The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 2d day in a row. Off the coast nr. Rafah, Israeli naval forces open fire on a Palestinian fishing boat, causing no injuries or damage. In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers shoot and critically injure a Palestinian woman after she fights with an Israeli settler nr. Gush Etzion settlement, and they later raid the woman’s home in Bayt Fajjar and arrest her father. Nr. the Jabara checkpoint s. of Tulkarm, IDF troops open fire on several Palestinians attempting to climb the security fence and enter Israel. A Palestinian hits and critically injures an Israeli settler with his car nr. Nablus. The IDF closes the nearby Hawara and Zatara checkpoints while they search for the driver. The IDF later conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Hebron, Nablus, and Bethlehem. Late at night, PA security forces clash with residents in al-Am‘ari r.c. nr. Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a home under construction in Issawiyya. In West Jerusalem, a Jewish Israeli man attacks a Palestinian taxi driver with pepper spray, lightly injuring him. (HA, MNA, WAFA 12/1; IMEMC, MEMO, MNA 12/2; PCHR 12/4; MNA 12/16)

Israeli PM Netanyahu presents fin. min. and leader of the Yesh Atid party Lapid with 5 conditions to meet to stay in the ruling coalition, which include supporting Netanyahu’s “nation-state” bill and continued construction in Jerusalem. Lapid rejects the terms. Earlier in the day, Netanyahu had warned if harmony within his ruling coalition was not preserved, he would hold new elections, 2 years ahead of schedule. (JP, TOI 12/1; HA, REU 12/2)

In the Gaza Strip, Hamas security forces arrest 5 Palestinians on charges relating to the 10/31 rocket fire. Also responding to the incident, Israel closes the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrests in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Jenin, and Ramallah; patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 village each nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Tulkarm. Palestinians throw a Molotov cocktail at an Israeli settler bus outside Hawara village nr. Nablus, and in response the IDF imposes an overnight curfew on the village. Israeli soldiers shoot and injure 19 Palestinians during a protest at Qalandia checkpoint, 2 with live ammunition and 17 with rubber-coated metal bullets. (HA, MNA 11/2; PCHR 11/6)

Jordan’s King Abdullah says that his country will confront Israel’s “unilateral policies” and work to protect “Muslim and Christian holy sites,” in response to the 10/30 closing of Haram al-Sharif and the escalating tensions in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Dep. Secy.-Gen. of the Arab League Ben Hilli says that Israel has reached a “red line” with regard to “violations”in Jerusalem. Netanyahu, meanwhile, says that “Islamic extremist elements” are trying “to stir up unrest” and that Israel will maintain the status quo at Haram al-Sharif. (AFP, HA, JP 11/2)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 3 villages nr. Hebron, Tulkarm, and 1 nearby village, Nablus, Tubas, and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; patrols in Jenin and 1 nearby village, and 1 village each in Bethlehem and Hebron. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian-owned vehicles nr. Nablus, causing damage but no injuries. Settlers also set fire to olive trees nr. Hawara village. (MNA 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

The Israeli army reopens Kerem Shalom and Erez border crossings into the Gaza Strip, closed on 6/23 as a punitive measure following rocket fire. (AFP 6/26)

The Jerusalem municipality approves construction permits for 69 new homes in East Jerusalem settlement Har Homa, a day before U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry is due to arrive for talks in Israel and the West Bank. (AFP, JP 6/26)

UNESCO’s World Heritage Cmte. in Phnom Penh passes a Jordanian-sponsored resolution in an 8–3–10 vote condemning Israeli actions in Jerusalem, such as developments of the Western Wall and Temple Mount site, and resolving to maintain the places of the Old City and Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on its World Heritage Sites in Danger list. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticizes the resolution, saying it is a “dark day for UNESCO.” (ToI 6/26)

Austria completes the withdrawal of its UNDOF peacekeepers from the Golan Heights, with the remaining 70 departing via Israel. (HA 6/26)

Unidentified gunmen kidnap 2 Egyptian police officers in the s. Sinai, reportedly in revenge for an earlier assault on a Bedouin man by a police officer during a dispute at a petrol station. (Ahram 6/26)

