The Palestine Chronology

Retaliating for the assassination of Islamic Jihad’s Abu Rub on 12/26, 2 Islamic Jihad gunmen infiltrate Otniel settlement nr. Hebron, fatally shooting 2 Jewish settlers, 2 IDF soldiers, wounding 9 (mostly soldiers), before being shot dead by the IDF; the IDF imposes a curfew on Hebron, surrounding area; angry Jewish settlers rampage through Palestinian areas of Hebron, attacking cars, houses. The IDF arrests an Israeli Jewish truck driver at Qarni checkpoint, attempting to smuggle weapons, ammunition into Gaza; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, setting fire to a farm, killing several sheep, chickens; conducts arrest raids in Askar r.c., Tubas. An IDF gunboat opens fire on Palestinian fishing vessels off the Gaza coast, severely damaging 3 boats. Up to 40,000 Hamas supporters attend a Hamas rally in Gaza City, marking the 15^th anniversary of the movement. (HA 12/27; HA, NYT, WP, WT 12/28; HA 12/30; LAW, PCHR 1/1)

The IDF reoccupies Bethlehem following Christmas celebrations, reimposes a 24-hr. curfew on residents; assassinates local AMB head Jamal Yahya in Tulkarm; assassinates Hamas mbr. Bassam Ashqar, ambushing his car in Ramallah, also killing a Palestinian bystander; raids Qabatiyya, assassinating local Islamic Jihad leader Yusif Abu Rub, demolishing his family house, arresting local Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades head Natzir Nazal, senior Hamas mbr. Talal al-Baz; sends undercover units into a hospital in Ramallah, fatally shooting wanted Palestinian Samir al-Shamali, who was working there as a guard, in what may be an assassination, sparking demonstrations, clashes with local residents that leave 1 Palestinian stone thrower dead; fatally shoots 2 Palestinians “approaching” Netzarim settlement; fires on demonstrators protesting the curfew in Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 20; raids a village n. of Ramallah, firing stun grenades, causing an elderly Palestinian to suffer a fatal heart attack; imposes a curfew on Beitunia, sends 30 tanks into the town; conducts house-to-house searches, arrest raids in Qalqilya; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. The PA accuses Israel of stepping up attacks on Palestinians in an effort to scuttle Fatah-Hamas talks in Cairo. The IDF also announces that it has begun building 300-yd.-wide buffer zones around several Jewish settlements in the West Bank (see Quarterly Update in JPS 126). Palestinians fire 2 mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing damage but no injuries. This evening, Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz orders the IDF to step up pressure on militant groups in the territories. (HP, LAW, PCHR, PM 12/26; HA, NYT, WP, WT 12/27; AYM, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, al-Quds 12/27, De Standaard 12/28 in WNC 12/31; NYT, WT 12/28; LAW, PCHR 1/1)

An 12-yr.-old Palestinian girl is killed by stray IDF gunfire on the way home fr. school in Rafah. A Palestinian attempts to infiltrate Morag settlement in Gaza, throws grenades at a IDF troops, injuring 1, before being shot dead. The IDF shoots, wounds a 3d Palestinian who ventures too close to Kefar Darom settlement; fires on a Palestinian vehicle driving nr. Dayr al-Balah, injuring the driver. A PSF officer is shot, wounded by an Islamic Jihad mbr. when he stops the Jihad mbrs. car nr. Bayt Hanun, suspecting it was heading to the border to shoot a mortar into Israel. (NYT, WT 12/22; LAW, PCHR 12/25)

Islamic Jihad gunmen fatally shoot a Jewish settler rabbi driving in Gaza. The IDF sends tanks into Dayr al-Balah in search of a wanted AMB mbr., fatally shoots 1 Palestinian during the raid; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Dayr al-Balah, 8 in nearby Wadi al-Silqa; blows up 1 Palestinian building in Nablus that the IDF claims was used as a bomb-making lab; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Jalbun, Tulkarm, al-Yamun. Israeli police find a package bomb in a mall in Netanya, in n. Israel. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 7/12/02. (AP 12/20; NYT, WP 12/21; WT 12/22; LAW, PCHR 12/25)

U.S. Pres. George W. Bush meets with Quartet reps. (EU, Russia, UN, U.S.) at the White House. The Quartet reaffirms its call for creation of a Palestinian state by 2005, completes “99.5%” of the revisions to the draft road map but the U.S. overrules calls by other mbrs. to finalize and endorse the road map. (CNN, MM 12/20; NYT, WP 12/21; AYM 12/22, 12/24 in WNC 12/31; MM 12/23; JP 12/29)

