The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF occupies 2 Palestinian homes nr. a settler-only bypass road in Hebron as observation posts; conducts evening and late-night patrols in villages nr. Nablus, Qalqilya, Salfit, and Tulkarm, making no arrests; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists in some locations) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/ Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 10s suffer tear gas inhalation and 1 Palestinian and 9 internationals are arrested. Jewish settlers gather at the evacuated Homesh settlement site nr. Nablus, stone passing Palestinian vehicles. (PCHR 9/8; OCHA 9/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts daytime patrols in Azun nr. Qalqilya and Taybeh nr. Ramallah without incident. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists in some locations) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, al-Ma‘sara, and Dayr Nizam/Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 10s suffer tear gas inhalation, 6 Palestinians (including 1 journalist) and 1 American activist are injured, and 4 Palestinian paramedics and 2 Israeli activists are arrested (all are released the same day). Senior Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) officials take part in the Bil‘in demonstration to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the assassination of PFLP Secy. Gen. Abu Ali Mustafa. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa settlement nr. Hebron stone and beat Palestinian shepherds grazing flocks nr. the settlement. (PCHR 9/2; OCHA 9/3)

U.S. Secy. of State Hillary Clinton announces that the U.S. will host Palestinian Authority (PA) Pres. Mahmud Abbas and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on 9/2 for their 1st face-to-face peace negotiations since late 2008, with the U.S. believing a final status deal could be reached within a yr. The Quartet simultaneously issues a statement reiterating its endorsement of direct talks toward a final agreement that “ends the occupation which began in 1967” and results in the creation of a Palestinian state; calls on “both sides to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from provocative actions and inflammatory rhetoric.” Netanyahu’s office quickly welcomes the proposal. (AP 8/20; NYT, WP 8/21)

Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists in some locations) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, al-Ma‘sara, and Dayr Nizam/ Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 10s suffer tear gas inhalation, and 1 Norwegian activist is arrested. (PCHR 8/26; OCHA 8/27)

Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih, al-Walaja, and outside Beit Romano settlement in Hebron. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring 1 Palestinian and 1 Israeli, and arresting 2 Palestinians, 4 Israelis, and 1 international activist (all released later in the day). Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba vandalize 3 Palestinian homes in Hebron. (PCHR 8/19; OCHA 8/20)

The Israeli navy fires warning shots at a Lebanese fishing boat that strays into Israeli territorial waters after it ignores several verbal warnings to turn back. The boat is not damaged and the crew is not harmed. In the West Bank, the IDF fires tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly nonviolent demonstrations against land confiscation and settlement expansion nr. Karme Tzur settlement nr. Hebron and nr. Beit Romano settlement in Hebron, beating 2 Palestinian cameramen and 1 U.S. activist. (PCHR, WJW 8/12; OCHA 8/13)

Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/alNabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring 2 Palestinians, and arresting 1 Israeli activist. Some 20 Jewish settlers fr. Harsina nr. Hebron attack 3 Palestinian vehicles parked nearby with rocks and iron bars, heavily damaging them; the IDF intervenes when Palestinians emerge fr. their homes to challenge the settlers, beating the Palestinians back into their houses, arresting 2 and moderately injuring 1. (PCHR 8/12; OCHA 8/13)

