The Palestine Chronology

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a room in a Silwan-area home and arrest 7 Palestinians during raids in al-Tur and Shu‘fat r.c. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 10 Palestinians and confiscate equipment from a printing house during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Tulkarm; and patrol nr. Hebron during the day. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian shepherds and bird hunters nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. Meanwhile, Egyptian forces deployed along the border fence shoot and injure a Palestinian fisherman working off the coast nr. Rafah. (MNA 12/21; HA, JP, MNA, PCHR, TOI, WAFA, YA 12/22; PCHR 12/29)

Egyptian diplomats formally present a draft res. condemning Israel’s settlements (see Doc. A) to the UNSC. It is reportedly a milder version of a draft that the Palestinians circulated in early 12/2016. The UNSC sets a vote for 12/22. (AP, BBC, HA 12/22)

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. al-Maghazi r.c. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Khan Yunis. Neither attack causes damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to a mosque under construction nr. Bethlehem and close the iron gate leading to Nabi Salih village nr. Ramallah (the punitive village closures nr. Ramallah on this day and on 12/18 stem from the IDF’s killing of a Palestinian in Bayt Rima village on 12/18).

IDF troops arrest 18 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Hebron, Nablus, and Bethlehem, and patrol nr. Hebron during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents; 5 Palestinians are arrested and there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in Silwan. (MNA, WAFA 12/20; PCHR 12/22)

An Israeli sniper shoots and kills a Palestinian youth during major clashes sparked by an IDF raid overnight in Bayt Rima village nr. Ramallah. The IDF temporarily shuts down entrances to the village after the clashes. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; 2 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 5 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Bethlehem, and patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. Israeli forces begin building a road leading to a settlement outpost nr. Nablus. Late at night, armed Palestinians allegedly shoot and injure an Israeli settler driver nr. Rantis village nr. Ramallah. Israeli forces then close the entrances to Rantis and 3 other villages in the area (Rantis and Shuqba village will be reopened on 1/13). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids nr. the Old City and in Shu‘fat r.c., arresting 4 Palestinian youths and shutting down several shops. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c. and later nr. Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, WAFA 12/18; MNA, WAFA 12/19; EI 12/20; PCHR 12/22; MNA 1/13)

Residents of the illegal Amona settlement outpost, which had been ordered evacuated and demolished by 12/25, vote to accept a new version of a compromise relocation plan proposed by Israeli PM Netanyahu and Edu. Min. Bennett on 12/12, days after they had rejected a previous version. The proposal will allow 24 of the 40-odd families to relocate to nearby plots of land on the same hilltop. The new deal is contingent on Israel’s High Court permitting a 1-mo. stay of its evacuation order for Amona. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 12/18; JP 12/19)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for passage in both directions for the 2d of 3 planned days. (JP, MNA 12/18; MNA 12/19)

Two Palestinians die in a tunnel accident late at night nr. Gaza City. Hamas claims the 2 men were mbrs. of its group. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian car washes n. of Jerusalem. IDF troops arrest 12 Palestinians and issue 4 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Hebron, Jenin, and Tulkarm, and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. In and around East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Hizma village and Qalandia r.c. Late at night, they conduct raids in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; there are no serious injuries. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes in a bedouin village nr. Beersheba. An Israeli driver rams a Palestinian worker from Tulkarm while he is walking along a street in Tel Aviv, causing moderate injuries. (MNA, WAFA, YA 12/7; MNA, PCHR 12/8; PCHR 12/15)

A Jerusalem Municipality planning comm. approves the construction of 770 settler residences in the Gilo settlement in East Jerusalem. City officials say that the plans, initially approved in 2013, were “undergoing routine processes of allocation regarding roads and public spaces.” (MNA 12/9)

Israel’s Knesset passes a 1st reading of the new draft of the so-called regulations bill, which passed a preliminary reading on 12/5 and would retroactively authorize illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 12/7; MNA 12/8)

A senior Israeli official says that Israeli PM Netanyahu has rejected French pres. François Hollande’s invitation to a mediated meeting with PA pres. Abbas after the next French-organized peace summit, which is set for 12/21. Later, Netanyahu calls Hollande personally to discuss the invitation. He tells the French pres. that he would be happy to meet with Abbas, but only if the conference is canceled. (HA, JP, YA 12/7)

