The Palestine Chronology

In Nablus, the IDF conducts arrest raids, searches homes; bulldozers block entrances to Nablus's old city with dirt; tanks, APCs patrol, tightly enforcing curfew. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian driving a truck in Hebron just after a curfew had been reimposed without warning; demolishes 8 Palestinian homes (1 Hebron, 5 Jenin, and 2 Nablus) belonging to relatives of Palestinian militants; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. (NYT, WP, WT 8/4; LAW, PCHR 8/7)

The IDF soldiers stationed in Netzer Hazani settlement direct shells, machine gun fire at nearby residential areas of al-Qarara, fatally shooting a 9-yr.-old Palestinian girl. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 7/15. The body of a bound, fatally shot Israeli businessman is found in a Tulkarm industrial zone. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land nr. Dayr al-Balah, Rafah; demolishes the home of local Islamic Jihad military cmdr. Muhammad Abu Tabikh in Jenin; blows up a home in al-Brazil, damaging 7 nearby houses; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm. (MM 8/1; NYT 8/2; LAW, PCHR 8/7)

In Washington, King Abdallah holds talks with Bush on the peace process, dangers of striking Iraq. Abdallah urges Bush to outline specific steps, time line for moving the peace process forward. Bush says that he's still committed to the creation of a Palestinian state in 3 yrs. but he does not think any new steps by Israel are necessary at the moment. (JT 8/1 in WNC 8/2; NYT, WP, WT 8/2; DUS 8/2 in WNC 8/7)

A package bomb explodes in a crowded Hebrew University cafeteria in Jerusalem, killing 4 Americans (including 1 U.S.-French dual national), 1 U.S.-Israeli dual national, 2 Israelis, injuring around 80; Hamas claims responsibility. Residents of Nablus continue to defy the IDF curfew. The IDF temporarily lifts the curfew in Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, Tulkarm; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, Nablus; blows up the home of relatives of a suicide bomber in Bayt Jala; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Jenin, arrests the owner; partially demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Qalqilya, Tulkarm. (AP, HA, LAW, MM, PCHR 7/31; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/1; ATL, JT, al-Quds 8/1 in WNC 8/2; WP 8/2; PCHR 8/7; JPI 8/9)

Israel's inner cabinet orders the expulsion to Gaza of a relative of Palestinian involved in the 7/16 Emmanuel bus ambush, giving him 12 hrs. to appeal. Regarding whether the man was directly involved in supporting the attack (per Atty. Gen. Rubinstein's conditions; see 7/21), Internal Security M Uzi Landau says, "it's enough for a relative of a relative of a suicide bomber to set up a mourning tent or visit a mourning tent" to qualify for expulsion. The inner cabinet also formalizes a policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinian attackers. (HA 7/31; WP, WT 8/1; MA 8/4 in WNC 8/5; PCHR 8/7)

A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device in a Jerusalem restaurant, lightly wounding 5 Israelis. AMB gunmen lure 2 Jewish settlers (diesel fuel salesmen) to Jamayn village, fatally shoot them; 1 of the assailants is later arrested. 1,000s of Nablus residents defy the 24-hr. curfew for a 3d day. The IDF removes the curfew on Qalqilya; bulldozes 3 Palestinian apartment buildings in Jenin allegedly housing bomb-making labs; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, injuring 2 women, 2 children sleeping in their homes. In the Israeli town of Ashkelon, an Israeli Jew (recently emigrated from Morocco) walking the beach nr. the home of a senior Israeli security official is stopped, searched, shot, seriously wounded by guards who thought he was a Palestinian attacker. An Israeli prosecutor charges 2 Palestinian detainees with masterminding attacks that killed 17 Israelis, marking the 1st indictments handed down in an civilian court against Palestinians detained during the al-Aqsa intifada. (AP, MM 7/30; JTA, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 7/31; NYT 8/1)

