The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement threw stones at 1 house and 2 vehicles in Burin, breaking the windshields of the cars. 1 Israeli settler also rammed 1 Palestinian child with his car near the Kiryat Arba settlement. Israeli forces raided Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians; tear-gas related injuries were reported. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Fahma, Jaba‘, and Tubas. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters east of Jabalia refugee camp, killing 1 Palestinian and injuring 5 others with live ammunition; Israeli forces claimed Palestinians threw explosives at them. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition east of Abasan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya, injuring 1 with live ammunition. In Israel, Israeli forces demolished the Bedouin village al-Araqeeb for the 192d time since 2010. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/2; MEMO 9/3; PCHR 9/9)

In Syria, Israel conducted air strikes near Damascus, causing damage. Syrian state TV said the country’s missile defense system had intercepted most of the Israeli missiles. During the attack, 1 surface-to-surface missile was fired at Israel but landed in the sea. (AJ, HA, JP, TOI 9/3)

Israel released 1 pregnant Palestinian woman from prison after international and Palestinian pressure. The woman was released to house arrest and on $12,000 bail. She is accused by Israel of an attempted stabbing in March outside of an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. (WAFA 9/1; HA, MEMO, TOI, WAFA 9/2; HA, MEE 9/3; AJ 9/5)

Hamas said it rejected the framework agreement between the U.S. and the UNRWA signed on 7/15, calling it “dangerous and humiliating.” Hamas said that the framework threatens the refugee issue and is an obstacle to UNRWA employees. (MEMO 9/3; ALM 9/23)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian king Abdullah II in Cairo. The 3 leaders were said to have been coordinating their stance on Israel for the upcoming UN general assembly meeting in October. President al-Sisi’s spokesperson said after the meeting that al-Sisi emphasized that the creation of a Palestinian state depends of reconciliation between the PA and Hamas. President Abbas called for renewed peace negations under the auspices of the International Quartet for Middle East Peace. An unnamed PA source said, according to Haaretz, that the Biden administration has conveyed to the PA that it will not exert pressure on the Israeli government to engage diplomatically with the PA while Israel is in budget negotiations. (AJ, AP, HA, JP, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/2; MEMO, WAFA 9/3)

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) approved a project that will seek to obtain from Palestinians 530 properties in the West Bank and 2,050 properties in East Jerusalem by reviewing documents only registered by the JNF to see if they can be used to evict Palestinians using Israeli courts. The JNF has set aside $31 million for the settler project. (HA 9/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor with 2 shots to his back and injured his cousin with live ammunition during a raid in Odla near Nablus; the deceased’s aunt said that the cousins were running home when they were shot in their backs. Israeli forces raided Aqraba, attacking a house where the suspect of a drive-by shooting against 3 Israeli settlers on 5/2 was allegedly hiding, leading to a firefight; the suspect was later arrested in Silwad. 11 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Aqraba, Dura, Idhna, and Hizma. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the pending evictions of several Palestinian families from Shaykh Jarrah, injuring 22, including 6 from live ammunition, and 12 were arrested. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (AP, HA, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA 5/5; AJ, ALM. AP, PCHR, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/6; HA, HA, MEE 5/7)

1 Israeli settler victim of a drive-by shooting in the West Bank on 5/2 succumbed to his injuries. (HA 5/5; HA 5/7)

The PA said it had complained to the ICC about the pending forced eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in Shaykh Jarrah. (MEMO 5/6)

PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, discussing revamping the duties of the Middle East Quartet. Foreign Minister Lavrov said that Russia has offered to mediate between the PA and Israel “to resolve all fundamental final-status issues.” Foreign Minister al-Maliki also called on Russia to pressure Israel to allow Palestinians in East Jerusalem to partake in Palestinian elections. (AP 5/5; WAFA 5/6)

Israeli fighter jets attacked several locations near Latakia in Syria, killing 1 and injuring 6. (AJ, AP, HA, JP, MEE 5/5)

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin picked Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid as the next candidate to try to form a government after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s mandate expired on 5/4. (AJ, GDN, NPR, REU 5/5; HA 5/6)

The EU called on Israel to reverse its decision to build 540 settler units in Har Homa and that the EU, with concern, was following the situation in Shaykh Jarrah, Silwan, and al-Walaja. (WAFA 5/6; MEMO 5/7)

