The Palestine Chronology

An IDF soldier, who deserted 2 mos. ago to protest disengagement and moved to the right-wing West Bank settlement of Tapuach, boards a Haifa–Shafa‘ Amr bus, still dressed in fatigues and carrying his military issue weapon; when the bus enters the Israeli Palestinian town of Shafa ‘Amr, the driver asks him whether he’s on the right bus; the soldier then shoots the Israeli Palestinian driver dead and opens fire on the passengers, killing another 3 Israeli Palestinians, wounding 20 before a mob beats him to death. Sharon denounces the “reprehensible act by a bloodthirsty Jewish terrorist”; YESHA settlers council also condemns the attack; the U.S. terms it a “terrible act of terrorism.” In Gaza City, the PA opens (symbolically on Arafat’s birthday) a 2-wk. “victory festival” to celebrate the pending disengagement and a wk.-long UNDP-funded publicity campaign called “Gaza—Reclaiming our Gem”; 10,000s of Palestinians, predominantly Fatah supporters, rally outside Gaza’s PC headquarters to hear speeches by Abbas, Qurai‘, Dahlan, who emphasize national unity, call on Palestinians not to take any actions that would jeopardize the national image, emphasize that the world is watching how Palestinians react to disengagement and assume responsibility for Gaza. The IDF raids Ramallah, arrests Islamic Jihad spokesman Shaykh Khadir ‘Adnan; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c. (arresting a PA security officer), Bayt Fajjar, Hebron (occupying 2 houses as observation posts), al-Til, Yatta; patrols in Bethlehem; arrests a PA security officer at a checkpoint outside Jerusalem. A Jewish settler fr. Neve Dekalim throws a Molotov cocktail at a Palestinian home in al-Mawasi, causing damage but no injuries. Israel announces plans to build 72 new housing units in Beitar Ilit settlement nr. Jerusalem. A Palestinian dies of injures received on 8/2 in Bayt Hanun. (IMEMC, HA, REU, YA 8/4; AFP, BBC, JAZ, MA, NYT, WP, WT, YA 8/5; VOP 8/5 in WNC 8/5; NYT, WP, WT 8/6; OCHA, PR 8/10; PCHR 8/11)

The BBC reports that papers in the British National Archives show that in 1958, Britain secretly sold Israel 20 tons of heavy water vital for production of plutonium and the manufacture of nuclear weapons at its Dimona reactor. No “peaceful use only” condition was placed on the sale. (BBC 8/4) The World Bank releases a report showing Israel to be 2d only to Italy as the most corrupt, least efficient of developed countries. The report states that “Israel is considered one of the riskiest places in the Western world, with an unstable, inefficient regime, low accountability, a relative high rate of state corruption, and poor law enforcement.” (HA 8/4)

