The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian child near the Tekoa settlement, claiming he had attempted to stab soldiers. Israeli forces also shoot and kill 2 Palestinians during a raid in Dura. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man during a raid in al-Yamun. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a Palestinian child during a raid in Silwad. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian woman during a raid in Nahalin. Israeli forces also assault 3 Palestinians during a raid in Ya’bad. Separately, Israeli forces open fire at the Jenin Governmental Hospital and demolish infrastructure during a raid in Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities force a Palestinian family to demolish their own home in az-Za’ayyem, displacing 6 people. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Jabalia refugee camp, and Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 215 people, including 45 in airstrikes on 2 buildings in Gaza. Israeli forces also storm a UN shelter in Gaza City, arresting Palestinians. 15 rockets are fired at Tel Aviv, 6 are intercepted; no damage is reported. In Haifa, Israeli forces shoot and kill a person who rammed an Israeli soldier and exited his vehicle with an axe. In Lebanon, Israeli forces kill 2 members of Hezbollah. Hezbollah claims 13 attacks on Israeli military positions, including in Biranit and Zar’it; 2 Israeli soldiers are injured in the attack on Biranit. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb a site near Damascus, killing 7 people. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/29)

More than 26,637 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 10,600 children and 7,200 women, and around 65,387 have been injured since 10/7. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 371 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 94 children. More than 4,382 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 219 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,269 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 102 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza via the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossings. (UNOCHA, UNOCHA 1/29; UNOCHA 1/30)

Israel orders the evacuation of Shati’ refugee camp and the Gaza City neighborhoods Sheikh Radwan and Tel al-Hawa. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA 1/29)

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri tells Reuters that Hamas’s position remains that Israel must guarantee that its attacks on Gaza end before Hamas starts releasing Israeli captives. (AJ, HA, REU, REU 1/29)

Palestinian officials say the PA will reform itself to comply with U.S. demands by appointing new governors in the West Bank and Gaza, making changes to the personnel of the PA security forces, appointing new staff at the its foreign consulates and embassies and at ministries, improving the financial system, appointing new directors at public institutions, improving tax collection, opening the communications market, and improving government oversight to combat corruption. Axios reports that senior security officials from the PA, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt met in Riyadh on the 1/18, discussing plans for Gaza after the war and ways to involve a revitalized PA in Gaza. According to the report, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt called on PA general intelligence service director Majed Faraj to ensure that the PA makes serious reforms, including providing more power to a new prime minister. Saudi Arabia is also said to have briefed the other parties on its requirements for normalization with Israel, including practical and irrevocable steps by Israel toward the creation of a Palestinian state. (AX 1/29; HA 1/30)

Shin Bet director Ronen Bar meets with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in Cairo, discussing Israeli-Egyptian tensions and Israeli plans to further attack Rafah. (AX 1/29)

The Knesset House Committee hears legal arguments on the motion to expel MK Ofer Cassif from the parliament over his support for the South African genocide case against Israel. 85 MKs have said they support expelling Cassif. If the committee approves the motion to expel, then support from 90 MKs will be required to expel Cassif, who can then appeal to the Supreme Court. (AJ, HA 1/29)

The EU announces it will review its funding of UNRWA after Israeli allegations that members of UNRWA are connected to Hamas. Austria and Romania announce they are suspending funding for UNRWA, becoming the 11th and 12th countries to do so since 1/26. Pakistan calls the suspensions of UNRWA funding “unjustifiable.” 20 human rights organizations, including Oxfam and Save the Children, issue a statement expressing “concern and outrage” over the funding suspensions. Israel claims in an intelligence dossier seen by Reuters that 190 UNRWA employees are Hamas or Islamic Jihad militants, while 10% of all 13,000 UNRWA employees in Gaza have affiliation with 1 of the 2 groups. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/29; HA 1/30)