The Methodist Church of England said it had divested from the construction company Caterpillar in response to continued use of the company’s products in displacing Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory. (Sabeel-Kairos, WAFA 5/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 25 olive seedlings, stealing 22 of them in Tell. Israeli forces sealed off 8 villages near Ramallah, leading to clashes with Palestinians in 1 of the villages, Dayr Abu Mash‘al, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed an anti-settlement protest in Beita, injuring 1 Palestinian with a rubber-coated bullet to his head, and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 2 Palestinians were arrested, including 1 during a late-night raid in Anata, and 1 at a checkpoint in Halhul. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 house in Shu‘fat refugee camp. Israeli police physically assaulted and arrested 3 Palestinians in Silwan after stopping their car. 2 others were arrested during late-night raids in Issawiyya and al-Tur. In Gaza, rockets launched from Gaza landed in an open area near Beersheba, where Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting during his election day campaign; no injuries or damage were reported. Israel subsequently attacked Gaza with fighter jets and helicopters, firing 5 missiles at sites near Gaza City and at 1 site in Dayr al-Balah, causing severe damage. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/23; AJ, WAFA, WAFA 3/24; PCHR 3/25)

Israel closed all crossings for the Israeli elections. (WAFA 3/21)

A poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that a single Fatah list would get 43% of the votes for the parliamentary elections while Hamas would win 30%; 18% were undecided. However, within the population of Fatah supports, some 10% would vote for a party headed by Mohammad Dahlan and 7% for a party head by Nasser al-Kidwa. (AP, HA, PCPSR 3/23)

Israelis voted in the general elections for the 4th time in 2 years. This time, there was not an obvious coalition to formed either, as many right-wing parties had promised not to support a government with Benjamin Netanyahu as its prime minister. Netanyahu, who had convinced the Palestinian-Israeli party Ra’am (United Arab List) to break with the Joint Arab List, also relied on religious Zionist parties, to the right of his Likud party, to be able to form a government. Those parties, including a significant majority of Likud, were vocally opposed to being in a governing coalition with Palestinian-Israelis. Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas said after the election that he was not wedded to either the right wing or left wing at that point. Meretz (Vigor) and Labor both had a better election than anticipated and went over the electoral threshold. So did the terrorist-supporting Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), made up by followers of Meir Kahane. The Joint Arab List ended up with 6 mandates, down from 15, partially a result of lower Palestinian-Israeli voter turnout and because Ra’am received 4 mandates that previously would have gone to the Joint Arab List. (REU 3/22; AJ, AP, AP, GDN, HA, HA, HA 3/24; ALM, HA, HA, REU 3/25; AJ 3/26)

The Middle East Quartet members met for the 1st time since 2018 to discuss “meaningful negotiations” between Israelis and Palestinians. PA president Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the statement made by the Quartet. (AP, REU 3/23; HA, WAFA 3/24; WAFA 3/26)

The Dutch foreign ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador to the country for clarification as to why PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki had his VIP travel card confiscated after meeting with ICC personnel in the Hague. The Dutch foreign ministry said that “the ICC must be able to carry out its work without interference.” (HA, MEMO, REU, WAFA 3/23)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 60 olive saplings in Jalud. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian vehicles traveling on the Nablus-Qalqilya road, leading to 1 injury and damage. Israeli forces shot and injured 7 Palestinians trying to enter Israel for work through the separation barrier near Far‘un. Israeli forces also seized heavy machinery used to rehabilitate a road in Kardala. 10 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Bayt Umar, Sabastiyya, Qabatiya, Jalazun refugee camp, and Nahalin. In East Jerusalem, 6 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Khan Yunis and Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/11; PCHR 1/14)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli defense ministry and the civil administration’s higher planning committee will approve 800 new settlement units in the Itamar, Beit El, Shavei Shomron, Oranit, Givat Ze’ev, Tal Menashe, and Nofei Nehemia settlements and settlement outposts. Prime Minister Netanyahu also said on Facebook that “[w]e’re here [in the West Bank] to stay. We’re continuing to build the Land of Israel.” Leader of the Israeli opposition Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid party called the announcement of the new settlement units “irresponsible,” citing the U.S. presidential transition on 1/20. France’s foreign ministry, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the PA denounced the settlement expansion. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz also approved a small number Palestinian construction projects in al-Walaja, Hizma, Bethlehem, and Bayt Jala. All the projects need secondary approval. (ABC, AJ, AP, HA, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA 1/11; REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/12)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and a member of the PLO executive committee condemned the UAE for allowing Israeli settler products to be imported to its market after the 1st shipment of Israeli settler goods arrived in the UAE. (WAFA 1/11; REU 1/14)

The PA health ministry said it had approved the Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use. (WAFA 1/11)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas issued 3 presidential decrees, 2 of which critiques say serves to bolster the power of the PA presidency ahead of potential elections later this year. 1 decree allows the PA president to select judges instead of approving judges, who would be selected based on seniority. The decree also allows the president to force Palestinian judges to retire 5 years before the set retirement age of 70. A 2d decree establishes administrative courts, which can hear petitions against officials and institutions, previously a duty of the High Court of Justice. The president of the administrative court is appointed by the PA president. (HA 1/28)

