The Palestine Chronology

Hundreds of Palestinians attend a funeral in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron for a Palestinian whose corpse was returned by the Israeli authorities on 12/16. After the funeral, Palestinian youths throw stones at IDF troops at the village’s entrance, sparking minor clashes; there are no serious injuries. IDF troops arrest 4 Palestinians during raids nr. Hebron and Bethlehem, and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. In East Jerusalem, an argument between Israeli settlers and Palestinian youths escalates into a fistfight in Silwan. Israeli forces in the area violently disperse the fight, lightly injuring 1 Palestinian. Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians and issue 3 arrest summons during raids in the neighborhood after the incident. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmlands nr. Khan Yunis, causing no serious damage or injuries. (MNA 12/17; PCHR 12/22)

French amb. to the UN François Delattre confirms that Paris is postponing the peace conference originally planned for 12/21 to sometime in 1/2017. “After nearly a year of efforts, France will hold during [1/2017] an international conference bringing together all the states [seeking] peace,” he says (YA 12/17)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for passage in both directions for the 1st of 3 planned days. (MNA, WAFA 12/17)

Amid continuing heightened tension across the oPt during Passover, Israeli forces escort hundreds of Israeli settlers to Joseph’s Tomb outside Nablus and to Solomon’s Pools outside Bethlehem in the morning, sparking clashes in Nablus with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 1 Palestinian is injured. Also, around 200 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif; 5 are removed from the area when they attempt to perform religious rites. Israeli authorities close the Kerem Shalom crossing with Gaza, indicating that they plan to keep it closed through 4/30. Elsewhere along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Ramallah after he and another Palestinian allegedly attempt to stab an Israeli soldier. They also conduct raids nr. Bethlehem, issuing arrest summons to 3 Palestinians; patrol nr. Hebron, Salfit, and Jericho. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/28; PCHR 5/5)

Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office releases a statement formally rejecting the French peace initiative, including the peace conference planned for 5/30 in Paris. “Israel is ready immediately to begin direct negotiations with the Palestinians without any preconditions,” it reads, adding that “any other diplomatic initiative distances the Palestinians from the table of direct negotiations.” Meanwhile, a U.S. State Dept. spokesperson reiterates that the Obama admin. has not yet taken a position on the French initiative. (HA, TOI, USSD 4/28; MNA 4/29)