The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, armed Palestinians fire 4 rockets into s. Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds with 8 air strikes in the Gaza Strip, targeting military training sites belonging to Hamas’s Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Brigades, and the Popular Resistance Comms. (PRC) in the c. Gaza Strip, Rafah, and Khan Yunis. Damage is sustained, and 2 civilians are wounded when they are hit by shrapnel in separate attacks. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. Meanwhile, a 10-year-old boy dies, succumbing to injuries sustained in an Israeli air strike on 6/11. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Ramallah and 8 villages nearby, Nablus and 4 villages and ‘Askar r.c. nearby, Tulkarm and 3 villages and Nur Shams r.c. nearby, Tubas and 1 village and al-Fara‘a r.c. nearby, Jenin and 1 nearby village, Jericho and ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. nearby, 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Jerusalem, and al-Bireh at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho, 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. Jewish settlers stone Palestinian vehicles nr. Nablus, injuring 3 and causing damage. Separately, Jewish settlers throw stones at Palestinians and their homes in Susia nr. Hebron. (HA, JP, MNA 6/14; PCHR 6/19)

Israeli PM Netanyahu announces that the Israeli govt. holds the PA responsible for the fate of the 3 missing Israeli teenagers, since “the terrorists originated from Palestinian territory.” Anonymous PA officials tell the media that Abbas has instructed his security services to help in the manhunt. Meanwhile, the IDF continues intensive sweeps of the s. West Bank, and wideranging arrest raids, which pick up 80 Palestinians, including 4 mbrs. of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The IDF also imposes a closure on the s. West Bank, from Bethlehem to the Hebron region. IDF sources tell the media that the working assumption is that the youth are alive. (HA, JP, MNA, YA 6/15)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 3 villages nr. Hebron at night; patrols in 3 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 village each nr. Jenin an Jericho at night. Jewish settlers attack residents of Susia village nr. Hebron while they were picking olives, injuring 3. (MNA, WAFA 10/12; PCHR 10/24)

Jenin gov. Talal Dweikat says that the Palestinian National Security Services have detained nearly 100 people in the n. West Bank as part of a drive to tackle disorder in light of a recent spate of protests and violent targeting of PA buildings. PA forces deployed in Jenin on 10/4 to crackdown on disorder that followed the killing of Islam al-Tubasi in 9/2013. (MNA 10/12)

Iran’s official news agency IRNA reports that Iranian FM Zarif will lead the nuclear negotiation team at a new round of talk with the P5+1 group on 10/15–16, but will only attend the opening session before handing over to Dep. FM Abbas Araqchi. The U.S. delegation is reportedly set to include Undersecy. of State Wendy Sherman—who will lead the team—as well as sanctions expert Adam Szubin, the director of the Treasury Dept.’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Netanyahu calls the leaders of France and Britain and urges them not to ease sanctions on Tehran, according to an Israeli govt. official. (AFP, AP, REU 10/12)

Islamic Jihad military wing al-Quds Brigades warns that it will respond if Israel continues to violate the post-Operation Pillar of Defense cease-fire agreement. Spokesperson Abu Ahmad says that the group is giving Egypt a chance to maintain the terms of the truce. (MNA 1/18)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF opens fire on Palestinians close to the border fence nr. Jabalya, wounding 1, and in a similar incident, the IDF opens fire on Palestinians close to the border fence nr. Bayt Lahiya, injuring 1. The IDF also opens fire on Palestinian fishermen nr. al-Waha, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian teenager in Aida r.c. in Bethlehem during clashes in the camp. The IDF patrols in 1 village each nr. Jericho and Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Tulkarm at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night. Israeli soldiers attack the weekly nonviolent demonstrations held by Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, al-Nabi Salih, Budrus), 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara), 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), and 1 village nr. Hebron (Susia). In total, 3 Palestinians in Budrus and 2 in Kafr Qaddum are wounded by rubber-coated steel bullets. In addition, Palestinian activists establish a new tent protest village nr. Bayt Iksa close to Jerusalem, calling it al-Karamah (‘‘Dignity’’). Around 400 Palestinians perform Friday prayers in the open area. (MNA 1/18; PCHR 1/23)

A day after the PA urges Egypt to destroy smuggling tunnels on the Gaza border, saying they pose a threat to Egyptian security and undermine Palestinian national unity efforts, Hamas officials in Gaza say that they will close tunnels on the Rafah border if Egypt opens the border to trade. (JPI 8/24)

