The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on agricultural lands nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries, while separately also open fire nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. IDF troops conduct 2 separate limited incursions nr. Khan Yunis to level land. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. Meanwhile, IDF sources say that they discovered a large bomb buried nr. the border fence in the s. Gaza Strip, the 4th such device discovered since the beginning of 2014. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron in the afternoon. Jewish settlers uproot 650 olive tree seedlings nr. Ramallah. (HA, MNA 2/18; PCHR 2/20)

Secy.-Gen. of the Fatah Revolutionary Council Amin Maqboul says that the group’s reconciliation delegation head Azzam al-Ahmad will not travel to the Gaza Strip until Hamas agrees to general elections and the formation of a unity govt. (MNA 2/18)

Two rockets fired from inside Syria land inside the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, causing no damage or injuries. (AFP 2/18)

Representatives of Iran and the P5+1 countries begin talks in Vienna to try and reach a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. The P5+1 countries include the U.S., UK, France, China, Russia, and Germany. Bilateral talks between senior U.S. and Iranian officials take place on the sidelines. Under Secy. of State Wendy Sherman heads the U.S. delegation, with Iran’s Dep. FM Abbas Araghchi co-leading his side’s team with FM Mohammad Javad Zarif. (AP, REU 2/18)

Jihadist group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis issues a statement warning tourists to leave Egypt by 2/20, or face attack by the group’s mbrs. (REU 2/18)

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)