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  • April 14, 2023

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3, including 1 minor, with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently...

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  • April 15, 2022

    In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian minor succumbed to injuries sustained by Israeli forces during a raid in Kafr Dan on 4/14. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Qarawat Bani...

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  • April 5, 2022

    In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered a stop-work order for a house in Fasayil. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces handed demolition orders for 1 house, 1 canopy, and 1 house stable in Isawiya...

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  • May 23, 2021

    In the West Bank, Israeli settlers used pepper spray on 3 Palestinians at the Wadi Qana nature reserve near Salfit and vandalized 5 vehicles. Israeli forces closed all the entrances to Dayr Nidham...

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  • June 4, 2016

    The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the first of 2 planned days ahead of Ramadan on 6/6. At the end of the day, around 800 Palestinians are stranded at the crossing due to...

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  • July 11, 2015

    In the West Bank, the IDF shuts down a major checkpoint nr. Nablus for “security reasons.” IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian activists demonstrating nr. al-‘Arub r.c. and in Kafr Qaddum nr...

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  • June 16, 2015

    Off Gaza’s coast nr. Dayr al-Balah, Israeli naval forces fire warning shots at 1 Palestinian fishing boat, then confiscate 8 nets. In the West Bank, Israeli forces destroy hundreds of trees in a...

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  • November 17, 2012

    The IDF’s attacks on the Gaza Strip continue, with reports indicating nearly 20 more Palestinians killed and as many as 300 Israeli air strikes during the day. As the Palestinian death toll...

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  • July 20, 2012

    To mark the start of Ramadan, Israel eases access restrictions for West Bank Palestinians wanting to enter East Jerusalem, permitting children 12 and under and adults over 40 to enter without...

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  • September 11, 2007

    Islamic Jihad and the PRCs in n. Gaza take joint responsibility for a predawn rocket strike on the IDF’s Zikim base nr. the Gaza border that hits a tent full of sleeping soldiers, critically...

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  • October 13, 2006

    In Gaza, the IDF continues operations in Abasan, directing tank fire at residential areas, killing 1 Palestinian woman inside her home, wounding a man, bulldozing 120 d. of agricultural land;...

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  • December 8, 2000

    On the 2d Friday of Ramadan and the 13th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1st intifada, Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate sharply, leaving 7 Palestinians, 2 Jewish settlers, 1...

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  • December 29, 1999

    In Tehran, Iran, Turkey close 2 days of general talks on their bilateral strategic relations. (ATL 12/29 in WNC 12/30)

    Israel frees 26 Palestinian prisoners to mark Ramadan. The PA says the...

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  • January 24, 1999

    Israel declines U.S. invitation to hold trilateral mtg. with the PA in Washington in 2/99 to discuss Wye implementation. Israeli FM Sharon says time is not right. (YA 1/25 in WNC 1/26) (see 1/17...

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  • December 30, 1997

    In Cairo, reps. fr. the Arab League, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the OIC, the PA, Syria end wk.-long mtg. on Israeli policies toward the Palestinians, peace process. (JT 12/31 in WNC 1/2)

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In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3, including 1 minor, with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 40 with tear gas. 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 who also had their vehicle seized near Ya’bad and 1 during a house raid in Balata refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, some 130,000 Muslim worshipers attended the last Friday noon prayer of Ramadan at the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/14; UNOCHA 4/20; PCHR 4/27)

Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting of the foreign ministers of Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait to discuss allowing Syria to return to the Arab League. It was reported that no consensus was reached on the issue. The ministers also discussed the Palestinian issue. (AJ 4/14; AP, HA, MEE, WAFA 4/15; REU 4/16)

The Wall Street Journal reported, based on anonymous sources, that the rockets launched at Israel from Lebanon on 4/6 were launched by Shi’ite forces in coordination with the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force Esmail Qaani, Hamas leaders Saleh al-Arouri and Ismail Haniyeh, and Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah. (HA, WSJ 4/14; HA 4/16)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian minor succumbed to injuries sustained by Israeli forces during a raid in Kafr Dan on 4/14. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Qarawat Bani Hassan, injuring 1 Palestinian minor with live ammunition and others with tear gas; the minor was also arrested. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 3 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Qaryut, Beita, and Bazariya, leading to tear-gas related injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound, including inside al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring more than 152 Palestinians with baton rounds, batons, and tear gas, including 8 who were admitted into intensive care facilities. Several Palestinian journalists at the compound were violently beaten by Israeli police, causing broken limbs. 3 Israeli police officers were lightly injured. Some 470 Palestinians were arrested at the compound before noon prayers, where some 50,000 worshippers were praying, about half from the West Bank. Around 440 were released within 24 hours, some of whom were banned from entering the compound until after the end of Ramadan. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, MDW, MEE, MEE, NYT, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/15; MEMO, REU 4/16 HA 4/18; PCHR 4/21; UNOCHA 4/23)

