The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers re-erected a settlement outpost near al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya; the settlement outpost was dismantled by Israeli forces on 6/7. 18 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ni‘lin, al-Mughayyir, Bayt Rima, Balata refugee camp, Rujeib, Bayt Dajan, Ya‘bad, Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, Fawwar refugee camp, and Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities took measurements for the demolition of a 4-story apartment building in Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen and seized their boat within the fishing zone. (PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/8; PCHR 6/9; UNOCHA 6/17)

The Israeli supreme court rejected a petition for a retrial in a case where the Israeli settler group Ateret Cohanim allegedly purchased 3 buildings in the Old City from the Greek Orthodox church, allowing the settler organization to evict the Palestinian tenants. The Greek Orthodox church called the ruling “unfair” and without “any legal logical basis.” The EU voiced concern about the supreme court ruling. (HA, YNET 6/9; MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/10; MEMO, WAFA 6/11)

Israel extended its antiquities authority to the West Bank. The Israel Antiquities Authority will replace the Coordinator on Government Activities in the Territories in managing archeological sites in the West Bank. (HA 6/8)

Speaking, via phone link at a conference on the holy sites in Jerusalem, dubbed “Property Documentation and the Historical Status of the Holy al-Aqsa Mosque,” PA president Mahmoud Abbas said that the PA would not accept any changes to the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem, saying all Islamic and Christian holy sites are Palestinian. (WAFA, WAFA 6/8; WAFA 6/9)

Israeli media reported that members of a Liberian delegation in Israel headed by minister of state for presidential affairs Nathaniel McGill told Israeli journalists that Liberia will open a trade office in Jerusalem that eventually will become Liberia’s embassy to Israel. The delegation was meeting Israeli officials, including president Isaac Herzog. (ALM 6/9)

Axios reported that last week, Israel refused a proposal for a White House summit with the PA, U.S., Egypt, and Jordan to create a political horizon for ending the occupation. (AX 6/8)

Axios also reported that the White House is sending the newly appointed assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs, Barbara Leaf, to Israel and Ramallah for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials. (AX 6/8)

Haaretz reported that the EU commission’s anti-fraud office will not open an investigation into the 6 Palestinian rights organizations Israel deemed terrorist organizations in October 2021, saying that it had not seen sufficient evidence from Israel against the 6 organizations. EU diplomats told Haaretz that the evidence handed to EU countries by Israel was not compelling and did not meet the threshold of proof. (HA 6/8)

In a visit to the Buraq Wall/Western Wall, Bosnia and Herzegovina parliament speaker Dragan Čović told reporters that the Old City is part of Israel. (JP 6/10)

The World Bank approved a grant of $30 million for PA reforms in transparency, inclusion, and green economy and a $7 million grant for social services and online employment oppounities for Palestinians in Gaza. (WAFA 6/8)

In the West Bank, clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli forces in ‘Araqa near Jenin when Israeli forces stormed the village and set up a flying checkpoint. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces halted construction on a road in Battir near Bethlehem and seized vehicles. (WAFA, WAFA 6/30

The Israeli supreme court dismissed an appeal made by Palestinian residents against the demolition order for 16 apartment buildings in Wadi al-Hummus in East Jerusalem. (WAFA 6/30)

Israel released the PA minister for Jerusalem affairs Fadi al-Hadami after arresting him on 6/27. (WAFA 6/30)

U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman and U.S. special representative for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt attended the inauguration ceremony of “Path of the Pilgrims,” an excavation of a large underground archeological site underneath Silwan in East Jerusalem. The excavation is led by the settler organization Elad, the Israeli antiquities authority, and the Nature and Parks Authority. The excavations have been going on for years and residents of Silwan have complained several times about damage to their properties due to the excavations. The presence of the 2 U.S. officials was seen as an implicit recognition of Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem by the Trump administration. (HA 6/30; HA, HA 7/2)

