The Palestine Chronology

In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fire a rocket into s. Israel in the Eshkol region. Israel holds Hamas responsible and the IDF launches a latenight air strike at a Hamas military training site nr. Khan Yunis, causing damage to the site and a nearby UNRWA school. It is the 1st Israeli bombing in Gaza since the 8/26 cease-fire ended OPE. In the West Bank, Palestinians gather in Turmus ‘Ayya, Silwad, and Ofer detention center to protest the death of a senior PA official on 12/10, sparking clashes with IDF troops in which 9 Palestinians are injured with rubbercoated metal bullets and 2 are detained. In Silwad, Israeli soldiers deliberately fire at electricity transformers, causing a power outage. Also, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), Bethlehem, and Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), shooting 1 in Bil‘in with a rubber-coated metal bullet and 1 in Ni‘lin. The IDF conducts an arrest raid nr. Qalqilya; patrols nr. Ramallah, Hebron, Jericho, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya. Meanwhile, dozens gather in Balata r.c. to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the PFLP. In East Jerusalem, nearly 60,000 Palestinians pray at Haram al-Sharif, then march through the streets of the Old City in protest of Israeli policies regarding the site. Later, Israeli forces conduct house searches and arrest raids in the Old City, al-Wad, Silwan, and al-Bustan. Clashes break out between Israeli police and stone-throwing Palestinians late at night in Wadi al-Juz, Anata, and Silwan. Police injure 3 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets and arrest 5. (AP, HA, MNA, 12/19; AFP, HA, MNA, WAFA 12/20; PCHR 12/25)

U.S. Pres. Obama signs into law the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, which includes increased intelligence and military cooperation and new congressional oversight procedures. (TOI 12/20; IHY, JP, JTA 12/21)

The UNGApasses 2 nonbinding res. regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict and Palestinian affairs: the 1st calls on Israel to pay Lebanon $856.4 m. in damages related to an oil spill Israeli forces caused during the 2006 war; the 2d recognizes Palestinian sovereignty over the natural resources in the oPt. (AFP, WAFA 12/20)

A leaked report from the IAEA concludes that Iran is upholding commitments made to the P5+1 related to its disputed nuclear program. (JP, REU 12/18)

In the Gaza Strip, gas shipments are held as a result of a dispute between the Palestinian Ministry of Finance in Gaza and the Palestinian Gen. Directorate of Petroleum. In the West Bank, an Israeli settler stabs a Palestinian man e. of Hebron, causing moderate injuries. Hours later, Israeli settlers attack a 12-year-old Palestinian in the H2 area of Hebron, causing major bruising. In response, the IDF sets up several mobile checkpoints around Hebron, and later detain and beat 1 Palestinian. Following the 3 incidents, hundreds of Israeli soldiers and a group of private settler security officers conduct military drills n. of Hebron. They also conduct house searches nr. Hebron and Salfit. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers and soldiers continue leveling land around the Ahiya outpost nr. Nablus. Unknown assailants throw stones at a bus full of Israeli settlers in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc nr. Jerusalem. Right-wing Jewish activists enter Haram al-Sharif with an escort of Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers. Meanwhile, Israeli police detain 1 Palestinian woman at an entrance to the compound. Israeli forces conduct arrest raids and house searches nr. Hebron and Salfit; patrol in Anata r.c., sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents. Israeli security forces also arrest an 11-year-old Palestinian for throwing stones at an Egged bus nr. the Old City, and later take him to alMaskubiya prison. In the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli police arrest 9 Druze for raising Hizballah flags at public events in recent mos. In the Negev, Israeli forces demolish several homes in the unrecognized bedouin village al-‘Araqib. (JP, MNA, WAFA, YA 12/8; IMEMC, MEMO, MNA, WAFA 12/9; PCHR 12/10)

The Knesset approves a motion to dissolve itself, officially setting 3/17/2015 as the date for national elections. Israel’s major parties begin discussions about potential coalitions, blocs, and joint lists. Before the vote, PM Netanyahu, in his capacity as acting fin. min., asks the Knesset Finance Comm. to allocate $20 m. for settlements in the West Bank. (HA, JP, MEMO, NYT, TOI, YA 12/8; YA 12/9)

The 122 mbr. states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) grant Palestine observer status, which is seen as symbolically advancing the Palestinians toward signing the Rome Statute and attaining full membership at the ICC. (AP, NYT 12/9)

A delegation of Hamas officials arrives in Tehran for talks on repairing ties with the Iranian govt. The visit is reportedly a prelude to a future visit of Hamas leader Khalid Mishal. (MEMO, WAFA, YA 12/9; TOI, YA 2/17)