The IDF fatally shoots an 11-yr.-old Palestinian girl in her home; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian children in Qalandia r.c., injuring 2 bystanders; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. Under pressure fr. the U.S., the IDF also evicts 200 Jewish settlers fr. a new enclave established in Hebron on the site of the 11/15 Islamic Jihad attack; settlers vow to reestablish the site. An IDF APC deliberately rams a Palestinian van nr. Maithalun, killing 1 Palestinian, injuring a 2d. (MM 12/19; WP 12/20, 12/21; LAW, PCHR 12/25; WJW 12/26; PM 12/27)

Israeli atty. gen. Elyakim Rubinstein asks the Central Elections Comm. to bar MK Azmi Bishara’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fr. participating in the 1/03 elections on the grounds that they advocate that Israel should be a state for all its citizens, which implicitly contradicts Israel’s founding principle as a Jewish state, and because they support armed attacks against Israel (a charge Bishara, NDA deny). Section 7(A) of the Basic Law: The Knesset allows the barring of candidates and political parties that deny “the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.” (JTA l2/19; ADL 12/21)

U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell announces that although the U.S. has not finished reading the document, it believes that Iraq’s 12,000-page declaration “totally fails” to meet UN requirements for full disclosure and constitutes “another material breach” of UN res. 1441. (NYT, WP, WT 12/20)

The IDF fires flechette shells, live ammunition at 5 unarmed Palestinian laborers attempting to sneak into Israel nr. the Qarni border crossing, killing them; the IDF says it thought they were attempting to infiltrate Israel to stage an attack. The IDF also fires on 2 PFLP mbrs. attempting to infiltrate a Gush Katif settlement, killing 1, allowing the other to escape; fatally shoots an armed Palestinian attempting to infiltrate a kibbutz in Israel; bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah r.c.; bulldozes 3 unoccupied Palestinian homes, 4 dunams of land in al-Mughraqa; conducts an arrest raid in Qalqilya. Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot 2 IDF soldiers in Hebron, nr. the cite of the 11/15 Islamic Jihad ambush. (REU 12/12; MM, NYT, WP 12/13; NYT 12/14; MM, PM 12/16; LAW, NYT, PCHR, PR 12/18; MEI 12/20)

The IDF opens fire on a Jenin market full of children on their way to school, fatally shooting an 18-yr.-old Palestinian, wounding 23; fires on a group of Palestinians throwing stones, Molotov cocktails at APCs patrolling central Tulkarm in search of wanted AMB mbrs., killing 1 Palestinian bystander, wounding 18; fires on Palestinians firing a mortar at Nisanit settlement (no damage), killing 1 Palestinian bystander, wounding 9; fatally shoots an armed Islamic Jihad mbr., dressed in an IDF uniform, attempting to infiltrate Netzarim settlement; searches, blows up a clearly marked UN World Food Program (WFP) warehouse in Gaza, containing 500 metric tons of food to feed 38,000 needy Palestinians for 1 mo.; bars a Palestinian heart-attack victim fr. fr. reaching a hospital in Azariyya, allowing him to die. In Hebron, the IDF announces that it plans to demolish 15 Palestinian homes to create a bypass road, protective wall linking Kiryat Arba settlement to the Cave of the Patriarchs/al-Ibrahimi Mosque (see 11/17); soldiers search several homes in the area to see if they are inhabited. (LAW, WFP press release 12/2; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 12/3; al-Quds 12/3 in WNC 12/4; PR, USIS Washington File 12/4; MEI 12/6; AP 12/10; MEI 12/20)

YESHA settlers council chmn. Bentzi Liberman says that settlers are planning to set up new neighborhoods (15+n50 units each) in 14 settlements, expand construction in 10s of settlements in the run-up to 1/28/03 elections. The expansions will be funded by the Housing Min., a private developer. (MA 12/3 in WNC 12/4)

The IDF retakes Bethlehem, which had had only a small troop presence since the IDF turned the security of city over to the PSF on 8/19/02; imposes a curfew; surrounds the Church of the Nativity to prevent armed Palestinians fr. seeking refuge there; conducts arrest raids, detaining 20 Palestinians; blows up the house rented by the family of the 11/21 bomber; encircles nearby Dahaysha r.c.; occupies 15 buildings, including a hospital, orphanage, 2 houses, 6 police stations, the local PSF headquarters; occupies as many as 30 Palestinian homes in al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem, expelling the families; raids the home of Israeli UNRWA worker Allegra Pacheco, holding her at gunpoint for 2 hrs., arresting her husband. Senior Irish UNRWA official Iain Hook is fatally shot inside the UNRWA’s Jenin r.c. compound by an IDF soldier who mistook his cell phone for a grenade as an IDF operation unfolded nearby to capture wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. Abdallah Wahash, who is arrested; an 11-yr.-old Palestinian throwing stones at the troops is also shot dead. The IDF also raids, shells residential areas of, demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in al-Qarara; bulldozes 8 dunams of land in al-Qarara, 28 dunams s. of Dayr al-Balah; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Satar al-Sharqiyya (targeting Hamas mbrs.), Tulkarm. A Hamas sniper fatally shoots an IDF soldier on patrol nr. Gush Katif settlement. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. the Rafah-Egypt border, injuring 2 IDF soldiers. Late this evening, 2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers detonate their explosives-packed boat next to an Israeli naval patrol boat off the coast of Gaza, injuring 4 IDF soldiers. (HA, MM, NYT, PM, WP, WT 11/22; AFP 11/22 in WNC 11/25; AP, HA, NYT, WP, WT 11/23; NYT, WP 11/24; HA 11/25; NYT, WT 11/26; HA, LAW, PCHR 11/27; CSM, JP, WJW 11/28; HA 12/2; NYT 1/4)

