The Palestine Chronology

The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian involved in a traffic altercation with an IDF jeep nr. Jenin; occupies 2 medical clinics in Nablus, firing fr. the facilities on stone-throwing Palestinians, killing 1 Palestinian; fires on 3 Palestinians allegedly attempting to infiltrate the Israeli border fence in the Negev, killing 1 Palestinian (2 others escape); fatally beats a 17-yr.-old Palestinian for violating the curfew in Hebron; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Dura; denies an ailing Palestinian woman passage through a checkpoint to a clinic, allowing her to die; conducts arrest raids nr. Tulkarm. Israeli courts sentence an Israeli Arab taxi driver to 15 yrs. for driving 2 suicide bombers to Tel Aviv, an East Jerusalem Palestinian to 6 yrs. for providing Palestinian militants with information used to carry out attacks on Israelis. (HA, JTA 12/30; NYT, WP, WT 12/31; LAW, PCHR, WP 1/1; NYT 1/2; PRCS press release 1/5)

The Israeli Central Elections Comm. decides to follow Atty. Gen. Rubinstein’s 2/19 advice to disqualify Israeli Arab MK Ahmad Tibi (Ta’al) fr. running in 1/03 elections on the grounds that he does not support the Jewish character of the State of Israel, supports armed attacks against it (a charge he denies); turns down a similar request to bar MK `Abd al-Malik Dahamshe and his United Arab List; rules that Herut mbr. Baruch Marzel, the fmr. head of the outlawed Kach movement who placed 2d on Herut’s slate of MK candidates, can participate in the 1/28 elections. The Knesset bans mbrs. of Kach, which advocates the deportation of Arabs fr. Israel and the occupied territories, from holding parliamentary office. (HA 12/30, 12/31; ADL, HA, MM 1/2; DUS 1/2 in WNC 1/3; MA 1/3 in WNC 1/6; WT 1/8; JPI, NYT 1/10)

The IDF fatally shoots an 11-yr.-old Palestinian girl in her home; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian children in Qalandia r.c., injuring 2 bystanders; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. Under pressure fr. the U.S., the IDF also evicts 200 Jewish settlers fr. a new enclave established in Hebron on the site of the 11/15 Islamic Jihad attack; settlers vow to reestablish the site. An IDF APC deliberately rams a Palestinian van nr. Maithalun, killing 1 Palestinian, injuring a 2d. (MM 12/19; WP 12/20, 12/21; LAW, PCHR 12/25; WJW 12/26; PM 12/27)

Israeli atty. gen. Elyakim Rubinstein asks the Central Elections Comm. to bar MK Azmi Bishara’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fr. participating in the 1/03 elections on the grounds that they advocate that Israel should be a state for all its citizens, which implicitly contradicts Israel’s founding principle as a Jewish state, and because they support armed attacks against Israel (a charge Bishara, NDA deny). Section 7(A) of the Basic Law: The Knesset allows the barring of candidates and political parties that deny “the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.” (JTA l2/19; ADL 12/21)

U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell announces that although the U.S. has not finished reading the document, it believes that Iraq’s 12,000-page declaration “totally fails” to meet UN requirements for full disclosure and constitutes “another material breach” of UN res. 1441. (NYT, WP, WT 12/20)

The IDF opens fire on a group of Palestinian youths in Rafah who refuse to disperse, killing a 15-yr.-old Palestinian; fires on stone-throwing students returning fr. school in Nablus during break in the curfew, injuring 8; bulldozes 6 Palestinian homes, 5 dunams of olive trees in Rafah . (JTA, LAW, PCHR 12/18; WP 12/19)

