The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for a 3d day in a row. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian’s workshop in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah. Later, Israeli soldiers violently disperse Palestinians protesting the occupation and distributing Christmas gifts in Bethlehem. IDF troops also arrest 1 Palestinian youth n. of Hebron and fire tear gas canisters at Palestinian students in c. Hebron, then close down a nearby checkpoint when the students throw stones. Meanwhile, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in a village nr. Ramallah; patrols nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, dozens of rightwing Jewish activists enter Haram al-Sharif and tour the area. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court indicts 8 Palestinians on charges relating to incitement, quoting material from their personal Facebook pages. (IMEMC, MNA, WAFA 12/23; PCHR 12/25, 12/31)

A Palestinian prisoner in a PA detention center in Qalqilya dies of complications related to a heart condition. (MNA 12/23)

Pres. Abbas says that the PA will “no more deal with the Israeli govt.” if the UNSC fails to pass the res. proposed on 12/17. Hamas opposes the res. and calls for its withdrawal. (IMEMC, JP, MNA 12/23)

Revoking its 2011 approval of the Delek Group-Noble Energy alignment, the Israeli Antitrust Authority recommends that the 2 U.S. and Israeli energy companies either sell off their shared stake in offshore natural gas fields or end their cooperation agreement. (TOI 12/23; JP, JTA 1/4)

In the Gaza Strip, an Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades fighter is killed during a training exercise e. of Gaza City. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers throw rocks and glass bottles at Palestinian-owned vehicles nr. Nablus, causing damage. Overnight, a mentally disabled Palestinian enters a home in the Yitzhar settlement; Israeli settlers and settlement security officers beat the man, causing moderate injuries, before IDF troops arrive to detain him. The IDF conducts arrest raids and house searches nr. Jenin, Hebron, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces raid the Jabal Mukabir homes of the 2 Palestinians who attacked a West Jerusalem synagogue on 11/18, sparking clashes. Israeli security forces also enter Silwan, where they arrest 3 Palestinians, including Fatah’s secy.- gen. in Jerusalem; raid the Palestinian Football Association’s offices in al-Ram. Elsewhere, 3 young Israelis attack a Palestinian youth, causing moderate injuries. During a separate brawl in the Old City between Israeli and Palestinian youth, 1 Israeli is stabbed, another is lightly injured, and the Palestinians are arrested. Late at night, 5 Israeli settlers attack a Palestinian nr. the French Hill settlement. In West Jerusalem, an Israeli driver hits a Palestinian youth with his car and drives away, leaving the Palestinian with a fractured foot. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 11/24; HA, IMEMC, MNA 11/25; HA 11/26; PCHR 11/27)

In response to the Israel Prison Service’s increased restrictions on 11/23, Palestinian prisoners clash with Israeli prison guards at Rimon prison, and 6 prisoners are injured. (MNA, WAFA 11/24; PNN 11/25)

The Palestinian leadership has decided to postpone its submission of a UNSC res. calling for a timetable to end the Israeli occupation, originally planned for late 11/2014. The decision is reportedly caused by a combination of strong U.S. opposition, threats of sanctions, and bad timing, with the UNSC largely focused on the negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. PA FM Riyad al-Maliki also notes that the PA has failed to win the support of 9 UNSC mbrs. that would be needed for the res. to pass. (HA, JP, JTA, MNA, WAFA 11/24)

The Israeli embassy in Amman lodges a formal complaint with the Jordanian govt. about the letter of condolence that PM Ensour sent (11/19) to the family of the 2 Palestinian men who attacked a West Jerusalem synagogue on 11/18. (HA, TOI 11/24)

In Vienna, reps. of Iran and the P5+1 agree on another extension to the Joint Plan of Action (signed on 11/24/2013). The talks, which began on 1/20/2014, will be extended 7 mos.; however, the negotiators plan to complete a political accord by the end of 3/2015, leaving final technical details for annexes to be agreed on by 7/1/2015. (AJ, BBC, HA, NBC, REU 11/24; ALM 12/1; ICG 12/10)

