The Palestine Chronology

In the morning, a closed military memorial service for Arafat is held on a military base outside Cairo. The Palestinian leadership, Arafat’s family, Egyptian envoy Omar Sulayman then escort Arafat’s body by helicopter to Ramallah, where 10,000s of grieving Palestinians overrun the Muqata in an attempt to observe his sunset funeral. Israel executes Operation New Leaf–the Day After to step up Israeli security but ensure that “Palestinians’ dignity is preserved” for3days of mourning: declares a state of emergency, seals the occupied territories until 11/16, pulls out of all West Bank population centers, reinforces the troop presence surrounding Ramallah and leading to Jerusalem, facilitates West Bank Palestinians’ access to Ramallah for the funeral, allows PA security officers to carry weapons for the 3-day mourning period in order to maintain crowd control. The only reported violence of the day is in Rafah, where the IDF fires on, shells residential areas. Meanwhile, massive symbolic funerals are held in Gaza, with (as in the West Bank) the full participation of all political groups, including Hamas. (BBC, CNN, WT 11/12; ATL, DS, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, JAZ, JT, MENA, MNR, al-Ra’i, VOI, VOP 11/12 in WNC 11/16; NYT, WP, WT 11/13; HA, MM, PR 11/15; DS 11/17; PCHR 11/18)

The IDF assassinates Hamas leader Rantisi, firing 2 missiles at his car as he drives through Gaza City, also killing his bodyguards Akram Nassar and Ahmad Ghurra, wounding 4 bystanders. 10,000s of Palestinians throughout the West Bank, Gaza take to the streets to protest. Hamas vows retaliation, says it has appointed Rantisi’s replacement but will not identify him for security reasons. (Senior spokesman Mahmud Zahar, senior political leader Ismail Haniyeh are considered the likely successors.) The IDF strike comes hrs. after a Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device inside the Erez Industrial Zone in Gaza, killing an Israeli border policeman, injuring 3; the AMB, Hamas claim joint responsibility. IDF undercover units raid Hebron and capture, beat, arrest an Arab Bank employee. The IDF also seals all West Bank and Gaza crossings except the Rafah checkpoint; tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement throughout the territories; fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays too close to a Jewish settlement nr. Gaza City; denies passage to a Palestinian who suffers a heart attack at a Nablus checkpoint, allowing him to die; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, cutting some electricity, seriously injuring a 9-yr.-old girl inside her home and 6 others elsewhere; fires on, shells residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, Tulkarm (seriously injuring a 5-yr.-old girl); fires on residential areas nr. Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dayr al-Balah, Jenin; bulldozes 6 dunams of land in Bayt Hanun. (HA, MA, REU 4/17; AFP, MENA, MNR, PSCT, VOP 4/17, AFP, ATL, HA, IRNA, JP, LBC, MENA, MNR, al-Quds, VOP, YA 4/18 in WNC 4/20; NYT, WP, WT 4/18; CSM, MM 4/19; ITAR-TASS 4/19 in WNC 4/21; DUS, al-Ra’i 4/19, JT 4/20 in WNC 4/22; AYM 4/19, al-Quds, SA 4/21 in WNC 4/23; MM, PR 4/21; PCHR 4/22; WP 4/25; MEI 4/30)

