The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF closes the 2d major entrance to Shuqba village nr. Ramallah, having closed the first one in the wake of the killing in nearby Bayt Rima on 12/18. IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during raids nr. Hebron and Ramallah, and patrol nr. Hebron. Late at night, Israeli settlers visit Kifl Haris village nr. Salfit to pray at Jewish shrines. Their IDF escort sets up mobile checkpoints and roadblocks to facilitate their visit. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 3 agricultural containers and a steel structure, as well as parts of a store in Silwan. Approximately 176 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning; Israeli forces meanwhile detain 1 Palestinian guard at the sanctuary. (MNA, WAFA 12/28; MNA, PCHR 12/29; PCHR 1/5)

U.S. secy. of state Kerry gives a speech in Washington outlining his principles for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as he pledged to do in the wake of the UNSC’s adoption of anti-settlement Res. 2334 on 12/23. Citing the so-called regulations bill that is percolating through the Knesset, Kerry says that current trends on the ground, particularly settlement growth and the legalization of settlement outposts, are eliminating the possibility of a 2-state solution, that Jerusalem must be the shared capital of Israel and a future state of Palestine, and that a final agreement must be based on negotiated land swaps, inter alia. Israeli PM Netanyahu calls Kerry’s speech a “big disappointment” and reiterates his desire for the U.S.-Israel relationship to improve under Pres.-elect Trump. Trump himself tweets, “Stay strong, Israel, JANUARY 20 is approaching fast.” PA pres. Abbas says that he would be open to restarting peace talks with Israel as long as the Israeli govt. freezes settlement growth and upholds previous agreements. (BBC, EI, HA, JP, MNA, NYT, REU, TOI, WP, YA 12/28)

A senior PLO official says that the Palestinian leadership wants the ICC to “expedite” its preliminary examination of alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s assault on Gaza in 2014 and “proceed to opening a full investigation” into Israeli settlements in the wake of the 12/23 UNSC res. condemning them. (JP 12/28)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities temporarily limit the number of trucks permitted to pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing bearing goods for Gaza. Around 70 trucks are denied access. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem and Jayyus nr. Qalqilya, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians in both. IDF troops also arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Tubas and nr. Tulkarm and Nablus; and patrol during the day nr. Hebron. Israeli forces bulldoze an agricultural road nr. Nablus, then block the road with a sand barrier. Unidentified vandals scrawl swastikas and the words “Death to Jews” on an IDF outpost nr. Hebron late at night. In response, the IDF suspends the Palestinian olive harvest in the area indefinitely. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking clashes with stonethrowing residents; at least 12 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 3 Palestinians during further raids in Sur al-Bahir. (MNA, WAFA 10/27; HA 10/30; PCHR 11/3)

PA pres. Abbas meets with Hamas leader Khalid Mishal and his dep. Ismail Haniyeh in Doha. They discuss steps they could take toward Palestinian national reconciliation. Senior Palestinian officials say the meeting is the start of a new reconciliation process, but they add that Abbas and Mishal did not agree on the aims of the new process. (HA, NYT, TOI, YA 10/27; MNA 10/30)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Nablus after she allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli border police officer. No Israelis are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day and arrest 3 Palestinians on late-night raids nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, more than 10,000 Jewish worshippers gather at the Western Wall for Sukkot. Meanwhile, around 1,000 worshippers tour Haram al-Sharif and police remove 8 of them from the sanctuary for violating the rule against non-Muslim prayer. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in the Old City, Silwan, and al-Ram. They also confiscate equipment from a printing house in al-Ram. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Bayt Hanun; and open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Bayt Hanun later in the day, causing no injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/19; MNA, PCHR 10/20; JP 10/21; PCHR 10/27)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 2d time this week, allowing passage in both directions. A Palestinian official says that they intend to keep it open for 4 days in a row. (MNA 10/19)

Israeli amb. to the UN Danny Danon says he plans to demand that the UN end its funding of B’Tselem because of its criticism of the Israeli occupation on 10/14. (HA, JP, TOI, YA 10/19; JP 10/20)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Qusra village nr. Nablus, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 4 Palestinians are injured. Israeli forces reseal the entrance to a junction nr. Hebron 1 day after reopening it. An Israeli military bus driver rams and injures 2 Palestinian youths nr. Hebron, according to Palestinian witnesses of the incident. Late at night, 2 Israeli soldiers mistakenly drive into Tulkarm using the GPS navigation app Waze. Residents throw stones at the 2 soldiers, lightly injuring both. The IDF and PASF coordinate their exit from the city. IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians for throwing stones and paint cans at an Israeli settler bus in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. (MNA, YA 9/12; MNA 9/13; PCHR 9/22)

