The Palestine Chronology

At his weekly cabinet session, Netanyahu confirms “intensive contacts” are underway with the U.S. on an incentives package to restart peace talks “in such a way that it cannot be halted in a few weeks or months.” On or around this date, Netanyahu sends his chief negotiator Molcho back to Washington with new proposals for an incentives package; no details are released (IGPO 10/24; WP 10/25; NYT 10/27)

Israeli municipal authorities in Jerusalem approve a modified development plan for the Western Wall area that will involve underground tunnels, car parks, bus and police stations, Talmud and tourism centers, and opening of a new gate in the ancient wall around Jerusalem to provide access for Jewish settlers fr. the Silwan area. Palestinian residents of Silwan protesting the new moves clash with IDF troops who enter the neighborhood to disperse them, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades, seriously wounding an 11-yr.-old Palestinian boy. Islamic Jihad fires 3–4 mortars fr. Gaza toward Israel, with only 1 landing inside Israel; no damage or injuries are reported on either side of the border. Gaza’s power plant receives a fuel shipment from Israel allowing the plant’s 2d turbine (shut down on 10/22) to resume operation; rolling blackouts drop back down to 4–6 hrs./day. The IDF makes a day-long incursion into s. Gaza to level lands along the border fence e. of al-Qarara to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin in the afternoon and nr. Qalqilya late at night. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim heavily damage a Palestinian vehicle that breaks down on the road nr. the settlement. (JP 10/25; MNA 10/25; PCHR 10/28; OCHA 10/29)

The IDF makes 2 brief incursions into Gaza to clear lines of sight along the border e. of Jabaliya r.c. in the n. and al-Qarara in the s., exchanging gunfire with Palestinians in the s., causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols without incident in Bayt Liqya and Jit nr. Qalqilya during the day and in Jinsafut village nr. Qalqilya late at night; conducts late-night house searches nr. Hebron, making no arrests. Israel releases Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Council mbr. Ali Romanin, who was detained by the IDF in 2006 as a bargaining chip following the capture of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Jewish settlers fr. Beitar Ilit nr. Bethlehem set fire to 30 d. of nearby Palestinian agricultural land, damaging at least 600 trees. OCHA (10/22) reports that in the previous week an ailing 2-yr.-old Palestinian girl fr. Gaza died as a direct result of Israel delaying her transfer to an Israeli hospital for treatment. (MNA 10/19; PCHR 10/21; OCHA 10/22)

In the first full day after the expiration of the settlement freeze, the Israeli government approves construction of a new settler-only bypass road linking Kiryat Arba to the Tomb of the Patriarchs/al-Ibrahimi Mosque in c. Hebron, which could require the removal of 10s of Palestinian homes and confiscation of Palestinian agricultural land. Jewish settlers begin construction of 56 new houses in Karme Tzur. Armed Jewish settlers accompanied by IDF soldiers begin leveling 8 d. of Palestinian land in Wadi al-Hussein neighborhood in Hebron seized by settlers in 2008. State Dept. spokesman P.J. Crowley says the U.S. is “disappointed” Israel allowed the freeze to expire, saying Mitchell phoned Abbas to thank him for not suspending talks immediately and that Clinton had held a “business-like” phone conversation with Netanyahu about the freeze. (NYT, WP 9/28; PCHR, WJW 9/30; OCHA 10/1)

Secy. of State Clinton meets with Syrian FM Walid Moualem in New York to broach the possibility of reviving the Israeli-Syrian peace track, with the U.S. and Syria agreeing to develop some ideas on how to proceed. (NYT, WP 9/28)

In Gaza, IDF troops make a day-long incursion into s. Gaza to level lands in the no-go zone e. of al-Qarara to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF seals an entrance to Jayyus village nr. Qalqilya; seals 2 entrances to Azun village, checking Palestinian IDs, saying stones were thrown from the village at passing IDF patrols (no arrests are made); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm; conducts late-night patrols in Jenin and 2 nearby villages, making no arrests. (PCHR 9/30)

The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level lands e. of al-Qarara village to clear lines of sight, firing at Palestinians in the area but causing no injuries. In 2 separate incidents on the Rafah border, 1 Palestinian is fatally electrocuted in a smuggling tunnel, 4 are injured in a tunnel collapse. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm, nr. Hebron. (OCHA, PCHR 7/22)

IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials inside the industrial zone, wounding 1 Palestinian. The IDF sends troops into the former settlement sites inside the n. Gaza border to patrol the area to keep scavengers away; troops fire on the area but no injuries are reported. IDF troops make a brief incursion into s. Gaza to level land along the border e. of al-Qarara to clear lines of sight, shooting and wounding a farmer working his land 700 m fr. the border. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Bidya village nr. Salfit at midday to search several stores, making no arrests; makes an incursion in Hijja village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon, patrolling streets and photographing homes before withdrawing without incident; patrols in Shaqba village nr. Ramallah in the evening, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya and nr. Ramallah, Salfit, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops enter Awarta village nr. Nablus to hold religious ceremonies. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba nr. Hebron severely beat a 65-yr.-old Palestinian man. (PCHR 7/15; OCHA 7/16)

IDF Maj. Gen. (ret.) Giora Eiland, who headed the Israeli military’s internal inquiry into the 5/31 Gaza flotilla incident, releases brief excerpts of his classified 100-page final report to the IDF chief of staff concluding that overall the “the entire operation is estimable,” praising soldiers for their “professionalism, bravery, and resourcefulness.” While the report faults planning for the operation as inadequate (relying “excessively on a single course of action . . . while no alternative courses of action were prepared”), it deems the use of live fire on the passengers “justified.” (IFM 7/12; NYT, WP 7/13; JPI 7/23)

IDF troops make 2 brief incursions into the s. Gaza no-go area nr. al-Qarara and Abasan, leveling lands to clear lines of sight, firing on residential areas during the operations to keep Palestinians indoors (no injuries reported). IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire on Palestinians scavenging construction materials in the destroyed Erez industrial zone, forcing them to flee but causing no injuries. Israeli intelligence officers arrest an ailing Palestinian given permission to enter Israel through the Erez crossing for medical treatment; his family believes the permission to travel was granted as a ploy to capture him. In the West Bank, the IDF occupies a Palestinian home nr. Jenin as a military barrack; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Salfit. With Israeli police approval and under police protection, Jewish settlers stage a march through Silwan in East Jerusalem to protest “illegal” Palestinian construction (i.e., without permits); police fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the settlers; at least 29 Palestinians, 2 Israeli policemen are injured. (OCHA, PCHR 4/29)

The IDF makes a day-long incursion into Gaza along the border e. of al-Qarara, leveling land to clear lines of sight; during the operation, the IDF moves tanks into the area, firing several shells, damaging 2 Palestinian homes but causing no injuries. Unidentified Palestinians fire at least 3 mortars and 2 rocket-propelled grenades at an IDF unit patrolling the c. Gaza border inside Israel, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a late-night incursion into al-Ma‘sara, raiding the home of 2 local organizers of weekly demonstrations against the separation wall, interrogating them, accusing them of incitement, and warning them against holding more protests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem and nr. Jenin. Some 5,000 Jewish settlers guarded by IDF troops enter Kafr Haris village nr. Salfit, enter Islamic sites, vandalize homes; the IDF seals and restricts Palestinian movement inside the village while the settlers are present. (HA 4/8; OCHA, PCHR 4/15)

IDF troops on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing fire on Palestinians scavenging construction materials from the industrial zone, forcing them to flee but causing no casualties. IDF troops make a brief incursion 300 m into Gaza e. of al-Qarara to level land to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late night arrest raids, house searches in al-Am‘ari r.c. nr. Ramallah, Bethlehem, Dayr Nizam. Palestinians report that in the previous wk. the IDF confiscated 2.5 d. of land in Awarta village nr. Nablus for construction of a new military outpost. (PCHR 4/1; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 4/15)

Israel imposes a general closure on the West Bank through 4/6 for Passover. The IDF makes a brief incursion into s. Gaza e. of al-Qarara to level land along the border fence to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night house searches in ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c., summoning 2 Palestinians for interrogation. Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF does not immediately respond. (YA 3/29; OCHA, PCHR 4/1)

In Gaza, IDF troops on the s. Gaza border e. of al-Qarara exchange cross-border fire with armed Palestinians, causing no reported injuries; Israeli naval vessels then shell the area, injuring 3 armed Palestinians, damaging a mosque. IDF troops in observation towers on the Gaza border e. of Jabaliya fire on Palestinian farmers working land 400 m fr. the border (outside Israel’s no-go zone), forcing them to leave. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore. Late in the evening, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire at Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanun for 40 mins., causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF opens fire on a Palestinian vehicle driving nr. Husan village w. of Bethlehem, wounding 3 Palestinians (ages 17–21), claiming they fired on an IDF patrol; fires tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinians attempting to reach their agricultural land inside a closed military zone nr. Hebron, injuring an 8-yr.-old Palestinian boy; raids and seals (until 2/28) 2 Palestinian organizations in Sur Bahir nr. Jerusalem; imposes a late-night curfew on, conducts house searches in al-Zubaydat village nr. Jericho. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron throw stones and bottles at Palestinian houses in nearby Wadi Husayn, injuring a 7-yr.-old Palestinian boy. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo settlement n. of Ramallah seize 10 d. of Palestinian agricultural land to expand their settlement. (PCHR 2/24; OCHA 2/25)

