The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Nablus and Bayt Duqqu. During the raid in Bayt Duqqu, clashes erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinians; no injuries were reported. During the raid in Nablus, Israeli forces seized a vehicle and 2 computers. During a different late-night raid in Bayt Umar, Israeli forces seized 1 vehicle, 500 Jordanian Dinars ($700) and 3,500 NIS ($1,000). Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian vehicles traveling near the Homesh settlement, causing damage to 25 vehicles and injuries to Palestinians from shattered glass. Israeli settlers also attacked 2 Israeli police officers disguised as Palestinian technicians at the Bat Ayin settlement. The 2 settlers were arrested by the Israeli police officers. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 12/31; HA 1/1; PCHR 1/2)

In Baghdad, Iraqi protesters attacked the U.S. embassy after funerals were held for the 25 members of Kata’ib Hezbollah who were killed in U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on 12/29. Protesters managed to enter the embassy compound and ignited several fires. It was reported that the U.S. ambassador and staff were evacuated from the embassy before the protesters entered the compound. U.S. forces remained inside the embassy throughout the attack. According to an Associated Press reporter, a loudspeaker urged the protesters to leave, saying “the message was delivered.” U.S. president Donald Trump said in a tweet that Iran orchestrated the attack on the U.S. embassy in Iraq and that he holds Iran “fully responsible.” As the events were unfolding, U.S. secretary of defense Mark Esper said that the U.S. was deploying some 750 additional troops to the Middle East. (AJ, AJ, AP, CNN, Guardian, HA, HA, REU, WP 12/31; HA 1/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to 2 Palestinian-owned vehicles and sprayed graffiti on a wall in Far’ata village west of Qalqilya. In Gaza, 45 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces using live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets at protesters during the 85th weekly Great March of Return protest. Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also fired tear gas at Palestinian shepherds east of Rafah, causing tear-gas related injuries. In a separate incident, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. (PCHR, WAFA 12/20; PCHR 12/26)

House Resolution 1865 was signed into law by U.S. president Donald Trump. H.R. 1865 is a 715 page-long appropriations bill for the 2020 fiscal year which allocates $150 million in aid to Palestine, $75 million in assistance to the PA security forces and $75 million for civilian and humanitarian programs and institutions not directly connected to the PA. The bill also seeks to “fix” the Anti-Terrorism Clarifications Act which became law on 10/3/2018 and effectively ended all aid for the PA, including security aid, as it subjected the PA to the jurisdiction of U.S. courts if the PA accepted any aid from the U.S. The “fix” gives U.S. courts jurisdiction if the PA or the PLO provides payments to any individual or family of an individual convicted of killing a U.S. citizen. (HA 12/18; Congress, FMEP 12/20)

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Fatou Bensouda announced that there is basis to probe Israel for war crimes committed against Palestinians, but requested the ICC to decide on the question of the jurisdiction of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Chief Prosecutor Bensouda said that her preliminary investigation has found that “war crimes have been or are being committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.” (AJ, Guardian, HA, HA, WAFA 12/20; HA 12/21)

In the West Bank, 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Qalqilya; during the raids in Ramallah and Bethlehem, 3 Palestinians were injured. Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers east of Tubas from plowing their land. In East Jerusalem, 9 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Issawiyya and Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles off the coast of Jabaliya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/18; PCHR 12/19)

A 21-year-old Palestinian shepherd who lost 4 fingers due to an undetonated grenade in a West Bank military firing zone in 2012 was awarded, by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, $87,000 for his injuries as the court ruled that the Israeli defense ministry had neglected to clear the area. (HA 12/18)

U.S. president Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. house of representatives. 2 articles of impeachment passed. Article 1: Abuse of Power passed 230-197 and Article 2: Obstruction of Congress passed 229-198. (FOX, NYT, REU, WP 12/18; AP, CNN 12/19)

The World Bank announced that it will provide a $9 million grant to improve early childhood development among Palestinian children. (World Bank 12/18; WAFA 12/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds in Aqraba. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Za’atra, causing damage. In Sabastiyya, Palestinian students visiting an archeological site were briefly detained by Israeli forces. Israeli forces also seized a Palestinian-owned vehicle during a house raid near Bethlehem. 10 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Halhul. 2 Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire in 2 separate incidents near Jenin and Tulkarm. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/11; PCHR 12/12)

A Palestinian power distribution company said that Israeli- forced power cuts will start on 12/15 with Ramallah cutting power for 3 hours daily and on 12/17 with Bethlehem cutting power 3 hours daily. (WAFA 12/11)

In Israel, the Knesset was dissolved by its members as Israeli citizens are set to vote in a 3d general election in under 1 year on 2 March 2020. Neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Benny Gantz were able to secure a majority government since the last Israeli elections on 17 September. Netanyahu’s Likud party also agreed to hold primaries on 26 December. Netanyahu’s main rival in the Likud party is Gideon Sa’ar, who previously served as Israel’s minister of education and minister of internal affairs. (HA, HA 12/11; HA, JP 12/12)

U.S. president Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Combatting Anti-Semitism” at a White House Hanukkah party. The order, which folds anti-Semitism under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, is officially aimed at combatting anti-Semitism in the U.S. education system. However, the order explicitly mentions the highly controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of anti-Semitism which conflates criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. Many thus fear that the new executive order is intended to stifle criticism of Israel rather than protecting Jewish people against anti-Semitism. President Trump said during the signing ceremony that, “I will always celebrate and honor the Jewish people, and I will always stand with our treasured friend and ally, the State of Israel.” (NYT 12/10; CNN, HA, JP, NYT, WhiteHouse 12/11; HA; WAFA 12/12)