The IDF breaks into a home in Nur al-Shams r.c., assassinates Hamas's Tulkarm military cmdr. Tariq ‘Abid Rabbuh, also wounding 5 Palestinian bystanders; assassinates Hamas mbr. Jadallah Shuka nr. Bethlehem; demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in Hebron, 2 nr. Bethlehem, 1 in Bayt Kahil; bulldozes 5 dunams of land, several roads, the main water network in al-Mughraqa; bulldozes some 2.5 dunams of land in Dayr al-Balah; conducts an arrest raid in Qarawat Bani Zaid. An explosion in Bureij r.c., kills a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr., wounds another; the PSF suspects the men were preparing a bomb. Some 30,000 Hamas supporters rally in the Gaza Strip marking the 15^th anniversary of the founding of the movement. (JTA 12/13; HA, NYT, WP 12/14; LAW, PCHR 12/18)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, Tulkarm. The IDF reports that Palestinians throw grenades at troops in Gaza throughout the day, causing no injuries. A Lebanese-born Israeli Arab is sentenced to 6 yrs. in prison for having contact with Hizballah (see Quarterly Update in JPS 126). The Israeli High Court bards the IDF fr. starting construction of a settler bypass road linking Kiryat Arba settlement with the Tomb of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque. (JTA, LAW, PCHR 12/11; NYT 12/12)

The IDF imposes a curfew on Ramallah; blows up 2 Palestinian homes before dawn in Jalbun; conducts arrest raids targeting AMB, Hamas mbrs. in Nablus; safely detonates a roadside bomb found in East Jerusalem, in an area usually patrolled by Israeli police; safely detonates a 2d explosive device found nr., Baqa’ Sharqiyya; fires residential areas of Bayt Hanun, Dayr al-Balah, Khan Yunis, Tal Zu’rub; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara; bulldozes 5 dunams of Palestinian land outside Khan Yunis. 2 Hamas gunmen open fire inside Dolah settlement in Gaza, wounding 2 Thai workers, 1 Jewish settler; 1 of the gunmen is shot dead. 2 IDF soldiers are lightly injured in an exchange of gunfire with a Palestinian nr. Neve Dekalim settlement. Israeli police arrest 2 Jews for stabbing, wounding a Palestinian in Jerusalem in an apparent hate crime. (JTA 11/29; HA, NYT, WP 11/30; LAW, PCHR 12/3)

Bush simultaneously imposes and waives a congressionally mandated sanction to “downgrade” the PLO office in Washington for at least 180 days, citing the PA for noncompliance with its commitment to work against violence. (NYT 12/3; MM 12/4; WJW 12/5; HA, WT 12/6; MEI 12/20)

In Mombassa, Kenya, a previously un-known group called the Government of Universal Palestine in Exile–Army of Palestine, thought to be connected to al-Qa‘ida, stages a dual attack marking the 55th anniversary of the 1947 UN partition res., firing 2 missiles at an Israeli charter jet carry-ing 261 Israeli tourists leaving Mombassa airport, missing the plane; simultaneously, 3 suicide bombers detonate a car bomb outside the lobby of an Israeli-owned hotel, killing 3 Israeli tourists, 10 Kenyans (an 11th dies on 12/18), injuring 80, causing extensive damage. Hrs. later in Beit She’an in n. Israel, 2 AMB mbrs open fire on, toss grenades at a crowd of voters outside the local Likud polling station, killing 6 Israelis, wounding 20 before being fatally shot by Israeli police. Sharon convenes a security mtg. to discuss responses; once again does not invite Netanyahu (see 11/21). In Hebron, a 4-yr.-old Palestinian is fatally wounded by IDF gunfire in his home. The IDF also shells residential areas of Rafah r.c.; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara, Tulkarm. In a Tel Aviv court, Israeli Arab Nissim Nasser pleads guilty to spying for Hizballah in exchange for a reduced sentence. (AP, CNN, HA, MM 11/28; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/29; HA, NYT, WP, WT 11/30; AYM 12/2 in WNC 12/6, 12/9; LAW, PCHR 12/3; JT 12/4 in WNC 12/5; JPI, MEI 12/6; WT 12/7; JTA 12/18)

Likud primaries go on despite the day’s attacks, with Sharon winning (56% to 40%) over Netanyahu. (MM 11/28; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/29; NYT 11/30; MEI 12/6; AYM 12/13 in WNC 12/16)