In the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops stationed nr. the border open fire on an unarmed 10-year-old Palestinian boy, critically injuring him. Later, the IDF arrests 3 Palestinians who cross the border fence into Israel nr. the Kerem Shalom crossing. In the West Bank, Palestinians gather nr. ‘Askar refugee camp (r.c.) to throw stones at Israeli military vehicles, sparking clashes with the IDF that leave 1 Palestinian injured. IDF troops deliver demolition orders to 5 Palestinian families n. of Qalqilya and temporarily seal all entrances to ‘Azun village e. of Qalqilya; patrol nr. Bethlehem and Hebron. Late in the evening, the IDF conducts arrest raids and house searches in Bil‘in, detaining mayor Basil Mansur, sparking clashes with stone-throwing local residents; conducts arrest raids nr. Hebron and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, 10s of Palestinian women refuse to submit their ID cards to Israeli security officers outside Haram al-Sharif, defying a new Israeli access restriction; Israeli security forces beat several of the women with rifle butts to disperse them. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces escort 30 right-wing Jewish activists into Haram al-Sharif. Separately, IDF troops conduct arrest raids and house searches in 3 other areas of East Jerusalem. At an Israeli cabinet meeting, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates his pledge to maintain the status quo at Haram al-Sharif, meaning that he intends to respect Jordan’s custody of the area. In West Jerusalem, a Palestinian stabs a Jewish Israeli with a screwdriver, injuring him; Israeli police set up roadblocks around the area in effort to capture the assailant, but he escapes. Late at night, a Palestinian bus driver is found hanged in his bus in West Jerusalem. Israeli authorities allege suicide, but the man’s family believes that Israeli settlers killed him in retaliation for the earlier stabbing. Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces break out in al-Tur, East Jerusalem, in response to the bus driver’s death. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 11/16; AFP, IMEMC, JP, MNA 11/17; PCHR 11/20)

U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry calls Palestinian Authority (PA) Pres. Mahmoud Abbas and tells him the U.S. will veto any UN Security Council (UNSC) res. on ending the Israeli occupation within 2 years. Abbas has been circulating such a res. since his speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 9/26/ 2014. (AP 11/18)

Israeli justice minister Tzipi Livni postpones until 11/23 a debate in her comm. over a new “nation-state” bill, which would enshrine Israel’s status as the national homeland of the Jewish people in the Basic Laws. Netanyahu says that he may sidestep the comm. debate and introduce the bill in the Israeli cabinet. (JTA, REU 11/16)

The IDF begins imposing new regulations (announced 3/25) on Palestinians entering Jerusalem through Qalandia crossing nr. Ramallah: only Palestinians holding a permit to enter Israel may cross, even to enter the West Bank village of al-Ram (between Qalandia and the Green Line), effectively making the crossing an international checkpoint into Israel and annexing al-Ram. IDF drones fire on the car of AMB cmdr. Muhammad Hijazi as he drives in Gaza City in an apparent assassination attempt; Hijazi survives unharmed but his aide in the car, 2 Palestinian Security Forces officers nearby are wounded. The IDF also fires artillery shells at a group of Islamic Jihad mbrs. attempting to fire a rocket in the n. Gaza no-go zone, killing 1 Islamic Jihad mbr., wounding 3; fatally shoots an Islamic Jihad al-Quds Brigade mbr. Samir Furayhat in disputed circumstances during an arrest raid on Yamun (Islamic Jihad does not claim it was an assassination); conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem and Tulkarm, in Nablus, nr. Qalqilya. (IMEMC, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, XIN 3/27; PCHR 3/30, 4/6)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm, nr. Hebron (occupying 1 house as an observation post), and in Bethlehem, Nablus. (IMEMC 1/25; PCHR 1/26, 2/2)