According to U.S. special representative for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt, the PA released the man from Hebron who had been arrested on 6/27 after returning to the West Bank from the U.S.-led Peace to Prosperity Bahrain Workshop. (HA 6/30)

Israel conducted air strikes on Syrian territory. According to the Russian foreign ministry, 16 people were killed, including a child. (HA 7/2)

In the 2d such incident in as many days, Israeli forces arrest several Islamic Waqf employees accused of planning maintenance work at Haram al-Sharif without permission from the Israel Antiquities Authority. Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian youth, accusing him of planning an attack on Jerusalem’s Light Rail after finding a knife in his possession. In the West Bank, IDF troops clash with stonethrowing Palestinians during raids in 2 villages nr. Ramallah; 1 Palestinian is injured. IDF troops arrest 1 Palestinian during further raids and house searches nr. Jenin, Qalqilya, and Ramallah; and patrol nr. Hebron throughout the day. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolish several residential structures, 2 offices, and 3 water tanks nr. Jericho and 2 agricultural structures nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers attack a Palestinian shepherd nr. Ramallah, injuring her and killing several of her goats. Late at night, around 400 settlers enter Awarta village nr. Nablus to perform religious rituals, sparking minor clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian residents of the area (there are no serious injuries). (JP, MNA, TOI 8/4; MNA 8/5; PCHR 8/11; +972 8/13)

Israel’s Shin Bet accuses the Palestinian manager of the Gaza branch of World Vision, a Christian aid group, with redirecting around $43 m. of the group’s money to Hamas over the past 6 years. The manager, Mohammad Halabi, was arrested at the Erez border crossing on 6/15. Hours later, the Australian govt. suspends its funding of World Vision. The charity responds, saying that programs in Gaza “have been subject to regular internal and independent audits, independent evaluations, and a broad range of internal controls,” and that they “have no reason to believe the allegations are true.” (NYT, TOI 8/4; TOI 8/5; AJ 8/9)

Egypt’s military announces that it has killed the leader of the Sinai Province of the Islamic State (SPIS) with a recent air strike nr. al-Arish in n. Sinai. The strike was one of many that reportedly killed 45 other SPIS fighters and destroyed a lot of their supplies and munitions. (HA, REU 8/4)

Israeli forces raid Yatta village nr. Hebron late at night and carry out the punitive demolition orders for the homes of the 2 Palestinians who shot and killed 4 Israelis in Tel Aviv on 6/8. In accordance with a court order, 1 of the homes is only partially destroyed. The IDF temporarily closes the major Beit El checkpoint nr. Ramallah after soldiers find a suspicious object nearby; arrests 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid nr. Hebron, and patrols nr. Hebron throughout the day. IDF troops briefly clash with Palestinians participating in a sit-in in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Ramallah, detaining 1 temporarily and causing no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police detain 4 Islamic Waqf employees doing minor repair work at Haram al-Sharif while a group of Jewish settlers tour the sanctuary. The Waqf employees are accused of doing repairs without permission from the Israel Antiquities Authority. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanina for the 6th time since 1995, when the family first started seeking a permit for the newly built structure, and also demolish 3 livestock structures in al-Nabi Samuel. They also arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in Qatanna. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Khan Yunis. Off Gaza’s coast late at night, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City and later nr. Jabaliya r.c., destroying the engine of 1 boat and causing no injuries. (MNA, WAFA 8/3; JP, MNA, PCHR, WAFA 8/4; PCHR 8/11)

U.S. and Israeli officials conclude a 3-day round of negotiations on a new military aid agreement. They reportedly settle all remaining discrepancies, except for gaps on some technical issues. A U.S. official says, “We’ve made progress and closed many of the remaining gaps,” adding, “We hope soon to be able to reach final agreement”. (HA, JP 8/4)

The Israeli press reports that Israel’s Defense Ministry has issued tenders for the construction of an underground wall to encircle Gaza. The wall is being designed to deter Hamas’s tunneling efforts. Construction is set to start in 10/2016. (TOI, YA 8/3)

