The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops briefly enter s. Gaza to bulldoze land along the border fence e. of Abasan, firing on nearby residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian. Israeli naval vessels detain a Palestinian fishing boat off the Bayt Lahiya coast, interrogating and releasing the fishermen. The UN reports that 2 Palestinians were killed and 6 were injured in tunnel collapses on the Rafah border in the previous wk.; in addition, the body of a Palestinian missing since 7/1 has been found in a collapsed smuggling tunnel. In the West Bank, IDF undercover units enter Yatta village in a vehicle with Palestinian license plates, raid an auto mechanics shop, arresting 1 Palestinian. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and neighboring ‘Askar r.c., and nr. Hebron, Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar cut down 24 Palestinian olive trees in nearby Burin village. Jewish settlers fr. Gilad settlement stone Palestinian cars on the Qalqilya–Nablus road. In Khan Yunis, a bomb explodes at the wedding of a fmr. Fatah-affiliated PA security officer, injuring 42 Palestinians; no group claims responsibility. (OCHA, PCHR 7/23)

Israel says it has taken significant steps to improve West Bank movement and access, including reducing manned IDF checkpoints and improving wait times at checkpoints, especially around Nablus, also noting that Israeli tour buses are now routinely bringing Israeli Palestinians to Nablus to shop. Palestinians and the UN confirm that restrictions on movement have been eased considerably in Jericho, Nablus, Qalqilya, and Ramallah; but the UN notes that there are still 68 manned and 545 unmanned barriers to Palestinian travel across the West Bank. Today, in the West Bank, the IDF conducts separate synchronized late-night house searches in villages s. and e. of Tulkarm and w. of Jenin, making no arrests; carries out late-night arrest raids in Balata r.c. and nr. Hebron, Salfit, Tulkarm. (WT 7/8; OCHA, PCHR 7/9)

For a 3d day, Israel allows significant cross-border transit through the Rafah crossing, allowing 600 Palestinians to enter Egypt and 494 to return to Gaza. IDF troops on the central Gaza border e. of Gaza Valley, supported by IDF helicopters, engage in a cross-border exchange of fire with armed Palestinians; the only casualty is a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy seriously wounded by IDF fire outside his home, 1,500 m fr. the border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts a rare daytime arrest raid, house searches in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Balata r.c. and Nablus, in Bil‘in, and nr. Jenin and Qalqilya. The Israeli High Court approves construction of the 1st 50 of 1,450 housing units in Adam settlement nr. Jerusalem, intended to house families to be resettled fr. the unauthorized outpost of Migron, as agreed btwn. the government and settlers in 11/08 (see Quarterly Update in JPS 151). (OCHA, PCHR 7/2)

No Israeli-Palestinian violence is reported. To mark the 3d anniversary of Shalit’s capture, Israeli protesters block the crossings into Gaza, and Israel’s transportation union urges haulers to observe a 1-day boycott on the import of goods to Gaza. Israel agrees to limit military incursions into 4 major Palestinian cities (Bethlehem, Jericho, Qalqilya, and Ramallah), allowing the PASF to operate there 24 hrs./day, instead of requiring them to remain in barracks fr. midnight to 5:00 a.m. as it had done before. Israel also agrees to remove some West Bank roadblocks and barriers to travel (there are currently more than 600), but no immediate steps are taken on this. (NYT, WJW, WP, WT 6/26; OCHA, PCHR 7/2)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Nablus. PASF officers shoot, wound a Palestinian driver who allegedly breaches Abbas’s motorcade in Ramallah. In Qalqilya, a 15-yr.-old Palestinian boy is hanged by his family on suspicion of collaborating with Israel. (PCHR 6/11; OCHA, PCHR 6/18)

