The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the Israeli military claimed that Palestinian militants had opened fire at Israeli soldiers on 3 separate occasions at the Salem checkpoint and in Dayr Sharaf and Jalbun, damaging 1 vehicle. Israeli forces subsequently raided Jalbun, leading to tear-gas related injuries, and closed off all checkpoints to Nablus. Israeli forces also demolished 2 Palestinian homes in Furush Bayt Dajan, 1 Palestinian home under construction in al-Jiftlik, 1 car was near Haris, and issued demolition notices for 3 agricultural buildings and 1 residential tent in al-Matar. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor with live ammunition during a raid in ‘Azzun. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint east of Bethlehem, claiming he tried to stab a soldier. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man at a checkpoint near the Har Homa settlement, claiming he had attempted to stab soldiers. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near the Gaza fence north of Jabaliyya, injuring 1 with live ammunition and causing tear-gas related injuries. (HA, QDS, QDS, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/18; PCHR 9/21; UNOCHA 9/26)

COGAT said the Beit Hanun (Erez) crossing to Gaza would remain closed on 9/18. The crossing was scheduled to be reopened at midnight on 9/17 after it had been closed since 9/14 due to Israeli holidays. (HA, QDS 9/18)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. (QDS 9/18)

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, and the EU sponsored a conference called The Peace Day Effort to advance the two-state solution through political, economic, cultural, and security-oriented means. The conference was held in New York on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting and attended by around 30 foreign ministers. China’s ambassador to the UN and U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Israeli-Palestinian affairs Andrew Miller also attended. Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said before the conference that it was convened as “[p]eople have started to losing hope in a two-state solution” and that there can be no solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict without the establishment of a Palestinian state. Palestinian and Israeli officials were not invited to partake. The PA expressed satisfaction with the initiative. (HA, MEE, TOI 9/18; AN, WAFA 9/19 HA 9/20)

Ahead of traveling to the U.S. for the annual UN General Assembly session Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israelis who protest his government’s judicial overhaul are aligning themselves with the PLO and Iran. The Prime Minister’s office later clarified, after backlash from the Israeli opposition and Jewish organizations in the U.S., that Netanyahu was criticizing that Israelis were protesting Israel at the same time as supporters of the PLO and BDS were and that they should also protest “those who deny the State of Israel’s right to exist.” Later in the day, Netanyahu met with Tesla, X, and Space X owner Elon Musk in Silicon Valley, defending Musk against charges of anti-Semitism brought by the Anti-Defamation League, among others. (ALM, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, NYT 9/18; REU 9/19)

Helicopter fighter pilot Shira Etting, a leader in the Israeli protest movement against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul, told 60 Minutes that “[i]f you want pilots to be able to fly, and shoot bombs and missiles into houses knowing they might be killing children, they must have the strongest confidence in the people making those decisions.” (HA 9/18; HA 9/20)

In the West Bank, 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 7 during late-night raids in and around Bayt Awa, Yatta, and Bethlehem; 1 at a flying checkpoint near Jenin. 1 Palestinian teenager was hospitalized after being beaten by Israeli forces during a daytime raid near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during daytime raids in the Old City and Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 12/1; PCHR 12/5)

Israel’s defense minister Naftali Bennett ordered the “planning processes to be advanced” for new settler housing in Hebron. The plan includes development of a closed fruit and vegetable market for settler housing. According to Defense Minister Bennett, the new settlement housing “will create territorial continuation from the Cave of the Patriarchs [al-Ibrahimi Mosque] to the Avraham Avinu neighborhood, and double the number of Jewish residents in the city.” PLO’s secretary general Saeb Erakat said in a tweet that Bennett’s announcement was the “first tangible result of the U.S. decision to legitimize colonization,” referring to U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s announcement from 11/18 that the U.S. no longer considers the Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. Defense Minister Bennett also sent a letter to the Palestinian municipal government of Hebron demanding consent for the demolition of the fruit and vegetable market, threatening that Bennett would start legal proceedings to lift the municipality’s protected status over the site. (AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA 12/1; HA 12/8)

The Israeli cabinet approved an allocation of 40 million shekels ($11.5 million) for construction of 1st-aid stations and security in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The chairperson of the Joint Arab List Ayman Odeh subsequently sent a letter to the Israeli attorney general demanding an examination of the constitutionality of the allocation, saying that the approval “raise[s] a grave suspicion of a budget allocation in exchange for a political favor.” (HA 12/1)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. president Donald Trump spoke on the phone and, according to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the 2 discussed recognizing the Jordan Valley as Israel’s official eastern border in addition to a defense pact and Iran. (HA, TOI 12/2)

