The Palestine Chronology

The IDF makes air strikes on a suspected Islamic Jihad rocket launch site nr. Rafah airport, sends in troops to occupy and search the area, causing damage but no injuries; fatally shoots an Islamic Jihad mbr. laying a roadside bomb nr. an IDF observation tower at the Nahal Oz crossing. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Qalqilya and in Jenin town and r.c.; seals 8 Palestinian shops in the Old City of Hebron nr. Beit Romano settlement, declaring the area a closed military zone. A 15-yr.-old Palestinian is injured by IDF UXO nr. Jenin. The Hamas-led admin. in Gaza fires Exec. Dir. Hazza’ Abed, Public Relations Dir. Juma‘ al-Saqqa of Gaza City’s al-Shifa hospital, charging them with financial improprieties and corruption, and arresting Saqqa; Fatah claims that the men were removed for political reasons. In Gaza City, unidentified assailants detonate an explosive device outside the Fatal al-Yasir offices, causing damage but no injuries. (NYT 8/10; OCHA 8/15; PCHR 8/16)

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)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border cross into Gaza, arrest 3 Palestinian farmers working their fields nr. the border fence n. of Bayt Lahiya; also sends bulldozers, tanks into Gaza nr. Nahal Oz to level land. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Silat al-Harithiyya nr. Jenin, seeking Palestinian gunmen who exchanged fire with troops gunmen earlier in the day, causing no injuries; they ambush a car, killing Islamic Jihad mbrs. Mahdi Abu al-Khayr, Khalid Ashur and a civilian bystander. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c., Nablus, and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm; fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades at Palestinians, Israeli and international peace activists conducting their weekly nonviolent protest against the separation wall nr. Bil‘in, wounding 3. (WT 5/6; NYT 5/7; OCHA 5/9; PCHR 5/10)

Overnight, the IDF launches a major raid into eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City to look for “terrorist infrastructure,” sending in troops, tanks, bulldozers, accompanied by helicopters; making an air strike on a clearly marked Reuters TV truck covering the incursion, saying it was “acting suspiciously,” seriously wounding 2 Reuters journalists; during the day, the IDF fires on residential areas, warns residents to leave, exchanges fire with and conducts air strikes on Palestinian gunmen (killing 3 Palestinian gunmen, 1 Palestinian civilian; wounding 2 Palestinian militants, 10 civilians), occupies houses as observation posts. Also in Gaza, the IDF closes the Rafah crossing, Nahal Oz pipeline. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian guard outside a school in Jenin, claiming he was acting suspiciously; raids, searches the Ramallah home of Hamas-affiliated PC mbr. Mahmud Muslih, arresting him; patrols in Jenin town and r.c., Nablus (firing on residential areas in both cases, causing no injuries); conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Qalqilya. Jewish settlers in Hebron break into the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, violating agreements that this day is reserved for Muslims to pray there. After 13 days, the Holy Jihad Brigade releases unharmed 2 Fox News Journalists; the PA says that none of the group’s 8/23 demands were met, the group is not linked to al-Qa‘ida but is a group of “young men who carried out the action out of private beliefs.” (AFP, HA 8/27; NYT, WP, WT 8/28; PCHR 8/31; PMG 9/1)

In Gaza, the IDF closes the Nahal Oz pipeline, Qarni crossing for the day; makes an air strike on a group of PRC mbrs. n. of Gaza City, killing 2 PRC mbrs., a 3- yr.-old girl in a house nearby, wounding 2 PRC mbrs.; makes air strikes destroying the home of an Islamic Jihad mbr. in Bayt Hanun, a 2d home elsewhere in Gaza (warning residents to leave beforehand). A Palestinian is killed in Jabaliya r.c. when he accidentally detonates unexploded IDF ordnance. In the West Bank, the IDF also makes air strikes on a house in Jenin r.c., assassinating Islamic Jihad mbrs. Amjad al-‘Ajami, Muhammad Atik, wounding 12 bystanders (including 7 children); conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and Jenin, in Nablus, nr. Tulkarm (targeting PA security force mbrs.). (BBC, REU 8/9; PCHR 8/10; OCHA 8/16; PCHR 8/17)

