The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of Dahaysha r.c., seriously wounding a Palestinian teenager; conducts daytime arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Jala and nr. Hebron, and similar latenight operations in and around Jenin town and r.c., in Dahaysha r.c. and Nablus (firing on stone-throwing youths, wounding 2), and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Salfit; patrols in, fires on residential areas of Anabta nr. Tulkarm, causing no injuries. The IDF also demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem’s Bayt Hanina neighborhood, displacing 16 Palestinains (including 11 children). (PCHR 8/14; OCHA 8/20; PCHR 8/21)

Amid investigations into his criminal wrongdoing, Olmert announces that he will not run in the Kadima party elections, now set for 9/17, and will resign as PM as soon as the party picks a new leader. (HA, REU 7/30; NYT, WP, WT 7/31)

Israeli, Palestinian negotiators arrive in Washington for talks under U.S. auspices (see 6/24). (MM 7/30; WP 7/31)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts daytime arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus and similar late-night operations nr. Nablus and Salfit, and in and around Hebron, Jenin town and r.c., Tubas; sends undercover units in a car with Palestinian license plates into Burqin to abduct a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr.; fires on the funeral for the 11-yr.-old Palestinian boy killed in Ni‘lin on 7/29, leaving 1 Palestinian teenager brain dead, wounding 7 others; takes up positions in Anabta nr. Tulkarm, fires on residential areas, then fires on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, wounding 1 Palestinian. (WP 7/31; OCHA 8/6; PCHR 8/7)

The IDF shells a suspected rocketlaunching site nr. Bayt Hanun in n. Gaza, killing 3 Palestinian civilians sitting outside a house. Palestinians fire 4 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols, conducts random ID checks in Anabta nr. Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, and in Hebron, Qabatya, nr. Jenin. (NYT, WP 2/24; OCHA 2/27; PCHR 2/28)

Overnight, the IDF launches major arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, clashing with armed Palestinians, killing local AMB leader Basim Abu Saria and a 71-yr.-old Palestinian man, wounding 8 Palestinians (2 gunmen, 1 cameraman for the German press agency, and 5 bystanders, including a woman and a child); during the operation, the IDF blows up an apartment in a 4-story complex, damaging 2 other apartments, 10 nearby buildings, 4 cars, 7 electricity relays, 3 water pipes, displacing 3 Palestinian families (20 persons). Also in the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Anabta nr. Tulkarm, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron and in al-Bireh, Jenin town and r.c., Ramallah. In 2 separate incidents nr. Nablus, Jewish settlers attack Palestinians harvesting olives; the Palestinian DCO contacts its IDF counterpart, which removes the settlers; 1 Palestinian is injured. In Gaza, the IDF bulldozes 3 d. of Palestinian olive groves nr. Qarni crossing; Palestinians fire 3 mortars at the troops, who respond with heavy machine gun fire; no injuries are reported. (NYT, OCHA 10/17; PCHR 10/18)

In the West Bank, the IDF imposes restrictions barring Palestinians ages 16–25 from traveling southward through 8 major northern checkpoints (Anabta-Kifriyat tunnel, al-Ras in Tulkarm; Awarta, Hawara, Yitzhar in Nablus; Jit in Qalqilya; Dayr Ballut, Za‘atara in Salfit); fatally shoots a Palestinian teenager in Hebron, mistaking his toy gun for a real one; raids 3 mosques and a rehabilitation center in Hebron, confiscating documents, books; raids, searches the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions offices in Ramallah; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in Balata r.c., Nablus, Tulkarm town and r.c. A Palestinian dies nr. Um Salamuna when he is run over by a Jewish settler bus. In Gaza, the ESF deploys heavily in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood, where Hamas believes BBC reporter Johnston is being held; detains a number of mbrs. of the Daghmash clan thought to be behind the Army of Islam; exchanges fire with Daghmash family mbrs. who refuse to stop at an ESF checkpoint, wounding 1 Palestinian bystander. (The ESF says that since 7/2, it has detained 20 Daghmash mbrs.; that the Daghmash clan has kidnapped 10 Hamas mbrs. in retaliation.) Palestinians fire 3 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. (HA 7/3; OCHA, WP 7/4; PCHR 7/5)