In a joint press conference with Luxembourg’s PM Xavier Bettel, Israeli PM Netanyahu says that the proposed meeting between himself and PA pres. Abbas, which was 1st planned for Cairo and then Moscow in recent weeks, may now happen in Luxembourg: “[Bettel] has invited me to Luxembourg, and he said the Palestinians might also come there; therefore, it’s either Moscow or Luxembourg.” (JP 9/12)

In the West Bank, IDF troops assault 2 Palestinians nr. Bethlehem after they allegedly attempt to cross into Jerusalem without permits. Late at night, IDF troops conduct a raid in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians (1 is injured). They conduct patrols and raids nr. Hebron and Ramallah throughout the day, arresting 1 Palestinian. Israeli settlers set fire to a large swath of agricultural land nr. Qalqilya, causing damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in the Old City. (MNA, WAFA 6/23; MNA 6/24; PCHR 6/30)

Israel’s Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan signs an order barring the Musawa TV channel, formerly known as Palestine 48, from broadcasting or operating in Israel for 6 mos., citing its connections with the PA. The station was previously forced to close for 6 mos. in 7/2015. (MNA, TOI 6/24; WAFA 6/25)

In East Jerusalem, around 60 Jewish settlers tour Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian and confiscate a number of computers during a raid nr. Shu‘fat r.c. In the West Bank, IDF troops raid Nur Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm late at night, arresting 1 Palestinian and sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths (3 are injured, 1 seriously). They arrest 7 more Palestinians during raids nr. Bethlehem and Nablus. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Khan Yunis on 2 occasions, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA 6/20; MNA, WAFA 6/21; PCHR 6/23)

The EU Foreign Affairs Council endorses the French peace initiative at its monthly meeting in Brussels. The Council also requests the EU’s External Action Service to devise a set of economic and security incentives to cajole the Israelis and Palestinians into an agreement. (HA, MNA, TOI 6/20; AP, HA, WAFA, YA 6/21)

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launches a strike on an agricultural area along the border fence nr. Gaza City, causing minor damage and no injuries. The IDF says that the strike was a part of an unspecified IAF exercise. In the West Bank, Israeli forces raid several homes in Yatta, the village of the Palestinians who attacked Israelis on 6/8 in Tel Aviv; and demolish a retaining wall nr. the village. Israeli soldiers arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in ‘Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing Palestinian youths (1 Palestinian is seriously injured). Israeli forces arrest 10 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Bethlehem, Ramallah, and East Jerusalem; and patrol nr. Hebron and Ramallah throughout the day. (TOI 6/14; PCHR 6/16)

A COGAT official says that Israel’s political leadership has ordered COGAT to freeze any building plans in bedouin communities in Area C. Right-wing Israeli politicians think the PA is using building construction to consolidate power over Area C to keep the land in a future Palestinian state. (JP 6/15)

In the West Bank, hundreds of Jewish Israelis visit religious sites across the West Bank in the morning, including al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, ahead of Purim on 3/24. When around 500 Israelis arrive at Joseph’s Tomb outside Nablus under an IDF escort, clashes break out with stone-throwing Palestinians from nearby Balata r.c.; there are no serious injuries. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities shut down all checkpoints leading out of the West Bank as well as the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings along Gaza’s border overnight, barring all Palestinians from crossing, except for humanitarian cases. A COGAT spokesperson confirms that the closure of the West Bank is set to extend through 3/26; the Erez border crossing is set to stay closed through 3/25. Israeli forces also erect a number of flying checkpoints around Hebron and close the w. entrance to the city. IDF troops conduct late-night house searches and raids in Nablus and nr. Ramallah, Jenin, and Hebron, arresting 8 Palestinians, issuing arrest summons to 3, and confiscating some electronics. In East Jerusalem, right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Meanwhile, Palestinian men under the age of 50 continue to be barred from the sanctuary. Along Gaza’s n. border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land. The Israeli authorities, meanwhile, return the engines of 59 previously confiscated fishing boats and release an injured Palestinian fisherman who has been detained for 4 mos. (MNA, WAFA 3/23; PCHR 3/24, 3/31)

The Israeli National Council for Planning and Building approves a plan proposed by the settler organization Elad to build a 16,000 m2 archaeological center in the City of David National Park adjacent to the Old City. This approval reverses an earlier ruling restricting the size of the proposed center to 10,000 m2 . (MNA 3/23; HA 3/25, 3/26)

