The Palestine Chronology

Weekly Palestinian protests against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion this week coincide with Land Day, the annual event to protest Israel’s discriminatory land policies. Israel seals the Erez crossing for 2 days (3/30–31), citing security concerns. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold their weekly nonviolent demonstrations in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin (with protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin also calling for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas). IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at these protesters, injuring 11 Palestinians (including a child) and 1 international (4 Palestinians are wounded by live fire in Nabi Salih; the rest are hit by tear-gas canisters in Kafr Qaddum). Palestinians hold at least 5 other Land Day rallies in the West Bank (outside Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, outside Ofer Prison and at 2 points along the separation wall nr. Ramallah, and at the Qalandia crossing n. of Jerusalem). IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Ofer and Qalandia only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at these protesters, injuring 19 (including 2 children; at least 7 are hit by live fire and 1 is seriously injured by a tear-gas canister to the head). In Gaza, Hamas authorities allow 1,000s of Palestinians to conduct a nonviolent demonstration nearly a mile from the Erez crossing, deploying police to prevent the protesters from marching to the border. Nonetheless, IDF troops on the Gaza border fire on the demonstration, killing 1 Palestinian and wounding 37 (1 seriously; including 16 children). A major protest planned for East Jerusalem does not materialize. Inside Israel, some 2,000 Israeli Palestinians demonstrate in the Galilee, with no violence reported. (NYT, WP 3/31; OCHA, PCHR 4/5)

Nonviolent Land Day protests are also held in Jordan and Lebanon. In Lebanon, 100s of Palestinians and Lebanese gather at Beaufort castle, 9 miles fr. the Israeli border, where Lebanese military forces deploy to prevent them fr. marching to the border. In Jordan, some 20,000 Palestinians march toward the West Bank border but stop 4 miles. No violence is reported in either case. (NYT, WP 3/31)

The IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Jericho in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin (firing stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no injuries) and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts late-night patrols in Jericho and nearby `Ayn al-Sultan r.c., 1 village nr. Hebron, and 1 nr. Ramallah. (PCHR 4/5)

The IDF enters s. Gaza in the afternoon to level lands and clear lines of sight along the border e. of Khan Yunis and do not leave until late at night; after dark, the troops are guarded by IDF helicopters overhead, which fire on nearby open and residential areas to keep Palestinians away (no injuries are reported). A separate IDF unit makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza e. of Rafah to level land and clear lines of sight. In the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire 3 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in al-Bireh and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 nr. Ramallah in the evening. (JP 3/29; OCHA, PCHR 4/5)

No Israeli-Palestinian violence is reported. OCHA reports, however, that in the previous week, 2 Palestinian children were injured when they accidentally triggered unexploded IDF ordnance while playing nr. Gaza City (different from those injured on 3/20). (PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30)

Israel’s centrist Kadima party replaces Tzipi Livni as leader, giving the post to fmr. IDF chief of staff Shaul Mofaz. (NYT 3/28)

Some 700 mbrs. of the critically pro-Israel lobbying group J Street spend the day lobbying Capitol Hill against a military strike on Iran. The advocacy day is part of J Street’s annual conference, which this yr. drew 2,500 participants. The conference itself, in addition to focusing on lobbying against a strike on Iran, stressed the importance of supporting a 2-state solution and settlement expansion as undermining peace. (NYT 3/28; WJW 3/29)

The IDF makes a brief early morning incursion into c. Gaza, searching and firing on residential areas in Bureij r.c., but entering no buildings and making no arrests. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 4 tents, 3 barnyards, and 3 residential barracks in a bedouin encampment in al-Maleh in the Jordan Valley; demolishes 2 barnyards nr. Tubas. The IDF also patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the evening; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Bethlehem, and nr. Ramallah (firing on the occupants of 1 raided home, wounding 3 Palestinians); conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus attack Palestinian farmers working their land nearby; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops begin leveling a large area of Palestinian agricultural land in Kafr Lakif village nr. Qalqilya; local Palestinian gather to protest and are informed by the IDF that the area has been approved for construction of an industrial zone; the soldiers agree to suspend the digging until the matter is clarified but bar Palestinians from the site. (PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30)

