The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted some 50 olive saplings in Kafr ad-Dik. A contractor working for the Israeli military intentionally rammed a 75-year-old Palestinian man, who was said to be in critical condition; the man was standing in front of a tow truck to prevent it from seizing cars from his village Umm al-Khair, when the truck driver plowed into him. Israeli soldiers at the scene did not assist the man after he was hit and instead left the area with the cars. Israel said that stones had been thrown at the truck leading up to the incident and that the driver had been hit by 1 of the stones. The man succumbed to his injuries on 1/17. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Burqa, Beita, and Abu Dis. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolished 1 Palestinian-owned home in Silwan, displacing 6. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah and al-Fukhari; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of the shore; no injuries were reported. In Israel, a right-wing Israeli protester assaulted 1 Palestinian journalist interviewing him outside of the hospital where a Palestinian prisoner is being treated in relation to his hunger strike. (MEE, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/5; HA, MEMO, PCHR 1/6; HA 1/14; HA, MEMO, WAFA 1/17)

A local committee in Israel approved more than 3,500 new settlement units in East Jerusalem. The plans will be discussed further at a municipal committee meeting on 1/17. (AP 1/5; MEMO, MEMO 1/6; MEMO, WAFA 1/7)

The Israeli government postponed discussions of a new settlement in the E-1 area north of Abu Dis and between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim indefinitely. (HA 1/5)

The Knesset passed legislation to connect homes constructed without permits to the electric grid in the Naqab desert. The legislation was put forward by Mansour Abbas of the United Arab List. It passed 61-0 as the Israeli opposition boycotted the vote due to the legislation being fast-tracked. During discussions of the legislation, Walid Taha of the United Arab List gave a speech in Arabic, angering members of the Likud party and leading Abbas to ask Taha to continue in Hebrew. (HA 1/4; HA 1/5; ALM 1/7)

1 Palestinian American man was sentenced by an Israeli military court to 2 life sentences and $820,000 in fines, in addition to having his home demolished, for the killing of 1 Israeli settler and injuring 2 other settlers near Za’tara on 5/2/2021. (HA, MEE 1/5)

1 Jewish Israeli man was sentenced to 1 year in prison for partaking in a mob attack in Bat Yam that in May 2021 caused serious injury to 1 Palestinian man. The Palestinian man was pulled out of his car and beaten by at least a dozen Israelis. The Jewish Israeli man was not charged with incitement to terror and theft with racist motives after entering a plea deal. (AP, HA 1/5)

In Syria, Israeli tanks opened fire at Syria from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel said it had fired warning shots at 6 suspicious people in Syria. (MEMO, REU, REU 1/5)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz met with Jordanian king Abdullah II in Amman, discussing security issues. (AP, ALM, HA, REU 1/5; ALM 1/6)

Haaretz reported that, due to a technical error, the Israeli state archive had revealed censored material from the Israeli cabinet meeting during the Nakba in the summer of 1948. Amongst the information accidentally released was agricultural minister Aharon Zisling’s statement to other high-level Israeli leaders that he “can forgive instances of rape” by Jewish militants against Palestinian women, which he considered less severe than stealing from Jews. In another instance, Israel’s prime minister David Ben-Gurion told the cabinet that he is against “wholesale demolition of villages . . . but there are places that constituted a great danger and constitute a great danger, and we must wipe them out. But this must be done responsibly, with consideration before the act.” (HA 1/5; MEE, WAFA 1/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers started construction of a settlement outpost between al-Khadir and Nahalin. Israeli forces razed an agricultural road near Yatta. Israeli forces also sealed off a main entrance to Qarawat Bani Hassan. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided the headquarters of the Union of Heath Work Committees (UHWC) in al-Bireh, seizing documents and computers and posting a notice closing the building for 6 months; Amnesty International warned that closing UHWC will have “catastrophic consequences” for sick Palestinians. 16 Palestinians were arrested during raid in and around Umm Safa, Beitunia, Tuqu‘, al ‘Arub refugee camp, Tubas, Hizma, and Salem; during the raid in Tubas, Israeli forces shot and injured 3 Palestinians using live ammunition. In East Jerusalem, Israel banned Fatah member Awad al-Salaimeh from entering Shaykh Jarrah and Batn al-Hawa for 15 days. 2 were arrested in Batn al-Hawa. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/9; AJ, ALM, PCHR, WAFA 6/10)

Israel put 1 Palestinian citizen of Israel in administrative detention. He is the 2d Palestinian citizen of Israel to be put in administrative detention since 5/17. 12 Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem have also recently been put in administrative detention. (HA 6/9; HA 6/24)