The UN begins its fact-finding mission to investigate sexual assaults allegedly committed by Hamas members on 10/7/23. UN envoy for sexual violence in conflict Pramila Patten urges potential victims to “break your silence.” (HA, NYT 1/29; AP 1/30)

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz says he canceled a meeting with UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini, saying “Lazzarini should draw conclusions and resign. Supporters of terrorism are not welcome here.” (AJ, HA 1/29)

Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani meets with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken in Washington D.C., discussing developments in Palestine and a lasting solution to the Palestinian cause, according to a Qatari statement. (AJ, AJ, AX 1/29)

UK foreign secretary David Cameron tells Arab ambassadors in London that the UK, with its allies, is looking at recognizing a Palestinian state to make the path toward Palestinian statehood “irreversible.” (AJ, HA, NYT, WAFA 1/30)

19 U.S. Democrats in the Senate, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), send a letter to Secretary Blinken asking for clarification on the bypassing of Congress in sending aid to Israel. (HA 1/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Birin and al-Twana. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian child during a raid in Aida refugee camp. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a raid in Ya’bad. In Hebron, Israeli forces punitively demolished the family homes of 2 Palestinians accused of killing an Israeli settler in August. 50 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Beit Fajjar, al-Arroub refugee camp, Bethlehem, Aida refugee camp, Dheisheh refugee camp, Jaba’, and Jalazone refugee camp. 1 Israeli soldier wounded near the Itamar settlement on 11/8 succumbed to his injuries. In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed 260 Palestinians and injured 590 others. Israel bombed al-Shifa Hospital, killing at least 13, and bombed the Indonesian and al-Rantisi Children’s hospitals, causing damage. Israeli snipers opened fire at al-Quds Hospital’s ICU unit, killing 1 and injuring 28, mostly children. Israeli airstrikes on al-Buraq School north of Gaza City killed more than 50 people sheltering there. Israel claimed its forces assassinated Hamas members Ahmed Musa, Omar Alhandi, and Muhammad Khalot in Jabalia refugee camp. Rockets were fired from Gaza, injuring 2 in Tel Aviv. In Eliat, a drone reportedly launched from Syria hit a school, lightly injuring 1. Near the Blue Line, 5 Israeli soldiers were injured by anti-tank fire and a drone. Israel attacked several places in Lebanon. In Syria, Israeli forces attacked militants in the Homs province, killing 7. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/10; AJ 11/12)

The Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,506 children and 3,027 women, and 27,490 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 2,450 people were buried in rubble, including 1,350 children. 174 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 47 children. More than 2,552 people have been injured. Israel adjusted the Israeli death toll from 10/7 from 1,400 to 1,200, including 33 children. 5,431 people have injured since 10/7. 42 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27. Over 1.61 million Palestinians, around 70% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 11/6, at least 40,000 housing units have been destroyed and 220,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 45% of all housing units. Around 30,000 people fled northern Gaza to the south. No one was evacuated from Gaza to Egypt. The Indonesian Hospital said it had stopped all surgeries due to a lack of fuel and Israeli attacks. Al-Shifa Hospital director Muhammad Abu Salmiya called Israeli claims that the hospital hosts Hamas fighters and infrastructure “utter lies,” saying UN personnel frequent the hospital and could attest to this. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 11/10; NYT 11/12)

982 Palestinians from Gaza employed in Israel prior to 10/7 were expelled to Gaza via the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. (UNOCHA 11/10)

Al Jazeera released a video showing Israeli soldiers using a Palestinian man as a human shield during a raid in Fawwar refugee camp. (AJ 11/10)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech on the 19th anniversary of Yasir Arafat’s death that “there are no words to describe the genocidal war and destruction inflicted upon our Palestinian people in Gaza.” Abbas later traveled to Riyadh for a joint Arab League-OIC summit on 11/11. In Riyadh, Abbas met with Pakistani caretaker prime minister Anwaar Ul-Haq Kakar, discussing Israeli actions in in Gaza and the West Bank. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/10)

Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Human Rights Campaign sent a letter to the ICC saying Israel is committing “war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide and incitement to genocide.” (REU 11/10)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech to Israelis living near Gaza that Gaza will be under total Israeli security control when Israel has eliminated Hamas. (AP, HA, HA, REU 11/10)

Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned Israeli attacks on Gaza at the African-Saudi summit in Riyadh. A joint statement by the participating countries said Israeli attacks needed to stop and called for an end to the occupation. (REU, WAFA 11/10)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said Israeli airstrikes have killed “far too many” Palestinians, saying Israel has taken steps to minimize civilian casualties but that it was not nearly enough. (AP, AP, AX, HA, NYT, REU, REU 11/10)

French president Emmanuel Macron said there was no justification for Israel’s killing of civilians in Gaza, urging Israel to stop and calling for a ceasefire. In response, Prime Minister Netanyahu placed the blame for civilian death on Hamas, insisting on calling the group “Hamas-ISIS” several times. Netanyahu later called Macron’s comments “a grave mistake.” (AJ, HA 11/10; AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU 11/11; HA 11/12)

Columbia University in New York City suspended Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace as official student groups until the end of the fall semester. (AJ, HA, HA 11/10; AJ 11/12)

Oman donated $3 million to UNRWA, earmarked for Gaza. (WAFA 11/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian herders in Kisan with sticks, injuring 2, including a child. Israeli forces killed 14 Palestinians, including a PA officer, during a raid in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp. During the raid Israeli forces opened fire at ambulances, used drones to attack buildings with airstrikes, and used 4 bulldozers to raze paved streets. Israeli forces also shot and killed 4 Palestinians during raids in al-Am’ari refugee camp, Balata refugee camp, Hebron, and Bethlehem. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shot and injured 69 Palestinians during raids in Bethlehem, Beit Furik, Aqraba, Ni’lin, Jenin, Balata refugee camp, and al-Bireh. Israeli forces also displaced 20 Palestinian families from their homes in Khirbet Tana, demolishing homes and destroying beehives. 50 Palestinians, mostly people from Gaza working in Israel before 10/7, were arrested in Barta’a. In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed 243 Palestinians and injured around 430 others. Israeli airstrikes targeted the vicinity of al-Nasr Hospital, al-Awda Hospital, the Indonesian Hospital, and al-Shifa Hospital, killing at least 3 people and causing significant damage to the hospitals and 2 ambulances.  Israeli said it assassinated Hamas member Ibrahim Abu-Ma’asiv in an airstrike. 2 Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza. In South Lebanon, anti-tank missiles were fired at Israel and Israel attacked Lebanon. In Eilat, Israel said a drone launched from Syria damaged a school in Eilat. Israel also said it deployed its Arrow 3 missile defense system for the first time to intercept a surface-to-surface missile fired at Eilat, reportedly from Yemen. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/9; AJ, AJ, HA, REU 11/10)

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 10,818 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,412 children and 2,918 women, and 26,905 have been injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since 10/7. At least 2,450 people were buried in rubble, including 1,350 children. 173 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7, including 46 children. More than 2,492 people have been injured. Around 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,431 injured since 10/7. 35 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since the ground invasion began. Over 1.61 million Palestinians, around 70% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12 due to the Israel blockade. As of 11/6, at least 40,000 housing units have been destroyed and 220,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7, constituting 45% of all housing units. 65 trucks carrying aid to Gaza and 7 ambulances entered via the Rafah crossing. 12 injured Palestinians and 695 foreign passport holders were evacuated from Gaza to Egypt. Around 50,000 people fled north Gaza to the south, bringing the total number to 122,000 since 11/5. UNRWA launched a flash appeal for $481 million to address the humanitarian needs in Gaza and the West Bank. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, UNOCHA, UNOCHA 11/9; WAFA 11/10)

The PA Finance Ministry said it returned its tax revenue to Israel due to Israel deducting $600 million Israel said is earmarked for administrative expenses in Gaza. (WAFA 11/9)

