The Palestine Chronology

Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, causing no reported damage or injuries. IDF snipers fire into Gaza near the beach w. of Bayt Lahiya, causing some residents of the al-Sudaniyya neighborhood to evacuate for safety. Unidentified Palestinians fire at least 1 rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing damage but no injuries. A Jewish settler kills a Palestinian teenager in a deliberate hit-and-run nr. Ramallah. (AFP, CSM, JAZ, NYT, YA 4/2; WP 4/3; PCHR 4/8; OCHA 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)

The UN reports that the IDF has tightened its open-fire rules in the West Bank, no longer allowing soldiers to fire in the air or at stone-throwing Palestinians; allowing fire only when Molotov cocktails are thrown at civilian cars or when soldiers have requested and received permission from commanders. IDF troops on the Gaza border e. of al-Maghazi r.c. fire on Palestinians staging a peaceful march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, wounding 1 Palestinian; 3 Palestinians are wounded in a similar incident at the border fence e. of Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists conducting a nonviolent march to the separation wall outside Budrus village nr. Ramallah, injuring 3 Palestinians; conducts an evening arrest raid into Dayr Istya village nr. Salfit; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Azza r.c. and Dahaysha r.c., both nr. Bethlehem. (WP 3/31; OCHA, PCHR 4/1; WJW 4/8; JPI 4/16)

In the morning, Netanyahu tours Capitol Hill, where he is greeted warmly. He then meets for 2 hrs. at the White House with Pres. Obama, who reportedly makes tough demands of Israel to put the peace process back on track. After a 90-min. sidebar with his advisors, Netanyahu makes a counterproposal that is rejected by Obama. (NYT, WP, WT 3/24; NYT, WP 3/25; JPI, NYT 3/26)

Unidentified Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In retaliation, the IDF carries out an air strike on a suspected weapons depot nr. Jabaliya r.c., damaging a nearby home but causing no injuries. The IDF makes a brief incursion into the Erez industrial zone to level land and clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. several settlements beat Palestinian farmers working their land in Sinjil village n. of Ramallah; the IDF intervenes, declaring the area a closed military zone and forcing settlers and Palestinians to leave. (JP, YA 3/23; JP 3/24; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)

Overnight, the IDF carries out 6 air strikes on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border, 2 open areas nr. Khan Yunis, and a metal workshop in Gaza City in retaliation for the fatal 3/18 rocket strike; 2 Palestinian civilians are wounded in Rafah. After unidentified Palestinians fire another Qassam rocket into Israel during the day (causing no damage or injuries), the IDF carries out air strikes on a Hamas facility nr. Dahaniyya airport (11 Palestinians injured) and on smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border (injuring 14). In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists staging nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation), Budrus village nr. Ramallah (1 Palestinian injured; 3 Palestinians, including 2 journalists arrested), Dayr Nizam/ al-Nabi Salih (11 Palestinians injured), and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); protesters in Ni‘lin throw stones at IDF troops, but the other demonstrations are nonviolent. Palestinians also demonstrate against the separation wall at the Qalandia checkpoint, setting fire to tires and throwing stones and bottles at IDF troops, who respond with rubber-coated steel-bullets, injuring 3 and arresting 1. The IDF also carries out late-night arrest raids, house searches in Qalandia r.c. nr. Ramallah. Jewish settlers burn a wooded area of Palestinian land nr. Bet Ayn settlement nr. Hebron. (JP, NYT, YA 3/19; HA, WP 3/20; OCHA, PCHR 3/25)

At a meeting in Moscow, the Quartet issues a strong statement “condemning” Israel’s Ramat Shlomo construction plan, “recalling that the annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognized by the international community,” and reiterating that Israel was obligated irrespective of Palestinian reciprocity to “freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001; and to refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem.” (WP 3/19, 3/20; NYT 3/21)

Facing increasing bipartisan pressure to tone down criticism of Israel, Secy. Clinton reiterates the U.S. call for Israel to demonstrate its “full commitment” to the peace process but assures that the U.S.- Israel relationship is not threatened, emphasizing the administration’s “absolute commitment to Israel’s security” and the U.S.’s “close, unshakable bond” with Israel. Netanyahu immediately welcomes Clinton’s “warm words” but says nothing about the U.S. demands. Meanwhile, Israel issues bids for construction of 309 settlement housing units in Neve Ya’acov in East Jerusalem (NYT, WP, WT 3/17)

