The Palestine Chronology

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the c. Gaza coast, forcing them back to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF raids 2 school yards nr. Hebron and Jenin in the morning, detaining 2 Palestinian teenagers for throwing stones at passing soldiers; conducts latenight patrols in Jayyus village nr. Qalqilya and in Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c. and nr. Bethlehem and Hebron. Palestinian, Israeli, and French activists demonstrate against the separation wall nr. Bil‘in village and the Qalandia checkpoint into Jerusalem; the IDF fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets, and stun grenades at the protesters (causing no serious injuries) and arrests 9 French activists and a Palestinian press photographer. Jewish settlers fr. Gilad settlement nr. Qalqilya vandalize a Palestinian water well and agricultural plot nearby. (PCHR 12/30; OCHA 12/31)

In a major speech to the Saban Center in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton says the admin. has concluded that talks on extending the Israeli settlement freeze would come to nothing and opted to revive shuttle missions between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, trying to get them to discuss all core issues simultaneously and offering U.S. bridging proposals when appropriate. She says U.S. special envoy George Mitchell will return to the region within days to begin work. (NYT 12/11; HA 12/14)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials, wounding 3 in 3 separate instances (1 in the demolished Erez industrial zone and 2 in the fmr. Jewish settlement sites). IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on agricultural areas nr. Khuza‘a village, wounding a Palestinian teenager 800 m fr. the border. In Gaza City’s Shuja‘iya neighborhood, 2 Palestinian teenagers are killed when they accidentally trigger unexploded IDF UXO. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts early morning arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron; conducts patrols in al-Naqura village twice during the day (mid-morning and late at night) and in 5 villages nr. Qalqilya (late at night). Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists in some areas) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Bayt Umar, and Dayr Nizam/Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 2 Palestinians are injured and 1 Israeli, 1 American, and 1 German are arrested. (PCHR 12/16; OCHA 12/17)

In New York, Secy. of State Clinton and Netanyahu meet for 7 hrs. (including at least 2 hrs. one-on-one) to finalize an incentives package and discuss other steps toward reviving peace talks. (NYT, WP 11/12)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border shell an open area and vacant home e. of Abasan village where a group of armed Palestinians were assembling, causing no reported casualties. In the West Bank, the IDF enters Jit village nr. Qalqilya to evacuate and close a secondary school where children were holding an assembly commemorating the 6th anniversary of Yasir Arafat’s death; sends undercover units into Jab‘a village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, raiding a home and detaining 1 Palestinian; patrols in Zabbuba village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no injuries; conducts late-night house searches in and around Hebron and in Bil‘in, making no arrests; conducts late night patrols without incident in Tulkarm town and r.c. Jewish settlers stone Palestinian vehicles on the Nablus–Ramallah road. (OCHA 11/24; PCHR 11/25)

Meeting in Libya, Arab League FMs strongly endorse the 10/2 Palestinian decision to halt direct talks with Israel until Israel halts settlement construction, pledging to meet again in 1 mo. to discuss alternatives and decide on next steps; a meeting is set for 11/9. (REU 10/8; MNA, NYT, UNSCO, WP 10/9; al-Ahram Weekly 10/8–14)

Overnight, in the West Bank, the IDF raids a Palestinian residential building in Hebron, killing 2 IQB mbrs. in an exchange of fire (with the IDF firing machine guns, medium-caliber bullets, and grenades) and then bulldozing the structure, also destroying an adjacent store, heavily damaging 4 houses and another store nearby, and arresting 12 Palestinians. The IQB mbrs. allegedly were behind the 8/31 shooting of 4 Jewish settlers nr. Hebron; Palestinians do not consider their deaths willful killings or assassinations. The IDF also patrols in 3 villages n. of Tulkarm late at night, making no arrests. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists in some locations) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih/Dayr Nizam. IDF soldiers fire rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 10s suffer tear gas inhalation and a 13-yr.-old Palestinian is moderately wounded. In East Jerusalem, a Jewish settler deliberately attempts to run down a group of Palestinian stonethrowing children with his car in Silwan, injuring 2 (both age 10). Also in East Jerusalem, 2 settlement guards posted outside a Palestinian house previously seized by settlers beat a local Palestinian working on his home nearby; the IDF observes but does not intervene until the Palestinian begins to fight back, at which point they arrest him and order him to stay away from his home for 1 wk. (WP 10/9; PCHR 10/14; OCHA 10/15)