PA Interior M Qawasmiresigns in protest of Abbas’s deployment of Fatah PA forces without coordination with his ministry, but blames both Hamas and Fatah for failing to take his security reform efforts seriously; Haniyeh will assume the post until a replacement is decided. Fatah-Hamas clashes continue in Gaza despite a 2d Egyptian-brokered cease-fire agmt. today, leaving 4 Palestinians dead and raising questions of whether the political leadership of either party has effective control over its military wings. The casualties include 2 AMB mbrs. killed when Hamas mbrs. raid a PA intelligence headquarters and the home of Fatah spokesman Mahir Miqdad. Meanwhile in the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Qabatya to conduct arrest raids, house searches; conducts additional arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Hebron, and in Qalqilya, Tulkarm town and r.c.; patrols, fires on residential areas of Anabta nr. Tulkarm. A Palestinian dies of injuries he received on 1/31 when he was shot by the IDF while attempting to sneak into Israel unarmed to find work. (BBC 5/14; NYT, WT 5/15; OCHA 5/16; PCHR 5/17)

The AMB fires a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, violating the unilateral Palestinian truce but causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Anabta nr. Tulkarm (firing on residential areas and shops, causing no casualties), ‘Azun (firing on residential areas and stone-throwing youths who confront troops, wounding a 13-yr.-old Palestinian), Tulkarm (firing on homes, causing no injuries); conducts arrest raids in Bayt Sahur. Possibly related to ongoing Fatah-Hamas violence, a PSF officer is found shot dead in his home in Jabaliya. (MM 12/1; NYT 12/2; OCHA 12/6; PCHR 12/7)

The IDF sends troops back into Khuza‘a (see 9/7), raiding and occupying several homes; demolishing 1 Palestinian home, damaging several others; bulldozing 150– 200 d. of land, including 23 greenhouses, 3 poultry houses, water and electricity networks, and a family cemetery; exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, wounding 1; withdrawing by evening. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Anabta nr. Tulkarm (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1), Jenin (firing on residential areas), Nablus (firing percussion grenades). Late at night, Jewish settlers fr. Gush Etzion and Karme Tzur settlements break into the al-Nabi Yunis Mosque in Hebron, conduct prayers. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in an IDF air strike in Khuza‘a ca. 9/6. (OCHA 9/13; PCHR 9/14)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops back into central Gaza, engaging in heavy clashes with armed Palestinians in al-Maghazi r.c. that last throughout the day, occupying houses as sniper posts, cutting electricity to central Gaza, conducting air and artillery strikes, leaving 5 Hamas mbrs., 4 Palestinian bystanders dead and 5 IDF soldiers, 93 Palestinians wounded (mostly militants, most with shrapnel fr. tank fire; also including 20 children). The IDF also continues to shell n. Gaza fr. land and sea. In the West Bank, the IDF sends around 50 armored vehicles into Nablus in a major raid allegedly to search for Palestinian militants “activated by Hizballah” to stage attacks on Israel, laying siege to the Nablus governorate building, the government compound (mostly destroyed during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002), 3 security force buildings, the central prison; forcing out and detaining around 150 Palestinians (many PA security officers); killing 3 armed AMB mbrs. and 2 bystanders (including a medic), wounding 33 (including 16 children, 2 Palestinian); demolishing the main PA security compound, at least 6 other PA buildings; occupying the Palestinian Red Crescent Society offices, preventing the movement of ambulances. The IDF also patrols in, fires on residential areas of Anabta nr. Tulkarm. (NYT, WP, WT 7/19; Guardian, ICRC press release, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 7/20; NYT 7/21; IFM, NYT 7/22; PCHR 7/27)

