The Palestine Chronology

Israeli forces arrested 18 Israeli settlers while evacuating temporary homes at an Israeli-deemed illegal settlement east of the Ofra settlement. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities issued 2 demolition orders for 2 buildings in Shu‘fat refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished 2 Palestinian-owned homes in Silwan; at least 1 Palestinian was injured trying to protect his home. In Gaza, Israel reduced the fishing zone from 15 nautical miles to 6 in response to the rocket fired from Gaza on 4/29. Israeli authorities said that the rocket was launched by Islamic Jihad. Off the coast of Gaza City, a Palestinian fisherman was injured when he was hit by a rubber-coated bullet fired by Israeli naval forces. Israeli naval forces also removed and destroyed all fishing nets placed outside of the 6-nautical-mile fishing zone. In Israel, 2 Israelis were sentenced to 1 year in prison for assaults made on 4 Palestinian citizens of Israel in 2017 to deter them from dating Jewish women. (AJ, HA, HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/30; HA, HA 5/1)

The EU called on Israel not to deport Human Rights Watch director for Israel and Palestine Omar Shakir, who was denied a petition at the Jerusalem district court to halt his pending deportation on 4/16. (HA 4/30)

The EU asked the PA to accept the reduced tax revenue Israel is offering until a solution to the PA’s financial crisis is found. The EU stressed that the request “does not constitute a legal or political endorsement of Israeli deductions.” (HA 4/30; HA 5/1)

The U.S. government is working to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization, said the White House. According to New York Times reporting, U.S. president Donald Trump was urged by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to make the designation while on an official visit to Washington on 4/9. (AJ, NYT 4/30)

In a joint statement by U.S. democrats in the House of Representatives, concern was expressed for the Israeli-planned demolition of Khan al-Ahmar and Susiya. The U.S. members of Congress signing the statement were Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), David Price (D-NC), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX). (Schakowsky’s Office 4/30; WAFA 5/2)

Member of the House of Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN) reintroduced her bill H.R.2407 “Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act.” The bill, if passed, would amend the Foreign Assistance Act, cutting assistance to foreign countries that uses “military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of children in violation of international humanitarian law,” and authorize $19 million annually to NGOs monitoring human rights abuses associated with Israel’s military detention of children. (Congress 4/30; McCollum’s Office, MDW 1/5)

The outgoing French ambassador to the U.S. Gérard Araud, who on 4/19 called Israel an apartheid state, will not be meeting Israeli officials when he visits Israel in early May, as Israel has barred its officials from meeting Araud. Additionally, Israel summoned France’s ambassador to Israel Hélène Le Gal to the Israeli foreign ministry for a reprimand for Araud’s statements. (HA 4/30)

The United Kingdom announced that it was contributing $11.7 million to help build a water desalination plant in Gaza. (WAFA 4/30)

The EU contributed $4.1 million to the PA’s private sector reconstruction agricultural program to help farmers in Gaza. In a separate announcement, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that the EU was contributing with an additional $24.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. (MNA, WAFA, WAFA 4/30; MNA 5/1)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinians in O.T. observe general strike to protest deportation of 8 Palestinians 6/29 [FBIS 7/3].

Other Countries: President Bush sends Shamir letter endorsing Baker's 5/22 speech to AIPAC [NYT 7/25].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: At Meguiddo prison guards use tear gas to quell demonstration [FBIS 6/30]. In Gaza at least 9 Palestinians are wounded during demonstrations [FBIS 7/3].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel bans "popular committees" which have assisted Palestinians during the intifadah; membership in a popular committee is made punishable by 10 years in prison. Representatives of the European Community protest Israel's deportation policy; Israel's Foreign Ministry responds that deportations are necessary to maintain order. Israel lifts 3-day curfew for parts of Gaza; 265,000 Palestinians remain under curfew [WP 8/19]. Qabatiyyah is placed under curfew for the 27th consecutive day [FJ 8/21].

Other Countries: International Committee of the Red Cross criticizes shooting of 2 Palestinians at Ansar III prison, calls removal of Palestinian prisoners from occupied territories a violation of the 4th Geneva Convention [WP 8/19].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Tammun 2 Palestinians are shot during confrontations with soldiers; in al-Am'ari refugee camp 4 Palestinians are shot during clashes; in Burayj one Palestinian isshot; in Jabalya one Palestinian is shot [FJ 8/2 1]. Red Cross officials state that 270 Palestinians were treated following beatings during the period from 15 to 17 August [WP 8/19]

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli High Court delays deportation of Palestinian activist Mubarak 'Awad pending his appeal hearing. Reports indicate 'Awad has been on hunger strike since his arrest 5/5 [WP 5/9]. Authorities begin cutting off electricity to Palestinian villages which have not paid their bills; water is cut off in Attil village near Tulkarm and Nablus-area villages of Bidiya and Yutma [FJ 5/15].