Israel arrested High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel chairperson Mohammed Barakeh and former MKs Haneen Zoabi, Sami Abou Shehadeh, and Mtanes Shehadeh who were planning to attend a small anti-war protest in Nazareth. Since Israel has banned large anti-war protests, Barakeh said he had told Nazereth police that he and 40 others would rally together, leading to his arrest. Protesters later demonstrated against the arrests of the Palestinian leaders outside of a police station in Tel Aviv; 15 were arrested. After the Palestinian leaders were released, Abou Shahadeh said he was arrested for “being a Palestinian citizen calling to end the war. By contrast, If I were a Jewish citizen calling for a genocide of Palestinians I could become a minister.”  (AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA 11/9; NYT 11/10)

Hamas said 1 Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Islamic Jihad released a video of an Israeli child and elderly woman that it said it wanted to release for humanitarian reasons. (AJ, HA, HA, REU, REU 11/9; NYT 11/10)

Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Khaled Mashal arrived in Cairo, reportedly to discuss a prisoner exchange. (AJ, HA 11/9)

During a speech at an aid conference in Paris, PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said that Hamas could not be eliminated because it is not just a military organization but “also an idea.” Shtayyeh also said Israel was waging war against all Palestinians, violating international law. French president Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the conference, said civilians in Gaza must be protected, calling for humanitarian pauses and for countries to work on a ceasefire. Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry complained that the international community has an “imbalance” in its conscience when it ignores Israeli violations of international law. Separately, PA presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Israel’s aim is to kill as many Palestinians as possible, referring to the many killed in the West Bank as Israel attacks Gaza. Abu Rudeineh called on the U.S. to force Israel to stop its attacks. PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with UK foreign secretary James Cleverly in Riyadh, calling on the UK to help achieve a ceasefire. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/9)

Haaretz reported an increase in Israeli soldiers publishing videos of themselves beating and humiliating Palestinians they have arrested in the West Bank. (HA 11/9)

A report by the UNDP and the ESCWA said Palestinian GDP had shrunk 4% during the first month of Israel’s attacks on Gaza. It projected that if the attacks continue for a second month it will drop by 8.4%, and by 12% if attacks continue for a third month. (AJ, HA 11/9; AJ, AJ, AP, AP 11/10)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson Ofir Gendelman tweeted a video he claimed showed Palestinians staging people being injured and evacuated. However, the video was backstage footage from the Lebanese short film The Reality. Gendelman kept the tweet up even after X (formerly known as Twitter) clarified what the video actually showed. (DB 11/9)

U.S. president Joe Biden said Israel had agreed to daily 4-hour pauses in its attacks on Gaza to allow Palestinians in the north to flee south, saying it had taken longer for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to the pauses than he had hoped. Biden also said had asked for longer pauses that would help facilitate the release of captives. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Palestinians fleeing the north of Gaza should be able to return. Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the pauses a “particularly serious mistake.” Netanyahu clarified in an interview with Fox News that he does not seek to govern Gaza. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU 11/9; AJ, AP, HA, REU 11/10)

The Israeli organization HonestReporting said it had identified CNN, AP, and Reuters contributors who covered the Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood on 10/7, claiming they must have had knowledge of the operation prior to it or participated in it. Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir said the journalists should be treated as terrorists. Likud Party MK Danny Danon said the journalist would be added to Israel’s kill list. The New York Times, which employs one of the freelance journalists, called HonestReporting’s allegations “reckless” and said it endangered their journalists in Gaza and Israel. CNN said it cut relations with 1 of the freelance journalists that HonestReporting posted a photo of standing next to Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar. (AJ, AJ, HA, HA, NYT, REU 11/9)

CIA director William Burns and Mossad director David Barnea traveled to Doha for meetings with Qatari prime minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani regarding a potential prisoner swap. Al Thani reportedly held a meeting with Hamas officials in Qatar on 11/8. (AJ, HA, HA, REU 11/9)

