The Palestine Chronology

Late in the evening, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun fire on a group of unarmed Palestinian laborers attempting to cross into Israel to find work, calling in a helicopter air strike 20 mins. later, killing 3 Palestinians and wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians and nonviolent international (and, in the case of Bil‘in, Israeli) activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at both sites); fires stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent protest against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara, also beating several protesters (moderately injuring 2 Palestinian children, ages 10 and 13); conducts late-night house searches in al-‘Arub r.c. (occupying 1 home as an observation post) and nr. Jenin, making no arrests. The PASF in Nablus detains and interrogates some 150 Palestinians in connection with the fatal shooting of a settler on 12/24. (PCHR 12/30; OCHA 1/6)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes a rare daytime raid on 2 houses in the center of Hebron, violently beating several Palestinians (moderately injuring 5), detaining 4 for questioning, ultimately arresting 1; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians and nonviolent international (and, in the case of Bil‘in, Israeli) activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at both sites); fires stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent protest against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara, also beating several protesters (moderately injuring 1 Palestinian); conducts late-night house searches in Tubas and nr. Jenin, making no arrests. (OCHA, PCHR 12/23)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians and nonviolent international (and, in the case of Bil‘in, Israeli) activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation) and Ni‘lin (moderately injuring 3 Palestinians); fires stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent protest against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara, also beating several protesters (moderately injuring 2 Palestinians); makes a late-night incursion into Jenin r.c., patrolling streets for several hrs. and firing stun grenades, causing no injuries. Jewish settlers vandalize a mosque in Yasuf village nr. Nablus, burning prayer rugs and Qur’ans, leaving behind Hebrew graffiti protesting Netanyahu’s 10-mo. settlement freeze. (WP 12/12; WT 12/13; NYT 12/14; OCHA, PCHR 12/16)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians and nonviolent international (and, in the case of Bil‘in, Israeli) activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation) and Ni‘lin (moderately injuring 1 Palestinian); fires stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent protest against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara, also beating several protesters (moderately injuring 1 Palestinian); conducts late-night house searches in and around Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar attempt to occupy 2 Palestinian homes nearby but are fended off by stonethrowing Palestinians. (OCHA 12/9; PCHR 12/10)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians taking part in weekly protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation) and against Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 3 Palestinians); fires stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara s. of Bethlehem (injuring 3 Palestinians, including a 9-yr.-old boy); conducts late-night arrest raids on several coffee shops nr. Qalqilya, detaining 3 PA security officers and 3 teenagers (including a 14-yr.- old boy). In Hebron, Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on in Hebron beat 4 Palestinian youths tending sheep nearby, chasing them off the land; Jewish settlers fr. Carmiel attack and vandalize a Palestinian home nearby, attempting to drive the Palestinian family off the land. (OCHA, PCHR 11/25)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border e. of Gaza Valley open fire on 7 Palestinians nr. the border fence, killing 1 Palestinian teenager and wounding another, then enter Gaza to detain the entire group. The IDF claims they were engaging in hostile activity, a charge local Palestinians deny. (NYT, WP 11/14; PCHR 11/19; OCHA 11/20; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 11/09)

In the West Bank, the IDF completes construction of a segment of the separation wall along bypass road No. 55 nr. Qalqilya, completely isolating Azun village and separating the farmers in the village fr. at least 1,300 d. of their land; fires live ammunition at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring at least 2 Palestinians); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation). Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino occupy a Palestinian commercial building on al-Sahla street in the old city of Hebron for several hrs. to conduct religious ceremonies. (MNA 11/14; PCHR 11/19; OCHA 11/20)