In Gaza, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 mortars toward Israel, which land harmlessly in Gaza. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire in the air to disperse Gazans staging a nonviolent march to the border fence to protest Israel’s no-go zone. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Madama village nr. Nablus late in the evening, firing stun grenades, arresting 3 Palestinians; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 100s of Palestinians protest Israel’s efforts to Judaize East Jerusalem in light of the 3/15 synagogue opening in the Old City and the 3/9 Ramat Shlomo announcement, throwing stones at Israeli forces, who respond with rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas; 166 Palestinians are injured (at least 10 seriously), 60 arrested; 15 Israeli police are also injured. Separately, Israeli police storm a small section of Jerusalem’s Old City known as the African quarter, raiding and searching homes, firing tear gas, detaining 5 Palestinians (including 1 child and 1 journalist). Protests spread to the rest of the West Bank, with clashes between Palestinians and the IDF reported in Bethlehem, Hebron, and Ramallah, leaving another 23 Palestinians, 2 IDF soldiers, and 2 Jewish settlers injured. (JP 3/16; NYT, WP, WT 3/17; OCHA, PCHR 3/18)

Israel officially inaugurates a rebuilt synagogue in Jerusalem’s Old City, raising tensions with Palestinians and the U.S., which see the timing as politically incorrect; no violence occurs, however. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah. (NYT 3/16; OCHA, PCHR 3/18)

The IDF sends units into Ramallah to detain senior Hamas official Maher Audi, wanted in connection with the death of 10 Israelis; the PA does not immediately comment on the IDF’s raid into Palestiniancontrolled area A without coordination with the PA. The IDF also closes the Atara checkpoint to Birzeit village to prevent Birzeit University students from staging a march to Jerusalem to protest Israeli Judaization efforts there, firing live ammunition and rubber-coated steel bullets toward stone-throwing students, injuring 3 (2 with shrapnel from live ammunition); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah. (WT 3/15; OCHA, PCHR 3/18)

Biden wraps up his trip to Israel with a big speech to the Israeli public at Tel Aviv University, underscoring American solidarity with Israel. He reiterates U.S. disapproval of the Ramat Shlomo housing plan because it “undermined the trust required for productive negotiations,” but accepts what he calls “significant” assurances from Netanyahu that the construction will not break ground for years, expressing hope that negotiations would “resolve this and other outstanding issues” before construction could begin. He then heads to Jordan. Separately, Netanyahu issues a statement apologizing for the “unfortunate timing” of the Ramat Shlomo announcement, but notably not apologizing for the construction itself. At the same time, Israel’s Jerusalem municipality announces plans to build 1,000s of settlement housing units e. and s. of Jerusalem in areas Israel intends to keep under final status, including 3,000 units each in Gilo and Givat Matosim, 1,500 units each in Har Homa and Pisgat Ze’ev, 1,200 units in Ramot, 600 in Armona Netseev, 450 in Neve Ya’acov, and 144 in Olive Mount. The U.S. does not comment. Abbas warns Biden by phone that the PA cannot start proximity talks until Israel reverses the construction approval. (JTA 3/11; NYT, WP, WT 3/12)

In Ramallah, at least 1 PA security official and 1 Fatah Central Comm. member take part in a ceremony in Ramallah naming a public square after Dalal Mughrabi, a 19-yr.-old Fatah member who in 1978 led a squad from Lebanon that sailed to Israel where they staged attacks killing 1 American and 38 Israelis before being shot dead; Netanyahu denounces the official Fatah and PA participation as incitement undermining the peace process. Late in the evening, the IDF patrols in Ramallah, firing rubber-coated steel bullets at stonethrowing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no injuries; carries out latenight house searches in Jenin town and r.c., making no arrests. In Gaza, the littleknown Salafist group Ansar al-Sunna fires a Qassam rocket into Israel, causing no damage or injuries but marking the 1st incidence of rocket fire since 2/12. Later in the day, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 more Qassams toward Israel, but they land harmlessly inside Gaza. Late at night, the IDF makes an air strike on a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. Hamas authorities in Gaza release British journalist Paul Martin, held for 25 days on suspicion of security offenses (see 3/1). (NYT, YA 3/12; OCHA, PCHR 3/18)