PA legislative elections are held. Hamas’s Change and Reform party wins a surprise majority, taking 74 seats. Fatah wins 45 seats, PFLP’s Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa wins 3, Independent Palestine wins 2, Third Way wins 2, Alternative wins 2; and independent candidates allied with Hamas win 4 seats. Hamas says it will meet with Abbas, as head of Fatah, and the smaller parties in several days to discuss formation of a unity government. (CSM, IMEMC, JT 1/25; AP, BBC, CSM, DS, HA, JAZ, NYT, PCHR, REU, WP, WT, XIN, YA 1/26; AP, CSM, DS, Financial Times, JT, JTA, NYT, WP, WT 1/27; al-Ayyam, VOI 1/27 in WNC 1/28; XIN 1/29; NYT, Palestine Center press release 1/30; see also Palestine Center information brief no. 125 12/14)

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber fr. Nablus detonates a device in a Tel Aviv restaurant, killing only himself, wounding 24 Israelis (1 critically). The PA accuses Islamic Jihad of trying to derail the 1/25 elections. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian throwing a Molotov cocktail at troops in Hebron; arrests Fatah candidate fr. Jerusalem Ahmad ‘Abd al-Rahim at a campaign rally in Shu‘fat, East Jerusalem; raids, seals an office in East Jerusalem linked to Change and Reform campaigning, confiscating computers, documents; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes nr. Jenin for construction of the separation wall; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and nr. Hebron, nr. Ramallah, and in Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Tubas. Palestinians fire a rocket fr. n. Gaza towards Israel, but it lands in Bayt Lahiya, damaging a Palestinian home, lightly injuring a 7-yr.-old girl. (AP, IMEMC, JTA 1/19; HA, NYT, IMEMC, WP, WT 1/20; WT 1/21; PCHR 1/26)

Sharon suffers a massive stroke. Sharon, who was expected to win a 3d term in the 3/06 elections at the head of his new Kadima party, is not expected to return to politics, throwing the elections into question. Political powers are transferred to Vice PM Ehud Olmert, Sharon’s close ally. (BBC, JTA 1/4; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 1/5; DS 1/6; CSM 1/9)

The IDF seals the West Bank, Gaza for the 4-day Muslim holiday of Id al-Adha; conducts predawn mock air raids over Gaza, breaking the sound barrier; raids a house in East Jerusalem, breaks up a mtg. being held by Change and Reform candidate Ahmad Attoun; bulldozes a Palestinian home nr. Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c. (firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops, wounding 9), in and around Bethlehem, Ramallah, Tulkarm. In continued retaliation for the 1/2 killings (see 1/3), Islamic Jihad, the AMB fire 8 rockets fr. Gaza towards Ashkelon, Sederot, and the IDF base at the Erez crossing, causing no damage or injuries. IDF soldiers, Israeli police scuffle with Jewish settlers when serving them with notices that they must evacuate by 1/15 Palestinian-owned buildings they have occupied in the Hebron central market; 4 policemen are injured. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba vandalize Palestinian homes in Hebron, bar Palestinians fr. using a road linking the settlement to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs; the IDF observes but does not intervene. About 40 armed AMB mbrs. occupy 4 PA government buildings in Gaza, fire on a police station to protest the 1/3 arrest of AMB leader Hams; other AMB mbrs. set burning barricades on the road to the Rafah crossing (barring all but medical cases fr. reaching the border), detonate an explosive device under the Rafah border wall (causing only minor damage). AMB mbrs. later steal 2 bulldozers, tear down a 15-ft stretch of the concrete Gaza border wall; as many as 1,000 Palestinians, some armed, overrun the Egyptian border guards, who fire in the air, call in reinforcements, declare the area a closed military zone, arrest around 100 Palestinians and injure 3; during the skirmish, some Palestinians set fire to an Egyptian armored vehicle, throw hand grenades and fire at the Egyptian contingent, leaving 2 Egyptian border guards dead and around 30 injured; Egypt closes the Rafah border until further notice. The PA says it will release Hams on 1/5 in response to the protests. PA police in Gaza City, fatally shoot a Hamas mbr. hanging campaign posters. Meanwhile, 5 armed Palestinians raid a Gaza house, attempt to kidnap the parents of Rachel Corrie, an American college student who was killed by the IDF in Gaza in 2003; the gunmen back off when the owners of the home explain who the Corries are. (IMEMC, JAZ, YA 1/4; AP, HA, IMEMC, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 1/5; HA, NYT 1/9; al-Ahram Weekly 1/10; PCHR 1/19; PLO Negotiation Affairs Dept. press release 1/23)

