The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Jenin, and1 village each nr. Ramallah and Tulkarm at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Aida r.c. in Bethlehem, in Hebron, and in 1 village nr. Nablus at night. (PCHR 3/28)

The Arab League approves a Qatari proposal to set up a $1 billion fund for East Jerusalem to ‘‘maintain the Arab and Islamic character of the city and reinforce the steadfastness of its people.’’ Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Development Bank will manage the fund. The Israeli government condemns the decision. At the same meeting, Qatari emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani calls for a minisummit on Palestinian national reconciliation to be held in Cairo as soon as possible, remarked welcomed by both the PA and Hamas. Also at the Arab League meeting, Syrian opposition leader Sheikh Moaz al-Khatib takes the country’s vacant seat for the first time. (JP, NYT, REU 3/26)

PM Salam Fayyad presents a draft budget for the PA of $3.9 billion, with $1.4 billion having to come from foreign aid. The government debates the proposed budget. (MNA 3/26)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Aida r.c. in Bethlehem, 2 villages nr. Jenin, and 1 village each nr. Hebron and Nablus at night. The IDF orders 15 Palestinian families in the southern West Bank nr. Sa’ir to evacuate their homes on the grounds that the area is a closed military zone. (MNA 3/11; PCHR 3/14)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning, and in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Aida r.c. in Bethlehem and in 1 village nr. Salfit at night. (PCHR 3/14)

For the first time in Jordan’s history, the prime minister is elected by a vote of parliament instead of being appointed by the king. The new PM Abdullah Ensour, who had served as King Abdullah’s caretaker PM since the previous government was dissolved in 10/2012, should serve a 4-year term. (AP 3/9)

Syrian rebels release the UNDOF peacekeepers they captured on 3/6 and transferred them to Jordan in good health. (REU 3/9)

Israeli media reports that PM Benjamin Netanyahu may adopt a package of ‘‘goodwill gestures’’ ahead of U.S. Pres. Obama’s upcoming visit, including transferring responsibility for 2 West Bank roads to the PA, releasing Fatah prisoners, and approving building plans for Palestinian villages in Area C currently considered illegal. Netanyahu’s office denies the reports and says that any practical steps would only be taken if the Palestinian leadership returns to talks without conditions. (MNA, ToI 3/5)

In the West Bank, Jewish settlers uproot around 100 olive trees in Nahalin village nr. Bethlehem. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in Nablus, 1 village nr. Bethlehem, Aida r.c. in Bethlehem, 3 villages nr. Hebron and 2 villages nr. Jenin at night. (AP 3/5; PCHR 3/6)

Israeli security service Shin Bet publishes statistics indicating a 70% increase in violent attacks by Palestinians in the occupied territories during 2/2013 (138 incidents) compared to 1/2013 (83 incidents), most of which were the throwing of Molotov cocktails. (HA 3/5; XIN 8/6)

Hamas reports that PA security forces arrested 66 of the movement’s supporters in the West Bank during 2/2013, and summoned another 38 for interrogation. A senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip says that PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas had ‘‘sold the reconciliation in return for an American smile.’’ (JP 3/5)

A week after assuming office, U.S. Defense Secy. Chuck Hagel hosts Israeli DM Ehud Barak at the Pentagon for talks on Iran and Syria, among other topics. Hagel assures Barak that there would be no interruption of funding for Israeli defense systems like Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling, even as the looming sequester looks set to cost Israel around $155 million in defense assistance. (HA, JTA 3/5)