Jailed Fatah tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti issues a statement on the 10th anniversary of his arrest by Israel that is read to a crowd of supporters in Ramallah, stating that “the launch of large-scale popular resistance at this stage serves the cause of our people.” He also calls for “stopping all forms of security and economic coordination [with Israel] in all areas immediately.” (JPI 4/6)

Israel severs working relations with the UNHRC over the 3/22/12 res. calling for an investigation into settlements, calling the council biased against Israel. (NYT, WP, WT 3/27; JPI 4/6)

The U.S. Supreme Court orders a lower court to decide whether Americans born in Jerusalem can claim Israel as their birthplace on their passports. Congress approved legislation in 2002 allowing this, but the executive branch has claimed Congress overstepped its authority by attempting to override the president’s right to set foreign policy. The U.S. officially recognizes Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory and does not recognize Israel’s claim to united Jerusalem as its capital. (NYT 3/27; WJW 3/29)

J Street holds its annual conference. Fmr. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert gives the keynote speech at the gala dinner, emphasizing that PA pres. Abbas “wants peace with Israel and he accepts the existence of Israel as Israel declares itself to be.” (JPI 4/6)

Israel allows a 2-day supply of diesel fuel into Gaza, allowing Gaza’s power plant to restart 1 turbine for the 1st time since 3/10/12. Hamas officials organize protests in Gaza calling on Egypt to resume the transfer of fuel through Gaza’s smuggling tunnels. Late at night, an IDF undercover unit enters a Palestinian village as part of a training mission and is challenged by 3 stickwielding Palestinians who think the soldiers are burglars; the soldiers open fire, seriously wounding the 3 Palestinians (including shooting and beating at least 1 after he was severely injured) and delaying medical treatment for 1 hr. before taking them to an Israeli hospital for treatment; 1 Palestinian later dies. The IDF also patrols in 4 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin in the afternoon, firing stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them in 1 instance and stopping to question several boys in the other; conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Salfit and 1 each nr. Hebron, Jericho, and Ramallah. An 8-yr.- old Palestinian boy is seriously injured nr. Nablus when he accidentally triggers unexploded IDF ordnance that he found in a field. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, and al-Ma’sara. IDF soldiers beat and fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 4 Palestinians (3 in al-Ma’sara who are beaten; 1 in Kafr Qaddum who is hit by a tear-gas canister). (NYT 3/24; PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30; HA 4/5, 4/26)

Muslim Brotherhood officials in Egypt say they are distancing themselves a bit from Hamas and opening new channels of communication with Fatah in hopes of pressing Hamas to compromise with Fatah on national unity issues so as to increase pressure on Israel. The officials argue that if the 2 Palestinian factions create a untied front with a “newly assertive” Egypt, Egypt will have a better chance of pressuring Israel to make concessions over Palestinian statehood. The Muslim Brotherhood was the top vote-getter in Egyptian recent parliamentary elections after the 2/2011 ouster of fmr. pres. Husni Mubarak. (WP 3/24)

The IDF patrols in Tulkarm, 2 villages nr. Jenin, 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jericho in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin in the afternoon, firing stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them in 1 instance and stopping a Palestinian boy on the street and briefly detaining him for questioning in the other; conducts late night patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho, 1 nr. Jenin, and 1 nr. Ramallah; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30)

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) approves 5 resolutions critical of Israel, including a res. (approved 36-1, with 10 abstentions and the U.S. voting against) calling for a UN team to be sent to investigate how Jewish settlements in the West Bank affect Palestinian rights. Israel denounces the res., vowing not to cooperate with the mission. Netanyahu’s spokesman says the council should deal with “real issues of human rights” instead of harassing Israel. Israel’s FMin. threatens to cut off all operation with the UNHRC, accusing it of “working to satisfy the Palestinians’ whims and to harm future chances of reaching an agreement though peaceful means.” (WP 3/23; NYT 3/24; JPI 4/6)

A bipartisan group of 34 U.S. representatives and 10 senators submits an appropriations request seeking $2 m. for the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation Program for FY 2013. The program includes such projects as solar thermal plant and smart grid designs for commercial and residential use and is seen as another “vehicle for expanding . . . common interests” between the nations. The Israeli government would match the funding dollar for dollar. (WJW 4/5)

