The Palestine Chronology

In Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots 2 Hamas mbrs. who detonated a roadside bomb nr. a bus carrying Thai laborers to a Jewish settlement, causing no damage or injuries. Nr. Nablus, a Jewish settler, angry over Palestinian youths throwing stones at his car, stops and shoots 1 of the youths at point blank range, killing him. A 4th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. Palestinians fire 3 mortars at Gush Katif, causing some damage but no injuries. In Azariyya, the IDF closes the PA Information Min.'s temporary offices (opened after the IDF shut the main offices on 11/21), the al-Quds Open University Student Union office. The IDF also shells residential areas of al-Bireh, Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Azun, Khan Yunis, Ramallah; detains 10 Palestinians at a Gaza checkpoint. (AP 1/31; BBC, NYT, WT 2/1; LAW, PCHR 2/6)

In an interview with Ma'ariv, Sharon says that he regrets that Israel did not kill Arafat in Beirut in 1982. The State Dept. says that the U.S. does not have "any particular comment" on Sharon's statement. (MA 1/31 in WNC 2/1; BBC, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/1)

Palestinian collaborator Murad Abu al-Asal detonates a suicide bomb nr. Taibeh, Israel, injuring his 2 Shin Bet handlers. A 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 1/21. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, East Jerusalem, Nablus, Ramallah, and Tulkarm, detaining 9 Palestinians fr. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, PFLP; shells residential areas of Tulkarm. (HA, MM, PCHR 1/30; NYT, WT 1/31; MA 1/31 in WNC 2/4; LAW 2/6)

The Israeli cabinet approves the Enveloping Jerusalem plan. (WP, WT 1/31) (see 1/28)

The Palestinian woman who carried out a suicide bombing on 1/27 is identified as Wafa Idriss, a Red Crescent volunteer medical worker who reportedly was distraught over the Palestinian casualties inflicted by the IDF. Most recently, a boy she treated, who had been shot by the IDF and left in a coma died, on 1/25. AMB claims she was "one of our female fighters," but family and friends say she had no connection to the group; she also was not religious, never attended al-Najah University. Her brother, Khalil Idris, is a local Fatah leader wanted by Israel. (AP, REU 1/30; HA, NYT, Red Crescent press release, WP 1/31; SA 2/2 in WNC 2/4; WT 2/3; JP 2/8; WP 2/9; NYT 2/11)

Sharon meets secretly in Jerusalem with Qurai`, PA senior negotiator Mahmud Abbas, Arafat economic adviser Muhammad Rashid, marking his 1st mtg. with PA officials since his election in 2/01; reportedly says he accepts the idea of an interim agmt. along the lines of the Peres-Qurai` plan, with implementation taking 7 yrs. (XIN 2/1, AYM, al-Ra'i 2/2 in WNC 2/4; NYT, WP, WT 2/2; AFP, JP [Internet] 2/3; MM, NYT, WT 2/4; AYM 2/4 in WNC 2/6; WP, WT 2/5; MA 2/9 in WNC 2/11)

Ben-Eliezer meets with Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak in Sharm al-Shaykh, says Israel currently sees no partner for peace on the Palestinian side, asks Egypt to inform Damascus that Israel is ready to renew peace talks with Syria. (HA, MM 1/30; MENA 1/30 in WNC 1/31; WT 1/31; MM 2/1; MENA 2/5 in WNC 2/6; MM 2/7)

The IDF sends tanks, troops into Artas village, nr. Bethlehem, to detain a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. Omar Ayish. In the process the IDF wound 4 Palestinians; throw a grenade into the Ayish home, causing damage but no injuries; leave a trail of cars crushed and overturned by tanks. In response to the raid, Palestinian gunmen fire on Gilo fr. Bayt Jala, lightly injuring 1 Jewish settler. IDF soldiers detain and beat a Red Crescent doctor, ambulance driver at a checkpoint in Nablus. The doctor is released after several hrs. but the driver is kept in custody. (AP 1/29; NYT, PCHR 1/30)