The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Lahia (injuring a 14-yr.-old boy), Khan Yunis (injuring 2 9-yr.-old boys), Rafah (injuring a 4-yr.-old girl). 100s of Nablus residents defy the IDF curfew for a 2d day; the IDF does not intervene. Late this evening, a Palestinian infiltrates Itamar settlement, stabs and lightly wounds 2 Jewish settlers before being shot dead by IDF troops. A Palestinian run over by a Jewish settler on 7/21 dies of his injuries. (NYT, WT 7/30; LAW, PCHR, WP 7/31)

Following a funeral for settlers killed on 7/26, some 100 Jewish settlers rampage through Palestinian neighborhoods of Hebron, attacking Palestinian homes and cars, firing on homes, killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian girl, injuring 15; 1 group of settlers breaks into a Palestinian home, destroys furniture, stabs and seriously injures an 8-yr.-old Palestinian boy; some settlers beat, destroy the cameras of 2 photographers (an American free-lancer and a Yedi'ot Aharonot rep.), a journalist (Yedi'ot Aharonot). The IDF raids an area nr. Ramallah, capturing 4 Hamas mbrs., including senior mbrs. Furayj Rumayna and Hussein Abu Kuwayk (whom the IDF attempted to assassinate on 3/4/02), fatally shooting 1 Palestinian as he watches the incursion; shells residential areas of, bulldozes 6 dunams of land in Khan Yunis. The mayor Nablus, where the IDF's 24-hr. curfew has been temporarily lifted only 5 times in the past 40 days, calls on residents to ignore the curfew in an act of civil disobedience; 10s of Nablus residents open shops, banks, markets, go about their day-to-day duties; the IDF does not interfere. (XIN 7/28 in WNC 7/29; MM, NYT, UPMRC, WP, WT 7/29; NYT, WT 7/30; LAW, PCHR 7/31; WJW 8/1; HA 8/3)

The IDF enters Khan Yunis, fires on residential areas, bulldozes land; raids Wadi Burkin, demolishing a Palestinian home, arresting 2 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin; bulldozes land in Beitunia; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Lahia. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian home in Hebron, setting 2 rooms on fire. (LAW, PCHR 7/31)

AMB gunmen fire on 2 Jewish settler vehicles s. of Hebron, killing 4 Jewish settlers, wounding 3. Palestinians fire an antitank missile at a settler bus nr. Gaza City, causing damage but no injuries. 2 Palestinians die of injuries received on 7/22, bringing the toll of the Shihada assassination to 17. The IDF conducts house-to-house searches in Qalqilya, firing on residential areas, killing 1 Palestinian-American standing nr. a window in his kitchen; bulldozes 3 auto repair shops in Gaza City suspected of manufacturing Qassam rockets, injuring 5 Palestinians; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. Jewish settlers take over a Palestinian home in Hebron, set a room on fire, destroy water tanks. (NYT, WP, WT 7/27; XIN 7/29 in WNC 7/30; LAW, PCHR 7/31)

Palestinian gunmen open fire on a Jewish settler vehicle near Aley Zahav near Qalqilya, killing 1 Jewish settler rabbi, wounding 1; then open fire on ambulance workers who arrive on the scene, causing no additional injuries; AMB, Popular Army Front and Return Battalions take responsibility, with the latter reportedly issuing a "hit list" of Israeli officials, including Sharon. The IDF sends tanks, APCs into Gaza City, demolishing a PSF post and 2 buildings, firing tank shells and heavy machine guns at residential areas; raids the home of, detains Arafat refugee affairs adviser `Abd al-Fattah Ghanem; raids homes in Khan Yunis, destroying property, bulldozing 6 dunams of land, vandalizing a children's summer camp; conducts arrest raids in Aida r.c., Bethlehem, Qalqilya (arresting local Fatah secy. Ahmad Shuraym), Tal. Israeli police arrest another Jewish settler on charges of selling ammunition to the Palestinians (see 7/16). (MM, NYT, WT 7/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/26; LAW, PCHR 7/31; WJW 8/1)

