The Palestine Chronology

Egypt partially reopens the Rafah crossing for Palestinian travel. Smuggling tunnels along the Rafah border remain closed; Palestinians report that costs of construction materials in Gaza have spiked 20%–30% since 8/5 because of tunnel closures. Israeli bans on fuel imports also continue, forcing Gaza’s power plant to shut down 2 turbines for lack of fuel, causing rolling blackouts across the Strip to increase fr. 12 hrs./day to 16 hrs./day. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Ma‘sara, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 1 Palestinian is moderately injured by a rubber-coated steel bullet (Kafr Qaddum) and several demonstrators are beaten by IDF soldiers in al-Ma‘sara. (PCHR 8/16; OCHA 8/18)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets or mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (2 synchronized) in the evening; conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and Jericho; and conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and Nablus, firing tear gas and stun grenades at stonethrowing youths who confront them in Nablus (causing no serious injuries). Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; a Palestinian child (al-Nabi Salih) and 1 Swedish activist (Kafr Qaddum) are moderately injured by tear gas canisters, and 1 Palestinian (Kafr Qaddum) is moderately injured by a rubber-coated steel bullet. (YA 7/28; 8/2; OCHA 8/3)

Pres. Obama signs into law the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, which calls for an unprecedented strengthening of military, intelligence, and technology cooperation intended to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge. Experts describe the act as prescribing a ‘‘laundry list of security enhancements’’ for Israel (see QU in JPS 165 for details). (JTA, White House press release 7/27; WP 7/28, 7/30; Defense News 8/1)

Hamas acting PM in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh meets with Egyptian pres. Morsi in Cairo to discuss Fatah-Hamas reconciliation prospects and ways of further easing the siege of Gaza. (WP 7/28)

To mark the start of Ramadan, Israel eases access restrictions for West Bank Palestinians wanting to enter East Jerusalem, permitting children 12 and under and adults over 40 to enter without permits. In addition, the IDF removes 2 key roadblocks: one on the main road from Aqraba village to Nablus and the other in the Jordan Valley, opening the main northeastern entrance to Jericho from Road 90 (closed since 2000). The IDF also patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and 1 nr. Qalqilya late at night; conducts late night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; no serious injuries or arrests are reported. (PCHR 7/26; OCHA 7/27)

For the 2d day in a row, unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jericho, nearby ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. and Fasayil village, and 3 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; and in Jenin in the afternoon. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters. A Palestinian in Bil‘in is moderately injured by a rubber-coated steel bullet; 3 Palestinians (including a child) are hit by tear gas canisters in Kafr Qaddum; and 3 internationals and 1 Palestinian are arrested. In addition, tear gas canisters and percussion grenades spark a brush fire in Kafr Qaddum, destroying 20 Palestinian olive trees. (TOI 6/6; PCHR 7/12; OCHA 7/13)

Debate over moving toward a universal draft threatens to split Netanyahu’s newly expanded coalition. UltraOrthodox groups, angry over calls to remove their exemption from service based on religious reasons, raise the issue of service waivers for Palestinian citizens of Israel. The 2002 Tal Law exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews engaged in religious studies was invalidated by the High Court in 2/2012 and is set to expire at the end of 7/2012. (NYT 6/30)

Israel’s Housing Min. publishes tenders for the construction of 171 housing units in Gilo and Pisgat Ze’ev settlements in East Jerusalem. IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Bureij r.c. catch and arrest 3 Palestinians (including 2 teenagers) attempting to sneak into Israel to find work. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages each nr. Ramallah and Salfit in the morning; and in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah late at night. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 5 Palestinians are lightly injured by tear gas canisters (4 in Kafr Qaddum, including a child; 1 in Bil‘in). (PCHR 7/5; OCHA 7/13)

UNESCO’s World Heritage Comm. approves (13–6) a Palestinian request to place Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on its list of world heritage sites at risk because of its urgent need for repairs. The U.S. strongly opposed the request, stating the church was not imperiled. Israel denounces the vote, saying, ‘‘UNESCO is motivated by political and not cultural considerations.’’ (WP 6/30)

