The Palestine Chronology

In its largest military operation since the start of the al-Aqsa intifada (in terms of area, size of the force involved), Israel sends IDF infantry, tanks, armored bulldozers, and helicopters to occupy the PA-controlled sector of Hebron, leaving 6 Palestinians dead, wounding at least 40, demolishing 3 homes, occupying 15 houses and 1 school. The IDF also send tanks into areas A outside Netzarim to demolish 2 Palestinian homes; occupies 2 Palestinian houses in Kafr Dik, al-Khadir as military posts; bulldozes a PSF post nr. al-Sudaniyya; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Hanun (destroying 8 Palestinian homes), Khan Yunis, Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Azun, Dayr al-Ghasun, Kafr Dik; bar farmers nr. Bethlehem fr. harvesting their lands. Jewish settlers attack Palestinians harvesting olives outside Nablus, vandalize nearby Palestinian homes. A Palestinian sniper fatally shoots a Jewish settler nr. the Green Line nr. Tulkarm. The PC calls an emergency mtg., reiterates the call on Palestinians to adhere to the cease-fire. (AFP, AP, HP, LAW, MM 10/5; AFP 10/5 in WNC 10/9; HP, NYT, WP, WT 10/6; al-Quds 10/6 in WNC 10/9; MEI 10/12; LAW 10/13)

The White House rebukes Sharon for his harsh statements of 10/4 saying they are "unacceptable"; urges Israel to resume peace talks and to refrain fr. invading PA-controlled areas, demolishing houses, conducting assassinations. (AP, MM 10/5; NYT, WP, WT 10/6; MM 10/8)

Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza continue demonstrations to mark the 1st anniversary of the al-Aqsa intifada. The IDF clashes with protesters, killing 3 Palestinians, wounding more than 100. A 4th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. The main hot spots are Hebron, Qarni crossing, Rafah. Inside Israel, 1,000s of Israeli Arabs hold rallies in Arraba, Haifa, Jit, Kafr Manda, Kafr Qana, Nazareth, Sakhnin, Umm al-Fahm; demonstrations in Nazareth, Umm al-Fahm turn violent with protesters clashing with police, vandalizing stores, but no injuries are reported. The IDF directs shell, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of al-Bireh, Brazil camp, Hebron, Khan Yunis, Yibna; sets fire to a Palestinian orchard nr. a bypass road outside Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, Ramallah. Jewish settlers install a tower, water reserve, electricity hook-up to a new settlement enclave btwn. Suisa, Ma'on settlements. (HP 9/29; NYT, WP, WT 9/30; al-Quds 9/30 in WNC 10/9; MM, WT 10/1; Independent, NYT 10/2; WJW 10/4; LAW 10/10)

Israel, the PA each complain that the other has not undertaken the steps required in the initial 48 hr. stage of the Tenet plan. Sharon meets with his inner cabinet, which agrees to allow Peres to continue truce talks with PA officials, but says it will resume "initiated actions" in 48 hrs. if violence continues. (HP 9/29; NYT, WP, WT 9/30; al-Quds 9/30 in WNC 10/9; MM, WT 10/1; Independent, NYT 10/2; WJW 10/4; LAW 10/10)

Although the IDF says today has been the quietest day since the al-Aqsa intifada began a yr. ago, Sharon again blocks plans for an Arafat-Peres mtg., saying the PA has not provided 48 hrs. of "absolute quiet" and again calling Arafat a "terrorist" on the level of Bin Laden. Peres threatens to "disappear on vacation" if Sharon does not allow the mtg., whereas right-wing MKs threaten to leave the governing coalition if Sharon allows it. Peres boycotts today's cabinet mtg.; holds preparatory talks for an Arafat mtg. with PA officials. Powell phones Sharon again to urge him to allow the mtg. (HA, JP [Internet], REU 9/23; HP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/24; al-Quds 9/24 in WNC 9/26; NYT 9/25; MEI 9/28; WJW 10/4)

