The Palestine Chronology

The IDF lifts the comprehensive curfew on the occupied territories imposed on 1/26; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian shepherd who leads his flock too near IDF bulldozers leveling 400 dunams of Palestinian crops nr. Jabaliya r.c.; bulldozes land around, fires on residential areas of Tal al-Sultan, wounding 18 Palestinians; reportedly finds, disables 2 bombs planted nr. a Jewish settlements in Gaza, inside a PSF station in Hebron. A Palestinian gunman fires at a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Beit El settlement, wounding 2 Jewish settlers. A 2d Palestinian gunman shoots, lightly injures an IDF soldier outside a Jewish settlement in Gaza; soldiers fire on residential areas nearby in response, wounding 19 Palestinians. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during the IDF’s 1/25 attack on Gaza City. Jewish settlers attack 2 international peace activists who approach Itamar settlement to investigate Palestinian claims that settlers had taken over Palestinian farmland. Settlers beat the activists: steal their phone, camera; take their jackets, shoes, socks, wallets, passports; forcibly take them to Itamar. The IDF arrests the activists for trespassing on settler property. An Israeli court authorizes Israel’s seizure of over $9 m. fr. the PA’s frozen funds to pay the Ayalon insurance company to cover claims for cars stolen btwn. 1996 and 2000, allegedly with the PA’s knowledge and cooperation. (HA, International Solidarity Movement press release, LAW, PCHR 1/29; HA, NYT 1/30; PR 2/5)

Arafat calls on Sharon to immediately resume peace talks in light of his election victory, but Sharon says he will not deal with Palestinians “involved in terror.” (HA 1/29; NYT 1/30)

Bush phones Sharon to congratulate him on his election victory. Also calling to congratulate Sharon are Egyptian Pres. Husni Mubarak, who invites him to reopen peace talks with the Palestinians in Cairo after his new government is formed, and European Union (EU) pres. Romano Prodi who urges him to take action on the road map quickly, now that elections are over. (HA, MM 1/30, 1/31; MM 2/5; MEI 2/21)

Arafat, on visit to Amsterdam, tours Anne Frank House. (MENA 3/31 in WNC 4/2; IDF Radio 4/1 in WNC 4/3; WJW 4/9)

Lebanese FM Buwayz arrives in Rome for mtg. with the Pres. Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, PM Romano Prodi discusses Lebanon's demand for Israel's unconditional adherence to UN Res. 425. (RL 4/1 in WNC 4/3)

Nr. Nablus, IDF opens fire with rubber bullets on Palestinians protesting Israeli land confiscations, injuring 1. (WT 4/1)

Suspected Hizballah roadside bomb explodes in the Jazzin enclave in s. Lebanon, killing 6 civilians, wounding 1. IDF urgently contacts SLA to dissuade them fr. retaliating, which could spark fierce clashes similar to those that occurred in 8/97. (ITV 3/31 in WNC 4/1; MM, WP 4/1)

A delegation of 46 Israeli Arabs, incl. 7 MKs, arrives in Syria for an unprecedented 12-day visit to show their support for the Syrian position on talks with Israel. (RMC 8/8 in WNC 8/11; SATN 8/9, IDF Radio, MA 8/11 in WNC 8/12; MM 8/11, 8/12) (for background see RMC 8/3, SA 8/4 in WNC 8/5; MM 8/4)

Italian PM Romano Prodi meets with PM Netanyahu in Israel, then flies to Beirut to give PM Rafiq Hariri a message fr. Netanyahu. (ANSA [Rome] 8/8 in WNC 8/11)

Israel eases the "inner closure," allowing Palestinian movement btwn. Jericho, Nablus; reopens the Rafah border crossing btwn. Gaza, Egypt. (WT 8/10)

Katyusha rockets hit Kiryat Shimona in n. Israel, damaging a synagogue, injuring 1 woman. DM Mordechai blames Hizballah for the attack; IDF responds by shelling PFLP-GC bases outside Beirut. Hizballah denies responsibility. (AFP, RL, VOL 8/8 in WNC 8/11; WP, WT 8/9; WT 8/10; YA 8/10 in WNC 8/12)

Jordanian police arrest 5 men connected to the outlawed Bayt al-Imam group, who were allegedly plotting anti-Israeli attacks in Israel, the occupied territories. (AFP, RMC 8/17, JT 8/18 in WNC 8/19)

2 MKs request that the Israeli High Court block work at Har Homa until it hears petitions against the construction project on 3/20. (YA 3/17 in WNC 3/19)

Palestinian protesters erect tents nr. Har Homa. IDF snipers take up positions nearby to watch them. (CSM, WT 3/18; PR 3/21)

Netanyahu defeats (54-46) a no-confidence vote. (WT 3/16)

In Damascus, Syrian pres. Asad, Italian PM Romano Prodi discuss the peace process. (RAI Televideo [Rome], SATN 3/17 in WNC 3/19; SATN 3/18 in WNC 3/20)

Jordanian police ban 200 activists (incl. 21 opposition deputies) fr. visiting home of Pvt. Ahmad Daqamsa, the soldier who shot 13 Israeli girls on 3/13, to express their solidarity. The deputies condemn the killings but demand a fair trial for Daqamsa, oppose Israeli intervention in the investigation (see 3/15) (AFP, RMC 3/17 in WNC 3/19; JT 3/19 in WNC 3/20; MEI 3/21)

Lebanon bans potato imports fr. Egypt. Egypt threatens economic retaliation. (RL 3/17 in WNC 3/19) (see 3/8)