The Palestine Chronology

The EU’s Ashton meets again (see 1/25/11) with Abbas in Amman to urge him to continue the talks. Afterward, Jordanian FM Judeh states that no further Israeli-Palestinian talks are scheduled, as the sides need to “assess where we are and how to move to the next stage.” Meanwhile, PLO EC mbr. Hanan Ashrawi says: “There has been no progress whatsoever. . . . There are no talks anymore. We don’t want to be complicit in this game of deception.” (HA 1/26, REU, WP 1/27, Asia Times 1/31)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers who stray too nr. the border fence e. of Khan Yunis, forcing them to flee. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 5 villages nr. Ramallah and 2 nr. Jericho in the morning; patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho and 1 nr. Salfit in the afternoon; patrols in Kafr Qaddum late at night; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron; escorts Jewish settlers enter Kafr Haris village nr. Salfit late at night to pray at a local shrine. (PCHR 2/2; OCHA 2/3)

In the morning, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border w. of the Erez crossing direct gunfire and 1 artillery shell at open areas around the former Nisanit settlement site, causing no reported injuries. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya launch 4 artillery shells at open areas near the border, causing no reported injuries. Late at night, Israeli warplanes make a total of 7 air strikes on greenhouses and open areas nr. the Bayt Lahiya border in the north, a suspected weapons factory in c. Gaza, and a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. A Palestinian civilian dies of injuries sustained in a 11/14/01 IDF air strike on a UNRWA school in Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 9 Palestinian stores in al-Oja village in the Jordan Valley, n. of Jericho; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Ramallah (where they target the home of Hamas-affiliated Reform and Change PC mbr. ‘Abd al-Jabir Fuqaha, arresting him, summoning his son for interrogation, and confiscating his computer, phone, and files), in Nablus, and nr. Hebron; conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya (summoning 3 Palestinians for interrogation). In East Jerusalem’s Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood, Israeli security forces raid the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office and a protest tent outside, detaining Hamas-affiliated PC mbrs. Muhammad Toutah and Khalid Abu Arafa, who had been living at the ICRC offices since 6/2010 to protest Israel’s 9/2009 decision to revoke their Jerusalem IDs on the grounds that they are affiliated with a “terrorist organization” (i.e., Hamas); Israeli authorities expel them to the West Bank. Hamasaffiliated PC mbr. Ismail Ashkar comments, “Every time we move toward reconciliation and reactivating the Palestinian parliament, we see Israel targeting our lawmakers.” (AFP, JP, NYT, YA 1/24; WP, WT 1/25; PCHR 1/26; OCHA 1/27)

Israeli embassies and mission in the Hague, Brussels, London, New York, Boston, and Houston receive envelopes containing a suspicious white powder that turns out to be flour, raising fears of an anthrax attack. No one takes responsibility. (DS 1/24; JPI 2/3)

Late at night, unidentified Palestinians fire a homemade Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IDF carries out an air strike on a training camp w. of Nussayrat refugee camp (r.c.) in central Gaza and 3 air strikes on a greenhouse in Khan Yunis in s. Gaza; no injuries are reported. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a room and water tank of a home nr. Qalqilya for construction of the separation wall; conducts late-night patrols in Tulkarm. Jewish settlers block a road nr. Qalqilya and stone passing Palestinian vehicles. (HA 11/27; PCHR 12/1; OCHA 12/2)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; in response the IDF carries out an air strike on a Hamas training post in Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF confiscates 4 d. of Palestinian agriculture land nr. Hebron for expansion of a settlers-only bypass road; raids a house in Hebron, firing stun grenades and live ammunition, wounding and arresting 1 Palestinian; searches several abandoned houses and photographs an old mosque in Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; conducts 3 synchronized morning patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, and 3 nr. Jenin; conducts other morning patrols in 1 village nr. Salfit and late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Salfit. Jewish settlers in Hebron set fire to 3 Palestinian vehicles. (PCHR 11/17; OCHA 11/18)

