The Palestine Chronology

For the 2d week in a row, Israeli authorities bar Gazans from traveling to Haram al-Sharif. Tensions at the sanctuary remain high: Israeli forces detain dozens of Palestinian youths at 1 entrance on suspicion that they were throwing stones in the area. Some Palestinians briefly clash with Israeli forces at another gate; there are no serious injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s settlements, separation wall, and occupation in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, and Jalazun r.c.), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and 2 areas along Gaza’s border; 4 Palestinians are injured. They also conduct raids and house searches in Hebron, arresting 3 Palestinians; patrol in and around Hebron and nr. Jericho. (MNA, TOI 4/29; PCHR 5/5)

Amid continuing heightened tension across the oPt during Passover, Israeli forces escort hundreds of Israeli settlers to Joseph’s Tomb outside Nablus and to Solomon’s Pools outside Bethlehem in the morning, sparking clashes in Nablus with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 1 Palestinian is injured. Also, around 200 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif; 5 are removed from the area when they attempt to perform religious rites. Israeli authorities close the Kerem Shalom crossing with Gaza, indicating that they plan to keep it closed through 4/30. Elsewhere along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Ramallah after he and another Palestinian allegedly attempt to stab an Israeli soldier. They also conduct raids nr. Bethlehem, issuing arrest summons to 3 Palestinians; patrol nr. Hebron, Salfit, and Jericho. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/28; PCHR 5/5)

Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office releases a statement formally rejecting the French peace initiative, including the peace conference planned for 5/30 in Paris. “Israel is ready immediately to begin direct negotiations with the Palestinians without any preconditions,” it reads, adding that “any other diplomatic initiative distances the Palestinians from the table of direct negotiations.” Meanwhile, a U.S. State Dept. spokesperson reiterates that the Obama admin. has not yet taken a position on the French initiative. (HA, TOI, USSD 4/28; MNA 4/29)

For the 3d day in a row, Israeli forces conduct widespread raids across East Jerusalem, arresting at least 20 Palestinians ahead of the Passover holiday and threatening demolitions in Silwan. Additional Israeli police are deployed in the city. Israeli authorities suspend Gazans’ weekly visit to Jerusalem, and completely close down crossings in the West Bank and Gaza, with exceptions for humanitarian and medical cases (the closure began at midnight on 4/21 and will last through midnight on 4/23, unless the IDF decides the security situation requires its continuation). At Haram al-Sharif, 29 Palestinians are barred from the sanctuary and 10 right-wing Jewish activists are detained as they carry baby goats to the sanctuary for Passover sacrifices (Jewish religious rites are prohibited at Haram al-Sharif). IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, Nabi Salih, Jalazun r.c., and outside Ofer Prison), 1 village nr. Qalqilya, and 2 areas along Gaza’s border; 6 Palestinians are injured. The IDF also patrols during the day in 4 villages nr. Qalqilya and 2 nr. Ramallah. (JP, MNA 4/22; MNA 4/23; HA 4/24; PCHR 4/28)

In a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York, PA pres. Abbas encourages gathered world leaders to support the French peace initiative, saying, “We are deliberating with international parties and relevant Arab ministerial committee to examine the content and timing for proposing a [UNSC] res. against settlement activity.” The Palestinian leadership had planned to have their antisettlement res. introduced in the UNSC during Abbas’s trip to New York; press reports say that they have decided to postpone the initiative at France’s request to give breathing room to the French peace initiative. (HA, MNA 4/22; JP 4/23)

For the 2d day in a row, Israeli forces conduct major raids across East Jerusalem overnight, sparking clashes with stonethrowing Palestinian in Abu Dis and al-‘Izzariya; 16 Palestinians are injured and 1 is arrested. In the West Bank, an Israeli settler driver rams a Palestinian youth in Hebron, causing moderate injuries. IDF troops conduct 8 patrols nr. Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian attempting to cross into Israel illegally nr. Bayt Hanun. Hamas redeploys its forces to improve security along the border with Egypt. A Hamas official describes the move as a confidence-building measure requested by the Egyptian govt. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/21; PCHR 4/28)

Peace Now reports that the Israeli govt. has declared 115 dunams (28 acres) nr. Salfit as “state land.” Israel reportedly plans to build a new industrial zone in the area. (PCN 4/21; MNA 4/22)

