The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on Palestinians scavenging material from destroyed buildings 400 m fr. the border, forcing them to flee; no injuries are reported. Shortly after, the same IDF unit shells the area where the Palestinians had been scavenging as well as a Palestinian home in Bayt Lahiya, causing damage but no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Bayt Rima nr. Ramallah during the day; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Some 50 Jewish settlers break into the ancient Na’aran synagogue in Palestinian-controlled area A in Jericho to hold religious services, declaring their hopes of “renewing Jewish settlement in Jericho”; the IDF removes the settlers, arresting at least 35. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops enter Kafr Haris village n. of Salfit to perform Jewish prayers at monuments in the village. (HA 2/22; PCHR 2/24; OCHA 2/25)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu adds 2 key West Bank Jewish shrines, the Tomb of the Patriarchs (known as alIbrahimi Mosque to Palestinians) in the center of Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb just inside Bethlehem, to Israel’s national heritage sites, allocating $1 m. for their maintenance and repair as part of a $100 m. project to refurbish and link 150 national heritage sites, creating a “historical biblical trail [to] educate the next generation about Jewish and Zionist history.” The PA condemns the action. (IFM 2/21; PCHR, WT 2/22; NYT 2/23; JPI 3/4)

In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Adam settlement just n. of Jerusalem; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and nr. Jenin. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops enter Awarta village nr. Nablus in the evening to hold religious services at an ancient Jewish gravesite, also smashing and vandalizing several Palestinian tombstones in a Palestinian cemetery. The UN reports that in the previous wk., 7 Palestinians were injured in tunnel collapses on the Rafah border. (OCHA 1/20; PCHR 1/21; WP 1/22)

Mbrs. of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claim responsibility for firing 2 manufactured Grad rockets fr. Gaza into Israel; the missiles hit nr. Netivot, causing no damage or injuries. Egypt allows a token delegation of around 85 international activists to cross into Gaza to demonstrate with Gazans for an end to Israel’s siege, while in Cairo, Egyptian authorities disperse another 1,000 international activists calling on Egypt and Israel to open the Gaza border. Inside Israel, about 1,000 Israeli Palestinian and Jewish peace activists march to the Erez crossing in solidarity with the internationals in Egypt. Israeli police arrest a Jewish settler teenager connected to the outlawed right-wing group Kahane Chai suspected in the 12/11 arson of a mosque in Yasuf. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 2 animal shelters on a Palestinian farm located nr. an unauthorized Israeli settlement outpost northeast of Hebron, saying they had been erected illegally; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Shavei Shomron and Einav settlements set up an outpost on a hill nr. Nablus overlooking the spot where a settler was ambushed and killed on 12/24. Jewish settlers at another settlement outpost northwest of Hebron raze 1,500 d. of surrounding Palestinian agricultural land, saying they plan to build a park and swimming pools. (JP 12/31; NYT, WP 1/1; HA 1/2; OCHA, PCHR 1/6; WJW 1/7)

Israeli naval vessels intercept a Palestinian fishing boat that approaches the boundary of the permitted fishing zone off the Bayt Lahiya coast, damaging the boat, forcing the fishermen to jump into the sea, and then detaining them, taking them to Ashdod port in Israel for several hrs. of questioning, before releasing them to Gaza. A smuggling tunnel under the Rafah border collapses, killing 3 Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians in Silwan report that during the previous wk., Israeli workers and archeologists resumed work on 2 archeological tunnels under the city leading to the al-Aqsa Mosque (see Quarterly Update in JPS 154). A group of right-wing Jews breaks into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound to hold prayers marking Hanukkah, but Waqf officials ask Israeli police to intervene, and police remove them peacefully. Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem celebrating Hanukkah attack a number of Palestinian shops and residents in the Old City; Israeli security forces observe but do not intervene. The PASF crackdown on Hamas mbrs. in the West Bank winds down today, with the UN reporting at least 80 and as many as 300 detained. The Israeli High Court rules that a 2007-imposed ban on family visits by Gazans to Palestinians held in Israeli jails is valid. (OCHA, PCHR 12/16; PCHR 12/23; HA 12/31)