In the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops stationed nr. the border open fire on an unarmed 10-year-old Palestinian boy, critically injuring him. Later, the IDF arrests 3 Palestinians who cross the border fence into Israel nr. the Kerem Shalom crossing. In the West Bank, Palestinians gather nr. ‘Askar refugee camp (r.c.) to throw stones at Israeli military vehicles, sparking clashes with the IDF that leave 1 Palestinian injured. IDF troops deliver demolition orders to 5 Palestinian families n. of Qalqilya and temporarily seal all entrances to ‘Azun village e. of Qalqilya; patrol nr. Bethlehem and Hebron. Late in the evening, the IDF conducts arrest raids and house searches in Bil‘in, detaining mayor Basil Mansur, sparking clashes with stone-throwing local residents; conducts arrest raids nr. Hebron and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, 10s of Palestinian women refuse to submit their ID cards to Israeli security officers outside Haram al-Sharif, defying a new Israeli access restriction; Israeli security forces beat several of the women with rifle butts to disperse them. Meanwhile, Israeli security forces escort 30 right-wing Jewish activists into Haram al-Sharif. Separately, IDF troops conduct arrest raids and house searches in 3 other areas of East Jerusalem. At an Israeli cabinet meeting, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates his pledge to maintain the status quo at Haram al-Sharif, meaning that he intends to respect Jordan’s custody of the area. In West Jerusalem, a Palestinian stabs a Jewish Israeli with a screwdriver, injuring him; Israeli police set up roadblocks around the area in effort to capture the assailant, but he escapes. Late at night, a Palestinian bus driver is found hanged in his bus in West Jerusalem. Israeli authorities allege suicide, but the man’s family believes that Israeli settlers killed him in retaliation for the earlier stabbing. Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces break out in al-Tur, East Jerusalem, in response to the bus driver’s death. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 11/16; AFP, IMEMC, JP, MNA 11/17; PCHR 11/20)

U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry calls Palestinian Authority (PA) Pres. Mahmoud Abbas and tells him the U.S. will veto any UN Security Council (UNSC) res. on ending the Israeli occupation within 2 years. Abbas has been circulating such a res. since his speech at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 9/26/ 2014. (AP 11/18)

Israeli justice minister Tzipi Livni postpones until 11/23 a debate in her comm. over a new “nation-state” bill, which would enshrine Israel’s status as the national homeland of the Jewish people in the Basic Laws. Netanyahu says that he may sidestep the comm. debate and introduce the bill in the Israeli cabinet. (JTA, REU 11/16)

In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fire 1 rocket into s. Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and injure 3 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets in Silwad nr. Ramallah, during a weekly demonstration, and clash with Palestinians at Qalandia checkpoint, injuring 8. The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Dura, and 1 village nr. Jenin. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Nil‘in), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in Nabi Salih, where 2 people are struck by rubber-coated metal bullets. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces repress demonstrations in Silwan, Issawiyya, al-Tur, and Wadi al-Juz, injuring 28 Palestinians. Israeli police ban men under 50 from entering Haram al-Sharif. (MNA 10/31; PCHR 11/6)

In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians fire approximately 20 projectiles into s. Israel, causing no injuries and minor damage to several buildings in 1 kibbutz. Two projectiles are intercepted by Iron Dome batteries. The IDF launches air strikes on 3 Hamas-related targets in the s. Gaza Strip. IDF troops on the border fence nr. Rafah fire tank shells at the remains of the Gaza international airport, causing no casualties. Later, IDF troops open fire on farmers close to the border fence nr. Dayr al-Balah, wounding 1. Off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, IDF naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops injure 8 Palestinians with live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets during clashes with demonstrators at Qalandia checkpoint nr. Ramallah. There is also a demonstration in Surayf village nr. Hebron protesting Israeli settlements, and IDF troops open fire during the ensuing clashes, wounding 5 Palestinians. The IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, in al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements and, occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces deploy in large numbers and restrict worshippers’ access to Haram al-Sharif. Two days after his death on 7/2, Abu Khdeir’s funeral is held in Shu‘fat, after which there are violent clashes with Israeli police, who use rubbercoated metal bullets and injure 20. (HA, JP, MNA, REU 7/4; PCHR 7/10)

Israeli media reports that Egyptian intelligence officials are mediating a truce between Israel and Hamas, on the basis of “quiet for quiet.” Israeli FM Lieberman criticizes talk of a possible cease-fire and urges the IDF to target the Hamas leadership. Hamas spokesperson Abu Zuhri, meanwhile, says the group is “not interested in a confrontation” and holds Israel “responsible for the escalation.” (REU, ToI, YA 7/4)

In the West Bank, the body of a Palestinian engineering student is discovered nr. al-Jaba‘ checkpoint. According to the man’s friends, he was attempting to bypass the checkpoint on 6/4 when they lost sight of him and heard the sounds of gunfire. The IDF returns the man’s effects to his family, but not his body, which is kept at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir. Meanwhile, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby, 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, and in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Nablus at night; patrols in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, where clashes leave 1 resident wounded by live ammunition, in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Qalqilya at night. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in Bil‘in, where 2 are wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets, and Ni‘lin, where 1 is wounded by live ammunition. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police raid the Palestine TV studios and detain 3 mbrs. of staff. (AFP, MNA 6/6; MNA 6/10; PCHR 6/12)