The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers razed Palestinian-owned land around the Yitzhar settlement. Israeli settlers with military escort also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near al-Bireh, causing damage. Israeli forces clashed with Israeli settlers as they evacuated the Oz Zion settlement outpost north of Jerusalem. Israeli undercover forces raided Birzeit University campus, forcing 5 students into a van with Palestinian license plates; 2 other students attempting to aid the 5 were shot and injured. The 5 students were released hours later. The PA condemned the raid. Israeli forces also demolished 2 residential structures and 1 agricultural structure near Idhna. 17 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Beit Fajjar, al-Khader, Jalazun refugee camp, al-Am’ari refugee camp, Beita, and Anzah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers led by deputy mayor of Jerusalem Aryeh King and MK from the Religious Zionist party Itamar Ben-Gvir made a provocative tour in Sheikh Jarrah. Israeli forces assaulted 1 Palestinian and confiscated his flag during the settler tour in Sheikh Jarrah. Israeli forces also demolished a car wash in Isawiya and a cemetery under construction in Umm Tuba. 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids. In the Naqab desert, as the Jewish National Fund began a forestation project near Sawa in defiance of protest from local Palestinian Bedouins of the al-Atrash tribe who use the land for agriculture, Israeli police violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near Hura; leader of the United Arab List Mansour Abbas threatened to boycott Knesset sessions if the work continued. (ALM 1/8; HA, HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/10; PCHR 1/11; HA 1/12; PCHR, WAFA 1/13)

PA foreign ministry summoned the Dutch Head of Mission to Palestine Kees van Baar to protest the Dutch government’s decision, from 1/6, to end funding to the Palestinian Union of Agricultural Work Committees. (HA, WAFA 1/10)

Secretary general of the Fatah Central Committee Jibril Rajoub said at a press conference in Damascus that PA president Mahmoud Abbas would visit Syrian president Bashir al-Asad in Syria soon. The visit would be the 1st since the Syrian civil war. The UAE has lead the rehabilitation of President al-Asad’s government and King Abdullah II of Jordan recently followed suit with a phone call to al-Asad. (MEE 1/11; ALM 1/16)

Members of the U.S. House and Senate formed the Abraham Accords Congressional Caucus to promote normalization deals between Israel and various Arab and Muslim countries. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) said that the bipartisan caucus will work to “strengthen existing partnerships and widen the circle of peace to new countries.” (MEMO, TOI 1/11)

Pro-Palestine activists shut down a facility in Oldham that produces technology for the Israeli weapons manufacture Elbit. Activists have, through different methods of civil disobedience, obstructed the work at the factory over an 18-month period. During that time, 36 activists have been arrested by English police. (MDW, MEMO 1/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Israeli forces demolishing a settlement outpost near the Yitzhar settlement; 3 soldiers and 1 settler were injured and several military vehicles were damaged. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Sabastia. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man near Haris at the Ariel settlement, claiming he had charged Israeli settlers and soldiers with a knife; no Israeli injuries were reported. 2 Palestinians were arrested for driving with the Palestinian man to the Ariel settlement: 1 on 12/31 and 1 on 1/2. The PA called the killing an execution. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets, including 1 minor. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and 7 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Bayt Dajan, injuring 44 Palestinians with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shut down the main road between Nablus and Jenin. Israeli forces also delivered a demolition order for a house in Umm al-Rihan. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested during a house raid in Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian using a rubber-coated bullet during a raid in Isawiya; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the Israeli eviction plans against the Salem family in Sheikh Jarrah; 1 minor was arrested and several Palestinian flags were confiscated. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Jabel Mukaber, assaulting 1 and arresting 1. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian shepherds east of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. In Israel, 1 Palestinian Israeli man was killed in Umm al-Fahm, marking the 126th murder of a Palestinian Israeli in 2021. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/31; MEMO 1/1; TOI 1/2; PCHR 1/6)

B’Tselem reported that 2021 saw the most killing of Palestinians since 2014. According to B’Tselem, 319 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and Israeli settlers. 9 Israelis were killed by Palestinians. The human rights organization also said 2021 saw the most demolitions of Palestinian homes in 5 years. 295 residential structures were demolished, displacing 895 Palestinians, including 463 minors. Israel also demolished 548 non-residential structures. (B’Tselem 1/4/2022)

