The Palestine Chronology

The IDF completes its redeployment fr. Bayt Hanun, opens Gaza’s main north– south road to joint patrols with the PSF, removes many roadblocks and checkpoints in n. Gaza. Nr. Nablus, AMB gunmen ambush, fatally shoot a Bulgarian who works at a nearby Jewish settlement; the AMB has not signed on to the Hamas–Islamic Jihad–Fatah cease-fire. Israel acknowledges that for several days, police have been escorting Jews on tours of the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, despite the government’s failure to reach an agmt. on such visits with the Waqf; the holy site was closed to non-Muslims after Sharon’s controversial visit to the site in 9/01 that sparked the current intifada. Israeli authorities inform residents of Bayt Iqsa, northwest of Jerusalem, that 14,000 dunams of their communal land will be expropriated for construction of a new Jewish settlement to be called Alona. (BBC, HA, MM 6/30; MM, WP 7/1; PR, WT 7/2; AYM 7/2, al-Quds 7/3, MENA 7/4 in WNC 7/10; PCHR 7/3; REU 7/4; PR 7/9; HA 7/14)

Dahlan, Gilad finalize details for an IDF redeployment fr. Bethlehem, which they set to begin on 7/2. (HA 6/30; HA, NYT, WP 7/1)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in al-Bireh, Ramallah. (PM 6/30; PCHR 7/3)

Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad formally announce cease-fires against all Israelis everywhere for a minimum of 3 mos. The DFLP, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) say they will abide by the truce. Hrs. after the announcement, the IDF begins redeploying fr. Bayt Hanun. (AYM 6/29, AYM, al-Quds, SFR 6/30, AFP, MENA, QA, al-Ra’i 7/1, AYM, MENA, NHR, SFR 7/2, AYM, HA, SFR 7/3, MA 7/4 in WNC 7/10; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/30; PR 7/2; AYM 7/5 in WNC 7/11; MEI 7/11)

The IDF arrests an ailing Palestinian being transported by ambulance to Jordan (with the permission of Israeli, Jordanian authorities) for treatment. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Abasan, Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, Tulkarm. Palestinians fire 5 mortars at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, NYT 6/29; JP 7/2 in WNC 7/10; PCHR 7/3)

Rice holds talks with Abbas, Dahlan in Jericho on her 1st visit as Bush’s personal envoy on the peace process. (HA 6/28; NYT, WT 6/29; MM 6/30; NYT 7/1; PR 7/2)

Overnight, the IDF raids Jenin, arresting local Hamas cmdr. Wa’il Aljui. The IDF also raids 2 Palestinian homes in Gaza City, fatally shooting 4 Palestinians, including wanted Hamas mbr. Amran al-Gul in an apparent assassination, also wounding 15 Palestinians, demolishing 3 Palestinian homes, partially destroying another 8. Hamas mbrs. respond with gunfire, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 1. (HA, MM, NYT 6/27; NYT, WT 6/28; PCHR 7/3)

Dahlan, Gilad finalize an agmt. for the IDF to redeploy fr. Bayt Hanun in n. Gaza, share security control of Gaza roads, turn over security control for most of Gaza (except settlements and security zones that make up roughly 35% of the Strip); discussions on an IDF pullout fr. Bethlehem continue. Meanwhile in Cairo, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah finalize a unilateral cease-fire agmt. Formal declarations of the 2 agmts. are expected to be made on 6/29, during Rice’s visit. (Forward, HA, MM 6/27; NYT, WP, WT 6/28) (see 6/14)

As PA-Israeli talks on an IDF redeployment fr. n. Gaza continue, the IDF demolishes 13 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanun, bulldozes 54 dunams of land in Bayt Hanun and Jabaliya r.c.; fires on residential areas of Balata r.c., Bayt Hanun; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Tubas, Palestinians waiting to cross a checkpoint nr. Khan Yunis. A Palestinian teenager fatally shoots an Israeli telephone worker in Baqa‘ al-Gharbiyya, inside Israel, and is captured; AMB takes responsibility. Later, in the same area, Israeli police fatally shoot 2 Palestinians, arrest 2 others allegedly carrying explosives. A Palestinian gunman shoots, wounds a Jewish settler driving nr. Bethlehem. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF attempts to evacuate settlers fr. 2 unauthorized outposts for the 4th time in 24 hrs. (HA, MM 6/26; NYT, WP 6/27; NYT, WP 7/1; PCHR 7/3)