The IDF continues to escalate air and artillery strikes across Lebanon. At least 58 Lebanese (including at least 35 civilians) and 4 Israelis (2 soldiers, 2 civilians) are killed during the day, bringing the comprehensive toll to at least 310 Lebanese (overwhelmingly civilian) and 29 Israelis (at least 15 civilians, 13 soldiers). Sites hit include Srifa nr. Tyre, where air strikes level at least 20 buildings, killing at least 21 Lebanese, wounding 30, leaving as many as 80 unaccounted for; a Christian neighborhood in e. Beirut, hitting 2 well-drilling machines mistaken for rocket launchers in Ashrafiyya, causing no injuries; a bunker in s. Beirut believed to be housing Hizballah leaders, hit with 23 tons of explosives according to the IDF (Hizballah says the site was vacant); 2 PFLP-GC bases in the Biqa‘ Valley. The IDF also makes ground incursions into s. Lebanon, engaging Hizballah fighters; 2 Hizballah mbr. and 2 IDF soldiers are reportedly killed, 9 IDF soldiers injured, and 1 Israeli tank destroyed nr. Naqura. The IDF also clashes with Hizballah mbrs. who try to cross into n. Israel nr. Metula, chasing them back across the border, killing 2 Hizballah mbrs. Hizballah retaliates by launching more than 100 rockets on n. Israel, hitting Haifa and, for the 1st time, Nazareth, where 2 Israeli Palestinian boys are killed and 8 are wounded; 10s of light injuries occur elsewhere. Residents in s. Lebanon begin receiving tape-recorded phone messages fr. the IDF ordering them in Arabic to evacuate. Israel also interrupts Lebanese radio broadcasts to warn that any truck, including pickups, traveling s. of the Litani River would be assumed to be transporting weapons and targeted. (AP, REU 7/19; NYT, WP, WT 7/20)

Overnight and during the day, the IDF continues to expand its presence in n. Gaza, entering populated areas for the 1st time since disengagement, meeting strong resistance fr. Palestinians, who use RPGs, rifles, roadside bombs and fire 8 rockets toward Israel (only 4 land inside Israel, causing no damage or injuries). The IDF uses air strikes, artillery, tanks, and gunfire as well as bulldozes fields, roads, and open areas to widen the n. Gaza buffer zone; the clashes, mostly concentrated in Bayt Lahiya but also in s. Gaza, leave at least 24 Palestinians (many reportedly Hamas mbrs., but also including at least 2 children), 1 IDF soldier (hit by friendly fire) dead and wound some 80 Palestinians (nearly a third of them children), 1 IDF soldier. The IDF also bulldozes areas around Khan Yunis, demolishing 3 Palestinian homes; opens Erez and Qarni crossings for several hrs. for the movement of international aid workers, humanitarian goods. Palestinian gunmen also fire on an al-Jazeera TV car in Bayt Hanun, believing it to be an IDF undercover unit, wounding the driver, 1 journalist. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into a memorial service in Jenin r.c. for an AMB mbr. killed on 7/5, attempts to assassinate the AMB’s n. West Bank cmdr. Zakariya Zubaydi and local Islamic Jihad leader Mahmud al-Sadi, fatally shooting 2 Palestinian teenagers, wounding 18; Sadi, Zubaydi escape. The IDF also raids an Islamic charity nr. Hebron; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Jerusalem; patrols in ‘Anabta nr. Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, nr. Hebron and Qalqilya; issues military orders confiscating 45 d. of land along settler bypass road 60 nr. Hebron for construction of a military base nr. the separation wall. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa set fire to a Palestinian home; the IDF prevents firefighters fr. reaching the area. Israeli police arrest 5 senior Hamas mbrs. in East Jerusalem for illegally helping Change and Reform PC mbrs. conduct Hamas affairs in the city. (IMEMC, OCHA, NYT, WT, YA 7/6; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT, YA 7/7; HA, NYT, WP 7/8; PCHR 7/13)

