The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with a military escort raided al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya, vandalizing property. Israeli settlers also erected vending stalls on a highway near al-Farisiya. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers stole 14 Palestinian-owned sheep in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli forces issued demolition notices for a residential structure near Tubas and 3 homes in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a raid in Kafr Dan; 4 were arrested. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians during a raid in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound; some settlers were seen openly praying on the compound. In Umm al-Fahm, Israeli authorities demolished several Palestinian-owned agricultural structures. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/7; PCHR, WAFA 6/8; UNOCHA 6/18)

An Israeli bulldozer nearly plowed into a Lebanese protester before UNIFIL soldiers convinced the Israeli soldier manning to bulldozer to move back. Israeli forces have been working on constructing a barrier in the area south of Kfar Chouba near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. (AP, HA 6/9)

Fatah deputy chairperson Mahmud Aloul told reporters that Fatah’s decline in popularity is linked to the party’s inability to deliver on promises made when Fatah adopted a peaceful resistance. Aloul also said he would not seek to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as Fatah chairperson, saying the party needs someone from the younger generation. (ALM, QDS 6/7; ALM 6/10)

U.S. special representative for Palestinian affairs Hady Amr met with members of the family of the 2-year-old boy Israeli forces shot on 6/1 and who succumbed to his wounds on 6/5. On 6/6, Amr’s office called on the Israeli government to “evaluate all use of deadly force that involves civilian casualties.” Amr also met with PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh. (TOI, WAFA 6/7; WAFA 6/8)

Israeli national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi met with Moroccan officials, including Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, in Rabat, discussing possible Israeli recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. In return for recognition of sovereignty Morocco is reportedly willing to upgrade the 2 countries’ diplomatic missions to embassies and enter a free-trade agreement. (ALM, HA, MEE, REU, TOI 6/7; HA, MEE, REU 6/8; ALM 6/10; HA 6/11)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. According to a U.S. official, the 2 discussed Israel normalization, Yemen, Sudan, and human rights. Blinken also met with Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and GCC ministers at a GCC ministerial meeting in Riyadh. The GCC nations and the U.S. issued a joint statement after the meeting calling for a “2-state solution along 1967 borders with mutually agreed swaps consistent with internationally recognized parameters and the Arab Peace Initiative.” Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh and bin Salman met with Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro a day prior to Blinken’s meetings. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, TOI 6/7; DoS, NYT, REU 6/8; NYT 6/10)

U.S. pres Obama calls Israeli PM Netanyahu to congratulate him on the election results, the 1st foreign leader to do so. Obama tells Netanyahu that he looks forward to working closely with Israel on a ‘‘shared agenda for peace and security in the Middle East.’’ (HA 1/28)

The IDF opens fire on unidentified gunmen attempting to cross the IsraelEgypt border fence, injuring 2 who escape. (JP 1/28)

In East Jerusalem, IDF soldiers demolish 4 buildings and level land in the Silwan neigborhood, sparking clashes with residents. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and 1 village nr. Salfit at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron, Nablus, and 1 village each nr. Hebron and Jenin at night. (MNA 1/28; PCHR 1/31)

Israeli human rights group B’Tselem publishes a report condemning what it calls the illegal use of deadly force by IDF soldiers that has resulted in the killing of 56 Palestinians in clashes since 2005. (REU 1/28)

Islamic Jihad Khalid al-Batsh, a representative of the Public Freedoms Comm. established by Fatah and Hamas to help the national reconciliation process, says that Hamas authorities have agreed to free recently detained Fatahaffiliated journalists. (MNA 1/28)