The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attempt to set a Palestinian vehicle on fire and throw rocks at Palestinian homes in Urif village near Nablus, causing minor damage. After some Palestinian residents confront the settlers, IDF troops enter the village, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents; 8 Palestinians are injured. Separately, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian at Qalandia checkpoint when she is found with a knife on her person; arrest 6 Palestinians during further raids near Bethlehem, Hebron, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Hebron, Tulkarm, and Salfit. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian mobile home in Qalandia refugee camp near Jerusalem. The Palestinian owner was living in the mobile home since Israeli forces demolished his previous home on 6/20. Israeli forces raze a plot of Palestinian land and confiscate a vehicle, demolish 2 car washes, a food shop, several storage buildings and offices in Silwan and Jabal Mukabir; and arrest 5 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s northern coast to continue the Great March of Return and to cheer on a number of Palestinian boats sailing in a symbolic challenge to the Israeli blockade. IDF troops and Israeli naval forces violently disperse the protests; 10 Palestinians are injured. Earlier in the day, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near the site of the planned protest. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/19; MNA 11/20; PCHR 11/22)

Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, both of the Jewish Home Party, announce that they intend to remain in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ruling coalition and that they are dropping their demand for Bennett to take over the Defense Ministry. “There’s no apocalypse on the way. There are enemies, but not an enemy that worries me,” Bennett says. (HA, JP, YA 11/19)

Haaretz reports that Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority last week increased by 1,500 the number of permits awarded to West Bank Palestinians hoping to work as dishwashers and cleaners in Israeli restaurants, bars, and cafes. The increase is reportedly designed to ease the strain on restaurant owners who are struggling to find enough low-cost labor. Before this increase, approximately 30,000 West Bank Palestinians were permitted to come into Israel to work such jobs. (HA 11/19)

UNRWA commissioner general Pierre Krähenbühl tells reporters that the agency’s budget shortfall, which was created by U.S. president Trump’s decision to slash U.S. aid to UNRWA earlier this year, has been cut to $21 million, following another round of pledges from the EU and several Gulf countries. The deficit was reportedly $64 million as recently as last week. “This is a very encouraging result at the end of a lot of work,” Krähenbühl says. (AFP, TOI 11/19)

Airbnb, a U.S.-based home-share company with listings all over the world, announces that it is removing all 200-some of its listings in Israel’s West Bank settlements. “We concluded that we should remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians,” a statement from the company reads. In response, Israel’s Tourism Minister Yariv Levin instructs his deputies to restrict the company’s operations across Israel. Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan calls on the settler-hosts who used Airbnb to sue the company using Israel’s anti-boycott law. “National conflicts exist throughout the world,” he argues. “Airbnb will need to explain why they chose a racist political stance against some Israeli citizens.” (EI, HA, JP, YA, YA 11/19; AJ, BBC, CNN 11/20)

Marking the second major BDS victory of the day, the Canadian Federation of Students, Canada’s largest and oldest students’ association, endorses the BDS movement and condemns the “ongoing occupation of Palestine.” Marking the third, the Quakers in Britain Church, a group 17,000 strong, announces that it is divesting from companies that profit from the Israeli occupation. “This includes companies—whichever country they are based in—involved for example in the illegal exploitation of natural resources in occupied Palestine, and the construction and servicing of the separation barrier and Israeli settlements,” a senior church official explains. (TOI, TOI 11/19; JP, JP, JTA, TOI 11/20; EI 11/21)

In Gaza, Israeli authorities close both the Kerem Shalom and the Erez border crossings. In 2 separate incidents, IDF troops stationed e. of Gaza City fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers approaching the border fence, causing damage. Later, IDF troops stationed along the n. border open fire on a group of Palestinian farmers, causing damage to a car but no injuries. They also arrest 2 Palestinians nr. the border fence e. of al-Maghazi r.c. Unknown assailants set fire to a car belonging to the spokesperson of Gaza’s union of civil servants in Gaza City. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and raids in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Bethlehem, and Ramallah, arresting 2 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 1; patrols in 4 villages nr. Hebron, and in and around Tulkarm; evacuates and demolishes the “Gate of Jerusalem” protest tent camp in Abu Dis for the 11th time, forcing hundreds of Palestinian and international activists to leave the area and detaining 7. Israeli forces demolish a marble factory nr. Jenin. Israeli settlers poison a Palestinian family’s water tank in Hebron, but it is discovered before anyone is hurt; assault 2 Palestinian farmers outside a town nr. Jenin, injuring both; throw stones at Palestinian vehicles outside a village nr. Jenin, causing damage. A Palestinian drives his car into a group of IDF troops in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, injuring 1; the man is arrested. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians in Haram al-Sharif. They also conduct house searches and raids in Bayt Hanina, Issawiyya, Ras al-Amud, and al-Tur, arresting 8 Palestinians. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/17; PCHR 3/19)

National elections are held in Israel to determine the makeup of the 20th Knesset. Despite early exit polls predicting a close result, the Likud Party wins 30 seats, making it the largest bloc. During the day, Israeli PM Netanyahu attempts to increase voter turnout among his supporters by saying that Palestinian citizens are voting in “droves” and that their participation will lead to a victory for the left-wing factions. (AFP, BBC, HA, JP, NYT, TOI, YA 3/17; HA, JTA, WAFA 3/18)