The IDF raids Yamun nr. Jenin, surrounds the house of wanted Islamic Jihad mbrs. Zahir and Warad Abahra (uncle and nephew), begins to bulldoze the house when they do not surrender, sparking an exchange of gunfire that leaves both men dead; also conducts arrest raids, bulldozes part of a 2d Palestinian home, uproots 10s of olive trees elsewhere in Yamun; razes the remains of a Byzantine church nr. Dayr al-Balah, known for its mosaic floors dating to 586 A.D.; fires on residential areas of Dura nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm, around Hebron; sends undercover units to arrest a wanted Palestinian in Bethlehem; bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land in Shufa nr. Tulkarm to widen the buffer zone around Avni Hefetz and Einav settlements; issues military orders confiscating 15 d. of land nr. Qalqilya for the construction of new settler bypass roads. 1,000s of Israeli disengagement protesters demonstrate in s. Israel for a 2d day. A Palestinian teenager stabs, lightly injures an Israeli in Jerusalem. Hamas fires 7 Qassam rockets, 19 mortars at Gush Katif and Neve Dekalim, injuring a foreign worker, damaging a house. Jewish settlers fr. Karnei Shomron throw stones at Palestinian cars on the Nablus–Qalqilya road, damaging 1 bus. PA security forces make a predawn raid on a Hamas educational center in Jabaliya r.c., seize computers and documents, while armed AMB mbrs. working with them torch 2 of the offices and 2 cars. (Senior Fatah, AMB officials say that in recent days, Abbas asked the AMB to help fight Hamas and ensure calm in Gaza in advance of disengagement, but that this is not official PA policy.) Hamas mbrs. attack the security forces and AMB mbrs., resulting in heavy clashes that leave 13 people wounded. In reaction, 100s of Palestinians demonstrate outside the PC offices in Ramallah to call for national unity and an end to the security chaos. Late in the evening, the Egyptian delegation secures agmt. of Fatah, Hamas to withdraw all armed forces fr. the streets of n. Gaza. 5 PA intelligence officers raid the al-Quds University forensics lab, the only forensics lab in the West Bank, rummage through and tamper with evidence in several murder, malpractice investigations; 100s of students mass to protect the lab, scuffle with plainclothes intelligence officers; the PA Justice Min. opens an investigation. (AFP, AP, IMEMC, XIN 7/19; MENA, VOI, VOP, YA 7/19 in WNC 7/20; HA, NYT, OCHA, PR, PRCS, REU, WAFA, WP, WT, XIN 7/20; VOP 7/20 in WNC 7/21; PCHR 7/21)

An Israeli civilian security guard responsible for separation wall construction area outside Bayt Laqia fires on stonethrowing youths, fatally shoots a 15-yr.-old Palestinian working in his family’s vineyard nearby; the IDF bars an ambulance fr. reaching the area for 2 hrs. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Hebron and Jenin, targeting Islamic Jihad; fires on Palestinians holding a daily nonviolent protest against the separation wall nr. Bil‘in, critically wounding 1 Palestinian with a bullet to the head; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; arrests 2 Palestinian farmers working their land nr. Hebron for being too close to the separation wall; raids, occupies 2 Palestinian homes nr. Tulkarm as observation posts. The AMB detonates a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol in Rafah, injuring 4 IDF soldiers. Palestinians fire an antitank rocket at an IDF patrol nr. Neve Dekalim, causing no damage or injuries. (AFP, IMEMC 7/8; VOI, YA 7/8 in WNC 7/9; AFP, HA, NYT, WP, WT, XIN 7/9; HA 7/10; AYM 7/10 in WNC 7/11; OCHA 7/13; PCHR 7/14)

A Palestinian suicide bomber fr. Dayr al-Ghusun nr. Tulkarm detonates a device outside a Tel Aviv disco, killing 4 Israelis, wounding 23. Israel and the PA immediately blame Hizballah, which denies involvement. Abbas denounces the attack by “terrorists” who want to “sabotage this process,” vows to track down those responsible. Palestinian factions deny responsibility, saying they will continue to abide by an unofficial cease-fire. The IDF places a curfew on Jericho. Palestinians report that the IDF has begun registering the names of all Palestinians traveling to and fr. Nablus through IDF checkpoints. Palestinians fire 2 mortars at Neve Dekalim settlement in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. (BBC, JAZ, VOP 2/25, AFP, HA, MA, NYT, PRCS, WP, WT 2/26; al-Arabiyya TV 2/26 in WNC 3/28; HA, JAZ, WP, VOI 2/27; HA, MM 2/28; MM 3/1; OCHA, PR 3/2; PCHR 3/3; MEI 3/4; JPI 3/11)

