The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 22 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, and Bethlehem; and patrol near Hebron, Bethlehem, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 11 Palestinians during raids in Jabal Mukabir, Issawiyya, al-Tur, Shu‘fat refugee camp, and the Old City. (WAFA 12/30; PCHR 1/3)

After PA Agriculture Minister Sufian Sultan sends a message to Israel’s Agriculture Ministry informing them of his intention to reverse the PA’s 12/2 ban on imports of lamb from Israel, Israel’s Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel lifts his 12/17 ban on imports of Palestinian produce. “In light of the Palestinian agriculture minister’s notification that he is allowing the free entry of Israeli-bred lamb [into Palestinian markets], I cancel my order to block the transfer of produce from the PA to Israel,” Ariel says in a statement. Shortly after Ariel’s statement, the PA Agriculture Ministry cancels the ban on imports of Israeli produce that the PA cabinet approved on 12/27. (TOI, WAFA 12/31)

One day after Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked announce the formation of their new political party, Israeli polls project that their Hayamin Hehadash will win between 6 and 14 seats in the Knesset in the upcoming election on 4/9. Hosen L’Yisrael, the new party led by former IDF Chief of General Staff Benny Gantz, is projected to win between 13 and 15 seats, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud is projected to win between 27 and 31. (HA 12/30)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in al-‘Arub refugee camp near Hebron, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents of the area; there are no serious injuries. They arrest 18 Palestinians during further raids near Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Hebron throughout the day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli MK Yehuda Glick leads more than 100 right-wing Jewish activists on a tour of Haram al-Sharif. Separately, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in the Old City. (MNA, WAFA 12/23; PCHR 12/27)

PLO secretary general Saeb Erakat says that the decision, announced on 12/22, to dissolve the Palestinian Legislative Council “goes hand in hand with efforts of transition from the period of the Palestinian Authority to into the State of Palestine period.” (MNA 12/23)

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver after he runs through a roadblock at the Beit El checkpoint late at night. The other occupants of the vehicle say that they were driving through a poorly lit area and that the deceased could not tell where he was going. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 3 Palestinians during raids near Ramallah and patrol near Tulkarm, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Ramallah. Unidentified assailants open fire on Israeli soldiers outside the Ofra settlement near Ramallah, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, right-wing Jewish activists puncture the tires of 40 Palestinian vehicles and spray racist graffiti in Bayt Hanina overnight. (HA, MNA, MNA, PCHR, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/20; EI, MNA, MNA, WAFA 12/21; PCHR 12/27)

Fatah Central Committee member Mohammed Shtayyeh announces that the PA recently informed the Israeli government that it would stop honoring past agreements should the IDF violent crackdown on the Ramallah area continue. He does not clarify which past agreements he is referring to. (WAFA 12/20)

The IDF announces that it has begun demolishing or sealing Hezbollah’s cross-border tunnels in the context of Operation Northern Shield. “This stage will be carried out with a number of techniques and measures, which will render the tunnels entirely unusable and will prevent Hezbollah from utilizing them and carrying out its plans,” according to an IDF statement. The IDF has reportedly uncovered 4 such tunnels so far. (TOI 12/20; HA, TOI 12/21)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian after he allegedly stabs and injures 2 Israeli police officers in the Old City. Separately, Israeli forces arrest 22 Palestinians allegedly involved in a Hamas-affiliated wedding in the Old City. In the West Bank, armed Palestinians open fire on IDF troops setting up a mobile checkpoint outside the Ofra settlement, killing 2 soldiers and critically injuring 2 more. After the shooting, the IDF shuts down all roads leading into Ramallah and conducts extensive raids in the area searching for the assailants; 40 Palestinians are arrested. Meanwhile, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver after he allegedly rams a group of Israelis outside al-Bireh, lightly injuring 1. Some Palestinian witnesses say that the initial collision appeared to be an accident. IDF troops later conduct raids in al-Bireh, arresting 5 Palestinians and sparking clashes; 2 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 28 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, and Nablus; and patrol near Tulkarm, Hebron, Nablus, and Ramallah. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles driving near Nablus, damaging 7 and sparking minor clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinians in the area; there are no reported injuries. Later, the IDF shuts down several checkpoints south of Nablus to secure the area for a settler protest against recent Palestinian violence. Some of the settler protesters throw stones at Palestinian homes in the area; 2 Palestinians are injured and there is no major damage reported. Israeli settlers also throw stones and otherwise assault Palestinians and their property near al-Bireh, Ramallah, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Hebron; 2 Palestinians are injured, 1 Palestinian home is damaged, and 20 Palestinian vehicles are lightly damaged. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Bayt Lahiya. (HA, JP, JP, JP, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, TOI, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, YA 12/13; EI, MNA, TOI, YA 12/14; PCHR 12/20)

Amid an uptick in Israeli violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, PA president Mahmoud Abbas accuses Israel of creating a climate of incitement through repeated incursions into major Palestinian cities. “Our constant policy is to reject violence, incursions and settlers’ terror and that incitement should stop and not to create an atmosphere that contributes to the aggravation of the situation.” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, announces plans to promote the retroactive authorization of thousands of Israeli settler homes in the West Bank, the construction of 82 new homes in the Ofra settlement, and the establishment of 2 new settlement industrial zones in response to the violence. “They are thinking of uprooting us from our land, but they will not succeed,” he says. According to a senior Israeli official, Netanyahu also conveyed a message to Hamas threatening to break the cease-fire in Gaza if violence in the West Bank continues. In the evening, approximately 1,000 right-wing Israeli protesters gather outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem to call for his resignation, burn pictures of Abbas, and push for the IDF to “crush the terrorist authority,” as one protester puts it. (MNA, TOI 12/13; HA, HA, TOI 12/14)

Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Bayt Hanun. They also open fire on 2 Palestinian children approaching the border fence near Gaza City and Palestinian farmlands near Dayr al-Balah, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces dismantle a Palestinian elementary school in Khirbat al-Simia near Hebron. The school was put together recently and comprised a number of mobile, makeshift classrooms. IDF troops shoot and injure 3 Palestinians during clashes sparked by a raid in Jenin refugee camp; arrest 11 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during additional raids near Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, and Jenin; and patrol near Nablus, Jenin, and Hebron. An Israeli settler driver runs over a Palestinian outside the Efrat settlement near Bethlehem, causing minor injuries. It’s unclear if the collision was an intentional ramming attack. IDF troops shoot and injure 2 Palestinian minors on their way home from school in al-Jaba‘. In East Jerusalem, 152 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA 12/5; PCHR 12/6)

PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki submits a formal complaint to the ICC calling for chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to expedite her preliminary examination into alleged war crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories. Bensouda initiated her examination shortly after the Palestinians acceded to the Rome Statue on 1/2/15. Later, Bensouda’s office responds, saying that they have made significant progress toward a decision on whether or not to open a full investigation. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 12/5)

In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse dozens of Palestinians gathering in Nablus to protest the detention of several Fatah activists earlier this week; 5 Palestinians are reportedly injured. They violently disperse another protest in central Nablus against the Israeli occupation (1 Palestinian is injured); fire sound bombs and tear gas at Palestinian minors returning from school in central Hebron; arrest 17 Palestinians during late-night raids near Ramallah, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Jenin; and patrol in and around Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, Salfit, and Hebron. Israeli forces seize a tractor from a Palestinian farm outside Bardala in the northern Jordan Valley. Israeli settlers puncture the tires of 4 Palestinian vehicles and spray racist graffiti on nearby walls in Odlah village near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during a late-night raid in Hizma. In central Israel, right-wing Israeli activists puncture the tires of 32 Palestinian-owned vehicles and spray racist graffiti on nearby walls in Kafr Kassim. (HA, JP, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 12/2; PCHR 12/6)

The Israeli authorities release the PA’s governor in Jerusalem, Adnan Ghaith, from detention, but they also ban him from entering the West Bank for 2 weeks. Ghaith was arrested during a raid on his home on 11/24. The Israeli authorities also order the release of 32 other East Jerusalem Palestinians held on suspicion of supporting or serving in the PA security forces. (HA, JP, TOI, WAFA 12/2)

Israel’s cabinet approves NIS 700 million (approximately $187 million) in funding for a plan to “strengthen the civilian resilience” of communities in southern Israel surrounding Gaza. “They are steadfast and we support them,” Prime Minister Netanyahu says. (TOI 12/2)

The PA Ministry of Agriculture imposes a ban on purchases of lamb from Israel. The move comes amid a drop in lamb prices, and ministry officials say it is an effort to protect Palestinian lamb sellers. (TOI, TOI, WAFA 12/19; TOI 12/27)

IDF troops open fire on a group of Palestinian minors allegedly damaging Gaza’s border fence near al-Maghazi refugee camp; 1 of the Palestinians is killed  In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Jenin refugee camp overnight, arresting 1 Palestinian and sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents of the area; 2 Palestinians are injured. They also confiscate surveillance cameras during a raid in al-Bireh and patrol near Ramallah, Jenin, and Hebron. Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian residential building in al-Zayim village near Jerusalem. Unidentified persons open fire on an Israeli bus near Ramallah, injuring 2 Israeli settlers. Israeli settlers verbally and physically assault Palestinian schoolchildren in central Hebron, sparking minor confrontations. Separately, settlers slash a number of tires on Palestinian-owned vehicles and leave racist graffiti on nearby walls in Kafr al-Dik near Salfit. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 11/8; MNA, MNA, WAFA 11/9; PCHR 11/15)

Vehicles bearing $15 million in cash pass through the Erez border crossing into Gaza. The money was reportedly provided by Qatar, approved for transfer by Israel, and set to help Hamas pay the salaries of civil servants in Gaza and support Gazan families struggling to meet their basic needs. The transfer is yet another indication of progress in the Egypt- and UN-mediated efforts to broker a “calm” or some sort of cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. It is reportedly the first of 6 planned monthly transfers. (JP 11/8; NYT 11/9)

Al-Hayat reports that PA president Mahmoud Abbas has given in to Egyptian pressure and agreed to stop working against the Egyptian effort to broker a “period of calm” between Israel and Hamas. According to Palestinian sources, Abbas has agreed not to impose new sanctions on Gaza and to resume fully paying PA employees in Gaza. The Egyptian plan is reportedly to mediate a period of calm lasting 2 to 3 weeks, then to broker some kind of reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, and then to resume talks on a long-term cease-fire between Israel and a newly unified Palestinian side. Later, a senior PA official says he is unaware of any change in Abbas’s position, as the al-Hayat report indicates. “Abbas agreed with the Egyptian president that there was a need to alleviate the suffering of our people in the Gaza Strip,” the official says. “But [Abbas] also emphasized that Hamas was not authorized to reach any agreement with any party on behalf of the Palestinians." (AH, HA, JP, JP, TOI, YA 11/8)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian at a gas station near Jerusalem after she allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli border police officer with scissors. They also arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids near Jenin, Tulkarm, and Ramallah; and patrol near Jenin, Nablus, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian residential building in Silwan and 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina. (JP, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 11/6; PCHR 11/8)