In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home and an addition to a 2d home in East Jerusalem, displacing 15 Palestinians (including 8 children), with 1 family fined $3,000 for unlicensed construction; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Nablus and neighboring ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’, and Hizma village northeast of Jerusalem (arresting 3 12-yr.-old Palestinians and a 14-yr.-old), and nr. Jenin. The UN reports that in the previous wk., the IDF vacated 3 checkpoints around Qalqilya (including completely dismantling 1: Izbat Jalud) and increased the operating hours of 4 main checkpoints around Nablus (Asira al-Shamaliyya, Bayt Iba, Hawara, Shavei Shomron) to 24 hrs./ day 7 days/wk., significantly easing Palestinian travel btwn. Qalqilya and Nablus. The UN also reports that since the 5/31 and 6/4 Fatah-Hamas clashes in Qalqilya, Hamas police have arrested 73 Fatah-affiliated Palestinians on charges of “seeking to undermine internal security in Gaza.” Meanwhile, the PASF has arrested at least 74 Palestinians in the West Bank, making this the 2d wk. that the PASF has arrested more Palestinians than the IDF. (OCHA, PCHR 6/11)

U.S. special envoy Mitchell begins a 2-day visit to Israel and Ramallah (his 4th trip to the region) to follow up with Israeli and PA leaders regarding Obama’s 6/4 speech. (IFM 6/9; NYT, WT 6/10; NYT, WJW, WT 9/11) 

Israel announces plans to build 750 new houses in East Jerusalem’s Pisgat Ze’ev settlement and 350 homes in Givat Ze’ev settlement just n. of Jerusalem, stating that the construction “is consistent with our long-standing position that building within the large settlement blocs, which will stay part of Israel in any final status agreement.” Israel’s Jerusalem Municipality approves construction of a new settlement neighborhood of 400 housing units in the Nabi Yaqub neighborhood n. of East Jerusalem. The Israeli DMin. reaches a deal with Jewish settler leaders for the removal of several unauthorized settlement outposts in exchange for approval of new construction in approved settlements. Jewish settlers fr. Hebron rally in East Jerusalem, calling for revenge against Palestinians for the 3/6 Mercaz Harav attack and threatening to raid Jabal Mukabir, where the gunman lived; Israeli police intervene to prevent a rampage. Meanwhile, the IDF raids a Palestinian elementary school in Hawara, nr. Nablus, while classes are in session, claiming that students threw stones at an IDF patrol; raids the PA civil defense headquarters in Ramallah, arresting an AMB mbr. staying there overnight as part of the 7/07 amnesty deal btwn. Israel and the AMB; conducts latenight arrest raids in and around Bethlehem, in Nablus town and r.c., nr. Tulkarm. An IDF soldier dies of injuries sustained in a 3/6 roadside bombing inside Gaza. (NYT, WT 3/10; OCHA 3/12; PCHR 3/13)

In Gaza, 2,000 Palestinians hold a peaceful demonstration at a sealed breach in the Rafah border to urge Egypt to keep the border open. Outside Rafah, 2 Palestinian teenagers are injured when they accidentally trigger unexploded IDF ordnance. In the West Bank, the IDF sets up a checkpoint outside a Bayt Umar cemetery to check the IDs of mourners attending the funeral of the 2d Kefar Etzion attacker (see 1/24); later fires percussion grenades, rubber-coated steel bullets at mourners, wounding 6; fires on residential areas of al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem, causing no injuries; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin, northwest of Jerusalem; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 2). Palestinian children throw stones at Jewish settler vehicles traveling on Route 55 nr. Azun and Route 60 nr. Hawara, damaging 2 but causing no injuries. Inside Israel, 20,000 Israeli Palestinians march in Sakhnin to protest a 1/27 government decision not to try police officers who fatally shot 13 Israeli Palestinians during 10/00 antigovernment demonstrations in Um al-Fahm in solidarity with the intifada. In Gaza City, Hamas-affiliated police release Fayyad adviser Ghul, arrested on 12/14. (AFP 2/1; NYT, WP 2/2; OCHA 2/6; PCHR 2/7)