The IDF demolishes areas of Bilin village nr. Ramallah for construction of the separation wall, firing on 10s of residents who attempt to block the demolition, wounding 5; raids Ramallah, assassinates AMB cmdr. Kamil Ghannam; fires on “suspicious figures” near the Rafah border, killing 1 PA security officer on patrol, wounding 2; sends troops, reinforced by helicopters, into Gaza City, shelling residential areas, bulldozing 40 d. of agricultural land; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya, Rafat nr. Ramallah, Salfit, Silat alHarithiyya nr. Jenin. The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Hebron; begins bulldozing large areas of agricultural land in Dayr Ballut southwest of Nablus for construction of the separation wall. In retaliation for house demolitions in Khan Yunis on 12/13, Palestinians fire a mortar at nearby Neve Dekalim settlement, hitting a greenhouse, killing 1 Thai worker, injuring 2 Thais. Palestinians fire 12 more mortars during the day, causing no damage or injuries. (AFP, REU, XIN 12/14; HA, IDF Radio, VOI 12/14 in WNC 12/16; HA, NYT, PR 12/15; VOI 12/15 in WNC 12/17; PCHR 12/16)

At 9:30 P.M. EST (3:30 A.M. on 11/11 local time), Arafat dies in a Paris hospital. The PA declares a 40-day mourning period; immediately begins preparations to hold a state funeral in Cairo on 11/12, followed by his “temporary” burial in his Ramallah compound (the Muqata) later in the day. Earlier this afternoon, in anticipation of Arafat’s passing, the PLO Exec. Comm., the PA national security council, Fatah Central Comm., senior PC mbrs. meet in Ramallah to discuss leadership transitions, intentions to hold elections within 60 days of Arafat’s death, in keeping with the unratified Basic Law. (MM 11/10; AFP, JAZ, MENA, VOP 11/10 in WNC 11/12; BBC, CSM, HA, JAZ, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/11; AFP, ATL, DS, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, JAZ, JT, MENA, VOI, VOP, XIN 11/11 in WNC 11/13; NYT, WP 11/12; PCHR 11/18; JPI 11/19)

The IDF reinforces troops around, further restricts Palestinian access to East Jerusalem; raids, kills 2 Palestinian gunmen in an exchange of fire nr. Bayt Hanun; fatally shoots a Palestinian swimming in a prohibited zone off the coast of Gaza; bulldozes 50 d. nr. Khan Yunis. Palestinians fire 3 mortars at Neve Dekalim, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, VOI, VOP 11/10 in WNC 11/12; PRCS, WP 11/11)

Hamas fires mortars at Neve Dekalim, killing a Jewish settler woman (a dual Israeli-U.S. citizen). Late in the evening, the IDF stages a major raid into Khan Yunis in retaliation, firing on and shelling residential areas, killing a 60-yr.-old Palestinian, seriously damaging the physiotherapy wing of a hospital. The IDF also tightens restrictions on entry to East Jerusalem, Bayt Sahur nr. Bethlehem; bars Palestinians fr. entering the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron; raids Balata r.c. and Nur al-Shams r.c., firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya. (HA 9/24; AFP 9/24, XIN 9/25 in WNC 9/28; WT 9/25; PCHR 9/30; JPI 10/8)

The IDF makes a predawn missile strike on a group of Hamas mbrs. practicing maneuvers on an old soccer field in Gaza City, killing 14 Hamas mbrs., wounding around 25. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Neve Dekalim, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF retaliates by firing on residential areas of Khan Yunis, hitting a 9-yr.-old Palestinian girl in the head as she sits inside an UNRWA school, seriously wounding her. The IDF also bars an ailing Palestinian fr. crossing a Bayt Furik checkpoint to reach a hospital in Nablus, allowing him to die; fires live ammunition, tear gas at Palestinians waiting to cross the Abu Huli checkpoint; bulldozes 15 d. and 150 olive trees nr. Ma’on settlement nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Araba nr. Jenin, Hebron and neighboring Dura, al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem, Nablus, Salfit, Tulkarm r.c.; fires on residential areas of Rafah; searches homes, levels land, partially demolishes a Palestinian home in Khan Yunis. Palestinians fire 2 mortars at Gush Katif, a Qassam rocket at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. Israel releases 137 Palestinian prisoners “to relieve overcrowding” in Israeli jails. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during the IDF raids on Rafah in 5/04. (AFP, BBC, JAZ, MM, UNRWA press release, WP, WT 9/7; IDF Radio, JAZ, MENA, VOI, VOP, YA 9/7 in WNC 9/9; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 9/8; JT, al-Quds, VOP 9/8 in WNC 9/10; NYT, PCHR 9/9; XIN 9/9 in WNC 9/14)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah. Palestinians throughout the territories, Israeli Arabs inside Israel hold demonstrations to mark the 28th anniversary of Land Day, when Israeli forces confiscated 5,500 acres of land fr. Arab villages in the Galilee for the construction of Jewish enclaves, sparking clashes in which 9 Israeli Arabs were killed, 96 were injured, 300 were arrested; IDF troops clash with demonstrators in Beitunia. Palestinians fire an antitank rocket at IDF forces outside Gaza’s Neve Dekalim settlement, causing no damage or injuries. A group of 81 prominent Palestinians (mostly veteran leftists, some Fatah mbrs.) issue a call for nonviolent protest similar to that made on 3/25, but also warning that Palestinian violence will not cease until Israel halts its attacks on, oppression of the Palestinians. (AFP, MM, XIN 3/30; PR, WT 3/31; YA 3/31 in WNC 4/2; PCHR 4/1; MEI 4/2)

