The Palestine Chronology

Hamas agrees in writing to suspend suicide bombings in Israel, mortar attacks on Israeli targets for the sake of Palestinian unity (see 12/19). Islamic Jihad also agrees to a temporary halt to suicide bombings. Meanwhile in Gaza, 100s of Palestinians attend the funeral for an Islamic Jihad mbr. killed on 12/20. As the funeral procession passes, the PSF headquarters in Jabaliya, masked Islamic Jihad mbrs. smash a police car, open fire on PSF officers, sparking a riot involving 1,000s of Palestinians and an exchange of gunfire that leave at least 6 Palestinians (all civilians) dead, more than 80 injured. Tonight, 60 of Gaza's local leaders hold an emergency mtg. to discuss arrangements to prevent further intra-Palestinian clashes. Following Friday prayers in Ramallah, reps. of all Palestinian factions, followed by 100s of Palestinians, stage a peaceful unity march on occupying IDF tanks, but the march turns violent when a few demonstrators throw stones at the tanks, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets on demonstrators, injuring 2. (AFP, HA 12/21; MA, VIRI 12/21, AYM 12/22, 12/24 in WNC 12/26; LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 12/22; WP 12/23; NYT 12/24; SA 12/26 in WNC 12/27; AYM, SA 12/27 in WNC 12/28)

The IDF shoots, kills 1 Palestinian nr. a crossing into Israel. Palestinian gunmen fire on Gilo; the IDF returns fire on Bayt Jala; no casualties are reported. Nr. Nablus, the IDF bulldozes roads, agricultural lands; a Jewish settler intentionally hits a Palestinian with his car, killing him. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim uproot 150 Palestinian olive trees in Jit; settlers fr. Ofra bulldoze Palestinian land around their settlement. The PSF begins an arrest campaign targeting Islamic Jihad, arresting 7 mbrs., questioning 22 Palestinians affiliated with the group. (PMC 11/28; HP, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 11/29; XIN 12/1 in WNC 12/3)

Special envoys Burns, Zinni meet with Arafat in Ramallah; tour the West Bank with U.S. officials to see refugee camps, the effect of Israel's military siege and settlement construction on Palestinians. Meanwhile, Sharon publicly restates his demand for 7 days of complete Palestinian quiet before Israel would take steps to implement the Tenet plan. (MM 11/28; AP, NYT, WP, WT 11/29)

In a predawn raid, the IDF send 12 tanks and armored vehicles, 6 bulldozers into Khan Yunis, firing shells and heavy machine guns at homes, killing 1 Palestinian, injuring at least 13, completely demolishing 15 Palestinian homes, partially destroying 11. The IDF claims the action was in response to Palestinian gunfire aimed at Neve Dekalim. The IDF conducts a similar raid into Tulkarm, damaging several homes, uprooting an orchard, cutting electricity; sends tanks under helicopter cover into al-Shawawra village, damaging several homes, arresting 7 Palestinians; shells, fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahia, Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Kafr al-Dik, Salfit. In Jinin, 100s of Palestinians still angry over the arrest of Islamic Jihad's Tawalbi clash with PSF mbrs. The PSF releases 2 PFLP mbrs. ordered freed by the PA High Court on 11/7. (AP, HP, JP [Internet], PCHR, WT 11/15; NYT 11/16; AYM 11/16 in WNC 11/19; AFP 11/18; MEI 11/23)

Peres, in his speech to the UNGA, says that there is support in Israel for a Palestinian state, Palestinian independence; the gap btwn. Israeli, Palestinian positions are more emotional than political. (HA, MM 11/15)

In Gaza City, the PSF clashes with some 2,000 Palestinian students protesting the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan, opening fire on the crowd with tear gas, rubber bullets, live ammunition. Anti-PA riots last into the night, with outraged Palestinians setting fire to PSF offices and vandalizing Palestinian Airlines offices, cars, stores. In total, 2 Palestinians are killed; 1 Palestinian, 1 PSF officer are left brain dead; 200 Palestinians, 20 PSF officers are injured; 120 Palestinians are arrested. The PA convenes an emergency mtg. with the National and Islamic Higher Comm. for the Follow-up of the Intifada (NIHC), representing all Palestinian factions. Participants issue a joint statement calling for national unity, appealing to the public for calm. Hamas says that Arafat agreed to suspend arrests of Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. in exchange for their cooperation in halting further demonstrations, observing the cease-fire. (AP 10/8; MEZ, NYT, WP, WT 10/9; QA 10/9, ABC [Madrid] 10/10 in WNC 10/11; MM, PR 10/10; MM 10/11; al-Quds 10/11, AYM 10/13 in WNC 10/15; JP, MEI 10/12; LAW 10/13; JP 10/19)

Meanwhile, the IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians; occupies a Palestinian home in al-Qarara as a look-out post for several hrs.; demolishes a Palestinian home, bulldozes agricultural land nr. Bayt Lahia, where around 2,000 dunams have been leveled since 10/3. (MEZ, PMC 10/9; LAW 10/13)

