The Palestine Chronology

In retaliation for the injury to a settler baby on 6/5, 100s of armed Jewish settlers torch several Palestinian homes in Luban al-Sharqiyya and al-Sawiya nr. Nablus. When Palestinians confront the settlers, IDF troops fire on them with rubber-coated steel bullets, seriously wounding several. 1,000s of settlers rally in Zion Square in Jerusalem to denounce Sharon, to demand he declare war on the Palestinians. Settlers also attack Palestinians, foreign journalists in Hebron; place 5 caravans on Khillat al-`Ayn hill nr. al-Khadir to establish a new settlement. The IDF confiscates 200 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Ramallah, bulldozes 1,000 olive trees in preparation for a new settler bypass road. Israel reopens the Egypt, Jordan border crossings to Palestinians, but not to goods; allows 2,000 Palestinians to return to their jobs in the West Bank, Gaza industrial zones on the borders with Israel. A Palestinian, last seen on 4/4 when he was taken into PSF custody, is found at an IDF checkpoint nr. Bethlehem, claiming to have escaped fr. the PA General Intelligence Service fearing he would be killed. (PMC, REU 6/6; MENA 6/6 in WNC 6/7; HA, HP, NYT, WP 6/7; MENA 6/7 in WNC 6/8; AFP [Internet], MM 6/8)

CIA Dir. Tenet meets with Mubarak in Cairo, with King Abdallah, Burns in Amman before heading to Israel and the PA areas to meet with Israeli, the PA officials. (MM, WP, WT 6/6; MENA 6/6 in WNC 6/7; WP 6/7)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead; a 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. After Palestinians fire 3 mortars at Gaza's Gadid settlement, causing no injuries, the IDF shells the PA naval headquarters, military intelligence headquarters in Gaza, killing 1 PSF doctor at the naval clinic, wounding 18 PSF mbrs., destroying the clinic and an ambulance. Citing the rare daylight strikes on occupied buildings, the PA again refuses to attend a U.S.-brokered security mtg. with Israeli officials (rescheduled fr. 4/9). Sharon asks Israelis questioning his security strategy to trust him, saying, "We know exactly what we're doing. I have a very clear plan. The plan will be executed, and security will be restored." The IDF directs heavy machine gun fire at a Force 17 building in Jinin, destroying it. (AFP [Internet], AP, MM, PCHR 4/10; XIN 4/10 in WNC 4/11; HP, NYT, WP 4/11; MA 4/11 in WNC 4/12; QA 4/11 in WNC 4/16; LAW, WJW 4/12; JT 4/12 in WNC 4/13; NYT 4/13)

The PA, the Organization of the Islamic Conference warn Sharon not to allow Jews access to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, saying it would be perceived as an attack on Islam and could precipitate a dangerous escalation in violence. 100 mbrs. of the Temple Mount Faithful, an ultranationalist Jewish group, attempt to force their way into the site but are blocked by Israeli police. (AP 4/10; MENA 4/10 in WNC 4/11; WT 4/11; JT 4/12 in WNC 4/13; MENA 4/13 in WNC 4/16; QA 4/26 in WNC 4/30) (see 4/5)

In Washington, Bush receives King Abdallah, who urges the U.S. to become more involved in the peace process, to actively support the Jordanian-Egyptian nonpaper. Bush reiterates that the U.S. will not become more involved in the peace process, that Israel and the PA must take parallel, reciprocal steps to halt violence before negotiations can resume. (MM 4/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/11; JT 4/11 in WNC 4/12; WJW 4/12; JT 4/13 in WNC 4/16)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead. A 2d, ailing Palestinian dies at an IDF checkpoint after soldiers bar him fr. crossing to reach a hospital in Ramallah. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire on residential areas of Hebron, Qalqilya, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian land around Ashkalot settlement, place new caravans on the site. Settlers are also reportedly moving boundary fences, adding trailers, bulldozing Palestinian land around Beit Hagay, Gush Etzion, Karme Tzur, Nahal Najhout, Tene settlements. (HP 2/26; HJ 2/26 in WNC 2/27; LAW 3/1)

U.S. Secy. of State Powell meets with Sharon in Israel, PA head Yasir Arafat in Ramallah (marking only the 2d time Israel has allowed Arafat into the West Bank since 9/28/00); urges them to halt violence, resume security cooperation, improve Palestinian economic conditions in the West Bank, Gaza; ensures Sharon that the U.S. commitment to Israel's security will remain solid under the Bush administration. Powell then stops in Amman to meet King Abdallah of Jordan, heads on to Kuwait for celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the end of the Gulf War. (AP, HA, REU 2/25; MM, NYT, WP 2/26; JT, MA 2/26 in WNC 2/27; AYM 2/26 in WNC 3/5; HA 2/27; MM 2/28; QA 2/28 in WNC 3/1; MA 3/1, SA 3/4 in WNC 3/5; JP, MEI 3/9)