In the West Bank, Palestinian activists in a number of locations along the separation wall protest in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. In Ni‘lin, Palestinian protesters also attempt to pull down sections of the separation wall but are dispersed by rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas fired by IDF troops; 5 protesters are wounded, and 10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation. The IDF also closes the entrance to al-Ma‘sara, fires rubber-coated steel bullets and sound bombs, violently beats a number of Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall there (injuring 2 Palestinians under the age of 13); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation). The IDF also conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem but makes no arrests. (MNA 11/9; OCHA, PCHR, WJW 11/12; OCHA 11/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation); closes the entrance to al-Ma‘sara and fires sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall there, beating a number of them (injuring 4 Palestinians, including 1 teenager); patrols Saffa village nr. Ramallah, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, sound bombs at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation) and arresting 1 Palestinian. IDF troops also detain a Palestinian worker attempting to install power networks in al-Taqani nr. Hebron and confiscate his equipment. (Israeli efforts to prevent the construction and infrastructure projects in the village, which is close to Ma’on settlement, have been ongoing since 5/09.) (PCHR 11/5)

Armed Jewish settlers in the Bayt Safafa neighborhood of East Jerusalem attack a Palestinian family over a land ownership dispute, injuring 4 Palestinians. (OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 10/09; OCHA 11/5)

In the West Bank, the IDF forcefully disperses a peaceful sit-in by Palestinian and international activists protesting the expansion of Kiryat Arba settlement, detaining 12 international activists and 3 Palestinians and violently beating 2 Palestinians; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 7, including 2 teenagers) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, demonstrating against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation). (PCHR 10/29)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 2 Palestinians, 1 French activist, and 1 Canadian journalist); fires sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara, violently beating a number of them (injuring 3 Palestinians); conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Jenin and Bethlehem, summoning 1 Palestinian for questioning. (PCHR 10/22)

The HRC votes (25 to 6, with the U.S. voting against) to endorse the Goldstone report and refer it to the UNGA. (NYT, WP 10/17; WJW 10/22; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 10/09)

The IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, demonstrating against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation). (PCHR 10/15)

Following a week of tensions, Israel declares a state of high alert in East Jerusalem, deploys additional security forces, and sets up additional checkpoints across the city. In the only serious incident reported, IDF troops fire rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian protesters in Ras al-Amud, slightly injuring at least 10; 3 others are arrested and beaten by undercover security forces in front of TV cameras. (PCHR 10/15; PCHR 10/22)

U.S. special envoy Mitchell begins 2 days of mtgs. with Netanyahu in Jerusalem and Abbas in Ramallah. (WP 10/10, 10/12)

As agreed on 9/30, Israel releases 19 Palestinian female prisoners in exchange for a 2-min. video fr. Hamas proving that captured IDF soldier Cpl. Shalit is still alive. A 20th prisoner is expected to be released on 10/3. After Palestinians fire 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel (causing no damage or injuries), the IDF carries out air strikes on smuggling tunnels along the Rafah border and on a marble factory and an iron warehouse in Gaza City suspected of being used to manufacture weapons. An Israeli drone also fires a missile nr. Bayt Lahiya. No casualties are reported in any of the air strikes. (NYT 10/3; PCHR 10/8; JR 10/26)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer fr. tear gas) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 2 international activists); conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm, arresting 1 Palestinian. (PCHR 10/8)

Israeli security forces prevent thousands of Palestinians fr. entering East Jerusalem for Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque. The overcrowded conditions at Qalandia checkpoint cause at least 35 Palestinians to faint. Additional checkpoints are also erected in the Old City. (PCHR 10/8)

Hamas mbr. Yusuf Abu Zuhri, the brother and bodyguard of Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri, dies in Egyptian custody. Hamas accuses Egyptian authorities of torturing him. Abu Zuhri was detained in al-Arish in 4/09 on charges of entering Egypt illegally through a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border. (Agence France-Presse 10/13; JPI 10/22)

At Abbas’s request, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) defers until 3/10 a vote to endorse the UN’s Goldstone report (see 9/15). The move is supported by Israel and the U.S. but is immediately denounced by Palestinians. (WP 10/2; WP 10/3; JR 10/26)

The IDF makes an air strike on Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood, killing 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs., possibly injuring 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. and 3 bystanders. (NYT, WP 9/26; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 9/09; PCHR 10/1; OCHA 10/2)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 6 Palestinians, including 1 teenager) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 1 Palestinian, arresting 1 Palestinian and 2 Israelis); fires sound bombs and violently beats Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara (2 are badly injured); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, sound bombs at Palestinians and international activists protesting in Burin nr. Nablus against the confiscation of land to be razed and annexed by Yitzhar settlement. The IDF also arrests 2 Palestinians teenagers nr. Qalqilya for stone-throwing. (PCHR 10/1)