By late afternoon, cross-border incidents in Gaza resume, with Palestinians firing some 26 rockets and mortars and Israeli warplanes and drones carrying out at least 5 air strikes. One Palestinian rocket hits a factory in Sderot, injuring 1 Israeli civilian; the Israeli strikes kill at least 2 Palestinians (both armed) and injure at least 23 (2 militants, 6 PASF officers, and 15 civilians, including 1 woman and 1 child). Israel’s targets included a rocket-launching team nr. al-Bureij r.c. (1 killed); a group of armed Palestinians nr. Jabaliya (1 killed, 2 wounded); 2 IQB training camps in n. and c. Gaza (11 bystanders injured); and a PASF compound in the center of Gaza City (6 PASF officers and 4 bystanders injured). Israel now estimates that Palestinians have fired more than 130 rockets and mortars into Israel since 6/18. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in al-Nabi Salih in the morning; in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 each nr. Jenin and Ramallah in the afternoon; and in Jericho, neighboring ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c., 1 nearby village, and 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah late at night. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 1 Palestinian is hit by a tear gas canister in Bayt Umar and moderately injured. (YA 6/22; HA, NYT, WP 6/23; PCHR 6/28; OCHA 6/29)

Unidentified assailants fire 2 Grad rockets from the Egyptian Sinai into Israel, striking n. of Elat, causing no damage or injuries. No group takes responsibility. (HA 6/16, 6/17)

The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 each nr. Jenin and Qalqilya in the morning; in Qalqilya and Tulkarm in the afternoon (stopping to harass PA security officers manning a checkpoint in Qalqilya); and in al-Nabi Salih and 1 village nr. Jenin late at night. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 1 Palestinian cameraman is moderately wounded by a rubber-coated steel bullet in al-Nabi Salih, and 3 Palestinians are hit by tear gas canisters in Kafr Qaddum. (PCHR 6/21; OCHA 6/22)

Nr. Tripoli, Lebanon, Palestinian refugees surround and throw stones at Lebanese soldiers who attempt to block a Palestinian from bringing a motorcycle into Nahr al-Barid r.c. The soldiers open fire on the crowd, killing 1 Palestinian and wounding another. (WP 6/16)

An armed Palestinian teenager infiltrates the Israeli border e. of Abassan village in s. Gaza before dawn, exchanging gunfire with IDF soldiers who also call in air strikes to target the border area; the Palestinian gunman and 1 IDF soldier are killed. Later in the morning, IDF troops in the area fire across the border into Gaza, causing no injuries but starting a brush fire. Unidentified Palestinians respond by firing 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Hrs. later, Israeli warplanes fire 3 missiles at a Palestinian car inside Abassan village, killing 2 armed Palestinians and injuring at least 1. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; in Qalqilya in the afternoon; and in Jericho and al-Nabi Salih late at night. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, and al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 3 Palestinians (including 1 child) are wounded by live ammunition and 3 are hit by tear gas canisters. Jewish settlers fr. Adei Ad outpost nr. Ramallah uproot 75 almond trees fr. a nearby Palestinian plot. (JP, IDFS, REU 6/1; NYT 6/2; PCHR 6/7; OCHA 6/8)

The IDF makes brief incursions into s. Gaza nr. Khan Yunis and c. Gaza nr. Wadi al-Silqa to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence; in both cases, Israeli helicopters providing cover to the troops fire on Palestinians working their lands nearby, causing no injuries but starting several brush fires (the largest of which destroys 30 d. of wheat). Later in the afternoon, IDF troops on the c. Gaza border fire toward Wadi al-Silqa, wounding 1 Palestinian civilian 1 km from the border fence (well outside Israel’s 300 m. no-go zone). In the West Bank, the IDF bulldozes at least 30 d. of Palestinian crop land nr. Hebron for the expansion of Harsina settlement, where 500 new housing units are planned. The IDF also conducts synchronized patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin in the morning and patrols in Tulkarm town and r.c. late at night (firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, causing no reported injuries). Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim settlement nr. Qalqilya violently beat a Palestinian teenager passing nearby. An Israeli court sentences Bassim al-Tamimi, the main organizer of the weekly nonviolent demonstrations in al-Nabi Salih, to 13 mos. in jail (time already served) for instructing youths to throw stones at IDF troops during protests. The case rested on the testimony of a 15-yr.-old Palestinian who confessed to stone-throwing during interrogation in custody, without access to a lawyer. Tamimi was granted a humanitarian release in 4/2012 after his mother suffered a stroke. Israel’s Tourism Min. and municipal officials in Jerusalem allocate more than $1 m. for a new settlement project in Silwan, in East Jerusalem. OCHA reports that in the previous week, Israeli authorities demolished 17 Palestinian structures in West Bank Area C (including 7 residences) and 11 animal pens in East Jerusalem; and ordered East Jerusalem Palestinians to demolish 1 home and 1 other structure or face demolition and fines by Israel. (WT 5/30; PCHR 5/31; OCHA 6/1)