The IDF conducts a major campaign of raids and house searches in the Issawiyya neighborhood of East Jerusalem overnight, arresting 31 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to another 18. They also set up flying checkpoints around the neighborhood and verbally abuse a number of residents. Meanwhile, Israeli forces enter the nearby Qalandia r.c. and punitively demolish the interior walls of the home of a Palestinian killed on 1/25 after he, along with another youth, stabbed and killed an Israeli settler. The demolition sparks major clashes with residents of the camp; 8 Palestinians and 2 Israeli soldiers are injured. In the West Bank, Israeli forces detain and assault a Palestinian nr. Qalqilya who is attempting to cross into Israel for work. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids in Hebron and nr. Ramallah, arresting 4 Palestinians and damaging some property. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/20; MNA, PCHR, WAFA 4/21; PCHR 4/28)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct late-night raids nr. Tulkarm, Ramallah, and Jericho, arresting 4 Palestinians, and patrol during the day in Tulkarm, nr. Jericho, Qalqilya, and Hebron. Off Gaza’s s. coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats overnight, injuring 1 fisherman (3 others are arrested and 2 boats are confiscated). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault a group of Palestinian youths in Ras al-Amud, injuring 1. In Israel, Israeli forces destroy the bedouin village al-‘Araqib in the Negev for the 97th time. Meanwhile, around 2,000 Israelis gather in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv to demonstrate in support of Azaria, the Israeli soldier who shot and killed a detained Palestinian on 3/24. (EI, MNA, WAFA 4/19; PCHR 4/21)

Following Jordan’s 4/18 announcement that it is no longer planning to support the installation of cameras at Haram al-Sharif, an Israeli official says that “Israel’s support [for the initiative] remains unchanged.” (TOI 4/19)

An explosive device detonates on a bus in s. Jerusalem, injuring at least 20 Israelis (2 seriously). A Palestinian injured in the blast will succumb to his wounds on 4/20. Israeli officials treat it as a terrorist attack, and the Israeli police and security services begin investigations. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinian youths after they allegedly assault an Israeli youth in the Old City; arrest 7 Palestinian youths and confiscate some property during raids in Shu‘fat r.c., Qalandia r.c., Ras al-Amud, and the Old City; and shoot tear gas canisters at Palestinian schoolchildren in Ras al-Amud, causing no serious injuries. Israeli forces also raid and search a newspaper company’s offices. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot tear gas canisters at a school nr. Hebron, causing minor injuries; conduct raids and house searches nr. Bethlehem, Ramallah, Qalqilya, and in and around Hebron, arresting 10 Palestinians, issuing arrest summons to 4, and confiscating some property; patrol nr. Ramallah and Jericho. Along Gaza’s border, Egyptian forces flood and partially destroy a smuggling tunnel leading into the n. Sinai Peninsula. A military court in Gaza sentences 5 Palestinians to death on charges related to collaborating with Israel. A Palestinian woman is injured when she accidentally detonates a piece of unexploded Israeli ordnance in Gaza City. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/18; JP, MNA, TOI 4/19; HA, MNA 4/20; PCHR 4/21)

The IDF lifts a gag order on the news that it discovered a tunnel leading from s. Gaza into Israel earlier this week (they will demolish it on 4/19). Hamas’s military wing says “this tunnel is just a drop in the ocean of what the resistance has prepared for the defense of its people and the liberation of holy places, land, and prisoners.” (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 4/18; JP 4/19)

Citing Palestinian complaints and reservations, Jordan’s PM Abdullah Ensour says that Jordan has decided to halt the process of installing cameras at Haram al-Sharif following mos. of stalled negotiations with Israeli officials. (JP, MNA, TOI, YA 4/18; HA 4/19, 4/27)

Across the oPt, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, settlements, and separation wall in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, and Nabi Salih), 1 each nr. Qalqilya and Salfit, al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, and in 2 areas along Gaza’s border; 3 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities return the body of the Palestinian killed nr. Hebron on 4/14, despite PM Netanyahu’s reported order to hold the body indefinitely. Israeli forces patrol in 3 villages nr. Hebron, and arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in East Jerusalem. (MNA, TOI 4/15; MNA 4/16; PCHR 4/21)

In the West Bank, IDF troops detain a Palestinian youth after arguing with her at a checkpoint nr. Bethlehem, and conduct raids in a village nr. Nablus, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians. Amid the clashes, Israeli soldiers fire tear gas canisters at a girls’ school, causing many students to choke. The IDF conducts late-night raids in and around Jenin, Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, and Tubas, arresting 16 Palestinians and confiscating and damaging property; patrols nr. Jenin and Nablus. Israeli soldiers set fire to a Palestinian flag at a checkpoint nr. Nablus. Israeli settlers steal a Palestinian’s horse from a village nr. Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 2 residential structures in Kafr Walaja early in the morning, and arrest 18 Palestinians during raids in Silwan, the Old City, and Bayt Hanina. In West Jerusalem, Jewish Israelis assault and moderately injure a Palestinian bus driver nr. the Central Bus Station. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/13; HA, PCHR, WAFA 4/14; HA 4/15; PCHR 4/21)

