The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to olive fields, burning more than 100 olive trees near Yatta. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian shepherds near Susiya. Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinian minors, using live ammunition, during a raid in Tulkarm. Israeli forces also seized a Palestinian-owned bulldozer near Yatta. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 3 houses in Qaryut. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 during raids in Tulkarm, al-‘Izzariya, and Abu Dis; 2 were arrested at checkpoints in Bethlehem and Nablus. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian shepherds east of Khuza‘a and Bayt Hanun; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/13; PCHR 12/17)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Qatar for an official 2-day visit. (WAFA 12/13)

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said during a speech that while Hamas considers the PA’s decision to resume cooperation with Israel “an intense barrier” to achieving reconciliation, it was ready to resume reconciliation talks. (AJ 12/14)

Haaretz reported that Israeli police requires internet and phone providers to give them access to all user data, essentially allowing the police to monitor all activity by users of Israeli internet and phone providers. (HA 12/13)

In Gaza, dozens of Palestinians gather outside the Ministry of Public Works and Housing offices to protest the PA’s alleged postponement of disbursals of money donated by Kuwait for the reconstruction of Gaza. The protesters call on Kuwait’s govt. to make the PA distribute the funds. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct late-night raids and house searches nr. Hebron and Bethlehem, arresting 3 Palestinians; patrol nr. Tulkarm, Salfit, Qalqilya, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in the Old City and al-‘Izzariya. (JP 3/20; PCHR 3/24)

Jordan’s Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Hayel Dawood clarifies plans to establish surveillance infrastructure at Haram al-Sharif, stating that Jordan will install 55 cameras to monitor the outdoor areas at the sanctuary, and that the video feed will be broadcast live over the Internet. His statement comes after a 3/18 report clarifying Jordan’s plans to implement the 10/24/2015 IsraeliJordanian agreement to install cameras at the sanctuary. (HA 3/20)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border fire warning shots at a Palestinian grazing sheep too near the border fence e. of Bureij r.c., wounding her in the foot. In the evening, the IDF shells an open area n. of Jabaliya town; 1 woman is sent to the hospital in shock. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in Jericho, nearby Aqabat Jabir r.c., Qalqilya and 1 nearby village, and 1 village nr. Ramallah; conducts late-night patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, Ramallah (photographing several houses and old mosques in Um Safa), and Tulkarm. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Ni’lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 3 Palestinians in Bil’in are injured by rubber-coated steel bullets. (PCHR 1/12; OCHA 1/13)

Jerusalem Post International republishes Sudanese media reports claiming that in the previous month, the Israeli air force struck at least 2 weapons convoys in Sudan believed headed for Gaza. The Sudanese military denies the reports, and Israel declines to comment. The Israeli navy has been operating in the Red Sea in recent years in effort to halt arms smuggling to Hamas and Hizballah. (JPI 1/6)

A computer hacker identifying himself as a Saudi Arabian teenager with the handle 0xOmar hacks 3 Israeli credit card companies and publishes online the credit card data and security information of at least 20,000 Israelis. While unable to confirm the identity of the hacker or hackers, the Israeli government calls it an act of cyberterrorism intended to harm the Israeli economy. (NYT 1/7; WP 1/8; JPI 1/17)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border e. of Juhur al-Dik fire on a Palestinian shepherd who strays nr. the border fence, wounding her and killing 8 sheep. Israeli bulldozers working nr. the fmr. Nahal Oz crossing sever fiber-optic lines providing all mobile, landline, and Internet service to Gaza; Hamas authorities blame the IDF, but the IDF says it was not responsible. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-‘Arub r.c. and Bayt Umar. Jewish settlers escorted by the IDF enter Palestinian areas nr. Bethlehem and in Hebron to hold religious services. (Press TV [Tehran] 8/10; PCHR 8/11; OCHA 8/12)

The U.S. says it is “deeply concerned” by Israel’s 8/4 approval of 930 new settlement housing units in Har Homa/Jabal Abu Ghunaym in East Jerusalem, stating “such unilateral actions work against efforts to resume direct negotiations.” (WT 8/10)