Iranian officials confirm government computers are currently under attack by a sophisticated new virus called Flame, and accuse Israel and the U.S. of being behind it. (The U.S. declines to comment, whereas Israeli officials comment that ‘‘Israel is blessed with being a country rich in hi-tech ... both in the civilian and defense sector’’ and that ‘‘it’s certainly reasonable that [someone who views Iran as a threat] uses all means at his disposal, including these, to harm the Iranian nuclear system.’’) The new virus is a keystroke-logging program that steals data from infected computers and can be controlled remotely by whoever installed it. (NYT, WP 5/30; WT 5/31; JPI 6/8)

The IDF patrols in Tulkarm and 1 nearby village at night; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum (nr. Qalqilya), al-Nabi Salih, and Nuba (nr. Ramallah). IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 5 Palestinians are hit by tear gas canisters in Kafr Qaddum. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar set fire to a large wooded area and crop lands in ‘Urif village. Hours later, the same settlers set fire to another plot of Palestinian crop land n. of ‘Urif; as local Palestinians come to put out the blaze, the fleeing settlers grab, handcuff, and shoot in the abdomen 1 Palestinian, seriously wounding him; the IDF observes but does not intervene until the shooting, at which point soldiers step in to halt the violence. (PCHR 5/31; OCHA 6/1)

The IDF conducts daytime patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 nr. Jericho, and 1 nr. Qalqilya; conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 nr. Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Elazar settlement nr. Bethlehem uproot 150 grape saplings from nearby Palestinian land. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in and Nabi Salih also call for solidarity with prisoners and national unity. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 10 Palestinian (including 3 journalists) are hit by tear gas canisters in Kafr Qaddum. In addition, 10s of Palestinians hold a nonviolent march in Abud village nr. Ramallah in solidarity with the hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners; IDF troops manning the checkpoint at the entrance to the village fire live ammunition, rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the demonstrators, seriously injuring 2 Palestinians and arresting 1 Palestinian. A similar demonstration by 10s of Palestinians is held outside Ofer prison; the IDF fires tear gas to disperse them, hitting 1 demonstrator in the head, seriously wounding him. (PCHR 5/17; OCHA 5/18)

The Israeli government formally requests that the Israeli High Court postpone the 5/1/12 deadline for the evacuation and demolition of Ulpana outpost for 90 days. By 5/8, the High Court has extended the deadline to 7/1/12. (WP 4/28; NYT 5/9)

The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin and 2 nr. Ramallah in the evening. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in also call for solidarity with prisoners and national unity. IDF soldiers beat (Kafr Qaddum only) and fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 4 Palestinians are injured (1 in Kafr Qaddum seriously wounded by a tear gas canister to the head, 1 in Bil’in moderately injured by rubber-coated steel bullets, 1 in Nabi Salih moderately wounded by a tear gas canister, and 1, a TV cameraman, beaten in Kafr Qaddum). (PCHR 5/3; OCHA 5/4)

Israeli naval commandos raid a Liberian ship off the Gaza coast, suspecting of carrying weapons for “antiIsraeli militants,” but releases it after finding no arms. Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF stages a morning raid into Kafr Ra’i village nr. Jenin, photographing and ordering residents to abandon a protest tent they recently set up to show solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners. The IDF also conducts morning patrols in Jericho and 1 nearby village, 2 villages nr. Jenin (in 1 instance firing tear gas and stun grenades at stonethrowing youths who confront them), and 1 each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah; afternoon patrols in Qalqilya and 3 villages nr. Jenin, Jericho, and Ramallah; late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin; and late-night patrols in Jericho (firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them) and 1 nearby village. (JP 4/22; WP 4/23; PCHR 4/26; OCHA 4/27)

Israeli PM Netanyahu appoints a small ministerial panel (himself, DM Barak, Vice PM Moshe Ya’alon, and Minister-without-Portfolio Benny Begin) intended to legalize 3 unauthorized settlement outposts (Bruchin, Rachelim, and Sansanna) located on what Israel has classified as “state land” in the West Bank. Netanyahu previously pledged to bring the issue of the 3 outposts (which received initial approval from previous governments in the 1980s and 1990s but were never given final approval or permits for construction) “to the government for approval.” Netanyahu says the panel will deal only with these 3 outposts and has no relation to a separate committee, headed by Judge Edmund Levy, that was created earlier in 2012 to “examine the legal issues” of all the unauthorized outposts. However, the wording of the panel’s written mandate is potentially broader, stating its role is to “resolve the issues” of “settlements that are now unauthorized outposts and which were constructed years ago on state land with state funds or with initial agreements from state bodies.” By this definition, two-thirds of the 105 unauthorized outposts could be retroactively legalized. (JPI 5/4)