IDF troops on the Gaza border direct artillery fire at al-Musaddar village, hitting 1 Palestinian home and injuring 2 teenagers, then make a brief incursion into the area. (PCHR 10/1)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar uproot numerous Palestinian olive trees. (PCHR 10/1)

In East Jerusalem, disturbances between Jews and Muslims continue for a 2d day; at least 2 Jewish homes in Silwan are struck by Molotov cocktails, and Jews stone Arab cars driving on Hebron Street but apparently cause no injuries. (WJW 10/1)

In Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike on an open area nr. Bayt Hanun, causing no casualties. (PCHR 10/1)

Israel imposes a general closure on the West Bank for the 2-day Yom Kippur holiday. The IDF conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm, arresting 1 Palestinian. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba nr. Hebron attack Palestinians exiting the nearby al-Ras Mosque and throw stones, empty bottles at Palestinian vehicles; no serious injuries are reported. (PCHR 10/1)

Outraged by rumors that right-wing Jews plan to invade the al-Aqsa Mosque compound to mark Yom Kippur, Palestinians throw stones at French tourists visiting the mosque, mistaking them for Jewish activists. Israeli police disperse the crowd of approximately 150 Palestinians with stun grenades, leading to a number of disturbances throughout East Jerusalem. Palestinians also throw rocks, Molotov cocktails, and garbage at Israeli border police. As many as 38 Palestinians and 18 mbrs. of Israeli security forces are injured, and 11 Palestinians are arrested. (NYT 9/28; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 9/09; WJW 10/1; OCHA 10/2; JPI, OCHA 10/8)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a daytime raid into Dura nr. Hebron, firing on residential areas, sparking clashes with Palestinians, wounding 3; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, in and around Nablus; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 1); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a similar nonviolent demonstration in Ni‘lin (injuring 1). In Hebron, Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba clash with Israeli police demolishing an unauthorized settlement outpost, removing the outpost’s single dwelling, injuring 3 policemen; the settlers also attack local Palestinians and media, injuring 3 Palestinian cameramen for AP and Reuters; in the evening, settlers reoccupy the site. Inside Israel, 2 Israelis stab and wound 2 Palestinian workers in a bakery in Talpiot nr. Jerusalem; Jewish extremists harass Israeli Palestinians in Tiberias, burn 2 Palestinian-owned vehicles. (AFP, AP, REU, WP 11/1; WP 11/2; OCHA 11/5; PCHR 11/6)

In the first such cross-border incident in Gaza since 9/16, the IDF sends bulldozers and armored vehicles into areas n. of Bayt Hanun to level land along the border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Furik nr. Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai beat a Palestinian family harvesting olives in Hebron, steal their olives. Jewish settlers fr. Elon Moreh attack Palestinains harvesting olives nr. Nablus. Under pressure to prevent further clashes like those that recently occurred in Acre, Israeli police arrest 3 Israeli Jews for assaulting Palestinians in Jerusalem and stoning Palestinian cars. Also in Israel, right-wing Jewish extremists vandalize buildings in Tel Aviv with graffiti threatening Peace Now secy. gen. Yariv Oppenheimer (cf. 9/24). (OCHA, WT 10/22; PCHR, WJW 10/23; AIC 11/9)

Inside Israel, riots in Acre taper off after Israeli police arrest the Israeli Palestinian whose driving on 10/8 touched off the clashes, charging him with speeding, reckless endangerment, and offending religious sensibilities; the man denies the charges, saying he only drove through a Jewish neighborhood to pick up his daughter from a class. Meanwhile, Israel imposes a general closure on the West Bank, seals Gaza’s crossings for Sukkoth. Overnight, Jewish settlers fr. Adei Ad outpost nr. Ramallah steal olives and destroy olive trees in nearby al-Mughayyir village, sparking fights with Palestinian farmers who arrive in the morning to harvest the groves; no serious injuries are reported. The new synagogue build on East Jerusalem Waqf land, inaugurated on 10/12, opens to Jewish worshipers; Israeli security forces set up checkpoints around the area to prevent Palestinians fr. reaching the site, sparking clashes between the security forces and Palestinians; no serious injuries or arrests are reported. In Hebron, PA security forces claim to find a tunnel under a home, arrest 2 Palestinians allegedly affiliated with Hamas, linking them to the 11 arrested on 10/10 for plotting against the PA. (OCHA 10/15; PCHR 10/16)

