The Palestine Chronology

The IDF assasinates Islamic Jihad military leader Iyad Sawalha in a predawn raid of his home in Jenin. In retaliation, Islamic Jihad detonates a roadside bomb nr. an IDF convoy in Gaza, killing 1 IDF soldier (a bedouin tracker), wounding a 2d. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Dura, Nablus, al-Qarara; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Nablus; bulldozes 19 dunams of land s. of Khan Yunis. (JPI, LAW 11/9; GS, NYT, WP, WT 11/10; LAW, PCHR 11/13; B’Tselem press release 11/14)

The IDF opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Jenin, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian, seriously injuring 2 others; fires on residential areas of Rafah, killing 1 Palestinian in his home; demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Jala (arresting wanted Hamas mbr. Fawaz Amru), Qalqilya. A 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/13. A PA security court sentences a Palestinian to death for collaborating with Israel. Israel formally charges 1 of 10 bedouin IDF soldiers arrested on 9/12 for allegedly spying for Hizballah, stressing that he was motivated by greed, not nationalism. (HA, MM 10/24; WP, WT 10/25; MM 10/29; LAW, PCHR 10/30)

The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes nr. Gaza City, damaging 8 others; halts an ambulance nr. Nablus, taking a relative of the patient into custody; fires tear gas at PRCS property, ambulances, paramedics in Nablus, Tulkarm. Palestinians fire 2 mortars, a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, damaging 1 home, causing no injuries; the IDF believes the rocket was a new, larger Qassam-3, with a range of up to 12 km. Palestinian gunmen fire at a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Tulkarm, injuring 1 settler. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 9/10. An Israeli court indicts 4 East Jerusalem Palestinians for murder for their alleged role in the 7/31/02 Hebrew University bombing. A Palestinian indicted in civilian court on terrorism charges on 7/30 is convicted, sentenced to 22 yrs. Israel announces that 6 wks. ago it arrested 10 bedouin IDF soldiers fr. the Galilee on charges of spying for Hizballah. (JTA 9/12; HA, WP 9/13; LAW, PCHR 9/18; PCHR 9/20; HA 10/23; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/24; MM 10/29)

In a speech to the opening session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) a day after the 1st anniversary of the al-Qa`ida attacks on the U.S., Bush warns the UN to take action quickly to force Iraq to "unconditionally accept" inspection, disarmament of its chemical and biological weapons and nuclear research facilities, intimating that the U.S. will take action unilaterally if the UN does not. Bush also reiterates his support for the creation of "an independent and democratic Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and security," adding that "Palestinians deserve a government that serves their interests and listens to their voices." (NYT, Jerusalem Times, WP, WT 9/12; HA, MM 9/13; AYM 9/13, MENA, al-Quds 9/14, MENA 9/15 in WNC 9/16; NYT 9/14; JT, WP 9/15; MM 9/17; MEI 9/27)

The American Jewish Comm., Israel 21c (a Silicon Valley+n based group supported by executives of high-tech companies) launch an ad campaign to run on cable TV news stations in 100 U.S. cities promoting Israel's side in its conflict with the Palestinians, portraying Israel as the only democratic country and country sharing American values in the Middle East. (JTA 9/17; AP 9/18; WJW 9/19, 9/26)

Before dawn, IDF helicopters rocket, destroy a Khan Yunis foundry believed to be a bomb-making factory. The IDF raids Jenin town, fatally shooting 2 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Lahia. (NYT, WP 9/6; NYT, WP, WT 9/7; LAW, PCHR 9/11)

An IDF investigation finds that soldiers acted appropriately in 3 recent attacks that killed 12 Palestinians: the 8/28 shelling of a bedouin family, the 8/31 Daraghma assassination, the shooting of 4 Palestinian laborers on 9/1. The IDF says soldiers adhered properly to open-fire regulations, but refuses to explain the regulations. (NYT, WP 9/7; MEI 9/13) (see 9/1)

