The Palestine Chronology

Approximately 13,000 Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return. There are some reports of protesters flying incendiary balloons and kites into Israel, but no reports of fires or any damage. IDF troops violently disperse the demonstrations near Rafah, Khan Yunis, Jabaliya refugee camp, Gaza City, and al-Bureij refugee camp; 1 Palestinian is killed and at least 25 are injured (1 Israeli soldier is injured as well). This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 196. Hours after the protests, the Israeli Air Force conducts air strikes on 2 Hamas sites east of Gaza City, completely destroying them, according to Palestinians in the area. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against the Israeli occupation in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya; 1 Palestinian photojournalist covering the protests is injured. They also shoot and injure a Palestinian as he allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli settler outside the Kiryat Arba settlement near Hebron; arrest 4 Palestinians during raids near Jenin; and patrol near Nablus, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers throw stones at a Palestinian taxi northwest of Nablus, causing minor damage. (EI, HA, JP, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, YA, YA 1/11; HA, WAFA 1/12; PCHR 1/17)

Late at night, the Israeli Air Force conducts air strikes on more than 8 allegedly Iranian and Hezbollah-affiliated targets in and around Damascus, causing extensive damage. According to the Syrian press, Syrian air defenses intercept a number of Israeli missiles targeting additional sites. (JP, TOI, YA 1/12; JP, YA 1/13)

In the West Bank, IDF troops open fire at a Palestinian vehicle driving outside Silwad village near Ramallah, injuring the driver. They also shoot and critically injure a Palestinian minor during clashes sparked by an alleged stone-throwing attack outside Qalqilya. IDF raids in al-Khadir near Bethlehem and Jalazun refugee camp near Ramallah spark additional clashes; 1 Palestinian is injured and 7 are arrested. IDF troops arrest 11 more Palestinians during further raids near Salfit, Ramallah, Hebron, and Tulkarm; and patrol near Hebron throughout the day. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles driving between Nablus and Ramallah, between Nablus and Tulkarm, and outside Hebron, causing minor damage to several. Three settler families set up makeshift homes on Palestinian-owned land outside the Kiryat Arba settlement in protest of the recent Palestinian attacks on their fellow settlers. Unidentified assailants throw stones at Israeli settlers driving near Nablus, moderately injuring 1 settler. In East Jerusalem, right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Meanwhile, an Israeli settler assaults a Palestinian near the Old City. Israeli forces then arrest the Palestinian victim of the assault and a 2d Palestinian during raids in Silwan. A Palestinian demolishes his own home in Jabal Mukabir to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/16; MNA, MNA 12/17; HA 12/18; PCHR 12/20)

Following a week of escalated tensions and violence across the West Bank, Israel’s Education Minister Naftali Bennett leads a rally outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem calling for a stronger crackdown on the occupied Palestinian territories. Bennett accuses the “security establishment” of choosing “the rights of Palestinians over the security of Israelis.” The crowd chants slogans calling for Netanyahu to resign. Meanwhile, the Israeli cabinet unanimously votes to back a piece of legislation, dubbed the “Young Settlement Bill,” which would direct the government to administer 66 illegal settlement outposts as it would legal settlements for a period of 2 years. During that time, the government would be directed to figure out a way to retroactively authorize the 66 outposts. (TOI 12/16; FMEP 12/21)

The IDF announces that it has discovered a fourth Hezbollah-built tunnel leading from southern Lebanon into northern Israel in the context of Operation Northern Shield. (HA, TOI, WP 12/16; TOI 12/18)

Thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s northern border to continue the Great March of Return and to cheer on a number of Palestinian boats setting sail in a symbolic challenge of the Israeli blockade. IDF troops violently disperse the protesters on the shore and Israeli naval forces fire warning shots at the boats; 17 Palestinians are injured. Also along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Rafah. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian at an entrance to the Kiryat Arba settlement near Hebron after he allegedly attempts to stab 1 of them and a number of Israeli settlers. Israeli forces raid a Palestinian elementary school in Masafer Yatta near Hebron, evacuate the premises, and deliver demolition orders to the administrators. They deliver demolition notices for 3 residential structures on further raids in the village. They also dismantle 5 makeshift Palestinian residences near Tubas. IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids near Qalqilya, Hebron, and Nablus; and patrol in and around Nablus, Qalqilya, and Salfit throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during a raid in Hizma. (HA, JP, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/5; MNA 11/6; PCHR 11/8)

