The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, an IQB fighter dies in a tunnel collapse and 2 others are injured. Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion e. of Shuja‘iya, searching the area for undisclosed reasons; level land e. of Jabaliya nr. the border fence. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations commemorating the 48th anniversary of the 1967 war in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, Jalazun r.c., and outside Ofer Prison), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 6 are seriously injured with live ammunition. The IDF patrols in ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. and 1 village nr. Jericho, 3 villages nr. Ramallah, 2 nr. Hebron, and 1 nr. Jenin. In East Jerusalem, dozens of Palestinian and international activists gather at Haram al-Sharif and in Shaykh Jarrah to commemorate the anniversary of the 1967 war and support Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan’s hunger strike (since 5/5) and other hunger-striking prisoners; 1 Palestinian and 2 internationals are arrested. Israeli forces clash with Palestinians in Abu Dis, Issawiyya, and al-‘Izzariya, injuring 10 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets. (HA, MNA 6/5; MNA 6/6; PCHR 6/11)

For the 1st time since 2007, Israeli authorities grant 90 Palestinian businessmen in Gaza “BMG” permits to enter Israel and stay for up to 6 mos. Israel had previously only granted “BMC” permits, which allow Gazans to stay in Israel for a few days. (MNA, YA 6/5; HA 6/7)

Reps. of the Middle East Quartet meet at the Russian Mission to the UN in Geneva and discuss reviving negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, according to a statement released after the meeting. (SI 6/6)

Off the coast of Gaza nr. Gaza City, Israeli naval forces fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF floods an olive grove outside Bethlehem during a drill. The IDF also conducts house searches and raids in 1 village each nr. Tubas, Nablus, and Jenin, arresting 2 Palestinians and sparking clashes nr. Jenin; arrests 5 Palestinians in a village nr. Bethlehem; patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron, 5 nr. Ramallah, and 2 each nr. Jericho and Qalqilya. A group of Palestinian youth affiliated with Fatah steal a Tnuva milk truck and dump its contents in the middle of al-Manara Square in Ramallah. Tnuva is 1 of the 6 Israeli companies targeted by the boycott initiated by the National Comm. against Israeli Punitive Measures on 2/9. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in the Old City and al-‘Izzariya, arresting 5 Palestinians and issuing summons to 3. In n. Israel, Israeli police arrest 68 Palestinian workers who have been sleeping and laboring in Israel without permits. (MNA, WAFA 3/2; MNA 3/3; PCHR 3/5; HA 3/9)

Israeli state prosecutors tell the High Court of Justice that they are no longer pursuing the punitive demolition of the Silwan home of the Palestinian alleged to have shot and injured right-wing activist Yehuda Glick, leader of the messianic Temple Mount movement, on 10/29/ 2014. The prosecutors argue, instead, for the man’s room to be blocked off. (TOI 3/2)

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry meets with Hamas officials in Gaza and proposes a 3–5-year hudna, or truce. (AFP, HA 3/2; HA 3/9)

In Washington, Israeli PM Netanyahu addresses the AIPAC conference, saying he has a “moral obligation” to warn the U.S. Congress on 3/3 of the dangers of a potential deal with Iran. Hours later, U.S. Pres. Obama tells Reuters that Netanyahu’s trip to the U.S., and the way it was organized, is a distraction, but not “permanently destructive” to the U.S.-Israel relationship. (NYT, YA 3/2; HA 3/3)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets with Iranian FM Zarif and Iran’s atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi in Montreux, Switzerland, for 3-day negotiations over Iran’s nuclear weapons program. (TOI 3/1; REU 3/2)

While in Switzerland, Kerry speaks in front of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva and urges its mbrs. to end their “unbalanced focus” on Israel. (AP, JP, NYT, TOI 3/2)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of Khan Yunis detain 3 Palestinians as they attempt to cross the border fence into Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli forces conduct house searches and arrest raids nr. Ramallah and Jenin; patrol nr. Hebron and Salfit; demolish 30 dunams (around 7.4 acres) of wheat fields nr. Bethlehem; and deliver eviction orders to several Palestinian bedouin families in a village nr. Jericho. Israeli settlers level land so they can establish a road leading to an outpost s. of Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces fire sound bombs and tear gas at Palestinian students as they exit their elementary school in al-Tur, then arrest 1 of their parents. (MNA, WAFA 1/15; PCHR 1/22; OCHA 1/23)

In Cairo, the Arab League agrees to make the “necessary communications and consultations” with international partners to submit a new proposal on behalf of the Palestinians to the UNSC. Diplomats from 5 Arab countries will form a joint comm. to organize the resubmission, and PA Pres. Abbas agrees to respect the comm.’s decisions regarding timing. (AP, HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 1/15; TOI 1/17)

After meeting with the U.S. Consul Gen. to Israel and Palestine Michael Ratney in Ramallah, PA PM Hamdallah calls on the international community to pressure Israel into unfreezing its tax revenue transfers to the PA. (AJ, REU, WAFA, YA 1/15) 