The IDF carries out at least 8 predawn air strikes on the n. Gaza no-go zone (causing no casualties) and a predawn air strike on al-Mughraqa s. of Gaza City (tearing up a main street, damaging water and phone networks, but causing no casualties). Early in the day, the IDF warns of the imminent launch of Operation Blue Skies, dropping leaflets on n. Gaza that warn residents to stay away fr. the border area and the sites of vacated n. Gaza settlements, saying that anyone in the zone after 6:00 P.M. local time risks being shot; maps on the leaflets show the no-go zone as roughly corresponding to the n. Gaza settlement areas evacuated under disengagement, though also including areas 1.5 miles into Gaza housing some 100,000 Palestinians, whom the IDF recommends evacuate for “a limited period of time”; reportedly no Palestinians leave. Shortly before the deadline, AMB mbrs. fire 4 rockets at Sederot and a nearby IDF base, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF begins several hrs. of artillery fire (at least 25 strikes), fire fr. helicopters on the n. Gaza zone (wounding 1 Palestinian militant, 1 teenage bystander) and mock air raids breaking the sound barrier over the Strip, marking the start of the operation. Late in the evening, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. AMB mbrs. angry over the Fatah party list submitted today for the 1/25 elections seize election offices in 5 towns in Gaza, wage shoot-outs with the PA police, leaving 1 Gaza City policeman wounded. In Rafah, Palestinian gunmen kidnap a British aid worker, her parents; immediately begin negotiating with the PA for their release. (AFP, IMEMC, Israeli FMin. press release, JAZ, NYT, XIN 12/28; DS, IMEMC, JTA, NYT, PCHR, PMC, WP, WT, YA 12/29)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and in Aida r.c., Ramallah (surrounding 2 mosques and stopping Palestinians for ID checks as they head to morning prayers); occupies a house under construction nr. Tulkarm as an IDF post; fires on residential areas of Nablus, wounding 2 Palestinians. Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza towards Ashkelon (causing damage but no injuries), 2 towards Sederot (causing no damage or injuries); the IDF responds with artillery fire on n. Gaza. The AMB,Islamic Jihad, PRCs issue a statement that they plan to carry out joint attacks on Israeli targets if Israel goes ahead with plans to enforce a no-go area in n. Gaza. Israel issues tenders for construction of 150 new settlement housing units in Beitar Ilit and 78 in Efrat, both nr. Jerusalem. (IMEMC 12/26; JTA, REU, WT, XIN 12/27; PCHR 12/29)

Islamic Jihad mbrs. fire 2 rockets fr. n. Gaza towards an IDF base nr. Ashkelon, injuring 5 IDF soldiers; the IDF retaliates with artillery fire on the launch site, killing 1 Palestinian bystander in adjacent Jabaliya r.c.; Israel warns that it could send ground forces back into Gaza. The IDF also raids Nablus, assassinates local PFLP cmdr. Bashar Hanani (also reported as Bashar Khalani), AMB mbrs. Ahmad Jayyusi and Anas Hamad; shells areas northwest of Bayt Lahiya, wounding a farmer working his land; sends troops into Qabatya, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 5 Palestinians; raids, searches a building in Qiffin nr. Tulkarm, confiscating files fr. and sealing the offices of the Loans Association, Palestinian Peoples Party, Popular Campaign against the Wall, and Union of Agricultural Relief Comms.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Nablus, Ramallah and nr. Hebron, Jenin; uproots 200 Palestinian olive trees northwest of Hebron to erect a gate cutting al-Jaba village off fr. a nearby Jewish settlement. In the evening, the Israeli security cabinet approves new measures, known as Operation Blue Skies, aimed at curbing Palestinian rocket fire fr. Gaza, including using artillery, helicopter, and gunboat fire to enforce a new n. Gaza buffer zone; more stringent monitoring of the Gaza Strip by air; “other steps we have not taken until now,” but does not immediately give orders for the IDF to implement the plan. (BBC, IMEMC, JTA, PCHR, PM, XIN, YA 12/22; BBC, HA, IMEMC, JTA, NYT, WP, WT 12/23; PCHR 12/29)