The IDF sends troops into Gaza City, clashing with local gunmen and calling in an air strike, killing 1 armed Palestinian, wounding a 2d. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tubas. A Palestinian resistance mbr. wounded by IDF fire in Jabaliya on 2/7 dies. Palestinian residents of Silwan in East Jerusalem appeal to the Israeli High Court for a temporary stop-work order to halt tunneling under their homes by the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) and to block workers from entering their private property. Israeli police later arrest 4 Palestinians, including 3 landowners who had filed the appeal, placing them under house arrest for 5 days and charging them with sabotaging the IAA project. Digging at the site resumes under police protection. (International Justice Watch email 2/11; OCHA 2/13; PCHR 2/14)

Secy. of State Christopher arrives in Israel at start of Middle East tour. PM Rabin tells U.S. to stay out of Israel-PLO talks, saying "we do not need uncles, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers." (NYT, WT 12/4)

PLO Political Dept. head Faruq al-Qaddumi meets in Washington with U.S., World Bank officials to discuss economic development of o.t. (San'a' VOP 12/3 in FBIS 12/7)

Settlers rampage in Hebron, wounding 4 Palestinians. IDF does nothing to stop gunbearing settlers, but detains 20 Palestinian stone-throwers. In Gaza, alleged Fateh mbrs. open fire on 2 IDF posts; no casualties reported. (MM 12/3; NYT, WP, WT 12/4)

Israel Antiquities Authority's "Operation Scroll" scheduled to end. Search for ancient Hebrew and Jewish artifacts, started 11/14, involved 30 archaeologists and 300 workers, examined 350 sites, and cost $350,000. Operation protested by Palestinians, who say it violated 1954 UN convention on cultural artifacts and was intended to strip o.t. sites before Palestinian autonomy. (WP 12/4)

Israeli cabinet mbrs., including Environment Min. Yossi Sarid and Dep. DM Mordechai Gur, call PLO Chmn. Arafat's condemnation of 10/29 killing of Israeli settler Haim Mizrachi inadequate, want evidence PLO can control situation. Police Min. Moshe Shahal says PLO must control Hamas, Islamic Jihad. Sarid says IDF not doing enough to control settlers. FM Peres, Justice Min David Libai ask A.G. Michael Ben-Yair to examine outlawing "Committee for Road Safety," Kach-affiliated sttler vigilante group. Peres says talks with PLO on implementing 9/13 agreement will proceed. (MM, NYT, WT 11/15)

"Black September 13 Brigades" issue statement claiming responsibility for 10/29 killing of settler Haim Mizrachi. (MM 11/15)

Israeli Antiquities Authority archeology teams fan out in Judean Desert, West Bank, in search for ancient Hebrew and Jewish artifacts. Move is protested by Palestinian researchers advising peace delegation as an attempt at last-minute looting of Palestinian cultural heritage. (NYT 11/15)

Negotiations continue in Washington. Jordanian-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli meetings center on proposals submitted by the parties. (NYT 1/15)

Shots fired at Israeli car, bus wound 7 near 'Ayn Siniya, W. Bank. (IDF Radio 1/14, Qol Yisra'el 1/15 in FBIS 1/15)

Leaders of the nine main Christian churches in Jerusalem call on Israel to protect Christian archaeological sites in the city, threaten to seek international protection failing Israeli action. Leaders also condemn confiscation of Palestinian homes in Silwan. Action comes in wake of discovery of 6th century Christian monastery in E. Jerusalem last year by workers building a new road. Israel Antiquities Authority has not yet decided if it will recommend that the road be diverted elsewhere. (MM 1/14)

Council of Heads of Local Arab Councils requests Histadrut to help stop companies from firing Palestinian citizens and replacing them with Soviet Jewish immigrants, who work for lower wages. (MM 1/15)