Israel seals the West Bank for the Jewish New Year. Inside the West Bank, the IDF arrests 3 Palestinians armed with knives attempting to enter Gush Etzion settlement nr. Bethlehem; violently beats 1 Palestinian teenager nr. the al-Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs; fires rubbercoated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s are injured) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, demonstrating against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation). (PCHR 10/1; OCHA 10/2)

The IDF makes an incursion into al-Bureij r.c. in central Gaza, detaining a Palestinian (who is released on 9/12). (PCHR 9/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols Qalandia r.c. nr. Ramallah, firing rubbercoated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, wounding 1 (possibly a bystander); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 2); conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Nablus, Jenin, and Salfit, arresting 5 Palestinians. (PCHR 9/17)

On the 3rd Friday of Ramadan, the IDF continues to enforce age restrictions announced on 8/23 limiting Palestinian access to Jerusalem for prayers; an estimated 190,000 Palestinians enter the city, but as a result of intense crowding at Qalandia checkpoint, many other “qualified” Palestinians are prevented fr. entering, and 80 people (primarily women and children, and 20 of whom are hospitalized) are injured. (PCHR 9/17; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 9/09)

Unidentified assailants fire 2 Katyusha rockets (the 1st in 6 mos.) fr. Lebanon into Israel, causing no reported damage or injuries. In retaliation, the IDF fires at least 14 missiles toward the port of Tyre and sends fighter jets across the border; no casualties are reported in either attack. (NYT, WP 9/12; JPI 9/24)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun fire on Palestinian farmers approaching their land some 600 m fr. the border fence, killing 1 Palestinian teenager. The IDF also makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level land in Khuza village nr. Khan Yunis. (PCHR 9/10; OCHA 9/11; OCHA Humanitarian Report 9/09)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international human rights activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 3, including an Israeli and a Palestinian journalist) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 2, including 1 teenager); conducts latenight raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm town and r.c., in al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Tubas, and nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Hebron, making no arrests but summoning at least 1 Palestinian for questioning; patrols Qabatya but makes no arrests. (PCHR 9/10)

On the 2d Friday of Ramadan, the IDF continues to enforce age restrictions announced on 8/23 limiting Palestinian access to Jerusalem for prayers; an estimated 130,000 Palestinians enter the city, but as a result of intense crowding at Qalandia checkpoint, many other “qualified” Palestinians are prevented fr. entering and 19 people (primarily women and children) are injured in the crush of worshipers awaiting entry at IDF checkpoints around the city. (PCHR 9/10; OCHA 9/11; OCHA Humanitarian Report 9/09)

The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level land along the border e. of Khan Yunis; makes another incursion further north, leveling land and destroying water tanks in the al-Shuja‘iyya neighborhood of Gaza City to improve lines of sight, sparking a clash with armed Palestinians, leaving 1 of the Palestinians wounded. (PCHR 9/10)

In the West Bank, the IDF bulldozes 4 irrigation networks and crops nr. Hebron, beating Palestinian farmers who attempt to block them; conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Nablus and in Tulkarm, arresting 3 Palestinians. A Palestinian child accidentally triggers IDF unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Ni‘lin and is treated for burns. (PCHR 9/10; OCHA 9/11)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The body of a Palestinian initially reported missing after the IDF’s 8/25 air strike on the Rafah border is recovered fr. a destroyed smuggling tunnel. (WJW, PCHR 9/3)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, demonstrating against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 1 Palestinian and exposing 10s of others to tear gas); closes the entrance to al-Ma‘sara, fires sound bombs and tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall there, beating a number of them (injuring 2, including a 9-yr.-old child); conducts late-night raids, house searches in Nablus and nearby ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., nr. Ramallah, arresting 6 Palestinians (including 1 woman). In Hebron, 3 Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai beat a 12-yr.-old Palestinian child; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (PCHR 9/3)