Hamas, the PA, Jordan, Morocco, UAE, Bahrain, the United Arab List, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the Israeli-led violence at the Haram al-Sharif compound (see above). The U.S. state department released a statement urging “all sides to exercise restraint, avoid provocative actions and rhetoric, and preserve the historic status quo on the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount.” The spokesperson for UN secretary general António Guterres expressed grave concern about the situation in Jerusalem. (HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/15; HA, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/16)

Palestinians in the West Bank are under an Israeli-imposed curfew for the Jewish holiday of Passover, beginning at 4 P.M. and continuing until 4/17. Crossings between Gaza and Israel are closed. (HA 4/14; HA 4/15; HA 4/16)

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke to Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboul Gheit about the Israeli attacks on Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Haniyeh also spoke with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and speaker of the Kuwaiti parliament Marzouq al-Ghanim in separate calls. (MEMO 4/16)

At a Passover seder hosted by U.S. vice president Kamala Harris and 2nd gentleman Doug Emhoff, the couple served wine made by the settler winery Psagot Winery in the West Bank. The senior advisor for communications to Vice President Harris said in a tweet that “the wine served at the Seder was in no way intended to be an expression of policy.” (HA, MDW 4/17; MEE 3/18)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered a stop-work order for a house in Fasayil. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces handed demolition orders for 1 house, 1 canopy, and 1 house stable in Isawiya. Israeli forces detained PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith before handing him orders not to enter the West Bank for 6 months. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians gathered at the Damascus Gate plaza with baton rounds and stun grenades; at least 1 was injured. 12 were arrested in the Old City and 2 in Bayt Hanina. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/5; WAFA, WAFA 4/6; PCHR 4/7; UNOCHA 4/23)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz on a phone call. The 2 spoke about efforts to facilitate calm for the Ramadan and Passover holy days. (TOI 4/5; ALM 4/6)

1 Palestinian citizen of Israel was sentenced to death in the UAE for possessing 0.5 kilo of cocaine. Joint List chairperson Ayman Odeh said he had been in contact with Israeli president Isaac Herzog and foreign minister Yair Lapid to have them help save her life. (AP, CNN, HA 4/5)

Palestinian-French lawyer and activist Salah Hamouri, who is currently held by Israel in administrative detention, filed a complaint to the prosecutor of the Paris judicial court in France against the NSO Group for illegally hacking his phone using Pegasus spyware. (AJ, WAFA 4/5; WAFA 4/6)

Front Line Defenders and Citizen Lab published an investigation, saying that 4 Jordanian activists and journalists had been targeted with NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware between August 2019 and December 2021. (AP, HA, HA 4/5)

The World Bank approved an $8 million grant to the PA to help reform its public financial management. (WAFA 4/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers used pepper spray on 3 Palestinians at the Wadi Qana nature reserve near Salfit and vandalized 5 vehicles. Israeli forces closed all the entrances to Dayr Nidham, closed roads leading to Ya‘bad with concrete blocks and set up a metal gate, and closed access to 7 villages near Salfit. 17 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Kafr Dan, Qabatiya, Ya‘bad, Nablus, Balata refugee camp, al-Twana, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Shaykh Jarrah, injuring 1 with a sound bomb. Israel began allowing Jewish worshipers at the Haram al-Sharif compound for the 1st time since the beginning of Ramadan on 4/12; some 250 Jewish worshipers with military escort visited the compound; 9 Palestinians were arrested for protesting the settler incursion. 10 other Palestinians were arrested during raids in Bayt Hanina, al-Tur, and the Old City. In Israel, 1 Israeli woman succumbed to injuries sustained in a fall while seeking shelter on 5/15, raising the Israeli death toll from the Hamas-Israel escalation to 13. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/23; PCHR 5/27)

