The Palestine Chronology

In the afternoon, IDF troops on the s. Gaza border nr. al-Qarara fire on 2 unarmed Palestinians who stray nr. the border fence, order them to lie on the ground, then send soldiers into Gaza to arrest and remand them to Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts afternoon arrest raids nr. Tulkarm; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (1 Palestinian journalist, 1 Japanese activist are wounded); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a similar nonviolent demonstration in Ni‘lin (wounding 7); conducts late-night house searches in Jenin town and r.c. but makes no arrests. At least 50 Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba attack Palestinians harvesting olives nearby, injuring 1 Palestinian and 2 Israeli peace activists aiding with the harvest. (OCHA 10/8; PCHR 10/9)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in and Ni‘lin (wounding 2 in Bil‘in). (OCHA 10/1; PCHR 10/9)

Egyptian border police blow up 2 smuggling tunnels under the Rafah border, killing 5 Palestinians, wounding 4. In the West Bank, the IDF fires tear gas, percussion grenades at a European Union delegation visiting the separation wall in Ni‘lin (seriously injuring their Palestinian guide), then firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists who gather at the scene to protest, injuring 4 Palestinians and a British journalist; steps up patrols around Hebron, randomly checking Palestinian IDs; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. (firing live ammunition and percussion grenades inside a home, seriously injuring a Palestinian teenager and his father), nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm. (NYT, OCHA 9/24; PCHR 9/25)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (several suffer fr. tear gas inhalation); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a similar nonviolent demonstration in Ni‘lin (wounding 6). (OCHA 9/24; PCHR 9/25)

Israeli FM Tzipi Livni narrowly wins Kadima party elections to replace Ehud Olmert as party head. Olmert, Israel’s current PM, called for party elections on 6/11/08, after government investigators turned up serious new evidence of his financial impropriety (see Quarterly Update in JPS 149). He vowed to resign as PM formally once a new party head was elected. (NYT 9/17; HA, NYT, WP, WT 9/18)

Israel reopens Gaza’s Kerem Shalom crossing for limited imports of humanitarian goods and the Nahal Oz crossing for limited fuel (see 9/14). In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, injuring 6; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Azariyya nr. Jerusalem and al-Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, and nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar burn Palestinian olive trees nr. Nablus. (PCHR 9/18; OCHA 9/24; PCHR 9/25; AIC 11/9)

In the 1st such incident since 6/13/08 (before the cease-fire began), IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire across the border on residential areas of al-Shuka, seriously wounding 1 Palestinian. The IDF also makes an afternoon raid into Hebron, surrounding a PA security force unit on patrol, arresting 2 PA security officers; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in, wounding 2 Palestinians and an Israeli journalist; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a similar nonviolent demonstration in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. A Jewish settler seriously injures a 6-yr.-old Palestinian boy in an accidental hit-and-run in Hebron; the IDF evacuates the child to a Jerusalem hospital. (OCHA 9/17; PCHR 9/18; AIC 11/9)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, injuring 5; makes a late-night incursion into ‘Anabta nr. Tulkarm, patrolling streets, firing on houses and shops, then firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Tubas, and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin. (OCHA 9/17; PCHR 9/18)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes a morning incursion into Ni‘lin, surrounding and firing tear gas into a girls school for no apparent reason while classes are in session (10s of students suffer tear gas inhalation), then fires on 10s of stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 7; destroys an unlicensed fruit and vegetable stand nr. the Qalandia checkpoint that provides the only source income for 6 Palestinian families; demolishes 32 bedouin structures in Mu’arrajat nr. Ramallah, displacing 60 bedouin (including 36 children); seizes Palestinian land in Hebron to erect a new electricity network to serve local Jewish settlements; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., in Dahaysha r.c. and Nablus, and in al-‘Askra village nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba stone Palestinian elementary school students on their way home fr. school, occupy the yards of 2 Palestinian homes and hold prayers (the IDF removes them). (OCHA 9/10; PCHR 9/11; AIC 11/9)