The donors’ Ad Hoc Liaison Comm. (AHLC) holds a regular semiannual meeting in Brussels to discuss the state of the Palestinian economy, PA budget priorities, and donor assistance. The AHLC expresses concern that the growth of the Palestinian economy slowed significantly in 2011 and that the PA budget deficit has grown dangerously, largely because donor contributions have fallen and Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement and access have not been adequately reduced. While acknowledging PA efforts to maintain a stable economy, the AHLC warns that the PA cannot be successful without increased donor support and positive actions from Israel. (Europa 3/31)

The IDF makes a pre-dawn incursion into n. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence nr. Bayt Lahiya, firing on nearby agricultural areas to keep Palestinians away, causing no injuries. In the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket and 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Jericho. (YA 3/21; PCHR, YA 3/22; PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30)

A 24-yr.-old French man of Algerian descent, Mohammed Merah, claims responsibility for the shootings in and around Toulouse (see 3/19/12) and barricades himself in his apartment in a tense stand-off that includes exchanges of gunfire, leaving 2 police officers wounded. Merah confirms that he carried out the attacks to protest French foreign intervention in Afghanistan, as well as to avenge the deaths of Palestinian children killed by the IDF in Gaza. While Merah claims to have received al-Qa`ida training and had been on French and U.S. government watch lists, the French authorities believe he acted alone and had no serious link to alQa`ida or other groups. (NYT 3/22)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Nr. al-Maghazi r.c., 2 Palestinians are injured when they accidentally trigger unexploded IDF ordnance while scavenging for scrap metal. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Tulkarm (2 simultaneously) and 2 in Ramallah in the morning; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Nabi Salih and nr. Jenin. Hunger-striking administrative detainee Hana Shalabi is “in grave danger of dying” according to Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, which provides her with a doctor. OCHA reports that since 3/14, 4 Palestinians have been injured in smuggling tunnel accidents on the Gaza border. (JP 3/20; WT 3/21; PCHR 3/22; OCHA 3/23)

JSC head Gen. Dempsey receives IDF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz in Washington for talks on Iran and Syria as part of the regular U.S.-Israel strategic dialogue. Gantz also meets with White House and Defense Dept. officials, but no details are released. (JPI 3/30)

Speaking at a conference on Palestinian refugees in Brussels, EU foreign policy adviser Catherine Ashton expresses condolences for the 3/19/12 Jewish deaths in Toulouse and regrets over recent tragedies worldwide that have resulted in child casualties, citing among them Israel’s recent air strikes on Gaza (3/9–12) that injured 14 Palestinian children. Israeli PM Netanyahu denounces her for making “the comparison between a deliberate massacre of children and defensive, surgical actions.” Ashton’s spokesman issues a statement saying that her words were “grossly distorted.” (NYT 3/21)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 2 villages each nr. Jenin and Ramallah in the morning and afternoon patrols in Qalqilya and in 2 villages each nr. Jenin, Qalqilya (synchronized), and Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. (JP 3/19; PCHR 3/22; OCHA 3/23)

In Toulouse, France, a gunman on a motor scooter opens fire on a Jewish school, killing a rabbi and 4 students (all dual French-Israeli citizens), wounding another 6 students (1 seriously). Authorities say the shooting appears linked to 2 recent shootings of 3 French soldiers in and nr. Toulouse. In those attacks, an assailant believed to be targeting French soldiers of Arab extraction to punish them as traitors for participating in the French military given its involvement in Afghanistan allegedly lured and shot 3 soldiers; 2 of North African origin were killed, whereas a black soldier was wounded. (NYT, WP, WT 3/20)

British FM Hague meets with Israel’s Vice PM Dan Meridor on a 2-day official visit to Israel. Talks cover Iran but focus on economic cooperation. (JPI 3/30)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF raids and searches the home of a PASF officer in Qalqilya in the morning, confiscating several cell phones; patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the morning and in 1 village in Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron; conducts latenight patrols in Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Jenin. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, and al-Ma’sara nr. Bethlehem; demonstrations in Bil’in also call for solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no reported injuries; 2 Palestinians are arrested. Jewish settlers fr. Esh Kodesh settlement nr. Nablus uproot 220 olive trees on a nearby plot of Palestinian land. (YA 3/16; PCHR 3/22; OCHA 3/23)

