The Palestine Chronology

EU diplomats meet in Brussels to discuss the possibility of all 27 EU mbr. states writing to the Israeli government to protest recent settlement expansion news. No agreement is reached. British foreign secretary William Hague rules out sanctions against Israel, but says further steps would be considered if the expansion plans were not rescinded. In a letter to UN secy.-gen. Ban and the UNSC, the Palestinians accuse Israel of planning further ‘‘war crimes’’ by expanding Jewish settlements, and urge Israel to be held to account. Speaking in Bethlehem, PA FM Riyad al-Maliki says that the PA will seek to capitalize on the European support to increase international pressure on Israel. (HA, MNA, REU 12/4)

In occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli bulldozers arrive in the Palestinian neighborhood of al-Tur to demolish a home located on the premises of a designated national park, but lawyers secure a delay. Also, after 2 yrs. in which the Israeli Interior Ministry demolished no homes, supervisors begin patrols in occupied East Jerusalem to prepare for the resumption of demolitions of ‘‘illegally built’’ homes. (HA 12/4)

Palestinian authorities in Nablus report that Israel is changing procedures at al-Hamra checkpoint, controlling Palestinian movement between the n. West Bank and Jordan Valley, so that Palestinians will no longer need permits to cross. Meanwhile, the IDF demolishes a mosque in a village in the s. Hebron Hills nr. Yatta and 2 structures nr. Nablus. The IDF patrols in 1 village each nr. Jericho, Ramallah, and Tulkarm in the morning, and 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Tulkarm at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron and 3 villages nr. Hebron at night. (MNA 12/4; PCHR 12/6)

The UNGA approves a resolution 174–6 (with 6 abstentions) calling on Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and open its nuclear program for inspection. Those voting against were Israel, the U.S., Canada, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. (AP 12/4)

No Israeli-Palestinian violence is reported. (PCHR 7/26; OCHA 7/27)

The Israeli DM files a petition with Israel’s High Court to allow the demolition of 12 small bedouin enclaves (200 families, 1,500 individuals) in Area C in the Hebron Hills so the area (known as Firing Zone 918) may be used for military purposes; those evicted would be relocated to Yatta village in Area B. Israeli forces expelled some 700 Palestinians from the enclaves in 1999 and demolished their structures and wells, but the families sued the government in 2000 and were granted permission to return to the area until the case was resolved. After 5 yrs. of mediation, the sides declared an impasse in 2005. The government decided to take action now after noticing (according to the filing) ‘‘an increasing trend of augmenting and strengthening the population on the C Grounds.’’ (NYT 7/24; WT 7/25)

Arafat, en route to Damascus for talks with Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad, receives word that the visit has been postponed. Shortly thereafter, Peres announces that he will meet with Arafat on 9/26. Although Israeli-Palestinian violence increases today, Sharon does not cancel the mtg. Acceding to Israeli demands to curb incitement, Arafat closes a photo and art exhibit on the uprising in Nablus that features a mock-up of the Jerusalem pizzeria bombed on 8/9. Palestinians fire 2 mortars in Gaza, 1 landing inside the Strip, the other inside Israel, neither causing damage. The IDF forcibly moves 16 bedouin fr. Hebron Hills into area A; opens fire on a Palestinian vehicle nr. Yatta, wounding 4 Palestinians. (AFP, AP, GS, HA, MM, PMC 9/25; Radio Monte Carlo 9/25 in WNC 9/26; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/26; DUS, QA, SAF 9/26 in WNC 9/27; WJW 9/27; SAF 9/27 in WNC 9/28; al-Quds 9/30, al-Majd 10/8 in WNC 10/9)