The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning; conducts house searches and arrest raids in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, the Old City of Hebron, and 1 village each nr. Nablus and Tubas at night. (PCHR 12/27)

Israel’s min. of strategic affairs Moshe Ya’alon claims that Egypt has cracked down on arms smuggling to the Gaza Strip since the end of Operation Pillar of Defense. (ToI 12/25)

Israeli PM Netanyahu promises to do even more to strengthen Israel’s West Bank settlements should he win reelection. He also says that Likud will defend the country’s security interests in the face of international pressure. (JP 12/25)

Senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath says that Hamas, despite its statements on 12/17, is refusing to allow Fatah to celebrate its anniversary in both the al-Katiba and al-Saraya Squares in Gaza, citing security pretexts. Meanwhile, the Gaza government announces it will release Fatah detainees convicted of security and criminal offenses. (MNA 12/25)

A spokesperson for PA pres. Abbas says that the UN bid will go ahead and that direct talks with the Israelis must wait until after the UNGA vote. The head of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby, expresses his support for the initiative. Meanwhile, Israeli FM Lieberman is reported by Israeli media to be telling international diplomats of his intention to severely punish the PA if Abbas goes ahead with the UN bid. (REU, AFP 11/5; INN 11/6)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, and in 1 village nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Qalqilya, 1 village nr. Bethlehem, 1 village nr. Nablus, and 1 village nr. Tubas. Jewish settlers from Kiryat Arba uproot around 70 Palestinian-owned olive and fruit trees nr. Hebron. In the al-Tur neighborhood of East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers attack a Palestinian family, residents of a home that an Israeli court has ruled was sold by a relative to the Elad settler organization. (MNA 11/5; PCHR 11/8)

The IDF says that a bullet fired from inside Syria hit 1 of its vehicles in the occupied Golan Heights, causing no injuries. As fighting between government and opposition forces in Syria continues, 7 Palestinians are killed in government shelling of Yarmuk r.c. (AP 11/5; NYT, MNA 11/5)

IDF soldiers on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya open fire on 2 Palestinians attempting to sneak into Israel to find work, killing 1 Palestinian and wounding and detaining the other. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 nr. Ramallah in the morning; in Jericho and Tubas in the afternoon; and in 2 villages nr. Salfit (synchronized) late at night. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters. In total, 1 Palestinian photographer (Bil‘in) and 1 Palestinian demonstrator are hit by tear gas canisters; 1 Palestinian demonstrator (Kafr Qaddum) was moderately wounded by rubber-coated steel bullets; and 7 Israeli and international protesters were arrested (including a reporter for the New York Times). (PCHR 7/19; OCHA 7/20; PCHR 7/26)

Palestinians in Syria’s Yarmuk r.c. hold a 2d major demonstration to protest the killing of 13 PLA mbrs. from Nayrab r.c. on 7/12. This time, Syrian forces fire on the protesters, sparking clashes between the army and FSA elements inside the camp, marking the 1st time that Syrian forces have fired on an antigovernment rally by Palestinians since the civil unrest began in 2011. Details of casualties were not reported, but the incident is seen as ‘‘a significant tipping point’’ in Palestinian involvement in the Syrian civil war. The Local Coordination Comm. in Yarmuk calls for mass protests and a general strike to protest the killings. (NYT 7/14; MNA 7/22; NYT 8/4)

Russian pres. Putin meets with PA pres. Abbas in Ramallah and tours holy sites in Bethlehem. Putin calls the Palestinian conditions on resuming negotiations with Israel ‘‘responsible’’ and reiterates that Russia would recognize a Palestinian state. (WT 6/27) 

Jewish settlers begin evacuating Ulpana outpost, moving into new mobile homes placed on an Israeli border police base next to neighboring Beit El settlement. Meanwhile, Israel’s Jerusalem planning comm. approves construction of 180 new housing units for Armona Hanatsiv settlement on 67 d. of confiscated Palestinian land in Sur Bahir. (NYT, WP 6/27)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 4 Grad rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing light damage in 1 instance but no injuries; 2 of the rockets are intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome antimissile system. Israeli naval vessels fire warning shots at Palestinian fishing boats off the c. Gaza coast forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, and nr. Bethlehem and Jenin. The IDF also makes a late-night raid into Salfit, searching the offices of Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Council (PC) mbrs. Omar ‘Abd al-Raziq and Nasser ‘Abd al-Jawwad as well as a nearby house. OCHA reports that in the previous week, the IDF demolished another 3 residential structures, 9 animal pens, and 1 portable kitchen in Wadi al-Malih village in the Jordan Valley nr. Tubas (an area designated as an IDF firing zone), where several structures were demolished on 6/5/12. (JP 6/26; PCHR 6/28; OCHA 6/29)