An IDF undercover unit assassinates senior Hamas mbr. Asim Sawafta in Tubas. The IDF also shoots a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy in the head in Tubas, seriously wounding him; shells residential areas s. of Gaza City, in and around Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Aqraba, Khirbat Karma; blows up 1 Palestinian home in Jenin r.c.; detains 2 ambulance workers in Jenin town. A Palestinian gunman infiltrates the West Bank settlement of Hermesh, opens fire on residents outside their homes, killing 3 Jewish settlers (including 2 teenage girls), injuring 2 before being shot dead. Jewish settlers begin rebuilding the Havat Gilad site. A PA security court sentences a Palestinian to death for collaboration with Israel. (JTA 10/29; al-Quds 10/29 in WNC 11/5; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR 10/30; WP 10/31; MEI 11/8)

Arafat announces the make up of his new cabinet. Although most PC mbrs. angrily criticize Arafat’s failure to remove old EA mbrs. accused of corruption, they approve (56-18) the new cabinet. (AP, HA 10/29; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT10/30; ITAR-TASS 10/30 in WNC 10/31; MM 10/31; AYM 10/31 in WNC 11/1; QA 10/31, 11/1 in WNC 11/5; MEI 11/8)

The IDF fatally shoots a 16-yr-old Palestinian boy in Tulkarm r.c.; halts an ambulance outside Jenin, detains 2 Palestinian dialysis patients returning fr. treatment (1 blind; 1 paraplegic, wheelchair bound) on suspicision of being wanted men, releases them after 10 hrs.; fires on Palestinian nr. Bayt Hanun, wounding 2; demolishes 7 Palestinian homes (1 in Jenin, 3 in Jenin r.c., 3 Rafah); bulldozes greenhouses in Rafah; raids a school in Jenin, arresting a school guard for not having an ID (confiscated by IDF in 6/02); digs trenches around Jenin, Nablus to prevent Palestinians fr. leaving or entering except through 3 IDF checkpoints. Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing minor damage outside a school, no injuries. Jewish settlers at Havat Gilad attack and chase off nearby Palestinian olive pickers, steal what olives they have picked, harvest the grove for themselves. Late this evening, the IDF raids, shuts down Havat Gilad outpost again (see 10/25). (JTA 10/28; MA 10/28 in WNC 10/29; NYT, WP, WT 10/29; LAW, NYT, PCHR 10/30; HA 11/2; HA 11/6)

Labor leader Ben-Eliezer says he would vote against Sharon’s proposed 2003 budget unless $150 m. in funds for Jewish settlements are shifted to social services. Sharon accuses Ben-Eliezer of cynically maneuvering to win reelection as Labor party head in party voting on 11/19; threatens to dismiss Labor party MKs fr. the coalition government, force early elections if they vote against. (NYT 10/29; NYT, WT 10/30)

Before dawn, the IDF sends 40 tanks and helicopters into Khan Yunis, occupying and blowing up buildings, firing on residential areas, killing a total of 14 Palestinians; in one incident a missile fired by an IDF helicopter at a Palestinian crowd kills 10 Palestinians, wounds more than 100; in a 2d incident, troops fire on a hospital where 100s of Palestinians are gathered to check on the status of relatives, leaving a hospital worker clinically dead, seriously injuring 3 (including a child shot in the neck), and firing grenades at the admin. office, equipment and supplies dept., training dept., and other facilities. The IDF the raid is part of its new strategy to put pressure on Hamas (see 9/24), calling Khan Yunis a "nest of terror." The IDF lifts the day curfew on w. Nablus; shoots at, mortally wounds a Palestinian motorist on the Nablus + n. Qalqilya road, blocks an ambulance fr. reaching him, allowing him to bleed to death; shells around an elementary school in Jenin while class is in session, causing damage to the school but no injuries; raids a school in the al-Mawasi area of Gaza, arresting 1 staff mbr.; bulldozes 78 dunams of olive groves nr. Jabaliya r.c. In Gaza City, masked Palestinian gunmen kidnap, murder PSF riot police chief Raghib Abu Lahiya. An attempt by PSF officers to arrest the assailants sparks a clash that leaves 5 Hamas mbrs. dead, 30 other Palestinians injured; Hamas denies involvement, says one of its mbrs. whose brother was killed by Abu Lahiya on 10/1/01 arranged the murder as a personal vendetta. (AP, HA, JTA, MM, PM, WP, WT 10/7; AFP 10/7 in WNC 10/8; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/8; AFP, MENA, al-Quds, XIN 10/8 in WNC 10/9; AP, MM, NYT, PCHR, PR, WP, WT 10/9; AKH, SA 10/9 in WNC 10/15; NYT, PM, WP 10/10; MEI 10/11; JPI 10/18; MEI 10/25; JPI 11/8)