Overnight, a senior mbr. of Hamas’s Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades is killed in Jabaliya r.c. when a large bomb goes off nr. his home; no group takes responsibility. The IDF makes an air strike on a car driving in n. Gaza, assassinating PRC mbrs. Imad Asaliyya, Majdi Hammad, wounding 2 PRC mbrs. in the car, 2 bystanders; sends bulldozers, tanks 200 m into Gaza nr. Bureij r.c. to level land for the construction of a cement wall along the n. Gaza border; sends an undercover unit into ‘Anabta nr. Tulkarm in a car with Palestinian license plates to raid a caf´e and arrest 11 Palestinians; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes nr. Jenin, 1 nr. Jericho, 1 nr. Nablus; patrols in Maithalun, stopping Palestinians for random ID checks; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Tulkarm, and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin (firing on residential areas); issues military orders confiscating 600 d. of Palestinian land s. of Tulkarm, isolated btwn. the separation wall and the Green Line, for “security purposes”; accompanies an Israeli Archaeological Authority team into Battir nr. Bethlehem to conduct a test dig in the center of the village in search of Jewish historical remains. Gunmen affiliated with Hamas raid a Palestinian TV station in Khan Yunis, damage equipment, accusing the station of supporting Fatah at Hamas’s expense; the Hamas leadership denies the attack was authorized by the group. (MM 6/5; NYT 6/6; OCHA 6/7; PCHR 6/8)

On the 5th day of Operation Southern Arrow, the IDF conducts an air strike on a car driving in Gaza City, killing AMB mbrs. Muhammad Abu Shari‘a and Mahmud Ajjur and seriously injuring a 3d who had just fired a rocket into Israel (causing no damage or injuries), and an air strike on a car nr. Khan Yunis, assassinating at least 6 mbrs. of the Abu Rish Brigades (ARB; a Fatah offshoot) and wounding 4 other ARB mbrs. and at least 11 bystanders; 3 Palestinian children in Jabaliya r.c. and a family of 5 in Bayt Lahiya are wounded by shrapnel in continued shelling of n. Gaza. The IDF also bars Palestinians under age 30 fr. crossing checkpoints into or out of the Jordan Valley; sends troops back into Nablus, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 12; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Jenin (targeting Islamic Jihad, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops); patrols in Anabta nr. Tulkarm, firing on Palestinian youths who confront the troops. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa set fire to a Palestinian home, attack Palestinian farmers, shepherds in nearby Yatta. A smugglers tunnel on the Rafah border collapses, killing 2 Palestinians. (IMEMC 4/8; Palestine Satellite Channel Television, VOI, VOP 4/8 in WNC 4/9; IMEMC, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 4/9; PCHR 4/13)

Sharon, returning to work a wk. after suffering a mild stroke, orders the IDF to implement Operation Blue Skies to enforce a no-go zone in n. Gaza by all means possible without re-entering the Strip in order to prevent rocket fire, stating that the operation will be open ended; the IDF takes no immediate action, however. The U.S. says (12/28) that it approves the decision, seeing it “in the context of [the PA’s] failure to address the security situation”; that the PA should take “effective measures against such acts [i.e., rocket fire] so that the measures Israel is taking are not necessary.” During the day, the IDF extends the 12/15 general closure on the West Bank and Gaza until 1/3 because of Hanukah; seals the Erez crossing (closed to most Palestinians since 12/16) to VIP and humanitarian cases; sends troops into Anabta, fires live ammunition at stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Late in the evening, the IDF launches an air strike on a Fatah office in Bayt Lahiya, destroying it and cutting electricity to the area; conducts 2 air strikes on a bridge southwest of Bayt Lahiya, also damaging several nearby homes; conducts 3 air strikes on open areas in n. Gaza, causing no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Elon Moreh cut down 120 Palestinian olive trees in Burin, nr. Nablus. In Gaza City, Hamas mbrs. detonate an explosive device outside the home of PA police official Abu Wa’il Saada, causing damage but no injuries; Saada family mbrs. exchange fire with the Hamas mbrs., causing no injuries. (AFP, IMEMC, Israeli cabinet communiqu´e, NYT, WT 12/25; HA, YA 12/26; CSM, PCHR, PMC 12/29)