IQB mbrs. fire 1 manufactured Grad rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, striking nr. Ashqelon, causing damage but no injuries, marking a serious escalation; the last time Ashqelon was hit by Palestinian rocket fire was in 2/09. Several hrs. later, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IDF carries out 3 air strikes targeting a training camp for the Hamas-affiliated police in Gaza City (wounding 5 policemen and 16 bystanders, damaging 30 surrounding buildings) and smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border (causing no reported injuries). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Bayt Liqya village nr. Ramallah at midday without incident; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in (a 45- mbr. Spanish delegation and a 30-mbr. German delegation take part), Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation and arresting 1 Palestinian and 1 international activist. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha nr. Nablus set fire to 100 olive trees and large tracks of agricultural land; IDF soldiers initially fire tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinian civil defense workers who attempt to put out the fire, but finally let the firefighters pass more than half an hour later, after the PA liaison dept. intervenes. (HA, JP, YA 7/30; HA, NYT, WP 7/31; IFM, MEZ 8/1; PCHR 8/5; OCHA 8/13)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 5 rockets (possibly including 1 manufactured rocket), 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Salfit and 2 villages n. of Tulkarm during the day, making no arrests; conducts synchronized late-night patrols in 6 villages nr. Hebron, withdrawing without incident. Palestinians and international activists take part in weekly nonviolent demonstrations against land confiscation and settlement expansion nr. Karme Tzur settlement nr. Hebron and outside Beit Romano settlement in Hebron; the IDF fires tear gas and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 2 Palestinians (including a Reuters cameraman) and 2 international activists injured, and 1 Palestinian under arrest. (YA 7/24; PCHR 7/29; OCHA 7/30)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in Jayyus without incident; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and e. of Hebron. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation and arresting 6 Palestinians (including 2 journalists for foreign news agencies), 1 Israeli, and fmr. vice pres. of the EU Parliament Luisa Morgantini (she is quickly released). (PCHR 7/29; OCHA 7/30)

Mitchell returns to the region for 3 days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian peace teams, Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak, and the crown prince of Abu Dhabi Shaykh Muhammad bin Zayid al-Nahayan to press Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct talks. After their meeting, Abbas says he will begin direct talks with Israel if it accepts the 1967 borders as the baseline for negotiations and accepts deployment of international forces to guard them. (UPI 7/17; WP 7/18; AFP 7/19)

IDF troops on the northeastern Gaza border fire 3 artillery shells into an open area e. of Jabaliya, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF escorts Jewish settlers into Kafr Haris village nr. Salfit late at night to conduct religious ceremonies; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin; conducts latenight patrols in Tulkarm without incident. Palestinians and international activists take part in weekly nonviolent demonstrations against land confiscation and settlement expansion nr. Karme Tzur settlement nr. Hebron and outside Beit Romano settlement in Hebron; the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 5 Palestinian injured (including 3 journalists), 10s suffering tear gas inhalation, 1 Palestinian cameraman under arrest, 1 international activist detained for questioning (later released). At least 10 Jewish settlers attack a Palestinian nr. the al-Ibrahimi Mosque/ Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, moderately injuring him; IDF troops observe but only intervene to defend the settlers when Palestinians try to protect the injured man. In Gaza, Hamas authorities attempting to boost their Muslim credentials, begin enforcing a ban (announced 1 yr. ago) on women smoking water pipes in public. (NYT 7/18; WP, WT 7/19; OCHA, PCHR 7/22)

Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring 5 Palestinians (including 2 children ages 12 and 14), and arresting 1 international activist. (OCHA, PCHR 7/22)

IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials inside the industrial zone, wounding 1 Palestinian teenager. In a similar incident on the n. Gaza border nr. the fmr. Israeli settlement sites, the IDF wounds 2 Palestinians (including a 14-yr.-old boy) scavenging for construction materials. In the West Bank, Palestinians and international activists hold nonviolent demonstrations against land confiscation and settlement expansion nr. Karme Tzur settlement nr. Hebron and in the Hebron market area; the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters (2 Palestinian are injured, 10s suffer tear gas inhalation). The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (PCHR 7/15; OCHA 7/16)

Obama phones Abbas to urge him to agree to begin direct negotiations with Israel. Abbas reiterates demands for a comprehensive settlement freeze including East Jerusalem and assurances that all final status issues will be discussed. (White House press release 7/9; WJW 7/15)

In Gaza, unidentified assailants break into the Palestinian Liaison Office on the Gaza side of the Erez crossing, stealing copies of medical referral documents and communications equipment used to coordinate transit through the crossing with the Israeli Liaison Office on the Israeli side. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized evening patrols in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm, making no arrests; patrols in a 4th village nr. Tulkarm late at night, making no arrests. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 10s suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring 2 Palestinians, and arresting 1 Palestinian, 1 Israeli, 1 international activist. (PCHR 7/15; OCHA 7/16)