An Israeli court in Lod ruled that screening or distributing the movie Jenin Jenin from 2002 by Mohammad Bakri should be banned and copies of the movie destroyed. Bakri was also ruled to pay $55,000 to an Israeli soldier who appears in archival footage used for the movie and $16,000 for the cost of the trial. The Israeli judge said that Bakri did not do enough research to label the movie a documentary. The PA ministry of culture condemned the ruling. (HA 1/11; AJ, TOI, WAFA 1/12; WAFA 1/13)

Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that he regretted forming a coalition with Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying that Netanyahu “cheated me and cheated you [the Israeli public].” He then called on all opposition leaders, including the Joint Arab List’s Ayman Odeh, to join him in sending “Bibi [Netanyahu] home” in the upcoming election. (HA 1/11)

The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Jordan, and Egypt met in Cairo to discuss reviving peace talks between Israel and Palestine. The quartet expressed willingness to work closely with the U.S. to map steps toward peace. In a statement, the 4 called for a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. According to the Jerusalem Post, the 4 countries had tried to invite the Israeli and PA foreign ministers to the meeting, but both were unable or unwilling to travel for the meeting. (HA, WAFA 1/11; JP 1/12)

U.S. billionaire and mega-donor to Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, and Israeli settlements Sheldon Adelson died. Adelson had recently flown the convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard to Israel from the U.S. so he could immigrate after being released from parole, and he bought the U.S. ambassador’s house in Tel Aviv from the U.S. state department earlier in 2020. Adelson was known to have had a large influence on U.S. president Donald Trump’s aggressively pro-Israel policies during his presidency. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU 1/12)

Off the coast of Gaza nr. Gaza City, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing neither damage nor injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF issues an arrest summons to a Palestinian on a late-night raid in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, sparking light clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths. IDF troops also conduct late-night raids and house searches in and around Hebron, al-Fawar r.c., and Bethlehem, arresting 8 Palestinians; patrols during the day in 1 village and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho. Israeli settlers set fire to dozens of olive trees outside Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid a Palestinian clothing store in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 2 Palestinians are injured (1 of them will lose an eye after being struck by a sponge-tipped bullet). Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians on late-night raids in the Old City, Qalandia r.c., and Issawiyya. (MNA, WAFA 7/12; HA, MNA, TOI 7/13; MNA 7/14; PCHR 7/15)

A senior Hamas official tells a Russian media outlet that former Quartet envoy Blair is mediating talks between Israel and Hamas over the 2 Israeli civilians who are allegedly being held in Gaza. Blair reportedly met with Hamas leader Mishal in Doha 3 times, both before and after Blair resigned as Middle East Quartet envoy on 5/27, to discuss the issue. On 7/16, a senior Palestinian source will confirm that these talks took place. (TOI, YA 7/12)

PA pres. Abbas forms a national comm. to investigate alleged Israeli war crimes committed in Gaza during OPE. He appoints Farid al-Jallad to head the comm., which will begin its work after ‘Id al-Fitr concludes on 7/20. (JP 7/12; MNA 7/13)

In the West Bank, Palestinian assailants shoot and injure 4 Israeli settlers in a vehicle outside an Israeli settlement nr. Nablus; 1 will succumb to his injuries on 6/30. IDF troops impose a curfew on a nearby village, search the area, and conduct a series of raids. Dozens of Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles on the Ramallah-Nablus road. Earlier, a Palestinian woman stabs an Israeli soldier at a military checkpoint in Bethlehem, moderately injuring her. Israeli forces arrest the Palestinian. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in 4 villages nr. Ramallah, confiscating surveillance and recording equipment; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police arrest a Muslim worshipper at Haram al-Sharif after he throws rocks and shoes at Jewish visitors. (HA, JP, MNA, YA 6/29; AFP, HA, MNA, WAFA 6/30; PCHR 7/2; NYT 7/19)

Palestinian prisoner Adnan ends his hunger strike overnight after making an agreement with the Israeli authorities to release him on 7/12. An Israeli official says that the deal was made after Adnan withdrew his demand that Israel never again administratively detain him. Beginning on 5/5, Adnan’s hunger strike lasted 55 days. (AP, HA, MNA 6/29)

More than 100 mi. off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces board, search, and escort the Marianne of Gothenburg, the flagship of the Freedom Flotilla III, toward the port at Ashdod overnight. Prior to the boarding, the other 3 ships of the flotilla turned around, sailing away from Gaza and back to their ports of origin. (AFP, EI, HA, JP, NYT, YA 6/29; TOI 6/30)

