The Palestine Chronology

The IDF deploys troops on roads btwn. Nur al-Shams r.c. and Tulkarm, fires on residential areas; during the operation, an IDF jeep hits a Palestinian car, killing 1 Palestinian, injuring 1. The IDF also conducts house searches, patrols streets in Kafr Qaddum; sets up numerous checkpoints, conducts arrest raids in and around Hebron. Hamas mbrs. blast more openings in the Gaza border wall to facilitate crossing into Egypt, overwhelming the 750 Egyptian border guards. Palestinians across the West Bank demonstrate in front of UN offices, calling on the UN to intervene to halt Israel’s construction of the separation wall. (IMEMC, WP 9/16; PCHR 9/22)

A day after completing disengagement fr. 25 Jewish settlements, Israel confirms plans to seize some 1,588 d. of West Bank Palestinian land to complete 10 mi. of separation wall around the southern part of Ma’ale Adumim settlement, to add 3,500 housing units there (more than twice the number of units removed under disengagement), to build a police headquarters in the E-1 area btwn. Ma’ale Adumim and Jerusalem. In Gaza, the IDF raids, searches, occupies 2 Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis as observation posts; raids, occupies a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah. In the West Bank, IDF undercover units raid Tulkarm r.c, fatally shooting ‘Adil Abu Khalil al-Ghawi (Islamic Jihad),Mahmud Ahadib (AMB), and Majdi Attiya (AMB), also killing 2 bystanders and wounding 3; local Hamas military cmdr. Ribhi Amara, also possibly a target, escapes unharmed. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Jenin, and in Nablus, Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian stabs 2 ultraOrthodox British Jews, killing 1 before escaping. (HA, JP, REU 8/24; VOP 8/24 in WNC 8/25; BBC, HA, JAZ, PCHR, WP, WT 8/25; MENA 8/25 in WNC 8/26; HA, NYT 8/26; al-Quds 8/26 in WNC 8/27; HA 8/30; PR 8/31; PCHR 9/1; MEI 9/2; HA 9/7; DS 10/10)

The IDF occupies a Palestinian home in Badala nr. Tulkarm as an observation post, demolishes a store next door; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Til nr. Tulkarm; completes a segment of the separation wall nr. Qalandia crossing s. of Ramallah. Some 50 armed Jewish settlers fr. Homesh raid Burqa village, stone Palestinian homes. Jewish settlers fr. Beit Hadasah in Hebron attack international peace activists on a solidarity visit to Palestinians, lightly injuring 4. (PCHR, PR 8/25)

At midnight local time, the grace period runs out for Jewish settlers in Gaza to withdraw voluntarily in compliance with Israeli PM Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan; at least 50% of the estimated 8,500 settlers have already left, including all settlers fr. Dugit (est. 1990, pop. 70, size 245 dunams [d.; 4 d. = 1 acre].), Nisanit (est. 1980, pop. 1,100, size 1,610 d.), Pe’at Sadeh (est. 1989, pop. 110, size 935 d.), Rafiah Yam (est. 1984, pop. 130, size 574 d.), Shalev (est. 2001, pop. 50). Gaza and the n. West Bank remain closed military zones to Israelis for the duration of disengagement (see 6/30, 8/15). Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers prepare to forcibly remove the settlers who remain and the estimated 5,000 disengagement protesters (mostly West Bank settler youth) who snuck into the Strip. Meanwhile in Gaza, the IDF searches Palestinian homes nr. Bayt Lahiya, in Wadi al-Silqa; occupies a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah as an observation post. Jewish settlers fr. Gaza’s Gush Katif bloc, burn animal food storage bins in al-Mawasi. In Khan Yunis, 1,000s of Hamas supporters rally to celebrate the pending disengagement. In the West Bank, the IDF detains, beats a 16-yr.-old Palestinian who throws stones at troops outside Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids, house searches in villages around Hebron and in Qabatya nr. Jenin; demolishes an animal farm outside Hebron for construction of the separation wall; occupies 1 Palestinian home nr. Hebron, 1 nr. Tulkarm as observation posts. Jewish settlers fr. the West Bank settlement of Homesh (to be evacuated under disengagement) occupy, vandalize 2 Palestinian homes nearby; the IDF removes them. (BBC, IMEMC, XIN 8/16; PR 8/17; PCHR 8/18)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron (occupying 2 houses as observation posts); occupies a house in Nablus as an observation post. Jewish settlers beat 2 Palestinians nr. Tulkarm. In Qalqilya, 10s of armed AMB mbrs. storm, seal a government building, demanding jobs; PA security forces do not intervene. (HA, IMEMC 8/13; OCHA 8/17; PCHR 8/18)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) passes a resolution (668– 269) that condemns Israeli operations in the occupied territories, calls for dismantling of the separation wall, urges members to use financial means to “advocate for peace with justice,” but denies it is calling for divestment and rejects the idea of a boycott. An ELCA spokesman says the intention is to encourage “positive investment” to encourage the peace process, not to pull out funds. Jewish organizations say the move is “a camouflaged call to divest.” (REU 8/13; JAZ, YA 8/14; HA 8/15)

