The Palestine Chronology

The IDF assassinates 3 Palestinian fighters in 2 separate air strikes on Khan Yunis in the morning and Dayr al-Balah in the afternoon; 2 of those killed are identified as members of the Popular Resistance Comm. (PRC), which vows to retaliate. In the West Bank, the IDF arrests a number of teachers en route to work in 1 village nr. Hebron; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon (in the latter’s case confiscating a tractor); arrests a Palestinian working on his land nr. Hebron in the afternoon; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 village each nr. Hebron and Tulkarm. Those detained include Ayman Nasser, a researcher from Addameer human rights organization. (REU, MNA 10/14; MNA 10/15; PCHR 10/18).

The UN’s Middle East envoy Robert Serry says that he is alarmed by attacks perpetrated by Jewish settlers against Palestinian farmers and farmland in the West Bank. (ToI 10/14)

The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning. (PCHR 8/30)

UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Robert Serry is quoted by the Israeli media as saying that the PA is losing legitimacy due to its inability to achieve political goals. (JP 8/20)

The World Bank reports that the Palestinian economy is facing its worst crisis since 1994, noting that the recent growth rate of 7.7% between 2007 and 2011 is insufficient to run a state because it is overly contingent on donor aid. The report says that sustainable growth can only be met through increased trade and private sector growth, which are hampered by restrictions imposed by Israel. Separately, UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Robert Serry warns that the PA is facing insolvency and has been late paying government salaries because donors have failed to fulfill pledges. (WP 7/26)

IDF troops make a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence e. of Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in Jericho. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo settlement nr. Ramallah beat 4 Palestinian farmers attempting to reach their crop land nearby; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (PCHR 7/26, 8/2; OCHA 8/3)