The Israeli security cabinet approves plans to expand ground operations in s. Lebanon, speed IDF deployment to the Litani River. The IDF immediately begins reinforcing troops on the n. Israel border (anticipating a build-up of as many as 5,000 troops) and moves an additional 1,000 troops into s. Lebanon. The IDF continues air, naval, and artillery strikes across Lebanon, shelling ‘Ayn al-Hilwa r.c. (allegedly targeting the home of a Hizballah mbr., killing at least 2 persons, wounding 5), making an air strike on an apartment in Mashghara in the Biqa‘ Valley just n. of the Litani (killing a Hizballah official, 8 family mbrs.), hitting targets in s. Beirut. Ground operations also continue in s. Lebanon, with heavy clashes reported in Aita al-Sha‘b (4 IDF soldiers killed), Bint Jubayl, Dibil (9 IDF soldiers killed), Labuna, Jibbayn, al-Khiyam, Marja’uyun (1 IDF solider killed), Qantara, Taybeh, resulting in Israel’s highest daily toll to date, with 15 IDF soldiers dead and 38 wounded; the IDF claims to have killed 40 Hizballah mbrs. Hizballah fires some 170 rockets into n. Israel, hitting targets in Acre, Kiryat Shimona, Ma’alot, Safad. (BBC, HA, IFM, NYT, WP 8/9; NYT, WP, WT 8/10)

The IDF closes the Qarni crossing, Nahal Oz pipeline for the day; fires across the Israeli border at a group of children in a bedouin village nr. Bayt Lahiya, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., Hebron, Jenin (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 5); patrols in Tubas, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, wounding 3. (PCHR 8/10)

Israel announces that it will evacuate to s. Israel within 24 hrs. some 15,000 Israelis from the north who cannot afford to leave on their own, suggesting that the IDF intends a major escalation against Lebanon. In Lebanon, the IDF continues air and artillery strikes, hitting targets in s. Beirut, s. Lebanon (including killing 13 Lebanese in Ghaziyya s. of Sidon), the Biqa‘ Valley. Ground offensives also continue in s. Lebanon, with heavy clashes reported in Aytrun, Bint Jubayl (where the IDF claims to have killed 30 Hizballah mbrs.), Dibil (where 1 IDF soldier is killed), Labuna (where 2 IDF soldiers are killed); another 2 IDF soldiers are killed elsewhere and 23 wounded. Hizballah fires 160 rockets into n. Israel, hitting Acre, Fazouta, Ma’alot, Nahariya, Safad, Tiberias. The WHO warns that if within 5 days Israel does not provide safety guarantees for oil tankers bringing fuel shipments to Lebanon (see 8/1), 60% of hospitals in Lebanon will “simply cease to function.” (BBC, Marketplace 8/8; BBC, HA, NYT, WP, WT 8/9)

The IDF reopens the Nahal Oz pipeline (closed 7/27), the Qarni crossing to imports only (closed 7/26; exports have been banned since 6/23); makes an air strike destroying a Palestinian home nr. Bayt Lahiya after phoning the residents and warning them to leave; makes an air strike severely damaging the Gaza City home of a PA police officer, claiming he was storing weapons for militants (the officer was warned to evacuate; denies storing weapons); continues to shell residential areas of al-Shuka, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols, randomly checks IDs of residents in Qalqilya; conducts house searches in Bethlehem (targeting the home of a PA security officer), nr. Tulkarm. Some 5,000 Palestinians demonstrate outside the UN compound in Gaza City to protest the IDF’s attack on Qana, Lebanon, overnight (see below). A PSF officer is shot, wounded by unidentified armed Palestinians in Khan Yunis. A Palestinian wounded in the 7/19 IDF assault on al-Maghazi dies. (PCHR 8/3)

Overnight, the IDF drops 2 2,000-lb MK84 guided missiles on a 3-story residential building in Qana in s. Lebanon killing at least 28 Lebanese (including 16 children), wounding 9, and leaving 11 missing and presumed dead (including 6 children; initial reports say 57 Lebanese are killed, including 37 children, and 8 are wounded but Lebanese government, hospital, independent reports downgrade the figures by 8/3); the Israeli FMin. issues a statement blaming Qana residents for ignoring IDF warnings to leave. U.S. Secy. of State Rice, in Israel to discuss a cease-fire, announces that she will return to Washington but succeeds in securing Israel’s agmt. to a 48-hr. partial suspension of air strikes on s. Lebanon, including a 24-hr. window for relief agencies to transport goods and civilians; Israel says it will observe the suspension until the IDF “detects an imminent launch” of Hizballah rockets, but ground operations in s. Lebanon, air and artillery strikes n. of the Litani would continue. During the day, the IDF launches new ground operations in southeastern Lebanon nr. Taybeh and n. of the Israeli town of Metula, reporting 8 IDF soldiers wounded, 3 Hizballah mbrs. killed; makes air and artillery strikes across Lebanon, including in Yarun (killing at least 5 Lebanese civilians); calls on UNIFIL to evacuate Aita al-Sha‘b, Ramieh before sunset (UNIFIL refuses to comply). Hizballah fires more than 150 rockets into Israel in the heaviest barrage since the conflict began on 7/12, with some 80 rockets hitting Kiryat Shimona. (IFM, JAZ, UNIS 7/30; NYT, WP, WT 7/31; NYT 8/1; WT 8/4)