Christian Coalition leaders end a wk. long solidarity visit to Israel, saying they will use their “fact-finding mission” to help galvanize support for Israel in the U.S. (WT 11/27)

A Palestinian suicide bomber fr. Bethlehem detonates a device on a bus in Jerusa-lem, killing 11 Israelis, wounding 48 (8 of them seriously). Hamas, Islamic Jihad both take responsibility, but family, friends of the bomber say he supported Islamic Jihad. Sharon convenes his security cabinet; does not invite fmr. PM and current FM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is challenging him for the PM candidacy in the upcoming Likud primaries on 11/28. Fearing that Sharon will stage a major retaliatory attack, the PSF evacuates its offices in Bethlehem. After the mtg., Sharon spokesman Raanan Gissin states that in light of U.S. military intentions against Iraq, “We are not going to allow any kind of escalation.” The IDF shells a PA military intelligence post nr. Netzarim settlement, killing 1 PA intelligence officer; makes a predawn raid on 3 villages nr. Khan Yunis in s. Gaza, demolishing the home of a senior DFLP mbr., firing on residential areas, wounding 4 Palestinians; bulldozes 39 dunams of Palestinian land e. of Dayr al-Balah, 11.5 dunams and several structures nr. Bayt Lahia. (HA, MM, NYT, WP 11/21; ATL, Interfax 11/21 in WNC 11/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/22; QA 11/22, MA 11/24 in WNC 11/25; LAW, PCHR 11/27)

In response to an Islamic Jihad ambush of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and settler security officers in Hebron on 11/15, the IDF sends tanks into Hebron, bulldozes 5 Palestinian homes and a 50-dunam olive grove btwn. Kiryat Arba and the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, imposes a curfew, conducts arrest raids, detaining 40 Palestinians. Right-wing MK Benny Elon holds a prayer rally of Jewish settlers at the site of the ambush; afterward Jewish settlers briefly rampage through Palestinian areas (vandalizing homes with spray-painted messages such as “vengeance” and “every Arab killed —for me it’s a holiday”) until IDF soldiers stop them. The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian in Hebron; fires on Palestinians in Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian; shells, fires on residential areas of Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian; bulldozes 2 dunams (4 dunams = 1 acre) of Palestinian land, an electricity generator in al-Mughraqa; shells a workshop in Khan Yunis, destroying it; detains, searches a Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance for 5 hrs., holding the driver for failure to pay a parking ticket. (PM 11/16; NYT, WP, WT 11/17; MM 11/18; AN 11/18 in WNC 11/19; PCHR 11/20; MEI 11/22; PRCS press release 11/23)

In retlatiation for the IDF assasination of its military head Sawalha on 11/9, Islamic Jihad gunmen ambush a detail of IDF soldiers, border police, Jewish settler security officials nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, killing 4 IDF soldiers, 5 border police, 3 settler guards, injuring 15 soldiers, police, guards in what the IDF terms a “well planned ambush” that included positioning snipers on nearby hilltops; during the 3 hr. exchange of gunfire at least 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. are also killed. The IDF, Israeli government initially claim that all of those killed and injured were civilian worshipers en route fr. Sabbath prayers at the holy site; later admit that the group targetted was all military or paramilitary, that Islamic Jihad mbrs. allowed the group of Jewish worshipers to pass without incident mins. before the ambush. The attack comes barely 5 wks. after the Shin Bet warned (10/7) that tensions were high around the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, that a cell of 15+n20 Jewish settlers might be preparing an attack on Palestinians similar to the 1994 Baruch Goldstein shooting at the site; among those warning of a new Goldstein was IDF Hebron cmdr. Col. Dror Weinberg, killed in today’s attack. IDF undercover units assassinate senior Hamas mbr. Mahmud Obeid, arrest a 2d Hamas mbr. in Tulkarm; fire rockets at a workshop in Gaza City, destroying it; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Bayt Lahia; conduct arrest raids in Dayr al-Balah. During the 3d day of sweeps in Nablus, the IDF arrests another 14 suspected Hamas mbrs., fires on a group of stone-throwing youths, killing 1 Palestinian. (HA 11/15; HA, NYT, WP, WT 11/16; JP, NYT, WP 11/17; HA, PCHR 11/20; MEI 11/22; see also HA 10/7)

