The Palestine Chronology

After a significant lull in major violence, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian at the Ras Biddu checkpoint n. of Jerusalem after she allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli border guard. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli authorities return the bodies of 3 Palestinians killed in confrontations with Israeli forces on 3/8/2016, 10/12/2015, and 10/13/2015. Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians on a raid in Silwan, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths (1 Palestinian is injured). They also demolish an Islamic structure in al-Masara. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem and Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, arresting 7 Palestinians; and patrol nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Tulkarm. Israeli forces issue a stop-work order to a Palestinian construction site in the n. Jordan Valley. Israeli settlers steal wooden furniture from Palestinian homes in Hebron. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage. (JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 5/23; EI, MNA 5/24)

Israeli PM Netanyahu meets with French PM Manuel Valls in Jerusalem and calls on the French to scrap plans for an international peace conference in Paris on 6/3, and organize instead a meeting between Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority (PA) pres. Mahmoud Abbas. Valls says he will discuss the proposal with the French pres. (HA, JP, YA 5/23; YA 5/24)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops conduct a limited incursion nr. Juhur al-Dik, where they level land close to the border fence and then withdraw. In the West Bank, the IDF injures 5 Palestinians nr. Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah during clashes which result from Palestinians trying to stop Jewish settlers throwing stones at cars nr. the camp. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Bethlehem, Qalqilya and 1 nearby village, Nablus, and Jenin r.c. at night. They patrol in al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in Tulkarm and 1 nearby village, as well as 1 village nr. Jenin at night. (MNA, WAFA 9/1; PCHR 9/5)

U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Jen Psaki confirms that U.S. peace process envoy Martin Indyk participated in 1 of the sets of meetings between Israelis and Palestinians that have taken place since the resumption of talks in 7/2013 (though without specifying which one). Meanwhile, Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah says that a 2d group of Palestinian prisoners could be freed by Israel by the end of 9/2013. (JP, REU 9/1)

Secy. of State John Kerry tells U.S. television networks that the govt. has proof sarin gas was used in a recent Damascus chemical weapons attack, urging Congress to vote for military action against the Asad regime. Meanwhile, the Syrian opposition coalition issues a statement asking Congress to approve the strike. In France, Interior Minister Mauel Valls says that his govt. would not go it alone in Syria and will wait for the decision by the U.S. Congress. (AFP, AP, REU 9/1)

Egypt’s chief prosecutor orders ousted pres. Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood leaders to stand trial on charges including inciting violence and murder. The new regime also names a constituent assembly and gives it 60 days to review amendments that would erase articles brought in by the Brotherhood and other Islamic parties last year. (NYT, REU 9/1)