The Palestine Chronology

A Hamas suicide bomber dressed as an Orthodox Jew detonates a device on a bus in Jerusalem, killing 15 Israelis, 1 Eritrean, injuring more than 60. Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz immediately authorizes the IDF to use “whatever means necessary” to “completely wipe out Hamas,” saying Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Yasin is a viable target. Half an hr. later, an IDF helicopter fires on a car stuck in a Gaza City traffic jam, assassinating senior Izzeddin al-Qassam mbrs. Titu Massud and Suhayl Abu Nahil, also killing 6 Palestinian bystanders, wounding 35 (including 14 children). In the evening, IDF helicopters strike another car in Gaza City, killing Hamas mbrs. Muhammad Daghmash and Rawi Abu Kumayl. The IDF also raids Hebron, imposing a curfew, building roads, blocking streets with sand barriers, concrete blocks; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Rafah (damaging another 11), 1 in Jaba; fires on a funeral procession outside Khan Yunis, wounding 1. (AP, BBC, HA 6/11; ITAR-TASS, MENA 6/11 in WNC 6/13; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/12; AFP, QA 6/12 in WNC 6/14; PR 6/18; LAW, PCHR 6/19; JPI 6/20; HA 6/25; MEI 6/27)

The IDF captures 2 armed Hamas mbrs. originally fr. Gaza attempting to sneak into Israel across the Egyptian border, plotting to kidnap an IDF soldier, take him to Gaza, hold him hostage for the release of detained Hamas cmdrs.; fatally shoots a Palestinian in Khan Yunis when he leaves his home during curfew to tend to a donkey wounded by IDF shelling; bulldozes 14 Palestinian homes, 7 greenhouses in Rafah; fires on residential areas of Brazil r.c., seriously injuring 2 Palestinian girls; detains for 5 hrs. 6 Palestinian journalists working for foreign news agencies covering a clash in Nablus btwn. IDF soldiers, stone-throwing Palestinians; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Jaba, Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 5 Jewish settlers attack, beat a Palestinian shop owner, threaten to occupy his store. An Israeli court convicts 4 East Jerusalem Palestinians for participation in 8 Hamas attacks, including the 7/02 Hebrew University bombing; 3 other East Jerusalem Palestinians are indicted on charges of plotting attacks on Israelis, including downing a helicopter nr. the Knesset. (HA 12/15; NYT 12/16; LAW, PCHR 12/18; HA 12/24)

Palestinian gunmen disguised as IDF soldiers ambush a bus nr. the West Bank settlement of Emmanuel, setting off a roadside bomb disabling the bus, then firing on passengers, killing 7 Jewish settlers, wounding 16; the attackers escape; AMB, DFLP, Hamas, Islamic Jihad take responsibility, though military analysts believe Hamas was responsible. Israel places nearby Palestinian villages under curfew. Israeli police arrest 4 IDF soldiers, 1 Jewish settler living in settlements nr. Hebron, 1 IDF soldier living in Israel on suspicion of stealing 60,000 rounds of IDF ammunition, selling 1,000s of rounds to Palestinian militants; the IDF also arrests a Palestinian fr. Tarkumiyya as the middleman. The IDF demolishes a Palestinian store under construction in Jerusalem; bulldozes 29 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qarni crossing; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids nr. Jaba'. (HA, REU 7/16; AFP 7/16 in WNC 7/17; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WP 7/17; WJW 7/18; AYM 7/18 in WNC 7/22; NYT, WP 7/19)

In New York, Powell hosts a senior-level Quartet mtg. to discuss ways of creating momentum for peace talks in light of Bush's 6/24 speech; holds separate mtg. with the FMs of Egypt, Jordan. The Arab FMs then dine with EU, Russian, UN Quartet reps. (MM 7/16; ITAR-TASS 7/16 in WNC 7/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/17; MM 7/18; Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 7/18 in WNC 7/19; MM 7/19)