In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home and an addition to a 2d home in East Jerusalem, displacing 15 Palestinians (including 8 children), with 1 family fined $3,000 for unlicensed construction; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Nablus and neighboring ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’, and Hizma village northeast of Jerusalem (arresting 3 12-yr.-old Palestinians and a 14-yr.-old), and nr. Jenin. The UN reports that in the previous wk., the IDF vacated 3 checkpoints around Qalqilya (including completely dismantling 1: Izbat Jalud) and increased the operating hours of 4 main checkpoints around Nablus (Asira al-Shamaliyya, Bayt Iba, Hawara, Shavei Shomron) to 24 hrs./ day 7 days/wk., significantly easing Palestinian travel btwn. Qalqilya and Nablus. The UN also reports that since the 5/31 and 6/4 Fatah-Hamas clashes in Qalqilya, Hamas police have arrested 73 Fatah-affiliated Palestinians on charges of “seeking to undermine internal security in Gaza.” Meanwhile, the PASF has arrested at least 74 Palestinians in the West Bank, making this the 2d wk. that the PASF has arrested more Palestinians than the IDF. (OCHA, PCHR 6/11)

U.S. special envoy Mitchell begins a 2-day visit to Israel and Ramallah (his 4th trip to the region) to follow up with Israeli and PA leaders regarding Obama’s 6/4 speech. (IFM 6/9; NYT, WT 6/10; NYT, WJW, WT 9/11) 

Israeli naval vessels halt a Palestinian fishing boat off the Gaza coast w. of Shati’ r.c., arresting 6 fishermen. In the West Bank, the IDF fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, and tear gas at Palestinians taking part in a weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin, killing 1 Palestinian with live ammunition, wounding 7 Palestinians (4 by live ammunition, 2 by tear gas canisters, 1 by rubber-coated steel bullets); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in, injuring 3; conducts late-night house searches in Tulkarm and Nur Shams r.c., making no arrests. In Qalqilya, the PASF restricts access to the funerals of 2 Hamas mbrs. killed on 6/4 to prevent them fr. being celebrated as martyrs, but puts up PA-sponsored posters around town commemorating the PASF officers killed in the 5/31 and 6/4 clashes. A Palestinian boy dies of injuries sustained in a 1/6/09 IDF attack on Jabaliya r.c., during OCL. (Jerusalem Report, NYT 6/6; OCHA, PCHR 6/11)

In Cairo, Obama gives a major address calling for a “new beginning” in relations btwn. the U.S. and the Muslim world, acknowledging historic missteps btwn. the two, stressing mutual interests and respect to combat stereotypes. He refers to Israel’s “occupation” as “intolerable” and notes the “daily humiliations—large and small” that Palestinians suffer, but also stresses the U.S.’s “unbreakable bond” with Israel. On the sidelines, Obama meets privately with Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak to discuss the peace process and Iran. (IFM 6/4; NYT, WP, WT 6/5; NYT 6/6; NYT 7/10)

In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes about a third of the Jordan Valley Bedouin community of Khirbat al-Ras al-Ahmar, razing 15 residential structures, 30 animal pens, 18 traditional ovens, displacing 128 Palestinians who have resided in the area since the 1960s, including 66 children, confiscating a tractor and water tank; fires rubber-coated steel bullets at stone-throwing Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall in Bil‘in; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Right-wing Jewish settlers send a letter to an IDF general threatening him and his children, and equating soldiers who evacuate settlement outposts with Nazi collaborators. PASF officers and Hamas mbrs. exchange fire in Qalqilya (see 5/31), leaving 2 Hamas mbrs., 1 PASF officer dead. (Yedi’ot Aharonot 6/4; NYT 6/5; NYT 6/6; HA 6/8; OCHA, PCHR 6/11)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin. During the day, as part of an ongoing campaign to arrest Hamas militants (at least 200 already detained) and confiscate their weapons, PA security forces (PASF) conduct a latenight raid into Qalqilya to arrest 2 wanted Hamas mbrs., sparking a heavy exchange of gunfire that leaves 6 Palestinians dead (3 PASF officers, 2 Hamas mbrs., and the owner of the building raided) and 4 PASF officers and 1 bystander wounded, marking the deadliest clash in the West Bank btwn. the 2 factions since 6/07. The PASF imposes a day-long curfew on Qalqilya. PA pres. Abbas, PM Fayyad praise the PASF for doing “their national duty” and vow to “strike with an iron fist against anyone harming the interests of the Palestinian people,” calling Hamas mbrs. “outlaws.” Hamas supporters in Gaza take to the streets in protest; Hamas-affiliated police arrest Fatah activists; and the Hamas leadership threatens to pull out of national unity talks in Cairo scheduled to resume in 7/09. (NYT, OCHA, WP, WT 6/1; OCHA, PCHR 6/4; Jerusalem Report 6/6; WP 6/26)

