The Palestine Chronology

After a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet, an Egypt- and UN-backed cease-fire between Israel and Hamas goes into effect. It is reportedly based on the principles of the cease-fire deal that halted Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s 2014 assault on Gaza, and it provides for a cessation of all hostilities. The Israeli cabinet reportedly approved the agreement in principle on 8/12 and only met today to review the details one last time. Earlier, Israeli DM Lieberman announced the reopening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing (effectively lifting the last of the restrictions the Israeli authorities imposed on 7/9) and the expansion of the fishing zone off Gaza’s coast to nine nautical miles, up from as few as three at the peak of the Israeli crackdown. “The opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, after four days of quiet, is intended to indicate to the population in Gaza that maintaining quiet is first and foremost an interest for Gaza’s residents,” he says. (EI, HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 8/15; AHR, MNA, TOI 8/16)

Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Dayr al-Balah, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian farmer outside Salfit, preventing him from working his land. They also break into a Palestinian home in central Hebron and violently attack 2 Palestinian minors; there are no reported injuries. IDF troops conduct raids in central Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian minors; 1 Palestinian is injured. They arrest 5 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during further raids near Jericho, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya; and patrol in and around Hebron and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian residential building under construction in Issawiyya. They also detain 9 Palestinian women at Haram al-Sharif for undisclosed reasons (8 are released later in the day and banned from the sanctuary for 15 days); and arrest 4 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in Silwan, Ras al-Amud, Sur Bahir, and the Old City. (MNA, WAFA 8/15; MNA, PCHR 8/16; PCHR 8/30)

The Palestinian Central Council convenes in Ramallah for its 29th regular meeting. The PLO body discusses a variety of issues related to statehood, including the stalled national reconciliation process, and plans to meet again on 8/16. In a speech kicking off the meetings, PA president Abbas says that Hamas is not serious about reconciliation. “Hamas principally does not have intentions to achieve reconciliation,” he says. Abbas also criticizes the Trump administration’s peace efforts and reiterates that he wants to unify the West Bank and Gaza with “one government, one law, and one legitimate force without militias.” (TOI, WAFA 8/15)

The Israel Land Authority (ILA) publishes tenders for the construction of 602 new housing units in the Ramat Shlomo settlement of East Jerusalem. The 603 units are part of a larger development plan that dates back to 2010. The ILA separately reaches a $380 million agreement with the Jerusalem Municipality for a series of development projects across the city, including 20,000 new housing units. The Jerusalem City Council is expected to approve the plan next week. (HA, YA 8/15)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid nr. Salfit, and patrol nr. Hebron and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian refuses to allow Israeli forces to search him outside the Old City, then allegedly “attacks” the soldiers, lightly injuring 1, according to an Israeli police spokesperson. The Palestinian is arrested and found to be carrying no weapons. Meanwhile, Israeli forces assault 2 Palestinians and arrest 2 during raids in Silwan. Israeli settlers assault Palestinian youths in Silwan, causing minor injuries and sparking clashes between their Israeli police escort and residents of the neighborhood; there are no serious injuries. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level lands nr. Gaza City. (MNA, TOI 7/6; PCHR 7/13)

The day after approving 800 new settler homes in East Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Municipality advances 2 construction plans for Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, including 500 new housing units on one side of Ramat Shlomo and 152 on the other. (HA 7/7)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Dayr al-Balah fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers approaching the border fence, causing no injuries. Off the coast nr. Dayr al-Balah, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, damaging 1. In the West Bank, IDF troops detain a Palestinian singer while he is shooting a music video at a checkpoint nr. Nablus; patrol in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Ramallah. Overnight, Israeli forces demolish a power network in a village nr. Hebron, sparking minor clashes with youth in the area. They also demolish an auto repair shop in a village nr. Bethlehem; set up explosive mines and barbed wire around a water source nr. Hebron. Later, Israeli forces confiscate a Palestinian man’s car nr. Salfit after detaining him for 3 hours. Israeli settlers throw stones at a senior PA official’s car nr. Nablus, causing damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces deliver demolition orders to 3 Palestinian homes. Light Rail guards assault a Palestinian woman. (MNA, WAFA 5/7; MNA 5/9; PCHR 5/14)

Hours after Israeli PM Netanyahu announced the new ruling coalition on 5/6, Jerusalem municipal authorities approve construction of 900 new homes in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of East Jerusalem. U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Jeff Rathke says that the Obama admin. is “disappointed” and “concerned” with the announcement. The White House, however, releases a statement congratulating Netanyahu on forming a new govt. Meanwhile, EU amb. to Israel FaaborgAndersen says there is a growing frustration within the EU about the lack of progress between Israel and the Palestinians. (AFP, HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 5/7; AP 5/8; TOI 5/9)

An EU observer delegation arrives in Gaza to monitor the Rafah border crossing. (MNA 5/7)

The U.S. Senate passes the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act by a vote of 98–1. The bill, which will allow Congress to review and either approve or disapprove of any final agreement made between the P5+1 and Iran, now goes to the House for consideration. AIPAC and other major pro-Israel groups laud its passage. (JP, TOI 5/7; TOI 5/8)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Ramallah, and in Jenin r.c. at night; patrols in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Salfit. The IDF demolishes 3 homes in Aqraba village nr. Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities continue restrictions on access to al-Aqsa mosque compound, denying entry to Palestinian men under 40. (MNA, JP 11/3; PCHR 11/6)