The IDF fires live ammunition at Palestinian protesters marching to their lands outside Qalqilya that have been cut off by the separation wall, seriously wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and in al-Mawasi, Nablus, Tamun. In separate incidents in Karmil and Yatta, 5 Palestinians are injured when they accidentally trigger unexploded IDF ordnance. Jewish settlers protesting Israel’s planned evacuation of Homesh settlement in the West Bank march fr. nr. Tulkarm toward Nablus, throwing stones, bottles at Palestinian homes along the way; when Palestinian youths respond by throwing stones at the settlers, the IDF intervenes, fires percussion grenades and rubber bullets, injuring 2 Palestinian teenagers, 1 journalist covering the incident. (IMEMC 8/12; PCHR 8/18; PR 8/25)

The IDF delays passage of an ambulance through the separation wall gate at Kafr Qadim to a hospital in Qalqilya, allowing a Palestinian heart attack victim to die; imposes curfews on ‘Ayn al-Bayda, Bardala, Kardala in the n. Jordan Valley; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Bethlehem, and in ‘Azun, Khan Yunis, Nur al-Shams r.c.; searches a home in Azariyya; patrols in villages around Jenin, in Nablus. During Abbas’s speech to the PC in Gaza City, several armed AMB mbrs. break into the courtyard of the PC building, stage a brief sit-in demanding jobs and government support, leave without incident when PA officials promise to look into their demands. (IMEMC, XIN 8/9; IMEMC, JAZ 8/10)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Rafah, killing 1 Palestinian; opens fire in Nur al-Shams r.c., killing 1 Palestinian teenager, wounding 5 after a Molotov cocktail is thrown at a passing IDF jeep fr. the area; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Jenin and in ‘Azun, Hebron, Khan Yunis, Tulkarm; occupies 3 houses in Jenin, Hebron, Tulkarm as observation posts; bulldozes a grove of Palestinian olive trees in Bayt Surik nr. Jerusalem; arrests 5 Palestinian farmers working their fields nr. the separation wall around Qalqilya nr. ‘Azun, releasing 3 after questioning, holding 2. In response to the 8/4 Shafa ‘Amr killings, AMB gunmen fire on a Jewish settler vehicle in the West Bank, wounding 2 settlers. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on attack, beat 4 Palestinian farmers working their nearby fields. Palestinian gunmen fire on the International Comm. of the Red Cross (ICRC) headquarters in Khan Yunis, causing damage but no injuries. The PA security forces arrest Khan Yunis Fatah official and Qaddumi spokesman Sulayman al-Farah on suspicion of building a local militia; Farah earlier announced that Qaddumi ordered his office to set up a 1,500-man force to help the PA maintain law and order in Gaza during disengagement (see 7/16). (IMEMC, UPI 8/7; NYT 8/8; HA, NYT, WT 8/9; OCHA, PR 8/10; PCHR 8/11)