Arab World: Mahmud 'Abbas (Abu Mazin) leaves Amman after 2 days of talks with Jordanian officials [FJ 5/15].

Other Countries: F.M. Peres meets with senior Hungarian officials in Budapest [WP 5/9].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Army imposes curfews in Jabalya camp and 'Abasan village in Gaza Strip following protests. Demonstrators throw stones in Ramallah and Jenin [FJ 5/15].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhaq Rabin says new policy of "power, force, and beating" has brought "relative calm" to W. Bank and Gaza Strip. Striking shopowners in Ramallah charge soldiers have been beating them indiscriminately [WP 1/26]. Yediot Aharonot reports Palestinian workers are refusing to make wooden clubs for the army [LAT 1/26]. P. M. Shamir lifts travel restrictions on journalist Hanna Siniora. Cabinet Sec. Elyakim Rubinstein leaves on official visit to U.S. [WP 1/27]. Almost total commercial strike in E. Jerusalem keeps stores closed [FBIS 1/26]. Four Gazans facing deportation withdraw appeals to Israeli High Court [FBIS 1/25].

Arab World: In Sidon, Palestinian Revolutionary Council releases Amal official Hasan Darwish al-Darwish [FBIS 1/26].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfews on new and old 'Askar refugee camps are lifted; Bayt 'Ur al-Tahta curfew and Sa'ir blockade remain in force [FBIS 1/25]. Soldiers beat and teargas stone-throwing demonstrators in Rafah camp [FBIS 1/26]. Demonstrators blockade roads in al-Tur and other Jerusalem neighborhoods. Military lifts Jabalya camp curfew allowing workers to go to jobs in Israel. Curfew on Rafah camp is also lifted. In village of Idna, soldiers seize Arab-owned buses to raid village, attack protesters using tear gas and rubber bullets. Several villagers are injured. Many Palestinians are injureduring army's night raid of 'Ayn Bayt al-Ma' camp. Throughout territories, reports indicate many Palestinians suffer broken bones, other injuries caused by army beatings. In Gaza Strip's Nusayrat camp, troops force about 10,000 men to spend night in open air [FJ 1/31].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Reports indicate Israel is sending psychologists to army units in Gaza Strip because of concerns about the effect of "power, force, and beatings" policy on mental health of Israeli soldiers [NYT 1/22]. Shopowners in E. Jerusalem, W. Bank, and Gaza Strip strike [FBIS 1/21; FJ 1/24]. Attorney for 5th Palestinian scheduled for deportation announces his client is dropping his appeal [FBIS 1/22].

Arab World: Egypt's Pres. Husni Mubarak calls for 6-month cease-fire in occupied territories, international peace conference on the Middle East as part of new peace initiative [WP, LAT 1/22]. Jordan's P.M. Zayd Rifa'i tells parliament that 23 PFLP members have been detained on charges of attempting to instigate disturbances in Jordan [FBIS 1/25].

Other Countries: U.S. criticizes Israel's new policy of beating Palestinian protesters [WP 1/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Curfews on 4 Gaza Strip camps are eased, allowing people to leave for work and food trucks to enter; 4 other Gaza camps remain under curfew [WP 1/22]. Palestine Press Service reports minor disturbances near Hebron, Ramallah, and Nablus. Relief workers in occupied territories reportreating many Palestinians for fractures, head wounds caused by severe beatings by soldiers, border police [WP, LAT 1/22]. Military lifts 7-day-old curfew on town of Salfit. Sa'ir, village near Hebron, al-Mazra'ah al-Sharqiyyah, near Ramallah, and old and new 'Askar camps are placed under curfew [FJ 1/24].

Arab World: Moroccan government acknowledges 1 student iskilled and 9 others injured in clash between police and pro-Palestinian demonstration in Fez [NYT 1/25].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israel deports 4 Palestinians to S. Lebanon; PFLP takes the 4 to base in Biqa' Valley [CSM 1/15]. Child injured in demonstration dies [FJ 1/17]. Commercial strike continues in many W. Bank towns and cities; at least 23 shops in Tulkarm and Qalqiliyyah are welded shut for joining the strike [FJ 1/17].