Unidentified individuals fire a rocket from Gaza toward Israel. It lands in an open area, causing no damage or injuries. Late at night, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducts air strikes on 10 Hamas sites across Gaza, including a tunnel leading into Israeli territory. Earlier in the day, senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar says that Hamas does not want “to expend its energy on this escalation,” and that efforts are underway to “avert a new war.” (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 2/19; PCHR 2/22)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers traveling to the Kiryat Arba settlement outside Hebron assault and injure their Palestinian bus driver when he attempts to explain to them that inclement weather is preventing him from driving any faster. IDF troops arrest 14 Palestinians during late-night raids near Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus, Qalqilya, and Salfit; and patrol near Hebron. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian family demolishes their own home in Silwan to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in Silwan and al-Ram. (WAFA 2/18; YA 2/19; PCHR 2/22)

IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth outside the Kiryat Arba settlement nr. Hebron after he allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and multiple locations along Gaza’s border; 3 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 8 Palestinians and issue 5 arrest summons during raids and house searches nr. Hebron and Salfit, as well as in and around Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. (EI, HA, MNA 9/23; PCHR 9/29)

For the 3d and final day in a row, the Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing to allow Palestinian pilgrims to return from their trip to Saudi Arabia. (MNA 9/23; MNA 9/24)

Leaders of the Middle East Quartet, including U.S. secy. of state John Kerry, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, and UN secy.-gen. Ban Ki-moon, reiterate the group’s call for the creation of “conditions for the resumption of meaningful negotiations that will end the occupation that began in 1967 and resolve all final status issues,” and reaffirm conclusions from the report they released in 7/2016 (see JPS 46 [2]). Afterward, Kerry meets with Israeli PM Netanyahu to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (YA 9/23; MNA 9/24; HA 9/25)

In the heaviest day of violence since the beginning of 7/2016, Israeli forces kill 2 Palestinians and 1 Jordanian in East Jerusalem and the Hebron area. Israeli forces shoot and kill a Jordanian youth outside the Old City of Jerusalem after he allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier. An eyewitness reports that the youth did not attack anyone, and that he only yelled “Allahu akbar” when the Israeli forces asked him to lift his shirt. Israeli forces later find a knife on his body. IDF troops open fire on 2 Palestinians allegedly attempting a ramming attack outside Kiryat Arba settlement nr. Hebron, killing 1 and seriously injuring the other; 3 Israelis are injured in the alleged ramming. Separately, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian youth in c. Hebron after he allegedly stabs and injures an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint. Meanwhile, IDF troops shoot and seriously injure a Palestinian in c. Hebron after he allegedly stabs and injures an Israeli soldier. After the attacks, an officer with Israel’s COGAT says that the IDF will impose strict punishments on the attackers’ home villages, including Bani Na‘im. The IDF then shuts down a number of checkpoints in Hebron and the entrances to Bani Na‘im, declaring the village and c. Hebron closed military zones. Israeli troops conduct raids in Bani Na‘im late at night, issuing 2 Palestinians arrest summons. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 9/16; HA 9/17; PCHR 9/22)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements in 4 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, and Jalazun r.c.), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c.; 4 Palestinians are injured. They also disperse Palestinian stone-throwers nr. Nablus, arresting 1; arrest 1 Palestinian and issue 2 arrest summons during raids and house searches nr. Bethlehem, Salfit, Hebron, and Ramallah; and patrol nr. Salfit, Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron throughout the day. Unidentified assailants throw stones at an Israeli bus traveling between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim settlement, injuring the driver. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces search cars and detain a handful of Palestinians during patrols in Silwan, sparking clashes with stonethrowing residents of the area; 2 Palestinians are injured. A Palestinian man demolishes his own home in Jabal Mukabir to avoid paying for Israeli demolition crews. (MNA 9/16; PCHR 9/22)

