The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 1 nearby village in the afternoon; patrols in 1 village each nr. Jericho and Ramallah. In Jerusalem, Israeli security forces accompany Jewish right-wing activists as they enter the al-Aqsa mosque compound. According to reports, more than 700 ultra-Orthodox Jews have entered the compound to celebrate Sukkot since last Wednesday. (MNA 9/26; PCHR 10/3)

PA pres. Abbas addresses the UNGA and describes the current peace talks as a “last chance.” He urges international pressure to stop settlement construction, and says that the aim is to reach a permanent agreement within 9 mos., rejecting the possibility of a “temporary” arrangement. (AFP, AP, HA 9/26)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and Iranian FM Zarif hold one-on-one talks at the UN, the highest level direct discussions in a generation. Zarif also discusses the nuclear issue with his counterparts from the UK, China, France, Germany, and Russia, as well as Kerry. The talks are widely described as positive, with Kerry calling the meeting “very constructive” but with many questions remaining. (AP, REU 9/26)

The U.S. and Russia reach agreement on a draft UN res. designed to rid Syria of its chemical weapons. The compromise makes the measure legally binding but avoids automatic recourse to military force by way of enforcement, instead requiring another res. under Chapter 7 to be passed. (AP, REU 9/26)

In the West Bank, Israeli troops enter Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah and open fire on Palestinians, injuring 3 with live ammunition. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron and 1 village nr. Jericho at night.

In Jerusalem, security forces raid the al-Aqsa mosque compound in response to stone-throwing from Palestinians. (MNA, YA 9/25; PCHR 9/26)

U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry says that Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to intensify the peace talks and increase the U.S. role. Kerry describes 2 tracks: 1 among the 2 sides’ negotiators, and another among Abbas, Netanyahu, Kerry, and Pres. Obama. (HA, REU 9/25)

Unnamed Western diplomats claim that envoys from the U.S., Russia, France, China, and Britain have come to an agreement on the basis of a res. on Syria’s chemical weapons, something denied by Russian sources. Meanwhile, UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky says chemical weapons experts will investigate 3 alleged incidents of chemical weapons use earlier this year in Syria, and seek information on 3 alleged incidents in 8/2013. (AP, REU 9/25)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning, and in 2 villages nr. Jenin and al-Fawar and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night; patrols in Nablus, 3 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Hebron at night. In Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron, the IDF attacks a funeral procession, sparking clashes where 2 Palestinians are injured by rubber-coated metal bullets. In East Jerusalem, Israeli troops demolish residential and agricultural structures in al-Za’ayem village, displacing around 35 people. In addition, Israel’s Housing Minister Uri Ariel visits the al-Aqsa mosque compound under police protection, heading a tour group of around 100 rightist Jewish activists. (MNA, WAFA 9/11; PCHR 9/12)

The 5 permanent mbrs. of the UNSC meet at Russia’s UN mission to discuss the contents of a new res. on the securing and dismantling of Syria’s chemical weapons. Meanwhile, U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry and Russian FM Sergey Lavrov speak by phone the day before heading to Geneva for talks with experts about the practicalities of the Russian proposal. France, for its part, aligns itself with the U.S. position of insisting that a military option remains on the table but that the diplomatic process will be prioritized. (AFP, AP, REU 9/11)

Three attacks including 2 car bombs kill 11 people and injure more than 15 in the Sinai, as the army continues its offensive against Islamist militants, including Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis. The dead include 9 Egyptian officers targeted at the intelligence headquarters in Rafah. Meanwhile, Israeli officials arrive in Cairo on a private jet for discussions with Egyptians security officials expected to focus on events in the Sinai. (MNA, REU 9/11)

U.S. Amb. Joseph Macmanus tells a meeting of the IAEA that there are “troubling developments” in Iran’s nuclear program amid concerns that Tehran is stalling on achieving any progress in negotiations with the international community. Iran’s FM Mohammad Javad Zarif says that Iran’s nuclear work could take place under international safeguards but would not just go away. (REU 9/11)

In the s. Gaza Strip, IDF troops confiscate 2 fishing boats nr. Rafah. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, Tulkarm, and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night; patrols in Jenin and 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night. In al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, IDF troops detain 13 Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, suspected Jewish extremists vandalize 3 buses and leave “price-tag” graffiti in Silwan, while separately dozens of Jewish right-wing activists enter the al-Aqsa mosque compound under police protection. (MNA 9/10; PCHR 9/12)

Israeli Foreign Ministry officials meet with senior EU officials to discuss the new settlement guidelines, and end by resolving to meet again to continue the discussions. Following the meeting, both sides issue upbeat assessments of the dialogue. (JP 9/10)

U.S. Pres. Obama says in a speech at the White House that he has asked Congressional leaders to postpone a vote authorizing force while a “diplomatic path”is pursued, a reference to a Russian proposal to achieve the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile. In response to Moscow’s proposal, France pushes for a UN res. that would be under Chapter 7 and threaten “serious consequences” for non-compliance—a framework immediately rejected by Russia. The Syrian govt., meanwhile, accepts the Russian idea. (AFP, AP, NYT, REU 9/10)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Russia for talks with Pres. Vladimir Putin about the peace process and regional developments, including Syria. Netanyahu asks Putin not to supply S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Bashar al-Asad’s regime. (HA 5/14)

The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says she will open a preliminary examination into Israel’s 2010 attack on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara aid flotilla, following a referral from Comoros, to which one of the vessels raided was registered. (REU 5/14)

Thousands of Palestinians hold Nakba Day rallies in cities across the West Bank; the IDF violently disperses protesters in al-Khader, causing no serious injuries. The IDF also patrols in al- ‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, injuring 1 Palestinian in clashes. Jewish settlers uproot around 150 trees south of Nablus and also set fire to Palestinian agricultural lands in Bayt Furik village nr. Nablus. There is also a ‘‘price tag’’ attack in in Umm al-Qutuf village in Wadi Ara, a Palestinian village inside the Green Line, in which suspected Jewish extremists vandalize a mosque and 3 vehicles. (JTA, MNA, WAFA 5/14; PCHR 5/16)

Fatah and Hamas representatives hold reconciliation talks in Cairo. Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouq says the sides have pledged to complete formation of a long-anticipated unity government within 3 months (see QU 168 for details). (JP, MNA 5/14)

Egypt’s upper house holds a special session to discuss recent clashes (5/7) in al-Aqsa Mosque and demands the immediate expulsion of Israeli ambassador Ya’akov Amitai in protest, but the government takes no immediate action. (ToI 5/14)