In the West Bank, 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 7 during late-night raids in and around Bayt Awa, Yatta, and Bethlehem; 1 at a flying checkpoint near Jenin. 1 Palestinian teenager was hospitalized after being beaten by Israeli forces during a daytime raid near Nablus. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during daytime raids in the Old City and Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 12/1; PCHR 12/5)

Israel’s defense minister Naftali Bennett ordered the “planning processes to be advanced” for new settler housing in Hebron. The plan includes development of a closed fruit and vegetable market for settler housing. According to Defense Minister Bennett, the new settlement housing “will create territorial continuation from the Cave of the Patriarchs [al-Ibrahimi Mosque] to the Avraham Avinu neighborhood, and double the number of Jewish residents in the city.” PLO’s secretary general Saeb Erakat said in a tweet that Bennett’s announcement was the “first tangible result of the U.S. decision to legitimize colonization,” referring to U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s announcement from 11/18 that the U.S. no longer considers the Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. Defense Minister Bennett also sent a letter to the Palestinian municipal government of Hebron demanding consent for the demolition of the fruit and vegetable market, threatening that Bennett would start legal proceedings to lift the municipality’s protected status over the site. (AJ, AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA 12/1; HA 12/8)

The Israeli cabinet approved an allocation of 40 million shekels ($11.5 million) for construction of 1st-aid stations and security in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The chairperson of the Joint Arab List Ayman Odeh subsequently sent a letter to the Israeli attorney general demanding an examination of the constitutionality of the allocation, saying that the approval “raise[s] a grave suspicion of a budget allocation in exchange for a political favor.” (HA 12/1)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. president Donald Trump spoke on the phone and, according to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the 2 discussed recognizing the Jordan Valley as Israel’s official eastern border in addition to a defense pact and Iran. (HA, TOI 12/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole olive harvests from Palestinian farmers near Awarta. Elsewhere, in Rujib, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinians harvesting olives. Israeli settlers also flooded Palestinian-owned farmland with sewage discharge in Dayr al-Hatab. Israeli forces detained 12 Palestinians on their way to work in Israel at the Barta‘a crossing. Israeli forces also prevented Palestinian farmers access to their land on the other side of the separation wall near Salfit. In East Jerusalem, 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Issawiyya. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/27; PCHR 10/31)

U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman attended the opening of the Ariel settlement’s new medical school partly financed by American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. Ambassador Friedman said at the opening, “A new medical school has opened in Samaria [the West Bank] . . . How many people had ever thought that those words would ever be spoken? We at the State Department are very proud to work so closely with Ariel University, along with other universities in Israel.” (JP, TOI 10/27; HA 10/28)

U.S. president Donald Trump announced that U.S. troops had killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the Idlib province of Syria. (HA 10/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in Umm Safa north of Ramallah and fenced off 150 dunums (37 acres) of their land. Israeli forces arrested 11 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Jenin, Bayt Kahal, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested in Issawiyya and Silwan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 2 nautical miles off shore on 2 separate occasions. By the Gaza fence, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural fields east of Rafah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 8/20; PCHR 8/22)

U.S. president Donald Trump attacked Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) on Twitter, saying “She hates Israel and all Jewish people. She is an anti-Semite.” President Trump also said during a press gaggle that “I [President Trump] think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat—I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.” President Trump’s comments drew widespread condemnation from Jewish groups in the U.S. (HA 8/20; HA 8/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished a water tank for irrigation near Bardala in the Jordan Valley. 4 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces, 3 during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jericho. 1 was arrested at a flying checkpoint by Ni‘lin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided a stadium in the Old City where a soccer tournament was about to start. During the raid, several Palestinians sustained injuries. Israel’s Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan had signed the order to stop the tournament, stating “The event will be held on behalf of and/or is sponsored by the Palestinian Authority.” Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles from the coast. In Israel, 1 Palestinian from East Jerusalem was arrested shortly after being released from Naqab Prison. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/18; HA 8/20; PCHR 8/22)

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador in Amman for a reprimand over the violence at the Haram al-Sharif compound on 8/11 and warned against any attempts to change the status quo. (HA, WAFA 8/18)

U.S. president Donald Trump told reporters that the U.S. peace plan would likely be released after the September 17 elections. (AJ, HA 8/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian-owned agricultural lands in Burqa, they subsequently opened fire at Palestinians seeking to put the fire out; no injuries were reported. In a separate but similar incident, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in ‘Urif after trying to ignite agricultural lands. Israeli settlers also sprayed racist graffiti on Palestinian-owned buildings and vehicles in al-Zawiya. 3 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces in Qalqilya and Aida refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was killed and another wounded after stabbing 1 Israeli policeman near the Haram al-Sharif compound. After the stabbing, Israeli police closed Haram al-Sharif for 2 hours after which only persons older than 50 were allowed on the compound. Also in the Old City, Israel’s Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel toured the Haram al-Sharif compound along with Israeli settlers. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 2 nautical miles from shore. (AJ, HA, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/15; PCHR 8/22)

