The Palestine Chronology

Across the oPt, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, outside Beit El settlement, and nr. Ofer Prison), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and 3 areas along Gaza’s border; 14 Palestinians and 1 Israeli activist are injured. Israeli forces confiscate construction equipment Palestinians were using to build a new road in the n. Jordan Valley. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct late-night raids in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, issuing arrest summons to 4 Palestinians; patrol during the day in 1 village nr. Salfit and 4 each nr. Hebron and Ramallah. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers nr. Gaza City, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, around 300 Israeli troops conduct an overnight raid on the Islamic studies dept. and student union at al-Quds University in Abu Dis, confiscating equipment and docs. (MNA, PNN 1/29; MNA, WAFA 1/30; PCHR 2/4)

French FM Laurent Fabius announces that France will begin preparing for an international peace conference in an effort to “preserve and achieve the 2-state solution.” He also says,“If this attempt to achieve a negotiated solution reaches a dead end, we will take responsibility and recognize the Palestinian state.” (HA, JP, NYT, YA 1/29; MNA 1/30)

As tension escalates in East Jerusalem, Israeli forces deploy heavily in the Old City and deny a number of Palestinians entry to Haram alSharif, arresting 1 woman. During raids in the Old City and al-‘Izzariya, they assault and arrest a Palestinian photographer and arrest 8 other Palestinians. Israeli forces also erect mobile checkpoints in Issawiyya, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths and arresting 2. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 17 Palestinian structures in a village nr. Jericho, leaving 127 Palestinians homeless in the largest-scale demolition in 3 years. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids nr. Hebron, Jericho, and Ramallah, issuing arrest summons to 2 Palestinians; patrol nr. Ramallah, Hebron, and Jericho. Israeli settlers assault 2 Palestinians with stones in the Old City of Hebron. Palestinian youths throw stones at a bus in al-Tur, injuring 4 Israeli teenagers and 1 Palestinian. (MNA, WAFA 8/18; HA 8/19; PCHR 8/20)

In Paris, French FM Laurent Fabius meets with Palestinian Authority (PA) FM Riyad al-Maliki to discuss the French initiative to renew Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, including the possibility of a new UNSC res. (JP 8/19)

In Gaza, a Palestinian man from Jabaliya succumbs to injuries sustained on 7/28/2014 during OPE. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts a late-night raid nr. Hebron, issuing an arrest summons to 1 Palestinian and sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; patrols in 2 villages each nr. Ramallah and Hebron, as well as ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. and 1 village nr. Jericho, and also violently disperses dozens of Palestinians protesting outside Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, causing no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids and house searches in Silwan and Bayt Hanina, arresting 7 Palestinians. In s. Israel nr. Beersheba, Israeli forces demolish a bedouin-owned home. (MNA 5/28; MNA 5/29; PCHR 6/4)

French FM Laurent Fabius says that he will travel to Israel and the oPt in 6/2015 to try to persuade the Israelis, Palestinians, and the Arab states to accept a French-drafted UNSC res. setting parameters for a new round of peace negotiations between the parties. (HA, REU, TOI 5/28)

In Egypt, the Sinai Province of the Islamic State (SPIS) says on its Facebook page that it plans to attack Eilat, Israel, “in the coming days.” (SPIS will launch a rocket into Israel on 7/3.) According to Egyptian media reports, SPIS also threatens to “begin operations against Hamas positions” in Gaza. The threat comes amid escalating tension between Hamas and Islamist groups in Gaza. (JP, TOI 5/28)

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Khan Yunis fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers nr. the border fence, causing no injuries. A Palestinian is moderately injured when he triggers Israeli unexploded ordnance nr. Rafah. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse over 1,000 Palestinians, mostly women, demonstrating nr. Qalandia to mark International Women’s Day, moderately injuring 4. They also violently disperse Palestinian activists as they are removing a metal gate installed at the entrance to a village nr. Bethlehem and a group protesting land expropriation in a village nr. Hebron. Israeli soldiers accompanied by Israeli settlers violently disperse Palestinians nonviolently protesting s. of Hebron. The IDF conducts patrols and house searches in a village nr. Hebron, arresting 2 Palestinians. The PASF raids Balata r.c. nr. Nablus, sparking a brief firefight with the wanted Palestinian; 2 bystanders are injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct house searches and raids nr. the Old City, arresting 8 Palestinians; disperse a group of Palestinian youth throwing stones at the Jerusalem Light Rail in Shu‘fat, arresting 2. Israeli settlers assault a Palestinian man in Silwan, moderately injuring him. (AP, JP, MNA, WAFA 3/7; MNA 3/8; PCHR 3/12)

In Cairo, Islamic Jihad’s delegation departs after 6 days of negotiations with the Egyptian authorities on opening the Rafah border crossing. According to sources close to the talks, the Egyptians have agreed in principle to completely open the crossing once the violence in the Sinai Peninsula subsides, the PA unity govt. has staffed the crossing, and Hamas commits to not to interfere in Egyptian affairs. Also, Egyptian officials announce that the Rafah crossing will open on 3/9–10. (AFP, MNA 3/7)

