The Palestine Chronology

The IDF places its tightest seal on the Gaza Strip since the al-Aqsa intifada began, barring everyone except diplomats and aid workers fr. entering or exiting (though 9 international aid workers are denied entry for no reason; see 5/10), requiring journalists to apply for entry and to coordinate their trips with the IDF. International medical relief organization Medecins du Monde permanently ends its operations in Gaza, saying IDF measures make it impossible to continue work; numerous other international aid groups suspend Gaza operations. The IDF demolishes at least 3 Palestinian homes in Rafah, also bulldozing 40 dunams of land; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. Palestinian gunmen fire on a vehicle nr. Ofra settlement, killing 1 Jewish settler; the AMB, PFLP each claim responsibility. (XIN 5/11; AIDA, HA, MM, NYT 5/12; AYM 5/13 in WNC 5/15; PR 5/14; PCHR 5/15)

Sharon presents Powell with a plan for a series of limited measures to ease restrictions on Palestinians, releases 63 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture. Powell asks Israel to accept the road map, but Sharon refuses. Powell then meets with Abbas and PC speaker Ahmad Qurai‘, presses the PA to disarm Palestinian militant groups. Abbas says he will start with dialogue, not force; criticizes Sharon’s proposed gestures as mostly symbolic. (MENA, VOI 5/11 in WNC 5/12; SA 5/11, JP, QA 5/12 in WNC 5/13; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/12; AFP 5/13; AYM 5/12 in WNC 5/15; MM, PR 5/14; MEI 5/16)

The IDF imposes a tight curfew on Hebron; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis, 1 in Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 25 dunams of land in Khuza, 20 dunams e. of Bayt Hanun; arrests another 3 ISM volunteers in Tulkarm; bars 6 foreign aid workers fr. entering Gaza, without giving a reason (see 5/5). (GS, HA 5/10; AFP, Arab News 5/11; AIDA 5/12; PCHR 5/15)

Powell arrives in Israel for mtgs. aimed at starting implementation of the road map with Abbas (who has accepted the plan), Sharon (who has not); meets with FM Shalom, who reiterates Israel’s position that Abbas must dismantle militant groups before Israel would take steps to implement the road map. (HA 5/10; XIN 5/10 in WNC 5/12; HA, NYT, WP, WT 5/11; MEI 5/16)