The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. Also, IDF troops conduct a limited incursion nr. Gaza City to level land close to the border fence. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Tubas in the morning, and in 2 villages nr. Salfit, and 1 village each nr. Jenin and Ramallah at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Jenin and Salfit in the afternoon, and in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Jenin and Ramallah, and in Qalqilya at night. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli security guard is stabbed in Silwan, prompting Israeli security forces to patrol the community and clash with residents. (MNA 10/21; PCHR 10/24)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry says that IsraeliPalestinian talks are intensifying with “core issues . . . on the table.” He makes the remarks in a joint press conference with Qatari FM Khaled al-Attiyah after meeting with Arab League officialsin Paris. It is also announced that Qatar has agreed to provide $150 million in debt relief to the PA. Kerry praises what he calls the Arab League’s “remarkable commitment” to advancing the peace process. (AFP, REU 10/21)

Syrian pres. al-Asad says that “the factors are not yet in place” for an international peace conference known as “Geneva 2” intended to secure a political transition and settlement to the civil war. Asad, talking to Lebanese television, questions what groups will be present and their claims to be legitimate reps. of the Syrian people. Meanwhile, chief of the OPCW Sigrid Kaag says in Damascus that the Syrian govt. has thus far “fully cooperated” in the destruction of its chemical weapons arsenal. (AFP 10/21–22)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops conduct a limited incursion along the border fence nr. Khan Yunis to level land, before withdrawing. In the West Bank, the IDF opens fire on Palestinians protesting the arrival of 1,400 Jewish worshippers at Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, injuring 7. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon; patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning, and in 1 village nr. Jenin at night. The IDF also demolishes 4 Palestinian-owned commercial structures in Barta‘a village nr. Jenin. (HA, MNA 9/12; PCHR 9/19)

PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas meets with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Paris, as well as French pres. Francois Hollande, discussing with both the peace process. (WAFA 9/12)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets Russian FM Sergey Lavrov in Geneva to discuss Moscow’s proposal of securing and destroying Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile, talks that were described by Kerry afterward as “constructive.” Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz expresses cautious support for the plan, speaking to Israeli media. Meanwhile, 3 stray mortar shells land in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage or injuries. (AFP, AP, JP, REU 9/12)

Egyptian interim pres. Adly Mansour extends a nationwide state of emergency for a further 2 mos. On the Rafah border, 2 Egyptian army tanks cross the initial border fence on the Egyptian side for the 1st time. Meanwhile, Egyptian authorities close the Rafah crossing for the 2d day due to unrest in the Sinai. (AFP, AP, MNA 9/12)

Iranian Amb. to the IAEA Reza Najafi says that Tehran will cooperate with the agency to “overcome existing issues once and for all,” speaking at his 1st board meeting. Distinct from the P5+1 (permanent mbrs. of the UNSC plus Germany) talks, the IAEA has held 10 rounds of talks since early 2012 to resume inspections into suspected weapon research. (REU 9/12)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli troops clash with residents in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron during a patrol, with 2 Palestinians wounded by shrapnel of a sound bomb and a bullet respectively. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Nablus in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Salfit and 1 village each nr. Bethlehem and Ramallah at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin at night. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces fire rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas at Al-Quds university students in Abu Dis after staff prevented soldiers from entering the campus. (MNA 9/8; PCHR 9/12)

U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry meets with Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas in London, their 1st such talks since direct negotiations recommenced. Earlier, Kerry holds talks with Arab League officials—including the FMs of Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia—in Paris, after which Kerry affirms the “commitment” of both sides to “continuing the talks.” The Arab League’s Peace Initiative Cmte. also expresses support for U.S. efforts to promote the direct talks. Meanwhile, Israeli officials protest Palestinian media leaks concerning the talks in complaints made to Washington. (AFP, JTA 9/8)

Following discussions in Paris, U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry says that Arab League ministers have agreed on the need for an international response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Asad regime. Kerry says that a number of countries immediately signed the statement produced at the G20 talks, but only names Saudi Arabia. (AFP 9/8)

Egyptian forces continue their Sinai offensive, killing 11 suspected Islamist fighters and arresting 10. (AP 9/8)

U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry leaves for Oman, on a Middle East trip that will also take him to Jordan, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories, his 4th visit to the latter in recent mos. The focus of Kerry’s trip is the possible Syria peace conference as well as the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. As Kerry departs, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat says that they are making every effort for peace talks to succeed, revealing that in the previous 2 mos. Kerry met with Pres. Abbas 5 times, Erakat 3 times, and that there are almost weekly telephone conversations. (AFP, AP, REU 5/20)

Israel cancels an official visit by a UNESCO delegation, scheduled to inspect historical sites in Jerusalem’s Old City. The fact-finding commission was set to spend 5 days in Jerusalem before submitting a report at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Israel’s Foreign Ministry claims that the visit has been postponed because the Palestinian side “tried to make it into a political event.” The visit originated in a 4/23 decision by Israel, the PA, and UNESCO to remove 5 resolutions critical of Israeli actions from the agency’s agenda in exchange for the delegation’s visit. (MNA 5/16; HA 5/20)

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in Tulkarm, Balata r.c. in Nablus, and 1 village each nr. Hebron and Jenin at night, patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning, 1 village each nr. Jenin and Qalqilya in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Salfit, 1 village each nr. Jenin and Ramallah, and in Nablus at night. (PCHR 5/23)

Unidentified gunmen open fire at a police camp and al-Awja border crossing in the Sinai, causing no casualties. Egyptian police deploy reinforcements in the area. Seven security officials remain kidnapped. (AFP, AP 5/20)

IDF soldiers demolish a residential building and 3 shops in the al-Tur neighborhood of East Jerusalem on the grounds that they lacked construction permits. In the West Bank, IDF soldiers demolish 3 homes in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. In the Jordan Valley, IDF soldiers inform 100 families in Wadi alMalih that they must temporarily relocate to make space for military training. IDF forces also open fire on 2 Palestinians trying to damage the separation wall nr. Jalbun northeast of Jenin, injuring 1. The IDF patrols in Jenin and 2 villages nr. Jenin in the morning, 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in Jenin, 1 village nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night. IDF troops conduct house searches and arrest raids in Hebron, 1 village nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Jenin, and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. Meanwhile, the IDF makes a brief incursion into northern Gaza nr. Bayt Hanun to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence. (MNA, WAFA 4/24; PCHR 4/25)

The PA agrees to postpone the presentation of 5 resolutions condemning Israeli policies to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) executive board in Paris. As part of the Russia and U.S.-brokered agreement between the PA and Israel (with the help of Jordan and Brazil), UNESCO experts will survey a number of sites in Jerusalem. (JP 4/24)