Israel’s Interior Ministry announced the U.S. congresswomen Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) would not be allowed to enter Israel and the West Bank for their planned visit. The ministry stated that the 2 congresswomen were denied entry on the basis of their involvement in the BDS movement. U.S. president Donald Trump had hours earlier tweeted that “[i]t would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people.” The decision sparked criticism from members of Congress from both parties and from pro-Israel organizations such as AIPAC. (HA, Twitter, WAPO, WAFA 8/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces summoned an 8-year-old girl for interrogation for allegedly harassing Israeli settlers in Hebron. By the Gaza fence, 1 Palestinian was killed after he crossed into Israel and opened fire on 3 Israeli soldiers, injuring all 3. Israeli forces subsequently shelled a Hamas outpost east of Khan Yunis. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire and fired flare bombs at Palestinian fishermen. Israeli forces also opened fire on farmers east of Khan Yunis, damaging a tractor. (AJ, HA, PCHR, WAFA, WAFA 8/1)

Israel’s transportation minister and member of Knesset Bezalel Smotrich wrote on Facebook that the approval for 715 housing units in Area C for Palestinians yesterday (7/30) was made “to prevent the establishment of an Arab terror state in the heart of Israel, to protect all of our Land of Israel and develop settlement and sovereignty in all its spaces.” The spokesperson for PA president Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudayna, said of the approval for the Palestinian housing units, “[t]he Palestinian people have the right to build on all of their land occupied in 1967 without the need for a permission from anyone. We will not give any legitimacy to the construction of a single stone in the settlements on our land.” (HA, WAFA, WAFA 7/31)

It was reported that Israel struck targets near Quneitra in Syria; no injuries were reported but there were reports of damage to structures. (HA 8/1)

U.S. president Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner and U.S. special representative for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt met with Jordan’s King Abdullah and Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jordan. According to media reporting, King Abdullah stressed that a 2-state solution must include East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. (HA 7/31; FOX 8/1)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished a water container used for agricultural irrigation east of Hebron. Israeli forces arrested 13 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Shu‘fat refugee camp, Bethlehem, Hebron, Qalqilya, and Jenin. Clashes erupted during the raids in Shu‘fat and Jalazun refugee camps near Ramallah. 1 vehicle was seized during the raid in Tuqu‘ near Bethlehem. In Israel, a 31-year-old Palestinian man from the West Bank who was arrested during a raid in Bayt Fajjar on 6/19 died in Nitzan prison while he was in solitary confinement. The Israeli prison services did not say what caused his death. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/16; WAFA 7/17)

Palestinian refugees in Lebanon protested throughout the country against the Lebanese government’s crackdown on businesses using foreign workers that do not have a work permit. They also protested discriminatory Lebanese labor laws that ban Palestinians from working in some 70 different professions. (AJ 7/16)

U.S. president Donald Trump invoked Israel for the 2d day in a row in Twitter attacks on 4 U.S. congresswomen, writing that they were “ . . . Horrible anti-Israel, anti-USA, pro-terrorist . . . .” (Twitter 7/16)

In the West Bank, 2 Palestinians were arrested during the day: 1 during a raid near Bethlehem and 1 at a military checkpoint in Hebron. Later, during late-night raids, Israeli forces arrested 11 Palestinians in and around Jenin, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, Salfit, Ramallah, and al-Bireh. Israeli forces shot a Palestinian citizen of Israel at a temporary military checkpoint near Tulkarm. The man was not arrested by Israeli forces and said it opened an investigation into the incident. In Sawahara al-Sharqiyya, Israeli forces demolished a building under construction. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions east of Rafah to raze farmland. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/15; HA, WAFA 7/16)

U.S. president Donald Trump invoked Israel in a series of tweets against 4 U.S. congresswomen, saying they are “anti-Israel,” they should apologize to Israel, and democrats embracing the 4 congresswomen are endorsing “hate of Israel and the USA!” (Twitter, Twitter, Twitter 7/15)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers sprayed racist graffiti on several structures, including a mosque, and punctured the tires of 3 vehicles in Kafr Malik near Ramallah. Israeli settlers also uprooted 30 olive trees near Bani Na‘im. Israeli forces arrested 16 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, and Ramallah. Israeli authorities also approved cutting down around 2,000 olive trees south of Bethlehem. In Gaza, 5 Palestinians were hospitalized after suffering from tear gas inhalation east of Rafah. In the Israeli city of Afula, local Jewish Israelis, including the city’s mayor, protested the sale of a home to a Palestinian-Israeli family. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/16; HA, WAFA, WAFA 6/17)

The Israeli Jerusalem municipality approved naming streets in the Silwan neighborhood in East Jerusalem after Jewish rabbis. (HA 6/17)

The chairman of Qatar’s National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza Mohammed al-Emadi met Israeli and Palestinian officials in Israel and Gaza to discuss the implementation of the cease-fire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in May. The Qatari delegation also delivered $20 million for vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza and for humanitarian projects. Some 108,000 families will receive $400 in 4 $100 payments. (HA 6/16; HA 6/17)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a sign for a planned community in the Golan Heights called Trump Heights, named after U.S. president Donald Trump. Netanyahu decided to dedicate a settlement construction project to President Trump after Trump unilaterally recognized Israel’s annexation of the Syrian Golan Heights. (HA 6/16)

U.S. special representative for international negotiations Jason Greenblatt told The Jerusalem Post that the U.S. administration may delay the unveiling of the U.S. peace plan until November 2019 because of the upcoming Israeli elections in September. In the interview, Greenblatt also said that he supports U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman’s statement from 6/8 that Israel has a right to annex parts of the West Bank. (AJ, HA 6/16)

