The Palestine Chronology

A parcel bomb explodes next to a Tel Aviv bus stop, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 20 Israelis, marking the 1st fatal bombing inside Israel since the 3/14 Ashdod bombings; AMB takes responsibility. Sharon, stressing that the bombing proves the need for the separation wall, calls the bombing the “first murder sponsored by the International Court of Justice.” Palestinians also fire an antitank missile at Gaza’s Atzmona settlement, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home and a factory, fires on residential areas in Bayt Hanun; demolishes a Palestinian home in Qabatya. (VOI 7/11 in WNC 7/13; MM, NYT, WT 7/12; PR 7/14; PCHR 7/15; MEI 7/23)

The IDF shells Tal al-Sultan, hitting an UNRWA school, injuring 2 students in their classroom; raids Qabatya nr. Jenin, surrounding and firing on a home sheltering a wanted AMB mbr., then firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 5, arresting the wanted man; demolishes 8 Palestinian homes, 7 shops, 2 poultry farms completely, 6 homes partially in Rafah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Hazma nr. East Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around ‘Ayn Sultan r.c. nr. Jericho, Bayt Sahur nr. Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Nablus, Tulkarm; fires on residential areas of Abasan nr. Khan Yunis, Rafah; fires on a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays into a closed military zone, wounding him; dynamites an apartment in Tulkarm, severely damaging 3 other units in the building; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets into Israel, damaging a building in an industrial park in Sederot but causing no injuries. Some 130 PA security officers and personnel hold a sit-in outside the Force 17 offices in Dayr al-Balah to protest corruption and mistreatment by their superiors and their impossible working conditions, saying it is impossible to do their jobs for lack of equipment, training, means of communications. (AP, HA 6/1; VOP 6/1 in WNC 6/3; UNRWA press release 6/2; PCHR 6/3; PR 6/9; MEI 6/11)

In Gaza, 2 Islamic Jihad gunmen open fire on Jewish settlers holding a memorial service at the roadside site nr. Khan Yunis where 5 Jewish settlers were killed on 5/2, causing no injuries; IDF troops return fire, killing both men, and then demolish 11 Palestinian homes, bulldoze 22 dunams of land that allegedly provided cover for the gunmen. The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian who strays too close to the separation wall nr. Abu Dis; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Qabatya. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. (VOI 5/9 in WNC 5/11; AP, MM, NYT 5/10; VOP 5/10 in WNC 5/12; PR 5/12; PCHR 5/13)

Sharon tells his cabinet that he plans to present a revised unilateral disengagement plan in about 3 wks. The announcement divides the cabinet, with some mbrs. threatening to quit if Sharon does not go through with his original plan, others vowing to quit if he does. (HA, VOI, YA 5/9 in WNC 5/11; NYT, WP 5/10; MM 5/11)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed Hamas mbrs. attempting to infiltrate Gaza’s Tal Katifa settlement fr. the sea; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis completely, 10 partially; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin and in Balata r.c., Nablus, Qabatya nr. Jenin, Salfit; imposes a curfew, fires on residential areas of Burqa. 71 prominent Palestinians issue a public call for nonviolent protest against the Yasin assassination, renunciation of violence; the AMB, Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades denounce the statement. 3 Palestinians (fr. Gaza City, Hebron, Rafah) die of injuries received earlier. (VOP 3/25 in WNC 3/27; MM, NYT 3/26; VOP 3/26 in WNC 3/30; MA, NYT 3/27; PR 3/31; PCHR 4/1; MEI 4/2; PR 4/7)

The IDF sends troops into Jenin r.c. and town just days after redeploying fr. both, conducting arrest raids (targeting the AMB, Islamic Jihad), clashing with Palestinians; troops pull out by the end of the day. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Rafah, wounding a 14-yr.-old Palestinian in her home; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Wadi al-Silqa, Nablus, Qabatya. Israel reportedly approves changes to the route of the separation wall, so that it will run w. of Azun, Baqa‘ al-Sharqiyya, Khirbat Jabar, and several homes in Tulkarm, all of which were previously slated to be cut off fr. the east; begins work on stretches of the wall outside Hebron and in the Jordan Valley nr. Tubas. (AP, HA 1/9; VOI, VOP 1/9 in WNC 1/13; PCHR 1/15)

