The Palestine Chronology

The IDF cracks down on Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, and several Palestinians are injured and 2 others are killed during the ensuing clashes. First, the IDF clashes with stone-throwers during a late-night raid in Qalandia r.c. nr. Ramallah, and 2 Palestinian drivers are killed after they allegedly attempt to ram Israeli forces amid the chaos; 4 Palestinians are injured, and 3 Israeli soldiers are lightly injured. Further clashes break out during IDF raids in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, injuring 10 Palestinians. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids and house searches in Jenin r.c. and 1 village nearby, ‘Askar r.c. and 3 villages nr. Nablus, Hebron and 3 villages nearby, and Tulkarm, arresting 12 Palestinians; patrol in Qalqilya and 1 village nearby, as well as 4 villages and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron. They also assault and injure 4 Palestinians at a checkpoint nr. Ramallah; open fire on a Palestinian car at the same checkpoint before assaulting and temporarily detaining the driver. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working e. of Dayr al-Balah, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian in the Old City when she is found with a screwdriver; arrest 5 Palestinians on raids and patrols in Ras al-Amud, the Old City, and Jabal Mukabir. In Israel, a Palestinian armed with a hammer attacks his Jewish Israeli boss and a fellow Palestinian employee at a construction site in Modi’in, injuring both. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 12/15; HA, JP, MNA, YA 12/16; PCHR 12/17)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces kill 2 Palestinians in separate incidents. First, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian after he stabs and injures an Israeli police officer nr. the Damascus Gate to the Old City. Israeli forces then temporarily shut down all entrances to Nablus, home of the alleged attacker. In the evening, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians protesting the morning’s killing, in Ras al-Amud, firing at protesters with live ammunition. A 17-year-old Palestinian is shot and taken to a medical center in Silwan, where he succumbs to his injuries; Israeli forces raid the center in an attempt to retrieve the boy’s body and question the Palestinian medical staff. Also nr. Ras al-Amud, Israeli police arrest a Palestinian after he allegedly stabs and injures a Nepalese woman on a bus. Meanwhile in the West Bank, IDF troops violently clash with Palestinians protesting outside a settlement nr. Ramallah, in a village nr. Hebron, in Bethlehem, and at Palestine Technical University in Tulkarm; at least 12 Palestinians are injured. The IDF conducts a raid in a village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwers wherein 3 Palestinians are injured. Israeli forces take pictures and measurements of the Hebron-area homes of Palestinians who were shot and killed on 11/22 and 11/23 during confrontations with Israeli settlers and the IDF. They also conduct late-night raids and house searches in 2 villages nr. Jenin, 3 nr. Hebron, 1 each nr. Tulkarm and Nablus, arresting 9 Palestinians; patrol in Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and 2 villages and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers spray racist graffiti on a Palestinian car nr. Bethlehem. Off Gaza’s coast nr. Jabaliya r.c., Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/29; JP, MNA, WAFA 11/30; PCHR 12/3)

In response to the EU’s new labeling guidelines for products imported from Israel’s settlements (11/11), the Israeli govt. announces that PM Netanyahu has ordered all Israeli contacts with EU bodies involved in the peace process to be suspended, including EU-sponsored projects for the Palestinians and all Foreign Ministry contacts with the EU. (HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 11/29)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian woman at a checkpoint in the Jordan Valley after she allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier. In Hebron, Israeli forces raid the Dream Radio station, destroying equipment, damaging offices, and issuing an order to shut the station down for 6 mos., claiming “incitement to violence.” This is the 3d Hebron radio station shut down by the IDF in the last mo., with others being closed on 11/3 and 11/21. IDF troops clash with and violently disperse Palestinians protesting in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 nr. Ramallah, and at a checkpoint nr. Nablus; 7 Palestinians are injured. The IDF conducts raids and house searches in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, 5 nr. Hebron, and 1 nr. Jenin, arresting 6 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 2; patrols in 5 villages nr. Hebron and 1 nr. Salfit. Off Gaza’s coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian on a raid in Ras al-Amud. In Israel, thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel gather in Umm al-Fahm to protest the Israeli govt.’s 11/16 outlawing of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 11/28; MNA, WAFA 11/29; PCHR 12/3)

As the wave of violence and the corresponding Israeli crackdown continue, a Palestinian stabs and injures 4 Israelis in Kiryat Gat, then flees the scene. A crowd of Israelis assaults and binds a bedouin Palestinian they mistake for the assailant, causing minor injuries. Israeli forces arrest the suspect hours later. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian driver who was attempting to pass quickly through a checkpoint nr. Qalqilya on his way to visit his father at a hospital in Nablus; shoot and injure 2 Palestinian youths accused of stone-throwing outside a village nr. Nablus. (MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/21; PCHR 11/26)

Hebron continues to be a hotspot as the IDF patrols in 1 village in the area and conducts raids in 6 others, blocking off roads to Dura, clashing with stone-throwers and arresting 5 nr. Bayt Umar, and arresting 17 others throughout the area. Additionally, in an overnight raid on al-Khalil radio station in al-Dahdah, nr. Hebron, IDF troops confiscate equipment, damage the offices, and issue a 6-mo. closure, accusing the station of inciting violence. (MNA 11/21; PCHR 11/26)