In the West Bank, the IDF occupies 2 Palestinian homes nr. a settler-only bypass road in Hebron as observation posts; conducts evening and late-night patrols in villages nr. Nablus, Qalqilya, Salfit, and Tulkarm, making no arrests; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists in some locations) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/ Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 10s suffer tear gas inhalation and 1 Palestinian and 9 internationals are arrested. Jewish settlers gather at the evacuated Homesh settlement site nr. Nablus, stone passing Palestinian vehicles. (PCHR 9/8; OCHA 9/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts daytime patrols in Azun nr. Qalqilya and Taybeh nr. Ramallah without incident. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists in some locations) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, al-Ma‘sara, and Dayr Nizam/Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 10s suffer tear gas inhalation, 6 Palestinians (including 1 journalist) and 1 American activist are injured, and 4 Palestinian paramedics and 2 Israeli activists are arrested (all are released the same day). Senior Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) officials take part in the Bil‘in demonstration to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the assassination of PFLP Secy. Gen. Abu Ali Mustafa. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa settlement nr. Hebron stone and beat Palestinian shepherds grazing flocks nr. the settlement. (PCHR 9/2; OCHA 9/3)

Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih, al-Walaja, and outside Beit Romano settlement in Hebron. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring 1 Palestinian and 1 Israeli, and arresting 2 Palestinians, 4 Israelis, and 1 international activist (all released later in the day). Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba vandalize 3 Palestinian homes in Hebron. (PCHR 8/19; OCHA 8/20)

Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/alNabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring 2 Palestinians, and arresting 1 Israeli activist. Some 20 Jewish settlers fr. Harsina nr. Hebron attack 3 Palestinian vehicles parked nearby with rocks and iron bars, heavily damaging them; the IDF intervenes when Palestinians emerge fr. their homes to challenge the settlers, beating the Palestinians back into their houses, arresting 2 and moderately injuring 1. (PCHR 8/12; OCHA 8/13)

The Israeli human rights group Peace Now issues an 8-mo. assessment of Israel’s temporary settlement construction freeze documenting that: (1) construction of at least 600 housing units in over 60 different settlements has begun during the freeze, with at least 492 of those units being constructed in direct violation of the freeze; (2) some 2,000 housing units started before the freeze was implemented on 11/26/09 are currently under construction; and (3) new construction starts during the freeze constitute approximately half of the normal settlement construction pace. (Peace Now press release 8/2)

Unidentified assailants fire 5–7 modified Grad-type rockets apparently fr. the Egyptian desert toward the Aqaba-Elat resort; 1 rocket lands harmlessly nr. the entrance to the Israeli resort town, 2 land inside Jordan (1 harmlessly, the other striking a taxi outside the InterContinental hotel in Aqaba, killing 1 Jordanian and wounding 3), 2 land in the Red Sea. Israel believes the rockets were all intended to strike Elat and calls Hamas “responsible” for the rocket fire; Hamas denies involvement. (JP 8/2; YT 8/3; WT 8/4; KUNA 8/5; HA 8/6; JPI, OCHA 8/13)

Israel’s Jerusalem municipal authority approves construction of 40 settlement housing units in Pisgat Ze’ev settlement in East Jerusalem. In the West Bank, the IDF dismantles and confiscates a Palestinian irrigation network nr. Hebron; patrols in 2 villages nr. Salfit at midday, making no arrests; arrests 3 Palestinian children (ages 13–14) nr. the separation wall nr. Bil‘in; sends undercover units in Jafna village nr. Ramallah late in the evening, raiding 2 Internet cafes and arresting 1 Palestinian; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Qalqilya. In Gaza, unidentified Palestinians apparently mishandle explosives in a home in Dayr al-Balah, triggering an explosion that injures 58 Palestinians (including 13 children, 9 women) and damages several surrounding homes. (AP 8/3; PCHR 8/5)

