The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 house under construction in Kafr ad-Dik and 1 agricultural structure in Birin. Israeli forces also demolished 2 homes near Hebron, displacing 12, demolished a nursery in al-Jib, and delivered a demolition notice against 1 school in Khashem al-Karm in the Masafer Yatta area. 3 Israeli soldiers also threw an explosive device at a house in Bethlehem; the 3, who are Druze citizens of Israel, were later arrested by Israel. 19 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Tuqu’, Hizma, Qatanna, al-Bireh, Qalqilya, Nil’in, Deir Sharaf, Tulkarm, and Tammun. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 6 Palestinian fishermen and seized their boat northwest of Rafah. (HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/28; PCHR 11/29; PCHR 12/1; UNOCHA 12/16)

The Israeli military reported a rise in Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians from 426 recorded incidents in 2021 to 838 in 2022. It also released data claiming that Palestinian attacks on Israeli forces and settlers had risen from 91 incidents in 2021 to 281 in 2022. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission said the number of attacks carried out by Israeli settlers and soldiers was 833 for the month of November. (HA 11/28; MEMO 11/29; MEMO 12/2)

Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid wrote a letter to more than 50 heads of state, urging them to pressure the PA not to move forward with a UNGA resolution calling for the International Court of Justice to provide a legal opinion on the Israeli occupation. The draft resolution was adopted by the UN special political and decolonization committee with 98 votes in favor on 11/11. In the letter, Prime Minister Lapid also asked the countries to vote against the resolution should it be brought to the assembly. (HA, MEMO, REU 11/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian homes in Madama with stones, leading to a confrontation between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the village; 8 Palestinians were injured by Israeli settlers and 13 by tear gas fired by Israeli forces. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Bizarya, causing damage. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers raided Burqa, leading to a confrontation between Palestinians and Israeli forces; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces shot and killed 4 Palestinians and injured 44 others during a raid in Jenin refugee camp, where Israeli forces also fired 4 missiles in residential areas. Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades said 3 of the casualties were members of their organizations while Islamic Jihad said the 4th was an Islamic Jihad member. The PA and OIC condemned the killings and Fatah called for a Day of Rage. Several Palestinian cities held general strikes over the killings. Later, on 10/10, 1 12-year-old Palestinian boy died of wounds sustained during the raid. The boy was shot in the stomach by Israeli forces using live ammunition. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters at the Beit El checkpoint, injuring 3, including 1 critically. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Huwwara, injuring 1 with a baton round and 33 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Qalqilya, injuring 14 with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Bireh, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 2 with baton rounds. (ABC, AJ, AP, CNN, HA, JDF, MEE, MEMO, NYT, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/28; HA, IN, MDW, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR 9/29; WAFA, WAFA 9/29; HA, MEMO, UNOCHA 9/30; HA 10/10; UNOCHA 10/16)

An Israeli court extended the administrative detention of Khalil Awadeh to 10/9, despite an Israeli promise to release him on 9/2 after he challenged his detention with 172-day-long hunger strike. (AJ, MEMO 9/29)

Israel announced that it will start a pilot program to open the Allenby Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan 24 hours a day, beginning on 10/24. The 24/7 opening of the Allenby crossing was 1 of the announcements U.S. president Joe Biden made when he visited the West Bank in June. (HA, MEE 9/28; MEMO 9/29)

Israeli media reported, after a meeting with Israeli defense officials, that Israeli military chief of staff Aviv Kochavi has approved carrying out “targeted assassinations” in the West Bank and the use of drones for the purpose. (JP, MEMO 9/29; ALM, HA 9/30)

Haaretz reported that Shin Bet director Ronen Bar ignored his predecessor’s advice to demote or fire a Shin Bet operative and decided to promote him instead. The operative is accused of rape and demanding the examination of Palestinian women’s genitals. The investigation against the operative was closed in 2021 due to alleged insufficient evidence. (HA 9/28)

UN envoy for the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland told the UN security council that Israel continues to defy the 2016 security council resolution calling for an immediate halt to Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank. (AP 9/28; MEMO 9/29)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops conduct a limited incursion to level land close to the border fence nr. Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Qalqilya, and Salfit at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Hebron, and 1 village each nr. Nablus, Ramallah, and Salfit at night. Israeli settlers use bulldozers to level Palestinian-owned land nr. Salfit. (MNA 5/22; PCHR 5/29)

