The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Luban al-Sharqiyya. Israeli settlers also raided several Palestinian hamlets in Masafer Yatta; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 6 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians during raids in Jaba‘, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 1 Palestinian was arrested in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Tur and Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmers east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/16; WAFA 1/17; PCHR 1/21)

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu near his official residence for the 30th Saturday in a row. The protesters are demanding that Netanyahu steps down due to the corruption cases against him, the Israeli economy, and his COVID-19 response. (HA 1/16)

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said in an interview that he is ready to form a government supported by Palestinian-Israeli members of Knesset and that he wanted to do so after the last Israeli election but his then coalition partner, and now deputy prime minister and defense minister, Benny Gantz, refused. (HA 1/16)

The U.S. designated the UAE and Bahrain as “major security partners,” tying the decision to the 2 countries’ normalization deals with Israel. (AJ, HA 1/16)

The Israeli security service Shin Bet announced that it had arrested a Palestinian from the West Bank who had planned an attack in Jerusalem close to Israeli election day. According to Shin Bet, the attack was planned with Hamas operatives in Gaza. Elsewhere in the West Bank Israeli forces arrested 16 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Bethlehem, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. 3 Palestinian land surveyors were attacked by Israeli settlers in Ras Karkar west of Ramallah; all 3 were treated at a hospital for their injuries. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids, including the head of the Jerusalem office of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society. (HA, WAFA 4/28; WAFA 4/29)

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on a group of Palestinian minors congregating near al-Bureij refugee camp; 1 Palestinian is injured. The Israeli press reports that the Palestinians were launching incendiary balloons into southern Israel. Later in the day, an Israeli tank shells a Hamas post in southern Gaza, injuring 7 Palestinians. The IDF says that the strike was retaliation for the launching of incendiary balloons into Gaza earlier in the day. In the West Bank, an Israeli settler driver rams and moderately injures a Palestinian in central Hebron. The settler then flees the scene. Separately, settlers throw stones at Palestinian homes in Urif near Nablus, causing damage and sparking a minor confrontation with residents of the village. Unidentified assailants throw a firebomb at an Israeli vehicle near Nablus, lightly injuring the 2 settler occupants and damaging the vehicle. Meanwhile, IDF troops patrol near Nablus, Hebron, and Ramallah. Israeli forces shut down a number of streets in central Hebron to make room for Israeli settlers to celebrate Purim. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces disperse an event at the French Cultural Center on the grounds that it was co-sponsored by the PA. They also arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Ras al-Amud. (HA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 3/21; MNA 3/22; PCHR 3/28)

U.S. president Donald Trump tweets, “After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!” His tweet reverses decades of U.S. policy and runs counter to several UN Security Council resolutions and international law. It comes in response to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for the international community to recognize Israeli control over the Golan Heights, and it is widely seen as a boon for Netanyahu’s chances the upcoming Israeli election on 4/9. Trump later says, in an interview with Fox Business Network, that his tweet was not an effort to support Netanyahu’s re-election campaign. “I hear [Netanyahu] is doing okay,” he says. “Whoever’s against him is also in favor of what I just did.” In response to Trump’s tweet, an EU spokesperson says that the EU has no plans to change its position on the Golan Heights. “The EU, in line with international law, does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, including the Golan Heights, and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory.” (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 3/21; HA 3/22)

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmlands near Rafah and Khan Yunis, causing no damage. They also arrest 2 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel near Jabaliya refugee camp. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries (1 fisherman is arrested and his boat is confiscated). In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raze a swath of Palestinian land to set up an illegal settlement outpost near Nablus. Also near Nablus, settlers also uproot 33 olive trees from a Palestinian grove and throw stones at Palestinian vehicles, causing no reported damage or injuries. Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian barn and uproot a number of nearby trees outside al-‘Arub refugee camp near Hebron. They also deliver stop-work orders to a Palestinian home under construction near Hebron. IDF troops arrest 10 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Qalqilya, Ramallah, Salfit, Jenin, and Nablus; and patrol near Nablus and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, dozens of right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during raids in the Old City. (MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/10; MNA, MNA, WAFA 3/11; PCHR 3/14)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas appoints senior Fatah official Mohammed Shtayyeh prime minister, replacing outgoing prime minister Rami Hamdallah. Abbas calls on Shtayyeh to form a new government that can work toward reuniting Gaza and the West Bank and prepare for a new round of elections. Meanwhile, PA finance minister Shukri Bishara announces that the PA will only be paying 50% of its civil servants’ salaries for 2/2019 due to budget constraints stemming from Israel’s decision to withhold a fraction of the tax revenues transferred monthly to the PA. (AP, HA, MNA, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, YA 3/10; MNA 3/11)

A Palestinian minor succumbs to injuries sustained when IDF troops violently dispersed Palestinian demonstrations along Gaza’s border fence on 2/22. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 208. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/11; EI 3/13)

Hours after the Israeli Air Force bombed several Hamas sites across Gaza, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Hamas should not expect Israel to abstain from a full-scale assault on Gaza because there is an Israeli election coming up on 4/9. “I suggest to Hamas—don’t count on it,” he adds. “We will do everything necessary to restore security and quiet to the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip and to the south in general.” (TOI 3/10)

