The Palestine Chronology

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. Elsewhere in the oPt, Israeli forces violently disperse Palestinian youths throwing stones in al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron and in a village nr. Qalqilya, causing no serious injuries and leading to the destruction of 3 olive trees. IDF troops also arrest 2 Palestinians during raids nr. Hebron and in East Jerusalem; patrol nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers break into a Palestinian home in Hebron and assault a resident, causing moderate injuries. In Israel, hundreds of PCI march through Haifa to the site of a Palestinian village destroyed in 1948 in commemoration of the Nakba. (MNA, WAFA 5/14; PCHR 5/19)

For a 2d day in a row, the IDF maintains its “general closure” of the West Bank and Gaza surrounding Israel’s Independence Day. Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for passage in both directions for the 2d of 2 planned days. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen working nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli border police arrest 6 Palestinian youths throwing stones and setting fires nr. the separation wall outside Jerusalem. IDF troops patrol in 2 villages nr. Hebron and 1 nr. Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police disperse right-wing Jewish activists marching toward Haram al-Sharif in commemoration of Israeli Independence Day; 5 activists are arrested. They also arrest 10 rightwing Jewish activists after they assault Palestinians nr. Haram al-Sharif; there are no serious injuries. In Israel, thousands of PCI march through Rahat in the Negev calling for Palestinian refugees to be afforded their right of return. (HA, MNA, OCHA, TOI 5/12; PCHR 5/19)

Marking the 40th anniversary of Land Day, Palestinian citizens of Israel (PCI) conduct a general strike throughout the Galilee and Negev, and hold a protest in the bedouin village Umm al-Hiran, which the Israeli govt. is planning to raze. IDF troops violently disperse demonstrations commemorating Land Day in Ramallah, Jenin, and along Gaza’s border nr. the Erez border crossing; there are no serious injuries. They also shoot tear gas canisters at Palestinian mourners marching in a funeral procession in Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem; conduct a late-night house search in al-Am‘ari r.c. nr. Ramallah, arresting 2 Palestinians; and patrol during the day in 4 villages nr. Hebron. Israeli forces carry out a partial punitive demolition of the interior walls of the Hebron home of a Palestinian killed on 12/7/2015 in a confrontation with Israeli troops. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian youth at Haram al-Sharif after he raises a Palestinian flag at the sanctuary. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 3/30; JP, MNA, PCHR, WAFA 3/31; PCHR 4/7)

The head of Gaza’s fishermen’s union says that the Israeli authorities recently agreed to expand the unilaterally defined fishing zone allotted for Gazans by 3 mi. in some places, starting in 4/2016. An IDF spokesperson does not comment on the report. (MNA 3/30)

Off Gaza’s coast nr. Gaza City, Israeli naval forces fire warning shots at Palestinian fishing boats, causing damage to several. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 nr. Nablus, and Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, arresting 6 Palestinians; patrols in al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Nablus. Israeli water company Mekorot cuts off the water supply to a number of areas in the n. West Bank. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault and detain a Palestinian at Haram al-Sharif after the man is pushed by a right-wing Jewish activist; 1 other Palestinian is arrested after the confrontation. They also arrest 1 Palestinian on a late-night raid in Qalandia r.c. In Israel, around 100 PCI gather outside the Barzilai Medical Center to protest the proposed force-feeding of Palestinian prisoner Allan, and they clash with around 50 Jewish Israeli counterprotesters, who threw stones and bottles. Israeli forces break up the protests with a water cannon; a number of Israeli and Palestinian protesters are arrested. (HA, MNA, YA 8/12; PCHR 8/13; PCHR 8/20)

Hamas leader Mishal leads a delegation to Turkey and meets with Turkish pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and PM Ahmet Davutoğlu about “activating the Palestinian cause on the regional and international levels,” according to Hamas sources. Meanwhile, Palestinians and Arab media outlets report that Mishal recently met with former Quartet envoy Blair for the 2d time in 6 weeks to discuss the prospects for Israel and Hamas reaching a long-term cease-fire. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 8/12; MEMO 8/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces uproot olive trees and demolish a car wash on about 20 dunams (around 5 acres) of Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem; confiscate grocery stalls along bypass road Route 60. IDF troops conduct raids and house searches in Jenin, Qalqilya, and 1 village nearby, and 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Bethlehem, arresting 8 Palestinians and assaulting 1; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 nr. Hebron. In n. Israel, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home in Kafr Kanna claiming that it was built without a permit. Palestinians in the village recently rebuilt the home after Israeli forces demolished it in 4/2015. (HA, MNA, REU, WAFA 6/15; PCHR 6/18)

Hebron mayor Dawud al-Zaatari announces that Israel’s Coordinator for Govt. Activities in the Territories (COGAT) office has approved the reopening of around 70 Palestinian shops in c. Hebron on 6/19. The IDF closed over 500 Palestinian shops in Hebron at the beginning of the 2d intifada in 2000. Meanwhile, the Knesset votes to extend for another year a law that allows the govt. to withhold citizenship or residency from Palestinians from the oPt who are married to Palestinian citizens of Israel (PCI). Originally passed in 2003, its authority has been extended every year since. (AFP 6/15; HA 6/17)

UNRWA comm.-gen. Pierre Krähenbühl reiterates that the agency is operating with a $101 m. deficit for core programs, and says that it might be forced to suspend all activities by 9/2015 unless donors give more money. UNRWA’s operating costs run at around $35 m. per mo. (MNA, UNRWA 6/15)

Cypriot pres. Nicos Anastasiades and Israeli PM Netanyahu meet in Israel and discuss the possibility of Netanyahu addressing the EU at an upcoming meeting in Brussels. The news of Anastasiades’s proposal to invite Netanyahu to Brussels will break on 6/29. (HA 6/19)

An Israeli delegation headed by National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen arrives in Washington, for talks with U.S. officials on the P5+1’s ongoing negotiations with Iran ahead of the 6/30 final agreement deadline. According to the Israeli official who announced the trip on 6/11, it is part of the effort to improve U.S.-Israeli communication surrounding the deal. (HA 6/11; JP 6/16)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: First Soviet delegation to visit Israel since 1967 war arrives unannounced in Jerusalem; 8-member group is expected to remain at least 2 months [WP, CSM 7/14]. Italian Communist party delegation ends visit to occupied territories [FJ 7/12].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Five-member delegation from Italian Communist party arrive for visit to occupied territories [FJ 7/12]. Jerusalem authorities demolish unlicensed Palestinian-owned house in 'Isawiyyah [FJ 7/12]. Israeli F.M. Peres and Druze leader Amin Tarif reach agreement whereby 12,000 dunams of Bayt Jann village land confiscated to form nature reserve will be returned to village [FJ 7/12].