Overnight, in retaliation for the 1/7 Grad strike nr. Ashqelon, the IDF makes air strikes on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border (killing 3 Palestinians, including a 15-yr.-old boy, and wounding 2), suspected weapons factories in the Shaykh Ajlin and al-Zaytun neighborhoods of Gaza City (causing no injuries but marking the 1st Israeli air strikes on Gaza City since OCL), and sites in al-Qarara in s. Gaza (initially hitting an open area, damaging a house; then targeting and destroying 2 other Palestinian homes, whose residents had fled after the initial strike close by; no injuries reported). During the day, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 more rockets toward Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinians and nonviolent international (and, in the case of Bil‘in, Israeli) activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 2 Palestinians) and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); conducts latenight house searches in al-Fara‘a r.c. and nr. Jenin, making no arrests. (JP 1/8; NYT 1/9; OCHA 1/13; PCHR 1/14)

Egyptian border police clash with 100s of Palestinians protesting Egypt’s refusal to allow a humanitarian aid convoy through the Rafah crossing into Gaza without Israel’s permission and Egyptian plans to build an underground steel wall to deter smuggling tunnels, leaving 1 Egyptian soldier fatally shot, 10s of Palestinians injured. In Gaza, a PRC mbr. injured in the 1/5 Israeli air strike on al-Qarara dies. The UN reports that since 12/23, 1 Palestinian has been killed in a smuggling tunnel collapse on the Rafah border. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a late-night incursion into Zabbuba village nr. Jenin, patrolling streets but making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches n. of Jerusalem. Jewish settlers fr. Gilad nr. Qalqilya attack Palestinian farmers working their nearby land. (OCHA 1/6, 1/13; PCHR 1/14)

Israel approves the construction of a new Jewish settlement neighborhood in Jerusalem funded by U.S. settlement financier Irving Moskowitz to build 4 apartment buildings (24 units total) on East Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, creating Israeli territorial contiguity between Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives, completely surrounding the Old City of Jerusalem with Jewish settlements; the U.S. issues a stern protest stating the project harms the peace process. Early in the morning, the IDF makes 2 incursions into s. Gaza nr. Abasan and Khuza to bulldoze land to clear lines of sight. Later, unidentified Palestinians fire a rocket into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF immediately carries out an air strike on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border (causing no reported injuries). Later, the IDF carries out an air strike in s. Gaza nr. al-Qarara on a group of PRC mbrs. preparing to fire a rocket, killing 1 PRC mbr. and wounding 3 others. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Palestinian areas of Hebron in the morning and in nearby Sa‘ir village in the afternoon. (Globes 1/5; JP, OCHA, PCHR, WP, WT 1/6; PCHR 1/14; JPI 1/15)

Overnight, the IDF carries out air strikes on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border in retaliation for the PFLP’s 12/31 Grad strikes, lightly injuring 4 Palestinians. Later in the day, after the Popular Resistance Committees (PRCs) fire at least 2 mortars toward the Kerem Shalom crossing (the IDF records 2, while the PRCs claim 5; only 1 lands inside Israel, causing no damage or injuries), the IDF carries out air strikes on an open area e. of Jabaliya in n. Gaza and on a farm in al-Qarara in s. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. Of note: Israel permanently closes the Nahal Oz crossing, meaning that with the exception of the grain belt operating at Qarni crossing, Kerem Shalom will be the sole transit point for goods coming in and out of Gaza; all fuel shipments will also henceforth go through Kerem Shalom. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians and nonviolent international (and, in the case of Bil‘in, Israeli) activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 1 Palestinian) and Ni‘lin (injuring 2 Palestinians); prevents Palestinian and international activists fr. planting trees on Palestinian land declared a closed military zone by the IDF, confiscating the trees; patrols in al-‘Arub r.c. in the evening, stopping and questioning a group of Palestinian children, arresting 3 teenagers; conducts synchronized late-night house searches in 3 villages southwest of Jenin, making no arrests; later makes a raid on a 4th village in the same area, also making no arrests. Jewish settlers fr. Yakir nr. Salfit stone a Palestinian car driving on the road to Qalqilya, injuring 2 Palestinians. (YA 1/1; HA 1/2; OCHA, PCHR 1/6)