In the Gaza Strip, Egyptian authorities keep the Rafah border crossing open for a 2d day. Off the n. coast, Israeli naval forces open fire with live ammunition on Palestinian fishing boats, moderately injuring 1 fisherman. Also, the Gaza power plant shuts down 1 of its 3 currently operating turbines due to lack of fuel imports, increasing the planned power outages from 12 to 18 hours per day. In the West Bank, the municipal govt. of the Kiryat Arba settlement delivers a notice of unpaid property taxes to a Palestinian on whose lands the settlement was built, which will reportedly force him and his family to leave their land. Separately, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes and 2 animal shelters in a village in the s. Hebron hills. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Nablus, Hebron, Jenin, as well as Tulkarm r.c.; patrols nr. Hebron and Tulkarm. They also arrest 1 Palestinian at a military checkpoint nr. Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a home in Jabal Mukabir and a building in Shu‘fat; conduct house searches and arrest raids in Silwan. Meanwhile, security guards deny a group of right-wing Jewish activists entry to Haram al-Sharif. In Israel, a Palestinian man from Tulkarm attacks Jewish Israelis on a bus in Tel Aviv, injuring 13 with a knife, before police shoot him in the leg and detain him. (AFP, HA, MDW, MNA, NPR, WAFA 1/21; MNA, PCHR 1/22; MNA 1/23; PCHR 1/29; OCHA 1/30)

The PLO Exec. Comm. meets in Ramallah to discuss the submission of a new draft res. to the UNSC. It would call for 1 year of negotiations sponsored by the UNSC’s permanent mbrs., and a 2-year timetable for the end of the Israeli occupation. (MNA 1/20)

U.S. Speaker of the House of Reps. John Boehner (R-OH) announces that Israeli PM Netanyahu has accepted his invitation to come to Washington and address a special meeting of Congress on Iran. The Obama admin. criticizes Boehner and Netanyahu for not informing the White House before today. Netanyahu will address Congress on 3/3. (HA, POL, REU, TOI 1/21; MDW 1/22)

Uruguay recognizes an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 lines. (XIN 3/16)

Egypt completes repairs to its natural gas pipeline damaged during the 2/2011 Egyptian unrest (see Quarterly Update in JPS 159) and resumes sending natural gas to Israel. The Israeli navy detains a ship, the German-owned and Liberian flagged Victoria, en route fr. Syria to Egypt, 200 mi. off the Israeli coast that Israel claims was attempting to deliver arms to Gaza fr. Iran, taking it to Ashdod for further inspection; Israeli authorities said the ship carried 4 crates holding some 70,000 rounds of ammunition for Kalashnikov rifles, 1,000s of mortars, 6 Chinese C-704 antiship missiles, and 2 radar systems. Iran denies smuggling arms. The IDF makes a brief incursion into c. Gaza to level lands e. of al-Bureij r.c. to clear lines of sight. On the Rafah border, 2 Palestinians are killed, 4 are injured in an explosion in a smuggling tunnel. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that another 4 Palestinians have been killed in tunnel accidents since 3/2. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in Jenin and surrounding villages; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron. Jewish settlers attempt to enter Kafr Laqif village nr. Qalqilya but are prevented by the IDF and stone nearby Palestinian homes instead. In separate instances, Jewish settlers fr. Karnei Shomron and Keddumim settlements, both nr. Nablus, stone passing Palestinian vehicles. Across the West Bank and Gaza, 1,000s of Palestinians turn out for candlelight vigils calling for national reconciliation. Hamas security forces violently break up the biggest rally (as many as 100,000) in Gaza City, injuring 5 protesters. In the West Bank, PA security forces (PASF) fire tear gas at some 8,000 protesters in Ramallah, briefly dispersing them and injuring 20; some protesters return, vowing to stay in Ramallah’s Manara Square until the West Bank and Gaza are reunited (they stay until 4/17). Meanwhile, Hamas’s acting PM in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh invites Abbas to Gaza for reconciliation talks; Abbas responds favorably. Inside Israel, 2 cars owned by Israeli Palestinian students at Safad Academic College were torched during a campus event to promote Arab-Jewish dialogue. Anti-Arab graffiti also was sprayed on the wall of the college, saying: “Arabs get out,” “Death to Arabs,” and “Kahane was right.” (General Delegation of the PLO to the United States letter, IFM, National Public Radio 3/15; JAZ, JP, JTA, MNA, NYT, WP, WT 3/16; PCHR 3/17; OCHA 3/18; JPI 4/1)