Israeli PM Netanyahu says that “the idea of taking unilateral steps is gaining ground” among Israel’s political class, particularly in light of the collapse of U.S.-led negotiations, in an exclusive interview published by Bloomberg View. Netanyahu’s office subsequently clarifies that this is not a reference to any intention to evacuate settlements. Economy Minister Naftali Bennett welcomes the remarks and urges the adoption of his plan, which would include the annexation of parts of the West Bank. Meanwhile, senior Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) official Hanan Ashrawi condemns talk of unilateral steps as a way to bypass talks, while U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Marie Harf responds to Netanyahu’s remarks by emphasising that “no one should take any steps that undermine trust, including unilateral.” (Bloomberg, HA, YA 5/23)

China and Russia veto a UN Security Council (UNSC) res., drafted by France, referring the Syrian crisis to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for an investigation into possible war crimes. The 13 other mbrs. of the UNSC vote in favor. It is the 4th time that China and Russia have blocked Western-drafted resolutions on Syria since spring 2011. Meanwhile, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) says that the last 100 tons of Syria’s declared stockpile of precursors for poison gas and nerve agents are ready for transport, but Syrian authorities say it is too dangerous to move them for the time being. (AFP, AP 5/23)

Gunmen kill Shadi al-Manaei, leader of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, along with 3 other mbrs. of the Egypt-based militant group, in a drive-by shooting in c. Sinai. Egyptian officials say that the attack is likely revenge for the group’s killing of local tribesmen as “collaborators.” (AP 5/22)

Lawmakers allied with Hizballah boycott a session of Lebanon’s parliament, blocking the body from electing a new pres. This is the 5th failed attempt in the past mo. Lebanon’s current pres., Michael Suleiman, is scheduled to leave office on 5/24, the last day of his 6-year term. (AP 5/22)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify, leaving 9 Palestinians dead, including senior Fatah official Jamal `Abd al-Razik, whose car is ambushed and strafed by IDF troops. Hrs. later, a remote-controlled car bomb explodes during rush hr. in Hadera, Israel, killing 2 Israelis, injuring 60. Although Arafat denounces the bombing, Barak blames the PA, vows Israel will "get even," convenes his security cabinet to discus how to respond; the cabinet recesses without taking a decision. The IDF sends more tanks into Gaza; dismantles the vegetable market in Hebron; bulldozes Palestinian land in Bayt Lahia, Dayr al-Balah, Hebron, Nablus; demolishes several homes nr. Kefar Darom, Gush Katif; takes over a home in Ajja for use as a new base. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire on residential areas of al-Bireh, Rafah (destroying 1 home, damaging 2). Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian land and set fire to 2 factories in Tura al-Sharqiyya; bulldoze land nr. Qalqilya, Salfit; fire on Palestinians nr. Jinin; attack Palestinians in Bayt Ilo, Bayt Rimia, Dayr `Amar, Qalqilya. The PSF successfully removes explosive devices found in schools in Balata camp, Nablus. (ADM, LAW, MEZ, MM 11/22; AFP 11/22 in WNC 11/24; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/23; NYT, WP 11/24; MA, al-Quds 11/24 in WNC 11/29; Independent [Internet], JP 12/7; PCHR 12/18; WJW 12/28)

In response to the Hadera bombing, 10,000s of Israeli attend a "Let the Army Win!" rally in Jerusalem's Zion Square, calling for revenge attacks on Palestinian targets, tougher military action against the Palestinians. (AFP [Internet] 11/22; MM, NYT, WP 11/23; MEI 11/24; WP 11/27; MM 11/28)

At an emergency session of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in New York, Egyptian, Palestinian envoys call for international protection for the Palestinians. The U.S. says the emergency session, the call for international observers are inappropriate, unhelpful. (MM 11/22; JT, XIN 11/22, MENA 11/23 in WNC 11/24; MM 11/30)

The UN Economic and Social Council adopts (21-19 with 11 abstentions) a resolution by the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) ordering an investigation of Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights during the recent clashes. (MM 11/30)