The IDF assassinates wanted Hamas mbr. Akram Abu Sarhana, firing missiles at his taxi as he drives nr. Khan Yunis; of the 4 others in the taxi, 1 Palestinian woman is killed, another wanted Hamas mbr. Muhammad Siyam (possibly the primary target) and 2 other passengers are wounded; around 10 other bystanders are injured; Israel claims the Hamas mbrs. were en route to stage an attack. In Bayt Hanun, 2 Hamas mbrs. are killed, an IDF soldier is wounded in an exchange of gunfire. The IDF also demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dayr al-Balah, al-Qarara. Based on an intelligence tip, Israeli police in Kafr Qasim arrest 2 West Bank tanzim mbrs. carrying a 5-lb bomb, apparently on their way to Petah Tikva to stage an attack. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Sederot, fire on a Jewish settler vehicle nr Nablus, fire 5 mortars at settlements in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. Israel says it will begin having fmr. South Lebanon Army (SLA) mbrs. patrol on buses to prevent Palestinian attacks, arguing that the SLA mbrs. “have special abilities that will help in the identification and apprehension of potential suicide bombers.” (HA, MM 6/25; HA, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/26; PCHR 7/3)

In a move that Israel claims will save the road map, the IDF arrests more than 130 alleged Hamas mbrs. and supporters in Hebron (including women, elderly men, and 1 pregnant woman, who collapses, is taken to the hospital), 30 Palestinian “terror suspects and their helpers” in Nablus. In its deepest incursion into PA areas in Gaza in recent wks., the IDF sends bulldozers into Khan Yunis and Rafah, firing on residential areas, demolishing 5 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 2 in Khan Yunis, also razing 13 dunams of land. The IDF also finds, disables a booby-trapped bicycle nr. a s. Gaza settlement, a bomb in a car in Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Nablus. Palestinians fire 4 mortars at Gaza settlements and 1 Qassam rocket toward the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF removes 2 tents comprising an unauthorized outpost erected in recent days; meanwhile, Jewish settlers set up 2 new unauthorized outposts elsewhere in the West Bank. A PA general intelligence unit raids, closes the Voice of al-Aqsa radio station in Gaza city. The move apparently aims to curb incitement, though the PA says the station was set up without a permit. (BBC, HA, MM 6/24; HA, NYT, WP, WT 6/25; PCHR, Palestine Information Center 6/26)

Israeli police charge 5 Islamic Movement leaders with “service to an outlawed organization, holding funds belonging to an outlawed organization, and moneylaundering,” for funneling some $10 m. to Hamas charity groups in the occupied territories fr. abroad. At least 2 of the mbrs., including Islamic Movement leader Ra‘ad Salah, are charged with membership in a terrorist organization and contact with a foreign agent (Nabil Mahzomah, an Israeli Arab who was deported to Lebanon in the mid-1980s and allegedly has worked as an agent for Iranian, Lebanese intelligence). The groups they reportedly had contact with were Charity Coalition (outlawed in 2/02), the al-Aqsa Fund (outlawed in 1992), Interpal (outlawed in 1997), the Holy Land Fund (outlawed in 1997). (HA, MM 6/24; HA, NYT, WT 6/25)

The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in Jenin; conducts arrest raids in Nablus. Nr. the Negev village of Tal Arad, 5 Israeli policemen attempt to arrest a bedouin youth for throwing stones at cars, sparking a riot by 10s of local bedouin in which the police shoot, wound 3 bedouin; 2 bedouin, 5 policemen are also injured in scuffles. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Sederot, lightly injuring 1 Israeli. Jewish settlers set up a new unauthorized outpost, nr. the site of 1 taken down last wk. Israel bars entry at the Ben-Gurion Airport to a delegation of Belgian, Dutch doctors on a mission to assess the damage to the Palestinian health care system in the West Bank, Gaza. (HA, Medical Fact Finding Mission–Palestine press release 6/23; PCHR, WJW 6/26)