The IDF assassinates Hamas spiritual leader and founder Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, firing 3 internationally banned flechette missiles at him as he leaves a Gaza City mosque after morning prayers, also killing 3 bodyguards, 4 bystanders, wounding at least 17 Palestinians, including Yasin’s 2 sons. Immediately, 100,000s of Palestinians take to the streets throughout the territories to protest the assassination. The IDF seals Gaza; clashes with Palestinian demonstrators in Balata r.c. (killing an al-Najah Radio correspondent in Balata r.c., apparently thinking his mobile phone was a weapon), Bethlehem, Dayr al-Balah, Hebron (fatally shooting 1 Palestinian watching fr. his balcony), Jenin, Khan Yunis (killing 3 Palestinians), Nablus; fires on residential areas of Rafah, Qalqilya, Tal Zu’rub; imposes a curfew on areas around Jenin, fires on residential areas; temporarily occupies a Palestinian home as an IDF post nr. Dayr al-Balah. 100s of Palestinian youths in East Jerusalem gather at checkpoints to throw stones at IDF soldiers; Palestinian prisoners in 2 Israeli jails riot. Palestinians fire Qassam rockets, mortars, antitank rockets at Gush Katif and Netzarim settlements, nearby IDF posts, the western Negev, damaging 2 apartments in Netzarim but causing no injuries. An ax-wielding Palestinian fr. the West Bank village of Bidiyya wounds 3 Israelis outside an army base in Tel Aviv before being arrested. An unidentified assailant said to be Arab stabs, lightly wounds 3 Israelis on a Jaffa bus. 4 Palestinians are arrested for beating up a Jewish settler in East Jerusalem. Jewish settlers detain, beat a Palestinian man in the Jordan Valley. An estimated 200,000 Palestinians, including reps. of all Palestinian factions, take part in Yasin’s funeral services later in the day, with 21 PSF officers forming an honor guard for Yasin’s coffin, Gaza churches ringing their bells, mosques broadcasting Qur’anic verses. Meanwhile, Israeli defense chiefs meet, agree to target the entire remaining Hamas leadership immediately, without waiting for another Hamas attack. Israel also announces that it will close the only mental health clinic serving East Jerusalem Palestinians (1,200 patients) because of “security concerns.” (AP, BBC, CSM, HA, MA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 3/22; AP, ATL, ITARTASS, MNR, MENA, IDF Radio, IRNA, ITARTASS, JP, VIRI, VOI, VOP, XIN 3/22 in WNC 3/24; al-Arabiyya TV [Dubai], Syrian Arab News Agency 3/22 in WNC 4/27; AFP, BBC, CSM, HA, JT, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/23; AFP, AYM, DUS, HA, al-Hayat al-Jadida, JT, MA, MENA, al-Ra’i, THWR, TSHR, VIRI, YA 3/23 in WNC 3/25; MM, NYT, PR, WP 3/24; ATL, ITAR-TASS, Izvestiya, JT, al-Ra’i, SA, VOP, XIN 3/24 in WNC 3/26; AYM 3/24 in WNC 4/3; JT, MM, PCHR, WJW 3/25; ITAR-TASS, MENA, NHR, VIRI 3/25 in WNC 3/27; MM 3/26; MNR 3/27 in WNC 3/30; AYM 3/30, VOP 3/31 in WNC 4/2; MEI 4/2; PCHR 4/15)

In Washington, Shalom holds further talks on Sharon’s disengagement plan with VP Dick Cheney, Powell, Rice. (WP 3/23)

Israeli aircraft strike an alleged Islamic Jihad training camp deep inside Syria, just 10 mi. northwest of Damascus in ‘Ayn Sahib, injuring at least 1 security guard. Israel says the attack is in response to the 10/4 suicide bombing, in which it claims Syria played a “detailed role in orchestrating.” Syria denies this, denounces the strike as a “grave escalation,” says its response will be diplomatic. (The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command [PFLP-GC] says ‘Ayn Sahib is its fmr. training base, which is no longer active; says the site was patrolled by 1 civilian guard, who was injured.) The U.S. says that “we have repeatedly told the government of Syria that it is on the wrong side in the war on terror and that it must stop harboring terrorists.” Bush phones Sharon after the attack on Syria, expresses condolences on the 10/4 bombing, agrees with Sharon on “the need to continue fighting terrorism,” does not criticize Israel’s strike. (AFP, IDF Radio, MENA, VOI, XIN 10/5 in WNC 10/7; XIN 10/5, AN, ATL, DS, DUS, IRNA, JT, MENA, QA, al-Ra’i, THWR, TSHR, VIRI, XIN 10/6 in WNC 10/8; SATN 10/5 in WNC 11/8; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/6; NHR 10/6, AN, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, SA, SFR, THWR, TSHR 10/7 in WNC 10/9; SFR 10/6, THWR, TSHR 10/8 in WNC 10/11; SANA, SARR, SATN 10/6, SANA, SATN 10/7 in WNC 11/11; MM 10/7; AFP, AYM, DUS, HA, ITARTASS, JT, MA, MENA, NHR, al-Quds, al-Ra’i, SFR, YA 10/7 in WNC 10/10; MM, PR 10/8; MM, WJW 10/9; MEI 10/10; PR 10/15; JPI 10/17; NHR 10/17 in NC 10/23)

Arafat declares a 30-day state of emergency in the occupied territories, issues a presidential decree appointing a 9-mbr. emergency cabinet, with Qurai‘, negotiating a regular cabinet since 9/10, as PM. The emergency cabinet is to serve for 1 mo. (VOP 10/5 in WNC 10/7; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/6; VOP 10/6 in WNC 10/8; WP 10/7; VOI, VOP 10/7 in WNC 10/9; AYM 10/7 in WNC 10/10; PR 10/8; PSCT 10/9 in WNC 10/11; MEI 10/10)

In the occupied territories, the IDF fires on Palestinians attempting to bypass a new checkpoint separating Rafah and Khan Yunis (imposed after the 10/4 bombing), killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 3; begins bulldozing Palestinian land nr. Morag settlement, 100 dunams nr. Hebron; demolishes 19 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 2 in Jenin (including the home of the 10/4 bomber’s family). (HA, NYT, WP 10/6; PCHR 10/7, 10/9)

