The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces strike an area nr. al-Maghazi r.c., wounding 2 Palestinians. In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian man dies at a mobile checkpoint nr. Jenin, after soldiers hold up a car en route to a hospital. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 3 nearby villages at night; patrols in Qalqilya in the morning and in 3 villages and al- ‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night. (MNA 12/29; PCHR 1/2)

The Knesset’s Ministerial Cmte. for Legislation advances a proposed law to annex the Jewish settlements in the Jordan Valley by a vote of 8–3. The bill will proceed for consideration by the full Knesset with govt. backing, despite opposition from Justice Minister Livni and Fin. Min. Yair Lapid. Netanyahu is reported to have advised Likud ministers against voting for the law. Meanwhile, EU Amb. to Israel Lars Faaborg-Anderson lodges a protest over the 12/26 decision to build 1,400 new housing units in West Bank settlements. (HA 12/29)

Two Katyusha rockets are fired from within Lebanon land nr. Israeli town Kiryat Shmona, causing no damage or injuries. Three other rockets fall within Lebanese territory. In response, Israeli forces launch 33 shells into the border region of s. Lebanon, also causing no injuries. (AP, HA, JP, REU 12/29)

Israel reopens the Kerem Shalom border crossing following a 4-day closure, allowing the entry of goods such as industrial fuel to run the Gaza Strip’s sole power plant, which resumes a cycle of 8 hours on, 8 hours off. In addition, 8 truckloads of strawberries and tomatoes pass through the crossing into Israel; the goods are bound for European markets. (MNA, WAFA 12/29)

U.S. Defense Secy. Hagel speaks on the telephone with Egypt’s DM Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and expresses concern about recent developments. Hagel urges for political inclusiveness ahead of the constitutional referendum scheduled for 1/2014. (REU 12/29)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on agricultural lands nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Hebron at night; patrols in Tulkarm in the morning, in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 4 villages nr. Ramallah, 2 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night. (PCHR 12/12) 

Israeli PM Netanyahu tells his Likud-Yisrael Beitenu faction at the Knesset that the govt. is not on the way to a final-status agreement with the Palestinians, ahead of U.S. Secy. of State Kerry’s on 12/11, his 9th trip to the region since taking office. Netanyahu also reportedly rejects the U.S. Gen. John Allen’s security plan, saying it was important to maintain Israeli forces on the border shared with Jordan. Meanwhile, PLO Secy.-Gen. Yasir ‘Abid Rabbuh also rejects the U.S. security proposals, which he says will lead to a “total failure” of Kerry’s efforts. Separately, PA Minister of Prisoners Issa Qarage says that any delays to the scheduled release of a 3rd group of Palestinian prisoners on 12/29 will be considered a serious blow to the peace process. (AFP, AP, JP 12/9)

Israel, Jordan, and the PA sign a watersharing agreement that includes the proposed construction of a desalination plant in Jordan on the Gulf of Aqaba, and a pilot study for a pipeline linking the Red Sea-Dead Sea. Israel also intends to sell more water from the Sea of Galilee to Jordan and to sell water to the PA at reduced rates. The agreement is signed at the World Bank in Washington. (See document A2 in JPS 171 for more on the water-sharing agreement.) (AFP, REU 12/9)

Ahmet Uzumcu, head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), says that the removal of chemical weapons from Syria, scheduled in 2 stages for 12/31 and 2/5/14, may be delayed slightly due to the difficulties of operating during the ongoing violent conflict. (REU 12/9)

Mohamed Badie, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, appears in a Cairo court for the 1st time since being detained on 8/20. Meanwhile, Egyptian armed forces shoot and kill an Islamist militant nr. Shaykh Zuweidi in the Sinai Peninsula, describing him as a leader of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. (AP, JP, REU 12/9)

In the West Bank, residents of Qusra village nr. Nablus defend their land from settlers uprooting seedlings. IDF troops intervene and open fire on the Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets, injuring 8. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Bethlehem at night; patrols in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Jenin at night. In East Jerusalem, around 80 Israeli security officers enter Haram al-Sharif and tour the area. (MNA 11/18; PCHR 11/21)