Belgian minister of development cooperation Caroline Gennez said her government was considering recognizing the state of Palestine and would donate $2.1 million in aid to Palestine and $5.3 million to the ICC. (AJ 11/9)

Media workers staged a sit-in demonstration at the New York Times headquarters, criticizing the newspaper’s pro-Israel bias. The American Postal Workers Union called for a ceasefire. (AJ, HA 11/9; AJ 11/10)

The Syrian Aviation Authority said the Damascus International Airport would not reopen for another week. The airport has been closed since 10/12 due to Israeli airstrikes damaging the runway. (HA 11/9)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian man and stole his donkey in Halaweh in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces shot and injured 5 Palestinians during a raid in Jenin refugee camp, including 1 who was rushed to a hospital in Haifa for treatment; 3 were arrested. Israeli forces also demolished 1 Palestinian home in Tura. 11 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Kobar, Kafr Malik, Tammun, ‘Askar refugee camp, Kafr Qaddum, al-Eizariya, and Deir Sammit; 1 Palestinian was injured by live ammunition during the raid in Tammun. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assaulted and arrested 1 Palestinian woman in the Old City, claiming she had tried to stab an Israeli police officer. Israeli forces also seized Palestinian school books from students entering the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/4; MEE 9/5; PCHR 9/7; HA 9/10; UNOCHA 9/11)

Israel closed the Karim Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing to Gaza, claiming explosives were found in a shipment of clothes. (QDS, REU 9/4; AJ 9/5; PCHR 9/7)

Al Watan Voice reported that Israel transferred a group of Palestinian prisoners, including Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, from the Nafha prison to the Ofer prison. (MEMO 9/5)

The Israeli Attorney General’s office informed the family of Eyad Hallaq that it would not appeal the decision of the Jerusalem District Court to acquit the police officer who shot and killed Hallaq in Jerusalem on 5/30/2020. On 9/5, Hallaq’s family petitioned the Supreme Court through Adalah to overturn the decision. (WAFA 9/4; MDW, WAFA 9/6)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke by phone with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken. A delegation of Palestinian officials is scheduled to meet Saudi and U.S. officials in Riyadh on 9/5 to discuss Saudi-Israeli normalization. (QDS, QDS, WAFA 9/4)

Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen attended the opening ceremony for the Israeli embassy to Bahrain in Manama. Cohen also met with Bahrain’s crown prince and prime minister Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. (AP 9/3; AJ, HA, JP 9/4)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides and Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Nicosia, discussing trilateral agreements, including the potential export of Israeli gas to Europe. (ALM, BB 9/4)

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported that Libyan prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh met with Mossad chief David Barnea in 2022 to discuss potential normalization. The talks reportedly included Jordanian, UAE, and U.S. officials. The reporting follows unrest in Libya after Foreign Minister Cohen disclosed a meeting with Libyan foreign minister Najla Mangoush on 8/27, leading to the dismissal of Mangoush by Dbeibeh. (TOI 9/4)

New Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni reversed his predecessor Ada Colau’s decision to end the city’s twinning agreement with Tel Aviv. Colau canceled the city twinning agreement in February, citing Israel’s apartheid policies. (MEE 9/4)

PM Netanyahu visits Israeli self-declared security zone in s. Lebanon; warns that continued attacks by Hizballah could trigger strong Israeli retaliation. Hrs. later, 1 SLA mbr. is killed by roadside bomb. (MM 8/20; RL 8/20 in WNC 8/23; WT 8/21; RMC 8/21 in WNC 8/27) (see 8/16)

In Beirut, Pres. Ilyas Hrawi, Kuwait's Shaykh Sabah discuss peace process, Arab unity. (RL 8/19 in WNC 8/22)

After receiving notices that their land lies in area C and has been designated a military area, Israel demolishes 4 50-yr.-old Palestinian homes nr. Nablus. (LAWE 8/21)

