The Palestine Chronology

The IDF maintains its closure of Nahalin village for a 4th day. Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation and the administrative detention of Palestinian prisoner al-Qiq in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Jalazun r.c., and outside Ofer Prison), 1 village nr. Qalqilya, and in 4 areas along Gaza’s border; 13 Palestinians are injured. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya, as well as Tulkarm and Tulkarm r.c., arresting 2 Palestinian journalists; patrol in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 6 nr. Hebron, and 1 each nr. Jenin and Tulkarm. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers nr. al-Bureij r.c., causing no injuries. (AFP, MNA, SAM 2/12; PCHR 2/18)

Israeli PM Netanyahu speaks with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, effectively ending the suspension of peace process–related talks with the EU that Netanyahu ordered on 11/29. The Israeli govt. then confirms that the suspension is over. (HA, JP, TOI, YA 2/12; MNA 2/13)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian man in al-Tur after he drives his car into a crowd, injuring 2 border police guards. Israeli forces demolish a 3-story building in Ras al-Amud claiming it was built without a license. In the West Bank, Israeli forces close the entrance to a village nr. Nablus after a Palestinian throws a Molotov cocktail at a settler’s car. The IDF also conducts late-night raids in and around Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus, and in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, arresting 14 Palestinians; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah during the day. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 5/20; MNA, PCHR, WAFA 5/21; PCHR 5/28)

Following public criticism and consultation with DM Moshe Ya’alon, Israeli PM Netanyahu orders the suspension of the new 3-mo. pilot project restricting Palestinian travel, initiated on 5/19. Ya’alon says he will continue his efforts to reduce the number of Palestinians entering Israel illegally. (HA, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 5/20) 

EU foreign policy chief Mogherini meets with Netanyahu in Israel, who says he is still committed to the 2-state solution and he proposes a new round of peace negotiations with the Palestinians with the specific goal of establishing borders for Israel’s West Bank settlement blocs (the news of his proposal will not break until 5/26). Also, Mogherini reportedly tells Netanyahu that the European campaign calling for labeling of products from Israeli settlements is unstoppable. The PM’s office will deny that they discussed the labeling campaign when the news breaks on 6/2. Mogherini also meets with PA pres. Abbas and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat in Ramallah. (HA, JP, YA 5/20; WAFA 5/21; HA, REU, TOI 5/26; HA 6/2)

Norwegian FM Børge Brende meets with Netanyahu in Jerusalem and tells him that international pressure on Israel regarding its treatment of the Palestinians will likely resume after the P5+1 (the 5 permanent mbrs. of the UN Security Council plus Germany) reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran by their 6/30 deadline. (LF 5/19; EI, HA, 5/20; HA, YA 5/21)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of Khan Yunis detain 3 Palestinians as they attempt to cross the border fence into Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli forces conduct house searches and arrest raids nr. Ramallah and Jenin; patrol nr. Hebron and Salfit; demolish 30 dunams (around 7.4 acres) of wheat fields nr. Bethlehem; and deliver eviction orders to several Palestinian bedouin families in a village nr. Jericho. Israeli settlers level land so they can establish a road leading to an outpost s. of Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces fire sound bombs and tear gas at Palestinian students as they exit their elementary school in al-Tur, then arrest 1 of their parents. (MNA, WAFA 1/15; PCHR 1/22; OCHA 1/23)

In Cairo, the Arab League agrees to make the “necessary communications and consultations” with international partners to submit a new proposal on behalf of the Palestinians to the UNSC. Diplomats from 5 Arab countries will form a joint comm. to organize the resubmission, and PA Pres. Abbas agrees to respect the comm.’s decisions regarding timing. (AP, HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 1/15; TOI 1/17)

After meeting with the U.S. Consul Gen. to Israel and Palestine Michael Ratney in Ramallah, PA PM Hamdallah calls on the international community to pressure Israel into unfreezing its tax revenue transfers to the PA. (AJ, REU, WAFA, YA 1/15) 

Iranian FM Zarif meets with German FM Steinmeier in Berlin, then with EU foreign affairs chief Mogherini, to discuss the ongoing negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. In Geneva, reps. of Iran and the U.S. discuss the negotiations. (AFP 1/16; MNA 1/17)

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Rafah, Israeli naval forces arrest 3 fishermen. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, in Aida r.c. in Bethlehem, in Jenin, and 1 village each nr. Nablus and Tulkarm at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Bethlehem in the morning, 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian on a road nr. Ramallah, causing serious injuries. (MNA, WAFA 5/27; PCHR 5/29)

The Hamas-run cabinet in the Gaza Strip holds its 343d and last meeting, and releases a statement saying it is ready to hand over “full responsibility” to a PA unity govt. According to Fatah official al-Ahmad, reps. of the various Palestinian factions are close to agreeing on the composition of the new govt., as they continue their discussions. (AP, MNA 5/27) .

The office of EU foreign affairs chief Ashton confirms that reps. of Iran and the P5+1 powers have agreed to meet in Vienna on 6/16 to begin a new round of talks. (AP 5/27)

Armed Palestinians fire around 80 rockets and mortars into Israel, injuring 5 Israelis. The IDF retaliates with air strikes, killing 3 armed Palestinians and 1 civilian. Israel closes the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings in both directions. A number of Israeli ministers and politicians urge a full-scale attack on the Gaza Strip. (Arutz Sheva, CNN, JP, MNA, REU 10/24)

EU foreign policy chief Ashton begins a visit to Israel and the West Bank, with planned meetings with Israeli PM Netanyahu and other officials, as well as with PA PM Fayyad and pres. Abbas. Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman warns Ashton of the ‘‘consequences’’ of the Palestinians’ UN bid. Meanwhile, Abbas says he would be ready for negotiations with Israel immediately after the UN recognizes Palestine as a non-member state. (ToI 10/23; HA, REU 10/24; MNA 10/25)

Palestinians and international activists protest in a supermarket in Sha’ar Binyamin, a Jewish settlement in the southern West Bank, calling for a boycott of Israeli products. (972mag 10/24)

In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes agricultural facilities and wells in a village nr. Jenin and an area nr. Hebron; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron. (MNA, WAFA 10/24; PCHR 11/8)

The Sudanese government accuses Israel of carrying out an air strike on an arms factory in Khartoum that killed 2 people. (Guardian 10/24; AFP 10/25)