The UNSC comm. reviewing the Palestinian membership request issues its final report, stating that mbrs. are deadlocked and unable to reach consensus and therefore cannot make a recommendation, leaving the statehood application effectively dead. France urges the Palestinians to ask the UNGA to upgrade its status to the lesser observer-state status, but the Palestinians have not decided what to do next. (NYT, WP 11/9; WT 11/10)

The IDF carries out 2 late-night air strikes, destroying a greenhouse in the former Jewish settlements n. of Khan Yunis, causing no reported injuries. The IDF patrols in Jericho, neighboring ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c., and 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; conducts late-night patrols in Jenin town (firing percussion grenades to intimidate residents) and r.c. (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no injuries), synchronizing these with arrest raids, house searches in 1 village nearby. (PCHR 11/17; OCHA 11/18)

Retaliating for the 10/31 UNESCO vote, Netanyahu suspends the transfer of VAT taxes Israel collects on the PA’s behalf and orders accelerated construction of 2,000 settlement housing units in East Jerusalem’s Har Homa settlement and the nearby West Bank settlements Efrat and Ma’ale Adumim, calling it Israel’s “right and obligation” to build in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Palestinian IP addresses and Palestinian phone networks in the West Bank and Gaza come under “multiple attacks” by computer hackers originating from many countries; the PA says the attacks appeared linked to the UNESCO vote and it believes they were “organized by a state” [i.e., Israel]. (HA, NYT, WP 11/2)

The IDF drops flyers over Khan Yunis warning residents to stay away fr. the 300-m. no-go zone. IDF troops manning the observation towers on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire warning shots at Palestinians and international activists marching toward the border to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone; no casualties are reported. In the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c. nr. Nablus and nr. Jenin; conducts late-night patrols in Jenin. The Israeli Comm. against House Demolitions (ICHAD) submits a report to the UN special rapporteurs on Palestine that concludes that Israeli policies in East Jerusalem (e.g., restricting building permits, demolitions, revoking permanent residency status) are forcing Palestinians to flee in what may constitute a war crime. In the West Bank, the IDF rearrests senior Hamas official Hassan Yousef in Ramallah for having links to a “terrorist” organization; Yousef was 1st arrested in 2005, was released on 8/4/11 as part of a mass release to ease prison overcrowding. (JP 11/1; PCHR 11/3; OCHA 11/4)

In the afternoon, the IDF carries out an air strike on a rocket-launching team in s. Gaza, killing 1 DFLP mbr. and seriously wounding another. By nightfall, Egypt announces it has secured pledges fr. the Palestinian factions to a reimpose the cease-fire. Netanyahu publicly states that “there is no cease-fire,” vowing to attack if Israel perceives a threat; Islamic Jihad says it reserves the right to respond if attacked. Late at night, the IDF carries out 3 air strikes targeting mbrs. of the armed wing of the Salafist alAhrar Movement nr. Khan Yunis, killing 2 al-Ahrar mbrs., and fires 2 drone missiles at another group of armed Palestinians in Jabaliya in n. Gaza, causing no reported injuries. There is no immediate Palestinian retaliation. In the West Bank, the IDF daytime patrols in Tulkarm town and r.c., 3 villages nr. Ramallah, 2 nr. Salfit, and 1 each nr. Jenin and Jericho; conducts late-night patrols in Jericho, Salfit (summoning 1 Palestinian for questioning), Tulkarm, and 4 villages nr. Qalqilya (summoning 2 Palestinians for questioning). (AHR, IDFS 10/30; IDF, NYT 10/31; PCHR 11/3; OCHA 11/4)

Quartet reps. hold separate talks with Palestinian and Israeli officials to urge the sides to resume direct talks, but report no progress. (WP 10/27)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Grad rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late in the evening, the IDF retaliates with 6 air strikes on Gaza, destroying an agricultural storehouse in Wadi al-Silqa in c. Gaza (also damaging 5 homes) and 3 storage sheds in Khan Yunis, and hitting a Hamas training site in Dayr al-Balah in c. Gaza; no injuries are reported. Israeli naval vessels intercept and confiscate a Palestinian fishing boat off the c. Gaza coast, arresting 2 fishermen. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah. (IDFS, PCHR, YA 10/27; PCHR 11/3; OCHA 11/4)