U.S. VP Joe Biden begins a 4-day trip aimed at boosting the peace process and reassuring Israel on Iran, marking the highest level visit to the region to date by an Obama admin. official. Timed with his arrival, special envoy Mitchell formally announces that Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to hold indirect talks, while stating that the structure and scope of the talks has not been agreed. (To date, Israel has insisted that proximity talks deal only with procedural issues, while Palestinians want all issues, especially borders, discussed.) He also calls on both sides “to refrain from any statements or actions which may inflame tensions or prejudice the outcome of these talks.” While Mitchell is meeting with Abbas in Ramallah, however, Israel announces construction of 112 new settlement housing units in the West Bank settlement of Beitar Ilit w. of Bethlehem, part of a planned 300-unit project (the foundations for the other units had already been poured when the 10-mo. construction freeze went into effect, automatically exempting them). Israel says that the empty site poses a safety hazard and that construction to address “safety problems for . . . projects started before the freeze” is not a violation of the freeze. (NYT, WP, WT 3/9)

In the West Bank, IDF troops raid a school in Azun village nr. Qalqilya, claiming students had thrown stones at their unit, attempting to arrest 1 boy; the headmaster bars the boy’s removal from the school and asks the Israeli-Palestinian liaison department to intervene; the soldiers leave the school after 2 hrs. of mediation, without making any arrests. The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, nr. Bethlehem. In Hebron, a 15-yr.-old Jewish settler assaults 2 Palestinian boys (ages 11, 12) on their way home from school; the IDF observes but only intervenes when the settler boy cuts his hand when he tried to take a birdcage away from the Palestinian boys, arresting the Palestinians but releasing them on bail hrs. later. (JP 3/8; OCHA, PCHR 3/11)

After the Arab League endorses the idea of indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace talks for a 4-mo. preliminary period, U.S. special envoy George Mitchell announces that he will head back to the region in several days to secure the formal agreement of Israel and the Palestinians to relaunch peace talks, suspended since Israel launched Operation Cast Lead (OCL) against Gaza in 12/08. (NYT, WP, WT 3/4)

IDF troops make a brief incursion 500 m into n. Gaza nr. Bayt Lahiya to level land to clear lines of sight. In the West Bank, the IDF makes a late-night incursion into Beitunia w. of Ramallah, patrolling streets and firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no reported injuries; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c., nr. Bethlehem and Ramallah. The IDF reports that it called off a raid on a West Bank village after a soldier posted the time and place of the planned operation on Facebook; the soldier was court-martialed and sentenced to 10 days in prison. (PCHR, WT 3/4; OCHA, PCHR 3/11)

Israeli mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat unveils a plan to demolish 10s of Palestinian homes built without permits in al-Bustan in the Silwan area of East Jerusalem to make way for a tourist center (offering the Palestinians new apartments over retail space to be constructed, which they reject) but delays the plan at the last minute at the request of PM Netanyahu, who tells Barkat to continue efforts to negotiate an amicable deal with Palestinian residents. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops covered by helicopters into several villages w. of Jenin in search of 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs., surrounding and searching relatives’ homes, making no arrests; resumes work on a segment of the separation wall in Bayt Jala nr. Bethlehem (suspended for 3 yrs.) where 300 d. of agricultural land and 2,000 olive trees are slated to be razed; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm, nr. Ramallah. (WT 3/3; OCHA, PCHR 3/4; JPI 3/19)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire 2 artillery shells at open areas nr. al-Nada housing project, causing no damage or injuries. Later, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire 4 flechette rounds at armed Palestinians operating 700 m fr. the border, killing 1 armed Palestinian, wounding 1. IDF troops at the Erez crossing fire into Gaza at Palestinians demonstrating against Israel’s imposition of a 300-m no-go zone along the length of the Gaza border, causing no injuries. Hamas authorities in Gaza extend for 15 days the detention of British journalist Paul Martin, detained (2/14) on suspicion of security offenses based on his testimony in a trial in Gaza on behalf of a Palestinian accused of collaboration with Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jericho. PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas holds his weekly cabinet session in Hebron instead of Ramallah to protest Israel’s decision to include the Tomb of the Patriarchs/ al-Ibrahimi Mosque (located in Hebron) and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem as Israeli national heritage sites, calling the move contrary to international law. (NYT 3/2; OCHA, PCHR 3/4)

