The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians collecting scrap metal close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF wound 1 Palestinian during clashes in Nablus during a patrol designed to protect the movement of Jewish settlers. IDF troops demolish 2 houses in al- ‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, prompting clashes with residents. Three are injured by rubber-coated metal bullets. IDF troops also fire tear gas into the grounds of 2 schools in al-Khadir, nr. Bethlehem. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, and in 1 village nr. Jenin at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron, in Tulkarm and 1 nearby village, and 1 village nr. Jericho at night. In Israel, a car owned by a Palestinian citizen is vandalized, the 6th such hate crime in the town over the last mo. Meanwhile, residents of Furaydis hold a general strike to protest the “price tag” attack on 4/29, where racist graffiti was sprayed on a mosque. Israeli PM Netanyahu condemns the attack and says that the govt. is tackling those responsible. (HA, MNA, WAFA 4/30; PCHR 5/8)

Senior Palestinian official Shaath says that the Palestinian leadership will look to take action at the international level, in light of the breakdown in negotiations he says were foiled by Israel. (WAFA 4/30)

Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad says that PA Pres. Abbas will issue a presidential decree to convene the Palestinian Legislative Council— which has not convened since 2007—while elections will not take place for another 6 mos. Hamas and Fatah officials reactivate a subcmte. on civil liberties, as part of the implementation of the reconciliation agreement. Topics for the new subcmte. to deal with include the end of a ban on West Bank newspapers in Gaza. Meanwhile, around 1,000 Hamas supporters march through Ramallah, marking the return of the remains of 2 Hamas fighters killed by Israel in 1998. Speaking to mourners by telephone, Hamas leader Khalid Mish‘al affirms that the organization’s “path is resistance and the rifle,” and that Palestinians were in need of a joint, unified strategy to secure the “liberation of our lands and holy sites.” (AFP, JP, MEMO, MNA, REU 4/30)

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries, and arrest 2 fishermen. Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land close to the border fence nr. Khan Yunis. Meanwhile, an explosive device detonates on the Gaza border nr. Jabaliya in a failed attempt to target Israeli soldiers on patrol. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Bethlehem, and 1 village each nr. Hebron, Qalqilya and Salfit at night; patrols in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Salfit in the afternoon, and in 4 villages nr. Jenin, al-Fawar r.c. and 2 villages each nr. Hebron, Jericho, and Ramallah, and in 1 village each nr. Bethlehem, Salfit and Tulkarm at night. (JP, MNA 4/24; PCHR 4/30)

Israel announces the suspension of peace talks with the PA, following an emergency meeting of PM Netanyahu’s top-level cabinet. The decision comes in response to the announcement of a Palestinian unity govt. Israel also says it intends to deploy economic sanctions against the PA. The PLO executive cmte. releases a statement in response that describes the announcement as reaffirming Netanyahu’s “lack of commitment toward a just settlement and the 2-state solution.” Meanwhile, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry speaks with PA Pres. Abbas on the telephone and expresses his disappointment at the reconciliation deal. According to State Dept. spokesperson Psaki, he tells Abbas that any Palestinian govt. must support the 3 principles of nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements. Abbas promises Kerry that the govt. will represent his policies. Separately, senior Fatah official Jibril Rajub says that the agreement is based on a 2-state solution, while, Hamas dep. FM Ghazi Hamad says that the movement wants “a Palestinian state with the 1967 borders.” Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh speaks with the Qatari and Turkish govts. to request diplomatic and financial support for reconciliation. UN special coordinator for the peace process Robert Serry says that he welcomes the unity deal, and that Abbas had promised him the agreement would proceed on the basis of PLO commitments. (MNA, REU, ToI, YA 4/24; HA 4/25)

In the n. Gaza Strip, the Israeli air force conducts an air strike, reportedly targeting 2 mbrs. of an armed group on a motorbike, but missing them. Gaza Ministry of Health spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra says that the strike wounded 12 civilians. Subsequently, Palestinians fire 3 rockets into s. Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Jalazun r.c. and 1 village nr. Ramallah, 1 village each nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the morning, and in al-Fawar r.c. and 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Ramallah, and in Jenin and Bethlehem at night. (HA, MNA 4/23; PCHR 4/24)

PLO and Hamas representatives announce a unity deal to bring an end to more than 7 years of division, in a press conference in Gaza City. The agreement stipulates that PA Pres. Abbas will set a date for new elections within 6 mos., emphasizes both parties’ commitment to the principles of the Cairo Agreement and the Doha Declaration, and urges a reactivation of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Pres. Abbas says in a statement that the deal “is backed by the Arab states and the international community, and will boost the position of the Palestinian negotiators to achieve the 2-state solution.” In response, Israeli PM Netanyahu reiterates his warning to Abbas that he must choose between peace with Israel or with Hamas. The Israeli PM also cancels a negotiations meeting scheduled for the evening. Meanwhile, U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Psaki says that the U.S. is “disappointed” by the move. Psaki adds that any Palestinian govt. must “unambiguously and explicitly” commit to nonviolence, recognize Israel, and accept previous agreements between the parties. Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), chair of the Appropriations Subcmte. on State and Foreign Operations, says that the unity deal “puts in jeopardy future U.S. assistance to the PA.” (HA, MNA, REU, ToI, Xinhua 4/23)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians close to the border fence nr. Jabaliya, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF violently disperses Palestinian protesters outside of Silwad village nr. Ramallah, causing no injuries. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 3 villages nr. Salfit, Dahaysha r.c. in Bethlehem, and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the morning, in Hebron and in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Salfit in the afternoon, and in al- ‘Arub r.c. and 5 villages nr. Hebron and 1 village each nr. Jenin, Jericho, Qalqilya, and Salfit. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin and Nabi Salih) and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with Palestinians outside Haram al-Sharif after tight restrictions are imposed on worshippers. (MNA 4/18; PCHR 4/24)

