The Palestine Chronology

Two Palestinians die in a tunnel accident late at night nr. Gaza City. Hamas claims the 2 men were mbrs. of its group. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 2 Palestinian car washes n. of Jerusalem. IDF troops arrest 12 Palestinians and issue 4 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Hebron, Jenin, and Tulkarm, and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. In and around East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Hizma village and Qalandia r.c. Late at night, they conduct raids in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; there are no serious injuries. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes in a bedouin village nr. Beersheba. An Israeli driver rams a Palestinian worker from Tulkarm while he is walking along a street in Tel Aviv, causing moderate injuries. (MNA, WAFA, YA 12/7; MNA, PCHR 12/8; PCHR 12/15)

A Jerusalem Municipality planning comm. approves the construction of 770 settler residences in the Gilo settlement in East Jerusalem. City officials say that the plans, initially approved in 2013, were “undergoing routine processes of allocation regarding roads and public spaces.” (MNA 12/9)

Israel’s Knesset passes a 1st reading of the new draft of the so-called regulations bill, which passed a preliminary reading on 12/5 and would retroactively authorize illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 12/7; MNA 12/8)

A senior Israeli official says that Israeli PM Netanyahu has rejected French pres. François Hollande’s invitation to a mediated meeting with PA pres. Abbas after the next French-organized peace summit, which is set for 12/21. Later, Netanyahu calls Hollande personally to discuss the invitation. He tells the French pres. that he would be happy to meet with Abbas, but only if the conference is canceled. (HA, JP, YA 12/7)

Joint List members of the Knesset (MKs) Basel Ghattas and Ayman Odeh join hundreds of Palestinians in the bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran nr. Beersheba, protesting the Israeli authorities’ order to evacuate and demolish the village. The Israeli police ultimately delay the day’s demolitions, but do not offer a new date (demolitions will take place on 1/18). (HA 11/22; EI 11/23)

Following 2 mos. of drought, a series of large fires breaks out nr. Jerusalem, burning 30 homes and causing massive damage. (HA, MNA 11/24)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at Qalandia checkpoint after he allegedly attempts to stab them. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli settlers throw Molotov cocktails at a Palestinian home s. of Hebron, causing moderate damage. IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Hebron, and nr. Nablus; and patrol nr. Hebron and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces complete the demolition of a Palestinian home under construction in al-Tur. They had begun the demolition on 11/10, but stopped when their bulldozer broke down. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/22; EI 11/23; PCHR 11/24)