In keeping with the agmt. brokered by Rice on 11/15, Israel allows the PA to open the Rafah crossing under EU monitoring for 4 hrs./day; only foot traffic will be allowed until vehicle scanners are installed; Egypt will require men age 18–40 to obtain an entry visa. The IDF also tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement in Hebron; fires teargas at stone-throwing Palestinians outside a polling station in Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem being used for the Fatah primaries in advance of the 1/25 elections; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Hebron. Palestinians report that a private contractor for a Jewish settlement nr. Bil‘in recently uprooted 100s of the village’s olive trees located on the western side of the separation wall despite IDF pledges that villagers would be given access to the trees to harvest them. (JTA, REU, YA 11/25; IMEMC, NYT, WP, WT 11/26; PCHR 12/1)

Extremist Jews attack a busload of Israeli Palestinians in Shafa ‘Amr nr. Jerusalem, injuring 8 Palestinians. (IMEMC 11/26)

The IDF bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes in Anata nr. Jerusalem, conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. The Israeli Housing Min. approves plans for 350 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim settlement. (IMEMC, PM 11/22)

After several days of mtgs. with advisers and Likud colleagues, Sharon asks Israeli pres. Moshe Katsav to dissolve parliament, announces his departure fr. Likud and plans to form a more moderate centrist Forward party (Kadima) to run in 2006 elections; 15 of Likud’s 40 MKs pledge to follow Sharon. (AP, BBC, JTA, NYT, REU, WP, WT 11/21; CSM, HA, WP 11/22; WP 11/25)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in villages around Hebron; patrols in Qabatya, temporarily occupying a Palestinian home as an observation post; begins construction of a new segment of the separation wall in East Jerusalem nr. Azariyya; bulldozes land in Kafr Haris nr. Nablus for an observation tower. (IMEMC 11/10; PCHR 11/17)

Vice PM Peres loses the Labor party primaries to Histadrut labor union leader Amir Peretz, who ran on the promise to end Labor’s participation in a coalition government with Likud (to protest Likud’s cuts to economic spending and increased privatization) and to push for early elections if he won. (BBC, NYT, WP, WT 11/10; HA, WP, WT, YA 11/11; CSM, HA, JTA 11/14)

Just past dawn, the IDF pulls its last troops out of Gaza, issues a declaration ending military rule in the Strip. Palestinians storm past PA security forces to enter the evacuated settlements, scavenging some synagogues and demolished homes for anything that could be sold or used, setting 4 synagogues on fire; the PA security forces bulldoze several synagogues, bar Palestinians fr. ransacking greenhouses (purchased by U.S. philanthropists and given to the PA as economically viable operations to aid the Palestinian economy), but leave a large factory in Kefar Darom unguarded, allowing it to be stripped of equipment. Palestinians also remove IDF roadblocks across Gaza, flock to beaches to swim for the 1st time since the start of the intifada. The AMB, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah hold marches and celebrations, with factional flags more numerous than Palestinian flags. Egyptian border guards along the Rafah border fatally shoot a Palestinian while attempting to control crowds who flock to the crossing; 100s of Palestinians break through the border fence and enter Egypt. The IDF fires on Palestinian youths who approach the border fence in Bayt Lahiya, seriously wounding a 13-yr.-old. In the West Bank, the IDF imposes an overnight curfew on al-Til, conducting house searches and ID checks, withdrawing late morning; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Qalqilya, Tulkarm; occupies the top floor of a Palestinian home nr. Hebron as an observation post. (AP, JAZ, NYT, REU 9/12; CSM, HA, JT, JTA, NYT, WP, WT 9/13; IMEMC, Independent 9/14; BBC, PCHR 9/15)

