The Palestine Chronology

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 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)