A Hamas fighter dies in a tunnel accident nr. Khan Yunis. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on a Palestinian fishing boat nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. They also arrest 2 of the fishermen and confiscate their boat. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin, and patrol during the day nr. Salfit, Hebron, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians and issue 4 arrest summons during raids in Issawiyya, Sur al-Bahir, Shu‘fat r. c., Issawiyya, and Silwan. (MNA, MNA, WAFA 12/4; PCHR 12/8)

Israeli PM Netanyahu and DM Lieberman permit the transfer of 5 armored vehicles from Jordan to the PA because of the deteriorating security situation in the oPt, particularly in Nablus, according to an Israeli spokesperson. The PA has been requesting approval for such transfers for at least 4 years. (MNA, TOI 12/7)

After mos. of negotiations and intracoalition struggle, Netanyahu resolves several conflicts over the illegal Amona settlement outpost. First, he secures Atty. Gen. Avichai Mandelblit’s approval for the govt.’s plan to relocate the 40-odd families from Amona to a nearby plot of “abandoned” land. Second, he announces plans to petition the High Court of Justice for a 30-day delay of its evacuation and demolition order to give his govt. time to prepare temporary alternate housing for Amona’s residents. Third, he brokers a deal with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Education Minister Naftali Bennett on the so-called regulations bill, which Bennett is backing in order to retroactively authorize the illegal West Bank settlement outposts, including Amona. Netanyahu and Kahlon agree to reverse their positions and support the bill as long as Clause 7, the provision that specifically addresses Amona, is removed. (HA, JP, TOI, YA 12/4; HA, JP, YA 12/5)

Following clashes in the area, including on 11/3, the IDF shuts down a number of checkpoints across the Ramallah district, causing major traffic delays. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops confiscate electrical equipment and arrest 2 Palestinians during a raid nr. Jenin. They return to the Jenin area at night for further raids, sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; there are no serious injuries. The IDF also arrests 6 Palestinians and issues 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Hebron, and Bethlehem; and patrols nr. Hebron and Ramallah during the day. Israeli forces demolish several Palestinian residential tents in the n. Jordan Valley and confiscate a residential trailer and a water tank from al-Samu‘ village nr. Hebron. Meanwhile, around 30 Palestinian families reenter their olive groves nr. Nablus, having been barred from them since 11/4 by the IDF. They find 400 trees picked bare and accuse Israeli settlers of stealing the harvest. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shut down a wedding hall in al-‘Izzariya, claiming that Palestinians fired guns into the air during a celebration there. They also arrest 9 Palestinians during raids in Shu‘fat r.c., Issawiyya, and Silwan. (MNA, WAFA 11/7; MNA, WAFA 11/8; PCHR 11/10)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities temporarily limit the number of trucks permitted to pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing bearing goods for Gaza. Around 70 trucks are denied access. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem and Jayyus nr. Qalqilya, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians in both. IDF troops also arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Tubas and nr. Tulkarm and Nablus; and patrol during the day nr. Hebron. Israeli forces bulldoze an agricultural road nr. Nablus, then block the road with a sand barrier. Unidentified vandals scrawl swastikas and the words “Death to Jews” on an IDF outpost nr. Hebron late at night. In response, the IDF suspends the Palestinian olive harvest in the area indefinitely. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking clashes with stonethrowing residents; at least 12 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 3 Palestinians during further raids in Sur al-Bahir. (MNA, WAFA 10/27; HA 10/30; PCHR 11/3)

PA pres. Abbas meets with Hamas leader Khalid Mishal and his dep. Ismail Haniyeh in Doha. They discuss steps they could take toward Palestinian national reconciliation. Senior Palestinian officials say the meeting is the start of a new reconciliation process, but they add that Abbas and Mishal did not agree on the aims of the new process. (HA, NYT, TOI, YA 10/27; MNA 10/30)

An Israeli settler driver crashes his vehicle into a Palestinian couple and their horse-drawn cart nr. Qalqilya, moderately injuring both of them (the man will succumb to his injuries on 10/26). It’s unclear if the crash was an intentional ramming attack or not. Elsewhere in the West Bank, the IDF shuts down the entrances to Husan village nr. Bethlehem after unidentified assailants open fire on Israeli settlers’ vehicles in the area. IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians during patrols nr. Tulkarm, Nablus, and Bethlehem, as well as in and around Ramallah and Hebron; and patrol nr. Salfit and Hebron during the day. The raids in Ramallah spark clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths, but there are no serious injuries. In the evening, PASF troops violently suppress a demonstration in al-Am‘ari r.c. nr. Ramallah in protest of PA pres. Abbas’s recent decision to expel a Fatah official from the party. Further PASF clashes break out in Balata r.c. nr. Nablus and in Jenin; 2 Palestinians are injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Shu‘fat r.c. and the Old City. Along Israel’s border with Egypt, an Israeli youth is wounded by gunfire from Egypt while performing maintenance work on the border fence. An Egyptian police officer is later found responsible, having mistaken the youth for a smuggler. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 10/25; MNA, TOI 10/26; HA, PCHR 10/27)