PLO Executive Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad denies the 11/4 report that the Fatah leadership has agreed to support the recent Egyptian proposal of a “calm” between Israel and Hamas. He also denies that PA president Abbas discussed the issue with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in their meeting on 11/3. (WAFA 11/6)

Qatar’s Gaza Reconstruction Committee announces that it plans to provide temporary support 50,000 Gazans families. Each family is set to receive approximately $100 in the “next few days,” according to a statement from the committee. Separately, Hamas announces a series of large infrastructure projects in Gaza, including 1 set to create 10,000 jobs for university graduates. The official announcing the projects offers no details about who is funding them, what type of work they will require, and how long they may last. (AFP, TOI, YA 11/7)

The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee approves a plan to expand East Jerusalem’s Ramat Shlomo settlement with 640 new housing units, some of which are set to be built on Palestinian-owned land. “It’s very disappointing that the district committee relied on formalistic reasons to approve a step that violates the property rights of Palestinian landowners through and through,” says a researcher with the anti-settlement group Ir Amim. “This decision is additional proof that Israeli control in East Jerusalem means a regime based on serious discrimination.” (HA 11/7)

Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad says that the Syrian government has a plan for the “return” of Palestinian refugees to the Yarmouk refugee camp now that government forces have retaken control of the area. Yarmouk was home to approximately 160,000 Palestinian refugees prior to the Syrian civil war in 2011. Very few are still living there today. (AFP, TOI 11/7; EI 11/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to 4 Palestinian homes under renovation in al-Khadir village near Bethlehem and a Palestinian home under construction in Bayt Umar near Hebron. IDF troops assault and arrest 1 Palestinian, arrest 8 others, and issue 1 arrest summons during raids near Ramallah, Jenin, and Hebron; and patrol near Jenin, Nablus, Hebron, and Tulkarm. Israeli settlers throw stones at a Palestinian vehicle near Qalqilya, injuring a Palestinian infant. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid the PA’s Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs headquarters and another Palestinian administrative office in al-Dahiya, confiscating files related to the sale of a home in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City and lightly injuring 5 Palestinians who confront them. Separately, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians during raids in Qalandia refugee camp, al-Tur, Hizma, and Silwan. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/4; MNA, WAFA 11/5; PCHR 11/8)

The Palestinian who IDF troops shot and injured along Gaza’s border fence on 11/3 succumbs to his injuries. (MNA 11/4)

Al-Hayat reports that Fatah officials accepted an Egyptian proposal to mediate a “calm” between Israel and Hamas, marking a break from PA president Mahmoud Abbas’s previous stance. Meanwhile, Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman reportedly spars with the rest of the Israeli cabinet over the proposed “calm” in Gaza. He is reportedly in favor of a violent strike on Gaza in an effort to assert calm, rather than making any concessions to Hamas. (AH, TOI, TOI 11/4)

IDF troops open fire on 3 Palestinian minors crossing Gaza’s border fence near al-Maghazi refugee camp; 1 Palestinian is critically injured. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers throw rocks at a Palestinian home in southern Hebron, injuring 2 Palestinians. Later, IDF troops shut down a number of streets in central Hebron, clearing the way for Israeli settlers to perform religious rites in the area. Some settlers throw stones at Palestinian property in the area, causing damage. IDF troops also arrest 1 Palestinian during raids near Ramallah; and patrol in and around Tulkarm and Hebron. (MNA, WAFA 11/3; MNA, MNA 11/4; PCHR 11/8)   

A Palestinian minor succumbs to injuries sustained during Israel’s assault on Gaza in 2014. He was hospitalized after an Israeli air strike on his home in Gaza City on 8/21/14 and lived for 4 years as a quadriplegic. (WAFA 11/3; EI, PCHR 11/8)

The Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar publishes a draft Hamas-Israel cease-fire agreement, reportedly the product of the most recent round of Egypt-mediated talks. The agreement would see Egypt permanently opening the Rafah border crossing and lifting other border restrictions, Israel expanding the fishing zone off Gaza’s coast to 14 nautical miles and permitting 5,000 Gazans to enter Israel to work. The deal would also see the PA pay 80% of the salaries of Gaza’s civil servants, with Qatar funding those salaries for at least 6 months. Meanwhile, PA president Mahmoud Abbas meets with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Sharm al-Shaykh. They discuss a slew of regional issues, reportedly including the Egyptian effort to mediate the stalled Palestinian national reconciliation process and a cease-fire in Gaza. Al-Sisi reportedly urges Abbas to accept a “graded reconciliation” agreement, a version of which was reported earlier today. (AKH, HA, TOI, TOI, TOI, WAFA, YA 11/3)

An Israeli aircraft conducts an air strike along Gaza’s border fence near Khan Yunis, killing 3 Palestinian minors. An IDF spokesperson says that the Palestinians were attempting to place a suspicious object along the border fence. Hours after the strike, hundreds of Palestinians march to the homes of senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine (PIJ) leaders demanding that they retaliate against Israel. PIJ then puts out a statement threatening to respond and rejecting the Israeli narrative about what the 3 minors were doing. Meanwhile, IDF troops stationed along the border fence open fire on Palestinian bird-hunters working near Bayt Hanun; 1 Palestinian is injured. In the West Bank, Israeli forces chase a Palestinian shepherd off his land in the northern Jordan Valley. IDF troops assault and injure a Palestinian, arrest 9 other Palestinians, issue 1 arrest summons, and confiscate a Palestinian vehicle during late-night raids near Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Nablus, Hebron, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlement security guards assault 2 Palestinians near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 5 Palestinians during late-night raids in Qalandia refugee camp, Anata refugee camp, and Shu‘fat. (HA, JP, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, YA 10/28; MNA 10/29; PCHR 11/1)

A Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained when IDF troops opened fire on Palestinian protesters along Gaza’s border fence on 10/26. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 185. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/28)

The PLO Central Council convenes in Ramallah for the first of 2 days of meetings on a variety of issues facing the Palestinian people. Opening the meetings, PA president Mahmoud Abbas says, “We are facing a historical moment; either to be or not to be.” He calls for the Palestinian people to support the PLO and reaffirms that there can be no Palestinian state without Gaza or a capital in Jerusalem. (HA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, YA 10/28)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a 4-story building in al-Bireh near Ramallah; an agricultural structure in Khirbet al-Marajim near Nablus; and a makeshift residential structure, 3 tents, and 3 agricultural structures in Bardala near Jericho. IDF troops patrol near Hebron, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. Approximately 50 Israeli settlers throw stones at a Palestinian school in Urif village near Nablus, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian students and residents of the area; 1 Palestinian is injured. (MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/18; PCHR 10/25)

The IDF reinforces its troops stationed along Gaza’s border with additional tanks, artillery and engineering forces ahead of the planned protests on the other side of the border fence on 10/19. Meanwhile, Hamas announces plans to investigate the rocket fire on 10/17, likely in an effort to reduce tensions ahead of the planned protests on 10/19. (HA, TOI, YA 10/18)

Al-Hayat reports that Hamas and the other factions in Gaza recently agreed to scale back the Great March of Return protests along Gaza’s border fence to help facilitate the Egyptian effort to mediate a long-term Hamas-Israel cease-fire. The deal was reportedly reached on 10/15, before rocket fire and air strikes heightened tensions on 10/17. Meanwhile, a delegation of senior Egyptian officials shuttle between Gaza and Israel throughout the day, negotiating with both Hamas and Israeli officials on a long-term cease-fire and the stalled Palestinian reconciliation process. (AH, AP, TOI, TOI, YA 10/18)

U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo announces that the U.S. consulate general in Jerusalem, which serves Palestinians, is to be merged with the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. “This decision is driven by our global efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations,” he says. “We will continue to conduct a full range of reporting, outreach, and programming in the West Bank and Gaza as well as with Palestinians in Jerusalem through a new Palestinian Affairs Unit inside the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem.” (JP, MNA, MNA, REU, TOI, WAFA, YA 10/19)

Israel’s High Court of Justice rules in favor of Lara Alqasem, the U.S. student who the Israeli authorities denied entry into Israel on 10/2 and have detained ever since over her support for BDS. “Since the appellant’s actions do not raise satisfactory cause to bar her to entry to Israel, the inevitable impression is that invalidating the visa given to her was due to the political opinions she holds,” the court’s ruling reads. “If this is truly the case, then we are talking about an extreme and dangerous step, which could lead to the crumbling of the pillars upon which democracy in Israel stands.” (EI, HA, MNA, TOI 10/19)

Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries (2 fishermen are arrested and 1 boat is confiscated). Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians gathering near Rafah to continue the Great March of Return; 1 protester is injured. Israeli firefighters put out 7 fires reportedly sparked by incendiary kites and balloons flown into southern Israel from Gaza. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians at protests against the Israeli occupation in al-Bireh near Ramallah; 5 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 13 Palestinians during raids near Ramallah, Hebron, Jenin, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Salfit. Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to a Palestinian home and well under construction near Hebron. Israeli settlers throw stones at a Palestinian vehicle near Qalqilya, causing minor damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Issawiyya. (MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, YA 10/6; PCHR 10/11)

Hamas announces that a member of its armed wing has succumbed to injuries that he sustained during a previously unreported accidental explosion on 10/1. Later, another Hamas fighter succumbs to injuries reportedly sustained years ago in unclear circumstances in Gaza. (MNA 10/6; MNA 10/7)

Israeli defense minister Avigdor Lieberman orders the reduction of the fishing zone off Gaza’s coast from 9 nautical miles to 6 nautical miles, citing concerns about the recent violence along Gaza’s border. “The defense minister’s decision was made following the violent rioting over the weekend near the fence and attempts to harm IDF forces and launch confrontational flotillas,” according to a Defense Ministry statement. This marks the 2d time in the past few months that Lieberman has ordered a punitive reduction of the fishing zone. (MNA, TOI 10/6)

Al Akhbar reports that the UN has agreed to pay the salaries of Gaza’s civil servants for 3 months and that Israel has agreed in principle to permit 5,000 Gazan merchants to enter Israel for business. The report comes days after similar reports of a deal under which Qatar would pay $60 million for fuel for Gaza’s sole power plant. Meanwhile, senior Israeli defense officials say that PA president Mahmoud Abbas was enraged at the UN plan to transfer Qatari-funded diesel fuel to Gaza, as reported on 10/4. Abbas later confirms that he is considering possible response, including a suspension of the approximately $100 million that the PA transfers to Gaza per month. Also, a senior Fatah official calls UN Special Coordinator Mladenov a “servant” of the Trump admin., presumably in response to the UN official’s work to facilitate transfers of aid to Gaza without PA involvement. “He should not be intervening in internal affairs,” the official continues. “It is not his right or mandate to interfere, but he puts his nose in everything.” (AH, TOI, TOI, WAFA 10/6; TOI 10/8; TOI 10/9)