An unconfirmed report says that unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire warning shots at Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Salfit late in the evening, firing warning shots at a Palestinian car (no injuries reported) and ordering it to stop; the car is searched and allowed to go on its way. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Nablus, and Salfit. Jewish settlers fr. Susia settlement nr. Hebron spread poison on nearby grasslands used by local Palestinian shepherds, killing 7 sheep. (Mivzak Live [Internet] 8/12; PCHR 8/16; OCHA 8/18)

IDF Central Command formally reclassifies Bruchin outpost as a legal settlement, implementing a 3/2012 cabinet decision to legalize 3 outposts retroactively (see QU in JPS 163). The formal reclassifications of Rachelim and Sansanna have not been implemented yet. (JPI 8/24; PCHR 8/16)

Israel’s daily Ha’Aretz for the 2d time in recent days reports that a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) by the Obama admin. has added a ‘‘lastminute update’’ on Iran stating that Iran has ‘‘boosted efforts’’ to advance its nuclear program. The U.S. meanwhile has not announced that a new NIE has been written. U.S. officials refuse to comment except to say that U.S. intelligence continues to believe: (1) that Iran has not made a decision on whether to develop a nuclear weapon and (2) that Iran’s is years away from being able to produce a nuclear bomb. Meanwhile, Israel’s dep. FM Danny Ayalon calls on the international community to issue a declaration that diplomacy toward Iran has failed, raising fears that Israel is preparing a military strike. (HA, REU 8/12; NYT, WP 8/13)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; 1 rocket is intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome antimissile system. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron in the evening and nr. Hebron late at night. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on and Susia settlements nr. Hebron uproot at least 45 olive trees fr. a plot of nearby Palestinian land. OCHA reports that Israeli authorities in East Jerusalem demolished 1 Palestinian animal pen and forced a Palestinian family to demolish an extension to their home. In West Bank Area C, the IDF demolishes 3 Palestinian agricultural storehouses and 4 wells nr. Bethlehem and Hebron. (YA 7/24; PCHR 7/26; OCHA 7/27)

Pro-Israel Republican donor Sheldon Adelson, who previously pledged to spend $100 m. of his personal wealth to defeat Obama in the 2012 presidential campaign, agrees to give at least $6.5 m. to fund a new advertising campaign (word of mouth, social media, television) by the Republican Jewish Coalition aimed at drawing Jewish voters in the key battleground states of Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania away from Pres. Obama and to Republican candidate Mitt Romney. (NYT 7/25)

Israel’s High Court approves a petition by a group of Jewish settlers calling for the expedited demolition of 52 Palestinian homes and facilities (including a clinic and kindergarten) in Susia village nr. Hebron. Though the Israeli group Rabbis for Human Rights immediately files an appeal on the Susia residents’ behalf, the IDF serves them with the demolition orders, saying it will raze the structures within 3 days. The IDF makes a day-long incursion into c. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence, razing 43 d. of Palestinian crops and demolishing several irrigation networks. The IDF also briefly enters s. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence nr. al-Qarara. Hrs. after troops pull out, Israeli helicopters open fire on agricultural areas nr. alQarara, causing no reported damage or injuries. Israeli naval vessels fire warning shots at Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c. nr. Nablus. In East Jerusalem, the IDF raids a Palestinian farm in Jabal Mukabir, orders the owner to evacuate his sheep, then demolishes several animal pens and sheds, hands the owner a demolition bill of $12,500, and orders him to remove the debris. (PCHR 6/14; OCHA 6/15)

