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  • August 23, 2023

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces installed an iron gate at the northern entrance to Halhul. Israeli forces also razed an agricultural road in Khirbat al-Makhul near Ya’bad and placed dirt mounts...

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  • May 17, 2023

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 water well, 120 olive tree saplings, and wheat and barley crops in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians, including...

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  • April 30, 1993

    Five thousand Palestinians celebrate the return of 15 post-1967 deportees and their families, among them former Birzeit U. pres. Hanna Nasir (NYT, WP 5/1; MM 4/29, 4/30)

    B'Tselem calls on...

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  • April 1, 1985

    Social/Economic/Political

    Occupied Palestine/Israel: High Court rejects petition by MK Kahane to cancel Knesset's 12/18 decision to strip Kahane of parliamentary immunity with regard to...

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  • December 18, 1984

    Social/Economic/Political

    Occupied Palestine/Israel: Knesset votes to deny MK Kahane parliamentary immunity and freedom of movement [LAT 12/26]. Kahane later stopped by police from entering...

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In the West Bank, Israeli forces installed an iron gate at the northern entrance to Halhul. Israeli forces also razed an agricultural road in Khirbat al-Makhul near Ya’bad and placed dirt mounts on it, making it impassable. Elsewhere, Israeli forces took measurements for punitive demolitions of 2 homes in Hebron belonging to the family of 2 Palestinians who are accused of killing an Israeli settler on 8/21. 21 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Tulkarm, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmers east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/23; PCHR 8/24; UNOCHA 9/11)

Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told Israeli Channel 12 News’ Mohammad Magadli during a panel discussion that “my right, the right of my wife and my children to move around Judea and Samaria [the West Bank] is more important than freedom of movement for the Arabs [Palestinians]. The right to life comes before freedom of movement. Sorry, Mohammad, but that is the reality.” Ben-Gvir also said that he “is handing out arms to anyone who can defend themselves,” referring to settlers. The U.S. State Department later condemned Ben-Gvir’s remarks on Palestinians’ freedom of movement, calling them racist. (HA, MEE 8/23; AJ, HA, HA, HA, MEE 8/24; ALM, HA, MEE, QDS, WAFA, WAFA 8/25; HA 8/27)

United Arab List chairperson Mansour Abbas and Blue and White party chairperson Benny Gantz visited Tira, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire National Security Minister Ben-Gvir over the Israeli police’s inaction in solving crimes in Palestinian communities in Israel. (HA, WAFA 8/24)

Israel said it would increase its natural gas extraction from the Tamar offshore gas field in order to increase exports to Egypt by 38.7 billion cubic meters over the next 11 years. Israeli energy minister Israel Katz said the deal would strengthen diplomatic ties with Egypt. (REU 8/23; ALM 8/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 water well, 120 olive tree saplings, and wheat and barley crops in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians, including 1 with live ammunition and 5 with baton rounds during a raid in Nablus to clear the area around Joseph’s Tomb for a large settler tour. Israeli forces also demolished 1 agricultural structure in Nabi Ilyas and issued a demolition notice for a commercial structure in Deir Balut. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces demolished 1 residential building in Wadi Qaddum, displacing 50. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of Beit Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (ALM, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/17; PCHR 5/18; UNOCHA 6/2)

The subcommittee for settlements under the Higher Planning Committee in the Civil Administration approved 552 housing units for construction in the Givat Ze’ev settlement. The Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing also issued a tender for the construction of 58 housing units in the planned new settlement Ariel West. (PCN 5/17; WAFA 5/20)

The Knesset approved a preliminary vote to ban flying the flag of a “hostile entity,” including the Palestinian flag. If enacted the flying of the Palestinian flag could be punishable by up to 1 year in prison. The bill will have to pass 3 readings in the Knesset to become law. (QDS 5/17; JDF, MEE 5/18: HA 5/25)

Ahead of the Jerusalem Day march in Jerusalem, Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that his policy is “to allow the complete freedom of movement for Jews in Jerusalem.” (HA 5/17)