A female Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device in a Haifa restaurant, killing 14 Israeli Jews, 5 Israeli Arabs, wounding around 50. (The bomber, Hanadi Taysir Jaradat, who had just graduated fr. law school in Jordan, watched as IDF undercover units assassinated her brother and cousin, both Islamic Jihad mbrs., outside their family home in Jenin on 6/12/03.) Israel says Arafat is to blame for failing to order the PSF to take steps to dismantle Islamic Jihad. Bush says the bombing “underscores once again the responsibility of the Palestinian authorities to fight terror,” says “the new Palestinian cabinet must dedicate itself to dismantling the infrastructure of terror,” does not call for Israeli restraint; Powell also phones Israeli FM Silvan Shalom to express condolences and strong condemnation of the attack, but does not urge restraint. In response, the IDF shells, demolishes an empty Palestinian home in Gaza City, and empty garage in Bureij r.c.; makes a failed assassination attempt on an Islamic Jihad mbr. in central Gaza, firing missiles at him in an open field, but missing him; moves troops into Jenin. Mbrs. of the Israeli peace group Gush Shalom, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) surround Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters to act as human shields should Israel attempt to “remove” him. During the day, the IDF also raids Tulkarm r.c., assassinates AMB mbr. Sirhan Biharan Hassin Sirhan, whom Israel says killed 5 Israelis in Kibbutz Metzer on 11/10/02, also killing a 9-yr.-old Palestinian bystander; fires on residential areas of Rafah. A Palestinian toddler dies of injuries received on 10/2; a 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received in 2002. (GS, HA 10/4; AFP, MENA, VOP 10/4, AFP, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, al-Quds, VIRI, VOP, XIN 10/5 in WNC 10/7; NYT, WP, WT 10/5; MM, WP 10/6; al-Ra’i 10/6 in WNC 10/8; HA, MM, NYT 10/7; PR, WP 10/8; PCHR, WJW 10/9; MEI 10/10; MM 10/17)

In response to the 9/9 suicide bombings, Sharon’s security cabinet declares Arafat “a complete obstacle” that Israel will “work to remove . . . in a manner, and at a time of its choosing.” In Ramallah, the IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement; occupies the PA Culture Min. building, overlooking Arafat’s headquarters; flies low-level sorties over Arafat’s compound. In response, 1,000s of Palestinians surround Arafat’s headquarters to provide him protection. The IDF also demolishes 16 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 2 in Hebron, 2 in Ramallah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Hebron. (AFP, HA, MM, REU 9/11; AFP, JP, XIN 9/11 in WNC 9/12; MENA 9/11 in WNC 9/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/12; AFP, ATL, ITAR-TASS, Palestine Satellite Channel Television, QA, al-Quds, VOP, XIN 9/12, AN, ATL, IRNA, MENA, alQuds 9/13, HA, IRNA, JT, MA, MENA, YA 9/14 in WNC 9/16; MM, NYT, WP 9/13; PR 9/17; PCHR 9/18; JPI, MEI 9/26)

An IDF warplane drops a 550-lb bomb on a Gaza City building in an attempt to assassinate Hamas founder and spiritual leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, several senior Hamas leaders meeting there, destroying the top floor of the 3-story building, lightly injuring Yasin, 14 others. Following the attack, the IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement across the West Bank. The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian teenager suspected of attempting to infiltrate Israel nr. Jabaliya, initially wounding him in the leg, then denies access toan ambulance for 19 hrs., allowing him to bleed to death; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian children in Bayt Furik (wounding 2, ages 9, 10), Nablus (wounding 4); also fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Asira, Bayt Furik, Rafah. Wanted Hamas mbr. Massud dies of injuries received in an IDF assassination attempt on 8/26. (AFP 9/6; HA, NYT, WP, WT 9/7; IDF Radio, IRNA, MA, MENA, NHR, al-Quds, SA, VOI 9/7 in WNC 9/9; DUS, al-Quds 9/7, AN 9/8 in WNC 9/10; MM 9/8; QA, SFR 9/9 in WNC 9/12; PCHR 9/11; MEI 9/12)

With no PC vote of confidence forthcoming, Abbas resigns as PM, citing no way of reaching a workable security arrangement with Arafat, lack of support fr. the U.S., on going militarism and little diplomatic effort by Israel. (NYT 9/6; MENA, al-Quds, XIN 9/6, JP, JT, MA, MENA, XIN, YA 9/7 in WNC 9/9; HA, NYT, WP, WT 9/7; AN, DUS, al-Ra’i, 9/7, AN, AYM, ITAR-TASS, SA 9/8 in WNC 9/10; AYM 9/7, 9/9 in WNC 9/11; MM 9/9; Le Monde 9/9 in WNC 9/12; MM 9/10)