Omri Sharon, the PM's son, meets Arafat in Ramallah to arrange a secret mtg. btwn. Sharon, senior PA officials in Jerusalem for 1/30. (SA 2/3 in WNC 2/4; MM 2/4)

In his State of the Union address, Bush calls Iran, Iraq, North Korea an "axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world"; also refers to a "terrorist underworld, including groups like Hamas, Hizballah, [and] Islamic Jihad." (HA, NYT, WP, WT 1/30; MM 1/31; MM 2/1; MA 2/1 in WNC 2/4; JP, MEI 2/8)

In Ramallah, IDF soldiers shoot, seriously wound a Hamas mbr. at a checkpoint, bar an ambulance fr. reaching him for 45 mins., allowing him to bleed to death. The PA terms the incident an assassination. In the West Bank, Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot a Jewish settler driving in the West Bank. Some 2,000 Palestinians in Ramallah, 1,000s of Palestinians in Bethlehem rally against Israel's continued confinement of Arafat, vowing to continue the intifada despite his cease-fire appeals. The IDF also shells 3 PSF posts nr. Jabaliya; arrests 3 PSF officers in Jinin. (REU 1/26; JT [Internet], NYT, WT 1/27; PCHR 1/30)

Israeli Arabs hold demonstrations in Sakhnin protesting Israel's military actions. (al-Quds 1/28 in WNC 1/29)

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device on a street in Tel Aviv, wounding at least 18 Israelis, 3 of them critically. 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. In Gaza, the IDF reports that Hamas fired locally made Qassam-1 rockets at Erez crossing, causing no injuries. In retaliation, the IDF launches F-16 air strikes on PA security targets in Gaza City and Tulkarm, injuring at least 7 Palestinians. The IDF also shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 600 m² of Palestinian land in Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Nablus. In Ramallah, 1,000s of Palestinians rally in support of Arafat. The IDF pulls out of Tira neighborhood in Ramallah, which it reoccupied on 1/17. (AP 1/25; NYT, WP, WT 1/26; JT [Internet] 1/27; PCHR 1/30)

56 officers, soldiers in the IDF combat reserves publish a petition in Ha'Aretz publicly refusing to "fight beyond the Green Line for the purpose of occupying, deporting, destroying, blockading, killing, starving, and humiliating an entire people." (HA 1/25; HA 1/28; WP 1/29; WT 1/30; BBC, MM, WJW 1/31; MA 2/1 in WNC 2/4; NYT 2/2; MM 2/4; MM, NYT 2/5; MEI 2/8)

Senior White House, State Dept., CIA, Pentagon officials meet again to discuss the possibility of severing ties with Arafat, the PA/PLO. Bush, his advisers decide to increase public criticism of Arafat and to "redouble" efforts to get Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia to put pressure on Arafat. (AP, HA, MM, WP 1/25; WP, WT 1/26; al-Quds 1/26, DUS 1/27 in WNC 1/28; MM 1/28; AKH 1/28 in WNC 1/29; HA 1/29; MA, al-Quds 2/1 in WNC 2/4)

The IDF assassinates senior Hamas mbr. Adli Hamdan (Bakr Hamdan), firing missiles at his car in Khan Yunis, injuring 2 passengers. Another 5 Palestinians are killed in separate incidents, including a PA intelligence officer fatally shot by the IDF in Ramallah. A 6th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. In Hebron, the IDF raids, occupies a Palestinian bakery, shooting, wounding, detaining 1 Palestinian. The IDF also conducts arrest sweeps in the Bethlehem area, Tulkarm; occupies a Palestinian home in al-Khadir as an observation post. (LAW, NYT, WP 1/25; PCHR 1/30)

