The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces order Palestinian farmers to leave their lands near Tubas for undisclosed reasons. They also evacuate and demolish a structure in the Netiv Ha’avot settlement outpost near Jerusalem. The remaining 15 buildings in the outpost are to be demolished by 3/2018. The IDF arrests 2 Palestinians during a late-night raid in Bethlehem, and patrols near Hebron and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli police arrest an Islamic Waqf guard at Haram al-Sharif and ban him from entering the Old City for 20 days. Israeli forces also arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in Ras al-Amud. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 11/29; PCHR 12/7)

Hours after employees of the Hamas-run government prevent former PA civil servants from entering government offices in Gaza City, Fatah and Hamas agree to temporarily delay the transfer of government ministries to 12/10. Under their 10/12 reconciliation agreement, administrative control over Gaza was supposed to be transferred to the PA by today (see JPS 47 [2]). The delay is meant to diffuse tensions that have arisen since, according to a joint statement. (AFP, HA 11/20)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 19 Palestinians and issue 2 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, Hebron, Ramallah, and Tubas; and patrol near Nablus. Israeli settlers throw stones at and physically assault Palestinian farmers working outside Yatta village near Hebron, sparking clashes between the Palestinians and IDF troops in the area; there are no serious injuries. The IDF then declares the area a closed military zone and arrests 6 Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in Silwan, al-Tur, and Issawiyya. (PCHR 11/30; PCHR 12/7)

After a cabinet meeting in Ramallah, the PA calls on all of its former civil servants in Gaza (who stopped working when Hamas took power in 6/2007), to return to their posts, thereby jeopardizing the future of tens of thousands of employees of the Hamas-run government. The PA had agreed to pay the current employees of the Hamas-run government through 2/2018. In a statement, the cabinet stresses that “the empowerment of the government in the Gaza Strip [. . .] is a necessary first step and the cornerstone for moving to resolve the rest of the issues.” Hamas, which has called for the issue to be resolved in a way that preserves the rights of its government’s employees, criticizes the announcement as a “violation” of past agreements. (AFP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 11/28)

Israeli forces punitively seal the entrances to Dayr Nizam village near Ramallah following repeated incidents of Palestinian youths throwing stones at Israeli settler vehicles in the area. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a water pipeline serving Palestinian communities near Tubas. IDF troops arrest 13 Palestinians during late-night raids near Tulkarm, Hebron, Jenin, and Ramallah; arrest 3 Palestinian youths accused of stone-throwing in central Hebron, and patrol in and around Hebron and Tulkarm. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles driving outside Huwwara near Nablus, injuring 2 Palestinians. Settlers also attack Palestinian farmers working in the area, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian demolishes his own shop in Silwan to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians during raids in Silwan and Anata refugee camp. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian agricultural lands near Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. (MNA, WAFA 11/13; MNA 11/14; PCHR 11/16)

Following weeks of tension in the wake of the 10/30 tunnel demolition (see Update), the IDF raises its alert level across Israel, triggering several precautionary measures in case PIJ retaliates. The Egyptian government is reportedly pressuring PIJ not to escalate the situation. (HA 11/13; YA 11/14)

Thousands of Palestinians gather at a rally in Gaza City to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the death of former Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat. In the West Bank, Israeli forces confiscate a tractor belonging to Palestinian farmers near Tubas. IDF troops clash with Palestinians in central Hebron (1 Palestinian is seriously injured), arrest 6 Palestinians during raids near Bethlehem and Hebron, and patrol near Hebron, Tulkarm, and Salfit. An Israeli settler assaults and injures a Palestinian teenager in Hebron. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian demolishes his own home in Silwan to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in Silwan. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp and again near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (WAFA 11/11; MNA, PNN, WAFA 11/12; PCHR 11/16)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers destroy several water pipes used by Palestinians in the northern Jordan Valley. IDF troops arrest 14 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Qalqilya, Jenin, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Tubas, and patrol near Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid a Palestinian school in Bayt Hanina, detaining 4 teachers before ordering the school to shut down. The students are told to look for another school to attend this year. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya on 3 separate occasions. They arrest 2 fishermen and confiscate their boat; there are no serious injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on farmlands near Gaza City and late at night near al-Maghazi refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (WAFA 11/6; PCHR 11/9)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday protests against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 3 villages near Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin), Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya, and along Gaza’s border near al-Bureij refugee camp; at least 2 Palestinians are seriously injured. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers issue 1 Palestinian an arrest summons during a late-night raid near Ramallah, and patrol near Hebron, Qalqilya, and Tulkarm. Israeli settlers physically assault and moderately injure a Palestinian farmer working near Tubas. (WAFA 11/3; MNA 11/4; PCHR 11/9)

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians marching through Bethlehem to mark the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. There are no serious injuries in the ensuing clashes. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli settlers steal the olives harvested from 280 trees in Palestinian orchards near Nablus. IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in Dahaysha refugee camp near Bethlehem overnight, sparking minor clashes; 1 Palestinian is injured. They arrest 11 more Palestinians during latenight raids in and around Tubas, Hebron, and Bethlehem, and patrol near Nablus, Qalqilya, and Hebron. (MNA, WAFA 11/1; PCHR 11/2; PCHR 11/9)

At a ceremony at the Rafah border crossing, Hamas formally hands over control of Gaza’s border crossings to the PA, implementing a key provision of their 10/12 reconciliation agreement. A senior PA official calls the moment an “important step on the path toward reconciliation.” The PA is set to take full control of Gaza on 12/1. (MNA, NYT, REU, TOI, WAFA 11/1)

Haaretz reports that the Israeli police have formed a special unit to oversee security and public order at Haram al-Sharif, following the upsurge in tensions at the site in 7/2017 (see JPS 47 [1]). The unit is expected to comprise about 200 officers when it begins operations in 2018. (HA 11/1)

PA pres. Abbas writes an op-ed for The Guardian lamenting the Balfour Declaration on its 100-year anniversary. “This British policy, to support Jewish immigration into Palestine while negating the Arab-Palestinian right to self-determination, created severe tensions between European Jewish immigrants and the native Palestinian population,” he writes. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Netanyahu flies to the UK to participate in the 100th anniversary celebrations. (GDN, TOI 11/1)

The IDF orders some 300 Palestinian Bedouins to leave their homes in the northern Jordan Valley ahead of the planned demolition of their village. Similar orders have been issued for Bedouin villages near Jerusalem in the past, but none have been enforced yet. (HA 11/17)

Israeli jets launch air strikes on an alleged Syrian government weapons depot in an industrial zone near Homs along the Lebanon-Syria border. The site reportedly hosted joint Iranian-Syrian activities. (HA 11/1; YA 11/2)