Israel’s ministry of defense announced that it had signed a deal with the U.S. to buy 12 Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky CH-53K helicopters and 2 Boeing KC-46 refueling planes. (MEMO 12/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles driving on Route 60 near the Yitzhar settlement, causing damage. Israeli settlers also started construction on a pool near a water spring in Khirbet al-Farisiya. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, killing 1 Palestinian man with a shot to his head; 68 others were injured, including 4 with rubber-coated bullets. The PA foreign ministry called in the ICC to take action against Israel’s killing of Palestinian protesters. The man was the 9th victim of Israeli gunfire related to the weekly anti-settlement protest in Beita since May. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 6 with rubber-coated bullets, including 2 minors. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beitunia and al-Bireh. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in Isawiya and Jabel Mukaber. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated their boat. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian bird hunters near the Gaza fence; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/10; MEMO, PCHR 12/11; WAFA 12/12; HA, MDW 12/13; PCHR 12/16; HA 12/24)

In Lebanon, an explosion killed 1 and injured 4 others in the Burj el-Shamali refugee camp. Sources in the camp said the explosion happened in a Hamas weapons depot; however, Hamas denied the claim, saying the explosion was due to an electrical fault in a warehouse storing oxygen and gas cylinders for COVID-19 patients. (AJ, AP, HA, REU 12/10; AP, MEMO 12/12)

The New York Times reported that Israel consulted with the Biden administration before it struck 2 targets in Iran in June and September this year. (NYT 12/10; HA 12/11)

In promotional material for the upcoming book Trump’s Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, it was revealed that former U.S. president and likely candidate for the Republican presidential ticket in 2024, Donald Trump, made significant U.S. policy changes to help former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu win elections in Israel. Former President Trump told Ravid that he recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel and, separately, announced plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem to help Netanyahu, who was struggling in the Israeli elections. Trump also told Ravid that he left the Iran Nuclear deal because of Israel and dismissed the idea that it was due to Israeli intelligence, mocking the idea that Israel had presented anything new at the time. Ravid further reports in his book that Trump believes that Netanyahu never had any interest in making peace with the Palestinians. Trump explained to Ravid that PA president Mahmoud Abbas “was almost like a father” and that he thought Abbas wanted to make peace more than Netanyahu. Trump acknowledged to Ravid that his strategy of pressuring the Palestinian leadership back to negotiations after recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel had failed, saying “[t]hese are hardened people.” Netanyahu and Trump had a significant personal fallout due to Israel’s push to annex most of the West Bank, outside of the framework of the Trump administration’s plan for a peace deal. It was also revealed that Trump now holds a grudge against Netanyahu because Netanyahu congratulated U.S. president Joe Biden on his election win in 2020, which Trump has falsely claimed to be fraudulent and has never officially conceded. Trump said he had not talked to Netanyahu since losing the election and said to Ravid during the interview, “fuck him [Netanyahu].” (AP, AX, AX, HA 12/10; FWD, HA, HA 12/12; AX, HA, IN, MEE, MEMO 12/13; TOI 12/14; GDN 12/20)

In Ravid’s book Trump’s Peace, new details about the normalization agreement between Israel and the UAE are also revealed. According to Ravid, Avi Berkowitz, aide to senior advisor to the president Jared Kushner, suggested to Netanyahu on 6/30/2020 that he normalize relations with the UAE instead of moving ahead with annexation of parts of the West Bank. The UAE ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Otaiba had been in talks with the U.S. about normalization since March 2019 and had been pushing normalization with Israel. Ravid also writes in his book that UK ambassador to the UN Karen Elizabeth Pierce warned Berkowitz and U.S. special envoy to Iran Brian Hook that the UK and other countries would recognize the State of Palestine if Israel moved forward with annexing parts of the West Bank. (FWD 12/12; AX, HA 12/13; MEMO 1/4)

