The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fire a rocket into s. Israel in the Eshkol region. Israel holds Hamas responsible and the IDF launches a latenight air strike at a Hamas military training site nr. Khan Yunis, causing damage to the site and a nearby UNRWA school. It is the 1st Israeli bombing in Gaza since the 8/26 cease-fire ended OPE. In the West Bank, Palestinians gather in Turmus ‘Ayya, Silwad, and Ofer detention center to protest the death of a senior PA official on 12/10, sparking clashes with IDF troops in which 9 Palestinians are injured with rubbercoated metal bullets and 2 are detained. In Silwad, Israeli soldiers deliberately fire at electricity transformers, causing a power outage. Also, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), Bethlehem, and Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), shooting 1 in Bil‘in with a rubber-coated metal bullet and 1 in Ni‘lin. The IDF conducts an arrest raid nr. Qalqilya; patrols nr. Ramallah, Hebron, Jericho, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. Meanwhile, dozens gather in Balata r.c. to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the PFLP. In East Jerusalem, nearly 60,000 Palestinians pray at Haram al-Sharif, then march through the streets of the Old City in protest of Israeli policies regarding the site. Later, Israeli forces conduct house searches and arrest raids in the Old City, al-Wad, Silwan, and al-Bustan. Clashes break out between Israeli police and stone-throwing Palestinians late at night in Wadi al-Juz, Anata, and Silwan. Police injure 3 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets and arrest 5. (AP, HA, MNA, 12/19; AFP, HA, MNA, WAFA 12/20; PCHR 12/25)

U.S. Pres. Obama signs into law the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, which includes increased intelligence and military cooperation and new congressional oversight procedures. (TOI 12/20; IHY, JP, JTA 12/21)

The UNGApasses 2 nonbinding res. regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict and Palestinian affairs: the 1st calls on Israel to pay Lebanon $856.4 m. in damages related to an oil spill Israeli forces caused during the 2006 war; the 2d recognizes Palestinian sovereignty over the natural resources in the oPt. (AFP, WAFA 12/20)

A leaked report from the IAEA concludes that Iran is upholding commitments made to the P5+1 related to its disputed nuclear program. (JP, REU 12/18)

In the Gaza Strip, unexploded Israeli ordnance kills 3 Palestinians and injures 2 others in e. Gaza City. IDF troops open fire at gravel collectors nr. the border fence e. of Bayt Lahiya, injuring 2. Separately, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land close to the border fence nr. Khan Yunis. The IDF patrols in Jericho and 2 nearby villages, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 village nr. Hebron. Also, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, Nil‘in, and Wadi Fukin), 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara) and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries. (MNA 9/19; PCHR 9/25)

French Pres. Hollande meets with PA Pres. Abbas in Paris to discuss Abbas’s plans to go to the UN and ICC. In a joint press conference, Hollande says that a “solution to the conflict” between the Israelis and Palestinians will be put to the UNSC. (AFP, HA 9/19)

Reps. of Iran and the P5+1 group meet in New York for talks on Iran’s disputed nuclear program, with just weeks to go until the 11/24 deadline for a deal over Iran’s nuclear program to be reached. It is the 1st round of talks since the 7/20 deadline was extended. Participants suggest that the parties are close, but with difficult final issues still to resolve. Meanwhile, the IAEA reports that Iran is continuing to take action in compliance with the interim agreement. (AFP, AP, REU 9/19)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes enter their 50th day, with the internal closure on Palestinian towns in the West Bank still in place. Israeli PM Ehud Barak tells Israelis to prepare for a protracted conflict, threatens to escalate actions against Palestinians. To pressure the Palestinian Authority (PA), Barak suspends plans to transfer $64 m. in taxes and customs duties owed the PA to cover salaries and regular expenses. Overnight, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) shells Fatah offices in Hebron, Jinin. During the day, IDF troops fatally shoot 4 Palestinians, fire on a Palestinian police station. 1 of the 4 Palestinians dies while the IDF blocks an ambulance crew fr. reaching him for 2 hrs. Inside Israel, Israeli Arabs clash with Israeli police officers nr. Sakhnin, leaving 1 demonstrator slightly injured. IDF West Bank cmdr. Brig. Gen. Benjamin Gantz warns that he "could probably wipe out Bayt Jala in a matter of hrs." Jewish settlers uproot a Palestinian olive grove nr. Ramallah, fire on Palestinian cars nr. Zatariyya Junction, injuring 2. (AFP [Internet], MENL, MM 11/16; LAW, NYT, WP 11/17; AIC 11/20; NYT 1/17)