A Palestinian farmer dies of injuries received on 7/19. The IDF shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Ramallah. In Gaza, 100,000 Palestinians attend the funeral for those killed in the 7/22 air strike targeting Shihada. (LAW, PCHR 7/24)

Israel backs off plans to expel to Gaza 21 male relatives of suspected Palestinian militants (see 7/19). Sharon tells his cabinet that he will abide by Atty. Gen. Rubinstein's ruling that family mbrs. would have to have been directly involved in supporting the attacks in order to be deported. A small remote controlled bomb explodes underneath a commuter train in Rehovat nr. Tel Aviv, slightly injuring the driver; no one takes responsibility. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Jenin; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. A Jewish settler driving in Hebron deliberately runs over a Palestinian man, seriously injuring him. (MM, NYT, WT 7/22; MM 7/23; PCHR 7/24; LAW 7/31)

Sharon, Housing M Natan Sharansky announce plans to create 14 new Jewish localities in the Negev and Galilee to strengthen Jewish control of the land, create a security buffer btwn. Jenin and Afula (the site of numerous Palestinian attacks). (HA 7/22; Between the Lines 8/02)

A Jewish settler injured in the 7/16 bus ambush dies of her injuries, bringing the toll in that attack to 9. A previously unknown group called al-Nathir claims responsibility for the 7/17 Tel Aviv bombing, originally claimed by Islamic Jihad. The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian house, aviary nr. Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Hebron (including confiscating files fr. Hebron University student union offices), Jenin, villages around Khan Yunis, the al-Mawasi area, Nablus, Tal; fires on residential areas of Rafah. (NYT 7/19; LAW 7/18; LAW, PCHR 7/24)

The FMs of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia hold a 30-min. mtg. with Bush, White House chief of staff Andrew Card, Powell, Rice to discuss ways of keeping the peace process moving and to present a working paper (drafted with the PA, approved by Arab League FMs on 7/12). (WP 7/18; MENA 7/18 in WNC 7/22; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/19; QA 7/19, al-Safir 7/20 in WNC 7/22; AYM 7/21 in WNC 7/23; MM 7/25; MEI 7/26)

Palestinian gunmen disguised as IDF soldiers ambush a bus nr. the West Bank settlement of Emmanuel, setting off a roadside bomb disabling the bus, then firing on passengers, killing 7 Jewish settlers, wounding 16; the attackers escape; AMB, DFLP, Hamas, Islamic Jihad take responsibility, though military analysts believe Hamas was responsible. Israel places nearby Palestinian villages under curfew. Israeli police arrest 4 IDF soldiers, 1 Jewish settler living in settlements nr. Hebron, 1 IDF soldier living in Israel on suspicion of stealing 60,000 rounds of IDF ammunition, selling 1,000s of rounds to Palestinian militants; the IDF also arrests a Palestinian fr. Tarkumiyya as the middleman. The IDF demolishes a Palestinian store under construction in Jerusalem; bulldozes 29 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qarni crossing; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids nr. Jaba'. (HA, REU 7/16; AFP 7/16 in WNC 7/17; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WP 7/17; WJW 7/18; AYM 7/18 in WNC 7/22; NYT, WP 7/19)

In New York, Powell hosts a senior-level Quartet mtg. to discuss ways of creating momentum for peace talks in light of Bush's 6/24 speech; holds separate mtg. with the FMs of Egypt, Jordan. The Arab FMs then dine with EU, Russian, UN Quartet reps. (MM 7/16; ITAR-TASS 7/16 in WNC 7/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/17; MM 7/18; Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 7/18 in WNC 7/19; MM 7/19)