Overnight in the West Bank, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of the Bani Na‘im home of the Palestinian youth who was killed on 6/30 after stabbing and killing an Israeli settler youth in the Kiryat Arba settlement nr. Hebron. The demolition, which targets only the first floor of a 2-story building, sparks clashes with residents of the village; there are no serious injuries. Later in the day, IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians during raids nr. Jenin, Qalqilya, and Hebron; and patrol nr. Ramallah and Hebron throughout the day. Israeli forces demolish 2 livestock structures nr. Jenin, and confiscate a bulldozer from Palestinians building a road nr. Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian and issue 1 arrest summons to another during raids in Silwan and Jabal Mukabir. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Khuza‘a. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces arrest 5 fishermen working nr. Bayt Lahiya and confiscate their boat. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 8/15; MNA 8/16; PCHR 8/18)

In response to a 7/25 order from the High Court of Justice, the Israeli police agree to return the bodies of 7 Palestinians killed in confrontations with Israeli forces. The police did not want to return the bodies, but the order compelled Public Security Minister Erdan to renew talks with the families on terms of the bodies’ return. The returns will be staged over the next couple of weeks with conditions: the Israelis will only release the 2d body if the first funeral goes smoothly. (HA, JP 8/16)

Amid a 2d day of deadly violence in the West Bank, unidentified assailants open fire on an Israeli settler vehicle nr. Hebron, killing 1 settler and injuring 3 (1 critically). Meanwhile, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian in c. Hebron after she allegedly attempts to stab Israeli officers at a security checkpoint. The alleged attacker was from Bani Na‘im, the home village of the Palestinian killed nr. Hebron on 6/30. The IDF then locks down Bani Na‘im village completely. Earlier, the IDF locks down Shwayka village nr. Tulkarm, the hometown of the Palestinian killed in Netanya on 6/30. Israeli troops conduct raids in Shwayka overnight, threatening punitive demolition of the attacker’s home. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops fire tear gas at Palestinians throwing stones in frustration over long wait times at the Qalandia checkpoint; 27 Palestinians are lightly injured. Palestinian paramedics are temporarily prevented from treating those affected, and 1 Palestinian suffers a heart attack and dies. The Israeli authorities say 3 Israeli soldiers are injured as well. (EI, HA, JP 7/1; PCHR 7/14)

In response to the day’s violence in and around Hebron, the IDF places the region under a general closure (the closure will be in place in some form through most of 7/2016): All crossings in and out of the city are closed, except for humanitarian cases, and the entrances to at least 9 nearby villages are also blocked off. Furthermore, a news leak, quoting senior Israeli sources, says that Israeli PM Netanyahu and DM Lieberman approve the construction of 42 new housing units in the Kiryat Arba settlement nr. Hebron, where a settler youth was killed on 6/30. The same Israeli sources that leak this also say that the political leadership has decided to establish a special graveyard for Palestinians killed during or after committing serious crimes against Israelis, which they think can end the conflict over withholding these Palestinian bodies. (HA, MNA, TOI 7/2)

Late at night, Palestinian fighters fire a rocket from Gaza into Israel. It lands in Sderot, causing minor damage to 1 building and lightly damaging several others. In response, the IAF launches air strikes on at least 9 Hamas and PIJ military sites in Gaza City, nr. Bayt Lahiya and Bayt Hanun, causing substantial damage and 1 minor injury. An Egyptian power line is damaged in the strikes, causing extended blackouts (it will be repaired on 7/2). (HA, YA 7/1; JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 7/2)

Across the oPt, Israeli forces arrest 9 Palestinians during raids and house searches nr. Tulkarm, Hebron, and East Jerusalem; and conduct 15 patrols in the Hebron area during the day. They also violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border nr. al-Bureij r.c.; 3 Palestinians are injured. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians throw stones at Israeli security forces nr. the Old City, causing no injuries. More than 3,000 Israeli police are deployed in the city today. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 7/1; TOI 7/2; MNA 7/5; PCHR 7/14)

The Middle East Quartet releases a report on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the steps taken by both sides that have made a 2-state solution less viable. Both the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships criticize the report. (AFP, HA, NYT, YA 7/1)

