The Palestine Chronology

Israel releases 500 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom must sign pledges that they “opposed terror” and will not undertake “any activity against the State of Israel”; the IDF bars journalists fr. filming prisoners released at Tarqumiyya crossing nr. Hebron, detaining 3 journalists for 1 hr. The IDF imposes a curfew, closure on Nahalin village after local Palestinian youths throw stones at Beitar Ilit settlement, lightly injuring a 2-yr.-old child; raids Nablus to arrest a senior Hamas mbr. who allegedly was plotting a car bombing against an IDF target; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron; fires on Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Bil‘in outside Ramallah, wounding 10. Jewish settlers place 5 mobile homes on Palestinian land in al-Rashayda nr. Bethlehem, establishing an unauthorized outpost. (HA, MM 2/211; NYT, WP, WT 2/22; NYT, PR 2/23; PCHR 2/24; MEI 3/4)

Overnight, IDF undercover units raid Yatta, assassinate wanted Hamas mbr. Muhammad Muhr. The IDF also fires tear gas into a girls primary school in Hebron, injuring 10s of children; demolishes a Palestinian home in Nablus, 2 buildings in Rafah refugee camp (r.c.); conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Jenin, Rafah (targeting Islamic Jihad). Late in the evening, the IDF sends 40 tanks, helicopters, troops into Gaza City on a mission to demolish 4 Palestinian buildings, 1 of them a home, allegedly containing Hamas metal workshops, leaving at least 11 Palestinians dead, 25 wounded: 3 are bystanders killed when the IDF blows up one building causing the wall of an adjacent structure to collapse on top of them; 3 are PA general intelligence officers killed when the IDF fires rockets at their post; 1 is a Hamas mbr. who detonates a suicide bomb nr. a tank, causing no injuries; 4 are gunmen attempting to hold back the incursion. The IDF also announces plans to build a walled corridor surrounding Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, linking it to Jerusalem and encircling 10s of Palestinian homes, businesses. The PA begins deploying 10s of unarmed security personnel in Nablus, called the Palestinian Authority–Joint Forces to handle traffic, civilian complaints; the PA says it has not coordinated with Israel regarding the force. (AP, HA, LAW 2/18; HA, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 2/19; AFP, al-Quds 2/19 in WNC 2/20; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WT 2/20; MM 2/24; MEI 3/7)

Israeli, PA teams meet with Quartet reps. in London to discuss PA reforms, cease-fire talks, Palestinians’ humanitarian situation, next steps to adoption of the road map plan for resumption of negotiations. The Quartet’s International Task Force for Reform, the donors’ Ad Hoc Liaison Comm. meet on the sidelines. (WP 2/19; NYT 2/20; MEI 2/21; AYM 2/21 in WNC 2/27)

Outside Hadera, 2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers detonate a car bomb next to a bus, killing 14 Israelis, wounding 40. The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. Kefar Darom; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Qabatya, some agricultural land nr. Aley Sinai settlement; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Qalqilya; bars an ambulance fr. crossing an IDF checkpoint, allowing an ailing Palestinian to die. Another Palestinian dies of injuries received on 12/10/01. Palestinians reportedly fire a mortar in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. At Havat Gilad, Jewish settlers again try to rebuild sites demolished by the IDF. Jewish settlers fr. Shvut Rachel attack Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Nablus, setting 7 Palestinian cars and 50 trees afire, uprooting another 54 trees; in response, some 200 Palestinian start marching toward the settlement, but the IDF turns them away. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo fire on Palestinian farmers n. of Ramallah, wounding 4. (HA, MM, WP 10/21; Interfax 10/21 in WNC 10/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/22; AFP, ATL, ITAR-TASS 10/22 in WNC 10/23; LAW, MM, PCHR 10/23; WJW 10/24; MEI 10/25)

