The Palestine Chronology

Netanyahu clears his schedule to hold additional talks with U.S. admin. officials aimed at drafting a “blueprint” covering issues (including construction in Jerusalem) that need to be resolved before proximity talks can go forward. Netanyahu would take the plan to his government, while Mitchell would take it to the Palestinians and Arab leaders. A final draft of the blueprint is not agreed to, however. (NYT, WP 3/25)

Obama sits in on a National Security Agency brainstorming session weighing the pros and cons of the U.S. offering its own peace proposal to break the Israeli-Palestinian impasse. (NYT, WP 4/8)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border make a brief incursion 800 m across the border to disperse Palestinians scavenging for construction materials from destroyed buildings, arresting 5. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (PCHR 3/25; OCHA, PCHR 4/1)

In the morning, Netanyahu tours Capitol Hill, where he is greeted warmly. He then meets for 2 hrs. at the White House with Pres. Obama, who reportedly makes tough demands of Israel to put the peace process back on track. After a 90-min. sidebar with his advisors, Netanyahu makes a counterproposal that is rejected by Obama. (NYT, WP, WT 3/24; NYT, WP 3/25; JPI, NYT 3/26)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In retaliation, the IDF carries out an air strike on a suspected weapons depot nr. Jabaliya r.c., damaging a nearby home but causing no injuries. The IDF makes a brief incursion into the Erez industrial zone to level land and clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. several settlements beat Palestinian farmers working their land in Sinjil village n. of Ramallah; the IDF intervenes, declaring the area a closed military zone and forcing settlers and Palestinians to leave. (JP, YA 3/23; JP 3/24; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)

Overnight, the IDF carries out 6 air strikes on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, 2 open areas nr. Khan Yunis, and a metal workshop in Gaza City in retaliation for the fatal 3/18 rocket strike; 2 Palestinian civilians are wounded in Rafah. After unidentified Palestinians fire another Qassam rocket into Israel during the day (causing no damage or injuries), the IDF carries out air strikes on a Hamas facility nr. Dahaniyya airport (11 Palestinians injured) and on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border (injuring 14). In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists staging nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation), Budrus village nr. Ramallah (1 Palestinian injured; 3 Palestinians, including 2 journalists arrested), Dayr Nizam/ al-Nabi Salih (11 Palestinians injured), and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); protesters in Ni‘lin throw stones at IDF troops, but the other demonstrations are nonviolent. Palestinians also demonstrate against the separation wall at the Qalandia checkpoint, setting fire to tires and throwing stones and bottles at IDF troops, who respond with rubber-coated steel-bullets, injuring 3 and arresting 1. The IDF also carries out late-night arrest raids, house searches in Qalandia r.c. nr. Ramallah. Jewish settlers burn a wooded area of Palestinian land nr. Bet Ayn settlement nr. Hebron. (JP, NYT, YA 3/19; HA, WP 3/20; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)

At a meeting in Moscow, the Quartet issues a strong statement “condemning” Israel’s Ramat Shlomo construction plan, “recalling that the annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognized by the international community,” and reiterating that Israel was obligated irrespective of Palestinian reciprocity to “freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001; and to refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem.” (WP 3/19, 3/20; NYT 3/21)

After 3 days of talks with his 7-mbr. security cabinet, Netanyahu phones Clinton (a day later than the State Dept. had expected) to offer Israel’s own package of “mutual confidence building” gestures to be made by Israel and the Palestinians. Neither side details the offer, but the U.S. says that the offer is sufficient enough to warrant sending special envoy Mitchell back to the region on 3/21 hopefully to launch proximity talks. At the same time, however, Israel’s Jerusalem municipality approves construction of 20 new settlement housing units in East Jerusalem’s Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood. (NYT, WP, WT 3/19; WP 3/20; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)