Through UN and Egyptian emissaries, Israel and Gaza’s factions agree to a new cease-fire ending 4 days of heavy violence. Before the agreement is announced in the evening, Palestinians fire around 20 rockets and mortars (including 1 Grad) fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; Israel does not immediately respond; 1 rocket is fired after the announcement. In the West Bank, the IDF declares Awarta a closed military zone, then raids 10s of homes arresting 20 Palestinian youths and 3 women. The IDF patrols in Tulkarm and 2 neighboring villages, 3 villages nr. Qalqilya, and 3 nr. Ramallah. During a morning patrol in Zabbuba village nr. Jenin, IDF troops raid an Internet café in search of stonethrowing youths who confronted them, arresting 4 children age 11–17. Israeli interior M Eli Yishai, under pressure fr. Netanyahu, postpones a meeting of Jerusalem’s planning committee (set for later this wk.) until 5/5 (after Passover) to discuss building 980 settlement housing units in Jabal Abu-Ghunaym and 600 units in Pisgat Ze’ev. (AP, HA, IsRN, JP, REU, XIN 4/10; JTA, NYT, WP 4/11; PCHR 4/14; OCHA 4/15)

In Syria, after heavy clashes with protesters after Friday prayers on 4/8 and with mourners after funerals on 4/9, Pres. Bashar al-Asad deploys soldiers and tanks for the 1st time to surround and cut off towns where protests are being held. Instead of quelling protests, clashes continue and casualties slowly but steadily mount through the end of the quarter. Nationwide Friday protests (4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, and 5/12) steadily grow more massive (into the 10,000s) and the regime’s response more extreme. Shelling, sniper fire, and arrest raids became routine. In between Friday protests, Syrian forces raid areas where protests or funerals are the largest; Baniyas, Dara‘a, Homs, Latakia, and the Kurdish region remain frequent targets. Still, the various protests seem isolated, with little overarching organization. As of this date, human rights groups in Syria believe that at least 170 Syrians have died and some 800 have been detained since clashes began. The govt. has also expelled many media organizations and cut Internet and phone access to keep news of the clashes sparse. (NYT, WP, WT 4/11; NYT, WP 4/12; NYT, WP, WT 4/12–13; NYT, WP 4/14NYT, WP 4/15–16; WP 4/18; NYT, WP 4/19; NYT, WP, WT 4/19–20; NYT, WP 4/21; NYT 4/22)

Ireland upgrades the status of the Palestinian representation in Dublin from a “delegation” to a “mission” and grants the mission head ambassador status. It does not recognize Palestine as a state or give the mission greater diplomatic privileges or immunities. Israel expresses its “regret.” (HA, YA 1/25; WJW 1/27)

OCHA reports that Israel has barred the import of industrial fuel for Gaza’s electricity plant for 2 weeks and is now internally discussing disconnecting Gaza fr. Israel’s electricity and water grid. (Gaza authorities have been able to keep electricity generation at 30% of demand by increasing the amount of fuel smuggling through tunnels fr. Egypt.) UNRWA reports that it has suspended 23 approved building projects in Gaza because of Israeli restrictions on gravel imports. Meanwhile, IDF troops make 2 brief incursion into Gaza e. of Gaza Valley village and e. of al-Maghazi r.c. to level land and clear lines of sight. Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. OCHA reports that since 1/19, 3 Palestinians have been injured in tunnelrelated accidents (2 crushed transporting construction materials, 1 electrocuted). (JP 1/25; PCHR 1/27; OCHA 1/28)