The Pentagon announces a $77-m. deal to sell Israel 1,000 GBU-39 bunker-buster munitions. Israeli military experts say the bombs would not be suitable for an attack on Iran but “could provide a powerful new weapon” against Gaza. (AP 9/15)

Israel releases 165 Fatah-affiliated prisoners as a goodwill gesture to mark Ramadan (see 9/4); none are fr. Gaza. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, injuring 1; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Jenin town and r.c. A Palestinian woman sprays an acid-like substance on 2 IDF soldiers checking IDs at Hawara checkpoint nr. Nablus, lightly injuring them; the soldiers open fire, causing no injuries, but the woman escapes. (MNA, OCHA 9/10; PCHR 9/11)

An Israeli security official confirms that Israel allowed 900 assault weapons and ammunition to be transferred to PA security forces in late 8/08 to build the capacity of forces loyal to Abbas; the arms came via Jordan, but the source is not noted. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, skunk spray at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in, wounding 1; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a similar nonviolent demonstration in Ni‘lin, injuring 2; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, neighboring ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., and al-Til, and nr. Bethlehem and Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Beit HaShalom attack Palestinians, vandalize nearby homes. The IDF declares the Joseph’s Tomb area nr. Nablus a closed military zone, escorts Jewish settlers to the site to pray. (NYT 9/6; OCHA 9/10; PCHR 9/11; AIC 11/9)

Israel releases 4 Fatah-affiliated political prisoners as a goodwill gesture to Abbas, marking the start of Ramadan; none are fr. Gaza. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, injuring 1; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Nablus and neighboring Balata r.c., nr. Hebron and Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba stone a Palestinian teenager, vandalize several homes nearby. (OCHA 9/10; PCHR 9/11; AIC 11/9)

Israeli naval vessels seize 9 Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, detaining 9 fishermen for questioning, releasing them in the evening. In the West Bank, the IDF makes an afternoon raid into al-Til nr. Nablus, arresting 1 Palestinian; fires tear gas, skunk spray at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in, wounding 1; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a similar nonviolent demonstration in Ni‘lin, injuring 3; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and nr. Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Beit HaShalom and Kiryat Arba attack Palestinians and vandalize Palestinian homes in Wadi al-Nassara; the IDF observes but does not intervene. A Palestinian is killed when he accidentally triggers unexploded IDF ordnance (UXO) in a field nr. Jenin. The Ramallah-based, Fatah-led Health Workers’ Union calls on PA health providers in Gaza to strike to protest the acting Hamas government; this strikes continues through the end of the quarter. (OCHA 9/3; PCHR 9/4)

The 2 FGM boats that sailed into Gaza on 8/23 depart Gaza for Cyprus (unimpeded by the Israeli navy) carrying 9 Gazans (mostly students with valid visas to study abroad and a family seeking medical treatment for their 10-yr.-old son) who had been unable to get Israeli permission to leave the Strip; to make space on the boats for the 9 Gazans, 9 FGM activists remain in Gaza. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Nablus in cars bearing Palestinian license plates to raid an auto supply store, arresting 1 Palestinian; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, injuring 11 (including 8 children, ages 12–16); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Nablus. (OCHA 9/3; PCHR 9/4)

Abbas begins a 2-day visit to Beirut for talks with Lebanese leaders regarding the status of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. (BBC 8/28)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Ramallah and neighboring al-Bireh; fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration in Ni‘lin (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Silwad nr. Ramallah, nr. Bethlehem; fires tear gas, skunk spray (see Quarterly Update in JPS 149) at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a similar nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in. Separately, Jewish settlers fr. Matityahu settlement nr. Ramallah fire on a Palestinian home in Bil‘in, causing no injuries. In 2 incidents in East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers vandalize 20 graves in a Muslim cemetery; attempt to seize a strip of Palestinian land, but are chased off by local Palestinians. (OCHA 8/27; PCHR 8/28)