In Khan Yunis, a Palestinian on trial for collaborating with Israel is killed by Palestinian militants when the trial is disrupted by an IDF air strike nearby, leaving him unguarded. The IDF F-16s hit the home of senior Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Ahmad Yusif `Abd al-Wahhab, who escapes; at least 5 Palestinian bystanders are wounded. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian farmer working in his field nr. Dugit settlement; claims it was responding to mortar fire fr. the area directed at the settlement. At checkpoint nr. Balata r.c., an Israeli border policeman fatally shoots a Palestinian who allegedly tried to knife him. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis. (NYT, WP, WT 7/15; LAW, PCHR 7/17)

The ZOA gives Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson the State of Israel Friendship Award for being "a major Christian leader who strongly supports Israel and its religious, historical, and legal right to the holy land." (ZOA press release 7/9, JTA 7/12) (see 7/10)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Jenin; shells residential areas, bulldozes 5 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Khan Yunis; bulldozes 3 dunams nr. Kefar Darom settlement. (PCHR 7/17)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Birzeit (searching Birzeit University dorms, arresting 10s of students), Dayr al-Balah (fatally shooting 2 Palestinians, including a 13-yr.-old boy), Khan Yunis; fatally shoots a 3d Palestinian nr. Qalqilya; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Jenin, Rafah. A Palestinian photographer dies of injuries received on 7/11. The Armenian Patriarchate reports that the IDF has confiscated church land, buildings along the Green Line nr. Aida r.c. for Israel's new buffer zone. 32 international humanitarian agencies operating in the territories declare that it has become increasingly difficult over the past 2 mos. for them to work effectively given Israel's "unprecedented military restrictions on humanitarian access to the civilian populations." (AFP, al-Quds 7/12 in WNC 7/16; NYT, WP 7/13; LAW, PCHR 7/17; Arminfo [Yerevan] 7/18 in WNC 7/19; Interfax 8/1 in WNC 8/2)

The IDF directs tank fire at Palestinian youths violating the curfew in Nablus and throwing stones at soldiers, killing a 17-yr.-old Palestinian, injuring an 11- and a 13-yr.-old; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 86 dunams of crop land nr. Qarni crossing, Shuhada Junction. In Gaza, AMB gunmen fire on an IDF patrol nr. the Rafah border, killing 1 IDF soldier. A Palestinian heart attack victim dies in an ambulance detained at an IDF checkpoint for over an hr. (LAW, PCHR 7/10; NYT, UPMRC, WP 7/11)

Fmr. Christian Coalition leader Gary Bauer and Rabbi Daniel Lapin, head of the ultraconservative Jewish-Christian group Toward Tradition, announce the formation of the American Alliance of Jews and Christians (AAJC), which they will co-chair. AAJC aims to "unite Christians in support of Israel and work with American Jews and Christians on behalf of traditional values." Among the mbrs. of the AAJC board are Rev. Jerry Falwell, Rev. Pat Robertson. A similar Christian right lobbying group, Stand for Israel, cofounded by fmr. Christian Coalition exec. dir. Ralph Reed and IFCJ head Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, is doing a $400,000 media campaign targeting major newspapers, conservative radio talk shows. (Toward Tradition press release 7/10; MEI 7/26) (see 7/9)

The IDF directs live fire at Palestinians crossing into Ramallah at Surda checkpoint just after a curfew had been reimposed without warning, seriously injuring an 18-yr.-old Palestinian girl; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, destroying the 1 Palestinian home; direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis. (LAW 7/8; PCHR 7/10)

Sharon authorizes Peres to reopen high-level meetings (suspended in 3/02) with senior PA officials, excluding Arafat, but bars him fr. discussing political issues. Peres meets with new PA Finance M Fayyad, new Interior M Yahya. (MM, NYT, WP 7/9; XIN 7/9 in WNC 7/10; WT 7/10; SA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; WJW 7/11; AYM 7/12 in WNC 7/16; AFP 7/20, XIN 7/21 in WNC 7/22; HA, NYT, WP 7/21; JP, MM, WT 7/22; WT 7/23)