Hundreds of right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif, marking the 7th and final day of Sukkot. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 20 Palestinians on late-night raids in Shu‘fat, Issawiyya, Jabal Mukabir, and Silwan. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Dayr Jarir village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 2 Israeli soldiers are injured. Hours after the clashes, the IDF returns to the village, declaring it a closed military zone and shutting down all exits and entrances. (They will reopen the village on 10/24.) IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Nablus and Hebron. Israeli authorities extend the general closure on the West Bank and Gaza through 10/25 for the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries or damage. (MNA 10/23; PCHR 10/27)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for an unscheduled 5th day in a row, allowing passage in both directions. (MNA 10/24)

Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of 1 room in the Hebron-area home of a Palestinian accused of participating in a 6/8 killing in Tel Aviv. Elsewhere in the West Bank, they demolish an agricultural structure, a small residence, and a car shop nr. Nablus, and 4 water wells nr. Hebron late at night. IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians and cause NIS 10,000 (approx. $2,700) in damage during raids and house searches nr. Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jenin; and patrol nr. Hebron and Salfit throughout the day. An Israeli settler opens fire on Palestinian youths allegedly throwing rocks nr. Qalqilya, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during raids in the Old City, Jabal Mukabir, and Shu‘fat r.c., marking the 4th day this week they have targeted the camp. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 9/26; PCHR 9/29)

IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth at a checkpoint nr. Qalqilya as she is walking home from school. The Israeli soldiers reportedly thought she was planning a stabbing attack (she will be released from detention on 9/22). Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops raid the Bil‘in homes of several leaders in the activist groups that organize the Friday protests in the Ramallah-area village, confiscating a number of cell phones and computers. Late at night, 2 Israeli soldiers torch a Palestinian-owned lumber warehouse in Nablus, and IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians during raids and house searches nr. Tulkarm, Jenin, Bethlehem, and Tubas. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces continue targeting Shu‘fat r.c., arresting 5 Palestinians during raids in the camp and in Abu Dis. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian homes nr. Khan Yunis, causing no damage. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 9/21; MNA, PCHR 9/22; HA 9/25; PCHR 9/29)

Following a request from the public prosecutor’s office, the Palestinian High Court of Justice postpones until 10/3 its decision regarding the municipal elections that were initially set for 10/8. The elections had been postponed indefinitely on 9/8 because of challenges to their legitimacy. (AFP, MNA 9/21)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing to allow Palestinian pilgrims to return from their trip to Saudi Arabia. They are set to open it again on 9/22 and 9/23. (MNA 9/23)

While in New York for the UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting, Israeli PM Netanyahu meets with U.S. pres. Obama. They reportedly do not discuss the push for Israeli-Palestinian peace that the Obama admin. is rumored to be planning after the U.S. election in 11/2016. Netanyahu tells Obama he will always be welcome in Israel, and Obama responds, “We’ll set up a tee time.” (AFP, EI, NYT, REU, YA 9/21; HA 9/25)

Amid a weeklong uptick in violence in the Hebron area, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at the entrance to Bani Na‘im village, which has been under a general closure since the killings on 9/16. The IDF alleges that the Palestinian youth was brandishing a knife and attempting to stab Israeli soldiers at a security checkpoint. Hours later, IDF troops assault and arrest a Palestinian in Hebron’s Old City, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowers in the area. The IDF conduct heavy raids and patrols in the Hebron area throughout the day and late at night, arresting 6 Palestinians and issuing 1 arrest summons. (HA, MNA, WAFA 9/20; PCHR 9/22)

After reports of gunshots fired at an Israeli settlers’ bus nr. Nablus overnight, the IDF closes entrances to several villages in the area. Elsewhere in the West Bank, the IDF arrests 2 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Nablus and Salfit and patrols nr. Salfit and Nablus. Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli settlers visit a Jewish holy site nr. Nablus, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian youths in the area; there are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in Shu‘fat r.c. and demolish a home n. of the city and a number of agricultural facilities in Sur al-Bahir. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Khan Yunis. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 9/20; PCHR 9/22)