The IDF erects a new military post in Shaykh Ajlin s. of Gaza City; bulldozes 3 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Balata, Nablus, Qabatya, Tulkarm; searches houses in Hebron. Palestinians fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. (VOI, YA 12/8 in WNC 12/10; PCHR 12/11)

The IDF seals the West Bank and Gaza for the Yom Kippur holiday, which ends midnight on 10/6. In addition, the IDF closes the gates through the separation wall n. of Tulkarm, trapping residents of Baqa‘ al-Sharqiyya, Nazlat Abu Nar, Nazlat Issa—located btwn. the Green Line and the separation wall. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Qabatya; bulldozes 3 dunams of land in al-Maghazi r.c. An IDF soldier is found guilty of manslaughter in the deaths of 4 Palestinians (ages 5, 6, 13, and 56) and the wounding of 5 others in Jenin on 6/21/02, when he ordered at least 10 tank shells, machine guns fired at residential areas to enforce a curfew. (NYT, WP 10/4; HA 10/6; PCHR 10/9, 10/16)

The IDF continues Operation Vanguard in Jenin, conducting arrest raids, house-to-house searches, blowing up 4 Palestinian homes; fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays too close to the Rafah border fence; fires on Palestinians who stray too close to Beit El settlement, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 2; fires on Palestinians waiting at a Khan Yunis checkpoint (injuring 1), residential areas nr. Neve Dekalim settlement (injuring 8, including 1 woman, 4 children), a group of children at the entrance to Tulkarm r.c. (injuring 1), Palestinians outside the Qabatya municipal buidling (injuring 4, 3 of whom are detained for several hrs. without medical attention); conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Tulkarm; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Kefar Darom settlement; bulldozes13 dunams of land nr. Aley Sinai settlement. In Gaza City, 3 Hamas mbrs. are killed in an explosion; Hamas spokesman `Abd al-`Aziz Rantisi acknowledges the men were probably making a bomb. Hamas mbrs. attack journalists who arrive to cover the scene, destroying 2 cameras, lightly injuring a Reuters cameraman and reporter; the main Palestinian journalists union in Gaza orders a boycott of coverage of all Hamas activities in protest; Hamas apologizes. Some 22 Jewish settlers attack the Za’tara mayor, municipal surveyor, an a surveying team, destroying their equipment, maps, documents. A Jewish settler confiscates Palestinian land nr. Dayr al-Balah, razes the area, sets up greenhouses. (HA, NYT, WT 11/1; LAW, PCHR 11/6; PR 11/13)

Outside Hadera, 2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers detonate a car bomb next to a bus, killing 14 Israelis, wounding 40. The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. Kefar Darom; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Qabatya, some agricultural land nr. Aley Sinai settlement; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Qalqilya; bars an ambulance fr. crossing an IDF checkpoint, allowing an ailing Palestinian to die. Another Palestinian dies of injuries received on 12/10/01. Palestinians reportedly fire a mortar in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. At Havat Gilad, Jewish settlers again try to rebuild sites demolished by the IDF. Jewish settlers fr. Shvut Rachel attack Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Nablus, setting 7 Palestinian cars and 50 trees afire, uprooting another 54 trees; in response, some 200 Palestinian start marching toward the settlement, but the IDF turns them away. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo fire on Palestinian farmers n. of Ramallah, wounding 4. (HA, MM, WP 10/21; Interfax 10/21 in WNC 10/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/22; AFP, ATL, ITAR-TASS 10/22 in WNC 10/23; LAW, MM, PCHR 10/23; WJW 10/24; MEI 10/25)