In Acre, clashes between Israeli Palestinians and Jews continue; residents report at least 3 Arab homes destroyed by fire and several others heavily damaged since 10/8. Overnight, in the West Bank, the IDF makes an incursion into Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, raiding, searching, and occupying 2 homes; in the morning, troops fire rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians and international peace activists who gather for a nonviolent protest, injuring 3 Palestinians and 1 international activist, arresting 9 Palestinians (including 3 children), releasing most and withdrawing by evening. The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 5); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a similar nonviolent demonstration in Ni‘lin (injuring 6); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar attack a Palestinian family harvesting olives nearby, damage 15 trees. Jewish settlers fr. Abracha settlement nr. Nablus attack Palestinians harvesting olives nearby; 6 Palestinians require hospitalization. In Hebron, PA security forces raid a home in Hebron, confiscating weapons and explosives, arresting 11 Hamas-affiliated Palestinians, accusing them of planning to use the arms against the PA. (NYT 10/13; OCHA 10/15; PCHR 10/16)

Israel imposes a general closure on the West Bank, seals Gaza’s crossings through 10/9 for Yom Kippur. Inside Israel, riots erupt between Israeli Palestinians and Jews in the mixed city of Acre. Clashes are sparked when Jews observing Yom Kippur (when all traffic in Israel’s Jewish population centers halts) attack an Israeli Palestinian family driving through a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, believing that they are deliberately breaking the sanctity of the holy day. Though the family is only lightly injured, rumors quickly spread through Arab areas of Acre that 1 was killed. Seeking revenge, 100s of angry Palestinian youths rampage through Jewish areas, vandalizing cars and breaking shop windows. In Gaza, the UN reports that 1 rocket was fired toward Israel between 10/1 and 10/7 but landed inside Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF soldiers nr. Tulkarm bar local Palestinians fr. harvesting their olive groves, citing the Yom Kippur holiday; conduct late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (OCHA 10/8 PCHR 10/9; WP 10/10; NYT 10/13; OCHA 10/15; PCHR 10/16)

In Gaza, the IDF continues the incursion into Bayt Hanun begun on 4/25, demolishing the home of the Hamas mbr. targeted on 4/25, leveling surrounding land before withdrawing in the early morning. The IDF also sends troops into Bayt Lahiya, to seize and take to Israel local Hamas leader Hasan Marouf, trading heavy gunfire with local Palestinians and firing on Marouf’s home, killing his 14-yr.-old daughter. In the West Bank, the IDF raids an orphanage for girls, a 2d sewing factory in Hebron owned by the ICA (see 4/11), reiterating its 2/26 decision to evict residents and seal the sites for 3 yrs. if they are not vacated and turned over to the IDF within 24 hrs. (the ICA ignores the orders); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Qalqilya. In Jerusalem, Israeli police barricade gates into the Old City, forcibly bar Orthodox Palestinian worshipers fr. reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the St. Jacob Cathedral to perform Holy Saturday services to mark Orthodox Easter (cf. 4/22), beating and arresting several worshipers, while allowing Jewish worshipers to enter the Old City for Pesach celebrations. (Arab Orthodox Institute in East Jerusalem press release, al-Quds, WP 4/27; OCHA, PCHR 4/30)

IDF soldiers on the Gaza border fatally shoot an Islamic Jihad mbr. planting a roadside bomb nr. the border fence n. of Bayt Hanun, wounding 2 Palestinian farmers working a field nearby; troops briefly enter Gaza nr. Bayt Hanun to examine and dismantle the explosive device, but Israel says it was not meant as a breech of the cease-fire. The Israeli navy fires on Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Rafah, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF shoots, wounds a Palestinian attempting to circumvent the Awarta checkpoint nr. Nablus; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin (exchanging gunfire with Palestinian gunmen, leaving 1 IDF soldier injured) and in ‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, Nablus, Qalqilya. In addition, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem issues demolition orders for a playground and six houses in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem on Palestinian land that has been sought by Jewish developers in order to build 30 homes, a synagogue, and a religious school for Jews only. In Rafah, 2 Palestinian children are injured when they accidentally trigger an unexploded IDF artillery shell. (Playgrounds for Palestine press release 4/4; PCHR, WP 4/5; OCHA 4/11; PCHR 4/12)