According to the IDF, Israeli aircraft shoot down a Hamas drone off Gaza’s coast in the afternoon. The IDF says it will “not permit any violation of its airspace, and will act with determination against any such effort.” The drone reportedly did not cross into Israeli airspace. (MNA, YA 9/20)

Israeli police shoot and kill a Palestinian in an alleged ramming attack in Shu‘fat r.c. The police say that they opened fire on the vehicle, killing 1 man, a passenger, and injuring the driver, only after failing to stop it and make an arrest. The Israeli police will, on 9/6, retract their accusation that the incident was a ramming attack, and instead blame the deceased’s brother-in-law, the driver, for causing his death by driving erratically. (The driver will be charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence on 9/15.) Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian at Haram al-Sharif when she is found to be carrying a knife, and arrest 3 more Palestinians during late-night raids in Qalandia r.c. In the West Bank, IDF troops patrol in a village n. of Nablus, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; 2 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 10 Palestinians during raids and house searches nr. Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, and Salfit; and patrol nr. Jenin, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Tulkarm during the day. Israeli forces cut down around 250 olive trees from a Palestinian’s land nr. Qalqilya overnight. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/5; EI 9/6; HA 9/7; TOI 9/15)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing to hundreds of Muslim Palestinians embarking from Gaza on their pilgrimage to Mecca. (OCHA 9/8)

Along Gaza’s border, unidentified Palestinian fighters open fire on IDF troops stationed nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries or damage. In response, the IDF launches air strikes on at least 2 Hamas military sites in n. Gaza, injuring 3 Hamas fighters. IDF troops also open fire on Palestinian homes nr. al-Maghazi r.c., causing no damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City and then nr. Rafah, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops attempt to remove a Palestinian flag from a public space in a village nr. Nablus, sparking clashes with stonethrowing residents throughout the day; 2 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 2 Palestinian youths allegedly planning to carry out stabbing attacks in c. Hebron. Both boys were found to be carrying knives. Israeli forces destroy personal property and threaten to arrest a Palestinian infant during a raid on the Hebron-area home of a Palestinian who was killed on 11/1/2015 after attempting to stab an Israeli soldier. They also impose strict closures on 3 villages nr. Nablus after reports of stone-throwing in the area (the closures will be enforced through 9/10). The IDF arrests 3 Palestinians during raids and house searches nr. Salfit, Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, sparking clashes in Balata r.c. (1 Palestinian is injured); and patrols nr. Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, Salfit, and Qalqilya during the day. Meanwhile, unknown assailants throw Molotov cocktails at the Nablus-area home of a Palestinian woman running for office in the 10/8 municipal elections, causing minor damage. She is affiliated with Fatah. In East Jerusalem, around 60 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Shu‘fat. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/4; MNA 9/5; PCHR 9/8; MNA 9/10)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for humanitarian cases passing in both directions for the 2d of 2 planned days. (OCHA 9/8)

The PA and Israel sign an agreement to improve postal service in the oPt. The deal gives Palestinians more control over the transfer of mail in and out of the West Bank. (JP, MNA, TOI 9/4)

An errant mortar round fired from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF returns artillery fire on Syrian govt. positions along the border, causing an unknown amount of damage. (HA, MNA, TOI 9/4)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian youth allegedly carrying a knife and planning a stabbing attack in Shu‘fat r.c., and arrest another Palestinian on a late-night raid in Ras al-Amud. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians during raids nr. Nablus, Ramallah, and Jenin; and patrol in 2 villages nr. Nablus, and 3 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. Around 12,000 Palestinians attend a funeral for the Palestinian killed by PASF troops in Nablus on 8/23. After the funeral, hundreds of mourners break off from the procession, chant anti-Palestinian Authority (PA) slogans, and clash with PASF troops (there are no serious injuries). Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (JP, MNA, TOI 8/28; PCHR 9/1)

Palestinian officials announce the beginning of preliminary discussions about a possible summit meeting in Moscow between PM Netanyahu and Pres. Abbas, to be mediated by Russian pres. Putin. Separately, a senior PLO official says that the Palestinians recently rejected a U.S. offer for a trilateral peace summit with Israel, and that the Palestinians instead insisted on 2 central preconditions for any meetings: release of the 4th tranche of prisoners that were set to go free in connection with the last round of talks in 3–4/2014 and a settlement freeze. (HA, JP, TOI 8/28)

