The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops on the border twice open fire on Palestinian homes, causing 1 injury. In 2 separate incidents off the coast nr. Rafah, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian woman at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron after she refuses to undergo a security check. Nearby, Israeli soldiers patrol nr. al-Shuhada Street, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youth; several Palestinians suffer from tear gas inhalation. Clashes break out in Tuqu‘ nr. Bethlehem when IDF troops raid the village and search several homes. The IDF also conducts arrest raids and house searches nr. Jenin, Nablus, and Ramallah; patrols nr. Hebron, Birzeit, Ramallah, Jericho, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya; arrests 2 Hamas mbrs. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 8 locations nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, Ni‘lin, Qalandia checkpoint, outside Ofer prison, Jalazun r.c., and 2 other villages), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are 16 moderate injuries and 2 serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct house searches and raids in Silwan. (AP, HA, JP, MNA 11/28; MNA 11/29; PCHR 12/4)

Ahead of the French Parliament’s 12/2 vote on Palestinian statehood, FM Fabius presents a new diplomatic proposal for restarting peace negotiations. The proposal includes a UNSC res., currently being drafted by French officials as an alternative to a Palestinian-drafted text, which will provide a framework and a 2-year deadline for talks. He says that France is prepared to host a new round of peace negotiations. (AFP, HA 11/28)

In Egypt, Egyptian security officials shoot and kill a Palestinian security officer as he drives into an ambush meant for another nr. Shaykh Zuwayd in the n. Sinai. (AP, MNA 11/28)

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen on 3 separate occasions, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Nablus and 1 nearby village and 1 village nr. Hebron; patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron, 2 villages nr. Jericho, and 1 village nr. Ramallah. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 2 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in and Nabi Salih) and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in Nabi Salih, where 1 person is struck by a tear gas canister. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers set fire to around 100 trees nr. Salfit. (MNA 10/10; PCHR 10/16)

PM Hamdallah and other ministers from the Palestinian unity govt. head from Gaza to Cairo ahead of the Gaza reconstruction conference on 10/12. Separately, the PA releases its plan for the recovery and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. It estimates that the whole process will cost $4 b., along with an additional $500 m. for the PA to administer the efforts. (MNA 10/10) (See Doc. B4 in JPS 174 for more on the plan.)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF continues its assault with attacks on 41 targets, killing 11 Palestinians and injuring dozens. Israeli fighter jets and drones strike targets in n. Gaza, as well as nr. Gaza City, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, while IDF troops fire smoke bombs and live ammunition across the Israel-Gaza border in 1 location and Israeli artillery shelling hits 2 others. The armed Palestinian groups fire over 100 projectiles into Israel; of which, 3 land in urban areas, 73 land in open areas, and 17 are intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. Meanwhile, Hamas executes 4 alleged collaborators with Israel in the courtyard of a mosque in Jabaliya r.c. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts patrols in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, as well as 1 village nr. Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with a group of Palestinian youth outside a checkpoint nr. Shu‘fat, and 1 Palestinian is wounded when the soldiers open fire with tear gas and rubbercoated metal bullets. (AFP, AP, HA, MNA 8/23; PCHR 8/28)

Following talks between Hamas leader Mishal and PA Pres. Abbas in Doha on 8/21 and 8/22, Hamas publicly agrees to support Abbas’s application to join the ICC. According to PLO chief negotiator Erakat, only Islamic Jihad has not yet approved the document Abbas is asking all Palestinian factions to sign before he moves forward. (AFP, AP, MNA 8/23)

On the diplomatic front, Abbas travels to Cairo for talks with Egyptian pres. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. After their meeting, Abbas says “my main goal is for the truce talks to resume in Egypt as soon as possible.” In an interview on Egyptian television, Abbas says that he is planning a major diplomatic initiative and that he will present the plan to U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry, who is scheduled to visit the region in the coming days. The plan reportedly includes asking the UN to set a timetable for the Israeli occupation and signing the Rome Statue on behalf of the PA, which would give the ICC jurisdiction over cases relating to the occupation. For its part, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry releases a statement after the Abbas/al-Sisi meeting inviting the Israelis and Palestinians to return to Cairo for further cease-fire negotiations. (AJ, HA, WSJ 8/23)

Israeli PM Netanyahu holds talks with UN Secy.-Gen. Ban Ki-moon. Netanyahu compares Hamas to ISIS, in reference to the group’s 8/22 execution of collaborators, and blames the group for the latest escalation in violence. (AJ, HA, REU 8/23)