In Gaza, the IDF closes the Nahal Oz pipeline; shells areas nr. Gaza City, killing at least 1 Palestinian militant, 1 Palestinian farmer working in her field; shells areas nr. Bayt Hanun (killing 1 Palestinian child outside his home, wounding 5 Palestinians), in al-Shuka; makes air strikes destroying 3 houses nr. Bayt Lahiya (killing 1 Palestinian bystander), in Bayt Hanun, Khan Yunis (also destroying 2 adjacent homes). In Jerusalem, a Palestinian gunman fires on Israeli police, wounding 2 before being shot dead. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Jenin r.c. in cars with Palestinian license plates, surrounds a home, opens fire (wounding a Palestinian bystander in an apartment building nearby), occupying several surrounding houses as sniper positions, evacuates and checks IDs of residents, arrests 1 Palestinian, fires on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops, wounding 8 Palestinians (including 2 journalists covering the incident for al-Jazeera, Reuters); patrols in al-Bireh; begins construction of a new segment of the separation wall in Bayt Jala that will cut Palestinians off fr. 5,000 d. of agricultural land and cut off the access of Battir and Husan Nahalin villages to Bethlehem. The body of a Jewish settler fr. Yakir missing since early in the morning is found in a burnt-out vehicle nr. a West Bank Palestinian village; the AMB takes responsibility for kidnapping, killing him. In Israel, Israeli police free dual Israeli-Canadian citizen Falah after a Haifa District Court orders the police and/or Shin Bet to file formal charges against him or let him go (see 7/26). A Palestinian wounded during the 7/26 IDF raid on Kafr Qadim dies. A 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received during IDF operations in Nablus on 7/19. (OCHA 7/27; NYT 7/28; NYT 7/29; PCHR 8/3)

Israel’s security cabinet approves call-ups for up to 3 divisions of reservists (15,000–30,000 reserves) for the war on Lebanon. The IDF makes some 180 air and artillery strikes on targets across Lebanon, including hitting radio and TV relays in Amshit n. of Beirut, 3 trucks in the Biqa‘ Valley carrying emergency food supplies to Beirut. Ground clashes continue in Bint Jubayl, 2 residential apartment buildings nr. an Amal headquarters in Tyre; a Lebanese army base in n. Lebanon; roads, buildings in s. Lebanon and the Biqa‘ Valley, including al-Khiyam, Kafr, Nabatiyya, Sidon, Tuffah, Riyaq, Zahleh. The IDF broadcasts radio warnings to s. Lebanon residents that their villages would be “totally destroyed” if rockets are fired fr. them. Hizballah fires some 110 rockets into n. Israel, wounding 7 Israelis and hitting an empty factory in Haifa, also hitting sites in Carmiel, Nahariya Safad, Tiberias. (IFM 7/27; NYT, WP, WT 7/28)

In Gaza, the IDF makes air strikes on a carload of Hamas mbrs. in Rafah (killing 1 Palestinian bystander, wounding 6 bystanders, 2 Hamas mbrs.), a carload of Palestinian gunmen in Gaza City (missing, wounding 5 bystanders), armed Palestinians nr. Qarni crossing (wounding 3 PA security officers nearby), an alleged Islamic Jihad weapons factory in Gaza City, a bridge and electricity transformer in Bayt Hanun, an Abu Rish Brigades training base in Khan Yunis; continues to shell areas of Gaza City, wounding 12 Palestinians; fires on residential areas of Rafah; allows the Nahal Oz pipeline to open for several hrs./day for the import of fuel. Meanwhile, the Gaza municipality runs out of fuel for its trucks requiring the halt to trash collection in Gaza City (still in effect as of 7/12), raising World Health Organization (WHO) concern regarding the spread of communicable diseases. Palestinians fire several rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting 1 home and lightly wounding 1 Israeli. Haniyeh calls for a mutual cease-fire, but Olmert rejects it, saying that Operation Summer Rains is not over and that “we will operate, enter, and pull out [of Gaza] as needed.” Cmdr. of Israel’s southern region Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant says Israel is “prepared to continue the operation a month, two months, and, if need be, even more.” In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Nablus; patrols in, fires on residential areas of Qalqilya. (NYT 7/10; MEZ 7/11; PCHR 7/13)