A Hamas suicide bomber is discovered outside a café in Ariel settlement, captured and pinned down by 3 IDF soldiers, fatally shot by 2 Jewish settlers; the gunfire triggers the bomber’s explosives, killing the 3 soldiers restraining him, wounding 18 soldiers and settlers. After hearing news of the bombing, Jewish settlers fr. Itamar attack Palestinians, international peace activists harvesting olives outside Yanun, injuring 6 activists, including 2 Americans (ages 68 and 74), 2 Israelis. IDF troops fatally shoot 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in an apparent assassination in Nablus, wounding a 7-yr.-old boy; fatally shoot 1 Palestinian checking the water tank on his roof in Jenin during the curfew; fatally shoots a Palestinian youth standing outside his home in Jenin r.c.; bulldozes 7 Palestinian homes in Rafah; bulldozes water wells, greenhouses in Muraj. A PA security court sentences a Palestinian to life with hard labor for collaborating with Israel. (al-Quds 10/27 in WNC 10/31; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/28; MA 10/28 in WNC 10/28; LAW, PCHR 10/30; JPI, MEI 11/8)

Outside Hadera, 2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers detonate a car bomb next to a bus, killing 14 Israelis, wounding 40. The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. Kefar Darom; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Qabatya, some agricultural land nr. Aley Sinai settlement; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Qalqilya; bars an ambulance fr. crossing an IDF checkpoint, allowing an ailing Palestinian to die. Another Palestinian dies of injuries received on 12/10/01. Palestinians reportedly fire a mortar in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. At Havat Gilad, Jewish settlers again try to rebuild sites demolished by the IDF. Jewish settlers fr. Shvut Rachel attack Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Nablus, setting 7 Palestinian cars and 50 trees afire, uprooting another 54 trees; in response, some 200 Palestinian start marching toward the settlement, but the IDF turns them away. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo fire on Palestinian farmers n. of Ramallah, wounding 4. (HA, MM, WP 10/21; Interfax 10/21 in WNC 10/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/22; AFP, ATL, ITAR-TASS 10/22 in WNC 10/23; LAW, MM, PCHR 10/23; WJW 10/24; MEI 10/25)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs., Wassim Saba'na and Muhammad Musa, in Nablus in what is likely an assassination; shoots at a "suspicious figure" nr. a Jewish settlement nr. Nablus, wounding 1 Palestinian; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Jenin; fires on a Birzeit University dormitory; shells residential areas of Bayt Hanun, Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Rantis; lifts curfews on Nablus, Tulkarm, Ramallah for several hrs. Late in the evening, the IDF raids Dayr al-Balah, bulldozes 2.5 dunams of agricultural land. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF APC in Nablus, another device nr. Qalqilya, neither causing damage. In Hebron, Jewish settlers assault Israeli police investigating complaints of settler violence on 10/12. Following the funeral in Bethlehem for Muhammad Ubayyat, assassinated by the IDF on 10/13, several mourners seriously beat Fatah prisoner's club head Issa Qaraqa', toss a grenade into the home of Bethlehem mayor and new elections comm. head Hanna Nassir; Fatah says it considers the attacks an assault on Fatah itself. (HA 10/14; NYT, PM, WT 10/15; LAW, PCHR, PR 10/16)

In the 1st bombing since 8/4/02, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device at a bus stop in a Umm al-Fahm in Israel, killing 1 Israeli policeman, wounding a 2d policeman, 1 Israeli Arab. An AMB gunman ambushes a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Jenin, killing 1 Jewish settler, injuring a Rumanian worker; a 2d Jewish settler is found murdered in East Jerusalem; an alleged Palestinian collaborator is found murdered, apparently by Hamas. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian at a roadblock, claiming he attempted to run over soldiers; conducts house-to-house searches in Rafah, bulldozing 1 Palestinian home, firing on an UN delegation touring earlier damage; bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes in Abu Dis, belonging to the families of suicide bombers; demolishes 34 residential units in a General Union of Palestinian Workers housing project in `Ayn Sinya nr. Ramallah; fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun, barring an ambulance fr. retrieving at least 1 injured Palestinian; bulldozes, paves over 5 dunams of agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis for a new settler bypass road. According to the IDF, Palestinians fire 3 antitank missiles at an IDF post nr. Rafah, causing no damage. (AP, JTA, LAW, PCHR, REU 9/18; HA, NYT, WP, WT 9/19; QA 9/19 in WNC 9/20; MM 9/20; NYT 9/21; MM 9/24; PCHR, PR 9/25; MEI 9/27; WT 10/26)