The IDF fires on Palestinians in Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian vendor in the central market; conducts arrest raids in Satar al-Gharbiyya. Palestinians fire on workers building Israeli security fence nr. Baqa` al-Gharbiyya, killing 1 Israeli Arab laborer. Nr. Hebron, Jewish peace activists, local Palestinians attempt to harvest Palestinian olive groves, keep Jewish settlers away (see 10/2); when settlers become increasingly hostile, the IDF intervenes, ordering peace activists, Palestinians to leave, then leaving the area themselves, allowing settlers to move in. Jewish settlers also confiscate a Palestinian home in Hebron's old city. (HA, JTA, NYT, PM 10/3; MA 10/3 in WNC 10/4; AP 10/4; PCHR, PR 10/9)

An Israeli security delegation (comprising DMin. dir. gen. Amos Yaron, IDF policy planning head Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland) arrives in Washington to consulted with U.S. officials (including Dep. Defense Secy. Paul Wolfowitz, Dep. Secy. of State Richard Armitage) ahead of a possible attack on Iraq. (HA 10/3; MM 10/4; HA 10/8)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus in Tel Aviv, killing 5 Israelis, injuring more than 50. Sharon convenes his cabinet, which unanimously decides to launch Operation Matter of Time to "isolate” Arafat, calls for the immediate extradition of around 20 wanted Palestinians (including Force 17 head Mahmud Damara, PA General Intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi) allegedly among the 200 Palestinians hiding in Arafat's offices (8 surrender in the evening). The IDF immediately reimposes 24-hr. curfews on all West Bank areas except Hebron; sends tanks into Ramallah to surround Arafat's offices (1 tank fatally shoots a 10-yr.-old Palestinian boy 6 times; troops shoot, wound 2 Arafat bodyguards in the PA headquarters compound); fires on "Palestinian schoolchildren challenging the army's attempt to impose a curfew" in Amari r.c., killing a 11-yr.-old Palestinian; shells residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Hanun (where an IDF tank runs over a roadside bomb, injuring 2 soldiers), Jenin r.c. (blowing up 1 Palestinian home), Nablus, Qalqilya, the Tulkarm area; bulldozes 19 dunams of agricultural land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. Jewish settlers open fire on a Palestinian taxi nr. Tulkarm, seriously injuring the driver. (AP, HA, JTA, LAW, MM, PM 9/19; ATL, ITAR-TASS 9/19 in WNC 9/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/20; Interfax, MA, Radio Monte Carlo 9/20 in WNC 9/23; MEZ, NYT 9/21; AYM 9/23 in WNC 9/25; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MA 9/25 in WNC 9/26; WJW 9/26; MEI 9/27)

In the 1st bombing since 8/4/02, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device at a bus stop in a Umm al-Fahm in Israel, killing 1 Israeli policeman, wounding a 2d policeman, 1 Israeli Arab. An AMB gunman ambushes a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Jenin, killing 1 Jewish settler, injuring a Rumanian worker; a 2d Jewish settler is found murdered in East Jerusalem; an alleged Palestinian collaborator is found murdered, apparently by Hamas. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian at a roadblock, claiming he attempted to run over soldiers; conducts house-to-house searches in Rafah, bulldozing 1 Palestinian home, firing on an UN delegation touring earlier damage; bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes in Abu Dis, belonging to the families of suicide bombers; demolishes 34 residential units in a General Union of Palestinian Workers housing project in `Ayn Sinya nr. Ramallah; fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun, barring an ambulance fr. retrieving at least 1 injured Palestinian; bulldozes, paves over 5 dunams of agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis for a new settler bypass road. According to the IDF, Palestinians fire 3 antitank missiles at an IDF post nr. Rafah, causing no damage. (AP, JTA, LAW, PCHR, REU 9/18; HA, NYT, WP, WT 9/19; QA 9/19 in WNC 9/20; MM 9/20; NYT 9/21; MM 9/24; PCHR, PR 9/25; MEI 9/27; WT 10/26)

