In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian minor near the Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron, causing hospitalization. Israeli forces assaulted 2 Palestinian minors near Kisan....
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November 20, 2022
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October 13, 2022
In the West Bank, dozens of Israeli settlers escorted by Israeli forces stormed Huwwara, attacking Palestinians, stores, and vehicles; 53 Palestinians were injured and 6 were arrested. Israeli...
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October 12, 2022
In the West Bank, Palestinians in several cities observed a general strike in solidarity with residents of Shu‘fat and ‘Anata, which have been closed by Israel since 10/8. Palestinians in Nablus...
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October 6, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort toured Sabastiyya, leading to a confrontation with Palestinian protesters; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also...
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October 1, 2022
In the West Bank, armed Israeli settlers marched through Hebron, shouting racist slogans at Palestinians. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian riding a motorcycle by the separation wall...
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July 2, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor during a raid in Jaba‘, claiming that the teenager had thrown a Molotov cocktail at the forces. Israeli forces also violently...
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April 3, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Homesh settlement outpost threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Burqa. Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from working their lands near...
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March 9, 2022
In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian who was shot by Israeli forces during a protest in Burqa on 3/1 succumbed to his wounds. Israeli settlers uprooted and stole grape saplings and damaged a stone wall...
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March 7, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up tents and a mobile home on Palestinian-owned land in Battir. Israeli forces assaulted and arrested 1 Palestinian in Hebron. Israeli forces also shot and...
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February 18, 2022
In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler hit 1 Palestinian child with his car near Qalqilya, causing the child to be treated at a hospital in Israel for his injuries. Israeli settlers with military...
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian minor near the Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron, causing hospitalization. Israeli forces assaulted 2 Palestinian minors near Kisan. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bruqin, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered stop-work notices for 2 houses under construction in Hamsa. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. 1 Palestinian family demolished parts of their own home in Silwan. 3 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and in Silwan. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/20; PCHR 11/24; UNOCHA 11/25)
It was reported that Israeli forces in the Jenin area had distributed leaflets to Palestinian residents warning them against attempting to cross the separation wall, saying “If you cross the fence, fire will be opened directly at you . . . We promise you that we will hurt you and will hold you accountable if you make any mistake!” The Israeli military said that it had not approved the language in the leaflets. (HA 11/20)
PA President Mahmoud Abbas met the leaders of Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the UN and FIFA at the sidelines of the World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar. (WAFA 11/20; WAFA 11/21)
In the West Bank, dozens of Israeli settlers escorted by Israeli forces stormed Huwwara, attacking Palestinians, stores, and vehicles; 53 Palestinians were injured and 6 were arrested. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian vendors selling produce in Bardala, damaging their products. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Dura, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian man during a raid in Aqabat Jabr refugee camp. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed a funeral procession for a Palestinian minor killed on 10/12 in al-Arroub refugee camp, causing tear gas related injuries. Israeli forces also shot and injured 2 Palestinians with baton rounds during a raid in Kafr Dan, tear-gas related injuries were also reported. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in ‘Anata, Dheisheh refugee camp, Bethlehem, Hebron, Qalandia refugee camp, and Kafr Dan. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers stormed the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians; 20 Palestinians and 2 settlers were injured. Dozens of Palestinian-owned vehicles were vandalized and 5 Palestinians were arrested. MK Itamar Ben-Gvir joined the settlers brandishing guns and threatening to shoot Palestinians. Israeli settlers also toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Sur Baher, displacing 3. 13 Palestinians were arrested in Isawiya and al-Thuri. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired tear gas at al-Bureij refugee camp near a school, causing tear-gas related injuries among students and staff. (ABC, AP, HA, HA, MEE, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WP 10/13; AJ, JP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, WAFA 10/14; MEE 10/15; UNOCHA 10/16; PCHR 10/20; UNOCHA 11/1)