In an effort to show positive movement on the peace process in advance of Netanyahu’s 7/6 meeting with Obama, Israel releases its new guidelines for the entry of goods to Gaza in keeping with its 6/20 cabinet decision, issuing 2 lists of (1) prohibited goods, which include all weapons and munitions, and (2) restricted “dual use” items with military or terrorist applications (including many common chemicals and fertilizers, optical equipment, knives). Israel also itemizes 19 permitted construction goods allowed for import only for PA or internationally supervised projects. Israeli DM Barak personally briefs Abbas, Fayyad on Israel’s steps to ease the Gaza blockade and improve security and economic coordination in the West Bank. (NYT, WT 7/6; WJW 7/8; OCHA 7/9)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials 700 m fr. the border, seriously wounding a 13-yr.-old boy. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the c. Gaza coast, seriously wounding a 14-yr.-old boy and damaging the boat. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tulkarm and neighboring Dayr al-Ghusun in the morning and Bidya village in the afternoon, making no arrests; enters Kafr Lakif village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, raiding a metal workshop and arresting 2 Palestinians; fires rubber-coated bullets, tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinians holding a nonviolent demonstration against settlement expansion in Bayt Jala (injuring 4, including 1 journalist); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya, Salfit. Israeli tax authorities search Palestinian shops in East Jerusalem’s al-Misrara market, seizing the truck of one shop, releasing it later in the day after the owner pays $13,000 in back taxes. (PCHR 7/7; OCHA 7/9)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in Birzeit nr. Ramallah and ‘Aqabat Jabir village and ‘Ayn alSultan r.c. nr. Jericho, searching 1 home and handing out 1 summons to report for questioning. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih, al-Ma‘sara, Wadi Rahal s. of Bethlehem. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 10s suffering tear gas inhalation and 3 Palestinians injured, arresting 2 international activists (released hrs. later after questioning). (PCHR 7/7; OCHA 7/9)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in al-Bireh without incident; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 10s suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring at least 2 Palestinians. (PCHR 7/1; OCHA 7/2)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction goods in the fmr. settlement sites nr. the border, causing no injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 10s suffering tear gas inhalation, 3 Palestinians injured, 6 Palestinians (including 1 journalist) and 3 Israelis under arrest (all are released by 6/20). A Jewish settler driving nr. Hebron stops his car and beats a Palestinian teenager unconscious with an iron bar, leaving him on the side of the road, where he is found and transported to a hospital by a passing Palestinian. (PCHR 6/24; OCHA 6/25)

IDF soldiers manning a temporary checkpoint in Wadi al-Juz in East Jerusalem open fire on a Palestinian car they claim refused orders to halt, killing 1 Palestinian man, wounding his 5-yr.-old son, and severely beating a Palestinian who runs to the scene to provide medical aid. Palestinian witnesses claim the driver turned down a side street before the checkpoint to avoid a scene at the checkpoint, where Palestinian children were throwing stones at the troops; troops then chased the car, ordered it to stop, and willfully shot the driver when he halted and stepped out of the car, wounding him with 3 bullets before shooting him twice more at pointblank range, wounding the child in the initial volley. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih, and al-Ma‘sara. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 10s suffering tear gas inhalation and detaining 3 Palestinian cameramen for foreign news agencies, 1 international activist, and 2 Palestinians (including a main organizer of the al-Ma‘sara protest, who is formally arrested after the others are released). (PCHR 6/17; OCHA 6/18)

Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih, as well as in Nuba village nr. Ramallah. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring at least 3 Palestinian protesters and 3 Palestinian and 1 Norwegian journalist, arresting 3 demonstrators (including at least 1 American). (PCHR 6/10; OCHA 6/11)

