The Palestine Chronology

Along Gaza’s border, unidentified persons detonate 2 IEDs targeting an IDF patrol near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. Soon thereafter, the IAF bombs Hamas sites near Gaza City and Jabaliya refugee camp, injuring 1 Palestinian and causing moderate damage. An IDF spokesperson later alleges that the 2 devices were planted amid a recent border protest. (HA, JP, WAFA, YA 3/15; PCHR 3/22)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 4 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids near Ramallah, Hebron, and Jenin; and patrol near Tulkarm and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces clash with Palestinians in al-‘Izzariya; 9 Palestinians are injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (WAFA 3/15; PCHR 3/22)

At a fundraising conference in Rome, officials from 90 different countries collectively pledge $100 m. for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to address the budget shortfall caused by U.S. president Trump’s decision to cut U.S. aid to the agency in 1/2018 (see JPS 47 [3]). (JP, TOI, WAFA 3/15)

In 3 separate incidents off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, injuring and then arresting 2 fishermen. In the West Bank, IDF troops raid an air-conditioning factory in Tulkarm, damaging some materials and causing a work stoppage. They also arrest 14 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons during raids near Tulkarm, Hebron, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Salfit; and patrol near Hebron. A raid near Nablus sparks minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian minors; there are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, following several reports of Palestinians throwing stones at Israeli forces and settlers, the Israeli authorities close the roads between Hizma and Issawiyya. Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in Abu Dis. (WAFA 2/11; WAFA 2/12; PCHR 2/15)

In an interview with Israel Hayom, U.S. pres. Trump says that he is not sure Israel and the Palestinians are interested in reaching a peace agreement. Specifically, he responded to a question about the U.S. promise to release a peace plan: “We are going to see what goes on. Right now, I would say the Palestinians are not looking to make peace, they are not looking to make peace. And I am not necessarily sure that Israel is looking to make peace. So we are just going to have to see what happens.” (HA, IHY, TOI 2/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian residential buildings in Bayt Jala near Bethlehem. IDF troops arrest 21 Palestinians during raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, and Nablus; and patrol near Tulkarm and Salfit. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles near the site of the 1/9 killing of an Israeli settler, causing minor damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 33 Palestinians and confiscate 100 cooking gas containers during a 3d day of arrest raids in Issawiyya. (JP, WAFA 1/29; WAFA 1/30; PCHR 2/1)

Unidentified parties fire a rocket from Gaza into Israel late at night; it falls in an open area, causing no damage or injuries. (JP, TOI 1/29; YA 1/30)

PA FM al-Maliki says that the Palestinian leadership plans to ask the UNSC in 2/2018 to reconsider Palestine’s application for full UN membership. (JP, WAFA 1/29)

The Lebanese press reports that Lebanese intelligence services have identified 2 of the 4 people who attempted to assassinate a Hamas official on 1/14 in Sidon as Israeli agents. (HA 1/29)

Palestinian shops, schools, government offices, banks, and other businesses across the oPt observe a general strike in protest of U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on the occasion of U.S. VP Pence’s visit to Israel. IDF troops violently disperse protests in al-Bireh, Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem, central Hebron, and nearby Sa‘ir village; 2 Palestinians are arrested. Meanwhile, Israeli border police shoot and injure 2 Palestinians at the Za’atra checkpoint near Nablus, allegedly after they attempt to stab soldiers stationed in the area. The IDF closes the checkpoint after the incident. IDF troops arrest 9 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Salfit, Jenin, and Bethlehem; and patrol near Hebron. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 1/23; PCHR 1/25)

On his 2d and final day in Israel, U.S. VP Pence visits Yad Vashem, the Western Wall, and meets with Israeli pres. Reuven Rivlin. In an interview with Reuters, Pence discusses the U.S. peace initiative. “The White House has been working with our partners in the region to see if we can develop a framework for peace,” he says. “I think it all just depends now on when the Palestinians are going to come back to the table.” (HA, JP, REU, TOI, YA 1/23)

Israeli forces maintain the closure of Hizma for a 3d day, following clashes in the village on 1/18. Israeli soldiers conduct raids in the village in the evening, sparking clashes with stonethrowing residents; there are no serious injuries. Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian guard at the sanctuary and 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya and Silwan. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah, Tulkarm, Jenin, Bethlehem and in Salfit; and patrol near Hebron and Qalqilya. In 3 separate incidents off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (WAFA 1/21; MNA 1/22; PCHR 1/25)