Germany contributed with $23.75 million to the UNRWA. (WAFA 12/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 900 olive and apricot saplings and stole olive harvests in Sabastia. Israeli settlers also uprooted 70 trees in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man with live ammunition during a late-night raid in Tammun. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor in Silwad before arresting him. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 structure in Haris and 1 house in Abu Nawwar, displacing 8 Palestinians, and delivered a stop-work notice for a house under construction in Deir Balut. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Kobar, Beita, ‘Azzun, al-Shuyukh, and Beit Umar. In East Jerusalem, 1 Israeli police officer was filmed hitting 1 Palestinian teenager at the Damascus Gate plaza. The teenager was filmed approaching the officer to complain that he was beaten by another officer. As the officer asked the Palestinian which of his colleagues had beaten him, the officer started beating the Palestinian with his club. Later, on 10/14, the officer was suspended for 5 days. 3 Palestinian minors were arrested in Silwan and al-Tur. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces confiscated 1 Palestinian fishing boat anchored some 6 nautical miles west of Gaza. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/12; HA, MEMO, WAFA 10/13; HA, PCHR 10/14; AJ 10/17)

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement that 9,300 olive trees had been destroyed in the West Bank from August 2020 to August 2021. The ICRC further stated that Palestinians growing olives face 3 challenges: impediments to their movement and access, harassment and violence by settlers, and impacts of climate change. (ICRC 10/12; MEMO 10/13)

The Palestinian prisoner administration said that some 400 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons soon will start an open-ended hunger strike to protest new restrictions imposed after 6 prisoners escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6. Most of the prisoners going on hunger strike are said to be affiliated with Islamic Jihad. (HA 10/12; AJ, AP 10/13)

The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) canceled a meeting with FIFA president Gino Infantino due to his participation in an event hosted by former U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman at the Israeli Museum of Tolerance, built on a Muslim cemetery in East Jerusalem that dates back to the 11th century. The PFA said in a statement that it views Infantino’s participation in the event “as a total affront to the values of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, both endorsed by the FIFA statutes.” (WAFA 10/12; WAFA 10/13)

The commander of an Israeli military unit that was attacked by Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement on 10/11 said they did not respond violently because his unit was in a Jewish community. The commander said that “the core of Yitzhar are good people.” (HA 10/12)

Israel’s justice minister Gideon Saar said at a conference that the U.S. consulate to Palestinians will not reopen in Jerusalem, saying, “It needs Israeli approval . . . We will not compromise on this issue.” (REU 10/12; MEMO 10/13)

Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid met with U.S. vice president Kamala Harris in Washington D.C. Foreign Minister Lapid is scheduled to meet with secretary of state Antony Blinken on 10/13. (REU 10/12; ALM, HA 10/13)

90 Google employees and more than 300 Amazon employees wrote an open letter published in the Guardian calling on the 2 companies to “pull out of Project Nimbus [a cloud server sold to Israel for $1.2 billion] and cut all ties with the Israeli military.” The employees complained that the 2 companies’ cooperation with Israel will “make the systematic discrimination and displacement carried out by the Israeli military and government even crueler and deadlier for Palestinians.” (NA 6/22; GDN, MEE 10/12; HA, MEMO, WAFA 10/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked and injured 1 Israeli soldier and damaged 3 vehicles in the Yitzhar settlement as Israeli forces tried to remove 1 settler-erected tent. Israeli settlers also installed water pipes on Palestinian-owned land in Ein al-Sakout. 14 Palestinians were arrested, including 13 during late-night raids in Beita, al-Khader, Umm Salamuna, and Yatta; 1 was arrested at a checkpoint near Jericho. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians at the Damascus Gate plaza using stun grenades and skunk water; 2 Palestinians were arrested. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian lands east of al-Qarara; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also opened fire at municipal workers at a landfill near Juhor ad-Dik; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (JP, WAFA, WAFA 10/11; HA, TOI 10/12; PCHR 10/14)

Founder of Rawabi City Bashar Masri announced that he will begin building 400 housing units on land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church in East Jerusalem near Bayt Hanina. Masri said it had taken him more than 10 years to get the building permits from the Israeli municipality. (WAFA 10/11)

Israel issued permits for 442 undocumented Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, making them official residents. Israel controls the Palestinian population registry so people without Israeli permits cannot receive a valid PA-issued identity card. More than 10,000 Palestinians are estimated to be living in the West Bank without being registered by Israel. Israel is said to register over 5,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza as part of an agreement made between Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz and PA president Mahmoud Abbas. (HA, TOI 10/11)

