The Palestine Chronology

In East Jerusalem, an IDF soldier on a passing commuter bus shoots, seriously wounds a Palestinian motorcyclist scuffling with an Israeli traffic policeman over a traffic incident. An Israeli dies of injuries received in 7/31 bombing, bring that toll to 9. The IDF demolishes Palestinian homes, 2 belonging to relatives of Palestinian militants (in Dahiriyya, Dura), 2 others (nr. Bethlehem, nr. Hebron); bulldozes 40 dunams of agricultural land in Khuza, also damaging a school. (NYT, WP 8/14; PCHR, WJW 8/15; PCHR 8/16)

Overriding a military court ruling(see 8/12), the Israeli High Court issues a 15-day injunction against the forced transfer to Gaza of 3 relatives of Palestinian militants, demanding that the government show cause why it would be permitted to carry out the expulsions. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/14; MA 8/14 in WNC 8/15; WJW 8/15)

10s of Christian TV stations air a 5-hr. telethon in support of "Israeli victims of terrorism," with half of the money raised earmarked for a fund organized by the United Jewish Communities, half funding production of daily news segments on Israel for Christian TV stations. (HA 8/11) (see 7/10)

Israeli-Palestinian violence continues to escalate, leaving 1 Israeli civilian, 1 Jewish settler, at least 6 Palestinians dead. A package bomb planted by a Jewish vigilante group called Revenge of the Innocent Babes (in reference to the 3/2 Beit Israel attack) explodes on a playground at a Palestinian school in East Jerusalem, injuring 2 teachers, 24 children. In response to the 3/4 AMB attack in Tel Aviv, IDF F-16s rocket Palestinian targets across Gaza and in Bethlehem, Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarm; helicopters fire a missile at a car in Ramallah, killing 3 Palestinians, including 2 wanted AMB members, Muhannad Abu Halawa and Fawzi Murrar. The IDF also makes incursions into Palestinian areas nr. Bayt Lahia, Jabaliya, Khan Yunis, Tamun; direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bethlehem, al-Khadir, Qalqilya; demolishes greenhouses in Issawiyya. Nr. Gush Etzion settlement, Palestinian gunmen fire on a Jewish settler vehicle, killing 1 settler. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a devices on a bus in Afula, Israel, killing 1 Israeli. Palestinians also launch 2 Qassam-2s fr. Gaza into Israel, for the 1st time hitting an apartment building in Sederot, injuring 2 children. Jewish settlers attack a PSF post in Qalqilya, stone a Palestinian car nr. Ramallah. (HP, MM 3/5; XIN 3/5 in WNC 3/6; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, PMC, WP, WT 3/6; MA 3/6 in WNC 3/7; AYM 3/7 in WNC 3/8; MEI 3/8; JP 3/15)

     Sharon convenes his inner cabinet, then his full cabinet to discuss how to respond to the 3/4 Tel Aviv attack. Participants reportedly debate launching massive "mopping-up" operations in refugee camps, incursions into a list of villages in areas A and B, escalating attacks on Ramallah (including removing Arafat). The cabinet gives the IDF "free rein to further intensify military pressure on the PA, especially in Ramallah," bars all Palestinian vehicular traffic in the West Bank. (MM 3/5; NYT, PMC, WP, WT 3/6) quote in PMC 3/6

Israeli-Palestinian violence escalates, leaving 5 Palestinians dead. A 6th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. The IDF assassinates senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Bisharat, firing 8 rockets at his car as he drives nr. Jinin, also killing 2 passengers. The PA charges Israel with a major violation of the cease-fire. The IDF also directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bethlehem, Rafah. (HP, MM, NYT, WT 7/2; al-Quds 7/2 in WNC 7/3; MM 7/3; QA 7/3, AKH, JT 7/4, AN 7/5 in WNC 7/7; MM 7/4; Economist 7/5; MEI 7/13)

Israeli-Palestinian violence continues, leaving 1 Jewish settler dead. Palestinians fire 3 large mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage. The IDF tightens the closure on Tulkarm; flies helicopters over Bethlehem. Jewish settlers block roads, stone passing Palestinian vehicles nr. Qalqilya; shoot at water tanks on buildings in Ramallah; vandalize Palestinian homes in Silat al-Dahir, which is under its 10th day of curfew. (HP 6/28; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/29; Between the Lines 7/01)

After mtg. separately with Arafat and Sharon, Powell announces that the sides have agreed that after 7 days of "complete quite," they will observe a 6 wk. cooling-off period, followed by a "several mos." of confidence building, only after which negotiations would resume. FM Peres says that if even 1 Palestinian attack takes place during the 7-day or 6 wk. periods, the clock would reset to zero. At least 3,000 Palestinians rally in Gaza City to protest Powell's visit. (AP, CNN, USIS Washington File 6/28; XIN 6/28 in WNC 6/29; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/29; HJ 6/29, MENA 6/30, 7/1 in WNC 7/2; AYM 6/30 in WNC 7/6; WP 7/1; MM 7/2; WJW 7/5; MEI 7/13)

U.S. special envoy Ross announces that Israel, the PA have resumed security cooperation, result will make or break long-term peace efforts. (MM 8/12; AFP 8/12 in WNC 8/13; MM, WP, WT 8/13; MM, CSM, NYT 8/14)

In Nablus, 10,000 Palestinians march to protest U.S., Israeli efforts to press Arafat to crack down on anti-Israeli militants in the West Bank, Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza stage a smaller rally. (CSM, WP, WT 8/13)

Syria formally rejects an Israeli proposal for a new formula to resume negotiations. (MM 8/13; YA 8/13 in WNC 8/14; YA 8/14 in WNC 8/15)

MEPFA expires, forcing the PLO to close its office in Washington. The U.S. will continue diplomatic contacts with the PA. U.S. assistance to Palestinian projects will not be interrupted. (NYT, WP, WT 8/13; MM, WP 8/14; PR 8/15) (see 8/1)

PA military court finds 3 Force 17 mbrs. guilty of treason for "spying for the Israeli intelligence service"; condemns 1 to death, 1 to life with hard labor, 1 to 15 yrs. with hard labor. (NYT, WP, WT 8/13) (see 7/19)

Israel eases restrictions on produce crossing fr. the West Bank and Gaza, allowing 3 trucks of eggplants into Israel. (IDF Radio 8/12 in WNC 8/13; WT 8/13)

Nr. Bethlehem, 2 Palestinian cousins sneak through the IDF blockade of the city--1 to get heart medication, 1 to get money owned him by his employer nr. Jerusalem. They are caught, severely beaten by the IDF, sent back to a hospital in Bethlehem. (WP 8/16)

Palestinian woman gives birth at an IDF checkpoint outside Ramallah after soldiers refuses to let her into the PA-controlled city to reach a hospital. (WT 8/13)

SLA vacates 7 Lebanese villages s. of Sidon, turning them over to the Lebanese army. (RL 8/12 in WNC 8/13)

Israel releases Joseph, Jean Nahra, who were kidnapped in s. Lebanon by the IDF 7/9, taken to al-Khiyam prison. Israel has never explained their detention. (WT 8/13) (see 8/7)