     The U.S. invites Sharon to come to Washington to meet with Bush on 2/7. White House also issues a statement regarding Israel's confinement of Arafat to his office in Ramallah, saying, "The president understands the reason that Israel has taken the action that it takes, and it is up to Chairman Arafat to demonstrate the leadership to combat terrorism." Bush meets with senior national security advisers to reassess U.S. Middle East policy. Some senior admin. officials (including VP Dick Cheney, Defense Secy. Donald Rumsfeld) are reportedly leaning toward sanctioning or severing ties with Arafat, the PA/PLO. (MM, WJW 1/24; AP, CNN, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/25; al-Quds 1/26, DUS 1/27 in WNC 1/28; MM 1/28)

The IDF raids an alleged explosives factory in Nablus, killing most-wanted Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades West Bank head Yusif Suragji and 3 other Hamas mbrs.; the PA claims they were assassinated. Hamas vows to launch an "all-out war" against Israel. In retaliation, an AMB gunman opens fire in West Jerusalem, wounding 16 Israelis before being fatally shot by Israeli police. Hamas spokesman `Abd al-`Aziz claims that the PA is actively tipping off the IDF to the location of Hamas operatives, granting the IDF entry to PA areas; threatens that Hamas will make sure the "conspirators . . . pay the price." In Nablus, 2,000 Palestinians angry over the deaths march on the local PA headquarters and PSF office demanding the release of 28 detained Hamas mbrs., torching 3 PSF cars. PSF officers shoot tear gas, stun grenades at the crowd, fire their weapons in the air, killing 1 Palestinian. To calm tensions, the PSF "temporarily" releases the brother of 1 of the Hamas mbrs. killed today so he may attend the funeral. IDF withdraws to the outskirts of Tulkarm after a massive 24-hr. incursion but also fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. In Ramallah, 1 IDF soldier is killed by IDF machine gun fire; the army says it is investigating the incident. (CNN, HA, MM 1/22; HA, NYT, WP, WT 1/23; PCHR 1/23; MEI 1/25)

In its largest military operation in the West Bank and Gaza since 1967, Israel sends a large number of IDF infantry, tanks, APCs, armored bulldozers into Tulkarm in a predawn operation to totally reoccupy the city, taking control of the city center, occupying buildings (including a college, the mayor's home) and apartments as observer posts, hoisting Israeli flags, imposing a 24-hr. curfew, conducting house-to-house searches, detaining at least 30 Palestinians. The IDF reportedly responds to "scattered resistance," leaving 2 Palestinians dead, 15 wounded. IDF soldiers also fire on 2 ambulances coming to the aid of the wounded, seriously injuring 1 ambulance driver. Israel says the operation will last "only a few days." The IDF also sends tanks deep into PA-controlled Nablus; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Ramallah; conducts an arrest raid in Nahalin. Senior IDF officials suggest that Israel is preparing to make more deep incursions into PA areas "to destroy more infrastructure and to kill more terrorists." The IDF also bulldozes Palestinian land along bypass road 60 outside Hebron. Some 40 Palestinians attempt to block the bulldozers but are confronted by armed Jewish settlers who fire in the air and beat the Palestinians, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian. The PA releases NISP head Salih (arrested 1/5). (MM, WP 1/21, 1/22; al-Quds 1/23 in WNC 1/30; MEI 1/25; PCHR 1/26; JP 2/1)

The Israeli-Arab legal center Adalah formally asks Israeli atty. gen. Elyakim Rubenstein to reconsider his recent decision not to compel the Custodian for Absentees' Property to comply with Israeli 1998 freedom of information act by releasing data on the moveable property of Palestinian refugees seized by Israel in 1948. Rubenstein rejected the request on the ground that it would damage Israel's foreign relations, require excessive time and resources to comply. Adalah 1st submitted its request in 1999. The atty. gen.'s office ignored 15 follow-up requests for a decision btwn. 1999 and 2002. (Adalah press release 1/28)