The IDF makes a day-long incursion into n. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence nr. Bayt Lahiya. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian home and well northwest of Hebron before an Israeli court hears the appeal filed by the owner contesting the demolition orders; bulldozes another 12-d. area of Palestinian agriculture land northwest of Hebron, uprooting and confiscating at least 250 olive and almond trees; patrols in Tulkarm in the morning, in 2 villages nr. Jenin and Tulkarm in the afternoon, and 4 villages nr. Qalqilya and 1 nr. Tulkarm late at night. Jewish settlers fr. Esh Kodesh nr. Nablus uproot at least 210 olive and fig trees fr. nearby Palestinian land. Jewish settlers fr. Gil’ad settlement nr. Qalqilya chase Palestinians harvesting a nearby olive grove; the IDF intervenes to remove the settlers. Israeli police arrest an 18-yr.- old rabbinical student tied to a radical Jewish settler group in connection with the 10/3 Tuba-Zangaria mosque arson. A Palestinian hospitalized since being wounded in an Israeli air strike on Khan Yunis on 5/13/03 dies of his injuries. (WP 10/7; PCHR 10/13; OCHA 10/14)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Grad rockets toward Israel; 1 lands inside Gaza and the other in Israel, neither causing damage or injuries. The IDF makes a day-long incursion into s. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence e. of al-Qarara and Khan Yunis; helicopters escorting the troops occasionally fire on the surrounding area to keep Palestinians indoors, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF levels 15 d. of Palestinian agriculture land along the separation wall n. of Hebron, including uprooting and confiscating 600 trees, destroying irrigation infrastructure, bulldozing several storehouses and a tent, and confiscating 2 mobile storage structures and 2 generators; bulldozes 3 agricultural storehouses, 5 tents, and several wells in Kafr al-Dik village nr. Salfit. (YA 10/4; PCHR 10/6; OCHA 10/7)

After meetings with the U.S. and EU envoys and Arab FMs, Abbas declares in a televised address that the Palestinians will ask for full member-state status at the UN, not simply observerstate status. Insiders say Abbas was debating which tack to take until he met again with Ross and Hale who offered no incentives and only threats to get him to drop the plan; outraged by the U.S. posturing, he decided to go for full membership. (NYT 9/17)

The IDF patrols in 9 villages between morning and late evening (4 nr. Ramallah, 2 nr. Tulkarm, 1 each nr. Jenin, Jericho, and Salfit). A Hamas mbr. dies of injuries received in a 1/8/09 IDF drone missile strike on his vehicle in Khan Yunis, during Operation Cast Lead. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bayt Umar, Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers beat and fire rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, moderately injuring 1 Palestinian; 1 Palestinian is arrested and 2 Palestinian journalists are forcibly removed. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Esh Kodesh outpost nr. Nablus attempt to swim in a pond on nearby Palestinian land in Qusra-Jaloud village and open fire on villagers who confront them, wounding 1 before the IDF intervenes, firing tear gas at the Palestinians to disperse them. (PCHR 9/22; OCHA 9/23)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire toward Abasan village, causing no injuries; later fire on and detain 3 Palestinian children (2 age 17, 1 age 14) who crossed the border fence into Israel e. of Khan Yunis in effort to find work, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah during the day and in 2 villages nr. Salfit, 1 nr. Jericho, and 1 nr. Ramallah late at night; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah in the afternoon and nr. Hebron late at night. (PCHR 9/15; OCHA 9/16)

After more than 13 hrs. of heavy clashes (in which 2 Egyptians are killed, some 1,200 are injured, and 19 are arrested), Egyptian commandos free the 6 employees trapped in the Israeli emb. in Cairo, and Egyptian riot police manage to disperse protesters. Netanyahu praises Egypt’s efforts to defend embassy staff and pledges to return Israel’s amb. to Cairo soon. (IFM, NYT, WP 9/11; Politico [Internet] 9/13) 

