The Palestine Chronology

Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF drops troops from helicopters into an open area nr. Jenin, searching the area for some time before withdrawing; patrols in 4 villages nr. Jericho, Ramallah, and Tulkarm; enters a village nr. Hebron to arrest 2 Palestinian children for hurting cattle on a nearby Jewish settlement; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Tubas, detaining Hamas-affiliated PC mbr. Khalid Abu Tous. A day after a PA court rejected an appeal challenging Fatah’s 6/12 decision to expel Dahlan from the party, PA security forces raid Dahlan’s Ramallah home, arresting 23 guards and assistants and confiscating 16 guns, a computer, and 2 cars; Dahlan is currently in Jordan. (AFP, MNA, WAFA, YA 7/28; WP 7/29; PCHR 8/4; OCHA 8/5; see also AFP 7/27)

The IDF patrols in Qalqilya and a village nr. Salfit during the day; patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, Qalqilya, and Salfit late at night; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Salfit, firing rubbercoated steel bullets, and tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinians who confront them, injuring 1. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities begin archeological excavation work at al-Sultan Pool, a registered Islamic holy site nr. the Old City’s walls. (PCHR 6/16; OCHA 6/24)

The Fatah Central Comm. expels fmr. Fatah security chief in Gaza Muhammad Dahlan for criminal, financial, and other misdealings and “undermining Pres. Abbas.” (REU 6/12; NYT 6/14)