Late at night, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing damage but no injuries. The IDF retaliates with 5 air strikes on the Dahaniyya airport site (hitting previously destroyed buildings, causing no injuries) and on a suspected weapons factory in the al-Zaytun neighborhood of Gaza City (destroying it but causing no injuries). In the West Bank, the IDF partly opens Route 443 between Jerusalem and Ramallah to Palestinian traffic for the 1st time in 8 yrs., but Palestinians will still have to go through several checkpoints and will not be allowed to take the road all the way into Ramallah (see Quarterly Update in JPS 155 for background). Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring at least 2 Palestinians, and arresting 4 Israelis. Jewish settlers fr. the unauthorized outpost of Beit Yonatan nr. Silwan retaliating for the 5/25 Jerusalem District Court decision harass a group of Palestinian women, sparking a stone throwing clash between the settlers and local Palestinians; the IDF intervenes, firing tear gas and beating back the Palestinians, including a pregnant Palestinian woman who miscarries as a result. Jewish settlers fr. Karnei Shomron nr. Qalqilya stone Palestinian vehicles on the Qalqilya–Nablus road, breaking the windows of 1 car, injuring 4 Palestinians. (YA 5/28; NYT, WP 5/29; JP 5/30; PCHR 6/3; OCHA 6/4)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fatally shoot 2 armed Palestinian teenagers who infiltrate the border fence nr. Abasan; the IDF claims they are mbrs. of Hamas’s armed-wing, the Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades (IQB). The IDF sends troops 800 m into Abasan to raze a Palestinian house under construction, a poultry farm, and 2 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of agricultural land planted with olive and palm trees to clear lines of site. Later, IDF troops and armed Palestinians exchange fire across the Gaza border, leaving 1 IDF soldier wounded. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall and land confiscations in Bil‘in and Ni‘lin nr. Ramallah, Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih in the north central West Bank, and Bayt Jala and al-Ma‘sara nr. Bethlehem. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving scores suffering tear gas inhalation, injuring 5 Palestinians, and arresting 11 Israelis and internationals (including an Israeli journalist). (NYT 5/22; OCHA, PCHR 5/27)

In Jerusalem, Israeli police inform 4 PC mbrs. fr. the Hamas-affiliated Change and Reform party—Khalid Abu ‘Arafa, Muhammad Abu Tir, Ahmad Atwan, and Muhammad Totah (all arrested in 6/06 as part of Israel’s round-up of Hamas-affiliated PC mbrs. and recently released after completing their sentences)— that Israel’s High Court has upheld a 9/09 ruling revoking their permanent Jerusalem residency status because their participation in 1/06 Palestinian elections constituted disloyalty to the state, warning that they will be deported to Gaza if they do not leave Jerusalem voluntarily (Abu Tir by 6/19, the others by 7/3). (NYT 5/22; PCHR 5/27; PCHR 6/7)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Jabaliya fatally shoot an unarmed 76-yr.- old Palestinian man fr. Bayt Lahiya as he deliberately walks toward the border fence; family mbrs. cannot explain his actions but say he did not have mental problems. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 1 Palestinian journalist is arrested); fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in weekly protests against the wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). (WP 5/15; OCHA, PCHR 5/20)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists taking part in a nonviolent march to Karme Tzur settlement to protest Israeli settlement activity in Hebron; troops chase protesters into Bayt Umar village, firing at least 4 tear gas canisters into a Palestinian home, where a 7-mo.-old Palestinian girl is overcome by the fumes and later dies at a hospital. The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 3 Palestinians, 2 Israelis, and 1 American are detained) and against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 2 Palestinians, including a 12-yr.- old boy, are detained); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinian, international activists taking part in weekly protests against the wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); conducts late-night patrols in Fasayil village n. of Jericho, making no arrests. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim throw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling the Nablus–Qalqilya road, causing no injuries. (OCHA, PCHR 5/13)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires stun grenades, tear gas and beats several Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in a nonviolent march to the separation wall outside al-Walajah village nr. Bethlehem, injuring 11 demonstrators and arresting 4 (3 Palestinians, 1 international; all are released on bail by evening); conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 2 villages northwest of Ramallah, making no arrests. Jewish settlers in Shaykh Jarrah in East Jerusalem beat 2 Palestinian children (ages 8 and 12); Israeli security forces observe but do not intervene. In a separate incident, a Jewish settler in East Jerusalem beats 2 Palestinian women, fleeing when other Palestinians intervene. Jewish settlers burn tires on the Nablus–Ramallah road to deter Palestinian traffic. (OCHA, PCHR 5/13)

