The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole 150 olive saplings in Jalud. Israeli forces raided Bayt Umar, leading to clashes; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Israeli forces also razed several hundred olive saplings and trees in Dayr Balut. 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Dayr Nitham, Nablus, and Hebron. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land east of Khan Yunis. In Israel, Israeli police violently dispersed Palestinian citizens of Israel in Kafr Qara protesting the lack of Israeli police’s willingness to investigate intra-communal violence of Palestinian communities in Israel; 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel was killed on 1/5. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/6; PCHR 1/7)

An Israeli military court convicted the prominent Palestinian activist Issa Amro of 6 of 18 charges against him, including obstructing Israeli forces’ activities and assaulting 1 Israeli settler. Amnesty International has called the charges politically motivated and Amro denies the charges against him. He will be sentenced on 2/8. Amro also has a court hearing at a PA court on 1/20 for accusations of “insulting higher authorities” over Facebook. Amnesty has also called the PA charges “disgraceful.” (AI 1/5; HA, MEE, REU 1/6)

Sudan announced that it had signed on the normalization deal between Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE after Sudan was formally removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism in December. The agreement was formalized by the Sudanese justice minister Nasredeen Abdulbari and U.S. treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin. The U.S. has also agreed to settle Sudan’s debt to the World Bank and granted Sudan immunity from prosecution related to the 2 U.S. embassy bombings in east Africa during the 1990s. (AJ, HA, REU 1/6)

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that 15 people were killed or injured in Israeli attacks on southern Damascus. (REU 1/6; MEE 1/7; HA 1/9)

In Washington D.C., thousands of anti-democracy Donald Trump supporters protested at the U.S. Capitol building after attending a Trump rally by the White House on the day that the U.S. congress was to confirm the electoral college vote win for president-elect Joe Biden. Hundreds of protesters stormed the Capitol building while the legislators were debating the electoral college votes, taking over the senate chamber while legislators were evacuated. 1 protester was killed in the Capitol building and 4 others died due to “medical emergencies” during the violent protest, including a police officer. At least a dozen U.S. police officers were injured and several dozen protesters were arrested. After the Capitol building was secured, U.S. members of congress certified President-Elect Biden’s win. In the aftermath, Trump was temporarily banned from Twitter and Facebook after accusations of using the platforms to incite the rioters. Trump subsequently promised an “orderly transition of power” despite not acknowledging his defeat in the presidential election, making unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. 2 of the Trump administration cabinet members and a dozen high-ranking officials resigned in the aftermath of violence encouraged by the president; speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi was among many bipartisan voices calling for Trump’s removal from office. Also, 2 Democrats were declared winners of the run-off elections in Georgia, providing the Democrats a majority in the Senate as well as the House. (AJ, GDN, HA, HA, HA, REU, REU 1/6; AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AX, BBC, CNN, CNN, HA, HA, HA, IN, MEE, NPR, NYT, NYT, REU, WP 1/7; AJ, CBS, CNN, CNN, CNN, WAFA, WP 1/8; HA 1/9)

The PA rejects Israel's offer to partially implement the expired Wye agmt. by opening the open s. safe passage route, releasing more criminal prisoners; says that any proposal for partial implementation must include transfer of land. (NYT, WP 2/26)

In a 1-hr. trial, PA military court finds Palestinian Col. Ahmad Abu Mustafa guilty of kidnapping, raping a 6-yr.-old boy; sentences him to death for "inciting the public against the Palestinian Authority." 2,000 Palestinians stage demonstration in Gaza to demand Abu Mustafa's punishment. (NYT 2/26; NYT, WT, WP 2/27; PR 3/5; MEI 3/12)

Bashar al-Asad, son of Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad, goes to Amman to offer condolences to King Abdallah on the passing of King Hussein. (MM 2/26)

Israeli High Court rules (3-2) that American Samuel Sheinbein, charged committing murder in the U.S. in 9/97, is a citizen of Israel, cannot be extradited, will be tried in Israel. The decision reverses a lower court judgement that Sheinbein did not qualify for automatic citizenship through his father, who was born in Mandated Palestine. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/26; WJW 3/4; JP 3/5) (see 9/5/98)

Saudi businessman Salih Idris, whose pharmaceutical plant in Sudan was bombed by the U.S. in 8/98 for allegedly housing chemical weapons for Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden, files suit against the U.S. Treasury Dept. for freezing his London assets without formally declaring him linked to a designated terrorist, as the law demands. The U.S. has never given proof of Idris's ties to Bin Laden. (WP 2/26; WT 2/27; see also WP, WT 2/4)

Turkish officials allow 2 lawyers for Ocalan to see the jailed PKK leader for the 1st time. The mtg. lasts 20 minutes; jailers confine the discussion to Ocalan's health, forbid discussion of his case. Afterward, 1 lawyer is arrested for maintaining ties to the PKK. The other, Ahmet Zeki Okcuoglu, quits, saying his life is in danger. (NYT, WT 2/27)

Rockets are fired fr. s. Lebanon into n. Israel, damaging a house but causing no injuries. Israel blames Hizballah, which denies responsibility. (AFP 2/28 in WNC 3/1; MM 3/1)