Gaza’s Ministry of Interior says that Egyptian authorities have kept the Rafah crossing closed for a total of 81 days thus far in 2014 (out of a total of 108). Officials also say that the repeated closures of the Kerem Shalom crossing over Jewish holidays have led to a severe fuel shortage, with the crossing shut on 4/14, 4/15, and 4/18, and scheduled to be shut again on 4/20–21, 4/25, 5/5–6, and 6/3–4 (along with the routine weekly closures on Fridays and Saturdays). (MNA 4/18)

Jewish extremists set fire to the door of a mosque in Umm al-Fahm in Israel, also leaving racist and “price tag” graffiti. (YA 4/18)

U.S. Special Envoy Indyk meets separately with Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Jerusalem and Jericho respectively. According to an unnamed Palestinian official, he does not present any new proposals. (AFP, ToI 4/18)

EU foreign affairs chief Ashton calls on Israel to reverse recent steps, such as settlement construction, and expresses “great concern” over a decision this week to declare an area in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc “state land.” Ashton also condemns the recent killing by Palestinians of an Israeli man nr. Hebron. In response, Israeli FM Lieberman criticizes Ashton’s remarks, sarcastically commenting that “the EU knows how to identify the world’s critical problems.” (AFP, HA 4/18)

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Palestinians demonstrate across the West Bank and Gaza Strip to mark Prisoners Day, with large protests in Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah and Gaza City. In Hebron, IDF troops violently disperse the protest with live ammunition, injuring 6. Separately, Israeli soldiers fire rubber-coated metal bullets at Palestinians in Tuqu‘ village nr. Bethlehem, in clashes sparked by a raid. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and 1 village each nr. Bethlehem and Hebron at night; patrols in Hebron and 1 nearby village in the morning, in 2 villages each nr. Hebron and Salfit, and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 2 villages each nr. Hebron, Jenin and Ramallah, and 1 village each nr. Jericho and Qalqilya at night. (MNA 4/17; PCHR 4/24)

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meet in Jerusalem, with U.S. Special Envoy Martin Indyk present. The talks break up after 5 hours without agreement or breakthrough. PA security spokesperson Adnan Dmeiri describes relations between the 2 sides as being “at the lowest level politically, economically and at a security level.” (AFP, JP, MNA, REU 4/17)

The IAEA reports that Iran has diluted 75% of its 20%-enriched uranium into less potent forms, with the agency confirming that Tehran is thus far adhering to its commitments made as part of the 6-mo. interim agreement signed in 11/2013. As a consequence of compliance, State Dept. spokesperson Harf confirms that the U.S. is taking steps to release $450 m. of frozen Iranian funds, while Japan has made 2 more payments totalling $1 billion to Iran for crude imports. (AP, JP, REU 4/17)

In n. Israel, IDF troops cross the Blue Line on the Lebanese border and seize 5 shepherds nr. the Shebaa Farms area. While 3 are immediately released, 2 brothers are detained. The Lebanese military says it is working with UNIFIL to secure the return of the remaining 2. (DS, MNA 4/18)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on stone-collectors close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun, wounding 2. Separately, IDF troops fire a shell in the Juhur al-Dik area, causing no injuries. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. Jewish settlers assault a Palestinian farmer in al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem. (MNA, WAFA 4/15; PCHR 4/17)

Israeli PM Netanyahu condemns the killing of an Israeli driving nr. Hebron the previous night, and blames the PA for “incitement.” U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Psaki also condemns the attack and urges “all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any action that would raise tensions.” Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh, speaking in Gaza City, praises the shooting attack as bringing “back life to the path of resistance.” Meanwhile, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meet again, without U.S. Special Envoy Indyk. (AFP, AP 4/15; JP 4/16)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conduct 3 separate limited incursions nr. Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, and Juhur al-Dik to level land close to the border fence. Israeli forces also open fire on stone-collectors close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries. Off the coast nr. Gaza City, Israeli naval vessels shoot at Palestinian fishermen on 2 occasions, causing no damage or injuries in either case. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in Bethlehem, Bayt Sahur, and 1 village each nr. Hebron, Nablus, and Ramallah at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and in Hebron in the morning, in Qalqilya and 1 nearby village and 1 village nr. Salfit in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Salfit and 1 village each nr. Hebron and Qalqilya at night. Meanwhile, Jewish settlers vandalize an IDF jeep in Yitzhar settlement, for the 2nd time in 2 days. In East Jerusalem, around 50 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif, along with MK Moshe Feiglin (Likud). (JP, MNA 4/7; PCHR 4/10)

U.S. Special Envoy Martin Indyk holds a 2d meeting in 2 days in Jerusalem with the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams, represented by Tzipi Livni and Yitzhak Molcho, and Saeb Erakat and Majed Faraj (head of Palestinian intelligence services) respectively. All reports indicate that the main issues of disagreement remain. U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Jen Psaki says that the focus is on “determining whether the process can move forward.” (JP, MNA, REU 4/7)

Clashes between rival fighters in Mieh Mieh r.c. nr. Sidon in s. Lebanon leave 9 dead and more than 20 injured. The 2 groups involved are Ansar Allah and Shuhada al-Awda, both led by former mbrs. of Fatah, with the origins of the dispute in a personal disagreement between mbrs. (AFP, REU 4/8)