The PA announces that it will operate under an emergency budget for 2015 starting on 4/1, as the economic crisis precipitated by Israel’s ongoing tax revenue freeze continues (over $400 m. is currently being withheld). Employees will continue to receive only partial salaries and govt. offices will receive 50% less funding than in 2014. (REU, TOI 3/17)

Reps. of the U.S. and Iran continue their negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program for a 2d day in a row and reportedly discuss the open letter that 47 Republican senators sent to Iran’s leaders on 3/9. (AFP, AP, JP, TOI 3/17)

In the Gaza Strip, an Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades fighter is killed during a training exercise e. of Gaza City. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers throw rocks and glass bottles at Palestinian-owned vehicles nr. Nablus, causing damage. Overnight, a mentally disabled Palestinian enters a home in the Yitzhar settlement; Israeli settlers and settlement security officers beat the man, causing moderate injuries, before IDF troops arrive to detain him. The IDF conducts arrest raids and house searches nr. Jenin, Hebron, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces raid the Jabal Mukabir homes of the 2 Palestinians who attacked a West Jerusalem synagogue on 11/18, sparking clashes. Israeli security forces also enter Silwan, where they arrest 3 Palestinians, including Fatah’s secy.- gen. in Jerusalem; raid the Palestinian Football Association’s offices in al-Ram. Elsewhere, 3 young Israelis attack a Palestinian youth, causing moderate injuries. During a separate brawl in the Old City between Israeli and Palestinian youth, 1 Israeli is stabbed, another is lightly injured, and the Palestinians are arrested. Late at night, 5 Israeli settlers attack a Palestinian nr. the French Hill settlement. In West Jerusalem, an Israeli driver hits a Palestinian youth with his car and drives away, leaving the Palestinian with a fractured foot. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 11/24; HA, IMEMC, MNA 11/25; HA 11/26; PCHR 11/27)

In response to the Israel Prison Service’s increased restrictions on 11/23, Palestinian prisoners clash with Israeli prison guards at Rimon prison, and 6 prisoners are injured. (MNA, WAFA 11/24; PNN 11/25)

The Palestinian leadership has decided to postpone its submission of a UNSC res. calling for a timetable to end the Israeli occupation, originally planned for late 11/2014. The decision is reportedly caused by a combination of strong U.S. opposition, threats of sanctions, and bad timing, with the UNSC largely focused on the negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. PA FM Riyad al-Maliki also notes that the PA has failed to win the support of 9 UNSC mbrs. that would be needed for the res. to pass. (HA, JP, JTA, MNA, WAFA 11/24)

The Israeli embassy in Amman lodges a formal complaint with the Jordanian govt. about the letter of condolence that PM Ensour sent (11/19) to the family of the 2 Palestinian men who attacked a West Jerusalem synagogue on 11/18. (HA, TOI 11/24)

In Vienna, reps. of Iran and the P5+1 agree on another extension to the Joint Plan of Action (signed on 11/24/2013). The talks, which began on 1/20/2014, will be extended 7 mos.; however, the negotiators plan to complete a political accord by the end of 3/2015, leaving final technical details for annexes to be agreed on by 7/1/2015. (AJ, BBC, HA, NBC, REU 11/24; ALM 12/1; ICG 12/10)

Overnight, Hamas secures the release of BBC reporter Johnston fr. the Army of Islam, which kidnapped him on 3/12; Haniyeh holds a press conference with Johnston at his Gaza City home, facilitates his transfer to the British Consulate in Jerusalem; British FM David Miliband “fully acknowledge[s] the crucial role” played by Hamas and Haniyeh in securing his release. Meanwhile, the IDF bulldozes Palestinian land in n. Gaza, reinforces troops inside the border nr. Bayt Hanun (conducting arrest raids, house searches, occupying a Palestinian home, bulldozing land), expanding the IDF’s n. Gaza buffer zone. Islamic Jihad fires an RPG at an IDF jeep on the Israeli side of the border fence nr. Dayr al-Balah; the missile lands inside Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Tulkarm. A Palestinian teenager dies of wounds received during a 2004 IDF raid on Hebron. (BBC, HA, NYT, WP 7/4; PCHR, WP 7/5; Jewish Telegraphic Agency 7/6; WP 7/8; OCHA 7/11; PCHR 7/12)

The IDF bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes in Anata nr. Jerusalem, conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. The Israeli Housing Min. approves plans for 350 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim settlement. (IMEMC, PM 11/22)

After several days of mtgs. with advisers and Likud colleagues, Sharon asks Israeli pres. Moshe Katsav to dissolve parliament, announces his departure fr. Likud and plans to form a more moderate centrist Forward party (Kadima) to run in 2006 elections; 15 of Likud’s 40 MKs pledge to follow Sharon. (AP, BBC, JTA, NYT, REU, WP, WT 11/21; CSM, HA, WP 11/22; WP 11/25)