Retaliating for Palestinian rocket fire on 3/13, Israeli warplanes carry out 3 air strikes on open areas north and southeast of Gaza City and on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, in 1 instance causing a brush fire that heavily damages several business and 1 home, but causing no injuries. Later, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets (1 Qassam, 1 Grad) fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF demolishes a car wash facility in Husan village (nr. Bethlehem) that is 200 meters fr. a settler-only bypass road. (JP, PCHR, YA 3/15; PCHR 3/22; OCHA 3/23)

As fighting between Syrian government and opposition forces intensifies, Hizballah endorses a Hamas’s plan to reach out to Syrian opposition contacts inside Syria and offer to mediate a cease-fire with the regime, but does not offer to participate itself. Hamas and Hizballah made a similar joint offer in 4/2011 to mediate a cease-fire but it was rebuffed by the Syrian government. (NYT 4/6)

Gaza fighting continues for a 4th day, with Israel carrying out another 9 air strikes on 9 targets (1 in Abassan, 3 in Bayt Lahiya, 3 in Gaza City, 1 in alQarara, 1 in Rafah), killing 6 Palestinians (4 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and 2 civilians, including 1 woman) and wounding 5 (2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and 3 civilians, including 2 children). Islamic Jihad and the PRCs continue to fire rockets and mortars into Israel (at least 163 since 3/9), injuring 2 Israelis and damaging 2 buildings. Late in the evening, Egypt says it has mediated a cease-fire, but no one on the Israeli or Palestinian side immediately confirms. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 nr. Ramallah in the morning; conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. (JP, YA 3/12; NYT, WP, WT, YA 3/13; PCHR 3/15; OCHA 3/16)

Cross-border fighting in Gaza enters its 3d day. Palestinians fire 10s of rockets and mortars into Israel, damaging an empty school but causing no injuries. Israel carries out at least 7 air strikes on 7 targets (1 in Abassan, 3 in Gaza City, 3 in Jabaliya), killing 2 Palestinian civilians and wounding 33 Palestinians (2 armed Palestinians and 31 civilians, including 12 children and 5 women). Egypt unsuccessfully attempts to mediate a cease-fire. Israeli DM Ehud Barak acknowledges that Hamas has not taken part in the fighting, but notes that Hamas has not tried to rein in Islamic Jihad or the PRCs. As the fighting continues Islamic Jihad publicly accuses Hamas of failing to protect Gaza. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Jenin (firing tear gas, stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no injuries); patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin (again firing tear gas, stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no injuries) and 1 nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon; and conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and latenight arrest raids and house searches nr. Jenin. Meanwhile, residents of the illegal settlement outpost of Migron (49 families; some 300 settlers), who were informed by Israel’s High Court in 2011 that they must vacate and dismantle the outpost (on private Palestinian land nr. Ramallah) by 3/31/12, sign a deal with the government to move the outpost to a plot of state land 2 miles away, near Psagot settlement, where they will be allowed to build permanent homes, effectively creating a new Jewish settlement in Jerusalem’s environs. The government then requests that the High Court delay the evacuation until the new homes on the new site are completed (target date 2015). (JP, YA 3/11; JP, WP, WT 3/12; PCHR 3/15; OCHA 3/16; JPI 3/23)

Overnight, Palestinians fire about 20 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel in retaliation for the Qaissi assassination on 3/9, injuring 3 Israelis (1 seriously); and Israel responds with at least 10 air strikes on 6 targets (1 each in Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, and Rafah; 3 in Bayt Lahiya), killing 6 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and wounding 6. During the day, at least another 4 Palestinians (all PRC mbrs.) are killed, 18 Palestinians are wounded (2 militants and 16 civilians, including 1 child), and 1 Israeli is injured by cross-border fire. These attacks include 9 Israel air strikes on 5 targets (1 in Abassan, 2 in Gaza City, 2 in Rafah), IDF cross-border gunfire on unarmed civilian protesters, and another 80 Palestinian rockets and mortars fired into Israel (exclusively by Islamic Jihad and the PRCs). Meanwhile, Gaza’s power plant shuts down completely for lack of fuel imports (see 3/1/12). In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 4 villages nr. Jenin (synchronized), 2 nr. Jericho (synchronized), and 2 nr. Ramallah; and conducts evening patrols in 2 villages each nr. Jenin, nr. Jericho, and Ramallah and in 1 village nr. Tulkarm. (JP, NYT, YA 3/10; WP 3/11; PCHR 3/15; OCHA 3/16)