Bush says that Israel is justified in occupying the West Bank until "security improves." (NYT 7/9; WJW 7/11)

IDF troops open fire on residential areas in Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian; raid Bayt Furik village, firing on homes, detaining 4 Palestinians ages 15 and 16; bulldoze 3 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Shuhada Junction; conduct arrest raids in Tulkarm. In Gaza City, 15,000 Palestinians attend the funeral of AMB mbr. Omarayn. (NYT, UPI 7/6; WP 7/7; LAW, PCHR 7/10)

Senior AMB mbrs. Jihad al-Omarayn, Wa'il al-Nimrah are killed when a bomb in their car explodes in Gaza City in what is presumed to be an IDF assassination; Israel refuses to confirm or deny allegations. The IDF bulldozes agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis, also demolishing a PSF post. The IDF says it has arrested a Palestinian truck driver for smuggling guns across the Jordan border with a shipment of vegetables. (NYT, WP 7/5; al-Quds 7/7 in WNC 7/9; LAW, PCHR 7/10)

The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 10s of dunams of land n. of Khan Yunis, 500 olive trees nr. Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids in Qibya, Ramallah (raiding the civil service building), Sanirya. The IDF also confiscates 3 garbage trucks, 2 bulldozers fr. the al-Ram municipality. In Gaza, 1,000s of Palestinian attend a Fatah-organized march against Bush's stand against Arafat. Also in Gaza, Hamas mbrs. demanding the execution of a collaborator held by the PSF attack, throw pipe bombs at a PA police station; the PSF returns fire, injuring 23. (PR 7/3; NYT, WP 7/4; HA 7/14; MA 7/23 in WNC 7/25)

Before dawn, the IDF reoccupies Amari r.c., al-Bireh, Qadura r.c., and Ramallah, surrounding Arafat's offices (placing Arafat under de facto house arrest), arresting 13 PSF officers, meeting no resistance; imposes 24-hr. curfews on Aqaba, Dura, Iktaba, Tamun, Taysir, Tubas, Yatta; fires shells at residential areas of Khan Yunis; continues operations in Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus (fatally shooting 1 Palestinian), Qalqilya, Tulkarm areas; lifts curfews in Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya for 3 hrs. The IDF assassinates 2 Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades leaders, Yasir Raziq and `Amr Kufa, in Rafah, firing missiles at their taxis, also killing 2 passengers, 2 drivers, injuring 13 bystanders. Jewish settlers stone an ambulance nr. Tulkarm. In Gaza, Hamas supporters clash with PSF officers enforcing Shaykh Yasin's house arrest, leaving 1 Hamas supporter dead. (BBC, MM, NYT, PRCS press release, WP, WT 6/24; XIN 6/24 in WNC 6/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/25; LAW 6/26; PCHR, WJW 6/27; MEI 6/28)

After a wk.'s delay, Bush gives a major speech outlining the new U.S. policy toward the peace process. Without mentioning Israel's military escalations, Bush says in effect that the Palestinians must remove Arafat and create a Western-style democracy before the peace process can move forward. The U.S. halts direct dealings with Arafat. Bush's decision to call for Arafat's ouster was reportedly influenced heavily by an Israeli intelligence report he received last wk. (uncorroborated by the CIA) claiming that Arafat authorized a $20,000 payment to the AMB, which carried out the 6/19 suicide bombing. (AP, MM, NYT, WP 6/24; MA 6/24 in WNC 6/25; GS, MM, NYT, WP, WT, YA 6/25; AFP, ATL, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 6/25 in WNC 6/26; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/26; AFP, JT, Le Monde 6/26 in WNC 6/27; NYT, WJW, WP 6/27; JT, al-Nahar 6/27 in WNC 6/28; MEI, MM 6/28; NYT, USIS Washington File 6/30; WP, WT 7/1; AN 7/1 in WNC 7/2; JPI 7/5)