Israeli deputy mayor of Jerusalem Aryeh King called on Jewish settlers to volunteer to “protect” East Jerusalem neighborhoods during ongoing Palestinian protests in East Jerusalem over Israel’s continued siege of ‘Anata and Shu‘fat. (HA 10/12)
Israeli public security minister Omer Bar-Lev instructed Israeli police to ease the checkpoint restrictions around Shu‘fat, in what was described as an effort to ease tensions in East Jerusalem after days of protests against the siege of Shu‘fat and ‘Anata, which started on 10/8. (HA 10/13)
14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah, signed an agreement in Algeria to hold Palestinian elections. The agreement comes after 2 days of meetings mediated by Algerian officials. At the meetings were Hamas chairman of the political bureau Ismail Haniyeh, Fatah member Azzam al-Ahmad, and PFLP secretary general Talal Naji. The agreement recognized the PLO as the sole representative for the Palestinian people and called for elections within 1 year. According to leader of the DFLP Tayseer Khalid, Hamas and Fatah rejected a clause in the agreement to form a unity government. (AJ, CNN, F24, HA, JP, MEMO, NA, REU 10/13; MEMO, NAT 10/14; MEMO 10/15)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Kazakhstan. During the meeting, President Abbas said he does not trust the U.S. as a mediator for peace, instead voicing support of mediation efforts by the Quartet. Abbas also met with the leaders of Qatar, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan. A U.S. spokesperson criticized Abbas’s comments, calling President Putin “a far cry from the type of international partner needed to constructively address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” (AP, HA, MEMO, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13; ALM, AX, TOI 10/15 HA, JP 10/16)
Lebanese president Michel Aoun officially said that Lebanon had accepted the maritime boundaries agreement with Israel, emphasizing that the agreement “does not signify any type of normalization.” Knesset members will vote on the agreement in 2 weeks. (AP, HA, MEMO, REU 10/13)
In the West Bank, Palestinians in several cities observed a general strike in solidarity with residents of Shu‘fat and ‘Anata, which have been closed by Israel since 10/8. Palestinians in Nablus also observed a general strike in protest against Israeli closures of all the entrances to the city. Israeli settlers attacked 1 vehicle transporting patients to an-Najah Hospital, damaging the vehicle. Israeli settlers with military escort also visited Joseph’s Tomb, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians resisting the incursion near Nablus; 1 Palestinian was shot and injured by Israeli forces. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers raided Huwwara, attacking businesses and people and blocking a road, 1 Palestinian was injured. Israeli settlers also set fire to a poultry facility and truck in Qusra. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian and injured 1 other while violently dispersing Palestinian protesters at al-Arroub refugee camp. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bethlehem, injuring 1 with a baton round and causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Ramallah, injuring 2 with live ammunition. Israeli forces also assaulted 1 Palestinian man after forcing him out of his vehicle at a checkpoint near Bayt Lid. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers led by MK Itamar Ben-Gvir toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Coinciding with the tour, Israeli forces assaulted and arrested 3 at the compound, including 2 Waqf guards. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Isawiya, Silwan, al-Tur, Ras al-Amud, Shu‘fat refugee camp, Jabel Mukaber, Sur Baher, and Bayt Hanina, using tear gas and stun grenades. A general strike was also observed by Palestinians in East Jerusalem in solidarity with Shu‘fat and ‘Anata. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/12; ALM, BBC, GDN, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, MEMO, PCHR, PCHR 10/13; UNOCHA 10/16; UNOCHA 11/1)
The Israeli cabinet approved the maritime border agreement with Lebanon, sending it to the Knesset for final approval in 2 weeks. (AP, HA 10/12)
