The Palestine Chronology

Retaliating for the firing of Qassam-2s on 3/5, the IDF launches air, land, sea strikes on PA targets across the West Bank and Gaza, striking and partially demolishing Arafat's residence in Gaza City and a UNRWA school for the blind, among other sites. The IDF also shells the PA compound in Ramallah while Arafat is meeting with EU special envoy Miguel Moratinos; they are not injured. Sharon vows to continue the strikes "without letup" until the Palestinians stop attacking Israeli soldiers, civilians. During the day, at least 13 Palestinians are killed, including senior Hamas mbr. `Abd al-Nassar Ghazal in a possible assassination in Gaza, 4 PA naval police killed by IDF shelling in Gaza, 1 Palestinian shot dead nr. Nablus, 1 killed in a questionable explosion nr. Qalqilya, 4 who die of injuries received earlier. 2 IDF soldiers are killed in clashes in Khan Yunis and Rafah. F-16s bomb a Gaza police headquarters where PSF officers had been scheduled to meet, leading the PA to believe the attack was a failed assassination attempt against PSF chief Brig. Gen. `Abd al-Raziq Majayda. The IDF also makes arrest raids and demolishes at least 2 Palestinian houses in Gaza; fires on a Palestinian school in Silat al-Dahir, injuring 4 students; bulldozes Palestinian land in al-Khadir; maintains closure on Balata, Jenin. Over 20 Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar fire on a neighboring Palestinian village; attack IDF soldiers who intervene, beating them, puncturing tires on their jeeps. Jewish settlers also cut down 300 Palestinian-owned olive trees nr. Hebron; IDF troops reportedly fire warning shots at Palestinians who attempt to intervene. (AP, HP, MM 3/6; AFP, al-Quds 3/6 in WNC 3/7; JP [Internet], LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/7; MENA, RNE 3/7 in WNC 3/8; JP 3/15)

Israel cuts off all contact with the PA; gives Shin Bet, the IDF the "green light" to step up assassinations. Some MKs say Sharon should banish Arafat fr. the West Bank, Gaza. The PA arrests 3 PFLP leaders, but says it has not identified Ze'evi's assassins, will not extradite them to Israel once it does. Israel says if the killers are not extradited, it will treat the PA as a sponsor of terrorism. (The State Dept. refuses to back Israel's extradition demand.) Sharon declares that "Arafat has 7 days to impose absolute quiet in the territories. If not, we will go to war against him. As far as I'm concerned, the era of Arafat is over." (HP, MM 10/18; MENA, XIN 10/18 in WNC 10/19; NYT, WP, WT 10/19; MM 10/23)

The IDF reoccupies areas A in Jinin, Nablus, and Ramallah, sending in tanks and troops, shelling buildings, killing 3 Palestinians. In Bethlehem, 3 Palestinians, including Fatah tanzim leader Atif Ubayyat, 1 of Israel's most wanted, are killed when an explosion destroys their car. The deaths, which Palestinians claim were an assassination, spark a serious gun battle around the city; Palestinians in Bayt Jala also fire a mortar at Gilo for the 1st time in 2 mos., causing no damage. Palestinian gunmen fire on a group of Jewish settlers hiking in the Jordan Valley, killing 1 Jewish settler, wounding 2. (HP, MM, PMC 10/18; AP, HP, NYT, WP, WT 10/19; WP 10/20; PCHR 10/24)

The IDF says it averted a major bombing in Haifa, arresting 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. The IDF also enters Brazil camp to demolish at least 1 house and fires on residents with live ammunition, injuring 10; shells, briefly enters Khan Yunis, exchange gunfire with Palestinians, leaving 1 Palestinian dead; tightens the closures on Bethlehem, Qalqilya (cutting phone lines to the town), Ramallah. Palestinians throw 2 hand grenades at an IDF post nr. Jinin, causing no damage. (HP 8/17; NYT, WT 8/18; AP, HP, WT 8/19; LAW 8/22)

An Egyptian delegation led by Osama Baz, senior adviser to Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak, holds its 4th and last day of mtgs. with U.S. officials, including Secy. of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser (NSA) Condoleeza Rice. Baz says the sides exchanged ideas on "certain arrangements" for enabling implementation of the Mitchell Comm. recommendations but would not discuss details until they had studied each other's proposals. (United Press International 8/17; MENA 8/27, MENA, al-Quds 8/18, MENA 8/19 in WNC 8/20; NYT, WP 8/18; WP 8/19; al-Quds 8/19, MENA 8/20 in WNC 8/21; HA 8/21; MM 8/22; al-Musawwar 8/24 in WNC 8/27)