An Israeli govt. comm. advances plans for 500 residences in the East Jerusalem settlement Ramat Shlomo. PM Netanyahu approved the move on 10/27. The U.S. State Dept. criticizes the move, as it did on 10/28. In Washington along with PA intelligence chief Majid Faraj, PLO chief negotiator Erakat meets with U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and urges the U.S. to support the PA’s plan to seek a UNSC res. that will set a timetable for the end of the Israeli occupation. (AP, HA, JP 11/3)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and wound 2 Palestinians in clashes sparked by a patrol in Bayt Furik village nr. Nablus. Israeli soldiers also shoot and wound 1 Palestinian nr. Kafr Ya‘bid, after several Palestinians throw stones at Israeli settlers’ vehicles nearby. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Ramallah, and Tulkarm; patrols in 2 villages each nr. Ramallah and Salfit; demolishes 4 structures nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid Issawiyya, Silwan, and Bayt Hanina, sparking clashes with residents. (HA, MNA 10/27; PCHR 10/30)

Israeli PM Netanyahu approves plans for 1,060 new housing units in East Jerusalem settlements Ramat Shlomo and Har Homa. The EU foreign affairs office and U.S. State Dept. both criticize the move. (AFP, HA 10/27)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the afternoon and in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Salfit at night, patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 village each nr. Jericho, Ramallah and Tulkarm in the morning, in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 village each nr. Jenin and Salfit at night. Israeli bulldozers level privately-owned Palestinian land nr. Nablus to enlarge an illegal settlement outpost. In Jerusalem, dozens of right-wing Jewish activists enter the al-Aqsa compound and held discussions on the possibility of building a Jewish temple there. (MNA 8/25, PCHR 8/29)

The Jerusalem Municipality approves a budget for a NIS 62.4 million extension of the Ramat Shlomo settlement, adding some 1,600 housing units. Other projects approved include a NIS 20 million budget for developing a national park at the settlerowned “City of David” project in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan. Half of that latter budget will come from the prime minister’s office. Meanwhile, Israel’s Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel dedicates 2 new neighborhoods of 160 homes in the West Bank settlement Keddumim and says that a two-state solution will never happen. (AP, HA, JP 8/25)

Israel’s cabinet unanimously approves the appointment of Yossi Cohen as the new head of the National Security Council (NSC). Cohen, who spent 3 decades working for Mossad, replaces Yaakov Amidror. (YA 8/25)

Syria agrees to allow UN inspectors to visit the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in Ghouta, a Damascus suburb. The U.S. State Dept. says that Secy. of State John Kerry told his counterparts in Britain, France, Russia, and Canada in a round of phone calls that there is “very little doubt” the Syrian govt. is responsible for gassing its own citizens. An unnamed administration official tells the media that despite this near certainty in Washington, the pres. still hasn’t decided how to respond. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich says that the U.S. and its allies should await the findings of the UN inspection team and avoid military action. (AP, REU, 8/25)

Three leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, including the organization’s Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie did not appear in court on the 1st day of their separate trials, apparently due to security reasons. The judge adjourns proceedings until 10/29. The charges are of inciting lethal violence during the events leading up to the military coup. (REU 8/25)

Israel approves 1,500 new housing units in the Ramat Shlomo settlement in East Jerusalem. The government is expected to approve a total of 6,500 settlement housing units over the next week, including almost 4,000 in Givat Hamatos–a new settlement nr. Bayt Safafa–and 1,000 units in Gilo South. Palestinian envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour urges permanent members of the UNSC to take action to stop Israel’s settlement plans in East Jerusalem. (JP, REU, MNA 12/17)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen working 7 naut. mi. off the Gaza coast nr. Wadi Gaza (wounding 1) and nr. al-Waha (causing no injuries). In the West Bank, the IDF shoots and injures a Palestinian man in a village nr. Nablus, after Jewish settlers entered the village and clashed with residents. Israeli forces also raid Jaba village in the n. West Bank, ransacking several homes and taking photographs of a number of buildings. The IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, and in 1 village nr. Jenin, and Tulkarm and 1 nearby village in the afternoon; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and in Salfit, Hebron and 3 nearby villages at night. (MNA 12/17; PCHR 12/20)

Teachers in the West Bank go on strike to protest the delay in the payment of their salaries. The PA has not set a target date for paying back salaries. Meanwhile, the PA civil servants union accuses Israel of collective punishment for withholding Palestinian tax revenues and calls a strike from 12/18 to the end of the week. (MNA 12/17)

Hamas’s Interior Ministry in Gaza says that Fatah will be allowed to celebrate its 48th anniversary in Gaza, in order ‘‘to promote the atmosphere of unity.’’ (MNA 12/17)

Syrian rebels take control of Yarmuk r.c. nr. Damascus after a fierce battle pitting rebels and anti-Asad Palestinians against the pro-Asad PFLP–GC. PLO official in Syria Anwar Abdul-Hadi says that over half the Palestinian population of Yarmuk r.c. has fled; Palestinian amb. to Syria puts the figure at 95%. (MNA, REU 12/17)

Just before U.S. secy. of state Condoleezza Rice arrives in Israel for 6/15–16 mtgs. to encourage Israeli-Palestinian negotiations (see Quarterly Update), the Israeli Housing Min. announces approval for construction of 1,300 new settlement housing units in Ramat Shlomo in East Jerusalem. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya and nr. Salfit; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 2); fires tear gas, percussion grenades at a similar protest al-Ma‘sara (injuring 5). Jewish settlers enter Nablus to pray at Joseph’s Tomb without prior coordination with the IDF; the IDF evacuates and arrests them. The IDF also sends tanks into Gaza e. of al-Maghazi r.c. to level land along the border fence. In Gaza’s al-Bureij r.c., Hamas-affiliated police attempt to arrest 2 wanted Fatah mbrs., but are attacked, forced to retreat by neighbors and Fatah supporters; no serious injuries are reported. (WT 6/15; MM 6/16; OCHA 6/18; PCHR 6/19)