The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes nr. Gaza City, damaging 8 others; halts an ambulance nr. Nablus, taking a relative of the patient into custody; fires tear gas at PRCS property, ambulances, paramedics in Nablus, Tulkarm. Palestinians fire 2 mortars, a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, damaging 1 home, causing no injuries; the IDF believes the rocket was a new, larger Qassam-3, with a range of up to 12 km. Palestinian gunmen fire at a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Tulkarm, injuring 1 settler. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 9/10. An Israeli court indicts 4 East Jerusalem Palestinians for murder for their alleged role in the 7/31/02 Hebrew University bombing. A Palestinian indicted in civilian court on terrorism charges on 7/30 is convicted, sentenced to 22 yrs. Israel announces that 6 wks. ago it arrested 10 bedouin IDF soldiers fr. the Galilee on charges of spying for Hizballah. (JTA 9/12; HA, WP 9/13; LAW, PCHR 9/18; PCHR 9/20; HA 10/23; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/24; MM 10/29)

In a speech to the opening session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) a day after the 1st anniversary of the al-Qa`ida attacks on the U.S., Bush warns the UN to take action quickly to force Iraq to "unconditionally accept" inspection, disarmament of its chemical and biological weapons and nuclear research facilities, intimating that the U.S. will take action unilaterally if the UN does not. Bush also reiterates his support for the creation of "an independent and democratic Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and security," adding that "Palestinians deserve a government that serves their interests and listens to their voices." (NYT, Jerusalem Times, WP, WT 9/12; HA, MM 9/13; AYM 9/13, MENA, al-Quds 9/14, MENA 9/15 in WNC 9/16; NYT 9/14; JT, WP 9/15; MM 9/17; MEI 9/27)

The American Jewish Comm., Israel 21c (a Silicon Valley+n based group supported by executives of high-tech companies) launch an ad campaign to run on cable TV news stations in 100 U.S. cities promoting Israel's side in its conflict with the Palestinians, portraying Israel as the only democratic country and country sharing American values in the Middle East. (JTA 9/17; AP 9/18; WJW 9/19, 9/26)

IDF tanks fire shells at 2 Palestinians “moving suspiciously” near Brakha settlement, killing them. The IDF raids a Palestinian radio station in Nablus, confiscating all equipment; demolishes a Palestinian house in Rafah without warning, while its residents are sleeping (6 are injured before they manage to flee); fires on residential areas of Ramallah; raids, demolishes an Islamic charitable society orphanage in Bayt Awla nr. Hebron that houses 300 children under 12. Jewish settlers seize a Palestinian house in East Jerusalem, nr. Jabal Mukabir, claiming they own the structure, which will be the basis of a new enclave. (JTA 9/3; LAW, PCHR, Radio Tariq al-Mahabbeh [Ramallah], WP 9/4; MEI 9/13)

The Israeli High Court rules that the government can banish to Gaza the West Bank relatives of Palestinians accused of staging attacks on Israelis only in "extreme cases" where "that person, by his own deeds, constitutes a danger to the security of the state." The ruling argues that such forced transfer constitutes "assigned residence" under Articles 41 + n43 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, is there for legal under international law. The court thus upholds an 8/12 military court order to expel to Gaza for 2 yrs. the brother, sister of senior AMB mbr. Ali Ajuri (assassinated 8/6/02) for allegedly aiding in the staging of the 7/17/02 Tel Aviv bombing; overrules an order to expel another Palestinian for lending a car, food to his brother, Naseer Assida, without knowing he was (allegedly) plotting the 7/16/02 ambush of a settler bus; Assida has not been captured. (HA, JP, MM 9/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/4; MM, WJW 9/5)

