The Palestine Chronology

The IDF bulldozes Palestinian land n. of Bayt Hanun, some 200 m. inside Gaza, as part of a plan (drafted before disengagement) to create a buffer zone controlled by the IDF along the n. Gaza border. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in, fires on residential areas of Nablus; imposes a curfew on Budrus nr. Ramallah, patrolling streets, searching homes. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai throw stones, bottles, rotten vegetables at Palestinian homes in Hebron. In Gaza City, 10,000 Hamas supporters attend a military-style victory parade celebrating disengagement, displaying RPGs, rockets, assault rifles. Also in Gaza City, PA security forces and Hamas mbr. intervene to stop the kidnapping of 1 American, 1 Palestinian journalist by unknown militants. (JP, REU 9/18; AP, XIN 9/19; PCHR 9/22; HA 9/25)

A 5-day summit on Israeli-Palestinian issues opens in Israel attended by 17 mainline Protestant and Jewish officials. The summit, organized by American Jewish groups, is aimed at convincing Americans to halt steps toward divestment following a move a yr. ago by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to consider divesting church funds fr. 6 corporations undertaking activities that support the Israeli occupation. The World Council of Churches issued similar recommendations to its mbrs. in 2/05, followed by the United Church of Christ in 7/05, raising serious concerns in Israel and among U.S. Jewish groups. Evangelical Christian groups were not invited to these mtgs., as they are already considered solidly supportive of Israel. (WT 9/17)

Israel says it has begun construction of 2 additional fences around the Gaza Strip—1 of razor wire, 1 with electronic sensors and surveillance cameras—to ensure Israeli security after disengagement; both fences will be inside Israel. IDF undercover units make a major incursion into Tulkarm, raid the home of wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. Mu’ayyad Musa, fatally shoot him in an apparent assassination. The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in Husan w. of Bethlehem for construction of the separation wall; fires on residential areas of Budrus nr. Ramallah, Rafah; raids the Abu Huli neighborhood of Dayr al-Balah, searches homes, rounds up residents for interrogation, arrests 2; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bayt Khalil nr. Hebron, Burqin, Nablus, Qabatya, Yatta. Palestinians fire 3 rockets at Sederot and the Negev, a mortar at the Gaza security fence, causing no damage or injuries.Armed mbrs. of the Jenin Martyrs Brigades (a Bureij cell of the PRCs affiliated with Fatah) kidnap PA military intelligence officer Jihad ‘Abid (fmr. aide to fmr. military intelligence head Musa Arafat) as he returns to Gaza through the Rafah crossing. (AFP, HA, XIN, 7/28; NYT 7/29; PR 8/3; PCHR 8/4; HA 8/8)

Israel announces plans to build new roads in Gaza parallel to the existing settler bypass roads to ease congestion during the evacuation of settlements in 7/05. The IDF sends troops into Balata r.c. who fatally shoot wanted AMB mbr. Ibrahim Isnayri, who allegedly has Hizballah connections, in disputed circumstances (the IDF says troops tried to arrest him, but he opened fire and they responded; Palestinian observers say the IDF fired without warning, Isnayri never fired); the AMB says he was assassinated and it will take revenge, may stop adhering to the cease-fire; Abbas declares it a “serious violation” of the truce. The IDF also raids an elementary school in Budrus nr Ramallah, checks employee IDs, leaves without making arrests; raids, fires on homes in Surif nr. Hebron, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 6; raids fields along a settler bypass road nr. Tulkarm, arrests 8 farmers, interrogates and then releases them; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Aza r.c. nr. Bethlehem, Shufa nr. Tulkarm; demolishes a Palestinian home in Kafr ‘Aqab nr. Qalandia for lack of a permit; issues demolition orders for 92 Palestinian homes in Silwan in East Jerusalem for lack of permits. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai attack, beat a Palestinian man, 6 children in Hebron; in a separate incident beat a 12-yr.-old Palestinian girl heading home fr. school, throw stones and bottles at 10s of Palestinian homes in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Tapuach settlement spread poisoned feed on large areas of Palestinian grazing land outside Nablus (see 3/22). A Jewish settler shoots, wounds a Palestinian driving nr. Hebron. (AP, REU, XIN 4/14; IMEMC, MM, NYT 4/15; OCHA, PR 4/20; PCHR 4/21; MEI 4/29)