Citing retaliation for the death of an Israeli woman on 7/14, the IDF launches overnight missile strikes on 4 sites in Gaza: a Hamas cultural center in n. Gaza, 2 sites Palestinians have used to launch rockets in s. Gaza, and a metal workshop (alleged weapons factory) in central Gaza; at least 2 Palestinians are injured. Later in the day, an IDF drone fires a missile at a car driving in Gaza City, assassinating 4 Hamas mbrs. (Sabir Abu Assi, ‘Assim Abu Ras, Amjad Arafat, ‘Adil Haniyeh), wounding more than 12 bystanders; an IDF helicopter and ground troops fire 3 missiles at a car driving in Salfit, assassinating 3 wanted Hamas mbrs. (Muhammad Ayyash, Samir Dawahqa, Muhammad Mar’ai); an IDF helicopter fires at 3 Palestinians firing mortars at Gush Katif, injuring them. In clashes in Salfit after the assassinations, the IDF fatally shoots a stone-throwing Palestinian teenager. The Israeli strikes mark the definitive end of the 2/8 cease-fire; Hamas announces that it is considering massive retaliation. Israel blames Abbas for failing to crack down on militant groups. The IDF also continues operations in and around Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus. Overnight, PA police searching for Hamas gunmen clash again with Hamas mbrs., this time in Gaza City, leaving 2 Palestinian children dead; during the clash, Hamas mbrs. destroy a PA armored personnel carrier with rocket-propelled grenades, burn a police station and a PA office building; Hamas, Fatah quickly convene an emergency mtg. to defuse tensions. Palestinians fire a barrage of at least 19 rockets and 10s of mortars at Neve Dekalim, lightly injuring 2 settlers, damaging 5 houses; 1 shell hits an industrial zone in the Negev, sparking a fire. A Jewish settler seriously injures a Palestinian teenager in a hit-and-run incident in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai throw stones, bottles at Palestinian homes in Hebron and at a Palestinian teenager, lightly injuring him. An Israeli court sentences an East Jerusalem Palestinian to 5 mos. in jail for joining Force 17 in 2000, calling it a “severe crime”; says at least 80 “Jerusalem Arabs” have been indicted on similar charges since 9/00. (IMEMC, JTA, NYT, UNIS, WP, YA 7/15; VOI 7/15 in WNC 7/15; Interfax, ITARTASS, JP, MENA, VOI, VOP, XIN 7/15 in WNC 7/16; HA, IMEMC, NYT, PRCS, REU, WP, WT, YA 7/16; VOP 7/16 in WNC 7/17; HA 7/17; OCHA, PR 7/20; PCHR 7/21)

Sharon authorizes the widening of the IDF’s campaign to include Hamas. Later 4 rockets fired fr. n. Gaza hit the Israeli town of Netiv Haasara, killing 1 Israeli woman, wounding 1; Hamas, the AMB each claim responsibility (the AMB for the fatal strike, which it says was in retaliation for the 7/10 assassination attempt); as many as 21 mortars and rockets are fired during the day, also damaging an IDF post. The IDF also continues operations in and around Tulkarm; launches arrest raids targeting Islamic Jihad nr. Bethlehem, in Abu Dis and Asira al-Qibliyya, and in and around Hebron. Abbas declares a state of emergency, placing PA security forces in Gaza on high alert and ordering them to prevent any fire on Israeli targets. PA police later fire on a car that fails to stop at a checkpoint in Bayt Lahiya, sparking a clash with Hamas gunmen in the car that leaves 5 Hamas mbrs., 3 policemen wounded; Hamas mbrs. later attack a PA police post, torch 2 police cars in retaliation. Abbas goes to Gaza to hold emergency talks with Hamas leaders regarding clashes in Bayt Lahiya. An Israeli wounded in the 7/12 bombing dies, bringing that toll to 5. (AFP, IMEMC, JTA, PRCS 7/14; HA, VOI, VOP 7/14 in WNC 7/15; HA, NYT, UNIS, WP, WT, XIN, YA 7/15; NYT, REU, WP 7/16; HA 7/17; OCHA, PR 7/20; PCHR 7/21)