The Israeli press reports that PM Netanyahu and DM Ya’alon recently gave their approval for the construction of 267 settler residences in the West Bank, including in a number of outposts. (HA 4/13; PCN 4/14)

A Palestinian lawyer says that an Israeli court has rescinded the ban on products of 5 Palestinian food companies entering Jerusalem, which was issued by Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture on 3/9. (MNA 4/13)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Khan Yunis. Early in the morning in the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish 3 Palestinian homes under construction in a village nr. Bethlehem and a playground in a village nr. Nablus. They also reopen a road e. of Hebron that they closed on 3/14, following a formal request from the PA. IDF troops patrol in a village nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians; 2 Palestinians are arrested and there are no serious injuries. They conduct further raids and house searches nr. Nablus, Jericho, and in Tulkarm, arresting 4 Palestinians; patrol nr. Qalqilya, Jericho, Ramallah, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Municipality prepares to demolish a Palestinian home in Wadi al-Juz, but Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office intervenes, canceling the demolition to avoid increasing tensions in the city ahead of Passover. Meanwhile, the extreme messianic group Temple Institute says that it conducted a secret Jewish wedding at Haram al-Sharif, violating the ban on Jewish religious ceremonies at the sanctuary. (MNA, WAFA 4/12; MNA, TOI, YA 4/13; PCHR 4/14)

COGAT announces that the Israeli govt. has given approval, in principle, to a Palestinian request to build a power plant nr. Jenin. (YA, 4/12; MNA, YA 4/13)

A U.S. State Dept. spokesperson says that the U.S. opposes a UNSC res. censuring Israel’s settlements, such as the one the Palestinian leadership is currently circulating. He adds, “I can firmly shut the door,” ending all speculation about U.S. support for the effort. (USSD 4/12; JP 4/13)

 In Gaza, at least 2 Palestinians die in a smuggling tunnel collapse nr. Rafah, according to Palestinian sources. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Gaza City. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Aida r.c. and al-Azza r.c. nr. Bethlehem late at night, sparking clashes with armed and stone-throwing Palestinian youths in both; there are no serious injuries. They conduct further raids in Salfit and nr. Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, and Tulkarm, arresting 13 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 3; patrol nr. Hebron, Tulkarm, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces confiscate property and arrest 1 Palestinian during raids in the Old City. In Israel, right-wing Jewish activists spray paint racist graffiti on the walls of a synagogue in Safed. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 4/10; MNA 4/11; TOI 4/12; PCHR 4/14)

Israeli PM Netanyahu says that there has been a “significant decline” in the number of serious Palestinian crimes against Israelis. He also reaffirms his ban on MKs and other elected officials visiting Haram al-Sharif ahead of the Jewish holiday Passover. (TOI 4/10)

Across the oPt, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and 2 areas along Gaza’s border; 7 Palestinians are injured and at least 4 are arrested. On Gaza’s border, an explosive device detonates under an armored Israeli bulldozer, causing damage but no injuries. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on 2 Palestinian fishing boats nr. Rafah, injuring 2 fishermen, arresting 4, and then confiscating the boats. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct house searches and raids nr. Hebron and Bethlehem, arresting 2 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 4; patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces disperse Palestinians conducting a sit-in in Silwan in protest of Israeli efforts to Judaize the city; 6 Palestinians are arrested and a tent is confiscated. Israeli police arrest a Palestinian for allegedly planning a stabbing attack outside the Old City, and temporarily detain a shaykh at Haram al-Sharif, accusing him of “incitement.” (JP, MNA, TOI, YA 4/8; PCHR 4/14)

A U.S. State Dept. spokesperson says that the Obama admin. has not decided whether or not to support the draft UNSC res. condemning Israel’s settlements that the Palestinians circulated earlier in the week (a U.S. veto would scuttle the effort). Separately, 394 mbrs., or 90%, of the House of Representatives sign onto a letter calling on U.S. pres. Obama to “oppose and, if need be, veto one-sided UNSC resolutions,” inter alia. (USSD 4/8; TOI 4/9; JP 4/10; JTA 4/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli authorities reopen a road in e. Hebron 5 mos. after sealing it behind earth mounds. Israeli forces confiscate 4 water tanks and 2 cars, and demolish 16 residential tents and 15 livestock barracks in a village nr. Nablus, displacing 117 Palestinians. IDF troops conduct raids and house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Hebron, arresting 5 Palestinians; patrol nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers uproot trees and level land nr. Ramallah, sparking minor clashes with Palestinians in the area; there are no injuries. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. al-Bureij r.c., arrest a Palestinian attempting to cross into Israel for work nr. Jabaliya r.c., and open fire on Palestinian picnickers nearby, causing no injuries or damage. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces detain 2 Palestinian fishermen nr. Khan Yunis. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids in the Old City. (MNA, WAFA 4/7; MNA 4/8; PCHR 4/14)