In Paris, French FM Laurent Fabius, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry, UK Foreign Secy. Philip Hammond, German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini meet to review recent progress in their negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. (TOI 3/6, 3/7; DPA 3/8)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of Jabaliya r.c. open fire on a group of Palestinians, moderately injuring 1. Also, 100s of Palestinians pray outside the Rafah border crossing, protesting its closure since 12/23. Meanwhile, police officers dismantle a 1,000 kg piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance left in Gaza City after OPE. Late at night, unknown persons vandalize the French Cultural Center, leaving slogans criticizing French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo’s recent publication of a cartoon featuring a likeness of the Prophet Muhammad. Also, the Gaza power plant resumes operation of a 3d turbine (out of 4 total), following the receipt of aid from the Qatari govt. for additional fuel. Daily scheduled power outages in Gaza decrease from 18 to 12 hours. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and nonweekly demonstrations in Surayf village nr. Hebron and outside Ofer detention center. In total, 10 Palestinians are seriously injured (2, Bil‘in; 7, Kafr Qaddum; 1, Surayf). Also, IDF troops conduct house searches and arrest raids nr. Ramallah, Qalqilya, and in al-‘Arub r.c.; patrol nr. Jenin; arrest a Palestinian man at a border crossing n. of Jenin. Separately, a Palestinian throws stones at Israeli settlers’ vehicles between Jerusalem and Ramallah, injuring 1. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian in al-‘Izzariya. Meanwhile, 100s of Palestinians gather at Haram al-Sharif after Friday prayers to protest the Charlie Hebdo cartoon. In s. Israel, Palestinian bedouin residents of Rahat observe a general strike called for by the Arab High Follow-Up Comm. in protest of the 1/14 killing of Sami al-Ajar by Israeli police. The comm. also called for a strike on 1/18. (MNA 1/16; AFP, TOI 1/17; +972 1/19; PCHR 1/22; OCHA 1/23)

ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opens a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine to cover the time period since 6/13. Meanwhile, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women Rashida Manjoo cancels her fact-finding mission to the oPt because Israeli authorities refused to give her a visa. (MNA, TOI 1/16; EI, MNA, WAFA 1/17)

Speaking at a joint press conference, U.S. Pres. Obama affirms that he will veto any new sanctions legislation that the new Republicanled Congress may pass, and UK PM David Cameron criticizes the sanctions proposals. Meanwhile, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets with Iranian FM Zarif in Paris and discusses the negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program, as U.S. and Iranian officials meet in Geneva for bilateral talks. Zarif also meets with French FM Fabius. (AFP, AP, MNA, TOI 1/16)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troopsstationed along the border arrest 2 Palestinians attempting to enter Israel. In the West Bank, IDF troops enter e. Nablus on a raid and clash with Palestinians, injuring 3 with live ammunition and tear gas. IDF troops enter an area e. of Yatta nr. Hebron and seize a tractor and 4 water tanks; demolish several mobile homes in a village e. of Ramallah; deliver stop-work notes to several construction sites nr. Jericho and demolition notices for 6 wells in Qusra village in the n. West Bank, where Israeli settlers later attack Palestinian property; 2 of the settlers are detained. Separately, around 100 settlers from Adi Ad gather nr. al-Mughir village, but IDF troops intervene before they can attack the residents. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces enter Jabal Mukabir to deliver demolition orders to the homes of the Palestinians who attacked a synagogue and were killed on 11/18, then raid a mourning tent set up for them; 5 Palestinians are injured in the ensuing clashes. There are further clashes in Abu Dis, and 37 Palestinians are injured. In Sur al-Bahir, Silwan, and al-Tur, undercover Israeli military officers raid multiple homes, sparking more clashes; approximately 35 Palestinians suffer effects of tear gas inhalation and 12 are injured with rubber-coated metal bullets. Israeli security forces also conduct arrest raids on several homes in the Old City. Late at night, 4 Israeli girls from Yitzhar settlement in the West Bank attack a Palestinian taxi driver with pepper spray. (IMEMC, MNA, WAFA 11/20; MNA 11/21; PCHR 11/27)

Israel’s FM announces that it will return its amb. to Sweden on 11/29, after Amb. Isaac Bachman was recalled in the wake of Sweden’s recognition of Palestine as a state on 10/30. (JP, YA 11/20)

After meeting with UK Foreign Secy. Philip Hammond in London, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry travels to Paris for meetings with French FM Laurent Fabius and Saudi FM Saud al-Faisal, then to Vienna to join the P5+1 negotiating team ahead of the 11/24 deadline. Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, calls on Iran to increase its cooperation with the agency, saying that the govt. has not been transparent about some aspects of its research. (AP, NYT, REU, TOI 11/20)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm in the morning, and in 3 villages nr. Hebron and 2 villages nr. Jenin at night. (PCHR 6/5)