1,000s of Palestinians in Gaza City, 100s of Palestinians in Ramallah march in support of Arafat, protesting his confinement in Ramallah. The DFLP says it will resume attacks on Israeli targets. IDF troops fire on Palestinians who throw stones at a tank that gets stuck in a narrow Ramallah street; 1 IDF soldier, 12 Palestinians are injured. The IDF also directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Nablus; conducts an arrest raid in Bani Suhayla. (AP 1/20; WP, WT 1/21; PCHR 1/26)

In retaliation for the 1/17 AMB attack, IDF soldiers in Ramallah confiscate the archives Voice of Palestine, blow up the radio's 5-story building in Ramallah; search the home of PA intelligence chief Tirawi; search, occupy the Episcopal Diocese's Arab Evangelical School. When Palestinian youths throw stones at IDF tanks surrounding Arafat's headquarters, troops respond with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas, injuring 15. Some 4,000 Palestinians also hold a nonviolent march in the city to protest the IDF presence. Elsewhere in the West Bank, wanted AMB mbr. Faraj Hani Odeh Nazzal is fatally shot in what is thought to be an IDF assassination. The IDF also shells residential areas of Nablus. Palestinian gunmen fire on Gilo. (Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem press release, LAW, MM 1/18; BBC, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 1/19; AYM 1/19 in WNC 1/22; MM 1/21; AKH 1/21 in WNC 1/23; PCHR 1/23; WJW 1/24; MEI 1/25)

In the Negev, 200 bedouin protest against an Israeli Interior Min. order to raze illegally built homes in their community. Many of the tin shanties were built by bedouin who served in the IDF, were recently discharged. (HA 1/19)

Early this morning, the Israeli inner cabinet orders the IDF to seal Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm. The IDF also fatally shoots wanted AMB mbr. Khamis Abdallah in an apparent assassination in Nablus; fires a tank shell at 3 teenagers trying to sneak across the Gaza border into Israel to work, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 2. This evening, an AMB gunman opens fire with an M-16 on a bat mitzvah celebration in Hadera, Israel, killing 6 Israelis, wounding at least 25 before being beaten unconscious by the celebrants and then fatally shot by an Israeli policeman. In retaliation, the IDF sends 20 tanks, APCs, paratroopers into Ramallah to tighten the encirclement of Arafat's headquarters to within 100 yds., placing Arafat under de facto house arrest; sends F-16s to shell PA Interior Min., administrative, and security offices in Tulkarm, killing 2 PSF officers, injuring 61 officers and civilians, damaging 20 homes and 50 stores; reinforces troops nr. Jinin, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian. (AP 1/17; LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/18; AFP, Interfax 1/18 in WNC 1/22; CNN, WP, WT 1/19; MM 1/21; PCHR 1/23; WJW 1/24; JP, MEI 1/25; JP 2/1)

A Palestinian is fatally shot while driving through the West Bank, possibly by Palestinian gunmen who mistook him for a Jewish settler. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Battir, Nahalin. The PFLP organizes demonstrations in Bethlehem, Ramallah demanding the PA release Saadat. (MM, PCHR 1/16; JP [Internet], WT 1/17; al-Quds 1/20 in WNC 1/22)

AMB gunmen ambush, abduct, fatally shoot a Jewish settler nr. Bayt Sahur. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot a 2d Jewish settler, wound a 3d nr. Givat Ze'ev. Both settlers killed are U.S. passport holders. The IDF tightens blockades around Bethlehem, Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Qalqilya. Jewish settlers uproot an olive grove nr. Keddumim. The PSF arrests PFLP head Ahmad Saadat in Ramallah after luring him to a mtg. with PA West Bank intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi; the Israel claims the arrest was only meant to impress a visiting U.S. congressional delegation. In Bethlehem, Gaza City, and Ramallah, 100s of Palestinians gather to protest Saadat's arrest. Demonstrators outside Arafat's office in Ramallah denounce Tirawi as a collaborator. The PSF also shuts the Gaza City office of al-Risala, the NISP's newspaper. (AFP, BBC 1/15; AFP, JP, LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 1/16; HA, MM, NYT, WP 1/17; al-Quds 1/17 in WNC 1/18; al-Safir 1/18; al-Nahar 1/19 in WNC 1/22; MEI 1/25)