The IDF sends troops into Gaza to bulldoze land nr. the border fence e. of Jabaliya. The UN reports several previously unreported Gaza incidents that took place between 5/7 and 5/12 (no exact dates given): the IDF killed 1 armed Palestinian and wounded 1 armed Palestinian and 7 civilians (no details); Palestinians fired “several” rockets and mortars into Israel, causing no injuries but damaging 1 house; the IDF made several air strikes on Rafah border tunnels in response; there were 6 incidents of IDF gunfire and shelling across the border at Palestinian farmers, in 1 case setting 15 d. of wheat ablaze nr. al-Qarara. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a morning incursion into Qalqilya to raid and search the home of a wanted Palestinian (not at home), arresting his mother. Jewish settlers perform religious ceremonies at the vacated Homesh settlement site northwest of Nablus. Jewish settlers in Hebron stage a provocative march through the town (fr. Kiryat Arba through Wadi al-Husayn, Wadi al-Nasara, Jabir, al-Salayma, the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, al-Sahla, and al-Shuhada to Ramat Yishai settlement) in a show of force, vandalizing Palestinian homes and threatening Palestinians along the way; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (OCHA, WP, WT 5/13; PCHR, WJW 5/14)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Askar r.c. nr Nablus and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Qalqilya. Israel’s Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat presents to the Interior Min. planning comm. a proposed master plan for Jerusalem for the next 20 yrs. (HA, Jerusalem Post [Internet edition] 5/5; OCHA 5/6; PCHR 5/7; Ir Amin press release 6/30; HA 7/23)

Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds with at least 1 air strike on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. The IDF fires on a Palestinian woman grazing sheep nr. the border fence e. of Jabaliya, wounding her. In the West Bank, the IDF fires tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians taking part in weekly demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in, injuring 2; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas on Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara (10s suffer tear gas inhalation) and Ni‘lin (injuring 5); conducts late-night house searches in Nablus and neighboring Balata r.c., but makes no arrests. Jewish settlers fr. Gilad settlement nr. Qalqilya, escorted by IDF troops, attack Palestinian farmers working their land in nearby Jit village, slashing tires of a tractor and ordering the farmers off the land, saying it belonged to them; the IDF troops confiscate the agricultural tools of the Palestinians and order them to leave the area, giving the tools to the settlers. (WT 5/3; OCHA 5/6; PCHR 5/7)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Artas village nr. Bethlehem in the evening, randomly checking Palestinian IDs but does not make any arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. Jewish settlers stone Palestinian cars driving nr. Qalqilya, damaging 1 car. (OCHA 5/6; PCHR 5/7)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes a late-night raid on a Palestinian home nr. Qalqilya, demanding to detain a mentally handicapped man for interrogation, seriously beating his 26-yr.-old sister when she protests, damaging items in the home (including a Qur’an), before taking the man into custody. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya, Salfit. An Israeli Interior Min. comm. issues a recommendation that the government annex around 12,000 d. of land to Ma’ale Adumim’s settlement boundaries to link Ma’ale Adumim with Kirdar settlement, 3 km to the east; 6,000 new housing units would be built in Kirdar to create territorial contiguity with Ma’ale Adumim, greatly reducing the geographical contiguity between the n. and s. West Bank, and cutting off Palestinian access to Jerusalem. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29; PCHR 5/4)