The IDF completes demolition of 4 bridges linking Bayt Hanun, Gaza City; pulls forces out of Bayt Hanun. Late in the evening, the IDF sends tanks, helicopter gunships into central Gaza City in its deepest incursion into Gaza since the al-Aqsa intifada began, marking a major military escalation just 3 days before Israeli elections. IDF soldiers clash with Palestinians fr. around the area who race to block the incursion, killing 12 Palestinians (3 of them armed, 2 of them children), injuring at least 40, demolishing 3 Palestinian homes and 2 workshops, raiding 10s of buildings and shops. IDF troops guarding Gan Or, Neve Dekalim settlements fire on residential areas of Khan Yunis. Jewish settlers fire at 2 Palestinians grazing sheep nr. Mod’in settlement, killing 1. (HA 1/25; AFP 1/25 in WNC 1/31; HA, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 1/26; WP 1/27; ATL 1/27 in WNC 1/28; LAW, PCHR, PR 1/29; MEI 2/7; WP 2/10; MEI 2/21)

Ha’Aretz reports that “several wks. ago” Sharon met secretly with YESHA rabbis, promised that he would open the Temple Mount to Jewish worshipers soon. One rabbi warned Sharon that he came to power in part because of his 9/00 visit to Temple Mount, that he risks losing power if he does not follow through and reopen the holy site to Jews soon. Sharon says he will “work behind the scenes” to achieve that goal, that he would be interested in joining a growing number of Jewish protesters who circle the Temple Mount once a mo. to protest the ban on Jewish worship at the site. (HA 1/25)

In a predawn raid, the IDF send 12 tanks and armored vehicles, 6 bulldozers into Khan Yunis, firing shells and heavy machine guns at homes, killing 1 Palestinian, injuring at least 13, completely demolishing 15 Palestinian homes, partially destroying 11. The IDF claims the action was in response to Palestinian gunfire aimed at Neve Dekalim. The IDF conducts a similar raid into Tulkarm, damaging several homes, uprooting an orchard, cutting electricity; sends tanks under helicopter cover into al-Shawawra village, damaging several homes, arresting 7 Palestinians; shells, fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahia, Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Kafr al-Dik, Salfit. In Jinin, 100s of Palestinians still angry over the arrest of Islamic Jihad's Tawalbi clash with PSF mbrs. The PSF releases 2 PFLP mbrs. ordered freed by the PA High Court on 11/7. (AP, HP, JP [Internet], PCHR, WT 11/15; NYT 11/16; AYM 11/16 in WNC 11/19; AFP 11/18; MEI 11/23)

Peres, in his speech to the UNGA, says that there is support in Israel for a Palestinian state, Palestinian independence; the gap btwn. Israeli, Palestinian positions are more emotional than political. (HA, MM 11/15)