The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Huwwara, injuring 1 and causing damage. Israeli settlers also vandalized citrus and almond trees and other property near Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man after he shot and killed an Israeli soldier near the Kedumim settlement, west of Jit. Hamas claimed responsibility for the killing of the soldier, citing Israel’s massive attack on Jenin on 7/3 and 7/4. Israeli forces also razed a road and seized a tent and a vehicle near Duma. Elsewhere, Israeli forces opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle traveling near Haris, causing damage. Israeli forces also demolished 2 residential structures in Wadi Abu Hindi, displacing 13 Palestinians. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ramallah, Kafr Ni’ma, Silat ad-Dhahr, Tura, Yatta, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwan and al-Eizariya. (AJ 7/5; AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/6; UNOCHA 7/8; PCHR 7/13; UNOCHA 7/29)

The Jerusalem District Court acquitted an Israeli police officer for the killing of the 32-year-old autistic Palestinian man Eyad al-Hallaq who was shot and killed in East Jerusalem on 5/30/2020. Al-Hallaq’s parents called the acquittal a “disgrace.” The police officer was subsequently reinstated and send on a commanders’ course. The police officer ignored al-Hallaq’s counselor who told him that al-Hallaq had special needs. After the acquittal, Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was filmed calling al-Hallaq’s mother a terrorist when she confronted him outside of the court. Ben-Gvir also referred to the police officer as a hero. (AJ, AP, GDN, HA, MEE, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA 7/6; MDW 7/7; HA 7/8)

The Jenin Brigades issued a statement saying “[i]t is heart-breaking that we are being fatally stabbed in the back by our own people, the PA security services, which committed an act on Tuesday that no fighter or defender of this land would accept,” referring to a PA arrest of 2 Palestinians who were wanted by Israel. (MDW 7/6)

The UAE said it would donate $15 million to UNRWA and Algeria said it would donate $30 million to the PA to help rebuilt Jenin refugee camp after the 2-day long Israeli invasion of the camp on 7/4 and 7/5, which caused wide-spread damage to Palestinian property. (ALM, AP, HA, WAFA 7/6; HA, NA 7/8)

In Lebanon, 2 rockets were fired at Israel without causing damage and Israel subsequently fired 15 artillery shells at Kfarchouba. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, MEE, REU 7/6)

New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu signed an anti-BDS executive order barring the state from investing in companies that boycott Israel. The executive order was signed at a ceremony attended by Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan. (MDW, MEE 7/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces raided Kafr Malik, leading to clashes with Palestinians; 1 Palestinian was shot by a rubber-coated bullet, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also razed hundreds of olive trees near Tubas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 residential structure and 1 agricultural structure in Sawahara al-Sharqiyya, seized 2 agricultural structures in Khan al-Ahmar, and demolished 1 mosque in a Bedouin community near Yatta. Palestinians protested the PA presidential decrees published on 1/11, which critics say serve to bolster the PA presidency at the expense of the judicial branch of government; the protests were held in front of the court complex in Ramallah. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Jenin, Qabatiya, Madama, Sabastiyya, Hizma, Hebron, and Birzeit. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/27; HA, PCHR 1/28)

The PA announced it had decided to close the Allenby border crossing with Jordan to prevent the spread of new COVID-19 virus variants. The closure is in effect until 2/3. (WAFA 1/28)

After Israel refused to allow restoration work on the Dome of the Rock and other holy places in the Haram al-Sharif compound, Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi said Israel had agreed to retract its objections and allow the restoration work. (WAFA 1/27; WAFA 1/28)

Member of the Palestinian-Israeli Balad party Mtanes Shehadeh said after a meeting among members of the Arab Joint List that the list will likely be dissolved before the next election due to “fundamental political differences.” 1 of the reasons the Arab Joint List is having irreconcilable differences is that Mansour Abbas, the leader of the United Arab List, is seeking closer ties with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Another reason is the United Arab List’s more conservative values compared to the 3 other parties. Parties running for the Israeli elections have until 2/4 to submit their composition of candidates. (HA 1/25; HA, TOI 1/27)

Large protests broke out in Tripoli in Lebanon, leading to confrontations between police and protesters. 1 protester was reported dead and 226 people injured, including 26 police officers. The protesters started taking to the street on 1/25, demonstrating against the COVID-19-related lockdown measures and deteriorating living conditions. (AP 1/27; AP 1/28)

The new U.S. administration said it would freeze the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the UAE and munitions to Saudi Arabia to review the transactions. U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said the practice of new administrations reviewing pending sales of weaponry is not uncommon. The sale of the F-35 fighter jets to the UAE was part of the Israel-U.S.-UAE normalization deal announced in August 2020. Secretary Blinken also spoke with the Israeli foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi over the phone to discuss, among other issues, expanding the Trump administration’s normalization efforts. (AJ, AX, HA, HA, TOI 1/27)

At her confirmation hearing, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. president Joe Biden’s nominee for UN ambassador, said that she finds the BDS movement “unacceptable” and that it is on “the verge of antisemitism.” Thomas-Greenfield also said she was looking forward to combatting “anti-Israel bias” at the UN and hoped to see more countries join normalization deals with Israel and the U.S. (HA, MEE, TOI 1/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces notified Palestinian residents near Kisan that it will confiscate 200 dunams (49.5 acres) of Palestinian-owned land, and 1 Palestinian was handed a demolition notice for 1 barn in Kisan. 1 Palestinian BDS activist, who was arrested on 7/30, was remanded for 15 days by an Israeli military court near Jenin. 6 Palestinians were arrested during house raids in and around Nablus and Hebron; during the raids in Nablus, 1 Palestinian was injured by live ammunition and 2 others suffered injuries from broken glass as a result of the gunfire. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinian families started demolishing their own homes in Silwan and Jabal Mukabir to avoid exorbitant Israeli demolition fees. 6 Palestinians were arrested during raids in the Old City, Shu‘fat, Issawiyya, and Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within the allowed fishing area northwest of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/3; WAFA 8/4; PCHR 8/13)