Israel lifts the seal on Gaza imposed after the 7/12 bombing (the seal on the West Bank remains in place), but cancels 7,000 work permits for Gazans, renewing permits of only 2,000 workers and 200 merchants. The IDF reinforces troops in Gaza, sending tanks and armored vehicles, expanding construction of roads in central Gaza in preparation for disengagement; announces that it will replace its rubber-coated steel bullets that have killed scores of Palestinians with compressed sand bullets originally developed for close-quarter hostage rescues; says sand bullets have already been used against Palestinians protesting the separation wall. Gaza settler leaders begin collecting settlers’ weapons ahead of disengagement; some settlers say they will not give up their arms. The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids in al-Bireh (targeting Islamic Jihad), Halhul nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on attack, beat 3 Palestinian farmers working their land nearby; the IDF intervenes, declares the area a closed military zone, orders farmers to leave, arresting 1 farmer and 1 international peace activist. Late in the evening, AMB n. Gaza cmdr. Ahmad Abu Zayid is fatally shot by an unidentified gunman; initial reports indicate his death is a result of intra-Palestinian fighting, but the AMB later accuses Israel of assassinating him, saying that earlier in the evening, Israeli security personnel (suspected Shin Bet) questioned his family regarding the car he drives, whether he has a bodyguard, whether he travels armed. A grenade explodes outside the Gaza City home of PA Atty. Gen. Hussein Abu Assi causing serious damage but no injuries; no group takes responsibility (see 6/28). In Gaza City, unidentified gunmen driving in a car open fire on 2 PA military intelligence officers, injuring them. Nr. Khan Yunis, 2 Palestinians are killed when explosives they are handling detonate. (IMEMC, WAFA, YA 8/1; AP, Deutsche Presse Agentur, PCHR, YA 8/2; JP, PR, WT 8/3; PCHR 8/4; FT 8/8)

Israel says it has begun construction of 2 additional fences around the Gaza Strip—1 of razor wire, 1 with electronic sensors and surveillance cameras—to ensure Israeli security after disengagement; both fences will be inside Israel. IDF undercover units make a major incursion into Tulkarm, raid the home of wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. Mu’ayyad Musa, fatally shoot him in an apparent assassination. The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in Husan w. of Bethlehem for construction of the separation wall; fires on residential areas of Budrus nr. Ramallah, Rafah; raids the Abu Huli neighborhood of Dayr al-Balah, searches homes, rounds up residents for interrogation, arrests 2; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bayt Khalil nr. Hebron, Burqin, Nablus, Qabatya, Yatta. Palestinians fire 3 rockets at Sederot and the Negev, a mortar at the Gaza security fence, causing no damage or injuries.Armed mbrs. of the Jenin Martyrs Brigades (a Bureij cell of the PRCs affiliated with Fatah) kidnap PA military intelligence officer Jihad ‘Abid (fmr. aide to fmr. military intelligence head Musa Arafat) as he returns to Gaza through the Rafah crossing. (AFP, HA, XIN, 7/28; NYT 7/29; PR 8/3; PCHR 8/4; HA 8/8)

An Israeli civilian security guard responsible for separation wall construction area outside Bayt Laqia fires on stonethrowing youths, fatally shoots a 15-yr.-old Palestinian working in his family’s vineyard nearby; the IDF bars an ambulance fr. reaching the area for 2 hrs. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Hebron and Jenin, targeting Islamic Jihad; fires on Palestinians holding a daily nonviolent protest against the separation wall nr. Bil‘in, critically wounding 1 Palestinian with a bullet to the head; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; arrests 2 Palestinian farmers working their land nr. Hebron for being too close to the separation wall; raids, occupies 2 Palestinian homes nr. Tulkarm as observation posts. The AMB detonates a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol in Rafah, injuring 4 IDF soldiers. Palestinians fire an antitank rocket at an IDF patrol nr. Neve Dekalim, causing no damage or injuries. (AFP, IMEMC 7/8; VOI, YA 7/8 in WNC 7/9; AFP, HA, NYT, WP, WT, XIN 7/9; HA 7/10; AYM 7/10 in WNC 7/11; OCHA 7/13; PCHR 7/14)