Elsewhere in the oPt, IDF troops clash with Palestinians protesting the 11/20 closure of the Aqraba junction nr. Nablus, injuring 2 Palestinians with live ammunition. The IDF also clashes with stone-throwers in Silwad, firing live ammunition and injuring 1 Palestinian. Israeli forces raid the Ramallah home of Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Qiq, arresting and sentencing him to administrative detention for his alleged incitement through his reporting. (Al-Qiq will stage a hunger strike throughout the quarter) The IDF conducts raids in Jalazun r.c. and villages nr. Jenin and Ramallah, arresting 18 Palestinians; patrols in the Tulkarm, Jericho, and Ramallah areas. Israeli settlers block the main road leading from Nablus to Jenin and throw stones at Palestinian vehicles, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 9 Palestinians youths on raids and patrols in Ras al-Amud and the Old City; assault an elderly Palestinian in Ras al-Amud. IDF troops stationed along Gaza’s border e. of Jabaliya open fire on land nr. the border fence, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/21; PCHR 11/26; SAM 1/28)

Stabbing and other small-scale violent incidents continue in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) and Israel. In Tel Aviv, 2 Palestinians armed with knives attack a group of Israelis at an office building, killing 2 and injuring 2. Israeli police arrest 1 of the attackers and the other flees. Later, IDF troops raid the Hebron-area home of 1 of the suspects, delivering punitive demolition orders and arresting 3. Nr. Bethlehem, a Palestinian driver opens fire in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, injuring 10 settlers and killing 3 others, including a U.S. citizen. Israeli forces shoot at the driver, causing him to crash his car and killing 1 Palestinian bystander in the crossfire; they arrest the driver at the scene. In c. Hebron, Israeli forces fire tear gas and skunk water, blocking a number of Palestinian children from accessing their school, after a Palestinian allegedly throws a tear gas canister at an Israeli checkpoint and injures a soldier. Also, a Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained in clashes with the IDF on 11/11. (HA, MNA, NYT, WAFA, YA 11/19; PCHR 11/26)

Elsewhere, a number of Palestinian municipalities in Israel, including Nazareth, Rahat, and Sakhnin, go on strike in protest of the 11/16 outlawing of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement. In the West Bank, IDF troops and stone-throwers clash during raids in Dahaysha r.c. and patrols nr. Jenin, injuring 4 Palestinians and arresting 1, respectively. Israeli forces continue their string of late-night house searches and raids in the Hebron, Ramallah, Jalazun r.c., and Dahaysha r.c. areas, arresting 12 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 4; patrol during the day nr. Jenin, Tulkarm, Salfit, Hebron, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers leave racist graffiti and throw stones at Palestinian homes in a village nr. Ramallah late at night, causing minor damage. Israeli forces begin demolishing a synagogue in the Givat Ze’ev settlement nr. Jerusalem, pursuant to the Israeli govt.’s 11/16 compromise with settler leaders (the demolition will be completed by 12/10). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with and violently disperse Palestinians at a checkpoint in Abu Dis, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian; arrest 4 Palestinians on raids in Issawiyya and Jabal Mukabir; assault a Palestinian youth in Ras al-Amud. (EI, HA, MNA, NYT, WAFA, YA 11/19; MNA, TOI 11/20; PCHR 11/26)

Israel’s Coordinator of Govt. Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Unit cmdr. Yoav Mordechai signs an agreement with the PA Minister of Civil Affairs Hassan al-Shaykh to grant Palestinian mobile phone users in the West Bank access to 3G high-speed data services. The new services are expected to be in place by mid-2016. (AP, HA 11/19)

After a mass joint funeral in Hebron for the Palestinians whose bodies the IDF returned on 10/30, dozens of stone-throwers briefly clash with IDF troops in c. Hebron; 4 Palestinians are injured. In the latest small-scale violence, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Jenin after he allegedly attacks an Israeli soldier. The Israeli authorities then close a nearby checkpoint, blocking Palestinians from traveling between Israel and the West Bank (they will reopen it on 11/1). The Israeli crackdown on the violence continues throughout the oPt as well, with IDF troops clashing with and violently dispersing Palestinian protesters nr. Ramallah and Jenin, and along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c. (7 Palestinians are injured). They also patrol nr. Ramallah, Salfit, and Nablus; conduct late-night raids and house searches across Hebron, Nablus, and Bethlehem, arresting 11 Palestinians and issuing an arrest summons to 1. Israeli soldiers assault and seriously injure a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Jerusalem. Israeli settlers block Palestinian farmers from working in their olive fields nr. Nablus, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian at a checkpoint in Ras al-Amud and 8 on raids in Sur al-Bahir. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/31; JP 11/ 1; PCHR 11/5)

Stabbing attacks continue in the West Bank today. Private Israeli settlement security guards shoot and kill a Palestinian youth at a checkpoint nr. Jenin after he allegedly stabs and injures an Israeli soldier. IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth after he stabs and lightly injures an Israeli soldier in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc nr. Bethlehem. (HA, MNA, YA 10/23; PCHR 10/29)