PA Pres. Abbas meets with Quartet special envoy Blair in Jordan before leaving for Cairo to meet with Arab League FMs. Blair urges Abbas to continue low-level talks on borders; says he has urged Israel to make goodwill gestures to revive talks, including easing security restrictions in the West Bank and releasing prisoners. (UPI, WAFA 2/11; YA 2/12)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In response, Israeli warplanes make 4 late-night air strikes on s. Gaza, targeting an open area nr. al-Shuka and 3 Palestinian homes in Gaza City, al-Qarara, and Rafah (suspected weapons depots and entrances to smuggling tunnels), killing 1 Palestinian civilian, wounding another, and causing heavy damage. The IDF patrols in Tulkarm and 2 villages nr. Jenin in the morning; patrols in another 2 villages nr. Jenin in the afternoon (in 1 instance firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them); conducts late-night patrols in 1 village each nr. Jenin, Jericho, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah. Palestinian students at Birzeit University hold a nonviolent march to Israel’s Ofer prison nr. Ramallah to show support for hunger-striking Islamic Jihad prisoner Khader Adnan; IDF troops outside the prison fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades at the protesters who reply with stones; 4 journalists and several protesters are lightly injured. Jewish settlers fr. Susia settlement in Hebron attack 6 Palestinians planting almond trees on a 20-d. plot nearby (moderately injuring them) and uproot the newly planted seedlings; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (JP 2/11, 2/12; PCHR 2/16; OCHA 2/17)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians who enter the demolished Dahaniyya airport site outside of Rafah, forcing them to flee. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Gaza coast w. of Rafah in the south and w. of Bayt Lahiya in the north, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages each nr. Jenin and Ramallah in the morning and 2 villages nr. Qalqilya and 1 nr. Jenin late at night. The IDF also removes mobile homes placed by Jewish settlers nr. Itamar settlement nr. Nablus; soon after, Jewish settlers fr. nearby Elon Moreh settlement retaliate by kidnapping and beating a 63-yr.-old Palestinian man working his land nearby, releasing him after 2 hrs. In a separate retaliatory attack, Jewish settlers beat a Palestinian shepherd nr. Itamar and kill 4 of his sheep. Palestinians and international activists in Khirbat Susia nr. Hebron protest recent IDF attacks on residents; the IDF fires tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them; 4 Palestinians and 1 Danish activist are lightly injured, and 1 Palestinian is arrested for trying to raise a Palestinian flag. (PCHR 12/8; OCHA 12/9)

Hamas leader Mishal and PA pres. and Fatah head Abbas meet for 2 hrs. in Cairo to hold the 1st detailed talks since 8/2011 on implementing their 5/2011 national unity deal (see QU in JPS 161). They approve a 2-page document (leaked to AFP on 11/24, which publishes excerpts, but not released publicly) reiterating their commitment to the main elements of the 5/2011 accord, agreeing to observe a truce in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (including halting political arrests), vowing to increase “popular resistance” to oppose Israel’s settlement expansion and construction of the separation wall, and pledging that the factions would agree on the “style” of popular resistance and form “a framework to direct it.” In an interview with AFP later in the day, Mishal clarifies that Hamas believes in both armed and popular resistance, stating “armed struggle is our right. How we use it, and when we use it, is something different.” Mishal and Abbas fail, however, to resolve key issues regarding composition of an interim unity government and elections. Though both call the meeting positive, sources say (e.g., WP 11/25) that the meeting “raised new questions about whether the rivals are serious about working together or just going through the motions.” (AFP 11/24; NHR, NYT, WP, WT 11/25; WP 12/22)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers working their fields nr. the no-go zone, forcing them to flee. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them back to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF troops operating in the Hebron area demolish a mosque, 2 Palestinian homes, a rabbit farm, and a generator and block up a cave used as an agricultural storeroom in Yatta village; demolish 1 Palestinian home, 3 wells, and 3 agricultural storehouses in Ithna village; bulldoze a residential tent and an animal pen in Khirbat Susia. The IDF also patrols in 5 villages nr. Jenin (1 village is entered twice; 3 villages are entered simultaneously) and 3 villages nr. Qalqilya (2 villages are entered simultaneously). (PCHR 12/1; OCHA 12/2)

Despite a Greek ban on vessels heading to Gaza to discourage the Freedom Flotilla II, the U.S. activists’ boat The Audacity of Hope attempts to leave port but is detained by the Greek coast guard. In the West Bank, the IDF bars Palestinian farmers fr. working a 60-d. plot of agricultural land nr. Susia settlement; patrols in 4 villages nr. Jericho, Qalqilya, and Ramallah during the day. A Palestinian who was shot by the IDF when he apparently failed to heed orders to stop at a checkpoint nr. Hebron on 1/20/11 dies of his injuries in Israel’s Hadasah Hospital. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 2 Palestinians and accidentally starting a fire that burns 200 beehives and 150 olive trees nr. Kafr Qaddum. (NYT, WP 7/2; WP, WT 7/4; PCHR 7/7; OCHA 7/8)

U.S. special envoy Mitchell returns to the region for a 2-day visit aimed at reviving indirect talks. He says he will urge the Israeli and Palestinian sides to present their final status positions separately to the U.S. in writing so that the U.S. can recommend bridging proposals. (HA 12/13; NYT, WP 12/14)

EU FMs meeting in Brussels say the EU will not recognize a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood until “an appropriate time.” (WJW 12/14)

