The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, unidentified gunmen opened fire at an Israeli settler vehicle near Qalqilya. Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians with batons, pepper spray, and stone at a spring near Tubas. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a raid in Jericho. Israeli forces also leveled land and uprooted olive trees in Kafl Haris and razed an agricultural road in Zanuta. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters during a raid in Dheisheh refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also demolished a water cistern serving 6 Palestinian families in al-Baqa’a. 16 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Jericho, Tulkarm, Hebron, Ramallah, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the home of Islamic Waqf Department deputy director Najeh Bkeirat in Sur Bahir, detaining him. Israeli forces also demolished a retaining wall in al-Tur and a pergola in Wadi al-Juz. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided Silwan, damaging a house and causing tear-gas related injuries. (QDS, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/12; MEE, PCHR, WAFA 7/13; BTselem 7/19; UNOCHA 7/29)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas visited Jenin for the first time in 12 years, giving a speech in Jenin refugee camp. Abbas praised the steadfastness of the Jenin residents in light of Israel’s attacks. The visit followed Israel’s large-scale attack on Jenin refugee camp on 7/3 and 7/4. Around 1,000 PA troops secured the area for Abbas. Abbas also canceled a meeting with representatives of different Palestinian factions without giving a reason. (AJ, ALM, AN, AP, BBC, HA, MEE, NYT, QDS, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 7/12; MEE 7/13; MDW 7/14)

2 Israeli settlers, including an off-duty soldier, were charged with terrorism, 1 for vandalizing a mosque in ‘Urif and the other for placing a chair in front of the door of a Palestinian home in Umm Safa and setting the chair on fire. Both incidents occurred in June. (AJ, HA, REU, TOI 7/12)

In Lebanon, Israeli forces opened fire at people approaching the border fence to Israel near Metula; 3 members of Hezbollah were said to be injured. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA, HA, MEE, REU 7/12; HA 7/13)

Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant visited Azerbaijan, discussing strategic, diplomatic, and security ties with President Ilham Aliyev, Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, and other officials. (ALM 7/12; HA 7/13; ALM 7/14)

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) said she would not attend Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress, citing Israel’s ban on Omar and representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) from entering Israel and Palestine in 2019, Israel’s increase in its killing of Palestinians in the West Bank, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement that he wants to crush Palestinians’ hope of statehood. Later on 7/13 and 7/14, Omar was joined in her boycott by Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Cori Bush (D-MO). Omar and Bowman also boycotted a speech by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in June. (AX, HA, HA, MEE 7/13; HA, MEE 7/14; HA 7/15; WAFA 7/16)

A U.S. national security council spokesperson said that “[t]here is no talk of some kind of formal reassessment. The United States and Israel share a special bond, and our enduring commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad.” The statement followed a New York Times column by Thomas Friedman, who said a U.S. reassessment of its ties to Israel was inevitable. (NYT 7/11; HA, HA 7/12)

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler was killed near the Hermesh settlement; the Al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigades took responsibility, calling it revenge for Israeli attacks on the organization. Israeli forces subsequently closed multiple checkpoints in and around Tulkarm. Israeli settlers raided Jalud, throwing stones and attempting to set fire to a house. When Israeli forces showed up, they violently dispersed Palestinian protesters, injuring 3 with baton rounds. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian-owned vehicles traveling near Yasuf and Ya’bad. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers erected tents near Deir Istiya. Israeli settlers also vandalized Palestinian-owned vehicles near the Homesh settlement outpost. Israeli forces raided Askar refugee camp, injuring 1 with a baton round and 44 with tear gas. Israeli forces seized 2 bulldozers and 1 tractor in al-Walaja. Israeli forces also issued stop-work orders for 2 homes and 1 water well in the Masafer Yatta area and 8 stop-work orders for homes in Deir Balut. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided a school in Huwwara, causing tear-gas related injuries. 2 Palestinian minors were arrested during a raid in Silwad. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers, led by former MK Yehuda Glick, toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions and leveled land east of Gaza City. In the Naqab, Israeli forces demolished al-Araqib village for the 217th time since 2010. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/30; HA, WAFA, WAFA 5/31; HA, PCHR 6/1; UNOCHA 6/2)

Israel renewed the ban preventing the PA’s Jerusalem governor Adnan Ghaith from entering the West bank and contacting other PA officials. (WAFA 5/30)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with Egyptian intelligence head Abbas Kamal in Cairo to discuss measures to help Palestinians living in Gaza. (WAFA 5/30)