Elsewhere in the oPt, IDF troops clash with and violently disperse Palestinians throwing stones and protesting in 3 locations along Gaza’s border and across the West Bank, injuring 117 Palestinians and arresting 3. They also violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, occupation, and recent violence in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, and Silwad) and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 1 Palestinian is seriously injured. Meanwhile, the IDF conducts raids and house searches in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Nablus, arresting 2 Palestinians; patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 each nr. Jenin and Nablus. Israeli forces destroy around 90 olive trees nr. Qalqilya during a military training exercise. Israeli settlers attack and attempt to stab the head of the Israeli group Rabbis for Human Rights while he is assisting with the Palestinian olive harvest nr. Nablus; attempt to attack the Nablus-area home of the Palestinian who was shot on 10/21 after IDF soldiers thought she was trying to sneak into a settlement. Palestinian stone-throwers in the area ward off the attack. In East Jerusalem, thousands of Palestinians march in a funeral procession through al-‘Izzariya for the Palestinian killed nr. the city on 10/21; Israeli forces then violently disperse the 400-some Palestinian youths that throw stones in the area after the march (27 Palestinians are injured).Israeli forces arrest 8 Palestinians on late-night raids in Issawiyya, Ras al-Amud, al-Thawri, and s. of the Old City. (HA, MNA, TOI, YA 10/23; PCHR 10/29)

New Zealand’s UN envoys distribute to the mbrs. of the UNSC a draft res. encouraging Israel and the Palestinians to undertake confidence-building steps as a prelude to a new round of peace negotiations. (AFP, TOI 10/23; JP, MNA 10/24; HA, TOI 10/28; AP 10/30)

In response to a day of violence in East Jerusalem and a fatal car crash in Sur al-Bahir, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announces that he is planning to fast-track a bill that would set mandatory minimum sentences for stone-throwing. Leaders of opposition parties—Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) and Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union)—say they support increasing deterrents to stone-throwing. Meanwhile, the violence in East Jerusalem continues with clashes at Haram al-Sharif and in Issawiyya, Ras al-Amud, and Shu‘fat r.c.; 3 Palestinians and 1 Israeli police officer are seriously injured, and 10 Palestinians are arrested. In the morning, around 38 right-wing Jewish activists tour the sanctuary. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seize an ambulance transporting a Palestinian injured in clashes with Israeli forces in Issawiyya. They then arrest the individual and redirect the ambulance to a different hospital. (HA, JP, TOI 9/14; TOI 9/15; PCHR 9/17)

On Gaza’s s. and n. borders, Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians attempting to cross the border for work. Also, Israeli authorities close the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings, marking Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. In the West Bank, an Israeli settler assaults a Palestinian child in Hebron, causing minor injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians gathering nr. Tulkarm to protest the recent Israeli access restrictions at Haram al-Sharif, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids nr. Hebron and Jenin, arresting 1 Palestinian and briefly detaining 3. (JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA, YA 9/14; PCHR 9/17)

In East Jerusalem, an Israeli police vehicle runs down a Palestinian in Ras al-Amud and police beat him, causing injuries. Later, the police arrive at the hospital and summon the man for questioning. The event sparks clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians, injuring 1 Palestinian. Nearby, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Jabal Mukabir and al-Tur. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian attempting to cross the border. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids and house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus, arresting 9 Palestinians total and sparking clashes with Palestinian youths nr. Hebron. Israel begins construction on a fence along its southern border with Jordan, continuing a barrier that runs along the border with Egypt. (HA, JP, MNA 9/6; PCHR 9/10)

A PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. says that PA pres. Abbas will announce the termination of the Oslo Accords due to Israel’s “lack of commitment” in his 9/30 UNGA speech. He does not comment on the future of PA security coordination with the IDF, which the Oslo II agreement established in 1995. (MNA 9/6; JP, MNA, TOI 9/7)

In Israel, around 100 Jewish Israeli protesters clash with some 30 Palestinian citizens of Israel outside the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashqelon where Palestinian prisoner Muhammad Allan is on day 61 of a high-profile hunger strike; at least 10 protesters are arrested. In Gaza, a Palestinian woman succumbs to injuries sustained on 8/6 when a piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance was accidentally triggered in Rafah. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops on the border e. of Rafah and Khan Yunis open fire on Palestinian agricultural areas, and Israeli naval forces fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Rafah, causing no damage. In the West Bank, an Israeli settler injures a Palestinian when he rams him with his car nr. Nablus. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids in the Hebron and Tulkarm areas, arresting 4 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 3; patrol nr. Ramallah, Jericho, Qalqilya, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Jewish Israelis accused of inciting violence at Haram al-Sharif, and later arrest 2 Palestinians on raids in Ras al-Amud and the Old City. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 8/16; PCHR 8/20)

Overnight in the West Bank, 4 Jewish extremists set fire to 2 Palestinian family homes in the village of Duma, nr. Nablus, killing an 18-mo.-old child and severely injuring the 3 other mbrs. of his family (the father and mother will succumb to their injuries on 8/8 and 9/7, respectively). The extremists leave price-tag graffiti nr. the site of the attack. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations against the Israeli occupation and the morning’s arson attack in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Jalazun r.c., Silwad, and outside Ofer Prison) and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 4 Palestinians are injured. They also violently disperse Palestinians gathering in Hebron and 1 village nearby to protest the morning’s arson attack, injuring 6. In the evening, clashes break out at Atara checkpoint nr. Ramallah, and Israeli soldiers shoot a Palestinian in the back, critically injuring him (he will succumb to his injuries on 8/1). During the day, Israeli forces patrol in 5 villages nr. Hebron and 1 each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah; assault a Palestinian driver at a checkpoint nr. Nablus. An Israeli settler rams a Palestinian firefighter with a car while he is putting out a fire nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers also damage 35 olive tree seedlings nr. Ramallah. Elsewhere, a Palestinian opens fire on an Israeli vehicle nr. Ramallah, causing damage. Late at night, unknown assailants throw a molotov cocktail at a Hamas leader’s car in Jenin. IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Bayt Lahiya open fire on a small group of Palestinians approaching the border fence to protest the morning’s arson attack nr. Jenin, killing 1 and moderately wounding another. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli authorities bar men under 50 from entering Haram al-Sharif in the wake of the morning arson attack. Clashes break out across the city, with Israeli forces firing rubber-coated metal bullets at Palestinian protesters in Shu‘fat r.c., Issawiyya, Bayt Hanina, al-Suwana, al-Tur, and Silwan; 2 Israeli police officers and 13 Palestinians are injured, including 1 seriously. Meanwhile, unknown assailants throw rocks and firebombs in the Old City, injuring 1 Israeli police officer. An Israeli settler rams a Palestinian with a car in Ras al-Amud, injuring him. During the day, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians on raids and patrols in the Old City and Silwan. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/31; HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 8/1; PCHR 8/6)

