The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, 1 AMB mbr., 1 PRC mbr. are fatally shot when they jointly attack the IDF post at the Erez crossing with gunfire and grenades, causing no injuries; the IDF shuts the Erez crossing in response. The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian laying a roadside bomb nr. the n. Gaza border fence; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, in Nablus, in and around Hebron. In Gaza City, unidentified Palestinian gunmen ambush, kidnap Egyptian military attache Hussam al-Musali ´ ; no group claims responsibility or issues demands; Hamas denounces the action. The PA releases 39 Islamic Jihad prisoners, 7 AMB mbrs. held in its Jericho jail since arrest sweeps following the 12/5/05 Islamic Jihad suicide bombing in Netanya. (IMEMC, XIN 2/9; NYT 2/10; PCHR 2/16; AFP 2/22)

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber fr. Kefar Rai (btwn. Jenin and Tulkarm) detonates a device outside a shopping mall in Netanya, killing 5 Israelis, wounding 31 (4 seriously). Islamic Jihad says the attack is retaliation for the IDF’s 10/24 assassination of 2 of its leaders. The IDF immediately imposes closures on the West Bank and shuts pedestrian crossings in Gaza (keeping the Qarni crossing open for goods); announces that it is preparing for a wide-scale retaliation operation in northern Gaza and will step up assassinations and arrest campaigns in the West Bank, with DM Mofaz stating that the IDF had “decided to operate in a much broader, much deeper and more intensive manner against the Islamic Jihad infrastructure” and would make an effort to keep fr. drawing Hamas into the fighting. Later in the evening, the Israeli security cabinet authorizes the IDF to “adopt a harsher response” to rocket fire fr. Gaza, targeting built-up areas of Gaza as well as launch sites in uninhabited areas. During the day, the IDF also shells uninhabited areas in n. Gaza and in s. Gaza nr. Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries; makes 5 mock air raids over Gaza, breaking the sound barrier; fires on residential areas of Aida r.c., wounding 2 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids in and around Hebron and in Bethlehem, Jenin (targeting Hamas, including detaining 2 candidates in the 12/15 municipal elections, 1 candidate in the 1/25 parliamentary elections), Ramallah; bulldozes 5 d. of Palestinian land in Silwan for construction of a parking lot for Jewish settlers. Palestinians throw 2 pipe bombs at an IDF patrol nr. Bethlehem and fire on an IDF checkpoint nr. Nablus, causing no damage or injuries. PA police fire at Palestinians in Jenin rallying in support of the Netanya bombing. Israeli police round up another 500 Palestinians working in Israel without permits (see 12/4). (BBC, HA, IDF Radio, IMEMC, XIN, YA 12/5; CSM, DS, HA, IMEMC, JAZ, NYT, REU, WP, WT, YA 12/6; AFP, PCHR 12/8)

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device in Netanya, injuring 38 Israelis. The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed Islamic Jihad mbrs. nr. an Israeli kibbutz in s. Israel; they apparently sneaked into Israel fr. Gaza. The IDF also fatally shoots 3 Palestinians nr. Bayt Hanun, 1 Palestinian who strays too close to Netzarim settlement. (MENA 3/30 in WNC 3/31; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/31; PR 4/2; PCHR 4/3; MEI 4/4)

Early this morning, IDF helicopters, tanks attack the PSF West Bank headquarters in Beitunia, where some 200 PSF officers and staff have encamped since 3/30, setting the building ablaze. The CIA intervenes to secure the safe evacuation of the staff, surrender of 180 officers, but some refuse to leave. In Ramallah, the IDF continues house-to-house searches, stumbling upon 22 PSF officers hiding in an apartment, fatally shooting 2 though none resist arrest; raids, shuts Ramallah's al-Quds Educational TV, arresting 2 employees; revokes the credentials of 2 Abu Dhabi TV journalists, threatens legal action against CNN and NBC for broadcasting fr. Ramallah; confiscates 3 ambulances, detains 9 paramedics. PRCS suspends services in Ramallah, noting the IDF now has 15 medical workers in custody. This afternoon, the IDF lifts the Ramallah curfew for 3 hrs. so residents can buy food, bury those killed since 3/29 (bodies have been double-stacked in morgues, with no electricity). In Bethlehem, IDF troops order all men age 14-45 to surrender; fight their way to the doorway of the Church of the Nativity, where some 200 Palestinian gunmen, civilians have now sought refuge; fire on 20 journalists on the balcony of the Star Hotel, injuring 1; fire a warning shot at a clearly marked Reuters car. Palestinians also take refuge in Bethlehem's Omar Mosque, Santa Maria Church, the Russian Orthodox Church and hospice; the IDF surrounds those holy sites, occupies Bethlehem University as its main staging area. In Aida and Dahaysha, the IDF orders Palestinian women age 15-25, men age 14-45 to surrender. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device at an IDF checkpoint into Jerusalem, killing only himself, causing no injuries. At least 7 Palestinians are killed today, including 2 motorists ambushed by settler vigilante group Tears of the Orphans and Martyrs (see 3/5) nr. Tulkarm, a mother and son shot by the IDF and allowed bleed to death, a woman shot dead by an IDF sniper as she left a Ramallah hospital (troops fire on medical workers attempting to retrieve her body). 3 Israelis injured in the 3/27 Netanya attack die, bringing the toll of the bombing to 23; 1 Israeli injured in the 3/31 Haifa attack dies, bringing that toll to 16. Israel expands its list of "wanted" Palestinians to include some of Arafat's top aides, including intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi, PSF 2d in command in Gaza Rashid Abu Shabak, Fatah tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, but not PSF heads Dahlan or Rajub. (AP, HA, PRCS press release, NYT, WP, WT 4/2; MENA 4/2 in WNC 4/3; NYT, WP, WT 4/3; WP 4/4; QA 4/4 in WNC 4/5; MEI 4/5)