In the West Bank, 10 Palestinians were reported arrested by Israeli forces. In East Jerusalem, clashes between Israeli police and Muslim worshippers erupted after 120 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound on the Israeli-celebrated Jerusalem Day, which included a flag march through the Old City. 1 Palestinian was injured with a head injury after being beaten by Israeli police and others suffered from tear gas inhalation. The march also left much of East Jerusalem closed to Palestinians. 40 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids and throughout the day. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/2)

The Israeli state comptroller criticized the Israeli and Jerusalem authorities for neglecting social services in East Jerusalem such as garbage disposal and street cleaning. The state comptroller also criticized the waiting time for East Jerusalem Palestinians seeking Israeli citizenship. (HA 6/2)

An Israeli police officer was charged with fracturing the leg of a Palestinian citizen of Israel and assaulting 7 others detained at a demonstration in Haifa in 2018. (HA 6/2)

Israel struck targets in Syria for the 2d day in a row. 2 people were reportedly killed and 2 others injured when Israeli missiles hit buildings at a Syrian military base in Homs. (HA 6/3; HA 6/4)

Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said of the still-unannounced U.S. peace plan that Egypt would not accept terms against Palestinian wishes. (HA 6/3)

U.S. president Donald Trump said of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to form a government that he is “not happy” with the outcome and that Israeli politicians “should get their act together.” (HA 6/3)

U.S. special adviser and son-in-law to President Donald Trump Jared Kushner said, when asked if he believed that Palestinians were capable of governing themselves, that “we’ll have to see. The hope is that they, over time, will become capable of governing.” Kushner would also not confirm if the U.S. peace plan includes 2 states. “I do think they should have self-determination. I’m going to leave the details until we come out with the plan.” (AJ 6/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 2 residential tents, a barn, and a fodder storage belonging to 1 Palestinian family in the northern Jordan Valley. In a similar but separate incident also in the northern part of the Jordan Valley, 1 Palestinian family had 2 residential tents and 3 barns demolished by Israeli forces. (WAFA, WAFA 5/30)

Prefabricated classrooms donated to Palestinian schoolchildren in the West Bank by the EU that were seized by Israel in October 2018 were announced to be auctioned by the Israeli civil administration. (Guardian 5/31)

The Israeli housing ministry published tenders for the construction of 805 housing units in East Jerusalem. (PeaceNow 5/30; HA 6/1)

Despite receiving a 2-week extension by the Israeli president Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government, prompting a 2d round of elections to be held in September. (HA 5/30)

The 2 Trump administration officials leading the Middle East peace team, Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the 3d day of their trip rallying support for the U.S. peace plan and the upcoming summit in Bahrain. The U.S. delegation brought Netanyahu a gift from U.S. president Donald Trump: an updated State Department map with the Golan Heights incorporated into Israel proper. Trump made an arrow pointing at the Golan Heights, wrote the word “nice,” and signed the map. (HA 5/28; HA 5/30; QUDS 5/31)

The EU contributed $17 million to the PA to help pay for civil servant and pensioners salaries. The EU contribution was given as Israel continues to withhold tax revenue from the PA. (WAFA 5/30)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned house under construction near Bethlehem. (WAFA 5/23)

Secretary general of the PLO Saeb Erakat released a statement, reading, “This is an official announcement that Palestine will not attend the Manama meeting . . . We reiterate that we did not mandate anyone to negotiate on our behalf.” Erakat’s statement was in response to the U.S.-led summit of the economic component of U.S. president Donald Trump’s peace plan. (HA, WAFA 5/23)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 5 Palestinian during late-night raids in and around Nablus, Jericho, and Halhul. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested by Israeli forces during a late-night raid. (WAFA 5/21)

PA social development minister Ahmed Majdalani said that, “There will be no Palestinian participation in the Manama workshop,” and further stipulated that, “Any Palestinian who would take part would be nothing but a collaborator for the Americans and Israel.” The message came in response to the White House announcement that the economic component of U.S. president Donald Trump’s peace plan would be presented in Bahrain in June. PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said that, “The [Palestinian] cabinet wasn’t consulted about the reported workshop, neither over the content, nor the outcome nor timing.” (AJ, HA, WAFA 5/20)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with the Emir of Qatar Shaykh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani during the 1st day of a 3-day meeting. (WAFA 5/20)

Four hundred out of 535 members of the U.S. congress signed a letter to President Donald Trump calling on him to support Israel. The letter read, “With the region in flux, it remains critical that we reiterate to both friend and foe in the region that we continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself.” (HA 5/21)

Trump tweeted that, “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!” Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif called Trump’s tweet a genocidal taunt in a separate tweet. (HA 5/20)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin, Tubas, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 2 employees of the Islamic Waqf were released after being arrested; they were both banned from the Haram al-Sharif compound for 15 days. Israeli minister of agriculture Uri Ariel toured the Haram al-Sharif compound with a group of Israeli settlers. In Israel, Israeli authorities issued a demolition order for a playground in Rakhama Bedouin village in southern Israel. (WAFA 5/19; WAFA, WAFA 5/20, HA 5/21)

The Israeli high court of justice rejected a petition to bar the Israeli Jerusalem Day flag march from walking through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. The petition was filed by Ir Amim and argued that since the day of the flag march coincides with the final days of the Ramadan, it should not be passing through the Muslim Quarter. (HA 5/21)

The White House reported that the economic component of the U.S. president Donald Trump’s peace plan will be released in late June at an international summit in Bahrain. The summit will be named Peace to Prosperity. (AJ, HA 5/19)