Other Countries: Sir Crispin Tickell, pres. of UN Security Council, and International Com. of the Red Cross condemn Israeli deportation of 4 Palestinians. U.S. says it "regrets" Israeli action [NYT 1/14]. China announces its Red Cross Society will send medicine, food to PLO for Palestinians in W. Bank, Gaza Strip [CSM 1/14].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: All refugee camps are declared under curfew. Demonstrations continue. In Khan Yunis camp, protesters attack soldiers with clubs, knives before being arrested; 2 soldiers are reported injured. In Bayt Hanun, several Palestinians are injured after clash with soldiers. Military reports more than 500 Palestinians attack army vehicles in Rafah during visit of UN Undersec. Gen. Marrack Goulding [FJ 1/17]. Soldiers fire on crowd, killing 1, in Ramallah-district village of Kafr Ni'mah. Palestinian sources report that 2 children die from tear gas in village of Dayr 'Ammar, near Ramallah; Israel denies report. Jerusalem Post reports child is wounded in throat during clash between soldiers and about 40 stone-throwing demonstrators in Qalandiya camp [FJ 1/17]. Death toll of Palestinians killed since 12/9 is now at 34 [CSM 1/15].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Leaders of new civil disobedience movement urge Palestinian boycott of Israeli soft drinks and cigarettes [CSM 1/8]. Complete commercial strike is observed throughout most of W. Bank [FJ 1/10]. Pledging to continue until their deportation orders are rescinded, 6 Palestinians join hunger strike [FJ 1/10]. During press conference inJerusalem, delegation of 6 Spanish legal experts describes military trials in occupied territories as worse than those under the Franco regime [FJ 1/10]. Civil administration reduces ban on distribution of al-Quds from 30 to 18 days [FJ 1/10].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: About 1,000 Palestinians attack Israeli soldiers at Gaza Strip's Maghazi and Nusayrat refugee camps in response to calls from mosque loudspeakers. Troops respond with gunfire, killing 1, wounding 7 [WP 1/9]. In E. Jerusalem, police arrest at least 12 demonstrators after protest on Salah al-Din St. Violent clashes between tire-burning, rock-throwing demonstrators and Israeli troops are also reported inRafah and Khan Yunis [FJ 1/10].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Gaza Strip's Union of Workers in Commerce and Public Service defy Israeli ban and hold union elections in Red Cross offices [FJ 4/12].

Other Countries: American Civil Liberties Union files lawsuit charging that McCarran-Walter Act, under which 7 Palestinians and 1 Kenyan were arrested 1/26, is unconstitutional and that Immigration and Naturalization Service plans "sweeping arrests and deportation" of Arabs living in U.S. [BS 4/4].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: P.M. Peres survives no-confidence motion and wins Knesset approval for 7-point peace plan recently offered at the UN; vote is 68-10 in support of Peres' initiative to Jordan [NYT, WP 10/29]. Israeli military issues deportation orders against 4 Palestinians for alleged "subversive political activity": 'Ali Abu Hilal, from Abu Dis, and Dr. 'Azmi Shu'aybi, from al-Bireh, both charged with membership in the DFLP; and Hasan Faraje, from Dheisheh camp, and Zaki Abu Stita, from Jabalya camp in the Gaza Strip, both charged with membership in the PFLP [LT 10/29]. The 4 will appear before an advisory board this week, where they can appeal the orders [JP 10/29].

Arab World: Yasir Arafat and King Hussein, accompanied by aides, meet for several hours, discuss strains in their relationship, schedule more talks for tomorrow [NYT, WP 10/29].

Other Countries: Jewish Telegraph Agency reports representatives of international Jewish organizations for the first time officially met 2 Chinese govt. agency officials in Peking recently [JTA 10/29].

Military Action

Arab World: SLA militiamen kill 3 unidentified gunmen near SLA position near village of 'Aysha in security zone [JP 10/29].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Deposed Ramallah mayor Karim Khalaf supports 2/11 Arafat-Hussein accord [deposed Nablus mayor Bassam al-Shak'a, Abna' al-Balad movement oppose agreement] [FJ 2/22]. 25 women prisoners end hunger strike [begun 2/12] at Neve Tertza prison after receiving promises of better treatment [FJ 2/22].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Israeli bus stoned near al-Amari camp; one passenger injured; authorities close furniture shop in vicinity [JP 2/18]. After High Court of Justice refuses 2 stays of deportation, authorities deport Fateh figure 'Abd al-'Aziz Shahin to Lebanon [imprisoned in 1967 for "armed infiltration;" released in 1982, he was forced to live incommunicado in Dahaniya, Gaza strip until his deportation] [JP 2/18, FJ 2/22].

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: assassinations of collaborators continue in wake of Israeli withdrawal from Sidon area [NYT 2/18]. Roadside bomb kills IDF soldier, wounds 3, in al-Bazouriya UP 2/18]. IDF soldier killed in ambush near Nabatiya [WP 2/19].