The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s settlements, the separation wall, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c.; 1 Palestinian is killed in Gaza and 3 are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops clash with stone-throwing Palestinians outside Tuqu‘ village nr. Bethlehem; 1 Palestinian is injured. IDF troops issue 2 Palestinians arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Hebron and patrol nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in the Old City and Silwan. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on a group of Palestinian youths nr. Gaza City. There are no injuries in either incident. In Israel, thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel gather in Kafr Kanna and other villages to protest a bill, approved in a Knesset comm. on 11/13, that would bar mosques from broadcasting the call to prayer (see JPS 46 [2]). (HA, MNA, TOI, YA 11/18; PCHR 11/24)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 5th of 5 planned days. (MNA 11/18; OCHA 12/2)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. Gaza City; at least 5 Palestinians are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, the IDF patrols nr. Nablus and Hebron during the day. Palestinian youths throw Molotov cocktails into the Beit El settlement nr. Ramallah overnight, causing 1 home to burn down completely. Dozens of Orthodox Jews attempt to visit Rachel’s Tomb nr. Bethlehem, sparking clashes with IDF troops; there are no serious injuries. Along Gaza’s border, the IDF fires several mortar shells at “suspicious” targets nr. Khan Yunis, according to an army spokesperson. There are no reports of injuries or serious damage. (MNA 11/11; MNA 11/12; PCHR 11/17)

In a wide-ranging interview with the Wall Street Journal, U.S. pres.-elect Trump says he will attempt to achieve the “ultimate deal” between Israel and the Palestinians, “for humanity’s sake.” (WSJ 11/11; HA 11/12)

The Israeli authorities return the body of a Palestinian killed in a confrontation with Israeli troops on 9/5. His family buries him in the Anata village cemetery nr. Bethlehem. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops assault a Palestinian at a mobile checkpoint nr. Jenin, and arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Hebron. (MNA 9/13; WAFA 9/14; PCHR 9/22)

For the 4th time in 2 weeks, errant mortar fire from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launches retaliatory air strikes on Syrian govt. sites nr. the border, causing an unknown amount of damage. During the Israeli sortie, the Syrian army fires 2 surface-to-air missiles at the IAF aircraft. The Syrian army claims that it downs a jet and a drone; the IDF denies that any of its aircraft were shot down. Later in the day, another round of 3 mortar shells from Syria falls in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and again, the IDF responds, launching air strikes on Syrian govt. sites nr. the border. No damage or injuries are reported. (HA, JP, NYT, TOI, YA 9/13)

The PA and Israel reach an agreement on repayment of the Palestinians’ outstanding debts to the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), which reportedly total almost NIS 2 b. (approx. $350 m.). The IEC reduced the flow of power to several West Bank cities, starting in 5/2016, as punishment for the unpaid debts. (TOI 9/13; JP, WAFA, YA 9/14)

A 6-year-old Palestinian is killed when an Israeli settler rams her with his vehicle outside Bethlehem. Early reports on the incident say it was an accident, but the driver’s intentions are unclear. IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons on late-night raids nr. Jenin and Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Hebron during the day. Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian farm lands nr. Qalqilya, destroying 13 olive trees. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Gaza City. Off the coast nr. Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats. There are no injures in either incident. (MNA 9/10; PCHR 9/22)

In the 3d such incident this week, an errant mortar from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no serious damage. The IDF responds by firing artillery shots at Syrian govt. sites nr. the border. It is not clear how much damage is caused. (HA, JP, TOI 9/10)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct heavy raids and weapons searches in and around Hebron and Bethlehem, arresting 5 Palestinians and sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; 6 Palestinians are injured. The IDF conducts further raids nr. Qalqilya, arresting 3 Palestinians and assaulting a 4th (he is moderately injured). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in Silwan and Issawiyya. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing no damage. (WAFA 8/22; HA, MNA 8/23; PCHR 8/25)

After an errant mortar shell from Syria lands in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the IDF launches a strike on a Syrian govt. site nr. the border fence. There are no reported casualties in either incident. (HA 8/22)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations in solidarity with hungerstriking prisoner Bilal Kayed and against Israel’s settlement, separation wall, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c.; 1 Palestinian is injured. Meanwhile, the IDF arrests 4 Palestinians and issues 3 arrest summons during late-night raids and house searches in and around Hebron and Bethlehem; and patrols nr. Hebron, Nablus, and Qalqilya throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 9 Palestinians during raids in the Old City. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing no injuries. They arrest 5 fishermen and confiscate their boats. (MNA 8/12; MNA 8/13; PCHR 8/18)

Israeli authorities maintain high security at Haram al-Sharif during the weekend’s Passover activities. In the West Bank, the IDF violently disperses Palestinians demonstrating against the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, injuring 1 Palestinian. IDF troops raid a village nr. Ramallah late at night, issuing arrest summons to 1 Palestinian and sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; there are no serious injuries. They conduct further raids nr. Qalqilya, Bethlehem, and in East Jerusalem, arresting 4 Palestinians; patrol nr. Ramallah, Qalqilya, and Jericho. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian cars nr. Qalqilya, damaging 1. (MNA 4/23, 4/24; PCHR 4/28)

The Israeli authorities deliver notices to a Palestinian village nr. Nablus informing residents of their intention to confiscate 5,000 dunams (1,250 acres) of land in the area. (MNA, WAFA 4/23)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct late-night raids and house searches in Salfit, Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, and Bethlehem, arresting 7 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 4; and patrol during the day nr. Hebron, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Salfit. They also violently disperse Palestinian and international activists at an anti-occupation demonstration in Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 1 Palestinian is injured. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers and land nr. Rafah, injuring 2 Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian youth on his way to school in Silwan. They physically assault the youth after he is shot, then call an ambulance for him. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/2; PCHR 4/7)