Obama Middle East adviser Dennis Ross and acting U.S. special envoy to the Middle East peace process David Hale arrive in the region for 2 days of mtgs. with Israeli and Palestinian officials regarding the Palestinian statehood bid and a possible Quartet plan to revive negotiations. As they meet first with Israeli pres. Benjamin Netanyahu and DM Barak, U.S. secy. of state Hillary Clinton phones Abbas, urging him to “work hard with us to avoid a negative scenario in New York at the end of the month.” (AFP, Bloomberg, NYT 9/6; WP 9/7)

\Overnight, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In retaliation, the IDF carries out an air strike on a suspected weapons depot in Gaza, causing no reported injuries. Later in the day, the IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza nr. Khan Yunis, exchanging fire with PRC mbrs., causing no initial injuries; when the PRCs. fire mortars toward soldiers, the IDF replies with gunfire fr. a helicopter, killing 1 PRC mbr. and wounding 3 bystanders. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm. (IFM 9/6; NYT 9/7; PCHR 9/8; OCHA 9/9)

Israel approves construction of 277 new apartments in Ariel settlement deep in the West Bank, which Israel seeks to retain under final status. The Quartet condemns the decision, stating that “unilateral action by either party will not be recognized by the international community.” During the day, IDF troops on the Gaza border fire on Palestinian fishermen on the beach nr. Bayt Lahiya (wounding 1) and on farmers who stray too nr. the border fence e. of Khuza in s. Gaza (wounding 1). Late in the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Grad rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late at night, the IDF retaliates with 9 air strikes on 3 Hamas training facilities (Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Rafah) and a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, wounding a 7-yr.-old boy outside his home. Separately, the IDF makes an air strike on 3 armed Palestinians preparing to fire another rocket into Israel, killing 1 Hamas mbr. and seriously wounding 2. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Jericho, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. (HA, JTA, MNA 8/15; AP, JP, NYT, REU, WP 8/16; MNA, WP 8/17; PCHR 8/18; OCHA 8/19)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a total of 6 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel in 3 barrages in the morning, afternoon, and evening, causing no damage or injuries. In retaliation, the IDF makes air strikes on 4 Hamas training facilities in Gaza City and Khan Yunis and on 2 smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, causing no reported injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the c. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 3 nr. Salfit in the morning and in Jericho late at night. (YA 7/14; JP 7/15; PCHR 7/20; OCHA 7/22)

Inspired by the Arab Spring, 10s of young Israelis set up a tent camp on Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv’s high-end shopping district, to protest high housing costs (up 20% compared to summer 2010). (Guardian, HA 7/16)

Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Israel responds with at least 3 air strikes on Hamas training sites in Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, and Khan Yunis, causing collateral damage to 6 homes but no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts patrols in Jericho and 3 villages nr. Qalqilya and Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Nabi Salih, arresting an organizer of the weekly demonstrations against the separation wall. Palestinians and international activists demonstrate against construction of settlements and the separation wall at the Qalandia crossing and in Bayt Umar. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 4 Palestinians (including 2 journalists) and 1 international activist. Jewish settlers fr. Taffuh settlement s. of Nablus attempt to seize Palestinian agricultural lands e. of Salfit but are removed by the IDF. Jewish settlers fr. Karnei Shomron settlement nr. Qalqilya stone Palestinian vehicles. (AFP 3/5; IsRN 3/6; PCHR 3/10; OCHA 3/18)

Palestinians fire a mortar fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF retaliates with at least 5 air strikes on Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Khan Yunis and Rafah, wounding 4 Palestinian civilians (including a baby); in 1 instance, Israeli intelligence units phone the targeted site to warn residents to evacuate, calling a 2d time before the strike to make sure the house is clear (no one is injured in that strike). IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials in the fmr. settlement sites, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Qalqilya and 4 surrounding villages; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Nabi Salih. (JP 2/26; AFP, IsRN 2/27; WP 2/28; PCHR 3/3; OCHA 3/4)

