The Palestine Chronology

Overnight in Gaza, the IDF conducts air strikes heavily damaging the offices of Change and Reform PC mbrs. in Bayt Lahiya (causing no injuries), destroying a bridge linking Nussayrat r.c. with alMughraqa; directs tank fire on a Palestinian truck approaching its position but refusing orders to halt, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding a 2d. During the day, the IDF continues to shell n. Gaza, targeting 2 PA security offices and damaging 4 Palestinian homes; bulldozes 83 d. of Palestinian land nr. Dayr al-Balah, more than 100 d. of land outside al-Qarara; fires on residential areas of Khuza’ nr. the border, wounding a Palestinian woman inside her home. Some 50 Palestinian militants temporarily take over the Rafah crossing, allowing as many as half of the 4,000 Palestinian stranded on the Egyptian side to enter Gaza; Egyptian border police block Palestinians who try to cross fr. Gaza into Egypt. Palestinians fire at least 7 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing damage in 1 incident but no injuries. The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, in Tulkarm; prevents Palestinians under age 45 fr. attending Friday prayers at al-Aqsa mosque. (HA, JP 7/14; NYT, WP 7/15; OCHA 7/19; PCHR 7/20)

Overnight, after Olmert’s security cabinet approves a list of “more significant” Hizballah targets, the IDF makes air strikes on Hizballah sites in s. Beirut and targets the Beirut–Damascus highway (in an attempt to complete an air, sea, and land blockade on Lebanon). During the day, the IDF extends the naval blockade northwards to Tripoli; shells numerous bridges, roads, other civilian infrastructure, especially in s. Beirut; makes air strikes on the building serving as Hizballah’s headquarters and Nasrallah’s residence (destroying it), its al-Nur radio station (missing and hitting an apartment building), and the Beirut airport, a major power plant and a bridge s. of the capital, a PFLP base nr. the Syrian border. At least 8 Lebanese civilians are reported killed (3 in Beirut, 5 in the south), 55 injured during the day, raising the estimated death toll since the start of operations to 66 Lebanese (overwhelmingly civilians), more than 200 wounded. Hizballah continues to fire Katyushas at n. Israel, killing an Israeli woman,her 5-yr.-old grandson in Moshav Meron and injuring as many as 50 Israelis across the Galilee, including in Acre, Carmiel, Kiryat Shimona, Nahariya, Safad. Hizballah also hits an Israeli naval ship 10-mi off the coast nr. Beirut, disabling it, killing 1 Israeli sailor, leaving 3 other sailors missing, raising the comprehensive death toll to 13 Israelis killed (the majority soldiers), around 150 injured (mostly suffering shock). (HA, NYT, WT 7/14; NYT, WP, WT 7/15; NYT, WP 7/16; NYT 7/17, 7/19)

A delegation of 46 Israeli Arabs, incl. 7 MKs, arrives in Syria for an unprecedented 12-day visit to show their support for the Syrian position on talks with Israel. (RMC 8/8 in WNC 8/11; SATN 8/9, IDF Radio, MA 8/11 in WNC 8/12; MM 8/11, 8/12) (for background see RMC 8/3, SA 8/4 in WNC 8/5; MM 8/4)

Italian PM Romano Prodi meets with PM Netanyahu in Israel, then flies to Beirut to give PM Rafiq Hariri a message fr. Netanyahu. (ANSA [Rome] 8/8 in WNC 8/11)

Israel eases the "inner closure," allowing Palestinian movement btwn. Jericho, Nablus; reopens the Rafah border crossing btwn. Gaza, Egypt. (WT 8/10)

Katyusha rockets hit Kiryat Shimona in n. Israel, damaging a synagogue, injuring 1 woman. DM Mordechai blames Hizballah for the attack; IDF responds by shelling PFLP-GC bases outside Beirut. Hizballah denies responsibility. (AFP, RL, VOL 8/8 in WNC 8/11; WP, WT 8/9; WT 8/10; YA 8/10 in WNC 8/12)

Jordanian police arrest 5 men connected to the outlawed Bayt al-Imam group, who were allegedly plotting anti-Israeli attacks in Israel, the occupied territories. (AFP, RMC 8/17, JT 8/18 in WNC 8/19)

Israeli DM Mordechai, PA Planning M Shaath meet, discuss Rafah airport. Egyptian amb. Basyuni attends, says no progress is made. (MM 7/16; IDF Radio 7/17 in WNC 7/18)

In Cairo, Pres. Mubarak, Labor Chmn. Barak discuss future of the peace process. (MM 7/16; IDF Radio 7/16 in WNC 7/17)

Israeli administration informs ministries to prepare for "action plans" to increase Israeli control in East Jerusalem. (MA 7/17 in WNC 7/18)

The IDF declares PA-controlled cities in the West Bank closed military zones. Technically this means that no Israelis may enter; in practice it is little different from sealing the cities, when no one is allowed in or out. (ITV 7/16 in WNC 7/17)

Senate passes version of the 1998 foreign aid bill that includes $1.3 b. in military aid, $850 m. in economic aid for Egypt. (al-Ahram al-Masa'i 7/19 in WNC 7/29) (see 6/18)

ILMG discusses 2 Lebanese complaints regarding the death of 3 civilians during Israeli shelling (7/12, 7/14), 2 Israeli complaints regarding 7/15 katyusha attack; concludes that all 4 incidents were unintentional violations of the 4/96 understanding. Before the mtg. convenes, Hizballah fires some 30 katyushas toward n. Israel. (RL 7/16 in WNC 7/17; RL 7/17 in WNC 7/18)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: U. S. envoy Charles Hill meets with Israeli P. M. Shamir to discuss proposed international peace conference [LAT 8/13]. Fu'ad Ishkantna from Rafah is sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on charges of Fateh membership and building explosives; another Rafah resident, Nabil Ghazi Sha'th, receives 15-year sentence on similar charges [FJ 8/16]. Israeli authorities confiscate nearly 300 sheep in 'Ayn Malih in Jordan Valley area; sheep are returned after owner pays JD 900 fine [FJ 8/16]. Palestinian is arrested trying to enter Baytar Ilit settlement near Bethlehem [FJ 8/16].

Arab World: Egypt cancels media coverage of upcoming joint Egyptian-U.S. land, sea, and air military maneuvers [WP 8/11].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Katyusha rockets land in N. Israel and S. Lebanon security zone in 2d day of attacks [CSM 8/11].

Arab World: Israeli helicopter attack in Nabatiyyah region of S. Lebanon kills 1 Lebanese, wounds 2 others; retaliating Lebanese militiamen shoot, injure 6 Israeli soldiers in attack on Israeli-SLA post in security zone [WP 8/11; FJ 8/16].