IDF troops in Qalandia fire tear gas at Palestinians attempting to sneak around their checkpoint on foot; 1 Palestinian dies of complications fr. inhaling the tear gas. A 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. The IDF directs shells/heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, Hebron, Khan Yunis, Salfit, Ziwata; razes agricultural land in the Hebron area; conducts arrest raids in Batayr. The PSF temporarily detains 5 Palestinians for instigating clashes with the IDF nr. Rafah on 9/20. (HP, PMC, REU 9/24)

2 Palestinians die of injuries received earlier, including senior Fatah mbr. Bardawil who was wounded on 6/5 in a possible assassination attempt. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; raids 3 PA-controlled areas in Gaza, 1 in Hebron; occupies an uninhabited building in Nablus for use as an IDF post. Palestinians fire mortars at 2 Gaza settlements, causing no damage. Jewish settlers attempt to set up a new enclave nr. Nablus, where a settler was killed a wk. ago, but the IDF intervenes, declares the area a closed military zone. IDF troops bar an ambulance carrying a Palestinian man suffering a heart attack fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a hospital; the man dies en route to the hospital via a 2d, longer path. Troops also bar a Palestinian woman in labor from crossing a checkpoint to reach Jericho hospital 40 m. away; after she gives birth, the soldiers allow her to walk through the crossing with her newborn. Israeli security forces arrest a number of Palestinian fr. Hebron working illegally inside the Green Line; escort them to Gaza, where they are barred fr. returning to Hebron. (HA, HP 6/8; HA 6/11)

CIA Dir. Tenet holds preliminary mtgs. with Sharon in Tel Aviv, Arafat in Ramallah. Israel presents two lists of Palestinians it wants arrested immediately: 34 Palestinians who committed anti-Israeli attacks and were released fr. PA prisons since the intifada began; some 300 Palestinians that "participated in the recent violence against military and civilian targets." The PA says it will coordinate with Israel and act on tips to prevent attacks, noting that it has already passed information to Israel regarding 2 possible suicide bombings since 6/1, but will not make preventive arrests without probable cause. (HA, MM 6/7; HJ, MENA, al-Quds, SA 6/7 in WNC 6/8/; MM, NYT, WP 6/8; DUS 6/8 in WNC 6/11; NYT 6/9)

In Ramallah, reps of the nationalist and Islamist groups give PLO Exec. Comm. secy. Mahmud Abbas a memorandum calling on Arafat to open a "national dialogue" to discuss forming an emergency government that includes all Palestinian factions. (AYM 6/8 in WNC 6/11; HJ 6/10 in WNC 6/12; AYM 6/12 in WNC 6/14)

Palestinians mark Nakba commemoration day by observing 3 minutes of silence. Large rallies are held in every major Palestinian city in the West Bank and Gaza, after which a recorded message by Arafat is read over loudspeakers. Israeli Arabs hold marches to the sites of their destroyed villages. Marches, rallies are also held in Amman (where 1,000s demonstrate), Cairo, Tehran, Washington. (MM 5/15; IRNA, MENA 5/15 in WNC 5/16; SA 5/15, HJ, JT, al-Quds 5/16 in WNC 5/17; NYT, WP, WT 5/16; WJW 5/17; HA, WP 5/18)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate due to the Nakba anniversary, leaving 5 Palestinians, 1 Israeli settler dead, some 250 Palestinians wounded. In an apparent assassination in Gaza, the IDF fires a tank shell at the car driven by `Abd al-Hakim al-Manama, bodyguard of Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Yasin, killing him and a passenger. In Ramallah, an IDF soldier shoots French TV reporter Bertrand Aguirre, who captures his targeted shooting on video; Aguirre escapes fatal injury because he is wearing a bulletproof vest. A Palestinian woman gives birth at an IDF checkpoint when soldiers refuse to let her pass to reach a hospital. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Rafah, Tulkarm. (AP, LAW 5/15; HP, NYT, WP, WT 5/16; PCHR 5/17; CSM 5/18; JP 5/25)