The IDF raids Budrus nr. Ramallah, fires on residential areas, sparking clashes that leave 2 Palestinians injured; sends troops into Salim with military orders to occupy a Palestinian home as an IDF post for 1 mo., confining the 16 family mbrs. to 1 floor; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at a nonviolent Palestinian demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 1 Palestinian), Dayr Ballut nr. Nablus (wounding 2 Palestinians). Palestinians complain that 100s of people were unable to attend Friday prayers at Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque because of prolonged IDF checks at the newly installed electronic gates surrounding the site (see 3/13, 3/24). A Palestinian is injured in an explosion in Gaza City, reportedly while preparing a bomb; 3 Palestinians are injured in a similar incident in Khan Yunis. Some 20 Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus rampage through the nearby village of Asira, breaking windows, throwing stones, beating a 50-yr.-old Palestinian woman; when IDF troops come to Yitzhar later in the day to investigate, some 150 settlers throw stones, clash with troops; later in the evening settlers attack Palestinian homes again, causing damage but no injuries; Yitzhar officials say the attackers were “a number of boys” who had gotten drunk for Purim. Jewish settlers fr. Otniel nr. Hebron detain 3 Palestinian women, 4 children cultivating olives on their nearby land; hold them at the settlement for 5 hrs., until PA security officials intervene with the IDF to secure their release. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai rampage through Palestinian areas of Hebron for 3 hrs., damaging Palestinian homes but causing no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba throw stones and bottles at 2 Palestinian homes in Hebron, threaten to burn them. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on attack 10s of Palestinians, 4 international peace activists helping Palestinians clean up poisoned feed that the settlers spread on Palestinian land nr. Yatta on 3/22. (HA 3/26; OCHA 3/30; PCHR 3/31)

The IDF eases some restrictions on Palestinian movement around Nablus; conducts a late-night raid on Budrus village nr. Ramallah, site of several recent demonstrations against the separation wall, rounding up women and children, photographing them; installs 2 new electronic gates at the entrances to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs to control Palestinian access (see 3/13); conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron (occupying a Palestinian home as an observation post, then allowing settlers to move in), Husan (occupying a Palestinian home as an IDF post). Israeli border police drive through Bil‘in village nr. Ramallah, taunting local youths over loudspeakers, saying “All of Bil‘in’s children are cowards. Let’s see you throw stones”; detains a 14-yr.-old boy who throws stones, questions him, releases him 2 mi. fr. the village. In Hebron, a Jewish settler woman stops a 9-yr-old Palestinian boy on his way home fr. school, takes him to Ramat Yishai settlement, and severely beats him with a rock, breaking his teeth, injuring his back and limbs. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino attack 4 nearby Palestinian homes, causing damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba beat, injure an international peace activist in Hebron. (WT, YA 3/25; IMEMC 3/26; OCHA 3/30; PCHR 3/31)

The IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement into Jericho (turned over to PA security control on 3/16); announces plans to install an electronic gate at the entrance to Wadi al-Silqa nr. Dayr al-Balah, near a settler bypass road, to control Palestinian movement in and out; arrests 3 Palestinians attempting to sneak into Israel nr. al-Mintar crossing to find jobs; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Budrus nr. Ramallah, Dayr al-Ghusun, al-Til. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on attack, beat several Palestinian farmers working their land nearby. Several Palestinian gunmen raid the PA’s Rafah police office, fire shots in the air, free a jailed Palestinian, who was arrested on 3/18 for throwing stones at PA security officers sealing a smugglers’ tunnel in Rafah. (AYM 3/20; PCHR 3/24)