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device outside Shluhot Kibbutz in n. Israel, killing 1 Israeli. In Hebron, where the IDF remains in area A, soldiers fatally shoot 1 Palestinian, wound 3. The PSF detains 2 more Islamic Jihad mbrs., says it is holding 6 Palestinians on Israel's wanted list. Jewish settlers set up a new enclave nr. Keddumim settlement, announce plans for a 2d enclave nr. Beit Hagai. (HP, WT 10/7; MENA 10/7 in WNC 10/9; JP [Internet] 10/8; MEI 10/12; LAW 10/13)

The U.S., with the assistance of commando units fr. Britain and France, begins air strikes on al-Qa`ida, Taliban positions in Afghanistan aimed at disabling their air defense capability. The U.S. says this initial stage of the sustained "antiterror campaign" should last several days. Bin Laden releases a statement vowing that "America will not live in peace until peace reigns in Palestine" and "not before all the infidel armies leave the land of Muhammad." The PA denounces Bin Laden's statement. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/8; NYT, WP 10/9; AYM, JT, Milliyet, al-Ra'i 10/9 in WNC 10/10; MM 10/10; al-Quds 10/10 in WNC 10/12; JP, MEI 10/12; XIN 10/12 in WNC 10/15)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes abate slightly, though 2 Palestinians are killed. Observers note that Palestinian mortar attacks have tapered off since Arafat's 2d call for a halt on 2/19, though today Palestinians fire 5 mortars at Neve Dekalim settlement and 3 at Gush Katif settlement, causing no damage. The IDF raids the village of Wadi al-Silqa nr. Kefar Darom settlement, ransacks homes, harasses residents, demolishes 1 Palestinian home; directs heavy machine gun fire at al-Sudaniyya, Gaza City. Israel eases the border closing btwn. Egypt, Gaza temporarily but then imposes a 72-hr. closure on the West Bank and Gaza, sealing crossings to Egypt, Jordan and tightening controls on Palestinian movement inside the territories, fearing attacks during Israeli memorial, "independence" days on 4/25-26. (MM, NYT, WT 4/25)

Iran convenes a 2-day conference in support of the al-Aqsa intifada, Palestinians' rights. Delegations fr. 35 Arab, Muslim countries and senior mbrs. of Hamas, Hizballah, Islamic Jihad take part. (BBC 4/24; IRNA, TT 4/24 in WNC 4/25; MM, WT 4/25; Iran Daily, IRNA 4/25 in WNC 4/26; WJW 4/26; IRNA, VIRI 4/26 in WNC 4/27; HJ 4/27 in WNC 4/30; MM 5/2; IRNA 5/2 in WNC 5/3; al-Nahar 5/4 in WNC 5/7)

2 bombs, the 4th and 5th since Sharon's 2/6 election, explode outside the Jewish settlements of Talpiot, French Hill in East Jerusalem, killing an apparent Palestinian suicide bomber, injuring 35 Israelis. Islamic Jihad takes responsibility for both attacks. Right-wing opposition MKs, Jewish settlers accuse Sharon of not taking Israeli security seriously and demand retaliation, with Likud Education M Limor Livnat saying Arafat should be targeted. Sharon's office says Israel will respond "at the time and place we choose." (AFP [Internet], MM 3/27; ITAR-TASS 3/27 in WNC 3/28; MM, NYT, WP 3/28; WJW 3/29; AFP 3/29 in WNC 3/30; JP, MEI 4/6)

In the West Bank and Gaza, Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead. In Hebron, Jewish settlers attempt to storm Abu Sunayna for a 2d day, are push back by the IDF (which continues to urge Palestinian residents to evacuate the area). After dark, the settlers set fire to 5 Palestinian-owned stores, 7 cars, Waqf offices in the PA-controlled section of Hebron. Jewish settlers place caravans on confiscated Palestinian land on Mount Jarzim in Nablus. Israel arrests 2 Israeli border policemen for beating, torturing a Palestinian at a checkpoint into Israel earlier today. (MM 3/27; HA, HP, NYT, WP 3/28; AFP [Internet], NYT 3/29; MEI 4/6)

The 1st full Arab League summit in 12 yrs. opens in Amman. The agenda covers the peace process, aid to the Palestinians, Arab solidarity, inter-Arab economic ties, sanctions on Iraq. (MM 3/27; AN, DUS, JT, SA 3/27 in WNC 3/28; AYM 3/27, HJ, JT, SA 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, WP, USIS Washington File 3/28; JP, MEI 4/6)

On the sidelines of the Arab summit, Syrian pres. Asad meets with Arafat, marking the 1st senior-level Palestinian-Syrian mtg. since 1993. (JT 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, WP, USIS Washington File 3/28; JT, al-Quds 3/29 in WNC 3/30; DUS 3/30 in WNC 4/2; al-Majd 4/2 in WNC 4/3; AYM 4/2, HJ 4/3 in WNC 4/5; JP, MEI 4/6; MM 4/20)

After a week of negotiations on 2 compromise proposals fail, the U.S. vetoes a UNSC resolution backing a UN observer force to help protect the Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza. (AP 3/27; XIN 3/27 in WNC 3/28; WP 3/28; MM, NYT, WJW, WT 3/29; al-Quds 3/29 in WNC 3/30; MM 3/30; al-Quds 4/3 in WNC 4/5)