In Amman, Jordan’s King Abdullah tells U.S. VP Pence that the only resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will come through a 2-state solution and insists that East Jerusalem must be the capital of a future Palestinian state. “We hope that the U.S. will reach out and find the right way to move forward in these challenging circumstances,” he adds. Pence then visits a U.S. military base near the JordanSyria border before flying to Israel in the evening. (HA, JP, NYT, REU, YA 1/21)

IDF troops block off the main road in Jayyus village near Qalqilya, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 1 Palestinian is killed. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Burqin village near Jenin, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents; 7 Palestinians are injured. They also patrol near Hebron and Nablus, and deliver stop-work orders to a mosque and a building under construction in Yatta village near Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 9 Palestinians during late-night raids in Biddu, al-Tur, and Silwan. (HA, JP, WAFA 1/15; MNA 1/16; PCHR 1/18)

For a 2d day in a row, the PLO Central Council convenes in Ramallah to coordinate a long-term strategy for responding to U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. In a concluding statement, the council calls for international support for Palestinian statehood, directs the PLO Executive Committee to revoke the PLO’s recognition of Israel until the Israeli government recognizes the State of Palestine, and declares that the transitional period laid out in the Oslo Accords is no longer applicable to the current situation. (JP, TOI, WAFA 1/15; AFP, HA 1/16)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid near Hebron, and patrol in and around Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians gathering near the Old City to protest U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital; 1 Palestinian is injured and another is arrested. (PCHR 1/11)

A group of Arab diplomats meets in Amman to coordinate their responses to U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Concluding the meeting, Jordan’s FM Ayman Safadi announces that they have agreed to push for the recognition of a State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital. They do not make any announcements concerning the implementation of the Amman Summit resolutions of 1980, which PA FM al-Maliki said the Palestinians would be pushing for at this meeting on 12/28. (TOI 1/6; HA 1/7; REU 1/8)

For the 5th consecutive Friday, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at protests against U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, Bil‘in near Ramallah, and along Gaza’s border near Jabaliya refugee camp; 1 Palestinian is injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 1 Palestinian and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids near Hebron, and patrol near Hebron and Qalqilya. (MNA, WAFA 1/5; PCHR 1/11)

Axios reports that the U.S. has frozen $125 million in aid to UNRWA, following U.S. pres. Trump’s threats to condition support for the agency on Palestinians’ participation in his peace initiative. The sum comprises one third of annual U.S. support for the agency, and it was set to be delivered on 1/1. A State Dept. official later denies the story. “Just because they were expecting the money on the 1st, and they did not get it at that time, does not mean it was suspended or canceled. Deliberations are ongoing, and we have until mid-January to make a final decision.” (AX, FP, TOI 1/5; JP, REU, TOI 1/6)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian amid clashes sparked by an IDF raid in Dayr Nizam village near Ramallah (3 other Palestinians are injured). Meanwhile, the IDF arrests 7 Palestinians and issues 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus; and patrols near Hebron and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers perform a marriage ceremony at Haram al-Sharif, violating long-standing agreements barring non-Muslim religious rites at the sanctuary. Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids in Jabal Mukabir. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 1/3; PCHR 1/4; PCHR 1/11)

Unidentified parties fire 2 rockets from Gaza into southern Israel. They land in open areas, causing no damage or injuries. Late at night, the Israeli Air Force launches air strikes and artillery shelling in Gaza. (HA, JP, TOI 1/3; HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 1/4; PCHR 1/11)

Responding to the U.S. threats to suspend economic aid on 1/2, a PA spokesperson says that the Palestinians will not back down from their decision to abandon the U.S. peace initiative. “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Palestine and it is not for sale for gold or billions,” he says. Fatah Central Committee member al-Ahmad says that the Palestinians will not accept the U.S. as a “partner in the peace process” unless it reverses Pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. (AFP, TOI, WAFA 1/3)

PA minister of civil affairs Hussein al-Sheikh announces that Pres. Abbas instructed him to ask Israel to resume supplying 120 megawatts of electricity to Gaza, which would bring Israeli-supplied power back to the same levels as before the PA partially suspended electricity payments in 4/2017. (JP, WAFA 1/3; HA 1/4)