The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with a military escort raided Qusra, injuring 8 Palestinians, including 2 by stones thrown by settlers and 6 by baton rounds fired by Israeli forces. Israeli settlers also assaulted 2 Palestinian shepherds with sticks near al-Mughayyir. Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinians with baton rounds during a raid in Kafr Qaddum. In East Jerusalem, Israel forced 1 Palestinian family to demolish part of their own home in Jabel Mukaber. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of Gaza City, injuring 1 with a baton round. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/2; WAFA 9/3; PCHR 9/7; UNOCHA 9/11)

In Tel Aviv, Israeli forces violently dispersed Eritrean refugees protesting at the Eritrean embassy injuring 15 with live ammunition and baton rounds and dozens of others with tear gas. Most of the 52 people Israel arrested were placed on administrative detention. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the “immediate deportation of those who took part” in the violence during the protest. UNHCR expressed concern about the placement of the Eritrean refugees in administrative detention. (AJ, HA, REU 9/2; AJ, HA, NYT 9/3; ALM, BBC 9/4; AJ, AJ, HA 9/6; HA, HA 9/7)

The Israeli Defense Ministry requested the purchase of 25 F-35 fighter jets worth $3 billion from the U.S., which will be financed by U.S. military aid. (TOI 9/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked 1 Israeli activist trying help Palestinians who had complained about the settlers encroaching on their privately-owned land; a video of the incident shows 1 settler beating the Israeli activist with a club. Israeli settlers also attacked 1 Palestinian woman and her child in Hebron. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers assaulted the mayor of Sabastiyya after he intervened as they were harassing a Palestinian minor; nearby Israeli forces did not intervene. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man and injured his wife as they were stopped at a flying checkpoint in Bir Nabala. Israeli forces claimed that the 2 had tried to ram the soldier; however, the injured wife said they had come to a complete stop and turned off the ignition until the solders motioned for them to proceed when the soldiers opened fire. Israeli forces also clashed with Palestinians who attended the funeral for the Palestinian man killed in Bir Nabala earlier in the day. 5 Palestinians were arrested in and around Bethlehem, Bayt Umar, and Tulkarm; including 1 Palestinian candidate for the upcoming elections. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided a hotel in Shaykh Jarrah, where Palestinians were discussing the upcoming elections; 2 Palestinians were arrested. Israeli forces later summoned 2 Palestinian candidates of the upcoming elections for questioning. (AJ, AP, HA, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/6; WAFA, WAFA 4/7; HA, MEMO, PCHR, TOI 4/8; PCHR 4/10; HA 4/11; HA, PCHR 4/15; AP 4/23)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz said that Israel will not interfere in the Palestinian elections but will not be working with Hamas if the party gains more influence. Defense Minister Gantz’s statement is contradicted by Haaretz, reporting that the Shin Bet director threated PA president Mahmoud Abbas to cancel the elections and that Israel has been arresting Palestinian candidates it does not want to see in the Palestinian parliament. (HA 4/6)

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin picked Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be the 1st to try to form a government. President Rivlin said that none of the candidates had a real chance of forming a government but that he had picked Netanyahu because he had received the most endorsements. Netanyahu’s mandate to form a government ends after 28 days. (AJ, ALM, AP, AX, HA 4/6; ALM 4/7)

An Iranian cargo ship was hit by a limpet mine in the Red Sea between Yemen and Eritrea. According to the New York Times, the ship was deployed as a military ship for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to combat pirates in the area. The New York Times also reported that Israeli officials had notified U.S. officials that they would carry out the attack on the Iranian ship prior to the explosion. (NYT, REU 4/6; ALM, AP, AX, HA, REU 4/7; AP, HA, HA 4/8)

The U.S. said that indirect talks between it and Iran, mediated by the EU and Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signatories, had been constructive and would resume on 4/9. (AJ, REU 4/6)