Israeli Housing Min. drafts plan to approve construction of 5,000 new housing units in the West Bank, along the Green Line, over next 2 yrs.; increase West Bank settler population by 70,000 over next 5 yrs. (IDF Radio 8/19 in WNC 8/22; WT 8/21; MM 8/28; JP 8/31)

In the Golan, Israeli police arrest Human Rights Watch worker Bashar Tarabiyya, a U.S. resident, on suspicion that he threatened national security, engaged in pro-Syrian activity. (MM 9/23, 9/27; JP 9/7)

Jordanian security forces round up 100s of people around the country following 3 days of bread riots. 500 have been arrested in Karak alone. Opposition leaders call on PM `Abd al-Karim Kabariti to resign. (JTV, RJ, RMC 8/19, al-Ra`i 8/20 in WNC 8/22; MM, WP 8/20; MEI 9/6) (see 9/18)

Iraq calls on Turkey, Syria to resume as soon as possible tripartite talks on distribution of the Euphrates, Tigris waters, halted since 1992. (Mother of Battles Radio [Baghdad] 8/19 in WNC 8/22) (see 6/30)

FBI announces plans to open 23 new offices around the world--incl. in Ankara, Cairo, Riyadh, Tel Aviv--that will focus on combatting terrorism, drug trafficking that affects the U.S. (WP 8/20)

PLO Chmn. Arafat meets in Tunis with U.S. State Dept. official Dennis Ross, NSC official Martin Indyk, then flies to Cairo for meetings with Egyptian Pres. Mubarak, American Jewish Congress trustees seeking end to Arab boycott of Israel. Ross proceeds to Amman for talks with Jordanian officials. (Radio Jordan 10/19 in FBIS 10/20; WP 10/21)

Syria, Saudi Arabia issue joint statement in Riyadh on peace process, saying "'just and comprehensive" settlement only achievable with Israel's "full withdrawal from all the occupied Arab territories," including Golan. (MM 10/10)

Israel frees Salim Husayn al-Zrai, 50, held in prison 23 years. Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1970 for infiltration attempt, Fateh activist released because of PLO adherence to its 9/13 commitment not to attack Israel. Release of this longest-held Palestinian prisoner of Israel interpreted as indicating future mass release of Palestinian prisoners. (CSM, NYT 10/20)

Israeli defense officials announce failure of 10/14 test of U.S.-funded Arrow missile. Another test in August also failed, and the GAO issued a report that month criticizing Israeli management of the program (see 10/23). (WT 10/20)

Likud Central Comm. meets in Tel Aviv to consider plans by Binyamin Netanyahu, Ariel Sharon, and Meir Shitreet on autonomy schemes alternative to DoP. (MM 10/19)

SCUD missile fired at Israel lands in uninhabited area, 2d missile hits residential area, light injuries are reported; missile launched at Riyadh is intercepted by Patriot missile [SPA, IDF 2/11, IDF 2/12 in FBIS 2/12; LAT, NYT, WP, WT, MEM 2/12].

As part of previously announced aid package, Germany delivers to Israel check for $3.3 million to help repair missile damage to Tel Aviv [LAT, MEM 2/12].

Environmental experts say oil slick in Gulf will severely damage Gulf states' fishing industry [LAT 2/12].

Israeli D.M. Moshe Arens meets with Pres. Bush, other U.S. officials in Washington; Arens describes "casualties and damage that have affected the Israeli civilian population" [IDF 2/11 in FBIS 2/12; LAT, NYT, WP, WT 2/12].

Iraqi cabinet min. Abdullah Fadel says "thousands" of Iraqi civilians have been killed in allied bombing raids, and adds that several mosques and churches have been destroyed; U.S. calls statement "propaganda" [NYT 2/12].

Pentagon offers cumulative U.S. combat losses: 12 killed in action, 12 wounded, 28 missing, and 8 POWs, with 18 aircraft lost in combat. More defections push number of Iraqi POWs past 1,000 [NYT, WP 2/12].