Overnight, the IDF escalates its military operations in Gaza, making air strikes on Haniyeh’s empty Gaza City offices (destroying them, but causing no casualties), an Interior Min. office used by the ESF (killing 1 Hamas volunteer with the ESF, wounding a 2d) in Jabaliya r.c., 2 ESF training sites in Gaza City (no casualties), a Gaza City school (causing damage but no injuries); shells the s. Gaza coast fr. the sea, causing no injuries; continues to shell open areas in n. Gaza (setting fire to a Palestinian home), break the sound barrier over the Strip. Egyptian security envoy Omar Sulayman cancels plans to visit Gaza as Egyptian mediation efforts to free Cpl. Shalit will not result in a deal, though lower-level efforts continue. During the day, the IDF reduces the rate of shelling of n. Gaza; fatally shoots 3 armed Palestinians nr. the Dahaniyya airport. Under international pressure, Olmert allows Qarni crossing to open for 5 hrs. for the import of basic goods, resumes fuel deliveries to Gaza through Nahal Oz to ease the humanitarian situation. In the West Bank, the IDF raids a Nablus hospital in a failed search for a wanted Palestinian, firing on the surrounding neighborhood (wounding 1 Palestinian) and stone-throwing youths who confront the troops (wounding 6); patrols in and around Nablus, bulldozing several Palestinian vehicles, raiding and shutting down transmission of the Nablus TV station; raids 4 Islamic charities and a clinic in ‘Askar r.c., 3 other charities in Bethlehem, nr. Qalqilya, and in Tulkarm, confiscating computers, files; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, Salfit and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin; conducts house searches, fires percussion grenades in al-Fawwar r.c., several villages around Hebron. (AFP, AP, HA, IFM, IMEMC, NYT, WP, WT, YA 7/2; AFP 7/2 in WNC 7/2; NYT, WP 7/3; PCHR 7/6)

Overnight, the IDF deploys an artillery battery outside the s. Gaza Strip (since Operation First Rain, artillery has been positioned in Nahal Oz, outside the n. Gaza); begins massing troops in the Gaza border in case the Israeli cabinet calls for ground operations; conducts arrest raids, house searches in the n. West Bank targeting mostly Islamic Jihad mbrs. During the day, the IDF begins erecting a massive new checkpoint (the Zaatara checkpoint) s. of Nablus at Tapuach Junction that will sever the Nablus and Jenin districts from the rest of the West Bank, creating a northern West Bank canton; the crossing, which is similar to the Qalandia checkpoint that Israel has said will be treated as an international crossing, was approved by the IDF Central Command 9 mos. ago and should begin operation in 2 mos. An IDF drone fires on a car in n. Gaza that launched rockets toward Sederot (causing no damage), killing AMB mbr. Majid Nattat. Soon after, Palestinians fire another 2 rockets and a mortar toward Sederot, and the IDF carries out 2 air strikes on 2 roads leading to Bayt Lahiya; no injuries are reported in the exchange. Later, the IDF carries out another 3 air strikes on n. Gaza, causing no reported injuries; fires stun grenades to disperse Palestinians hoping to cross the al-Ram checkpoint into Jerusalem to mark the final Friday of Ramadan at al-Aqsa mosque. Late in the evening, the IDF launches F-16 air strikes on uninhabited areas of n. Gaza; patrols, shoots out street lights in Nablus; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron. Palestinians then fire an antitank rocket at the Erez crossing, causing no damage or injuries. Meanwhile, 10,000s of Palestinians attend the Gaza funerals of the 7 Palestinians killed in the 10/28 Muhanna assassination; AMB, Hamas, Islamic Jihad hold massive armed marches, firing automatic weapons in the air in violation of their agmt. with the PA not to carry or use weapons in public. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, escorted by IDF soldiers, severely beat 2 Palestinians in Hebron. Separately, Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba vandalize several Palestinian homes in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai violently beat 2 Palestinian teenagers in Hebron; the IDF intervenes and detains 1 Palestinian. Mofaz orders the eviction of 15 Jewish settler families living in the unauthorized enclave of Amona in Hebron. (AP, CSM, HA, IDF Radio, IMEMC, REU, YA 10/28; NYT, WP, WT 10/29; HA, IMEMC 10/30; OCHA 10/31; PCHR 11/10)