In the evening, 2 rockets are fired from Lebanon into n. Israel. No group claims responsibility for the attack, though Lebanese military officials suspect a small, local Palestinian group. Late at night, 5 rockets are fired from Syria into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israeli military officials say that a Palestinian group, not Syrian govt. forces, is responsible. Between the 2 sets of rocket attacks, 8 Israelis are lightly injured. (DS, JP, REU 8/23; AFP, HA, YA 8/24)

Off the shore of the Gaza Strip nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, an unknown gunman opens fire on Israeli forces at Beitunia checkpoint nr. Ofer prison, causing no injuries. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in Hebron and 4 nearby villages, and 2 villages nr. Salfit at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, and in Hebron and 3 nearby villages and 4 villages nr. Ramallah at night. 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, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in Bil‘in, where 2 are wounded by tear gas canisters. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces storm Haram al-Sharif to suppress a post-prayers demonstration in support of Palestinian prisoners, wounding 28. (MNA 6/13; PCHR 6/19)

In response to the kidnapping of 3 Israeli teenagers on 6/12, the IDF erects numerous roadblocks and begins intensive raids in the Hebron region. PA security services spokesperson Adnan Dmeiri says that the PA is not responsible for the safety of settlers and that the area in question is under Israeli security control. Hamas spokesperson Husam Badran, meanwhile, calls on Palestinians to return the West Bank to its “natural place as the focal point of the struggle and resistance.” U.S. Secy. of State Kerry calls Pres. Abbas to discuss several issues, including the missing teenagers, and asks the Palestinian leader to help in the search. Kerry also speaks with PM Netanyahu. (HA, MNA 6/13)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian demonstrators with live ammunition nr. Jabaliya r.c., close to the border fence, wounding 16, some of whom were also struck by tear gas canisters. The Israeli military claims that hundreds of protesters throw stones at soldiers during the incident. Later, Palestinians fire 2 rockets into s. Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops clash with Palestinians outside the entrance to Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, shooting and wounding 6 protesters with live ammunition. The IDF conducts house searches in Bethlehem and 1 village nr. Hebron and Ramallah at night; patrols in Hebron and 1 nearby village in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Hebron and Salfit at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements and occupation in 2 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in and Ni‘lin), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara). There are no serious injuries, except in Kafr Qaddum (2 struck by bullets). (HA, MNA 2/14; PCHR 2/20)

Pres. Obama holds a summit with Jordan’s King Abdallah in Palm Springs, California, where the 2 discuss the ongoing IsraeliPalestinian negotiations, Syria, and other regional issues. Obama pledges $1 billion in loan guarantees for Amman, and renews a 5-year aid package. In Jordan, a protest takes place to call for Abdallah to revoke the peace treaty with Israel, with around 1,200 demonstrators affiliated with the local Muslim Brotherhood participating. (AFP, AP, REU 2/14)

The spokesperson for the Syrian opposition, Louay al-Safi, says that the second round of peace talks in Switzerland have reached a dead end, after a day of separate meetings between UN-Arab League joint special envoy Brahimi and the 2 sides. Meanwhile, sources at the OPCW say that Syria has relinquished only 11% of its chemical weapons, and is likely to miss the deadline for the stockpile’s destruction. (AP, REU 2/14)

In the Gaza Strip, 1 Palestinian dies and 2 are injured in an explosion nr. al-Bureij r.c., while 1 other Palestinian dies in another explosion in the same camp, a mbr. of Hamas’s Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades. Both are suspected to be “work accidents.” Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian protesters close to the border fence nr. al-Shuhada’ cemetery in the n. Gaza Strip, wounding 5. In the West Bank, the IDF evicts Palestinian activists at the ‘Ayn Hiljeh protest camp in the Jordan Valley, lightly wounding 35. Subsequently, activists establish a new protest village in al-Joula in the n. Jordan Valley. The IDF clashes with protesters in Jalazun r.c. and in Silwad nr. Ramallah, with 12 wounded by live ammunition in the former, and 10 wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets in the latter. The IDF patrols in Nablus and 1 nearby village, 2 villages nr. Hebron and 1 village each nr. Jenin and Nablus at night. 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, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara). There are no serious injuries, except in Kafr Qaddum (2 struck by tear gas canisters and 2 with rubber-coated metal bullets) and Nabi Salih (3 struck by tear gas canisters and 1 with a rubbercoated metal bullet). In East Jerusalem, clashes between worshippers and Israeli forces at Haram al-Sharif leave 18 injured. (AFP, HA, MNA 2/7; PCHR 2/13)

