The Palestine Chronology

The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence e. of al-Qarara. OCHA reports that in the previous week or so, 5 Palestinian children were injured when they accidentally triggered unexploded IDF ordnance that they found near Gaza’s al-Bureij r.c. OCHA also reports that since 6/24, Israel has allowed Gazans to export 2 truckloads of garments to both Jordan and Britain. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm in the morning; conducts other daytime patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah; patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah late at night (firing rubber coated-steel bullets, tear gas, and percussion grenades to disperse stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them in 1 instance, causing no reported injuries); and conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Umar and Hebron, and nr. Qalqilya. (PCHR 7/12; OCHA 7/13)

Debate over moving toward a universal draft threatens to split Netanyahu’s newly expanded coalition. UltraOrthodox groups, angry over calls to remove their exemption from service based on religious reasons, raise the issue of service waivers for Palestinian citizens of Israel. The 2002 Tal Law exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews engaged in religious studies was invalidated by the High Court in 2/2012 and is set to expire at the end of 7/2012. (NYT 6/30)

Israel’s Housing Min. publishes tenders for the construction of 171 housing units in Gilo and Pisgat Ze’ev settlements in East Jerusalem. IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Bureij r.c. catch and arrest 3 Palestinians (including 2 teenagers) attempting to sneak into Israel to find work. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages each nr. Ramallah and Salfit in the morning; and in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah late at night. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 5 Palestinians are lightly injured by tear gas canisters (4 in Kafr Qaddum, including a child; 1 in Bil‘in). (PCHR 7/5; OCHA 7/13)

UNESCO’s World Heritage Comm. approves (13–6) a Palestinian request to place Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on its list of world heritage sites at risk because of its urgent need for repairs. The U.S. strongly opposed the request, stating the church was not imperiled. Israel denounces the vote, saying, ‘‘UNESCO is motivated by political and not cultural considerations.’’ (WP 6/30)

By late afternoon, cross-border incidents in Gaza resume, with Palestinians firing some 26 rockets and mortars and Israeli warplanes and drones carrying out at least 5 air strikes. One Palestinian rocket hits a factory in Sderot, injuring 1 Israeli civilian; the Israeli strikes kill at least 2 Palestinians (both armed) and injure at least 23 (2 militants, 6 PASF officers, and 15 civilians, including 1 woman and 1 child). Israel’s targets included a rocket-launching team nr. al-Bureij r.c. (1 killed); a group of armed Palestinians nr. Jabaliya (1 killed, 2 wounded); 2 IQB training camps in n. and c. Gaza (11 bystanders injured); and a PASF compound in the center of Gaza City (6 PASF officers and 4 bystanders injured). Israel now estimates that Palestinians have fired more than 130 rockets and mortars into Israel since 6/18. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in al-Nabi Salih in the morning; in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 each nr. Jenin and Ramallah in the afternoon; and in Jericho, neighboring ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c., 1 nearby village, and 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah late at night. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 1 Palestinian is hit by a tear gas canister in Bayt Umar and moderately injured. (YA 6/22; HA, NYT, WP 6/23; PCHR 6/28; OCHA 6/29)

Israeli pres. Shimon Peres says he has met with Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas and other Palestinian officials several times in recent months to discuss resuming peace talks. The Palestinians do not comment. (WT 6/20) A previously unknown group calling itself the Mujahiddin Shura Council of Jerusalem (which claims ties to alQa‘ida) releases a video claiming responsibility for the 6/18 cross-border attack on Israel from Egypt. The video shows the 2 assailants killed by the IDF, identifying them as an Egyptian and a Saudi. (WP 6/20; NYT 6/21)