Palestinians in n. Gaza, the IDF in s. Israel trade mortar and tank fire throughout the day (Palestinians firing some 11 mortars, the IDF some 27 shells), causing no damage or injuries. The IDF also launches air strikes on s. Gaza targeting Palestinians firing rockets into Israel; sends troops into Anabta, fires on residential areas, then fires on Palestinian stone-throwers who emerge to confront them; conducts arrest raids, house searches around Tulkarm and in Bayt Laqia nr. Ramallah, Hebron; begins bulldozing 345 d. of Palestinian land in Bayt Jala for construction of a new segment of the separation wall nr. Bethlehem. The AMB, Islamic Jihad claim joint responsibility for a drive-by shooting nr. Hebron that kills 1 Jewish settler, wounds 2; the IDF detains 3 journalists in the area. A Palestinian dies of a beating he sustained fr. the IDF several days previously in East Jerusalem. (BBC, REU 12/16; HA, WP 12/17; HA, NYT 12/18; PLO press release 12/21; PCHR 12/22)

Before dawn, the IDF sends undercover units into Nablus to arrest 6 Palestinians, including PA General Intelligence officer Amjad Mus‘ad; in the evening, fires 27 artillery rounds at n. Gaza in response to 3 mortars fired by Palestinians towards Israel, causing no damage or injuries on either side; late in the evening, undercover units return to Nablus, surround a PA security vehicle patrolling the area, order the7 PA security officers to lie on the ground, confiscate their weapons and phones, hold them for an hr., release them. The IDF also lifts the seal on the West Bank and Gaza imposed on 12/5, opens Qalandia crossing (closed since 12/8); raids and closes 10s of shops in Anabta, withdraws, later returns to conduct arrest raids and house searches; bulldozes a Palestinian home in East Jerusalem, sparking clashes with 10s of local Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, nr. Tulkarm. IDF soldiers bar an ambulance fr. transporting a critically ill 10-yr.-old Palestinian boy to a hospital in Jerusalem, beating a female paramedic and driver, arresting the paramedic; a 2d ambulance arrives, takes the patient to a Ramallah hospital. In Dayr al-Balah, 10 AMB gunmen angry over the Fatah primaries raid a PA election office, force it to close. In Gaza City, unidentified gunmen fire on a PA police patrol, killing 1 PA policeman, wounding a 2d; the incident may be connected to the Bayt Hanun clan violence (see 12/7) as the dead policeman belongs to 1 of the families. (AP, HA, IMEMC, PCHR, PRCS, XIN, YA 12/12; AP, NYT 12/13; PCHR 12/15; PLO press release 12/21)

The IDF reinforces roadblocks around Qalqilya; sends 40 armored vehicles, escorted by helicopters, into Nablus to conduct arrest raids targeting the AMB and Hamas, shelling an apartment building, firing on stone-throwers and residential areas (wounding 10 Palestinians), rounding up all males over age 16 for ID checks (arresting 4); patrols in, fires on residential areas of Tulkarm town and r.c., nearby Anabta, and Tubas nr. Jenin; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bethlehem for being built without a permit; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c. and Balata r.c., and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah, Tulkarm. In the evening, the AMB fires several mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, IMEMC 11/30; PCHR 12/1, 12/8; HA 12/9)

