The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops conduct an early morning raid in Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 3 Palestinians are injured. The IDF arrests 8 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, and Tulkarm; and patrols nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, the Israeli authorities prevent a truck from passing through the Kerem Shalom border crossing on the grounds that it contains materials that could be used to build rockets. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya refugee camp (r.c.), causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in Jabal Mukabir and Issawiyya. (MNA 11/16; PCHR 11/17; PCHR 11/24)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 3d of 5 planned days. (MNA 11/16; OCHA 12/2)

Israel’s Knesset passes the 1st reading of the so-called regulations bill, which would retroactively authorize Israeli settlement outposts in the West Bank. Meanwhile, in response to the Israeli High Court of Justice’s 11/14 reaffirmation of its evacuation order for the illegal Amona settlement outpost, the Jerusalem Municipality approves demolition orders for 14 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina. Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat says that thousands of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem lack proper permits and should be held to the same standard as Amona, adding that “the Amona verdict leaves us no discretion to legalize building offenses.” (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 11/16; JP, MNA 11/17)

Israeli police shoot and kill a Palestinian in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, after he injures 6 Israelis in a drive-by shooting nr. an Israeli police headquarters (2 succumb to their injuries later in the day). The Palestinian was reportedly supposed to turn himself into the Israeli authorities today to begin serving a 4-mo. sentence for attacking a police officer in 2013. Israeli forces later conduct a series of raids in Silwan and al-Ram, interrogate the attacker’s family, and spark clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 7 Palestinians are detained, and 1 Associated Press photographer and 2 Israeli soldiers are injured (1 seriously). Israeli troops return to al-Ram late at night, arrest the attacker’s teenage daughter, and threaten punitive demolition of the attacker’s home. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/9; HA, MNA, NYT, YA 10/10; PCHR 10/13)

Around 1,200 right-wing Jewish activists visit Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and stonethrowing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 13 Palestinians and damage 1 workshop during raids and house searches nr. Tulkarm, Hebron, and Qalqilya. Inside Israel, Israeli forces demolish multiple homes in the bedouin village of Bir Hadaj nr. Beersheba. The IDF also demolishes 22 residential and agricultural structures in the n. Jordan Valley, 8 homes in a bedouin community nr. Bethlehem, and a number of residences, agricultural structures, solar panels, and the main water pipeline in a bedouin village nr. Jerusalem. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian farmers nr. al-Maghazi r.c., causing no injuries; and conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. (MNA, WAFA 10/9; MNA 10/10; PCHR 10/13)

Israeli soldiers shoot and kill a Palestinian at the Qalandia checkpoint n. of Jerusalem after he allegedly stabs an Israeli border guard, causing moderate injuries. The IDF then violently disperses around 200 Palestinians gathering to throw stones in protest of the killing. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c. and Shuja‘iya; at least 6 Palestinians are injured and 2 are arrested. They also patrol during the day nr. Qalqilya, Salfit, and Hebron. (HA, MNA, TOI, YA 9/30; MNA 10/1; PCHR 10/6)

PA pres. Abbas attends the funeral of former Israeli pres. Peres and shakes hands with Israeli PM Netanyahu. Responding to criticism from Hamas and many other Palestinians, a senior Hamas official says that Abbas’s attendance disproves Israeli claims of Palestinian dedication to violence and that it sent a “strong message of Palestinian peace” to the world. MK and Joint List chair Ayman Odeh refuses to attend, along with the rest of the Joint List, citing Peres’s treatment of the Palestinians. The Joint List and PA reportedly agree to refrain from publicly criticizing one another over their different views on this matter. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, YA 9/30; HA 10/1)

The Israeli authorities return the body of a Palestinian to his family in East Jerusalem, having punitively withheld it since he was killed on 12/14 after carrying out a car ramming attack in Jerusalem. His family is forced to pay a security deposit, bury the body at al-Mujahidin Cemetery in c. Jerusalem (rather than nr. their home in Hebron), and limit the attendance at his funeral at 25 people. In the West Bank, IDF troops open fire on a group of Palestinian students walking home from school in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, injuring 1 and sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths in the area (there are no serious injuries). They also patrol nr. Hebron and Jenin. An Israeli settler driver rams his vehicle into an elderly Palestinian nr. Bethlehem, causing moderate injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian bird-hunters and farmers nr. Jabaliya, injuring 1. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City and arrest 6 fishermen. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/8; PCHR 9/22)