Responding to recent Israeli air strikes and cross-border shootings in Gaza that killed 6 Palestinians, Hamas’s IQB for the 1st time in more than a year fires a barrage of at least 45 rockets (including at least 10 Grads) fr. Gaza into Israel; 1 rocket damages an Israeli police barracks and injures 2 police officers, but the others land in open areas. The IQB says it is aiming predominantly at open areas to minimize the severity of its rocket fire and to ‘‘send a message’’ to Israel. Expecting retaliation, Hamas security officials vacate their bases. Israel initially issues a stern warning and carries out 1 air strike on a Palestinian rocketlaunching team nr. Dayr al-Balah, wounding 1 armed Palestinian. Late at night, however, Israeli warplanes and drones carry out 7 air strikes on Hamas targets across Gaza, seriously wounding 1 IQB mbr. The targets include a garage and a group of armed Palestinians in Gaza City, a vacant house in al-Bureij r.c., and 2 IQB training camps nr. Bayt Lahiya and Rafah. (HA 6/19; NYT, YA 6/20; PCHR 6/21; OCHA 6/22)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers set fire to a mosque in the village of Jaba nr. Bethlehem and spray graffiti on its walls warning the Israeli government against evacuating the unauthorized settlement outpost of Ulpana (5 buildings, 30 families). This is the 12th mosque vandalized by Jewish settlers since 1/2011. Jewish settlers also vandalize the car of the settler leader negotiating the terms of Ulpana’s evacuation with the Israeli government. OCHA reports that in the previous week, the IDF carried out several significant demolitions in Israelicontrolled Area C: 14 residential structures and 11 animal pens in the al-Hirma bedouin community near Bethlehem (64 displaced, including 37 children); 6 seasonal residential structures in the Jordan Valley (20 displaced); 1 residential structure nr. Qalqilya; and 2 animal pens nr. East Jerusalem. (NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/20; OCHA 6/22)

The P5+1 and Iran close 2 days of ‘‘intense and tough’’ nuclear talks in Moscow. Both sides say that the talks were so detailed and so heated that they need a break to digest all that has been discussed and to confer with their governments. Iran reportedly offers to halt enrichment of uranium to 20% purity if the international community acknowledges Iran’s right to enrich uranium and immediately rolls back sanctions. The P5+1 refuses to delay or waive sanctions until Iran meets specific benchmarks of compliance. Ashton announces that the sides plan to send technical experts to Istanbul on 7/3 ‘‘to make sure all clearly understood the nature of both sides’ proposals’’ and to gauge the prospects for narrowing gaps and holding more negotiations. Meanwhile, the next round of EU and U.S. sanctions are scheduled to go into effect as scheduled on 7/1. (NYT 6/19; NYT, WP 6/20; NYT 7/2; WT 7/4; NYT 7/5)

Unidentified U.S. and Western officials confirm to the Washington Post (6/20) that the U.S. and Israel jointly developed the Flame virus to map and monitor Iran’s computer networks in preparation for a major cyberwarfare campaign. They said, however, that Israel deployed the virus unilaterally, without consulting the U.S., leading to its premature detection by Iran and to development of critical Iranian countermeasures. U.S. intelligence officials had hoped that Flame would reside undetected on Iran’s networks for years sending back valuable information. Computer experts said (WP 6/20) that Flame contained ‘‘DNA-like evidence’’ linking it to the Stuxnet virus (see QU in JPS 158). This would make the Stuxnet and Flame attacks the first recorded sustained cyber-sabotage campaign against a state. (WP 6/20)

Lebanon releases 9 Islamists (7 Lebanese, 1 Palestinian, 1 Saudi) tied to Fatah al-Islam who were among the approximate 180 people detained during the 2007 clashes between Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army in Nahr al-Barid r.c. in n. Lebanon (see QU in JPS 145–46). (WT 6/20)

In the morning, IDF troops make a brief incursion into s. Gaza, firing on areas e. of Khuza’; some bullets hit 2 schools while classes are in session, but cause no injuries. Hours later, an Israeli helicopter gunship opens fire on open areas nr. Khuza’, causing no injuries. IDF troops make a brief incursion into c. Gaza e. of Juhur al-Dik village to level land and clear lines of sight. Late at night, the IDF makes a brief incursions into c. Gaza el. of al-Bureij r.c., firing 2 artillery shells at open areas, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF fills in an agricultural pool serving Palestinian agricultural land nr. Kiryat Arba settlement nr. Hebron; conducts morning patrols in Jericho, 1 nearby village, and 1 village nr. Ramallah; makes late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin; conduct late-night patrols in 4 other villages nr. Jenin (3 synchronized) and 1 nr. Jericho. (PCHR 5/3, 5/10; OCHA 5/11)