Nr. Bayt Hanun, 4 AMB mbrs. are killed either when a roadside bomb they are planting explodes or when an IDF tank fires on them while they are planting a roadside bomb. In Gaza, a female IDF soldier forces a Palestinian woman to drink fr. a bottle of caustic liquid she is carrying in order to cross the checkpoint; the Palestinian is taken to the hospital with severe burns and convulsions, files a complaint; the soldier is arrested by IDF military police. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian nr. Morag settlement; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches and bulldozes 3 dunams of land n. of Khan Yunis; raids dormitories at Birzeit University, arresting 80 students; fires on residential areas of al-Brazil, Rafah. (ITV 6/22 in WNC 6/24; HA, NYT, WP 6/23; MM 6/24; PR 6/25; PCHR 6/26; AKH 6/26 in WNC 6/28)

The IDF assassinates senior Hamas mbr. Abdallah Qawasmi, ambushing and shooting at his car as he drives through Hebron; Israel claims Qawasmi plotted the 6/11 Jerusalem bus bombing; Sharon calls the killing a “successful and very important act.” The IDF also bulldozes a Palestinian home, a poultry farm, 3 dunams of land nr. Dayr al-Balah. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during the IDF assassination of Lidawi on 6/13, bringing that toll to 1. (NYT, WP, WT 6/22; VOI 6/22 in WNC 6/24; MM, WP 6/23; AYM 6/23, al-Ra’i 6/24 in WNC 6/26; PR 6/25; PCHR 6/26; MEI 6/27)

Hamas gunmen fire on a vehicle driving nr. Ofra settlement, killing 1 Jewish settler, wounding 3. A bicycle laden with explosives explodes nr. an IDF checkpoint in central Gaza, causing no damage or injuries; soldiers find, disarm a larger roadside bomb nearby. The IDF fatally shoots a mentally disabled Palestinian woman nr. Morag settlement in s. Gaza, later admitting the shooting was a mistake; demolishes a gas station, bulldozes 8 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis; razes 1 Palestinian home, a poultry farm, 1 dunam of land in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Hebron. Jewish settlers reestablish an unauthorized settlement outpost nr. Neve Tzuf that was evacuated earlier in the wk. (HA, JP 6/20; NYT, WP, WT 6/21; PR 6/25; PCHR 6/26)

En route to a Quartet mtg. and a World Economic Forum conference in Jordan, Powell stops in Israel to meet with Sharon, then in Jericho to meet with Abbas. (HA, MM 6/20; AYM 6/20, MENA, NHR, SA 6/21, Der Spiegel [Hamburg] 6/23 in WNC 6/24; NYT, WP, WT 6/21; MM 6/23; MM, PR 6/25; MEI 6/27; THWR 6/27 in WNC 7/29)

In a 7-hr. operation, the IDF evacuates the 1st inhabited unauthorized settlement outpost, Mitzpe Yitzhar, a particularly militant outpost nr. Nablus, housing 2 settler families: An initial contingent of around 25 unarmed soldiers attempting to remove 2 tents, a few tin shacks, and 1 concrete block building is obstructed by around 100 Jewish settler youths. The IDF calls in unarmed reinforcements, places closures on surrounding settlements, as 100s of settlers converge on the outpost during the day, scuffling with troops, leaving 30 settlers and soldiers injured; settlers also set fire to Palestinian wheat fields, olive groves in the area in an attempt to disrupt the IDF operation. The IDF also bulldozes 15 dunams of land in Bayt Hanun, 5 dunams in Bayt Lahia, 1 dunam in al-Mughraqa. An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device inside a small store in Baysan, inside Israel, killing 1 Israeli. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MM 6/19; VOI, YA 6/19 in WNC 6/21; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/20; MM 5/23; PR 6/25; MM, PCHR 6/26; MEI 6/27; MA 6/11 in WNC 6/13)