The IDF, PA security officers hold a ceremony to jointly unlock the gate (set up after the outbreak of the al-Aqsa intifada, locked since 2001) on the Anabta–Tulkarm road, finalizing the transfer of security control over Tulkarm; the IDF sets up a checkpoint 30 m. down the road to check Palestinian IDs; all other checkpoints into and out of the city, all villages surrounding Tulkarm remain under Israeli control. The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Silwan; uproots 300 olive trees in Surif nr. Hebron for construction of the separation wall; issues a military order confiscating a plot of land (exact size not specified) in Nahalin w. of Bethlehem for construction of the separation wall, citing the 1950 Absentee Property Law (see Quarterly Update in JPS 135). Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on spread poisoned food pellets on 30 d. of Palestinians grazing land. The IDF says that the PA security forces have sealed 18 smuggler’s tunnels to date. (HA 3/22; HA, OCHA, PR 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

Israel transfers Jericho to PA security control; reporters in the town say there is no real change as a result, only one checkpoint on the main road into town has been removed (replaced by a PA checkpoint 500 yds. away, as a sign of the PA asserting its control), though all other checkpoints into and out of the city remain in place; reporters covering the transfer say that many Palestinians interviewed during the day did not realize a transfer had occurred. The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Anabta nr. Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino settlement in Hebron attack 1 of the few remaining Palestinian homes in the city’s Jewish enclave, demolishing its roof, damaging its foundation, clashing with Israeli police who intervene, injuring 1 officer. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim settlement uproot 45 olive trees belonging to Palestinians fr. nearby Kafr Qadim. (BBC, HA, IDF Radio, JAZ, MM, PR, VOI, VOP 3/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/17; AFP, ITAR-TASS, PCHR, al-Quds 3/17; HA 3/18; HJ 3/19; OCHA, PR 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

The IDF raids Balata r.c., takes up sniper positions atop a number of houses, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian inside his home; conducts house searches in the Old City of Nablus, blowing the doors off 8 houses and 53 shops, detonating explosives to clear an alley blocked by barrels they fear could be booby trapped, damaging a church and a mosque; demolishes 15 Palestinian homes s. of Ramallah for construction of the separation wall; conducts arrest raids in Anabta, Nablus, al-Ram and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Ramallah. Palestinians fire an antitank round at an IDF patrol in Gaza, lightly injuring 2 soldiers. (VOI, VOP 6/15 in WNC 6/17; NYT 6/16; VOI, VOP 6/16 in WNC 6/18; PCHR 6/17)

The IDF fatally shots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who ignores orders to halt nr. Tulkarm; fires on Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists staging a nonviolent protest against the separation wall nr. Qalqilya, wounding a 14-yr.-old Palestinian with live ammunition; strings a new fence along an 800-m section of a settler bypass road nr. Khan Yunis, leaving a Palestinian family trapped in their home in the 70-m noman’s-land created btwn. the old and new fences; raids, seals an Islamic charitable organization in Tulkarm, confiscating $11,000 of checks to aid poor families, $1,000 in cash, stamps, computer and office equipment; searches a house, bulldozes 500 m2 of land nr. Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Anabta, Arub r.c., Hebron, Nablus. (VOI, YA 6/7 in WNC 6/9; HA 6/8; PCHR 6/10)

The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian in Hebron who allegedly attempts to grab a soldier’s weapon; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths nr. Nisanit settlement, wounding 5; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Anabta, Kafr Dik, Qalqilya, Tubas; occupies a Palestinian home in Husan as an observation post; begins construction of a fence along the Kissufim–Katif Bloc road in Gaza, designed to prevent Palestinian attacks on Jewish settler vehicles. (AFP, MM 5/6; VOI 5/6 in WNC 5/8; VOI 5/9 in WNC 5/12; PCHR 5/13)

