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)

Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian in the Old City of East Jerusalem after he allegedly stabs and injures an Israeli police officer and an Israeli civilian. A Palestinian youth is struck and injured by an Israeli bullet during the incident. Elsewhere in the city, Israeli forces demolish a building under construction in Bayt Hanina, arrest 3 Palestinian children on their way home from school nr. the Old City, and arrest 15 more Palestinians during late-night raids in al-Tur, Issawiyya, and Silwan. In the West Bank, an IDF convoy of more than 20 vehicles raids Birzeit University’s campus nr. Ramallah, leaving “a great deal of havoc” in their wake, according to a university statement. Several buildings are damaged and many of their contents are destroyed. Separately, after reports of shots fired on an Israeli settler nr. Ramallah, IDF troops conduct raids in Nabi Salih, shut down the village’s entrance, and assault a group of Palestinian youths at a nearby gas station, causing no serious injuries. IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 12/14; EI, MNA, PCHR 12/15; PCHR 12/22)

With U.S. attendance in doubt and Israel pledging not to participate, Palestinian amb. to France Salman al-Herfi says that the French govt. has postponed its planned 12/21 peace conference meant to launch a new round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks until at least 1/2017. The French say that the postponement will allow them to “make better preparations,” and that, if Israel continues to refuse to attend, the conference will still go forward as planned, according to al-Herfi. (HA, JP, MNA, VOP, YA 12/14)

The residents of the Amona settlement outpost vote to reject the deal reached by Israeli PM Netanyahu and Edu. Min. Bennett on 12/12, fearing that it will get bogged down in the courts because of Palestinian ownership claims on most of the proposed relocation land: “We were willing to accept the destruction of our private homes, and a move from place to place, if only a Jewish community would remain on the hill. But the proposed arrangement does not provide any guarantee or commitment that we will indeed receive an alternative home.” (AS, HA, JP, TOI, YA 12/15)

Joint List members of the Knesset (MKs) Basel Ghattas and Ayman Odeh join hundreds of Palestinians in the bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran nr. Beersheba, protesting the Israeli authorities’ order to evacuate and demolish the village. The Israeli police ultimately delay the day’s demolitions, but do not offer a new date (demolitions will take place on 1/18). (HA 11/22; EI 11/23)

Following 2 mos. of drought, a series of large fires breaks out nr. Jerusalem, burning 30 homes and causing massive damage. (HA, MNA 11/24)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at Qalandia checkpoint after he allegedly attempts to stab them. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli settlers throw Molotov cocktails at a Palestinian home s. of Hebron, causing moderate damage. IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Hebron, and nr. Nablus; and patrol nr. Hebron and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces complete the demolition of a Palestinian home under construction in al-Tur. They had begun the demolition on 11/10, but stopped when their bulldozer broke down. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/22; EI 11/23; PCHR 11/24)

In the West Bank, dozens of Palestinians gather in c. Ramallah to call for the Israeli authorities to release the body of the Palestinian killed by IDF troops on 11/3. IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Jericho, Qalqilya, Bethlehem, and in Hebron; and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, armed assailants open fire on an Israeli police vehicle in al-‘Izzariya, causing no serious damage. Israeli forces raid a students’ exhibition at Al-Quds University, and arrest 3 Palestinians during further raids in al-Tur and Issawiyya. (MNA, WAFA 11/19; PCHR 11/24)

IDF troops assault a Palestinian youth at the entrance to ‘Azun village nr. Qalqilya before arresting him. It’s unclear why the young man was targeted. Meanwhile, the IDF arrests at least 7 Palestinians and confiscates 1 car during raids in and around Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus; and patrols nr. Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 1 residential building each in Issawiyya, al-Tur, and Wadi al-Juz. They also arrest 5 Palestinians during late-night raids in Jabal Mukabir. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya late at night, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 11/8; MNA 11/9; PCHR 11/10)

In a surprise win, Republican Trump is elected to become the 45th pres. of the U.S. His victory promises to upend many U.S. relationships, including those with Israel, the Palestinians, and Iran. (AP, BBC, NYT 11/8; HA, TOI, WAFA 11/9)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver at a junction nr. Bayt Umar after he allegedly rams them, lightly injuring 3. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops conduct a raid nr. Salfit, setting up flying checkpoints to secure an area for Israeli settlers to enter the area. Hundreds of settlers then tour Kafr Haris village. IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Ramallah, Nablus, and Qalqilya; and patrol nr. Ramallah, Hebron, and Qalqilya during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault and arrest a Palestinian accused of stone-throwing nr. the Old City, and arrest 7 more Palestinians during raids in Silwan and al-Tur. Meanwhile, an Israeli settler assaults a Palestinian in Silwan, causing minor injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian agricultural lands nr. Gaza City, causing no serious damage. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/30; PCHR 11/3)

