The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian agricultural land near ‘Asira al-Qibliya. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Qusra, causing damage. Israeli forces seized 1 bulldozer and 1 vehicle from Palestinian municipal workers in Beit Umar working to repair a water pipeline. Israeli forces also razed a road, an agricultural structure, and a water well in Hizma. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a raid in Zababdeh. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian and arrested 4 others during a raid in Nablus. 11 others were arrested during late-night raids in Qaryut, Beita, Dura, Dheisheh refugee camp, Jalazun refugee camp, and Biddu. In the Naqab, Israeli authorities demolished 5 Palestinian homes in Arara, displacing 50 Palestinians, including 15 children. (QDS, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/12; PCHR 6/15; UNOCHA 6/18; HA 6/24)

Axios reported Israel has notified the U.S. that it will announce plans to construct 4,000 new settlement units this month. (AX, WAFA 6/12; JP, MEE, WAFA, WAFA 6/13; TOI 6/14)

Al Monitor reported that Mohammad Dahlan, Nasser al-Qidwi, and Marwan Barghouti are in talks to present Barghouti as a candidate to succeed PA president Mahmoud Abbas. (ALM 6/10)

PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh. Al-Maliki asked bin Farhan for help in holding Israel accountable. (WAFA 6/12)

The spokesperson at the Saudi Arabian embassy in the U.S. Fahad Nazer told the Saudi channel Arab News that normalization with Israel “can do wonders . . . but for that to happen, for the kingdom to take that step, we need the core dispute to be resolved,” referring to the Israeli occupation. (HA 6/12)

UNESCO said that the U.S. will rejoin the agency and pay more than $600 million in back dues. Under the Trump administration the U.S. redrew from UNESCO in 2019, claiming the agency had an anti-Israel bias. (AX 6/11; ALM, AP, HA 6/12)

The IDF imposes a tight curfew on Hebron; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis, 1 in Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 25 dunams of land in Khuza, 20 dunams e. of Bayt Hanun; arrests another 3 ISM volunteers in Tulkarm; bars 6 foreign aid workers fr. entering Gaza, without giving a reason (see 5/5). (GS, HA 5/10; AFP, Arab News 5/11; AIDA 5/12; PCHR 5/15)

Powell arrives in Israel for mtgs. aimed at starting implementation of the road map with Abbas (who has accepted the plan), Sharon (who has not); meets with FM Shalom, who reiterates Israel’s position that Abbas must dismantle militant groups before Israel would take steps to implement the road map. (HA 5/10; XIN 5/10 in WNC 5/12; HA, NYT, WP, WT 5/11; MEI 5/16)

Arafat, Israeli MK and fmr. PM Shimon Peres hold talks in Gaza on halting violence, reaching a peace agmt. (NYT, WP, WT 1/14; AYM 1/15 in WNC 1/18; Arab News [Jeddah] 1/15 in WNC 1/19)

Israel denounces the Mitchell Comm. technical team for visiting the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount today without the accompaniment of an Israeli rep., without coordinating with the FMin. (MA [Internet] 1/16; HA, MM 1/18) (see 1/9)

The PA executes Majdi Makawi, Alam Bani Odeh for collaborating with Israel in the assassinations of Jamal `Abd al-Razik (11/22), Ibrahim Bani Odeh (11/23). Later, a PA military court finds another 4 Palestinians guilty of collaboration, sentences 2 to death. (NYT, WP, WT 1/14; AYM 1/14 in WNC 1/20, 1/22; AP, MM 1/15; al-Quds 1/15 in WNC 1/18; MM 1/17; HJ 1/17 in WNC 1/19; JT 1/19 in WNC 1/22; HJ 1/19 in WNC 1/26; JP 1/26; WP 2/2) (see 12/7, 1/11)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. Jewish settlers fr. Harsina shoot at nearby Palestinian homes. The IDF tightens the internal closure; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire on residential areas in Khan Yunis (damaging 3 Palestinian homes, 3 commercial buildings), Rafah; razes 137 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Dugit settlement (destroying 10 homes, 6 irrigation networks, 4 greenhouses, 2 cars), 5 dunams nr. the Rafah border (destroying 1 greenhouse, damaging several others). (HJ 1/4 in WNC 1/8; PCHR 1/12)

