The Palestine Chronology

The IDF shells residential areas of Jenin r.c. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel and several mortars fr. Gaza at settlements inside the Strip, causing no damage or injuries. An Israeli dies of injuries received in the 7/17 bombing, bringing the death toll of the attack to 4. An Israeli military court extends the detention without charge of a Palestinian photographer for Agence France-Press, who was taken into custody by the IDF at a West Bank checkpoint on 4/24; a Palestinian photographer for Reuters detained by the IDF on 4/30 is also still in custody. (JTA, PCHR 7/24; MM, NYT 7/25; WT 7/26; Le Monde 7/26 in WNC 7/29)

The IDF begins withdrawing fr. Bayt Hanun, Bayt Jala, Bethlehem, Jenin. The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian nr. Netzarim; makes incursions and directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas in and around Dayr al-Balah, demolishing 2 Palestinian homes; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Umar, al-Jadida; directs heavy machine gun fire at Aida camp. Hamas fires 2 Qassam missiles at Ashkelon, causing no damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolish a Palestinian bus station. (HP 3/18; Mezan, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/19; LAW 3/20)

Zinni convinces Israel, the PA to resume trilateral security comm. mtgs. (HA, HP 3/18; XIN 3/18 in WNC 3/19; MM, NYT, WP 3/19; QA, XIN 3/19 in WNC 3/20; MEI 3/22)

An AMB suicide bomber detonates a device in an ultraorthodox Jewish neighborhood of Beit Israel in West Jerusalem, killing 9 Israelis, including 5 children, and wounding 40. The PA "fully" condemns the attack or any attack "that targets civilians from both sides." The AMB says it picked a bomber fr. Dahaysha r.c. in retaliation for the IDF raids on the camps in Balata, Jenin. In Ramallah, Palestinians hold a spontaneous pro-AMB rally in support of the bombing. Hamas also issues a statement calling the attack legitimate. AMB gunmen also fatally shoot an Israeli policeman in a Jewish settlement outside Jerusalem; an IDF soldier dies of injuries received on 3/1. The IDF continues house-to-house, section-by-section searches in Balata, Jenin r.c. for the 3d day, moving from house to house through the walls. By this evening troops pull out of Jenin r.c. Troops in Balata say that they captured a stash of 6 Qassam-2 rockets, 7 explosive belts for suicide bombings, detained 15 Palestinians, killed 10 Palestinians since the raids began. IDF forces in Jenin r.c. say they have killed 20 Palestinians, arrested 12 during the same period. Elsewhere, an ambulance carrying 3 seriously ill Palestinian infants to a Ramallah intensive care unit is detained by the IDF at a checkpoint for 45 mins., causing Palestinian baby to die; 1 Palestinian is fatally shot by IDF troops nr. Bayt Hanun; a 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. Clashes are reported in Hebron, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem. (HA, HP 3/2; NYT, WP, WT 3/3; DUS 3/3 in WNC 3/4; MM 3/4; LAW 3/6; MEI 3/8)

In Jenin, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) assassinates local Hamas leader Nazih al-Siba' using a remote controlled explosive device; 1,000s of Palestinians take to the streets to protest against Israel. A Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) suicide bomber infiltrates a Karnei Shomron settlement in the West Bank, detonating a device in a food court, killing 3 Jewish settlers, injuring more than 20. The IDF responds with missile strikes against targets in Nablus. Palestinians fire 1-2 Qassam-2 rockets, 2 mortars at IDF positions in Gaza and across the border inside Israel, causing no damage. In response, the IDF conducts raids into areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) around Bureij, killing 2 Palestinians and injuring 12, destroying a PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) training base, several PSF posts. (AP, LAW 2/16; XIN 2/16 in WNC 2/19; NYT, WP, WT 2/17)

Overnight, Hamas fires 2 Qassam-2 rockets at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, missing the settlement completely, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IDF temporarily seizes the Palestinian towns of Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahia, and Dayr al-Balah as well as Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza; conducts searches, detaining at least 12 Palestinians; exchanges gunfire with Palestinians, leaving 5 PSF officers dead; bars international agencies fr. sending officials to observe the operation. The IDF also sends tanks into Jenin briefly; flies F-16s over Nablus all day; conducts arrest raids around Jenin; bulldozes 15 dunams of Palestinian land nr. al-Maghazi. A 6th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (AFP, HP, LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP 2/13; MM, WP, WT 2/14; MM 2/15; MEI 2/22)