P.M. Major meets in Bonn with Chancellor Kohl to discuss Gulf war; King Hussein meets in Amman with Chrmn. Arafat [ADS 2/11 in FBIS 2/12; NYT 2/12].

Knesset rejects 3 motions of no-confidence submitted because of continuing curfew in o.t. [IDF 2/11 in FBIS 2/12].

Pres. Gorbachev warns that Gulf war is threatening to go beyond UN mandate to remove Iraq from Kuwait [NYT, WP 2/10; MEM 2/11].

SCUD missile hits Tel Aviv neighborhood, wounding 26 Israelis, none seriously [IDF 2/9 in FBIS 2/11; NYT, WP 2/10].

Front-page editorial in Al Thawra, leading Syrian newspaper, urges Iraqis to "liquidate" Saddam in extraordinary personal attack on Iraqi pres. [NYT 2/10].

British For. Sec. Douglas Hurd arrives in Riyadh from Ta'if, continues discussions with Saudi and Kuwaiti leaders [SPA 2/9 in FBIS 2/11].

Jordanian newspaper publishes "complete text" of minutes of meeting between UN Sec.-Gen. Perez de Cuellar and Saddam Hussein in Baghdad on 1/13 [DUS 2/9 in FBIS 2/11].

Saudi and U.S. officials ready barricades and dispersal chemicals to try to keep oil slick flowing south from Kuwait from reaching desalinization plants on Gulf. Iraq says spill was caused by allied bombing; U.S. contends it was deliberate act by Iraqi troops [NYT, WP 1/27].

Patriot missiles intercept 5 SCUDS over Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Riyadh [IDF 1/26 in FBIS 1/28; NYT, WP 1/27].

Teheran radio reports 7 Iraqi planes have been allowed to make emergency landings in Iran, and that 1 of the planes crashed and exploded on landing. Teheran says planes will be impounded. U.S. says dozens of other Iraqi planes have been flown to Iranian airbases over past week [NYT, WP 1/27].

About 75,000 people march in Washington, D.C., protesting U.S. involvement in Gulf war; protest also takes place in San Francisco, while scattered counterdemonstrations, supporting Pres. Bush occur. Protesters also march in Bonn [NYT, WP 1/27].

Yasir Arafat meets with King Hassan in Rabat to discuss Gulf war [RADS 1/26 in FBIS 1/29].

Iraqi television broadcasts interviews with 7 allied pilots shot down and taken prisoner; Pentagon officials believe pilots' statements to be coerced [INA, ATS 1/20 in FBIS 1/22; NYT, LAT, WT, WP 1/21].

Iraq launches barrage of at least 9 SCUD missiles at Dhahran and Riyadh; most or all are shot down by Patriot anti-missile defenses [SPA 1/20 in FBIS 1/22; NYT, LAT, WT, WP 1/21].

U.S. command concludes that after 4 days of bombardment, most of Iraq's air force has escaped serious damage; however, future role Iraqi planes can take in war is viewed by U.S. as limited [NYT, WT 1/21]; U.S. also says that Iraqi nuclear facilities have been heavily bombed; light allied losses are credited to early strikes against Iraqi radar [WP 1/21].

U.S. airlift delivers to Israel 2 Patriot anti-missile defense systems and U.S. crewmen to operate them. U.S. also sends carrier USS Forrestal to eastern Mediterranean to help Israel should Iraq send war planes at Tel Aviv; Israel says it did not request carrier, and its presence "could only be for purposes unrelated to Israel" [IDF 1/20 in FBIS 1/23; NYT, LAT, WT, WP 1/21].

Beginning visit to Algeria, Yasir Arafat reiterates linkage between Gulf war and Palestinian issue; calls for Arabs to stop fighting each other [AVP, AGS 1/20 in FBIS 1/22].

Saddam Hussein replies to Pres. Gorbachev's 1/18 letter; says U.S. committed aggression, that Pres. Bush has grudge against Arabs [INA 1/21 in FBIS 1/22].