Sharon tells envoys of EU, Russia, UN they may meet with Arafat if they agree to escort him into exile. Peres proposes that Arafat "voluntarily" leave the territories asylum in foreign country. (AP, HA, MM 4/2; AFP 4/2 in WNC 4/3; NYT, WP 4/3)

Israel shells, sends troops into Dahaysha; conduct air raids (including F-16s) against targets across Gaza and in Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah. The IDF continues operations in Bethlehem, coming within a mile of the Church of the Nativity; raids a village nr. Rafah, ordering Palestinian men age 15+n45 to surrender; makes incursions into Birzeit, Jifna. The IDF attempts to assassinate senior AMB mbr. Samir Awais, firing missiles a his car, killing his brother, the car's only occupant, by mistake. Late this evening, 2 AMB gunman open fire and throw grenades in the Israeli coastal city of Netanya, killing 2 Israelis, 1 Israeli Arab, wounding 24 before being shot dead. Hrs. later, a Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device in a Jerusalem cafe, killing 11 Israelis, wounding 50. The IDF reportedly has detained some 600 Palestinian men, teenage boys in Tulkarm r.c. since 3/8. (BDL, HP 3/9; NYT, WP, WT 3/10; JP [Internet], MM 3/11; LAW 3/13)

The U.S. puts the 2d round Syrian-Israeli talks on hold, saying Israel, Syria have fundamental differences that must be resolved for the next round to be substantive. Both sides agree to send experts to Washington in the interim to discuss the U.S. working paper. (AFP, ANSA, al-Safir 1/17, al-Quds 1/18 in WNC 1/19; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/18; NYT, WT 1/19; al-Quds 1/19 in WNC 1/24; MM, WJW 1/20; MEI 1/28)

In Tel Aviv, Barak holds a private mtg. with Arafat, asks for a 2-mo. extension to the 2/13 FAPS deadline. Arafat refuses. (AFP 1/17 in WNC 1/19; MM, WP, WT 1/18; CSM, MM, NYT 1/19; MENA 1/19 in WNC 1/21; MM 1/20; MEI 1/28)

An EU delegation meets separately with Arafat, Barak for talks on the Palestinian track, increasing the EU role in the peace process. The EU reps. express extreme concern by the slow movement on the Palestinian track. (ANSA 1/17 in WNC 1/19)

In Tel Aviv, Jordanian FM Khatib meets with FM Levy, urges Israel to implement the 1/20 FRD. (DUS 1/18 in WNC 1/19; JT 1/25 in WNC 1/27)

In Cairo, French FM Hubert Vedrine holds talks with Pres. Mubarak, FM Musa on the peace process, the Barcelona process. Egypt agrees to host a Euro-Mediterranean partnership mtg. on 10/3. (MENA 1/17 in WNC 1/19)

The PA for the 1st time turns over a Palestinian prisoner to Israel. The prisoner, Hisham Najim, is wanted for rape and murder of a child nr. Nablus. (al-Quds 1/18 in WNC 1/19; JP 2/11)

Turkey says that it wants to aid the peace process by selling water to Israel, Jordan. Jordan's water M arrives in Ankara today for 3 days of talks on importing 180 mcm of water over 2 yrs. (ATL, JT 1/17 in WNC 1/19; WP 1/18; MM 1/19; ATL, JT, Milliyet 1/19 in WNC 1/21; SA 1/28 in WNC 1/31)

In Hadera, Israel, a crude pipe bomb, similar to those used in Natanya on 11/7, explodes in a trash can. 22 Israelis seek medical attention, mostly for shock. Israel suspects Islamic Jihad (see 1/14). (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/18; MM 1/19; WJW 1/20; JP 1/28)

In Nicosia, the Cyprus DMin. receives an Israeli DMin. delegation for exploratory talks on developing bilateral ties. (Cyprus News Agency 1/17 in WNC 1/19)

In s. Lebanon, a roadside bomb thought to have been planted by Hizballah explodes, injuring 1 civilian. (WP 1/18)

Social/Economic/Political

Other Countries: US State Dept. calls for direct peace talks, not intl. conference proposed (12/3) by King Hussein, Pres. Mubarak [JTA 12/5].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Police defuse bomb in Netanya [LAT 12/4].

Arab World: IDF sends armored patrol north of Awali River after Druze-Christian fighting, despite pledge of non-interference there [LAT 12/5]. 3 IDF soldiers wounded by mine near Madosha, S. Lebanon. Grenade thrown at 2 SLA vehicles in Nabatiya, S. Lebanon; no injuries [JP 12/5].