The IDF fires on a Palestinian cell phone company car in Dayr al-Balah, wounding 2 company workers; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes nr. Rafah (also bulldozing 5 dunams of land), 1 in Jenin, 1 nr. Khan Yunis (also bulldozing 3 dunams of land), 1 nr. Nablus; bulldozes a Palestinian gas station in Silwan; conducts arrest raids in Askar r.c., Bayt Lahia, Bethlehem, Hebron; searches homes in Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah (including ransacking the home of a Palestinian-American family); fires on residential areas of Bayt Lahia; tightens the closure on Tulkarm. In Hebron, 6 IDF soldiers reportedly severely beat a Palestinian teenager, kicking him, hitting him with their rifle butts. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Native Haasara moshav inside Israel, causing damage but no injuries. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in the 6/10 attempted assassination of Rantisi, bringing that toll to 4. A Tel Aviv court sentences a 17-yr.-old Israeli Arab to 2 yrs. in jail for planning to carry out a suicide bombing; the court says the sentence is light because the boy turned himself in to authorities. (HA, HP 6/18; MENA 6/18 in WNC 6/20; LAW, PCHR, WT 6/19; PCHR 6/26)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Askar r.c., Balata r.c.; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 1 in Issawiyya; bulldozes 26 dunams of land in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Dahaysha r.c., Nablus, Qabatiyya, Qalqilya, Tulkarm; searches homes in Dayr al-Balah, occupying 1 as an IDF post; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Ramallah. Palestinians reportedly fire an antitank missile at an IDF post in Gaza, injuring 1 soldier, a civilian worker; fire 3 mortars at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. IDF F-16s break the sound barrier over the Gaza Strip throughout the day. Late in the evening, at least 1 Palestinian gunman fires on an Israeli vehicle just inside the Israeli border nr. Qalqilya, killing a 7-yr.-old Israeli girl, wounding 3; the AMB, PFLP-GC each claim responsibility. Israeli police detain Mufti of Jerusalem Ikrima Sabri for questioning as part of the investigation into whether the Islamic Movement laundered money for Hamas. The IDF says it has drawn up a list of another 19 unauthorized outposts to be dismantled; of the original list, 10 uninhabited outposts have been removed, while 5 inhabited ones are slated for removal in the next few days. (AFP, AP, HA, HP 6/17; VOI, YA 6/17 in WNC 6/19; HA, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 6/18; HA, LAW, NYT, PCHR 6/19; JPI 6/27)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians (including AMB mbr. Rifat Azati), fires on a funeral procession, bulldozes 20 dunams of land in Rafah; raids, imposes a curfew on, fires on residential areas of Faria r.c.; tightens the closure on Jenin; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Qaddura, Qalqilya, Salfit; sets up more roadblocks around Nablus, Ramallah. A Jewish settler bus hits, injures a 4-yr.-old Palestinian outside Bethlehem. Jewish settlers harass Palestinians, vandalize property in Yatta, throw stones at an ambulance nr. Nablus. (HA, HP 6/16; HP 6/17; LAW, PCHR 6/19)

The IDF raids Bayt Hanun, killing an AMB mbr., wounding 7 Palestinians; reimposes a curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron after lifting it for 3 hrs.; bulldozes 39 dunams of land in Bayt Hanun, 12 dunams in Dayr al-Balah; fires on residential areas of Brazil r.c.; conducts arrest raids in Araba, Bethlehem, Hebron. A 7-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received in Israel’s attempted assassination of Rantisi on 6/10, bringing that toll to 3; a 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 6/8. Palestinians fire Qassam rockets fr. Rafah for the 1st time, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF dismantles 1 uninhabited settlement outpost (possibly the same one dismantled on 6/9, reoccupied on 6/10). Peace Now says that Jewish settlers have set up 5 new unauthorized settlement outposts in the past wk. (WT 6/15; HA, HP, MM, NYT, WP 6/16; PR 6/18; LAW, PCHR 6/19)

The IDF opens fire on stone-throwing youths in Askar r.c., killing 1 Palestinian; bars a Palestinian heart attack victim fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a hospital, allowing him to die; places a curfew on villages northwest of Nablus, patrols streets, firing in the air; fires on stone-throwing youths in Askar r.c., injuring 2; fires on residential areas of Hebron, Tulkarm; fires at Palestinians at a roadblock outside Dayr al-Balah for no apparent reason, causing no injuries; demolishes 7 Palestinian homes and 11 greenhouses, bulldozes 57 dunams of land in Rafah; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes, a bird farm, and 3 greenhouses, bulldozes 52 dunams of land in Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids outside Ramallah. (HA 6/14; VOI 6/14 in WNC 6/17; PM, WP 6/15; HP 6/16; LAW, PCHR 6/19)

