The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and arrested 1 Palestinian trying to enter Israel for work at the separation wall near Zeita. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces arrested PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith during a house raid in Silwan. Governor Ghaith was later placed in house arrest on 8/4. 2 others were arrested, including 1 in the Hadassah hospital and 1 at the Damascus Gate plaza. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/31; MEMO, WAFA 8/1; WAFA 8/3; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/4; MEMO 8/5; PCHR 8/4; UNOCHA 8/5)

The Israeli security cabinet voted to deduct $176 million from its yearly transfer of PA taxes collected by Israel to the PA, saying it is the amount the PA pays to Palestinian militants in Israeli prisons and their families. Meretz leader Nitzan Horowitz abstained from voting, calling the vote a charade as Israel makes up the money in other payments to the PA to alleviate its financial issues. PA presidential spokesperson Nabil Rudeineh called the decision “robbery” and said the PA will not change its policy. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 7/31; MEMO 8/1)

The Israeli cabinet approved plans for the construction of a joint industrial park with Jordan. The $59 million plan will see Israeli and Jordanian factories on the Jordanian side while a logistics wing will be built in Israel above the West Bank. The agreement was reportedly made during Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid’s visit to Amman on 7/27. (HA, JP, TOI 7/31; AJ, MEMO 8/1)