On the 1st Friday of Ramadan, the IDF enforces age restrictions announced on 8/23 limiting Palestinian access to Jerusalem for prayers; an estimated 60,000 Palestinians enter the city. (OCHA, PCHR 9/3; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 9/09)

The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight e. of Abasan, Khuza, and al-Fukhari villages. (PCHR 8/27)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas, skunk (a foul-smelling liquid) at Palestinians and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas and violently beats a number of Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara (injuring 2, including 1 teenager); fires rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation); implements additional security restrictions on the movements of Palestinians in the old city of Hebron, which prevents a number of them fr. entering the al-Ibrahimi Mosque/ Tomb of the Patriarchs for Friday prayers; conducts late-night raids, house searches in Surif village nr. Hebron, arresting 2 Palestinians. (OCHA 8/25; PCHR 8/27)

Israeli naval boats fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Rafah coast to force them back to shore, seriously wounding a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy on the beach with a gunshot to the head. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades, skunk at stone-throwing Palestinians protesting the separation wall in Bil‘in; fires rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian and international activists holding nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara and Ni‘lin, causing no major injuries; conducts late-night house searches in and around Jenin, making no arrests. In Rafah, Hamas police and Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades (IQB) mbrs. attempt to arrest SCG leader Shaykh ‘Abd al-Latif Musa, surrounding his mosque during Friday prayers, sparking a 7-hr. battle that leaves 24 Palestinians dead (12 SCG, 6 Hamas, 6 bystanders), 130 injured (including a boy inside Egyptian Rafah), and 95 SCG supporters under arrest. The dead include Shaykh Musa, who reportedly commits suicide by detonating an explosives belt, killing s. Gaza IQB cmdr. Muhammad Jibril Shamali, who led the raid. (Agence France-Presse 8/14; MNA, NYT, WP, WT 8/16; Jerusalem Post, OCHA, PCHR 8/20)

Israel allows 973 Palestinians to transit through the Rafah crossing (881 going into Egypt, 92 returning to Gaza). In the West Bank, IDF troops catch a Palestinian man attempting to scale the separation wall in al-Ram to gain access to Jerusalem to find work; they force the man to stand on top of the wall and jump to the ground, causing him to fracture both legs; they then order him to crawl to a military jeep where they handcuff him before giving him medical attention. The IDF also fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, and skunk at stone-throwing Palestinians protesting the separation wall in Bil‘in; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists demonstrating against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, causing no serious injuries; fire stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists nr. Nablus protesting the IDF’s bulldozing of large areas of Palestinian land for the expansion of Brakha settlement. (OCHA, PCHR 8/13)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, and skunk at stone-throwing Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall in Bil‘in, causing no serious injuries; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, injuring 3 Palestinians (2 with head injuries fr. high-velocity tear gas canisters); conducts late-night house searches s. of Jenin, making no arrests. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops begin to fence off a 40 d. plot of Palestinian land in Burin village s. of Nablus for a new settlement outpost; Israeli police remove the settlers and instruct Palestinians to file proof of ownership of the land with Israeli military liaison officers. (OCHA, PCHR 7/30)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, injuring 5 Palestinians (1 by live ammunition, 1 by rubber-coated steel bullet, 3 hit with tear gas canisters); IDF undercover units monitoring the rally arrest 2 Palestinian teenagers. The IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Israeli activists and stone-throwing Palestinians protesting the separation wall in Bil‘in, causing no serious injuries; IDF undercover units monitoring that demonstration arrest 1 Palestinian, 1 Israeli. Late in the evening, the IDF searches houses in Jenin town and r.c., making no arrests. (OCHA, PCHR 7/16)

Egyptian authorities demolish 14 smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires tear gas at Palestinians taking part in weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); carries out synchronized, late-night house searches in 4 villages s. and w. of Jenin, making no arrests. (PCHR 6/18)

U.S. special envoy Mitchell, on a 2-day trip to Syria, holds a “very positive” meeting with Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad in Damascus to discuss the peace process, bilateral relations, and regional affairs. (NYT, WP, WT 6/14)