After 4 days of closure, the IDF eases restrictions on Palestinian movement in Yatta. Palestinians between the ages of 15 and 25 are forbidden to enter and leave the village. All others can enter and exit only after passing security inspections. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli settlers clash with Israeli forces demolishing an illegal structure in the Kiryat Arba settlement. Settlers also throw stones at Palestinian vehicles nr. Nablus, causing damage and injuring a Palestinian police officer. IDF troops conduct late-night raids and house searches in 1 village each nr. Bethlehem and Qalqilya, arresting 1 Palestinian and issuing an arrest summons to a 2d; they patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya and Anata r.c. (TOI 6/13; MNA 6/14; PCHR 6/16)

Israeli PM Netanyahu says that the Arab League must alter the Arab Peace Initiative if it is going to serve as a basis for renewed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. “If they bring the proposal from 2002 and define it as ‘take it or leave it,’” he says, “we’ll choose to leave it.” (HA, TOI 6/13)

For the 8th day in a row, IDF troops stationed along Gaza’s border open fire on Palestinians protesting and throwing stones throughout the region, killing 2 Palestinians and injuring at least 142 (a 3d Palestinian will succumb to injuries sustained today on 10/23). Stabbing incidents continue, as IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian in the Kiryat Arba settlement nr. Hebron after he stabs and moderately injures an Israeli soldier. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops clash with and violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstations and violent protests in 4 areas nr. Ramallah (outside the Beit El settlement, Silwad, Budrus, and Bil‘in), and nr. Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Qalqilya, killing 1 Palestinian and injuring 73. The IDF patrols outside Ramallah and in Nablus, sparking clashes with stone-throwers (2 Palestinians are injured); conducts house searches and raids throughout the region, arresting 4 Palestinians. Palestinian gunmen open fire on IDF vehicles nr. Ramallah, causing minor damage. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli police bar Palestinian men under the age of 40 from entering Haram al-Sharif; clash with stone-throwing Palestinians in Ras al-Amud (2 Palestinians are injured); conduct raids nr. the Old City and Issawiyya (4 Palestinians are arrested). (EI, HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 10/16; PCHR 10/22)

The UNSC convenes to discuss the recent violence in Israel and the oPt as well as Israeli restrictions on Palestinian access at Haram al-Sharif, at the request of Jordan. French amb. to the UN François Delattre says that France has prepared a draft presidential statement that would, inter alia, urge all parties to maintain the status quo at the sanctuary. (AFP, HA, JP, TOI, YA 10/16; HA 10/17)

A spokesperson for PA pres. Abbas says that the UN bid will go ahead and that direct talks with the Israelis must wait until after the UNGA vote. The head of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby, expresses his support for the initiative. Meanwhile, Israeli FM Lieberman is reported by Israeli media to be telling international diplomats of his intention to severely punish the PA if Abbas goes ahead with the UN bid. (REU, AFP 11/5; INN 11/6)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, and in 1 village nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Qalqilya, 1 village nr. Bethlehem, 1 village nr. Nablus, and 1 village nr. Tubas. Jewish settlers from Kiryat Arba uproot around 70 Palestinian-owned olive and fruit trees nr. Hebron. In the al-Tur neighborhood of East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers attack a Palestinian family, residents of a home that an Israeli court has ruled was sold by a relative to the Elad settler organization. (MNA 11/5; PCHR 11/8)

The IDF says that a bullet fired from inside Syria hit 1 of its vehicles in the occupied Golan Heights, causing no injuries. As fighting between government and opposition forces in Syria continues, 7 Palestinians are killed in government shelling of Yarmuk r.c. (AP 11/5; NYT, MNA 11/5)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Qalqilya, afternoon patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 nr. Jenin; and late-night patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, 2 nr. Salfit, and 1 nr. Qalqilya. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin also call for solidarity with prisoners and national unity. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 13 Palestinians (5 in Bil’in, including 1 child; 8 in Nabi Salih, including 1 child) and 2 Israeli activists (in Nabi Salih) were injured. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron violently beat 2 Palestinians working their land nearby (1 requires hospitalization) and uproot 10s of olive trees. (PCHR 4/19; OCHA 4/20)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Qalqilya, afternoon patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 nr. Jenin; and late-night patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, 2 nr. Salfit, and 1 nr. Qalqilya. Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil’in, Kafr Qaddum, Nabi Salih, and Ni’lin; protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin also call for solidarity with prisoners and national unity. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; 13 Palestinians (5 in Bil’in, including 1 child; 8 in Nabi Salih, including 1 child) and 2 Israeli activists (in Nabi Salih) were injured. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron violently beat 2 Palestinians working their land nearby (1 requires hospitalization) and uproot 10s of olive trees. (PCHR 4/19; OCHA 4/20)

