The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to agricultural lands between Turmus ‘Ayya and al-Mughayyir, damaging olive trees, and threw stones at vehicles, damaging 1. Israeli settlers also vandalized 55 grapevine saplings and damaged a water tank in al-Khader. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured 1 other with live ammunition during a raid in Tubas; the man was said to have been buying bread after dawn prayers when he was shot in the head. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian protester and injured others with tear gas in Hebron. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 1 with live ammunition and 5 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 1 with a baton round and 37 with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 6 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also uprooted 55 grapevine saplings and demolished 1 water well in al-Khader. 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during late-night raids in Tubas and 3 at checkpoints near Nablus and al-Jib. (AJ, AP, MEE, MEMO, PCHR, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/19; PCHR 8/25; UNOCHA 9/2)

Israel approved granting an additional 1,500 work permits for Palestinians in Gaza. (AP 8/19)

The Israeli central command froze the administrative detention of Khalil Awawdeh while he is in the hospital for treatment related to his 170 days of hunger strike. Awawdeh’s lawyer also petitioned the Israeli high court of justice to have him released from administrative detention. (HA, TOI 8/19; WAFA 8/20)

The foreign ministers of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden released a joint statement calling the Israeli raids on 7 Palestinian rights organizations “not acceptable,” expressing deep concern over the raids and reiterating that the countries have not seen evidence that justify the Israeli attacks on Palestinian civil society. (HA, JP, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA 8/20)

The Republic of Korea donated $1 million to UNRWA technical and vocational education and training programs in Jordan. (WAFA 8/19)

Israeli cabinet orders some settlers disarmed, 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released in response to Hebron massacre, establishes commission of inquiry to investigate massacre. Govt. orders administrative detention of 5 Kach mbrs., but apprehends only 1 as well as 2 low-level activists. PLO Chmn. Arafat calls Israeli moves "hollow and superficial," reiterates demand for international protection of Palestinians ino.t. Settlers' council "rejects out of hand the proposals ... to confiscatehe weapons of Jews." (CSM, NYT, WP, WT 2/28)

Rioting against Hebron massacre continues in o.t., Israel, spreading to Negev. 3 Palestinians killed in demonstrations, including 1 Israeli Arab, bringing casualty totals to 65 dead, 360 wounded since 2/25. (WP, WT 2/28; CSM, NYT 3/1)

PLO Chmn. Arafat charges that "some elements of the Israeli army" assisted Baruch Goldstein in Hebron massacre. IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Dani Yatom counters that soldiers fired into air, all 111 cartridge cases recovered at crime scene fired fr. Goldstein's rifle. (NYT, WP, WT 2/28)

Funeral of Hebron attacker Baruch Gold.. stein draws 300 mourners for procession fr. Jerusalem to Qiryat Arba. Mourners denounce journalists covering event as "Nazis"; Rabbi Yaacov Perrin, giving eulogy, proclaims "1 m. Arabs are not worth a Jewish fingernail." (NYT, WP, WT 2/28)

Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria withdraw negotiators fr. Washington talks with Israel in solidarity with PLO. (RMC 2/28 in FBIS 2/28; NYT, WP, WT 2/28)

UN Sec. Gen. Butrus Butrus-Ghali suggests sending international monitors to protect Palestinians in o.t. U.S. mission to UN calls offer not "particularly helpful or useful." Statement notes DoP provides for "temporary" international presence, but says UN should not "prejudge" Israel-PLO discussions. Russia supports Butrus-Ghali's position. (NYT 2/28)

Bomb made of 2 82mm mortar shells explodes in Sayyidal-Naja Maronite Church in Zuq Mika'il, nr. Juniya, Lebanon, killing 9 and wounding 60. PM Hariri calls bombing "a plot ordered fr. abroad." Info M Michel Samaha, Damascus Radio, and Maronite Bishop Bishara Rai blame Israel. (RL 2/27 in FBIS 2/28; SARR 2/27 in FBIS 3/1; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/28)