In Nablus, 9 schools hold classes in violation of the ongoing curfew; the IDF blocks 3 other schools fr. opening. In Yatta, a nail bomb explodes in the courtyard of an elementary school while classes are in session, lightly injuring 8 Palestinian children; a 2d bomb is found, defused by the IDF; the IDF believes Jewish settlers staged the attack. In Tulkarm, a 14-yr.-old Palestinian is killed in a mysterious explosion; the IDF claims he was making a bomb. The IDF demolishes 9 Palestinian foundries in Khan Yunis allegedly used to manufacture mortars; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Khan Yunis, Nablus; fires on a group of Palestinian children in Askar r.c., wounding 3 teenagers. (HA, REU 9/17; AP, JP, LAW, NYT, PCHR, PM, PR, WP, WT 9/18; AYM 9/20 in WNC 9/23)

The Quartet (the European Union [EU], Russia, UN, U.S.), reps. of Israel and the PA meet in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly opening session. The EU presents the Quartet with a draft “road map” for creation of a Palestinian state with provisional borders in 2003 and full Palestinian statehood by 6/05, the plausible target date mentioned by Bush in his 6/24/02 speech. (REU 9/17; MM, PR, WT 9/18; WJW 9/19; AYM, al-Quds 9/19 in WNC 9/20; AYM 9/20 in WNC 9/23; JT 9/24 in WNC 9/24; MEI 9/27)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus in Jerusalem during morning rush hr., killing 18 Israeli Jews, 1 Israeli Arab, injuring 50. Late in the evening, as the IDF sends tanks troops into Jenin town and r.c. in response, imposing a curfew and firing on Palestinians who resist, the Israel cabinet convenes to discuss what further action to take. Afterward, Israel announces the launching of Operation Determined Path, under which "Israel will respond to acts of terror by capturing PA territory. . . . Additional acts of terror will lead to the taking of additional areas," which would be held indefinitely. During the day, the IDF assassinates Islamic Jihad student leader Yusif Bisharat in Hebron; raids the Nablus home of PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. and DFLP mbr. Taysir Khalid; shells residential areas of Gaza City, injuring 8; conducts arrest raids in villages around Jenin; bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. An elderly Palestinian dies of a heart attack when troops enter her Jenin home. An ailing Palestinian dies when the IDF bars his ambulance fr. crossing a checkpoint. Jewish settlers under the protection of IDF troops take over a building nr. the old city of Jerusalem. (AP, JP, LAW, MM 6/18; AFP, ATL, Interfax 6/18 in WNC 6/19; ATL 6/18, JT, al-Quds 6/19 in WNC 6/20; HP, LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, UPMRC, WP, WT 6/19; WP 6/20; NYT 6/21; AYM 6/23 in WNC 6/26; MM 6/24, MEI 6/28; New Haven Register 7/3)

In light of the Jerusalem bombing, Bush postpones a speech outlining U.S. policy on the peace process, which he had planned to give today. (WP 6/19; NYT 6/20; AYM 6/20 in WNC 6/24)

In retaliation for the 1/17 AMB attack, IDF soldiers in Ramallah confiscate the archives Voice of Palestine, blow up the radio's 5-story building in Ramallah; search the home of PA intelligence chief Tirawi; search, occupy the Episcopal Diocese's Arab Evangelical School. When Palestinian youths throw stones at IDF tanks surrounding Arafat's headquarters, troops respond with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas, injuring 15. Some 4,000 Palestinians also hold a nonviolent march in the city to protest the IDF presence. Elsewhere in the West Bank, wanted AMB mbr. Faraj Hani Odeh Nazzal is fatally shot in what is thought to be an IDF assassination. The IDF also shells residential areas of Nablus. Palestinian gunmen fire on Gilo. (Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem press release, LAW, MM 1/18; BBC, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 1/19; AYM 1/19 in WNC 1/22; MM 1/21; AKH 1/21 in WNC 1/23; PCHR 1/23; WJW 1/24; MEI 1/25)

In the Negev, 200 bedouin protest against an Israeli Interior Min. order to raze illegally built homes in their community. Many of the tin shanties were built by bedouin who served in the IDF, were recently discharged. (HA 1/19)