In Ramallah, 5 new ministers are sworn into the PA consensus govt. after being announced on 7/30. (MNA 7/30; HA, YA 8/4; MNA 8/5)

Off the n. Gaza coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently disperse around 300 Israeli settlers in the Beit El settlement protesting the High Court’s 7/26 injunction on building in the settlement and its order for 2 residential buildings to be demolished by 7/30; 2 settlers are arrested. The settlers throw stones at empty Palestinian vehicles in the area. A separate group of over 200 Israeli settlers reoccupies the Sa-Nur settlement outpost nr. Jenin that was evacuated in 2005, calling for the govt. to approve the return of settlers to the site. Overnight in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian stores, 2 warehouses, and 3 residences in Silwan; assault and arrest 2 Palestinians during a raid in Ras al-Amud. Israeli settlers assault an elderly Palestinian in Ras al-Amud, lightly injuring her. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/28; HA, PCHR 7/30)

Israeli PM Netanyahu says that his govt. is taking “legal action” against the High Court’s 7/26 demolition order for the 2 residences in the Beit El settlement. His comments follow 2 days of minor clashes between settlers and Israeli troops in and around Beit El. (HA, JP, TOI 7/28)

Netanyahu meets with Cypriot pres. Anastasiades in Cyprus and, according to PA sources, Anastasiades reportedly outlines a new European and Cypriot initiative to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations . The PA sources say that Anastasiades discussed the initiative with PA pres. Abbas on 7/27, and it includes an invitation for Netanyahu and Abbas to separately address EU leaders in Brussels at a future summit. (JP 7/27; JP, MNA, REU, TOI 7/28)

The U.S. Parole Commission announces that imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard’s parole has been approved and that he will be released from prison on 11/21, having completed a 30-year sentence after being convicted of passing military intelligence to Israel in 1985. Pollard will be required to stay in the U.S. for 5 years after his release. Secy. of State Kerry reiterates that Pollard’s release is not connected to the tension surrounding the nuclear deal reached by the P5+1 and Iran on 7/14. (EI, HA, MNA 7/28; HA 7/29)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian during a raid in c. Nablus. Less than an hour later, they shoot and injure a Palestinian photojournalist attempting to cover the story. The IDF also conducts raids in a village nr. Jenin, confiscating property and arresting 2 Palestinians; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 13 Palestinians on raids in the Old City and Ras al-Amud. (HA, MNA, WAFA 7/23; PCHR 7/30)

Israeli chief negotiator, Dep. PM Shalom meets with PLO secy.-gen. Erakat for “trustbuilding” talks in Amman. They present initial proposals for restarting peace negotiations. The meeting will be 1st reported on 7/26. (MNA, TOI 7/26; HA, MNA 7/28)

Israel’s Civil Admin. grants permits for the construction of 1,065 new residences in various settlements around the West Bank, including infrastructure developments that will connect 296 residences to utilities in the Beit El settlement. (HA, TOI, YA 7/22; PCN 7/23; MNA 7/24)

UNRWA issues an urgent appeal for contributions, reaffirming that it is running at a budget deficit of around $100 m. and that if it does not receive sufficient pledges, UNRWA schools will be forced to close throughout the Middle East. (AFP, UNRWA 7/23)

In the West Bank, IDF troops raid Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah and arrest 1 Palestinian, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths. The IDF also conducts late-night raids and house searches in Balata r.c. and 1 village nr. Nablus, Jenin, and 2 villages nr. Bethlehem, arresting 9 Palestinians, including 1 journalist; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers throw stones and set fire to a Palestinian home in c. Hebron, causing damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Ras al-Amud and al-Tur, arresting 5 Palestinians. (WAFA 5/31; PCHR 6/4)

In a Washington Post interview, PA PM Hamdallah says the Palestinians have “received assurances” from the U.S. that it will “resume negotiations” between Israel and the Palestinians once the P5+1 and Iran reach a final nuclear agreement. He adds that the Palestinians are interested in a “new framework” for negotiations, including talks sponsored by the U.S., EU, and UN. (WP 5/31; JP, TOI 6/1)

The Knesset’s Ministerial Comm. for Legislation unanimously approves an amendment to the penal code allowing convicted stone-throwers to be sentenced to 10–20 years in prison and reducing the govt.’s burden of proof for obtaining such convictions (the Knesset will pass it into law on 7/20). (HA 5/31; MNA 6/1)