“In the framework of easing restrictions” on Palestinians, Israel rescinds expulsion orders against 4 Palestinians sent to Gaza several yrs. ago, allowing them to return to their homes in the West Bank. The IDF shoots, wounds a Palestinian who allegedly “rioted” at a roadblock nr. Qalqilya; raids Budrus nr. Ramallah, fires on stone-throwing youths, wounding 3; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Mughayyir nr. Ramallah, Tayasir nr. Jenin, Tulkarm; places cement blocks across the Bir Nabala–al-Ram road (a major commercial thoroughfare) and on the Dahiyat al-Barid–Qalandia road n. of Jerusalem. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim bar 10s of Palestinian farmers fr. accessing their lands in nearby Kafr Qadim. (VOI, VOP 3/15; JP, OCHA 3/16; PCHR 3/17; IMEMC 3/25)

Hamas takes responsibility for planting a bomb in a chicken coop nr. Gaza’s Qarni crossing, luring an IDF bomb squad to the site, and detonating the device, killing an IDF solider and a bomb-sniffing dog, wounding 4 soldiers. The IDF retaliates with gunfire nearby, killing 2 Hamas mbrs., 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs., wounding 10 bystanders, bulldozing 30 d. of land. The IDF raids a charitable society, orphanage, and school reportedly tied to Hamas in Bani Na‘im, confiscating files, sealing 3 offices; raids the Prisoners’ Supporters Society in Hebron, confiscating computers, files; fires on residential areas of Brazil r.c., Khan Yunis, Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., Beitunia, Hebron and nearby Bayt ‘Awwa, Qalqilya and neighboring ‘Azun and Jayyus, Taqu‘a, Zabbuba nr. Jenin; begins large-scale bulldozing operations nr. Jaba‘ village northwest of Hebron for construction of the separation wall; fires rubber bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall in Budrus nr. Ramallah, also arrests 40 Israeli protesters demonstrating with them. The AMB kills a Palestinian collaborator believed to have passed information to the IDF that led to the killing of 3 AMB mbrs. on 11/21. A carload of Jewish settlers twice attempts to run down a group of Palestinian teenagers on their way to school; the settlers then emerge fr. the car, attempt to kidnap a Palestinian boy, scuffle with teenagers; the IDF intervenes, orders settlers to leave but does not arrest them. (IMEMC, MM 12/7; VOI 12/7 in WNC 12/9; NYT, WP, WT 12/8; VOI 12/8 in WNC 12/10; PCHR 12/9; MEI 12/17)

The IDF launches a major incursion into Jenin, imposes a curfew, conducts house-tohouse searches, fires on residential areas, arrests at least 15 Palestinians; bulldozes 70 d. in Khan Yunis; fires on Palestinians, internationals holding a nonviolent protest against the separation wall in Budrus, where the IDF has bulldozed 250 d. in the past wk.; fires on residential areas of Nablus; conducts arrest raids and house searches in Asira, ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Jenin r.c., Kharas nr. Hebron, Nablus, Silat al-Harith nr. Jenin, Silwan, Tulkarm r.c., Yatta. Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets at Sederot and the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar nr. Nablus attack, severely beat a Palestinian farmer picking dates, leaving him with skull fractures, multiple injuries. (PM 9/21; VOI, VOP 9/21 in WNC 9/23; PR 9/22; PCHR 9/23)

The IDF shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian; attempts to assassinate senior AMB mbr. Mahmud Abu Khalifa by firing a missile at his car as he drives through Jenin, missing it and hitting a nearby building, injuring a 9-yr.-old Palestinian girl; imposes curfews on villages around Jenin; fires on an ambulance waiting to cross Mahatin checkpoint nr. Khan Yunis, seriously injuring a doctor and a paramedic; fires rubber bullets at Palestinians in Budrus w. of Ramallah to disperse their nonviolent protest against the construction of the separation wall. Late at night, Israel border police raid and search homes in the Dahiyat al-Salam neighborhood of Anata in East Jerusalem, take all men ages 16–80 to a nearby base for ID checks, warn those without blue Jerusalem IDs that they could be arrested, detained, possibly sent to the West Bank if they are caught staying in the village overnight again. The IDF also removes a group of Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba who attempt to set up an unauthorized outpost along the route to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs. Palestinian gunmen fire on a crane doing construction work in Neve Dekalim, lightly injuring an Israeli construction worker. (VOI, VOP 8/30 in WNC 9/1; VOP 8/31 in WNC 9/2; PR 9/1; PCHR 9/2)

