The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers gather outside Qusra village near Nablus where a Palestinian farmer was shot dead by a settler on 11/30. Palestinians throw stones and roll burning tires toward the settlers; IDF troops violently disperse them, critically injuring 1. Elsewhere, IDF troops conduct raids in Kafr Dan near Jenin, sparking clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They also arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids near Nablus, Jenin, and Hebron; and patrol near Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Islamic Waqf guards at Haram al-Sharif and 4 more Palestinians during raids in Biddu and Ras al-Amud. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, IMEMC, MNA, TOI, WAFA 12/4; PCHR 12/7)

The Trump administration announces that it has not yet reached a decision about relocating the U.S. embassy in Israel, despite the fact that today is the deadline for Trump to sign the presidential waiver delaying the move for 6 months. “We will share a decision on the waiver in the coming days,” a spokesperson says. Because Trump did not sign the waiver in time, U.S. law allows Congress to demand that he move the embassy and cut funding to the State Dept. It’s unlikely lawmakers will pursue either option. (HA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 12/4; HA, REU 12/5)

The IAF conducts air strikes on a Syrian government military research center near Damascus late at night, causing a disputed amount of damage. (HA, TOI 12/5)

Near Jenin in the West Bank, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of the home of a Palestinian imprisoned in connection with the killing of an Israeli settler on 10/4/2017. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against the 11/30 killing of a Palestinian farmer and Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, Khirbat Qalqas near Hebron, and Qusra near Nablus; 1 Palestinian is injured. They also arrest 1 Palestinian and issue arrest summons for 2 more during raids in and around Bethlehem and Jenin. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working near al-Maghazi refugee camp and on agricultural lands near Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp and Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 12/1; PCHR 12/7)

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launches an air strike at a military base outside Damascus, Syria. According to Syrian press sources, the target was an Iranian military base 13 km south of the city. The extent of the damage is not reported. (HA, TOI 12/2)