The Higher Follow-Up Comm. for the Arab Community (HFCAC), composed of Israeli Arab political and community leaders, reports that Israel is restricting the freedoms of Israel Arabs in light of the al-Aqsa intifada. Israeli Arab journalists, poets have been detained for questioning, warned against "incitement" for writing on the intifada; community activists have received threatening telephone calls fr. police, intelligence officials; Israel police have opened investigations against 4 Israeli Arab MKs; 1 Israeli Arab has been placed under administrative detention; several Israeli Arabs have had their passports confiscated for taking part in a trip to Syria. (HFCAC press release 5/15)

In Washington, PA senior negotiator Abbas holds talks with Secy. of State Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice on halting violence, Arafat visiting the U.S. (WP, WT 5/16; MENA 5/16 in WNC 5/17; NYT 5/17, 5/21)

Israel, the PA submit their official responses to the Mitchell Comm. report, generally welcoming the report as a basis for a cease-fire. (MM 5/15; NYT 5/16; AYM 5/16 in WNC 5/18; NYT 5/17)

Israel reinforces troops in Shaba` Farms, directs machine gun fire across the border into Lebanon, flies helicopters along the border area. (RL 5/15 in WNC 5/16)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue to escalate, leaving 1 Palestinian dead. 5 Palestinian mortars fr. Gaza land nr. the town of Sederot inside Israel, only 4 mi. fr. Sharon's farm, causing no damage. Although Hamas claims responsibility, Israel says the PA is "undoubtedly" behind the manufacture of homemade mortars, which Palestinians have increasingly used since late 1/01. After a mtg. of Sharon's inner cabinet, the IDF carries out 4 hrs. of land, sea, air strikes against PA security posts across the Gaza Strip, hitting Gaza City's main police headquarters, at least 7 Force 17 posts in Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, Rafah; 1 PSF officer is killed, 36 Palestinians are injured. IDF officials say they are preparing for a "rolling episode." The IDF sets up roadblocks dividing the Strip into 3 parts; closes the border with Egypt; bulldozes Palestinian land nr. Bayt Hanun (217 dunams destroying 11 Palestinian homes), Rafah; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Jala, Bayt Sahur, al-Khadir; occupies 2 Palestinian homes nr. Morag settlement as IDF posts. In the West Bank, the IDF shells residential areas in Aida refugee camp, Bayt Jala, Bayt Sahur, al-Khadir. The PA cancels a security mtg. with Israel in protest (see 4/11). (AP, MEZ, MM, NYT, WP 4/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/18; WJW 4/16; LAW, MEI, NYT 4/20; JP 4/27)

At Israeli FM Peres's urging, Jordanian FM Khatib comes to Tel Aviv as planned (see 4/15). He presents Sharon, Peres with a formal, written version of the Jordanian-Egyptian nonpaper. Sharon tells Khatib the proposal a "nonstarter," but Peres says it will be studied. (AP, MM, NYT, WP 4/17; JT 4/17 in WNC 4/18; MM 4/19; MEI 4/20; Economist [Internet] 5/3; MEI 5/4)

The Israeli DMin. asks the Finance Min. to release a $936 m. supplement to the DMin. budget to cover the costs of the last 6 mos. of the al-Aqsa intifada. (HA 4/17)

After Israel announces it is ending its "policy of restraint," Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify sharply, leaving 6 Palestinians dead, 136 wounded. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at PA-controlled areas in Hebron, in the heaviest barrage there since the beginning of the al-Aqsa intifada. Serious clashes are also reported in Gaza and in Nablus, where 10,000 Palestinians rallying to mark Land Day clash with IDF troops, who shoot dead 5 Palestinians. The IDF also directs shelling, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of al-Bireh, Jinin, Rafah, Tulkarm; confiscates 100 dunams of land nr. Qalqilya for a new settlement bypass road. Frustrated with Israeli security checks, Palestinian workers at Erez industrial zone riot, prompting Israel to close the zone--an unprecedented move since the purpose of the zone is make Palestinians who work there and the businesses that employ them (60% of which are Israeli-owned) immune to closures. (AP, HP, LAW 3/30; NYT, WP, WT 3/31; Sunday Times [London], WT 4/1; HJ 4/1 in WNC 4/5; Globes 4/2 in WNC 4/3)