The IDF makes an air strike on a car nr. Jabaliya r.c. carrying Islamic Jihad mbrs. who had fired rockets toward Israel (causing no damage), missing the vehicle and causing no damage; within the hr., the IDF makes a 2d air strike on a car in the same area, killing 1 Palestinian with no known resistance connections. Citing 9 killings in 2 days, Hamas’s Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades declares an end to its observance of the 11/26/06 cease-fire, though PM Haniyeh says that the PA still has every intention of making it work. During the day, Palestinians fire 5 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Ramallah, killing a 15-yr.-old Palestinian boy; evicts some 80 Palestinians fr. Hadidiyya in the n. Jordan Valley (the Israeli High Court ruled on 1/3 that they posed a security threat to Jewish settlers in nearby Ro’i settlement; see Quarterly Update in JPS 143); confiscates 169 d. of Palestinian land nr. Tulkarm for construction of the separation wall; imposes a curfew on Hawara nr. Nablus; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., Nablus. A Palestinian gunmanfires on a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Hizma checkpoint into Jerusalem, injuring a settler and a Palestinian bystander. In Jabaliya r.c., PRC mbrs. abduct 5 Palestinians, including 2 ESF mbrs., exchanging fire with the ESF that leaves 1 of the abductees dead and sparks local demonstrations. In Gaza City, armed mbrs. of a local clan attack an ESF base, injuring 1 ESF mbr., kidnapping another (who is released later in the day after the PA intervenes). In Khan Yunis, a PA security officer is carjacked, wounded by unidentified assailants. (WP 4/23; BBC, MM, WT 4/24; OCHA 4/25; PCHR 4/26)

An IDF soldier is killed during an arrest raid in Jenin targeting Islamic Jihad and the Fatah tanzim. The IDF imposes a curfew on Hawara nr. Nablus; conducts arrest raids in al-Arub r.c., Jenin town and r.c. (occupying several homes as observation posts), al-Til nr. Tulkarm (destroying 3 cars). Israeli police break up a Palestinian conference in Jerusalem on the elections and the future of the city, seal the venue, arrest several speakers and participants, including PC mbrs., on charges of conducting illegal political activity. Palestinians in Gaza report that due to Israel’s ongoing closure of the Qarni commercial crossing, all bakeries in the Strip have closed for lack of flour. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai nr. Hebron bar Palestinian farmers fr. working their land nearby, cut down several grape vines. (AFP, IMEMC, MM 3/16; PCHR 3/23)

The IDF seals the West Bank, Gaza through 5/14, while Israelis mark their memorial and independence days, and Palestinians observe the Nakba; seals Sammu‘, al-Rihiyya nr. Hebron for the day; imposes a curfew on Hawara nr. Nablus; tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement on the Ramallah–Nablus road; removes earthen barriers blocking the main road fr. Nablus to the Jordan Valley; raids, searches 2 CEC offices in Jerusalem, confiscates documents, arrests 2 employees. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim bar Palestinian farmers fr. reaching their land in Kafr Qadim; the IDF says the farmers will henceforth require permits to access the land. (HA, IMEMC, MM 5/10; JTA, OCHA 5/11; PCHR 5/12)

IDF commandos raid Tulkarm, assassinate local AMB cmdr. Ziad Da'as, also killing 2 Palestinian bystanders. In Khan Yunis, an IDF sniper fatally shoots Hamas mbr. Hussam Hamdan, son of top Hamas political leader Ahmad Nimr. The IDF makes a predawn raid on Bayt Lahia, firing on residential areas (killing 1 Palestinian sleeping on his roof), arresting 3 relatives of a wanted Hamas mbr.; fires on residential areas of Dayr al-Balah (seriously injuring a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy), Khan Yunis; arrests local AMB leader Yahya Dahamsa in Bethlehem, demolish his rented home; demolishes the family homes of relatives of 3 other Palestinian militants elsewhere; shoots at 2 PRCS ambulances in Gaza, disabling 1. A small bomb explodes underneath a fuel truck in Rishon Letzion, lightly injuring the Israeli driver; no group claims responsibility (see 5/24). Israeli police arrest 2 19-yr.-old Israeli Arab women for failing to prevent the 8/4 Meron Junction bus bombing. In Hawara, Palestinians, international peace activists stage a nonviolent march in defiance of the IDF curfew; the IDF responds with live fire, tear gas, percussion grenades, and arrests International Solidarity Movement (ISM) leader Adam Shapiro and 1 Palestinian; Shapiro is transferred to Ramla prison pending deportation. (AP, ISM press release, LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP 8/7; NYT, WP, WT 8/8; WT 8/9)