German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu, Pres. Reuven Rivlin, and other officials in Israel. Israeli Dep. FM Tzipi Hotovely tells Steinmeier that Israel expects Germany to lead the fight against labeling of settlement produce in the EU. (TOI 5/29; JP 5/31)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man in al-Tur after he drives his car into a crowd, injuring 2 border police guards. Israeli forces demolish a 3-story building in Ras al-Amud claiming it was built without a license. In the West Bank, Israeli forces close the entrance to a village nr. Nablus after a Palestinian throws a Molotov cocktail at a settler’s car. The IDF also conducts late-night raids in and around Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus, and in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, arresting 14 Palestinians; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah during the day. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 5/20; MNA, PCHR, WAFA 5/21; PCHR 5/28)

Following public criticism and consultation with DM Moshe Ya’alon, Israeli PM Netanyahu orders the suspension of the new 3-mo. pilot project restricting Palestinian travel, initiated on 5/19. Ya’alon says he will continue his efforts to reduce the number of Palestinians entering Israel illegally. (HA, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 5/20) 

EU foreign policy chief Mogherini meets with Netanyahu in Israel, who says he is still committed to the 2-state solution and he proposes a new round of peace negotiations with the Palestinians with the specific goal of establishing borders for Israel’s West Bank settlement blocs (the news of his proposal will not break until 5/26). Also, Mogherini reportedly tells Netanyahu that the European campaign calling for labeling of products from Israeli settlements is unstoppable. The PM’s office will deny that they discussed the labeling campaign when the news breaks on 6/2. Mogherini also meets with PA pres. Abbas and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat in Ramallah. (HA, JP, YA 5/20; WAFA 5/21; HA, REU, TOI 5/26; HA 6/2)

Norwegian FM Børge Brende meets with Netanyahu in Jerusalem and tells him that international pressure on Israel regarding its treatment of the Palestinians will likely resume after the P5+1 (the 5 permanent mbrs. of the UN Security Council plus Germany) reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran by their 6/30 deadline. (LF 5/19; EI, HA, 5/20; HA, YA 5/21)

In Gaza, Hamas police assault a Palestinian journalist, lightly injuring him. IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Jabaliya open fire on Palestinian farmers on 2 occasions, causing no injuries or damage. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and raids in 1 village each nr. Tulkarm, Jenin, and Bethlehem, arresting 6 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 4; patrols in 2 villages each nr. Hebron and Tulkarm. Israeli settlers uproot around 800 olive trees in a village nr. Hebron. An Israeli settler assaults a Palestinian in c. Hebron, causing severe bleeding. In East Jerusalem, over 160 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif as a part of Jerusalem Day celebrations. Dozens of Palestinian youths throw stones and bottles at thousands of Israelis parading through the Old City; 2 policemen and 19 Palestinians are injured, and at least 5 Palestinians are arrested. Separately, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian at Haram al-Sharif. They also conduct house searches and raids in Silwan, al-Tur, Ras al-Amud, and Sur al-Bahir, arresting 7 Palestinians. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, WAFA,YA5/17;MNA 5/18; JP5/19; PCHR 5/21)

At a Jerusalem Day ceremony, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says that his govt. will keep building in East Jerusalem and pledges to never let the city be divided. (YA 5/17)

In the West Bank, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops violently disperse hundreds of Palestinian and international activists marching through a village nr. Nablus to commemorate Nakba Day, injuring 2 international journalists and 1 Palestinian. The IDF also conducts latenight raids and house searches in Hebron, Bethlehem, and 1 village nr. Jenin, arresting 1 Palestinian and issuing arrest summons to 2; patrols in 2 villages and al-Fawar refugee camp (r.c.) nr. Hebron, 3 nr. Ramallah, and 1 each nr. Tulkarm and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid a home in Issawiyya late at night, arresting 2 Palestinians. Earlier in the day, 2 synagogues in Pisgat Ze’ev are damaged in suspected arson attacks by Palestinians. A Palestinian throws a molotov cocktail at Israeli settlers in Ras al-Amud, causing no injuries. Israeli settler youths then throw stones at Palestinians in the area. (MNA, WAFA 5/16; TOI 5/17; PCHR 5/21)

In the Gaza Strip, Hamas police disperse over 400 Palestinians gathering in Shuja‘iya to protest delays in reconstruction and national disunity, assaulting several and arresting 7. Off the coast nr. Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. Separately, the IDF returns 15 confiscated fishing boats to Palestinians in Gaza. The leader of the Palestinian fisherman’s union calls on Israel to give back 60 other confiscated boats, and he recognizes that this is the 1st time boats have ever been returned by sea, which is more convenient for fishermen than the usual overland method. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a sheep barn in a village nr. Nablus; deliver demolition notices for several water wells nr. Hebron. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in 1 village each nr. Jenin, Nablus, and Hebron, arresting 4 Palestinians, including an imam; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Anata, al-Tur, and Ras al-Amud, arresting 6 Palestinians. (AFP, MNA, NYT, WAFA 4/29; TOI, YA 4/30; PCHR 5/7)