A Palestinian minor allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier at the Beit Horon checkpoint near Ramallah, causing no injuries. The minor flees the scene before the soldiers can arrest him. Elsewhere in the West Bank, an Israeli settler driver rams a flock of Palestinian-owned sheep near Hebron, killing several. IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during a raid near Salfit; and patrol near Nablus, Hebron, and Jerusalem. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Gaza City. Late at night, Israeli aircraft conduct an air strike on a medical facility in southern Gaza, causing moderate damage. In southern Israel, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian home near Beersheba. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, YA 10/4; MNA 10/5)

Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat announces plans to remove UNRWA from East Jerusalem, accusing the agency of operating illegally and inciting violence against Israelis. He says that all the schools, clinics, athletic facilities, and other services that UNRWA currently operates in the city will continue operations under Israeli control. Barkat does not say when he intends to implement this plan. UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem currently serve approximately 1,800 students. (AP, YA 10/4; TOI 10/5; AP, HA 10/6)

Hamas sources say that the PA blocked the transfer of 3 truckloads of Qatari-funded diesel fuel to Gaza this morning. Later, sources in Ramallah tell the Israeli press that the PA made threats to an Israeli gas company and to UN employees in an effort to obstruct the transfer. Earlier in the day, the Israeli press reports that Qatar has agreed to purchase $60 m. worth of fuel for Gaza’s sole power plant in an effort to increase the electricity supply in Gaza. Talks on such an arrangement have reportedly been ongoing for the past month under the auspices of UN Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov. (HA, MNA, TOI 10/4)

Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on a small fleet of Palestinian boats sailing in a symbolic attempt to break the Israeli blockade. Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border fence near Jabaliya refugee camp to cheer on the boats and continue the Great March of Return; 49 Palestinians are injured at sea and along the border fence. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uproot 15 olive trees in a Palestinian grove outside Yatta village near Hebron. IDF troops conduct a raid at an elementary school in Hebron, disrupting classes and assaulting and injuring 1 Palestinian teacher. They also arrest 3 Palestinians and confiscate 1 vehicle during raids in Hebron and near Ramallah; and patrol near Hebron. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/10; PCHR 9/13)

The U.S. State Department announces that the PLO is no longer allowed to operate an office in Washington because the Palestinians “have not taken steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel.” In the same statement, the State Department also denounces the PLO for criticizing a “peace plan they have not yet seen” and refusing to engage with the Trump administration’s peace initiative. The decision to shutter the office was “also consistent with [Trump administration] and Congressional concerns with Palestinian attempts to prompt an investigation of Israel by the International Criminal Court,” according to the statement. Separately, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton says that the U.S. plans to shield Israel from any ICC effort to investigate alleged Israeli war crimes and settlement growth (the ICC has been working on a preliminary examination of such allegations since 1/2015). (HA, HA, JP, JP, MNA, TOI, TOI, WSJ, YA 9/10)

PA prime minister Rami Hamdallah announces that the PA plans to cover the budget deficit facing Palestinian hospitals in East Jerusalem, following the U.S. decision on 9/8 to redirect $25 million in U.S. aid to “other priorities.” “We will continue to meet the basic and urgent needs of our people on every inch of our land,” he says. (MNA, WAFA 9/10)

The PA’s Committee Against the Wall and Settlements announces plans to appeal the Israeli High Court of Justice’s 9/5 decision to authorize the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village in the West Bank, at international courts. “[We] will not appeal this decision at Israeli courts anymore because they are a tool of the occupation to legalize theft of Palestinian land,” explains one senior committee member. (MNA, WAFA 9/10)

Along Gaza’s border, hundreds of Palestinians gather near the Erez border crossing to protest the U.S. decision to cut all aid to UNRWA. After some protesters throw stones at the crossing, IDF troops stationed along the border fence violently disperse them all; several Palestinians are injured. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers take over a Palestinian home in central Hebron, claiming ownership of the building. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian journalists gathering for a sit-in protest against the Israeli detention of their colleagues outside Ofer Prison near Ramallah. Israeli forces dismantle a makeshift Palestinian residential structure outside Yatta village near Hebron (the family living there rebuilt it after Israeli forces demolished it on 9/3). In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a Palestinian animal barn in Anata refugee camp (MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 9/4; YA 9/5)

The Israeli press reports that PA president Mahmoud Abbas recently rejected an offer to meet with U.S. president Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly later this month. He reportedly conditioned such a meeting on certain confidence-building measures that Trump was unwilling to enact, including the dismissal of Trump’s senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt. The same sources say that the Trump administration is currently planning to roll out its long-awaited Palestinian-Israeli peace plan after the U.S. midterm elections in 11/2018 (a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council will deny the reports on 9/5). (TOI 9/4; TOI 9/5)

In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians protesting the expansion of Israeli settlements in Ras Karkar village near Ramallah; 5 Palestinian, including a PA minister, are injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces detain and assault a Palestinian attempting to enter Haram al-Sharif. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land near Gaza City. In southern Israel, Israeli forces demolish a home in a Bedouin village near Beersheba. (MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA 8/30; MNA, MNA 8/31)