The IDF bulldozes 8 Palestinian homes, a gas station constructed without permits in areas of East Jerusalem slated for a new park; demolishes 22 structures (including a school) in Khirbet Tana nr. Nablus (pop. 450) built without permits, leaving only 2 buildings in the village and the 200-yr.-old mosque standing; imposes a curfew on ‘Ayn al-Bayda nr. Jenin, searches homes, arrests around 30 Palestinian farmers, shepherds who are not residents of the village; raids a municipal building in n. Ramallah, arresting 1 Palestinian; fires live ammunition at Palestinians protesting separation wall construction in Qutna nr. Jerusalem, wounding 2; fires on residential areas of Aida r.c.; raids, occupies 3 Palestinian homes in Yatta as observation posts. Hamas holds a prayer rally in Nablus calling on Palestinians to boycott the evening’s Palestine International Festival (an annual wk.-long festival, not held since 2000, that opened in cities across the West Bank on 6/30) performance in the city by pop singer Ammar Hassan, citing the impropriety of men and women dancing to “risqu´e” music as well as of holding such a celebration when families are still mourning the losses of the intifada; the AMB assures that it sanctioned the event after Hassan agreed to sing only “conservative songs”; the performance ultimately is disrupted by some masked AMB mbrs. fr. Nablus and Balata r.c., who fire guns in the air, destroy some sets, force Hassan to cut short his performance. (HA, REU 7/5; IMEMC, OCHA, PR, XIN 7/6; PCHR 7/7; PR 7/13; HA 7/28; PR 8/3)

The United Church of Christ passes a resolution calling for the use of “economic leverage” to promote Middle East peace, but rejects resolutions calling for divestment in companies that supply Israel with bulldozers, military equipment. Two additional resolutions also denounce all forms of violence in the Middle East, “including suicide bombing by Palestinians and the use of force by Israelis in perpetuating occupation of Palestinian lands,” and call on Israel to dismantle the separation wall. (JTA, WP 7/6; AP 7/7; CSM 7/8)

The IDF confirms that in recent wks. it has confiscated 2,000 d. of Palestinian agricultural land btwn. Jenin, Nablus for temporary housing for IDF soldiers responsible for evacuating 4 n. West Bank Jewish settlements under disengagement. The IDF also sends troops into Bayt Furik nr. Nablus, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 2; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Ramallah; occupies a Palestinian home in Gaza City as an observation post; patrols in villages nr. Jenin; fires on Palestinian farmers conducting a peaceful march to their lands being razed by the IDF for construction of the separation wall, wounding 3. Palestinian gunmen fire on Qadim settlement in the n. West Bank, causing damage but no injuries. Palestinians fire a mortar at an IDF base outside Gaza’s Neve Dekalim settlement, causing no damage or injuries. An Israeli border policeman injured on 7/3 dies. (HA 7/4; YA 7/4 in WNC 7/5; VOI 7/5 in WNC 7/6; OCHA 7/6; PCHR 7/7)

Some 20 IDF soldiers patrolling in Rafah exchange fire with Hamas mbrs., leaving 1 armed Palestinian injured. The IDF bulldozes part of a cemetery in Rafah to widen the Philadelphi route; sends troops into Bayt Furik nr. Nablus, fires on residential areas, then fires on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops, wounding 2; temporarily seals ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c. nr. Nablus, searches houses; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Qabatya nr. Jenin, in villages around Hebron; occupies a Palestinian home in Mughraqa as an observation post. An Israeli border policeman is seriously injured in a fall during scuffles with Palestinians at a separation wall demonstration nr. Har Adar. Palestinians fire 6 mortars at Jewish settlements in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. (XIN 7/3; VOI 7/3 in WNC 7/4; YA 7/4 in WNC 7/5; OCHA 7/6; PCHR 7/7)

The IDF demolishes 11 long-abandoned bungalows along the s. Gaza shore outside Shirat Hayam settlement being used by some 100 West Bank Jewish settlers who recently came to Gaza to block disengagement; the settlers scuffle with soldiers, break into a nearby Palestinian clinic, damage 12 d. of Palestinian crops and an irrigation network nearby; 1 IDF soldier is arrested, ordered jailed for 56 days for refusing to follow orders to carry out the demolition. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in, fires on residential areas of ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; imposes a curfew on Saffa nr. Ramallah; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Bethlehem, Tulkarm; begins construction of a new separation wall segment northeast of Jerusalem nr. ‘Anata. In Rafah, 4 Palestinian children are injured when they trigger either a roadside bomb or unexploded IDF ordnance. A Palestinian stabs, wounds an IDF soldier in East Jerusalem, is arrested. A Jewish settler beats, injures a Palestinian man in Hebron; the IDF intervenes, arrests the settler. Another group of Jewish settlers fr. Beit Haggai beat 2 Palestinian employees of the Hebron Reconstruction Comm. doing work on local Palestinian homes. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino in Hebron burn down a Palestinian shop, vandalize several others. A Jewish settler wounded in the 6/24 shooting outside Hebron dies. (HA, IMEMC, XIN 6/26; VOI 6/26 in WNC 6/27; NYT, WP, WT 6/27; PCHR 6/28; OCHA, PR, WP, WT, XIN 6/29; PHRC 6/30)