The IDF continues operations in Bayt Hanun, fatally shooting an alleged Hamas mbr., bulldozing roads. The IDF also bulldozes 15 Palestinian homes, 15 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids and house searches in, fires on residential areas of Nablus. Palestinians fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing light damage but no injuries. The Israeli High Court rules in favor of 7 village councils n. of Jerusalem that a 30 km separation wall segment violates Palestinians’ rights, recommends that the IDF come up with a revised route. (BBC, HA, JTA, MM, REU 6/30; MA, VOI, VOP 6/30 in WNC 7/2; MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 7/1; al-Quds 7/1 in WNC 7/9; MM, NYT 7/2; MM 7/7; HA, PCHR 7/8; MEI 7/9)

Palestinian gunmen (1 Islamic Jihad mbr., 1 PRC mbr.) ambush a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Gush Katif, killing a Jewish settler woman, her 4 children, wounding 2 IDF soldiers in a car escorting them; the soldiers return fire, killing the 2 gunmen. The IDF retaliates by assassinating the senior Nablus AMB military cmdrs. Nadir Abu Layl and Hashim Abu Hamdan, firing a missile at their car as they drive through Nablus, also killing 2 AMB mbrs. traveling with them, injuring 3 bystanders. The IDF then rockets a building in Gaza City that houses a Hamas radio station (possibly attempting to assassinate a senior Hamas mbr. who reportedly was being interviewed at the time), the offices of al-Ayyam and al-Quds newspapers, a Fatah radio station; no one is injured. The IDF also raids Wadi al-Silqa nr. the site of the ambush, orders all Palestinian residents to leave their homes, searches homes, arrests 1 Palestinian, bulldozes 15 Palestinian homes. The IDF also bulldozes 4 Palestinian homes and 6 dunams of land nr. Morag settlement, 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah; fires on a funeral procession in Khan Yunis, wounding 2 Palestinians; fires on residential areas of Tubas, sparking protests, then opening fire on stone-throwing youths; conducts arrest raids in and around Jenin. Late in the evening, 4 Jewish settler families, escorted by IDF soldiers and 100s of mbrs. of the radical Ateret Cohanim settler group, expel 2 Palestinians families fr. their homes in Abu Dis, occupy the buildings, surround them with a fence, claming they stand on part of an 80-dunam plot they purchased in 1927. (VOP 5/2 in WNC 5/4; BBC, HA, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/3; YA 5/3 in WNC 5/5; MM 5/4; PR 5/5; PCHR 5/6; PR 5/12; MEI 5/14)

Likud mbrs. reject Sharon’s unilateral disengagement plan, with nearly 60% opposed. Sharon says he will draft a revised plan in consultation with his party, but meanwhile will move forward with planning a withdrawal. (XIN 5/2 in WNC 5/4; NYT, WP, WT 5/3; AYM 5/3 in WNC 5/5; MM, NYT, WP 5/4; al-Quds 5/4 in WNC 5/6; AYM, DUS 5/4 in WNC 5/7; JTA 5/5; JPI, MEI 5/14)

Just before the PC meets in Ramallah, the IDF assassinates PFLP leader Nidal Salama, firing rockets at his car as he drives through Khan Yunis, also killing 1 Palestinian bystander; surrounds the home of, fatally shoots Bethlehem AMB cmdr. Mahmud Salah in an apparent assassination, also killing AMB mbr. Adnan Juayrish, who was with him; demolishes the home of Salah’s 2 brothers. Just 2 hrs. after Abbas’s new government is confirmed, a suicide bomber detonates a device outside a Tel Aviv nightclub, next to the U.S. emb., killing 2 Israelis, 1 French woman, wounding 34 (including at least 1 American); a 2d bomber escapes when his bomb fails to detonate; AMB, Hamas say they jointly planned the operation; both bombers are British Muslims (1 of Kashmiri, 1 of Pakistani descent) who apparently entered Israel fr. Gaza on British passports. Commenting on the attack, Israeli government spokesman Dore Gold says, ”This is really the first test for the new Palestinian government and unfortunately it has turned out to be a complete failure.” The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian in Rafah; fires on, wounds 2 Palestinian farmers working land in Khuza; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. (HA 4/29; BBC, HA, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/30; Interfax 4/30 in WNC 5/1; LAW, PCHR 5/1; NYT 5/2; JTA 5/6; PR 5/7; JPI 5/9; WP 5/10)

The PC approves (69–12, with 3 abstentions) Abbas’s new government, presented after wks. of debate within Fatah. In his inaugural speech Abbas states that there is no military solution to the conflict with Israel, rejects “terrorism,” pledges to crack down on militant groups and confiscate illegal weapons, demands an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, and without Jewish settlements. Israeli FM Silvan Shalom cautiously welcomes Abbas’s words on violence but says his statements on flnal status are “problematic” and “raise serious questions regarding a readiness to arrive at an agreed-upon resolution.” (HA, MM 4/29; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/30; AYM, Interfax, ITAR-TASS 4/30 in WNC 5/1; SA 4/30, al-Quds 5/1 in WNC 5/2; WJW 5/1; AYM 5/1 in WNC 5/5; HA, MM, WJW 5/2; HA 5/5; MEI 5/16)