The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops conduct raids in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem overnight, arresting 3 Palestinians and sparking clashes with stone-throwing youths; 1 Palestinian is critically injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces raze around 100 dunams (approx. 25 acres) of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Bethlehem and demolish 3 residential structures and 4 tents nr. Salfit. IDF troops arrest 16 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces ban 2 Islamic Waqf guards from Haram al-Sharif for 6 mos., and 3 other Palestinians from the sanctuary for 3 mos. They don’t give a reason for the bans. Israeli forces also arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in Shu‘fat r.c. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces spray pesticides on Palestinian agricultural areas nr. Khan Yunis for the 2d day in a row; and conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Jabaliya r.c. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing no damage or injuries. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish the Bedouin village al-‘Araqib for the 111th time since 2010. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/5; JP 4/11; PCHR 4/13)

The Israeli govt. and PA sign an agreement to allow Palestinian mobile service providers to offer 3G to their customers in the oPt. The IDF’s Coordinator of Govt. Activities in the Territories (COGAT) releases a statement explaining that the deal is meant to strengthen the Palestinian economy. Prior to today’s agreement, the Israeli authorities were barring Palestinian companies from offering 3G due to security concerns. In 11/2015, Israel and the PA signed a similar agreement to enable 3G access in the oPt, but it was never implemented. (MNA 4/5)

In Gaza, unknown assailants open fire on trucks at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, causing light damage to 1. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and raids in Qalqilya, 1 village nr. Ramallah, Tulkarm r.c. and 1 village nr. Tulkarm, as well as al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron, arresting 18 Palestinians; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin, 1 each nr. Qalqilya and Hebron, and ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho. Meanwhile, a group of armed men from the Balata r.c. shut down a main road in Nablus in protest of the PASF crackdown on the camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces confiscate the contents of a store in Hizma and demolish a residential building under construction in Wadi al-Juz. They also conduct raids in Silwan, assaulting 2 Palestinians and arresting 3. Meanwhile, the Jordan-funded Islamic Waqf begins renovations at Haram al-Sharif, and Israeli minister Uri Ariel calls for the project to be halted. In the Galilee, Palestinians in Kafr Kanna conduct a general strike in protest of the demolition in the village on 4/12. (MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/13; MNA 4/14; PCHR, WAFA 4/16)

PA Pres. Abbas meets with Russian pres. Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss Russian-Palestinian relations, the Middle East peace negotiations, and other issues. (AFP 4/9; AFP, HA, TOI 4/13; REU 4/14)

U.S. Pres. Obama meets with several U.S. Jewish groups to discuss the “key parameters” announced on 4/2 by the P5+1 and Iran, and their concerns about Israel’s security. The groups include the AJC, ADL, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Federations of N. America, AIPAC, and J Street. (HA 4/13; HA, TOI 4/14; JP 4/23)

PM Rabin tells VP Gore Israel will not discuss a Middle East nuclear-free zone until it has peace agmts. with all its neighbors, Iran; hints Israel will not meet 7/1 deadline on elections talks with PA (see 3/9) if Arafat does not prevent incidents like 3/19 shooting, 3/21 truck incident. PA Planning M Shaath says he "never believed that date in the first place." (MM 3/23; QY 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; IDF Radio, QY 3/23, HA 3/24 in FBIS 3/24; MM 3/24; NYT, WP 3/25; MEI 3/31; JP 4/1)

Arafat meets with Pres. Mubarak meet in Cairo to discuss peace process, asks him to relay message to Pres. Clinton regarding impediments to implementing DOP. Arafat then meets with U.S. Foreign Relations Council delegation, discusses economic aid. (MENA 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; MENA, VOP 3/23 in FBIS 3/24)

Syrian FM al-Shara`, Egyptian FM Musa meet in Cairo to discuss Syrian-Israeli negotiations. (MENA 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; SATN 3/23 in FBIS 3/24)

Arab League passes resolution supporting indefinite NPT renewal but saying 22 mbr.-states are free to vote how they will; does not link renewal with Israel's joining NPT. U.S. official says "if the Egyptians were lobbying [against renewal], the Arab League resolution would never have passed." (AFP 3/22, 3/23 in FBIS 3/23; MENA 3/23 in FBIS 3/24; WT 3/31)

Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert says PA has violated Israeli authority over the city by taking control of all 20 Waqf schools (previously run by Jordan). PA funding for schools is part of $27 m. raised by Arafat advisor Husseini fr. Saudi Arabia. Remaining money is slated for Jerusalem housing (see 3/13). (JP 3/24 in FBIS 3/27; JP 4/1; WJW 5/5; JP 5/13)

To date, 93 senators have signed on to Sen. Alfonse D'Amato and Sen. D. Patrick Moynihan's letter, calling on the pres. to move the U.S. embassy in Israel fr. Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. (WJW 3/23) (see 2/3)

IDF, Hizballah exchange fire in s. Lebanon, leaving 1 civilian dead, 1 wounded. (AFP, RL 3/23 in FBIS 3/24)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Tension between Jews and Muslims over control of the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) flares as Jerusalem police block an attempt by the Waqf (Islamic trust) to seal off a courtyard leading to the area [JP, JTA 4/4].

Arab World: PLO closes another of its offices in Amman; the Office of Popular Organization maintained contact with and files on Palestinians living in Jordan, especially refugee camps; no reason is given for the closure [JP 4/4].

Military Action

Arab World: Fighting continues between Amal and Palestinian fighters in Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Beirut; nearly 30 people have been killed, 60 wounded in 6 days of fighting [MG 4/4].