Israeli naval vessels halt a Palestinian fishing boat off the Gaza coast w. of Shati’ r.c., arresting 6 fishermen. In the West Bank, the IDF fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, and tear gas at Palestinians taking part in a weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, killing 1 Palestinian with live ammunition, wounding 7 Palestinians (4 by live ammunition, 2 by tear gas canisters, 1 by rubber-coated steel bullets); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in, injuring 3; conducts late-night house searches in Tulkarm and Nur Shams r.c., making no arrests. In Qalqilya, the PASF restricts access to the funerals of 2 Hamas mbrs. killed on 6/4 to prevent them fr. being celebrated as martyrs, but puts up PA-sponsored posters around town commemorating the PASF officers killed in the 5/31 and 6/4 clashes. A Palestinian boy dies of injuries sustained in a 1/6/09 IDF attack on Jabaliya r.c., during OCL. (Jerusalem Report, NYT 6/6; OCHA, PCHR 6/11)

In the West Bank, the IDF removes several tiny settlement enclaves nr. Nablus, including Nahalat Yosef. In response, around 100 Jewish settlers fr. nearby Gilad, Keddumim, and Yitzhar rampage through Palestinian areas, burning large plots of Palestinian olive trees and crops, blocking roads, and ambushing a minivan of 15 Palestinian workers (beating and seriously injuring 6). The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Ni‘lin, nr. Jenin. (NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/2; OCHA, PCHR, WJW 6/4)

Israeli DM Barak arrives in Washington for meetings with U.S. officials aimed at defusing the settlement freeze dispute. (National Public Radio 6/1; NYT, WP, WT 6/2; WJW 6/4; WJW 6/11)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Gaza to engage a group of armed Palestinians laying a roadside bomb nr. the border fence, fatally shooting 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs.; the deaths bring to 22 the number of Gazans killed by the IDF since the 1/18/09 cease-fire. Later in the day, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine detonates a roadside bomb on the Gaza border fence as an IDF patrol passes, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin (firing live ammunition and stun grenades at homes, injuring a Palestinian woman); fires tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall construction in Bil‘in; fires live ammunition, rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly nonviolent protests against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 10 Palestinians, 2 with live ammunition). Jewish settlers burn 10s of d. of Palestinian crops nr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus, block firefighters fr. reaching the scene. A Jewish settler is found dead nr. Eli settlement btwn. Ramallah and Nablus; the circumstances of his death are unclear. (NYT, WP 5/23; OCHA, PCHR 5/28)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinians taking part in weekly demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in; fires live ammunition, rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (wounding 1 Palestinian with live ammunition, 2 with rubber-coated steel bullets, and 1 with a tear gas canister in the back). (OCHA 5/20; PCHR 5/21)

Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds with at least 1 air strike on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. The IDF fires on a Palestinian woman grazing sheep nr. the border fence e. of Jabaliya, wounding her. In the West Bank, the IDF fires tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians taking part in weekly demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in, injuring 2; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas on Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara (10s suffer tear gas inhalation) and Ni‘lin (injuring 5); conducts late-night house searches in Nablus and neighboring Balata r.c., but makes no arrests. Jewish settlers fr. Gilad settlement nr. Qalqilya, escorted by IDF troops, attack Palestinian farmers working their land in nearby Jit village, slashing tires of a tractor and ordering the farmers off the land, saying it belonged to them; the IDF troops confiscate the agricultural tools of the Palestinians and order them to leave the area, giving the tools to the settlers. (WT 5/3; OCHA 5/6; PCHR 5/7)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes a rare daytime incursion into Tuqu‘ village nr. Jenin to arrest Palestinian workers at a construction site located 200–300 m fr. the separation wall; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 5 Palestinians); severely beats 4 Palestinians (including a 14-yr.-old boy) at a similar nonviolent rally in al-Ma‘sara; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar, escorted by IDF troops, enter ‘Urif village s. of Nablus in the evening; when local Palestinians stone the settlers and troops, the IDF calls in reinforcements and fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, and tear gas at the Palestinians, injuring 12 (5 by live ammunition, 6 by rubber-coated steel bullets, 1 hit by a tear gas canister). (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)