In Bahrain, protesters ramp up demonstrations in response to Saudi Arabia’s incursion, while the king imposes a 3-mo. state of emergency, deploys the military, and closes schools and govt. offices. (NYT 3/16)

In Washington, Clinton meets with Arafat, encourages him to accept U.S. FRD proposal (see 1/20). Arafat refuses, saying that he expects Israel to hand over 91% of the est Bank before the final stages of the permanent status talks. Arafat agrees to renegotiate the 12/17 MOU on security, gives Clinton 2 letters: one, requested by the U.S., formalizing Palestinian recognition of Israel's right to exist, spelling out for the 1st time which of the 33 articles of the 1968 PLO charter were annulled in 1996; the other saying that a "time-out" on Israeli settlement construction should extend to every place on the West Bank that is not within 50 meters of an existing settlement structure. After mtg., Clinton says that he hopes that land for peace will prevail in the Middle East that "the Palestinians can realize their aspirations to live as a free people." (NYT, WP, WT 1/23; ITV, MENA 1/23, JT, RE 1/24 in WNC 1/27; MM, WT 1/26; MEI 1/30; MA 2/3 in WNC 2/4)

CIA Dir. George Tenet meets with Arafat at his hotel to discuss security issues, 12/17 MOU on security. (NYT, WP 1/23)

Israeli Interior Min. approves 2 building plans for the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al-Amud in Jerusalem: "Arab sector" plan includes the construction of "additional public space," 1,020 housing units; "Jewish sector" plan includes 132 housing units. Construction permits are not issued automatically; Jewish, Arab landowners must apply to the local authority for permits. (IGPO 2/4; MM, NYT 2/5) (see 9/14/97)

U.S. orders deportation of Hani al-Sayigh, a Saudi Arabian suspected of involvement in the 6/96 bombing of the U.S. barracks at al-Khobar. Sayigh fled Saudi Arabia for Canada (3/97), which then extradited him to the U.S. (6/97) at Washington's request to provide testimony linking Iran with the bombing. Sayigh failed to provide such information, and the U.S. was forced to drop charges of collusion against him for lacked evidence. He faces possible execution if he is sent back to Saudi Arabia. (NYT, WP) (see 9/9)

IDF opens fire with rubber bullets, live ammunition, teargas, percussion grenades on Palestinians protesting bulldozing of land nr. Neve Dalim settlement, injuring 4. (PCHR 1/24) (see 1/21)

Israel launches Ofek-4 satellite to spy on Iran, Iraq, Syria, but it disintegrates before entering orbit. (ITV 1/23 in WNC 1/27; WT 1/24; MM 1/26; JP 2/7)

Israeli PM Rabin, during tour of Jericho area, accuses PLO of violating 5/4 agreement by arresting Gaza Strip collaborators.  Rabin says arrests could affect timetable for releasing Palestinian prisoners.  (WSJ, WT 6/15)

PLO official Nabil Shaath arrives in Gaza "to stay."  (MM 6/15)

Palestinian police officer in Gaza shot late 6/13 dies, 1st such casualty since start of self-rule.  Officer allegedly shot accidentally by another officer, but circumstances unclear.  (MM 6/14; WT 6/15; TJT 6/17)

Ha'Aretz reports Jerusalem municipality is contemplating placing liens on Orient House, unofficial PLO HQ in Jerusalem, for unpaid local taxes.  (MM 6/14)

Human Rights Watch-Middle East issues report accusing Israel of systematic torture of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.  Report says torture and ill-treatment persist despite peace agreements with PLO.  (MM, WT 6/15; CSM 6/17)

Syrian Pres. al-Asad, Lebanese Pres. Hirawi hold summit in Damascus, agree to step up coordination of positions in negotiations with Israel.  (MM 6/15)

Mohammed al-Khilewi, frmr. 1st secy of Saudi UN mission, applies for political asylum in U.S.  Al-Khilewi accuses Saudis of supporting Hamas, spying on U.S. Jewish organizations.  (WSJ 6/15)