As civil war escalates in Syria, Palestine Liberation Army (PLA) col. Ahmad Salih Hassan is shot dead near Damascus. The PLA is technically a wing of the PLO but is incorporated into the Syrian army. Government sources blame the Free Syrian Army (FSA) for Hassan’s killing, whereas opposition groups claim he was killed by government forces for refusing orders to target the FSA. Hassan is the 6th PLA officer to be killed since 1/2012. A new charity funded by 3 Russian Jewish billionaires and comanaged with the Israeli government plans to offer a $1-m. ‘‘Genesis Prize’’ for excellence in any field. The prize is intended to ‘‘honor those who attribute their success to Jewish values’’ and to ‘‘recognize the role of Jewish identity in encouraging universal achievements.’’ (NYT 6/27)

An Iranian detained in Kenya ca. 6/20 on charges of plotting an attack on Israelis there says that he was interrogated by Israeli agents. Israel’s amb. to Kenya refuses to comment other than to say the matter is an internal Kenyan issue. (WT 6/28)

IDF troops under helicopter escort make a predawn incursion into Wadi alSilqa in c. Gaza to level Palestinian land to clear lines of sight. During the 12-hr. operation, Israeli helicopters repeatedly fire on surrounding areas to keep Palestinians away, wounding 1 Palestinian and starting a brush fire that destroys 15 d. of wheat. Late at night, unidentified Palestinians fire at least 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel. Israeli helicopters respond by firing 2 missiles at a Palestinian workshop in Rafah, injuring 5 Palestinian civilians (1 seriously) and damaging 7 nearby houses. IDF troops stationed on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire on open areas along the border inside Gaza, causing no reported injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli naval vessels fire warning shots at Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast 3 separate times and off the s. Gaza coast once, forcing the boats to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts 2 sets of synchronized morning patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin and 3 nr. Ramallah. Other IDF patrols are conducted in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; in Tulkarm and 2 villages nr. Qalqilya in the evening; and in Jenin and 1 village each nr. Jericho and Tulkarm late at night. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm and nr. Tubas. A Jewish settler driving nr. Hebron fatally shoots 2 Palestinians standing at an intersection, saying he felt threatened. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim settlement nr. Qalqilya set fire to Palestinian olive and almond trees on a nearby plot of Palestinian land. A Palestinian demolishes his own home and farm in Bayt Iksa village just n. of Jerusalem after being given orders to tear down the structures or face a fine and fee for having the IDF do the job. (IDFS 6/18; PCHR 6/21; OCHA 6/22)

In Hebron, a knife-wielding Palestinian attempts to attack IDF soldiers posted outside the al-Ibrahimi Mosque/ Cave of the Patriarchs but is shot and seriously wounded. The IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 each nr. Jenin, Jericho, and Tulkarm in the morning; in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon; and in Jericho, al-Nabi Salih, Tubas, and another 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 each nr. Jenin, Jericho, and Tulkarm late at night. (PCHR 6/7; OCHA 6/8)

Reuters reports that the PA security forces (PASF) have launched a campaign to crack down on ‘‘lawlessness and the proliferation of weapons’’ in Jenin that continues into mid-7/2012 at least. Responding to a wave of drive-by shootings and increased drug trafficking, the PASF makes nightly arrest raids. Among those reportedly arrested are ‘‘rogue’’ members of the security forces who have been exploiting their positions to organize and direct illegal activity. (REU 6/4; PCHR 7/19)

U.S. Treasury undersecy. for terrorism and financial intelligence David Cohen briefs Israeli officials in Israel on U.S. plans to impose additional bilateral sanctions on Iran if the current restrictions do not convince Iran to take positive steps on the nuclear front. (WJW 6/7)

Palestinian Authority (PA) pres. Mahmud Abbas implements a longawaited cabinet reshuffle that retains Salam Fayyad as PM. The new 24-member cabinet has 11 new members, including replacements for 2 ministers in the outgoing government who were charged with corruption. The notable addition to the cabinet is former university president and political independent Nabil Kassis as finance minister. (AFP 5/16; NYT 5/21)

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and nr. Tubas; conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah. (PCHR 5/23; OCHA 5/25)

At the annual Likud party convention in Tel Aviv, Israeli PM Netanyahu expresses support for holding early elections in 9/2012, stating that waiting until scheduled elections in 10/2013 could “damage the state,” but he does not official call for early elections, as many had expected. Polls show that Netanyahu would likely win by a large margin and gain the leeway to form a more supportive and stable ruling coalition, leading some analysts to speculate (see NYT, WP 5/7) that a strong 9/2012 victory might embolden Netanyahu to stage an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran before U.S. presidential elections in 11/2012. The polls also indicate that the big losers in an early election would be DM Ehud Barak’s Independence party (likely to lose its 1 Knesset seat and control of the Defense Min. portfolio) and the opposition party Kadima (likely to lose half of its 28 seats).NYT, WP 5/7; NYT 5/9)

The IDF makes a brief incursion into the border area e. of al-Maghazi r.c. in c. Gaza, arresting 2 Palestinians who were attempting to cross into Israel to search for jobs. Israeli naval vessels twice fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the s. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts daytime patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 each nr. Jenin and Qalqilya; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Tubas; and conducts late-night patrols in Bayt Umar, Qalqilya, Tulkarm and 1 nearby village. (PCHR 5/10; OCHA 5/11)