The U.S. White House released its National Security Strategy. The strategy included language referring to expanding normalization deals for Israel and a commitment to Israel as a “Jewish and democratic” state. The strategy paper also restated president Joe Biden’s position in support of a 2-state solution “along the 1967 lines, with mutually agreed swaps.” The paper did not mention any effort to restart negotiations. (White House 10/12; MEE 10/13)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort toured Sabastiyya, leading to a confrontation with Palestinian protesters; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Israeli settlers also vandalized 1 home and solar panels in Khirbet al-Farisiyya. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near al-Bireh. Israeli forces forcefully evicted Palestinians from their home in Khallet Tata. Israeli forces also fired tear gas near a school in Tuqu‘, causing tear-gas related injuries among students and staff. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided the home of a Fatah official, arresting him and seizing some $3,000 in cash in Tuqu‘. Israeli forces also delivered a demolition notice against a house in al-Khader. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian at the entrance to Beit Umar. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Sa‘ir, Beit Duqqu, ‘Anata, and Hizma. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/6; MEMO, WAFA 10/7; PCHR 10/13; UNOCHA 10/16)
Israel rejected Lebanese amendments to the U.S. proposal for the demarcation of maritime borders between Israel and Lebanon. (AX, HA, REU 10/6)
In the West Bank, armed Israeli settlers marched through Hebron, shouting racist slogans at Palestinians. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian riding a motorcycle by the separation wall near al-Eizariya; during the subsequent funeral procession, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 minor with a baton round. The killing marked the 100th Palestinian killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 2022. Israeli forces fired tear gas at activists protesting in solidarity with Palestinians in al-Twana and Khalat al-Dabaa in the Masafer Yatta area, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with a baton round during a late-night raid in Jalazun refugee camp. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron and Aida refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/1; AP, BBC, JP, PCHR 10/2; PCHR 10/6; UNOCHA 10/16)
U.S. mediators delivered their proposal for demarking the Israel-Lebanon maritime borders. Both Israeli and Lebanese leaders spoke favorably about the proposal. The Israeli cabinet is scheduled to meet on 10/6 to vote on the proposal. (AX, REU 10/1; AJ, AP, REU, TOI 10/2)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor during a raid in Jaba‘, claiming that the teenager had thrown a Molotov cocktail at the forces. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 8 with baton rounds. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians in Hebron, injuring 2 with live ammunition. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians with tear gas in Ein al-Beida. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinians working their land east of Jabalia; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 7/2; AA, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, WAFA 7/3; PCHR 7/4; PCHR 7/7; UNOCHA 7/22)
The PA handed the bullet that killed Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to U.S. security envoy Mike Fenzel, who brought the bullet to the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem for forensic analysis with Israeli representatives present. It was reported that the PA was under intense pressure from the Biden administration to hand over the bullet and had not been told that the Israelis would partake in the forensics analysis. PA general prosecutor Akram al-Khatib later said that the U.S. had given guarantees that Israel would not take part in the analysis of the bullet. (AX 7/1; AA, AJ, AP, AX, MEE, REU, WAFA, WSJ 7/2; F24, HA, MEMO, REU 7/3; HA, JP, TOI 7/4)
1 68-year-old Palestinian woman died in an Israeli prison 6 months after being arrested for an alleged stabbing attempt in Hebron. The PA said it held Israel responsible for the death of the woman, who had yet to be sentenced. (HA, MEE, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA 7/2; AJ, WAFA 7/3; HA 7/9)
In Syria, Israeli forces fired missiles from northern Lebanese air space at chicken farms in Hamidiyeh, injuring 2 Syrians and causing damage. (AJ, AX, HA, MEE 7/2)
Israel said it had shot down 3 Hezbollah drones at a gas drilling rig in a maritime area disputed between Lebanon and Israel. Lebanese prime minister Najib Mikati later criticized Hezbollah in a statement for launching the drones without government coordination. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, NAT, REU, REU, TOI 7/2; HA, HA 7/3; HA 7/4)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Homesh settlement outpost threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Burqa. Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from working their lands near Beit Umar. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians trying to enter Israel for work near Dahariya with tear gas and stun grenades, causing burns to 1 Palestinian. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids, including 4 near al-Bireh and 1 during a house raid in Mazra’a al-Qibliya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police violently dispersed Palestinians at the Damascus Gate plaza, injuring 19 with batons and baton rounds; 10 were arrested. Israel also summoned the deputy director of the Islamic Waqf department Najeh Bkeikat, issuing him a ban from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound for 6 months. (TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3; AP, HA, JP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/4; PCHR 4/5; PCHR 4/7; UNOCHA 4/10)