In Jenin r.c., 3 IDF soldiers, 5 Palestinians are wounded in an exchange of gunfire. The IDF directs heavy machine gun fire, shells at residential areas of Jenin r.c. (wounding with live ammunition 3 Palestinian children who broke curfew), Khan Yunis; fires rubber-coated steel bullets stone throwers in Amari r.c., wounding 2. In Tulkarm, the AMB fatally shoots a Palestinian woman who allegedly collaborated with Israel in the 1/14/02 assassination of AMB leader Ra'id Karmi; the woman is the niece of the woman killed by the AMB on 8/24. (HA, JTA 8/30; NYT, WT 8/31; WP 9/1; NYT 9/2; LAW, PCHR 9/4)

Israeli Labor and Social Welfare M Shlomo Benizri (Shas) convenes the Israel Council for Demography, which has been inactive for 5 yrs., to draw up "guidelines on how to formulate a policy that will preserve Israel's Jewish character." The main topics discussed are the "need to encourage [Jewish] families to have more children," the "problem of foreign workers in Israel." The council has 37 mbrs. including public figures, lawyers, scientists, physicians. (HA 8/30; HA, MM 9/9)

In Ramallah, IDF commandos assassinate senior Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) mbr. Muhammad Saadat, brother of PFLP head Ahmad Saadat; the IDF also raids Tulkarm r.c., fatally shoots wanted tanzim mbr. Afsam Salima in an apparent assassination. A Hamas sniper fatally shoot an IDF soldier nr. Gadid settlement in retaliation for the IDF sniper shooting of a Hamas mbr. a wk. ago; IDF forces in the area return fire killing a 15-yr.-old Palestinian bystander. IDF also shells Khan Yunis, Tulkarm r.c. (killing 1 Palestinian); raids Dayr al-Balah (conducting house-to-house searches), Jenin r.c. (firing live ammunition and tank shells at stone throwers, injuring 5), al-Yamun (occupying 2 Palestinian homes). (MM 8/20; HA, LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP 8/21; PCHR 8/26; MEI 8/30)

Israel's American PR consultants urge Israel, American Jewish groups to adhere to a new PR strategy based on equating Israeli and U.S. values, not attacking PA head Yasir Arafat directly, being more hopeful. The changes come as a result of polls showing that Americans are increasingly blaming both sides in the conflict. (JTA 8/20)

In light of the increase in violence, Ben-Eliezer promises a "long list of actions" in the West Bank and Gaza that would "make the closure much bigger than it is now"; bans all Palestinian travel in the n. West Bank; seals the s. Gaza Strip. The IDF makes a predawn raid on Burqa village, assassinates wanted AMB mbr. Khalid Sayf, also killing 1 Palestinian bystander; opens fire on a group of Palestinians violating the curfew nr. Nablus, killing a 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy. Palestinian gunmen ambush a settler vehicle nr. Nablus, killing 2 Jewish settlers, wounding 2. A Palestinian car explodes nr. Umm al-Fahm, killing the Palestinian driver and injuring another in what the IDF says was a premature detonation of a suicide bomb; al-Nathir takes responsibility. The IDF says it has captured Hamas mbr. Mazan Fukha, who allegedly plotted the 8/4 bus bombing; shells, demolishes a autobody shop in Gaza City that allegedly served as a weapons factory; conducts arrest raids nr. Khan Yunis, Tubas; shells residential areas nr. Dayr al-Balah. (MM, WP, WT 8/5; AFP 8/5 in WNC 8/5; NYT, WP, WT 8/6; LAW, PCHR 8/7)

With Sharon's permission, Ben-Eliezer presents his Gaza First plan to PA Interior M Yahya, senior PA security officials. (HA, WP 8/6; MM 8/7; HA 8/8; MM 8/16) (see 7/15)

For the 10th yr. in a row, the Anti-Defamation League sponsors a group of U.S. college newspaper editors on a trip (8/5-18) to Israel, Poland, Bulgaria to learn about the history of the Holocaust, the founding of Israel, the Israeli Palestinian conflict. (JTA 8/6)