PA presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned that Israel’s lockdown of Shaykh Jarrah and continued attacks on the Haram al-Sharif compound could lead to an end of the ceasefire, which went into effect on 5/21, and asked the U.S. to intervene to keep the calm. (WAFA 5/23)

Leader of Hamas’s politburo Ismail Haniyeh met with Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, thanking him for Qatar’s support of Palestine. (MEMO 5/24)

Israeli police released a statement saying it had arrested 1,550 people since 5/9 who have taken part in violent and non-violent protest throughout Israel. Over 70% of the people arrested were Palestinian citizens of Israel, prompting Adalah to call it a “war” against Palestinian demonstrators. Israeli police have named the mass arrest campaign “Operation Law and Order.” (AJ, INT, MDW, NYT, WAFA 5/24)

The Jordanian foreign ministry condemned Israel’s continued violations of status quo agreements in East Jerusalem, specifically the continued raids on the Haram al-Sharif compound and policy reversal in allowing Jewish worshipers at the compound. (WAFA 5/23)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken said that the Biden administration is committed to “giving Israel the means to defend itself,” despite growing calls among democrats and activists to condition U.S. military aid to Israel. (AJ 5/23)

The UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories Lynn Hastings said that the UN would launch an urgent appeal to countries to help rebuild Gaza after Israeli air strikes caused massive destruction during the latest escalation, which ended on 5/21. U.S. president Joe Biden said his administration would work with the UN to send humanitarian aid to Gaza in a way that prevents Hamas from benefiting. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz said he will condition any aid that is not for humanitarian relief on the release of Israeli prisoners and the bodies of 2 Israelis to Israel. Defense minister Gantz also said that Gaza should be kept on the “basic humanitarian threshold.” (AJ, HA, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/23; HA 5/24)

Kuwait said it will send 40 tons of aid to the Palestinian Red Crescent to help with its response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. (MEMO 5/24)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the first of 2 planned days ahead of Ramadan on 6/6. At the end of the day, around 800 Palestinians are stranded at the crossing due to the 7:00 P.M. curfew Egypt imposes on the n. Sinai Peninsula. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers and shepherds working nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians demonstrating against the occupation in Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 1 Palestinian is injured. IDF troops also arrest 8 Palestinians during latenight raids and house searches nr. Hebron and Ramallah and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus throughout the day. (MNA 6/4; MNA 6/5; OCHA, PCHR 6/9)

Responding to Israeli PM Netanyahu’s 5/30 comments, Arab League secy.-gen. Nabil Elaraby says that the league will reject any alterations or piecemeal acceptance of the Arab Peace Initiative. (MNA 6/4)

In the West Bank, the IDF shuts down a major checkpoint nr. Nablus for “security reasons.” IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian activists demonstrating nr. al-‘Arub r.c. and in Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; several Palestinians are lightly injured. The IDF conducts late-night raids and house searches in Nablus and 1 village nr. Hebron, arresting 4 Palestinians; patrols during the day in 4 villages nr. Ramallah. Israeli forces confiscate 2 construction vehicles Palestinians are using to build a road nr. Salfit. (MNA, WAFA 7/11; PCHR 7/15)

PA pres. Abbas meets with PM Hamdallah to discuss the proposed new consensus govt., and specifically to weigh candidates for various portfolios. They make no final decisions and delay the formation of a govt. until at least after the end of Ramadan on 7/17. (MNA 7/11)

The Lebanese military says that an Israeli drone crashed in the sea nr. the port of Tripoli. (AFP, HA, YA 7/11)

Off Gaza’s coast nr. Dayr al-Balah, Israeli naval forces fire warning shots at 1 Palestinian fishing boat, then confiscate 8 nets. In the West Bank, Israeli forces destroy hundreds of trees in a nature reserve nr. Tubas; demolish the remaining grocery stands set up along bypass road Route 60 (several stands were confiscated on 6/15). IDF troops conduct 3 raids in Jenin r.c., arresting 1 Palestinian on each and destroying their property. They also conduct raids in Aida r.c. and 1 village nr. Bethlehem, and 2 villages each nr. Hebron, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Nablus, arresting 12 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 3; patrol in 4 villages nr. Hebron, 2 nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police arrest 5 Palestinians as they exit Haram al-Sharif, and more than 50 right-wing Jewish activists tour the sanctuary. Israeli forces conduct a late-night raid in Issawiyya, sparking clashes with stone- and firework-throwing residents; 5 Palestinians are injured. Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian on a night raid in al-‘Izzariya. In n. Israel, the IDF declares a section of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights a closed military zone to nonresidents in response to recent fighting on the Syrian side of the border. (JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 6/16; PCHR 6/18)

