The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized water pipelines in Kisan. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian during a raid in Zawata. Israeli forces also seized 2 Palestinian-owned vehicles in al-Hadidya in the Jordan Valley. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers assaulted 3 Palestinians in a public park. Israeli settlers also toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli authorities forced 1 Palestinian family to demolish their own home in Bayt Hanina. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of al-Sudaniya, causing damage to boats. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, QDS, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/10; HA, UNOCHA 8/11; PCHR 8/17; UNOCHA 8/28)

An Israeli military court released 4 Palestinians arrested in relation to the Israeli settler attack on Burqa on 8/4. The 4 were released on condition that they stay in Burqa for 1 week and pay bail of $550 as they remained charged with aggravated assault. MK Ahmad Tibi was present at the hearing, saying the 4 Palestinians were victims of an invasion and should not be on trial. (HA, REU 8/10)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the PA governors of Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Tubas, Hebron, Jericho, Gaza City, North Gaza, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, leaving only the governors of Ramallah, al-Bireh, and Salfit in their positions. Abbas also issued a decree to form a committee to select candidates for the vacant governorships. (AP, HA, QDS, WAFA 8/10; AJ, ALM, MEMO 8/11; MEMO 8/14; HA 8/20)

President Abbas also spoke with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on the phone. The 2 leaders agreed to speed up the establishment of committees for political reconciliation that was agreed during the reconciliation conference on 7/30 in Egypt. (MEMO 8/11)

Director of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Dorothee Klaus, said fighting in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp had destroyed 400 homes and left half of the camp off-limits as the Lebanese military is barring access. (AP 8/10)

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid told a delegation of U.S. Democrats that he opposes a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia that would see the country enrich uranium. Saudi Arabia is reportedly demanding a nuclear program in exchange for normalizing ties with Israel. Lapid later said in an interview with Channel 12 that he does not have a problem with Saudi Arabia having a nuclear program, but that Israel cannot allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on their own soil. (HA 8/10; ALM 8/11)

A Freedom Flotilla II boat tries to deport in Crete but is turned back by the Greek coast guard. A Knesset committee disqualifies (3-5) a bill submitted by Israeli Palestinian MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List) that would amend the 3/2011 “Nakba Law” (see Quarterly Update in JPS 160) to bar state funding to any organizations or authorities that deny the Nakba, arguing that it “rejects Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.” (JP 7/4; WP 7/5)

For the 3d time since unrest in Egypt began in 1/2011, unknown assailants blow up the natural gas pipeline from Egypt to Israel and Jordan, cutting supplies. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF stages separate synchronized morning patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 3 nr. Jenin; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm in the afternoon; patrols in 3 villages nr. Salfit and 1 each nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Tulkarm (firing tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them nr. Jenin, causing no serious injuries). (JTA, WP 7/5; PCHR 7/7; OCHA 7/8)