The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 2d day in a row, allowing students and around 220 tons of medical supplies to cross into Gaza. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats overnight, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers, accompanied by IDF troops, attack around 30 Palestinian farmers nr. Bethlehem, causing no injuries. Meanwhile, the IDF improves conditions at the checkpoint nr. Tulkarm where thousands of Palestinians held an impromptu strike on 12/21. Separately, IDF troops detain Gideon Levy and Alex Levac, Israeli journalists with Haaretz, for entering Area A without a permit, as well as 2 Palestinians at a mobile checkpoint in al-Fawar r.c. The IDF also conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron; patrols nr. Qalqilya and Hebron; delivers 2 demolition notices to a village w. of Hebron. In East Jerusalem, around 68 right-wing Jewish activists enter Haram al-Sharif and tour the area. Meanwhile, Israeli forces detain 3 Palestinians in the Old City. Later, they raid a Palestinian shop in the area and assault its employees. In response to the recent crackdown on Palestinian businesses in the area, several Palestinian shop owners go on strike and protest nr. Jaffa Gate. Israeli security forces conduct overnight arrest raids in the Old City. Separately, Israeli forces issue 5 demolition orders to Palestinian homes in al-Tur; demolish 4 Palestinian homes and 2 barns in al-‘Izzariya. (+972, AP, IHY, JP, MNA, REU, TOI, WAFA 12/22; MNA 12/23; PCHR 12/25)

PA PM Rami Hamdallah forms a comm. to administer Gaza’s border crossings, implementing an agreement made by reps. of all the Palestinian political factions at their 12/18 meeting in Gaza. (MNA, TOI 12/22)

Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti calls on the PA to drastically reword the UNSC res. proposed on 12/17. He says that Palestinian prisoners should be a principal issue covered by the measure. (MNA, TOI 12/23)

Overnight, the Syrian army shoots down a Skylark-1 Israeli drone flying nr. the Israelioccupied Golan Heights. (IHY, JP, MNA, YA 12/22)

In the Gaza Strip, gas shipments are held as a result of a dispute between the Palestinian Ministry of Finance in Gaza and the Palestinian Gen. Directorate of Petroleum. In the West Bank, an Israeli settler stabs a Palestinian man e. of Hebron, causing moderate injuries. Hours later, Israeli settlers attack a 12-year-old Palestinian in the H2 area of Hebron, causing major bruising. In response, the IDF sets up several mobile checkpoints around Hebron, and later detain and beat 1 Palestinian. Following the 3 incidents, hundreds of Israeli soldiers and a group of private settler security officers conduct military drills n. of Hebron. They also conduct house searches nr. Hebron and Salfit. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers and soldiers continue leveling land around the Ahiya outpost nr. Nablus. Unknown assailants throw stones at a bus full of Israeli settlers in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc nr. Jerusalem. Right-wing Jewish activists enter Haram al-Sharif with an escort of Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers. Meanwhile, Israeli police detain 1 Palestinian woman at an entrance to the compound. Israeli forces conduct arrest raids and house searches nr. Hebron and Salfit; patrol in Anata r.c., sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents. Israeli security forces also arrest an 11-year-old Palestinian for throwing stones at an Egged bus nr. the Old City, and later take him to alMaskubiya prison. In the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli police arrest 9 Druze for raising Hizballah flags at public events in recent mos. In the Negev, Israeli forces demolish several homes in the unrecognized bedouin village al-‘Araqib. (JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 12/8; IMEMC, MEMO, MNA, WAFA 12/9; PCHR 12/10)

The Knesset approves a motion to dissolve itself, officially setting 3/17/2015 as the date for national elections. Israel’s major parties begin discussions about potential coalitions, blocs, and joint lists. Before the vote, PM Netanyahu, in his capacity as acting fin. min., asks the Knesset Finance Comm. to allocate $20 m. for settlements in the West Bank. (HA, JP, MEMO, NYT, TOI, YA 12/8; YA 12/9)

The 122 mbr. states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) grant Palestine observer status, which is seen as symbolically advancing the Palestinians toward signing the Rome Statute and attaining full membership at the ICC. (AP, NYT 12/9)

A delegation of Hamas officials arrives in Tehran for talks on repairing ties with the Iranian govt. The visit is reportedly a prelude to a future visit of Hamas leader Khalid Mishal. (MEMO, WAFA, YA 12/9; TOI, YA 2/17)

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. alSudaniyya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries or damage. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Ramallah. IDF troops violently disperse an anti-occupation demonstration in Silwad nr. Ramallah, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian with live ammunition. Also, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Nil‘in), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces around Haram al-Sharif after Friday prayers. There are also violent clashes in Silwan. (JP, MNA 9/12; PCHR 9/18)

The Guardian and Yedioth Ahronoth publish a letter from 43 active reservists and veterans of Israel’s Unit 8200, an elite intelligence gathering division. It announces their collective refusal of service in protest of Israel’s oppressive policies toward the Palestinians. (Guardian, YA 9/12) (See Docs. C1 and C2 in JPS 174 for more.)