Arafat convenes an EA mtg. to grant "preliminary approval" to Ben-Eliezer's Gaza First plan. Israeli, PA security teams meet in the evening to discuss implementation but fail to agree on terms. (HA 8/7; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/8; AFP, al-Quds, XIN 8/8 in WNC 8/9; MM, WP 8/9; AYM, al-Quds 8/9, SA 8/11 in WNC 8/12; AYM 8/11 in WNC 8/15; WJW 8/15; MEI, MM 8/16)

The IDF calls up 1,000 reservists in preparation for "crushing and decisive action" against the Palestinians; reoccupies Dura; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, destroying several Palestinian homes; continues operations in Beitunia, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm; lifts curfews in most areas for several hrs. to allow Palestinians to resupply; lifts curfews entirely in Awarta, Hawara; imposes a 24-hr. curfew on Bayt Sahur. During the curfew break in 2 camps nr. Nablus, troops open fire on Palestinians for unknown reasons, wounding 8. (AFP 6/22; NYT, WP, WT 6/23; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

Over 150 people take part in the ground breaking for a new Jewish settlement n. of Jerusalem nr. Kochav Ya'acov. The new enclave is part of a new program to "transplant" entire Jewish communities, with their rabbis, to Israel. A New York rabbi raised the idea in his town, and 25 local families committed to purchase homes in the new settlement. Meretz MK Yossi Sarid offers to find them a safer location inside Israel, but they decline. (INN 6/22) (see 5/19)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian; fatally shoots a 3d Palestinian nr. Ramallah. The IDF openly assassinates local AMB leader Walid Sbeh in al-Khadir. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device nr. a border police unit nr. Tulkarm, causing no injuries. In Gaza, the IDF begins work on an iron barrier at Netzarim Junction, apparently to better control Palestinian movement on the main road btwn. n. and s. Gaza; orders Khan Yunis fishermen to move their operations to Rafah harbor; demolishes an industrial complex nr. Gaza City, including the only factory in Gaza for producing bottled oxygen for hospitals. The IDF also fires on Palestinians circumventing the Surda checkpoint (nr. Ramallah), injuring 4. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha set fire to another 70 dunams of agricultural land in Hawara village (see 6/15). (MM, REU 6/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/18; LAW, PCHR, PR 6/19)

The 4-day 34th World Zionist Congress opens in Jerusalem. The 750-seat congress convenes every 4-5 years to negotiate the policy of the World Zionist Organization, which makes up half the decision-making power of the Jewish Agency. The Jewish Agency controls a $350 m. annual budget, which is used for immigration and absorption, as well as worldwide religious, political, education programs. (HA, JTA 6/18)

Israel intensifies its offensive across the West Bank and Gaza, leaving more than 40 Palestinian dead (including 3 paramedics), 200 injured--the highest single-day toll since the al-Aqsa intifada began. 1 IDF soldier is also killed. Early this morning, the IDF sends troops into Khuza' village nr. Khan Yunis, killing 16 Palestinians, including PSF regional cmdr. Maj. Gen. Ahmad Mifraj. In Bayt Hanina, the IDF are photographed executing an AMB mbr. hand-cuffed, in custody. The IDF continues house-to-house searches in Aida and Dahaysha, leaving 6 Palestinians dead. Another 6 Palestinians are killed in IDF raids in the Tulkarm area, 5 in a helicopter attack on a PSF office in Gaza City, 1 in Jenin r.c. A pregnant Palestinian woman, her baby die when the IDF bars their transportation to a Tulkarm hospital. In Tulkarm r.c., the IDF calls on all men age 15-45 to surrender for questioning. The IDF shells at least 1 building on Bethlehem University campus. In Jerusalem, Israeli police fatally shoot 1 Palestinian allegedly preparing to detonate a suicide bomb. 10s of armed Jewish settlers, accompanied by several IDF jeeps, raid Hawara village, nr. where a settler was wounded on 3/7, damaging homes, firing in the air The PSF arrests PFLP mbr. Majid Rimawi, the 4th Palestinian wanted by Israel in connection with the Ze'evi assassination. (BDL, LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/8; MENA 3/8, al-Quds 3/9, SA 3/10 in WNC 3/11; BDL, GS, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 3/9; PMC, WP 3/10; Le Monde 3/10 in WNC 3/13; LAW 3/13)