French pres. Hollande meets with PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah and later with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. In a joint press conference with Abbas, Hollande calls for a complete halt to Israeli settlement activity. In a speech to the Knesset in honor of the French leader’s visit, Netanyahu invites Abbas to address the Israeli parliament and to recognize Israel as a “Jewish state.” He also thanks Hollande for his opposition to a deal with Iran earlier in the month. (AFP, HA, MNA 11/18)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on and wound Palestinians in 2 separate incidents; 1 nr. Khan Yunis, a civilian close to the border fence, and 2 nr. al-Musaddar, hitting a farmer. IDF troops also conduct a limited incursion in the c. Gaza Strip to level land close to the border fence. In Israel, a Palestinian from Jenin stabs to death an Israeli soldier on a bus in Afula, later telling investigators that he was motivated to avenge the imprisonment of his relatives. In the West Bank, the IDF shoots and injures a Palestinian with live ammunition during clashes nr. Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon (that of the killer of an IDF solider on the bus), and in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, and 2 villages nr. Jenin at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the morning, Hebron and 1 nearby village in the afternoon. Jewish settlers set fire to a Palestinian home nr. Ramallah and leave “price-tag” graffiti, in reference to the earlier killing of an Israeli soldier. (HA, MNA 11/13; PCHR 11/14)

The Palestinian negotiating team resign in protest at Israeli settlement construction, Pres. Abbas announces. Negotiator Mohammed Shtayyeh says that the move had not yet been accepted by Abbas. An unnamed Palestinian official says that there are no immediate plans for new peace talks, in light of the development. In response, U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Jen Psaki notes that Abbas remains committed to a 9-month time frame peace process. Meanwhile, the Knesset Finance Cmte. authorizes NIS 36 million by way of compensation to settler councils for the 2009 construction freeze. (AFP, HA, MNA, REU 11/13)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and VP Joe Biden brief the Senate Banking Cmte. and ask them to hold back on new sanctions targeting Tehran to allow talks with Iran to proceed in a productive atmosphere. (AP 11/13)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated metal bullets and tear gas at Palestinians during routine patrols in Hebron and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, after residents throw stones at soldiers. In Hebron, 1 child is injured by a tear gas canister to the head. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Bethlehem, 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah and in Nablus at night; patrols in 1 village each nr. Salfit and Hebron, and in Qalqilya in the afternoon, and in Hebron and 2 nearby villages and al-Fawar r.c. at night. (PCHR 11/14)

Avigdor Lieberman is officially sworn in as FM at the Knesset, days after his acquittal in a Jerusalem court on charges of corruption, following a 62–17 vote in favor of his reinstatement. (JP 11/11)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry says in a news conference during a visit to the United Arab Emirates that he hopes an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program will be signed within mos. Separately, Iran and the IAEA sign a deal to allow nuclear inspectors “managed access” to 2 sites within 3 mos., following talks by the agency’s chief Yukiya Amano in Tehran. Meanwhile, Britain announces the appointment of a nonresident chargé d’affaires to Iran, 2 years after the embassy in Tehran was ransacked by protesters. (AP, REU 11/11)

The Egyptian military kills 2 and arrests 5 in fighting in Sinai. (JP 11/11)

An anonymous, senior Israeli official says that U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry presented Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas with a proposal for the renewal of direct negotiations during meetings in the past few days. The official did not elaborate on the proposal’s contents. With Kerry now in Brunei, Middle East adviser Frank Lowenstein and State Dept. legal expert Jonathan Schwartz meet with Israel’s National Security Adviser Ya’akov Amidror and Special Envoy Yitzhak Molcho to continue discussions on how to break the deadlock. (HA, JP 7/1; JP 7/2)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages and al-Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, and 1 village each nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jerusalem at night. (PCHR 7/4)