Hamas calls for an emergency meeting of the various Palestinian factions, finding it “unacceptable” that the PLO Exec. Comm. appointed a comm. on 6/27 to consult with the various PLO factions about the composition of a new consensus govt. (MNA 6/29)

French FM Fabius proposes the formation of a new international group with a mandate of supporting peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. He describes the group as “a kind of Quartet plus,” referring to the Middle East Quartet, which has been relatively inactive since former Quartet rep. Blair’s resignation. Fabius’s comments are interpreted as a shift in French strategy away from the UNSC. (NYT, TOI 6/29)

U.S. pres. Obama signs the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act into law, renewing his authority to “fast track” approval of trade agreements in Congress. The new law includes an American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)-backed provision establishing a series of anti-BDS objectives to be pursued in all trade negotiations. (HA 6/30; PNN 7/1)

In Gaza, Hamas security forces arrest 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. allegedly connected to the rocket fire that targeted Israel on 5/26. Off the coast nr. Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct late-night house searches and raids in Jenin, 1 village nr. Tulkarm, and al- ‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, arresting 2 Palestinians. Israeli settlers take over 10 dunams (around 2.5 acres) of land nr. Nablus, planting grapevines on the land. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a newly built home in Silwan; arrest 1 Palestinian on a late-night raid in Bayt Hanina. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 5/27; MNA, PCHR 5/28; PCHR 6/4; NYT 8/4)

The Union of European Football Associations’ (UEFA) exec. comm. agrees to oppose the Palestinians’ bid to suspend Israel from FIFA via a res. at the body’s 5/29 congress. Meanwhile, PFA chair Jibril Rajoub says, “The vote is still on the agenda,” following talks with FIFA pres. Sepp Blatter. (HA 5/27; JP, MNA, WAFA 5/28)

Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair announces his resignation after 8 years in the post. He will step down next mo., but continue working with the U.S., EU, and others to support a 2-state solution. (AFP, statement from Blair’s office 5/27)

In the Gaza Strip, unknown assailants set fire to the cars of senior Hamas and Fatah officials in Jabaliya r.c. and Nussayrat r.c., respectively. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Jenin and Hebron; patrols nr. Hebron, Tulkarm, Jericho, Ramallah, and Jenin. Israeli forces accelerate their efforts at leveling land outside Dayr Istya nr. Salfit, clearing the area for a major settlement expansion. They also begin expanding a settlement nr. Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian woman nr. the Old City. (MNA, WAFA 2/15; PCHR 2/19)

In Gaza, Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair calls for international donors to fulfil their pledges and deliver the funds necessary for the reconstruction of the Strip. He also calls on Israel to make a “radical change of approach” and to lift restrictions on Gaza. While in Gaza, Blair meets with PA unity govt. ministers and UN officials. (AP, REU, TOI 2/15; MNA 2/18; HA 2/19)

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip, Israeli naval forces twice open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing damage and detaining 4 Palestinian fishermen. In the West Bank, 100s of Palestinians organized by Fatah gather in various locations to call for boycotts of Israeli products, an end to the Israeli occupation, and for the Israeli govt. to unfreeze transfers of tax revenues held since 1/2. Dozens of Israeli settlers, accompanied by IDF troops perform religious rites in a Palestinian village nr. Nablus, leading to clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians in nearby Balata r.c. and ‘Askar r.c.; 1 Palestinian is moderately injured by live ammunition. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Qalqilya; patrols in al-‘Arub r.c. and Nur Shams r.c., as well as nr. Hebron, Tulkarm, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, an undercover Israeli policeman arrests a 10-year-old Palestinian in Shu‘fat suspected of throwing stones at the light rail, sparking clashes in the area during which 1 Israeli officer is lightly injured. Meanwhile, Israeli municipal officials deliver a demolition notice to a Palestinian in Sur al-Bahir. Israeli police detain 3 Palestinian women as they exit Haram alSharif. (MNA 1/24; WAFA 1/25; HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 1/26; MNA, WAFA 1/27; PCHR 1/29) 

Reps. of the Middle East Quartet (the U.S., EU, UN, and Russia) meet in Brussels to discuss methods of revitalizing the peace negotiations in the wake of the 12/30 UNSC vote rejecting a timetable for the Israeli occupation. (REU 1/27)

The IDF announces that it has dismissed 43 veterans and active reservists of Unit 8200, an intelligence gathering division, in response to their refusal of service, which they announced in a letter published by the Guardian and Yedioth Ahronoth on 9/12. (+972, HA, YA 1/26)