Before dawn, the IDF sends up to 40 armored personnel carriers (APCs) into Dayr al-Balah, taking over the PSF headquarters; conducting house searches; arresting 4 Palestinians (including local Islamic Jihad leader Mahir Bashir); demolishing 1 Palestinian home, 1 workshop and damaging 9 adjacent houses; bulldozing 46 dunams of olive, date palm groves. The IDF fires live ammunition at some 200 Palestinian students in Jenin who defy the curfew to throw stones at soldiers, wounding 4; fires rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinian stone throwers at the entrance to Amari r.c., injuring 3; fires tear gas, rubber bullets at stone-throwing Palestinian youths violating the curfew in Ramallah; searches homes in al-Wafa nr. Dugit settlement; shells residential areas of Rafah. (NYT, WT 9/7; WP, WT 9/8; LAW, PCHR 9/11)

The IDF exchanges gunfire with 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. nr. Gush Katif settlement, leaving the 2 Palestinians dead, 2 soldiers wounded; fires on residential areas of, conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm; reopens PLO Jerusalem affairs rep. Nusseibeh's offices at al-Quds University. Late in the evening, the IDF assassinates Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades founder and head Shaykh Salah Shihada, no. 1 on Israel's most wanted list, sending an F-16 to fire a 1-ton guided missile at a building where he is staying in Gaza City, collapsing 3 buildings, heavily damaging 20 others, killing 14 Palestinian bystanders (including 9 children, 4 women), injuring 140. Palestinians across Gaza take to the streets to demonstrate against the assassination, which comes hrs. after the AMB, tanzim, Hamas, Islamic Jihad agreed to declare a unilateral cease-fire after wks. of intra-Palestinian talks. (HA, JP, MM, REU 7/22; AFP 7/22 in WNC 7/23; AP, B'Tselem press release, HA, MEZ, MM, NYT, PCHR, UN press release, WP, WT 7/23; ATL 7/23 in WNC 7/24; HA, LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT, YA 7/24; ITAR-TASS, MENA al-Quds 7/24 in WNC 7/25; Gulf Times 7/24, AFP, JT, MA, al-Quds, SA, XIN 7/25 in WNC 7/26; HA, MM NYT, WJW, WP, WT 7/25; MEI 7/26; JT, al-Nahar 7/26 in WNC 7/29; MM 7/29, 7/30; JPI, MM 8/2; MA, SA 8/2 in WNC 8/5; MEI 8/16) (see 5/14/00)

A Jewish settler injured in the 7/16 bus ambush dies of her injuries, bringing the toll in that attack to 9. A previously unknown group called al-Nathir claims responsibility for the 7/17 Tel Aviv bombing, originally claimed by Islamic Jihad. The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian house, aviary nr. Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Hebron (including confiscating files fr. Hebron University student union offices), Jenin, villages around Khan Yunis, the al-Mawasi area, Nablus, Tal; fires on residential areas of Rafah. (NYT 7/19; LAW 7/18; LAW, PCHR 7/24)

The FMs of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia hold a 30-min. mtg. with Bush, White House chief of staff Andrew Card, Powell, Rice to discuss ways of keeping the peace process moving and to present a working paper (drafted with the PA, approved by Arab League FMs on 7/12). (WP 7/18; MENA 7/18 in WNC 7/22; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/19; QA 7/19, al-Safir 7/20 in WNC 7/22; AYM 7/21 in WNC 7/23; MM 7/25; MEI 7/26)

2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers stage a double bombing outside a cafe in Tel Aviv, killing 1 Israeli, 2 foreign workers, injuring 3. An 8th victim of the Emmanuel bus ambush on 7/16, a baby born prematurely to a Jewish settler injured in the attack, dies. The IDF tracks, engages in a 3 hr. gun battle with the 3 Palestinian gunmen involved in the ambush, leaving 2 Palestinians and 1 IDF officer dead, 3 IDF officers injured; 1 of the Palestinians escape again. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Silat al-Dahir, leaving 2 suspected AMB mbrs. dead; fatally shoots a Palestinian allegedly attempting to sneak into Israel nr. Qalqilya; arrests senior Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Muhammad Nashteh in Ramallah. In Amari r.c., 2 Palestinian children are killed, 11 are wounded when they trigger an unexploded IDF shell. In Ramallah, a mysterious explosion kills 2 Palestinians. The IDF F-16s bomb, destroy a foundry in Gaza that the IDF claims was a Hamas bomb-making facility. In Ramallah, PalNet Internet service, raided on 7/15, is restored. The IDF orders the confiscation of 60 dunams of Palestinian land btwn. Gaza City and Netzarim settlement for construction of a settlement bypass road. (LAW, PCHR 7/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/18; WP 7/19; PCHR 7/21; MEI 7/26; XIN 7/28 in WNC 7/29)

