The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on and wound Palestinians in 2 separate incidents; 1 nr. Khan Yunis, a civilian close to the border fence, and 2 nr. al-Musaddar, hitting a farmer. IDF troops also conduct a limited incursion in the c. Gaza Strip to level land close to the border fence. In Israel, a Palestinian from Jenin stabs to death an Israeli soldier on a bus in Afula, later telling investigators that he was motivated to avenge the imprisonment of his relatives. In the West Bank, the IDF shoots and injures a Palestinian with live ammunition during clashes nr. Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon (that of the killer of an IDF solider on the bus), and in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, and 2 villages nr. Jenin at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the morning, Hebron and 1 nearby village in the afternoon. Jewish settlers set fire to a Palestinian home nr. Ramallah and leave “price-tag” graffiti, in reference to the earlier killing of an Israeli soldier. (HA, MNA 11/13; PCHR 11/14)

The Palestinian negotiating team resign in protest at Israeli settlement construction, Pres. Abbas announces. Negotiator Mohammed Shtayyeh says that the move had not yet been accepted by Abbas. An unnamed Palestinian official says that there are no immediate plans for new peace talks, in light of the development. In response, U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Jen Psaki notes that Abbas remains committed to a 9-month time frame peace process. Meanwhile, the Knesset Finance Cmte. authorizes NIS 36 million by way of compensation to settler councils for the 2009 construction freeze. (AFP, HA, MNA, REU 11/13)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and VP Joe Biden brief the Senate Banking Cmte. and ask them to hold back on new sanctions targeting Tehran to allow talks with Iran to proceed in a productive atmosphere. (AP 11/13)

Palestinians fire several Qassam rockets toward Israel, but all land harmlessly in Gaza. The IDF makes a brief incursion into c. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border e. of al-Musaddar. In the West Bank, the IDF arrests more than 40 Palestinians in the village of Awarta and subjects them to DNA testing and fingerprinting in connection with the 3/11 Itamar murders. The IDF also makes a predawn incursion into Jericho, patrolling streets and photographing PA Presidential Guard and PASF training sites and buildings; patrols in al-Bireh, Birzeit, Tulkarm, Nur al-Shams r.c. and 2 nearby village, and 4 villages nr. Jenin; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. A Gaza court sentences 1 Palestinian to death and another to 15 yrs. in prison for collaborating with Israel. (HA, MNA 3/29; JP 3/30; JTA, NYT, PCHR 3/31; OCHA 4/1)

The IDF makes a day-long incursion into c. Gaza to level land inside the no-go zone e. of al-Maghazi and al-Musaddar, demolishing 3 Palestinian homes (displacing 13 residents), leveling 17 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of agricultural land, exchanging gunfire with armed Palestinians throughout the day (no injuries reported). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Bayt Sira village w. of Ramallah in the evening, firing rubber-coated steel bullets at stonethrowing youths who confront them, causing no injuries; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah. (OCHA 2/18; PCHR 2/24; OCHA 2/25)

IDF troops on the Gaza border direct artillery fire at al-Musaddar village, hitting 1 Palestinian home and injuring 2 teenagers, then make a brief incursion into the area. (PCHR 10/1)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar uproot numerous Palestinian olive trees. (PCHR 10/1)

In East Jerusalem, disturbances between Jews and Muslims continue for a 2d day; at least 2 Jewish homes in Silwan are struck by Molotov cocktails, and Jews stone Arab cars driving on Hebron Street but apparently cause no injuries. (WJW 10/1)

In Gaza, Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. the Gaza border fence e. of al-Musaddar village in c. Gaza, causing no reported damage or injuries. The IDF sends troops into al-Musaddar in pursuit, exchanging gunfire with the armed Palestinians, calling in 3 air strikes on the area, injuring 2 armed Palestinians, heavily damaging 3 Palestinian homes before withdrawing 90 mins. later. Palestinians also fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no reported damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a large late-night incursion into Nablus to raid and search a home for weapons, blowing up part of the home, detaining 2 Palestinians for questioning, but finding no weapons; occupying and searching Asia Television offices; blowing the doors off several shops in the old city. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., nr. Bethlehem and Hebron. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops enter Nablus to pray for several hours at the shrine of Prophet Joseph. In the evening, Jewish settlers in Hebron cut electricity to Palestinian houses in the center and s. of town, then rampage through the areas, damaging several homes; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (OCHA 2/24, 2/25; PCHR 2/26)

The IDF makes an air strike on a car in Bayt Lahiya, assassinating PRC cmdr. Raed Abu al-Ful, also killing a Palestinian woman traveling with him; makes an air strike on another car in Bayt Lahiya carrying suspected militants, missing the car, killing a Palestinian woman and child nearby, seriously wounding 6 bystanders (including 3 children); makes an air strike on Gaza City, killing 2 Hamas mbrs., wounding 4; fires on unarmed Palestinians who stray nr. the border fence e. of Dayr al-Balah, wounding 1; sends tanks, a bulldozer into Gaza to level land nr. al-Maghazi r.c. and nearby alMusaddar. Palestinians fire about 40 rockets fr. Gaza toward Israel, half of which land inside Israel, hitting 2 houses, damaging a road, lightly injuring 4 Israelis. Olmert vows to wage “war” on Gaza to stop rocket attacks, orders Gaza’s crossing sealed completely for several days to punish Gazans. The PA warns that escalated IDF offensives in Gaza jeopardize peace talks. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Balata r.c. nr. Nablus, where they surround and fire on a Palestinian home (wounding a 3-yr.-old boy), sparking an exchange of gunfire that leaves 1 wanted Palestinian dead, another wounded, 4 Palestinians under arrest; sends undercover units into Tulkarm, detaining 25 Palestinians; conducts additional arrest raids, house searches in villages nr. Tulkarm, Hebron, Ramallah; sends troops into al-Bireh and Jenin to set up roadblocks and conduct ID checks, making no arrests; patrols in ‘Aqaba nr. Tubas. An AMB mbr. wounded in a 1/15 IDF missile strike dies. (NYT, WP 1/18; NYT, PCHR 1/19; OCHA 1/23; PCHR 1/24)

Overnight, the IDF makes an incursion into al-Musaddar in c. Gaza, occupying several homes as operation bases, engaging in heavy clashes with local gunmen, killing 8 Palestinian gunmen, wounding 21 Palestinians (mostly civilians, including 2 journalists), detaining 50 for questioning, shelling and firing on residential areas, heavily damaging 10 homes, bulldozing 73 d. of olive and citrus groves before withdrawing in the evening; 1 IDF soldier is seriously injured, 2 are lightly injured in the operation. Late in the evening, the IDF sends troops into Abasan, clashing with local gunmen, killing 1 Hamas mbr. Palestinians fire rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, a Palestinian attempts to stab an IDF soldier at the Hawara checkpoint nr. Nablus, is arrested. A Hamas mbr. dies of injuries sustained during the 6/07 interfactional fighting in Gaza. (NYT, WP, WT 12/21; NYT 12/22; OCHA 12/26; PCHR 12/27)