A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirms that PA pres. Abbas and Israeli PM Netanyahu “agreed in principle”to meet in Moscow, but they have not yet set a date. She says that Russian officials are still working to find an appropriate date. (HA, JP, REU, RFM, TOI 9/8)

In response to growing Hamas-Fatah tensions, the Palestinian High Court of Justice puts a freeze on the municipal elections scheduled for 10/8. The freeze is set to expire on 12/21. The court will deliberate again on 9/21. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/8; MNA, NYT 9/9)

Amid heightened tensions and the ongoing IDF closures in the Hebron district, Israeli settlers enter Kafr Haris village nr. Hebron overnight to perform religious rituals. Palestinians in the area report that a group of Israeli settlers have been setting up a new illegal settlement outpost outside the village. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids in Silwad village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youth; 1 Palestinian is seriously injured. Late at night, IDF troops arrest 10 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during further raids and house searches nr. Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Jenin; and patrol in 5 villages nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians suspected of stone-throwing in Issawiyya. They also conduct raids in the Old City, breaking up a minor physical confrontation between Jewish Israelis and Palestinian youths (7 Palestinians are assaulted and 4 are arrested). Meanwhile, a Palestinian demolishes a room of his home in Silwan to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In s. Israel, Israeli forces arrest several bedouin Palestinians after they try to stop an Israeli bulldozer from leveling land outside their village, al-Araqib. (MNA, WAFA 7/24; MNA 7/25; PCHR 7/28)

The Israeli press reports that the mayor of Yatta village, along with several human rights organizations, has submitted a petition to Israel’s High Court of Justice to lift the IDF’s closure of Yatta, which was imposed in the wake of the 6/8 attack in Tel Aviv. The petition states that all entry and exit from the village has been prohibited since 7/2, when the closure was re-enforced. The mayor reportedly complained to the IDF, which responded that the closure will continue because it is a “military-security need” and that it is “part of the effort to prevent further attackers from leaving the area.” (HA 7/24)

The Israeli press reports that the Jerusalem Municipality’s Local Planning and Construction Comm. presented plans for 770 settler housing units between the Gilo settlement and Bayt Jala late last week. The Israeli authorities previously approved 1,200 units in the area, and the reports today appear to cover the same development. (MNA 7/24)

Following the shooting nr. Bethlehem on 7/21, the IDF closes entrances to several Palestinian villages in the area. Elsewhere in the West Bank, the IDF continues its closure of Hebron and the surrounding areas that has been in place since 7/1. Amid heightened tensions in the Hebron region, IDF troops assault and injure a Palestinian in c. Hebron and patrol throughout the region during the day. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations in 3 villages nr. Ramallah, and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 2 Palestinians are injured and 5 are arrested. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian on a raid in Shu‘fat. The Israeli authorities only allow 250 elderly Gazans to visit Jerusalem to pray at Haram al-Sharif today. They normally permit 300 to travel for Friday prayers. COGAT says that the reduction was a response to Hamas and other groups’ “choosing to use the crossing permits . . . illegally.” Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. al-Bureij r.c., causing no injuries. (MNA 7/22; PCHR 7/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of 2 homes in Qalandia r.c. late at night, displacing 6 Palestinians and sparking clashes with stone-throwing camp residents; 4 Palestinians are injured. The Israeli authorities revoke the entry permit of the governor of Hebron after he visits the home of the Palestinian who allegedly stabbed a settler youth to death on 6/30. IDF troops arrest 10 Palestinians and confiscate a car during late-night raids and house searches nr. Jenin, Bethlehem, and Hebron. Meanwhile, the IDF maintains its general closure of Hebron and the surrounding district, barricading at least 20 villages and patrolling throughout the region. (HA, MNA 7/3; HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/4; JP, MO 7/5; PCHR 7/14)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 4th of 5 planned days this week. (OCHA 7/5)

The Israeli govt. approves the construction of 600 new residences for Palestinians in the Bayt Safafa neighborhood of East Jerusalem, despite criticism from some of its right-wing mbrs. Israeli PM Netanyahu also advances plans for 800 new Jewish settler housing units in East Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim, a West Bank settlement nr. Jerusalem. A senior Israeli official refers to the 800 settler units as an effort to “sweeten the pill” for Israelis opposing housing construction for Palestinians. (HA 7/3; JP, WAFA 7/4; HA 7/8)