In a final mtg. with Clinton, Arafat agrees "with reservations" to accept the 12/23 parameters, promises to take steps to curb the clashes. U.S. mediators plan to work with PA, Israeli negotiators to narrow differences on the parameters. If sufficient progress is made, Clinton will bring both sides together for a last attempt to finalize a comprehensive permanent status agmt. (MM 1/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/4; MA, SA 1/4 in WNC 1/5; Arab News [Jeddah], AYM, al-Quds 1/4 in WNC 1/8; JP, MEI 1/12)

Barak says he has given up on reaching a comprehensive final status agmt. before the 2/6 election, Israel is on "strategic alert for war." (MA [Internet], MM, YA 1/3; Star 1/3 in WNC 1/5; HA 1/4)

Hizballah fires 7 mortars at an IDF post in the Shaba` Farms area, causing no damage. The IDF retaliates firing 44 tank, mortar shells at s. Lebanon, forcing a Lebanese family to flee their home. (MENA 1/3 in WNC 1/4; Daily Star [Internet] 1/8; WP 1/30)

In Paris, U.S. Secy. of State Albright, CIA Dir. Tenet meet with Arafat, Barak. After 12 hrs. of talks, joined at times by UN Secy.-Gen. Annan and French pres. Chirac, the sides reach an arrangement under which Barak agrees to withdraw troops to their positions before 9/28, Arafat agrees to try to curb Palestinian rioting, both sides agree to keep people away fr. 3 hot spots (Netzarim Junction in Gaza, Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, and the "circle area" nr. Ramallah). The U.S. had hoped Arafat and Barak would sign a document outlining the agmts., but the Arafat would do so only if the text included provisions for an international inquiry, which Barak rejected. After the mtg. Albright, Arafat leave for Sharm al-Shaykh. Barak returns to Israel, saying there no point in meeting with Mubarak. (MM, REU 10/4; AFP, ATL, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MENA, Yonhap [Seoul] 10/4, AFP, IDF Radio, Interfax, JT, MA, MENA, al-Quds, SA, VOI 10/5 in WNC 10/6; AP, CSM, LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; Arab News 10/5, AYM, HJ, MENA 10/6, SA 10/7, MENA 10/9 in WNC 10/10; MM, WP 10/6; AYM, Le Monde 10/11 in WNC 10/12; MM, WP 10/12; JP, MEI 10/13)

Meanwhile, Palestinian-Israeli clashes continue in the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel, leaving 9 Palestinians dead, 10s wounded; 2 Palestinians die of wounds received earlier. An Israeli Arab is killed in a clash Israeli police in Kefar Manda in the Galilee. The IDF eases open-fire regulations, permitting soldiers to fire on any vehicles approaching checkpoints and continues to use heavy weapons, but overall the fighting is less intense than in previous days. The most serious clashes are nr. Bethlehem, Jaffa, Nablus, Netzarim Junction. (MM 10/4; ANSA, IRNA 10/4 in WNC 10/6; LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; HJ, Daily Star 10/5 in WNC 10/10; MM 10/9)

Protests against Israel's actions are held in Damascus, where 1,000s of students demonstrate outside the U.S. emb.; in Cairo, where 1,500 students demonstrate outside the Israeli emb.; and in Amman, where riot police fire tear gas to disperse 800 protesters marching toward the Israeli emb., injuring 62. In Copenhagen, 5,000 attend a Palestinian solidarity rally. Smaller rallies are staged in Istanbul, London, Rome. In the U.S. demonstrations are staged in Dearborn, Detroit, Madison, Miami, New Haven, Portland. (MENA 10/4 in WNC 10/5; ATL 10/4, JT 10/5 in WNC 10/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; MENA 10/5, HJ 10/6 in WNC 10/10; MENL 10/11)

The PA releases 12 Hamas political prisoners who had been held without charge in PA jails. Israel says the PA is giving a "green light for terrorism." (HJ 10/5 in WNC 10/6; WP 10/6)

The PC convenes an emergency session in Ramallah, denounces Israel's aggression, calls for an Arab summit. (WP 10/5)

Citing "compelling national security interests," the State Dept. sends Amb. Indyk back to Israel to maintain contact with Israeli officials during the clashes. (WT 10/5) (see 9/22)

On the sidelines of the UN summit in New York, Clinton meets separately with Barak, then Arafat to discuss ways of advancing the peace talks. The leaders propose various ideas for moving beyond the Jerusalem issue but agree on none. (MM 9/6; HJ 9/6 in WNC 9/7; MM, NYT, WJW, WP, WT 9/7; al-Quds 9/7 in WNC 9/8; CSM, MM, WP 9/8; Arab News [Jeddah] 9/11 in WNC 9/14; NYT 9/12; WJW 9/14; MEI 9/15)

