The Palestine Chronology

An IDF aircraft fires 2 missiles at a well in Bayt Hanun, destroying it. Around 40 Jewish settlers fr. Tal Yam outpost in Gaza (see 6/27) chanting “Death to Arabs” occupy 2 Palestinian homes in al-Mawasi, throw stones at Palestinians and IDF soldiers nearby, severely beat 1 Palestinian in what observers describe as a near lynching (the incident, caught on video by an Israeli cameraman, is described by Sharon on 6/30 as “a barbaric, wild, and heartless act”); an Israeli reporter pulls the critically injured Palestinian to safety; the IDF arrests the settlers, evicts them fr. the area. The IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding 2 Palestinians; raids, occupies 2 Palestinian homes in al-Til as observation posts; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c. and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm. The AMB, Islamic Jihad, the PRCs take joint responsibility for firing 2 mortars at Netzarim, causing no damage or injuries. During the day, Palestinians fire 10s of rockets, at least 1 mortar at Gaza settlements, lightly injuring 1 foreign worker in Gush Katif. Israeli police arrest around 150 Israeli disengagement protesters who attempt to block roads across Israel during rush hour, causing limited tie-ups. (AFP, XIN 6/29; VOI 6/29 in WNC 6/30; BBC, PCHR, Palestine News Network, WP, XIN 6/30; HA 7/2; JP 7/2 in WNC 7/3; UPI, YA 7/3; NYT 7/5; OCHA, PR 7/6; PCHR 7/7; NYT 7/15)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device nr. an IDF base nr. Gush Katif Junction in s. Gaza, killing 1 Shin Bet officer, wounding 7 IDF soldiers. IDF soldiers angry over the bombing fire on Palestinians waiting to cross the nearby Abu Huli and al-Mahatin checkpoints, wounding 2, denying them medical treatment, only allowing them to leave the area to seek treatment after 2 hrs. The IDF makes a late-night incursion into Nablus, arrests 13 Hamas mbrs., destroys 2 Palestinian homes; fires on residential areas nr. the n. Gaza border and in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, nr. Gaza City, nr. Ramallah. Islamic Jihad fires 2 rockets at Netzarim settlements and detonates a roadside bomb by an IDF patrol in Bayt Hanun, causing no damage or injuries. The PRCs fire 2 rockets at Netzarim, causing no damage or injuries. An Israeli teenager injured in a Qassam attack on 1/15 dies. (JAZ, VOI,. XIN 1/18, MA, VOI 1/19 in WNC 1/20; AP, HA, MM, NYT 1/19; WP 1/20; PCHR 1/27)

Abbas arrives in Gaza for several days of consultations, meets with faction leaders, security heads there. Abbas meets with Hamas leaders to urge them to halt attacks on Israeli targets. (JAZ 1/18 in WNC 1/20; MM, NYT, UPI, WT 1/19; PR 1/20)

The IDF blocks a main road to Gaza City that runs nr. Netzarim settlement, fires a tank shell at a taxi that tries to circumvent the roadblock, killing the Palestinian driver; confiscates 600 d. fr. the villages of Surif and Jaba n. of Hebron for separation wall construction; demolishes a Palestinian home, raids 2 charitable societies in Hebron. The Fatah Hawks, Islamic Jihad gunmen attack an IDF patrol at Gaza’s Kissufim crossing, wounding 4 IDF soldiers, 1 Israeli civilian. Palestinians also fire a mortar at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. The AMB executes a Palestinian collaborator in Ramallah. (HA 12/15; NYT, PCHR 12/16; VOP 12/16 in WNC 12/18; PCHR 12/23)

Early this morning, Arafat, Peres wrap up talks, and Barak announces that the sides have agreed to try again to implement the 10/17 Sharm al-Shaykh arrangements. The Israeli cabinet suspends punitive attacks on Palestinian targets. Differences quickly arise, however, over plans for Arafat, Barak to issue statements on ending the violence. As the sides discuss how to resolve their differences, 2 Islamic Jihad activists detonated a car bomb in West Jerusalem, killing 2 Israelis, wounding 9. (AFP [Internet], MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 11/2; ATL, Interfax, MENA, XIN 11/2 in WNC 11/3; ATL, Cyprus News Agency 11/2, MENA, al-Quds 11/4, al-Quds 11/5 in WNC 11/6; JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/3; MM 11/6; MEI 11/10)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 2 Palestinians dead, 80 wounded. Nr. Nablus, Jewish settlers uproot a Palestinian olive grove; attack Palestinian cars and property around Hawwara, Hebron, Tulkarm. The IDF confiscates and levels 70 dunams of Palestinian land to build a road linking Morag, Gush Katif settlements. However, Israel acknowledges that PA police are making more of an effort to halt stone throwers; Arafat unequivocally denounces the Islamic Jihad bombing; and Barak phones Arafat to express condolences over today's Palestinian fatalities. In Gaza, the IDF evacuates a position linking Qarni to Netzarim settlement, pulls tanks back fr. main roads. (AFP [Internet], MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 11/2; JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/3; MEI 11/10)

While in New York, Israel's Ben-Ami (promoted to FM today) reportedly sets up a public relations (PR) headquarters to aid in Israel's PR efforts in the North America. The office head, fmr. IBA dir. gen. Aryeh Mekel, will coordinate among the FMin.'s PR dept., a special steering comm. of senior officials of U.S. Jewish organizations, and 6 major U.S. PR firms that have been contracted. (MA [Internet] 11/8; HA [Internet] 11/13)

Israel begins reviewing a project for 4,000 new housing units in Har Homa settlement (Jabal Abu Ghunaym) in East Jerusalem. If approved, the site would be known as Har Homa B, would link Har Homa with Gilo settlement. (al-Quds 11/2 in WNC 11/3; LAW 11/4)