Announcing the start of a “sustained” campaign against Islamic Jihad, the IDF imposes 24-hr. curfews on Tulkarm town and r.c., al-Til, and Nur al-Shams r.c.; reinvades Tulkarm (turned over to PA security control on 3/22) and al-Til in its largest military operation since Israeli and the Palestinians agreed to an unofficial cease-fire on 2/8, fatally shooting a PA policeman, leaving a 2d PA policeman clinically dead, arresting at least 6 Palestinians with Islamic Jihad ties; 2 IDF soldiers are injured. Israel says it was forced to act in Tulkarm because the PA had not reined in militants there, citing the bombing as proof; the PA says the assault on Tulkarm is unjustified, since the 7/12 bomber came fr. al-Til, 5 mi. away, under Israeli military control. Late in the evening, the IDF raids Nablus, fatally shoots Islamic Jihad cmdr. Muhammad al-Assi when he attempts to elude arrest; detains an Islamic Jihad mbr., a British woman with him. The IDF also demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem; razes 4 bedouin tents, 6 animal pens outside Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba stone a Palestinian vehicle driving the Palestinian section of Hebron, injuring the driver. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar vandalize a Palestinian home, burn a Palestinian car nr. Nablus. In Bureij r.c., the PA security forces secure the release of 2 international aid workers (1 British, 1 Australian) kidnapped by a Palestinian family that hoped to use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of relatives jailed by the PA. An Israeli dies of injuries received in the 7/12 bombing. (AFP, IMEMC, JTA, NYT, PR, XIN 7/13; VOP 7/13 in WNC 7/13; VOI, VOP 7/13 in WNC 7/14; NYT, PCHR, PRCS, WP, WT 7/14; VOI 7/14 in WNC 7/15; JAZ 7/17; OCHA, PR 7/20; PCHR 7/21)

The IDF bulldozes 8 Palestinian homes, a gas station constructed without permits in areas of East Jerusalem slated for a new park; demolishes 22 structures (including a school) in Khirbet Tana nr. Nablus (pop. 450) built without permits, leaving only 2 buildings in the village and the 200-yr.-old mosque standing; imposes a curfew on ‘Ayn al-Bayda nr. Jenin, searches homes, arrests around 30 Palestinian farmers, shepherds who are not residents of the village; raids a municipal building in n. Ramallah, arresting 1 Palestinian; fires live ammunition at Palestinians protesting separation wall construction in Qutna nr. Jerusalem, wounding 2; fires on residential areas of Aida r.c.; raids, occupies 3 Palestinian homes in Yatta as observation posts. Hamas holds a prayer rally in Nablus calling on Palestinians to boycott the evening’s Palestine International Festival (an annual wk.-long festival, not held since 2000, that opened in cities across the West Bank on 6/30) performance in the city by pop singer Ammar Hassan, citing the impropriety of men and women dancing to “risqu´e” music as well as of holding such a celebration when families are still mourning the losses of the intifada; the AMB assures that it sanctioned the event after Hassan agreed to sing only “conservative songs”; the performance ultimately is disrupted by some masked AMB mbrs. fr. Nablus and Balata r.c., who fire guns in the air, destroy some sets, force Hassan to cut short his performance. (HA, REU 7/5; IMEMC, OCHA, PR, XIN 7/6; PCHR 7/7; PR 7/13; HA 7/28; PR 8/3)

The United Church of Christ passes a resolution calling for the use of “economic leverage” to promote Middle East peace, but rejects resolutions calling for divestment in companies that supply Israel with bulldozers, military equipment. Two additional resolutions also denounce all forms of violence in the Middle East, “including suicide bombing by Palestinians and the use of force by Israelis in perpetuating occupation of Palestinian lands,” and call on Israel to dismantle the separation wall. (JTA, WP 7/6; AP 7/7; CSM 7/8)