As the Palestinian school year begins, the PA Education Ministry accuses Israel of withholding the delivery of around 300,000 textbooks to schools in Gaza. Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) says the books must be examined and approved before being released. (HA 8/28)

In East Jerusalem, around 60 Jewish settlers tour Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian and confiscate a number of computers during a raid nr. Shu‘fat r.c. In the West Bank, IDF troops raid Nur Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm late at night, arresting 1 Palestinian and sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths (3 are injured, 1 seriously). They arrest 7 more Palestinians during raids nr. Bethlehem and Nablus. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Khan Yunis on 2 occasions, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 6/20; MNA, WAFA 6/21; PCHR 6/23)

The EU Foreign Affairs Council endorses the French peace initiative at its monthly meeting in Brussels. The Council also requests the EU’s External Action Service to devise a set of economic and security incentives to cajole the Israelis and Palestinians into an agreement. (HA, MNA, TOI 6/20; AP, HA, WAFA, YA 6/21)

Israeli forces demolish a 2-story home in a village nr. Bethlehem, an agricultural building nearby, and a clothing warehouse and 2 homes in East Jerusalem. Also in East Jerusalem, they arrest a Palestinian youth who was allegedly planning to conduct a stabbing attack in Shu‘fat r.c., and arrest 5 Palestinians on late-night raids in Bayt Hanina and Bayt Duqqu. In the West Bank, IDF troops raid a village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; there are no serious injuries. They conduct further house searches and raids nr. Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron, arresting 7 Palestinians and ordering several shops to close; patrol in 6 villages nr. Hebron during the day. Israeli forces demolish 6 stores in s. Nablus late at night. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/16; MNA, PCHR 3/17; PCHR 3/24)

The Israeli authorities announce that, beginning 3/18, they are temporarily suspending elderly Gazans’ weekly visits to Haram al-Sharif, citing recent alleged violations. Since the cease-fire that ended Israel’s summer 2014 assault on Gaza, Israel has permitted as many as 200 Gazans over the age of 60 to travel weekly to Jerusalem for Friday prayers. (MNA 3/16; TOI 3/17)

In the West Bank, IDF troops and settlers shoot and injure a Palestinian outside the Gush Etzion settlement bloc nr. Bethlehem after he allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli settler. An IDF soldier is killed in the crossfire. Late at night, Israeli forces take measurements and photographs of the alleged Palestinian attacker’s home nr. Hebron, preparing for possible punitive demolition. Meanwhile, IDF troops raid a village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 2 Palestinians are injured and 1 is arrested. The IDF conducts further late-night raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Jenin, Bethlehem, Tubas, and Ramallah, arresting 21 Palestinians. Israeli settlers assault several Palestinians in c. Hebron, causing no serious injuries. Also, the IDF maintains, for a 4th day in a row, the closure of the Jenin-area village where the Palestinian who allegedly attempted to stab an Israeli soldier on 2/21 was from. Israeli forces deliver 3 punitive demolition notices to Palestinians in the village. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinian merchants outside the Old City when explosives are found in their food stand and arrest 6 Palestinians on late-night raids in Shu‘fat, Silwan, Jabal Mukabir, and Issawiyya. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 2/24; PCHR, WAFA 2/25; PCHR 3/3)

In the West Bank, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops violently disperse Palestinians demonstrating in solidarity with hungerstriking Palestinian prisoner Muhammad al-Qiq, in Ramallah and in 1 nearby village, as well as in 2 areas nr. Bethlehem; 1 Palestinian is injured. They also conduct raids and house searches in 1 village each nr. Salfit and Jenin, and in Nablus, arresting 7 Palestinians; patrol in 6 villages nr. Hebron and 2 nr. Salfit. Israeli forces uproot 100 olive trees nr. Salfit. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel nr. Rafah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians in late-night raids in Shu‘fat refugee camp (r.c.), al-Tur, and Issawiyya. (MNA 2/16; MNA, WAFA 2/17; PCHR 2/18)

French amb. to Israel Patrick Maisonnave meets with an Israeli Foreign Ministry (FM) official and formally presents, for the 1st time, details of the French peace initiative. Hours later, Israeli prime minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu calls the proposal “puzzling,” saying that the French promise to recognize Palestinian statehood should the initiative fail encourages the Palestinians not to take it seriously. (HA, JP, TOI 2/16)