In Gaza, U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross meets with PA head Yasir Arafat to discuss ways of halting the ongoing violence, resuming peace talks. (HA, WP, WT 11/17; MEI 11/24)

Hizballah claims responsibility for setting off a small bomb in the disputed Shaba` Farms area of the Golan Heights, slightly injuring 1 IDF soldier. The UN condemns the attack, expresses concern. (AFP [Internet] 11/16; MM, NYT, YA 11/17; MEI 11/24) (see 11/15)

Remaining lands occupied by Israel are returned to Jordan at mtg. of the joint Jordanian-Israeli comm. on treaty implementation, armies deploy along newly demarcated border. 300 Israeli farmers are given entry permits so they can continue working farms. (JTV, QY, RJ 2/9 in FBIS 2/10; Al-Aswaq 2/11 in FBIS 2/14)

Rabin, Arafat meet at Erez to restart negotiations but talks break down when Rabin refuses to lift closure of o.t. Rabin demands PA crackdown on opposition, impose ban on carrying weapons without a license, create judicial system proposed 2/7 immediately, take legal and punitive steps against terrorism; approves additional 2,000 Palestinian policemen. Arafat says this will put him in conflict with opposition groups outside Hamas, Islamic Jihad. Both agree to meet again in 1 wk. Arafat suggests Israel redeploy fr. one West Bank town as first step in interim settlement. (MM 2/9; IDF Radio, MENA, QY, VOP 2/9, RMC, VOP 2/10 in FBIS 2/10; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/10; WT 2/12; MEI 2/17)

Russian envoy Viktor Posuvalyuk meets with Jordan's King Hussein, PM Shakir, FM al-Kabariti in Amman to discuss peace process, bilateral relations. (RJ 2/9 in FBIS 2/10)

Palestinian police raid Gaza headquarters of Islamic Jihad, also arrest 3 Hamas leaders. (WT 2/10)

Arafat meets with delegation fr. EU headed by French FM Juppé in Gaza. Delegation also meets with PA representatives at Orient House, says Israel's temporary closure is justified but peace process must move forward. (MM 2/9; AFP, QY, VOP 2/9 in FBIS 2/10; NYT 2/10; MEI 2/17)

Rep. Gingrich's wife says her job with the Israeli Export Development Co., attracting American companies to high tech business park in Israel, poses no conflict of interest with her husband's job as House speaker. She was offered the job after visiting Israeli on a tour run by AIPAC. (WT 2/10; CSM 2/15)

Fateh and Hamas reportedly reach agreement to end violence after massive efforts by Haydar 'Abd al-Shafi and NRC (see 7/8). Violence and threats on peace delegates continue. (ITV 7/10 in FBIS 7/13; MM 7/10)

Palestinian Israeli delegation including MK 'Abd al-Wahhab Darawsha and Umm al-Fahm Mayor Shaykh Raid Salah arrives in Gaza City to "offer good offices" for mediation of Hamas-Fateh violence in Gaza Strip. (MM 7/10)

PLO sources announce Oman has been asked to help mediate PLO's conflict with GCC countries, which cut off large amounts of aid as a result of Palestinian position in the Gulf war. (AFP 7/10 in FBIS 7/17)