Israel’s Prison Service say 100s of jailed Palestinians have joined a mass hunger strike in recent days, bringing the total number observing hunger strikes to at least 1,550 (or one-third of the Palestinian prisoner population of 4,700), including Islamic Jihad’s Diab and Halahleh, who have now gone 64 days without eating. PA Pres. Abbas vows to bring the issue of Palestinian administrative detainees before the UN. (PCHR, WT 5/3; NYT 5/4)

The IDF makes 3 brief incursions into Gaza (2 areas of n. Gaza nr. Bayt Hanun in the north; 1 area of c. Gaza e. of al-Bureij r.c.) in the morning to level land and clear lines of sight. Late in the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 each nr. Jenin, Jericho, and Tulkarm in the morning; patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, Qalqilya, and Ramallah in the afternoon; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Jericho and nr. Jenin and Nablus; and conducts late-night patrols in Kafr Qaddum, Tulkarm (twice, different sections), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya. (JP 4/30; PCHR 5/3; OCHA 5/4)

Egypt’s Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa visits al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in what he calls an unofficial visit to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and their claim to East Jerusalem. Many Egyptians and Muslims are angry that he broke an unofficial ban by Muslim clerics and Egyptian organizations on visiting areas under Israeli control. (WT 4/19)

Early in the morning, IDF troops make a brief incursion into c. Gaza e. of al-Bureij r.c., firing on the surrounding area; no damage or injuries are reported. Also in the morning, IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on Palestinian houses and agricultural areas in Khuza; a Palestinian woman 1,000 m. from the border is hit in the head with live ammunition and is seriously injured. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 9 residential structures, 6 animal pens in al-Khalayli bedouin community in area C nr. Jerusalem, displacing 54 Palestinians (including 34 children); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Tubas; late-night patrols in Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities evict 2 Palestinian families fr. their homes in Bayt Hanina, ending a decade-long legal dispute with Jewish settlers over the ownership of the properties. (PCHR 4/19, 4/26; OCHA 4/27)

IDF troops make 2 brief incursions into c. Gaza e. of Bureij r.c. and s. Gaza e. of Khan Yunis to leveling land and clear lines of sight along the border fence. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 3 villages nr. Jericho, Qalqilya, and Ramallah; afternoon patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and Ramallah; and late-night patrols in Jericho, Kafr Qaddum, 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, and 1 nr. Qalqilya. (PCHR 4/12; OCHA 4/13)

Egypt’s natural gas pipeline to Israel is attacked and damaged for the 14th time since the Arab Spring uprising began in 1/2011. (WJW 4/12)

Israel releases administrative detainee Hana Shalabi, who spent more than 40 days on hunger strike to protest her detention without trial, and deports her to Gaza (she is from the West Bank). The Palestinian Prisoners Society in Ramallah says that several other Palestinians being held in administrative detention in Israel are now on hunger strike, 2 of them fasting for over a month. (NYT, WP 4/2; OCHA, PCHR 4/5)

In Gaza, Palestinians stage a nonviolent protest march to the border fence e. of Abassan to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone; the IDF fires warning shots forcing them to flee, causing no injuries. The IDF also makes a brief incursion into c. Gaza, searching border areas e. of al-Bureij r.c. for several hours. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols 2 villages nr Ramallah (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stonethrowing youths who confront them in 1 instance, causing no injuries) and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; and conducting synchronized late-night patrols in Qalqilya and 4 nearby villages; conducting additional late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah; and conducting late-night arrest raids and house searches in Nablus and Tubas, and nr. Jenin and Ramallah. (OCHA, PCHR 4/5)

Tunisia’s new government, elected in 10/2011 and led by a coalition headed by the Islamist Ennahda party, says that it cannot normalize relations with Israel, stating that “Tunisians’ problem is with Zionism, not with Judaism.” (WT 4/2)

The IDF makes a brief early morning incursion into c. Gaza, searching and firing on residential areas in Bureij r.c., but entering no buildings and making no arrests. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 4 tents, 3 barnyards, and 3 residential barracks in a bedouin encampment in al-Maleh in the Jordan Valley; demolishes 2 barnyards nr. Tubas. The IDF also patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the evening; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Bethlehem, and nr. Ramallah (firing on the occupants of 1 raided home, wounding 3 Palestinians); conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus attack Palestinian farmers working their land nearby; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops begin leveling a large area of Palestinian agricultural land in Kafr Lakif village nr. Qalqilya; local Palestinian gather to protest and are informed by the IDF that the area has been approved for construction of an industrial zone; the soldiers agree to suspend the digging until the matter is clarified but bar Palestinians from the site. (PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30)