The Israeli high court of justice criticized the Israeli military for not protecting Palestinian farmers by enforcing a ban on Israeli settlers in the former Homesh settlement area. Because of the lack of enforcement, Palestinian farmers are frequently attacked by Israeli settlers in the area and Israeli settlers have erected a settlement outpost and a Yeshiva on the land. (HA 10/12)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Pope Francis on the phone. (WAFA 10/11)

Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said that Israel will never renounce its claim to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, even if Syria or its president Bashir al-Assad gains favor with the world. Prime Minister Bennett also said that his government seeks to increase the Israeli settler population in the area from 27,000 to 100,000. (MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI 10/11; ALM 10/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided ‘Urif but were chased away by locals before causing any damage. 1 Palestinian woman was shot by Israeli forces after allegedly trying to stab a soldier at the Yitzhar junction; her condition was unclear. Israeli forces also razed a 1-kilometer-long road leading to Battir. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Deir al-Ghusun, Husan, and Dura; during the raid in Deir al-Ghusun, 1 Palestinian was injured by Israeli forces while protesting their incursion. In East Jerusalem, 116 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Silwan, displacing a family of 12. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Sheikh Jarrah. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/10; AA, WAFA 8/11; PCHR 8/12)

Israel handed over the body of 1 Palestinian man killed in Beita by Israeli forces on 7/27 to his family. (WAFA 8/10)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said Israel again had deducted $31 million from the PA tax revenue as part of its continued policy to deduct funds allocated as stipends to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and their families. (WAFA 8/10; AA 8/11)

Prime Minister Shtayyeh said that PA employees who refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine offered to them would be put on unpaid leave until the end of the pandemic. (MEMO 8/11)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke with Tunisian president Kais Saied via phone. (WAFA 8/10)

In Syria, an explosion at a ship docked in Latakia injured 2 people. It was unclear what caused the explosion. (HA 8/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement vandalized 150 olive trees in Burin. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian shepherd leading a herd of sheep near the Yitzhar settlement. Israeli forces also demolished 1 agricultural structure and delivered 2 demolition orders in Nabi Samwil, demolished 11 residential structures in al-Qabbun, and seized 1 tractor, water tanks, and solar panels. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrested 33 Palestinian students from Birzeit University after detaining 45 students who were visiting the family who were victims of an Israeli punitive demolition in Turmus ‘Ayya on 7/8; 12 of the 45, all females, were released the same day. 16 other Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Beita, Tulkarm, al-Far‘a refugee camp, and Tuqu’; during the raid in al-Far‘a refugee camp, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians, injuring 1 with live ammunition. (HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/14; AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, PCHR, WAFA 7/15; HA 7/20)

The UAE inaugurated its embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv as agreed to in the 2 countries’ normalization deal from 2020. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, REU 7/14)

A spokesperson for Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party said that President Erdoğan and Israel’s president Isaac Herzog agreed to improve the 2 countries’ ties, including on trade and tourism, in a phone conversation on 7/12. The 2 countries still do not have ambassadors in each other’s countries after they were expelled in 2018. (AJ, HA 7/12; ALM 7/13; AJ, MEMO, REU 7/14; HA, TOI 7/15)

The Israeli military said that its Iron Dome missile defense system almost shot down a fighter jet, mistaking it for a rocket during Israel’s assault on Gaza in May, dubbed Operation Guardian of the Walls. During the operation, the Iron Dome system also shot down an Israeli military drone. (HA 7/14)

Germany contributed $17.7 million to the UNRWA and the World Food Programme in support of Palestinians in Gaza. (WAFA 7/14)

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler shot and injured 1 Palestinian man who was allegedly carrying a knife by the Yitzhar settlement, but according to Israeli forces, he posed no danger. Israeli settlers also set fire to olive and fig trees near Salfit. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near the Evyater settlement outpost near Beita, injuring 3 with live ammunition and 1 with rubber-coated bullets. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 6 with live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets. Israeli forces also arrested 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in Silat al-Harithiyya. Thousands of Palestinians protested throughout the West Bank, with the biggest crowds in Ramallah, calling for the resignation of PA president Mahmoud Abbas over the killing of PA critic Nizar Banat on 6/24 and the canceled elections. Israeli forces arrested 2 Palestinians in Salem. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were assaulted and arrested by Israeli forces near the Haram al-Sharif compound. (AJ, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/25; HA 6/26; HA 6/28; PCHR 7/1; HA 7/5)