Responding to Bush’s 4/14 endorsement of Sharon’s plan, the UN General Assembly passes (140-6) a res. affirming the Palestinians “right to self-determination and sovereignty over their territory.” Israel, the U.S., 4 Pacific Island nations vote against. (HA 5/6; ITAR-TASS, MENA 5/7 in WNC 5/11; PR 5/12; MEI 5/14)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing youths in Dahaysha r.c., killing 1 Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah (wounding a Palestinian playing soccer), conducts arrest raids in Anabta nr. Tulkarm, Bayt Sahur, Jenin, Salfit. In Nablus, an AMB mbr. dies when his car mysteriously explodes in what may be an assassination. UN officials note that nearly all food and other humanitarian aid to Gaza has ceased since Israel closed the Erez crossing on 3/15, warn that a humanitarian crisis could ensue if Israel does not ease restrictions. On the 1st Friday after Yasin’s assassination, 10,000s of Palestinians protest across the West Bank and Gaza. (VOP 3/26 in WNC 3/30; NYT, WT 3/27; AFP 3/30; PR 3/31; PCHR 4/1)

Israel reopens the Erez crossing, allowing 3,600 Palestinian laborers to reach their jobs in the Erez industrial zone and Israel. The IDF raids a mosque in Hebron, detaining worshippers for 2 hrs.; erects new temporary checkpoints around Tulkarm; closes entrances to Salfit; conducts arrest raids, completely demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Yatta, partially demolishes 3 in Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Anabta, Askar r.c., Dayr al-Balah, Nablus. (WT 1/19; PCHR 1/20; LAW, PCHR 1/22)

The IDF raids Tulkarm r.c., rounding up all inhabitants of 1 section of the camp for questioning, detaining 230 Palestinian men, allowing women and children to go after 10 hrs.; sends APCs into Rafah, shelling residential areas, wounding 3, demolishing 1 Palestinian home and 2 stores, severely damaging 5 homes; demolishes another Palestinian home nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Anabta nr. Tulkarm, Asira nr. Nablus, Jaba’ nr. Jenin, Kubar nr. Ramallah, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tarqumiyya and Yatta nr. Hebron. Israel completes a section of separation wall cutting off Abu Dis fr. Jerusalem. Palestinians report that the IDF has bulldozed 24 dunams of agricultural land outside Hebron since 1/9, for construction of the wall. (ISM press release 1/12; WT 1/13; PCHR 1/15; WP 2/10)

Sharon makes a statement to the Knesset reiterating his intention to disengage unilaterally fr. the occupied territories if the Palestinians do not make concessions soon. The Knesset endorses Sharon’s statement byavote of 51-39. (AFP 1/12; MM 1/13; PR 1/14)

The IDF assassinates wanted Hamas mbrs. Shaman Subuh, Mustafa Baqash in Jenin; demolishes 8 Palestinian homes, 3 brick factories, a dairy farm and damages 18 other homes in Rafah; demolishes 1 home, 3 blacksmith shops in Hebron; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes part of the Silwan Sports Club in East Jerusalem; makes arrest raids in Anabta, Nablus. Israel lifts the curfew on Bethlehem for Christmas, says it will provide free public transportation to any Christian Arabs in Israel or the territories who want to visit the city in the next few days. (HA 12/23; LAW, NYT 12/24; AFP 12/25 in WNC 12/26; LAW, PCHR 12/25)

The Israeli Housing Min. issues tenders to construct 232 new housing units in the ultra-Orthodox West Bank settlement of Emmanuel, even though the settlement is losing residents at the rate of 5% a year. Housing Min. figures show that 1,688 (75%) of the 2,178 tenders for public construction issued between 1/02 and 9/02 were for housing in the territories. Tenders for 28 units in Beitar Ilit, 102 units in Efrat's Givat Hazayit, 76 new units in Ariel, all in the West Bank, were also issued recently. (HA 12/24)

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) continues to reoccupy 7 Palestinian towns (Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Tulkarm) and impose 24-hr. curfews on most population centers, tight restrictions on movement through out the West Bank, Gaza. The IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes (2 Anabta, 1 Bayt Hanun, 2 Jenin); conducts arrest raids nr. Hebron. (NYT, WT 8/17; LAW, PCHR 8/21; PCHR 8/26)