In the West Bank, the IDF halts PA construction of a staging area outside Bethlehem where Pope Benedict XVI will be received when he visits the city on his upcoming tour (5/8–15), arguing that the plot falls in area C and therefore construction requires coordination with Israeli authorities. The IDF also beats several Palestinians holding a nonviolent protest against construction of a new settler-only bypass road nr. Carmiel settlement s. of Hebron (see 4/9), which is expected to displace 13 Palestinian families; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm. Around 20 Jewish settlers fr. Kefar Etzion nr. Bethlehem chase off a Palestinian farmer working his land nr. the settlement. Nr. Qalqilya, Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops prevent Palestinian farmers in Jit village fr. farming their land, vandalize 5 homes in the village. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Dayr al-Balah fire warning shots at a Palestinian farmer who strays nr. the border fence, forcing him to leave without injuring him, but damaging 4 nearby Palestinian homes. IDF troops at the Erez crossing fire on a World Vision vehicle carrying a Palestinian driver and a Japanese employee who had been informed that the IDF had approved his exit through the crossing; the 2 men are pinned under IDF fire for 15 minutes until the Japanese, using his World Vision shirt as a flag, is able to signal the troops to halt fire; neither man is hurt. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, and nr. Bethlehem, Qalqilya. A Palestinian deliberately drives into 2 Israeli border police officers at a checkpoint into Jerusalem, causing no serious injuries, before being halted and arrested. Dozens of Jewish settlers gather at the evacuated Homesh settlement site, stone Palestinian vehicles traveling the Jenin-Nablus road. (OCHA 4/22; PCHR 4/23)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists taking part in weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 3 Palestinians, including a pregnant woman); fires tear gas and beats several Palestinians at a similar nonviolent demonstration in al-Ma‘sara (injuring an Israeli man and a 9-yr.-old Palestinian child). Jewish settlers fr. Karnei Shomron and Keddumim nr. Qalqilya force Palestinian farmers off land nr. the settlement, block roads in the area to Palestinian traffic. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai in Hebron stone a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance transporting a patient fr. a hospital to her home, forcing the ambulance back to Hebron hospital; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (OCHA 4/15; PCHR 4/16)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight house searches in Qalqilya, but makes no arrests. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron set up 2 mobile homes and an electricity generator nr. the vacated Beit Shalom site; IDF troops observe but do not intervene. Jewish settlers fr. Carmiel s. of Hebron attack 3 Palestinian shepherds (including a pregnant woman) nr. the settlement. Jewish settlers fr. Carmiel and nearby Ma’on plant wheat on large areas of Palestinian land nr. the settlements and build a new road s. of Carmiel in an apparent effort to expand, and possibly link, the settlements (which are 3 km apart). (OCHA 4/15; PCHR 4/16)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian farmers to prevent them fr. working their land nr. the separation wall in Jayyus nr. Qalqilya; beats and fires tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinians holding a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bayt Allam n. of Hebron (injuring 6); makes rare daytime incursions into Dayr Abu Mash‘al (raiding a home and arresting 1 Palestinian) and Ni‘lin (patrolling streets, firing tear gas at residential areas) nr. Ramallah; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c., nr. Hebron. The IDF also completes the relocation of its Bayt Ibia checkpoint (see 3/15), allowing Palestinians freer movement between Jenin and Nablus, but places additional restrictions on Jenin residents seeking to travel s. to Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, angry over an IDF decision to allow Palestinians to use the Kiryat Arba Road by the settlement if they live in the immediate area and register their vehicles with the District Coordination Office, vandalize at least 14 Palestinian homes nr. the settlement. Jewish settlers fr. Efrat begin bulldozing land nr. Bethlehem for the creation of a settler-only bypass road; Israel declared the area state land in 2/09, 1 month after settlers first made attempts to seize the land for a road, and has not responded to appeals by the Palestinian owners. (OCHA 3/31, 4/1; PCHR 4/2)