The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian biking too closed to Gush Katif settlement. Nr. Shaykh Ajlin in Gaza, the IDF conducts an "intensive operation" to halt arms smuggling after seeing suspicious barrels in the sea; the DMin. later says the barrels contained refrigerators. Late in the evening, the IDF fires 2 shells at bedouin encampment in Shaykh Ajlin, killing 4 Palestinians, injuring 8, prevents ambulances fr. reaching the wounded for 40 mins. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Jenin r.c., killing 1 Palestinian inside his home. In the compound of the Beit El municipal court, 5 Israeli border policemen seriously beat 2 Palestinians, stopping only when they realize the prisoners families, lawyers, IDF soldiers have arrived; 1 Palestinian requires hospitalization. Jewish settlers establish 4 new settlement outposts (1 nr. Elon Moreh, 2 nr. Har Bracha, 1 nr. Itamar). Late in the evening, Palestinians fire 5 mortars at an IDF post, a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage. (AP, MM, PCHR 8/28; HA, NYT, PM, WP, WT 8/29; BBC, MM 8/30; Peace Now press release 9/2; MEI 9/13)

Citing the alleged arms smuggling operation today and the mortar fire on 8/27, Ben-Eliezer indefinitely postpones a mtg. with Yahya set for today to discuss the stalled Gaza First proposal; says the PA must first assert security control in the Strip before the IDF would redeploy. (AP, MM 8/28; MM, NYT, WP 8/29)

IDF soldiers fire on a taxi nr. Netzarim Junction, killing a Palestinian woman, child; the IDF says soldiers fired at "suspicious silhouettes" in the car. In Ramallah, the IDF fires tear gas at Palestinians who mistakenly believe the curfew has been lifted; an elderly Palestinian, overcome by tear gas, dies. The IDF positions tanks, snipers around Jenin hospital. The IDF bulldozes 4 bedouin homes in the Negev. (GS, UPI, UPMRC 7/6; WP 7/7; DUS 7/7 in WNC 7/8; NYT 7/8; LAW, PCHR 7/10; MEI 7/12)

The IDF continues operations in Ramallah, Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Furik, Rafah, Tubas (demolishing 2 PSF posts, 2 Palestinian homes, a kindergarten); sets fire to 300 dunams of olive groves nr. Shavei Shomron settlement, bulldozes 50 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis. In Gaza, 8 Palestinians are killed by the IDF; a 9th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. In the evening, the IDF withdraws fr. most of Ramallah, including removing a cordon around Arafat's offices, lifts curfew for 3 hrs. but reimposes it; more than 80 Palestinian have been arrested in Ramallah since 6/9. (HP, PR, PRCS press release, UPMRC 6/12; NYT, PCHR, WP 6/13; LAW 6/19)

Nr. Beersheba, Israeli authorities bulldoze 17 bedouin homes, bulldozes bedouin land to expand the Omer municipal district. (WAFA 6/13)

MK Uriel Ariel (National Union and Yisrael Beitainu) proposes that the Knesset establish a committee of inquiry into how the secret Oslo talks came about in 1993. Israeli FM Shimon Peres in protest suspends the Labor party's membership in the governing coalition, but the motion fails to pass by a vote of 34-26. (INN 6/13; HA 6/17)

State Dept. senior adviser on the Arab-Israeli negotiations Aaron Miller gives a private briefing to a Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) group, during which some ZOA mbrs. yell "Wrong!" when he says there can be no "military solution" to the conflict, groan audibly when he mentions Seeds of Peace camps for Israeli and Palestinian children, walk out, slamming the door, when he says that Palestinians seek a "democratic, pluralistic, humanistic" government. ZOA head Morton Klein says the group found Miller "frustrating" after just having come from a Congressional reception that made an "incredible show of support" for Israel. (Forward 6/21)

In Haifa, a Palestinian attempts to detonate a suicide bomb, but is injured, captured by Israeli police. Israeli forces demolish 30 bedouin shelters in the Negev on the pretext that they were erected without permits (see 2/14). (AP, MM 5/8; ITAR-TASS, MENA 5/8 in WNC 5/9; NYT, WP, WT 5/9; AYM 5/9 in WNC 5/13)