Israeli forces punitively demolish the Ramallah-area home of the Palestinian who killed an Israeli settler and injured 2 others in an alleged stabbing attack in the nearby Adam settlement on 7/26. The demolition sparks minor clashes with Palestinian residents of Kobar village, where the home is located; no injuries are reported. Elsewhere in the West Bank, hundreds of Israeli settlers visit Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus overnight, sparking clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian residents of the area. Amid the clashes, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians in a vehicle allegedly speeding towards their position; 5 Palestinians are injured (2 seriously). IDF raids near Ramallah spark additional clashes; 1 Palestinian is injured and a Palestinian journalist is arrested. IDF troops arrest 17 more Palestinians, assault and injure 1, and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin, Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus; and patrol near Hebron and Tulkarm. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 8/28; MNA, WAFA 8/29; PCHR 8/30)

The Jerusalem District Court rules that the Mitzpeh Kramim settlement outpost in the West Bank can be retroactively authorized, setting a precedent that could allow for the authorization of other illegal outposts that were established “in good faith” and with government support. Israel’s Civil Administration previously stated that it approved the construction of the outpost in 1999 based on erroneous mapping of the area. Israeli NGO Peace Now responds, “It is absurd to attribute ‘good faith’ to the settlers of an illegal outpost whose homes were built illegally and without permits on private Palestinians land, because of a ‘mistake’ made by the authorities in allocating the land.” (HA, YA 8/29)

With Egypt-mediated negotiations in Cairo ongoing, Hamas releases a statement affirming that there is a “national consensus” among the Palestinians in favor of a long-term cease-fire agreement with Israel and criticizing PA president Mahmoud Abbas for undermining the indirect talks toward a deal. Meanwhile, there are reports that both the talks on a long-term cease-fire with Israel and on the Palestinian reconciliation process have stalled. (JP, TOI 8/28)

The IAF conducts an air strike on a site near Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza; 4 Palestinians affiliated with a small armed group are injured. The IDF claims that the men were launching incendiary kites and balloons into Israel. Later, IDF troops open fire on a small group of Palestinians congregating at a Great March of Return protest camp along the border fence near al-Bureij refugee camp; 3 Palestinian minors are injured. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops assault and injure 1 Palestinian and arrest 9 others during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Hebron; and patrol near Hebron and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 8 Palestinians during raids in Silwan, al-Tur, and a cemetery outside the Old City. A Palestinian demolishes his own home in Jabal Mukabir to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 8/5; MNA 8/6; PCHR 8/9)

A Palestinian minor succumbs to injuries sustained when Israeli troops violently dispersed Great March of Return protests along Gaza’s border on 3/30. His death brings the Great March of Return death toll to 141. (WAFA 8/5; MNA, TOI 8/6; PCHR 8/9)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in al-Am‘ari refugee camp near Ramallah, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing residents; 6 Palestinians are injured. They also arrest 10 Palestinians during raids near Bethlehem, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Jenin; and patrol near Hebron. Israeli forces confiscate a vehicle from a Palestinian construction site near Nablus. Along Gaza’s border fence, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians allegedly preparing to fly an incendiary kite across the fence into Israel; there are no reported injuries. (WAFA 6/13; JP, TOI 6/14; PCHR 6/21)

The UN General Assembly adopts a Palestinian-backed resolution condemning Israel’s use of “excessive force” in quelling the recent protests in Gaza, with 120 votes in favor, 8 opposed, and 45 abstentions. Before the vote, U.S. ambassador to the UN Haley proposes an amendment condemning Hamas for its rocket fire and alleged diversion of humanitarian resources into its security apparatus, but she fails to obtain enough support. (AP, HA, JP, MNA 6/14)

Following the protest in Ramallah on 6/10, the PA temporarily bans public demonstrations “in order to make it easier for citizens to conduct their normal lives [around the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday],” according to a PA statement. “It is prohibited to grant permits to organize marches or to establish gatherings that would disrupt the movement of citizens and disturb them.” The move is widely seen as a means of quelling opposition to PA president Abbas. Recent protests have focused on his role in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Following the announcement, PA security forces violently disperse Palestinians gathering in central Ramallah for another demonstration; there are no serious injuries. (EI, TOI 6/13)

Israeli firefighters extinguish 17 small fires along Gaza’s border fence, reportedly sparked by incendiary kites flown across the fence. The Israeli police say they found one kite with a bomb attached to it in a residential area. Separately, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmland near Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, more than 1,500 Palestinians gather in Ramallah to call on PA president Abbas to lift his punitive sanctions on Gaza. IDF troops arrest 8 Palestinians during raids in and around Bethlehem, Salfit, Jenin, Hebron, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Hebron and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids near the Old City and in Issawiyya. (TOI 6/10; HA 6/11; PCHR 6/14)

The IDF announces that it destroyed a Hamas-built tunnel last week. It was reportedly constructed several meters into the Mediterranean for the purpose of allowing Hamas fighters to enter Israel from the sea. “They tried to make it possible to covertly move from land to sea in order to perpetrate attacks inside Israel,” a senior IAF officer says. “We have known about this tunnel for a few months and decided that this was the right time for us to destroy it.” (HA, JP, TOI, YA 6/10)

Along Gaza’s border, 10 Palestinians cut through the border fence near Rafah and set fire to an IDF post. They then return to Gaza. Israeli tanks shell a Hamas observation post in the area, causing no major damage or injuries. Late at night, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducts air strikes on Gaza City’s port and an allegedly Hamas-built tunnel east of the city; 2 boats are damaged and there are no major injuries. Meanwhile, IDF troops open fire on the Great March of Return tent camp near Khan Yunis, injuring 1 Palestinian. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp and Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, unidentified armed assailants open fire on an Israeli vehicle near Ramallah, causing no major damage or injuries. IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Nablus and near Hebron and patrol in and around Qalqilya and Hebron. The raid in Nablus sparks minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 1 Palestinian is injured. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 5/22; PCHR 5/24)