In Syria, Israel said it had attacked an observation post, intelligence collection system, anti-aircraft batteries, and command-and-control bases. Syria claimed to have intercepted Israeli missiles as well. (GDN, REU, REU, 8/3; AJ, HA, JP 8/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli force seized a vehicle near Tubas and demolished a house under construction near Nablus. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided the office of the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees in Hebron and seized computer hard drives. 16 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned barn in Silwan and a house under construction in al-Tur; during the latter demolition, 2 Palestinians were arrested and video shows family members who owned the property were assaulted by Israeli police. In Gaza, Israeli forces fired tear gas at Palestinian farmers east of Rafah. Separately, Israeli forces made incursions to level land east of Dayr al-Balah. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/24; HA 9/25; PCHR 9/26)

Broward County in Florida unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. The resolution argued that the demand for Right of Return effectively would destroy the State of Israel as a homeland of the Jewish people. (MDW 9/27)

Mercy USA for Aid and Development donated $300,000 to UNRWA for visually impaired children in Gaza. (WAFA 9/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces blocked the entrance to the town of Tuqu‘ near Bethlehem and stormed the city center, leading to clashes with local residents; no injuries were reported. Israel also issued a military order to confiscate 401 dunams (99 acres) of Palestinian-owned land in al-‘Arub, Bayt Umar, and Halhul near Hebron. Israeli forces also confiscated 4 Palestinian-owned vehicles during late-night raids. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus, and Salfit. Separately, a 19-year-old Palestinian woman was also arrested at the al-Zaayim checkpoint for allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier. In East Jerusalem, around 87 Israeli settlers along with Israeli forces stormed Haram al-Sharif to perform prayers. Israeli forces sealed the Damascus Gate of the Old City and arrested 2 Palestinians in the vicinity. Later, demolition notices were delivered for 13 residential structures in the al-‘Izzawiya neighborhood. In Gaza, Israeli forces razed land east of Rafah and fired toward Palestinians east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA 4/10; MNA, MNA, WAFA 4/11)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared victory after the 4/9 Israeli general elections and will serve his 5th term as prime minister. Both U.S. president Donald Trump and secretary of state Mike Pompeo congratulated Netanyahu with his victory. The PR firm behind the Likud party’s initiative to place cameras at the Palestinian-majority polling stations (see 4/9) boasted a historically low turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel in a Facebook post that also depicted 2 of its employees with Netanyahu and his wife Sara. Turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel was less than 50 percent. PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi called Netanyahu’s victory a vote to “entrench and expand apartheid.” (HA, HA, WAFA 4/10; HA 4/11)

The Palestinian activist and co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement Omar Barghouti was denied entry to the U.S. to embark on a speaking tour in several U.S. cities and to attend his daughter’s wedding. He was stopped before boarding his plane in Tel Aviv and was told that the American consulate had ordered that he could not board the plane. (NYT 4/11)

In the West Bank, the IDF opens fire on Palestinians in 1 village nr. Jenin and arrests 2 wounded civilians. The IDF also patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 3 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning, and in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, Jericho, and 4 villages nr. Hebron, 2 nr. Tulkarm, and 1 nr. Ramallah at night. Jewish settlers from Ma’ale Ephraim settlement nr. Nablus set fire to 2 Palestinian-owned cars. (PCHR 12/27)

Various Palestinian officials close to Pres. Abbas tell the Associated Press that there are plans to encourage the international isolation of Israel should Israeli PM Netanyahu win reelection and the peace process remain stalled. Options being considered include war crimes charges, urging sanctions, and ending security cooperation in the West Bank. Fatah official Nabil Shaath tells Palestinian news agency Ma‘an that the PA will further develop a strategy of boycott and civil disobedience in 2013. In response to these reports, the Israeli Foreign Ministry says that Abbas seeks to ‘‘incite a confrontation with Israel no matter what.’’ (AP, MNA 12/20; YA 12/21)

The EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton releases a statement expressing strong opposition to Israel’s ‘‘unprecedented expansion of settlements around Jerusalem.’’ Meanwhile, South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress, votes at its annual conference to support the Palestinians’ Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. (EU Press Office 12/20; HA 12/21)

Human Rights Watch says that the IDF’s attacks on the media in the Gaza Strip during Operation Pillar of Defense that killed 2 and injured 10 media personnel violated the laws of war. (AP 12/20)

Israeli newspaper Ha’Aretz reports that the state has informed the High Court of Justice that the IDF will reduce the amount of time Palestinian minors can be held before they are brought before a judge. (HA 12/20)

An anonymous Israeli government official says that Israel and Egypt are continuing discussions behind the scenes in Cairo, intended to further ease restrictions on the Gaza Strip and to prevent a rearming of Hamas. (JP 12/21) I

srael’s UN amb. Ron Prosor submits a letter to the Security Council complaining that Hizballah has rearmed with tens of thousands of missiles, in violation of a UN arms embargo. (REU 12/20)