Palestinian gunmen disguised as IDF soldiers ambush a bus nr. the West Bank settlement of Emmanuel, setting off a roadside bomb disabling the bus, then firing on passengers, killing 7 Jewish settlers, wounding 16; the attackers escape; AMB, DFLP, Hamas, Islamic Jihad take responsibility, though military analysts believe Hamas was responsible. Israel places nearby Palestinian villages under curfew. Israeli police arrest 4 IDF soldiers, 1 Jewish settler living in settlements nr. Hebron, 1 IDF soldier living in Israel on suspicion of stealing 60,000 rounds of IDF ammunition, selling 1,000s of rounds to Palestinian militants; the IDF also arrests a Palestinian fr. Tarkumiyya as the middleman. The IDF demolishes a Palestinian store under construction in Jerusalem; bulldozes 29 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qarni crossing; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids nr. Jaba'. (HA, REU 7/16; AFP 7/16 in WNC 7/17; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WP 7/17; WJW 7/18; AYM 7/18 in WNC 7/22; NYT, WP 7/19)

In New York, Powell hosts a senior-level Quartet mtg. to discuss ways of creating momentum for peace talks in light of Bush's 6/24 speech; holds separate mtg. with the FMs of Egypt, Jordan. The Arab FMs then dine with EU, Russian, UN Quartet reps. (MM 7/16; ITAR-TASS 7/16 in WNC 7/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/17; MM 7/18; Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 7/18 in WNC 7/19; MM 7/19)

IDF fatally shoots Islamic Jihad mbr. Mu`ammar Daraghma, as he drives nr. Jenin in what is likely an assassination. The IDF raids, shuts the admin. offices of al-Quds University in Jerusalem, confiscating files, computers; seals the office of university pres. Sari Nusseibeh, who is also the PLO official in charge of Jerusalem affairs. In Jerusalem's old city, an exchange of gunfire btwn. an Israeli police officer, a Palestinian motorist stopped for an ID check leaves 1 Palestinian bystander dead, the police officer wounded. The IDF also demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Rafah, severely damages 2 others; reoccupies Bayt Rima, ordering all men to surrender for questioning; imposes a curfew on Husan; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Awa, Bethlehem, Nur al-Shams r.c., Qalqilya, Tafuh, al-Til, Tulkarm r.c. Jewish settlers under IDF protection take control of 1,400 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Jaba', outside Jerusalem.(HP 7/9; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP 7/10; MA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; WJW 7/11; AFP 7/11 in WNC 7/15; MA 7/11 in WNC 7/16; MA 7/15 in WNC 7/17; MM 7/17, 7/19)

A group of 400 Jewish immigrants fr. the U.S. and Canada arrive in Israel; 75% of them will live in Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem. They arrive as part of a new Jewish Agency program to encourage entire established Jewish communities in N. America to immigrate to Israel with their rabbis. American Evangelical Christians representing the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) donated $5,000 to each of the 400 to help finance the move. Another group of 130 is expected to arrive in the next few mos. (JP 7/9; Trenton Times 7/10; WJW 7/11; MEI 7/26) (see 6/22)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus in Jerusalem during morning rush hr., killing 18 Israeli Jews, 1 Israeli Arab, injuring 50. Late in the evening, as the IDF sends tanks troops into Jenin town and r.c. in response, imposing a curfew and firing on Palestinians who resist, the Israel cabinet convenes to discuss what further action to take. Afterward, Israel announces the launching of Operation Determined Path, under which "Israel will respond to acts of terror by capturing PA territory. . . . Additional acts of terror will lead to the taking of additional areas," which would be held indefinitely. During the day, the IDF assassinates Islamic Jihad student leader Yusif Bisharat in Hebron; raids the Nablus home of PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. and DFLP mbr. Taysir Khalid; shells residential areas of Gaza City, injuring 8; conducts arrest raids in villages around Jenin; bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. An elderly Palestinian dies of a heart attack when troops enter her Jenin home. An ailing Palestinian dies when the IDF bars his ambulance fr. crossing a checkpoint. Jewish settlers under the protection of IDF troops take over a building nr. the old city of Jerusalem. (AP, JP, LAW, MM 6/18; AFP, ATL, Interfax 6/18 in WNC 6/19; ATL 6/18, JT, al-Quds 6/19 in WNC 6/20; HP, LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, UPMRC, WP, WT 6/19; WP 6/20; NYT 6/21; AYM 6/23 in WNC 6/26; MM 6/24, MEI 6/28; New Haven Register 7/3)

In light of the Jerusalem bombing, Bush postpones a speech outlining U.S. policy on the peace process, which he had planned to give today. (WP 6/19; NYT 6/20; AYM 6/20 in WNC 6/24)

