The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians collecting scrap metal close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF wound 1 Palestinian during clashes in Nablus during a patrol designed to protect the movement of Jewish settlers. IDF troops demolish 2 houses in al- ‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, prompting clashes with residents. Three are injured by rubber-coated metal bullets. IDF troops also fire tear gas into the grounds of 2 schools in al-Khadir, nr. Bethlehem. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages, and in 1 village nr. Jenin at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Hebron, in Tulkarm and 1 nearby village, and 1 village nr. Jericho at night. In Israel, a car owned by a Palestinian citizen is vandalized, the 6th such hate crime in the town over the last mo. Meanwhile, residents of Furaydis hold a general strike to protest the “price tag” attack on 4/29, where racist graffiti was sprayed on a mosque. Israeli PM Netanyahu condemns the attack and says that the govt. is tackling those responsible. (HA, MNA, WAFA 4/30; PCHR 5/8)

Senior Palestinian official Shaath says that the Palestinian leadership will look to take action at the international level, in light of the breakdown in negotiations he says were foiled by Israel. (WAFA 4/30)

Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad says that PA Pres. Abbas will issue a presidential decree to convene the Palestinian Legislative Council— which has not convened since 2007—while elections will not take place for another 6 mos. Hamas and Fatah officials reactivate a subcmte. on civil liberties, as part of the implementation of the reconciliation agreement. Topics for the new subcmte. to deal with include the end of a ban on West Bank newspapers in Gaza. Meanwhile, around 1,000 Hamas supporters march through Ramallah, marking the return of the remains of 2 Hamas fighters killed by Israel in 1998. Speaking to mourners by telephone, Hamas leader Khalid Mish‘al affirms that the organization’s “path is resistance and the rifle,” and that Palestinians were in need of a joint, unified strategy to secure the “liberation of our lands and holy sites.” (AFP, JP, MEMO, MNA, REU 4/30)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies issues report calling for Israeli-PLO talks, prolonged transitional period that could lead to Palestinian state [WP, NYT 3/9]. General strike is observed in O.T. [FJ 3/13]. Ministry of Tourism announces that in February tourism was down 15% from same period in 1988 [FBIS 3/16].

Other Countries: U.S. State Dept. announces it will grant visas to PLO officials Afif Safieh, Nabil Shaath, Noha Tadros to attend conference at Columbia Univ.; Israel protests move [WP 3/9].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/lIsrael: In Gaza at least 5 Palestinians are wounded by IDF gunfire [FBIS 3/8]. In Rafah troops demolish 2 houses of Palestinians accused of participating in the Unified National Command of Uprising (UNCU) [FBIS 3/9]. At least 14 Palestinians are wounded throughout W. Bank. In 'Isawiyyah troops arrest 30 Palestinians [FJ 3/13]. Arab World: Ba'th party attacks SLA position in S. Lebanon. Amal attacks 2nd SLA position, kills 1 soldier. SLA responds by shelling Nabatiyyah [FBIS 3/9]