With daily antigovernment protests continuing, the head of Bahrain’s banned al-Haq party, seen as the hard-line leader of Bahrain’s oppressed Shi‘i majority, returns fr. exile and is greeted by throngs of supporters, in what is seen as an escalation against the regime. (WP 2/28)

The IDF makes a major air strike on Bureij r.c. in Gaza, destroying 1 building and damaging 8 nearby houses and a poultry farm, injuring 1 child. The IDF also makes 4 air strikes on an Islamic Jihad training site nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in a village nr. Tulkarm. In the West Bank, Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih/Dayr Nizam nr. Ramallah, and nr. Beit Romano settlement in Hebron. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 7 Palestinians (including 1 child); 3 international activists and 1 Israeli journalist are arrested. Fatah cancels its call for a “day of rage” against the 2/18 U.S. veto, fearing that turnout would reflect support for Hamas (see 2/19). (PCHR 3/3; OCHA 3/4)

The PA sets 7/9/2011 as the start date for municipal elections in the West Bank. (WT 2/9)

In the morning, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing light damage but no injuries. In the afternoon, Islamic Jihad mbrs. fire 2 more mortars into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late in the evening, the IDF retaliates with an air strike, destroying an abandoned plastics factory in Gaza City (an alleged weapons manufacturing facility), also damaging a nearby PA Health Min. warehouse used for storing medicine, a textile factory, and a school and lightly injuring 11 Palestinian civilians (including 4 children). An hr. later, the IDF makes 2 air strikes on an Islamic Jihad training site in Khan Yunis (injuring 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs.) and a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border (no injuries). Also during the day, the IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza e. of Shuka village to level lands and clear lines of sight, firing on nearby residential areas to keep Palestinians indoors, causing no injuries. UNRWA reports that it has resumed 3 stalled construction projects in Gaza after Israel allowed in 2 large shipments of construction aggregates (see 2/1). In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Tubas, in Nablus, and nr. Hebron. (YA 2/9; PCHR 2/10; OCHA 2/11)

Egyptian demonstrators hold the largest rally in Tahrir Square to date and surround the parliament building, rejecting government proposals for an extended transition and demanding Mubarak’s immediate removal and dissolution of parliament. Huge demonstrations are also held in Alexandria, Suez, and other cities. Egyptian labor unions begin a nationwide general strike to observe a “Week of Steadfastness” with demonstrators. Since 2/4, Mubarak has released some activists arrested since 1/25, allowed government contact with the Muslim Brotherhood for the first time, agreed in principle to lift emergency regulations and allow a free press, formed a legal panel (all Mubarak loyalists) to explore constitutional changes demanded by protesters, announced 15% raises for civil servants and pensioners, and vowed to open corruption investigations of senior government and NDP party officials. Some opposition figures note (e.g., WP 2/7) that some of these steps were significant and might have been enough to appease protesters 2 wks. ago, but that the mood has shifted significantly since then and these steps are now seen as far too little. Another round of massive demonstrations in Tahrir Square is called for Friday 2/10. In the interim, labor strikes and demonstrations grow and spread nationwide. (NYT, WP, WT 2/8; NYT, WP, WT 2/9; NYT, WP, WT 2/10; see also NYT, WP 2/6; NYT, WP, WT 2/7)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Fearing Israel could stage a major retaliation for the recent spike in rocket and mortar fired, Hamas once again (see 12/30) appeals to Gaza factions to observe a cease-fire. Late in the evening, the IDF carries out 4 air strikes on s. Gaza, assassinating senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Najjar as he rides a motorcycle and striking an IQB site s. of Gaza City, as well as hitting an Islamic Jihad training site nr. Khan Yunis and a PA naval police building in Nussayrat r.c., causing damage but no injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli naval vessels detain 4 Palestinian fishermen sailing off the Gaza coast, releasing 3 and arresting 1. (Guardian, NYT, WP 1/12; PCHR 1/13; OCHA 1/14)