Overnight, the IDF conducts air strikes on the home of PRC mbr. ‘Amr Qarmut in Jabaliya r.c. in what may be an assassination attempt (causing damage but no injuries), a Hamas-run school in Gaza City (injuring 23 Palestinians), and a cultural center in Bayt Hanun run by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), causing damage but no injuries; arrests 207 Palestinians (mostly Hamas and Islamic Jihad mbrs., including Hamas political leaders Shaykh Hasan Yusuf and Muhammad Ghazzal) in the largest raids across the West Bank since 2/05. During the day, Sharon says that he has given the IDF “free rein” to act against Palestinians firing rockets. The IDF continues to mass troops on the n. Gaza border, breaks the sound barrier over Gaza roughly every 2 hrs., fires artillery shells fr. Nahal Oz into open areas nr. Bayt Hanun as a warning to Palestinians (marking Israel’s 1st shelling of Gaza since 1967); fires missiles fr. F-16s at a car s. of Gaza City, assassinating senior Islamic Jihad leader Muhammad Shaykh Khalil, Islamic Jihad mbr. Nassir Barhum, wounding 4 bystanders. In the evening, Hamas agrees to stop rocket attacks immediately. Later, an IDF helicopter gunship strikes 3 targets in Khan Yunis, including the homes of senior AMB mbrs. Ziyad Abu Hayya and Mahir al-Farra in what may be assassination attempts, causing heavy damage, injuring 17 Palestinians; the IDF says it is targeting AMB arms storage facilities. A 12-yr.-old Palestinian wounded in the 9/23 Jabaliya explosion dies, bringing that toll to at least 16. (AFP, AP, HA, IMEMC, JAZ, WP, WT, XIN, YA 9/25; CSM, HA, IMEMC, JP, NYT, WP, WT 9/26; HA 9/27; AFP, DS, MEI, PCHR 9/29)

Today’s Independent (9/25) reports that a new book by 2 prominent Israeli journalists, Ofer Shelah and Raviv Druker, states that “at a conference of officers as early as May 2001, Shaul Mofaz, now defense minister and then chief of staff, asked for the tape to be switched off before telling them that he wanted a ‘price’ exacted from the Palestinians of 10 killed a day on each of the army’s seven fronts.” The book also reports that after 6 IDF soldiers were killed in an ambush in 3/02, “Mofaz personally ordered a revenge operation in which for the first time [sic—see “Overview of Israeli Military Operations,” Resource File Doc. A, JPS 134] Palestinian police officers would be shot, whether they posed a threat or not.” (Independent 9/25)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Rafah; shells residential areas of Bayt Hanun; conducts arrest raids nr. Bayt Lahiya. Hamas fires a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza at the IDF’s Nahal Oz base inside Israel, wounding 12 IDF soldiers. 2 AMB mbrs. attempt to raid an IDF post at the Bayt Hanun crossing in n. Gaza, are shot dead. A Palestinian fires grenade, a rifle at IDF soldiers at the Erez checkpoint, causing damage but no injuries before being shot dead. (MM, PR, REU 1/5; IMEMC, NYT, PCHR, WT 1/6; PCHR 1/13)

During the day in Gaza, the IDF assassinates Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades 2d in command ‘Adnan al-Gul (a founding mbr. of Hamas whom Israel considers responsible for the development of Qassam rockets and whom it has tried to assassinate on at least 4 previous occasions), firing 2 missiles at him as he leaves a building in Gaza City, also killing senior field cmdr. Imad Abbas, wounding 4 bystanders; attempts to assassinate PRC military cmdr. ‘Abd al-Rahman Qarmut, firing a missile at his home in Jabaliya r.c., wounding him and his child; fatally shoots 2 armed Palestinians (1 AMB, 1 Islamic Jihad) who attempt to infiltrate Israel nr. the Nahal Oz crossing outside Gaza City; conducts 2 raids into Rafah, shelling residential areas, demolishing 7 Palestinian homes, bulldozing 9 d. Also in Rafah, an IDF soldier investigating a smugglers’ tunnel is killed by an explosion, possibly fr. a booby trap; Hamas claims responsibility. In Hebron, the IDF raids 2 mosques during evening prayers, interrogates and checks IDs worshipers; raids a university, checks students’ IDs; raids, occupies a Palestinian home. In Qalqilya, the IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Sederot, a mortar at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers attempt to steal olives fr. a grove in al-Mughayyir; Palestinians confront and scuffle with them; 1 settler opens fire, injuring 1 Palestinian; the IDF intervenes, detains the gunman. Islamic Jihad mbrs. stop the car of PA military intelligence officer Hajij al-Sirhi in central Gaza, seize the car and 2 rifles; Sirhi reportedly impounded the car fr. Islamic Jihad mbrs. several mos. earlier. (VOI, VOP 10/21 in WNC 10/23; BBC, NYT, WP, WT 10/22; AFP, VOP 10/22, HJ, VOI 10/23 in WNC 10/26; PR 10/17; PCHR 10/28)

A Jewish settler is found murdered nr. Ramallah; officials think he was lured to Ramallah, then kidnapped, similar to the case of an Israeli murdered on 1/18.Palestinians throw 15 grenades at a Rafah checkpoint during the day, causing no injuries. The IDF bulldozes 45 dunams of Palestinian land along the Gaza border nr. Nahal Oz kibbutz. (MM, NYT, WP 7/25)