Israeli DMin. security negotiations coordinator Amos Gilad, PA Security Affairs M Muhammad Dahlan meet in Ramallah to discuss Israel’s proposal to turn over security control for n. Gaza to the PA. (NYT, WP 6/15; JP 6/15 in WNC 6/17; NYT 6/16; PR 6/18)

The IDF assassinates Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Fuad Lidawi, firing missiles at his car as he drives in Gaza City, wounding 28 bystanders (including 11 children); later fires missiles at a warehouse in Gaza City that allegedly contains Qassam missiles, 50 yds. fr. the home of Shaykh Yasin. The IDF blows up a cave in Dayr Ghassana (see 5/24), burying 3 wanted Palestinians, leaving them for dead; local residents dig out, save the men; in retaliation, the IDF raids, vandalizes the village medical clinic. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in the IDF’s 6/12 assassination of Abu Srour and Taha, bringing that toll to 7. An AMB gunman fires on an IDF patrol nr. Karmela Menashe settlement, outside Jenin, fatally shooting 1 IDF soldier, wounding 2. The IDF also demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Dura, 1 in Hebron; bulldozes 3 dunams of land in Dayr al-Balah; places a curfew on, conducts arrest raids in Bayt Sahur; fires on residential areas of Rafah. Palestinians also fire a Qassam rocket at Sederot, damaging a house but causing no injuries. (AFP, HA 6/13; NYT, WP, WT 6/14; VOI 6/14 in WNC 6/17; HP 6/16; PR 6/14; LAW, PCHR 6/19)

In Umm al-Fahm, 100,000s of Israeli Arabs attend a rally in support of Islamic Movement mbrs. arrested by Israel on 5/13. (HA 6/13)

The IDF assassinates senior Hamas mbrs. Ibrahim Abu Srour, Yasir Taha, firing missiles at their taxi as it drives through Gaza City, also killing Taha’s pregnant wife and infant daughter, the taxi driver, 3 passersby (including 2 toddlers), wounding 29 bystanders. Late in the evening, IDF undercover units assassinate wanted Islamic Jihad mbrs. Fadi Jaradat, Salih Jaradat in Jenin. A Israeli wounded in the 6/11 bus bombing dies, bringing that toll to 17. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in the IDF assassination on 6/11, bringing that toll to 9. Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot an Israeli businessman outside Jenin, fire on Jewish settlers in Hebron, causing no injuries; the AMB, Hamas each claim responsibility. The IDF obstructs streets in the Palestinian section of Hebron by digging trenches, creating rubble berms, also cutting water and electricity lines. (AP, BBC, HA, MM, PCHR 6/12; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/13; PR 6/18; LAW, PCHR 6/19)

A Hamas suicide bomber dressed as an Orthodox Jew detonates a device on a bus in Jerusalem, killing 15 Israelis, 1 Eritrean, injuring more than 60. Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz immediately authorizes the IDF to use “whatever means necessary” to “completely wipe out Hamas,” saying Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Yasin is a viable target. Half an hr. later, an IDF helicopter fires on a car stuck in a Gaza City traffic jam, assassinating senior Izzeddin al-Qassam mbrs. Titu Massud and Suhayl Abu Nahil, also killing 6 Palestinian bystanders, wounding 35 (including 14 children). In the evening, IDF helicopters strike another car in Gaza City, killing Hamas mbrs. Muhammad Daghmash and Rawi Abu Kumayl. The IDF also raids Hebron, imposing a curfew, building roads, blocking streets with sand barriers, concrete blocks; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Rafah (damaging another 11), 1 in Jaba; fires on a funeral procession outside Khan Yunis, wounding 1. (AP, BBC, HA 6/11; ITAR-TASS, MENA 6/11 in WNC 6/13; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/12; AFP, QA 6/12 in WNC 6/14; PR 6/18; LAW, PCHR 6/19; JPI 6/20; HA 6/25; MEI 6/27)

