The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian farmer tending his land near Artas. Israeli settlers also threw stones at a school in ‘Urif, damaging solar panels. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian homes near Huwwara, causing damage. Israeli forces demolished 1 house under construction and 1 water well in Farsh al-Hawa. Israeli forces also issued stop-work orders for 6 homes under construction in Kafr ad-Dik. Elsewhere, Israeli forces sealed 1 water pipeline serving al-‘Awja. 24 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beit Umar, Hebron, Beitunia, Askar refugee camp, al-Mudawwar, Ya‘bad, and Huwwara. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/15; PCHR, UNOCHA 12/22)

Members of Nizar Banat’s family called on the ICC to investigate the killing of Banat by PA security forces in June 2021. Banat was killed while being arrested by PA security officers. 14 security officers were later arrested but none of them have been convicted in relation to the killing. (AP, BBC, HA, MEE 12/15; ALM 12/20)

In an interview with NPR, Israeli prime-minister elect Benjamin Netanyahu said that he will not agree to a Palestinian state with full sovereignty. “[M]y formula is very simple . . . . The only peace that will hold is one that we can defend. And the one that we can defend is one in which the Palestinians have all the powers to govern themselves, but none of the powers to threaten our life, which means that security, in whatever political arrangements we'll have realistically will have to remain in Israel's hands.” The PA called Netanyahu’s remarks unacceptable. (NPR 12/15; MEMO, WAFA 12/17 MEMO 12/18)

Unilever said the legal dispute between it and its subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s over the sale of the license to manufacture and sell the ice cream company’s products in Israel had been resolved but did not offer any details. Ben & Jerry’s recently updated its website, removing Israel as one of the countries where consumers can buy its ice cream. (GDN 12/15; EI, MEE, MEMO 12/16)

The UN General Assembly passed the resolution, “The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,” with 167 votes in favor, 6 against, and 9 abstentions. (UN 12/15; WAFA 12/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered demolition notices for 6 agricultural structures and 1 residential structure and delivered stop-work orders for 2 houses and a water well in Wadi Rahal. Israeli forces also raided Khirbet Humsa, seizing tools and tents used for agricultural purposes. 10 Palestinians were arrested, including 8 during late-night raids in and around Tuqu’, Hebron, Beit Umar, and Bir al-Basha, and 2 were arrested at a checkpoint near Jenin. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli forces confiscated 2 boats anchored 7 nautical miles from the coast. (MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; PCHR 10/28)

An Israeli military court convicted 1 Palestinian man of murdering an Israeli settler in the northern West Bank on 12/20/2020. (HA, JP, TOI 10/27)

Israel’s civil administration advanced, for the 1st time during the U.S. Biden administration, settlement units to be built in the West Bank. 2,860 housing units were approved in Har Brakha, Revava, Elon Moreh, Hermesh, Karnei Shomron, Beit El, Givat Ze’ev, Kefar Etzion, Alon Shvut, Teneh, Sansana, Vered Yericho, Ma’aleh Mikhmash, Efrat, Tal Manashe, Talmon, Shima’a, and Kedumim. The approval also included the retroactive approval of units in Elon Moreh, Alei Zahav, Peduel, and Eli, and the “legalization” of the Mitzpe Danny outpost and an outpost in Haroeh Haivri. The U.S. publicly criticized the move and privately asked Israel to reverse course on 10/26. (AP, HA, JP, JP, MDW, MEE, MEMO, PCN, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; AJ, ALM, CNN, HA 10/28)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh met with EU officials, including the high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell in Brussels. Prime Minister Shtayyeh called on the EU to take concrete steps to end Israeli settlement expansion. Shtayyeh also called on the EU to recognize the State of Palestine. Separetly, Shtayyeh called on Belgium to recognize the State of Palestine during a meeting with the speaker of the Belgian parliament. (WAFA 10/27; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/28)

The Israeli Knesset voted down a bill that would recognize the 1956 Kafr Qasim massacre. Only 12 members voted for the bill while 93 voted against. The bill was sponsored by Aida Touma-Sliman, Ofer Cassif, and Ayman Odeh of the Joint Arab List. (HA 10/26; HA 10/27; HA 10/28)

U.S. deputy of state for management and resources Brian McKeon told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it is his understanding that the U.S. needs Israel’s permission to reopen the U.S. consulate to Palestinians in Jerusalem. (HA, JP, MEMO 10/28)

Florida’s boycott of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company’s parent company Unilever went into effect after a 90-day period given to the company to reverse Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling ice cream in West Bank settlements and to end its franchise agreement in Israel. Florida will now stop new investments in Unilever, but its $39 million already invested in the company will not be affected. (TOI 11/26; JP 11/27; MEMO 11/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces fired tear gas and sound bombs at Palestinians near al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 21 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Sa‘ir, Harmala, al-Bireh, Kafr Ein, Ni‘lin, and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA 9/14; PCHR 9/16)

The 1st hearing in the case against 14 PA security forces in the killing of PA critic Nizar Banat on 6/24 was postponed until 9/21 because the lawyer of the 14 was absent from the session. (WAFA 9/14)

Fatah condemned Facebook for suspending Al-Awda TV Facebook page. (WAFA 9/14)

Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett said that he opposes a Palestinian state during an interview with Israeli Kan news. Prime Minister Bennett also said he would not meet or speak to PA president Mahmoud Abbas, citing Abbas’s referral of Israel war crimes to the ICC. (TOI 9/14; ALM, JP 9/15)

Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz told Foreign Policy that Israel will accept a new Iran nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran, but that he hopes the U.S. will make a “plan B.” Foreign Minister Gantz also said about a potential peace agreement, “Abbas is still dreaming of the 1967 lines, this won’t happen. He has to realize we’re staying here . . . We’re not taking down settlements.” (FP 9/14; ALM, HA 9/15; MEMO 9/16)

On the anniversary of the normalization deals between Israel, Bahrain, and the UAE, sponsored by the U.S., state department spokesperson Ned Price said that the U.S. is looking at advancing similar deals. Spokesperson Price also praised the normalization deal between Israel and Morocco, but did not mention the Sudan-Israel normalization deal. The U.S., during the Donald Trump administration, gave all 4 countries that normalized ties with Israel different political incentives to do so. The ambassadors of the U.S., Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain also met at an event hosted by former White House official Jared Kushner’s new non-profit organization The Abraham Accords Institute for Peace. The U.S. secretary of State Antony Blinken will host a virtual meeting on 9/17 to celebrate the normalization deals. UAE economy minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri also said on 9/13 that the UAE seeks to raise its trade with Israel to $1 trillion in the next 10 years. The bilateral trade between the 2 countries are currently around $600 million, according to Economy Minister Al Marri. (AX, HA, REU, REU, Twitter 9/14; TOI 9/15; MEMO 9/16)

Jewish Currents reported that representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) were leading efforts to add an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act blocking the delivery of Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Small Diameter Bombs to Israel for 1 year. Both types of munitions were used by Israel during Operation Guardian of the Wall. The amendment is unlikely to be part of the bill. (JC 9/14)

The state of New Jersey sent a letter to the company Unilever that it considers its subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling its ice cream in West Bank settlements a boycott of Israel and therefore will divest from the company. New Jersey is said to have $182 million invested in Unilever stock, bonds, and other securities. (MEMO 9/15; JP, NYT 9/16)