Hamas sources say that Israel and Hamas have been holding an indirect exchange through various Arab, Turkish, and European channels about the prospect of agreeing to a 5–10-year cease-fire, and that elements under discussion relate to easing the blockade, including the possible construction of a seaport, and the entry of materials into Gaza in exchange for quiet. (AFP, HA, MNA, TOI 6/16; MNA 6/17)

At a meeting of the Fatah Revolutionary Council in Ramallah, PA pres. Abbas says that he intends to dissolve the PA consensus govt. and form an entirely new cabinet within the next few days. Hamas official Basem Naim speculates that Abbas was caught “off guard” by today’s reports of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel, and they prompted him to make this decision. However, other reports say that conversations about dissolution have been going on for mos. (HA, MNA, NYT 6/16)

Israel’s Defense Ministry announces a series of loosened restrictions on Palestinians’ movement during Ramadan this year (the holy mo. begins the evening of 6/17). The Israeli High Court of Justice rules to seal the East Jerusalem room of the man accused of shooting right-wing Jewish activist Yehuda Glick on 10/29/2014. The State’s prosecutors argued for the court to approve the punitive demolition of the whole home, as was initially ordered in the wake of the shooting. (JP, MNA, TOI, YA 6/16; HA 6/17)

The IDF’s attacks on the Gaza Strip continue, with reports indicating nearly 20 more Palestinians killed and as many as 300 Israeli air strikes during the day. As the Palestinian death toll approaches 50, with scores more wounded, Gaza’s hospitals feel the strain. IDF targets include the private homes of Hamas officials, police buildings, government buildings, and smuggling tunnels. Israel’s interior min. Eli Yishai says that the goal of the operation is to ‘‘send Gaza back to the Middle Ages.’’ Palestinian armed groups fire over 70 rockets into Israel, with Israel’s Iron Dome defense system intercepting 57 rockets, bringing the total of intercepted projectiles since the start of Operation Pillar of Defense to over 250. Sixteeen Israelis are injured. (REU, BBC, HA, MNA 11/17)

Tunisian FM Rafik Abdesslem makes a solidarity visit to the Gaza Strip, vowing that his government will take steps in the Arab League and UN to stop Israeli aggression. Most of the diplomatic focus is on tentative Egyptian efforts to mediate a cease-fire. In Cairo, Egyptian pres. Morsi holds talks with Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar’s Emir Shaykh Hamad Bin-Khalifa al-Thani, Hamas leader Khalid Mishal, and Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan ‘Abdallah Shalah. Dep. head of Hamas’s politbureau Musa Abu Marzuq says despite efforts to secure a temporary cease-fire, Israel and Hamas are both far from reaching an agreement. As part of a potential deal, Hamas officials are reported to be demanding an easing of the blockade and an end to the assassination of Hamas leaders. (Guardian, MNA, MNA, WP 11/17)

Palestinians demonstrate across the West Bank to protest the continued Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, with IDF forces wounding and arresting dozens, including in major clashes nr. Huwara checkpoint outside Nablus. The IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, and in 2 villages nr. Salfit, 1 village nr. Ramallah, 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, Tulkarm, 3 villages nr. Hebron, and al-‘Arub refugee camp (r.c.) nr. Hebron, where IDF soldiers wound 1 Palestinian with live ammunition in clashes with residents, at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Jenin, 1 village each nr. Hebron, Nablus at night. (MNA 11/17; PCHR 11/22)

To mark the start of Ramadan, Israel eases access restrictions for West Bank Palestinians wanting to enter East Jerusalem, permitting children 12 and under and adults over 40 to enter without permits. In addition, the IDF removes 2 key roadblocks: one on the main road from Aqraba village to Nablus and the other in the Jordan Valley, opening the main northeastern entrance to Jericho from Road 90 (closed since 2000). The IDF also patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, 1 nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and 1 nr. Qalqilya late at night; conducts late night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; no serious injuries or arrests are reported. (PCHR 7/26; OCHA 7/27)