In the West Bank, thousands of Palestinians marched to commemorate the 71st Nakba Day in Bethlehem and Ramallah. Israeli forces also arrested 7 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin, and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, the Israeli civil administration delivered 20 demolition notices to Palestinian buildings in Issawiya and 2 for buildings in Shu‘fat refugee camp. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Silwan. Also in East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian teen was hospitalized after being assaulted by Israeli settlers, who during the assault, was yelling “Death to Arabs.” In Gaza, thousands of people commemorated Nakba Day along the Gaza fence. Israeli forces suppressed the commemoration protest using live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, tear gas, and skunk spray, injuring 65 people. 16 Palestinians were wounded by live ammunition and 14 by rubber-coated bullets. One Palestinian was arrested trying to cross into Israel. Israeli officials reported 9 fires in Israel as a result of incendiary balloons. No injuries were reported in relation to the fires. Off the coast of Gaza, a Palestinian fishermen was injured by Israeli naval forces. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/15; HA, MNA, WAFA 5/16)

The Israeli high court of justice rejected a petition by a Gaza company producing snacks to allow it to sell its products in the West Bank. The high court sided with the Israeli states argument that it was the PA’s fault that the company could not sell its products in the West Bank. According to Haaretz, there is no clear procedure to how a request the exporting of goods from Gaza to the West Bank. (HA 5/15)

Official data on Israeli government spending on Israeli settlements in the West Bank obtained by AP news agency shows that spending on settlements rose from $330 million in 2016 to $459 million in 2017, the year Donald Trump became the U.S. president. (AJ 5/15)

PA foreign minister Riyad Maliki submitted a memorial to the international court of justice regarding the U.S. relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018. (WAFA 5/15)

In the West Bank, dozens of Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation near a school in Hebron after Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Nablus and 1 Palestinian was arrested at a checkpoint near Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested after a fight broke out between Palestinians and Israeli settlers. There were also reports of Israeli forces harassing Palestinians making their way out of the Haram al-Sharif compound. (WAFA, WAFA 5/8; MNA, MNA, WAFA 5/9)

All Gaza and West Bank crossings into Israel were closed except for medical and other emergencies for the 3d day in a row. Israeli authorities announced the closure on 5/6, citing Israeli celebrations of Memorial Day and Independence Day. (HA 5/6)

The PA announced that it sent 15 truckloads of medical supplies to Gaza. (WAFA 5/8)

UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories Jamie McGoldrick told reporters that 1,700 people in Gaza are in risk of needing amputations due to lack of funds to undertake complicated operations. He further stated that the high number was due to Israeli lethal response to the Great March of Return, where 29,000 Palestinians were wounded in 2018; 7,000 of the wounded were hit by gunshots from Israeli snipers. (HA 5/9)

In Jordan, all cabinet ministers tendered their resignations as Jordan’s King Abdullah prepares to reshuffle the government after he fired several security officials reported to be plotting against the regime. King Abdullah said that the security officials were replaced because of incompetence and some used their position for personal gain. (HA 5/8)

U.S. president Donald Trump imposed further sanctions on Iran via executive order. The U.S. move follows Iran’s announcement that it would begin to enrich uranium in 60 days if the signatories of the Iran nuclear deal did not uphold their commitments. (AJ 5/7; HA 5/8)

In the West Bank, 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Tulkarm, Hebron, and Jericho. During a raid in Hebron, surveillance camera recordings were confiscated and solar panels were damaged. East of Ramallah, Israeli forces uprooted 120 olive trees. In ‘Urif, Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian high school by throwing stones at the building, causing moderate damage. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested; 2 during late-night raids in Issawiyya and 1 near the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli shelling continued for the 3d day in a row, killing 19 Palestinians and wounding 29. Several buildings in Gaza were completely destroyed and others were damaged. 3 Israelis were killed by rockets from Gaza and 4 people were wounded in Israel, including a Thai national. This makes the comprehensive death toll from the Israeli attack on Gaza on 4/5-5/5 30 Palestinians total. By the end of 5/5 (U.S. eastern time), it was reported that a cease-fire agreement had been reached. (AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/5; MNA, WAFA, WAFA 5/6; PCHR 5/9)

Israel indicated that it had resumed its policy of executions, what Israeli authorities refer to as target killings. Israel killed a Palestinian man in Gaza alleged to facilitating transfers of funds from Iran to Hamas during its attack on Gaza. Chief of the Israeli forces southern command Hertzi Halevy said that the Israeli executions of Palestinians alleged to be involved in terror activity “is expected to continue.” (HA 5/5)

U.S. president Donald Trump tweeted, “Once again, Israel faces a barrage of deadly rocket attacks by terrorist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. We support Israel 100% in its defense of its citizens . . . To the Gazan people—these terrorist acts against Israel will bring you nothing but more misery. END the violence and work towards peace—it can happen!” Member of the PLO executive committee Hanan Ashrawi called Israel’s attack on Gaza “criminal and morally reprehensible.” (Twitter, WAFA 5/5)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces destroyed a water pipeline supplying the village of Bayt Dajan east of Nablus. Israeli forces also demolished an animal barn near Yatta in a confrontation with local Palestinians protesting the demolishing; several Palestinians were injured. Late at night, Israeli settlers with Israeli military escort stormed ‘Urif near Nablus. Several Palestinians were injured, and 1 Palestinian-owned vehicle was vandalized. Israeli forces imposed a curfew on Huwwara after a Palestinian allegedly attempted to stab an Israeli settler; Palestinian teens were also reported to have been throwing rocks at an Israeli settler vehicle. (WAFA, WAFA 5/2; MNA, MNA 5/3)