A violent outburst in Hebron punctuates a period of relative calm in the West Bank. IDF troops shoot and kill 2 Palestinians in Hebron’s Old City after they allegedly stab and moderately injure an Israeli soldier. A video of the incident later shows that an IDF soldier killed 1 of the alleged assailants after he had been detained and disarmed. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities keep the Erez border crossing closed for the 2d of 3 planned days, and maintain the closure of the West Bank, as decided on 3/22. IDF troops conduct late-night house searches and raids nr. Ramallah, Jenin, and Bethlehem, arresting 2 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to another 2; patrol nr. Tulkarm and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, over 50 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif while 4 Palestinians are detained outside the sanctuary. Palestinian men under 50 are still banned from entering. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 3/24; HA, TOI 3/25; HA 3/27; HA 3/29; PCHR 3/31; VN 4/28)

Jordan’s FM Nasser Judeh meets with PA pres. Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah to discuss the ongoing Jordanian-Israeli negotiations on new surveillance infrastructure at Haram al-Sharif. Judeh relays a message to Abbas that Jordan plans to go ahead with the 10/24/2015 agreement to do so. (JP, TOI 3/24)

The UN Human Rights Council approves a res., 32–0, with 15 abstentions, condemning Israel’s settlements and calling for the creation of a “blacklist” of all Israeli and international firms operating directly or indirectly in Gaza, the West Bank, and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. (HA, JP, TOI, YA 3/24; HA 3/25)

Across the oPt, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, outside Beit El settlement, and nr. Ofer Prison), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and 3 areas along Gaza’s border; 14 Palestinians and 1 Israeli activist are injured. Israeli forces confiscate construction equipment Palestinians were using to build a new road in the n. Jordan Valley. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct late-night raids in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, issuing arrest summons to 4 Palestinians; patrol during the day in 1 village nr. Salfit and 4 each nr. Hebron and Ramallah. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers nr. Gaza City, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, around 300 Israeli troops conduct an overnight raid on the Islamic studies dept. and student union at al-Quds University in Abu Dis, confiscating equipment and docs. (MNA, PNN 1/29; MNA, WAFA 1/30; PCHR 2/4)

French FM Laurent Fabius announces that France will begin preparing for an international peace conference in an effort to “preserve and achieve the 2-state solution.” He also says,“If this attempt to achieve a negotiated solution reaches a dead end, we will take responsibility and recognize the Palestinian state.” (HA, JP, NYT, YA 1/29; MNA 1/30)

Across the oPt, IDF troops injure 16 Palestinians when they disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, Nabi Salih, Jalazun r.c., and outside Ofer Prison), 1 village each nr. Nablus and Qalqilya, and 3 areas along Gaza’s border. Meanwhile, IDF troops evict the 80-some Israeli settlers from the 2 homes they broke into in c. Hebron on 1/21. The IDF then seals and closes off the homes. IDF troops patrol in Qalqilya, sparking clashes with stone-throwers in which 1 Palestinian is injured. They also conduct a latenight raid in 1 village nr. Bethlehem, issuing 2 Palestinians arrest summons; further patrol in 1 village nr. Qalqilya, 4 nr. Ramallah, 7 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian family demolishes their own home in Sur al-Bahir to avoid Israeli fines. (HA, MNA, TOI 1/22; MNA, WAFA 1/23; PCHR 1/28)

A total of 2 Palestinians are killed and 15 injured when IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, outside the Beit El settlement, and outside Ofer Prison), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and in 3 areas along Gaza’s border. Separately, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that a Hamas fighter was killed by an electric shock in a tunnel nr. Rafah this morning. Meanwhile, Palestinians throw stones at Israeli forces in 2 areas nr. Bethlehem (Aida r.c. and al-Khadir), sparking clashes in which 5 Palestinians are injured, including 2 paramedics and 1 journalist. The IDF conducts a late-night raid in a village nr. Bethlehem, sparking clashes with stonethrowing Palestinian youths; 1 Palestinian is shot and injured. IDF troops conduct further late-night raids and house searches in Hebron, Bethlehem, and 2 villages and Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem, arresting 3 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 4; patrol in 7 villages nr. Hebron and 2 nr. Jenin, as well as Tulkarm and 1 village nearby. Israeli settlers disguise a large rock as a pile of garbage and place it in the middle of a road nr. Salfit; a Palestinian taxi driver later crashes his car into the rock, causing major damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest an elderly Palestinian woman at Haram al-Sharif and confiscate NIS 1,800 (around $100) from her. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 1/15; MNA 1/16; PCHR 1/21)

After a weeklong search, Israeli police shoot and kill the Palestinian citizen of Israel suspected of carrying out the 1/1 attack in a Tel Aviv pub. The suspect was killed in a firefight during a police raid in the suspect’s hometown of Arara. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 2 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in and Ni‘lin), Hebron, and 4 areas along Gaza’s border; 11 Palestinians are injured. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in Hebron and 1 village nr. Bethlehem, arresting 2 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 3; patrols in 1 village nr. Salfit, 2 villages and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron. Late at night, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of the Ramallah-area home of the Palestinian who stabbed and killed 2 Israelis in East Jerusalem on 10/3, sparking clashes wherein 3 Palestinians are injured. (HA, MNA, NYT, TOI 1/8; TOI 1/9; PCHR 1/14)

The Israeli authorities return the bodies of the 4 Palestinians killed by the IDF on 1/7 (a joint funeral will be held nr. Hebron on 1/9), and Haaretz reports that the Israeli govt. is no longer holding any bodies of Palestinians killed in the West Bank. (HA, MNA 1/8)