In the West Bank, IDF undercover units enter Kafr Qallil nr. Nablus in the afternoon, driving vehicles with Palestinian license plates, to capture 2 wanted Palestinians (1 a mbr. of military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP], the other of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade [AMB]). The IDF also issues a military order confiscating Palestinian land in Hebron for construction of a settler-only bypass road and military outpost; fires tear gas, rubbercoated steel bullets at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, injuring 10; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Bethlehem and Ramallah. (OCHA 8/27; PCHR 8/28)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, “skunk” spray at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 1 Palestinian, 1 German, 2 Americans); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (wounding 9); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin and Nablus, in Bethlehem, nr. Hebron. (OCHA 8/20; PCHR 8/21)

In the West Bank, the IDF bulldozes 6 d. of Palestinian olive groves nr. Jenin; issues a military order seizing a 1,500 sq. m. area of land nr. Ramat Yishai settlement in Hebron for construction of a “road for military purposes”; patrols, fires tear gas at Palestinians in Tulkarm; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, wounding 16; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (OCHA 8/20; PCHR 8/21)

In Gaza, unidentified Palestinians fire 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Rafah coast, forcing them to return to shore. On the Rafah border, 3 Palestinians are killed when a smuggling tunnel collapses; Hamas blames Egyptian efforts to seal tunnels using water, gas, explosives for killing 8 Palestinian smugglers since 8/1, calling the tactics irresponsible. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, wounding 7; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Qabatya and Tubas, nr. Ramallah. Jewish settlers in Hebron unsuccessfully attempt to set fire to al-Ras Mosque (see 8/7). (OCHA, WT 8/13; PCHR, WT 8/14)

IDF troops make a late-night incursion into Tulkarm, fire on residential areas and storefronts, causing damage but no injuries. The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (wounding 3). At the weekly nonviolent protest against the separation wall in Bil‘in, Israeli border police for the 1st time spray protesters with a foul-smelling liquid they call “skunk” that victims report lingers on the skin, clothes for up to a week. In Gaza City, Hamas-affiliated police exchange fire with wanted Army of Islam mbrs. during an arrest raid on several houses; no injuries are reported. PA security forces, under pressure fr. Israel to launch a campaign to crack down on Hamas that parallels Israel’s campaign launched on 7/7, raid and seal for 1 yr. 8 community organizations and arrest 16 employees for alleged affiliation with Hamas. (OCHA 8/13; PCHR 8/14; HA 9/5)

Egyptian border police discover, demolish 20 smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border; smugglers exchange fire with police, leaving 2 unidentified individuals dead and 4 wounded inside Egyptian territory. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, wounding 7. For a 2d day, armed Jewish settlers attempt to enter Shu‘fat r.c. to establish an unauthorized outpost; the IDF bars their entry. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba dump trash in front of the entrance of Hebron’s al-Ras Mosque. Jewish settlers fr. Givat Ha’avot settlement in Hebron vandalize 5 nearby Palestinian homes. The Israeli Interior Min. approves construction of 400 new settler housing units in Neve Ya’acov settlement n. of Jerusalem, and authorizes tenders to be issued for construction of 286 housing units in Beitar Ilit nr. Bethlehem (approved by the Housing Min. on 5/21) and 130 units in Har Homa in East Jerusalem (some of which may have been approved by the Interior Min. on 7/9). Israel also reportedly agrees to transfer settlers living in the unauthorized outpost of Migron nr. Ramallah to another settlement (as yet undecided) where 40 new units would be built to accommodate them. (OCHA 8/13; PCHR 8/14)