With the completion of a section of the separation wall bordering Shu’fat r.c. in East Jerusalem, the IDF closes its Shu’fat checkpoint into Jerusalem and redirects traffic to a new modern checkpoint (begun in 2009 to serve as a future international crossing into Jerusalem). The move leaves more than 50,000 Palestinians living in Shu’fat r.c. and several surrounding Jerusalem suburbs (Ras Shihada, Ras Khamis, al-Salam, and part of ‘Anata) who hold Jerusalem IDs completely isolated fr. Jerusalem. In the West Bank, the IDF clashes with mourners taking part in the funeral for Palestinian activist Mustafa Tamimi (see 12/10), causing no serious injuries; conducts daytime patrols in 3 villages nr. Salfit, 2 nr. Qalqilya, and 1 nr. Jenin; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, in Bethlehem, and in Tulkarm; conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya. (PCHR 12/12, 12/15; OCHA 12/16; JPI 12/23)

The Israeli cabinet unanimously approves $160 m. for the next stage of construction of the security fence along the border with Egypt, expansion of detention centers, and increased policing of companies that hire illegal workers. Since 1/2006, nearly 50,000 illegal workers, mostly fr. Eritrea and Sudan, have entered Israel via the Sinai, raising concerns among Israelis that the mounting influx of illegal African workers could undermine Israel’s Jewish character. (NYT, WP 12/12)

PM Netanyahu appoints current Infrastructures M Sharon as FM and chief negotiator with the Palestinians to head upcoming Washington talks, final status negotiations. He also keeps his position as infrastructures M. (MM 10/9; ITV, RMC 10/9, JT, MENA, al-Nahar, al-Ra'i 10/10, al-Akhbar, Petra-JNA, al-Ra'i, VOA 10/11 in WNC 10/14; NYT, WP, WT 10/10; WT 10/11; MM 10/12; CSM 10/14; MM, WJW 10/15; MEI, PR 10/16; MA 10/16 in WNC 10/19; JP 10/17, 10/29) (see 10/8)

In Ankara, Iranian FM Kharrazi discusses Turkish-Syrian tensions with Turkish FM Cem, then phones Egyptian FM Musa to brief him on his mediation efforts. (IRIB Television, IRNA, MENA, SANA 10/9 in WNC 10/14; IRNA 10/15 in WNC 10/16)

Yemen, Eritrea accept ruling of a London-based international arbitration panel that Eritrea should return most islands in the disputed Red Sea Hanish Archipelago that it occupied in 1995. (MM 10/12; JT 10/13 in WNC 10/14)

In continuing clashes in Hebron, 32 Palestinians are wounded by rubber bullets fired by the IDF. (NYT 10/10)

A Palestinian stabs to death an IDF soldier as she gets off a bus in Tomer settlement nr. Jericho. (MM 10/9; NYT, WP 10/10; PR 10/16)

A Palestinian woman dies of complications during labor when the IDF refuses to let her through a checkpoint to reach the Hebron hospital due to the ongoing closure. (PR 10/16) (see 9/22)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Jerusalem press conference, staff and student representatives of West Bank universities condemn closure of Najah Nat'l. U. (since 7/30/84). Military orders ban Gaza table tennis tournament (scheduled for 9/21).

Arab World: Portuguese & Eritrean labor delegations visit Chrmn. Arafat at Tunis HQ. PDR Yemen leader Ali Nasser Mohammed arrives in Damascus for talks with officials on PLO-Syria reconciliation.

Other Countries: Israel announces appointment of Benjamin Netanyahu as its amb. to UN.

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: 2nd anniversay of massacres at Sabra and Shatila camps; Israeli troops respond with tear gas to demonstrations in Jalazoun and Dheisheh camps. Israeli bus ambushed near Bethlehem, 5 Israelis, 2 Palestinians in nearby car injured; police search, impose curfew on Dheisheh camp & al-Khidr village. Arab World: IDF position near Jezzine shelled by Katyushas fired from south of Awali River.