WP reports U.S. concern with North Korean nuclear-weapons program motivated in part by CIA assessment of potential danger to Israel from missile exports to Iran, Libya, and Syria, possible sales of nuclear arms to terrorist groups.  (WP 6/14)

Israeli govt. submits proposed amendment to Knesset that would permit contacts with the PLO. (Qol Yisra'el 11/30 in FBIS 12/1)

Ramallah-based Palestinian Public Opinion Research Center releases poll of 1,000 o.t. residents on peace process. 68% said the negotiations have "a chance" for achieving peace; 25% see no hope in negotiations, whatever the terms. 76% accept autonomy if it leads to Palestinian sovereignty, 61% say rejectionists have no reliable agenda to confront the peace process. (al-Fajr 12/1 in FBIS 12/3)

Peace Now releases o.t. demographic survey, concluding that settlement movement in o.t. has failed, with inflated govt. investment over the years resulting in a small number of settlers who only provoke violence. Yesha Council (of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza) charges Peace Now with tailoring facts to fit their political orientation. (IDF Radio 11/30 in FBIS 12/1; MM 12/1)

Al-Quds al-Arabi publishes interview with Chmn. Arafat criticizing Syria for "adopting" the ten rejectionist factions, Iran and the Gulf states for supporting Hamas. (MM 12/1)

Katyusha rocket fired at IDF post in "security zone" (first such firing since 11/12), followed by bombardment of SLA positions north of zone. Israel, SLA shells Iqlim al-Tuffah region. (Radio Lebanon, VOL 12/1 in FBIS 12/1)

Israeli cabinet officially and unanimously denounces UN decision to send delegation to investigate Haram al-Sharif shootings in Jerusalem. U.S. admin. officials say Israel's rejection of UN delegation may further strain U.S.-Israel relations [NYT, LAT, WP, WT, MEM 10/15; text in JPD 10/15 in FBIS 10/15].

B'Tselem issues report on Haram al- Sharif incident concluding Israeli forces fired indiscriminately after danger to police or Jewish worshippers had disappeared [MEM 10/15].

Iraq and Iran resume direct diplomatic relations, reopening their respective embassies [NYT, WT 10/14].

Arafat meets with French F.M. Roland Dumas and says he is optimistic about a political solution to Gulf crisis following his latest talks with Saddam. PLO's 90-member Central Council issues statement calling for "balanced and linked solution to all regional issues and crisis in accordance with international legitimacy. . ." [SVP 10/14 in FBIS 10/15; NYT, MEM 10/15].

"Aliya cabinet" chaired by Housing Minister Ariel Sharon decides to encourage increase in settlement of Soviet Jews in E. Jeru- salem, despite gov't assurances to U.S. not to do so. The move is seen as response to U.S.-backed 10/12 UN vote; Sharon says: "there is no better answer to the political dangers" presented by UN resolutions "than strengthening the Jewish population" in E. Jerusalem [JDS 10/14 in FBIS 10/15; MEM 10/15; NYT 10/16].

After 2 weeks of denials, Israeli officials acknowledge that Shamir's caretaker gov't. was helping fund controversial occupation by Jewish nationalists of Hospice of St. John in Jerusalem's Christian quarter [NYT, WP, LAT, WT 4/23].

Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine frees American educator Robert Pohill after 39 months in captivity [NYT, WP, WT 4/23]; New York Times reports Iran gave weapons and financial assistance to Islamic Jihad to persuade group to release Pohill [NYT, LAT 4/23]; Pres. Bush tells reporters he does not plan any gestures to respond to release of Pohill, says release of all hostages is "bottom line" for any reciprocal "goodwill" action [WP 4/23].

Israeli officials insist that 4/19, 4/20 air force raids on PFLP-GC and Hizballah bases in Lebanon have no impact on fate of American hostages, and dismiss as rhetoric warning that such attacks could endanger future hostage releases [WP 4/ 23].

PLO officially requests extraordinary Arab summit to discuss Soviet Jewish emigration (cf. 4/24) [TDS 4/23 in FBIS 4/ 24].

Meeting for the 3d time in 15 days, Hakam Balawi and Robert Pelletreau discuss latest developments as part of U.S.-PLO dialogue [WAFA 4/24 in FBIS 4/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Jerusalem, Israeli police raid 2 Jewish seminaries in search of arms and "sabotage materials" after series of attacks against Arabs. No arms found; 1 man is arrested [PI 12/20]. Israeli military court in Gaza sentences 7 members of an "armed cell" to long prison terms [FJ 12/25]. After numerous charges of abuse, "Ansar II," a makeshift detention center in Gaza, is closed. Most detainees are released [FJ 12/25].