On the anniversary of the Nakba, 1,000s of Palestinians fr. the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria stage marches (mostly nonviolent, though some stone throwing) toward the Israeli border. In Lebanon, though troops, riot police, and UNIFIL soldiers deploy to prevent marchers fr. reaching the border, a large group succeeds in reaching the border fence nr. Hizballah-controlled Maroun al-Ras village, where they throw stones at IDF troops. IDF troops open fire into Lebanon, leaving 10 Palestinians dead and at least 112 wounded. Palestinians refugees marching fr. Syria knock down the border fence into the Golan Heights, enter the Druze village of Majdal Shams, and rally in the village square, erecting Palestinian flags. IDF troops open fire to drive them back across the border, killing 4 Palestinians and wounding around 200. On the border with Jordan, Jordanian troops fired tear gas and scuffle with some 800 Palestinians, preventing them fr. reaching the border, leaving 14 demonstrators and 3 police officers lightly injured. In Egypt, govt. forces reinforce their border, preventing some 250 Palestinians fr. marching to the Rafah crossing. In Cairo, riot police fire tear gas, disperse protesters converging on the Israeli embassy, injuring around 120. On the Gaza border, IDF troops fire live ammunition and artillery at Gazans marching toward the border, wounding at least 125. In the West Bank, IDF troops fire tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse around 1,000 stone-throwing Palestinians marching toward the Qalandia crossing (injuring 10s) and violently beat scores of Palestinians marching fr. Palestinian-controlled area A toward Israeli security-controlled area B in Hebron (injuring 10s). A large peaceful rally commemorating the Nakba is held in Ramallah. Numerous smaller and protests clashes are also reported in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; rights groups say some 185 Palestinians have been injured in these clashes over the past 3 days, 153 of them in Jerusalem. Netanyahu accuses the demonstrators of “incitement” and challenging “the very existence of Israel.” Other Israeli officials accuse Iran and Syria of instigating the Palestinians, noting that Syrian security did nothing to prevent Palestinians fr. approaching the border. (DS, IFM, IsRN, JAZ, JP, MA, YA 5/15; Christian Science Monitor, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/16)

Unrelated to the “March to Palestine,” IDF troops fired across the border into Gaza, killing a Palestinian who allegedly was planting an explosive device. Inside Israel, an Israeli Palestinian drives his truck into several cars, a bus, and pedestrians in Tel Aviv, killing 1 Israeli and injuring 17 in what Israeli police say was a deliberate terrorist attack; the driver, who is arrested, strongly denies deliberately harming anyone, saying he lost control of his vehicle when a tire blew. The IDF also patrols in 2 village nr. Qalqilya (arresting 1 Palestinian teenager for throwing stones) and 2 nr. Tulkarm; sends undercover units into Nur al-Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm late at night, surrounding and raiding a house and arresting 1 Palestinian; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around al-‘Arub r.c. and Hebron, and nr. Salfit. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron throw 4 Molotov cocktails at a nearby Palestinian home, causing minor damage. Israel resumes transferring VAT taxes to the PA (see 5/1), having received PA assurances that none of the money would be accessible to Hamas under the new Fatah-Hamas unity deal, but warning that it would reconsider suspending transfers if Hamas was allowed to join a PA govt. (NYT 5/16; PCHR 5/19; OCHA 5/20)

At quarter’s end, fierce fighting is ongoing in Libya and NATO intervention continues. Rebel-held areas increasingly report shortages of food and medical supplies. No reliable figures on casualties are available since independent media access and communications are extremely difficult. Deaths are thought to be well into the 1,000s and perhaps as high as 10,000. (WP 5/16; REU 6/9)

Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in and around Tulkarm and in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya in the morning; enters the PA-controlled area of Hebron to search the home of and arrest Hamas-affiliated PC mbr. Muhammad Mahir Badr. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron vandalize several Palestinian stores and moderately beat 1 Palestinian. (IsRN 3/31; PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

In a bid to secure the backing of rightwing coalition partners for a package of U.S. guarantees for a short extension of the settlement freeze, Netanyahu proposes legislation that would require those becoming Israeli citizens to pledge a loyalty oath to “the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state,” as opposed to simply “the State of Israel” as it is now worded. (NYT 10/7, 10/8; WP 10/11)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF retaliates with a late-night air strike on an IQB training site in the Shaykh Ridwan area of Gaza City, destroying a building, damaging 30 surrounding buildings and 3 cars, and injuring 6 Palestinian civilians. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a brief incursion into Tulkarm early in the morning to photograph the entrances of a police station, the local PASF and PA General Intelligence headquarters, and a PASF medical services building, withdrawing without incident; blocks Palestinians from joining a solidarity rally with Jewish settlers outside Bayt Fajjar village (site of a mosque arson on 10/4), sparking clashes between stonethrowing Palestinian youths and soldiers (no serious injuries reported); patrols late at night, without incident in 2 villages n. of Jenin; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’a r.c. and Zawata village, both nr. Nablus. The Israeli daily Ha’Aretz reports that nearly 350 housing units are currently under construction in West Bank settlements, including 56 in Keddumim nr. Qalqilya, 54 in Ariel n. of Salfit, 56 in Karme Tzur; 24 within Ma’ate Binyamin regional council area (nr. Jerusalem and Ramallah), 34 in Kiryat Arba, and 1 each in Barqan, Dolev, Kefar Adumim, Kochav HaShachar, Oranit, Revava, Sha’are Tikva, Tekoa, and Yakir. (HA, JP 10/6; NYT, PCHR, REU, YA 10/7; PCHR 10/14; OCHA 10/15)

In the first full day after the expiration of the settlement freeze, the Israeli government approves construction of a new settler-only bypass road linking Kiryat Arba to the Tomb of the Patriarchs/al-Ibrahimi Mosque in c. Hebron, which could require the removal of 10s of Palestinian homes and confiscation of Palestinian agricultural land. Jewish settlers begin construction of 56 new houses in Karme Tzur. Armed Jewish settlers accompanied by IDF soldiers begin leveling 8 d. of Palestinian land in Wadi al-Hussein neighborhood in Hebron seized by settlers in 2008. State Dept. spokesman P.J. Crowley says the U.S. is “disappointed” Israel allowed the freeze to expire, saying Mitchell phoned Abbas to thank him for not suspending talks immediately and that Clinton had held a “business-like” phone conversation with Netanyahu about the freeze. (NYT, WP 9/28; PCHR, WJW 9/30; OCHA 10/1)

Secy. of State Clinton meets with Syrian FM Walid Moualem in New York to broach the possibility of reviving the Israeli-Syrian peace track, with the U.S. and Syria agreeing to develop some ideas on how to proceed. (NYT, WP 9/28)

In Gaza, IDF troops make a day-long incursion into s. Gaza to level lands in the no-go zone e. of al-Qarara to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF seals an entrance to Jayyus village nr. Qalqilya; seals 2 entrances to Azun village, checking Palestinian IDs, saying stones were thrown from the village at passing IDF patrols (no arrests are made); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm; conducts late-night patrols in Jenin and 2 nearby villages, making no arrests. (PCHR 9/30)