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber on a bicycle detonates a device nr. Gaza’s Kefar Darom settlement, killing only himself, causing no injuries. Palestinian gunmen open fire on an Israeli vehicle just inside Israel nr. Beersheba, killing 2 Israelis, escaping; the AMB, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command (PFLP–GC) claim responsibility. The IDF storms the al-Aqsa Mosque compound after Friday prayers, claiming to break up a demonstration there, firing rubber-coated steel bullets and percussion grenades, lightly injuring several Palestinians and sparking stone-throwing toward the Western Wall by Palestinian youths, which causes no injuries. The IDF also demolishes 84 Palestinian shops in Bayt Hanun, in an apparent move to expand the buffer zone around the Erez crossing; raids Husan, imposes a curfew, surrounds 3 mosques, fires tear gas inside, injuring 24 worshipers; fires on Palestinians who throw stones at soldiers at the end of peaceful demonstrations against the separation wall in Budrus, Qibya, causing no injuries; conducts arrest raids nr. Hebron, Ramallah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; withdraws troops fr. the Palestinian Medical Relief offices in Ramallah, occupied on 2/26. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Neve Dekalim settlement, causing damage but no injuries. (VOP 2/27 in WNC 3/2; NYT, PCHR, WT 2/28; PR 3/3; PCHR 3/4)

The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian home in Silwan, East Jerusalem; raids, fires on residential areas of Budrus village nr. Ramallah; bulldozes 4 dunams of land in Wadi al-Silqa; conducts arrest raids in ‘Aida r.c. (VOP 2/10 in WNC 2/12; PCHR 2/12)

A female Palestinian suicide bomber (mother of 2 small children) detonates a device at the Erez crossing, killing 3 IDF soldiers, 1 Israeli security officer, wounding 12; Hamas’s Shaykh Yasin claims responsibility for the attack, saying it was a joint operation with the AMB, noting Hamas’s 1st use of a female bomber, vowing to escalate attacks. Israel seals Gaza, sends home 4,000 Gazan laborers working in the Erez industrial zone. The IDF raids Budrus nr. Ramallah, detaining Ayid and Na‘im Morrar, the coordinators of the nonviolent protest group Popular Comm. Against the Wall, which stages rallies against the separation wall; places a curfew on Tulkarm r.c., demolishes 3 Palestinian homes there; raids a nursery in Hebron, confiscating files, demolishing furniture. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Erez industrial zone, a mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries in either incident. (AFP, BBC, HA, MM, PRCS 1/14; MNR, VOI, VOP, YA 1/14 in WNC 1/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/15; QA 1/15, AYM 1/17 in WNC 1/21; HA 1/19; WT 1/20; MM, PCHR 1/22; JPI, MEI 1/23)

The World Zionist Organization (WZO) begins offering young Israeli couples up to $9,000/yr. to move to the unauthorized settlement outpost of Givat Salit in northern Jordan Valley. (YA 1/14)

The IDF expels a West Bank Palestinian administrative detainee to Gaza (see 12/4); fires on stone-throwing youths outside Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian; fires on a group of Israeli, Palestinian, foreign peace activists staging a nonviolent protest along the separation wall nr. Budrus, wounding 1 Israeli, 10 Palestinians, and arresting, deporting 4 foreigners; demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis, 2 fences in Hebron; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara. The IDF also orders 1 Palestinian family isolated btwn. the separation wall and Green Line nr. Qalqilya to evacuate their home because it “is now located in Israel”; a human rights group secures permission for the family to stay while the case is appealed. (HA 12/31; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 1/1; LAW 1/8; PCHR 1/9)