Israel’s Coordination and Liaison Admin. to the Gaza Strip announces that Israel will increase the supply of water to Gaza now that a new reservoir has been constructed. The reservoir can retain around 5,000 m3 of water, allowing for an increase in annual transfers of water from 1.5 m. to 3 m. m3 (MNA 10/31)

In the West Bank, IDF troops assault Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Nablus, causing no injuries. They also conduct raids nr. Nablus, Tulkarm, and Ramallah, arresting 6 Palestinians and sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents of Sabastiya village (there are no serious injuries). The IDF patrols nr. Hebron and Salfit during the day. In East Jerusalem, unidentified youths throw stones at an Israeli car in al-Tur, lightly injuring 2 Israelis. Later, stonethrowers injure a 3d Israeli outside the Old City. Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians leaving the Old City and 17 more during raids in al-Tur, Silwan, and Wadi al-Juz late at night. Meanwhile, more than 200 rightwing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif for a 2d straight day, while Israeli forces seize the ID cards of a number of Palestinians attempting to gain access to the sanctuary. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/18; PCHR 10/20)

UNESCO’s Exec. Board approves the Palestinian-backed “Occupied Palestine” draft res. about Israel’s discriminatory administration of Haram al-Sharif that was approved by a separate UNESCO body on 10/13. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA 10/18)

Across Israel, Palestinian citizens gather to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the killing of 13 Palestinians by Israeli forces in 10/2000. Around 2,000 people, including several Joint List MKs, march through Sakhnin to mark the occasion. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during raids and house searches nr. Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and Salfit; and patrol during the day nr. Nablus and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 18 Palestinians during late-night raids in the Old City, al-Tur, and Silwan. (HA, MNA, WAFA 10/1; PCHR 10/6)

The Israeli authorities announce that the IDF will be imposing a general closure of the West Bank and a temporary moratorium on passage to and from Gaza between midnight on 10/2 and midnight on 10/4 during the upcoming Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. Only medical and humanitarian exceptions will be allowed. (HA, JP, MNA 10/2)

The Israeli NGO Peace Now reports that the Israeli Civil Admin. has advanced plans to build a new settlement outpost nr. Nablus, likely with the intention of housing the 40-odd families from the condemned Amona outpost. The plan for the new settlement includes 98 housing units, with an option to increase the number of units to 300. Peace Now also reports that plans for a new industrial zone nr. Ramallah were also advanced. (JP, MNA, PCN 10/2)

One Palestinian is killed and 3 others are injured in a tunnel collapse nr. Bayt Hanun in Gaza. Also along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Dayr al-Balah, causing no injuries or damage. In the West Bank, the IDF temporarily forces 19 Palestinians from their homes in the n. Jordan Valley to make space for military drills in the area, and patrols nr. Nablus and Hebron during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces fire sound bombs during a raid in al-Tur, striking 1 Palestinian in the back of the head and causing serious injuries. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/29; PCHR 10/6)

The Israeli authorities cancel elderly Gazans’ weekly trip to Haram al-Sharif for Friday prayers due to the planned funeral for former Israeli pres. Peres, set for 9/30. Meanwhile, PA pres. Abbas asks to attend Peres’s funeral, drawing criticism from across the Palestinian political spectrum. (HA, JP, MNA, YA 9/29)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih) and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 1 Palestinian photojournalist is injured. They also conduct raids and patrols nr. Nablus and Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a patrol in Issawiyya, and arrest and assault a Palestinian in al-Tur. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats overnight nr. Bayt Lahiya and later nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 9/2; PCHR 9/8)

Senior Israeli officials say that PM Netanyahu is thinking about permitting International Criminal Court (ICC) officials to visit Israel and the oPt soon in the context of ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s preliminary examination into alleged war crimes during Israel’s summer 2014 assault on Gaza, as well as its settlement enterprise. According to ICC officials, the purpose of the visit would be “outreach and education,” rather than research and fact-finding. Israel decided to engage with Bensouda’s examination in 7/2015, after criticizing and boycotting it since its inception in 1/2015. (AFP, HA, JP 9/2)