An Israeli bus driver coming fr. Ma'ale Adumim stops at an Israeli checkpoint into Jerusalem, warns border police of a suspicious passenger on board. Israeli border police scuffle with and detain a Palestinian passenger wearing an explosive device, which is defused by bomb experts. Later, a Hamas gunman dressed as an IDF soldier infiltrates a home in the West Bank settlement of Hamra, fatally shoots 2 Jewish settlers, 1 IDF soldier, wounds 4 settlers before being shot dead by soldiers. In response, IDF F-16s bomb 2 prisons in Nablus, injuring 11 Palestinians. During the strikes, wardens release 25 Hamas, Islamic Jihad prisoners (including 2 of Israel's most wanted, Islamic Jihad mbrs. Mahmud Tawalba, Ali Safuri) for their safety but keep 103 suspected collaborators in custody. The IDF also captures a vegetable truck on Jenin-Nablus road loaded with 8 Qassam-2 missiles and a launcher; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian who threw a hand grenade at an IDF post on the Rafah border; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina and Shu`fat; arrests 3 Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast, confiscates their boats. The IDF also raids, confiscates the files of, and closes the East Jerusalem offices of 2 NGOs that represent Palestinian interests: the Arab Studies Society's Land Research Center, the Welfare Association's Multisectoral and Technical Offices. (AP, LAW 2/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/7; NYT, WP, WT 2/8; NYT 2/9; MA 2/10 in WNC 2/11; MA 2/11 in WNC 2/12; PCHR 2/13; HA 2/17)

In a report to Congress, CIA Dir. George Tenet identifies several "terrorist groups"--including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the PFLP--that have no ties to al-Qa`ida but could be future U.S. targets because they have "displayed anti-U.S. sentiments" and have threatened U.S. interests overseas. (WP 2/10)

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device on a street in Tel Aviv, wounding at least 18 Israelis, 3 of them critically. 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. In Gaza, the IDF reports that Hamas fired locally made Qassam-1 rockets at Erez crossing, causing no injuries. In retaliation, the IDF launches F-16 air strikes on PA security targets in Gaza City and Tulkarm, injuring at least 7 Palestinians. The IDF also shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 600 m² of Palestinian land in Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Nablus. In Ramallah, 1,000s of Palestinians rally in support of Arafat. The IDF pulls out of Tira neighborhood in Ramallah, which it reoccupied on 1/17. (AP 1/25; NYT, WP, WT 1/26; JT [Internet] 1/27; PCHR 1/30)

56 officers, soldiers in the IDF combat reserves publish a petition in Ha'Aretz publicly refusing to "fight beyond the Green Line for the purpose of occupying, deporting, destroying, blockading, killing, starving, and humiliating an entire people." (HA 1/25; HA 1/28; WP 1/29; WT 1/30; BBC, MM, WJW 1/31; MA 2/1 in WNC 2/4; NYT 2/2; MM 2/4; MM, NYT 2/5; MEI 2/8)

Senior White House, State Dept., CIA, Pentagon officials meet again to discuss the possibility of severing ties with Arafat, the PA/PLO. Bush, his advisers decide to increase public criticism of Arafat and to "redouble" efforts to get Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia to put pressure on Arafat. (AP, HA, MM, WP 1/25; WP, WT 1/26; al-Quds 1/26, DUS 1/27 in WNC 1/28; MM 1/28; AKH 1/28 in WNC 1/29; HA 1/29; MA, al-Quds 2/1 in WNC 2/4)

The IDF reinforces positions inside Bethlehem, where IDF shelling kills 3 Palestinians nr. a hospital; a 4th Palestinian is fatally shot while harvesting olive outside Jinin; a 5th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. Other IDF shells land within 50 yds. of the Church of the Nativity, injuring 2 Palestinians. The IDF also fires on a UN ambulance in Bethlehem, seriously injuring the driver; rockets a power station in Tulkarm; occupies 2 Palestinian homes in Qalqilya, 1 in Khan Yunis; reinforces positions in Ramallah and al-Bireh, destroying a Force 17 office. Sharon says the PA must meet 3 conditions for a return to talks: a complete halt to "terrorism and incitement," the arrests of "terrorists" and the disbanding of their organizations, the extradition of those involved in the Ze'evi assassination. The PA outlaws the armed wing of the PFLP, detains another 13 PFLP mbrs. (AP 10/21; MENA 10/21 in WNC 10/22; AP, LAW, NYT, PMC, WT 10/22; MM 10/23; SA 10/23 in WNC 10/24; PCHR 10/24; HA 10/27)

The Labor party threatens to quit the governing coalition if Sharon expands the reoccupation of PA-controlled territories. (AFP 10/21; MM, WP, WT 10/22)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 2 Palestinians dead. Palestinian gunmen continue to snipe at Gilo, and the IDF again fires rockets back at Bayt Jala. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Rafah and at Palestinian fishing boats off the Rafah coast, injuring 1 fisherman. Jewish settlers in Hebron sever telephone wires, cutting phone service to about 1,000 Palestinians. Settlers also set fire to a Palestinian barn nr. Nablus, killing several goats. The IDF arrests 8 Palestinians in the West Bank village of al-Mughir; bulldozes 10s of dunams of Palestinian land btwn. Netzarim Junction and Qarni crossing, in the Rafah area, nr. Kissufim crossing. (LAW 12/5; AIC, IDF Radio [Internet], LAW, NYT, PCHR, WT 12/6; YA 12/7; PCHR 12/18)

The PA's Qurai` makes a low-key trip to Jerusalem to meet with Israel's Sher. (MA [Internet] 12/12) (see 11/29)

