The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized a concrete mixer near Qarawat Bani Hassan. 17 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ya’bad, Nablus, Bethlehem, Aida refugee camp, Dura, and Bayt Rima; 4 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces using live ammunition during the raid in Ya’bad. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 5 Palestinian fishermen and seized their 2 boats. (PCHR, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/28; PCHR 8/31; UNOCHA 9/11)

Human Rights Watch released a report saying that Israel has killed at least 34 Palestinian children in 2023. The report criticized Israel for the killings and the international community for not holding Israel accountable, including by adding Israel to the UN list of countries that have committed grave violations against children during armed conflict. (HRW, WAFA 8/28)

Libyan prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh visited the Palestinian embassy, promising that Libya would not normalize relations with Israel after he suspended foreign minister Najla Mangoush in the aftermath of Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen saying that the 2 had held a meeting in Rome. (HA 8/28)

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smtorich said Israel would not agree to any gestures toward Palestinians as part of a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia. Smotrich also attacked the U.S. for its criticism of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s pro-apartheid comments on 8/23, calling the U.S. hypocritical for preaching human rights to Israel considering “how they operated in Afghanistan and Iraq.” (HA, MEE 8/28)

Israel’s Channel 13 reported that a delegation of Palestinian officials will travel to Saudi Arabia to discuss concessions Israel will have to make to Palestinians in order to convince Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. (TOI 8/28)

Syria said that Israeli airstrikes had put Aleppo Airport out of service. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU 8/28; REU 8/29)

The spokesperson for Papua New Guinean prime minister James Marape told Reuters that Marape will visit Israel next week and open an embassy to Israel in Jerusalem. (TOI 8/27; AJ, REU 8/28)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify, leaving 11 Palestinians, 1 IDF soldier dead and over 200 Palestinians, 1 IDF soldier, 1 American wounded. 8 Palestinians and 1 IDF soldier are killed during a gun battle outside Gush Katif settlement in Gaza; the IDF confirms that the soldier is killed by IDF gunfire, 6 of Palestinians are likely killed by settler gunfire. Nr. Rachel's Tomb, an American photographer is seriously wounded by live ammunition fired by the IDF. The IDF shells an unfinished building al-Bireh, killing 2 Fatah mbrs. The 11th Palestinian is fatally shot at Erez crossing. 3 Palestinians die of injuries received earlier. IDF shelling, heavy machine gun fire is reported in Hebron, Nablus. The IDF clears more Palestinian land in the Rafah area. (LAW, PCHR 11/11; LAW, MEZ, NYT, WP, WT 11/12; MA 11/13 in WNC 11/14; NYT 11/19)

An OIC summit opens in Qatar, focusing on the Palestinian situation. (ATL, MENA, RL 11/11, ATL, AYM, IRNA, MENA 11/12 in WNC 11/13; WP 11/12; HA [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/13; IRNA, MENA, RL 11/13 in WNC 11/14; ATL, AYM 11/13, Iraq News Agency, DUS 11/14 in WNC 11/16; MM, NYT, WP 11/14; MM 11/15, 11/16; WP 11/22; JP, MEI 11/24)

In Rome, 30,000 Italians protest against Israel's "massacre of innocent Palestinians." Similar, smaller rallies are held in Oslo, Stockholm. (ANSA 11/11 in WNC 11/13; IsraelWire [Internet] 11/12, 11/13)

Palestinians observer 4-hr. general strike in West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem. (MM 8/29; CSM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 8/30; MEI 9/6)

To dispel tensions with the PA, Israeli PM Netanyahu dispatches his personal atty. Yitzhak Molho to meet with Arafat in Ramallah; authorizes adviser Gold to meet later in day with Arafat adviser Abbas. Senior Israeli negotiator IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Dan Shomron holds 1-hr. talk with PA counterpart PA Local Government M Saeb Erakat in Jerusalem, agrees to resume PISMC mtgs. next wk. (RMC 8/29 in WNC 8/30; NYT, WP, WT 8/30; MBC 8/30 in WNC 9/4; MM 9/2)

In Rome, Egypt's Baz, Italy's FM Lamberto Dini discuss peace process, 8/27-28 mtgs. in Paris. (RE 8/29 in WNC 9/3)

Israeli government approves construction of 2,000 new housing units in West Bank settlements around Jerusalem. (CSM, WP 8/30)

Deputy Jerusalem Mayor Shmuel Meir says the government has issued demolition orders for 70 Palestinian homes in the city that have been constructed without permits. (YA 8/30 in WNC 9/5; PR 9/6)

Israel blames Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) for shooting at bus 8/28, arrests 1 suspect. (HA 8/29 in IL 8/29)

Jordanian police raid JPD headquarters in Karak, arrest a number of party leaders. (SATN 8/29 in WNC 9/3) (see 8/18)

Hizballah ambushes IDF patrol in s. Lebanon, killing 1 soldier. Both sides then exchange gunfire, wounding 2 Lebanese civilians. (RL 8/29 in WNC 9/3; MM 8/30; QY 8/30 in IL 8/30; JP 9/7)