Israel continues to reinforce its West Bank forces, stationing paratrooper units in areas nr. Bethlehem, Jinin. Palestinians fire 4 mortars at Netzarim settlement, Nahal Oz kibbutz inside Israel. The IDF files low-level F-16 sorties, drops thermal balloons over the Gaza Strip; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at Palestinian residential areas of Hebron, setting 7 Palestinian homes on fire; tightens the closures on Qalqilya, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers reportedly confiscate several Palestinian homes in the Palestinian section of Hebron nr. Kiryat Arba. In Bethlehem, 1,000s of Palestinians hold anti-Israeli demonstrations following the funeral for Hamas's Saada. 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received on 7/16. (AP, HA, HP 7/18; NYT 7/19)

At a G-8 preparatory mtg. in Rome, the FMs of Britain, France, Germany, Italy insist that dispatching an impartial observer force to the West Bank and Gaza is necessary to restore a lasting cease-fire, renew peace talks. Secy. of State Powell says sending a force is "premature," since Israel does not approve, but he does not reject the idea outright. (WP, WT 7/19)

Palestinians fire another mortar at Nahal Oz kibbutz, causing no damage. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian passenger in a taxi that passes a checkpoint without stopping. The IDF also shells residential areas of al-Khadir; bulldozes Palestinian trees btwn. Abu Dis and Jabal al-Mukabir; tightens the closures on Bethlehem, Nablus. Inside Israel, Israeli police arrest a Palestinian carrying a bomb. The body of a Palestinian suspected of collaborating with Israel is found in a West Bank village. Israel's Peres says that, although the PA is still not making a 100% effort to halt violence, evidence in recent days suggests that the PSF is taking action against renegade gunmen; Israeli security sources corroborate reports that Arafat has ordered the PSF place a number of wanted Palestinians in "protective custody" but say Israel considers this "insufficient." Peres also says that 15 illegal settlement outposts should be dismantled within 2-3 wks. (HA, HP 7/11; NYT, WP 7/12)

The Israeli government orders the demolition of 34 Palestinian homes in al-Midya, on the border of the Green Line, where Israel intends to create a buffer zone with the West Bank. The Jerusalem Municipality also orders the demolition of 2 more houses and 15 dunams of surrounding land in Shaykh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, for construction of a train line linking West Jerusalem with the Pisgat Ze'ev settlement. (Orient House press release 7/11; PMC 7/12)

In Jeddah, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) calls on the U.S. to fulfill its international obligations to protect the Palestinians and to stop applying a double standard in favor of Israel, or turn the matter over to the UN. (MM 7/16, 7/20)

In a predawn operation, the IDF bulldozes at least 17 Palestinian homes, 12 stores in Rafah refugee camp, leaving 150 Palestinians homeless and sparking a gunfight that leaves 5 Palestinians, 3 IDF soldiers wounded. Terming the demolitions "highly provocative," the U.S. announces plans to send Dep. Asst. Secy. of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Satterfield to the region to push U.S. cease-fire initiatives. Meanwhile, Palestinians fire a mortar at Nahal Oz kibbutz, causing no injuries but marking the 1st confirmed mortar attack inside the Green Line since 5/4. A Palestinian woman gives birth at an IDF checkpoint when soldiers deny her passage, the baby dies before reaching a hospital. For the 2d time in 2 days, a Palestinian man dies of a heart attack at an IDF checkpoint when soldiers refuse to allow him passage to a hospital. Jewish settlers set fire to 50 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Avni Hefets settlement. (MEZ, MM, WP 7/10; HP, NYT, PMC, WP, WT 7/11; JT 7/11 in WNC 7/12; HJ, IRNA 7/12 in WNC 7/13; ATL 7/12 in WNC 7/16)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead. After Palestinians fire mortars at Nahal Oz kibbutz inside the Green Line, the IDF fires surface-to-surface rockets in Bayt Lahia, hitting a PSF post, a Fatah headquarters, 2 Palestinian homes; injuring 4 passers-by; damaging 20 Palestinian homes; causing blackouts. The IDF also shells residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, al-Bureij, Khan Yunis. (REU 4/8; HP, MM, PMC, WP 4/9; MEZ 4/10; LAW 4/12)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue at a high level, leaving 2 Palestinians dead. In Jinin, senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Iyad Hardan, wanted by Israel, is assassinated when a bomb planted in a public phone he frequently uses explodes. In response to Palestinian mortar fire nr. Nahal Oz crossing and nr. Netiv Haasara kibbutz inside the Green Line that causes no damage, the IDF fires rockets at PSF posts and a power station in Gaza, wounding at least 5 Palestinians, destroying 4 buildings, damaging 10 homes, causing blackouts. The IDF also bulldozes 100 dunams of Palestinian land in Shaykh Ajlin; begins work on a new settler bypass road linking Beit El settlement with Jerusalem; raids Burqa village, arrests 2 Palestinians. Sharon announces plans to build another 708 housing units in the Jewish settlements of Ma'ale Adumim, Alfe Menashe; the State Dept. criticizes the move as "provocative." Reportedly to ease tensions over the Erez shooting on 4/4, Israel reopens the Rafah border with Egypt, says it will allow 3,000 Palestinian workers into Israel. (LAW 4/5; AFP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/6; MENA, al-Quds 4/6, ITAR-TASS 4/7 in WNC 4/9; MM 4/9; AYM 4/9 in WNC 4/11; al-Quds 4/11 in WNC 4/12; LAW, WJW 4/12; MA 4/17 in WNC 4/18; MEI 4/20)

