The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a 14-year-old Palestinian during a weekly protest in Silwad nr. Ramallah. The IDF says that the youth, also a U.S. citizen, was holding a Molotov cocktail, but Palestinian witnesses deny the claim. State Dept. spokesperson Jen Psaki calls for a “speedy and transparent investigation.” IDF troops violently disperse protests outside Ofer detention center and in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, injuring 7 with live ammunition. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Tulkarm; patrols in Jericho, as well as 1 village and ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nearby, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, Jenin and 1 nearby village, and 1 village each nr. Hebron and Qalqilya. Also, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Nil‘in) and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities deny men under 40 entry to Haram al-Sharif. Meanwhile, Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces in Wadi al-Juz, Ras al-Amud, Silwan and Issawiyya. (AFP, AP, HA, MNA, REU 10/24; PCHR 10/30)

Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis attacks Egyptian soldiers nr. Shaykh Zuwayd and in al-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula, killing 31 with a car bomb, rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms. It is the deadliest single attack on Egyptian security forces in Sinai since the escalation of violence began after the 7/2013 military ouster of thenpres. Mohamed Morsi. In response, Pres. al-Sisi convenes an emergency meeting of his senior defense advisers, declares a state of emergency in some parts of n. Sinai, and closes the Rafah border crossing. (AP, JP 10/24; MNA 11/15)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in al-Bireh and 1 village nr. Bethlehem at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin at night. The raids in al-Bireh provoke clashes, in which 1 Palestinian is injured by rubber-coated metal bullets. (PCHR 7/25)

U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Jen Psaki says that Secy. of State John Kerry is finalizing his team for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but does not confirm or deny reports that former amb. to Israel Martin Indyk had been chosen to head the team. (AFP 7/23)

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Cmte. approves the appointment of Pres. Barack Obama’s nominee for amb. to the UN, Samantha Power, by a vote of 16–2. The committee also approves Victoria Nuland as an asst. secy. of state for European and Eurasian affairs. (REU 7/23)

Supporters and opponents of ousted pres. Morsi clash in Cairo, killing 12 people and wounding 86. Meanwhile, an Egyptian police officer is shot and killed in the Sinai. (MNA, NYT 7/23)