The Palestine Chronology

A Palestinian citizen of Israel stabs and kills an Israeli settler outside the entrance to the settlement Ariel near Nablus. An Israeli soldier then chases down the alleged assailant in his car and rams him. After the alleged assailant eludes capture, the IDF conducts widespread raids in nearby Kafr Haris. In an apparent act of revenge, Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Nablus and Salfit, moderately injuring 1 Palestinian. Meanwhile, IDF troops assault and arrest a Palestinian journalist and his brother during a raid in Ramallah. They also arrest 20 Palestinians during raids in and around Tulkarm, Jenin, Nablus, Salfit, Qalqilya, and Ramallah; and patrol near Hebron and Tulkarm. A raid in Burqin village near Jenin sparks clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian minors; 1 Palestinian is injured. Israeli forces demolish a water pipeline used for agricultural purposes in the northern Jordan Valley and confiscate a number of tents being used to shelter sheep near Tubas. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Silwan and the Old City. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 2/5; TOI 2/6; PCHR 2/8)

In the Gaza Strip, unknown assailants throw a grenade into the home of Fatah Asst. Dep. of the Palestinian Civil Affairs Ministry Nasser al-Sarraj. The grenade does not explode and no one is injured. In 2 separate incidents off the coast nr. Gaza City and Jabaliya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing damage to 1 boat. IDF troops e. of Rafah detain 2 armed Palestinians as they attempt to cross the border fence into Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a water distribution network that services the n. Jordan Valley, as well as a house and a barn nr. Hebron. Sparked by an IDF raid in c. Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, Palestinian residents clash with the Israeli troops, lightly injuring 1 soldier. Nearby, IDF troops shoot tear gas canisters at Palestinian youth as they leave an UNRWA school. The IDF also conducts arrest raids and house searches nr. Hebron and Ramallah; patrols nr. Hebron, Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli settler attempts to kidnap a Palestinian child in Jabal Mukabir. The IDF conducts arrest raids and house searches in al-Tur, Ras al-Amud, and Ras Khamis. (MNA, WAFA 1/29; JTA 1/30; PCHR 2/5)

UN Special Coordinator Serry’s office (UNSCO) releases a statement announcing that the UN is going to review its operations in Gaza after the violent, Hamas-organized protest outside its headquarters on 1/28. The statement also blames Hamas for not adequately providing security for the protest. The UNSCO has been principally in charge of facilitating the UNadministered reconstruction procedure and mediating between the Israeli authorities, Hamas, and Palestinians in need of support after OPE. (HA 1/30)

The Israel Electric Corporation announces that it will begin intermittently cutting power to the West Bank at the end of the mo. due to the PA’s outstanding debts, which total around NIS 1.8 m. (around $458 m.). (MEMO, YA 1/29) 

Yisrael Beytenu delivers a petition to the Central Elections Comm. (CEC) calling for the disqualification of MK Haneen Zoabi from the 3/17 elections on the basis of her support for boycott and armed resistance against Israel. (HA, JP 1/29)

The U.S. Senate Banking Comm. votes, 18–4, to pass the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015, which Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Kirk (R-IL) introduced on 1/27. A White House spokesperson consequently reaffirms Pres. Obama’s pledge to veto the bill. (AFP, REU 1/28; AP, YA 1/29)

Seventy-five U.S. sens. sign on to a letter, initiated by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), to U.S. Secy. of State Kerry calling for a suspension of aid to the PA while the Obama admin. reviews the Palestinians’ accession to the ICC. (JTA 1/30)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian protesters close to the border fence nr. Jabaliya, wounding 7. Separately, Israeli forces open fire on an open area in the c. Gaza Strip, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF opens fire on a crowd of a few hundred Palestinian demonstrators outside Jalazun r.c., wounding 14 with live ammunition and 4 with rubber-coated metal bullets. The protest is a response to the killing of a camp resident on 1/29. In addition, Palestinians clash with Israeli forces nr. Ramallah outside Silwad village, with 1 Palestinian wounded by live ammunition. IDF troops detain 2 Palestinians who they say went to the entrance of Nahlilel settlement and set off fireworks. In Bethlehem, amid clashes with Israeli soldiers, Palestinian youth throw an improvised explosive device at Rachel’s Tomb. The clashes result in 7 arrests. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian activists with some internationals go to ‘Ayn Hiljeh, an abandoned Palestinian village in the Jordan Valley, as part of a demonstration protesting settlement activities and land confiscation. The Popular Struggle Coordination Cmte. says that the step is also aimed at averting reported Israeli intentions to annex the area. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, 2 villages nr. Salfit, and 1 village each nr. Bethlehem and Ramallah at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 3 villages in Hebron and 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Tulkarm at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (alMa‘sara). There are no serious injuries, except in Kafr Qaddum (2 struck by tear gas canisters). (AP, MNA, ToI 1/31; PCHR 2/6)

