The Palestine Chronology

IDF general and head of Central Command Nitzan Alon approves 2 settlement outposts nr. Nablus by combining them into 1 settlement named Rechalim. (PCHR 1/10)

In the West Bank, IDF troops patrol in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron, then fire rubber-coated steel bullets at stonethrowing Palestinians who confront them, wounding 1 child. The IDF also patrols in ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in and around Bethlehem and in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. (PCHR 1/10)

Israel’s Shin Bet security service reports that 12/2012 saw a 400% increase in what the organization classifies as ‘‘terrorist attacks’’ in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israeli media promote the statistics as reinforcing recent remarks by IDF col. Yaniv Alaluf that a 3d intifada is already underway. Shin Bet also says that Palestinians fired 1 mortar from the Gaza Strip during the whole of 12/2012. (ToI 1/7)

U.S. pres. Barack Obama nominates Republican Chuck Hagel as his next defense secretary and counterterrorism adviser and John Brennan as head of the CIA. Hagel is expected to meet opposition over his record on Israel and Iran, while Brennan has faced criticism by human rights groups over his views on mistreatment of prisoners during interrogations. (REU 1/7)

The Lebanese army says that the U.S. has given 200 armored vehicles to Lebanon in order to support the armed forces’ ability to respond to crises. (REU 1/7)

Israel’s fin. min. Yuval Steinitz visits Washington, D.C., to press U.S. officials to tighten sanctions on Iran further and give Tehran a clear ultimatum, backed with a credible military threat, to halt its nuclear program. (AP 1/7; JP 1/8)

The PA denies reports that Pres. Abbas is considering postponing the UN bid and confirmed that he will submit the resolution for a vote later in 11/2012. Israeli fin. min. Yuval Steinitz says that Israel will stop collecting tax revenues for the PA if Abbas pursues the initiative. (JP, REU, ToI, WAFA 11/10; JP 11/11)

In the Gaza Strip, armed Palestinians fire an anti-tank missile at an IDF jeep on the border, injuring 4 soldiers. The IDF shells a residential area nr. Gaza City in response, killing 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2 teenagers, and wounding 38 Palestinians (1 of whom subsequently dies of their wounds). The IDF also fires 2 shells at a village nr. Khan Yunis, injuring 11 civilians; makes an air strike on a group of Islamic Jihad mbrs., killing 1. Unidentified Palestinians then fire around 30 rockets and mortars into Israel, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron, firing tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinians; conducts house search and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon and in 1 village nr. Jenin at night. (REU 11/10; JP 11/11; PCHR 11/14)