The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 100 olive trees and some 60 vine trees in Husan. In Beita, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces erupted when Israeli settlers sought to seize land; dozens of Palestinians were injured, including 2 from live ammunition, 10 from rubber-coated bullets, and more than 50 from tear gas inhalation. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Salfit, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces injured a Palestinian minor in a school yard in Issawiyya using rubber-coated bullets, fracturing the boy’s arm. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwan. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/2; HA, PCHR 3/5)

In Syria, Israeli jets struck a vehicle in Qunaytra. The Israeli army claimed that it was responding to sniper fire. (HA 3/2)

Israel held its general elections for the 3d time in less than a year. Neither of the 2 coalition blocs managed to get an outright majority. Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu won 7 seats and could be the kingmaker. The Arab Joint List received a record 15 seats in the election. (Guardian, HA, HA; 3/4; HA 3/6)

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops detect and dismantle an explosive device lashed to a balloon in an open area near the border fence. Separately, 2 Palestinians cut through the border fence near Jabaliya refugee camp, throw an incendiary device at an IDF post, and return to Gaza. The attack causes no reported damage. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a water pipeline in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 1 Palestinian is lightly injured. IDF troops conduct raids in al-Walaja near Bethlehem, sparking minor clashes; there are no reported injuries. They arrest 12 Palestinians during further raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, and Tulkarm; and patrol near Nablus, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, Salfit, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers harass Palestinian farmers working near Nablus; there are no reported injuries. A settler assaults a Palestinian in Hebron’s Old City, breaking he man’s jaw. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during late-night raids in al-Ram, sparking clashes; there are no reported injuries. They arrest 1 more Palestinian during a raid in Silwan. (MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/13; MNA 10/14; PCHR 10/18) 

Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman says that he will not allow any more Qatari-funded fuel transfers to Gaza until all violence along Gaza’s border is “entirely” over. “As long as the violent protests continue on the Gaza border, including the launching of incendiary balloons and kites and the burning of tires near Israeli towns, the fuel and gas for the Gaza Strip will not be renewed.” Lieberman ordered the transfers to stop on 10/12. Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh says that the protests and other resistance activities along Gaza’s border will continue until the “siege on Jerusalem, [Haram al-Sharif] and all the lands of Palestine is lifted.” (TOI 10/13)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and in c. Hebron; there are no serious injuries. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians, issue 1 arrest summons, damage property at a library during raids nr. Salfit and Hebron, and patrol during the day nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers throw stones at a Palestinian family’s flock of sheep, killing 1 animal, in the n. Jordan Valley. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian family demolishes their own home in Silwan to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. (MNA 2/17; HA 2/18; PCHR 2/23)

Upon his return to Israel from Washington, Israeli PM Netanyahu says that his 2/15 meeting with U.S. pres. Trump was “excellent” and that “it will have a large impact on our security.” Meanwhile, Israeli DM Avigdor Lieberman calls on other Israeli officials to “cool down” talk of annexing the West Bank and building settlements, saying “we cannot progress without understandings with the U.S.” (JP, TOI 2/17)

A Hamas fighter dies in a tunnel accident nr. Khan Yunis. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on a Palestinian fishing boat nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. They also arrest 2 of the fishermen and confiscate their boat. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin, and patrol during the day nr. Salfit, Hebron, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians and issue 4 arrest summons during raids in Issawiyya, Sur al-Bahir, Shu‘fat r. c., Issawiyya, and Silwan. (MNA, MNA, WAFA 12/4; PCHR 12/8)

Israeli PM Netanyahu and DM Lieberman permit the transfer of 5 armored vehicles from Jordan to the PA because of the deteriorating security situation in the oPt, particularly in Nablus, according to an Israeli spokesperson. The PA has been requesting approval for such transfers for at least 4 years. (MNA, TOI 12/7)

After mos. of negotiations and intracoalition struggle, Netanyahu resolves several conflicts over the illegal Amona settlement outpost. First, he secures Atty. Gen. Avichai Mandelblit’s approval for the govt.’s plan to relocate the 40-odd families from Amona to a nearby plot of “abandoned” land. Second, he announces plans to petition the High Court of Justice for a 30-day delay of its evacuation and demolition order to give his govt. time to prepare temporary alternate housing for Amona’s residents. Third, he brokers a deal with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Education Minister Naftali Bennett on the so-called regulations bill, which Bennett is backing in order to retroactively authorize the illegal West Bank settlement outposts, including Amona. Netanyahu and Kahlon agree to reverse their positions and support the bill as long as Clause 7, the provision that specifically addresses Amona, is removed. (HA, JP, TOI, YA 12/4; HA, JP, YA 12/5)