The Palestine Chronology

 In Gaza, at least 2 Palestinians die in a smuggling tunnel collapse nr. Rafah, according to Palestinian sources. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Gaza City. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Aida r.c. and al-Azza r.c. nr. Bethlehem late at night, sparking clashes with armed and stone-throwing Palestinian youths in both; there are no serious injuries. They conduct further raids in Salfit and nr. Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, and Tulkarm, arresting 13 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 3; patrol nr. Hebron, Tulkarm, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces confiscate property and arrest 1 Palestinian during raids in the Old City. In Israel, right-wing Jewish activists spray paint racist graffiti on the walls of a synagogue in Safed. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/10; MNA 4/11; TOI 4/12; PCHR 4/14)

Israeli PM Netanyahu says that there has been a “significant decline” in the number of serious Palestinian crimes against Israelis. He also reaffirms his ban on MKs and other elected officials visiting Haram al-Sharif ahead of the Jewish holiday Passover. (TOI 4/10)

Anonymous Israeli officials say that 2 wks. ago, Abbas, under heavy Quartet pressure (especially fr. the U.S.), submitted a proposal for restarting talks that dropped demands that Israel halt settlement construction but demanded that Israel release in exchange 100 Palestinian prisoners jailed since before the Oslo process began. Israel rejected this on the grounds that (1) it would replace 1 precondition with another, and (2) it was vague about whether the talks that would result would be preparatory talks or direct negotiations between Abbas and Netanyahu. There is no official Palestinian, U.S., or Quartet comment on this. Another Israeli official says that Israel is concerned that if talks do not resume by 1/26/12, Abbas would resume Palestinian statehood efforts at the UN, including seeking membership in various UN organizations. (HA 12/28, 1/1)

Late at night, unidentified Palestinians fire 4 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In response, Israeli warplanes carry out 3 air strikes on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border and 1 air strike on a Hamas training site s. of Gaza City; damage but no injuries are reported. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in Azariyya nr. East Jerusalem, in Hebron, and nr. Tulkarm. Israeli municipal officials in Jerusalem approve construction of another 130 housing units in Gilo settlement, s. of Jerusalem. (PCHR 12/29; YA 12/30; OCHA, PCHR 1/5)

As of this date, Congress has freed up only $40 m. of the $192 m. in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians that was frozen in light of the UN bid (see QU in JPS 162). USAID and the White House are pressuring Congress to release the rest of the money, calling it “in the interest of the Palestinians, Israel and the United States” to ensure continued development “vital to the establishing and strengthening the foundations necessary for a future Palestinian state.” (WP 12/29)