The Palestine Chronology

In the morning, the IDF sends troops, tanks into Balata (an AMB stronghold); surrounds and attacks Jenin r.c. without entering it. The massive two-pronged operation, called Colorful Journey, meets strong resistance, touching off fierce gun battles that continue into the night, leaving 1 IDF soldier and at least 11 Palestinians dead (4 in Balata, including Balata AMB leader Kayid Abu Mustafa; 7 in Jenin, including 6 PSF officers), wounding over 150 Palestinians (over 100 in Balata, 40 in Jenin). Troops bar ambulances fr. entering the camps to aide the wounded. In the afternoon, the IDF declares a brief cease-fire, ordering unarmed residents to leave Balata, but few do--most fearing permanent exile. The IDF cuts electricity and water to the camp; evicts, demolishes several Palestinian homes at the edge of the camp; conducts house-to-house searches, breaking through walls to move fr. building to building, demolishing at least 5 homes, damaging 100; occupies a UN-operated boys school. Israel says the operation is designed to arrest Palestinians wanted for "terrorist attacks," but none are arrested during the day. As the day progresses, violence spreads to other West Bank towns, especially in the Bayt Jala-Gilo area. The IDF also sends tanks to surround Tulkarm; tightens closures on Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, Qalqilya, Ramallah, as well as access to Jerusalem; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; occupies a PSF post in Tamun; directs heavy machine gun fire at Aida r.c., Bayt Jala, Bethlehem; bulldozes Palestinian land in Azariyya for construction of a settler bypass road. The PA suspends trilateral security comm. talks. (AP, HP, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP 2/28; BDL, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/1; AFP 3/1, AYM 3/2, XIN 3/3 in WNC 3/4; WP, WT 3/2; LAW 3/6; MEI 3/8)

The IDF fatally shoots 3 armed infiltrators fr. Egypt in the s. Negev. A female suicide bomber detonates a device at an IDF roadblock in the West Bank, wounding 3 soldiers; 2 Israeli Arabs traveling with her are arrested, 1 is shot and wounded. The woman, an al-Najah University student originally affiliated with Hamas (see 1/27), 1st approached Hamas, Islamic Jihad about staging a suicide bombing but was refused; the AMB ultimately provided her with explosives. In E. Jerusalem, a Palestinian fatally shoots his Jewish settler employer in a politically motivated attack. IDF soldiers fire on Palestinians outside al-Nur mosque in Brazil for the 2d day, wounding 4. Late this evening, the IDF begins air strikes on Balata. Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian land nr. Bracha settlement, set up a caravan. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian land nr. Jenin; reportedly spray range land with poison nr. Tubas, killing may goats, sheep. (JP [Internet], al-Quds [Internet] 2/27; AP, NYT, WP, WT 2/28; MM, NYT 3/1; AYM 3/2 in WNC 3/4; WP 3/7)

Sharon meets with his cabinet, which agrees to intensify attacks on Palestinians in response to escalating violence. The IDF stages massive aerial, naval assaults on PA targets in the West Bank and Gaza, leaving a total of 16 Palestinians dead, including 2 Hamas mbrs. allegedly preparing to fire mortars in Gaza. The IDF also makes incursions into Nablus, killing 9 Palestinians, occupying an apartment building, confining 130 residents to a single floor, allegedly ordering some Palestinian men to stand at the windows as human shields. The IDF again shells Arafat's Ramallah compound, hitting a room adjacent to where he is taking shelter, injuring 1 bodyguard; also shells 2 PSF buildings in Gaza City, 1 in Jenin; further tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement, even barring young children who had passed through checkpoints in the morning fr. walking home fr. school. (AP, MM, WT 2/20; AFP 2/20 in WNC 2/21; NYT, Physicians for Human Rights press release, WP, WT 2/21; NYT 2/22)

In Tel Aviv, Israel DM Benjamin Ben-Eliezer holds a secret mtg. with PSF Gaza head Muhammad Dahlan, Arafat financial adviser Muhammad Rashid to discuss the escalating violence. The sides agree to a CIA request to hold a secret trilateral security comm. mtg. on 2/23. (NYT 2/22)