The IDF attempts to assassinate, wounds Hamas political leader and chief spokesman ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Rantisi, firing missiles at his car as he drives through Shati‘ r.c., killing a bodyguard and a Palestinian woman walking nearby, wounding 27. In a rare acknowledgment, Israel confirms it targeted Rantisi, saying it took the decision after Rantisi called off Hamas cease-fire talks with the PA. Later in the day, IDF helicopters fire missiles at a 2d car in Jabaliya, allegedly targeting 2 Palestinians who fired 5 Qassam rockets at Sederot earlier, causing no damage or injuries; 3 Palestinian bystanders are killed, 30 (including the 2 targets) are wounded. Abbas condemns the Rantisi attack as a “terrorist attack in the full meaning of the word,” saying it was aimed at sabotaging the road map; Hamas says it is a “declaration of war,” vows to “commit operations that will shake Israel.” The IDF also fatally shoots wanted Palestinian Issam Ibrahim in Jenin in what may be an assassination; fatally shoots 2 Palestinians in s. Gaza; fires on, wounds a Palestinian nr. Morag settlement; fires on residential areas of Hebron, Khan Yunis; bulldozes 5 dunams of land in Jabaliya; conducts arrest raids in Battir, Bayt Iba, Dura, Haris, Hebron, Jericho, Nablus (targeting Hamas), Qatanna, Tulkarm, al-Walaja, Yatta; dismantles another 5 unauthorized settlement outposts, all of them uninhabited. The Israeli High Court blocks the removal of 1 occupied outpost, Havat Gilad, which Israel attempted to dismantle in fall 2002. Jewish settlers rebuild 1 outpost taken down on 6/9. (BBC, HA, LAW, MM 6/10; ITAR-TASS, VOI, MENA 6/10 in WNC 6/12; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 6/11; AFP, AKH, DUS, HA, IDF Radio, JP, JT, MA, MENA, NHR, QA, al-Quds, VOI, YA, XIN 6/11 in WNC 6/13; JPI, LAW, PCHR, WP 6/12; AYM, JP 6/12 in WNC 6/14; PR 6/18, 6/25; MEI 6/27; MEI 7/11)

The IDF dismantles 5 unauthorized settlement outposts (all of them uninhabited), announces plans to remove another 9 (only 4 of them inhabited); more than 100 Jewish settlers try to bar soldiers fr. removing a water tower at 1 unpopulated site. Meanwhile, the IDF demolishes 13 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanun, 1 in the Old City of Hebron; fatally shoots 2 Palestinians allegedly attempting to infiltrate Netzarim settlement; fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun; raids, imposes a curfew on Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Dayr al-Balah. Jewish settlers harass Palestinians in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Shaykh Jarrah. Israeli police round up 1,370 Palestinians laborers working inside Israel without permits. (HP 6/9; XIN 6/9 in WNC 6/12; NYT, WP, WT 6/10; PR 6/11; JP 6/11 in WNC 6/13; LAW, PCHR 6/12)

The AMB, Hamas, Islamic Jihad take joint responsibility for an attack on Erez Crossing in which 3 Palestinian gunmen dressed in IDF uniforms open fire, killing 4 IDF soldiers, wounding another 4 before being shot dead. In 2 attacks in Hebron, 2 Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot an IDF soldier, wound another before being shot dead; no group claims responsibility for that attack. Meanwhile, the IDF fires on a car outside Yamun, wounding 2 Palestinians. Late in the evening, the IDF raids, imposes curfew on Balata r.c.; bulldozes Palestinian land around Askar r.c. (MENA 6/8 in WNC 6/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/9; QA, SFR 6/9 in WNC 6/11; NYT 6/10; JP 6/11 in WNC 6/13; LAW, PCHR 6/12)

The IDF seals the West Bank, allowing only humanitarian cases into Israel; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Bayt Hanun; bulldozes 21 dunams of land e. of Khan Yunis, 5 dunams in Dayr al-Balah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah. (WP, WT 6/8; LAW, PCHR 6/12)

The IDF halts an ambulance nr. Bayt Iba, arrests a Palestinian being transported; bulldozes 2 dunams of land, conducts arrest raids s. of Khan Yunis; fires on stonethrowing Palestinians in Bayt Furik. 1,000s of Hamas supporters rally against the road map after Friday prayers in Gaza City, Rafah. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) fires 3 mortars at a Jewish settlement, 1 mortar at an IDF post in Gaza, causing no injuries. (HA 6/6; YA 6/6 in WNC 6/10; WP 6/7; LAW, PCHR 6/12)