In Kiryat Motzkin, nr. Haifa, a Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device outside a cafe, wounding 15 Israelis. Islamic Jihad takes responsibility. (The bomber, Muhammad Nasr, was a fmr. PSF guard who quit his job at the Jinin jail after Islamic Jihad leader Iyad Hardan, who had befriended Nasr during his incarceration there, was assassinated on 4/5.) Afterward, Israeli Jews attack, severely beat an Israeli-Arab family in Haifa. Meanwhile, the IDF directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Hebron, fatally shooting a 7-yr.-old Palestinian girl in her home, wounding 19 others; on hearing the news of the girl's death, the child's grandmother has a fatal heart attack. The IDF also occupies the Palestinian Telecommunications (Paltel) building in Abu Dis, which handles Palestinian telephone service in the Jerusalem area; Israel says Paltel may continue operations in coordination with IDF officers posted on site. The IDF directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bethlehem; demolishes a Palestinian home, bulldozes agricultural land in al-Qarara. Jewish settlers uproot a Palestinian olive grove nr. Ma'ale Shomron settlement. Demonstrations continue outside Orient House. Peace Now sponsors a protest vigil outside the PM's office in Jerusalem. Israeli police set up a new police post at Damascus Gate, new security cameras in several areas in the Old City. (AFP [Internet], IDF press release 8/12; HP, NYT, WP, WT 8/13; MENA, al-Ra'i 8/13 in WNC 8/14; NYT 8/14; MA 8/14 in WNC 8/15; MEZ 8/15; Independent [Internet] 8/16)

Sharon authorizes Peres to open security talks with senior PA officials but requires him seek special permission to meet with Arafat. (FMin. press release 8/12; AP, HP, WT 8/13; AYM 8/13 in WNC 8/14; WT 8/14; al-Ra'i 8/16 in WNC 8/17)

In Cairo, FM Maher, Mubarak's senior adviser Osama Baz meet with Oslo architect and fmr. Israeli MK Yossi Beilin to discuss ways achieving an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire, renewing negotiations. (MENA 8/13 in WNC 8/14)

The IDF shells Hamas's press office in Nablus, killing 8 Palestinians, wounding 7. Among the fatalities are Hamas political leaders Jamal Mansur and Jamal Salim, the targets of assassination and prominent public figures known for running a network of welfare programs and medical clinics. Also killed are Fahim Dawabsha, another Hamas mbr. on Israel's wanted list; 2 journalists interviewing Mansur; 2 children outside the building. The attack triggers firefights, especially around Jerusalem; mortar strikes; and 2 ambushes of Jewish settler vehicles that leave 7 settlers wounded. 100s of Palestinians gather outside the Hamas office to protest. Sharon terms the attack "one of our most important successes." The State Dept. "strongly deplores" the "highly provocative" incident. Egypt's Mubarak sends an "urgent letter" to Bush pressing for U.S. to intervene with Israel. Meanwhile, the IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Shu`fat; sends tanks, bulldozers into Bayt Sahur to shell residential areas, demolish part of a home, a water network; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Jala, Gaza City, al-Khadir, Khan Yunis, Rafah; bulldozes additional land outside Ramallah; conducts arrest sweeps in Bayt Hanina, East Jerusalem, Shu`fat, al-Tur, Wadi al-Juz; sets up a new checkpoints nr. Nablus, Ramallah, Zawata; tightens the closures on Salfit, Tulkarm. IDF soldiers also severely beat 2 journalists at a checkpoint nr. Qalandiyya; 2 Palestinians are killed in clashes elsewhere. Jewish settlers vandalize Palestinian cars in East Jerusalem. (AP, HP, LAW, PMC, REU 7/31; MENA 7/31 in WNC 8/1; MENA 7/31, ATL, JT, MA, MENA, XIN 8/1 in WNC 8/2; NYT, WP, WT 8/1; XIN 8/1, AN 8/2 in WNC 8/3; HP 8/2; MENA 8/4 in WNC 8/6; LAW 8/6; JP, MEI 8/10)

A PA security court sentences 4 Palestinians to death for collaborating with Israel in the assassination of senior Fatah official Thabet Thabet on 12/31/00. A 5th defendant is acquitted. (WT 8/1; AYM 8/4 in WNC 8/10; WT 8/7)

The UNSC votes unanimously to extends the UNIFIL mandate through the end of 1/02, implement the staged troop reduction endorsed on 5/18. (UN press release 7/31; AFP 8/1 in WNC 8/2; MEI 8/10)

As expected, Likud MK Sharon wins the Israeli elections for PM by a landslide, taking 62.4% of the vote (78% in Greater Jerusalem), with voter turnout the lowest in Israeli history (59.1% overall, 18% in Arab areas). Barak concedes defeat; vows to retire fr. politics, resign as head of the Labor party and as MK. (HA, MM 2/6; AFP [Internet], LAW, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 2/7; AFP, AYM, MA, MENA, al-Quds 2/7 in WNC 2/9; HJ 2/7, AYM, JT, MENA 2/8 in WNC 2/12; MM, NYT, WJW 2/8; MEI 2/9)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes heat up somewhat, leaving 78 Palestinians injured but causing no fatalities. Israel seals the West Bank, Gaza during the elections. After Sharon's victory is announced, Jewish settlers place 5 caravans on land in PA-controlled Hebron, nr. Karme Tzur settlement. (AP, HP, WP 2/7; LAW 2/8)

U.S. Secy. of State Powell phone the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria to urge restraint following Sharon's election victory. Asks them to avoid provocative actions while Sharon is forming a government, to judge Sharon based on his actions as PM, not his past. (WP 2/8)