Israeli naval vessels intercept a Palestinian fishing boat off the Rafah coast, arresting 4 Palestinians (including 2 teenagers). Late at night, the IDF enters Abasan in s. Gaza, arresting 1 Palestinian man. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a rare daytime incursion into Araba village nr. Jenin, searching several homes but making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., in ‘Askar r.c. and Balata r.c., and nr. Hebron and Salfit. Palestinian sources report that in the previous wk., the IDF has leveled large tracts of land s. of Qalqilya (including uprooting 400 olive trees) in preparation for separation wall construction. The IDF informs residents of the Palestinian village of Azun Atma, nr. the separation wall s. of Qalqilya, that they must obtain special permits fr. the Civil Admin. to be able to travel in the area; informs residents of 4 villages s. of Tulkarm that as of 4/1, the IDF will close the sole gate in the separation wall that gives them access to village farmlands located between the wall and the Green Line. (PCHR 3/26; OCHA 3/31, 4/1; PCHR 4/2)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast w. of Bayt Lahiya, seriously wounding 1 fisherman. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes the top floor of an apartment building in Bayt Safafa nr. East Jerusalem for being built without a permit, displacing 7 Palestinians; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Askar r.c., and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Qalqilya, Tulkarm. (OCHA 3/24; PCHR 3/19)

In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Jayyus nr. Qalqilya in the morning, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, injuring 1; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Tubas. The IDF also sends troops into Bayt Hanina n. of Jerusalem in the early morning, raiding the family home of the construction worker responsible for the 3/5 attack in Jerusalem, arresting 5 family members. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar stone Palestinian cars driving in the area, then seal off the road to Palestinian traffic. (OCHA 3/10, 3/11; PCHR 3/12)

The IDF carries out 8 air strikes on the Rafah border in the afternoon and 4 late in the evening, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF raids and searches a Palestinian home in al-‘Arub r.c. in the evening, making no arrests; reenters al-‘Arub r.c. hrs. later, firing percussion grenades, partially burning a home; sends troops into Kafr Haris village nr. Salfit, imposing a curfew, barricading entrances to the village, raiding and searching homes, and arresting 1 Palestinian before withdrawing 8 hrs. later; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., nr. Qalqilya. (OCHA 3/4; PCHR 3/5; OCHA 3/10)

Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, both of which land nr. Ashqelon, causing damage but no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes an afternoon incursion into Jayyus village nr. Qalqilya, imposing a curfew and arresting 1 Palestinian; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers uproot 130 trees fr. Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya. (WT 3/1; OCHA 3/3, 3/4; PCHR 3/5)

IDF ground forces backed by naval and air support continue to enter Gaza overnight, with troops taking up positions across n. Gaza (from which most Palestinian rockets have been fired), surrounding Gaza City, retaking the former Netzarim settlement site nr. the Gaza coast south of Gaza City, and bifurcating the Strip into e. and w. (cutting a swath roughly from the Qarni and Nahal Oz crossings to Netzarim on the coast, driving 1,000s of residents from Juhur al-Dik, al-Mughraqa, and al-Zahra’ with heavy artillery and tank fire), but not entering dense urban areas.

Combat notes: IDF-Palestinian ground fighting is described as “fierce,” characterized by heavy IDF artillery fire and heavy Palestinian sniping and mortar fire. Because the IDF stays out of built-up areas, there are few reports of close-quarter combat or heavy exchanges of gunfire. While ground troops concentrate in the north, Israeli air strikes and naval bombardment focus equally on the north and south, hitting more tunnels on the Rafah border and targeting Hamas leaders for assassination. (The IDF claims to assassinate Hamas rocket cmdr. Hussam Hamdan and IQB and long-range rocket cmdr. Muhammad Hilu in Khan Yunis, senior IQB mbr. Muhammad Shalbush in Jabaliya, but there is no independent confirmation.)