Early in the morning, the IDF steps up shelling of a Hebron home surrounded on 7/26, then bulldozes it; the body of wanted Hamas mbr. Shihab al-Natsha is found inside and confiscated by the IDF. Also in the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in Jenin town and r.c., Tulkarm; fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in a nonviolent protest against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, wounding 7. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha set fire to 10 d. of Palestinian crops and a house in Burin. Jewish settlers burn 50 d. of Palestinian olive groves nr. Qalqilya. (NYT 7/29; OCHA, PCHR 7/30)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., Nablus; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 1 Israeli journalist is injured) and Ni‘lin (5 are injured, including a French journalist). In Gaza, 3 bombs explode next to a car used by the IQB parked near a busy Gaza City beach (killing 3 Hamas mbrs. and 2 bystanders, including a 6-yr.old girl; wounding 17), the Gaza City home of Hamas official Marwan Abu Ras (no injuries), and a caf´e (killing 1 bystander), marking one of the most serious upsurges of intra-Palestinian violence since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 6/07; Fatah denies responsibility for the bombings. (NYT, WP 7/26; OCHA, PCHR 7/30; AHR 8/1)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires on Palestinian, Israeli, international activists protesting against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (arresting 26 Palestinians, including Reform and Change PC mbr. Muna Mansur and the manager of the Nablus mall targeted on 7/8), nr. Jenin; raids an Islamic charity and kindergarten in Jericho, confiscating computers and documents. (OCHA 7/23; PCHR 7/24)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of al-Bireh, Dayr al-Sudan, al-Mazara’, and Sinjil nr. Ramallah and Kafr Ra’i nr. Jenin; no injuries are reported. The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at both locations). (NYT 7/19; OCHA 7/23; PCHR 7/24)

An unidentified gunman shoots, wounds 2 Israeli policemen in Jerusalem’s Old City (1 policeman dies of his injuries btwn. 7/23 and 7/30); no group takes responsibility, but Israel says it assumes it was a nationalist attack by a Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts early morning arrest raids, house searches in Jalazun r.c.; fatally shoots a 50-yr.-old Hamas mbr. in an alleged exchange of gunfire nr. Yakir settlement nr. Salfit; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation) and al-Ma‘sara (wounding 2); fires rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians and international activists protesting IDF bulldozing operations for construction of the separation wall nr. Ni‘lin, wounding 5, arresting 4; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., nr. Bethlehem. (WP 7/13; OCHA 7/16; PCHR 7/17)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on Palestinian farmers, preventing them fr. reaching their fields nr. the border fence but causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Ni‘lin villagers defy an IDF curfew to stage peaceful protest marches against the IDF blockade imposed on 7/5; the IDF fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets at the protesters, lightly injuring around 50. The IDF also bulldozes newly paved roads in Ni‘lin while the curfew is in place, damaging part of the municipal sewage system; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Tulkarm, and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Asfar settlement nr. Bethlehem beat 2 Palestinian shepherds grazing their flocks nearby. In Hebron, local Jewish settlers harass a French diplomatic delegation touring the city with Palestinian guides, arguing that settlers should lead the tour because the delegation was on “Israeli land.” A carload of Jewish settlers fires on a Palestinian taxi nr. Jenin, seriously wounding 1 Palestinian. (WT 7/7; OCHA 7/9; PCHR 7/10)

Palestinians fire 1 rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes just outside of Jerusalem, displacing 21 Palestinians (including 11 children); sets up roadblocks and curfews in parts of Kafr Haris nr. Salfit to keep Palestinians away while they escort Jewish settlers to Jewish holy sites in the village; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists protesting against separation wall construction in Ni‘lin, wounding 9; makes a late-night incursion into al-Far‘a r.c., patrolling the streets, firing on residential areas, firing on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 13; makes a similar late-night incursion into Jenin town and r.c., patrolling streets, firing on residential areas, causing no injuries. The Israeli DMin. approves construction of a yeshiva boarding school in Beit Romano settlement in Hebron. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Brakha enter Burin village and open fire on Palestinian homes, causing no injuries (cf. 7/1); the IDF removes the settlers. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim throw stones at Palestinian vehicles driving nearby, damaging 4 but causing no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Halamish settlement sets fire to a Palestinian olive tree in nearby Dayr Nidham. (OCHA 7/9; PCHR 7/10)

