The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers let their sheep graze on wheat and barley crops and set up a tent on Palestinian-owned land near al-Tuba in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces uprooted olive, almond, and grape trees in Husan and assaulted 2 Palestinians trying to fend the soldiers off. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor during a raid in ‘Azzun. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished homes, agricultural structures, and water tanks in Sawahira al-Sharqiya. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Fawwar refugee camp, Beit Kahil, Beit Umar, Birzeit, al-Jalamah, Jalbun, Qalandia refugee camp, Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, and Ein as-Sultan. 1 Palestinian was shot and injured with live ammunition and others suffered tear-gas related injuries during the raid in Fawwar refugee camp. 1 Palestinian was also injured with live ammunition during the raid in Ein as-Sultan. In Abu Ghosh, Israelis set fire to 4 Palestinian-owned vehicles and wrote racist graffiti on walls. (HA, QDS, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/17; PCHR 7/19; UNOCHA 7/29)

Islamic Jihad said PA forces arrested 5 of its members in Jenin during a night raid. Protests against the PA were held later in the day in Jenin refugee camp. (MEMO, QDS, REU 7/17; MDW 7/19)

The National Council of Arab Mayors in Israel staged a protest outside of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, calling on the government to tackle organized crime in Palestinian communities in Israel as the murder rate continued to soar. (HA 7/17)

Israeli state-owned channel Kan 11 reported that the Israeli government will approve the transfer of $36 million earmarked for Palestinian communities in Israel to funding for married yeshiva students. The $36 million was budgeted to improve infrastructure and education in Palestinian majority towns during the Lapid-Bennett government. (HA, HA 7/19) 

United Torah Judaism MK Yakov Asher presented a bill to the Knesset Interior and Environment Committee that would allow the transfer of tax revenue from industrial zones in Israel to West Bank settlements. (HA 7/17)

U.S. president Joe Biden spoke with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call, inviting Netanyahu to meet him in the U.S. later in 2023. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Biden “stressed the need to take measures to maintain the viability of a two-state solution.” It was reported that Netanyahu promised not to advance more settlement construction until the end of 2023, a promise Netanyahu’s office denied in Israeli media. (ALM, AX, HA, HA, MEE, NYT 7/17; ALM, AJ, AX HA, HA, HA, MEE, REU 7/18; NYT 7/19; HA 7/20)

Israel said that it has recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a part of Israel and Morocco’s normalization deal. Morocco said Israel is considering opening a consulate in Dakhla. King Mohammed VI invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to Morocco after the announcement was made. (AJ, ALM, F24, HA, MEE, REU 7/17; ALM, MEE 7/18; ALM, MEE, NYT, REU 7/19; HA 7/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole harvesting equipment in Qaryut and tried to steal olive crops before being chased away by Palestinians. Israeli forces razed 10 dunams of agricultural land in Wadi Rahal. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Iskaka, Silwad, Ein Yabrud, Jalbun, Hebron, and Atuf. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/20; PCHR 10/21)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett ordered 2 companies of Israeli “Border Police” soldiers to be deployed to fight violence in Palestinian populated areas of Israel. The decision follows debates among Israeli politicians on how to address the many killings in Palestinian-majority towns and villages, which has so far reached 102 in 2021. (HA 10/20)

Israeli authorities said that it had increased the number of work permits for Palestinians in Gaza, from 7,000 to 10,000, starting on 10/21. (ALM, AP, HA 10/20; HA 10/21)

Israel said it will require Palestinians working in Israel and in Israeli settlements to show proof of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus, starting on 11/1. (HA 10/20)

An Israeli military court allowed the publication of a 2016 conviction of an Israeli civil administrations major who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping 1 Palestinian woman and for receiving a bribe of a sexual nature. The Israeli soldier was also convicted of sexual harassment. (HA 10/20; MEMO 10/22)

Axios reported that U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan discussed the possibility of normalizing relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel during a meeting with Saudi crown prince Muhammad bin Salman in Neom, Saudi Arabia, on 9/27. According to Axios, 3 U.S. and Arab sources said Crown Prince bin Salman did not immediately reject the idea. It was unclear what the U.S. administration is offering Saudi Arabia for a normalization deal with Israel. The U.S., during the Trump administration, made big concessions to the UAE and Morocco in exchange for their normalization with Israel, including sales of advanced weaponry to the UAE and recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara to Morocco. The Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative from 2002 laid out the parameters under which Saudi Arabia will normalize ties with Israel. (AX, HA 10/20)