Israeli police commissioner Kobi Shabtai banned 2 members of the Knesset from the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, Itamar Ben-Gvir and May Golan, from partaking in the planned Israeli Flag March in East Jerusalem on 6/10. The march had been postponed by the Israeli security cabinet on 6/8, but the lawmakers said they would march despite the postponement and encouraged others to join them. Police Commissioner Shabtai also wanted to ban Ben-Gvir from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound on 6/9 and 6/10, but that decision required Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval. Shabtai said his decisions were made in order to prevent incitement to violence. (HA 6/9)

UK Labor leader Keir Starmer called on UK prime minister Boris Johnson to press for recognition of the state of Palestine at the upcoming G7 meeting in Cornwall. Starmer referred to the Israeli attacks on Gaza as a reason why the recognition was urgent. (MEE 6/9; MEMO, WAFA 6/10)

Uncoordinated stabbing and alleged stabbing attacks continue in the West Bank and Jerusalem, resulting in the deaths of 3 Palestinians. Two Palestinians open fire on an Israeli bus in Ramot, causing no damage. Israeli police then chase the shooters into the Old City, where they shoot and kill the 2 men after they allegedly attempt to ram their car into a Jewish Israeli pedestrian, causing no serious injuries. A 3d Palestinian is critically injured in the crossfire. The IDF maintains, for a 2d day, the closure of 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Salfit. On the outskirts of the village nr. Salfit, Israeli soldiers open fire on 2 Palestinian youths as they approach an IDF checkpoint, killing 1 and critically injuring the other. An IDF spokesperson says that one of the youths was armed with a knife and intended to attack the soldiers. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 3/9; PCHR 3/10)

Elsewhere in the oPt, Hamas announces that 1 of its fighters died earlier in the day during unspecified training exercises. IDF troops raid a village nr. Jenin, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; there are no serious injuries. They conduct further raids in and around Nablus, Qalqilya, Bethlehem, and Hebron, arresting 18 Palestinians. An Israeli settler stabs and injures a Palestinian nr. Nablus. Late at night, Israeli settlers spray price-tag graffiti on the walls of a Palestinian home in a village nr. Bethlehem. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/9; MNA, TOI, WAFA 3/10; PCHR 3/17)

In response to the string of attacks on 3/8 and after conferring with senior security officials, Israeli PM Netanyahu announces that Israel will complete the construction of the separation wall in the s. Hebron Hills. He also states that his govt. proposes new legislation to deter and punish Palestinians who enter Israel illegally, close Palestinian media outlets responsible for alleged incitement, and deny work permits to the families of Palestinians who commit serious crimes against Israelis. Israeli police immediately arrest 10s of Palestinians in raids across Israel, targeting those who entered the country without proper permits. (HA, JP, TOI 3/9)

The Israeli authorities inform 5 Palestinian food companies that their goods will no longer be permitted to pass through the Beitunia crossing for sale in Jerusalem. Israel last barred West Bank food products from entering East Jerusalem for a brief period in 2010. (TOI 3/13)

In Cairo, French FM Jean-Marc Ayrault says that France will not recognize the State of Palestine if the planned French peace initiative fails, effectively retracting his predecessor’s 1/29 pledge. “There is never anything automatic,” he says, adding that “France will present its initiative to its partners. It will be the first step, there is no prerequisite.” (TOI 3/9; JTA 3/10)

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)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Knesset passes, on first reading, bill to outlaw racial incitement. Bill would amend Basic Law and penal law to prevent Knesset lists from running in elections if they negate existence of Israel, negate democratic nature of state, incite to racism, or are believed to be fronts for illegal activity [JP 7/10]. Israeli military government extends Employment Service Law and the National Insurance Institute Law to occupied territories; settlers are now eligible for unemployment compensation and income benefits [JP 7/9]. Israeli military authorities issue new military order requiring all local Palestinian newspapers to publish official ads from military governorate without alterations. Arab newspaper owners reject order and decide to confront it [FJ 7/12].

Arab World: Amal leader Nabih Birri and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, meeting in Damascus with Syrian government and Lebanese religious leaders, discuss a new security plan for Lebanon with Syrian-backed Palestine National Salvation Front. Plan requires all militias to disarm [MG 10/7].

Other Countries: Forum '85, nine-day NGO conference preceding official UN conference concluding Decade for Women, begins in Nairobi; 10,000 women participate in 1,800 workshops, seminars, and films. Eight women from occupied territories are prevented by Israelis from travelling to symposium; half a dozen make the trip [JP 7/14, NS 7/28].

Military Action

Arab World: Two Lebanese students backed by Syrian National Socialist party kill 15 Lebanese (including 2 South Lebanese Army soldiers) and themselves in 2 suicide car bomb attacks at security zone checkpoints. Two IDF soldiers are also injured [LT, JP, PI, LAT, TI 7/10].