The state-operated Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company terminates its 2005 contract to ship gas to Israel, stating that Israel has not paid its bill in 4 mos. and that the decision to suspend shipments immediately “has nothing to do with anything outside o the commercial relations.” Israel denies this, calling the move politically motivated. (NYT, WP 4/23; JPI 5/4)

In Washington, Pres. Obama tours the Holocaust Memorial with Jewish-American Holocaust survivor Elie Weisel, stating in an address afterward that: “Too often the world has failed to prevent the killing of innocents . . . , and we are haunted by the atrocities that we did not stop and the lives we did not save.” Weisel follows with comments highly critical of Obama, asking: “How is it that [Syrian pres.] Asad is still in power. How is it that the Holocaust’s No. 1 denier, [Iranian pres. Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, is still a president?” (WT 4/24)

The IDF conducts morning patrols in Kafr Qaddum (temporarily occupying 1 Palestinian home as an observation post), 2 villages nr. Ramallah (synchronized), and 1 village nr. Tulkarm; conducts afternoon patrols in 2 villages nr Jenin and Ramallah; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Nabi Salih and late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in also call for solidarity with prisoners and national unity. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 1 Palestinian moderately injured by a tear gas canister in Ni’lin, and 4 Palestinians and 2 Israeli activists are arrested. (PCHR 4/26; OCHA 4/27)

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat and PA intelligence chief Majid Faraj deliver the long-anticipated letter fr. Pres. Abbas to Israeli PM Netanyahu and his chief negotiator Yitzhak Molcho at a meeting in Jerusalem. Netanyahu pledges to respond in writing within 2 wks. While the letter is not released publicly, a draft version was leaked to the press by a Palestinian source on 4/15, with the disclaimer that that the text might change before it was given to Netanyahu. Of note: PA PM Fayyad had planned to deliver the letter, but pulled out at the last minute. While there is no official comment as to why, various Palestinian sources say (WP 4/18) that Fayyad either (1) disagreed with the content of the letter or (2) thought it would be inappropriate for him to hold a high-level meeting with Netanyahu on the same day as an annual rally in support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Fayyad had opposed early drafts that threatened to dissolve the PA if there was no significant progress toward peace. The 4/15 draft includes an implied threat, stating: “The PA is no longer as was agreed and this situation cannot continue.” (Times of Israel 4/15; NYT, WP 4/18)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire into Gaza for unknown reasons, wounding a Palestinian man in Khuza’ village, 2,000 m. from the border (well outside the 300-m. no-go zone). In the West Bank, the IDF imposes a late-night curfew on Kafr Haris village nr. Salfit and escorts at least 3,000 Jewish settlers into the village to perform religious services at a local holy site; the group stays for 6 hrs., attacking and beating Palestinians who venture onto the street; the IDF arrests 1 Palestinian. The IDF conducts latenight patrols in Tulkarm, firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them and searching 1 home. Across the West Bank, Palestinians demonstrate in solidarity with the 4,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails to mark Prisoners Day. IDF troops fire live ammunition, rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at 1 group demonstrating outside Ofer prison nr. Ramallah, wounding 2. About 1,200 Palestinian prisoners declare a hunger strike to protest their conditions and detentions without trial. (According to B’Tselem, there are currently about 320 administrative detainees, down from about 800 in 2007.) About 10 Palestinians have already gone on hunger strike, including 2 who have been granted early release (including Khader Adnan, who is freed today and Hana Shalabi, freed on 4/1) and 2 (Islamic Jihad mbrs. Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh) who have now been hospitalized after refusing food for more than 40 days. (NYT, WT 4/18; PCHR 4/19; OCHA 4/20; WP 4/24; JPI 4/27)

PRC mbrs. fire a rocket fr. Gaza towards Israel, which explodes prematurely inside Gaza, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, 200 Palestinians and international activists taking part in a bike along the Jordan Valley intended to draw attention to Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement are blocked by IDF as they leave Ouja village to enter Route 90; at least 1 IDF soldier, an officer, is caught by news cameras beating a Danish activist with his M16 and is dismissed from his post and demoted by the Defense Min. “on moral grounds.” (In total, 2 Palestinians, including a woman, and 3 internationals, including the Dane, are injured.) A small group of Palestinians and international activists hold a weekly nonviolent demonstration in Bayt Umar protesting settlement expansion; the IDF beats and fires stun grenades at the protesters, hitting 1 Palestinian woman with a stun grenade, moderately injuring her. The IDF also conducts morning patrols in `Aqabat Jabir r.c., Jericho and 1 nearby village, 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, and 1 each nr. Jenin and Qalqilya; conducts afternoon patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and Jericho; and conducts latenight patrols in Tulkarm an 2 nearby villages, 3 villages nr. Qalqilya, 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jenin. (MNA 4/15; NYT, PCHR 4/19; OCHA 4/20)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Qalqilya, afternoon patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 nr. Jenin; and late-night patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, 2 nr. Salfit, and 1 nr. Qalqilya. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin also call for solidarity with prisoners and national unity. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 13 Palestinians (5 in Bil’in, including 1 child; 8 in Nabi Salih, including 1 child) and 2 Israeli activists (in Nabi Salih) were injured. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron violently beat 2 Palestinians working their land nearby (1 requires hospitalization) and uproot 10s of olive trees. (PCHR 4/19; OCHA 4/20)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Kafr Qaddum (temporarily occupying 1 house as an observation post) and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; patrols in Kafr Qaddum, Tulkarm. The IDF units patrolling nr. Jenin, nr. Qalqilya, and in Tulkarm fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin also call for solidarity with prisoners, while the Bil’in protest additionally calls for national unity. IDF soldiers beat and fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 3 Palestinians in Nabi Salih. (PCHR 4/12; OCHA 4/13)