Israeli crews begin demolishing the fmr. Shepherd Hotel site (built in the 1930s as a villa for the grand mufti of Jerusalem) in East Jerusalem’s Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood to make way for a controversial new settlement housing project. In Gaza, unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF retaliates late at night with at least 5 air strikes targeting an IQB site in Khan Yunis and the fmr. PA General Intelligence building in Jabaliya, causing damage but no injuries in both incidents. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin, 2 nr. Qalqilya, and 1 nr. Ramallah during the day; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in Jenin (questioning a local Hamas leader but not detaining him). (JP, UPI 1/9; NYT, WP 1/10; WP 1/11; PCHR 1/13; OCHA 1/14)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border (deploying tanks and helicopters) exchange fire with Islamic Jihad gunmen in the border area e. of Khan Yunis for several hrs., killing 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Bayt Lahiya, wounding 1 Palestinian fisherman. Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized afternoon patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin; later patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin, 1 nr. Qalqilya, 1 nr. Ramallah; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah. Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists demonstrate against Jewish settlement construction in Hebron, marching to Beit Romano and Avraham Avino settlements; IDF soldiers beat 2 Palestinian demonstrators and arrest 2 internationals and 1 Israeli. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops fence off 600 d. of Palestinian land nr. Missa Ya’ir settlement nr. Hebron. (AFP 12/25; WP, WT 12/27; PCHR 12/30; OCHA 12/31)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials in the fmr. Jewish settlement sites, wounding 1. During the day, the PRCs fire 10 mortars fr. Gaza toward Israel, with at least 9 landing inside Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late at night, in response to the recent increase in Palestinian rocket fire, the IDF makes an air strike on a manned Hamas facility in Khan Yunis, injuring 2 IQB mbrs., marking Israel’s 1st targeting of an occupied Hamas facility since OCL ended in 1/2009. Hrs. later, the IDF carries out 6 more air strikes targeting 2 suspected tunnels nr. the border. Targets include Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya in n. Gaza (hitting a poultry farm, killing 1,800 chickens), 3 smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, and 2 alleged Hamas military sites in s. Gaza (an empty house in Shuka, also destroying a grocery store next door and damaging 2 nearby homes; and an abandoned dairy factory); no injuries are reported. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 4 Palestinian agricultural storehouses nr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron; conducts morning patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 2 nr. Tulkarm; conducts synchronized late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin. (AFP, JP, MNA 12/20; AFP, UPI 12/21; NYT 12/22; OCHA, PCHR 12/23)

The White House abandons efforts to persuade Israel to impose a 90-day settlement construction freeze and takes its generous package of diplomatic and security incentives off the table. The message comes days before senior Israeli and Palestinian negotiators plan to meet in Washington for further talks on the peace process and before U.S. Secy. of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to make a major Middle East policy statement on 12/10. (NYT, WP, WT 12/8)

The IDF makes a brief incursion e. of al-Bureij r.c. in c. Gaza to level lands along the border fence, firing on surrounding areas, causing no reported injuries. Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Late in the evening, the IDF responds with air strikes on a poultry farm nr. Khan Yunis (an alleged arms cache) and at a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF escorts plain-clothed individuals into Rafat village nr. Salfit in the morning; the group pauses outside the local mosque, pointing at it and taking notes. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and nr. Nablus, and patrols in Anabta village nr. Tulkarm. In Israel, 47 state-employed Israeli rabbis issue an open letter distributed in synagogues and religious journals saying that it is prohibited by the Torah to sell or rent a house or a field in the land of Israel to non-Jews. Netanyahu denounces the letter. (JP 12/7; WT, YA 12/8; PCHR 12/9; OCHA 12/10; JPI 12/17)

Argentina and Uruguay recognize Palestine as “a free and independent state” within the 1967 borders. The Israeli FMin. calls the moves “disappointing” and “regrettable.” (JAZ, YA 12/7)