Some 150,000 Egyptians of all socioeconomic backgrounds inspired by events in Tunisia answer a week of calls to attend a “day of revolution” antigovernment rally in Cairo’s Tahrir Square today (a national holiday to honor police), bringing blankets, food, and water and vowing to continue protests until Mubarak steps down, his government is dissolved, and parliament is disbanded. (The Muslim Brotherhood does not participate to allow the voice of the people to stay at the fore.) The government cuts cell phone and Internet service to limit international coverage and mobilization efforts via social networking sites. Late at night, government security forces raided the square firing tear gas and water cannons, beating some demonstrators, and arresting others in an unsuccessful effort to drive them out. After a paroxysm of retaliatory violence that kills 1 police officer and some looting in the National Museum on the square, protesters disengage and mobilize to call for nonviolence, notably creating a cordon around the museum to protect it. Parallel protests are held in Alexandria, Suez (where violent clashes kill 2 demonstrators), and several smaller towns, with larger protests called for Friday 1/28. By this date, there have also been several days of protests in Yemen calling for Pres. Saleh’s removal, citing economic ills, corruption, and rumors Saleh plans to install his son as his successor. (NYT, WP, WT 1/25; AFP, al-Masri al-Yawm 1/26; see also NYT 1/23; AFP 1/26; NYT 1/27)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue but are less severe, largely because overnight the IDF deployed tanks on access roads to and around PA cities, sealing areas A, limiting movement. During the day, 2 Palestinians are killed by Israeli gunfire, over 160 are injured. Israel prohibits Palestinians under 45 fr. attending Friday prayers in Jerusalem, prompting scuffles with those denied access but preventing the full-scale rioting of 9/29, 10/6. In Jerusalem, cameramen record footage of Israeli police disguised as Palestinians seizing 2 Palestinian youths, beating them while holding them in a choke hold. Armed Jewish settlers rampage through Husan, fire on Palestinian homes in Artas, Bayt Inun, al-Khadir. In Gaza City and Shati camp, 100s of Palestinians hold rallies denouncing the PA for the failed peace process. The rallies devolve into riots, with demonstrators torching cars, bars, hotels, restaurants; the PA police arrest 16. (AP, IsRN, LAW 10/13; ADM, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/14; HA [Internet] 10/15)

Oman closes its trade office in Tel Aviv, Israel's trade mission in Muscat. Morocco recalls its envoy to Israel. In Cairo, 10,000 Egyptians hold anti-Israeli, anti-U.S. demonstrations. In Lebanon, the army keeps Palestinians away fr. the blue line, where they want to hold demonstrations. However, 6,000 Palestinians in `Ayn al-Hilwa camp, 3,000 in Beddawi camp, 5,000 in Nahr al-Barid camp, 7,000 in Rashidiyya camp demonstrate against Israel. In Amman, 8,000 Jordanians attend a government-sanctioned rally; a smaller, unauthorized demonstration takes place spontaneously following Friday prayers. In the U.S., rallies are held in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Las Vegas, New York, Petaluma (CA), Philadelphia, Santa Ana (CA), San Francisco, Washington. Similar demonstrations are held in Austria, Bahrain, Bosnia, Canada, Djbouti, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Pakistan, Scotland, Sudan, Syria. (AFP [Internet], BBC, Los Angeles Times [Internet], MM, Omani News Agency [Internet], REU, UPI 10/13; AFP, BETA [Belgrade], MENA 10/13, MENA 10/14 in WNC 10/16; Daily Star [Internet], NYT 10/14; HA [Internet], NYT 10/15; MM 10/17; WJW 10/19; WP, WT 10/20; MM 10/24, 10/25; WJW 10/26; MEI 10/27)

In Alexandria, Arafat, Mubarak discuss the Jerusalem issue, Arafat's planned mtg. with Pres. Clinton on the sidelines of the UN millennium summit in New York on 9/6. (MENA 8/26 in WNC 8/28)

In area B outside Jerusalem, 3 IDF soldiers are killed, 1 is wounded by friendly fire in a botched raid on the hideout of Palestinian Mahmud Abu Hanud, wanted for allegedly staging a 1997 Hamas bombing in Jerusalem that killed 21 Israelis. Abu Hanud is wounded but escapes to Nablus, where he is arrested by the PSF. The PA, angry that Israel did not give it advance notice of the raid, says it will try Abu Hanud in a PA court, not extradite him to Israel. (NYT 8/27; CSM, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 8/28; MM, NYT 8/29; MM, Palestine Report [Internet] 8/30; JP [Internet], MM, WJW 8/31; JP, MEI, NYT, WP 9/1; WJW 9/7; JP, MM, NYT, WP 9/8; JP 9/15)

The UNRWA ends a 2-day workshop on the fate of the agency following a final status agmt. (Palestinian Refugee Research Net [Internet] 4/17)