Hamas’s military wing, the Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades (IQB), takes responsibility for shooting at a Jewish settler vehicle driving nr. Hebron (in area C, under full Israeli control, where the PASF is not allowed to operate), killing 4 Jewish settlers, including a pregnant woman, marking the deadliest West Bank attack on Israelis in more than 2 yrs. and the first staged by Hamas since before the 1/2006 elections. Both Abbas and Netanyahu say the attack should not derail peace talks. The YESHA settlement council vows to renew construction in West Bank settlements immediately, before the temporary freeze ends, to demonstrate Israelis’ “resolve against terrorism.” Following the attack and throughout the night, the IDF seals the entrances to Hebron, Halhul, and al-Fawar r.c. and imposes a curfew on nearby Bani Na‘im village, raiding and searching homes and detaining Palestinians with suspected connections to Hamas. Meanwhile, Jewish settlers implementing their “price-tag” doctrine to punish Palestinians for any state acts against settlers, beat Palestinian farmers working their land nr. Emanuel settlement nr. Salfit and stone Palestinian vehicles traveling on the Nablus–Qalqilya road (2 separate incidents) as well as on a road bypassing Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba in Hebron attempt to break into a nearby Palestinian home but are prevented by the IDF. Late at night, the IDF patrols 2 villages nr. Salfit; no incidents are reported. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that in the previous wk. 3 Palestinians were killed in 2 separate tunnel collapses on the Rafah border. (NYT, WP, WT 9/1; PCHR 9/2; OCHA 9/3)

IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials inside the industrial zone, wounding 1 Palestinian. The IDF sends troops into the former settlement sites inside the n. Gaza border to patrol the area to keep scavengers away; troops fire on the area but no injuries are reported. IDF troops make a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level land along the border e. of al-Qarara to clear lines of sight, shooting and wounding a farmer working his land 700 m fr. the border. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Bidya village nr. Salfit at midday to search several stores, making no arrests; makes an incursion in Hijja village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, patrolling streets and photographing homes before withdrawing without incident; patrols in Shaqba village nr. Ramallah in the evening, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya and nr. Ramallah, Salfit, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops enter Awarta village nr. Nablus to hold religious ceremonies. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba nr. Hebron severely beat a 65-yr.-old Palestinian man. (PCHR 7/15; OCHA 7/16)

IDF Maj. Gen. (ret.) Giora Eiland, who headed the Israeli military’s internal inquiry into the 5/31 Gaza flotilla incident, releases brief excerpts of his classified 100-page final report to the IDF chief of staff concluding that overall the “the entire operation is estimable,” praising soldiers for their “professionalism, bravery, and resourcefulness.” While the report faults planning for the operation as inadequate (relying “excessively on a single course of action . . . while no alternative courses of action were prepared”), it deems the use of live fire on the passengers “justified.” (IFM 7/12; NYT, WP 7/13; JPI 7/23)

In the West Bank, IDF troops stationed atop Hebron homes occupied on 10/11 fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at 10s of stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, injuring 1 Palestinian teenager. The IDF also ambushes several Palestinian vehicles attempting to evade IDF checkpoints to transport workers to jobs in Israel, burning and destroying 3 of them; conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Nablus, Hebron, Jericho, and Jenin, arresting 10 Palestinians. Jewish settlers fr. the unauthorized settlement outpost of Mitzpe Ami nr. Qalqilya set fire to a Palestinian olive tree field and block firemen fr. reaching the area, destroying as many as 250 trees; Israeli police arrest 13 settlers who refuse to leave the area. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba stone Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Hebron and steal harvested olives; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (OCHA, PCHR 10/15; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 10/09)

In East Jerusalem, the IDF bulldozes a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanina neighborhood, displacing 5 Palestinians. (OCHA, PCHR 10/15; PCHR 10/22).

A mysterious explosion in Tayr Filsi village in s. Lebanon injures or kills at least 1 person. Israel cites the explosion as proof that Hizballah is stockpiling weapons in violation of UN Res. 1701 that ended the 2006 Lebanon war. (NYT 10/13)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas, skunk at stone-throwing Palestinians protesting the separation wall in Bil‘in; fires stun grenades at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara, severely beating 3 international activists and a Palestinian journalist covering the event; conducts synchronized late-night house searches in and n. of Tulkarm, making no arrests; stages other late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah, Salfit. Jewish settlers set up tents on a plot of Palestinian land in Kafr Qaddum village nr. Qalqilya establishing a new unauthorized outpost; settlers tried to occupy the site previously, but the Palestinian owner, who recently died, had won a court ruling evicting them. Jewish settlers fr. Harsina and Kiryat Arba settlements occupy a plot of Palestinian land nr. Hebron, erect a tent, and plant trees in an effort to establish a new unauthorized outpost. Jewish settlers fr. Karme Tzur nr. Hebron bulldoze large tracks of Palestinian agricultural land and uproot trees nearby to expand the settlement. (OCHA, PCHR 8/6)