Ansar al-Sunna fires a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, killing a Thai laborer working at a kibbutz near the Gaza border, marking the 1st fatal rocket strike since OCL. Another rocket fired by unidentified Palestinians earlier in the day caused no damage or injuries. Israel vows strong retaliation. Meanwhile, IDF troops on the s. Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire on Palestinians staging a nonviolent march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a 300-m no-go zone, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF carries out late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron (searching a number of homes of Palestinians involved in organizing protests against the separation wall, without making arrests). Jewish settlers fr. Eli nr. Nablus uproot 25 nearby Palestinian olive trees. (JP, NYT, WP, WT 3/19; HA, YA 3/20; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)

Late in the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Meanwhile, Israel lifts the seal on the West Bank imposed on 3/12 and eases restrictions on Palestinians accessing al-Aqsa Mosque; Palestinian demonstrations in the city fall off. IDF troops manning a checkpoint at the entrance to Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron chase stone-throwing youths into the village and fire on them with rubber-coated steel bullets, moderately injuring a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy. The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. (YA 3/17; NYT, PCHR 3/18; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)

Facing increasing bipartisan pressure to tone down criticism of Israel, Secy. Clinton reiterates the U.S. call for Israel to demonstrate its “full commitment” to the peace process but assures that the U.S.- Israel relationship is not threatened, emphasizing the administration’s “absolute commitment to Israel’s security” and the U.S.’s “close, unshakable bond” with Israel. Netanyahu immediately welcomes Clinton’s “warm words” but says nothing about the U.S. demands. Meanwhile, Israel issues bids for construction of 309 settlement housing units in Neve Ya’acov in East Jerusalem (NYT, WP, WT 3/17)

In Gaza, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 mortars toward Israel, which land harmlessly in Gaza. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire in the air to disperse Gazans staging a nonviolent march to the border fence to protest Israel’s no-go zone. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Madama village nr. Nablus late in the evening, firing stun grenades, arresting 3 Palestinians; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 100s of Palestinians protest Israel’s efforts to Judaize East Jerusalem in light of the 3/15 synagogue opening in the Old City and the 3/9 Ramat Shlomo announcement, throwing stones at Israeli forces, who respond with rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas; 166 Palestinians are injured (at least 10 seriously), 60 arrested; 15 Israeli police are also injured. Separately, Israeli police storm a small section of Jerusalem’s Old City known as the African quarter, raiding and searching homes, firing tear gas, detaining 5 Palestinians (including 1 child and 1 journalist). Protests spread to the rest of the West Bank, with clashes between Palestinians and the IDF reported in Bethlehem, Hebron, and Ramallah, leaving another 23 Palestinians, 2 IDF soldiers, and 2 Jewish settlers injured. (JP 3/16; NYT, WP, WT 3/17; OCHA, PCHR 3/18)

The IDF sends units into Ramallah to detain senior Hamas official Maher Audi, wanted in connection with the death of 10 Israelis; the PA does not immediately comment on the IDF’s raid into Palestiniancontrolled area A without coordination with the PA. The IDF also closes the Atara checkpoint to Birzeit village to prevent Birzeit University students from staging a march to Jerusalem to protest Israeli Judaization efforts there, firing live ammunition and rubber-coated steel bullets toward stone-throwing students, injuring 3 (2 with shrapnel from live ammunition); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah. (WT 3/15; OCHA, PCHR 3/18)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF fires stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists protesting the separation wall and settlement construction in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron (injuring 2 Palestinian journalists, arresting 2 other Palestinian journalists and 2 Israelis); closes the Qalandia checkpoint and fires on stone-throwing Palestinians attempting to march to Jerusalem to mark International Women’s Day (injuring 5 women); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Bireh, Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem. (YA 3/17; OCHA, PCHR 3/18)