For the 1st time, the IDF erects portable housing for soldiers in PA-controlled areas of the West Bank nr. Jenin. Israeli police halt a vehicle outside an IDF training base nr. Hadera, Israel. 1 Palestinian flees, is fatally shot by police; the 2d Palestinian detonates an explosive device, killing himself, injuring 3 policemen, 3 bystanders; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) takes responsibility. Israeli PM Ariel Sharon meets with his cabinet to discuss how to respond; no decision is announced. IDF F-16s shell PA targets in Nablus (hitting a government building, PSF office, apartment building), Ramallah (hitting a PSF office); repeatedly break the sound barrier over Jenin. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Umm al-Sharayit; demolishes a water network, digs a trench along a main road in Nablus; sets up observation towers with heavy machine gun emplacements, reinforces positions on the western border of Khan Yunis refugee camp (r.c.); tightens closures on Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian farmers in al-Tuwani, burn at least 200 dunams of wheat. A 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 2/16. (HA, HP, JP [Internet], al-Quds [Internet] 2/17; MA 2/18 in WNC 2/19; NYT, WP, WT 2/18)

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdallah announces that he has drafted an initiative to be presented to the Arab League offering full Arab normalization with Israel in exchange for Israel's full withdrawal fr. all the occupied territories captured in 1967. (HA, NYT 2/17; MM 2/18; MENA, QA 2/18 in WNC 2/19; MM, WP, WT 2/19; MM 5/20; AYM 2/20 in WNC 2/25; MM 5/22, 5/25; WP 3/2; MEI 3/8)

In Jenin, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) assassinates local Hamas leader Nazih al-Siba' using a remote controlled explosive device; 1,000s of Palestinians take to the streets to protest against Israel. A Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) suicide bomber infiltrates a Karnei Shomron settlement in the West Bank, detonating a device in a food court, killing 3 Jewish settlers, injuring more than 20. The IDF responds with missile strikes against targets in Nablus. Palestinians fire 1-2 Qassam-2 rockets, 2 mortars at IDF positions in Gaza and across the border inside Israel, causing no damage. In response, the IDF conducts raids into areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) around Bureij, killing 2 Palestinians and injuring 12, destroying a PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) training base, several PSF posts. (AP, LAW 2/16; XIN 2/16 in WNC 2/19; NYT, WP, WT 2/17)

Overnight, Hamas fires 2 Qassam-2 rockets at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, missing the settlement completely, causing no damage or injuries. In response, the IDF temporarily seizes the Palestinian towns of Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahia, and Dayr al-Balah as well as Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza; conducts searches, detaining at least 12 Palestinians; exchanges gunfire with Palestinians, leaving 5 PSF officers dead; bars international agencies fr. sending officials to observe the operation. The IDF also sends tanks into Jenin briefly; flies F-16s over Nablus all day; conducts arrest raids around Jenin; bulldozes 15 dunams of Palestinian land nr. al-Maghazi. A 6th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (AFP, HP, LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP 2/13; MM, WP, WT 2/14; MM 2/15; MEI 2/22)

The IDF conducts arrests raids in Hebron (killing 1 Palestinian, demolishing 1 Palestinian home), al-Ram, Ramallah. A 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. The IDF shuts the main north-south roads in Gaza, dividing the Strip into three sections; reoccupies the town of Tamun, nr. Jinin, turning a nearby PSF checkpoint into an IDF roadblock. (HP 2/12; AP, LAW, PCHR, WT 2/13; JT 2/14 in WNC 2/15)

The IDF fires missiles at a PA prison in Nablus for a 2d time; fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets at demonstrators outside Arafat's Ramallah headquarters, wounding 3; begins bulldozing Palestinian land in Za'atra for creation of a new settler bypass road. In Jenin, 10s of armed Palestinians raid a makeshift PA jail in an apartment building, freeing 10-15 detainees without meeting resistance. Israel extends the closure of Orient House for 6 mos. (MM 2/7; NYT, WT 2/8; NYT 2/9; GS 2/12; LAW, PCHR 2/13)

Sharon meets with Bush in Washington for the 4th time in less than a yr.; says Arafat is an obstacle to peace, who ideally should be replaced. Bush says the U.S. will not sever ties with Arafat but will keep pressure on him to halt Palestinian violence. Sharon also asks Bush to give Israel the $800 m. in aid that the Clinton admin. promised Israel to cover costs of its withdrawal fr. Lebanon. (MM 2/7; al-Quds 2/7, XIN 2/8, al-Ra'i 2/9 in WNC 2/11; HA, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/8; HA 2/10)