On 2 occasions off the coast of Gaza nr. Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Bayt Jala village nr. Bethlehem, disrupting Palm Sunday celebrations. The IDF also conducts raids and house searches in 3 villages nr. Nablus, 1 village nr. Ramallah, and Jenin, arresting 18 Palestinians; patrols in 2 villages each nr. Jenin and Ramallah, and 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Jericho. Israeli forces deliver a demolition notice to a warehouse nr. Jenin. An Israeli settler rams a herd of Palestinian-owned sheep with his car nr. Qalqilya, injuring 29 of them. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault a group of Muslim worshippers at Haram alSharif, then they detain 3. Israeli forces also demolish part of a Palestinian’s home in the Old City; conduct house searches and raids in Ras al-Amud, Shu‘fat, and the Old City, arresting 9 Palestinians. (MNA, WAFA 3/29; PCHR 4/2)

On the 2d day of the Arab League’s 26th annual summit, the collected ministers agree to form a special comm. to organize the creation of a detailed timetable for the end of Israel’s occupation. (AFP, YA 3/29; JP 4/7)

Reps. of the Joint List and Palestinian activists conclude their 4-day march from unrecognized villages in the Negev to Pres. Rivlin’s residence in Jerusalem. Although he had earlier agreed to greet them, he is in Singapore for a state funeral. The coalition’s chair, Ayman Odeh, delivers a report on Palestinian bedouin communities in the Negev to Rivlin’s wife instead. (HA, WAFA 3/29; AFP, HA, WAFA 3/30)

EU amb. to Israel Lars Faaborg-Andersen says that the EU is not currently reassessing its policies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite the recent reports that it is considering new sanctions on Israel’s settlements as an incentive for a new round of peace negotiations. He adds that the EU supports in principle a UNSC res. calling for a timetable on the Israeli occupation. (TOI 3/30)

Chinese FM Wang Yi, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, and UK Foreign Secy. Hammond join the 4th consecutive day of negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran in Lausanne, Switzerland. (AFP, ALM, AP, REU 3/29; HA 3/30; NYT 3/31)

In Gaza, Israeli authorities close both the Kerem Shalom and the Erez border crossings. In 2 separate incidents, IDF troops stationed e. of Gaza City fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers approaching the border fence, causing damage. Later, IDF troops stationed along the n. border open fire on a group of Palestinian farmers, causing damage to a car but no injuries. They also arrest 2 Palestinians nr. the border fence e. of al-Maghazi r.c. Unknown assailants set fire to a car belonging to the spokesperson of Gaza’s union of civil servants in Gaza City. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and raids in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Bethlehem, and Ramallah, arresting 2 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 1; patrols in 4 villages nr. Hebron, and in and around Tulkarm; evacuates and demolishes the “Gate of Jerusalem” protest tent camp in Abu Dis for the 11th time, forcing hundreds of Palestinian and international activists to leave the area and detaining 7. Israeli forces demolish a marble factory nr. Jenin. Israeli settlers poison a Palestinian family’s water tank in Hebron, but it is discovered before anyone is hurt; assault 2 Palestinian farmers outside a town nr. Jenin, injuring both; throw stones at Palestinian vehicles outside a village nr. Jenin, causing damage. A Palestinian drives his car into a group of IDF troops in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, injuring 1; the man is arrested. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians in Haram al-Sharif. They also conduct house searches and raids in Bayt Hanina, Issawiyya, Ras al-Amud, and al-Tur, arresting 8 Palestinians. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/17; PCHR 3/19)

National elections are held in Israel to determine the makeup of the 20th Knesset. Despite early exit polls predicting a close result, the Likud Party wins 30 seats, making it the largest bloc. During the day, Israeli PM Netanyahu attempts to increase voter turnout among his supporters by saying that Palestinian citizens are voting in “droves” and that their participation will lead to a victory for the left-wing factions. (AFP, BBC, HA, JP, NYT, TOI, YA 3/17; HA, JTA, WAFA 3/18)

The PA announces that it will operate under an emergency budget for 2015 starting on 4/1, as the economic crisis precipitated by Israel’s ongoing tax revenue freeze continues (over $400 m. is currently being withheld). Employees will continue to receive only partial salaries and govt. offices will receive 50% less funding than in 2014. (REU, TOI 3/17)

Reps. of the U.S. and Iran continue their negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program for a 2d day in a row and reportedly discuss the open letter that 47 Republican senators sent to Iran’s leaders on 3/9. (AFP, AP, JP, TOI 3/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts a house search and raid in Jericho, arresting 2 Palestinians; patrols in Nablus, al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Jenin. Israeli settlers park a group of mobile homes on Palestinian land nr. Nablus, establishing a new settlement outpost. Elsewhere, Palestinians in a village nr. Ramallah say that the Israeli authorities have informed them that they are planning on opening a major road e. of the city, having kept it closed since 2001 (Israeli forces will open the road on 5/25). Israeli authorities also inform farmers nr. Salfit that they plan to demolish 20 olive trees in the area. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces and settlers surround and attempt to evacuate a Palestinian-rented home in the Old City, but the tenants’ lawyer secures a stay on a 3/15 eviction order until 5/2015; small clashes break out. Separately, Israeli forces conduct house searches and raids in Issawiyya and Ras al-Amud, arresting 7 Palestinians. (HA, MNA, WAFA 3/16; PCHR 3/19; EI 3/25)

Israeli PM Netanyahu says that if he is chosen to serve a 3d consecutive term as PM, there will be no Palestinian state, responding to the confusion on 3/8 when his office refuted a Likud Party statement that said he was disavowing his 2009 Bar Ilan speech, in which he 1st came out in favor of the 2-state solution. (AFP, HA, MNA, TOI, YA 3/16)