Western diplomats and senior Palestinian officials say that the Palestinian leadership informally circulated a draft res. to UNSC mbrs. this week condemning Israel’s settlements and calling for a 1-year time frame on a 2-state solution. They say PA pres. Abbas hopes to have it brought for a vote while he is in New York for a climate conference at the end of 4/2016 (he is set to arrive on 4/22). (HA, TOI 4/7; HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 4/8; TOI 4/10)

In Gaza City, senior Hamas and Fatah officials meet for national reconciliation talks, continuing the process begun in Doha on 3/26–27. There are no major announcements of progress. (MNA 4/8)

Israeli and Turkish officials meet in London for another round of reconciliation talks. Turkey’s FM will say, on 4/8, that progress was made today and that an agreement is due “very soon.” The Israeli govt. does not comment. (HA, JP, TOI, YA 4/8; ECO 4/12)

For the 2d day in a row, the IEC cuts off power to a major West Bank city, this time affecting parts of Hebron from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. It is the 3d time the IEC has implemented its plan to intermittently and punitively disrupt power supplies to areas of the West Bank in response to unpaid debts. (HA, JP, MNA 4/5)

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Rafah, causing no injuries. Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nearby. In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a slaughterhouse, a balcony, and a water well in a village nr. Bethlehem and force a number of Palestinian shops to close in a village nr. Nablus, arresting 2 Palestinians who allegedly threw stones at them. IDF troops also conduct latenight raids and house searches in Nablus and nr. Hebron arresting 9 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 2; take measurements and photographs of a home nr. Hebron, threatening punitive demolition; and patrol nr. Qalqilya, Jenin, and Hebron. Israeli settlers enter a village nr. Nablus late at night, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 1 Palestinian is injured. Meanwhile, Palestinian youths throw Molotov cocktails at Israeli forces on a patrol nr. Ramallah; there are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid al-Quds University in Abu Dis, destroying and confiscating property, and issue an arrest summons for a Palestinian journalist during a raid in al-Thawri. Israeli police arrest 2 right-wing Jewish activists attempting to sneak into Haram al-Sharif disguised as Muslims. (MNA, WAFA 4/5; MNA 4/6; PCHR 4/7)

The day after Israeli PM Netanyahu invited him to Jerusalem for a face-to-face meeting, PA pres. Abbas says that he is prepared to work with Israel to stop and monitor “mutual incitement,” calling for the reinstatement of the joint Palestinian-Israeli-U.S. comm. for monitoring incitement, which was established as part of the Wye River Memorandum in 1998 and met regularly until 9/2000. (JP 4/5; TOI 4/6)

Amid deescalating violence in Israel and the West Bank, an Israeli security guard detains a Palestinian woman after she allegedly stabs and injures an Israeli woman in a small city nr. Tel Aviv. Later, Israeli forces arrest a Palestinian man at a checkpoint nr. Nablus as he walks toward a group of Israeli settlers, alleging that he was planning a stabbing attack. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces carry out punitive demolitions of the 3 Jenin-area homes of Palestinians killed on 2/3 in a confrontation with Israeli forces in East Jerusalem, sparking minor clashes with stonethrowing Palestinians in the village; there are no serious injuries. Israeli forces also shut down a number of Palestinian shops in a village nr. Nablus and erect several mobile checkpoints around the village. IDF troops conduct raids and house searches nr. Bethlehem, Salfit, Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, and Qalqilya, arresting 12 Palestinians, issuing arrest summons to 1, and confiscating a vehicle and surveillance tapes; patrol nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. Israeli settlers raze a small swath of Palestinian land nr. Nablus. Off Gaza’s c. coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/3; PCHR 4/7)

Early in the morning, the Israeli authorities put into effect their decision to extend the fishing zone off the s. Gaza coast to 9 naut. mi. The Israeli-enforced fishing zone remains 6 naut. mi. off the n. coast. (MNA 4/3)

In the West Bank, thousands of Palestinians participate in the Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem (the Israeli authorities barred all 103 Gazan hopefuls from participating). Meanwhile, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Silwad, and Nabi Salih), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem, and in 3 areas along Gaza’s border; 6 Palestinians are injured. In and around Hebron, IDF troops arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid and patrol in 3 villages. Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, Palestinians stage a sit-in protest at Haram al-Sharif calling for national reconciliation. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on a Palestinian fishing boat nr. Rafah, causing it to catch fire and sink. (WAFA 3/31; HA, MNA 4/1; MNA 4/2; PCHR 4/7)