The IDF lifts the curfew on Jenin, leaving none of the 8 main Palestinian cities under curfew for the 1st time in recent memory, though closures and checkpoints remain in place; conducts arrest raids in Hebron; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Rafah. After dark, the IDF raids a house in Tulkarm, fatally shooting wanted Hamas mbrs. ‘Adil Abu Zaytun and Hani Kharyush in what may be an assassination, arresting a 3d. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 5/27. (HA 6/5; HA, MM, NYT 6/6; Gulf Times 6/7 in WNC 6/10; LAW, PCHR 6/12)

The IDF demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 3 in Yatta; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. In Jerusalem, some 20,000 Jewish settlers demonstrate against the Aqaba summit. Palestinians fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement, a rocket at an IDF post, both in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. In a move deliberately timed with the Aqaba summit, Tourism M Benny Elon begins work to set up offices of the pro-transfer Moledet party in 1 of the 2 Palestinian homes next to the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem’s Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood that Jewish settlers have been trying to seize for 1 yr. (see 4/27/03). (JP 6/4 in WNC 6/7; HA, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/5; PCHR 6/12; PR 6/25)

In Aqaba, Bush meets with Abbas, Sharon, King Abdallah; then meets with Abbas, Sharon only. Afterward, Abbas and Sharon each give carefully worded statements reiterating their commitments to peace. (HA, MM 6/4; Interfax, ITAR-TASS, JT, MENA, QA, SA 6/4 in WNC 6/7; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/5; DUS, JP, JT, MA, MENA, NHR, QA, al-Quds, al-Ra’i, SA, SFR, Star, YA 6/5 in WNC 6/8; al-Quds 6/5, DUS 6/6 in WNC 6/10; MM 6/6; THWR , TSHR 6/7 in WNC 7/11; JPI 6/13; PR 6/18; JPI 6/20)

The IDF launches a predawn raid on Balata r.c. and Hebron, placing the area under curfew, sparking clashes that leave 30 Palestinians wounded. The IDF also fires on a PSF post outside Bayt Hanun, killing a PSF officer; imposes a closure on Nablus; lifts the closure on Ramallah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Jaba, Kafr Haris. 2 Palestinians die of injuries received earlier. Israel releases some 100 Palestinian detainees, including Ahmad Jubara, the longest-serving detainee, jailed in 1975 for staging a bombing that killed 14 Israelis. Kach activists set up 4 new unauthorized settlement outposts in the West Bank. (HA, MM 6/3; NYT, PR, WP, WT 6/4; MA 6/4 in WNC 6/8; PCHR 6/5)

In Sharm al-Shaykh, Bush meets with Abbas and the leaders of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia for talks on “issues of common interest,” including the peace process, Iraq, international efforts to combat terrorism, economic cooperation. (BBC, MM, WP 6/3; DUS, ITAR-TASS, MENA, XIN 6/3 in WNC 6/4; SARR, THWR 6/3 in WNC 7/10; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 6/4; QA, al-Quds 6/4 in WNC 6/7; DUS 6/6 in WNC 7/10; THWR 6/6, THWR, TSHR 6/7 in WNC 7/11; MM 6/10)

The IDF imposes a curfew on Ramallah, closes Qalandia checkpoint based on security concerns; continues to surround all Palestinian cities, making it difficult for Palestinian workers to take advantage of eased permit restrictions for entering Israel (see 6/1). Israel releases Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) head and PLO Exec. Comm. mbr.  Taysir Khalid, detained without charge since 2/16. (HA 6/2; MM, NYT, WP 6/3; PR 6/4; PCHR 6/5)

Israel begins implementing some of the 5/29 gestures, lifting the sealing of the West Bank and Gaza in effect since Passover, on 4/15, allowing some 25,000 Palestinian workers into Israel (if they can reach the border given internal closures and roadblocks still in place; only 4,500 of Gaza’s 15,000 permit holders are able to reach a crossing into Israel today). The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian for “acting suspiciously” nr. the Kissufim crossing in Gaza; fatally shoots a 2d Palestinian who walks in front of a tank in Bayt Hanun. Palestinians fire a mortar at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. The Israeli Housing Min. authorizes construction of 2,000 Jewish settlement housing units to begin, says 10,000 units await approval. (HA 6/1; VOI, YA 6/1 in WNC 6/2; HP, JP, WT 6/2; WP 6/3; PCHR 6/5)