Weekly Palestinian protests against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion this week coincide with Land Day, the annual event to protest Israel’s discriminatory land policies. Israel seals the Erez crossing for 2 days (3/30–31), citing security concerns. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold their weekly nonviolent demonstrations in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin (with protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin also calling for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas). IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at these protesters, injuring 11 Palestinians (including a child) and 1 international (4 Palestinians are wounded by live fire in Nabi Salih; the rest are hit by tear-gas canisters in Kafr Qaddum). Palestinians hold at least 5 other Land Day rallies in the West Bank (outside Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, outside Ofer Prison and at 2 points along the separation wall nr. Ramallah, and at the Qalandia crossing n. of Jerusalem). IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Ofer and Qalandia only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at these protesters, injuring 19 (including 2 children; at least 7 are hit by live fire and 1 is seriously injured by a tear-gas canister to the head). In Gaza, Hamas authorities allow 1,000s of Palestinians to conduct a nonviolent demonstration nearly a mile from the Erez crossing, deploying police to prevent the protesters from marching to the border. Nonetheless, IDF troops on the Gaza border fire on the demonstration, killing 1 Palestinian and wounding 37 (1 seriously; including 16 children). A major protest planned for East Jerusalem does not materialize. Inside Israel, some 2,000 Israeli Palestinians demonstrate in the Galilee, with no violence reported. (NYT, WP 3/31; OCHA, PCHR 4/5)

Nonviolent Land Day protests are also held in Jordan and Lebanon. In Lebanon, 100s of Palestinians and Lebanese gather at Beaufort castle, 9 miles fr. the Israeli border, where Lebanese military forces deploy to prevent them fr. marching to the border. In Jordan, some 20,000 Palestinians march toward the West Bank border but stop 4 miles. No violence is reported in either case. (NYT, WP 3/31)

The IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Jericho in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin (firing stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no injuries) and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts late-night patrols in Jericho and nearby `Ayn al-Sultan r.c., 1 village nr. Hebron, and 1 nr. Ramallah. (PCHR 4/5)

Israel allows a 2-day supply of diesel fuel into Gaza, allowing Gaza’s power plant to restart 1 turbine for the 1st time since 3/10/12. Hamas officials organize protests in Gaza calling on Egypt to resume the transfer of fuel through Gaza’s smuggling tunnels. Late at night, an IDF undercover unit enters a Palestinian village as part of a training mission and is challenged by 3 stickwielding Palestinians who think the soldiers are burglars; the soldiers open fire, seriously wounding the 3 Palestinians (including shooting and beating at least 1 after he was severely injured) and delaying medical treatment for 1 hr. before taking them to an Israeli hospital for treatment; 1 Palestinian later dies. The IDF also patrols in 4 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin in the afternoon, firing stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them in 1 instance and stopping to question several boys in the other; conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Salfit and 1 each nr. Hebron, Jericho, and Ramallah. An 8-yr.- old Palestinian boy is seriously injured nr. Nablus when he accidentally triggers unexploded IDF ordnance that he found in a field. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, and al-Ma’sara. IDF soldiers beat and fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 4 Palestinians (3 in al-Ma’sara who are beaten; 1 in Kafr Qaddum who is hit by a tear-gas canister). (NYT 3/24; PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30; HA 4/5, 4/26)

