5-mile settler bypass road in East Jerusalem to connect settlements in the south, central, and north West Bank. (AJ, REU 6/15)

According to reporting by Al Akhbar, Israel approved a $50 million transfer from Qatar to Gaza. (HA 6/15)

The Israeli cabinet approved a $2.3 million budget for an Israeli settlement in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights named after U.S. president Donald Trump. The plans for Trump Heights were announced in 2019 but had not yet been funded. Israel is planning to build 120 settlement units there. (AJ, HA 6/14)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers cut down 50 olive trees in al-Sawiya south of Nablus. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bayt Awa, Bayt Fajjar, Ramallah, al-‘Arub refugee camp, and Abu Dis. During a raid in Jericho, 6 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries after clashes broke out between Israeli forces and Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a raid. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/8; PCHR 1/9)

Israeli defense minister Naftali Bennett told reporters that he had created a task force to develop plans for the future of Area C, to which he said, “[t]he State of Israel’s policy is that the land in Area C belongs to [Israel].” (HA 1/9)

U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo said via video during a Jerusalem policy forum that changing U.S. policy on the Israeli settlements in the West Bank was returning to a “balanced and sober” approach to the peace process and reiterated the administration’s position that Israeli “settlements don’t inherently violate international law.” (REU 1/8)

U.S. president Donald Trump responded to the Iranian strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq on 1/7 by announcing additional sanctions on Iran. (AJ 1/8)