Arab World: Egyptian authorities arrest 6, accusing them of plotting to kill Israelis in the al-Ma'adi suburb of Cairo [FJ 12/25].

Other Countries: U.S. Pres. Reagan names Lawrence Walsh as independent counsel to investigate the arms sales to Iran and diversion of funds to the Nicaraguan contras [PI 12/20].

Military Action

Arab World: PLO and Amal continue their fight around Shatila and Burj al-Barajinah camps [GU 12/20].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jerusalem Electric Company (JEC) and Ministry of Energy reach initial agreement whereby JEC gives up concession for Jewish settlements in the occupied territories to Israeli National Electric (IEC). JEC will continue to serve its Palestinian customers [FJ 12/19]. Senior Israeli officials dispute White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan's reported testimony that Israelacked Pres. Reagan's approval for August 1985 arms shipment to Iran [NYT 12/18]. Finance Minister Moshe Nissim announces plan for major reform that would "desocialize" Israel's economy. Histadrut threatens strike if program is implemented [WT 12/18]. Palestinians held in converted Gaza army camp protest conditions and treatment at detention center [FE 12/19]. Jerusalem police arrest 5 Jewish men accused of violence against Palestinians in the last 3 weeks. Charges range from illegal demonstration to stone throwing and battering a small child [F 12/25].

Arab World: Director of PLO Political Department 'Abd al-Latif Abu Hijlah meets with British Foreign Ministry representative Patrick Nixon in Tunis [FJ 12/25].

Military Action:

Lebanese Army moves into Chouf replacing Israelis; IDF, reluctant to leave, keeps two tanks, squad of soldiers in Kfar Matta; Norwegian UNIFIL units set up post in Haddad militia's area of operation, prompting exchange of gunfire; IDF attacked by bazooka and light weapons east of Doha and at IDF roadblock near Sil, south of Beirut; Syrian radio reports IDF reinforcing armor units in Bekaa, a few miles south of Beirut-Damascus highway.

Casualties:

One IDF soldier wounded by bazooka fire east of Doha; 300 West Beirut residents spontaneously protest rumor of Lebanese Army withdrawal from their neighborhood.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Foreign Minister Shamir returns from 3-week visit to US; Israeli Ambassador Moshe Arens says US approved Israeli weapons, spare parts sales to Iran in attempt to make contacts in Iranian military that could be used to bring down Khomeini government; Israel reportedly agrees to provide arms and counter-insurgency training to Costa Rica; former Mossad head Meir Amit says net results of invasion are negative ("We've encouraged anti-Semitism,... highlighted the Palestinian problem instead of solving it" and by hitting PLO too hard, increased Arab solidarity); IDF mental health unit report indicates high mental illness rate among Israelis fighting in Lebanon (23 percent of total Israeli wounded are suffering psychiatric injuries, double "normal" wartime rate; 78 percent of 600 affected men are reservists).

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Gemayel returns home, calling trip a success (government announces US has agreed to equip 7,500 of 28,000-man Lebanese Army, France has pledged $86 million in military equipment); Salam, in interview, accuses Sharon of arming Phalange and Druze to promote sectarian tension in Lebanon.

Arab Governments: Arab League delegation headed by Moroccan King Hassan (with Foreign Ministers of Morocco, Syria, Algeria, Jordan, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia) meets with Reagan for 3 hours and later with State Department, stresses only PLO agreement will enable Jordan to play negotiating role for West Bank; US officials refuse to meet with PLO representative Khalid al-Hassan who is accompanying Arab League delegation.

US and Other Countries: Reagan urges Arab League delegation to begin direct negotiation with Israel to achieve Palestinian rights; Shultz tells delegation simultaneous Israeli-PLO recognition" moot as Israel totally rejects idea; Hassan's use of word "coexistence" seen by US officials as implying Arab recognition of Israel; Jewish medical team, back in Britain after visiting 4 refugee camps. in Lebanon, says Palestinians want to be more self-reliant but Israelis are preventing them from rebuilding homes, reorganizing health services.

UN: Britain blocks move to bar Israel from UN-sponsored International Telecommunications Union at Nairobi meeting; Arab states at UN agree to postpone efforts to expel Israel from General Assembly.