Palestinian amb. to Iraq Ahmad Aqil says that the Iraqi Higher Judicial Council has issued a res. applying equal status as Iraqi citizens to Palestinian refugees in Iraq—except for full Iraqi nationality. While it is consistent with existing law protecting the rights of Palestinian refugees that passed under Saddam Hussein, those laws were not thoroughly enforced after his overthrow and around 22,000 Palestinians left Iraq. (MNA 3/16)

Iranian FM Zarif and U.S. Secy. of State Kerry, along with other reps. of Iran and the U.S., meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, for a week of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. Zarif travels to Brussels to meet with envoys from several EU mbr. states as well as EU foreign policy chief Mogherini. (AFP, JP, TOI 3/16)

Off the coast of Gaza nr. Gaza City, Israeli naval forces open fire on 4 Palestinian fishing boats, seriously injuring 1 fisherman, arresting 2, and confiscating 2 boats. (The fisherman will die from his injuries on 3/7.) IDF troops e. of Khan Yunis fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers approaching the border fence, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers clash with stone-throwing Palestinian activists nr. the rebuilt “Gate of Jerusalem” protest tent camp in Abu Dis; 7 Palestinians are lightly injured with rubber-coated metal bullets. IDF troops also violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Silwad, Bil‘in, Ni ‘lin, outside Ofer Prison, and Jalazun r.c.), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 7 Palestinians are moderately injured and 4 French activists are detained. Israeli soldiers open fire on a Palestinian vehicle at a checkpoint n. of Jenin, injuring 2 men; shoot and injure 5 stone-throwing Palestinian youth with live ammunition during clashes sparked when the soldiers patrol in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah. The IDF conducts a house search nr. Ramallah; patrols in 4 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, and 1 nr. Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian man rams his car into a group of Israeli police in Shaykh Jarrah, injuring 4 officers and 1 Israeli civilian. Israeli police shoot and critically injure the man, as he exits the car with a knife; they arrest him. The Israeli police summon the man’s father and brother for interrogation and increase security measures throughout the city. Israeli forces raid the man’s home in Ras al-Amud and homes in Silwan, sparking clashes; 2 Palestinians are injured and 2 are arrested. Hours after the attack, unknown assailants deface several gravestones at a Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 3/6; MNA, WAFA 3/7; PCHR 3/12; HA 3/16)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops nr. the border fence e. of Gaza City open fire on dozens of Palestinians protesting the delay in reconstruction efforts following OPE, causing no injuries. Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Bayt Hanun. Off the coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. Meanwhile, the IAF conducts mock air raids over the Strip. In the West Bank, IDF troops disperse a group of Palestinians ceremonially planting olive trees in Silwad nr. Ramallah, arresting a senior PA official. During the ensuing clashes, an Israeli settler attacks 2 Palestinian journalists covering the ceremony. The IDF also declares a swath of desert land e. of Jerusalem a closed military zone. IDF troops conduct house searches and arrest raids nr. Hebron, Jenin, and Ramallah; patrol nr. Hebron, Ramallah, Salfit, Qalqilya, and Tulkarm. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers chop down 70 olive trees nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli settler and his lawyer attempt to evict a Palestinian family from their home in the Old City, which is the last Palestinian-owned home in this area. Meanwhile, 5 Palestinians from al-Tur are indicted on charges relating to a series of attacks on Israeli forces in the last 6 mos. of 2014, which the Shin Bet believes to be a neighborhood-wide conspiracy. Separately, Israeli forces fire tear gas canisters at Palestinian youth in Ras al-Amud; conduct house searches and raids in Jabal Mukabir. (MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 2/9; PCHR 2/12)

The Palestinian National Comm. against Israeli Punitive Measures announces a boycott of products manufactured by 6 major Israeli companies—Tnuva, Jafora-Tabori, Osem, Prigat, Strauss, and Elite. Comm. chair and Fatah Central Comm. mbr. Mahmoud al-Aloul says that merchants will have 2 weeks to remove the products from their shelves, then they will be subject to random checks from special inspectors. However, the boycott is not legally binding. (HA, JP, WAFA 2/9; MNA, YA 2/10; HA 3/9)

Haaretz reports that the Israeli govt. has marked around 3,740 dunams of the West Bank as state land, with the goal of expanding 4 existing settlements—Keddumim, Vered Yericho, Neve Tzuf, and Emmanuel. (HA, WAFA 2/9; YA 2/10)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of al-Maghazi open fire on a Palestinian tending to lemon trees nr. the border fence, causing a moderate injury and then arresting him. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians at a checkpoint nr. Jenin; assault a Palestinian university student nearby, causing moderate injuries. They also assault a group of Palestinians peacefully protesting outside an Israeli settlement nr. Bethlehem. IDF troops open fire on a Palestinian nr. Bethlehem after he drives his car toward them. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Bethlehem, Salfit, Hebron, and Tulkarm; patrols in al-Fawar r.c., as well as nr. Hebron and Qalqilya. Palestinians throw stones at IDF troops patrolling nr. Ramallah, injuring 1. In East Jerusalem, unknown assailants throw bottles at Israeli settlers’ buildings in Shaykh Jarrah and Ras al-Amud, causing damage but no injuries. Later, unknown assailants burn 6 Palestinianowned cars in Silwan and Abu Tor. Israeli forces conduct arrest raids and house searches in Ras al-Amud. In West Jerusalem, dozens of Palestinians from al-Tur, East Jerusalem, gather outside the municipal govt. offices to protest the increased arrests of Palestinian children. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 2/8; HA, WAFA 2/9; PCHR 2/12)

