The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land in Burin. Israeli settlers also vandalized a water pipeline in Khirbat Tana. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers raided Yatma, attacking Palestinians. Israeli forces demolished 4 buildings in the Baladim settlement outpost near Ein Samia. The demolitions were approved by the Settlement Administration in the Defense Ministry. Israeli forces also forced a disabled Palestinian out of his car and seized the car, specially made for his needs, leaving him in a wheelchair at a checkpoint south of Ramallah. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished agricultural structures and razed land planted with 120 olive tree saplings in Beit Sira. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jalazun refugee camp, Birzeit, Qabatiya, and Hebron. PA forces in Jenin arrested several Palestinians and seized weapons. In East Jerusalem, Israel forces made 1 Palestinian family demolish their own home in Musrara. In Gaza, Hamas said it had seized an Israeli drone that crashed near Gaza City after malfunctioning. (JP, HA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/14; MEMO, MEMO 8/15; PCHR 8/17; UNOCHA 8/28)

The Israeli-run Jerusalem District Court rejected an appeal that would have seen the Israeli settler Yehiel Indore released from custody. Indore is the main suspect in the killing of Palestinian Qosai Jammal Mi’tanin on 8/4 in Burqa. An Israeli police representative told the court that Indore’s claim of acting in self-defense is unlikely to hold merit. (HA 8/14)

Maps released by the Israeli Civil Administration showed that the official boundaries of the Israeli settlement outposts Asael and Avigail, which had been retroactively authorized by Israel in February, had expanded significantly in recent months. The Asael settlement outpost had expanded 18 times while the Avigail outpost had expanded 2.5 times. Both outposts are located in the South Hebron Hills. 10 other settlement outposts retroactively authorized in February will have their new boundaries published in the coming weeks. (HA 8/16)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Jordanian king Abdullah II, and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi condemned Israel for fueling violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank after the 3 leaders met in El Alamein, Egypt. The 3 also said Israel was illegally withholding PA tax income. (HA 8/12; AP, HA, WAFA 8/14; NA 8/15)

Islamic Jihad and Fatah issued a joint statement saying Islamic Jihad political bureau member Khaled al-Batsh and Fatah central committee member Ahmad Halas discussed reconciliation between the two groups in Gaza. (ALM, JP 8/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers let their sheep graze on wheat and barley crops and set up a tent on Palestinian-owned land near al-Tuba in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces uprooted olive, almond, and grape trees in Husan and assaulted 2 Palestinians trying to fend the soldiers off. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor during a raid in ‘Azzun. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished homes, agricultural structures, and water tanks in Sawahira al-Sharqiya. 13 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Fawwar refugee camp, Beit Kahil, Beit Umar, Birzeit, al-Jalamah, Jalbun, Qalandia refugee camp, Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, and Ein as-Sultan. 1 Palestinian was shot and injured with live ammunition and others suffered tear-gas related injuries during the raid in Fawwar refugee camp. 1 Palestinian was also injured with live ammunition during the raid in Ein as-Sultan. In Abu Ghosh, Israelis set fire to 4 Palestinian-owned vehicles and wrote racist graffiti on walls. (HA, QDS, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/17; PCHR 7/19; UNOCHA 7/29)

Islamic Jihad said PA forces arrested 5 of its members in Jenin during a night raid. Protests against the PA were held later in the day in Jenin refugee camp. (MEMO, QDS, REU 7/17; MDW 7/19)

The National Council of Arab Mayors in Israel staged a protest outside of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, calling on the government to tackle organized crime in Palestinian communities in Israel as the murder rate continued to soar. (HA 7/17)

Israeli state-owned channel Kan 11 reported that the Israeli government will approve the transfer of $36 million earmarked for Palestinian communities in Israel to funding for married yeshiva students. The $36 million was budgeted to improve infrastructure and education in Palestinian majority towns during the Lapid-Bennett government. (HA, HA 7/19) 

United Torah Judaism MK Yakov Asher presented a bill to the Knesset Interior and Environment Committee that would allow the transfer of tax revenue from industrial zones in Israel to West Bank settlements. (HA 7/17)

U.S. president Joe Biden spoke with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call, inviting Netanyahu to meet him in the U.S. later in 2023. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Biden “stressed the need to take measures to maintain the viability of a two-state solution.” It was reported that Netanyahu promised not to advance more settlement construction until the end of 2023, a promise Netanyahu’s office denied in Israeli media. (ALM, AX, HA, HA, MEE, NYT 7/17; ALM, AJ, AX HA, HA, HA, MEE, REU 7/18; NYT 7/19; HA 7/20)

Israel said that it has recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a part of Israel and Morocco’s normalization deal. Morocco said Israel is considering opening a consulate in Dakhla. King Mohammed VI invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to Morocco after the announcement was made. (AJ, ALM, F24, HA, MEE, REU 7/17; ALM, MEE 7/18; ALM, MEE, NYT, REU 7/19; HA 7/20)