The PA returned the full amount of the deducted tax revenue Israel transferred to the PA. The PA have on several occasions reiterated that it would not accept any tax revenue transfer that is not the full amount. Israel has deducted the PA tax revenue because the PA pays stipends to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and their families. (HA, MNA 5/3)

PA minister of Information Nabil Abu Rudayna reiterated that the PA leadership would not partake in any conference related to a peace plan that is not within the framework of international law and the Arab Peace Initiative. (WAFA 5/2)

The PA minister for Women’s Affairs Amal Hamad was refused entry to Jordan by Israeli authorities. She was traveling to Jordan to attend a Euro-Mediterranean conference for regional cooperation for zero tolerance for violence against women and girls. (MEMO, WAFA 5/2; MNA 5/3)

Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine (PIJ) condemned the Israeli attack on Gaza on 5/1. A PIJ official warned that any further aggression would be responded to with hits on Israel’s “biggest cities.” (HA 5/2)

In an interview at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, U.S. president Donald Trump’s son in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner said in response to a question of why the U.S. administration had not taken a position on the 2-state solution, that, “[i]f you say ‘two-state’, it means one thing to Israelis and another to Palestinians, so we told ourselves—let’s try not to say it.” (AJ, HA 5/3)

Israeli forces arrested 18 Israeli settlers while evacuating temporary homes at an Israeli-deemed illegal settlement east of the Ofra settlement. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities issued 2 demolition orders for 2 buildings in Shu‘fat refugee camp. Israeli forces also demolished 2 Palestinian-owned homes in Silwan; at least 1 Palestinian was injured trying to protect his home. In Gaza, Israel reduced the fishing zone from 15 nautical miles to 6 in response to the rocket fired from Gaza on 4/29. Israeli authorities said that the rocket was launched by Islamic Jihad. Off the coast of Gaza City, a Palestinian fisherman was injured when he was hit by a rubber-coated bullet fired by Israeli naval forces. Israeli naval forces also removed and destroyed all fishing nets placed outside of the 6-nautical-mile fishing zone. In Israel, 2 Israelis were sentenced to 1 year in prison for assaults made on 4 Palestinian citizens of Israel in 2017 to deter them from dating Jewish women. (AJ, HA, HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/30; HA, HA 5/1)

The EU called on Israel not to deport Human Rights Watch director for Israel and Palestine Omar Shakir, who was denied a petition at the Jerusalem district court to halt his pending deportation on 4/16. (HA 4/30)

The EU asked the PA to accept the reduced tax revenue Israel is offering until a solution to the PA’s financial crisis is found. The EU stressed that the request “does not constitute a legal or political endorsement of Israeli deductions.” (HA 4/30; HA 5/1)

The U.S. government is working to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization, said the White House. According to New York Times reporting, U.S. president Donald Trump was urged by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to make the designation while on an official visit to Washington on 4/9. (AJ, NYT 4/30)

In a joint statement by U.S. democrats in the House of Representatives, concern was expressed for the Israeli-planned demolition of Khan al-Ahmar and Susiya. The U.S. members of Congress signing the statement were Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), David Price (D-NC), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX). (Schakowsky’s Office 4/30; WAFA 5/2)

Member of the House of Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN) reintroduced her bill H.R.2407 “Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act.” The bill, if passed, would amend the Foreign Assistance Act, cutting assistance to foreign countries that uses “military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of children in violation of international humanitarian law,” and authorize $19 million annually to NGOs monitoring human rights abuses associated with Israel’s military detention of children. (Congress 4/30; McCollum’s Office, MDW 1/5)

The outgoing French ambassador to the U.S. Gérard Araud, who on 4/19 called Israel an apartheid state, will not be meeting Israeli officials when he visits Israel in early May, as Israel has barred its officials from meeting Araud. Additionally, Israel summoned France’s ambassador to Israel Hélène Le Gal to the Israeli foreign ministry for a reprimand for Araud’s statements. (HA 4/30)

The United Kingdom announced that it was contributing $11.7 million to help build a water desalination plant in Gaza. (WAFA 4/30)

The EU contributed $4.1 million to the PA’s private sector reconstruction agricultural program to help farmers in Gaza. In a separate announcement, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that the EU was contributing with an additional $24.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. (MNA, WAFA, WAFA 4/30; MNA 5/1)

In the West Bank, over 20,000 Israeli settlers visited the al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron while the holy site was sealed off for Muslim worshippers. In Sabastiyya, Israeli settlers escorted by Israeli forces stormed an archeological site. Meanwhile, the village was sealed off by Israeli forces impeding the movement of its Palestinian residents. Elsewhere in the West Bank, 11 Palestinians were injured when Israeli settlers escorted by Israeli forces stormed Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus. Israeli forces arrested 6 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces injured a Palestinian in Silwan. (MNA, MNA 4/23; MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA 4/24)

During a meeting with the Norwegian representative to the PA in Ramallah, PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called on Norway to assert pressure on Israel to release the full withheld Palestinian tax revenues. (WAFA 4/23; MNA 4/24)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he is planning to name a town in the occupied Golan Heights after U.S. president Donald Trump. Netanyahu said that it was a gesture of appreciation for the U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. (MNA 4/24)