IQB mbrs. fire 1 manufactured Grad rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, striking nr. Ashqelon, causing damage but no injuries, marking a serious escalation; the last time Ashqelon was hit by Palestinian rocket fire was in 2/09. Several hrs. later, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IDF carries out 3 air strikes targeting a training camp for the Hamas-affiliated police in Gaza City (wounding 5 policemen and 16 bystanders, damaging 30 surrounding buildings) and smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border (causing no reported injuries). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Bayt Liqya village nr. Ramallah at midday without incident; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in (a 45- mbr. Spanish delegation and a 30-mbr. German delegation take part), Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation and arresting 1 Palestinian and 1 international activist. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha nr. Nablus set fire to 100 olive trees and large tracks of agricultural land; IDF soldiers initially fire tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinian civil defense workers who attempt to put out the fire, but finally let the firefighters pass more than half an hour later, after the PA liaison dept. intervenes. (HA, JP, YA 7/30; HA, NYT, WP 7/31; IFM, MEZ 8/1; PCHR 8/5; OCHA 8/13)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in Jayyus without incident; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and e. of Hebron. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation and arresting 6 Palestinians (including 2 journalists for foreign news agencies), 1 Israeli, and fmr. vice pres. of the EU Parliament Luisa Morgantini (she is quickly released). (PCHR 7/29; OCHA 7/30)

Israel authorizes the transfer of NIS 100 m. ($25.8 m.) paper currency fr. Palestinian banks in the West Bank to their branches in Gaza plus the replacement of 30 m. damaged shekels; the amounts are 42% of what the Palestinian Monetary Authority requested to alleviate the liquidity crisis in Gaza. The IDF makes a brief incursion into n. Gaza nr. the fmr. Jewish settlement sites to level land and clear lines of sight, firing on the surrounding area but causing no reported injuries; makes a 2d brief incursion into s. Gaza e. of al-Shuka village to level land 400 m fr. the border to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 60 tents and huts in Farasiyya nr. Tubas used by itinerant farmers; bulldozes an irrigation network and pool along a settler bypass road nr. Hebron; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bil‘in; conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, making no arrests. (OCHA, PCHR 7/22)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction goods in the fmr. settlement sites nr. the border, causing no injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 10s suffering tear gas inhalation, 3 Palestinians injured, 6 Palestinians (including 1 journalist) and 3 Israelis under arrest (all are released by 6/20). A Jewish settler driving nr. Hebron stops his car and beats a Palestinian teenager unconscious with an iron bar, leaving him on the side of the road, where he is found and transported to a hospital by a passing Palestinian. (PCHR 6/24; OCHA 6/25)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists taking part in a nonviolent march to Karme Tzur settlement to protest Israeli settlement activity in Hebron; troops chase protesters into Bayt Umar village, firing at least 4 tear gas canisters into a Palestinian home, where a 7-mo.-old Palestinian girl is overcome by the fumes and later dies at a hospital. The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 3 Palestinians, 2 Israelis, and 1 American are detained) and against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 2 Palestinians, including a 12-yr.- old boy, are detained); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinian, international activists taking part in weekly protests against the wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); conducts late-night patrols in Fasayil village n. of Jericho, making no arrests. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim throw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling the Nablus–Qalqilya road, causing no injuries. (OCHA, PCHR 5/13)

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)

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)

In the West Bank, a 41-yr.-old Palestinian crosses paths with 6 IDF soldiers on foot patrol in the center of Hebron who order him to halt; when he keeps walking, a soldier shoots him in the leg, and when he hobbles away seeking cover, the entire patrol opens fire hitting him 5 times; the soldiers prevent paramedics from treating him at the scene, pulling him into an armored personnel carrier; the IDF later reports that he died. The IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinians and nonviolent international activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, also beats several protesters (2 international activists and 1 Palestinian reporter are beaten and arrested); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades at 10s of Palestinians fr. Dayr Nizam and al-Nabi Salih attempting to plant seedlings on village land that is slated for confiscation nr. Halamish settlement (no injuries reported). (WP 2/13; OCHA, PCHR 2/18)