Islamic Jihad and the PRCs in n. Gaza take joint responsibility for a predawn rocket strike on the IDF’s Zikim base nr. the Gaza border that hits a tent full of sleeping soldiers, critically wounding 1, seriously wounding 2, moderately wounding 7, marking the highest casualty toll in a rocket strike to date; another 60 soldiers are lightly injured or treated for shock. The IDF responds with air strikes, shelling on suspected rocketlaunching sites in n. Gaza, hitting a home in Bayt Hanun, wounding 4 Palestinian children and an adult. Palestinians retaliate by firing 7 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The Israeli DMin. begins drafting an assessment for DM Ehud Barak of the impact of cutting water, electricity, fuel services to Gaza. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 21 agricultural structures in Anata nr. Jerusalem for being too close to the separation wall and a settler bypass road; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and Nablus, nr. Jenin and Tulkarm; issues military orders shutting the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs to Muslims for 5 days during Ramadan so that Jewish settlers may celebrate concurrent Jewish holidays. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino, escorted by IDF troops, occupy the roof of al-Aqtab Mosque (seized by the IDF in 1994 after the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs shooting), begin construction on it to expand their outpost. In Jabaliya r.c., Hamas mbrs. occupy the home of the Fatah-affiliated PA prisoners’ affairs minister, who fled to Ramallah. (IFM, NYT, WP, WT 9/11; NYT, OCHA, WP, WT 9/12; PCHR 9/13; OCHA 10/19)

In Gaza, the IDF continues operations in Abasan, directing tank fire at residential areas, killing 1 Palestinian woman inside her home, wounding a man, bulldozing 120 d. of agricultural land; makes an air strike on a car driving in Bayt Lahiya, killing 3 Hamas mbrs. (‘Adil al-Maqusi, Muhammad al-Taluli, Rasim Zhahir) allegedly en route to fire rockets into Israel, wounding 1 bystander; makes an air strike on a car in Gaza City, assassinating Fatah Mujahiddin Brigades mbr. Raja’i al-Labban, wounding a 2d Fatah mbr.; makes a late-night air strike on Rafah destroying a Palestinian home (after warning residents to leave), severely damaging 5 others, cutting power to some areas; conducts arrest raids in Wadi al-Silqa. Late in the evening, Palestinians fire 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Sederot, lightly injuring 3 Israelis. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts searches in Qabatya, exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, firing on residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian militant; conducts house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Nablus (firing on residential areas, wounding 2 civilians). 100s of angry Palestinians barred by Israel fr. attending Ramadan Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque use makeshift ladders to scale the separation wall and 4 checkpoints around Jerusalem and 1 checkpoint nr. Nablus, fighting with IDF soldiers who disperse them using tear gas, water cannons, stun grenades, rubber-coated steel bullets. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai stone a Palestinian home in Hebron. Jewish settlers nr. Ramallah prevent Palestinians fr. reaching their olive groves; Israeli border police intervene to disperse the settlers. Overnight and throughout the day, Hamas mbrs. angered over the assassination of a local leader on 10/12 engage in fierce clashes with Fatah mbrs. in Bayt Lahiya, leaving a 14-yr.-old Palestinian dead, around 50 Palestinians injured. A Palestinian wounded by IDF fire in Gaza on 10/12 dies. (AP, NYT, REU 10/13; NYT, WT 10/14; PCHR 10/15, 10/19)

On the 2d Friday of Ramadan and the 13th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1st intifada, Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate sharply, leaving 7 Palestinians, 2 Jewish settlers, 1 IDF soldier dead. 5 of the Palestinians are killed when IDF tanks open fire on a PSF post nr. Jinin; 15,000 Palestinians march in Jinin to protest. The soldier, 2 settlers are killed in separate incidents nr. Hebron and Jericho in which Palestinian gunmen fire on their vehicles. In response, Barak tightens the blockade on Palestinian villages, which had been eased slightly for Ramadan. 50 Jewish settlers rampage through the Arab section of Hebron, damaging Palestinian property, occupying a Palestinian home. Settlers also attempt to occupy 3 Palestinian homes in Banidar, Musharqat al-Fawqan. The IDF bars West Bank Palestinians fr. reaching East Jerusalem to attend prayers. Tensions erupt into clashes after services, with Israeli police in Jerusalem opening fire on worshipers with tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition, killing at least 1. Serious clashes are also reported in Ramallah. (AP, IDF Radio [Internet], LAW, REU 12/8; NYT, WP, WT 12/9; LAW, NYT 12/10)

