The Palestine Chronology

Israel’s security cabinet approves an aggressive new campaign (dubbed Operation Continuous Story) against Palestinian militants in Gaza following the 3/14 Ashdod bombings. The IDF closes Gaza’s Erez crossing “indefinitely”; raids a mtg. of PA officials and local administrators in Jenin, arresting several participants, including the mayors of 2 local communities, 1 local council mbr.; fires on a PSF post at Netzarim junction in Gaza, seriously injuring 1 PSF officer, severely damaging the building; places a curfew on, fires on residential areas of Husan; shells residential areas of Rafah, demolishing 1 Palestinian home, heavily damaging 1, occupying a 3d as an observation post; seizes 4 Palestinian homes in Tulkarm, 2 in Balata r.c. as observation posts; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, nr. Hebron; fires on stone-throwing youths in Balata r.c., wounding 1 teenager, 3 bystanders; fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at a group of Palestinian, Israeli, international protesters demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Ramallah, wounding 15. The IDF also allows 1 West Bank administrative detainee deported to Gaza in 9/02 to return to her West Bank home. Jewish settlers fr. Beitar Ilit nr. Bethlehem, accompanied by IDF soldiers, bulldoze 5 dunams of adjacent Palestinian olive groves. (VOP 3/15 in WNC 3/17; AFP, HA 3/16; MM, PR, REU, WP 3/17; MM, PCHR 3/18; MEI 3/19; PCHR 3/25)

The IDF assassinates wanted Hamas mbrs. Shaman Subuh, Mustafa Baqash in Jenin; demolishes 8 Palestinian homes, 3 brick factories, a dairy farm and damages 18 other homes in Rafah; demolishes 1 home, 3 blacksmith shops in Hebron; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes part of the Silwan Sports Club in East Jerusalem; makes arrest raids in Anabta, Nablus. Israel lifts the curfew on Bethlehem for Christmas, says it will provide free public transportation to any Christian Arabs in Israel or the territories who want to visit the city in the next few days. (HA 12/23; LAW, NYT 12/24; AFP 12/25 in WNC 12/26; LAW, PCHR 12/25)

The Israeli Housing Min. issues tenders to construct 232 new housing units in the ultra-Orthodox West Bank settlement of Emmanuel, even though the settlement is losing residents at the rate of 5% a year. Housing Min. figures show that 1,688 (75%) of the 2,178 tenders for public construction issued between 1/02 and 9/02 were for housing in the territories. Tenders for 28 units in Beitar Ilit, 102 units in Efrat's Givat Hazayit, 76 new units in Ariel, all in the West Bank, were also issued recently. (HA 12/24)

IDF helicopters fire 2 missiles 2 cars in Gaza City in its 4th attempt to assassinate most-wanted Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Muhammad Dayif; 2 Hamas mbrs. are killed, Dayif escapes with moderate wounds, some 30 bystanders (including 15 children) are injured. The IDF intercepts an explosives-packed Palestinian car at al-Ram checkpoint nr. Tulkarm, allegedly en route to stage a car bombing in Jerusalem. In Kefar Labid nr. Tulkarm, IDF commandos conduct an arrest raid, prompting an exchange of gunfire that leaves senior Hamas mbr. Nashat Abu Jabara, 1 IDF officer dead; then demolish Abu Jabara's home. The IDF also arbitrarily imposes a curfew in Hebron then fires tear gas, rubber bullets at Palestinians in Hebron's market, killing a Palestinian infant; fatally shoots another Palestinian Gaza; demolishes 1 Palestinian home, bulldozes more than 60 dunams of agricultural land nr. Bayt Hanun; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Qabatya; bulldozes 20 dunams of agricultural land nr. Bayt Lahia; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis. Palestinian gunmen fire on a settler vehicle nr. Hebron, injuring 4 Jewish setters. Jewish settlers dedicate the new HaGefen neighborhood of 1,150 housing units in Beitar Ilit; the new enclave of Migron nr. Psagot, comprising 30 families. (AP, CNN, HA 9/26; HA, LAW, MM, NYT, PRCS press release, WP, WT 9/27; NYT 9/28; MM 9/30; QA 9/30 in WNC 10/1; LAW, PCHR, PR 10/2; PCHR 10/3; MEI 10/11)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue unabated, leaving 4 Palestinians dead, more than 60 injured, mostly in Gaza. The IDF bars an ambulance fr. taking a seriously wounded Palestinian into Jordan for treatment. Jewish settlers fr. Beitar Ilit assault Palestinians harvesting their olive grove; the IDF intervenes, forcing the Palestinians to leave. (ADM, LAW 10/21; NYT, WP, WT 10/22; JT 11/9 in WNC 11/13)