In the afternoon, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire a flechette round on a group of armed IQB mbrs. operating nr. the border fence n. of Bayt Lahiya, wounding 2. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Qalqilya, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Susia settlement nr. Hebron attack 4 nearby Palestinian homes, beating several Palestinians. (PCHR 12/16; OCHA 12/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF seals Attara nr. Ramallah for 3 hrs. after troops discover a suspicious object during vehicle checks at the entrance to the village. The IDF conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya and Salfit and in Jenin town and r.c., but makes no arrests; a Palestinian whose house is raided reports money missing. The IDF also patrols and opens fire in Qabatya but makes no arrests and causes no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Susia, escorted by the IDF, erect tents and set up electricity generators on an unauthorized settlement outpost site nr. Hebron that was dismantled by the IDF on 9/9. The Israeli High Court, ruling on a petition filed in 2003, orders the IDF to dismantle sections of the separation wall in Khirbat Jibara and Jayyus n. of Qalqilya, reinstating Palestinian access to 2,488 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of land. (OCHA 9/11; OCHA, PCHR 9/17; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 9/09)

In Silwan in East Jerusalem, a Jewish settler shoots, wounds 1 Palestinian, also hitting 1 Palestinian teenager with shrapnel; the settler is arrested by Israeli police. The al-Aqsa Association reports that the Israeli authorities are digging a new tunnel under Silwan. (NYT 9/12; OCHA , PCHR 9/17; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 9/09)

The IDF shoots and wounds a Palestinian who strays nr. the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun; makes a brief incursion into Bayt Hanun, firing on residential and surrounding agricultural areas but causing no further injuries; makes an incursion into al-Maghazi r.c., leveling areas of land and firing indiscriminately but causing no injuries. (PCHR 9/10; OCHA, PCHR 9/17)

In the West Bank, the IDF dismantles an unauthorized settlement outpost nr. Hebron. In retaliation, Jewish settlers fr. Susia attack a group of Palestinians fr. a nearby village, injuring 15. The IDF also conducts late-night raids, house searches in al-Bireh, nr. Hebron, Ramallah, and Tulkarm, and in ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho, arresting 9 Palestinians. (OCHA 9/11; OCHA, PCHR 9/17)

A Palestinian who fell ill at an IDF crossing on 9/4 while waiting to enter East Jerusalem for prayers on the 2d Friday of Ramadan dies of a heart attack; the UN cites IDF checkpoint restrictions and conditions as a factor contributing to his death. (OCHA 9/11)

Inside Israel, Israeli Jews and Palestinians in Acre engage in their 4th straight night of rioting and sectarian violence; 2 Palestinian apartment buildings set on fire; some 12 people are arrested. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in Tubas and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Susia nr. Hebron raid nearby a Palestinian home, beat 3 Palestinians. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar and Brakha attack local Palestinians harvesting olives. (WP 10/12; NYT 10/13; OCHA 10/15; PCHR 10/16)

U.S. Secy. of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in Israel for a 2-day visit to press Israel and the PA for a joint statement on the peace process before the end of Pres. George W. Bush’s term. Hrs. before her arrival, Israel releases 198 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture to Abbas, including 2 long-held prisoners given life sentences for murdering Israelis: Said al-Atba (a mbr. of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine [DFLP] convicted in 1977) and Muhammad Abu Ali (convicted in 1980; elected to the PA legislature representing Fatah while jailed); none of those released are fr. Hamas. In Gaza, Palestinians fire 2 rockets into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Susia in Hebron destroy a Palestinian olive crop nearby. (NYT 8/26; OCHA 8/27; PCHR 8/28)

IDF soldiers on the c. Gaza boarder e. of al-Maghazi fire on Palestinian farmers who stray nr. the border fence while tending their fields, causing no injuries.Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF issues a military order confiscating 1,500 d. of Palestinian land in Bayt Hanina for construction of the separation wall around Ramot settlement; searches a Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance, a house in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); severely beats and fires tear gas, percussion grenades at demonstrators at a similar protest al-Ma‘sara (injuring 2); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Ramallah (arresting 9 Palestinian teenagers in Jalazun r.c.). Jewish settlers fr. Susia attack and beat several Palestinian farmers and shepherds in nearby Yatta, injuring 2. Several hrs. later, Jewish settlers fr. Mitzpe Ya’ir nr. Hebron attack Palestinian farmers and shepherds in the same area, injuring 3; the IDF detains the injured Palestinians for questioning. Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound 3 Jewish settlers hiking nr. Nachliel settlement nr. Ramallah. (OCHA 6/25; PCHR 6/26)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on a Palestinian farmer fixing a water pipeline nr. the border, wounding him. IDF troops on the c. Gaza border e. of Gaza City fire a tank shell at a group of armed Palestinians, killing 1 armed Palestinian, wounding 1. An IDF drone fires a missile at a group of armed Palestinians in Abasan nr. Khan Yunis, missing the target, causing no injuries. IDF troops level land along the border fence inside Gaza e. of Gaza City. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols, fires percussion grenades in al-Far‘a r.c. nr. Tubas, then opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 2; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, including in al-Far‘a r.c. Jewish settlers fr. Susia settlement nr. Hebron harass Palestinian farmers, shepherds in nearby Yatta. In Khan Yunis, a bomb explodes outside the home of a fmr. Fatah mbr. who is now working for the Hamas-affiliated police, causing damage but no injuries. (OCHA 6/11; PCHR 6/12)