Jerusalem Municipal officials meet with members of the Knesset Finance Cmte. and approve funding for infrastructure construction on housing tenders for 930 homes in Har Homa settlement. The work is part of a project approved in 8/2011 for around 1,000 housing units to further the development of Har Homa. Meanwhile, Israeli DM Moshe Ya’alon announces that extremist Jewish settlers carrying out so-called price-tag attacks against Palestinians will be designated a “forbidden organization,” enabling security forces to use broader powers in investigating such incidents. The statement comes 2 weeks after the cabinet approved the step. (HA 7/1)

The Egyptian military issues a 48-hour ultimatum to Pres. Mohamed Morsi to meet the demands of protesters or face the army’s intervention, as hundreds of thousands of supporters and opponents of the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated govt. again take to the streets. (AP, REU 7/1)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, and in Salfit, Nablus, Qalqilya, Jenin, and 1 village each nr. Nablus, Tulkarm, and Hebron at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning, and in Jenin and 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night. (PCHR 6/27)

By a vote of 43–40, Israel’s Knesset passes the 1st reading of the Prawer Law for the development of the Negev, which will mean the forced displacement of an estimated 40,000 Bedouin citizens (see the Quarterly Update in JPS 169 for more on the Prawer Law). (JP 6/24)

Israeli PM Netanyahu accuses the Palestinians of setting preconditions for talks, speaking in a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Cmte. meeting on the same day that it is reported by Israeli media that U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry will postpone a planned visit to Israel and the West Bank, with Kerry now likely to arrive within a week to 10 days. Meanwhile, Israeli army radio reports that no new construction projects have been started in East Jerusalem since the start of 2013, suggesting that there could be a policy of a “silent freeze.” Former FM Avigdor Lieberman responds to the reports by describing the de facto freeze as a “temporary hiatus” designed to allow Kerry’s peace efforts to succeed. (AFP, HA, JP, MNA, ToI 6/10)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops operating from a watchtower nr. Khan Yunis open fire on gravel collectors working nr. the border fence, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron in the afternoon, and in Nablus, 2 villages nr. Nablus, 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Tulkarm and Jenin at night; patrols in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Tulkarm in the morning, in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 village nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Jenin at night. (MNA 6/10; PCHR 6/13)

A Cairo court adjourns to 7/6 the retrial of ousted pres. Husni Mubarak on charges of corruption and responsibility for the deaths of protesters, and at the same time, release his 2 sons Alaa and Gamal. They remain in detention, however, over other corruption-related cases. (AP 6/10)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s new coalition government officially takes office. Speaking in the Knesset, Netanyahu says that Israel is ready for a ‘‘historic compromise’’ with the Palestinians. (JP, REU, WP 3/18)

In the West Bank, unidentified Palestinians open fire on and injure a Jewish settler at a bus stop nr. Nablus. The IDF patrols in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and conducts house searches and arrest raids in al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Nablus at night. (AP 3/18; PCHR 3/21)

A UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) fact-finding mission releases its report on Israel’s West Bank settlements, describing them as a ‘‘creeping form of annexation,’’ and calling on Israel to cease construction immediately and ‘‘initiate a process of withdrawal.’’ The report, presented by mission leader Christine Chanet, urges the international community to cut economic links with the settlements. The U.S. refuses to take part in the Council’s debate. Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay states that Israeli settler violence ‘‘continues to be perpetrated with impunity,’’ and further notes that excessive force by the IDF has resulted in Palestinian fatalities. (AFP, HA, JP, UNNC 3/18)

Lebanon reports that Israeli warplanes entered Lebanese airspace earlier in the day. Israel routinely conducts aerial surveillance over Lebanon even though this explicitly violates the 2006 Israel-Hizballah cease-fire agreement laid out in UN Res. 1701. (AP 3/18)

Iran and P5+1 group nuclear experts meet in Istanbul to review proposals put forward during the last round of talks in Kazakhstan (2/26-27). (AFP, XIN 3/18)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu finalizes a deal to form a new coalition government comprising of his joint Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu list, Yesh Atid (19 seats), Bayit Yehudi (12 seats), and Hatnua (6 seats), giving the Likud leader control of 68 Knesset seats (out of 120). For the first time in a decade, an Israeli coalition government does not include any ultra-Orthodox parties. (BBC, REU 3/15)

