The Palestine Chronology

Israeli troops on the n. Gaza border twice fire at suspicious movement in open areas e. of Bayt Hanun, causing no reported injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning and in Tulkarm town and r.c. in the evening, in both cases firing at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no reported injuries. OCHA reports that in the previous wk., the IDF demolished 10 tents and 5 animal pens in the Bedouin village of Fasayil al-Wusta and 2 animal pens in the neighboring Bedouin village of Fasayil al-Fauqa, both in the Jordan Valley. (PCHR 12/22; OCHA 12/23)

Fatah and Hamas announce that, in keeping with their 5/2011 reconciliation deal, they have agreed on formation of a new Central Elections Commission to prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections. They fail to reach an agreement on formation of a caretaker government to take the Palestinians to elections, postponing further discussion until late 1/2012. (JPI 12/30)

After a UNSC briefing on the Middle East, 14 UNSC mbrs. criticize the U.S. (without naming it directly) for blocking any criticism of Israel’s recent approvals for new settlement construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank and of the increasing settler violence, as well as for threatening to veto any UNSC res. supporting Palestinian statehood. British UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, speaking on behalf of the European UNSC mbrs. (Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal), calls recent Israeli settlement and settler actions “devastating” to the 2-state solution, saying “Israel’s security and the realization of the Palestinians’ right to statehood are not opposing goals. On the contrary, they are mutually reinforcing objectives. But they will not be achieved while settlement building and settler violence continues.” Grant also calls on Israel and the Palestinians to send their comprehensive proposals on territory and security to the Quartet as soon as possible. (The Palestinians have already submitted theirs to the Quartet, so this is seen as an added rebuke to Israel, which has not done so.) (HA 12/21, NYT 12/22)

Overnight, Jewish settlers set fire to the entrance of a mosque, a car, and a construction vehicle in Burqin village nr. Salfit, moderately damaging the mosque and destroying the 2 vehicles. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction material in the demolished Erez industrial zone, forcing them to flee. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids and house searches nr. Hebron, Tulkarm. (PCHR 12/8, 12/15; OCHA 12/16)

Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and New Gingrich address the conservative Republican Jewish Coalition, criticizing U.S. Pres. Barack Obama for his weak and confused foreign policy and mistreatment of Israel. Neither endorses a 2-state solution, even though the Republican Party platform officially supports this. Romney pledges that his 1st trip as pres. would be to Israel. Gingrich promises that he would move the U.S. emb. fr. Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Republican candidates Michele Bachmann, John Huntsman, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum also address the forum and promise new approaches to the Middle East but do not go into detail. (NYT, WP 12/8)

Obama Middle East adviser Ross announces at a lunch with Jewish leaders that he will resign effective 12/2011 to return to work at the pro-Israel Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Sources say his decision reflects “the diminishing chances for a breakthrough in either Iran or the Arab-Israeli peace process” before the 2012 presidential elections. (NYT, WP 11/10)

In retaliation for Israeli air strikes on 11/8, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Israeli naval vessels detain a Palestinian fishing boat off the c. Gaza coast, confiscating the boat, detaining 1 man who is a mbr. of the Palestinian naval police, questioning and releasing 2 others. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts afternoon patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho and 2 nr. Ramallah (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at stone-throwing youths in 1 case, causing no serious injuries); patrols in Tulkarm late at night; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (XIN 11/9; PCHR 11/17; OCHA 11/18)

Obama’s Middle East adviser Ross and acting U.S. special envoy Hale make their 2d visit to Israel in a wk. (see 6/16) to meet with Netanyahu, Abbas, and their advisers to push for renewal of peace talks. (HA, JTA, MA 6/22)

Overnight, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket and a mortar fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Early in the morning, the IDF carries out an air strike on a smuggling tunnel on the c. Gaza border in retaliation, hitting a poultry farm and killing 3,500 chicks, but causing no other injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF enters Bayt Sahur nr. Bethlehem in the morning, surrounding the al-Quds Open University campus, randomly stopping and searching students, detaining 1 student and 1 journalist for 2 hrs. before withdrawing; conducts late-night patrols in Burham village nr. Ramallah; and makes late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jerusalem and Nablus. (AP, HA, NYT, WP, WT, YA 6/22; PCHR 6/23, 6/30; OCHA 7/1)

Obama’s senior Middle East adviser Dennis Ross and acting U.S. special envoy to the peace process David Hale make an unannounced visit to the region in effort “to find a formula for talks that would entice the Palestinians to drop their bid for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state” at the UN in 9/2011. (NYT 6/17)

Overnight, the IDF carries out an air strike on a smuggling tunnel on the c. Gaza border with Israel in retaliation for the 6/15 rocket fire, causing no reported injuries. During the day, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket toward Israel, but it lands inside Gaza, hitting a Palestinian home nr. al-Maghazi r.c., injuring 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF raids the Hebron home of Hamas-affiliated PC mbr. Samir al-Qadi and arrests him. The IDF also patrols in 5 villages nr. Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarm during the day and in Jericho, 3 villages nr. Salfit, and 1 nr. Ramallah late at night; raids an auto repair shop in Nabi Elias nr. Qalqilya during the day, questioning but not arresting 2 Palestinians; and conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. The IDF also escorts Jewish settlers into Kafr Haris to pray at a religious site. (NYT, WP 6/17; PCHR 6/23; OCHA 6/24)

U.S. pres. Barack Obama gives a major speech on the Middle East meant to reassess U.S. priorities in the region, particularly in light of the recent prodemocracy uprisings (the “Arab Spring”). He speaks extensively about the peace process at the close of the address (including denouncing the Palestinian statehood initiative, urging against Hamas participation in a national unity government, and endorsing the 1967 lines with agreed land swaps as the basis of border negotiations) but does not offer a new U.S. peace initiative. Netanyahu immediately denounces the reference to 1967 lines, saying they would jeopardize Israeli security. (HA, MNA, MA, NYT, WP, YA 5/19; NYT, WP, WT 5/20)

Israel’s Jerusalem planning commission approves construction of 1,600 new settlement housing units in East Jerusalem (Har Homa/Jabal Abu Ghunaym and Pisgat Ze’ev). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tulkarm, 3 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 village nr. Jenin during the day and in Jericho and Birzeit nr. Ramallah late at night; conducts arrest raids nr. Bethlehem (targeting stone-throwing youths) and Qalqilya. (WAFA, YA 5/19; PCHR 5/26; OCHA 5/27)