In light of increasing violence, the U.S. places Zinni's 3d trip to the region, set to begin on 1/18, on hold. (WT 1/16; MM 1/21)

The PSF announces it has arrested Shubaki, Mughrabi in connection with the Karine A; has issued a warrant for Razim, who is believed to be in Jordan. Israel, dismissing the arrests as insufficient, shells PA naval targets in Gaza and residential areas of Rafah, destroying 19 Palestinian houses, damaging another 100, injuring 8 Palestinians, leaving up to 850 homeless; bulldozes the remaining Gaza airport runways; shells, destroys the main sewerage network serving Khan Yunis, Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, Rafah; closes the main southern road in Gaza." The IDF also fires tear gas, rubber coated steel bullets to disperse a peaceful Palestinian demonstration in Ramallah, injuring 2. (AFP, HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 1/11; NYT, WP, WT 1/12; QA, al-Ra'i 1/12 in WNC 1/14; Amnesty International press release, MM 1/14; LAW, PCHR 1/16; MA 1/16 in WNC 1/17; al-Quds 1/22 in WNC 1/24)

Zinni hosts a trilateral security comm. mtg. Israel, the PA argue over the Karine A affair and Israel's ongoing siege of PA areas but agree to strengthen security coordination. Zinni then leaves for Washington to brief admin. officials before returning to the region on 1/18 for a 3d round of mediation. (JP [Internet] 1/6; al-Quds 1/6 in WNC 1/7; NYT, WP 1/7; MENA, al-Quds 1/8 in WNC 1/9)

Some 200 PSF officers conduct an arrest sweep of Jenin, detaining 6 Islamic Jihad mbrs., including Ali Safuri, 1 of Israel's most wanted. The IDF enters a Palestinian hospital in Hebron, interrogates patients for an hr.; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; searches several Palestinian homes in al-Ras; bulldozes 17 dunams of Palestinian olive trees nr. Morag settlement; tightens blockades on Nablus, Ramallah. Armed Jewish settlers protesting the IDF's initial steps to ease restrictions on Palestinians block the Jerusalem-Hebron road, threaten to shoot Palestinian motorists, uproot 100 olive trees nr. Qalqilya. (NYT, WP, WT 1/7; LAW, PCHR 1/9)

Just 15 minutes into Zinni's 1st mtg. of his tour with Arafat, Israel announces that at dawn on 1/3 it captured a cargo ship, the Karine A, loaded with 50 tons of weapons en route fr. Iran to the PA. The PA, Iran deny involvement. (AFP 1/4; AYM, al-Quds, VIRI 1/4, VIRI 1/6 in WNC 1/7; JP [Internet], NYT, WP, WT 1/5; HA 1/6; MM 1/7, 1/9; AYM 1/9 in WNC 1/10; WJW 1/10; MEI 1/11; AKH 1/11 in WNC 1/14; MENA 1/14 in WNC 1/15; WT 1/15; JP 1/18; MEI 1/25)

IDF undercover units raid Tal, killing 1 Hamas mbr., arresting 2 who allegedly were planning an attack on a Jewish settlement; Palestinian sources, however, identify the dead man as a PSF officer. The IDF also fires tear gas, rubber bullets to disperse a peaceful Palestinian demonstration in Ramallah, injuring 2 journalists, 3 demonstrators; fires on residential areas of Rafah. An armed Jewish settler severely beats a Palestinian telephone repairman fixing a line nr. Hebron. (MM 1/4; NYT, WP 1/5; al-Ra'i 1/5 in WNC 1/7; LAW, PCHR 1/9)