Muslim Brotherhood officials in Egypt say they are distancing themselves a bit from Hamas and opening new channels of communication with Fatah in hopes of pressing Hamas to compromise with Fatah on national unity issues so as to increase pressure on Israel. The officials argue that if the 2 Palestinian factions create a untied front with a “newly assertive” Egypt, Egypt will have a better chance of pressuring Israel to make concessions over Palestinian statehood. The Muslim Brotherhood was the top vote-getter in Egyptian recent parliamentary elections after the 2/2011 ouster of fmr. pres. Husni Mubarak. (WP 3/24)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF raids and searches the home of a PASF officer in Qalqilya in the morning, confiscating several cell phones; patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the morning and in 1 village in Qalqilya in the afternoon; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron; conducts latenight patrols in Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Jenin. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, and al-Ma’sara nr. Bethlehem; demonstrations in Bil’in also call for solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no reported injuries; 2 Palestinians are arrested. Jewish settlers fr. Esh Kodesh settlement nr. Nablus uproot 220 olive trees on a nearby plot of Palestinian land. (YA 3/16; PCHR 3/22; OCHA 3/23)

Retaliating for Palestinian rocket fire on 3/14, the IDF carries out 2 air strikes on training sites in Gaza. Unidentified Palestinians fire at least 2 rockets in response. No injures are reported in the exchange. IDF soldiers at the Qalandia crossing detain a Palestinian leaving Jerusalem for the West Bank, suspecting him of involvement in the stabbing and wounding of an IDF soldier on Jerusalem’s light rail train earlier in the day. The IDF also demolishes a Palestinian home and animal farm in Qalqilya; uproots olive and almond trees on 30 d. of confiscated Palestinian agricultural land nr. Hamra settlement (nr. Nablus); patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah (synchronized), 1 nr. Qalqilya, and 1 nr. Tulkarm in the morning; and in 3 villages nr. Jenin (synchronized) and 1 nr. Ramallah late at night. Palestinian rights activists report that the health of administrative detainee Hana Shalabi is deteriorating after 30 days on hunger strike (see 2/16/12). Dozens of Palestinians rally outside Ofer prison in solidarity with her; IDF troops fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades to disperse them. (JP, YA 3/15; WP, WT 3/16; PCHR 3/22; OCHA 3/23)

After Syrian pres. Asad issues a statement reiterating his position that opposition forces must first halt their fire before his forces would cease fire, Hizballah chief Nasrallah issues a statement saying that both sides should cease fire simultaneously. The statement is seen as Hizballah’s 1st cautious attempt to tone down its support for the Asad regime since Arab Spring protests in Syria began in 1/2011. Days after this, Nasrallah calls on Asad to undertake “serious and genuine” reform efforts, stating that it is the duty of all “whose hearts are throbbing with sympathy for the Syrian people” to seek a political solution to the problem (a statement seen as a rebuke to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, which wanted to arm the Syrian opposition forces to overthrow Asad). (NYT 4/6)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Qalqilya, afternoon patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 nr. Jenin; and late-night patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, 2 nr. Salfit, and 1 nr. Qalqilya. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin also call for solidarity with prisoners and national unity. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 13 Palestinians (5 in Bil’in, including 1 child; 8 in Nabi Salih, including 1 child) and 2 Israeli activists (in Nabi Salih) were injured. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron violently beat 2 Palestinians working their land nearby (1 requires hospitalization) and uproot 10s of olive trees. (PCHR 4/19; OCHA 4/20)

Israeli drones makes an air strike on a car in Gaza City, assassinating Zuhair al-Qaissi, top military cmdr. the Popular Resistance Comms. (PRCs) and senior PRC mbr. Mahmoud Hanani, and seriously wounding 1 civilian bystander. Israel accuses Qaissi of plotting a cross-border attack similar to the 8/2011 Elat attack from Egypt. In response, Islamic Jihad and the PRCs fire at least 6 Qassam rockets, 4 Grads, and 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Later, Israel carries out 2 more air strikes on a rocket-launching team e. of Gaza City, killing 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. Late in the evening Israeli warplanes make 3 air strikes on separate targets nr. Gaza City, striking a residential area (lightly injuring 2 civilians inside their home), targeting a garage under an apartment building (injuring 3 civilians, including a child), and targeting a group of armed Palestinians, killing 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 6 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning; 3 villages nr. Jenin in the evening (firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them in 1 instance, causing no injuries); and 1 village nr. Tulkarm late at night. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; demonstrations in Bil’in and Nabi Salih also call for solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Similar protests area also held in Bayt Dajan nr. Nablus and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya. IDF soldiers fire live (Nabi Salih only) and rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no reported injuries; 1 American activist is arrested. Jewish settlers fr. Eli settlement nr. Nablus uproot 40 nearby Palestinian olive trees. Jewish settlers fr. Metzad settlement nr. Hebron uproot 240 newly planted Palestinian olive and fruit trees nearby. (JP 3/9; NYT, WP, YA 3/10; PCHR 3/15; OCHA 3/16)