The IDF fatally shoots an unarmed Palestinian teenager, wounds a 2d who were nr. a closed military zone outside Bureij r.c.; fires on Palestinians conducting a nonviolent protest against the separation wall nr. Yatta, wounding 8; imposes a curfew on, patrols in Baqa‘ al-Sharqiyya nr. Tulkarm; for no apparent reason fires on a Palestinian car driving in central Hebron, wounding the driver; later conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron as well as in Bethlehem and Sawahara al-Sharqiyya nr. Jerusalem, nr. Tulkarm. An Islamic Jihad gunman fatally shoots a Jewish settler driving nr. Tulkarm, wounds his passenger. Palestinians fire mortars at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. (IDF Radio, VOI, XIN, YA 6/20 in WNC 6/21; HA, WP, WT 6/21; OCHA, PR 6/22; PCHR 6/23)

The IDF seals the Gaza Strip; shoots, wounds a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays into a closed military zone nr. the Rafah terminal to Egypt; conducts arrest raids nr. Jenin; patrols in Nablus; bulldozes around 170 d. of agricultural land e. of Yatta for construction of a road along the separation wall. An ailing 70-yr.-old Palestinian woman trying to reach a hospital in Jerusalem dies of a heart attack at an IDF checkpoint nr. Bethlehem after being delayed passage. (IMEMC 6/17; XIN 6/18; OCHA 6/22; PCHR 6/23)

The IDF bars an ambulance transporting a Palestinian heart attack victim fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a hospital in Tulkarm, allowing him to die; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Yatta. Masked Palestinian gunmen fire on the PA preventive security forces headquarters outside Gaza City, causing no injuries. (PR 6/15; PCHR 6/16)

At its annual conference, the New England United Methodist Church passes a resolution calling for divestment and economic action against Israeli occupation. The resolution denounces Israel’s construction of the separation wall, settlement expansion, confiscation of Palestinian property, as well as the “unemployment, malnutrition, restrictions on movement, denial of medical cared, denial of access to their agricultural lands, humiliation at checkpoints, and extended lockdowns called curfews” caused by the IDF. (United Methodist Church press release 6/20)

A group of Israelis celebrating Jerusalem Day, marking the 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem, visit the al-Aqsa Mosque compound under Israeli police escort; outraged Palestinians at the site throw stones at Israeli police, Jewish worshipers at the Wailing Wall; the some 3,000 police, deployed to prevent violence on the anniversary, respond with stun grenades; no injuries are reported. In response to the al-Aqsa incident, Hamas fires 4 Qassam rockets at the Negev, causing light damage or injuries. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Hanina nr. Jerusalem, Jenin; bulldozes at least 8 d. of agricultural land n. of Qalqilya for construction of the separation wall. (JAZ 6/6; HA 6/7; NYT, WP 6/8; PCHR 6/9)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches around Bethlehem and in al-‘Azza r.c., Bayt Surik nr. Jerusalem, Yatta; halts a taxi nr. Ramallah, detains 1 passenger— Samir Burnat, a leading organizer of nonviolent protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in. Some 40 mbrs. of PA military intelligence loyal to Musa Arafat (forced to retire in 4/05) attack the PC building in Gaza City and block the main road to Rafah checkpoint, temporarily detain PA Amb. to North Korea Shakir Abu Aida in protest against Abbas’s recent age limits for PA security officers, release him unharmed. Palestinian attorneys stage a 1-day strike to protest the PA’s failure to protect judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers fr. increasing vigilantism. (HA 6/4; AP, IMEMC, NYT 6/5; PCHR 6/9; al-Ahram 6/10; PR 6//15; BBC 6/16)