An Israeli bus driver coming fr. Ma'ale Adumim stops at an Israeli checkpoint into Jerusalem, warns border police of a suspicious passenger on board. Israeli border police scuffle with and detain a Palestinian passenger wearing an explosive device, which is defused by bomb experts. Later, a Hamas gunman dressed as an IDF soldier infiltrates a home in the West Bank settlement of Hamra, fatally shoots 2 Jewish settlers, 1 IDF soldier, wounds 4 settlers before being shot dead by soldiers. In response, IDF F-16s bomb 2 prisons in Nablus, injuring 11 Palestinians. During the strikes, wardens release 25 Hamas, Islamic Jihad prisoners (including 2 of Israel's most wanted, Islamic Jihad mbrs. Mahmud Tawalba, Ali Safuri) for their safety but keep 103 suspected collaborators in custody. The IDF also captures a vegetable truck on Jenin-Nablus road loaded with 8 Qassam-2 missiles and a launcher; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian who threw a hand grenade at an IDF post on the Rafah border; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina and Shu`fat; arrests 3 Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast, confiscates their boats. The IDF also raids, confiscates the files of, and closes the East Jerusalem offices of 2 NGOs that represent Palestinian interests: the Arab Studies Society's Land Research Center, the Welfare Association's Multisectoral and Technical Offices. (AP, LAW 2/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/7; NYT, WP, WT 2/8; NYT 2/9; MA 2/10 in WNC 2/11; MA 2/11 in WNC 2/12; PCHR 2/13; HA 2/17)

In a report to Congress, CIA Dir. George Tenet identifies several "terrorist groups"--including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the PFLP--that have no ties to al-Qa`ida but could be future U.S. targets because they have "displayed anti-U.S. sentiments" and have threatened U.S. interests overseas. (WP 2/10)

The IDF directs shells/heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, Qarni, Rafah, Wadi al-Silqa; occupies a Palestinian home, bulldozes land in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Dayr al-Balah, Dayr al-Sharaf, Hebron, Tal; fires on a Palestinian boat off Gaza, wounding 1 fisherman; places new roadblocks on the roads linking Nablus with Qalqilya, Tulkarm. Palestinians fire 3 mortars at Gush Katif settlement causing no damage. The IDF reports that incidents of Palestinian violence are up to an average of 17/day (see 12/30). 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (HA, HP 2/5; LAW, PCHR 2/6; PCHR 2/13)

In Jenin, a mob of more than 1,000 Palestinians enraged by reduced sentences handed down by a judge, storms a makeshift PA security courtroom and executes 3 Palestinians convicted of murdering a popular PSF officer over an intrafamily feud; 100 PSF officers surrounding the building are unable to fend off the mob. Since 9/01, the IDF has demolished Jenin's 2 police headquarters, its security headquarters, 2 prisons, the governor's administrative offices, and its military courtroom, leaving the PA without a secure compound to hold the controversial trial. The military court sought to move the trial to Jericho but could not due to Israeli closures. (AP, HA 2/5; MM, NYT, WP 2/6)

In New York, Ben-Eliezer says that Arafat is not a partner for peace; urges the U.S. to open talks with more "realistic" Palestinians who could form an alternative leadership. He also alleges that Israel has new intelligence information that al-Qa`ida mbrs. have been relocating to Lebanon to join forces with Hizballah; says he will encourage the U.S. to target Hizballah in its war on terror when he meets with officials in Washington on 2/6. (XIN 2/5 in WNC 2/8; AP, HA 2/6; MM 2/7; al-Quds 2/16 in WNC 2/19)

Senior Fatah mbr. Imad Assaf is seriously injured in a mysterious explosion in Dahaysha; the PA accuses Israel of attempting to assassination him. Palestinians fire 2 mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage. In response, the IDF directs heavy machine gun fire on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah (leaving 1 Palestinian clinically dead). The IDF also fires tear gas, concussion grenades to disperse a peaceful protest by Palestinians, international peace activists in Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Osrin, firing on Palestinian homes; bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land along secondary roads in the Bethlehem, Jenin areas; imposes closures on 10 villages around Ramallah. (HP 2/3; AFP 2/3 in WNC 2/4; NYT, PCHR, WT 2/4; LAW 2/6)

In a New York Times op-ed, Arafat outlines the Palestinians' vision of peace as a 2-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state in all of the West Bank and Gaza, and a secure Israel within its 1967 borders. He also affirms that any solution to the refugee issue must consider Israel's demographic concerns and denounces "attacks carried out by terrorist groups against Israeli civilians." (HA, JP [Internet], NYT 2/3; AP, HA, NYT, WT 2/4; JT, MA, MM, QA, al-Quds 2/5 in WNC 2/6; PR 2/6; MEI 2/8)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Jinin, shells residential areas of Dayr al-Balah. (AFP 2/2 in WNC 2/4; LAW 2/6)

Syria rejects Israel's 1/30 appeal for a resumption of peace talks, saying that the offer is a "maneuver to pressure the Palestinians." (al-Safir 2/2 in WNC 2/4)