The Palestine Chronology

Israel acknowledges that it has begun work on a new police headquarters, road network, and “other facilities” in Jerusalem’s E-1 development area, marking the 1st step in the largest settlement construction project since 1967 to create “Jewish demographic continuity between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim” settlement; the project will include 3,550 housing units, 6 hotels, a park. Israel’s Internal Security M Gideon Ezra says the U.S. did not object to beginning construction. IDF undercover units, traveling in a car with Palestinian license plates, enter Jenin, call in 10 IDF vehicles for backup, raid and occupy several homes, arresting 2 wanted Palestinians. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah, in and around Hebron, and in Jenin town and r.c., al-Khadir, Nablus; begins construction of a new settler bypass road on Palestinian land in Hebron to link Abraham Avino and Ramat Yishai settlements. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa attack Palestinians, their farm animals and vandalize Palestinian homes in nearby Yatta. (IMEMC, JAZ, YA 3/14; MM, PCHR 3/16)

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)

Palestinian snipers kill a Greek monk driving nr. Ma'ale Adumim settlement, wound an IDF soldier nr. Shavei Shomron settlement. Palestinians also fire mortars at Jewish settlements in Gaza, causing no damage. The IDF shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, bulldozes Palestinian land nr. Rafah. Jewish settlers seize 800 dunams of Palestinian land btwn. Hebron, Israel. (MM, HP, WP, WT 6/13)

IDF officials confirm that flechette shells fired fr. IDF tanks killed the 3 bedouin women on 6/9. Flechette weapons are banned under international law. (WP 6/14)

After another round of security talks this morning, Sharon accepts the U.S. cease-fire plan with reservations. Tenet continues bilateral mtgs. with the PA team, while outside the Ramallah venue, 100s of Palestinians demonstrate against a cease-fire. Late this evening (EST; early morning 6/13 Jerusalem time), after hrs. of talks during which Egyptian pres. Mubarak reportedly phoned 3 times to press the PA, Arafat also accepts Tenet's proposal with reservations. (AFP [Internet], AP, MM, PMC, UPI 6/12; NYT, PMC, WP, WT 6/13; QA 6/13 in WNC 6/15; WP, WT 6/14; SA 6/14 in WNC 6/18; MEI 6/15; AKH 6/15 in WNC 6/20; NYT 6/16; MEI 6/29)

Expressing concerns of possible mass expulsions of West Bank Palestinians by Israel, Jordan toughens its immigration rules, making it harder for Palestinians to enter. (al-Quds 6/11 in WNC 6/12; HA 6/12; JT, al-Quds 6/12 in WNC 6/13; NYT 6/13; JT 6/15 in WNC 6/18; HJ 6/18 in WNC 6/21; Economist [Internet] 6/21)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving a total of 6 Palestinians, 2 Israelis dead. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a nail bomb at a bus stop just inside Israel, nr. Qalqilya, killing 2 Israelis, wounding 4. Hamas, and a previously unknown group named the Popular Army Front Return Battalions claim responsibility. Israeli sappers disarm bombs in the Israeli cities of Petah Tikva, Netanya. This evening, after the Arab summit ends, Sharon orders air, land, sea strikes against Force 17 targets in Dayr al-Balah, Jabaliyya, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Ramallah, killing 3 Palestinians, injuring 62. Nr. Beitunia, a Palestinian woman is shot dead by IDF troops. In Rafah, a Palestinian boy is killed when he triggers unexploded IDF ordnance. The IDF reinforces its troop presence around Abu Sunayna in Hebron with 8 tanks, 15 troop carriers, numerous military jeeps and 3 new outposts; shells residential areas in Nablus; confiscates 28 dunams of Palestinian land in Beitunia to expand an IDF post; bulldozes Palestinian land in Mount Jarzim, Wadi Silqa. Israel issues demolition orders for 19 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem for construction of the "ring road" linking the Jewish settlements around Jerusalem; 658 dunams of Palestinian land is slated to be bulldozed for the project. Jewish settlers attack Palestinians and their property in Bayt Furik, Hebron, Silat Dahir. Settlers fr. Ma'ale Adumim, Kefar Atsion reportedly move into the Israeli controlled section of Hebron to reinforce settlers there. In Hebron, the PSF arrests a local Fatah mbr. for the 3/26 shooting that killed a settler baby. (BBC, CNN, HP, MM, REU 3/28; AFP, ATL 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/29; AFP, Interfax, MENA, al-Quds 3/29 in WNC 3/30; LAW, MM, WP 3/30; MA, MENA, al-Safir 3/30 in WNC 4/2; MM 4/3; JP, MEI 4/6; al-Quds 4/15 in WNC 4/16; WP 4/23; al-Ahram [Internet] 4/26)

The Arab League summit closes. Arab states approve a $240 m. emergency aid for the PA over the next 6 mos. (MM 3/28; HJ 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, NYT, WP 3/29; JT 3/29 in WNC 3/30; HJ 3/29 in WNC 4/3; al-Ra'i 3/30, Star 3/31, JT 4/1 in WNC 4/2; JP, MEI 4/6; al-Quds 4/10 in WNC 4/12)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. Nr. Ma'ale Adumim settlement, 4 Palestinian gunmen ambush a Jewish settler's vehicle, seriously injuring 2 settlers. Palestinians also fire homemade mortars at Netzarim settlement, causing no damage. The IDF shells residential areas Bayt Sahur; seals main roads leading to Dayr al-Balah (destroying a vocational school, a girls' school, 1 home), Jericho, Jinin, Nablus, Tulkarm; conducts arrest sweeps in East Jerusalem, Ras al-Amud; bulldozes Palestinian land nr. Nablus. Palestinians in Jinin, Nablus, Qalqilya note IDF reinforcements in their areas. The IDF issues a demolition order for a Palestinian clinic in Aqraba nr. Nablus, which 2 wks. ago treated 2 IDF soldiers injured in a car accident. (HP, MM 2/22; HP, WT 2/23; al-Quds 2/23 in WNC 2/26; MA 2/23 in WNC 2/26; LAW 3/1)