Iranian FM Zarif meets with German FM Steinmeier in Berlin, then with EU foreign affairs chief Mogherini, to discuss the ongoing negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. In Geneva, reps. of Iran and the U.S. discuss the negotiations. (AFP 1/16; MNA 1/17)

The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Nablus and Balata r.c. at night; patrols in Hebron and 3 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nearby, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah at night. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians demonstrate at Haram al-Sharif against Israeli restrictions on worshippers’ access. (MNA 6/10; PCHR 6/12)

Reuven Rivlin is elected pres. of Israel by a vote in the Knesset of 63–53, defeating Meir Sheetrit. The 74-year-old mbr. of Likud replaces Peres. (REU 6/10)

Iranian pres. Rouhani says that Tehran will “do its best” to secure a deal over its disputed nuclear program. After further U.S.-Iranian discussions in Geneva on 6/9, Iran’s chief negotiator and dep. FM Araghchi says that the talks were “fruitful” but that “divergences remain and the consultations are going to continue.” (AFP, REU 6/10)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces shoot and kill 1 Palestinian and wound another nr. al-Zaytun e. of Gaza City, close to the border fence. Relatives say that the deceased was collecting gravel to sell, while the IDF says that those targeted were tampering with the fence. Separately, Israeli forces shoot and wound 1 Palestinian who was grazing a camel nr. Rafah, close to the border fence. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and al-Bireh at night; patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron at night. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces check IDs in Ras al-Amud, prompting clashes with students, causing no injuries. (MNA, REU, WAFA 2/13; PCHR 2/20)

UN-Arab League joint special envoy Brahimi meets with U.S. Under Secy. of State Wendy Sherman and Russia’s Dep. FM Gennady Gatilov in Geneva to discuss the status of the Syrian peace talks. Brahimi tells reporters that both parties affirmed their support for the efforts but also says that“failure is always staring at us in the face.” (AP, REU 2/13)

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinian farmers close to the border fence nr. Khan Yunis, wounding 1. The army says it targeted the group because it was laying an explosive device. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, in Nablus and Balata r.c., and 1 village each nr. Jenin and Jericho at night. (MNA 12/20; PCHR 12/26)

PA Pres. Abbas holds talks in Egypt with foreign ministers from Arab League mbr. states about the current state of the peace process. He also meets with Egyptian interim pres. Mansour to discuss regional developments and the national reconciliation effort with Hamas. (MNA 12/21)

Iran’s Dep. FM Abbas Araghchi says that talks in Geneva with reps. of the P5+1 are continuing for a 4th day and making slow progress. According to Araghchi, the issue of uranium enrichment is still a point of contention. (AP, JP 12/21)

In the West Bank, IDF troops positioned at the separation wall fire on stone-throwing Palestinian children nr. Qatanna village in East Jerusalem, seriously wounding 1 with a rubber-coated metal bullet. The IDF conducts house searches in Hebron and al-‘Arub r.c. nearby, in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; patrols in Tulkarm in the morning, and in 2 villages nr. Hebron and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. (PCHR 11/7)

According to unnamed Palestinian officials, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators hold talks that break down in an argument over settlement construction, just hours before U.S. Secy. of State Kerry arrives in Jerusalem. The talks are the sides’ 16th such meeting, and U.S. envoy Martin Indyk also participates. On arrival, Kerry says that while the talks are experiencing difficulties, he still believes it is possible to reach an agreement. Israeli media report that Israeli negotiators have told their Palestinian counterparts that the separation wall will serve as the border of the future Palestinian state. (AFP, HA, MNA, REU 11/6)

UN and Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi meets Russian dep. FMs Gennady Gatilov and Mikhail Bogdanov and U.S. Undersecy. of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman to discuss preparations for a long-delayed peace conference known as “Geneva 2.” Reps. of China, France, and Britain join the meeting later. However, the talks end without a set date. (AFP 11/6)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. Also, IDF troops conduct a limited incursion nr. Gaza City to level land close to the border fence. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Tubas in the morning, and in 2 villages nr. Salfit, and 1 village each nr. Jenin and Ramallah at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Jenin and Salfit in the afternoon, and in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Jenin and Ramallah, and in Qalqilya at night. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli security guard is stabbed in Silwan, prompting Israeli security forces to patrol the community and clash with residents. (MNA 10/21; PCHR 10/24)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry says that IsraeliPalestinian talks are intensifying with “core issues . . . on the table.” He makes the remarks in a joint press conference with Qatari FM Khaled al-Attiyah after meeting with Arab League officialsin Paris. It is also announced that Qatar has agreed to provide $150 million in debt relief to the PA. Kerry praises what he calls the Arab League’s “remarkable commitment” to advancing the peace process. (AFP, REU 10/21)

Syrian pres. al-Asad says that “the factors are not yet in place” for an international peace conference known as “Geneva 2” intended to secure a political transition and settlement to the civil war. Asad, talking to Lebanese television, questions what groups will be present and their claims to be legitimate reps. of the Syrian people. Meanwhile, chief of the OPCW Sigrid Kaag says in Damascus that the Syrian govt. has thus far “fully cooperated” in the destruction of its chemical weapons arsenal. (AFP 10/21–22)