The IDF sends undercover units into Tulkarm in a car with Palestinian license plates to arrest a wanted Palestinian; later sends a 2d undercover unit into Tulkarm that is intercepted by PA security forces, withdraws after an exchange of fire, causing no injuries; sends undercover units into Jenin, who exchange fire with local gunmen, withdraw under IDF support, without making any arrests; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Jenin next to the separation wall; patrols in Tubas, firing on residential areas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, Tulkarm and in Aida r.c., al-Fara‘a r.c. (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops). In Rafah, at least 100 Fatah, Hamas gunmen clash, leaving 1 Hamas mbr. and 1 Palestinian bystander dead and 15 Palestinians wounded, with Hamas firing antitank weapons and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at the local PSF headquarters. (Hamas says that Fatah gunmen fired on a Hamas funeral procession, precipitating the clash, while Fatah says that Hamas mbrs. in the procession fired first on the PSF headquarters along the route.) Soon after, 100s of Fatah-dominated PA security forces and AMB mbrs. reacting to the Gaza violence rampage through Ramallah, raiding, firing on, vandalizing, setting fire to the PC building and the cabinet headquarters in a show of force against Hamas. Later, Fatah gunmen kidnap Change and Reform PC mbr. Khalil Rabei, set fire to his Ramallah office; Rabei is freed hrs. later at Abbas’s intervention; 7 other Change and Reform PC mbrs. take refuge in the Muqata‘a under Abbas’s protection. Abbas declares a state of emergency and curfew. Inside Israel, Israeli police arrest 7 Palestinians in Shafa ‘Amr suspected in the 8/4/05 killing of an IDF soldier who boarded a bus in the town and opened fire, killing 4 Palestinians before being beaten to death. In addition, unknown assailants vandalize the Orthodox Christian Church in Majdal nr. Nazareth; the recently refurbished church, which tends to a growing Russian Orthodox population, has been threatened on several occasions by local right-wing Jews. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/13; PCHR 6/15)

A Palestinian hitchhiker dressed as an observant Jew detonates a bomb inside an Israeli car that picks him up outside Keddumim settlement, killing 4 Jewish settlers and himself; AMB–Nablus faction claims responsibility. PA FM Mahmud Zahhar (Change and Reform) defends the bombing as legitimate resistance, whereas Abbas denounces it; Israel accuses the PA of encouraging terror. Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds by shelling n. Gaza fr. land and sea, causing no damage or injuries; makes 6 F-16 air strikes outside Bayt Hanun and Bayt Lahiya, damaging an electricity network, several roads; warns the PA that it will increase pressure on Palestinians firing rockets fr. Gaza, will fire on any place fr. which fire is directed at Israel, even if PA security forces are operating in the area. The IDF also closes the only checkpoints allowing Palestinian access to the n. Jordan Valley (at least through 4/5); closes all but 1 road leading into Tulkarm; erects a permanent observation post and tower on the Bethlehem– Hebron road into Hebron; issues military orders seizing part of a Palestinian home in Hebron nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, 200 sq. m. of Palestinian land in al-Arub r.c. nr. Hebron to expand an IDF outpost; searches the offices of the Cultural Forum in Sur al-Bahir outside Jerusalem, confiscating files, damaging furniture; breaks up a Land Day rally in East Jerusalem, arresting 4 Palestinians, including 2 journalists; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers, escorted by IDF troops, attack Palestinian farmers, international peace activists planting trees on Palestinian land in Hebron. (IMEMC 3/30; MM, NYT, WP 3/31; NYT 4/1; PCHR 4/6)