Ben-Eliezer says Israel may pull forces out of Hebron by 10/18 if the situation there remains calm. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian in Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids, partially destroys a Palestinian home in Jenin; demolishes a Palestinian home in Qabatya; occupies, searches a hospital in Yatta for 5 hrs. Israeli police detain, question Jerusalem's chief Muslim cleric Shaykh Ikrima Sabri regarding an interview with a Dubai-based newspaper in 6/02 in which he allegedly "incited violence" by saying he did not see any religious prohibition against suicide bombings. Sabri denies making the comment, is freed after several hrs. Israeli police also raid a Palestinian home in Jerusalem's Old City; detain, question, release 1 Palestinian. (XIN 10/15 in WNC 10/16; LAW, NYT, PCHR, PM, PR, WP, WT 10/16; MENA 10/16 in WNC 10/17; REU 10/22)

The IDF clashes with Islamic Jihad gunmen in, shells residential areas of Nablus and Balata r.c., leaving 1 IDF soldier dead, 3 buildings afire; fires on stone-throwing youths, killing 2 Palestinian boys ages 10 and 12, injuring 25; confiscates video footage of clashes fr. a Reuters cameraman. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Hebron, Gaza City (killing 1 Palestinian); conducts arrest raids in of Beitunia, Burkin, Hebron (reportedly detaining 5 mbrs. of a cell that has staged roadside bombings in the area), Qabatya, Tulkarm, al-Yamun; fires tank shells at residential areas of Gaza, leaving 1 Palestinian woman clinically dead (the IDF claims it was responding to mortar fire). In Ramallah, the IDF surrounds, fires shells a building where it claims some of the wanted Palestinians who hid in Arafat's offices during the siege are located; demands their surrender. (HA 9/30; HA, NYT, WP, WT 10/1; LAW, MM, PCHR 10/2; PCHR 10/3; MEI 10/11)

Bush signs the FY 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which requires the admin. to identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Bush says that he interprets the wording on Jerusalem as a "sense of Congress," not as binding on U.S. policy. The bill also urges the pres. to impose sanctions on the Palestinians if they do not comply with signed agmts.; withholds $10 m. of $35 m. in economic aid to Lebanon for failing to assert its authority over Hizballah; provides an additional $300 m. in aid to Israel, including $100 m. for munitions; rejects equivalent aid for Egypt. (Israel says the other $200 m. is going to be used to cover shortfalls in the defense budget.) (HA, JP, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/1; MM, NYT, PR, WT 10/2; Gulf Times [Doha], MENA, al-Quds 10/2 in WNC 10/3; MM 10/3; al-Quds 10/3 in WNC 10/4; AYM, MENA 10/4 in WNC 10/7; PR 10/9; MEI 10/11)

IDF helicopters fire 2 missiles 2 cars in Gaza City in its 4th attempt to assassinate most-wanted Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Muhammad Dayif; 2 Hamas mbrs. are killed, Dayif escapes with moderate wounds, some 30 bystanders (including 15 children) are injured. The IDF intercepts an explosives-packed Palestinian car at al-Ram checkpoint nr. Tulkarm, allegedly en route to stage a car bombing in Jerusalem. In Kefar Labid nr. Tulkarm, IDF commandos conduct an arrest raid, prompting an exchange of gunfire that leaves senior Hamas mbr. Nashat Abu Jabara, 1 IDF officer dead; then demolish Abu Jabara's home. The IDF also arbitrarily imposes a curfew in Hebron then fires tear gas, rubber bullets at Palestinians in Hebron's market, killing a Palestinian infant; fatally shoots another Palestinian Gaza; demolishes 1 Palestinian home, bulldozes more than 60 dunams of agricultural land nr. Bayt Hanun; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Qabatya; bulldozes 20 dunams of agricultural land nr. Bayt Lahia; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis. Palestinian gunmen fire on a settler vehicle nr. Hebron, injuring 4 Jewish setters. Jewish settlers dedicate the new HaGefen neighborhood of 1,150 housing units in Beitar Ilit; the new enclave of Migron nr. Psagot, comprising 30 families. (AP, CNN, HA 9/26; HA, LAW, MM, NYT, PRCS press release, WP, WT 9/27; NYT 9/28; MM 9/30; QA 9/30 in WNC 10/1; LAW, PCHR, PR 10/2; PCHR 10/3; MEI 10/11)