U.S.-brokered cease-fire goes into effect in n. Iraq. PUK, KDP agree to hold peace talks in London 8/30. (MM 8/29) (see 8/28)

Palestinian delegation announces its consent that UNSC 242 "not be applied in the negotiations in the transitional phase," but insisted that it be applied in the final settlement stage of talks. (ITV 10/23 in FBIS 10/26)

Arab Democratic Party MK 'Abd al-Wahhab Darawsha returns from 2-day visit to Egypt and Tunis, brings with him Chmn. Arafat's offer to meet with PM Rabin "anywhere, any time." (Qol Yisra'el 10/23 in FBIS 10/23; HaAretz 10/25 in FBIS 10/26)

Pope John Paul 11 meets with Israeli FM Shimon Peres at the Vatican, accepts invitation to visit Israel. (NYT 10/24)

Faisal Husseini, other Palestinian officials meet with Vatican FM in Rome. (Algiers VOP 10/25 in FBIS 10/26)

U.S. Senate agriculture comm. releases 11/9/89 message from Secy. of State James Baker to Iraqi FM Tariq Aziz stating approval of grain credits for Iraq, and requesting Pres. Saddam Hussein's help in persuading Palestinians to take part in peace talks with Israel. Allegations that Iraq diverted the credits to purchase weapons are currently being investigated. (NYT 10/26)

U.S. informs Israeli and Arab delegations that bilateral talks will resume 8/28 in Rome. (Al-Quds 7/6 in FBIS 7/7)

MK 'Abd al-Wahhab Darawsha (Arab Democratic Party) expresses desire to be included in Labor coalition, "surprising" Labor negotiators. Darawsha also charges Rabin with racism in continuing the ban on Arab parties participating in govt. Arab parties won 5 seats in the 6/23 elections, and the Arab vote accounted for at least 5 Labor and Meretz seats. (IDF Radio 7/6 in FBIS 7/7; MM 7/7)

New York Times reports Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein has purged 135 military officers in wake of coup attempt that reportedly began 6/29. Washington Post reports at least 140 officers have been executed. (NYT, WP 7/7)

King Hussein flatly denies Iraqi allegations that Jordan was involved in staging 6/29 coup attempt. Jordan has been host to an increased U.S. intelligence contingent monitoring Iraqi actions. (WP 7/7)

Fateh and Hamas distribute leaflet of agreement to end the violence in the Gaza Strip; 2 Palestinians are killed in Gaza Strip as a result of the current violence. (Algiers VOP 7/7 in FBIS 7/8; WP 7/10)

Association for Civil Rights in Israel releases 1991-92; report cites progress, central problems in o.t. still "rampant." (HaAretz 7/7 in FBIS 7/10)

Sec. Baker tells NATO allies he expects Saddam Hussein to take dramatic step, such as partial pullout from Kuwait, just before UN resolution authorizing use of force goes into effect on 1/15. NATO ministers issue statement saying "there can be no partial solutions" [NYT, LAT, WT, WP 12/18; CSM 12/19].

Iraq asks European Community to go ahead with scheduled high-level meeting on 12/20 in Rome between European leaders and Iraqi F.M. Aziz [NYT, WP 12/18].

Fourteen former senior gov't. officials, including former NSC advisers Richard Allen and Robert McFarlane, urge Bush admin. to use military force shortly after 1/15 deadline if Iraq does not leave Kuwait [NYT 12/18].

After meeting with Algeria's Pres. Benjedid in Cairo on efforts to find Arab solution to Gulf crisis, Pres. Mubarak says "we have not yet found a way for a solution" [CDS 12/17 in FBIS 12/18; NYT 12/18]; Pres. Benjedid then travels to Libya, while Jordanian P.M. Mudar Badran goes to Syria in further diplomatic activity [APS, DDS 12/17 in FBIS 12/18; NYT 12/18].

Ishak Mousa Husseini, noted Palestinian writer and teacher who sought to explain Arab history to the West, dies in Jerusalem at age 86 [NYT 12/23; FJ 12/24].

Shmeul Goren, coordinator of gov't. activities in o.t., tells Knesset committee that Gulf crisis has cut in half annual aid of $140 million from Gulf Palestinians to o.t. Palestinians; that o.t. exports have been cut by 50%; and that citrus exports from Gaza have been reduced by 80% [IDF 12/17 in FBIS 12/20].

Senior Jordanian official says Amman has rejected proposal by Israel for bilateral negotiations on water and other territorial disputes, declaring Jordan would enter talks with Israel only in international peace conference on Middle East [MEM 12/18].

Israeli police bar thousands of Palestinians from entering Jerusalem and send hundreds of officers into the Old City to prevent clashes caused by heightened tensions [NYT, LAT, WT, WP, CSM 12/18; FJ 12/24; MET 12/25].

Jerusalem Post reports that the Jewish Agency about a month ago ordered all Agency and World Zionist Organization institutions to stop employing Palestinians from o.t. for "security considerations" [JPD 12/18 in FBIS 12/18; MEM 12/18].