Israeli national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi told Army Radio that normalization with Saudi Arabia depends on what the U.S. “is willing to pay for a deal.” Regarding reporting that Saudi Arabia wants a nuclear program in return for normalization, Hanegbi said that the “Americans will not advance on this issue with the Saudis without being in close contact with us.” (MEE, REU 5/30; HA 5/31; MEE 6/5; ALM 6/6)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog arrived in Azerbaijan for meetings with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku. Herzog also attended an event celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary. (MEE 5/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian and injured 4 others during a raid in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, including at least 2 who were fleeing the Israeli soldiers. Israeli forces also shot and injured 3 Palestinians with baton rounds and 10 with tear gas during a raid in Qarawat Bani Hassan. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided Deir Abu Mash‘al and al-Walaja, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also issued demolition notices for 2 residential structures, brick walls, a roof, and a bathroom in Khirbet Humsa and 1 agricultural structure in ‘Ain as-Sakout, and seized a bulldozer near Qalqilya. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hebron, Surif, Ya’bad, Kafr Qoud, Nablus, and Tammun. In East Jerusalem, 4 Israeli settlers were injured in a car ramming and 1 Palestinian man was shot and killed by an Israeli settler after he allegedly hit the 4 with his car. Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli police assaulted worshippers at the Haram al-Sharif compound’s Bab al-Rahma prayer area and cut electricity to building. 2 Palestinians were arrested in Sur Baher. (AJ, AN, AP, BBC, HA, HA, IN, MEE, QDS, QDS, QDS, QDS, QDS, QDS, REU, REU, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/24; HA, WAFA 4/25; PCHR 4/27; UNOCHA 5/5)

The PA Foreign Ministry condemned the 3-day long Israeli blockades of Jericho and the Nablus area coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr celebrations. (WAFA, WAFA 4/24)

In Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Israeli forces fired more than 20 artillery shells near Hader in Quneitra, allegedly targeting Iranian supported militants. (AA, ALM, HA 4/24)

Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen said that Israel Aerospace Industries had sold 2 satellites to Azerbaijan coinciding with his recent trip to Baku. (ALM 4/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 80 olive tree saplings in Yasuf. Israeli settlers also raided Huwwara, throwing stones at Palestinians and their property, injuring 4 and causing damage. During the raid, Israeli settlers and soldiers were filmed dancing together on the street. Israeli forces shot and injured 4 Palestinians with live ammunition during a raid in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished 4 residential structures in Shaab al-Butum, displacing 40 Palestinians and issued stop-work orders for 3 homes and 11 agricultural structures in al-Zawyeh. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 3 Palestinian homes in Wadi al-Juz, displacing 20 Palestinians. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/6; AJ, HA, MEE 3/7; PCHR 3/9; UNOCHA 3/19)

Haaretz reported that since 2016 planes from Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Airlines have landed at the Israeli Ovda airbase 92 times. It was reported that Israel has been selling arms to Azerbaijan in exchange for the Mossad being allowed to set up a base in the country and Israel receiving oil. (HA 3/6; ALM 3/7)

All crossings to the West Bank and Gaza were closed from 5:00 p.m. by Israel for the Purim holiday. The crossings will reopen on 3/8. (HA 3/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces closed off large parts of Hebron to Palestinians, including forcing Palestinians to close their shops in the Bab al-Zawyeh area to allow Israeli settlers to tour it. Israeli forces also seized an excavator in Burin. 7 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Burqin, and Deir Ghasana, 1 was arrested at a checkpoint near al-Khader, and 1 was arrested at the entrance to Zabbuba. In East Jerusalem, nearly 1,700 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound on the Jewish holiday Tisha B’Av, drawing criticism from the Israeli governing party the United Arab List, the PA, Hamas, the EU, and Jordan. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters on and around the Haram al-Sharif compound who were expressing anger over the settler incursion, causing injuries and 5 arrests. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEMO, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/18; MEMO, MEMO 7/19; PCHR 7/29)

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt was open for 1 day. (MEMO, WAFA 7/19)

In a statement after the Israeli settlers had toured the Haram al-Sharif compound, Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said the Israeli security forces had preserved “freedom of worship for Jews on the Mound [the Haram al-Sharif compound],” a significant departure from the status quo of the Holy Sites and a 1st from an Israeli prime minister. Under the status quo agreement, only Muslims have the right to worship on the Haram al-Sharif compound. 1 day later, Prime Minister Bennett clarified that the wording was a mistake and that he meant “visit” rather than “worship.” (HA, MEMO 7/18; AP, HA, JP, WAFA 7/19)