Israeli drones makes an air strike on a car in Gaza City, assassinating Zuhair al-Qaissi, top military cmdr. the Popular Resistance Comms. (PRCs) and senior PRC mbr. Mahmoud Hanani, and seriously wounding 1 civilian bystander. Israel accuses Qaissi of plotting a cross-border attack similar to the 8/2011 Elat attack from Egypt. In response, Islamic Jihad and the PRCs fire at least 6 Qassam rockets, 4 Grads, and 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Later, Israel carries out 2 more air strikes on a rocket-launching team e. of Gaza City, killing 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. Late in the evening Israeli warplanes make 3 air strikes on separate targets nr. Gaza City, striking a residential area (lightly injuring 2 civilians inside their home), targeting a garage under an apartment building (injuring 3 civilians, including a child), and targeting a group of armed Palestinians, killing 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 6 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; 3 villages nr. Jenin in the evening (firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them in 1 instance, causing no injuries); and 1 village nr. Tulkarm late at night. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; demonstrations in Bil’in and Nabi Salih also call for solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Similar protests area also held in Bayt Dajan nr. Nablus and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya. IDF soldiers fire live (Nabi Salih only) and rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no reported injuries; 1 American activist is arrested. Jewish settlers fr. Eli settlement nr. Nablus uproot 40 nearby Palestinian olive trees. Jewish settlers fr. Metzad settlement nr. Hebron uproot 240 newly planted Palestinian olive and fruit trees nearby. (JP 3/9; NYT, WP, YA 3/10; PCHR 3/15; OCHA 3/16)

As the armed conflict in Syria escalates, Hamas officials in Lebanon meet with Hizballah leaders to urge them to back away from supporting the Asad regime, warning that continued support for a regime that kills innocent civilians would undermine Hizballah’s reputation. (NYT 4/6)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 mortar fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in Tulkarm, 1 nearby village, and 3 villages nr. Jenin (firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them in 1 instance). In the afternoon, the IDF makes a raid into Yatta nr. Hebron to rearrest a Palestinian who was released in the recent Israeli-Hamas prisoner swap that freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, sparking a clash with local Palestinians who attempt to block the arrest; during the raid, 1 IDF soldier is stabbed and wounded and opens fire, killing 1 Palestinian teenager (a bystander) and wounding another (the perpetrator). Later in the day, the IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Jenin and 1 nr. Ramallah. Palestinians and international activists hold a nonviolent march from Qalandia r.c. to the IDF’s Qalandia checkpoint to mark International Women’s Day, to protest Israeli settlement expansion and land appropriation, and to express solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners. The IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and percussion grenades at the marchers as they approach the checkpoint, causing no serious injuries. (JP 3/8; NYT 3/9; PCHR 3/15; OCHA 3/16)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots and tear gas at Palestinians and international activists staging a nonviolent march towards the Erez crossing to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, causing no serious injuries. The IDF raids several auto repair shops in Barta’a village nr. Jenin, confiscating 17 cars with Israeli license plates. Nr. Hebron, 2 Palestinian teenagers are killed and 3 are wounded when then accidentally trigger an unexploded IDF mortar shell while scavenging at a refuse dump. OCHA reports that 1 Palestinian was killed in the previous week in a smuggling tunnel accident on the Rafah border. (PCHR 3/8; OCHA 3/9)

On the morning of Super Tuesday primary voting, the 3 leading Republican presidential candidates (Gingrich, Romney, and Santorum) address the AIPAC conference via satellite, accusing Obama of being weak on Iran and insufficiently supportive of Israel. Sometime today, Netanyahu gives Romney a personal briefing by phone on the situation in Iran. (NYT 3/7; WJW 3/15; NYT 4/8)

