The Palestine Chronology

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)

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)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raze a swath of Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem, demolishing several olive trees. IDF troops conduct latenight raids nr. Ramallah, Hebron, and Tulkarm, arresting 5 Palestinians and confiscating 1 car; and patrol nr. Hebron during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces continue targeting Shu‘fat r.c., raiding the camp for the 6th day this week and arresting at least 13 residents. They arrest 2 more Palestinians during raids in Qalandia r.c. and al-‘Izzariya. Two Palestinian families demolish their own homes in Bayt Hanina to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. (MNA, WAFA 9/28; PCHR 10/6)

Former Israeli pres. Shimon Peres dies at the age of 93. (HA, JP, NYT 9/28)

Following the shooting nr. Bethlehem on 7/21, the IDF closes entrances to several Palestinian villages in the area. Elsewhere in the West Bank, the IDF continues its closure of Hebron and the surrounding areas that has been in place since 7/1. Amid heightened tensions in the Hebron region, IDF troops assault and injure a Palestinian in c. Hebron and patrol throughout the region during the day. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations in 3 villages nr. Ramallah, and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 2 Palestinians are injured and 5 are arrested. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian on a raid in Shu‘fat. The Israeli authorities only allow 250 elderly Gazans to visit Jerusalem to pray at Haram al-Sharif today. They normally permit 300 to travel for Friday prayers. COGAT says that the reduction was a response to Hamas and other groups’ “choosing to use the crossing permits . . . illegally.” Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. al-Bureij r.c., causing no injuries. (MNA 7/22; PCHR 7/28)

A Gazan farmer is injured when he accidentally detonates a piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance nr. Dayr al-Balah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian youth allegedly planning to carry out a stabbing attack in Shu‘fat. They also arrest 6 Palestinians during raids in Silwan, Jabal Mukabir, al-Tur, and Issawiyya. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols nr. Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Salfit. (MNA, WAFA 5/19; PCHR 5/27)

A day after offering him the defense portfolio, Israeli PM Netanyahu agrees to Yisrael Beytenu chair Lieberman’s main demand for bringing his party into the ruling coalition: support for new legislation lowering the bar for death penalty sentences for Palestinians found guilty of serious crimes in military courts, meaning it would only affect Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt). (HA, JP, TOI 5/19)

U.S. secy. of state Kerry confirms that he plans to attend the upcoming Paris peace summit, which the French have now rescheduled for 6/3 to accommodate his schedule. Russian FM Sergey Lavrov is also set to attend. (HA, JP 5/19)

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)

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)