Israel acknowledges that it has begun work on a new police headquarters, road network, and “other facilities” in Jerusalem’s E-1 development area, marking the 1st step in the largest settlement construction project since 1967 to create “Jewish demographic continuity between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim” settlement; the project will include 3,550 housing units, 6 hotels, a park. Israel’s Internal Security M Gideon Ezra says the U.S. did not object to beginning construction. IDF undercover units, traveling in a car with Palestinian license plates, enter Jenin, call in 10 IDF vehicles for backup, raid and occupy several homes, arresting 2 wanted Palestinians. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah, in and around Hebron, and in Jenin town and r.c., al-Khadir, Nablus; begins construction of a new settler bypass road on Palestinian land in Hebron to link Abraham Avino and Ramat Yishai settlements. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa attack Palestinians, their farm animals and vandalize Palestinian homes in nearby Yatta. (IMEMC, JAZ, YA 3/14; MM, PCHR 3/16)

The IDF raids the Alternative campaign offices in East Jerusalem, confiscates campaign posters and leaflets, arrests at least 5 workers, claiming they have ties to terrorism because the Alternative coalition includes the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP); bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina and Silwan on the outskirts of East Jerusalem; smashes the windshields of at least 10 Palestinian taxis traveling a road leading north out of Nablus; conducts arrest raids in al-Arub r.c. nr. Nablus, Qalqilya and in and around Jenin, Ramallah. The IDF also declares the Jewish section of Hebron a closed military zone, banning all nonresidents, seizing buildings and rooftops, welding shut Palestinian stores raided by settlers after 5 days of settler rioting sparked by plans to evict Israeli squatters who have occupied the market area. Late in the evening, Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF responds with artillery fire on the n. Gaza no-go zone, causing no injuries. (HA, IMEMC, YA 1/16; NYT, WP 1/17; IMEMC 1/18; PCHR 1/19)

Egypt allows the Rafah border crossing (closed since the incidents of 1/4) to reopen. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and Tulkarm r.c., nr. Jenin, in and around Bethlehem. Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. Some 200 IDF soldiers raid, shut down the offices of the Hebrew Battalion in Tapuach settlement after intelligence shows that it is connected with the outlawed extremist Kach movement; soldiers also confiscate 6 dogs they say settlers trained to attack Palestinians. (HA, YA 1/8; IMEMC, YA 1/9; PCHR 1/19)

In the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Acre, the New Forum for Strengthening the Jewish Community in Acre holds a conference aimed at finding ways of achieving a permanent Jewish majority in the city. The group, which includes mbrs. of the elected local city council and is supported by the mayor, believes that Acre “has the right to exist as a mixed city only if it has a permanent Jewish majority.” (HA 1/8, 1/9)

The IDF conducts air strikes to destroy 2 vacant AMB buildings in n. Gaza; fires 3 shells at the eastern border of Gaza nr. alMaghazi r.c., causing no injuries; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanina outside East Jerusalem for being constructed without permits; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus; completes a section of the separation wall btwn. Qalandia checkpoint s. of Ramallah and the al-Ram and Dahiyat al-Barid area nr. Jerusalem. Nr. Tulkarm, 2 Palestinian teenagers throw Molotov cocktails at an IDF patrol, causing no injuries; 1 is shot, wounded by the IDF. Some 20 AMB gunmen occupy the n. Gaza governor’s office, Education Min. offices, and a shari‘a court for several hrs., demanding jobs in the PA security forces; some 400 Palestinians, including AMB mbrs., hold a similar protest outside the Fatah headquarters in Bethlehem. The Jewish “hilltop youth” settlers set up 13 new unauthorized outposts nr. existing settlements in the Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho, Nablus, Qalqilya, and Ramallah areas. (HA, IMEMC, JAZ, REU, YA 12/27; DS, HA, IMEMC, NYT 12/28; PCHR 12/29)

In keeping with the agmt. brokered by Rice on 11/15, Israel allows the PA to open the Rafah crossing under EU monitoring for 4 hrs./day; only foot traffic will be allowed until vehicle scanners are installed; Egypt will require men age 18–40 to obtain an entry visa. The IDF also tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement in Hebron; fires teargas at stone-throwing Palestinians outside a polling station in Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem being used for the Fatah primaries in advance of the 1/25 elections; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Hebron. Palestinians report that a private contractor for a Jewish settlement nr. Bil‘in recently uprooted 100s of the village’s olive trees located on the western side of the separation wall despite IDF pledges that villagers would be given access to the trees to harvest them. (JTA, REU, YA 11/25; IMEMC, NYT, WP, WT 11/26; PCHR 12/1)