The Israeli high court of justice rejected a petition from Peace Now to stop the transfer of Israeli public funds to the Amana movement, which funds and builds unauthorized constructions in Israeli settlements and settlement outposts. (HA 7/19)

Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid said that the Israeli government would examine the diplomatic ramifications of the demolition and eviction of the bedouin community Khan al-Ahmar. (HA 7/18; MEMO 7/19)

The PFLP-GC said it had elected a new leader, Talal Naji, to replace Ahmed Jibril who died on 7/7 after months of sickness. (AP, HA 7/18)

17 news outlets published a Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International investigation based on a leak of more than 50,000 records of phone numbers, which had been targeted for surveillance with Pegasus spyware from the Israeli spyware company NSO Group’s clients. The investigation found that at least 180 journalists from 21 countries had been targeted by 12 NSO Group clients, including the governments of Bahrain, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, India, the UAE, Mexico, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Togo, and Rwanda. The investigation also found that heads of governments, including Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan, France’s president Emmanuel Macron, and Morocco’s king Mohammed VI, were among possible victims. Furthermore, the investigation showed that Pegasus spyware was installed on Saudi dissent journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée’s phone and that his son had been listed for targeting before Khashoggi was murdered by special forces in Saudi’s embassy in Istanbul on 10/2/2018. Charges against NSO Group that its spyware was used against Khashoggi have been denied by the company. The Israeli government approves all sales of spyware from NSO Group to potential clients. Amazon subsequently said it had shut down its servers used by NSO Group. The investigation comes as a different investigation into another Israeli spyware company Candiru was released on 7/15. Later, after the Forbidden Stories investigation was published and with international criticism mounting, the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defense committee chairman Ram Ben Barak on 7/22 said that his committee would review the process of granting licenses to export spyware to other countries. France and Luxembourg said they would start investigations into the Israeli-made spyware. (NYT 7/17; AI, AJ, F24, GDN, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, NYT 7/18; AJ, ALM, AP, GDN, MEE, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, NPR, REU, REU 7/19; AJ, ALM, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, MEE, REU 7/20; AJ, AP, HA, HA, MEE, MEE, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, REU, REU, REU 7/21; AJ, ALM, BBC, HA, HA, HA, HA, MEE, MEE 7/22; HA, MEE, MEE 7/23; CNN, HILL 7/25)

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore; they detain and confiscate 1 fishing boat and arrest 1 fisherman. Later in the day, Israeli naval vessels fire on another group of fishing boats, forcing them to flee, damaging 1 boat, and confiscating 5 trawling nets. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm in the morning; patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon (firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries); conducts late-night patrols in Nur al-Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm; and conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Israel’s Jerusalem planning comm. approves plans for the right-wing settler group Elad to build a new archeological tourism center in Silwan, East Jerusalem in the Western Wall yard opposite al-Aqsa Mosque. The complex will include offices, museum and conference space, an underground car park, and 2 underground “archeological tunnels” that will run north under the Mughrabi gate and south under the area housing the Umayyad Caliphate palaces (which Israel calls the Temple of Solomon). (JP 2/14; WT 2/15; PCHR 2/16; OCHA 2/17)

Three Iranians are arrested as they flee a mysterious explosion in their Bangkok apartment. One of the men throws grenades at a taxi that refuses to stop for him and at approaching police, seriously injuring himself only. The 2d man is arrested at Bangkok airport attempting to leave the country. The 3d makes it out of Thailand but is detained when he lands in Malaysia. Israel and the U.S. suspect the bombings are linked to the 2/13 Indian and Georgian attacks and earlier incidents in Thailand (see 1/13) and Azerbaijan (see 1/24), but they have no evidence the men were plotting against Israeli or Jewish targets. Thai police and outside experts doubt, but do not rule out, an Israeli connection, saying the operation was very amateurish and the men could have been arms runners or involved in other illegal activity in Bangkok. (NYT, WP 2/15; WP, WT 2/16)