Arafat sends the U.S., Arab states a 6-page memorandum outlining an ambitious 100-day reform plan, including plans for presidential and legislative elections in 1/03 and municipal elections in 3/03. (MM 6/24; NYT 6/25; MM 6/26; El Pais 6/26 in WNC 6/27;NYT, WP, WT 6/27; XIN 6/27 in WNC 6/28; AYM 7/1 in WNC 7/3; AYM 7/10, 7/17, 7/21 in WNC 7/23)

Israeli atty. gen. Elyakim Rubinstein says he will not take legal action against those calling for the "voluntary transfer" of Arabs fr. Israel, saying "voluntary transfer" is "immoral" not illegal. (The 13 Palestinians deported to Cyprus in 5/02 were "voluntarily exiled" as part of a deal brokered by Israel and the PA; see 5/22) (HA 6/24; MM 6/27)

In response to Israeli appeals to local satellite channels to drop coverage of BBC World and CNN International because of their "pro-Palestinian bias" (1 channel replaced CNN with Fox News coverage on 6/20), CNN chief news exec. Eason Jordan arrives in Israel to apologize publicly on behalf of the network, to unveil a special 5-part series on Israeli victims of violence (aired 6/24-28) and a Web "memorial" to Israeli victims of Palestinian violence. (WT 6/24; NYT 6/25; WJW 6/27; MEI 6/2; see also JTA 6/20, MSNBC 6/21)

The IDF calls up another 3,000 reservists; shells a building in Tulkarm r.c., killing 1 PSF officer (children nearby reportedly were stoning the tank); imposes 24-hr. curfews on Abu Dis, Anabta, Araqa, Bayt Jibrin r.c., Bayt Wazzan, al-Funduq, Hashimiyya, Kafr Rumman, Yamun, Zawata; conducts arrest raids and house-to-house searches in Jenin town and surrounding villages, fatally shooting a 2d Palestinian in Yamun; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at the al-Mawasi checkpoint and residential areas in Dahaysha r.c., Khan Yunis; fire live ammunition, rubber bullets at Palestinians approaching al-Bireh, Jawal, Surda checkpoints into Ramallah; bulldozes nearly 100 dunams of agricultural land n. of Bayt Lahia. The PA places Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin under house arrest, arrests 11 Hamas mbrs. in Gaza. An IDF soldier dies of injuries received on 6/15; a Palestinian boy dies of injuries received on 6/21. (HP 6/23; NYT, WP, WT 6/24; RMC 6/24 in WNC 6/25; NYT 6/25; QA 6/25 in WNC 6/26; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

The IDF calls up 1,000 reservists in preparation for "crushing and decisive action" against the Palestinians; reoccupies Dura; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, destroying several Palestinian homes; continues operations in Beitunia, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm; lifts curfews in most areas for several hrs. to allow Palestinians to resupply; lifts curfews entirely in Awarta, Hawara; imposes a 24-hr. curfew on Bayt Sahur. During the curfew break in 2 camps nr. Nablus, troops open fire on Palestinians for unknown reasons, wounding 8. (AFP 6/22; NYT, WP, WT 6/23; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

Over 150 people take part in the ground breaking for a new Jewish settlement n. of Jerusalem nr. Kochav Ya'acov. The new enclave is part of a new program to "transplant" entire Jewish communities, with their rabbis, to Israel. A New York rabbi raised the idea in his town, and 25 local families committed to purchase homes in the new settlement. Meretz MK Yossi Sarid offers to find them a safer location inside Israel, but they decline. (INN 6/22) (see 5/19)