In Sakhnin, Israel, 10,000 Israeli Arabs participate in a peaceful Land Day rally--the 1st major protest since the 10/00 demonstrations, which were violently suppressed by Israeli police, who, this time, are ordered to intervene only if protesters block major roads. Major Land Day commemorations are also held in Jordan, Lebanon. (HP, MM 3/30; NYT 3/31; JT 4/1 in WNC 4/2)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. Israel eases the closure on Gaza, partially reopening the Gaza airport, Rafah and Qarni crossings, key roads. In Gaza, 3 masked gunmen assassinate Palestinian Broadcasting Corp. (PBC) head Hisham Makki, notorious for his corruption, close ties with Arafat. Israel, the PA concurs that the gunmen were probably Palestinian. Jewish settlers continue to attack Palestinian property in Khan Yunis, as they have since 1/14. Armed settlers also bar Palestinians fr. leaving or entering Bayt Furik for a 2d day. The IDF conducts arrest sweeps in Dahiyat Barid, al-Ram, Silat Dahir; further restricts movement btwn. Jerusalem and Bethlehem/Hebron, arresting 60 Palestinian laborers returning fr. Jerusalem; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas in Tulkarm; bulldozes agricultural land nr. Nablus. (IsRN, MM 1/17; MENA 1/17 in WNC 1/19; HP, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 1/18; NYT, WP 1/19; WJW 1/25; MA 1/25 in WNC 1/26; MEI, MM 1/26; JT [Internet] 2/1)

In Cairo, Arafat meets Israeli FM Ben-Ami, tells him the PA is ready to hold marathon talks aimed at reaching a peace agmt., or at least drafting a document citing agmts. and differences, by the 2/6 Israeli elections. (IsRN, MM 1/17; MENA 1/17 in WNC 1/19; MENA 1/17, 1/18 in WNC 1/20; MM, NYT, WT, YA 1/18; NYT, WP 1/19)

Israel declares it will not cooperate with a UNHRC inquiry into the causes of the al-Aqsa intifada (see 11/22), arguing that the UNHRC comm. is unnecessary since the Mitchell Comm. is charged with the same task. (PA press release 1/22; JP [Internet] 1/26; BDL 1/31) (see 1/13)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate, leaving 8 Palestinians dead, including senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Sa'ir al-Khruf, who is assassinated by the IDF. (1 Palestinian dies en route to the hospital when his ambulance is detained by the IDF for over 1 hr.) In Nablus, 20,000 Palestinians attend a funeral for 3 of the dead killed overnight. Israel allows a small number of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians over age 35 to attend Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque. Those that are barred scuffle with Israeli police who respond with rubber bullets, stun grenades, tear gas. The IDF also placed curfews on Salfit, Qasrah to conduct an arrest sweep. IDF directed shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas in Aida, Aqbat Jabir camp, Bayt Jala (damaging an elementary school), al-Bireh, Dayr al-Balah, Nablus, Ramallah (damaging the PA Local Government Min.), Tulkarm; bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land across Gaza, in Qalqilya. In Rafah, the IDF fires a shell at a family protesting the bulldozing of their land, injuring 6 children. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian property around Qalqilya, shoot at Palestinians in Silt al-Thahir (wounding 1). (ADM, LAW 12/15; NYT, WP, WT 12/16; PCHR 12/18; NYT 1/17)

Israel's Ben-Ami meets with Arafat at Erez to discuss resuming peace talks, holds follow-up mtg. with PA Information M `Abid Rabbuh in Tel Aviv. The State Dept. says that midlevel Israeli, PA negotiators may come top Washington the wk. of 12/18. (NYT, WP 12/16) (see 12/10)

In Gaza, over 30,000 Palestinians attend a Hamas rally in support of continuing the al-Aqsa intifada no matter what stand the PA regarding negotiations with Israel. (MEI 12/22)