In East Jerusalem, an unidentified Palestinian stabs and lightly injures an Israeli youth with a screwdriver in al-Tur. Meanwhile, 129 Jewish settlers tour Haram al-Sharif, and 3 of them allegedly perform prayers at the sanctuary. Israeli forces assault and injure a Palestinian amid clashes sparked by a raid in Silwan late at night. They arrest 14 Palestinians during further raids in the Old City around the same time. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers and shepherds working nr. Dayr al-Balah, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a stonecutting workshop in a village nr. Jenin. IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians and issue 4 arrest summons during late-night raids and house searches in Hebron and nr. Nablus, Ramallah, and Bethlehem; and patrol during the day nr. Hebron. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 8/11; MNA 8/12; PCHR 8/18)

Hundreds of Israeli settlers visit Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus overnight, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian youths; 2 Palestinians are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 11 Palestinians during late-night house searches and raids in and around Hebron, Jenin, Tubas, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Ramallah, sparking clashes nr. Tubas (2 Palestinians are lightly injured). They also patrol in and around Salfit and Hebron; assault and arrest a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Jenin (they also confiscate his tractor). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault a guard at Haram al-Sharif and shut down repair work on a broken pipe at the sanctuary on the grounds that the proper permits were not secured beforehand. They also arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids in Silwan and al-Tur. A Palestinian demolishes his own home in Silwan to avoid paying for an Israeli demolition crew. (MNA, WAFA 8/2; PCHR 8/4)

Israel’s Knesset passes, 32–16, into law the so-called Youth Bill, which allows people under the age of 14 to be convicted of serious crimes, including murder, attempted murder, and manslaughter. (KNE, MNA, WAFA 8/3)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver after he allegedly rams a group of Israeli soldiers nr. Ramallah, injuring 3 (1 seriously). Palestinian witnesses say the crash was an accident. In the evening, the IDF returns the body of the Palestinian driver. Overnight, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of the doors and windows of an apartment in Nablus, where a Palestinian deemed complicit in the 10/1/2015 killing of 2 Israeli settlers lived. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian journalists conducting a sit-in nr. Ramallah marking World Press Freedom Day; there are no serious injuries. They also conduct late-night raids and house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, arresting 8 Palestinians; patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus. More than 2,000 Israeli settlers, along with an IDF escort, perform religious rites in a Palestinian village nr. Salfit late at night. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian on a patrol in the Old City and a 2d during a raid in al-Tur. Along Gaza’s border, armed Palestinians open fire on IDF vehicles patrolling nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing damage. The cross-border shooting comes shortly after Israeli PM Netanyahu toured the area this morning. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 5/3; MNA 5/4; PCHR 5/5; OCHA 5/6; PCHR 5/12)

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian agricultural land nr. Rafah and Palestinian farmers working nr. Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem overnight, Israeli forces demolish a playground and uproot a number of trees in Silwan, and arrest 3 Palestinians during latenight raids in al-Tur and Bayt Hanina. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a home, a farm, a water network, and some trees outside a village nr. Bethlehem, as well as 2 homes, a large barn, and a playground in n. Bethlehem. IDF troops conduct a raid on the Hebron home of the Palestinian activist who captured the video of the Israeli soldier shooting and killing an incapacitated Palestinian on 3/24. The IDF conducts further raids and house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin, as well as in Jenin itself, arresting 11 Palestinians; patrols nr. Hebron, Ramallah, and Jenin. Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) troops conduct a raid in c. Nablus, sparking armed clashes with Palestinian youths; 13 Palestinians are injured (5 of whom are PASF). (MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/29; WAFA 3/30; PCHR 3/31) 

Politico publishes a 2/17 letter signed by 11 mbrs. of the U.S. Congress, including Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), addressed to Secy. of State John Kerry and calling for investigations into the “disturbing number of reports of possible gross violations of human rights by security forces in Israel and Egypt.” The letter highlights “what may be extrajudicial killings” by Israeli forces in Israel and the oPt. (POL 3/29; HA, JP, MNA, TOI 3/30)

Israel’s Knesset passes a 1st reading of 2 bills that would create economic incentives for settlement growth. The 1st would reduce bureaucratic restrictions on home purchases in settlements, preventing settlers from paying taxes to both the govt. and the Civil Admin. The 2d would entitle settlers to tax breaks as long as they are eligible for a grant promoting capital investment. (HA 3/29)

