The Palestine Chronology

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)

Early in the morning, IDF tanks enter Jenin town, troops clash with residents, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian (who is allowed to bleed to death over 3 hrs.), detaining wanted Hamas mbr. Rami Awad and Islamic Jihad spokesman Khalid Hawaj, bulldozing 1 home; troops withdraw to the outskirts of Jenin by midday. IDF operations continue in the Bethlehem area, where troops resume sniper positions around Church of the Nativity, patrol Manger Square, search and vandalize the al-Rowwad Cultural Center. The IDF also detains Palestinian mayor of Jerusalem Jamil Nasir for several hrs. of questioning; conducts arrest raids in Alar, Bayt Anan, Beitunia (arresting senior Hamas mbr. Hassan Yusif), Hebron, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Saida. At least 1 Palestinian gunman infiltrates Itamar settlement, fatally shoots 3 Jewish settlers before being shot dead. Other Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot a Jewish settler driving nr. Ofra settlement. Jewish settlers set fire to 10s of dunams of Palestinian land nr. Nablus. The Israeli High Court approves the IDF's confiscation of 300 dunams of Palestinian land in Bayt Lahia nr. Aley Sinai settlement, effective retroactively to 5/1/02. (HP, MEZ, WP 5/28; GS, HA, HP, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 5/29; PCHR 5/30; MEI 5/31)

Arafat ratifies the Basic Law (the PA's constitution). (HA 5/28; WT 5/30; AFP, Interfax 5/30 in WNC 5/31; NYT 5/31; WT 6/1; AYM 6/1 in WNC 6/3)

The Knesset House Comm. votes (12-5) to restrict the movement of Israeli MK Ahmad Tibi for the remainder of his term, arguing that his works promote the interests of the PA and the residents of the occupied territories. Tibi was vocally critical of Operation Defensive Shield, participated in many peace marches. (Adalah press release 5/29)