Before the weekly cabinet meeting, and in response to the recent uptick in violence in Hebron, Netanyahu says, “We will make a special effort to strengthen [settlements] and will propose a special plan for Kiryat Arba at the next cabinet meeting.” Kiryat Arba is the settlement where a youth was killed in her sleep on 6/30. (HA, JP 7/3; MO 7/5)

Commemorating Jerusalem Day, thousands of Israelis march through the Old City; there are no major altercations with Palestinian residents of the Muslim Quarter (as there were in previous years). Earlier, around 208 Jewish settlers tour Haram alSharif and thousands more gather at the Western Wall; 4 of the settlers (3 for breaking the rule barring non-Muslim prayer, 1 for allegedly assaulting an Israeli police officer) and 2 Palestinian women are detained at the sanctuary around the same time for disturbing the peace, according to an Israeli police spokesperson. In the Old City overnight, Israeli settlers attempt to set fire to a Palestinian store; the proprietors quell the blaze in time, preventing any serious damage. Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in Biddu, Jaba‘, and the Old City. Meanwhile, Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 2d of 2 planned days. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces disassemble and confiscate 7 EU-funded residential structures in a bedouin village nr. Jerusalem, and issue stop-work orders to 2 homes under construction nr. Hebron. IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids and house searches in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya; and patrol nr. Hebron and Jenin throughout the day. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 6/5; PCHR 6/9)

In the West Bank, IDF troops detain a Palestinian youth after arguing with her at a checkpoint nr. Bethlehem, and conduct raids in a village nr. Nablus, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians. Amid the clashes, Israeli soldiers fire tear gas canisters at a girls’ school, causing many students to choke. The IDF conducts late-night raids in and around Jenin, Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, and Tubas, arresting 16 Palestinians and confiscating and damaging property; patrols nr. Jenin and Nablus. Israeli soldiers set fire to a Palestinian flag at a checkpoint nr. Nablus. Israeli settlers steal a Palestinian’s horse from a village nr. Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 2 residential structures in Kafr Walaja early in the morning, and arrest 18 Palestinians during raids in Silwan, the Old City, and Bayt Hanina. In West Jerusalem, Jewish Israelis assault and moderately injure a Palestinian bus driver nr. the Central Bus Station. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/13; HA, PCHR, WAFA 4/14; HA 4/15; PCHR 4/21)

The Israeli press reports that PM Netanyahu and DM Ya’alon recently gave their approval for the construction of 267 settler residences in the West Bank, including in a number of outposts. (HA 4/13; PCN 4/14)

A Palestinian lawyer says that an Israeli court has rescinded the ban on products of 5 Palestinian food companies entering Jerusalem, which was issued by Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture on 3/9. (MNA 4/13)

For the 2d day in a row, the IEC cuts off power to a major West Bank city, this time affecting parts of Hebron from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. It is the 3d time the IEC has implemented its plan to intermittently and punitively disrupt power supplies to areas of the West Bank in response to unpaid debts. (HA, JP, MNA 4/5)

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Rafah, causing no injuries. Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nearby. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a slaughterhouse, a balcony, and a water well in a village nr. Bethlehem and force a number of Palestinian shops to close in a village nr. Nablus, arresting 2 Palestinians who allegedly threw stones at them. IDF troops also conduct latenight raids and house searches in Nablus and nr. Hebron arresting 9 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 2; take measurements and photographs of a home nr. Hebron, threatening punitive demolition; and patrol nr. Qalqilya, Jenin, and Hebron. Israeli settlers enter a village nr. Nablus late at night, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 1 Palestinian is injured. Meanwhile, Palestinian youths throw Molotov cocktails at Israeli forces on a patrol nr. Ramallah; there are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid al-Quds University in Abu Dis, destroying and confiscating property, and issue an arrest summons for a Palestinian journalist during a raid in al-Thawri. Israeli police arrest 2 right-wing Jewish activists attempting to sneak into Haram al-Sharif disguised as Muslims. (MNA, WAFA 4/5; MNA 4/6; PCHR 4/7)

