The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians during a late-night raid near Bethlehem; and patrol near Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Salfit, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian demolishes his own home in Umm Tuba to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (PCHR 11/30)

Israel releases Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Council (PC) mbr. Muhammad Abu Tir, who was among 60 Hamas-affiliated elected officials arrested by Israel after the 6/06 capture of IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit (of the 60 at least 10 are still in custody). Hrs. later, Israeli security forces raid his home in Umm Tuba village s. of Jerusalem and order him to refrain fr. any public celebration of his release. The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Jericho. (AFP 5/20; OCHA, PCHR 5/27)

An AMB gunman attacks an IDF outpost n. of Jerusalem, killing 6 IDF soldiers, critically wounding 1, and escaping. IDF F-16s shell 2 PSF buildings in Rafah, Ramallah; naval vessels fire a missile at PA head Yasir Arafat's compound in Gaza, killing 4 Force 17 mbrs. The IDF also rockets a Hamas office in Jabaliya, killing 2 Hamas mbrs. in an apparent assassination; among the 11 injured are 9 children. 2 Palestinians are killed in IDF strikes on Nablus. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device in the West Bank, killing only himself, causing no injuries. The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah, 2 Palestinian homes in Umm Tuba nr. Jabal Abu Ghunaym settlement, 1 dunam of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Yatta; bans all Palestinian vehicular traffic except ambulances in the n. West Bank. Late this evening, the IDF fires 18 shells at Arafat's compound in Gaza, killing 5 PSF officers; 1 missile into his compound in Ramallah, where he has been held under virtual house arrest since 12/01. In Hebron, Jewish settlers fire on Palestinian areas, causing no injuries. (AP, Mezan, MM, NYT, WT 2/19; AP, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/20; AFP, MA 2/20 in WNC 2/21; MM, PCHR, WP 2/21)