The Palestine Chronology

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Khan Yunis. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya. There are no injuries in either incident. In the West Bank, Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to a Palestinian home and a water pipeline under construction in Kardala village nr. Tulkarm. They also weld shut a car wash nr. Bethlehem. IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Nablus, and patrol during the day nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. (MNA, WAFA 1/31; PCHR 2/2)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 4th and final day in a row. (MNA 1/31; MNA 2/1)

The PA cabinet announces that municipal elections will be held in the West Bank and Gaza on 5/13 (they were originally set for 10/8/16; see JPS 46 [2]). A Hamas spokesperson criticizes the announcement, saying that “elections should take place after disagreements are ended, reconciliation is achieved, and Palestinian institutions in Gaza and the West Bank are united.” (AP, JP, MNA, TOI 1/31)

The IDF delivers a notice to the illegal Amona settlement outpost overnight, ordering residents to evacuate within 48 hours (midnight on 2/1 is the deadline). Israel’s High Court of Justice previously ordered the outpost demolished by 2/8. During the day, hundreds of settler youths flock to Amona to demonstrate in solidarity with its residents. Many of Amona’s residents are planning to resist the IDF’s order because the govt. has failed to implement its side of their 12/22 deal trading a pledge to peacefully evacuate for sanctioned relocation to a nearby plot of land. (HA, JP, MNA, YA 1/31)

Israeli PM Netanyahu and DM Lieberman approve the construction of 3,000 residences in Israel’s West Bank settlements. Hours earlier, a joint Knesset comm. approves the so-called regulations bill, clearing it for a 2d and 3d reading in the full plenum on 2/6. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 1/31; MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 2/1)

In the West Bank, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops conduct an early morning raid in Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 3 Palestinians are injured. The IDF arrests 8 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, and Tulkarm; and patrols nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, the Israeli authorities prevent a truck from passing through the Kerem Shalom border crossing on the grounds that it contains materials that could be used to build rockets. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya refugee camp (r.c.), causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in Jabal Mukabir and Issawiyya. (MNA 11/16; PCHR 11/17; PCHR 11/24)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 3d of 5 planned days. (MNA 11/16; OCHA 12/2)

Israel’s Knesset passes the 1st reading of the so-called regulations bill, which would retroactively authorize Israeli settlement outposts in the West Bank. Meanwhile, in response to the Israeli High Court of Justice’s 11/14 reaffirmation of its evacuation order for the illegal Amona settlement outpost, the Jerusalem Municipality approves demolition orders for 14 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina. Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat says that thousands of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem lack proper permits and should be held to the same standard as Amona, adding that “the Amona verdict leaves us no discretion to legalize building offenses.” (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 11/16; JP, MNA 11/17)