Jordan imposes austerity measures to reduce the budget deficit, ordering ministries to cut their budgets by 5%. (NYT 6/18; JT 6/19 in WNC 6/21)

Iranian FM Kamal Kharrazi arrives in Lebanon for talks on upgrading bilateral ties in all fields. (IRNA 6/17 in WNC 6/18; IRNA, RL 6/18 in WNC 6/24; Iran News [Internet], IRIB Television, IRNA 6/19 in WNC 6/21; MM 6/25)

In Damascus, Iran, Syria sign an energy cooperation agmt. (IRNA 6/17 in WNC 6/18; Jomhuri-ye Eslami, TT 6/20 in WNC 6/21) (see 6/15)

In Tehran, Egyptian, Iranian officials discuss expanding cultural, political relations. (IRNA 6/17 in WNC 6/18)

IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Ramallah, damaging an adjacent house in the process. (LAW 6/21)

King Hussein meets with British PM Blair in London, says that he will return to Jordan on 1/19. (JTV 1/14 in WNC 1/20)

Israeli DM Mordechai, PA negotiator Abbas discuss keeping security contacts open despite the freeze in the peace process. (AFP [Internet] 1/16)

After convening 1/13 to continue consideration (begun in 1/97) of 6 petitions questioning the legality of interrogation methods used by Israeli security services, which human rights groups consider torture, the Israeli High Court adjourns without a ruling, date for continuation. Shin Bet of its own accord says it will soon change some of its methods to "make it easier" on those being interrogated, including introducing "more airy" bags to be put over suspects heads, "more comfortable" handcuffs. (YA 1/14 in WNC 1/16, 1/20; LAW 1/16; NYT 1/25)

An Israeli border policeman working undercover is killed, another is injured, 1 Palestinian is wounded in a shootout nr. Hebron. (MM 1/14; WP 1/15; JP 1/22)

U.S. attacks 2 more Iraqi missile batteries in the n. no-fly zone as daily challenges continue. (WP 1/15) (see 1/13)

IDF eases closure allowing 28,000 Palestinians fr. the West Bank, 27,000 fr. Gaza into Israel. (MM 4/30; RMC 4/30 in WNC 5/2; NYT 5/2)

In Damascus, EU special envoy Moratinos discusses the peace process with Pres. Asad. (RMC 5/1 in WNC 5/2)

Israeli DM Mordechai hosts Turkey's DM Turhan Tayan. (MM 4/30; IDF Radio, IGPO 4/30 in WNC 5/1; MM 5/1; Anatolia [Ankara] 5/2 in WNC 5/2; WT 5/2; Turkiye [Istanbul] 5/4 in WNC 5/7; VIRI 5/6 in WNC 5/8; JP 5/10; MEI 5/16) (see 2/25, 4/4)

Knesset rejects opening further inquiry into Bar-On affair. (WT 5/3; JP 5/10) (see 4/21)

Israeli dep. finance M David Magen resigns to protest the atty. gen. decision not to indict PM Netanyahu. (ITV 4/30 in WNC 5/1; Globes [Internet] 4/30 in WNC 5/2; MM 5/1)

Palestinian television broadcasts of the PC weekly session are jammed for the 2d wk. in a row. Some PC mbrs. blame the PA, though Arafat's office claims it cannot determine the source of the interference. (Internews [Internet] 4/30; PR 5/16; WP 5/21)

Bank of Israel reports that for the 1st quarter of 1997 tourism has dropped 16%, the economic downturn which began in 7/96 continues. (Globes [Internet] 4/30 in WNC 5/2)

In Jordan, an Israeli tourist is stabbed, lightly injured. Jordanian police arrest perpetrator. (JTV, RMC 4/30 in WNC 5/1; JP 5/10)

Nr. Jerusalem, IDF soldiers open fire on Palestinian car that fails to stop at a checkpoint, killing the driver. (MM 4/30; RMC 4/30 in WNC 5/2; PR 5/2)

Convicted spy Jonathan Pollard petitions the Israeli High Court to order PM Netanyahu to acknowledge that Pollard was employed by Israel to spy on the U.S.; to reveal information regarding his employment, Israeli efforts to have him released. (Globes [Internet] 4/30 in WNC 5/2)