The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian in Huwwara; he was treated at a hospital for his injuries. Israeli settlers with military escort also attacked Palestinian homes in Hebron; no injuries were reported. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds and farmers in the Masafer Yatta area, causing several injuries. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian using rubber-coated bullets near the separation barrier in the Jenin area. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Kafr Qaddum, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from farming their land in Jalud. 1 man alleged to be Palestinian threw a Molotov cocktail at an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint near Jit before driving away in his car; the soldier was unharmed. 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Kisan and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Tur. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian shepherds east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/19; TOI, WAFA 12/20; PCHR 12/24)

In Israel, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the 1st to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the COVID-19 virus. Israel does not plan to offer vaccinations to Palestinians in the West Bank. The PA says it has secured the Russian-made vaccine Sputnik V, which will arrive in 2021. 20 percent of the Palestinian vaccinations are expected to be delivered for free from the World Health Organization as part of a scheme to deliver vaccinations to poorer countries. (AJ, AP 12/17; REU 12/18; AJ, REU 12/19; HA 12/20)

Israeli protesters demonstrated against Prime Minister Netanyahu for the 26th Saturday in a row in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The protesters are demanding that Prime Minister Netanyahu resign due to his COVID-19 response, the Israeli economy, and the corruption cases against him. (HA 12/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settler set up a mobile home on Palestinian land east of Hebron. Israeli forces violently dispersed an anti-settlement protest in al-Mughayyir, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed anti-settlement protests in Kafr Qaddum, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians at an olive tree planting event in Bayt Dajan, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets while 15 others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also denied Palestinians access to their land near Salfit. Palestinians clashed with PA security forces during several demonstrations against COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in and around Hebron, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 6 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Nablus, al-Bireh, al-‘Izzariya, Luban al-Sharqiyya, and Huwwara. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in the Old City and Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Fukhari; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/11; HA 12/12; PCHR 12/17)

1 Palestinian man died of wounds sustained after being shot by Israeli forces at the Qalandia checkpoint on 8/16. The man, who had a hearing disability, was shot after he did not stop when told by Israeli forces. (WAFA 12/11; PCHR 12/17)

A member of Hezbollah was sentenced to 5 consecutive life sentences for killing former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others in 2005. The man, Salim Jamil Ayyash, was sentenced in absentia by the UN-backed Lebanon Tribunal. (AJ, HA, REU 12/11)

A group of 22 Republican members of the U.S. House sent a letter to U.S. president Donald Trump urging the president to declassify a State Department report mandated by Congress in 2012 that distinguishes between Palestinian refugees born in Palestine before 1948 and those born outside of Palestine. The 22 Republicans said in the letter that they do not believe that descendants of Palestinian refugees born in Palestine before 1948 can be considered refugees and called the Right of Return a “fiction” that should “end.” (Rep. Doug Lamborn 12/11, MDW 12/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli forces, raided al-Twana and injured 1 Palestinian. 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 6 during raids in and around Tulkarm, Yatta, Kafr Qaddum, Jenin, and Qalqilya; 2 were arrested at checkpoints near Nablus and Huwwara. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during raids in Issawiyya, and 1 at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, 1 rocket was launched at Israel, hitting 1 building; no injuries were reported. Israel subsequently shelled a number of buildings in Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Yunis, causing damage; no injuries were reported. (GDN, WAFA 11/21; AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 11/22; PCHR 11/26)

The mayor of Bethlehem Anton Salman said that the yearly Christmas celebration will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (WAFA 11/21)

In Israel, some 2,500 people protested outside of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official residence demanding his resignation over the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy, and his corruption cases. This was the 22d Saturday in a row that Israelis protested Prime Minister Netanyahu. (HA, WAFA 11/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in Huwwara, causing bruises. Israeli forces violently dispersed a protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with live ammunition; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces blocked a road between Qusra and Jalud. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Issawiyya; during a raid, clashes ensued, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on agricultural lands east of al-Fukhari; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, 10/3; PCHR 10/8)

Crossings from Gaza and the West Bank to Israel and East Jerusalem were closed due to the Israeli Sukkot holiday. (PCHR 10/8)

In Israel, Israeli protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clashed with police in several places throughout Israel. 38 people were arrested and hundreds were fined as the Israeli government had sought to ban the protests, citing COVID-19 transmission concerns. According to Haaretz, tens of thousands protested throughout Israel, including in front of Netanyahu’s official residence for the 15th Saturday in a row. (AJ, HA, WAFA 10/4)

King Abdullah II of Jordan accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz, but asked him to stay as a caretaker prime minister until King Abdullah appoints a new prime minister. (AJ 10/3)

In the West Bank, some 190 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces as they were protesting Israeli settler incursions in Beita, including at least 1 by live ammunition, 53 by rubber-coated bullets, and other by tear gas inhalation; 2 Israeli soldiers were lightly wounded by stone throwers. Israeli forces also injured 6 Palestinians using rubber-coated bullets and tear gas during the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum. Israeli settlers raided Huwwara, leading to confrontations with local Palestinians; some 20 vehicles were damaged and several stores had their windows broken. Israeli forces broke up the confrontation; however Israeli settlers returned to the village until the Israeli forces again removed them. 6 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Qalandia, and Hebron; and 2 during a raid near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family began demolishing their own home in Shu‘fat to avoid exorbitant Israeli demolition fees. Israeli forces and Palestinians also clashed in Shu‘fat refugee camp during a raid. 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 at a checkpoint and 1 during a house raid in Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting near Khuza‘a, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/28; WAFA 2/29; PCHR 3/5)