Jailed Fatah tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti issues a statement on the 10th anniversary of his arrest by Israel that is read to a crowd of supporters in Ramallah, stating that “the launch of large-scale popular resistance at this stage serves the cause of our people.” He also calls for “stopping all forms of security and economic coordination [with Israel] in all areas immediately.” (JPI 4/6)

Israel severs working relations with the UNHRC over the 3/22/12 res. calling for an investigation into settlements, calling the council biased against Israel. (NYT, WP, WT 3/27; JPI 4/6)

The U.S. Supreme Court orders a lower court to decide whether Americans born in Jerusalem can claim Israel as their birthplace on their passports. Congress approved legislation in 2002 allowing this, but the executive branch has claimed Congress overstepped its authority by attempting to override the president’s right to set foreign policy. The U.S. officially recognizes Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory and does not recognize Israel’s claim to united Jerusalem as its capital. (NYT 3/27; WJW 3/29)

J Street holds its annual conference. Fmr. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert gives the keynote speech at the gala dinner, emphasizing that PA pres. Abbas “wants peace with Israel and he accepts the existence of Israel as Israel declares itself to be.” (JPI 4/6)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border fire 2 artillery shells at a Palestinian Authority security forces (PASF) building e. of al-Bureij refugee camp (r.c.), causing no injuries. Unidentified Palestinians fire 3 homemade Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 5 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 nr. Qalqilya in the morning; patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon; patrols in 2 villages nr. Salfit, 1 nr. Ramallah late at night; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin in the morning and in Aqabat Jabir r.c. late at night. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Nabi Salih, and Ni`lin nr. Ramallah and in Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; all demonstrations except those in Kafr Qaddum also call for solidarity with hunger-striking Islamic Jihad prisoner Khader Adnan, who is on the 63d day of a fast to protest Israel’s administrative detention policy. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; a total of 7 Palestinians are injured. (YA 2/17, JP 2/18; PCHR 2/23; OCHA 2/24)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of al-Bureij r.c. arrest 3 Palestinian laborers who attempt to sneak into Israel to find work. The IDF enters Araba village nr. Jenin, raids and confiscates materials fr. a protest tent set up in solidarity with jailed Islamic Jihad spokesman Khader Adnan, who has been on hunger strike since 12/17/11 to protest his detention without charge; the homes of several protest organizers and participants are also raided and searched. The IDF also patrols in 3 villages n. of Ramallah in the morning, in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Salfit and 1 nr. Qalqilya late in the evening. The IDF also conducts late-night house searches nr. Salfit. Jewish settlers fr. Halamish settlement enter nearby Nabi Saleh and set fire to a mosque; the fire is quickly extinguished. (PCHR 2/9; OCHA 2/10)

Unidentified assailants blow up Egypt’s natural gas pipeline to Israel for the 12th time in the past yr. No group takes responsibility. Israel generates 40% of its electricity fr. natural gas, and 43% of that natural gas is supplied by Egypt. (NYT 2/5)

Abbas says that Israel has offered nothing new in talks in Jordan, but that 2 more mtgs. are planned in hopes that the sides can agree on baselines for resuming negotiations before the Quartet’s 1/26/12 target date. (NYT 1/13)

Israel’s High Court upholds (6-5) a controversial law that bans most Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens fr. obtaining citizenship on the ground this would pose a security threat. IDF troops on the c. Gaza border fire 2 artillery shells at a group of armed Palestinians nr. the border e. of al-Bureij r.c., moderately wounding 2. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Ramallah and 2 nr. Tulkarm (synchronized) in the morning; in 2 villages nr. Jenin (firing tear gas and percussion grenades at stone-throwing youths in 1 instance), 2 nr. Jericho, and 1 nr. Salfit in the afternoon; and in Birzeit late at night. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Nabi Saleh. (WP 1/13; PCHR 1/19; OCHA 1/20)

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)