In Ramallah, the IDF continues demolition work at the PA compound, setting fire to storehouses, bulldozing the Ramallah governate building; says it now seeks the extradition of 50 Palestinians inside Arafat's offices; warns those inside the remaining building to evacuate or risk being harmed when the IDF blows it up, prompting 1,000s of Palestinians to take to the street in protest, despite the curfew. The IDF fires stun grenades, live ammunition at the crowds, killing 2 Palestinians (including a journalist with Voice of Palestine). (After al-Jazeera TV broadcasts news of the spontaneous Ramallah demonstrations, 1,000s of Palestinians violate the curfews Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm and rally in Gaza to protest; the IDF kills 1 Palestinian protester in Nablus, a 2d Palestinian in Tulkarm and demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Qabatya, Qalqilya.) None of the Palestinians in the Ramallah compound evacuates, the IDF does not blow up the building; unnamed Israeli officials suggest the threat was "psychological combat" aimed at making living conditions so unbearable for Arafat that he seeks refuge abroad. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in al-Fara' r.c., Jenin, Rafah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; fires on an ambulance in Nablus, damaging it, wounding 1 Palestinian bystander. (PM 9/21; MENA 9/21, ITAR-TASS, XIN 9/22 in WNC 9/23; NYT, PM, WP, WT 9/22; HA 9/23; al-Quds 9/23 in WNC 9/24; MM 9/24; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MEI, MM 9/27; PRCS press release 9/27)

IDF arrests Ahmad 'Awad Ikhmail and 4 other members of Fateh-affiliated "Black Panthers" group in raid in Qabatiya, West Bank. Ikhmail is described by Israeli officials as their most-wanted fugitive. (NYT 9/30)

Cyprus pardons, releases 3 Palestinians imprisoned for 1985 killing of 3 Israelis alleged to be Mossad agents. (Qol Yisra'el 9/30 in FBIS 10/1)

PLO reportedly firing locally hired employees at PLO diplomatic missions, asking redundant Palestinian representatives to resign. (AFP 8/24 in FBIS 8/24)

Jordan's King Hussein, in interview, criticizes PLO for not coordinating with Amman on "Gaza-Jericho lst" proposal. PLO Chmn. Arafat meets Hussein, Jordanian PM al-Majali to work out differences. Joint Jordanian-Palestinian Comm. for Econ. Affairs holds 1st meeting in Amman. (MM 8/24, 8/25; Radio Jordan 8/24 in FBIS 8/25)

Faisal Husseini denies advocating Palestinian national salvation govt. in 8/22 Hebron speech. (al-Quds 8/25 in FBIS 8/25)

Israeli FM Peres, in Copenhagen, denies Yediot Aharonot report that he met with PLO official in Stockholm previous week, saying "I met only Swedes." (MM 8/24)

Israeli PM Rabin rejects GAO criticism of Arrow program, denies Israel transferred U.S. technology to 3d parties. (Qol Yisra'el 8/24 in FBIS 8/24; WT 8/25)

Alleged collaborator murdered in Qabatiya, West Bank. (Qol Yisra'el 8/25 in FBIS 8/25)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lsrael: Israeli peace campaigner Abie Nathan, sentenced to 6 months in prison for meeting with Yasir Arafat, is released 2 months early for good behavior. He vows to continue the activities for which he was jailed [NYT, FBIS 2/12; MET 2/20].

Israel and Czechoslovakia renew diplomatic ties that were severed in 1967 [LAT 2/10; MET 2/20].

Arab World: The New York Times reports that a rift has developed between Egypt and the PLO over the 2/4 bus attack in Egypt. Egypt finds PLO's qualified condemnation of the attack as hampering the peace process, while PLO is seen as reluctant to give Egypt too great a role in the process [NYT 2/10].

