The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of Gaza City and e. of Khan Yunis open fire with live ammunition on Palestinians nonviolently commemorating Nakba Day nr. the border fence, injuring 3. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at Nakba Day demonstrations in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, and Jalazun r.c.), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 9 are injured. The IDF also clashes with Palestinians commemorating Nakba Day outside Ofer Prison nr. Ramallah and in Nablus; 17 Palestinians are injured by live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets. IDF troops conduct a late-night house search in a village nr. Hebron, arresting 1 Palestinian; detain 52 Palestinians nr. Ramallah who are trying to cross into Israel to work. They patrol in 3 villages nr. Ramallah and al-Bireh, and 1 nr. Jericho. (MNA, TOI 5/15; MNA 5/16; PCHR 5/21)

Reps. of the P5+1 and Iran conclude a round of talks in Vienna on Iran’s nuclear program ahead of their 6/30 deadline for a comprehensive final deal. They will continue their negotiations next week. (REU 5/15)

In the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops open fire on Palestinians throwing stones at their position nr. the border fence, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF soldiers open fire on demonstrators in Hebron, wounding 2 with rubber-coated metal bullets, including a 14-year-old child who was blinded as a result. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Aida refugee camp (r.c.), Dahaysha r.c., and 1 village nr. Bethlehem at night; patrols in Qalqilya and 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Jericho, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 village nr. Hebron at night. Israeli settlers destroy 58 trees nr. Bethlehem. Meanwhile, IDF troops demolish an unauthorized structure in the Jewish settlement outpost Givat Assaf nr. Beit El. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at a weekly demonstration 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). There are no serious injuries, except in Kafr Qaddum, where 1 is wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently disperse a group of Palestinians in Issawiyya protesting the killing of 2 teenagers the previous day. Fifteen are injured with rubber-coated metal bullets. (MNA, YA 5/16; PCHR 5/22)

Talks between reps. of Iran and the P5+1 powers in Vienna end with no results. Senior Iranian nuclear negotiator Iran’s and Dep. FM Abbas Araghchi says that the meeting made “no progress.” An unnamed U.S. official claims there was “great difficulty” in moving toward a consensus, and reports “significant” differences in positions. Due to the lack of progress, Iran’s FM Mohammad Zarif and EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton did not hold a concluding press conference as on previous occasions. Araghchi says there are further meetings planned in 6/2014, but gives no further details. Meanwhile, in comments given after a meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, U.S. Defense Secy. Chuck Hagel says that the U.S. is committed to “ensuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon.” (AP, HA 5/16)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Ramallah at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Hebron at night. 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, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih) and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries except in Bil‘in, where 1 is struck by a tear gas canister and in Nabi Salih, where 5 are wounded by bullets. (PCHR 3/13)

Israeli PM Netanyahu tells Israeli television that the govt. would give up “some settlements” in the West Bank as part of a peace agreement, but that he would “ensure the number will be as small as possible,” if talks progress that far. Meanwhile, U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Jen Psaki tells reporters that the U.S. recognizes Israel as a Jewish state but that Palestinian recognition is not a precondition in peace talks. (JP, REU 3/7)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry visits Jordan for talks with King Abdallah in Aqaba on the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. (AFP, REU 3/7)

In clashes between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and Egyptian security forces across the country, including Suez, Alexandria, and al-Arish, 3 protesters are killed and 48 wounded. An Egyptian official says 17 police officers are wounded in the clashes in Cairo. (AFP, REU 3/7)

Iranian Foreign Ministry official Hamid Baidinejad says that representatives of Iran and the P5+1 countries have held “substantive and useful” talks in Vienna in preparation for the next meeting of chief negotiators on 3/18. EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton confirms the Iranian official’s assessment of the talks, via a statement from her office in Brussels. (AFP, REU 3/7)

In response to the Israeli allegations regarding the ship intercepted in the Red Sea on 3/5, Iranian FM Zarif rejects Israeli allegations, calling claims of Iranian involvement a “lie.” Senior Islamic Jihad official Khalid al-Baths denies the group’s involvement in the seized missile shipment. (AFP, AP, REU 3/7)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians walking close to the border fence nr. Bayt Lahiya, wounding 2. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Jericho and Jenin at night. 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). There are no serious injuries, except in Kafr Qaddum, where 5 are injured (4 struck by tear gas canisters, including 1 international, and 1 hit by a live bullet). (MNA 9/20; PCHR 9/26)

An Arab-introduced res. at the IAEA’s annual conference in Vienna to censure Israel’s refusal to allow international oversight of its nuclear weapons is voted down 43–54–32 (and another 30 countries were absent during the vote). (AP 9/20)

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) says that Syria has given details of some of its arsenal but still needs to fill in the gaps by next week to satisfy the timetable proposed by the Russian-U.S. plan. (REU 9/20)

White House dep. spokesperson Josh Earnest says that the Obama administration is ready to engage in talks with Iran “on the basis of mutual respect” about the country’s nuclear program. (REU 9/20)

Egyptian police arrest some 87 wanted men in a village nr. Cairo, while separately, gunmen target 3 military vehicles in Rafah, injuring 3 soldiers. Security forces say they also arrested 15 Salafist militants in villages in the n. Sinai. (AFP, AP, MNA 9/20)