Extremist Jews attack a busload of Israeli Palestinians in Shafa ‘Amr nr. Jerusalem, injuring 8 Palestinians. (IMEMC 11/26)

The IDF continues arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Rima, as well as in Bani Na‘im and al-Dahariyya nr. Hebron; rounds up 10s of Palestinians working illegally in Jerusalem. An IDF soldier dies of injuries received in an AMB ambush nr. Nablus on 1/7/05. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar vandalize 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Furik, fire in the air to intimidate the residents. (IDF press release, IMEMC 10/15; PCHR 10/20)

Israelreceives a gift of 300 police dogs fr. an unnamed U.S. Jewish organization. The IDF says that the dogs will be used during raids on houses of wanted Palestinians. (XIN, YA 10/15)

The IDF bulldozes Palestinian land n. of Bayt Hanun, some 200 m. inside Gaza, as part of a plan (drafted before disengagement) to create a buffer zone controlled by the IDF along the n. Gaza border. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of Nablus; imposes a curfew on Budrus nr. Ramallah, patrolling streets, searching homes. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai throw stones, bottles, rotten vegetables at Palestinian homes in Hebron. In Gaza City, 10,000 Hamas supporters attend a military-style victory parade celebrating disengagement, displaying RPGs, rockets, assault rifles. Also in Gaza City, PA security forces and Hamas mbr. intervene to stop the kidnapping of 1 American, 1 Palestinian journalist by unknown militants. (JP, REU 9/18; AP, XIN 9/19; PCHR 9/22; HA 9/25)

A 5-day summit on Israeli-Palestinian issues opens in Israel attended by 17 mainline Protestant and Jewish officials. The summit, organized by American Jewish groups, is aimed at convincing Americans to halt steps toward divestment following a move a yr. ago by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to consider divesting church funds fr. 6 corporations undertaking activities that support the Israeli occupation. The World Council of Churches issued similar recommendations to its mbrs. in 2/05, followed by the United Church of Christ in 7/05, raising serious concerns in Israel and among U.S. Jewish groups. Evangelical Christian groups were not invited to these mtgs., as they are already considered solidly supportive of Israel. (WT 9/17)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in ‘Aida r.c., al-‘Aza r.c., Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba surround, heckle, scuffle with a group of European diplomats, Israeli activists making a solidarity visit to Hebron. (YA 8/31; PCHR 9/8)

A day after formally announcing that he will challenge Sharon for Likud party leadership in advance of Israeli elections, which must be held by 11/06, fmr. PM Benjamin Netanyahu goes to Ma’ale Adumim, where he vows that as PM, he would press for a rapid increase in construction of West Bank settlements, particularly around Jerusalem, including building 5,000 units in Ma’ale Adumim immediately. (NYT, WP, WT 8/31; NYT, WT 9/1; NYT 9/3)

The Jewish Agency, Israeli DMin. unveil a program to recruit 100s of young IDF soldiers who have just completed their mandatory service to travel abroad as “emissaries to Jewish communities in the Diaspora” to persuade Jewish youth abroad to come to Israel for a semester or yr. of academic study. The newly discharged soldiers would receive travel expenses and a stipend to travel for 6–12 mos. The project is estimated to cost $200 m./yr., with $50 m. paid by the Jewish Agency, $50 m. by the government, and the rest by donations to the agency, most of which come from North American Jews, who donate around $150 m./yr. to the Jewish Agency. (HA 8/31)

Israel announces plans to build 21 Jewish homes in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, 2 nr. Qalqilya, 1 nr. Salfit, for being constructed without permits; fires on residential areas of Rafah. A Jewish settler fr. Karme Tzur kills a 14-yr.-old Palestinian in a hitand-run incident outside Hebron. (AP, MA 7/26; IMEMC, JAZ, OCHA, PR, PRCS 7/27; PCHR, YA 7/28)