In response to an Israeli television personality saying that Israel is a country for all its citizens, Israeli prime minister Netanyahu says that Israel is a state for Jews alone. “Israel is not a state of all its citizens. According to the Nation-State Law that we passed, Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish People—and them alone.” (HA 3/11)

Japan announces a $7 million contribution to UNRWA to support Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Syria. (MNA, WAFA 3/10)

Along Gaza’s border, an Israeli drone bombs a Palestinian motorcycle near Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF does not comment on the strike. In the evening, hundreds of Palestinians gather along the border fence near Rafah to set tires on fire, throw stones, and otherwise continue the Great March of Return. IDF troops violently disperse the demonstrations, injuring 5 protesters. In 2 separate incidents off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers puncture the tires of 10 Palestinian vehicles and leave racist graffiti on nearby walls in Ras Karkar near Ramallah. Settlers also assault 2 Palestinian shepherds near Hebron and throw stones at a Palestinian school in nearby Urif village, causing no damage or injuries. Israeli forces fire tear gas at Palestinian students at a school in central Hebron; no serious injuries are reported. It’s unclear why the IDF attacked the school. They also deliver stop-work orders to a Palestinian home under construction in western Hebron; confiscate heavy equipment from a construction site in southern Hebron; and uproot approximately 300 olive tree seedlings from a Palestinian grove north of the city. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids near Jenin, Hebron, and Salfit; and patrol in and around Tulkarm, Hebron, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, dozens of Palestinians gather outside Haram al-Sharif to protest the recent Israeli incursions at the sanctuary; 4 are arrested when Israeli forces disperse the protests. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 60 Palestinians across the city ahead of planned protests at Haram al-Sharif on 2/22. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/21; HA, JP, MNA, MNA 2/22; PCHR 2/28)

PA minister of finance Shukri Bishara says that the PA intends to pay all its employees on time in the coming months, but that some of the higher salaries might be reduced due to the 2/17 Israeli decision to make deductions from the monthly transfers of tax revenues to the PA. “We are coming on difficult days in the coming weeks, and we will handle the issue of salaries as wisely and fairly as possible,” he says. Meanwhile, senior Fatah official Mahmoud al-Aloul says that a committee has been formed to put together a list of Israeli products to ban from Palestinian markets in response to the Israeli deductions in tax revenue transfers. (TOI, TOI, WAFA 2/21)

Hosen L’Yisrael Party chair Benny Gantz and Yesh Atid Party chair Yair Lapid announce that they have agreed to run on a joint ticket ahead of the Israeli election on 4/9. Under their agreement, Gantz would serve as prime minister for two and a half years, then Lapid would take over the top job. Gantz is widely seen as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top challenger in the election, and this agreement is expected to strengthen his chances of becoming the next prime minister. (HA, JP, JP, YA 2/21)

In East Jerusalem, undercover Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian minor during a raid in Shu‘fat refugee camp. In the West Bank, Palestinian minors throw stones at an Israeli settler near Hebron, lightly injuring him. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathering to protest the Israeli occupation in 2 villages near Ramallah (Ras Karkar and al-Mughayyir); 2 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 2 Palestinians during raids near Jenin and Tubas; and patrol near Nablus, Tulkarm, Salfit, Hebron, and Bethlehem. Israeli settlers smash the windows and windshields of 3 Palestinian vehicles in Turmus ‘Ayya village near Ramallah late at night. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp; there are no reported injuries. (MNA 1/24; MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 1/25; PCHR 1/31)

One day after Israel’s security cabinet agreed to allow the next tranche of $15 million from Qatar into Gaza, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya tells reporters in Gaza that Hamas will not accept the money. “Gaza will not be subject to extortion by Israeli election theater,” he adds. After the press conference, the IDF deploys additional troops to the Gaza border area in preparation for planned protests on 1/25. (HA, TOI, TOI, YA 1/24)

Three senior U.S. officials say that the Trump administration is currently planning to release its long-awaited plan for Palestinian-Israeli peace as soon as possible after the Israeli election on 4/9. They reportedly believe that they have a limited window between the Israeli elections and the start of President Trump’s re-election campaign. “It is hard for us to imagine a set of circumstances where the plan is never released.” One official says. “We have every intention of releasing it.” (JP, JP 1/24)

The Egyptian authorities shut down the Rafah border crossing to passage in both directions, marking the anniversary of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. They plan to resume operations at the crossing on 1/27. They have opened the crossing for passage only in one direction since 1/7, when the PA withdrew its staff from the Palestinian side of the crossing. (MNA 1/24)