Uncoordinated stabbing and alleged stabbing attacks continue in the West Bank and Jerusalem, resulting in the deaths of 3 Palestinians. Two Palestinians open fire on an Israeli bus in Ramot, causing no damage. Israeli police then chase the shooters into the Old City, where they shoot and kill the 2 men after they allegedly attempt to ram their car into a Jewish Israeli pedestrian, causing no serious injuries. A 3d Palestinian is critically injured in the crossfire. The IDF maintains, for a 2d day, the closure of 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Salfit. On the outskirts of the village nr. Salfit, Israeli soldiers open fire on 2 Palestinian youths as they approach an IDF checkpoint, killing 1 and critically injuring the other. An IDF spokesperson says that one of the youths was armed with a knife and intended to attack the soldiers. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 3/9; PCHR 3/10)

Elsewhere in the oPt, Hamas announces that 1 of its fighters died earlier in the day during unspecified training exercises. IDF troops raid a village nr. Jenin, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They conduct further raids in and around Nablus, Qalqilya, Bethlehem, and Hebron, arresting 18 Palestinians. An Israeli settler stabs and injures a Palestinian nr. Nablus. Late at night, Israeli settlers spray price-tag graffiti on the walls of a Palestinian home in a village nr. Bethlehem. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/9; MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/10; PCHR 3/17)

In response to the string of attacks on 3/8 and after conferring with senior security officials, Israeli PM Netanyahu announces that Israel will complete the construction of the separation wall in the s. Hebron Hills. He also states that his govt. proposes new legislation to deter and punish Palestinians who enter Israel illegally, close Palestinian media outlets responsible for alleged incitement, and deny work permits to the families of Palestinians who commit serious crimes against Israelis. Israeli police immediately arrest 10s of Palestinians in raids across Israel, targeting those who entered the country without proper permits. (HA, JP, TOI 3/9)

The Israeli authorities inform 5 Palestinian food companies that their goods will no longer be permitted to pass through the Beitunia crossing for sale in Jerusalem. Israel last barred West Bank food products from entering East Jerusalem for a brief period in 2010. (TOI 3/13)

In Cairo, French FM Jean-Marc Ayrault says that France will not recognize the State of Palestine if the planned French peace initiative fails, effectively retracting his predecessor’s 1/29 pledge. “There is never anything automatic,” he says, adding that “France will present its initiative to its partners. It will be the first step, there is no prerequisite.” (TOI 3/9; JTA 3/10)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Ramallah after he allegedly attempts to stab them. The IDF later returns the body of the alleged Palestinian attacker to his family. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 5 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, al-Masara, Silwad, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Hebron, and along Gaza’s border nr. Khan Yunis and al-Bureij r.c.; 5 Palestinians are injured. They also conduct raids and house searches nr. Salfit, Hebron, and Bethlehem, arresting 1 Palestinian and issuing arrest summons to 6; patrol in Tulkarm, 1 village nr. Salfit, and nr. Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on 3 Palestinians walking nr. Khan Yunis, moderately injuring 1; arrest 3 Palestinians attempting to cross the border nr. Rafah to work in Israel. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 2/26; MNA 2/27; PCHR 3/3)

Following weeks of reports on back-channel economic talks, the Israeli press reports that Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon has decided to take steps to help improve the PA’s economic situation, including a transfer of NIS 500 m. (around $131 m.) in withheld tax revenues. PM Netanyahu reportedly approved Kahlon’s proposals after they met on 2/24. (YA 2/26; JP 2/29)

A Palestinian is found mortally wounded on the grounds of the Palestinian Embassy in Bulgaria and succumbs to his injuries in an ambulance on the way to hospital. He is later identified as Omar Nayef Zayed, who was wanted by Israel for his alleged killing of an Israeli in 1986. (EI, HA, MNA 2/26)

Across the oPt, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, outside Beit El settlement, and nr. Ofer Prison), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and 3 areas along Gaza’s border; 14 Palestinians and 1 Israeli activist are injured. Israeli forces confiscate construction equipment Palestinians were using to build a new road in the n. Jordan Valley. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct late-night raids in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, issuing arrest summons to 4 Palestinians; patrol during the day in 1 village nr. Salfit and 4 each nr. Hebron and Ramallah. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers nr. Gaza City, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, around 300 Israeli troops conduct an overnight raid on the Islamic studies dept. and student union at al-Quds University in Abu Dis, confiscating equipment and docs. (MNA, PNN 1/29; MNA, WAFA 1/30; PCHR 2/4)

French FM Laurent Fabius announces that France will begin preparing for an international peace conference in an effort to “preserve and achieve the 2-state solution.” He also says,“If this attempt to achieve a negotiated solution reaches a dead end, we will take responsibility and recognize the Palestinian state.” (HA, JP, NYT, YA 1/29; MNA 1/30)