In Cairo, Arab League opens a 2-day emergency session on the recent Israeli-Palestinian violence, the peace process. (WT 10/21; NYT, WP, WT 10/22; MM 10/23; MENA 10/24 in WNC 10/25; MEI 10/27; MM 11/7)

1,000s of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Syria stage demonstrations calling on Arab leaders to sever all ties with Israel. Demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian people are held in Italy, Kenya, the UK, Yemen. In the U.S., rallies are held in Austin, Miami Beach, San Francisco. Israeli Jews, Arabs fr. the mixed community of Neve Shalom host a peace rally in Haifa, but barely 1,000 Israelis attend. (UPI 10/21; WP 10/22; WJW 11/9)

Citing Hizballah Katyusha attacks 12/23, Israel adopts "more aggressive" policy toward Lebanon that will include attacks on Hizballah bases deep inside Lebanon, preemptive strikes on units planting roadside bombs, destruction of Lebanese infrastructure if n. Israel is attacked. Lebanon fears Israel is planning an unprovoked attack during run-up to 5/99 elections. (IDF Radio 1/1, IRNA, al-Quds, RL 1/2, YA 1/3 in WNC 1/5; WT 1/2; RL 1/11 in WNC 1/12; MA 1/24 in WNC 1/26)

U.S. temporarily closes emb. in Israel after receiving a "credible" threats. (ITV 12/31 in WNC 1/4, 1/5; NYT, WP, WT 1/1)

The Israeli Housing Min. issues tenders for construction of 1,051 new housing units in West Bank settlements including 651 units in Beitar Ilit nr. Jerusalem, where 10,000 ultra-Orthodox settlers live. (NYT 1/1; JP 1/11)

Under IDF protection, Jewish settlers move trailers to hills nr. Nablus, confiscating additional Palestinian land to expand Elon Moreh settlement. (al-Hayat al-Jadida 12/31 in WNC 1/5)

10s of Jordanians stage sit-in outside the U.S. emb. in Amman to protest U.S.-led attack on Iraq. (al-Dustur 1/1 in WNC 1/5)

PM Netanyahu's security cabinet holds session to discuss the "growing Palestinization and religious radicalization among Israeli Arabs." (MA 7/7 in WNC 7/13)

Israeli pres. Weizman, PM Netanyahu meet for 1st time in over a mo., agree to halt their public debate over the peace process. (MM 7/1; CSM, MM, WP 7/2; JP 7/11) (see 6/30)

Israeli air force (IAF) cmdr. Eytan Ben-Eliyahu says that most of the present aircraft fleet is outdated, the IAF needs 100 modern fighter jets. (YA 7/1 in WNC 7/6) (see 6/28)

1st civil guard is formed in the Jewish settlement of Beitar Ilit. Other guard centers are being set up in Kiryat Arba, Ma'ale Adumim, Givat Ze'ev settlements. Units are planned in Efrat, Har Hadar, Oranit settlements. (PR 7/10) (see 6/11)

Syrian FMin. Undersecy. Adnan Umran arrives in Turkey for 2-day visit to discuss normalizing diplomatic relations. (WT 7/1; Anatolia 7/1 in WNC 7/2; Anatolia 7/1, 7/2 in WNC 7/6; WT 7/3; Milliyet 7/4 in WNC 7/7; MEI 7/31)

In Cairo, Egypt, Iran discuss enhancing media cooperation. (IRNA 7/1 in WNC 7/6)

Group representing 800 U.S. finance officials threatens to boycott Swiss banks unless they settle Holocaust era claims. U.S. administration opposes the threat of sanctions, which could disrupt U.S.-Swiss relations, trigger free trade dispute. (WT 7/3)

Israel reinforces troops in s. Lebanon, sending in more than 20 vehicles, including Merkava tanks, 175-mm. guns, surveillance cameras. (RL 7/1 in WNC 7/2)