The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 2 residential tents, a barn, and a fodder storage belonging to 1 Palestinian family in the northern Jordan Valley. In a similar but separate incident also in the northern part of the Jordan Valley, 1 Palestinian family had 2 residential tents and 3 barns demolished by Israeli forces. (WAFA, WAFA 5/30)

Prefabricated classrooms donated to Palestinian schoolchildren in the West Bank by the EU that were seized by Israel in October 2018 were announced to be auctioned by the Israeli civil administration. (Guardian 5/31)

The Israeli housing ministry published tenders for the construction of 805 housing units in East Jerusalem. (PeaceNow 5/30; HA 6/1)

Despite receiving a 2-week extension by the Israeli president Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government, prompting a 2d round of elections to be held in September. (HA 5/30)

The 2 Trump administration officials leading the Middle East peace team, Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the 3d day of their trip rallying support for the U.S. peace plan and the upcoming summit in Bahrain. The U.S. delegation brought Netanyahu a gift from U.S. president Donald Trump: an updated State Department map with the Golan Heights incorporated into Israel proper. Trump made an arrow pointing at the Golan Heights, wrote the word “nice,” and signed the map. (HA 5/28; HA 5/30; QUDS 5/31)

The EU contributed $17 million to the PA to help pay for civil servant and pensioners salaries. The EU contribution was given as Israel continues to withhold tax revenue from the PA. (WAFA 5/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from making a road to their agricultural land east of Nablus. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 11 Palestinians in and around Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, and Bethlehem. The raid in Jenin triggered confrontations with local Palestinians, wounding 3 of them; 2 from live ammunition, and 1 from being hit by an Israeli military vehicle. Others suffered from tear gas inhalation. An additional 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, and Jenin. Israeli settlers chopped down dozens of Palestinian-owned almond trees near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police evicted Muslim worshippers from the al-Aqsa Mosque for the 3d day in a row. Israeli settlers with military escort also stormed the Haram al-Sharif compound to perform prayers. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level land east of Bayt Hanun. (MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA 5/13; MNA, WAFA, WAFA 5/14)

The Israeli civil administration approved 2 roads to isolated Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The construction of the roads requires the Israeli government to seize 807 dunams (200 acres) of Palestinian-owned land. The construction is scheduled to start in July. (HA 5/13)

A Qatari envoy headed by Mohammed al-Emadi arrived in Gaza to hold meetings with UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh about the transfer of $30 million in aid. (HA 5/13)

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin granted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 2 additional weeks to form the next government. The extension allows Netanyahu until 29 May to form a government. (JPOST, TOI 5/13)

PLO executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi wrote on Twitter that her U.S. visa application had been rejected without any reason. In February, U.S. special representative for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt invited her to meet him at the White House as Ashrawi and Greenblatt exchanged tweets about the U.S. peace plan. (HA, Twitter 5/13)

The UNRWA released a statement urging donors to contribute, as UNRWA needs an additional $60 million to continue providing food for 620,000 Palestinians in Gaza. (AJ 5/13)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up a new settlement outpost on Palestinian-owned land east of Nablus. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces evicted Muslim worshippers from al-Aqsa Mosque following midnight prayers. The eviction led to confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinians, at least 1 Palestinian was arrested and others suffered from tear gas inhalation. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen, arresting 3 of them and confiscating 1 boat. (WAFA 5/11; MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA 5/12; WAFA 5/13)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party Likud said that Netanyahu will ask Israeli president Reuven Rivlin for an extension to form the next government. Likud cited Israeli holidays and the attack on Gaza as reasons for the delay. (HA 5/11)