Israeli naval vessels halt a Palestinian fishing boat 2 naut. mi. off the Gaza coast, detaining 6 fishermen and confiscating the boat; 5 of the fishermen (all Palestinians) are questioned and released by nightfall; the 6th fisherman (an Egyptian) is arrested. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in Qalqilya, 3 villages nr. Ramallah, 2 each nr. Jericho and Tulkarm, and 1 nr. Jenin; patrols in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm (2 synchronized) and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts latenight arrest raids and house searches in and around Hebron, in Jenin, and nr. Tubas; and conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jenin. (PCHR 5/3; OCHA 5/4)

Netanyahu says he plans to meet with his coalition partners soon to debate calling early elections for fall 2012, a year ahead of schedule. (WP 4/30)

Addressing a hostile American audience at a conference in New York organized by the Jerusalem Post, fmr. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert strongly criticizes PM Netanyahu for his policies towards the Palestinians, the peace process, and Iran and his dismissive stands towards the U.S. and the international community, characterizing them dangerous and counterproductive. The crowd boos him, shouting “naïve!” and “Neville Chamberlain!” to which he responds: “I love very much the courage of those who live 10,000 miles away from the State of Israel and . . . [encourage] every possible mistake that will cost lives of Israelis.” (NYT 4/30; JPI 5/11

Israel releases administrative detainee Hana Shalabi, who spent more than 40 days on hunger strike to protest her detention without trial, and deports her to Gaza (she is from the West Bank). The Palestinian Prisoners Society in Ramallah says that several other Palestinians being held in administrative detention in Israel are now on hunger strike, 2 of them fasting for over a month. (NYT, WP 4/2; OCHA, PCHR 4/5)

In Gaza, Palestinians stage a nonviolent protest march to the border fence e. of Abassan to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone; the IDF fires warning shots forcing them to flee, causing no injuries. The IDF also makes a brief incursion into c. Gaza, searching border areas e. of al-Bureij r.c. for several hours. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols 2 villages nr Ramallah (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stonethrowing youths who confront them in 1 instance, causing no injuries) and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; and conducting synchronized late-night patrols in Qalqilya and 4 nearby villages; conducting additional late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah; and conducting late-night arrest raids and house searches in Nablus and Tubas, and nr. Jenin and Ramallah. (OCHA, PCHR 4/5)

Tunisia’s new government, elected in 10/2011 and led by a coalition headed by the Islamist Ennahda party, says that it cannot normalize relations with Israel, stating that “Tunisians’ problem is with Zionism, not with Judaism.” (WT 4/2)

The IDF makes a brief early morning incursion into c. Gaza, searching and firing on residential areas in Bureij r.c., but entering no buildings and making no arrests. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 4 tents, 3 barnyards, and 3 residential barracks in a bedouin encampment in al-Maleh in the Jordan Valley; demolishes 2 barnyards nr. Tubas. The IDF also patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the evening; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Bethlehem, and nr. Ramallah (firing on the occupants of 1 raided home, wounding 3 Palestinians); conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus attack Palestinian farmers working their land nearby; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops begin leveling a large area of Palestinian agricultural land in Kafr Lakif village nr. Qalqilya; local Palestinian gather to protest and are informed by the IDF that the area has been approved for construction of an industrial zone; the soldiers agree to suspend the digging until the matter is clarified but bar Palestinians from the site. (PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30)

Jailed Fatah tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti issues a statement on the 10th anniversary of his arrest by Israel that is read to a crowd of supporters in Ramallah, stating that “the launch of large-scale popular resistance at this stage serves the cause of our people.” He also calls for “stopping all forms of security and economic coordination [with Israel] in all areas immediately.” (JPI 4/6)

Israel severs working relations with the UNHRC over the 3/22/12 res. calling for an investigation into settlements, calling the council biased against Israel. (NYT, WP, WT 3/27; JPI 4/6)

The U.S. Supreme Court orders a lower court to decide whether Americans born in Jerusalem can claim Israel as their birthplace on their passports. Congress approved legislation in 2002 allowing this, but the executive branch has claimed Congress overstepped its authority by attempting to override the president’s right to set foreign policy. The U.S. officially recognizes Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory and does not recognize Israel’s claim to united Jerusalem as its capital. (NYT 3/27; WJW 3/29)

J Street holds its annual conference. Fmr. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert gives the keynote speech at the gala dinner, emphasizing that PA pres. Abbas “wants peace with Israel and he accepts the existence of Israel as Israel declares itself to be.” (JPI 4/6)

IDF troops make a late-night incursion into s. Gaza, arresting 3 Palestinians trapping birds nr. the border. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into al-Am’ari r.c. nr. Ramallah in the morning and detain a Palestinian guard posted outside the Palestinian Red Crescent Society offices; patrols in Qalqilya in the morning; patrols in 2 villages r. Qalqilya and Salfit late at night; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Qalqilya and nr. Tubas, detaining (among others) 2 Palestinians released in the recent prisoner swap that freed IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit (see QU in JPS 163). (PCHR 2/23; OCHA 2/24)