The Palestine Chronology

Massive fires rage nr. Jerusalem and in Haifa for a 2d day, causing over 200 incidents of serious damage. Elsewhere in Israel, Israeli forces demolish 3 Palestinian-owned buildings in Lydda. In the West Bank, IDF troops patrol nr. Nablus and Hebron, and arrest 3 Palestinians and confiscate 1 car during late-night raids nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, and in Nablus. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli authorities release the corpse of a Palestinian killed by Israeli forces on 9/30 to his family. Only 15 people are allowed to attend his funeral in the Old City. Meanwhile, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in Silwan. (MNA 11/23; MNA, PCHR 11/24; PCHR 12/1)

Approximately 1,000 UNRWA employees go on strike in Gaza City to protest the agency’s failure to fill vacant positions and to pay full salaries to many employees. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian from Bethlehem as he is attempting to cross into Israel for work. They also arrest 5 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Nablus and nr. Ramallah; and patrol nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Silwan. In Israel, a mosque in Lydda is fined around NIS 726 (approx. $200) in accordance with Israel’s “pollution and nuisance” law for using loudspeakers to broadcast the call to prayer at night. (MNA, WAFA 11/21; MNA 11/22; PCHR 11/24)

The Israel Land Authority announces that the bedouin village Umm al-Hiran will be demolished on 11/22. The village’s residents are to be evacuated and relocated to a nearby municipality to make way for the construction of a new Jewish settlement called Hiran. (EI 11/23)

In a 2d day of cross-border violence, Palestinians fire mortar shells at Israeli patrols along Gaza’s s. and n. borders in 3 separate incidents, causing no injuries or damage. Hamas will take credit for at least 1 of the shellings. Israeli forces launch artillery shells at the 3 sources of shelling and conduct at least 5 air strikes in s. Gaza, causing damage and no injuries. After the day’s violence, the IDF declares a region nr. the border a closed military zone and, according to Palestinian sources, IDF troops conduct unspecified operations along the border in Rafah and nr. Jabaliya r.c. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids and house searches in and around Hebron and nr. Bethlehem, arresting 6 Palestinians; patrols nr. Hebron. Israeli forces deliver a stop-work order to a Palestinian home under construction in Hebron. Israeli settlers attack a group of Palestinian schoolchildren in c. Hebron, causing no injuries, and assault a Palestinian activist nr. al-Ibrahimi Mosque, causing moderate injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids and patrols in Issawiyya and al-Tur. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes in bedouin communities in the Negev and nr. Lydda. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 5/4; MNA, TOI 5/5; OCHA 5/6; PCHR 5/12)

Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office says that DM Ya’alon and Public Security Minister Erdan have been authorized, as of 5/1, to decide whether or not to return the bodies of Palestinians killed in confrontations with the IDF and Israeli police. This statement reverses Netanyahu’s decision, on 3/27, ordering Ya’alon not to return any bodies. (HA, YA 5/4)

The PLO Exec. Comm. decides to start implementing the PA’s threat to limit security coordination with the IDF if the “current situation” continues. PASF troops are instructed to implement the decision “under supervision of the Palestinian political echelon” and security agencies will decide how quickly to implement it. (MNA 5/7)