In a State of the Union address devoted to domestic affairs, Pres. Obama pointedly calls on Syrian pres. Asad to realize “that the forces of change cannot be reversed and that human dignity cannot be denied” and urges the international community to “isolate” his regime. He also stresses that the U.S. will not take any options (i.e., a military strike) off the table in dealing with Iran and emphasizes “our ironclad commitment—and I mean ironclad—to Israel’s security.” (NYT, WP, WT 1/25; WJW 2/2)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. the Erez crossing fire warning shots and tear gas at a group of Palestinians and international activists staging a nonviolent march to the crossing to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone; no serious injuries are reported. With a sharp increase in the number of Gazans seeking to exit to Egypt through the Rafah border, the Gaza Interior Min. reimposes requirements (lifted on 12/18/11) that Gazans register with the ministry before traveling. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 8 Palestinian homes in Anata village nr. East Jerusalem, displacing 52 Palestinians, including 29 children; escorts 100s of Jewish settlers to pray at Joseph’s tomb in Balata village nr. Nablus; patrols in 1 village nr. Salfit in the morning, briefly detaining several Palestinian for questioning; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and Nablus. (JP 1/24; PCHR 1/26; OCHA 1/27)

After a long delay, Hamas authorities in Gaza allow the Central Elections Commission to open a voter registration office in Gaza to prepare for eventual elections in implementation of the 5/2010 national unity deal. (WP 1/25)

Jordan says King Abdallah will receive Hamas leader Mishal on 1/29, when he makes his 1st official visit to Jordan in 13 yrs. Officials say that the kingdom will continue to bar Hamas for undertaking political activities on its soil. Analysts view this as: (1) Jordan trying to take a more active diplomatic role and say reopening diplomatic ties with Hamas could be a step toward trying to broker reconciliation btwn. Hamas and Fatah (WP 1/25); and (2) the king engaging with Islamists, who have gained strength regionally during the Arab Spring, to quiet Jordan’s own Islamist opposition. (WP, WT 1/25)

Police in Azerbaijan arrest several people allegedly linked to an Iranian-backed Hizballah cell for plotting an attack against Israeli amb. to Azerbaijan Michael Lotem and on a Jewish school in Baku. (JPI 2/3; NHR 2/21)

A Lebanese court sentences fmr. brig. gen. Fayiz Karam to 2 yrs. in jail (including time served) for giving classified information to Israel. Karam, jailed in mid-2009, will be released in 6 mos. (NYT 1/25)

The IDF lifts the sealing of the territories imposed on 2/10, but maintains curfews in many areas; fires on a group of Palestinians allegedly attempting to plant a roadside bomb nr. Netzarim settlement, killing 2 or 3, capturing 1; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian in a separate incident nr. Netzarim; kills 2 Palestinians during a demolition operation in Rafah; conducts massive arrest raids targeting Islamic Jihad, Hamas in Jenin, Qalqilya, Tulkarm; raids the Jenin courthouse, arresting 2 Palestinians. (HA 2/13; PCHR 2/20)

A delegation of 50 senior American Jewish leaders (including Council of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations [CPMAJO] exec. vice dir. Malcolm Hoenlein, fmr. CPMAJO chmn. Ron Lauder), accompanied by 2 reps. of Sharon, meets in Almaty with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, as well as senior ministers fr. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the regional senior execs. of U.S. energy companies. Israeli diplomats serving in the region also take part. The Jewish delegation says that its aim is to “begin a dialog of civilizations” with Muslim leaders to head off a “clash of civilizations”; that it is bringing messages of support from. Bush, Powell, Sharon; that Bush has been “personally involved and supportive in preparations for this mission.” Hoenlein notes that CPMAJO made a similar trip to Uzbekistan in 1996 that led to the establishment of Israeli-Uzbek diplomatic relations in 1997, noting that “sometimes we can have access in places before the Israeli government.” (HA 2/13; see also HA 2/12)

In Gaza, an IDF jeep intercepts a car bomb, absorbing the blast before it can ram a settler school bus. IDF seals the Gaza Strip. Hamas claims responsibility. PA places Shaykh Yasin under house arrest, detains more than 100 alleged Hamas activists. (MM 10/29; AFP, IDF Radio 10/29 in WNC 10/30; ITV, JTV, QY 10/29 in WNC 11/2; MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 10/30; SA 10/30, JT 10/31, al-Ahram 11/2 in WNC 11/6; NYT 10/31; PR 11/6; JP 11/9; MEI 11/16)

In Ankara, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, U.S., Uzbekistan sign a "political declaration of support" for construction of a Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. (Interfax 10/29 in WNC 11/2; MM 11/6) (see 10/22)