Just before Zinni arrives, Israel begins pulling back gradually fr. Ramallah. The U.S., PA say that is not enough, with the State Dept. publicly stating, "We want to see a full withdrawal" fr. area A, including all Palestinian towns, refugee camps. During the day, at least 5 Palestinians are killed in Ramallah, 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received on 3/5; 2 explosions nr. Tulkarm kill 6 Palestinians (including senior AMB mbr. Mutasim Makhluf) in what are thought to be assassinations; 2 Palestinian collaborators are killed by Fatah Hawks mbrs. in Bethlehem. In an incident similar to that on 2/14, Palestinian assailants detonate a powerful roadside bomb in Gaza, destroying a Merkava tank, killing 3 IDF soldiers, wounding 2; the AMB, PFLP each claim responsibility. In al-Bireh and nr. Ramallah, Palestinians fire RPGs at 2 tanks, damaging them. Palestinian gunmen fire on Gilo settlement, causing no damage. In retaliation, the IDF sends tanks into the heart of Bethlehem, firing repeatedly at a Catholic maternity hospital and orphanage, which houses 16 patients and 50 children ages 5 and younger, causing damage but no injuries. IDF shelling, heavy machine gun fire are also reported in `Ayn Arik, Beitunia, al-Irsal, al-Tira, Umm al-Sharayit. The IDF demolishes 15 Palestinian homes in al-Mighraqa village in Gaza; makes arrest raids into onto al-Naqura, Shu`fat. Jewish settlers fr. Ma'ale Mikhmas, guarded by IDF soldiers, attack and drive off several bedouin families camping nr. the settlement. (AFP 3/13, MA, QA, XIN 3/14 in WNC 3/15; HP, LAW, MM 3/14; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/15; Die Presse [Vienna] 3/15, al-Quds 3/16 in WNC 3/18; LAW 3/20; MEI 3/22)

Zinni meets with local reps. of the quartet--an ad hoc diplomatic formation of the EU, Russia, UN, U.S. employed at times when presenting a united international front may more effectively press Israel and the PA to take a desired course of action. He then meets with Sharon. (XIN 3/14 in WNC 3/15; MM, NYT, WT 3/15; MEI 3/22)

In Gaza, Palestinian gunmen ambush a Jewish settler convoy escorted by IDF trucks heading to Netzarim, detonating a roadside bomb and opening fire but causing no injuries. When the IDF sends in a tank for support, the gunmen detonate a shaped charge underneath it, killing 3 IDF soldiers, wounding 2. This marks the 1st time Palestinians have destroyed an IDF tank. The Salahadin Brigade (reportedly a relatively recently formalized "military wing" of the PRCs in s. and central Gaza) takes responsibility. Palestinians also throw 2 pipe bombs at an Israeli border police post in Hebron. (AP, BBC, HA, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/15; MA 2/15 in WNC 2/19; MEI 2/22)

In the Negev, the IDF bulldozes 12,000 dunams of bedouin crops it claims were illegally planted on state land. (HA 2/14; MA 2/18 in WNC 2/19)

In retaliation for the 1/17 AMB attack, IDF soldiers in Ramallah confiscate the archives Voice of Palestine, blow up the radio's 5-story building in Ramallah; search the home of PA intelligence chief Tirawi; search, occupy the Episcopal Diocese's Arab Evangelical School. When Palestinian youths throw stones at IDF tanks surrounding Arafat's headquarters, troops respond with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas, injuring 15. Some 4,000 Palestinians also hold a nonviolent march in the city to protest the IDF presence. Elsewhere in the West Bank, wanted AMB mbr. Faraj Hani Odeh Nazzal is fatally shot in what is thought to be an IDF assassination. The IDF also shells residential areas of Nablus. Palestinian gunmen fire on Gilo. (Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem press release, LAW, MM 1/18; BBC, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 1/19; AYM 1/19 in WNC 1/22; MM 1/21; AKH 1/21 in WNC 1/23; PCHR 1/23; WJW 1/24; MEI 1/25)

In the Negev, 200 bedouin protest against an Israeli Interior Min. order to raze illegally built homes in their community. Many of the tin shanties were built by bedouin who served in the IDF, were recently discharged. (HA 1/19)