Israel expanded the Gaza fishing zone from 6 nautical miles at its furthest to 9 and approved some raw materials to be used for construction to enter Gaza. (HA, REU 6/24; MEMO 6/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers blocked a road between Jerusalem and Hebron. Israeli settlers also vandalized 10 olive trees, 2 water tanks, and an irrigation system in Wadi Qana. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan; 1 Palestinian sustained fractures from a fall after being chased by the forces. Israeli forces also raided Luban al-Sharqiyya, leading to tear-gas related injuries and 1 arrest of a minor. Elsewhere, Israeli forces handed demolition orders for 4 commercial structures in Dayr Qadis. Israeli forces also blocked several roads in the Masafer Yatta area and sealed entrances to Beita. 23 Palestinians were arrested, including 19 during late-night raids in Ni‘lin and Bayt Umar, 2 were arrested and their car seized in Hebron, and 2 were arrested on a street in Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 Palestinian home in Issawiyya. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/23; PCHR 6/24)

The Israeli supreme court upheld a decision by the Israeli military to punitively demolish the home of an alleged attacker in Turmus ‘Ayya, despite the alleged attacker not having lived in the house for years as he became a resident of the U.S. before he allegedly shot 3 Israeli settlers on 5/2; the demolition will displace his wife and children, who all have U.S. citizenship. (AP, NBC 6/23; AN 6/24)

The Israeli civil administration approved 31 zoning plans for settlement expansion in Maale Adumim, Alfei Manashe, Elkana, Havat Sde Bar, and Yitzhar, including housing units, a commercial center, and a park. Chairperson of the Joint List Ayman Odeh criticized the new Israeli government, saying that “the left is surrendering to the right . . . the right continues to sabotage the chances of peace and to deepen the occupation, repression, and dispossession of millions of Palestinians.” (AP, HA 6/23)

A poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 51% of American democrats think that the U.S. is not supportive enough of Palestinians. Of all the participants in the poll, 32% thought that the U.S. is not supportive enough of Palestinians, while 37% thought the U.S. support was as it should be. (AP, HA 6/23)

Haaretz reported that the Israeli police have not opened an investigation into the killing of a Palestinian shot by an Israeli settler on 5/14 in al-Rihiya. (HA 6/23)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces installed a metal gate on a road west of Bethlehem. Israeli forces also arrested 11 Palestinians in late-night raids in and around al-‘Arub refugee camp, Taqqua, Tulkarm, and Beita. Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement threw stones at a Palestinian-owned house south of Nablus, causing damage. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested in Issawiyya and Anata. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen, arresting 1. In a separate incident, Israeli naval forces used water cannons against Palestinian fishermen, damaging 2 boats and injuring 1 Palestinian child. Israeli forces also opened fire on agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis. In Israel, Israeli forces demolished the bedouin village al-Araqib for the 149^th time since 2010. (PNN, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/5; PCHR 8/8)

A delegation of 42 U.S. Democratic representatives landed in Israel for a week-long trip to Israel and the West Bank sponsored by AIPAC. (MDW 8/5)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Nablus, Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Beitunia, Beita nr. Nablus, Dura, al-Majd nr. Hebron; raids the Nabih Salih campaign headquarters of an unidentified candidate in the 1/9 elections, confiscating election placards, documents. In Bayt Lahiya, a Hamas mbr. dies either when a rocket he is preparing explodes prematurely (according to the IDF) or when he is hit by an IDF tank shell (according to Palestinians). Jewish settlers clash with IDF soldiers who remove 2 structures at an unauthorized West Bank settlement outpost of Mitzpe Yitzhar; 1 soldier is wounded, 15 settlers are arrested; 1 soldier is arrested for encouraging his colleagues to refuse to evacuate the site (he is court-martialed and ordered jailed for 28 days on 1/4). (VOI, VOP 1/3 in WNC 1/5; NYT, WP, WT 1/4; VOI 1/4 in WNC 1/6; WT 1/5; HA, PCHR 1/6)