The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih), Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops raid several areas nr. Tubas, confiscating a garbage truck and tractors, and delivering several stop-work orders to Palestinians constructing a power line. They also arrest 1 Palestinian and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids nr. Hebron, and patrol nr. Nablus and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid a children’s center in Silwan following reports of stone throwing in the area; they make no arrests. Late at night, they arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in the Old City. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian man as he attempts to cross into Israel. (IMEMC, MNA, TOI 12/9; PCHR 12/15)

The Israeli govt. informs the High Court of Justice that it has decided to return 7 corpses of Palestinians killed in violent attacks against Israelis in recent mos., but only if the families agree to certain conditions. The decision comes in response to the families’ petitions. The Israeli authorities say that the cases of 3 other corpses must be studied further because of their relation with Hamas and the security cabinet’s 12/8 ruling on the matter. (HA, MNA, YA 12/9)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities temporarily limit the number of trucks permitted to pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing bearing goods for Gaza. Around 70 trucks are denied access. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem and Jayyus nr. Qalqilya, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians in both. IDF troops also arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Tubas and nr. Tulkarm and Nablus; and patrol during the day nr. Hebron. Israeli forces bulldoze an agricultural road nr. Nablus, then block the road with a sand barrier. Unidentified vandals scrawl swastikas and the words “Death to Jews” on an IDF outpost nr. Hebron late at night. In response, the IDF suspends the Palestinian olive harvest in the area indefinitely. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces conduct raids in Shu‘fat r.c., sparking clashes with stonethrowing residents; at least 12 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 3 Palestinians during further raids in Sur al-Bahir. (MNA, WAFA 10/27; HA 10/30; PCHR 11/3)

PA pres. Abbas meets with Hamas leader Khalid Mishal and his dep. Ismail Haniyeh in Doha. They discuss steps they could take toward Palestinian national reconciliation. Senior Palestinian officials say the meeting is the start of a new reconciliation process, but they add that Abbas and Mishal did not agree on the aims of the new process. (HA, NYT, TOI, YA 10/27; MNA 10/30)

For a 2d day in a row, Gazan fighters fire a rocket into s. Israel. It lands in an open area, causing no serious damage or injuries. The IDF fires retaliatory tank shells across the border at Hamas sites, causing an undetermined amount of damage. After the exchange, DM Lieberman says that Israel will not seek an escalation of violence, but that it will not hesitate from retaliating against all rocket attacks. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 10/6; PCHR 10/13)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Rafah. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts a late-night raid in al-Fara‘a r.c. nr. Tubas, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 3 Palestinians are injured and 2 are arrested. IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians during raids nr. Bethlehem, Nablus, and Tulkarm; and patrol nr. Hebron. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish the “unrecognized” bedouin village of al-Araqib in the Negev for the 104th time since 2010. They also shut down several organizations affiliated with the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Nazareth and Umm al-Fahm, including 1 media group. The branch was accused of incitement and outlawed in 11/2015 (see JPS 45 [3]). (MNA 10/6; MNA 10/7; PCHR 10/13)

PA pres. Abbas is admitted to hospital in Ramallah after suffering chest pains and undergoes cardiovascular testing. PLO secy.-gen. Erekat says that the tests confirm that Abbas is in “good health.” (HA, MEMO, MNA 10/6)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian nr. Ramallah after he and other youths throw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli settlers in the area, lightly injuring 3 settlers (4 of the other Palestinian youths are injured). Some witnesses say there was no stone throwing and that the youths were just walking home. The PA describes the killing as “extrajudicial.” Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of the Qalqilya-area home of a Palestinian who was killed on 3/8 after he attacked a group of Israelis and U.S. tourists (see JPS 45 [4]). They also deliver stop-work orders to several Palestinian homes under construction nr. Bethlehem. IDF troops arrest 16 Palestinians and destroy part of a home during late-night raids and house searches in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Qalqilya, Nablus, Bethlehem, Tubas, and Tulkarm. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 8 Palestinians during raids in Sur al-Bahir, Issawiyya, and Abu Dis. (BBC, HA, JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 6/21; PCHR 6/23)

The PA cabinet decides to hold municipal elections on 10/8, though it is unclear whether this round of elections will include both Gaza and the West Bank. Hamas boycotted the last round of municipal elections in 2012, so no ballots were cast in Gaza (see JPS 42 [2]). (MNA 6/21)

In Gaza, a Palestinian worker dies in a tunnel leading to Egypt in unclear circumstances. Residents of the area say he was repairing a section of the tunnel that had been damaged by Egyptian forces when it collapsed. In Israel, an unidentified assailant stabs and injures an Israeli Jewish youth in Ramla, then flees the scene. The Israeli police later arrest a Palestinian in connection with the attack. In the West Bank, Israeli forces issue 11 stop-work notices to homes and agricultural structures under construction nr. Salfit and Hebron. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids in Qalqilya, Tulkarm and 1 nearby village, Hebron and 1 nearby village, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 each nr. Tubas and Bethlehem, arresting 17 Palestinians; patrol in 5 villages nr. Hebron and 4 nr. Ramallah. (HA, MNA, TOI, YA 2/8; PCHR 2/11)

On the 2d day of Palestinian national reconciliation talks in Doha, Hamas and Fatah officials reach a tentative agreement. They pledge to form a new unity govt., prepare for a new round of presidential and parliamentary elections, and reaffirm their commitments to previous agreements. They also agree that PASF troops will take control of the Rafah border crossing in Gaza, with Hamas staff supporting them. (TOI 2/9)

The Israeli Knesset’s Ethics Comm. suspends MKs Haneen Zoabi, Basel Ghattas, and Jamal Zahalka (Joint List) from plenary sessions and comm. hearings for periods of 2 and 4 mos. in connection with their 2/2 solidarity visit to the family of a Palestinian whose body is being withheld by Israeli authorities. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 2/8; NYT 2/9; EI 2/10)

The Knesset passes, 50–43, the 1st reading of Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked’s “NGO transparency bill,” which would require Israeli nonprofit organizations that receive funding from foreign govts. to disclose that information in a variety of ways. (JP 2/8; HA, MNA 2/9)