The Palestine Chronology

An East Jerusalem Palestinian fatally stabs an Israeli on promenade in Tel Aviv, wounds 2 others, is wounded and captured by police; a statement faxed to Reuters takes responsibility in the name of the AMB, but AMB spokesmen say the group was not involved. Israel says it will release Irishman Morgan, whom it confirms is not a Real IRA mbr. The IDF fires on cars traveling on the main north–south road in Gaza, apparently to halt traffic for passage of a Jewish settler convoy fr. Gush Katif. More than 40 Israeli tour guides file suit in Israeli court against the PA for earnings lost because of intifada violence. (BBC, HA, JTA, MM, WP 7/15; AFP 7/15 in WNC 7/18; NYT, PR, WP, WT 7/16; MM, NYT 7/17; MM 7/18; PCHR 7/24)

Just before the PC meets in Ramallah, the IDF assassinates PFLP leader Nidal Salama, firing rockets at his car as he drives through Khan Yunis, also killing 1 Palestinian bystander; surrounds the home of, fatally shoots Bethlehem AMB cmdr. Mahmud Salah in an apparent assassination, also killing AMB mbr. Adnan Juayrish, who was with him; demolishes the home of Salah’s 2 brothers. Just 2 hrs. after Abbas’s new government is confirmed, a suicide bomber detonates a device outside a Tel Aviv nightclub, next to the U.S. emb., killing 2 Israelis, 1 French woman, wounding 34 (including at least 1 American); a 2d bomber escapes when his bomb fails to detonate; AMB, Hamas say they jointly planned the operation; both bombers are British Muslims (1 of Kashmiri, 1 of Pakistani descent) who apparently entered Israel fr. Gaza on British passports. Commenting on the attack, Israeli government spokesman Dore Gold says, ”This is really the first test for the new Palestinian government and unfortunately it has turned out to be a complete failure.” The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian in Rafah; fires on, wounds 2 Palestinian farmers working land in Khuza; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. (HA 4/29; BBC, HA, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/30; Interfax 4/30 in WNC 5/1; LAW, PCHR 5/1; NYT 5/2; JTA 5/6; PR 5/7; JPI 5/9; WP 5/10)

The PC approves (69–12, with 3 abstentions) Abbas’s new government, presented after wks. of debate within Fatah. In his inaugural speech Abbas states that there is no military solution to the conflict with Israel, rejects “terrorism,” pledges to crack down on militant groups and confiscate illegal weapons, demands an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, and without Jewish settlements. Israeli FM Silvan Shalom cautiously welcomes Abbas’s words on violence but says his statements on flnal status are “problematic” and “raise serious questions regarding a readiness to arrive at an agreed-upon resolution.” (HA, MM 4/29; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/30; AYM, Interfax, ITAR-TASS 4/30 in WNC 5/1; SA 4/30, al-Quds 5/1 in WNC 5/2; WJW 5/1; AYM 5/1 in WNC 5/5; HA, MM, WJW 5/2; HA 5/5; MEI 5/16)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians who approach a Jewish settler bus at Qarni crossing “in a suspicious manner”; fires on an elderly Palestinian working in his field nr. Gaza City, wounding him; fires on residential areas of Gaza City; bulldozes all secondary roads leading into Bayt Hanun; bulldozes a main road, 45 dunams of land e. of Bayt Hanun; demolishes an alleged bomb-making factory in Ramallah; demolishes 1 Palestinian home each in Dayr al-Balah, Ramallah, Tulkarm; erects a new checkpoint at the n. entrance of Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrests raids in Bayt Rima, Kafr Rai, Tulkarm. A Chinese worker injured in the 1/5 Tel Aviv attack dies of her injuries, raising that death toll to 23. Palestinians fire mortars at an IDF post, a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no injuries. (HA, JTA 1/13; HA, WP 1/14; LAW, PCHR 1/15)