A Palestinian man dies from heart problems brought on by inhaling tear gas fired by the IDF during clashes 3 weeks ago. After his funeral in al-Ram nr. Jerusalem, Palestinians clash with IDF forces (no serious injuries reported). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; in Hebron, al-Fawar r.c. and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon; and 1 in village nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Tulkam at night. IDF soldiers conduct house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon and in 2 villages nr. Hebron at night. The regular weekly nonviolent demonstrations by Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals against the Israeli occupation this week also express solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The demonstrations are also more widespread that usual (cf. 3/8), occurring in 5 villages nr. Ramallah (Abud, Bayt Liqia, Bil`in, Budrus, Ni’lin), 2 villages nr. Bethlehem (al-Khader, al-Ma’sara), Shuhada Street in Hebron, and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). The IDF violently disperses the demonstrations, but no serious injuries are reported. (MNA 3/15; PCHR 3/21)

Australian television channel ABC broadcasts claims that dual IsraeliAustralian citizen Ben Zygier committed suicide in a high-security Israeli jail in 2010 after being held for months in great secrecy and known only as ‘‘Prisoner X.’’ ABC says that the man had been recruited by Mossad. The Israeli government refuses to comment and immediately forces Israeli publications to remove reference to the story from online and print editions. However, a number of MKs refer to the story in the Knesset. (HP, REU 2/12)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Jenin in the morning, and in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Tulkarm in the morning, and in 1 village each nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Jerusalem, Nablus, and Ramallah at night. (PCHR 2/14)

International NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) concludes that at least 18 Israeli air strikes in Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012 were in violation of the laws of war, highlighting specific attacks that killed at least 43 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children. (HRW 2/12)

Palestinian Ministry of Finance spokesperson Rami Mahdawi says that Israel is still withholding Palestinian tax revenue in breach of the 1994 Paris Protocol. (MNA 2/12)

The Senate Armed Services Comm. votes (14–11) along party lines to approve Pres. Obama’s nomination of Chuck Hagel to be the nation’s defense secretary, allowing his nomination to advance to the full Senate. Hagel’s nomination continues to be fiercely opposed by groups and senators known to have a pro-Israel line. (AP 2/12)

British newspaper the Sunday Times reports that U.S. pres. Obama plans during his visit to the region in 3/2013 to offer to increase U.S. pressure on Iran in exchange for Israeli PM Netanyahu making concessions to the Palestinians. (ToI 2/10)

Palestinian demonstrators—including Israeli Palestinian MK Ahmad Tibi— set up tents in Bayt Safafa, East Jerusalem, to protest Israel’s construction of a new highway intended to give Jewish settlers quicker access to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli navy arrests 4 Palestinian fishermen working 3 naut. mi. offshore nr. Gaza City. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning, and in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Ramallah at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning, and in Nablus, Hebron’s Old City and 1 village nr. Hebron, Jenin and 1 nearby village, and Silwan in East Jerusalem at night. (MNA 2/10; PCHR 2/14)

Palestinian factions end talks in Cairo without reaching an agreement on specific steps forward to achieve national reconciliation. Fatah delegation head Azzam al-Ahmad claims that there was consensus on most of the issues, but disagreement on several points regarding an election law for the PNC. (AFP, MNA 2/10)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid to have the 1st discussions about forming a coalition. Lapid reportedly sets 2 conditions for joining a governing coalition: (1) a universal draft bill (see Quarterly Update in JPS 165) and (2) the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians. Meanwhile, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman says that domestic issues will be the priority of the next government. (HA, YA, JP 1/24)

Secy.-gen. of the PLO Executive Comm. Yasir ‘Abid Rabbuh says that Pres. Abbas wants to meet and talk with centrist mbrs. of the new Knesset in coming weeks, including newcomers such as Yair Lapid. (YA 1/24)

Nominated U.S. secy. of state John Kerry tells his Senate confirmation hearing that he intends to invest effort in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and hopes that the Israeli election can help restart talks. (JP 1/24)

Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast nr. al-Waha, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 4 homes in 2 communities in the n. Jordan Valley; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Salfit at night. The IDF also patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, 2 each nr. Jericho and Ramallah, and 1 nr. Tulkarm in the morning; in Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; and in ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. nr. Jericho, 2 villages each nr. Jenin and Qalqilya, and 1 village each nr. Jericho and Ramallah at night. (MNA 1/24; PCHR 1/31)

The International Federation of Journalists condemns a week of arrests of journalists by Hamas security forces in the Gaza Strip, and calls for the release of 6 detained media workers. (MNA 1/24)

Israeli security agency Shin Bet announces that for the 1st year since 1973, there were no Israeli casualties from a Palestinian attack in the West Bank. The report covering 2012 says that there was an uptick in so-called popular terror in the West Bank, referring to stone-throwing and Molotov cocktails. The report notes that 10 Israelis were killed in security-related incidents during 2012, and that more than 2,500 rockets and mortar shells were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel. However, Shin Bet reports that since Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012, no rockets have been fired. The report also records that 8 rockets were fired at Israel from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, and that there were 11 attempts to fire anti-aircraft weaponry at IDF planes, up from just 1 effort in 2011. (HA 1/24)

A number of Fatah leaders who fled the Gaza Strip during the Fatah-Hamas fighting in 2007 return to the territory, including former PA preventive security service head in Khan Yunis, Nasser al-Saqq. (MNA 1/24)

UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism Ben Emmerson announces that the UN is launching an inquiry into the impact on civilians of drone strikes that will focus on 5 locations, including the Palestinian territories. The other 4 are Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen. (BBC 1/24)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers attack Palestinian-owned vehicles in between Bethlehem and Hebron. Settlers also damage around 250 olive trees southeast of Nablus, and later cut down 12 olive trees in Basalta nr. Nablus. In the latter case, Palestinians throw stones at the settlers, who are subsequently protected by IDF soldiers, who fire rubbercoated steel bullets and injure 3 Palestinians. The IDF also opens fire with live ammunition and rubber-coated steel bullets on Palestinians in Tamoun village nr. Jenin during clashes sparked by an arrest raid, injuring 30. The IDF also opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who challenge troops entering ‘Urif village nr. Nablus. The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm and 2 nr. Jenin at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. (MNA 1/1, PCHR 2/1)

Israel’s High Court of Justice gives the state an extended deadline for the demolition of unauthorized settler outpost Amona in the c. West Bank, delaying removal until the end of 4/2013. The outpost was set up on the site of a previous outpost of the same name that was evacuated in 2006, and had been slated for evacuation in February. (ToI 1/1)

Israeli newspaper Ha’Aretz reports that around 50 residents of Issawiyya in East Jerusalem have been arrested over the last month in clashes with security forces. Tensions are linked to the hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner Samer Issawi, who comes from the village. (HA 1/1)

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) registers its opposition to the 12/27 Hamas-imposed ban on Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip working with the Israeli media. (Guardian 1/1)

Palestinians demonstrate in Nablus against a recent decision to end refugees’ exemption from electricity costs. Around 200 protesters clash with PA security forces, angry that a debt-exemption clause is not applicable to non-refugees. (MNA 1/1)

Senior Likud officials speak at a conference in Jerusalem on a ‘‘one-state solution,’’ including Min. Yuli Edelstein, who voices support for the annexation of Area C of the West Bank. Likud politician and Knesset candidate Moshe Feiglin outlines his plan to pay Palestinian families in the West Bank $500,000 each to emigrate abroad. (Guardian, ToI 1/1)

A report in JTA indicates that 2 major American Jewish groups—the American Israel Public Affairs Comm. (AIPAC) and the Reform movement—are in disagreement about how to respond to the Palestinians’ successful UN bid. AIPAC has supported 2 congressional bids to shut down the PLO office in Washington, D.C., while the Reform movement has urged Obama not to punish the Palestinians for the initiative. Both groups, however, are apparently waiting to see if the Palestinians will use their new status to bring Israel before the ICC before backing penalties. (JTA 1/1)