In Jordan, an Israeli emb. employee is ambushed, shot in the leg. (MM,NYT, WP, WT 12/6; AFP, JT 12/6 in WNC 12/8; MM, WJW, YA 12/7; DUS, Star 12/7 in WNC 12/12; WT 12/8; MEI 12/22) (see 11/19)

IDF soldiers manning the blue line fire across the border into Lebanon, wounding a Hizballah mbr. manning a checkpoint. IDF soldiers cross the border into Lebanon to treat the man until a UN medical team arrives. (MA 12/6 in WNC 12/8)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate again. In Ramallah, 2 IDF reservists--"at least partially in uniform," driving a private vehicle, most likely armed--stray deep into area A, cross paths with a funeral procession. The crowd, assuming the soldiers are on an undercover operation, attack them and set their car afire. (Some reports say a body burned beyond recognition, possibly a 3d IDF soldier, is found in the vehicle.) PA police intervene and take the 2 reservists into protective custody, removing them to a nearby police station. When news of the incident spreads, 1,000s of Palestinians descend on the station (manned by 21 officers), break in, and kill the soldiers, injuring 15 policemen in the process. Declaring that the PA has "crossed the line," Barak seals borders with Egypt and Jordan, authorizes IDF air strikes against Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah and Gaza, the Palestinian Broadcasting Center in Ramallah, the Gaza port, various PA police stations, including those in Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah. When the strikes occur, Arafat is in his Gaza office waiting for CIA Dir. Tenet to arrive to discuss the possibility of convening the U.S.-Israeli-PA trilateral security comm. (formed in 1998) to explore ways of halting the violence. Neither Arafat nor Tenet is injured, but 43 Palestinians are wounded. In Gaza City, Palestinians pack belongings into cars, prepare to flee. In Jericho, Palestinians set fire to a 6th-century synagogue. Jewish settlers attack, fire on Palestinian cars nr. Bethlehem, Jinin. In retaliation, IDF helicopters fire rockets at the PA police academy in Jericho. During the Israeli air strikes, the PA releases around 60 Hamas, Islamic Jihad prisoners for their safety. (ADM, AP, LAW, MM, NYT 10/12; ATL, AYM, IRNA, LPA, MENA, XIN 10/12 in WNC 10/13; MENA, XIN 10/12, SA 10/13 in WNC 10/16; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/13; WP, WT 10/14; MENA 10/16 in WNC 10/17; WJW 10/19; JP 10/20; MEI 10/27; MA 11/6 in WNC 11/9)

In Yemen's port of Aden, a small, explosive-laden boat rams the USS Cole, an Aegis destroyer in port for refueling, killing 17 U.S. servicemen, injuring 35. (AP, MM 10/12; AFP [Internet], CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/13; NYT, WP, WT 10/14, 10/15, 10/16; MEI 10/27)

In the U.S., the primary concern of the public, government, and media is the attack on the USS Cole, while Israel's attacks on the Palestinian infrastructure, PA offices are viewed as a limited military response to the death of Israeli soldiers in PA custody, if not at the hands of the PA. Clinton, Albright express outrage over the murder, call on both sides to halt the violence. Clinton says he appreciates Palestinian frustration, but "there can be no possible justification for mob violence." 96 senators send Clinton a letter urging him to express solidarity with Israel "at this critical moment." (NYT, WP, WT 10/13; MEI, MM 10/27; MEI 11/10) (see Doc. D4)

Mubarak invites Arafat, Barak, Clinton to Sharm al-Shaykh for a summit. Mubarak also meets with King Abdallah of Jordan on the escalating crisis, upcoming Arab summit. (MENA 10/12 in WNC 10/13; MM, NYT, WP 10/13)

In Biarritz, France, Pres. Chirac convenes an emergency EU mtg. to discuss the escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence, implores both sides to halt the fighting. (MM 10/13; AFP, EFE [Madrid] 10/13 in WNC 10/16; WP 10/14; SA 10/15 in WNC 10/17)

UN Secy.-Gen. Annan, in Lebanon to discuss the Hizballah kidnapping of 3 IDF soldiers, cuts short his visit, returns to Israel to try to calm the situation. (WP 10/13)

The Arab League denounces the Israel air strikes, warns that "all options" are open to the Arab world if the escalation continues. In Cairo, angry crowds march through the streets demanding Egypt take military action against Israel. In Beirut, demonstrations break out on university campuses. Elsewhere in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria--including in the Palestinian camps--the streets are quiet; the governments release no official statements on events but heighten visibility of police, military. Anti-Israeli, anti-U.S. demonstrations are noted in Indonesia, South Africa. In the U.S., demonstrations are held in Boston, Dearborn, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Raleigh, San Diego, Washington. In France, numerous acts of anti-Jewish vandalism, including attacks on synagogues, are noted in Lille, Paris, Rouen. (AP 10/12; AFP [Internet], WP 10/13; JT 10/13 in WNC 10/16; WP 10/14)

At the UN, U.S. Amb. Holbrooke warns Arab, nonaligned diplomats they may "jeopardize" relations with the U.S. if they push for a special session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to censure Israel, for a UNSC res. calling on Israel to cease hostilities. (TT 10/12 in WNC 10/13; MM 10/13; NYT, WP 10/14)