The IDF assassinates wanted AMB mbr. Ra'id Karmi, detonating a bomb as he leaves his Tulkarm hideout. (The IDF attempted to assassinate him on 9/6/01). The AMB cancels its observance of Arafat's cease-fire, vows revenge. Hrs. later, AMB mbrs. ambush IDF soldiers nr. a Jewish settlement outside Tulkarm, killing 1 soldier, wounding a 2d. The IDF also bulldozes 9 Palestinian homes in Issawiyya in occupied East Jerusalem, slating another 10 for demolition. The U.S. says that while it understands Israel's need "to ensure its self-defense," it considers the house demolitions "provocative." (LAW, MM 1/14; AFP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/15; LAW, MM, PCHR 1/16; AYM 1/16 in WNC 1/17; al-Quds 1/16 in WNC 1/22; NYT 1/23; WJW 1/24; MEI 1/25)

In a predawn operation, the IDF sends tanks, bulldozers into Rafah to demolish at least 54 Palestinian houses, damaging another 20, leaving some 650 Palestinians homeless. Israel claims the houses were used by "terrorists" to shoot at IDF troops, hid tunnels used for smuggling arms fr. Egypt. (The UN, U.S. condemns the demolitions, which bring the total number of Palestinian homes in Rafah demolished by the IDF in the past yr. to about 200; another 200 houses have been damaged, 69 stores destroyed, 520 acres of agricultural land bulldozed.) In response, Islamic Jihad says it is dropping its pledge to halt attacks inside Israel. The IDF also takes over another 3 PSF posts, demolishes a sewage network nr. Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids nr. Rafah crossing. The PSF announces that it has arrested 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs., including 1 of Israel's most wanted. (AP, HA 1/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/11; QA, al-Quds 1/11 in WNC 1/14; HA 1/12; B'Tselem press release 1/13; MM 1/14; LAW, PCHR 1/16; AYM 1/16 in WNC 1/22; al-Quds 1/22 in WNC 1/24; MEI 1/25)

Sharon vows not to resume contacts with the PA until it arrests those Palestinians behind the Karine A arms shipment. (AP, JP [Internet], MM, WP, WT 1/11)

The IDF shells the home of PSF West Bank head Jibril Rajub, injuring 6 bodyguards; Rajub, his family are home but are not injured. The IDF also directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at al-Arub refugee camp, Bayt Jala, al-Bireh, Hebron, al-Khadir, Ramallah. Jewish settlers establish a new settlement enclave in Nabi Salih, nr. Ramallah; occupy 2 Palestinian shops in Jerusalem's Old City; set Palestinian wheat fields on fire nr. Hebron. Israel's Peace Now reports that at least 15 new Jewish settlement sites have been established since Sharon was elected in 2/01. (HP, Peace Now press release 5/20; NYT, PMC, WT 5/21; HA, WP 5/22; HA, MM, NYT 5/23; PCHR 5/24; LAW 5/25; MEI 6/1)

The Mitchell Comm. gives Israel, the PA its final report, which is identical to its preliminary report (see 5/16). Comm. heads Mitchell and fmr. sen. Warren Rudman send a letter to the Anti-Defamation League stressing that the report makes no direct linkage between halting violence, halting settlements. (MENA 5/21 in WNC 5/22; ITAR-TASS 5/21, AYM, HJ, MENA 5/22 in WNC 5/23; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/22; MM, WP 5/23; AYM, HA, JT, MA, MENA, QA, al-Ra'i 5/23 in WNC 5/24; WJW 5/24; QA 5/25 in WNC 5/29; MEI 6/1; NYT 6/2)

Angry over Sharon's decision to use F-16s on 5/18 without consulting the full cabinet or security cabinet, the full Israeli cabinet limits the "kitchenette" (Sharon, Peres, Ben-Eliezer) to ordering strikes against 3 types of Palestinian targets without prior approval. (HA 5/21; MA 5/21 in WNC 5/22)

U.S. VP Dick Cheney states that the Israel should stop using American-supplied F-16s against Palestinian targets. Sharon says Israel will use as much military force against the Palestinians as it deems necessary. (MM, NYT, WT 5/21; al-Quds 5/21 in WNC 5/22; QA 5/21 in WNC 5/23; WJW 5/24; MEI 6/1)