The IDF reoccupies Qalqilya, imposes a curfew; Palestinians clash with troops, leaving 2 IDF soldiers, a local PA intelligence chief dead. The IDF continues operations in Jenin r.c. and town, fortifying a temporary IDF base outside the r.c. with 7 trailers, fuel and water trucks to create a barracks; conducting house-to-house searches, ordering all men ages 15-50 to surrender, using 3 doctors fr. a nearby hospital as human shields; firing a tank shell at al-Razi hospital. The IDF also reinforces tanks around Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Dura, Hebron, Umm Salamona; bulldozes 57 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Aley Sinai; imposes curfews on villages around Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Aldavid settlement set fire to 50 dunams of Palestinian crops nr. Bethlehem; IDF troops observe but do not intervene. An AMB suicide bomber, retaliating for the 6/17 assassination of an AMB leader, detonates a device at a bus stop in French Hill settlement in East Jerusalem during evening rush hr., killing 7 Jewish settlers, wounding 40. In response, the IDF sends troops into Ramallah; helicopter gunships fire missiles at least 5 alleged bomb-making workshops in Gaza City, Jabaliya, Khan Yunis; begins barring Palestinians with West Bank IDs fr. entering Jerusalem; raids a hospital in Shaykh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, sends home 30 employees with West Bank IDs; reportedly rounds up 1,400 Palestinian workers inside the Green Line, sends home 800 Palestinian workers with West Bank IDs. (HP, LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/19; XIN 6/19 in WNC 6/21; MM 6/20, 6/24; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27; JPI, MEI 6/28)

PA Planning M Shaath, still in Washington meeting with U.S. officials, says that he has given the U.S. a 20-30-page draft constitution for a Palestinian state (i.e., an expanded version of the Basic Law) that reportedly envisions a government headed by a PM, with a ceremonial pres. (WP 6/20)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian; fatally shoots a 3d Palestinian nr. Ramallah. The IDF openly assassinates local AMB leader Walid Sbeh in al-Khadir. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device nr. a border police unit nr. Tulkarm, causing no injuries. In Gaza, the IDF begins work on an iron barrier at Netzarim Junction, apparently to better control Palestinian movement on the main road btwn. n. and s. Gaza; orders Khan Yunis fishermen to move their operations to Rafah harbor; demolishes an industrial complex nr. Gaza City, including the only factory in Gaza for producing bottled oxygen for hospitals. The IDF also fires on Palestinians circumventing the Surda checkpoint (nr. Ramallah), injuring 4. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha set fire to another 70 dunams of agricultural land in Hawara village (see 6/15). (MM, REU 6/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/18; LAW, PCHR, PR 6/19)

The 4-day 34th World Zionist Congress opens in Jerusalem. The 750-seat congress convenes every 4-5 years to negotiate the policy of the World Zionist Organization, which makes up half the decision-making power of the Jewish Agency. The Jewish Agency controls a $350 m. annual budget, which is used for immigration and absorption, as well as worldwide religious, political, education programs. (HA, JTA 6/18)

The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian circumventing a roadblock on the Jenin+nRamallah road; bulldozes 27 dunams of agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis. For no apparent reason, IDF soldiers fire on a PSF post in Bayt Lahia and on Palestinians waiting to cross the Qalandia checkpoint, injuring a several Palestinians. (LAW, PCHR 6/19)

The IDF completes its withdrawal to the outskirts of Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Anabta, Bayt Furik; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding 7; demolishes a Palestinian home in Hebron; bulldozes 17 dunams of agricultural land in Absan nr. the Gaza-Israel border. In Silwan in East Jerusalem, Israeli special forces raid a Palestinian home, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding another. A Palestinian heart attack victim dies when his ambulance is barred fr. crossing an IDF checkpoint to reach a hospital. (LAW 6/13; UPMRC, WP 6/14; LAW, PCHR 6/19; New Haven Register 7/3)

Bush confers with Saudi FM Prince Saud al-Faisal, who holds separate talks with VP Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/14)

