The Palestine Chronology

The Israeli security cabinet, IDF senior cmdrs., Fatah Central Comm., PLO Exec. Comm. hold emergency mtgs. to discuss Arafat’s failing health, after he reportedly slips into a “reversible coma.” The PLO Exec. Comm. grants PA PM Ahmad Qurai‘ temporary responsibility for urgent matters involving the PA security services and finances. Hamas calls for formation of a collective leadership, in which it would participate, to rule until elections are held. The IDF places troops in the West Bank and Gaza on alert, fearing an upswing in violence if Arafat dies; the PA does the same with its security forces. The IDF also demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Rafah; fires on residential areas of al-Brazil r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, nr Hebron. (AFP, BBC, HA, REU, WP, XIN 11/4; AFP, JAZ, MENA, VOI, VOP, XIN 11/4 in WNC 11/6; BBC, CSM, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/5; VOP, XIN 11/5 in WNC 11/9; PRCS 11/11)

During the day, the IDF continues operations in Rafah, demolishing 5 Palestinian houses completely, redeploying tanks surrounding Tal al-Sultan away fr. the area (bulldozing 120 dunams of agricultural land before leaving), moving tanks and bulldozers into Brazil r.c., firing on residential areas. The IDF withdraws fr. Rafah after sundown, effectively ending Operation Rainbow, saying that since 5/17 it found 3 tunnels and demolished 56 “structures” that allegedly had provided cover for Palestinian gunmen, that it will regroup and resume operations soon. After the pullback, the IDF fires on a funeral in Rafah, seriously injuring several Palestinians. The IDF also raids Balata r.c., fires on stone-throwing youths, killing 1 Palestinian. (JTA, MM, NYT, PM, REU 5/24; MENA, VOI 5/24 in WNC 5/26; AP, NYT, WP, WT 5/25; MM, PR 5/26; PCHR 5/27; JPI 6/4)

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Sulayman meets separately with Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, Palestinian Authority (PA) head Yasir Arafat to present them with a list of conditions that Egypt would require to be in place before it would agree to retrain Palestinian security forces to assume security control in Gaza under Sharon’s disengagement plan. (MM 5/24; MENA, VOI, YA 5/24 in WNC 5/26; AP, MM, NYT, REU, WT 5/25; MENA, VOP 5/25 in WNC 5/27; WP 5/26; AYM 5/26, AYM, VOP 5/27 in WNC 6/1; NYT, WP 5/28; VOP 5/31 in WNC 6/2) 

In Netanya, in n. Israel, a Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device in a hotel restaurant were Israelis are holding Passover dinner, killing at least 19 Israelis, wounding around 100. The PA denounces the bombing, sends PSF branches a list of senior Hamas activists it wants arrested. The IDF shells Palestinian residential areas of Hebron; enters, directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Brazil. (AP, CNN, HA, PCHR 3/27; MM, NYT, PMC, WP, WT 3/28; ITAR-TASS 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MA 3/31 in WNC 4/1; JP, MEI 4/5)

The Arab summit opens in Beirut. Crown Prince Abdallah presents his 2/17 initiative for consideration. (HA, MM 3/27; AFP, MENA, QA, RMC, SA, XIN 3/27 in WNC 3/28; AKH 3/27, QA, al-Quds 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/28; HA 4/4; MEI 4/5)

The IDF apparently attempts to assassinate DFLP West Bank head Qays Samurai (Abu Layla) by planting an explosive device in his home in Ramallah; tanzim mbr. Anwar Aliya in an ambush by undercover units in Tulkarm. Samurai is not home at the time; Aliya is wounded. The IDF completes its withdrawal fr. Bayt Jala, taking up positions just outside the town and warning it will reenter if shooting at Gilo resumes. Clashes in Hebron, Ramallah, Tulkarm leave a total of 1 Israeli civilian, 3 Palestinian dead, 40 Palestinians wounded. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at Qarni crossing and residential areas of Bayt Wazan, al-Bireh, Brazil refugee camp, Yatta; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Rafah; blocks a marked UN convoy fr. entering Rafah to inspect the demolished Palestinian homes; sets up new roadblocks at the entrance to Tulkarm, on 3 roads to Jerusalem; reinforces troops around Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Ni'lin, confiscating papers fr. the local Fatah office, arresting 3 Palestinians; opens the main Gaza road that was sealed on 8/28. (HP, JP [Internet], MM, PMC 8/30; MENA 8/30 in WNC 8/31; HA, JT, NYT, WP, WT 8/31)

The IDF says it averted a major bombing in Haifa, arresting 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. The IDF also enters Brazil camp to demolish at least 1 house and fires on residents with live ammunition, injuring 10; shells, briefly enters Khan Yunis, exchange gunfire with Palestinians, leaving 1 Palestinian dead; tightens the closures on Bethlehem, Qalqilya (cutting phone lines to the town), Ramallah. Palestinians throw 2 hand grenades at an IDF post nr. Jinin, causing no damage. (HP 8/17; NYT, WT 8/18; AP, HP, WT 8/19; LAW 8/22)

An Egyptian delegation led by Osama Baz, senior adviser to Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak, holds its 4th and last day of mtgs. with U.S. officials, including Secy. of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser (NSA) Condoleeza Rice. Baz says the sides exchanged ideas on "certain arrangements" for enabling implementation of the Mitchell Comm. recommendations but would not discuss details until they had studied each other's proposals. (United Press International 8/17; MENA 8/27, MENA, al-Quds 8/18, MENA 8/19 in WNC 8/20; NYT, WP 8/18; WP 8/19; al-Quds 8/19, MENA 8/20 in WNC 8/21; HA 8/21; MM 8/22; al-Musawwar 8/24 in WNC 8/27)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. In a predawn strike, IDF bulldozers move into Brazil camp in PA-controlled Rafah under cover of tank, machine gun fire to demolish 20 Palestinian homes, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding at least 14, leaving 150 homeless. Israel claims the aim of the 4-hr. assault was to halt sniper fire fr. the area. (AP, BBC, NYT, REU 5/2; BDL, NYT, WP, WT 5/3; al-Quds 5/3 in WNC 5/4; LAW, MM 5/4; MEI 5/18)

In Washington, Israeli FM Peres discusses with Secy. of State Powell Israel's position on the Jordanian-Egyptian initiative, urges the U.S. to help arrange a cease-fire. Powell, echoing Israel's positions, says the U.S. it supports the Arab proposal as the "beginning of a dialogue. But, of course, that dialogue cannot get underway until violence is brought down" significantly; he does not mention the Israeli attack on Brazil hrs. earlier. The State Dept., however, denounces the Brazil attack as "undermin[ing] the efforts to defuse the situation." (MENA 5/2 in WNC 5/3; WP, WT 5/3; MM 5/4)

At a mtg. of his inner cabinet held in the Jewish settlement of Ofra, Sharon says that he cannot foresee Israel ever ceding sovereignty over the Jordan Valley "from the Jordanian border in the east to the mountain ridges of Judea and Samaria and the Allon Road in the west." (JP [Internet] 5/3; WJW 5/10)