The IDF fatally shoots 3 14-yr.-old Palestinians playing soccer nr. the Philadelphi Route in Rafah, alleging that the youths strayed into a closed military zone, were acting suspiciously, and may have been involved in arms smuggling. Hamas, the PRCs retaliate by firing 25 mortars at nearby Jewish settlements, causing no damage or injuries; Hamas, Islamic Jihad say the mortar fire is a 1-time response, not a declaration to the end of the truce; the PA sends a “strongly worded” letter of protest to Israel saying it views the IDF strike with the “utmost gravity”; the UNRWA also protests. The IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; searches a kindergarten in Hebron, holding 80 children in 1 room for more than 90 minutes; raids, searches an Internet caf´e in Qalqilya, interrogates clients, arrests 1; conducts arrest raids and house searches, fires on residential areas of Silwad nr. Ramallah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Ithna nr. Hebron, Kafr Ni’ma nr. Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai vandalize 4 Palestinian houses in Hebron, severely beat 2 Palestinian teenagers. A group of female Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba break the windows of a Palestinian house in Hebron. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 1/9. (IMEMC 4/9; VOI 4/9, 4/10 in WNC 4/10; NYT, WP, WT 4/10; MM, PRCS 4/11; XIN 4/12; OCHA, PR 4/13; PCHR 4/14; MM 4/18; PR 4/20)

The U.S. group Yedidim, an alliance of 1,000s of Baptist churches and Jewish synagogues across the U.S., says it is preparing a series of protests in Gaza before and during Sharon’s Crawford visit to protest and block disengagement plans, stating “we are working right now to send thousands of people, thousands of Zionist Christians. We will go over there and stand in the Gaza Strip with our friends and see what they will do about evicting Americans.” Some 5,000 Christian Zionist plan to protest at Crawford on 4/11. (WT 4/9)

After further talks btwn. Israeli, PA officials, the IDF turns over security control of Tulkarm, pledges not to target wanted Palestinians fr. Tulkarm. The IDF closes checkpoints into East Jerusalem for several hrs; lifts the curfew on Allar, imposed on 3/18; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanina; fires on residential areas of Burqa nr. Nablus, occupies a Palestinian home as an observation post; raids, searches the Youth Development Society in Husan nr. Bethlehem, temporarily detains 4 board mbrs.; bulldozes 2 d. of Waqf land nr. Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem to build a parking lot for busses transporting Jewish worshipers to the site; bulldozes 4 d. of agricultural land e. of Hebron to establish a new military post; uproots 16 olive trees w. of Ramallah for construction of the separation wall, turns the trees over to local Palestinians for replanting. (JP 3/21; NYT, WP, WT 3/22; OCHA, PR, WP 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon approves the construction of 3,500 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim to link the Jewish settlement to East Jerusalem; claims the building would not violate the road map because the construction was approved in principle in 1999 and the project is of “strategic importance” to Israel. The PA protests. The U.S. State Dept. refuses to comment. (AP, BBC, REU 3/21; VOP 3/21 in WNC 3/28; JP, MENA, NYT, WP, WT 3/22; CSM, PR 3/23; MM 3/29; MEI 4/1)

The IDF imposes a curfew on Allar nr. Tulkarm, raids and occupies a girls school and 4 Palestinian homes as observation sites, detains 10s of Palestinians for interrogation; also conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya, Dahariyya nr. Hebron; closes checkpoints into East Jerusalem before Friday prayers, fires tear gas and percussion grenades to disperse Palestinians waiting to cross; beats a Palestinian farmer tilling his land nr. the separation wall in Dayr al-‘Asal nr. Hebron; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at a nonviolent Palestinian demonstration against the separation wall nr. Bil‘in, seriously injuring a Palestinian, lightly injuring a foreign journalist with the Associated Press. Some 40 Jewish rabbinical students club, stone 8 Palestinian laborers working legally at Nachliel settlement, seriously injuring at least 5; Israeli police intervene but the settlers escape; police sources say the 8 Palestinians were “almost lynched.” Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus ambush, beat, seriously injure a Palestinian truck driver passing the settlement. 10s of Jewish settlers fr. Halamish settlement occupy a plot of nearby Palestinian land housing the water spigots controlling the water supply to the settlement and nearby Palestinian villages. PA security officers seal a smugglers’ tunnel in Rafah; some Palestinians confront the officers with stones, causing no injuries; 1 Palestinian is arrested. (HA, MM 3/18; VOP 3/19; AYM 3/20; OCHA 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