U.S. VP Joe Biden begins a 4-day trip aimed at boosting the peace process and reassuring Israel on Iran, marking the highest level visit to the region to date by an Obama admin. official. Timed with his arrival, special envoy Mitchell formally announces that Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to hold indirect talks, while stating that the structure and scope of the talks has not been agreed. (To date, Israel has insisted that proximity talks deal only with procedural issues, while Palestinians want all issues, especially borders, discussed.) He also calls on both sides “to refrain from any statements or actions which may inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of these talks.” While Mitchell is meeting with Abbas in Ramallah, however, Israel announces construction of 112 new settlement housing units in the West Bank settlement of Beitar Ilit w. of Bethlehem, part of a planned 300-unit project (the foundations for the other units had already been poured when the 10-mo. construction freeze went into effect, automatically exempting them). Israel says that the empty site poses a safety hazard and that construction to address “safety problems for . . . projects started before the freeze” is not a violation of the freeze. (NYT, WP, WT 3/9)

In the West Bank, IDF troops raid a school in Azun village nr. Qalqilya, claiming students had thrown stones at their unit, attempting to arrest 1 boy; the headmaster bars the boy’s removal from the school and asks the Israeli-Palestinian liaison department to intervene; the soldiers leave the school after 2 hrs. of mediation, without making any arrests. The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, nr. Bethlehem. In Hebron, a 15-yr.-old Jewish settler assaults 2 Palestinian boys (ages 11, 12) on their way home from school; the IDF observes but only intervenes when the settler boy cuts his hand when he tried to take a birdcage away from the Palestinian boys, arresting the Palestinians but releasing them on bail hrs. later. (JP 3/8; OCHA, PCHR 3/11)

In light of the 3/3 Arab League endorsement, the PLO Exec. Comm. gives its blessing for Abbas to open indirect talks with Israel mediated by the U.S., but warns that it would not endorse continuing the talks past 4 mos. unless at least the outlines of a border agreement were achieved and would not agree to a start to direct talks until Israel imposed a comprehensive settlement freeze, including East Jerusalem. Israel accepted indirect talks last wk. (NYT, WP, WT 3/8)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists who stage a nonviolent march outside Bayt Jala and attempt to plant trees on land slated for confiscation for the separation wall, injuring 5 Palestinians (including 3 journalists); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Anata r.c. nr. Jerusalem, Hebron. (OCHA, PCHR 3/11)

IDF troops stationed on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing into Gaza fire on Palestinians scavenging bricks from demolished buildings inside the former Erez industrial zone forcing them to flee, causing no injuries.

Palestinians hold protests across the West Bank and East Jerusalem after Friday prayers to denounce Israel’s decision to include West Bank holy sites on Israel’s national heritage register; clashes with the IDF (which include the IDF storming the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse worshipers) leave 2 Palestinians seriously injured (1 at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount; the other in al-Nabi Salih), and 50 Palestinians and 15 Israeli riot police lightly injured.

The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a nonviolent march to the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in protests against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (3 Palestinians are injured, including an 11-yr.-old child); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists staging a nonviolent protest against settlement expansion nr. Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (injuring 6); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. In Gaza, 4,000 Palestinians attend a Hamas rally calling on the PA to “unleash the resistance” over the holy sites controversy. (NYT, WP 3/6; OCHA, PCHR 3/11)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire 2 artillery shells at open areas nr. al-Nada housing project, causing no damage or injuries. Later, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire 4 flechette rounds at armed Palestinians operating 700 m fr. the border, killing 1 armed Palestinian, wounding 1. IDF troops at the Erez crossing fire into Gaza at Palestinians demonstrating against Israel’s imposition of a 300-m no-go zone along the length of the Gaza border, causing no injuries. Hamas authorities in Gaza extend for 15 days the detention of British journalist Paul Martin, detained (2/14) on suspicion of security offenses based on his testimony in a trial in Gaza on behalf of a Palestinian accused of collaboration with Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jericho. PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas holds his weekly cabinet session in Hebron instead of Ramallah to protest Israel’s decision to include the Tomb of the Patriarchs/ al-Ibrahimi Mosque (located in Hebron) and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem as Israeli national heritage sites, calling the move contrary to international law. (NYT 3/2; OCHA, PCHR 3/4)