UNRWA’s office in Gaza announces that over the next week it will distribute $1.1 m. in cash payments to around 800 families whose homes were partially or completely destroyed during OPE. On 1/27, the office suspended its cash assistance program, which served these same families. Meanwhile, the PA Finance Ministry announces that, for the 2d mo. in a row, PA employees whose monthly wage is NIS 2,000 (around $520) or more will receive only 60% of their salary, and those with lower wages will receive their entire salary. (MNA, WAFA 2/8)

On the sidelines of the security conference in Munich, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets with reps. of the 3 other mbrs. of the Middle East Quartet. In a statement, they call for a resumption of peace negotiations and for all parties to avoid actions that may “prejudice final status issues.” (REU, TOI, YA 2/8)

Also at the Munich conference, Kerry and Iranian FM Zarif discuss the negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. Both Kerry and Zarif affirm that they do not want to extend the negotiations again. Zarif also meets with FMs of the rest of the P5+1. (AFP, HA, REU, TOI 2/8; ALM 2/12)

In the Gaza Strip, unknown assailants destroy the car of a senior Hamas official with explosives in Nussayrat r.c. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, after Palestinian and international activists rebuild the “Gate of Jerusalem” tent camp in Abu Dis, Israeli forces return to the area and deliver a 24-hour eviction notice. Hours later, they demolish and evacuate the camp for a 3d time. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in Jalazun r.c. and 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, Silwad, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), injuring 3 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets and 1 with a tear gas canister. IDF troops also arrest 2 Palestinian boys tending sheep nr. Hebron and 3 others tending their land nr. Qalqilya. The IDF patrols nr. Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron, as well as in al-‘Arub r.c. and Salfit. Israeli settlers open fire with live ammunition on Palestinians peacefully protesting nr. Bayt Umar, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct a house search in Ras al-Amud, arresting 1 Palestinian. (IMEMC, MNA 2/6; TOI 2/7; PCHR 2/12)

Israeli PM Netanyahu orders the implementation of a plan that will include the destruction of around 400 Palestinian-owned and EU-funded structures in the West Bank. The order follows the 2/5 publication of a report in the Daily Mail on EU funding of Palestinian projects that do not have the correct licenses under Israeli law. (DM 2/5; TOI 2/6; WAFA 2/8)

U.S. VP Joseph R. Biden announces that he will not attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on 3/3. (AP, JDF 2/6)

On the sidelines of a security conference in Munich, reps. of the P5+1 and Iran discuss Iran’s disputed nuclear program ahead of their end of 3/2015 political accord deadline. U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and Iranian FM Zarif also meet to discuss how sanctions would be lifted under a possible deal and how many centrifuges Iran would be permitted to keep operational. (REU 2/6; JP, TOI 2/7; AFP 2/8)

In the Gaza Strip, unknown assailants throw a grenade into the home of Fatah Asst. Dep. of the Palestinian Civil Affairs Ministry Nasser al-Sarraj. The grenade does not explode and no one is injured. In 2 separate incidents off the coast nr. Gaza City and Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing damage to 1 boat. IDF troops e. of Rafah detain 2 armed Palestinians as they attempt to cross the border fence into Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a water distribution network that services the n. Jordan Valley, as well as a house and a barn nr. Hebron. Sparked by an IDF raid in c. Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, Palestinian residents clash with the Israeli troops, lightly injuring 1 soldier. Nearby, IDF troops shoot tear gas canisters at Palestinian youth as they leave an UNRWA school. The IDF also conducts arrest raids and house searches nr. Hebron and Ramallah; patrols nr. Hebron, Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli settler attempts to kidnap a Palestinian child in Jabal Mukabir. The IDF conducts arrest raids and house searches in al-Tur, Ras al-Amud, and Ras Khamis. (MNA, WAFA 1/29; JTA 1/30; PCHR 2/5)

UN Special Coordinator Serry’s office (UNSCO) releases a statement announcing that the UN is going to review its operations in Gaza after the violent, Hamas-organized protest outside its headquarters on 1/28. The statement also blames Hamas for not adequately providing security for the protest. The UNSCO has been principally in charge of facilitating the UNadministered reconstruction procedure and mediating between the Israeli authorities, Hamas, and Palestinians in need of support after OPE. (HA 1/30)

The Israel Electric Corporation announces that it will begin intermittently cutting power to the West Bank at the end of the mo. due to the PA’s outstanding debts, which total around NIS 1.8 m. (around $458 m.). (MEMO, YA 1/29) 

Yisrael Beytenu delivers a petition to the Central Elections Comm. (CEC) calling for the disqualification of MK Haneen Zoabi from the 3/17 elections on the basis of her support for boycott and armed resistance against Israel. (HA, JP 1/29)

The U.S. Senate Banking Comm. votes, 18–4, to pass the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015, which Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Kirk (R-IL) introduced on 1/27. A White House spokesperson consequently reaffirms Pres. Obama’s pledge to veto the bill. (AFP, REU 1/28; AP, YA 1/29)

Seventy-five U.S. sens. sign on to a letter, initiated by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), to U.S. Secy. of State Kerry calling for a suspension of aid to the PA while the Obama admin. reviews the Palestinians’ accession to the ICC. (JTA 1/30)