1 Palestinian citizen of Israel said he was detained in Qalansawe by Israeli undercover forces who beat him before leaving him in a forest after discovering they had mistaken his identity for another person. The Israeli forces also damaged the man’s car during the incident. (HA 4/5)
1 Palestinian prisoner, arrested on 24 December 2020, was sentenced to life in prison and issued a fine of $936,600. The man’s family home was punitively demolished by Israeli forces on 10 February 2021. (WAFA 4/3)
In Lebanon, 1 member of the PA National Security Forces was shot and killed in the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp. It was unclear who the perpetrator was. (JP 4/4)
Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett spoke with Jordan’s king Abdullah II in a phone call. King Abdullah urged Prime Minister Bennett to avoid steps that could escalate violence during the month of Ramadan and to allow Muslim worshippers free access to the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA, MEE 4/3; ALM 4/4)
In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian who was shot by Israeli forces during a protest in Burqa on 3/1 succumbed to his wounds. Israeli settlers uprooted and stole grape saplings and damaged a stone wall and barbed wire fence in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli settlers also razed a plot of land near Battir. Israeli forces violently dispersed a memorial service held for a Palestinian killed by Israeli forces on 3/1 at the Khadouri Technical University campus north of Hebron, injuring 3 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also confiscated 2 water pumps and electric cables in Birin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Khallet al-Eideh near Hebron and assaulted 2 Palestinians resisting the demolition. Israeli forces also delivered a demolition order for a residential structure in the Abu al-Nuwwar Bedouin community east of Jerusalem. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jalazun refugee camp, al-Ram, Deir Abu Mash‘al, Tuqu‘, Hebron, Yatta, al-Zawiya, Jenin, and Fahma. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian house under construction in Shu‘fat refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Beit Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian famers east of Beit Hanun and Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Israel, anti-Palestinian graffiti was sprayed on 1 Palestinian vehicle and the tires of 30 vehicles were slashed in Jaljulia. (HA, HA, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/9; MEMO, PCHR 3/10; UNOCHA 3/11; UNOCHA 3/25)
Israel’s police commissioner Kobi Shabtai instructed the Israeli police to halt Palestinian home evictions and demolitions in East Jerusalem and the Naqab during the month of Ramadan. (HA 3/9)
The Israeli civil administration said, after having to respond to a freedom of information petition from HaMoked, that during 2021 it had banned 10,594 Palestinians from the West Bank from traveling abroad. According to a source in the civil administration, travel bans can be applied to Palestinians by Israel automatically, for example, in cases where the person is a relative of someone deemed by Israel to be involved with terrorism. (HA, MEE 3/9; MEMO 3/10)
PA civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh met with Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid. Civil Affairs Minister al-Sheikh said he stressed to Lapid the need for a political horizon and an end to Israeli settlement expansion. (WAFA 3/9)
The Jewish Agency said that “[i]f all goes well, we will bring tens of thousands [of Ukrainians] to Israel in the coming year,” referring to the refugee crisis in Ukraine as Russia has declared war on the country. (HA 3/9)
Israeli president Isaac Herzog met with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara. President Erdoğan told reporters after the meeting that he believes the 2 countries are entering an era of mutual ties. (AJ, ALM, AP, AX, HA, NYT, REU 3/9; HA, TOI 3/10)
Former U.S. vice president Mike Pence toured Hebron, including al-Ibrahimi Mosque, with Israeli settler activists MK Itamar Ben-Gvir and Baruch Marzel, who were both leaders of the Kach movement. Vice President Pence also received an honorary degree from the settler university in Ariel and met with former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, current prime minister Naftali Bennett, president Isaac Herzog, and foreign minister Yair Lapid. (AX 3/9; AP, HA, WAFA, WP 3/10; MEMO 3/11)
Belgium signed a cooperation agreement with the PA worth $77 million over 5 years. The funding is earmarked for education, vocational training, job creation, and climate issues in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. (WAFA 3/9; MEMO 3/10)