Sharon orders the Israeli security services to find ways to let Jews visit the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. (MENA 4/10 in WNC 4/11; WT 4/11)

In Washington, Bush receives 2 letters signed by 87 Senators, 209 House mbrs. calling on him to reconsider U.S. ties with the PLO. (REU, WP 4/6; al-Quds 4/8, HJ, MENA 4/9 in WNC 4/10; MM 4/9; SA 4/13 in WNC 4/16; HA 4/16; MM 4/18; JP 4/20)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify slightly. For the 1st time, Palestinians fire 3 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, landing inside an army base nr. Nahal Oz kibbutz, lightly injuring 1 IDF soldier. Sharon reportedly orders the IDF not to respond in advance of his visit to the U.S. The IDF shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, damaging 3 homes. Jewish settlers move the boundary markers of Tal Rumayda settlement, confiscating 1 dunam of Palestinian land. (MM 3/19; WJW 3/22; LAW 3/24; MA 3/24 in WNC 3/26)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 2 Palestinian dead. A 3d, ailing Palestinian dies when the IDF detains her at a checkpoint for over 3 hrs. The IDF booby traps an unfinished Palestinian building nr. Psagot settlement to prevent Palestinian snipers fr. entering. A contractor discovers the trap when he arrives to inspect the site and warns the PA, which cannot disable the devices since the site is in area B, under Israeli security control. The IDF also bulldozes 59 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Netzarim settlement, 25 dunams nr. Nahal Oz crossing, 15 dunams nr. Dayr al-Balah; demolishes 16 greenhouses, building nr. Qarni crossing. (AFP [Internet], AP, LAW 3/14; LAW 3/17; PMC 4/9)

At Nahal Oz checkpoint, 100s of Israelis dump tomatoes, burn tires in protest against the import of cheap Palestinian-grown produce fr. Gaza. (WT 2/19)

Rear Adm. Ami Ayalon takes over as head of the Shin Bet. (MM 2/20; WT 2/21) (see 1/10)

Richard Jones arrives in Beirut to take up his position as the new U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, says one of his priorities will be to remove the travel ban. (WT 2/21; RL 2/29 in FBIS 2/29)

Israeli naval vessels off the coast of s. Lebanon chase 3 fishing boats back toward shore, sinking one; 3 fishermen on board escape. The blockade has been in place since 2/95. (RL 2/18 in FBIS 2/20) (see 2/5)

Israel, PA hold talks on elections in Jericho, agree Palestinians will vote separately for autonomy council and council's president when they hold self-rule elections. No progress is made on redeployment. (QY, VOP 2/13 in FBIS 2/14; WT 2/15: PR 2/20)

Jordan says it will give priority to "stranded" Palestinians--the 60,000-80,000 Palestinians caught in Jordan after the 1967 war because their reentry visas expired--in upcoming talks with Israel on refugees. (JT 2/13 in FBIS 2/15)

Jordanian FM al-Kabariti, U.S. Secy of State Christopher meet in Washington; discuss bilateral issues, peace process. (RJ 2/13 in FBIS 2/14)

Israeli press reports that Israeli Druze soldier killed in 1/31 clash with Hizballah was in fact accidently killed by his own troops when he was mistaken for a hostile Arab during a "kill verification" to assure all enemy forces were dead. PM Rabin denies IDF soldiers are allowed to kill wounded gunmen but says that in clashes with Arabs "if something moves, you shoot it." (WT 2/14) 

Israel agrees to resume fuel deliveries to Gaza suspended 2/7 via Erez checkpoint, will begin laying pipe lines nr. Nahal Oz, Rafah checkpoints so fuel can be delivered without using Israeli trucks. (MM 2/13; QY 2/13 in FBIS 2/14)