Lebanese residents of Hula on the border with Israel report that the IDF has violated the blue line, confiscating 4,000 m² of land to build a road. (RL 9/6 in WNC 9/7)

At Camp David, Arafat passes a letter to Clinton saying he sees no reason to continue talks, since Barak has adopted a take-it-or-leave-it position regarding U.S. proposals on Jerusalem. After a final set of 1-on-1 mtgs. with Arafat and Barak, Clinton declares an end to the Camp David summit. The U.S., Israel, the PA issue a 5-point statement of negotiating principles, express hope that a deal may still be reached by 9/13. In announcing the failure of the summit, Clinton essentially lays the blame on Arafat, stating that Barak showed more flexibility. (Interfax, MENA 7/25 in WNC 7/26; MENA, XIN 7/25, ABC [Madrid], ATL, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MA, MENA, al-Quds, SA 7/26 in WNC 7/27; MM, NYT, PR [Internet], WP, WT 7/26; AYM, DUS 7/26, Le Monde, SA, TT 7/27 in WNC 7/28; Arab News [Jeddah] 7/26, JT 7/30 in WNC 7/31; HA [Internet], NYT, WJW 7/27; AYM 7/28 in WNC 8/2; MIL 7/28 in WNC 8/3; NYT 7/29; WP 7/30)

UN Secy.-Gen. Annan suspends the UNIFIL deployment in light of new Israeli violations of the blue line. (XIN 7/25 in WNC 7/27; WP 7/26; MEI 7/28)

The London-based daily al-Hayat reports that Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad recently received fmr. chief of staff Shihabi on his return fr. medical treatment in the U.S., suggesting anticorruption charges against him have been dropped. (MM 7/25; SA 7/30 in WNC 7/31) (see 6/6)

Jewish settlers level 25 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya. (LAW 8/10)

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Prime Minister's office reacts angrily to reports that US may postpone Begin's visit if no progress is made in Lebanon peace talks; Eitan is criticized by Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for comments on Lebanon yesterday; former military intelligence chief Shlomo Gazit, now President of Ben Gurion University in Beersheba, says Arafat's success is the large number of men Israel keeps mobilized to prevent terrorism, that security forces should not be kept on alert in the West Bank; El Al airlines resumes operations after 4 month strike over issue of flights on Sabbath and Jewish holidays; Minister for Science and Development Yuval Ne'eman, acting chair of Cabinet settlement committee, issues communique that settlements in West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights will continue despite US criticism; Israeli military experts reported organizing Zairian army; military roadblock around Najah University effectively implementing Order 854 which requires students from other districts to have special permit to attend university; Civil Administration says it is not involved in land dispute over Hebron municipality electricity pylons torn down by Kiryat Arba residents, that IDF is responsible; military authorities declare Hebron closed military area to prevent 50 Peace Now members from assisting Hebron residents re-erect and guard electricity pylons.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Chairman Arafat meets with CPSU Secretary-General Yuri V. Andropov and Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko, Arafat and Andropov declare that US shares full responsibility for Israel's criminally aggressvie actions because it gives Israel all the assistance it needs; Lebanese Government states preference for expanded role for UNIFIL throughout Lebanon after withdrawal of Israeli, Syrian and Palestinian forces; Dany Chamoun visits Saad Haddad in Marjayoun and Christian notables in Klea.

Arab Govemnments: King Fahd confers in Riyadh with Walid Jumblatt; Morocco retracts announcement on Arab League delegation, saying no decision will be made until Arab foreign ministers meet in Marrakesh; President Assad tells visiting Arab news agencies' directors that Syria rejects current Middle East peace plans, but would attend an Arab summit to map out collective action.

US and Other Countries: 500 at United Jewish Appeal luncheon addressed by Israeli President Navon, who says both Labor and Likud parties agree that a return to 1967 borders is not acceptable, PLO is a terrorist organization, a West Bank Palestinian state would be a security threat to Israel and base for Soviet intervention in the region, that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel, but he says that Israel would take into consideration any change in the PLO covenant; Italian General Confederation of Labor meets with leaders of Rome's Jewish community to formulate plans to combat anti-Semitism.