The IDF confirms that today for the 1st time it used (against 400 Palestinians protesting nonviolently against the separation wall in Bil‘in) a new crowd-dispersal device that emits painful bursts of sound at a specific frequency. The IDF conducts patrols in Dura, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 2; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem; razes 300 d. of agricultural land southwest of Hebron for construction of the separation wall. 5 Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot Fatah regional head Ali Farraj and his brother, charging that Farraj ordered the killing of their father, an alleged collaborator, in 1991. (AP, BBC 6/3; XIN 6/4; AP 6/5; PCHR 6/9; JP 6/26 in WNC 6/27)

Ma’ariv 6/3 runs a feature interviewing IDF soldiers who confirm that the IDF carried out “eye for an eye” reprisal attacks on PA police officers in 2002 in retaliation for the 2/19/02 killing of 6 IDF soldiers at a checkpoint outside Ramallah by a lone AMB gunman who escaped. The IDF says that the reprisal killings were never investigated because they were “part of a series of operations against terrorism in line with Israeli army orders and procedures.” (MA, Newsday 6/3; NYT 6/4)

Israel releases the last 398 Palestinian prisoners of 900 that Sharon promised to free in his 2/8 mtg. with PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas in Sharm al-Shaykh; 2 prisoners refuse release (1 to stay in prison with his brother, 1 to take the Palestinian high school matriculation exams [tawjihi] slated to be given to prisoners shortly). The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm and in Azariyya, Balata r.c., Nablus; searches, temporarily occupies a flour mill in Gaza’s al-Qarara for use as an observation tower to protect Jewish settlers traveling btwn. Gush Katif and Israel; begins work on a new segment of the separation wall s. of Nablus. Palestinian residents of Dayr al-Hatab nr. Nablus report that the IDF has for 3 wks. been bulldozing Palestinian land around Elon Moreh to create a buffer around the settlement. Israel issues tenders for the construction of 22 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim settlement, despite U.S President George W. Bush’s calls to stop all settlement expansion. A Jewish settler injures a Palestinian girl in a hit-andrun incident n. of Ramallah. In Gaza City, 100s of armed Palestinians (mbrs. of PA military intelligence, the AMB, Fatah) protest the PA’s decision to dismantle the military intelligence service, merge it with the PA security forces, and retire a number of officers; some demonstrators fire in the air. (IMEMC, JP, JTA, WAFA 6/2; VOI 6/2 in WNC 6/3; WP, WT 6/3; IMEMC 6/4; OCHA, PR 6/8; PCHR 6/9)

The IDF fires missiles nr. a Gaza r.c., destroying 2 Islamic Jihad rocket launchers, wounding 2 Palestinian bystanders; the Islamic Jihad mbrs., who had fired 3 rockets at Sederot (causing no damage or injuries), escape. The IDF also demolishes 2 animal farms w. of Bethlehem to make way for the separation wall. (JAZ 5/30; NYT 5/31; PR 6/1; PCHR 6/2)

IDF soldiers break into, occupy a Palestinian home in Hebron to watch a soccer championship on the family’s satellite TV; the IDF confirms the incident took place, says the cmdr. of the squad has been suspended. The IDF also completes a segment of the separation wall n. of Bethlehem; fires on residential areas of Rafah, wounding 1 Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, apartment searches in Abu Dis, targeting al-Quds University students. An Israeli navy gunboat fires on 2 Palestinian fishing vessels off the coast of Gaza, seriously damaging them. Mbrs. of rival PA security forces exchange gunfire for several hrs. in Ramallah, causing no injuries; a similar incident occurs in Rafah, leaving 1 officer wounded. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba set fire to Palestinian olive groves, vandalize 2 Palestinian homes in Hebron; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Jewish settlers fr. Tal Rumayda stone Palestinian homes in Hebron; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Late in the evening, Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino in Hebron throw Molotov cocktails at a market storage area where Palestinian keep their carts and goods, causing moderate damage. (HA 5/27; OCHA, PR 6/1; PCHR 6/2)

The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home and 2 animal farms nr. Hebron for construction of the separation wall. (PCHR 5/26)