As the armed conflict in Syria escalates, Hamas officials in Lebanon meet with Hizballah leaders to urge them to back away from supporting the Asad regime, warning that continued support for a regime that kills innocent civilians would undermine Hizballah’s reputation. (NYT 4/6)

Obama and Netanyahu meet at the White House to discuss Iran. Obama reiterates that the U.S. wants time for diplomacy to work but has left all options, including a military strike, on the table. He also says that Israel has the right to act in its own national interests. Afterward, Netanyahu tells a cheering AIPAC audience that sanctions have done nothing to slow Iran’s progress toward achieving a nuclear weapon and warns that time for diplomacy is running out. Observers say (WP 3/6) Obama’s statement “could easily be considered green light for Israeli action. And if Obama is flashing a green light, Israel’s advocates in Congress are waving a starter’s flag.” (NYT, WT 3/6; MA, Raidió Teilifís Éireann, REU, WJW 3/8; OCHA 3/9)

After 6 mos. of negotiation with the UN, Israel permits the 1st 2 truckloads of Palestinian exports to the West Bank (date bars for distribution to needy children through the UN’s World Food Program) since the beginning of the siege in mid-2007; the UN notes that this does not mark the resumption of regular trade between Gaza and the West Bank. The IDF patrols in `Ayn al-Sultan r.c. and 2 villages nr. Jericho, 3 villages nr. Jenin, and 2 nr. Qalqilya during the date; patrols in Tulkarm town and r.c., 2 nearby villages late at night; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron (including Bayt Umar) and Nablus. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights notes (3/8) that 45 Bayt Umar residents (including 20 children) have been arrested by the IDF since 1/1/2012. Dozens of Palestinians march to the IDF’s Atara checkpoint outside Ramallah to mark the 2d anniversary of the death of a local Palestinian family when a IDF jeep collided with their taxi; IDF troops at checkpoint fire tear gas and stun grenades at the marchers who respond by throwing stones; during the exchange, an IDF soldier fires a tear gas canister at a Palestinian teenager 20 meters away, hitting him in the head and fracturing his skull, critically injuring him. (PCHR 3/8)

In the evening, IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Gaza City fire an artillery shell at a Palestinian home but it does not explode, causing damage but no injuries to the 4 adults and 8 children inside. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Ramallah, 2 nr. Qalqilya and 1 nr. Tulkarm during the day; conducts late-night patrols in Jenin town and r.c., 4 villages nr Jenin, 2 nr. Qalqilya, 2 nr. Salfit, 1 nr. Tulkarm. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Nabi Salih, and Ni`lin; demonstrations in Bil’in also call for solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no reported injuries. Palestinians and international activists also hold 3 large nonviolent demonstrations and marches in various parts of Hebron to mark the 18th anniversary of the Tomb of the Patriarchs massacre. IDF soldiers fire foul-smelling skunk spray, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters. In total, 13 Palestinians are moderately injured and hospitalized 27 are lightly injured and treated by medical crews at the scene, and 2 Palestinians and 1 international are arrested. (PCHR 3/1; OCHA 3/2)

Meanwhile, Palestinians responding to rumors (claimed by Israel to be false) that Israeli security forces plan to escort a group of right-wing Jews onto the al-Aqsa Mosque compound march on the IDF’s al-Ram checkpoint into Jerusalem, blocking the access road with burning tires, throwing stones, and setting off fire works, injuring 11 Israeli soldiers and border police. The IDF fires live ammunition, tear gas, and percussion grenades at the protesters, killing 1 Palestinian. (WP 2/27; PCHR 3/1)

Speaking at Friday prayers in Cairo’s al-Azhar Mosque, Hamas’s acting PM in Gaza, Haniyeh, issues the movement’s 1st public call supporting the Syrian opposition, stating: “I salute all people of the Arab Spring . . . and I salute the heroic people of Syria who are striving for freedom, democracy, and reform.” (NYT, WP 2/25; JPI 3/9)