A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device in a Jerusalem restaurant, lightly wounding 5 Israelis. AMB gunmen lure 2 Jewish settlers (diesel fuel salesmen) to Jamayn village, fatally shoot them; 1 of the assailants is later arrested. 1,000s of Nablus residents defy the 24-hr. curfew for a 3d day. The IDF removes the curfew on Qalqilya; bulldozes 3 Palestinian apartment buildings in Jenin allegedly housing bomb-making labs; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, injuring 2 women, 2 children sleeping in their homes. In the Israeli town of Ashkelon, an Israeli Jew (recently emigrated from Morocco) walking the beach nr. the home of a senior Israeli security official is stopped, searched, shot, seriously wounded by guards who thought he was a Palestinian attacker. An Israeli prosecutor charges 2 Palestinian detainees with masterminding attacks that killed 17 Israelis, marking the 1st indictments handed down in an civilian court against Palestinians detained during the al-Aqsa intifada. (AP, MM 7/30; JTA, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 7/31; NYT 8/1)

The IDF shells residential areas of Jenin r.c. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel and several mortars fr. Gaza at settlements inside the Strip, causing no damage or injuries. An Israeli dies of injuries received in the 7/17 bombing, bringing the death toll of the attack to 4. An Israeli military court extends the detention without charge of a Palestinian photographer for Agence France-Press, who was taken into custody by the IDF at a West Bank checkpoint on 4/24; a Palestinian photographer for Reuters detained by the IDF on 4/30 is also still in custody. (JTA, PCHR 7/24; MM, NYT 7/25; WT 7/26; Le Monde 7/26 in WNC 7/29)

In Khan Yunis, a Palestinian on trial for collaborating with Israel is killed by Palestinian militants when the trial is disrupted by an IDF air strike nearby, leaving him unguarded. The IDF F-16s hit the home of senior Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Ahmad Yusif `Abd al-Wahhab, who escapes; at least 5 Palestinian bystanders are wounded. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian farmer working in his field nr. Dugit settlement; claims it was responding to mortar fire fr. the area directed at the settlement. At checkpoint nr. Balata r.c., an Israeli border policeman fatally shoots a Palestinian who allegedly tried to knife him. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis. (NYT, WP, WT 7/15; LAW, PCHR 7/17)

The ZOA gives Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson the State of Israel Friendship Award for being "a major Christian leader who strongly supports Israel and its religious, historical, and legal right to the holy land." (ZOA press release 7/9, JTA 7/12) (see 7/10)

Before dawn, the IDF reoccupies Amari r.c., al-Bireh, Qadura r.c., and Ramallah, surrounding Arafat's offices (placing Arafat under de facto house arrest), arresting 13 PSF officers, meeting no resistance; imposes 24-hr. curfews on Aqaba, Dura, Iktaba, Tamun, Taysir, Tubas, Yatta; fires shells at residential areas of Khan Yunis; continues operations in Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus (fatally shooting 1 Palestinian), Qalqilya, Tulkarm areas; lifts curfews in Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya for 3 hrs. The IDF assassinates 2 Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades leaders, Yasir Raziq and `Amr Kufa, in Rafah, firing missiles at their taxis, also killing 2 passengers, 2 drivers, injuring 13 bystanders. Jewish settlers stone an ambulance nr. Tulkarm. In Gaza, Hamas supporters clash with PSF officers enforcing Shaykh Yasin's house arrest, leaving 1 Hamas supporter dead. (BBC, MM, NYT, PRCS press release, WP, WT 6/24; XIN 6/24 in WNC 6/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/25; LAW 6/26; PCHR, WJW 6/27; MEI 6/28)

After a wk.'s delay, Bush gives a major speech outlining the new U.S. policy toward the peace process. Without mentioning Israel's military escalations, Bush says in effect that the Palestinians must remove Arafat and create a Western-style democracy before the peace process can move forward. The U.S. halts direct dealings with Arafat. Bush's decision to call for Arafat's ouster was reportedly influenced heavily by an Israeli intelligence report he received last wk. (uncorroborated by the CIA) claiming that Arafat authorized a $20,000 payment to the AMB, which carried out the 6/19 suicide bombing. (AP, MM, NYT, WP 6/24; MA 6/24 in WNC 6/25; GS, MM, NYT, WP, WT, YA 6/25; AFP, ATL, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 6/25 in WNC 6/26; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/26; AFP, JT, Le Monde 6/26 in WNC 6/27; NYT, WJW, WP 6/27; JT, al-Nahar 6/27 in WNC 6/28; MEI, MM 6/28; NYT, USIS Washington File 6/30; WP, WT 7/1; AN 7/1 in WNC 7/2; JPI 7/5)