Obama holds a press conference to criticize Republicans and other mbrs. of Congress for “beating the drums of war” against Iran, stating: “When I see the casualness with which some of these folks talk about war, I’m reminded of the costs involved in war . . . [T]his is not a game.” (NYT 3/7)

Obama and Netanyahu meet at the White House to discuss Iran. Obama reiterates that the U.S. wants time for diplomacy to work but has left all options, including a military strike, on the table. He also says that Israel has the right to act in its own national interests. Afterward, Netanyahu tells a cheering AIPAC audience that sanctions have done nothing to slow Iran’s progress toward achieving a nuclear weapon and warns that time for diplomacy is running out. Observers say (WP 3/6) Obama’s statement “could easily be considered green light for Israeli action. And if Obama is flashing a green light, Israel’s advocates in Congress are waving a starter’s flag.” (NYT, WT 3/6; MA, Raidió Teilifís Éireann, REU, WJW 3/8; OCHA 3/9)

After 6 mos. of negotiation with the UN, Israel permits the 1st 2 truckloads of Palestinian exports to the West Bank (date bars for distribution to needy children through the UN’s World Food Program) since the beginning of the siege in mid-2007; the UN notes that this does not mark the resumption of regular trade between Gaza and the West Bank. The IDF patrols in `Ayn al-Sultan r.c. and 2 villages nr. Jericho, 3 villages nr. Jenin, and 2 nr. Qalqilya during the date; patrols in Tulkarm town and r.c., 2 nearby villages late at night; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron (including Bayt Umar) and Nablus. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights notes (3/8) that 45 Bayt Umar residents (including 20 children) have been arrested by the IDF since 1/1/2012. Dozens of Palestinians march to the IDF’s Atara checkpoint outside Ramallah to mark the 2d anniversary of the death of a local Palestinian family when a IDF jeep collided with their taxi; IDF troops at checkpoint fire tear gas and stun grenades at the marchers who respond by throwing stones; during the exchange, an IDF soldier fires a tear gas canister at a Palestinian teenager 20 meters away, hitting him in the head and fracturing his skull, critically injuring him. (PCHR 3/8)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Jenin in the morning; 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; and in Jenin and 1 nearby village, Tulkarm and 1 nearby village, and 1 village each nr. Jericho, Qalqilya, and Ramallah late at night. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya and nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Havat Gilad nr. Qalqilya uproot 35 nearby Palestinian olive trees. (JP 3/3; PCHR 3/8; OCHA 3/9)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 each nr. Jenin, Qalqilya, and Salfit in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; and patrols in Nabi Salih, Tulkarm and 1 nearby village, and 1 village nr. Salfit late at night. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in and Nabi Salih; demonstrations in Bil’in also call for solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. IDF soldiers fire live (Bil’in only) and rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no reported injuries. (YA 3/2; PCHR 3/8; OCHA 3/9)

Israel allows a shipment of fuel for Gaza’s power plant (shut down on 2/28), allowing 1 of 4 turbines to restart, but reduces the amount of cooking fuel and gasoline, aggravating shortages of these supplies. Gazans across the Strip continue to experience rolling blackouts of 8–16 hrs./day; 40% of Gaza receive running water for several hrs. once every 4 days. Unidentified Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 5 villages nr Jenin, Jericho, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarm in the morning; in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah late at night. (JP 3/2; PCHR 3/8; OCHA 3/9)

U.S. Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Joe Walsh (R-IL), along with 50 cosigners from both parties, send a letter urging U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric Holder to indict, extradite, and prosecute “Palestinian terrorists” who have killed or wounded American citizens, particularly any Palestinian prisoners released under the 10/2011 and 12/2011 Hamas-Israel prisoner swap that freed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The letter states that since the Koby Mandell Act was passed in 2005 allowing the U.S. to try foreigner terrorists who have harmed U.S. citizens abroad, not one Palestinian has been tried though as many as 71 Palestinians attacks (by their count) have left 54 Americans dead and 83 injuring since the 1993 Oslo Accords were signed. (WJW 3/8)