PA Pres. Abbas meets with Quartet special envoy Blair in Jordan before leaving for Cairo to meet with Arab League FMs. Blair urges Abbas to continue low-level talks on borders; says he has urged Israel to make goodwill gestures to revive talks, including easing security restrictions in the West Bank and releasing prisoners. (UPI, WAFA 2/11; YA 2/12)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In response, Israeli warplanes make 4 late-night air strikes on s. Gaza, targeting an open area nr. al-Shuka and 3 Palestinian homes in Gaza City, al-Qarara, and Rafah (suspected weapons depots and entrances to smuggling tunnels), killing 1 Palestinian civilian, wounding another, and causing heavy damage. The IDF patrols in Tulkarm and 2 villages nr. Jenin in the morning; patrols in another 2 villages nr. Jenin in the afternoon (in 1 instance firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them); conducts late-night patrols in 1 village each nr. Jenin, Jericho, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah. Palestinian students at Birzeit University hold a nonviolent march to Israel’s Ofer prison nr. Ramallah to show support for hunger-striking Islamic Jihad prisoner Khader Adnan; IDF troops outside the prison fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades at the protesters who reply with stones; 4 journalists and several protesters are lightly injured. Jewish settlers fr. Susia settlement in Hebron attack 6 Palestinians planting almond trees on a 20-d. plot nearby (moderately injuring them) and uproot the newly planted seedlings; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (JP 2/11, 2/12; PCHR 2/16; OCHA 2/17)

In the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, damaging 2 houses but causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning, in Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Jenin (firing stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them in 1 instance) and 1 nr. Qalqilya late at night. In the afternoon, the IDF raids and searches stores nr. Qalqilya and enters al-Zira village nr. Bethlehem in search of Palestinian youths who had stoned a patrol earlier (questioning youths at random, arresting 4). Late at night, the IDF patrols in Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho, firing live ammunition, rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, wounding 3 Palestinians with live ammunition (2 seriously); enters Jericho and 1 nearby village to serve 3 Palestinians with papers summoning them for questioning. The IDF also makes a late-night raid on and search of the Nablus-area home of a Palestinian released in the recent prisoner swap that freed IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit, serving him with orders to appear for questioning; during the raid, a pregnant woman in the home complains of pain and is taken to the hospital, where she miscarries. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; demonstrations in Bil’in, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin also call for solidarity with hungerstriking Islamic Jihad prisoner Khader Adnan. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 3 Palestinian protesters, 1 Palestinian journalist, and 1 New York Times reporter are injured. Palestinians in Kafr al-Dik village nr. Salfit hold their first nonviolent protest against recent IDF actions in the nearby Dayr Sam’an archeological area that have been interpreted as preliminary steps to annex the area; IDF troops fire tear gas and percussion grenades to disperse them, causing no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Carmiel settlement nr. Hebron escorted by IDF troops plant trees on 40 d. of nearby Palestinian agricultural land along a new settleronly bypass road. (JP 2/11; PCHR 2/16; OCHA 2/17)

Hamas’s Haniyeh arrives in Iran. Neither side discusses the visit, hoping to keep a low profile. Arab media reports (see NYT 2/11) say Hamas is resisting pressure fr. Iran to demonstrate support for Syria’s Asad. Gulf leaders urged Haniyeh against visiting Iran, but he demurred. (NYT 2/11)

The IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Ramallah, 3 nr. Jenin, and 1 nr. Qalqilya in the morning; in 2 villages nr. Jericho in the afternoon; and in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm, 2 nr. Salfit (synchronized), and 1 each nr. Jenin and Jericho late at night. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim settlement nr. Qalqilya escorted by IDF troops plant trees on 15 d. of nearby Palestinian land. Jewish settlers fr. Kfar Taffuh settlement nr. Salfit start to fence off 10s of dunams of adjacent Palestinian agricultural land to expand the settlement eastward and southward. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus enter Burin village and stone 4 houses; the IDF enters the village to extract the settlers, firing tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinians gathering to defend the houses. (PCHR 2/16; OCHA 2/17)

Islamic Jihad spokesman Khader Adnan, held in administrative detention by Israel since 12/17/11, enters his 55th day of a hunger strike intended to draw attention to Israel’s discriminatory criminal justice system, making his hunger strike the longest by a Palestinian prisoner ever recorded. The 33-yr.- old Adnan has lost 60 lbs. and Israeli authorities have hospitalized him, saying his condition is rapidly deteriorating. (WT 2/10)

The IDF patrols in 3 villages n. of Ramallah in the morning. IDF soldiers and border police escort 100 Jewish settlers on a walking tour of the archeological sites in and around Bayt Umar village nr. Bethlehem, firing tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinians who come near. Another team of IDF soldiers and border police escort a separate group of Jewish settlers on a similar tour of archeological and religious sites in al-Karmil village nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers install 6 mobile homes in Otniel settlement and 2 in Avigal settlement in the same area s. of Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Rotem settlement in the n. Jordan Valley severely beat a Palestinian shepherd nearby; he is found later by an IDF patrol that has the Red Crescent transport him to a hospital in Jenin. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 7 Palestinians (including a child) and 1 international activist are injured in Nabi Salih, and 2 Palestinian journalists are detained for 4 hrs. (PCHR 2/9; OCHA 2/10)