For the 1st time in 6 yrs., Israel places an Israeli Arab, Ghassan Athamla of Nazareth, under administrative detention on charges of incitement stemming fr. clashes btwn. Israeli Jews and Arabs in Nazareth in 10/00. Barak personally signs the order, which is based on secret evidence. (HA 12/8; Adalah press release 1/15)

In Tehran, Iran, Turkey close 2 days of general talks on their bilateral strategic relations. (ATL 12/29 in WNC 12/30)

Israel frees 26 Palestinian prisoners to mark Ramadan. The PA says the small number of prisoners is proof that Israel is not serious about negotiations. (NYT, WP 12/30; al-Quds 12/30 in WNC 1/2; JP 1/7)

Israel approves construction of more than 50 new housing units in 2 Golan Heights settlements. Syria says it "is a step that cannot be categorized under good intentions." (WP 12/30)

The IDF demolishes a shrine at the grave of Baruch Goldstein, who murdered 29 Muslims in Hebron's al-Ibrahimi Mosque in 1994. 10s of settlers attempt to block the soldiers. (NYT, WP, WT 12/30)

Israeli police arrest an Israeli Arab as he tries to enter al-Aqsa Mosque carrying a submachine gun and bag of ammunition. (NYT 12/30; WT 12/31)

Israel declines U.S. invitation to hold trilateral mtg. with the PA in Washington in 2/99 to discuss Wye implementation. Israeli FM Sharon says time is not right. (YA 1/25 in WNC 1/26) (see 1/17)

Ousted DM Mordechai joins the new Shahak-Meridor party. Netanyahu terms Mordechai "immoral" for consorting with centrists. (NYT, WP, WT 1/25; MA 1/25 in WNC 1/26) (see 1/23)

Israelis of Rumanian origin establish new political party, the Progressive Center Party. 14 requests to form new parties have been submitted since the last Knesset elections. Only 3 have been approved. (MA 1/25 in WNC 1/26)

Arab League mtg. on Iraq convenes in Cairo. Iraq attends but walks out in protest of what it calls a biased final statement that could give the U.S. a pretext to launch more airstrikes. The statement expresses "deep concern" over, but does not denounce, 12/98 U.S.-led attack; insists Iraq recognize Kuwait, comply with UN resolutions as a prelude to sanctions relief. Participants agree to set up ministerial comm. to work toward lifting economic sanctions on Iraq in accordance with a specific UN compliance time table. (WP 1/24; AFP, MENA, RE 1/24, al-Ayyam, al-Dustur, MENA, SANA 1/25 in WNC 1/26; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/25; MENA, al-Quds al-Arabi 1/25, al-Safir 1/26 in WNC 1/27; MM, WT 1/26; MENA 1/28 in WNC 1/29; MEI 1/29)

48 Hamas, Islamic Jihad prisoners in the PA's Nablus, Jericho, Jneid jails begin hunger strike to protest the PA's failure to adhere to the PC's 1/13 call to free political prisoners held without charge at the end of Ramadan. (LAW, MEI, PR 1/29) (see 1/17)

Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem, including property of a historic monastery, to expand Efrat settlement. (INFOPAL 1/25)

U.S. planes attack 2 more Iraqi missile sites in the n. no-fly zone. (NYT, WP 1/25)

In Cairo, reps. fr. the Arab League, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the OIC, the PA, Syria end wk.-long mtg. on Israeli policies toward the Palestinians, peace process. (JT 12/31 in WNC 1/2)

In Cairo, PA Planning M Shaath briefs Egyptian FM Musa, Mubarak adviser Osama Baz on the peace process. (MENA 12/30 in WNC 1/1)

Jordan says that the experimental stage during which Israeli planes use the Aqaba airport is proceeding well, both sides are satisfied with results. (al-Dustur 12/30 in WNC 1/1)

Ramadan begins. (WP, WT 12/31)