To mark the anniversary of the founding of their movement, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) mbrs. fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF fires warning shots at an unidentified Palestinian nr. the Qarni crossing into Gaza, causing no reported injures; restricts animal fodder and wheat imports through the crossing for the rest of the week as punishment. The IDF makes an incursion into s. Gaza to level lands along the border fence e. of Khan Yunis, firing on surrounding areas, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 10 residential structures belonging to 15 Palestinian families (101 persons, including 42 children), a school, and 2 other small classroom structures, and at least 17 animal shelters in Khirbat Tana nr. Nablus. The IDF also conducts daytime patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya and 2 e. of Tulkarm; conducts late-night patrols in Bayt Liqya, firing live ammunition, tear gas, and stun grenades on stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no injuries; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. In Gaza, a Hamas-affiliated military court sentences 4 Palestinians to death (3 for a 2007 kidnapping and murder; 1 for collaborating with Israel). (JP, MNA 12/6; OCHA 12/8; PCHR 12/9; OCHA 12/10)

Overnight, unidentified Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets and 1 manufactured Grad rocket fr. Gaza into Israel; the Qassams land harmlessly (1 inside Gaza, 2 in Israel), while the Grad strikes nr. a cattle farm, causing damage and injuring some livestock. In the afternoon, unidentified Palestinians fire 3 mortars into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Later in the afternoon, the Popular Resistance Comms. (PRCs; an umbrella group comprising all Gaza factions) fire another 4 mortars into Israel containing white phosphorous scavenged fr. unexploded IDF ordnance (UXO), causing no damage or injuries. Israel files an official complaint with the UN over the serious escalation and retaliates in the evening with 4 air strikes in and around Bani Suhayla village s. of Khan Yunis, targeting and destroying an Islamic Jihad training site, 1 Palestinian home, and an agricultural storehouse, causing heavy collateral damage to another 2d home, and injuring 6 Palestinian civilians (including children ages 2 and 14). Late at night, 2 more air strikes destroy a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border. Meanwhile, in the morning, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials in the abandoned settlement sites nr. the border, wounding 1. Late at night, IDF troops make an incursion 1,500 m into al-Shuka in s. Gaza, firing on residential areas to keep Palestinians in their homes, monitoring the area, and withdrawing after 3 hrs.; IDF troops on the s. Gaza border open heavy fire on the demolished Dahaniyya airport site, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih/Dayr Nizam nr. Ramallah. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 5 Palestinians lightly injured (3 by tear gas canisters, 1 by a rubber-coated steel bullet) and 10s suffering tear gas inhalation. (JP, REU, YA 11/19; WP, YA 11/20; PCHR 11/25; OCHA 11/26)

In retaliation for Israel’s assassination of an AOI mbr. on 11/3, the PRCs fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IDF makes 2 air strikes destroying a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border (causing no injuries) and hitting a Hamas target in Khan Yunis (lightly injuring 1 Palestinian in a home nearby). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols without incident in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 nr. Jenin; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem and neighboring Dahaysha r.c. and nr. Hebron. (AFP, YA 11/6; OCHA, PCHR 11/11)

An explosion inside a Hamas security compound in Rafah damages more than 30 houses, 4 schools, and 1 clinic nearby, injuring 26 Palestinian civilians (including 18 children, 15 of whom were inside their classrooms), mostly by flying glass; the reason for the explosion is unclear. The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza e. of Khan Yunis to level land along the border to clear lines of sight, firing on surrounding areas to keep Palestinians away, seriously wounding a 65-yr.-old Palestinian harvesting olives 1,000 m away. In the West Bank, the IDF raids a coal plant nr. the separation wall w. of Jenin, confiscating 40 tons of wood and sealing the building, saying that local Jewish settlers claimed it was a nuisance; makes a daytime incursion into Barta‘a nr. Jenin, raiding several stores and interrogating several Palestinians, but making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Eli settlement nr. Nablus vandalize and set fire to part of a Palestinian school nearby. Jewish settlers fr. Elon Moreh nr. Nablus fire on and chase off Palestinians harvesting olives nearby. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim nr. Qalqilya throw stones at Palestinian vehicles driving on the nearby Nablus–Qalqilya road, causing no injuries. (PCHR 10/21; OCHA 10/22; PCHR 10/28; OCHA 10/29)