Early in the morning, IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Gaza City open fire and direct artillery strikes on armed Palestinians operating nr. Juhur al-Dik village, killing 1 armed Palestinian and hitting a Palestinian home and lightly injuring 3 girls (ages 5–12), then making a brief incursion 400 m into the area. Around the same time, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya make a brief incursion to arrest 6 Palestinians collecting scrap material fr. destroyed homes and a brick factory nr. the border (they are released after 12 hrs. of questioning). Several hrs. later, the IDF makes an air strike on Gaza killing Islamic Jihad mbr. Faris Jabir, who Israel claims was part of a squad preparing an attack on the Qarni border crossing. (Palestinians notably do not claim his death as an assassination.) In the West Bank, the IDF bulldozes 6 wells and 5 agricultural storehouses nr. the separation wall northwest of Hebron, confiscating electrical generators and irrigation equipment. Two yrs. after Israel’s High Court ruled that a section of the separation wall in Bil‘in must be rerouted, the IDF begins work to move the barrier; residents welcome the change but stress that it falls far short of their demands that the wall be removed altogether. (NYT, WT 2/12; NYT 2/13; OCHA, PCHR 2/18)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians and nonviolent international activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in and at peaceful Palestinian protesters demonstrating against planned land confiscations in Dayr Nizam and al-Nabi Salih both northwest of Ramallah (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at all 3 sites). Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba and Harsina settlements nr. Hebron uproot 80 Palestinian-owned grapevines along a nearby settler-only bypass road. (OCHA, PCHR 2/11)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late at night, the IDF carries out 6 air strikes on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border and abandoned buildings at the destroyed Dahaniyya airport site, causing no reported injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the s. Gaza coast, then deploy small Zodiac boats to chase some fishermen, destroying or confiscating their nets. A smuggling tunnel collapses on the Rafah border killing 1 Palestinian civilian, injuring 3. The UN reports that since 1/27, another 2 Palestinians have been killed in tunnel incidents (1 in a collapse, 1 by electrocution). In the West Bank, the IDF enters Khirbat Jabara village s. of Tulkarm in the morning, sealing the village, checking IDs, and stopping 10s of vehicles; troops withdraw in the evening, without making any arrests; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in Bil‘in (targeting individuals involved in demonstrations against the separation wall) and Nablus. The UN reports that since 1/27, the IDF has removed 24 obstacles to Palestinian travel in Hebron district (21 earthen mounds, 2 road blocks, 1 locked gate), noticeably improving Palestinian movement along Route 60 (550 manned and unmanned barriers are still in place across the West Bank). (HA, NYT, WP, YA 2/3; OCHA, PCHR 2/4)

PA PM Fayyad gives a major address at Israel’s annual Herzliya policy conference. Fayyad’s 30-min. speech aims to explain the Palestinian historical narrative and stresses the need for a “political horizon” for Palestinian statehood. Israeli DM Barak addresses the same panel, focusing his comments on regional security threats. Both stress the importance of a 2-state solution, with Barak stating that Israel risks becoming “an apartheid state par excellence” if it does not accept Palestinian statehood. (WP 2/3; Ma’ariv 2/5)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes a late-night incursion into Qalqilya, patrolling streets and randomly checking IDs, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids and house searches in al-‘Arub r.c., Bil‘in, al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron, Nablus and nearby ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., as well as nr. Jenin, Jericho. Jewish settlers rally at the evacuated Homesh settlement site northwest of Nablus, throw stones at passing Palestinian vehicles, beat 1 local Palestinian farmer. The UN reports that since 1/20, the PASF has arrested 6 aides to Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Council speaker ‘Aziz Dwayk. (PCHR 1/28; OCHA, PCHR 2/4)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians and nonviolent international (and, in the case of Bil‘in, Israeli) activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at both sites); fires tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian and international activists holding a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara (no injuries reported); fires rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians holding a nonviolent protest march fr. the outskirts of Ramallah to their agricultural lands that are now within a closed military zone surrounding Halamish settlement (4 are wounded); conducts latenight house searches in Ni‘lin, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (OCHA 1/27; PCHR 1/28)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians and nonviolent international (and, in the case of Bil‘in, Israeli) activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 8 Palestinians, including 2 journalists) and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian and international activists holding a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in alMa‘sara (no injuries reported). Late in the evening, the PASF conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Nablus, Tubas, and Tulkarm, arresting at least 15 senior West Bank Hamas officials and local council heads affiliated with Hamas, in 1 incident sparking a heavy exchange of gunfire, causing no reported injuries. (YA 1/16; OCHA 1/20; PCHR 1/21)

In Gaza, Hamas officials confirm that 1 Hamas mbr. was killed and 3 injured in an explosion in n. Gaza caused by mishandled explosives. In the West Bank, the IDF raids an elementary school in Bayt Za‘ta and several homes in al-‘Arub r.c., both n. of Hebron, questioning children regarding stone-throwing at IDF jeeps operating in the area, arresting 2 children (ages 14 and 17) in al-‘Arub r.c.; makes an incursion into al-Bireh in the evening, surrounding a mosque and checking the IDs of worshipers, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bil‘in and Ni‘lin (arresting Palestinian organizers of the weekly demonstrations against the separation wall) and nr. Hebron, Tubas. Jewish settlers fr. Gil’ad attack Palestinian farmers working their nearby land. (NYT 1/12; OCHA 1/13; PCHR 1/14)