IDF troops enter the n. Gaza no-go zone nr. Bayt Lahiya to fire on Palestinians (some well over 300 m away fr. the border) scavenging the former Aley Sinai and Dugit settlement sites for construction materials, wounding 1. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists staging a nonviolent march to the separation wall outside Bayt Jala nr. Bethlehem, injuring 4 Palestinians (including 1 journalist); conducts late-night patrols in Kfairet village southeast of Jenin, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron and from settlements nr. Bethlehem, escorted by IDF troops, take over a Palestinian home (belonging to the Salah family, who has lived there since 1967) in keeping with a 12/15/09 court order that ruled in favor of a Kiryat Arba settler who claimed to have purchased the property in 1991. (OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

Secy. Clinton announces that the Arab League is expected to meet on 5/1 to re-endorse proximity talks and that special envoy Mitchell will return to the region within days with plans to open indirect negotiations. U.S. officials say Abbas has agreed to resume talks after receiving a letter of assurances fr. Pres. Obama (not officially confirmed or released). (NYT, WP 5/1)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 2 Palestinian and 1 Irish journalist are detained) and against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (2 Palestinians are injured; 4 Palestinians, 1 Israeli are detained); also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in weekly protests against the wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). Jewish settlers fr. Gil’ad nr. Qalqilya uproot 30 Palestinian olive trees nearby. (OCHA, PCHR 5/6)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. Palestinians of Bil‘in host an international conference calling for peaceful popular resistance against the separation wall. Afterward, participants (including EU special envoy Marc Otte and more than 20 other Arab and foreign diplomats) march peacefully toward the wall; IDF troops fire rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at demonstrators injuring 7 (5 Palestinians, including 2 journalists; 1 Israeli; 1 international) and arresting 5 (3 Israelis, including 1 journalist; 1 American; 1 Palestinian). The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in weekly protests against the wall in Ni‘lin (4 Palestinians injured); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, and skunk (a foulsmelling liquid) at peaceful Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly demonstrations against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih. Jewish settlers uproot 20 olive trees nr. Salfit. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops make an incursion into the no-go zone e. of Gaza City and are immediately fired upon by armed Palestinians, sparking an exchange in which 1 armed Palestinian is killed. In the West Bank, the IDF raids, searches a Palestinian home in al-Walajah village nr. Bethlehem at midday, arresting 3 Palestinians; fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in and against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at both locations); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, protesting the separation wall in Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim nr. Nablus set fire to 2 Palestinian cars in nearby Jinsafut village. (OCHA, PCHR 4/22)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in a nonviolent march in ‘Ayn al-Bayda nr. Hebron to protest the separation wall and settlement activities, arresting 6 Palestinians (including a journalist) and 5 internationals (all released on bail by 4/12); conducts synchronized late-night arrest raids, house searches in Aida, al-Azza, and Dahaysha refugee camps nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo nr. Ramallah attack, damage a Palestinian car driving nearby, causing no injuries. (OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in nonviolent weekly demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation; 1 Israeli arrested) and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, international activists, some of whom throw stones, taking part in weekly demonstrations against settlement expansion in Dayr Nizam/al-Nabi Salih (7 Palestinians injured); conducts late-night patrols in Bayt Liqya nr. Ramallah, making no arrests. (OCHA, PCHR 4/15)