The Palestine Chronology

Hundreds of Israeli settlers visit Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus late at night, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinians from nearby Balata refugee camp; 3 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops also arrest 8 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron, and Bethlehem; and patrol near Qalqilya, Salfit, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in al-Ram, Silwan, Wadi al-Juz, and al-Suwana. A Palestinian demolishes his own home in Silwan to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians protesting U.S. pres. Trump’s 12/6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital near Jabaliya refugee camp; there are no serious injuries. Israeli forces also conduct limited incursions along the border to level land near Dayr al-Balah and Khan Yunis, and open fire on agricultural lands near Bayt Hanun, causing no damage. (MNA 12/19; MNA, WAFA 12/20; PCHR 12/21)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 4th and final day in a row, allowing passage in both directions. (WAFA 12/19; PCHR 1/4)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces issue stopwork orders to Palestinians building a road between agricultural areas near Bethlehem. IDF troops arrest 11 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya, and patrol near Hebron. The raids in Qalqilya spark clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 1 Palestinian is injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in Jabal Mukabir, Wadi al-Juz, and Shu‘fat refugee camp. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel, and open fire on Palestinian agricultural lands near Khan Yunis. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, TOI 9/16; MNA 9/17; PCHR 9/21)

A senior U.S. official says that the Trump administration is not expecting any breakthrough in its efforts to restart PalestinianIsraeli peace talks during the UNGA this week in New York, despite Trump’s scheduled meetings with PA pres. Abbas and Israeli PM Netanyahu. “Achieving peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians remains one of the president’s highest priorities, but the UN meetings will primarily focus on other issues and serve as check-in opportunities,” the official adds. (HA, TOI 9/16)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 19 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Jenin, and Qalqilya; and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in Wadi al-Juz and Jabal Mukabir. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya 4 times, causing no damage or injuries. (PCHR 8/10)

Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with PA pres. Abbas in Ramallah to discuss the recent tension at Haram al-Sharif, the U.S.-led peace efforts, and regional developments. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 8/7)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 11 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during raids in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Salfit, and Qalqilya; and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus during the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault and arrest 9 Muslim worshippers at Haram al-Sharif; arrest 11 Palestinians during raids in the Old City, Wadi al-Juz, and Silwan. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian attempting to cross into Israel nr. Jabaliya r.c. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 8/6; MNA 8/7; PCHR 8/10)

In c. Israel, Israeli police arrest a West Bank Palestinian after he allegedly stabs and seriously injures an Israeli in Yavne. The IDF then raids the alleged attacker’s Yatta home and imposes a lockdown on the village, blocking all entrances and exits. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces raid a civil investigations office in c. Hebron, confiscating equipment and detaining the 30-odd employees. The office reportedly opened following a recent agreement between local Palestinian and Israeli authorities. IDF troops arrest a Palestinian allegedly armed with a knife at the Gush Etzion junction; arrest 8 more Palestinians, and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and Tubas. During raids in Wadi al-Juz, Ras al-Amud, Bayt Hanina, and al-Tur in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 15 Palestinians in connection with the violence at the sanctuary (48 Palestinians are still reportedly being held in connection with the clashes). They also ban an Islamic Waqf employee from Haram al-Sharif. Palestinian youths throw stones at an Israeli police officer outside Damascus Gate, lightly injuring him. Meanwhile, approximately 1,000 Jewish settlers tour the sanctuary. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 8/2; HA, MNA, PCHR, TOI 8/3; PCHR 8/10)

The Israeli press reports that the IDF has completed construction of a 26-mile segment of the separation wall nr. Hebron, which they had resumed in 2/2017 after Palestinians from nearby Yatta village carried out a deadly shooting in 6/2016 in Tel Aviv. (MNA 8/3)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth after he allegedly attempts to cross into Israel nr. Qalqilya. Israeli forces shut down the main entrance to Kobar, the Ramallah-area hometown of the Palestinian who stabbed 4 Israeli settlers at the Halamish settlement on 7/21. They also raid several homes in the village; arrest 4 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Jenin and Bethlehem, and patrol nr. Salfit and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, approximately 140 Jewish settlers tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Israeli forces arrest 29 Palestinians in late-night raids in the Old City, Wadi al-Juz, Qalandia r.c., Issawiyya, and Silwan. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, WAFA 7/30; MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/31; PCHR 8/3)

Tensions remain high in East Jerusalem after the widespread and deadly clashes on 7/21; 1 Palestinian is killed and 14 are injured in clashes in al-‘Izzariya, Wadi al-Juz, Issawiyya and al-Tur. Clashes also break out outside Haram al-Sharif throughout the day, but there are no serious injuries. Meanwhile, Palestinians across the city largely observe a commercial strike to commemorate the 3 Palestinians killed on 7/21. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 16 Palestinians during raids in Silwan, al-Tur, and the Old City. In the West Bank, a Palestinian youth is killed when he accidentally triggers a piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance nr. Tubas. IDF troops conduct raids in Kobar, the Ramallaharea village of the Palestinian who allegedly stabbed 4 Israeli settlers at the Halamish settlement on 7/21, threatening punitive demolition of his home and sparking minor clashes (there are no serious injuries). Hundreds of settlers from Halamish set up a new outpost nr. their settlement to protest the 7/21 attack. Settlers protest and throw stones at Palestinian vehicles across the West Bank in response to the attack, damaging several cars and causing no serious injuries. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 25 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Jenin, Salfit, Tubas, Qalqilya, and Nablus; and patrol throughout the day nr. Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 7/22; MNA 7/23; PCHR 7/27)

COGAT Mordechai says that Israel is “willing to examine alternatives to the metal detectors” installed at Haram al-Sharif “as long as the solution of alternative[s] ensures the prevention of the next attack.” (YA 7/22)

Sweden, France, and Egypt call for the UN Security Council (UNSC) to hold an emergency meeting to address the escalating tensions at Haram al-Sharif. UN diplomats say they will discuss the situation on 7/24. The Middle East Quartet releases a statement of concern about the “escalating tensions and violent clashes.” (WAFA 7/22; TOI 7/23)