Early in the morning, IDF tanks enter Jenin town, troops clash with residents, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian (who is allowed to bleed to death over 3 hrs.), detaining wanted Hamas mbr. Rami Awad and Islamic Jihad spokesman Khalid Hawaj, bulldozing 1 home; troops withdraw to the outskirts of Jenin by midday. IDF operations continue in the Bethlehem area, where troops resume sniper positions around Church of the Nativity, patrol Manger Square, search and vandalize the al-Rowwad Cultural Center. The IDF also detains Palestinian mayor of Jerusalem Jamil Nasir for several hrs. of questioning; conducts arrest raids in Alar, Bayt Anan, Beitunia (arresting senior Hamas mbr. Hassan Yusif), Hebron, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Saida. At least 1 Palestinian gunman infiltrates Itamar settlement, fatally shoots 3 Jewish settlers before being shot dead. Other Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot a Jewish settler driving nr. Ofra settlement. Jewish settlers set fire to 10s of dunams of Palestinian land nr. Nablus. The Israeli High Court approves the IDF's confiscation of 300 dunams of Palestinian land in Bayt Lahia nr. Aley Sinai settlement, effective retroactively to 5/1/02. (HP, MEZ, WP 5/28; GS, HA, HP, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 5/29; PCHR 5/30; MEI 5/31)

Arafat ratifies the Basic Law (the PA's constitution). (HA 5/28; WT 5/30; AFP, Interfax 5/30 in WNC 5/31; NYT 5/31; WT 6/1; AYM 6/1 in WNC 6/3)

The Knesset House Comm. votes (12-5) to restrict the movement of Israeli MK Ahmad Tibi for the remainder of his term, arguing that his works promote the interests of the PA and the residents of the occupied territories. Tibi was vocally critical of Operation Defensive Shield, participated in many peace marches. (Adalah press release 5/29)

The IDF completes pullout fr. Jenin r.c. and town, begins pullout fr. Nablus. A Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device at an IDF checkpoint in Gaza, lightly injuring 2 soldiers. The IDF fatally shoots a total of 7 Palestinians, including 2 reportedly attempting to infiltrate Netzarim settlement, 2 Palestinian children in Ramallah. In Bethlehem, the IDF arrests wanted Hamas mbr. Khalid Tafish. (AP, NYT, REU 4/19; NYT, WP, WT 4/20; WT 4/21)

Israel escalates its offensive against the Palestinians, conducting major attacks on Balata, Jenin r.c., Nablus, Ramallah; entering the villages of Qabatiyya, al-Til. At least 50 Palestinians, 5 IDF soldiers are reported killed during the day. In Gaza, 1 IDF soldier is killed, 4 are wounded in an exchange with Islamic Jihad gunmen reportedly attempting to infiltrate a Jewish settlement; 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. are also killed. In Bethlehem, the IDF blows up 9 cars in the farmers' market, collapsing the market's roof, causing a fire damaging several nearby shops. The IDF admits it has bulldozed houses in Jenin r.c. to find wanted Palestinians. In Ramallah, the IDF allows the PRCS to deliver food, water, medicine to Arafat and his men still under siege in the compound, which the IDF shells today, injuring 4. The IDF allows the PRCS to remove 1 injured Palestinian fr. the compound, but after IDF TV films the evacuation, soldiers seize the man fr. the ambulance, arrest him. (GS, PMC, PRCS press release, UPMRC 4/6; NYT, WP, WT 4/7; NYT 4/8)

Bush phones Sharon to say that Israel must begin its withdraw fr. Palestinian cities "without delay"; reiterates that Arafat has not earned his trust. Sharon says he will "expedite" his operation but does not guarantee it will be completed by the time Powell arrives. (NYT, WP, WT 4/7)

A Hamas gunman infiltrates Elon Moreh settlement, kills 4 Jewish settlers. 1 Israeli injured in the 3/27 Netanya attack dies. The IDF closes main roads across Gaza, cutting the Strip into 3 sections. The PSF arrests senior Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah. Arafat issues an urgent appeal for an unconditional cease-fire. Sharon convenes his cabinet to discuss the escalating Palestinian attacks. U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell phones Sharon to urge against exiling Arafat. The cabinet agrees to "totally isolate" Arafat, calls up 20,000 IDF reserves in preparation for a major assault. (HA 3/28; XIN 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 3/29; NYT 3/30; WT 4/1; MEI 4/5; WP 5/6)

The Arab summit unanimously adopts the Saudi initiative, pledges $480 m. aid to the Palestinians, urges against a U.S. attack on Iraq. (CNN 3/28; al-Quds, XIN 3/28 in WNC 3/29; HA, NYT, WP, WT 3/29; al-Majallah 3/30 in WNC 4/1; HA 4/4; MEI, MM 4/5)