The IDF continues operations in Ramallah, Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Furik, Rafah, Tubas (demolishing 2 PSF posts, 2 Palestinian homes, a kindergarten); sets fire to 300 dunams of olive groves nr. Shavei Shomron settlement, bulldozes 50 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis. In Gaza, 8 Palestinians are killed by the IDF; a 9th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. In the evening, the IDF withdraws fr. most of Ramallah, including removing a cordon around Arafat's offices, lifts curfew for 3 hrs. but reimposes it; more than 80 Palestinian have been arrested in Ramallah since 6/9. (HP, PR, PRCS press release, UPMRC 6/12; NYT, PCHR, WP 6/13; LAW 6/19)

Nr. Beersheba, Israeli authorities bulldoze 17 bedouin homes, bulldozes bedouin land to expand the Omer municipal district. (WAFA 6/13)

MK Uriel Ariel (National Union and Yisrael Beitainu) proposes that the Knesset establish a committee of inquiry into how the secret Oslo talks came about in 1993. Israeli FM Shimon Peres in protest suspends the Labor party's membership in the governing coalition, but the motion fails to pass by a vote of 34-26. (INN 6/13; HA 6/17)

State Dept. senior adviser on the Arab-Israeli negotiations Aaron Miller gives a private briefing to a Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) group, during which some ZOA mbrs. yell "Wrong!" when he says there can be no "military solution" to the conflict, groan audibly when he mentions Seeds of Peace camps for Israeli and Palestinian children, walk out, slamming the door, when he says that Palestinians seek a "democratic, pluralistic, humanistic" government. ZOA head Morton Klein says the group found Miller "frustrating" after just having come from a Congressional reception that made an "incredible show of support" for Israel. (Forward 6/21)

The IDF continues operations in Balata r.c., Nablus for the 5th day; blows up an alleged bomb-making factory, raids and damages a medical center in Balata r.c. In new Askar r.c., the IDF conducts house-to-house searches, breaking through walls; bulldozes 4 cars; damages 22 stores, a medical center. The IDF also sends tanks into al-`Ayn r.c., `Ayn Bayt Hilma r.c., calling on men ages 15-45 to turn them selves in, detaining 100s; conducts arrest raids in al-Bireh, Khan Yunis, Qalqilya (also confiscating files fr. the Qalqilya Charity Comm., Islamic Club), Tulkarm; shells residential areas of Rafah, destroying 1 Palestinian home, damaging 6; bulldozes 50 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Khan Yunis, areas around the Gaza airport. The IDF, Shin Bet also raid the Arab Chamber of Commerce in Jerusalem, arrest 6 Palestinian employees for violating the closure of the building imposed in 8/01. Israel seizes 30 dunams of Palestinian land along the Green Line nr. Issawiyya for creation of buffer zones, 120 dunams in the Jabal Mukabir neighborhood of East Jerusalem for Jewish housing, a tourists complex. Overnight, Palestinians detonate 2 roadside bombs nr. IDF convoys in the West Bank, causing no damage. (AP, HP 6/3; WP, WT 6/4; LAW 6/5; HA, WJW 6/6)

The PA High Court rules that the PA has no legal ground to hold PFLP head Saadat, must release him immediately. In response, the IDF sends tanks toward Jericho, where Saadat is being held; declares the Jericho area a closed military zone; warns it will kill Saadat if he is freed. Arafat quickly convenes the Executive Authority (EA), the PA's cabinet, which over turns the court decision. (AFP, HA, JP, LAW 6/3; RMC 6/3 in WNC 6/4; WP, WT 6/4; MM 6/5; AYM 6/5 in WNC 6/6) (see 5/19)

The U.S. announces it has just scheduled a mtg. btwn. Bush, Sharon at the White House on 6/10, after a visit by Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak. Israeli officials say Sharon asked for the mtg. out of concern that Israel's views were being overshadowed by the "near-constant stream" of Arab visitors to Washington. (JP, NYT, WT 6/4; MM, NYT, WP 6/5; AYM 6/7 in WNC 6/10)