The IDF makes a brief incursion 700 m into the al-Fukhari area of s. Gaza to level 60 d. of agricultural land. In the West Bank, low-level clashes between Palestinian protesters and the IDF continue in Hebron for a 3d day, with no serious injuries reported. The IDF demolishes 6 wells w. of Jenin that provide water to 47 greenhouses and 456 d. of agricultural land; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Ramallah. (NYT 2/26; OCHA, PCHR 3/4)

Palestinians protesting Netanyahu’s 2/21 decision to add sites in Bethlehem and Hebron to Israel’s national heritage roster clash with IDF troop in Hebron; no serious injuries are reported. IDF troops conduct late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Fara‘a r.c. s. of Tubas and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah. In Gaza, the IDF makes a day-long incursion to level land along the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya to clear lines of sight. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus uproot 45 Palestinian olive trees in nearby Burin village; the IDF imposes a curfew on the village while the settlers work. Palestinians report (PCHR 2/24) that in the previous wk. Israel’s Jerusalem planning comm. convened to discuss a plan to build 549 settlement housing units on 153 d. of Bayt Safafa land s. of Jerusalem as part of a 4-stage settlement expansion plan, though no decisions were taken; the plan (several parts of which were approved before Netanyahu declared a temporary settlement freeze in 11/09) is aimed at reinforcing the separation of Jerusalem from the s. West Bank. (NYT, WT 2/23; PCHR 2/24; OCHA 2/25)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on Palestinians scavenging material from destroyed buildings 400 m fr. the border, forcing them to flee; no injuries are reported. Shortly after, the same IDF unit shells the area where the Palestinians had been scavenging as well as a Palestinian home in Bayt Lahiya, causing damage but no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Bayt Rima nr. Ramallah during the day; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Some 50 Jewish settlers break into the ancient Na’aran synagogue in Palestinian-controlled area A in Jericho to hold religious services, declaring their hopes of “renewing Jewish settlement in Jericho”; the IDF removes the settlers, arresting at least 35. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops enter Kafr Haris village n. of Salfit to perform Jewish prayers at monuments in the village. (HA 2/22; PCHR 2/24; OCHA 2/25)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu adds 2 key West Bank Jewish shrines, the Tomb of the Patriarchs (known as alIbrahimi Mosque to Palestinians) in the center of Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb just inside Bethlehem, to Israel’s national heritage sites, allocating $1 m. for their maintenance and repair as part of a $100 m. project to refurbish and link 150 national heritage sites, creating a “historical biblical trail [to] educate the next generation about Jewish and Zionist history.” The PA condemns the action. (IFM 2/21; PCHR, WT 2/22; NYT 2/23; JPI 3/4)

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)

The IDF makes a day-long incursion into c. Gaza to level land inside the no-go zone e. of al-Maghazi and al-Musaddar, demolishing 3 Palestinian homes (displacing 13 residents), leveling 17 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of agricultural land, exchanging gunfire with armed Palestinians throughout the day (no injuries reported). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Bayt Sira village w. of Ramallah in the evening, firing rubber-coated steel bullets at stonethrowing youths who confront them, causing no injuries; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah. (OCHA 2/18; PCHR 2/24; OCHA 2/25)

In the morning, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire on Palestinians collecting scrap metal from destroyed sites nr. the border fence (no injuries are reported). In the West Bank, an off-duty Palestinian policeman (not in uniform) stabs, kills an IDF soldier parked in a jeep at a junction s. of Nablus in Israeli-controlled area C and is detained by an Israeli security guard from a nearby Jewish settlement; PA Pres. Abbas denounces the attack, urging Palestinians to participate only in nonviolent protests against Israel. In response, the IDF raids, searches several Palestinian houses and the assailant’s home in al-Khiljan village southwest of Jenin, confiscating computers and cell phones, and arresting 6 Palestinians, including 4 of his brothers. The IDF also fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas to disperse Palestinians and international activists planting 500 olive trees on Palestinian land slated for Israeli confiscation in Bayt Umar village nr. Karme Tzur settlement; levels Palestinian land nr. Bayt Sahur for construction of an IDF observation post; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah (arresting 20 Palestinians, all between the ages of 15 and 18), and nr. Hebron. (NYT, OCHA, PCHR, WP 2/11; OCHA, PCHR 2/18)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes a rare daytime incursion into Bayt Umar village, 1 of the 4 Hebron-area villages raided on 2/4, setting up a checkpoint in the center of town and chasing away Palestinians; they withdraw after 3 hrs. without staging any raids or making any arrests. Late at night, the IDF raids an apartment building in al-Bireh nr. Ramallah that houses international activists working with the International Solidarity Movement, searching for individuals “known to have been involved in illegal riots that interfered with Israeli security operations [e.g., weekly separation wall protests],” checking visas and passports, and arresting 1 Spanish journalist and 1 Australian activist. The PA calls (2/7) the arrest raid a violation of the Oslo interim accords, which gave the PA full security and civil control of Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha escorted by IDF troops attempt to enter Iraq Burin village; soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at 10s of Palestinians who try to block their entry, injuring 3. (OCHA, PCHR 2/11)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing Palestinians and nonviolent international activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in and at peaceful Palestinian protesters demonstrating against planned land confiscations in Dayr Nizam and al-Nabi Salih both northwest of Ramallah (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at all 3 sites). Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba and Harsina settlements nr. Hebron uproot 80 Palestinian-owned grapevines along a nearby settler-only bypass road. (OCHA, PCHR 2/11)