The IDF imposes a closure on Palestinian sections of Hebron and surrounding areas (still in place as of 7/6), conducts arrest raids, house searches targeting Islamic Jihad; also conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah. Palestinian gunmen fire on a group of Jewish settlers at a hitchhiking post outside Beit Haggai settlement nr. Hebron, killing 1 Jewish settler, wounding 3. Despite the PA’s attempt to ban the gatherings, 100s ofIslamic Jihad mbrs. rally in Ramallah and nearly 1,000 rally in n. Gaza, protesting the IDF’s recent crackdown on its mbrs. and stating that it has no intention of abandoning the unofficial cease-fire. In Gaza, Islamic Jihad fires mortars at several Jewish settlements, causing damage but no injuries. (AFP, IMEMC, JTA 6/24; NYT, WP 6/25; HA, XIN 6/26; PRCS 6/27; JP 6/27 in WNC 6/28; OCHA, PR 6/29; PHRC 6/30)

In Nottingham, England, the Anglican Consultative Council, the global policymaking arm of the 77 million–mbr. Anglican Church, unanimously approves a statement urging the church’s 38 “provinces” to consider divestment fr. companies that bolster the Israeli occupation, as well as “investment strategies that support the infrastructure of a future Palestinian state.” (Religion News Service 6/24; NYT, WT 6/25; JP 6/26 in WNC 6/27; PR 6/29)

Israel releases the last 398 Palestinian prisoners of 900 that Sharon promised to free in his 2/8 mtg. with PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas in Sharm al-Shaykh; 2 prisoners refuse release (1 to stay in prison with his brother, 1 to take the Palestinian high school matriculation exams [tawjihi] slated to be given to prisoners shortly). The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm and in Azariyya, Balata r.c., Nablus; searches, temporarily occupies a flour mill in Gaza’s al-Qarara for use as an observation tower to protect Jewish settlers traveling btwn. Gush Katif and Israel; begins work on a new segment of the separation wall s. of Nablus. Palestinian residents of Dayr al-Hatab nr. Nablus report that the IDF has for 3 wks. been bulldozing Palestinian land around Elon Moreh to create a buffer around the settlement. Israel issues tenders for the construction of 22 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim settlement, despite U.S President George W. Bush’s calls to stop all settlement expansion. A Jewish settler injures a Palestinian girl in a hit-andrun incident n. of Ramallah. In Gaza City, 100s of armed Palestinians (mbrs. of PA military intelligence, the AMB, Fatah) protest the PA’s decision to dismantle the military intelligence service, merge it with the PA security forces, and retire a number of officers; some demonstrators fire in the air. (IMEMC, JP, JTA, WAFA 6/2; VOI 6/2 in WNC 6/3; WP, WT 6/3; IMEMC 6/4; OCHA, PR 6/8; PCHR 6/9)

With implementation of Israeli PM Ariel Sharon’s disengagement plan to evacuate troops and settlers fr. Gaza and 4 West Bank settlements slated to begin in mid-8/05, some 1,500 right-wing Israeli disengagement protesters, mostly young Jewish settlers, try to block around 100 intersections across Israel in one of the largest demonstrations to date. Israeli police deploy 1,000s of officers to keep roads open, demonstrations peaceful; arrest around 400 protesters. In the occupied territories, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fatally shoots a Palestinian who allegedly attempts to stab a solider at a checkpoint outside Tulkarm (Palestinian observers dispute this, saying the man was angry, but merely approached the soldiers to question delays at the checkpoint); conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar refugee camp (r.c.; targeting wanted al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade [AMB] mbrs), al-Mughayyir n. of Ramallah, Sawahara e. of Jerusalem. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim bulldoze 30 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of olive trees nr. Qalqilya. A Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (IMEMC, MM, PRCS 5/16; JTA, MM 5/17; OCHA, PR, WP 5/18; PCHR 5/19)

The IDF seals the West Bank, Gaza through 5/14, while Israelis mark their memorial and independence days, and Palestinians observe the Nakba; seals Sammu‘, al-Rihiyya nr. Hebron for the day; imposes a curfew on Hawara nr. Nablus; tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement on the Ramallah–Nablus road; removes earthen barriers blocking the main road fr. Nablus to the Jordan Valley; raids, searches 2 CEC offices in Jerusalem, confiscates documents, arrests 2 employees. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim bar Palestinian farmers fr. reaching their land in Kafr Qadim; the IDF says the farmers will henceforth require permits to access the land. (HA, IMEMC, MM 5/10; JTA, OCHA 5/11; PCHR 5/12)