PA FM Riyad al-Maliki submits a formal request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for an investigation into Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which he calls “grave crime[s].” In response, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda says that her office’s preliminary examination of alleged war crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), which began on 1/16/15, has seen “important progress.” (JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA, YA 5/22)

A Palestinian youth succumbs to injuries sustained during the deadly violence along Gaza’s border fence on 5/14. His death brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 108. (HA, MNA, WAFA 5/19; MNA 5/21; PCHR 5/24)

A Palestinian sets himself on fire in Gaza in protest of the Palestinian Authority’s (PA’s) withholding of part of his salary for months (he will succumb to his injuries on 5/23). Elsewhere in Gaza, IDF troops violently disperse hundreds of protesters gathering along the border fence near Gaza City; 1 Palestinian is injured. In 3 separate incidents off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp and Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 2 Palestinians during raids near Ramallah, and patrol near Hebron. Dozens of Palestinians march through Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya to protest the moving of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and the Israeli occupation. IDF troops violently disperse them, injuring a Palestinian infant. (HA, MNA 5/19; PCHR 5/24)

Today, Great March of Return demonstrations see tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza gathering along the border fence to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, to protest the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem today, and to call for the Palestinian refugees’ right to return to their homes. IDF troops violently disperse demonstrations near Khan Yunis, Rafah, Gaza City, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Jabaliya refugee camp; 58 Palestinians are killed, including 3 who allegedly attempted to plant an explosive along the border near Rafah, and more than 1,300 are injured. After unidentified assailants open fire on IDF patrols along the border near Jabaliya refugee camp, the IAF conducts air strikes on Hamas posts near Jabaliya refugee camp, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Gaza City, causing moderate damage. The killings today bring the death toll related to the Great March of Return to 102. Elsewhere in the oPt, thousands of Palestinians gather across the West Bank and Jerusalem to protest the official opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem today. They also release 70 black balloons in Ramallah, marking the 70th anniversary of the Nakba. IDF troops violently disperse the protests at Qalandia checkpoint, Bethlehem, and Hebron; at least 2 Palestinians are injured. Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 19 Palestinians during latenight raids in and around Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, and Hebron; and patrol near Jenin and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids in Issawiyya and the Old City. (AJ, EI, HA, JP, MEE, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 5/14; PCHR 5/17)

Hours after Israeli troops open fire on peaceful Palestinian protesters along the border fence in Gaza, senior U.S. and Israeli officials gather for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. In a recorded video, U.S. president Trump celebrates the opening and says the U.S. “remains fully committed to facilitating a lasting peace agreement” between Israel and the Palestinians. Outside the ceremony, Israeli police violently disperse approximately 200 protesters, including Joint List MKs Ahmad Tibi, Dov Khenin, Jamal Zahalka, Yousef Jabareen, and Masud Ganaim; 12 Palestinians are arrested. (AJ, BBC, JP, MEE, NYT, TOI 5/14; EI 5/15)

In the evening, the Palestinian leadership convenes in Ramallah to discuss the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and the violence in Gaza. PA president Abbas calls the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem a “settlement outpost” and reiterates that he has no plans to engage in any U.S.-mediated peace talks “in any way, shape, or form.” The assembled officials decide to file a war crimes complaint against Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague over settlement construction in the West Bank. According to PLO secretary-general Erakat, they also agree to a number of other unspecified responses. (TOI 5/14; AP, YA 5/15)

The South African government recalls its ambassador to Israel and Turkey recalls its ambassadors from Israel and the U.S. in protest of the killings in Gaza today. “The victims were taking part in peaceful protests against the provocative inauguration of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem,” a South African statement reads. Meanwhile, the U.S. blocks the UNSC from adopting a Kuwait-backed statement condemning the deadly violence in Gaza and calling for an “independent and transparent investigation” into Israel’s actions. (ANA, TOI, WAFA 5/14; HA, TOI 5/15)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing in both directions for the 3d consecutive day. (AHR 5/14; OCHA 5/24)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian minor during a raid near Jenin. They arrest 6 Palestinians during further raids near Hebron and Ramallah, and patrol near Hebron. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working near Khan Yunis and later near Dayr al-Balah, causing no injuries. They also violently disperse Great March of Return protesters gathering along the border fence near al-Bureij refugee camp, Gaza City, and Khan Yunis; 1 Palestinian is injured. (WAFA 4/30; PCHR 5/3)

The Palestinian National Council (PNC), the legislative wing of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), convenes in Ramallah for its first regular session since 1996. Some factions boycotted the meetings. Over the next 4 days, they are set to elect new members to the PLO Executive Committee and other top PLO positions. In the evening, PA president Abbas gives a speech calling for the PNC to adopt the initiative he presented at the UNSC in 2/2018, and reiterates his commitment to ending the division with Hamas. (JP, WAFA 4/30; YA 5/1)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing in both directions for a 3d and final day. (OCHA 5/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers chop down approximately 30 olive trees in a Palestinian grove near Bethlehem, and assault a number of Palestinian students on their way home from school in Yatta near Hebron. Undercover Israeli soldiers conduct a raid in Burqin near Jenin, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 6 Palestinians are injured and 1 is arrested. IDF troops arrest 13 Palestinians and confiscate 1 vehicle during late-night raids near Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarm, Bethlehem, and Nablus; and patrol near Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Hebron. One of the raids near Ramallah sparks clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians; 1 Palestinian is injured. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 20 Palestinians during late-night raids in Shu‘fat refugee camp and 2 during raids in Issawiyya. A Palestinian demolishes his own home in Jabal Mukabir to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working near Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injuries. Israeli forces conduct limited incursions to level land near Khan Yunis, Jabaliya refugee camp, and Dayr al-Balah. (WAFA 3/20, 3/21; PCHR 3/22)