Three days after violent raids sparked a hunger strike at Ofer Prison, lawyers representing Palestinians imprisoned at Ofer decide to stop appearing at the prison in protest of increasing restrictions imposed on their work by the Israeli authorities. (WAFA 1/24)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire on a group of Palestinians approaching the border fence, causing 3 to suffer from tear gas inhalation. Separately, IDF troops stationed e. of Rafah open fire on agricultural lands nr. the border fence, causing damage. In 2 incidents off the coast nr. Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations to commemorate Land Day, upcoming on 3/30, and protest Israel’s occupation in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, outside Ofer Prison, and Jalazun r.c.), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 10 Palestinians are moderately injured. The Israeli soldiers also cut off a main waterline into Kafr Qaddum, denying the village water for several hours. IDF troops also violently disperse Palestinian and international activists gathering in Abu Dis at the site of the “Gate of Jerusalem” protest tent camp. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in and around Hebron, arresting 1 Palestinian; conducts patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron and 1 each nr. Jenin and Jericho. (MNA 3/27; PCHR 4/2)

The Israeli PM’s office announces that it is unfreezing tax revenue transfers to the PA that it has held as a punitive response to the Palestinian accession to the ICC since 1/2015. A statement announcing the move says that the total will be reduced by an undisclosed amount to pay portions of the PA’s debts to Israeli utility providers, such as the IEC. The PA FM criticizes the announced deductions, saying in a statement that they are “an unjustified and illegal procedure that could cause complications.” (AP, HA, JP, NYT, TOI 3/27; AFP, WAFA 3/28; JP 3/29)

French FM Fabius announces that, now that the 3/17 Israeli election has passed, he plans to explore the prospect of introducing another United Nations Security Council (UNSC) res. laying out parameters for a new round of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Meanwhile, an EU spokesperson announces that Hamas will remain a designated terrorist organization pending a decision on an appeal of the General Court’s 12/17/2014 removal of Hamas from the list. Similarly, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, which the U.S. claims funneled money to Hamas, has been removed from the list since it was last published in 7/2014. (AFP, AP, HA, REU, TOI 3/27; AFP 3/28)

The PA unity govt. delegation led by PM Hamdallah meets with Fatah and Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip, concluding its 3-day trip. (MNA 3/26) The Egyptian attorney, Samir Sabri, who filed the original motion to designate Hamas a terrorist organization in Egypt withdraws his case, saying he hopes to remove “obstacles which Egypt’s political leadership might face in serving its role in the Palestinian reconciliation.” The Court of Urgent Matters, which designated Hamas a terrorist organization 2/28, is expected to reconsider its initial ruling, though it was only in part based on Sabri’s motion. (AHR, MNA 3/27)

The 28th regular session of the UNHRC concludes today after a mo. of meetings, with the council having agreed on 3 res. on the Palestinians. They reaffirm the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, confirm Palestinian rights to sovereignty over their natural resources, and condemn ongoing settlement growth in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (TOI 3/27; MNA 3/28)

PA Pres. Abbas arrives in Sharm al-Shaykh, Egypt, to participate in an Arab League summit on 3/28 and 3/29. Ahead of the summit, the Arab League agrees to send a delegation to Washington to lobby the U.S. Congress and promote the Arab Peace Initiative. (WAFA 2/25; MNA 3/27; HA 3/28)

PM Netanyahu, his fmr. DM, Mordechai, hold 1st televised debate of the Israeli election campaign. Drawing comparisons to Kennedy in his 1960 debate with Nixon, Mordechai trounces the PM, attacking his person and policy, often leaving the "grand master of television" at a loss for words. As a result, Labor party candidate Barak's decision not to participate lends him the aura of being "above the fray." (MM 4/13; MM, WP 4/14; MM, NYT 4/15; al-Quds 4/15 in WNC 4/19; MEI 4/23)

With government approval, Israeli settlers seize a new West Bank hilltop nr. Tene Oranim settlement, nr. Hebron. Peace Now reports that Israeli building starts in West Bank settlements were up 105% in 1998, while housing starts inside the Green Line were down 20%. (MM, WP, WT 4/14)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IS13 million exacted from Azza camp shopowner in 1st taxation of refugee camp shops. Qabatya youth sentenced to 2 mos. & charged IS100,000 for demonstrating. Jamal Awarneh gets life sentence for killing Jewish settler in Bethlehem (1982).

Arab World: In al-Ra'i (Amman) both Jordanian and PLO officials quoted saying Israeli election aided extremism and will lead to more Arab-Jewish violence in Palestine. Israeli liaison office in Dubayeh officially closed; Israel gov't. threatens closure "will necessarily cause great harm and suffering to the Lebanese people."

Other Countries: Chrmn. Arafat received by Malaysia's Sultan Iskandar in Kuala Lumpur for 3-day visit. US State Dep't. study possibility of revoking Meir Kahane's US citizenship for allegiance to foreign gov't.; officials say official action against him unlikely. Reagan aides meet Antiochian Orthodox and national Council of Churches leaders, reaffirm US stand against embassy transfer to Jerusalem. US Asst. Undersec. of State testifies before House Foreign Affairs Subcom. that, with outcome of Israel's elections, its economic situation is much worse than earlier suspected, and that US will resuscitate Reagan peace initiative.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Molotov cocktail hurled at IDF soldier patroling al-Ibrahimi Mosque, Hebron; curfew imposed, several passersby arrested & searched.