Israel reseals Gaza’s border crossings in the morning, saying that overnight its radar detected a Palestinians rocket launched from n. Gaza toward Israel (though admitting it has not found any rocket fragments); Hamas denies a rocket was fired, accusing Israel of looking for excuses not to honor the truce agmt. Meanwhile, IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on 2 Palestinian women working a field nearby, seriously wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF fires on residential areas of Bayt ‘Awa nr. Hebron, then enters to raid and search homes, claiming that barbed wire nr. the separation wall nearby had been tampered with, threatening to shoot dead anyone to approaches the wall; sends undercover units into Tulkarm to raid an apartment building, arrest a wanted Palestinian; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and in Dahaysha r.c., Jenin town and r.c., and Tulkarm r.c.; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (wounding 5). In the 1st such incident reported, Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus fire 2 mortars toward the nearby Palestinian village of Burin, landing inside a residential area but causing no damage or injuries. (OCHA, WT 7/2; PCHR 7/3)

Syrian and Israeli negotiating teams open a 3d round of indirect peace talks in Istanbul. (Israel Radio, MM 7/2)

The IDF makes a predawn raid on an apartment building in Nablus, assassinating Islamic Jihad cmdr. Tariq Abu Ghalil (targeted by the IDF on 3 prior occasions) and a bystander in an adjacent apartment. In response, Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Gaza fire 3 rockets, 1 mortar fr. Gaza into Israel, lightly injuring 2 Israelis, causing light injuries. Israel calls the rocket attacks a “grave violation of the calm,” closes all commercial crossing into the Strip, but does not take military action. Hamas calls the closure of the crossings a violation of the truce agmt. but says it will maintain the cease-fire. Meanwhile, the IDF uproots, replants more than 80 olive trees along the separation wall route around Jerusalem (farmers do not expect the trees to survive); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinians demonstrating against separation wall construction in Ni‘lin nr. Ramallah (injuring 12 Palestinians, including an 11-yr.- old boy); fires rubber-coated steel bullets at residents of Far‘un village nr. Tulkarm who hold a protest march to a group of houses slated for IDF demolition, wounding a 9-yr.- old Palestinian boy; conducts late-night arrest raids and house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Mitzpe Ya’ir nr. Hebron stone and injure 2 Palestinians nr. Yatta. (MM 6/24; MM, NYT, OCHA, WP 6/25; NYT, PCHR, WP 6/26; OCHA 7/2)

On the sidelines of a donors conference in Berlin, U.S. secy. of state Rice meets with Israeli and PA negotiators and invites them to take part a series of trilateral discussions in New York and Washington beginning in 7/08 in an effort to reach a deal on Palestinian statehood before Bush leaves office. The sides accept. (WP, WT 6/29; NYT 7/29)

Overnight, the IDF sends bulldozers into Khuza to level 45 d. of agricultural land and a poultry farm; sends undercover units into Gaza City, where they fire on a group of Palestinian resistance mbrs. in what may be an assassination attempt, wounding several, then fatally shooting a Palestinian bystander who comes to their aid. During the day, the IDF levels land along the border fence inside Gaza nr. Rafah. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches nr. Hebron. Some 300 Palestinian, Israeli, and international peace activists take part in the weekly nonviolent protest in Bil‘in against the separation wall; many demonstrators were participants at a wk.-long conference held in Bil‘in on Palestinian nonviolent resistance that ended today; several, including European Parliament VP Luisa Morgantini, Irish Nobel laureate Mairead Corrigan, and Italian judge Julio Toscano are among those injured when the IDF fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse the crowd, lightly injuring 13. The IDF also fires tear gas, percussion grenades at a similar protest al-Ma‘sara (no injuries reported). Jewish settlers fr. Hashmonim fire live ammunition at Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, causing no reported injuries. In Gaza City, Hamas-affiliated police attempt to arrest suspected drug dealers, sparking an exchange of gunfire that leaves 4 Palestinains dead (3 suspects, 1 policeman), 10 policemen wounded. (BBC 6/6; OCHA 6/11; PCHR 6/12)