Israel's air, land, and sea assaults continue, leaving at least 16 Palestinians dead, more than 70 injured. The IDF enters Tulkarm r.c. and Nur al-Shams r.c., meeting fierce resistance. In Tulkarm r.c., IDF fire kills 2 Palestinian ambulance workers, wounds 4 others, plus 10s of Palestinians. IDF soldiers halt an ambulance in Salem, abduct a wounded Palestinian. After a Hamas gunman sneaks into a Atzmona settlement in Gaza and opens fire, killing 5 Jewish settlers and wounding 23 before being shot dead, the IDF sends 10s of tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs) into Aida, Bethlehem, Dahaysha, 2 neighboring villages, meeting little resistance; soldiers cut electricity, conduct house-to-house searches, occupy numerous homes and schools as observation and staging posts. F-16s bomb PA security offices in Bethlehem, destroying the Force 17 headquarters, a clinic. A PFLP suicide bomber detonates a device in Ariel settlement, lightly injuring 5 settlers; another Palestinian with a large bomb in a backpack is captured, disarmed in a Jerusalem cafe. A Palestinian gunman seriously wounds a Jewish settler nr. Nablus. IDF gunboats shell PA government buildings, political offices, intelligence headquarters, and a PSF compound in Gaza City, injuring 13 PSF officers and leaving only 2 of 25 buildings in the compound standing. The IDF also sends tanks into Jenin; shells PSF offices in Halhul, Hebron, Yatta; shells, destroys the PFLP headquarters in Bayt Hanun; invades the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce, confiscating files related to Palestinian land, property ownership; demolish 2 Palestinian homes in Tayasir, Jenin; fire on a Palestinian school in Hawara. Some 150 Israeli intelligence officers, border police, troops seal off the Jabal Mukabir section of East Jerusalem, where they surround the home of human rights activist Khader Shkirat, briefly take him into custody, search his home. (AP, CNN, HP, LAW, NYT, WP 3/7; AFP 3/7 in WNC 3/8, 3/11; LAW, MM, NYT, WP 3/8; MA 3/8 in WNC 3/11; LAW 3/13, 3/20; MEI 3/22)

U.S. Pres. George W. Bush orders U.S. special envoy Anthony Zinni back to the region to attempt to secure an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire. (AP 3/7; NYT, WP, WT 3/8; MM 3/11; AYM 3/12 in WNC 3/14; MEI 3/22)

Islamic Jihad detonates a car bomb in a parking garage in Talpiot settlement in East Jerusalem, causing damage but no injuries. The IDF direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Jinin, Rafah; tightens the closure on Jinin, Khan Yunis, Ramallah, Tulkarm; bars teachers, students fr. entering a school in Hawara; raids a 2d school in Nablus. Jewish settlers severely beat 2 Palestinian children en route to school in Nablus; bulldoze 350 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Mihula; raid Kafr Laqif village nr. Qalqilya, attack several Palestinians, set fire to an olive grove. The IDF bars a pregnant Palestinian woman in labor fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a hospital, forcing her to give birth at the crossing. (AP, HP 10/1; GS, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/2; MM 10/3; LAW 10/10; MEI 10/12)

Senior Israeli, PA security officials discuss cease-fire implementation. Israeli DM Benjamin Ben-Eliezer authorizes the IDF to remove roadblocks around Jericho, reopen the Rafah crossing into Egypt, ease Palestinians' passage through checkpoints, withdraw tanks from areas "where quiet is maintained." (Israeli DMin. press release, JP [Internet] 10/1; AYM 10/1 in WNC 10/2; al-Quds 10/2 in WNC 10/3)

Inside Israel, Israeli Arabs observe a general strike, stage protests to mark the 1st anniversary of the 10/00 riots, which left 18 Israeli Arabs dead (13 killed by Israeli police; 5 by Israeli civilians). Israeli police keep a distance fr. demonstrators; no violence is reported. (MM 10/1)