Israeli PM Netanyahu says he is “deeply troubled” by the U.S. decision to maintain ties and aid to the PA unity govt. In response, U.S. State Dept. dep. spokesperson Harf says that the unity govt. is not “backed by Hamas” and contains “no mbrs. of Hamas.” Further endorsement of the new PA govt. comes from Russia, China, India, Turkey, France, and the UK. EU foreign affairs chief Ashton calls the formation of the unity govt. “an important step.” UN Secy.-Gen. Ban Ki-moon also welcomes the move. Meanwhile, PLO executive comm. mbr. Hanna Amira says that Israel has notified the PA that it is imposing sanctions in response to the unity govt.’s formation. These include the invalidation of VIP cards of PA officials, reduction of tax revenues, which Israel collects and delivers to the PA, and prevention of visits between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. (AP, HA, MNA, REU 6/4)

A presidential election is held in Syria, and Pres. Bashar al-Asad is expected to win a majority of the vote. Opponents of the pres. dismiss the election because al-Asad’s 2 rival candidates, Hassan al-Nouri and Maher Hajjar, were both approved by a parliament dominated by al-Asad’s supporters. State Dept. dep. spokesperson Harf says the U.S. sees the election as “a disgrace” and that Pres. al-Asad “has no more credibility today than he did yesterday.” French FM Laurent Fabius calls it “a tragic farce.” (AP, REU 6/3)

Egypt’s election commission reports its official results, announcing that al-Sisi won 96.91% in the presidential vote, with a turnout of 47% of 54 m. voters nationwide. (AP, REU 6/3)

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. al-Waha, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries, but temporarily detaining 2. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Jenin and 1 village nr. Bethlehem at night; patrols in Tulkarm in the morning, in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 3 villages each nr. Hebron and Jenin, 1 village nr. Qalqilya, and in Tulkarm at night. In Abu Dis, East Jerusalem, an IDF raid sparks clashes, which lead to Israeli forces opening fire on students with rubber-coated metal bullets, injuring 40. Also in East Jerusalem, around 100 Jewish Israelis enter Haram al-Sharif, led by nationalist activist Yehuda Glick. (MNA 11/17; PCHR 11/21)

The General Union of Palestinian Teachers launches a limited strike in the West Bank in protest at the failure of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to implement previous agreements. The union’s secy.-gen., Ahmad Sahwil, says the union is prepared to begin a full, open-ended strike should the PA not meet its demands. They had threatened a strike in early 9/2013, but called it off following an agreement with the PA on 9/5 to raise teachers’ salaries by 10%. (MNA 11/17)

Three days before the onset of the 2nd round of negotiations in Geneva over Iran’s nuclear program, French pres. François Hollande, along with a delegation of senior officials including FM Laurent Fabius, arrives in Tel Aviv for his 1st official visit to Israel and the o. t. since taking office. (HA 11/18)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Jericho at night. (PCHR 8/29)

Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas says that there is “nothing” stopping him from meeting personally with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu “at the right time,” remarks he makes in a press conference in Ramallah with visiting French FM Laurent Fabius. (HA, JP 8/24) 

Egyptian authorities open the border crossing with the Gaza Strip atRafah for 4 hours, with 650 entering the Palestinian enclave, and some 300 exiting to Egypt. (MNA, REU 8/24)

U.S. Defense Secy. Chuck Hagel tells reporters at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur that the Pentagon is ready to carry out a military attack on Syria should the pres. order it. In Damascus, 3 hospitals report 355 deaths after an alleged chemical weapons attack last Wednesday (8/21), according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). (REU 8/24)

On the 5th day of Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense, the IDF attacks on the Gaza Strip kill 31 Palestinians, including 10 civilians from the same family (al-Dalou), who die in a single air strike on a 3-story home in Jabalya. The Palestinian death toll now stands at 66. The IDF also targets a building used by media workers, injuring 6 Quds TV employees. Israel claims it was a legitimate strike on Hamas communications infrastructure. Some 80 targets are hit by the IDF overnight, with the Israeli military reporting having struck over 1,000 sites across the Gaza Strip since the operation began. Palestinian rocket fire into Israel continues, with 2 rockets wounding 7 Israelis in separate incidents. Israel reports that Palestinians have fired around 900 rockets and mortars into Israel since the beginning of the operation, with 1/3 intercepted by Iron Dome. (REU, AFP, MNA, HA 11/18)

In Cairo, Hamas officials and an Israeli delegation discuss a possible cease-fire through Egyptian mediation, though with no sign of a breakthrough. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority (PA) calls for an emergency Arab League summit to address Israel’s ‘‘aggression.’’ (HA, MNA 11/18)

French FM Laurent Fabius, speaking alongside Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman at a press conference in Jerusalem, says that his government is talking with Israel, Egypt, and Qatar in effort to deescalate the situation. (HA, MNA 11/18)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning and 1 village nr. Jericho in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in Hebron, 2 villages nr. Nablus, and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night. (PCHR 11/22)