The IDF issues military orders to “restore” a 500 d. area nr. Bethlehem to its original state, requiring some 450 olive trees planted since the early 1990s to be uprooted; bulldozes Palestinian land in Sammu‘ nr. Hebron for construction of the separation wall; suspends the cmdr. in charge of troops involved in the fatal shooting of 2 Palestinian teenagers on 5/4. Palestinians fire Qassam rockets at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Tapuach nr. Nablus stone Palestinian vehicles driving nearby, injuring 1 Palestinian. An Islamic Jihad mbr. dies fr. injuries received in clashes with the IDF on 2 May in Saida. (MM, NYT 5/6; NYT 5/9; OCHA 5/11; PCHR 5/12)

Palestinians in 76 locales in the West Bank and 8 in Gaza participate in the 3d round of Palestinian municipal elections. Fatah wins 56% of the vote, Hamas 33%, independents and smaller parties 11%. (AFP, HA, MM, REU 5/5; BBC, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/6; NYT, WP, WT 5/7; HA 5/8; CSM, HA, MM 5/9; AYM, HJ, al-Quds, XIN 5/9 in WNC 5/10; MM 5/10; MEI, MM 5/13)

The IDF sends troops into Bayt Laqia nr. Ramallah to break up a demonstration against the separation wall, fires live ammunition at stone-throwing youths, killing a 14-yr.-old and a 15-yr.-old Palestinian (the IDF rules on 5/20 that the soldiers acted inappropriately); uproots 86 Palestinian olive trees in Bil‘in for construction of the separation wall. (PCHR, WP 5/5; HA, MM 5/6; OCHA, PR 5/11; HA 5/20; NYT 5/22)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin; fires on residential areas of Rafah. The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians conducting a nonviolent protest against the separation wall in Bil‘in, injuring 10 Palestinians, including a journalist. (WP, WT 5/2; PR 5/4; OCHA, PCHR 5/5)

The IDF seals the West Bank, Gaza until 4/24 for the Passover holiday; bars Palestinian traffic on the main north–south Gaza road for the day; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah and in Balata r.c. (exchanging fire with Palestinians, wounding 2), Dahariyya nr. Hebron, Jenin (targeting Islamic Jihad mbrs.) and nearby Araba, Saida nr. Tulkarm; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists nonviolently protesting the separation wall nr. Ramallah, injuring 4 Palestinians, 2 internationals. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol nr. the Qarni crossing, lightly injuring 3 soldiers. In Gaza City, 100s of PA police officers loyal to Civil Affairs M Muhammad Dahlan gather outside police headquarters in a show of force, to protest Abbas’s plans to forcibly retire some mbrs. of the security services. (AP 4/22; OCHA 4/27; PCHR 4/28)

Israel announces that it has arrested 3 PFLP mbrs. for allegedly plotting to assassinate Shas party leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. The IDF orders 27 bedouin to evacuate 3 sites nr. Tubas. Israel also opens bidding on 50 plots of land in Elkana settlement nr. Nablus for construction of new homes. The IDF issues military orders for the demolition of 3 Palestinian homes, 10 wells, 6 sewage systems outside Yatta for expansion of Carmiel settlement; resumes construction on a segment of the separation wall n. of Jerusalem; starts construction of a settler bypass road linking Neve Yaqub settlement to others around Jerusalem; raids Dayr al-Balah for a 2d day, arrests 3 Palestinians who allegedly attempted to sneak into Israel to find work; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, Silwad nr. Ramallah. Jewish settlers set up 2 new unauthorized outposts nr. Elon Moreh settlement nr. Nablus, nr. Hebron. A Jewish settler injures a 12-yr.-old Palestinian child in a hit-and-run nr. Bethlehem. Palestinians fire on IDF soldiers outside Neve Dekalim settlement, lightly wounding 1. In Jenin, 10s of AMB mbrs. take over a main intersection, close down a government building, demanding that the PA provide jobs to unemployed militants, fmr. prisoners, relatives of Palestinians killed by the IDF. Palestinian teachers open a 2-day strike to protest PC inactivity in amending the civil service law to increase teacher salaries (see 4/6). (NYT 4/18; MM 4/19; OCHA, PR 4/20; PCHR 4/21)