The IDF sends additional tanks, troops into Bayt Jala and Bethlehem, fatally shooting at least 1 Palestinian. The IDF also fatally shoots 2 Palestinians in Gaza; a 4th Palestinian dies in a mysterious explosion in Anata; a 5th Palestinian dies of injuries received on 3/15. In Kefar Saba nr. Tel Aviv, an AMB mbr. with a handgun fires on a crowd, killing 1 Israeli, injuring 12 before being shot dead by police, bystanders. In French Hill settlement in East Jerusalem, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device at a bus stop, lightly injuring 9 Jewish settlers. Jewish settlers ambush, stone a Palestinian car nr. Nablus, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian; attempt to raid Kafr Harith village but are blocked by IDF troops. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Bayt Awwa, Kharras, Shu`fat; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes nr. Dayr al-Balah; reopens the Rafah, Allenby Bridge crossings into Gaza, the West Bank; allows some Palestinian exports fr. Gaza through the Qarni checkpoint into Israel. (HP, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/18; LAW 3/20)

Zinni arranges low-level PA-Israeli security mtgs. (JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/18; AYM 3/22 in WNC 3/25)

The IDF fatally shoots 3 armed infiltrators fr. Egypt in the s. Negev. A female suicide bomber detonates a device at an IDF roadblock in the West Bank, wounding 3 soldiers; 2 Israeli Arabs traveling with her are arrested, 1 is shot and wounded. The woman, an al-Najah University student originally affiliated with Hamas (see 1/27), 1st approached Hamas, Islamic Jihad about staging a suicide bombing but was refused; the AMB ultimately provided her with explosives. In E. Jerusalem, a Palestinian fatally shoots his Jewish settler employer in a politically motivated attack. IDF soldiers fire on Palestinians outside al-Nur mosque in Brazil for the 2d day, wounding 4. Late this evening, the IDF begins air strikes on Balata. Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian land nr. Bracha settlement, set up a caravan. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian land nr. Jenin; reportedly spray range land with poison nr. Tubas, killing may goats, sheep. (JP [Internet], al-Quds [Internet] 2/27; AP, NYT, WP, WT 2/28; MM, NYT 3/1; AYM 3/2 in WNC 3/4; WP 3/7)

An Israeli bus driver coming fr. Ma'ale Adumim stops at an Israeli checkpoint into Jerusalem, warns border police of a suspicious passenger on board. Israeli border police scuffle with and detain a Palestinian passenger wearing an explosive device, which is defused by bomb experts. Later, a Hamas gunman dressed as an IDF soldier infiltrates a home in the West Bank settlement of Hamra, fatally shoots 2 Jewish settlers, 1 IDF soldier, wounds 4 settlers before being shot dead by soldiers. In response, IDF F-16s bomb 2 prisons in Nablus, injuring 11 Palestinians. During the strikes, wardens release 25 Hamas, Islamic Jihad prisoners (including 2 of Israel's most wanted, Islamic Jihad mbrs. Mahmud Tawalba, Ali Safuri) for their safety but keep 103 suspected collaborators in custody. The IDF also captures a vegetable truck on Jenin-Nablus road loaded with 8 Qassam-2 missiles and a launcher; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian who threw a hand grenade at an IDF post on the Rafah border; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina and Shu`fat; arrests 3 Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast, confiscates their boats. The IDF also raids, confiscates the files of, and closes the East Jerusalem offices of 2 NGOs that represent Palestinian interests: the Arab Studies Society's Land Research Center, the Welfare Association's Multisectoral and Technical Offices. (AP, LAW 2/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/7; NYT, WP, WT 2/8; NYT 2/9; MA 2/10 in WNC 2/11; MA 2/11 in WNC 2/12; PCHR 2/13; HA 2/17)

In a report to Congress, CIA Dir. George Tenet identifies several "terrorist groups"--including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the PFLP--that have no ties to al-Qa`ida but could be future U.S. targets because they have "displayed anti-U.S. sentiments" and have threatened U.S. interests overseas. (WP 2/10)

The IDF sends tanks, troops into Artas village, nr. Bethlehem, to detain a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. Omar Ayish. In the process the IDF wound 4 Palestinians; throw a grenade into the Ayish home, causing damage but no injuries; leave a trail of cars crushed and overturned by tanks. In response to the raid, Palestinian gunmen fire on Gilo fr. Bayt Jala, lightly injuring 1 Jewish settler. IDF soldiers detain and beat a Red Crescent doctor, ambulance driver at a checkpoint in Nablus. The doctor is released after several hrs. but the driver is kept in custody. (AP 1/29; NYT, PCHR 1/30)

Omri Sharon, the PM's son, meets Arafat in Ramallah to arrange a secret mtg. btwn. Sharon, senior PA officials in Jerusalem for 1/30. (SA 2/3 in WNC 2/4; MM 2/4)

In his State of the Union address, Bush calls Iran, Iraq, North Korea an "axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world"; also refers to a "terrorist underworld, including groups like Hamas, Hizballah, [and] Islamic Jihad." (HA, NYT, WP, WT 1/30; MM 1/31; MM 2/1; MA 2/1 in WNC 2/4; JP, MEI 2/8)