The IDF reports hitting 45 sites and carrying out 40 air strikes during the day, striking a produce market in Gaza City, several mosques, a medical building and 3 mobile clinics in Shati’ r.c. run by a Danish charity, homes of at least 4 Hamas mbrs. (most of whom have gone into hiding), and suspected weapons depots across Gaza. Target areas include Abasan, Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, al-Bureij r.c., Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City (al-Daraj, Tal al-Hawa, al-Tuffah, al-Yarmuk, al-Zaytun), Jabaliya, Juhur al-Dik, Khan Yunis, al-Mughraqa, al-Nasser (n. of Rafah), Rafah, Shati’ r.c., al-Shuka, al-Zahra’. After dark, IDF troops conduct door-to-door searches on the outskirts of Gaza City.

Palestinians fire 29 rockets (including at least 12 Grads) and 5 mortars into Israel, hitting Ashdod, Ashqelon, Netivot, Ofakim, and Sederot; 1 house in Sederot is damaged and 1 Israeli woman lightly injured. 

At least 47 Palestinians (including 4 paramedics) are killed and 400 wounded (including 3 paramedics) during the day; 1 IDF soldier is killed, 1 is seriously wounded in a heavy exchange of gunfire nr. Jabaliya; 15 IDF soldiers are wounded (3 seriously) by Palestinian mortar fire inside Gaza. The UN and Palestinian medical workers estimate the Palestinian toll to have reached at least 507 dead, 2,400 injured. The Israeli toll stands at 5–6 killed, more than 40 injured.

Humanitarian notes: The Israeli FMin. announced a new joint office of the FMin. and Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, called the Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Center (HACC), to coordinate humanitarian organizations operating on aid transfers to the Strip. The UN reports that shortages of fuel, electricity, and water are worsening. Gazan hospitals report drastic shortages of anesthesia, surgical equipment, heaters, spare parts. (AP, BBC, IDF, JAZ, National Public Radio, OCHA, REU, WT 1/4; IDF, IFM, NYT, RFM, UNOSAT, WP, WT 1/5; BBC 1/6; IFM, PCHR 1/8; WP 1/27)

In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian demonstrator who attempts to climb the separation wall nr. Qalqilya; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, nr. Jenin. Israel’s High Court rules that the IDF may seal 2 floors of the home of the East Jerusalem Palestinian who killed 8 students at the Mercaz HaRava yeshiva in Jerusalem in 3/6/08, even though the gunman was killed during the attack and sealing the home would serve only to punish his extended family; another floor of the home will not be sealed because it is being rented to an unrelated family. (PCHR 1/8)

OCHA urgently appeals to Israel to expand “the list of imports into Gaza . . . to include vital spare parts for maintenance and operation of the power plant, water and sanitation utilities, and other critical infrastructure and basic services for the civilian population” so as to prevent further deterioration of humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Gaza banks close, fearing runs on cash. (Israel has again barred entry of cash to the Strip; see 11/24.) The Israeli government informs the High Court that it will lift a month-old ban on allowing journalists into Gaza, but takes no steps to do so. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night house searches nr. Nablus. Some 600 Israeli police and soldiers use rubber batons, percussion grenades, tear gas to evict 200 Jewish settlers fr. Beit Shalom, leaving 30 settlers and 3 soldiers injured, sparking settler violence against Palestinians across the West Bank. In Hebron, settlers rampage through Palestinian areas, burn 5 homes, set fires to olive groves, write racist graffitti, seriously damage other homes, cars, and cemeteries; at least 16 Palestinians are injured, including 2 who are shot and seriously wounded by a settler. During the rampage, the IDF declares the area a closed military zone, bars access to firemen and ambulances (settlers attack one fire engine), and takes no steps to halt settler rioting. Jewish settlers fr. Eli and Shilo settlements nr. Ramallah block the main Ramallah– Nablus road to Palestinian traffic, stone Palestinian cars; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Other Jewish settlers break car windows, write anti-Muslim graffiti on Palestinian homes in several villages e. of Qalqilya. (OCHA 12/4; NYT, WP, WT 12/5; WP 12/8; PCHR 12/18)