An Israeli settler rams his car into 2 Palestinians nr. Salfit, killing 1 and injuring the other. Then, Israeli settlers shoot and critically injure a Palestinian in the Tekoa settlement nr. Bethlehem after he allegedly stabs and injures a pregnant Israeli settler. After the attack, the IDF raids the suspect’s home in a village nr. Bethlehem, arresting his son; orders the removal of all Palestinian workers from the Gush Etzion settlement bloc where Tekoa is located. Meanwhile, the IDF conducts further late-night raids and house searches in 2 villages nr. Bethlehem, 1 nr. Jenin, ‘Askar r.c. and ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c., and in and around Hebron and Nablus, arresting 17 Palestinians; patrols in the Hebron and Ramallah areas. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles nr. Nablus, damaging 2. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian in Shu‘fat when he is found with a knife on his person. In Israel, suspected rightwing Jewish activists vandalize and set fire to a carwash in Petah Tikva because the owner hired Palestinian employees. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 1/18; JP, MNA, YA 1/19; PCHR 1/21)

The IDF announces that, starting on 1/19, Palestinian laborers will be banned from working at Israeli settlements, citing the incident in Tekoa to justify the ban. The ban will last for 2 days. (HA, TOI 1/18; MNA 1/19)

The EU Foreign Affairs Council adopts a series of “conclusions on the Middle East peace process,” with provisions on Israel’s settlements, restarting peace negotiations, and reaffirming the 11/11/2015 guidelines on labeling products imported from Israel’s settlements. Due to Israeli lobbying over the past week, the final language does not codify a “distinction” between Israel and its settlements. (EUPO, HA, REU, TOI, WAFA 1/18)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth nr. Qalqilya as he attempts to enter Israel for work; shoot and injure a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Jenin after he allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier. The IDF patrols in a village nr. Bethlehem, sparking clashes with stone-throwers and injuring 7 Palestinians. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids in 1 village each nr. Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Nablus, as well as 2 nr. Bethlehem, arresting 14 Palestinians; patrol in 1 village each nr. Nablus and Jericho, 5 nr. Hebron, and 2 nr. Ramallah. Israeli forces continue leveling land nr. Asfar settlement s. of Bethlehem in preparation for the construction of a military tower. A Palestinian resident of the area says that they have razed 2.5 dunams (around 0.6 acres) since 1/6. The Israeli authorities declare a 300-dunam (around 74 acres) swath of land nr. Jenin a closed military zone; return the body of a Palestinian killed by Israeli forces in East Jerusalem on 10/12. Late at night, Israeli police arrest 60 Palestinian workers who allegedly entered Israel illegally. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 1/10; MNA 1/11; PCHR 1/14)

The head of the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs reports that the health of Palestinian prisoner al-Qiq, who has been on hunger strike since 11/24, is quickly deterioriating. He calls on human rights groups to intervene for the release of al-Qiq and another hunger striker, Jordanian prisoner Issa Qaraqe. (MNA 1/10)

The Jerusalem District Court rules that the municipal govt. must draft a plan to build at least 20 playgrounds in Shu‘fat and Bayt Hanina within 5 years, responding to a suit filed in early 2015 by Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. The petitioners complained about a lack of recreational space in Palestinian areas of the city, citing the huge discrepancy between the number of playgrounds in Jewish and Palestinian neighborhoods. (HA, JP 1/10)

IDF troops kill 4 Palestinians in alleged stabbing attacks in the s. West Bank. First, IDF troops shoot and kill 3 Palestinians after they allegedly attempt to stab Israeli soldiers at the Gush Etzion junction nr. Bethlehem, where a similar incident took place on 1/5. IDF troops shoot and kill a 4th Palestinian n. of Hebron after he allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier. No Israelis are injured in any of the day’s incidents. Meanwhile, Israeli forces confiscate a bulldozer from a Palestinian agricultural project nr. Nablus. Late at night, IDF troops conduct raids and house searches in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Jenin, arresting 2 Palestinians. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian youth amid clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians in Issawiyya; demolish a 2-story building and part of an apartment in Silwan, and part of a restaurant in Bayt Safafa; arrest a Palestinian youth in Shu‘fat r.c. for allegedly planning to attack Israelis and 2 Palestinians on late-night raids nr. Qalandia r.c. and in Jabal Mukabir. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 1/7; JP 1/8; PCHR 1/14)

Israeli security officials praise the PA’s efforts to address violence since early 12/2015, saying that security coordination between the IDF and PASF has been “exceptionally good” in recent weeks and that PA pres. Abbas has stopped mbrs. of Fatah’s military wing from participating in demonstrations and protests. (HA, MNA 1/7; TOI 1/8)