IDF troops on the Gaza border fire on agricultural areas along the border nr. alQarara, killing a Palestinian farmer; bulldoze land on the Palestinian side of the Qarni crossing. On the Rafah border, 2 smuggling tunnels collapse, killing 1 Palestinian, injuring 3. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in 3 villages s. of Hebron to build a settlers-only bypass road and possibly to expand Susia settlement; patrols in al-Bireh and Ramallah, spot-checking Palestinian IDs; enters Beita nr. Nablus, imposes a curfew, fires on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, wounding and arresting 1 Palestinian, arresting a 2d; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, Jenin town and r.c., Nablus. (OCHA 3/26; PCHR 3/27)

IDF troops on the Gaza border fire on Palestinians hunting birds who stray nr. the border fence e. of Jabaliya r.c., killing 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Susia nr. Hebron uproot 32 Palestinian olive trees. In Gaza City, unidentified assailants kidnap, quickly release 3 Fatah mbrs. (OCHA 12/12; PCHR 12/13)

After 5 days of bulldozing operations to expand the n. Gaza buffer zone (leveling 90 d. of land), the IDF withdraws troops fr. the border area n. of Bayt Hanun that were sent in on 7/4. Hamas fires 2 mortars at IDF tanks, bulldozers leveling land inside the Gaza border further south nr. Nahal Oz, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends an undercover unit into Jenin in a civilian vehicle with Palestinian license plates, ambushing and assassinating Islamic Jihad cmdr. Mahmud Nazzal as he drives through town, arresting his 3 passengers (1 wounded); conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in Balata r.c., Bethlehem, Jenin town and r.c., Nablus, Tubas. Jewish settlers place new caravans at the unauthorized settlement outpost of Avigail nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Susia vandalize 2 Palestinian homes in Hebron, uproot several trees. (OCHA 7/11; PCHR 7/12)

The IDF sends tanks, bulldozers into Gaza e. of al-Maghazi r.c. to level land along the border fence. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Til; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinians, Israeli and international peace activists taking part in the weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in, injuring 3 and arresting 10. Palestinians also take part in weekly nonviolent protest against the separation wall in Wadi Nis nr. Um Salamuna. Jewish settlers fr. Susia attack Palestinian farmers and a shepherd working in their fields nearby; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Fatah-affiliated PA security forces deploying in central Gaza on orders (5/10) from Abbas clash with local Hamas mbrs. in Gaza City and Jabaliya r.c. in the heaviest FatahHamas fighting in 2 mos., wounding at least 10 Palestinians; Hamas mbrs. also seize several PA police cars, equipment; ESF mbrs. do not engage in the fighting. (IMEMC, MM 5/11; NYT 5/12; OCHA 5/16; PCHR 5/17)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire on 2 Palestinian teenagers who stray nr. the border fence, wounding 1. Palestinians fire an antitank missile at an IDF post along the Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun; the IDF responds with heavy gunfire; no injuries are reported on either side. The Israeli navy fires on Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Nussayrat r.c. and Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. In Rafah, a Hamas mbr. is injured when an explosive device he is handling explodes prematurely. In the West Bank, the IDF exchanges fire with Palestinian gunmen nr. Ramallah, leaving 2 IDF soldiers wounded; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians at Qalandia checkpoint, causing no reported injuries; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes (48 residents) nr. Susia settlement, 1 home (16 residents) nr. another Hebron settlement; bulldozes 5 d. of Palestinian olive groves nr. Avigail settlement nr. Hebron; raids the Change and Reform offices in Hebron, confiscating computers and files; conducts late-night arrest raids in Jenin town and r.c., Qabatya and nr. Hebron. For the 3d day, Jewish settlers occupying a Palestinian home in Hebron vandalize nearby Palestinian homes, attack Palestinian residents, and try to break into several Palestinian homes. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen shoot, wound a PA intelligence officer in Qalqilya. (NYT 4/20; OCHA 4/25; PCHR 4/26)