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 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)

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)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts random ID checks of Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Nablus, arresting 1; raids, imposes a curfew on Azun nr. Qalqilya, fires on residential areas, blocks a main road with sand and rocks, then withdraws; fires rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists taking part in a similar nonviolent demonstration in Ni‘lin (seriously injuring an 11-yr.-old girl); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Fara‘a r.c. (firing live ammunition at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 3, 1 of them seriously) and nr. Bethlehem (occupying 1 Palestinian home as an observation post, evicting the family), Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar attack Palestinians harvesting olives nearby, burn 15 olive trees, march through Bidan village in a show of force. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba demand that a Palestinian mechanic near the settlement fix their car, beat him when he refuses. Jewish settlers temporarily reoccupy the evacuated Homesh settlement site, stone passing Palestinian vehicles. The WHO arranges an emergency shipment of 4 truckloads of medical items into Gaza, noting that the PA’s Ramallah-based central pharmacy has sent no medial supplies to Gaza since it took over that function from the WHO on 9/1; as a result, 94 essential drugs have been entirely depleted in Gaza. (OCHA 10/29; PCHR 10/30; AIC 11/9)

In the West Bank, the IDF raids a Palestinian home in Hebron based on complaints fr. local settlers, arrests 3 Palestinian youths; conducts large-scale, late-night arrest raids and house searches nr. Bethlehem. The IDF evacuates Jewish settlers fr. the unauthorized outpost of Shvut Ami nr. Qalqilya; in retaliation, the settlers attack nearby Palestinian farmers, set fire to 10 d. of agricultural land (burning 100 olive trees), block a road to Palestinian traffic, stone passing Palestinian vehicles; IDF troops bar Palestinians fr. extinguishing the crop fire. Jewish settlers fr. Ginot Shomron nr. Qalqilya attempt to storm the nearby Palestinian village of Azun, but the IDF blocks them to prevent clashes. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai settlement nr. Hebron attack Palestinians harvesting olives nearby, steal their olives; the IDF arrests 2 Palestinian teenagers who try to fend off the settlers. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba damage Palestinian water pipelines nearby, demolish several branch roads that had previously been blocked off by the IDF and settlers. (OCHA 10/8; PCHR 10/9)

In the West Bank, the IDF raids, searches shops in Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Qabatya, and nr. Hebron, Jenin. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Gilad settlement nr. Qalqilya attack 2 Palestinian farmers, severely beat them, and spray a chemical substance on their faces and bodies, then burn 2 d. of nearby Palestinian olive groves; when local Palestinians arrive to put out the fire, they are fired upon by the settlers (who use live ammunition) and the IDF (using rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades). Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba attack Palestinian homes, attempt to break into at least 1 home in the same area where settlers seized a plot of land on 7/17. (OCHA 7/23; PCHR 7/24)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Khuza, imposing a curfew, firing on residential areas (killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 2 inside their homes), exchanging gunfire with armed Palestinians (wounding 3), arresting 2 Palestinians, and bulldozing 106 d. of agricultural land, 1 Palestinian home, 4 greenhouses, 2 poultry farms before withdrawing late in the morning. The Israeli navy fires on Palestinian fishing boats off the Rafah coast, forcing them to return to shore but causing no reported damage or injuries. Palestinians fire at least 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing damage but no injuries; fire 1 mortar at Nahal Oz crossing while an emergency fuel shipment to UNRWA is been transferred into Gaza, prompting the Israelis to close the terminal. In the West Bank, the IDF removes the tiny unauthorized settlement outpost of Hazon David nr. Kiryat Arba; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Gil’ad Farm outpost nr. Qalqilya attack a Palestinian shepherd, steal a sheep. (NYT 5/5; OCHA 5/7; PCHR 5/8)