A mortar shell fired from inside Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, likely a misfire during battles between Syrian govt. forces and rebels, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, YA 9/12)

In the West Bank, Israeli border police shoot and kill a 26-year-old Palestinian in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c. nr. Nablus, during an overnight raid. Meanwhile, a group of Palestinians in Ramallah gather to protest PA-Israel security collaboration, leading to clashes with PA security forces in which 1 bystander is killed and 2 protesters are wounded. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Nablus, Balata r.c., ‘Askar r.c. and 1 nearby village, 3 villages nr. Jenin, Hebron and al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 village nearby, and Tulkarm at night. Israeli settlers open fire on Palestinians nr. Ramallah, causing no injuries. Separately, settlers open fire on Palestinians gathered in al-Bireh for a funeral, injuring 1. (HA, MNA 6/22; HA 6/23; PCHR 6/26)

The PA issues a statement announcing it has begun official procedures to request an emergency session of the UNSC in response to the ongoing Israeli operation in the West Bank, citing “collective punishment,” 5 Palestinian deaths to date, and more than 400 arrests. Meanwhile, Russia’s UN Amb. Vitaly Churkin proposes a statement to the UNSC that would condemn the Israeli operation, but it is not agreed on. Jordan’s UN reps. insist on stronger language, and U.S. Amb. to the UN Samantha Power says that agreeing to any statement criticizing Israel would be a “red line” for the U.S. (JP, MNA 6/22; AP 6/23; PCHR 6/26)

In the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, an antitank projectile fired from inside Syrian territory kills 1 Israeli civilian, a 13-year-old child, and wounds 2 others. The targeted vehicle was delivering water for the Israeli Ministry of Defense. In response, Israeli tanks fire at Syrian army positions. Later, Israeli forces launch land and air strikes at 9 Syrian army positions, killing 4 and injuring 9, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry. Israeli DM Moshe Ya’alon says that the Syrian govt. is responsible for the attack, adding that Israel will “respond aggressively and harshly against any provocation and violation of our sovereignty.” (AP, HA, JP, REU 6/22; AP, HA, REU, YA 6/23)

In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse protesters at numerous demonstrations marking the 1967 war and the beginning of military occupation. Hundreds of Palestinians attend protests at Hebron, Qalandia checkpoint nr. Ramallah, where 4 are injured by rubbercoated metal bullets, and other locations around the West Bank. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village each nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Salfit. (MNA 6/5; PCHR 6/12)

Israeli PM Netanyahu unfreezes plans for 1,800 settlement housing units and Housing Minister Uri Ariel publishes tenders for a separate 1,500 housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Ariel describes the move as an “appropriate Zionist response to the Palestinian terror govt.” Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat warns of Israeli efforts to annex areas of the West Bank and calls on the international community to boycott settlement products and hold Israel accountable. PLO official Ashrawi says the Palestinians will address the latest settlement expansion at the UNSC. State Dept. dep. spokesperson Harf says that the U.S. is “deeply disappointed” by Israel’s announcement and says “it is hard to see how these settlements contribute to peace.” The EU expresses “deep disappointment” about the moves, and calls on the Israeli authorities “to reverse this decision.” (AFP, AP, HA, MNA, REU, ToI 6/5)

Two mortar shells fired from within Syria land in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF says the fire is likely inadvertent. (ToI 6/5)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians collecting scrap metal close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun, wounding 1. Separately, IDF troops open fire on agricultural areas nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Dahaysha r.c. and 1 village nr. Bethlehem, and in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Qalqilya at night; patrols in 1 village each nr. Bethlehem and Salfit in the morning, in 1 village each nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in al-Fawar r.c. and 4 villages nr. Hebron, in 2 villages nr. Jenin, 1 village each nr. Bethlehem and Ramallah, and in Qalqilya at night. Jewish settlers chop down around 70 almond and olive trees and grape vines nr. Hebron. (MNA, WAFA 5/11; PCHR 5/15)

The IDF declares the area around the Qunaytra crossing in the occupied Golan Heights a closed military zone, after intense fighting in the area between Syrian govt. and opposition forces. (HA, REU 5/11)

Gunmen shoot and kill 1 Egyptian soldier and injure another in al-Jura village nr. Shaykh Zuwayd in n. Sinai. (MNA 5/11)