UNRWA workers end a 2-mo. strike that began 12/3 over low pay and working conditions, news announced by UNRWA chief Filippo Grandi. (AFP 2/7)

Australia’s Woodside Petroleum Ltd. takes a 25% stake in Israel’s large Leviathan gas field in the e. Mediterranean, as Israel takes a step toward becoming a natural gas exporter. (REU 2/7)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian protesters close to the border fence nr. Jabaliya, wounding 7. Separately, Israeli forces open fire on an open area in the c. Gaza Strip, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF opens fire on a crowd of a few hundred Palestinian demonstrators outside Jalazun r.c., wounding 14 with live ammunition and 4 with rubber-coated metal bullets. The protest is a response to the killing of a camp resident on 1/29. In addition, Palestinians clash with Israeli forces nr. Ramallah outside Silwad village, with 1 Palestinian wounded by live ammunition. IDF troops detain 2 Palestinians who they say went to the entrance of Nahlilel settlement and set off fireworks. In Bethlehem, amid clashes with Israeli soldiers, Palestinian youth throw an improvised explosive device at Rachel’s Tomb. The clashes result in 7 arrests. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian activists with some internationals go to ‘Ayn Hiljeh, an abandoned Palestinian village in the Jordan Valley, as part of a demonstration protesting settlement activities and land confiscation. The Popular Struggle Coordination Cmte. says that the step is also aimed at averting reported Israeli intentions to annex the area. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, 2 villages nr. Salfit, and 1 village each nr. Bethlehem and Ramallah at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 3 villages in Hebron and 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Tulkarm at night. 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, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (alMa‘sara). There are no serious injuries, except in Kafr Qaddum (2 struck by tear gas canisters). (AP, MNA, ToI 1/31; PCHR 2/6)

In Switzerland, the 1st round of UN-sponsored peace negotiations on Syria ends with no breakthroughs or even seeming progress in bringing the 2 sides closer together. UN-Arab League joint special envoy Brahimi, who is serving as mediator, expresses frustration that even an agreement to allow an aid convoy to reach Homs remained elusive. Opposition delegates say they will return on 2/10, but govt. reps. say they would need to check with Damascus. (REU 1/31)

Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis fires a rocket toward Eilat from the Sinai Peninsula, which is intercepted by an Iron Dome missile defense battery. (YA 1/31)

The Egyptian military attacks militants in Shaykh Zuweid, Sinai Peninsula, with Apache helicopters and ground forces, killing 13. (AP 1/31)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on a group of some 300 Palestinians demonstrating in solidarity with farmers denied access to the “no go” zone by the border fence, wounding 2. Meanwhile, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians throwing stones at soldiers at the border fence on 2 separate occasions nr. Jabaliya r.c. and Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Palestinians and Israeli forces clash in Bethlehem, a spillover from weeks-long confrontations in Aida r.c. Stone-throwers are confronted by tear gas, but no serious injuries occur. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and in Hebron and 3 nearby villages, and in Bethlehem at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and in al-‘Arub r.c. at night. 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, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara). There are no serious injuries, except in Bil‘in (5 wounded by bullets, including 1 international), Nabi Salih (2 wounded by bullets) and Kafr Qaddum (1 struck by tear gas canister). In East Jerusalem, the IDF shoots and wounds 2 Palestinians in clashes with protesters in al-‘Izzariya that begin when local youth try to break a hole in the separation wall. Clashes also spread to Abu Dis. (AFP, MNA 1/17; PCHR 1/23)

Around 20 rockets launched from inside Syria land in the Lebanese border town of Arsal, killing 7 and wounding 15. (REU 1/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers shoot and injure 4 Palestinians with live ammunition during clashes in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Nablus and nearby Balata r.c. in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, Qalqilya and 1 nearby village, and 1 village nr. Hebron at night; patrols in Hebron and 1 nearby village, and Qalqilya in the afternoon. 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, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara). There are no serious injuries, except in Bil‘in (3 wounded by bullets, 1 wounded by a tear gas canister), Ni‘lin (1 wounded by a bullet), Nabi Salih (2 wounded by bullets) and Kafr Qaddum (3 struck by tear gas canisters). (AFP, MNA 1/10; PCHR 1/16)

Israel publishes tenders for 1,400 new homes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and also reissues tenders for 582 units in East Jerusalem that had failed to attract bids from contractors. According to NGO Peace Now, today’s announcement means that Israel has announced 5,349 new homes since peace talks restarted in 7/2013. (REU 1/10)