Random attacks continue in the West Bank: Israeli forces shoot and kill 2 Palestinians in a settlement nr. Nablus after they allegedly attack and lightly injure an Israeli settler. Later, 2 Palestinian youths allegedly stab and lightly injure 2 Israeli soldiers at a settlement nr. Nablus. After the 2d incident, the IDF shuts down all roads leading from Nablus except 1; closes the entrances to nearby villages (they will keep the roads sealed through 3/4). Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids and house searches in and around Jenin, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Nablus, arresting 20 Palestinians. Israeli forces demolish 12 residential, educational, and agricultural structures in a village nr. Nablus, and a home under construction nr. Tulkarm, and deliver stop-work orders to 3 homes under construction nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a 3-story building in al-Tur. Dozens of right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 3/2; MNA, PCHR 3/3; PCHR 3/10)

Israel’s High Court of Justice rules that the govt. must return 1,700 dunams (around 420 acres) of unused land nr. Ramallah to its Palestinian owners. (JP, MNA 3/2)

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)

A total of 5 Palestinians are killed across the oPt today. First, IDF troops shoot and kill 2 Palestinians in ‘Araqa village nr. Jenin after they allegedly shoot at the soldiers. IDF troops later cordon off the roads leading to and from Araqa and patrol the area. IDF troops shoot and fatally injure a 3d Palestinian youth at a checkpoint n. of Bethlehem after he allegedly attempts to stab in Israeli soldier (he succumbs to his injuries later in the day). In the evening, Israeli forces shoot and kill a 4th and 5th Palestinian after they allegedly attempt to open fire on Israeli border police and civilians nr. Jerusalem’s Old City. IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth after she allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier in c. Hebron. Palestinian witnesses report that the young woman did not attempt a stabbing. A video of the alleged stabbing is later dispersed in the media depicting Israeli soldiers pushing a disabled Palestinian witness from his wheelchair. No Israelis are injured in any of the incidents described above. (JP, TOI, YA 2/14; MNA 2/15; PCHR 2/18)

Elsewhere in the oPt, the Egyptian authorities keep the Rafah border crossing open for the 2d of 2 planned days, allowing passage in both directions. They say in the evening that they will extend the opening a 3d day on 2/15. The IDF maintains, for a 6th and final day, its punitive closure of Qabatiya, where an Israeli settler was stabbed and injured on 2/9. IDF troops patrol in a village nr. Jenin, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 1 Palestinian is injured. They also conduct house searches and raids late at night in Tulkarm, Tulkarm r.c., Nablus, 4 villages nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Ramallah, arresting 10 Palestinians; patrol further in Qalqilya, 7 villages nr. Hebron, and 1 nr. Salfit. The Israeli authorities return to his family in East Jerusalem the body of a Palestinian who was killed by Israeli police on 10/15 (the family reportedly agreed to allow only 14 people to attend his funeral and paid NIS 20,000 [around $5,150] as collateral to secure the release of his body). This is the 1st body returned to East Jerusalem since the wave of violence began in 10/2015. Meanwhile, Palestinians verbally confront 5 right-wing Jewish activists who are attempting to pray at Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces escort the activists out of the sanctuary before the incident can escalate. Israeli forces also arrest 6 Palestinians on raids in al-Tur. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 2/14; HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 2/15; OCHA, PCHR 2/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers shoot and injure a Palestinian youth at a checkpoint nr. Jenin after he allegedly attempts to stab them. IDF troops raid Birzeit University overnight, destroying admin. and student property largely belonging to mbrs. of the Hamas-affiliated student bloc. IDF troops conduct late-night raids and house searches in 1 village nr. Tulkarm, ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho, Nablus and 1 nearby village, Jenin and 1 village nearby, and 2 villages nr. Hebron, arresting 10 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 1; patrol in 2 villages each nr. Ramallah and Jericho. Dozens of Israeli settlers perform religious rituals at Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus overnight, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and stone-throwing Palestinians in the area; there are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian accused of throwing stones in Hizma village; arrest 4 Palestinians on late-night raids in al-Tur. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (JP, TOI, WAFA 1/11; PCHR 1/14)

The organization Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, which has been working on the case of Palestinian hunger striker al-Qiq, requests that the Israeli Prison Service appoints an independent physician to assess his condition. There are conflicting press reports that the medical team at Emek Medical Center in Afula, where al-Qiq is being held, are preparing to forcibly feed him. (MNA 1/12; PHRI 1/20)