The IDF reports that 2 explosive devices apparently targeting Israeli naval vessels exploded off the Israeli coast, causing no damage or injuries; no group takes responsibility. In the West Bank, the IDF makes an afternoon incursion into Bayt Umar village, searching 4 houses, but making no arrests; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinians and nonviolent international activists taking part in protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer tear gas inhalation); seals the entrances to Ni‘lin village so international activists cannot take part in weekly demonstrations against the separation wall there, then beats and fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian protesters (several are injured); for a 2d time (see 1/22) fires rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians holding a nonviolent protest march fr. the outskirts of Ramallah to their agricultural lands that are now within a closed military zone surrounding Halamish settlement (10s suffer tear gas inhalation). Jewish settlers acting on a 1/25 municipal court ruling occupy the 2d floor of a Palestinian home in Aqabat al-Saraya in Jerusalem. (NYT 2/3; OCHA, PCHR 2/4)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized late-night house searches in and around Tubas, making no arrests; conducts similar late-night searches without making arrests in Bethlehem; conducts late-night arrest raids nr. Jenin. An Israeli municipal court in Jerusalem orders the IDF to pay more than $117,000 in compensation to Jewish settlers from the illegal settlement outpost of Yad Ya’ir nr. Ramallah, which the IDF removed in 9/08; the judge rules that the IDF contravened a last-minute High Court order to delay demolition; the IDF says it will appeal. (HA 1/25; OCHA 1/27; PCHR 1/28)

Israeli naval vessels off the n. Gaza coast fire on Palestinian fishing boats, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Ni‘lin. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha s. of Nablus attempt to raid nearby Iraq Burin village but are fended off by Palestinian residents; IDF troops intervene, firing rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians to disperse them (injuring 1 Palestinian). Jewish settlers fr. Halamish nr. Ramallah uproot 15 nearby Palestinian olive trees. (OCHA 1/27; PCHR 1/28)

In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated 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 and Ni‘lin (10s suffer tear gas inhalation at both sites); fires tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian and international activists holding a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara (no injuries reported); fires rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians holding a nonviolent protest march fr. the outskirts of Ramallah to their agricultural lands that are now within a closed military zone surrounding Halamish settlement (4 are wounded); conducts latenight house searches in Ni‘lin, making no arrests; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (OCHA 1/27; PCHR 1/28)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah. (OCHA 1/27; PCHR 1/28)

U.S. special envoy George Mitchell begins a 3-day visit to Israel and Ramallah in his latest effort to jumpstart the peace process. (WT 1/22) 

Unidentified Palestinians fire a mortar fr. s. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin, and Ramallah, arresting only 1 Palestinian nr. Hebron. Some 30 Jewish settlers fr. Bet Ayn attack Palestinian farmers working their nearby fields. (HA, YA 1/9; OCHA 1/13; PCHR 1/14)

An IDF drone fires a missile at PFLP mbrs. nr. the Gaza border fence e. of Jabaliya, killing 2 PFLP mbrs., wounding a 3d. In the West Bank, the IDF removes an earthen barrier blocking the northern entrance to Halhul n. of Hebron that has been a major impediment to Palestinian movement along Route 60, the main road in the s. West Bank; demolishes 5 structures on a Palestinian farm nr. Bethlehem; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jerusalem, Ramallah. (OCHA, PCHR 1/6)