The Palestine Chronology

The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian biking too closed to Gush Katif settlement. Nr. Shaykh Ajlin in Gaza, the IDF conducts an "intensive operation" to halt arms smuggling after seeing suspicious barrels in the sea; the DMin. later says the barrels contained refrigerators. Late in the evening, the IDF fires 2 shells at bedouin encampment in Shaykh Ajlin, killing 4 Palestinians, injuring 8, prevents ambulances fr. reaching the wounded for 40 mins. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Jenin r.c., killing 1 Palestinian inside his home. In the compound of the Beit El municipal court, 5 Israeli border policemen seriously beat 2 Palestinians, stopping only when they realize the prisoners families, lawyers, IDF soldiers have arrived; 1 Palestinian requires hospitalization. Jewish settlers establish 4 new settlement outposts (1 nr. Elon Moreh, 2 nr. Har Bracha, 1 nr. Itamar). Late in the evening, Palestinians fire 5 mortars at an IDF post, a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage. (AP, MM, PCHR 8/28; HA, NYT, PM, WP, WT 8/29; BBC, MM 8/30; Peace Now press release 9/2; MEI 9/13)

Citing the alleged arms smuggling operation today and the mortar fire on 8/27, Ben-Eliezer indefinitely postpones a mtg. with Yahya set for today to discuss the stalled Gaza First proposal; says the PA must first assert security control in the Strip before the IDF would redeploy. (AP, MM 8/28; MM, NYT, WP 8/29)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Ramallah, detaining PFLP politburo mbrs. Bashir Khayri and Ali Jaradat, PFLP activist Sakir Hanacha (see 8/25); temporarily lifts the curfew on Hebron. Late in the evening, Palestinians fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing light damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers establish a new settlement enclave nr. Eli settlement. (PCHR, WT 8/28; JP 8/29; AFP, Peace Now press release 9/2)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbrs. attempting to infiltrate Gaza's Kefar Darom settlement; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, 1 brick factory in Dayr al-Balah; razes 25 dunams of olive groves in Abasan nr. Khan Yunis; firse on residential areas nr. Rafah; arrests 4 humanitarian workers (2 Palestinians, 2 foreign nationals) in Nablus for no apparent reason, threatens to deport 2 foreigners. Jewish settlers establish a new settlement enclave nr. Shvut Rachel settlement. (WP, WT 8/24; PCHR 8/28; Peace Now press release 9/2)

Israeli, Palestinian security cmdrs. hold talks in Jerusalem on the Gaza First implementation, but Israel puts off discussion of expanding the arrangement to Hebron for at least a wk. (AYM 8/24 in WNC 8/26)

The IDF reoccupies Beitunia, Bethlehem, Dahaysha r.c.; expands bases there and in Jenin, Qalqilya; conducts raids into Halhul, Tulkarm town and r.c.; raids Shaykh Ajlin, bulldozing Palestinian land, firing on Palestinians working the fields, killing a Palestinian boy; fires on residential areas of Birzeit. The IDF issues a limited call-up of reservists, bars Palestinian workers fr. entering Jewish settlements. In Jenin town, IDF troops evacuate and vandalize a hospital admin. building, throwing a grenade in the foyer, blowing up a safe, spraying the building with heavy machine gun fire, breaking doors, destroying $13,600 of equipment; fire on, seriously damage 2 fire trucks. The IDF reportedly has transferred more than 600 Jenin r.c. residents to Salim detention center for questioning; some 150 are released today, sent to Romani village, are told to stay there for 2-4 wks. Late this evening, a PFLP gunman, retaliating for the arrest of PFLP 2d-in-command Malluh on 6/11, attacks a home in Itamar settlement, killing 4 Jewish settlers and 1 settlement guard, wounding 2 settlers and 2 border policemen before being shot dead. A pregnant Palestinian woman is fatally hit by stray IDF gunfire in her home in Qalqilya. In Gaza, 1,500 unemployed Palestinians who have been cut off fr. their jobs in Israel since 9/00 hold a "March of Hunger," protesting Israeli closures, lack of support fr. the PA. (AFP, AP, HA, LAW, WP, WT 6/20; MA 6/20 in WNC 6/21; XIN 6/20 in WNC 6/24; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/21; PRCS press release 6/24; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

In Jerusalem, Sharon, Israeli pres. Moshe Katsav address a "Transfer Now" conference hosted by the right-wing Moledet party. (Peace Now press release 6/20; MA 6/21 in WNC 6/24)