The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 3 Palestinians in Burqa and threw stones at vehicles and homes in the town. Israeli forces closed the main road between Nablus and Qalqilya, impeding Palestinian movement. Israeli forces also leveled 3 dunams (0.75 acres) of land planted with olive trees near Wadi Rahal. 24 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, Ramallah, Huwwara, Qalqilya, Ya‘bad, Yatta, Sa‘ir, and Bani Na‘im. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested during raids. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinians east of Khuza‘a and Maghazi; no injuries were reported. (MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)

The PA announced it had finished its investigation into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, concluding that Israel deliberately killed her. The PA findings are aligned with investigations made by AP and CNN, and with eyewitness accounts. Israel called the PA conclusion “a blatant lie.” The investigation found that the bullet that hit Abu Akleh was a 5.56 mm round used by NATO forces and that it was fired from 186 yards. The PA will not hand over the bullet to Israel, as Israel had requested. The PA handed a copy of its investigation to the U.S. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/26)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas appointed PA minister for civil affairs Hussein al-Sheikh the new secretary-general of the PLO Executive Committee. The position of secretary-general had been vacant since Saeb Erakat passed due to complications from the COVID-19 virus on 11/10/2020. (HA, MEE, WAFA 5/26)

Al Jazeera said it was preparing a file to be sent to the ICC pertaining to the Israeli killing of its journalist Abu Akleh and the Israeli bombing their offices in Gaza in May 2021. (AJ, MEE, REU 5/26; AP, HA 5/27)

The Iraqi parliament approved a law criminalizing the normalization of Israel, with 275 out of 329 votes in favor. The law applied to all Iraqi citizens, state and independent institutions, and foreigners working in Iraq. Violations of the law can be punishable by death sentences or life imprisonment. (AJ, HA, WAFA 5/26; NYT 5/27; MEMO 5/30)

83 Democrats in the U.S. house and senate signed a letter to U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken urging him to intervene against Israeli plans to forcefully displace more than 1,000 Palestinians living in Masafer Yatta, an area Israel has converted into a firing zone. The letter underscored that the Israeli move “could further undermine efforts to reach a two-state solution” and contravenes international law. (ALM, HA 5/26; MDW, MEE, WAFA 5/27; TOI 5/31)

The U.S. company Meta, which operates Facebook, turned down an Israeli request to block a Facebook page Israel claims is “clearly linked to Hamas.” Meta said that the Israeli claim did not hold any merit. (HA 5/26)

Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas heads to New York ahead of the expected 11/29 UNGA vote on a resolution to upgrade the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state. PA officials express optimism about the anticipated level of European support, and also say they do not take seriously threats from Israel that the PA will be punished for pursuing the initiative. The Palestinians circulate a revised draft resolution. Behind the scenes, Israeli and U.S. officials press the Palestinians to tone down the wording of the text (see Quarterly Update in JPS 167 for details). Israeli diplomatic officials now say that Israel’s response to the bid will depend on what Abbas does with the upgraded status. Meanwhile, Hamas leader Mishal telephones Abbas to express Hamas’s support for the bid. (JP, HA, MNA, REU 11/26)

Israeli DM Barak (Independence party) announces he will leave political life after the national elections scheduled for 1/22/13. Likud primaries are held and result in a win for the more hard-line wing of the party, including an almost guaranteed Knesset seat for far-right activist Moshe Feiglin. Mins. Benny Begin, Dan Meridor, and Michael Eitan all fail to make the top 10 places on the party’s slate. (HA, REU, ToI 11/26)

Egyptian mediators begin separate talks with Hamas and Israel about fleshing out and implementing the details of the cease-fire. Palestinian demands reportedly include the opening of more Israeli crossings into the Gaza Strip. (JP, REU 11/26)

In Gaza, 2 Palestinian civilians die from wounds sustained during Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense, raising the comprehensive Palestinian death toll to 164. During the day, the IDF opens fire on Palestinian civilians approaching the border fence nr. Khan Yunis, lightly injuring 1. The IDF also opens fire on Palestinian civilians and farmers staging a march to the border fence e. of Jabalya to protest Israel’s imposition of a ‘‘no-go’’ buffer zone, injuring 2. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, in 1 village nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night; conducts late-night house searches and arrest raids in al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 other village nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Nablus. (MNA 11/26; PCHR 11/29)

Fatah and Hamas officials announce an (unsigned) reconciliation agreement, pledging to form a transitional national unity govt. made up of independent technocrats chosen by consensus that would prioritize planning for legislative and presidential elections within a year (including agreeing on new mbrs. for the Central Elections Commission), rebuilding Gaza, and reunifying West Bank and Gaza institutions. Netanyahu denounces the agreement, saying the PA “must choose between peace with Israel or peace with Hamas.” The PA replies that “Netanyahu must choose between a just peace with the united Palestinian people . . . and settlements.” (IFM, REU 4/27; NYT, WP, WT 4/28; NYT 4/29)

The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level lands and clear lines of sight e. of Dayr al-Balah. In Egypt’s Sinai, a new explosion damages the recently repaired natural gas pipeline to Israel and Jordan, cutting supplies once again. (NYT, PCHR 4/28; OCHA 5/6)