Other Countries: 73 U.S. Senators have signed a letter to Pres. Bush urging against cutting aid to Israel and Egypt. The letter was drafted by Senators Levin and Wilson [LAT 2/10].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: General strike called for by UNLU is observed in O.T. [FBIS 2/9; FJ 2/12].

20-year-old Qabatya resident is shot dead by Israeli soldiers after attacking soldiers with knife [FBIS, FJ 2/12].

At least 7 Palestinians are wounded throughout O.T. [FJ 2/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IS13 million exacted from Azza camp shopowner in 1st taxation of refugee camp shops. Qabatya youth sentenced to 2 mos. & charged IS100,000 for demonstrating. Jamal Awarneh gets life sentence for killing Jewish settler in Bethlehem (1982).

Arab World: In al-Ra'i (Amman) both Jordanian and PLO officials quoted saying Israeli election aided extremism and will lead to more Arab-Jewish violence in Palestine. Israeli liaison office in Dubayeh officially closed; Israel gov't. threatens closure "will necessarily cause great harm and suffering to the Lebanese people."

Other Countries: Chrmn. Arafat received by Malaysia's Sultan Iskandar in Kuala Lumpur for 3-day visit. US State Dep't. study possibility of revoking Meir Kahane's US citizenship for allegiance to foreign gov't.; officials say official action against him unlikely. Reagan aides meet Antiochian Orthodox and national Council of Churches leaders, reaffirm US stand against embassy transfer to Jerusalem. US Asst. Undersec. of State testifies before House Foreign Affairs Subcom. that, with outcome of Israel's elections, its economic situation is much worse than earlier suspected, and that US will resuscitate Reagan peace initiative.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Molotov cocktail hurled at IDF soldier patroling al-Ibrahimi Mosque, Hebron; curfew imposed, several passersby arrested & searched.

Social/Economic/Political:

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 9th annual Land Day commemorated throughout Palestine in demonstrations protesting Israeli land theft and discriminatory policies; military authorities impose curfews on Balata and Ain Beit Alma refugee camps near Nablus; Israeli troops open fire on demonstrators and bystanders in jenin and Qabatya villages and Balata and Dheisheh camps, 5 people wounded. Meanwhile, IDF bulldozes wheat crops, olive and almond groves of Kufr Qalil family in 2nd day of work on Elon Moreh access road as settlers look on. Fara'a prison detainee Walid A'ardeh testifies before Tel Aviv District Court to torture used to extract confession to unspecified charge. Interior Min. issues travel ban for Fr. Fawzi Khoury.

Arab World: Arab FMs meeting in Tunis warn US of unspecified retaliation if its embassy moved to Jerusalem; fail to agree on proposed reform of voting procedure and establishment of pan-Arab Court of Justice.

Other Countries: Chrmn. Arafat and Pres. Mubarak meet while attending Guinean Pres. Sekou Toure's funeral in Conakry. US formally ends participation in Lebanon MNF. Sweden's FM Schori criticizes Israeli policy in West Bank and Latin America during official 3-day visit to Tel Aviv. Lebanon's PM al-Wazzan tells US amb. Bartholomew that US shares responsibility for IDF repression in South because of its "unlimited military and political support for Israel."

Military Action:

Syrian troops carry out large scale war games; PLO forces put on full alert.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: 5 IDF reservists sentenced to jail terms during past 2 days for refusing to serve in Lebanon; journalists, academics and military officials begin 3 day conference in Jerusalem on news coverage during the Lebanon and other wars; border police shoot and kill 1, wound 2, arrest 9 when villagers seek to stop construction bulldozers preparing site for new settlement of Elkana D near village of Bidya; curfew in Qabatya after molotov cocktail thrown at gas station.

Arab Governments: Syrian President Assad meets with Lebanese foreign minister.

US and Other Countries: Shultz meets with Israeli defense and foreign ministers for line by line review of draft agreement, and with PM Begin; US denies Israeli press reports that Pentagon amended terms of agreement on sale of components for Lavi jet fighter, US will provide both parts and technology, but not secret technological data required by Israel for eventual co-production of parts.