After several more hrs. of talks among Arafat, Barak, Clinton, Mubarak, King Abdallah, Annan, and Solana, Clinton announces that Arafat, Barak have agreed on steps toward halting the clashes. No details are released. The agmts. are oral and reportedly are vague, not giving an order of who is to take what step 1st. The sides agree that Clinton will appoint an international inquiry comm. to investigate the recent clashes. The U.S. for the 1st time acknowledges that Arafat "may not have control of everything" but still says it expects a cessation of violence "within hours." (AFP [Internet], MM, REU 10/17; ATL, Interfax, MENA, RL 10/17 in WNC 10/18; LAW, NYT, WP, WT, YA 10/18; JT, al-Quds, SA 10/18, Le Monde 10/19 in WNC 10/19; WJW 10/19; JP 10/20; MEI 10/27; MA 11/6 in WNC 11/9)

Meanwhile, Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate. Nr. Itamar settlement, Jewish settlers open fire on a Palestinian family harvesting their olive crop, killing 1, wounding 3. A PA policeman is killed by IDF fire in Gaza. A 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. Palestinian gunmen fire at Gilo settlement, critically wounding an Israeli border policeman. IDF tanks fire on the neighboring Palestinian village of Bayt Jala in retaliation. Settlers fr. Itamar fire on Palestinian homes in neighboring Hawara village, attack a Palestinian ambulance driver. (ADM, LAW, MM, PCHR, REU 10/17; MENA 10/17, al-Quds 10/18, MA 10/19 in WNC 10/19; ADM, Bahrain Tribune [Internet], CSM, HA [Internet], LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; WJW 10/19; HJ 10/24, MENA 10/25 in WNC 10/30)

Hamas's Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, West Bank Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti say their supporters will continue the uprising despite the Sharm agmts. The DFLP, Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine issue similar statements. Palestinians in Bethlehem, Gaza City, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah demonstrate against the Sharm mtg. 1,000s of Egyptian students in Cairo, 7,000 Palestinian refugees in Tripoli, Lebanon, hold similar demonstrations. A rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people is held in New York. (ADM, LAW, MM, PCHR, REU 10/17; RMC 10/17 in WNC 10/18; MENA 10/17, al-Quds 10/18, MA 10/19 in WNC 10/19; ADM, Bahrain Tribune [Internet], CSM, HA [Internet], LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; WJW 10/19; HJ 10/24, MENA 10/25 in WNC 10/30)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael Government schools in Jerusalem are ordered closed for 1 week [WP 2/6; FJ 2/7]. Commercial strike in occupied territories continues [FJ 2/7]. Settlers attack Ya'bad village near Jenin, injuring 22 residents, breaking car windows, and burning village water pump [FJ 2/7]. In Hawara village, near Nablus, child is shot, wounded by settler [FJ 2/7].

Arab World: Gunmen kidnap 2 UNRWA employees near Sidon, S. Lebanon [WP 2/6].

Other Countries: In Tokyo, march and rally protest Israeli actions in the occupied territories [FJ 2/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF patrol captures 3 armed fighters who crossed Egyptian border [NYT 2/12]. In village of Salim, near Nablus, troops and settlers beat 4 Palestinian youths, force them to remove stone barricade, then use bulldozer to bury them alive. Unconscious youths are dug out by villagers [NYT 2/14]. Curfews remain in effect in 'A'idah camp, Nablus region, Tulkarm, Tulkarm camp, village of Thinabbah, and 9 other camps and cities. 'Azzah camp is declared closed military zone [FJ 2/7]. Worshipers stone police during demonstration outside Dome of the Rock Mosque; 6 Palestinians are wounded. In Qalandiya, Israeli soldiers use rubber bullets, live ammunition during clash with demonstrators; camp is sealed off. Jewish settler receives serious head injury from rocks thrown at car [WP 2/6]. In Gaza Strip's Jabalya refugee camp, demonstrators set fire to civil court building; troops fire tear gas, rubber bullets to disperse stone-throwing crowds; 4 areas of camp are raided. Hospitals treat 21 Palestinians for injuries caused by beatings [WP 2/6; FJ 2/7]. Military authorities shut off electricity to Gaza City [WP 2/6]. Demonstrations and clashes are also reported in Ramallah, al-Birah camp, Am'ari camp, and Silwad village near Ramallah [FJ 2/7].