Arafat sends the U.S., Arab states a 6-page memorandum outlining an ambitious 100-day reform plan, including plans for presidential and legislative elections in 1/03 and municipal elections in 3/03. (MM 6/24; NYT 6/25; MM 6/26; El Pais 6/26 in WNC 6/27;NYT, WP, WT 6/27; XIN 6/27 in WNC 6/28; AYM 7/1 in WNC 7/3; AYM 7/10, 7/17, 7/21 in WNC 7/23)

Israeli atty. gen. Elyakim Rubinstein says he will not take legal action against those calling for the "voluntary transfer" of Arabs fr. Israel, saying "voluntary transfer" is "immoral" not illegal. (The 13 Palestinians deported to Cyprus in 5/02 were "voluntarily exiled" as part of a deal brokered by Israel and the PA; see 5/22) (HA 6/24; MM 6/27)

In response to Israeli appeals to local satellite channels to drop coverage of BBC World and CNN International because of their "pro-Palestinian bias" (1 channel replaced CNN with Fox News coverage on 6/20), CNN chief news exec. Eason Jordan arrives in Israel to apologize publicly on behalf of the network, to unveil a special 5-part series on Israeli victims of violence (aired 6/24-28) and a Web "memorial" to Israeli victims of Palestinian violence. (WT 6/24; NYT 6/25; WJW 6/27; MEI 6/2; see also JTA 6/20, MSNBC 6/21)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian; fatally shoots a 3d Palestinian nr. Ramallah. The IDF openly assassinates local AMB leader Walid Sbeh in al-Khadir. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device nr. a border police unit nr. Tulkarm, causing no injuries. In Gaza, the IDF begins work on an iron barrier at Netzarim Junction, apparently to better control Palestinian movement on the main road btwn. n. and s. Gaza; orders Khan Yunis fishermen to move their operations to Rafah harbor; demolishes an industrial complex nr. Gaza City, including the only factory in Gaza for producing bottled oxygen for hospitals. The IDF also fires on Palestinians circumventing the Surda checkpoint (nr. Ramallah), injuring 4. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha set fire to another 70 dunams of agricultural land in Hawara village (see 6/15). (MM, REU 6/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/18; LAW, PCHR, PR 6/19)

The 4-day 34th World Zionist Congress opens in Jerusalem. The 750-seat congress convenes every 4-5 years to negotiate the policy of the World Zionist Organization, which makes up half the decision-making power of the Jewish Agency. The Jewish Agency controls a $350 m. annual budget, which is used for immigration and absorption, as well as worldwide religious, political, education programs. (HA, JTA 6/18)

The IDF sends tanks into PA-controlled Hebron, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 4 before withdrawing. In Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots 4 Palestinians who allegedly try to infiltrate Kefar Darom settlement, sparking an exchange of gunfire with local PSF officers that leaves 1 PSF mbr. dead. A 7th Palestinian is fatally shot at an IDF checkpoint elsewhere. In Bethlehem, IDF snipers fatally shoot 2 Palestinians inside the Church of the Nativity, but the IDF allows 9 Palestinian children, 2 corpses to be evacuated. In Arafat's Ramallah compound, a PA judge sentences 4 PFLP mbrs. to terms of 1-18 yrs. for their involvement in the Ze'evi assassination; Israel dismisses the trial as invalid, repeats demands their extradition. In Jenin r.c., Palestinians reject U.S.-donated emergency aid, saying the U.S. is culpable in the destruction of the camp. The IDF begins constructing a security fence, buffer zone along 7.5 km of the Green Line nr. Tulkarm. (CNN, Irish Times [Internet], Jewish Telegraphic Agency, MM, NYT, WT 4/25; AFP, USIS Washington File, WP, WT 4/26; AYM 4/26 in WNC 4/29; AFP, HA, MM 4/30; JP 5/16; AYM 5/16 in WNC 5/21)