Palestinian police arrest 4 Palestinians, incl. frmr. leader if Fateh Hawks in Rafah, for allegedly shooting at Israeli targets. (Ma'ariv 2/13 in FBIS 2/14)

PLO announces Chmn. Arafat will make 3-day visit to Gaza, Jericho starting 7/2.  Arafat will arrive at Rafah crossing with 70-80 PLO officials, according to Nabil Shaath, M of planning and international cooperation in Palestinian National Authority.  Right-wing Israelis plan protests in Jerusalem, Jericho, elsewhere against visit.  (NYT, WP, WSJ, WT 6/30)

Israel releases over 300 Palestinian prisoners fr. Qetziot ("Ansar 3") prison, transfers them to Gaza Strip at Nahal Oz crossing.  (Qol Yisra'el 6/29 in FBIS 6/30; WSJ 6/30)

IDF soldier killed in shooting incident at Nahal Oz crossing, Gaza Strip.  Soldiers on duty reported shots fr. inside Gaza Strip and returned fire.  Casualty may have been caused by IDF return fire.  Palestinian police investigate.  (NYT, WP 5/31; WJW 6/2; JP 6/11)

100s of Palestinian prisoners released fr. Qetziot ("Ansar 3") prison in implementation of 5/4 Israel-PLO accord.  (NYT, WP 5/31; WT 6/1)

Hamas stages rally attended by over 2,000 in Jericho.  (TJT 6/3)

Faisal Husseini, returning to Jerusalem fr. PNA mtg. in Tunis, says Palestinians will "not accept any change in the status quo" of Jerusalem, any Israeli closure of Orient House "would be a violation of the [5/4] agreement."  (Qol Yisra'el 5/30 in FBIS 5/31; MM 5/31)

PECDAR (Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction) officials say PLO will be able to meet salaries of Gaza, Jericho civil servants without Israeli subsidies, but seek $300 m. in start-up assistance.  (MM 5/31; WT 6/1)

Equipment for Palestinian Broadcasting Corp. held up at Tel Aviv airport for payment of unspecified taxes to Israel, according to dep. board chmn. Sam'an Khoury.  (MM 5/31; WT 6/1; TJT 6/3)

PM Rabin meets visiting Russian Middle East envoy Viktor Posuvalyuk in Jerusalem.  Posuvalyuk tells reporters Syria "interested in achieving peace."  (MM 5/31)

Palestinian youths in al-Birah erect barricades, bum tires, and stone IDF soldiers after funeral of Rami Ghazzawi, killed 11/16. (MM 11/17)

IDF res. sgt. Haim Darina stabbed to death at Nahal Oz crossing btwn. Gaza Strip and Israel by Palestinian student at Gaza City Islamic College, who is detained by Israeli civilian. Several dozen demonstrators protest recent killings in Jerusalem, some bearing signs calling PM Rabin a "traitor." (MM 11/18)

FM Peres, on Israel radio, warns settlers, saying law applies to "whoever is breaking a law, no matter to which nation he belongs." (MM 11/17)

Israeli Police and Energy M. Moshe Shahal meets in Cairo with Egyptian Oil, Electricity, and Ag. Ms on energy cooperation, setting up 30 mw solar power station to serve Aqaba, Taba, and Eilat. Shahal also carries message to Egyptian Pres. Mubarak fr. FM Peres. (MM 11/17; MENA 11/17, 11/18 in FBIS 11/18)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli cabinet votes to examine Shin Bet interrogation methods [CSM 6/1]. Jewish settlers rampage through Gaza City stoning houses; thousands of settlers hold demonstration i Tel Aviv in memory of boy killed on W. Bank [BS 6/1]. Estimated 50 Jewish settlers attack 2 Palestinian truck drivers near Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Strip [FJ 6/7]. Israeli troops declare Balatah refugee camp closed military area to conduct comprehensive search, interrogations; more than 60 residents are arrested, 10 served with administrative dtentions. Jihad Musaymi, a camp leader, is ordered deported to Jordan for inciting demonstrations [BS 6/1; FJ 6/7]. Khan Yunis refugee camp resident Ahmad Nasr is expelled to Jordan [FJ 6/7]. Reports indicate head of Arab Bank in Jordan has turned down Jordanian request to open branch of bank in W. Bank, said bank would only open office if it was located in Jerusalem [FJ 6/7].

Military Action

Arab World: Estimated 250 Islamic Resistance Front militiamen battle Israeli and SLA troops in S. Lebanon for more than 7 hours; reports indicate between 16 and 31 are killed [CSM 6/1; PI 6/2].