In Switzerland, the 1st round of UN-sponsored peace negotiations on Syria ends with no breakthroughs or even seeming progress in bringing the 2 sides closer together. UN-Arab League joint special envoy Brahimi, who is serving as mediator, expresses frustration that even an agreement to allow an aid convoy to reach Homs remained elusive. Opposition delegates say they will return on 2/10, but govt. reps. say they would need to check with Damascus. (REU 1/31)

Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis fires a rocket toward Eilat from the Sinai Peninsula, which is intercepted by an Iron Dome missile defense battery. (YA 1/31)

The Egyptian military attacks militants in Shaykh Zuweid, Sinai Peninsula, with Apache helicopters and ground forces, killing 13. (AP 1/31)

Israel lifts ban on entry of PNA officials into Gaza, Jericho after 4 Palestinians it holds responsible for 1974 Maalot massacre return to Egypt.  Due to enter are Yasir `Abd-Rabbuh, Ahmad Qurai`.  (MM 7/14)

PLO Chmn. Arafat, U.S. AID Administrator J. Brian Atwood cut ribbon on U.S.-funded $6.9 m. apt. complex in Jabaliya r.c., Gaza Strip, marking start of international aid to Palestinian self-rule areas.  Atwood also tours U.S.-funded sewage, urban-renewal projects.  (MM 7/14; WP, WT 7/15)

Association of Israeli-Palestinian Physicians for Human Rights petitions PM Rabin to allow ICRC access to Khiyam prison in southern Lebanon's "security zone."  (MM 7/14)

Israeli FM Peres tells United Kibbutz Movement "Israel recognized Syrian sovereignty over the Golan Heights,"  saying an agreement with Syria would entail withdrawal to international border, demilitarization of Golan, and unrestricted flow of Jordan River.  (Qol Yisra'el 7/14 in FBIS 7/14; MM 7/14, 7/15)

Land Day, commemorating deaths of 6 Israeli Arabs in 1976 demonstrations against land confiscation, observed throughout Palestinian areas of Israel and in o.t. Israel's 800,000 Palestinian citizens observe general strike; observances dedicated to victims of Hebron massacre, 6 Fateh Hawks killed 3/28. Curfew imposed on Nablus, Tulkarm, Ramallah, Hebron, and 9 r.c.s. including Jabaliya. Largest demonstration held in Rahat in the Negev, where 22-yr.-old Bedouin killed by police 2/27. (MM 3/30, 3/31; NYT 3/31)

Jordan's King Hussein receives PLO envoy Hakam Bal'awi, bearing message fr. PLO Chmn. Arafat on coordinating policy on Jerusalem. (MM 3/31)

Jordanian delegate to multilateral talks on water sharing Munther Haddadin rejects Israeli proposals for "new Jordan River," saying "It is purely a unilateral project proposed by a group of academics financed by a German company. Jordan has nothing to do with it." (MM 3/31)(see 3/28)

IAF planes and IDF helicopters attack Hizballah targets in Iqlim al-Tuffah, Lebanon. (MM 3/30)

6 Fateh Hawks killed by 7 mbrs. of IDF undercover unit disguised as Palestinians while distributing leaflets after rally in Jabaliya r.c., Gaza Strip. At least 2 of the Hawks shot point-blank, according to witnesses. Jabaliya placed under curfew following incident. Fateh Gaza leadership calls for 3-day strike. PLO Chmn. Arafat calls emergency mtg. of leadership. (NYT, WP, WT 3/29)

Curfew imposed on Nablus and surrounding r.c.s. (MM 3/28)

Yediot Aharonot reports IMI, German companies Preusag, Kaiser, unnamed Jordanian company cooperating on 10-yr., $10 b. plan for digging "new" Jordan River to supply desalinated Mediterranean Sea water to Israel and Jordan. (WT 3/30)

King Hussein, speaking to ambassadors of permanent UNSC mbrs., conditions Jordanian return to Arab-Israeli peace talks on end to searches (part of international embargo on Iraq) of ships bound for Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba. (MM 3/28; NYT 3/29)