The day after Israeli PM Netanyahu invited him to Jerusalem for a face-to-face meeting, PA pres. Abbas says that he is prepared to work with Israel to stop and monitor “mutual incitement,” calling for the reinstatement of the joint Palestinian-Israeli-U.S. comm. for monitoring incitement, which was established as part of the Wye River Memorandum in 1998 and met regularly until 9/2000. (JP 4/5; TOI 4/6)

For the 2d time in a week, the IEC cuts power to a major West Bank city, this time affecting large areas of Bethlehem between 2:00 and 6:00 P.M. The cuts are part of a broader punitive effort to disrupt power supplies to the West Bank in response to the PA and JDECO alleged failure to pay their bills. (HA, MNA, TOI 4/4; EI 4/7)

In Gaza, Hamas says 1 of its fighters died today during an unspecified military exercise. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes and a livestock building in a village nr. Nablus, as well as a home and a store late at night in villages nr. Hebron. IDF troops conduct late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Salfit, Jenin, and Bethlehem, arresting 8 Palestinians, issuing arrest summons to 3, and confiscating a vehicle; patrol during the day nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles on the road between Nablus and Ramallah, causing damage to 1 car. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a home in Jabal Mukabir overnight, injure 1 Palestinian youth amid clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians in Issawiyya, and arrest 12 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya, Jabal Mukabir, Abu Dis, and Hizma. (HA, MNA, WAFA 4/4; MNA 4/5; PCHR 4/7)

COGAT suspends cement imports to the Gaza Strip for private use “until further notice,” accusing Hamas of diverting construction materials for its own purposes. Imports for large international projects will continue (HA, JP, TOI 4/4; MNA 4/5)

Israeli PM Netanyahu invites PA pres. Abbas to meet with him in Jerusalem, responding to Abbas’s recent claim that he would accept such an invite. Netanyahu adds, “I’m clearing my schedule this week. Any day he can come, I’ll be here.” Later Netanyahu’s Twitter account sends this message: “I heard [Pres.] Abbas say that if I invite him to meet, he’ll come. So I’m inviting him. I’ve cleared my schedule”; the PLO’s Negotiations Affairs Dept. account responds: “Negotiate what exactly?” (JP, YA 4/4)

Israeli forces demolish a 2-story home in a village nr. Bethlehem, an agricultural building nearby, and a clothing warehouse and 2 homes in East Jerusalem. Also in East Jerusalem, they arrest a Palestinian youth who was allegedly planning to conduct a stabbing attack in Shu‘fat r.c., and arrest 5 Palestinians on late-night raids in Bayt Hanina and Bayt Duqqu. In the West Bank, IDF troops raid a village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; there are no serious injuries. They conduct further house searches and raids nr. Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron, arresting 7 Palestinians and ordering several shops to close; patrol in 6 villages nr. Hebron during the day. Israeli forces demolish 6 stores in s. Nablus late at night. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/16; MNA, PCHR 3/17; PCHR 3/24)

The Israeli authorities announce that, beginning 3/18, they are temporarily suspending elderly Gazans’ weekly visits to Haram al-Sharif, citing recent alleged violations. Since the cease-fire that ended Israel’s summer 2014 assault on Gaza, Israel has permitted as many as 200 Gazans over the age of 60 to travel weekly to Jerusalem for Friday prayers. (MNA 3/16; TOI 3/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 5 bedouin Palestinian residential structures in the E1 area nr. Jerusalem, displacing 26 bedouins; begin leveling land s. of Bethlehem in preparation for the construction of a military tower. The IDF conducts late-night raids and house searches in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, Tulkarm r.c., and 1 village each nr. Salfit and Ramallah, arresting 10 Palestinians; patrols in 4 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police raid the International Comm. of the Red Cross office overnight, arresting 6 Palestinian activists who have been staging a sit-in in protest of the Israeli orders to deport 2 of them. Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian homes in Silwan; arrest a Palestinian at Haram al-Sharif; arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Jabal Mukabir and al-‘Izzariya. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian bedouin mosque in a so-called unrecognized village in the Negev. (HA, MNA 1/6; PCHR, WAFA 1/7; HA, MNA 1/8; PCHR 1/14)

The Israeli press reports that DM Moshe Ya’alon has approved, in recent weeks, the Gush Etzion settlement’s request to incorporate a nearby property into its municipality. (HA, JP, TOI 1/6)