Jordanian member of parliament Imad al-Adwan was charged in a state security court in Amman for smuggling weapons to the West Bank. Al-Adwan was arrested by Israeli forces on 4/22 and later handed over to Jordan. (AP, MEE 5/17)

Israeli Foreign Ministry director general Ronen Levy met with U.S. officials in Washington D.C. to discuss ways to expand the normalization deals the U.S. has been brokering for Israel, particularly the prospect of normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia. Among the U.S. officials were White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk, presidential envoy on energy security Amos Hochstein, and White House senior director for African affairs Judd Devermont. Hochstein and McGurk met with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on 5/7. Axios also reported that the White House was considering appointing former U.S. ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro as the State Department normalization envoy. (AX 5/15; ALM 5/16; ALM, AX 5/17; ALM 5/19)

Five thousand Palestinians celebrate the return of 15 post-1967 deportees and their families, among them former Birzeit U. pres. Hanna Nasir (NYT, WP 5/1; MM 4/29, 4/30)

B'Tselem calls on Israeli govt. to compensate Palestinians unemployed because of o.t. closure, allow freedom of movement in o.t. (MM 4/30)

Ten Palestinian rejectionist orgs. end 4- day meeting in Tehran. Iran is reportedly disappointed that it could not motivate the factions to set up an anti-PLO leadership. (al-Sharq al-Awsat 5/1, Sawt al-Sha'b 5/5 in FBIS 5/5)

IDF helicopters attack PFLP-GC base in 'Ayn al-Hilwa camp, Sidon, Lebanon. (QPAR 4/30 in FBIS 5/3)

U.S. State Dept. releases annual report on terrorism, with Hamas included on "major groups" list for 1st time. (DOS)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: High Court rejects petition by MK Kahane to cancel Knesset's 12/18 decision to strip Kahane of parliamentary immunity with regard to freedom of movement; orders Kahane to pay IS 500,000 court costs [JP 4/2]. Foreign Min. official David Kimche tells UN diplomat Jean-Claude Aime that Israel does not want UNIFIL troops to be deployed along Israel-Lebanon border after IDF withdrawal [JP 4/2]. Inner cabinet unanimously approves plan to exchange 1,150 prisoners held by Israel for 3 IDF soldiers held by PFLP-GC in Syria (see 5/20/85) [JP 5/22].

Other Countries: US State Dept. spokesman Bernard Kalb, referring to 3/31 report by West Bank Data Base Project, states US opposed to W. Bank settlements, feels that settlement activity does not preclude chances for negotiated settlement [JP, JTA 4/2].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Border Police shoot and injure 4 students after stonethrowing incident during Land Day protest outside Bethlehem U. [LAT, JP 4/2]. IDF order settlers to evacuate hill near Umm Safa after they began clearing land for an illegal settlement in response to 3/31 killing of settler in Ramallah [JP 4/2].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: IDF convoy attacked with RPGs near Jwaiyeh. 8 Katyushas fired at IDF position, Douer; no casualties reported. 2 SLA soldiers killed during ambush near 'Arab Salim [JP 4/2]. IDF soldier injured 3/30 in Douer, S. Lebanon, dies of wounds [JP 4/2].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Knesset votes to deny MK Kahane parliamentary immunity and freedom of movement [LAT 12/26]. Kahane later stopped by police from entering Arab town of Taibe [LAT 12/27]. After Police Min. Bar Lev refuses to ban march, several dozen Herut "Young Guards" converge on Iskal, village of MK Abd al-Wahab Darousha, to demand punishment for his attempt to attend PNC; villagers, Israeli activists form counter demonstration [JP 12/19]. WZO official says no new settlements will be built without "clear decision," funding by govt. [JP 12/19].

Arab World: Al-Qabas (Kuwait) reports US State Dept. official Murphy met with Palestinian "close to the PLO" during recent trip to Amman; urged "mutual recognition" between PLO, Israel as precondition for US recognitionf PLO [JP 12/19].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Bomb defused opposite Israeli police HQ, E. Jerusalem [FJ 12/21].

Arab World: IDF arrests 21 villagers from Sarafand, 'Ain al-Hilweh, S. Lebanon. SLA position in Killa, S. Lebanon fired upon [JP 12/19].