The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on an open area nr. Bayt Hanun, causing no damage or injuries. Off the coast nr. Khan Yunis, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF clash with Palestinians in Hebron, wounding 4 with rubber-coated metal bullets. Meanwhile, Palestinians throw Molotov cocktails at a vehicle driven by a Jewish settler nr. Nablus, causing no injuries. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; patrols in Hebron and 2 nearby villages and 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, and in Jenin and 2 villages each nr. Hebron and Qalqilya at night. (MNA 3/17; PCHR 3/20)

PA Pres. Abbas meets with U.S. Pres. Obama in the White House, with the American leader urging both Abbas and Israeli PM Netanyahu to take “risks” for peace. In a joint press conference, Abbas says that a scheduled Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners would indicate Netanyahu’s commitment to the peace negotiations. (AFP, HA 3/17)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry announces a new special envoy for Syria, with career diplomat Daniel Rubinstein succeeding the retired Robert Ford. (AP 3/17)