China donated 200,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to UNRWA to help inoculate Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. (WAFA 3/9)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up tents and a mobile home on Palestinian-owned land in Battir. Israeli forces assaulted and arrested 1 Palestinian in Hebron. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with a rubber-coated bullet and others suffered tear-gas related injuries during a raid in Abu Dis; 7 were arrested. 25 other Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids ‘Azzun, Silat al-Harithiya, Nur Shams refugee camp, Nablus, Beitunia, al-Bireh, Dayr Abu Mash‘al, al-Khader, Hebron, and Dura. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man who allegedly had stabbed 2 Israeli soldiers in the Old City; the man was shot by Israeli forces while he was lying on the ground. Israeli police removed 10 checkpoints in Sheikh Jarrah after Adalah petitioned the Israeli supreme court to have the checkpoints removed. The checkpoints were erected to help protect Israeli settlers that have been harassing Palestinians threatened by eviction in the neighborhood. 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Bayt Hanina, displacing 5. 1 other Palestinian was arrested in Kafr ‘Aqab. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire east of Khuza‘a and Maghazi, damaging a vehicle; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/7; AJ, AP 3/8; PCHR 3/9 MEE, PCHR 3/10; UNOCHA 3/11; PCN 3/14)
Israel charged 4 Palestinians from Sheikh Jarrah with throwing a Molotov cocktail at the home of 1 Israeli settler family’s residence in the neighborhood, causing a fire that destroyed the house and a vehicle in January. (HA 3/7)
In Syria, Israeli fighter jets, flying from Lebanese air space, fired missiles at the Damascus area, killing 2 and causing damage. Iran later said that the 2 killed were members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. (AJ, HA, JP, MEMO, TOI 3/7; HA 3/8; AP, MEMO, REU 3/9; MEMO 3/10)
Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid met with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken in Latvia, briefing him on Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett’s efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. (HA 3/7)
In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler hit 1 Palestinian child with his car near Qalqilya, causing the child to be treated at a hospital in Israel for his injuries. Israeli settlers with military escort also demonstrated near Beita. Israeli left-wing activists were also demonstrating against the settlers who want to reopen the Evyatar settlement outpost near Beita. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 7 with rubber-coated bullets and 87 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3, including 1 child with live ammunition and 2 with rubber-coated bullets. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 16, including 2 with rubber-coated bullets, the rest with tear gas. In East Jerusalem, UN officials met with the Salem family who are threatened by eviction in Sheikh Jarrah, calling on Israel to stop all evictions in East Jerusalem. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting in solidarity with the Salem family. (HA 2/17; AJ, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/18; MEMO 2/19; PCHR 2/24; UNOCHA 2/28)
In Israel, Israel said a drone crossed from Lebanon into Israel but that it lost radar contact with the drone shortly after. Hezbollah said it had flown a reconnaissance drone over Israel for 40 minutes. Later, Israel violated Lebanese air space by flying 2 low-flying fighter jets over Beirut. (AP, HA, HA, MEMO, MEMO, TOI 2/18; MEMO 2/20; HA 2/22)
Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem Theophilos III, Custos of the Holy Land Francesco Patton, and Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan Manougian wrote a letter to Israel’s environmental protections minister Tamar Zandberg, requesting that she stop plans to expand the Jerusalem Walls National Park. The plans would expand the park into the church properties on the Mount of Olives. The 3 Christian leaders called the plans “a brutal measure that constitutes a direct and premeditated attack on the Christians in the Holy Land,” saying “we cannot help but feel that various entities are seeing to minimize, not to say eliminate any non-Jewish characteristics of the Holy City by attempting to alter the status quo on this holy mountain. They have failed due to the objection and lack of cooperation from the Churches. After their attempts failed, they resorted to statutory powers by advancing a plan to declare vast parts of the mountain as a national park.” The proposal to expand the park was scheduled to be heard at the Jerusalem Municipality’s local planning and construction committee on 3/2. However, Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority said on 2/21 that it would not move forward with the plans due to the objections from the church leaders. (MEE, MEMO, MEMO, TOI 2/20; HA, MEE, MEMO 2/21)