The PA releases a statement calling on Hamas to transfer control of Gaza “all at once.” The statement comes 1 day after PA president Abbas accused Hamas of perpetrating the 3/13 assassination attempt on PM Hamdallah and threatened further restrictions on Gaza. (JP, TOI 3/20)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids in Kafr Qaddum near Qalqilya as Palestinian students are returning home from school. The raids spark clashes, and 2 Palestinians are injured. They arrest 7 Palestinians during further raids near Jericho, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jenin; and patrol near Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Salfit, and Hebron. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian farmers working near Ramallah, injuring 1. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 8 Palestinians during raids in the Old City on the pretext that they failed to prevent the stabbing attack on 3/18. They arrest 6 more Palestinians during raids in al-‘Izzariya and al-Ram. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (WAFA 3/19; PCHR 3/22)

At the start of a PA cabinet meeting in Ramallah, PA president Abbas accuses Hamas of perpetrating the 3/13 assassination attempt on PA PM Hamdallah and threatens further punitive restrictions on Gaza. Hamas later responds in a statement: “[Abbas] is paving the way for chaos which will facilitate the approval of President Trump’s plan and Israel’s plans. We condemn these irresponsible statements by the PA chairman, who has already been trying for a while to subdue our people in Gaza in this difficult and dangerous moment in history.” In the same speech, Abbas criticizes the Trump administration’s peace efforts, specifically calling out U.S. ambassador to Israel Friedman. “Son of a dog,” he says of Freidman. “You are a settler and your family are settlers.” Friedman later responds, “Is that anti-Semitism or political discourse? I leave that up to you.” (HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, YA 3/19; HA 3/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces evacuate and demolish a new illegal Israeli settlement outpost, Evyatar, near Nablus. Settlers established the outpost 2 weeks ago. Several are arrested when they resist the demolitions. After the evacuation, some of the settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles nearby, cracking 1 windshield. Separately, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian child during clashes sparked by an arrest raid near Ramallah. They arrest 11 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, and Qalqilya; and patrol near Hebron and Salfit. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a structure in a Bedouin encampment in al-‘Izzariya. They also shoot and injure a Palestinian during minor clashes in Issawiyya; and arrest 5 Palestinians during raids in the Old City, Issawiyya, and Shu‘fat. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya refugee camp, causing no damage or injuries. (WAFA 2/20; PCHR 2/22)

Palestinian Authority (PA) president Mahmoud Abbas addresses the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in New York City, proposing a new peace plan based on past agreements and calling for an international peace conference to be held in mid-2018. He says that the outcomes of the conference must include international acceptance of Palestinian statehood, consensus on a 2-state solution based on the pre-1967 armistice lines, the establishment of a multilateral mechanism to facilitate negotiations on all final status issues, and a timeline for implementation. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu calls the speech “nothing new.” (AP, HA, REU, TOI, WAFA, YA 2/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolish a car repair shop near Hebron and an old structure near Salfit, and deny Palestinian farmers access to their lands near Bethlehem. IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians during late-night raids near Tulkarm, Hebron, and Ramallah; and patrol near Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Salfit. Palestinians throw stones at 2 IDF soldiers who drove into Jenin, causing minor injuries. PA Security Forces assist the IDF in extracting the soldiers from the city. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers slash the tires of several Palestinian cars in Silwan and leave price-tag graffiti nearby. Israeli forces arrest 9 Palestinians during late-night raids in Qalandia refugee camp, Issawiyya, Silwan, and Abu Dis. (HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, YA 2/12; PCHR 2/15)

IDF troops conduct a series of raids near Jenin, searching for the Palestinian who allegedly planned the 1/9 killing of an Israeli settler. After searching for hours, they surround a building in al-Yamun village where the man, Ahmad Nasser Jarrar, is hiding. When he does not surrender, they begin to demolish the building. According to the Israeli press, Jarrar is armed with a rifle and a bag of explosives when he eventually emerges. The Israeli soldiers then open fire, killing him and sparking clashes with residents of the area; there are no serious injuries. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids in and around Nablus, searching for the Palestinian citizen of Israel responsible for the 2/5 killing of an Israeli settler. A raid in central Nablus sparks major clashes with stone-throwing residents of the area; 19 Palestinians are injured, including 1 fatally (he succumbs to his injuries hours later). Meanwhile, IDF troops arrest 16 Palestinians and assault 3 others during late-night raids near Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Ramallah; and patrol near Hebron. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Nablus, damaging 1 windshield. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian during a raid in Silwan. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian shepherds working near Juhur al-Dik, causing no injuries. In 4 separate incidents off Gaza’s northern coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 2/6; MNA 2/7; PCHR 2/8)

Following the PLO Executive Committee decision on 2/3, the PA forms a committee to explore ways the Palestinians could disengage from Israel. One proposal would have the PA adopt the Jordanian dinar as a replacement for the Israeli shekel. Meanwhile, PA pres. Abbas says, “Our hands are extended for peace through negotiations,” insisting that the Palestinians are still interested in a peace agreement with Israel, just not with the U.S. as its main broker. (TOI, WAFA 2/6)