Ma’ariv 3/18 reports that that the financial officer of the Greek Orthodox Church, Nikolaos Papadimas, who has power of attorney for Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos, recently signed a secret deal, without Irineos’s permission, to sell the church’s Omar Bin Khattab Square property in the Old City of Jerusalem to Jewish investors fr. abroad and then fled the country with his family, depositing $1.5 m. in a Tel Aviv bank account. The square is a valuable commercial area inside the Jaffa Gate, where 3 prominent Palestinian hotels and a number of shops are located. Irineos denies that he gave permission for the sale, meaning that, by church bylaws, the sale is void. (JAZ, MA, al-Quds, VOP 3/19 in WNC 3/28; HA, VOP 3/23; AP 3/24; NYT 3/25; PR 3/30; al-Quds, VOP 4/3 in WNC 4/4; NYT 4/4; Independent 5/10; HA 5/15; PR 5/18)

Israel transfers Jericho to PA security control; reporters in the town say there is no real change as a result, only one checkpoint on the main road into town has been removed (replaced by a PA checkpoint 500 yds. away, as a sign of the PA asserting its control), though all other checkpoints into and out of the city remain in place; reporters covering the transfer say that many Palestinians interviewed during the day did not realize a transfer had occurred. The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Anabta nr. Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino settlement in Hebron attack 1 of the few remaining Palestinian homes in the city’s Jewish enclave, demolishing its roof, damaging its foundation, clashing with Israeli police who intervene, injuring 1 officer. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim settlement uproot 45 olive trees belonging to Palestinians fr. nearby Kafr Qadim. (BBC, HA, IDF Radio, JAZ, MM, PR, VOI, VOP 3/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/17; AFP, ITAR-TASS, PCHR, al-Quds 3/17; HA 3/18; HJ 3/19; OCHA, PR 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed AMB mbrs. hiding in a vacant house nr. Brakha settlement outside Nablus, alleging they were plotting an attack that had been financed by Hizballah; the AMB considers the shooting an assassination that violates the cease-fire. A Jewish settler driving nr. Hebron fires on 2 Palestinian boys throwing stones at vehicles on the settler-only bypass, killing a 15-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding a 14-yr.-old; the IDF also conducts arrest raids nr Hebron (capturing 1 tanzim mbr.) and Ramallah (capturing 8 Hamas mbrs.); delays passage to a Palestinian woman in labor through the Qalandia checkpoint to reach a hospital, allowing her to cross only after she gives birth at the checkpoint; confiscates 1.3 d. of land to expand the Jewish enclave in Hebron. Palestinians fire 2 mortars at Neve Dekalim, 1 mortar at an IDF base in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. For the 2d time in 48 hrs., unidentified gunmen fire on the Gaza City home of Fatah Revolutionary Council mbr. Sakhr Bseiso, causing damage but no injuries. (HA 2/15; VOI, VOP 2/15, VOI 2/16 in WNC 2/18; NYT, PM, PR, WT 2/16; PCHR 2/17)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing youths in Bayt Hanun (killing an 18-yr.-old Palestinian), Rafah (killing a 2d Palestinian, wounding a woman in her home), Ramallah; rockets 2 metal foundries (allegedly Hamas weapons factories) in Gaza City, wounding 6 Palestinians, cutting electricity to parts of the city; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Nablus; fires on residential areas of Ramallah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. In Jerusalem, Israeli police fatally shoot a Palestinian who attempts to flee on foot after allegedly trying to run down an officer with his van. (VOI, VOP 7/4, VOI 7/5 in WNC 7/9; NYT, WP, XIN 7/5; PR 7/7; PCHR 7/8)

Prominent Jewish residents of Ashkelon ask Mayor Roni Mahatzri to ban Israeli Arabs, bedouin fr. staying overnight in the city, attending the city’s entertainment venues, complaining that “bedouin and Israeli Arabs from the north of the country employed in the city’s construction sites hang out with local [Jewish] girls” in the evenings. (HA 7/4; PR 7/7)