At a Time magazine event, President Trump’s senior adviser and son in-law Jared Kushner indicated that the U.S. “peace plan” does not include a sovereign Palestinian state. Kushner said that past negotiations over a 2-state solution had failed and that “New and different ways to reach peace must be tried.” When asked directly if 2 states are part of the U.S. plan, Kushner responded, “If people focus on the old traditional talking points, we’re never going to make peace.” (HA 4/24)

In the West Bank, 2 apartments in Hebron belonging to the family of a Palestinian convicted for the murder of an Israeli in February were demolished by Israeli forces. In Salfit, Israeli forces raided and took measurements for demolition of a home belonging to the family of a Palestinian alleged to have attacked Israeli settlers in the settlement of Ariel on 3/17. The alleged perpetrator was killed by Israeli forces on 3/20. Israeli forces also violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protests in Kafr Qaddum using live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, and tear gas, injuring 6. One French activist was arrested during the protest. In East Jerusalem, a soccer tournament in Bayt Safafa was shut down by Israeli police, claiming that it was organized by the PA. In Gaza, Israeli forces attacked 2 Hamas posts east of al-Bureij refugee camp after shots allegedly were fired at Israeli soldiers near the Gaza fence, causing damage, but no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also fired live ammunition, tear gas, and rubber-coated bullets at protesters partaking in the weekly Great March of Return protests, injuring at least 46 Palestinians. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. According to Israeli sources, an incendiary balloon was found on a beach near Ashqelon in Israel. Israeli authorities announced that it would institute a week-long closure between 4/19 and 4/27 of entry points to Israel from Gaza and the West Bank for the celebration of Passover. (HA, HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/19; HA, MNA, WAFA 4/20)

In an interview with the Atlantic, the outgoing French ambassador to the U.S. Gérard Araud, in discussing the Trump administration’s “peace plan,” called Israel an apartheid state. He said, “They [Israel] have the West Bank, but at the same time they don’t have to make the painful decision about the Palestinians, really making them really, totally stateless or making them citizens of Israel. They won’t make them citizens of Israel. So they will have to make it official, which is we know the situation, which is an apartheid. There will be officially an apartheid state. . . . They are in fact already.” Araud also recounted a conversation between French president Emmanuel Macron and U.S. president Donald Trump, in which Trump said “I have given everything to the Israelis; the Israelis will have to give me something.” (AM 4/19; HA 4/24)

The U.S. envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt rebuffed in a tweet speculations that part of the Trump administration’s “peace plan” includes transferring parts of Egypt’s Sinai to the Gaza Strip. (HA 4/19)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 13 Palestinians in late-night raids in and around Far‘un, Jenin, Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm, Nablus, and Qalqilya. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 2 greenhouses near Bethlehem and a residential structure under construction in Khirbat Jabara south of Tulkarm. Israeli forces also sealed off a road between al-Tuwwana and al-Karmel east of Yatta. In East Jerusalem, a day after the Israeli supreme court rejected local residents’ appeal to protect their East Jerusalem homes from demolition, Israeli forces began demolishing the 60 residential structures housing 500 Palestinians. Several Palestinians were wounded trying to protect their homes. Elsewhere in East Jerusalem, a Palestinian home was demolished by Israeli forces in Bayt Hanina, displacing 7 Palestinians that also were fined $11,000. Israeli forces also arrested 6 Palestinians in East Jerusalem; 2 of the arrested were Palestinian minors who reportedly had thrown Molotov cocktails at an Israeli police station. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/17; MNA, MNA, WAFA 4/18)

The Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said that Israel would not start annexing parts of the West Bank until the Trump administration’s peace plan is unveiled. U.S. president Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner told a group of ambassadors that the peace plan will not be released until after the end of Ramadan in early June. (HA 4/17; HA 4/18)

Thousands of Palestinians held rallies in Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Jericho, Tubas, Hebron, and Bethlehem in support of the over 6,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons for Prisoners Day. (WAFA 4/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces blocked the entrance to the town of Tuqu‘ near Bethlehem and stormed the city center, leading to clashes with local residents; no injuries were reported. Israel also issued a military order to confiscate 401 dunams (99 acres) of Palestinian-owned land in al-‘Arub, Bayt Umar, and Halhul near Hebron. Israeli forces also confiscated 4 Palestinian-owned vehicles during late-night raids. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus, and Salfit. Separately, a 19-year-old Palestinian woman was also arrested at the al-Zaayim checkpoint for allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier. In East Jerusalem, around 87 Israeli settlers along with Israeli forces stormed Haram al-Sharif to perform prayers. Israeli forces sealed the Damascus Gate of the Old City and arrested 2 Palestinians in the vicinity. Later, demolition notices were delivered for 13 residential structures in the al-‘Izzawiya neighborhood. In Gaza, Israeli forces razed land east of Rafah and fired toward Palestinians east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA 4/10; MNA, MNA, WAFA 4/11)

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared victory after the 4/9 Israeli general elections and will serve his 5th term as prime minister. Both U.S. president Donald Trump and secretary of state Mike Pompeo congratulated Netanyahu with his victory. The PR firm behind the Likud party’s initiative to place cameras at the Palestinian-majority polling stations (see 4/9) boasted a historically low turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel in a Facebook post that also depicted 2 of its employees with Netanyahu and his wife Sara. Turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel was less than 50 percent. PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi called Netanyahu’s victory a vote to “entrench and expand apartheid.” (HA, HA, WAFA 4/10; HA 4/11)