The IDF calls up another 3,000 reservists; shells a building in Tulkarm r.c., killing 1 PSF officer (children nearby reportedly were stoning the tank); imposes 24-hr. curfews on Abu Dis, Anabta, Araqa, Bayt Jibrin r.c., Bayt Wazzan, al-Funduq, Hashimiyya, Kafr Rumman, Yamun, Zawata; conducts arrest raids and house-to-house searches in Jenin town and surrounding villages, fatally shooting a 2d Palestinian in Yamun; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at the al-Mawasi checkpoint and residential areas in Dahaysha r.c., Khan Yunis; fire live ammunition, rubber bullets at Palestinians approaching al-Bireh, Jawal, Surda checkpoints into Ramallah; bulldozes nearly 100 dunams of agricultural land n. of Bayt Lahia. The PA places Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin under house arrest, arrests 11 Hamas mbrs. in Gaza. An IDF soldier dies of injuries received on 6/15; a Palestinian boy dies of injuries received on 6/21. (HP 6/23; NYT, WP, WT 6/24; RMC 6/24 in WNC 6/25; NYT 6/25; QA 6/25 in WNC 6/26; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

The IDF completes its withdrawal to the outskirts of Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Anabta, Bayt Furik; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding 7; demolishes a Palestinian home in Hebron; bulldozes 17 dunams of agricultural land in Absan nr. the Gaza-Israel border. In Silwan in East Jerusalem, Israeli special forces raid a Palestinian home, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding another. A Palestinian heart attack victim dies when his ambulance is barred fr. crossing an IDF checkpoint to reach a hospital. (LAW 6/13; UPMRC, WP 6/14; LAW, PCHR 6/19; New Haven Register 7/3)

Bush confers with Saudi FM Prince Saud al-Faisal, who holds separate talks with VP Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/14)

Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device in a Haifa bus station, lightly injuring 11 Israelis. During a predawn arrest raid in Anabta that nets some 25 Islamic Jihad suspects, the IDF opens fire on 2 cars of PSF officers (1 marked, 1 civilian), killing 4 PSF officers, wounding 2; blows up 1 Palestinian home. The IDF also fatally shoots 1 Palestinian taxi driver at a crossing in Jinin; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah. Palestinian gunmen ambush a car in the West Bank, seriously injuring a Jewish settler. (BBC, WP 12/9; MENA 12/9 in WNC 12/11; NYT, WP, WT 12/10; AYM 12/10 in WNC 12/12; LAW 12/12)

U.S. envoy Zinni convenes another unproductive trilateral security comm. mtg.; warns Israel, the PA that if they do not make serious efforts to implement a cease-fire within 48 hrs., he will call off his mission. In Gaza, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB), Hamas, Islamic Jihad issue a signed statement offering to suspend suicide bombings and gunfire inside Israel, if Israel stops assassinations, bombardment of Palestinian areas. The IDF dismisses the offer. (BBC, HA 12/9; JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/10; MM 12/11; AYM 12/11 in WNC 12/13; al-Quds 12/13 in WNC 12/14; MEI 12/21)

In a signal to the Palestinians, Sharon convenes his weekly cabinet mtg. at the IDF's West Bank headquarters. At his request the inner cabinet approves an escalation of attacks on PA security installations. (BBC, HA 12/9; WT 12/10; Guardian 12/19)

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli military court identifies Faisal Husayni as a supporter and financial backer of the socalled Palestine Popular Army. Court has not charged Husayni with any crime, and Husayni says allegations are false [NYT 1/19].

Israeli military demolishes apartment building in Bani Suhaylah in Gaza; destroys 4more in Hebron area. Army seals house in Anabta and another in Ain Arik. Imam al-Shafi'i Elementary School is reopened after 3 days of closure [FJ 1/29].

Hamas says it is not responsible for 1/17 leaflet attacking Arafat, says it is a forgery [FBIS 1/18].