IDF troops along the s. Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire on a group of armed Palestinians inside Gaza, causing no injuries; troops then cross into Gaza, exchange fire with armed Palestinians, wounding 4. PRC mbrs. then fire 11 mortars fr. Gaza toward the IDF military post at Nahal Oz crossing; 3 mortars hit the base, wounding 6 IDF soldiers, 1 critically. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts an evening raid on an Internet cafe nr. Jenin, checking IDs and searching ´ the premises but making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jerusalem, Qalqilya, Tulkarm; conducts synchronized, late-night house searches in Tubas and neighboring al-Fara‘ r.c., and in 8 villages s. of Jenin, making no arrests; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 1 Japanese activist), Jayyus nr. Qalqilya (injuring 2 Palestinians), and Ni‘lin (injuring 2 Danish activists, 1 Palestinian teenager). Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba and Beit Shalom attack Palestinians, vandalize property in nearby Palestinian areas, seriously injuring 4 Palestinians, including a 6-yr.-old boy. Later, IDF troops close the area, take up positions on surrounding rooftops, escort 5 busloads of settlers from other parts of the West Bank into the area to “defend” the illegal Beit Shalom outpost. In the evening, the settlers rampage through Palestinian areas, burning cars, slashing tires, breaking windows of cars and homes, destroying water tanks; the IDF does not intervene. (NYT 11/29; OCHA 12/3; PCHR 12/4)

In Gaza, UNRWA suspends its program of cash distributions to the 100,000 poorest refugees (intended to enable them to supplement their basic food ration with fresh vegetables and other vital household supplies) because there are no Israeli shekels circulating in Gaza due to Israel’s 8/08 ban on exporting currency to Gaza’s banks and hoarding by Gazans. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night house searches in and around Balata r.c. and Nablus, nr. Qalqilya; occupies 4 Palestinian homes in the Wadi al-Nassara area of Hebron, restricts Palestinian movement in the neighborhood while Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba hold a celebration. (OCHA, PCHR 11/20; PCHR 11/27)

U.S. Secy. of State Rice begins her final 4-day Middle East tour of Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank to discuss efforts to achieve “lasting peace in the region consistent with the goal of a two-state solution.” The U.S. had announced the trip on 10/30, when optimism surrounding the Gaza ceasefire was high, hoping that the visit would end with the signing of an Israeli-Palestinian joint statement on future negotiations at a high-level Quartet meeting on 11/9. In the wake of the 11/4–5 violence, however, the White House declares today, as Rice begins her meetings, that it intends to leave IsraeliArab peacemaking to the Obama admin. and no longer thinks any Israeli-Palestinian peace deal will occur before Bush leaves office in 1/09. Rice meets with Livni today. (BBC 11/6; NYT, WP, WSJ 11/7) (WT 10/31; HA 11/8; IFM, NYT, WP, WT 11/9; WP 11/10)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on Palestinian farmers working their fields nearby, forcing them to leave. The IDF also makes an air strike on a group of Palestinians nr. Jabaliya r.c. allegedly preparing to fire a rocket, injuring 1. Palestinians fire 4 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, in the morning, the IDF sends undercover units into Qalqilya driving a car with Palestinian plates to raid a store, arrest the owner; conducts a similar undercover raid into Nablus later in the day, raiding another store and arresting the owner; sends troops into al-Khadir village at midday, forcing stores to close, patrolling streets, withdrawing early in the evening; makes an evening incursion into Azun nr. Qalqilya, imposing a curfew, beating Palestinians who do not quickly leave the streets, withdrawing before midnight. Abbas accuses Hamas forces in Gaza of detaining nearly 50 Fatah members and supporters in a political move to undermine upcoming Cairo unity talks; at least 9 of those arrested, including a Fatah PC mbr., are released by the end of the day. A Palestinian woman dies of injures receive in the 11/4 IDF attacks on Gaza. (HA 11/6; MM 11/7; OCHA 11/12; PCHR 11/13)

Israeli pres. Shimon Peres sets 2/10 as the date for parliamentary elections. (REU 10/28; MM 10/29)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and Salfit, nr. Bethlehem and Qalqilya. (OCHA 10/29; PCHR 10/30)