The Palestine Chronology

Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate to their highest point in recent wks. after the IDF assassinates Force 17 cmdr. Massud Ayyad, firing 4 air-to-surface rockets at his car as he drove through Jabaliyya. Israel claims Ayyad led a Gaza-based cell of Hizballah, which it asserts has been ordered by Iran to take up operations in the West Bank, Gaza. Barak, who personally ordered the assassination, publicly congratulates the IDF. A 2d Palestinian, 14 yrs. old, is fatally shot in a separate incident. Hot spots are in Bethlehem, Gaza, Hebron, Ramallah. The IDF orders 4 schools in al-Khadir shut for 2 wks.; bulldozes 5,000 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land in Halhul; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire on residential areas of Bayt Sahur (damaging the YMCA), al-Bireh, Khan Yunis, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers place caravans on Palestinian land nr. Surayf. (AP, LAW, REU 2/13; NYT, WP, WT 2/14; MENA 2/14 in WNC 2/15; NYT 2/15)

The U.S. criticizes Israel's "targeted killing" of Ayyad, saying it causes a serious deterioration in the security situation. (NYT 2/15)

Sharon's top foreign policy advisers Moshe Arens (fmr. DM), Dore Gold (fmr. amb. to the UN), Zalman Shoval (fmr. amb. to the U.S.) arrive in Washington to meet with officials fr. the White House, State Dept., Congress. (SA 2/13 in WNC 2/14; NYT 2/14, 2/15)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. Israel eases the closure on Gaza, partially reopening the Gaza airport, Rafah and Qarni crossings, key roads. In Gaza, 3 masked gunmen assassinate Palestinian Broadcasting Corp. (PBC) head Hisham Makki, notorious for his corruption, close ties with Arafat. Israel, the PA concurs that the gunmen were probably Palestinian. Jewish settlers continue to attack Palestinian property in Khan Yunis, as they have since 1/14. Armed settlers also bar Palestinians fr. leaving or entering Bayt Furik for a 2d day. The IDF conducts arrest sweeps in Dahiyat Barid, al-Ram, Silat Dahir; further restricts movement btwn. Jerusalem and Bethlehem/Hebron, arresting 60 Palestinian laborers returning fr. Jerusalem; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas in Tulkarm; bulldozes agricultural land nr. Nablus. (IsRN, MM 1/17; MENA 1/17 in WNC 1/19; HP, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 1/18; NYT, WP 1/19; WJW 1/25; MA 1/25 in WNC 1/26; MEI, MM 1/26; JT [Internet] 2/1)

In Cairo, Arafat meets Israeli FM Ben-Ami, tells him the PA is ready to hold marathon talks aimed at reaching a peace agmt., or at least drafting a document citing agmts. and differences, by the 2/6 Israeli elections. (IsRN, MM 1/17; MENA 1/17 in WNC 1/19; MENA 1/17, 1/18 in WNC 1/20; MM, NYT, WT, YA 1/18; NYT, WP 1/19)

Israel declares it will not cooperate with a UNHRC inquiry into the causes of the al-Aqsa intifada (see 11/22), arguing that the UNHRC comm. is unnecessary since the Mitchell Comm. is charged with the same task. (PA press release 1/22; JP [Internet] 1/26; BDL 1/31) (see 1/13)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, but no fatalities are reported. The IDF raids several Palestinian homes in Husan, arresting 4 youths; fires tear gas at Palestinian schools in Bethlehem, Jinin; sets fire to a Palestinian factory in Tulkarm; bulldozes Palestinian land nr. Salfit; tightens the closure on Hebron; directs shelling, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas s. of Gaza City and in al-Shaykh, Tulkarm; bulldozes 59 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Dugit settlement; and orders a Palestinian family living nr. the settlement to evacuate their home. (HP 1/11; PCHR 1/12)