The Palestinian activist and co-founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement Omar Barghouti was denied entry to the U.S. to embark on a speaking tour in several U.S. cities and to attend his daughter’s wedding. He was stopped before boarding his plane in Tel Aviv and was told that the American consulate had ordered that he could not board the plane. (NYT 4/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces gave evacuation notices for land seizure to several Palestinians in Bittir near Bethlehem and Halhul and Bayt Umar near Hebron. Israeli forces also gave notice to Palestinians in 7 villages in the Nablus area that 406 dunams (100 acres) will be seized by Israel for a settler-only road and 384 dunams (94 acres) for a military road in the northern Jordan Valley. In Hebron, several Palestinian students, a teacher, and a janitor suffered from tear gas inhalation when Israeli forces fired tear gas into the school yard. The teacher and janitor were taken to a hospital for treatment. Israeli forces also halted construction of a road west of Yatta near Hebron. South of Bethlehem, a Palestinian was hospitalized after an Israeli settler rammed his car. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were injured and 3 arrested by Israeli police after a confrontation with Israeli settlers. Israeli settlers also sealed the door to the Shaykh Makki Mosque in the Old City for a 3d time (2 previous sealings happened in March). An Israeli court released 5 Palestinians who had been detained since March but banned them from returning to their homes in Silwan for 30 days. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces fired at Palestinian fishermen 3 nautical miles offshore from al-Sudaniyya. Israeli forces also razed farmland and fired at Palestinians near Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/8)

After the postponement of the Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike reported on 4/7, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails started an open-ended hunger strike to protest their treatment by the Israelis. (HA, WAFA 4/8)

A French employee at the French consulate in Jerusalem was sentenced to 7 years in prison by an Israeli court for smuggling arms from Gaza to the West Bank. He confessed to having smuggled 30 guns, receiving $7,200 for his services. (HA 4/8; MEMO 4/9)

Russian president Vladimir Putin said weeks after U.S. president Donald Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty of the Golan Heights that the U.S. change of policy is “a violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions.” (MNA 4/9)

In response to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comment on 4/6 that he would extend Israeli sovereignty to the West Bank, the Arab League’s assistant secretary-general Saeed Abu Ali said that such actions would lead to “dangerous repercussions” and called for an “immediate official investigation” by the International Criminal Court of “the ongoing settlement crimes in the Palestinian territories.” (MEMO 4/9)

In a White House statement, President Trump announced that the U.S had decided to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization. Prime Minister Netanyahu later tweeted on his Hebrew language account, “Thank you for the answer to another important request that serves the interests of our country and the region,” implying that the terror designation was made upon request by Netanyahu. On Netanyahu’s English language Twitter account, the word “request” was omitted. (NPR 4/8; HILL 4/9; HA 4/10)

Thousands of Palestinians gather along Gaza’s border to continue the Great March of Return. IDF troops violently disperse them near Gaza City, al-Bureij refugee camp, Khan Yunis, and Rafah; 2 Palestinians are killed and at least 55 are injured. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 211. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Bayt Lahiya, injuring 2 fishermen and damaging their boat. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest several Palestinians during raids in ‘Azun near Qalqilya, sparking minor clashes; no serious injuries are reported. They also arrest 1 Palestinian during raids near Hebron and Jenin; and patrol near Hebron throughout the day. Israeli settlers throw stones at Palestinian homes near Hebron, causing minor damage. (EI, JP, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 3/22; MNA, MNA 3/23; PCHR 3/28)

In response to U.S. president Donald Trump’s pledge to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights on 3/21, PLO secretary-general Saeb Erakat says the move will “lead to a lack of stability and bloodshed in the region.” (EI, HA 3/22)

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on a group of Palestinian minors congregating near al-Bureij refugee camp; 1 Palestinian is injured. The Israeli press reports that the Palestinians were launching incendiary balloons into southern Israel. Later in the day, an Israeli tank shells a Hamas post in southern Gaza, injuring 7 Palestinians. The IDF says that the strike was retaliation for the launching of incendiary balloons into Gaza earlier in the day. In the West Bank, an Israeli settler driver rams and moderately injures a Palestinian in central Hebron. The settler then flees the scene. Separately, settlers throw stones at Palestinian homes in Urif near Nablus, causing damage and sparking a minor confrontation with residents of the village. Unidentified assailants throw a firebomb at an Israeli vehicle near Nablus, lightly injuring the 2 settler occupants and damaging the vehicle. Meanwhile, IDF troops patrol near Nablus, Hebron, and Ramallah. Israeli forces shut down a number of streets in central Hebron to make room for Israeli settlers to celebrate Purim. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces disperse an event at the French Cultural Center on the grounds that it was co-sponsored by the PA. They also arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in Ras al-Amud. (HA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA 3/21; MNA 3/22; PCHR 3/28)

U.S. president Donald Trump tweets, “After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!” His tweet reverses decades of U.S. policy and runs counter to several UN Security Council resolutions and international law. It comes in response to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for the international community to recognize Israeli control over the Golan Heights, and it is widely seen as a boon for Netanyahu’s chances the upcoming Israeli election on 4/9. Trump later says, in an interview with Fox Business Network, that his tweet was not an effort to support Netanyahu’s re-election campaign. “I hear [Netanyahu] is doing okay,” he says. “Whoever’s against him is also in favor of what I just did.” In response to Trump’s tweet, an EU spokesperson says that the EU has no plans to change its position on the Golan Heights. “The EU, in line with international law, does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, including the Golan Heights, and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory.” (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 3/21; HA 3/22)