U.S. officials spend the day trying to broker a compromise with Israel that will guarantee that direct talks will continue. Despite U.S. appeals, Netanyahu allows the freeze to expire at midnight local time (6:00 p.m. EDT). Abbas agrees not to follow through on threats to halt direct talks immediately to give U.S. diplomacy more time to work, but says he plans to consult with Fatah and PLO leaders, as well as the Arab League regarding how to move forward. (At his request, an Arab League session is set for 10/4, essentially leaving a week to resolve the freeze issue; the date is later changed to 10/6.) Even before the freeze ends, Israel’s Dep. PM Silvan Shalom lays the cornerstone for construction of a new yeshiva at a ceremony in Beit Romano settlement in Hebron attended by settlement leaders and right-wing Knesset members. Likud party mbrs. and 1,000s of settlers bussed in from around the West Bank attend a rally in neighboring Revava settlement to count down the end of the moratorium. In nearby Kiryat Netafim settlement, Jewish settlers hold a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a new day-care center. Dozens of armed Jewish settlers from Ma’on settlement nr. Hebron guarded by IDF soldiers escort bulldozers to a nearby site where they begin laying the foundations for new homes at nearby Havat Maon outpost. After midnight, construction begins at several settlements across the West Bank. (NYT, WP, WT 9/27; NYT, WP 9/28; PCHR 9/30)

Meanwhile, timed with the lifting of the settlement freeze, 9 Jewish activists depart Cyprus on a catamaran, hoping to break the blockade of Gaza to deliver a token shipment of medicine and water purification equipment. In the West Bank, unidentified Palestinian gunmen fire on 2 Jewish settler vehicles driving nr. Hebron, moderately wounding 1 Jewish settler; no group takes responsibility. The IDF sends troops into Azun village nr. Qalqilya to patrol streets, set up checkpoints, and check Palestinian IDs, arresting 1 Palestinian; seals an entrance to Marda village nr. Salfit; conducts late-night patrols in Jenin town and r.c., making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin and Nablus. In Gaza, IDF troops on the s. Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire warning shots at Palestinians conducting a nonviolent protest march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a buffer zone, seriously wounding 1. (NYT 9/27; WT 9/28; PCHR 9/30; OCHA 10/1)

Abbas, Netanyahu, Clinton, and Mitchell continue direct talks at Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, meeting for 2 hrs. They allow a joint photo opportunity but do not address the press. (WP 9/15; NYT, WP, WT 9/16; PCHR 9/23; OCHA 9/24)

Just as the Jerusalem talks begin, Gaza’s PRCs fire 1 rocket and 9 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel (the highest 1-day total since 3/09), causing no damage or injuries. Israeli police claim 2 of the mortars contained white phosphorous and that the rocket, which landed in Ashkelon, appeared to be a manufactured Grad type, rather than a homemade Qassam; the IDF, however, calls the rocket a Qassam. (Ashkelon is in range of both Qassams and Grads.) The Israeli daily Yedi’ot Aharonot (9/16) cites an unidentified mbr. of an unnamed Gaza militant group as confirming that 2 mortars contained white phosphorous taken from unexploded IDF ordnance (UXO) from Operation Cast Lead, saying the Gaza factions are experimenting with modifying Israeli UXO for use against Israel. The IDF retaliates with air strikes on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border (killing 1 Palestinian civilian, wounding 3), a factory n. of Khan Yunis (destroying it and damaging several surrounding homes, greenhouses, and businesses, but causing no reported injuries), and a vacant home southwest of Khan Yunis (destroying it). IDF troops also make a brief morning incursion 400 m. into s. Gaza e. of Khan Yunis to level land to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts separate synchronized late-night patrols in 2 villages e. of Qalqilya and 2 villages nr. Ramallah, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, nr. Jenin. (HA, JP, YA 9/15; CNN, JP, PCHR, WT, YA 9/16)