The Palestine Chronology

Overnight, Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. In a 1st step to cracking down on Palestinian militants in Gaza, the PSF finds and seals 3 smugglers’ tunnels in Rafah leading to Egypt, also seizing some arms and makes some arrests; deploys 10s of officers near the n. Gaza border to halt the firing of Qassam rockets at Sederot, reportedly exchanging gunfire with Hamas mbrs. The PA calls on Palestinian factions to reaffirm the cease-fire; Hamas, Islamic Jihad say they would agree to another truce if Israel were a party too; Israel says it would not participate. The IDF continues to impose a 24-hr. curfew on Nablus, cuts off all access to Bethlehem; searching house-to-house for arms, digging up floors and breaking down walls to search for hidden weapons, clashing with protesters, leaving 16 Palestinians injured; fires tank shells at Khan Yunis, seriously wounding 1 Palestinian; opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinians protesting IDF operations in Nablus, wounding 16. An Israeli wounded in the 8/19 bombing dies of her injuries, bringing that toll to 21. (HA 8/23; HA, WP, WT 8/24; IDF Radio, MA, VOI, YA 8/24 in WNC 8/26; QA 8/27 in WNC 8/29; PCHR 8/28)

The IDF assassinates senior Hamas political leader and spokesman Ismail Abu Shanab, firing 5 missiles at his car as he drives through Gaza City, also killing 2 bodyguards, wounding at least 19 bystanders. Hamas, Islamic Jihad declare the cease-fire officially over. The IDF also imposes curfews on all Palestinian cities; continues operations in Nablus, where tanks and troops have entered the heart of the city, demolishing 1 Palestinian apartment, raiding and evacuating the staff of a medical clinic for 6 hrs.; sends 5 bulldozers, 100 special forces units into Nazlat Issa, nr. the Green Line, to demolish at least 7 Palestinian homes, 115 shops, 2 factories, several warehouses; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Jenin, 2 in Hebron (including the home of the 8/19 bomber); shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Qabatiyya. Palestinians fire 12 mortars at Gush Katif, 5 Qassam rockets at s. Israel, damaging 2 buildings but causing no injuries. The IDF arrests a Hebron settler for alleged membership in a Jewish militant group. (BBC, HA, MM, PCHR, PM 8/21; MA, MENA, al-Quds, VOI, XIN, YA 8/21 in WNC 8/23; XIN 8/21, AYM, JP, QA, al-Quds, al-Ra’i, SA 8/22, JT, al-Quds 8/24 in WNC 8/26; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/22; WT 8/23; PR 8/27; PCHR 8/28; MEI 9/12)

A Palestinian suicide bomber fr. Hebron detonates a device on a bus in West Jerusalem, killing 15 Israelis, 5 Americans, wounding more than 100 (13 seriously, 13 moderately), and violating a unilateral 3-mo. Palestinian cease-fire declared on 6/29. (Initially, Islamic Jihad claims responsibility, and Hamas denies it. After the bomber is identified as a known Hamas mbr., Hamas accepts responsibility but says it still adheres tothe cease-fire, this was a 1-time action to retaliate for the 8/14 IDF assassination of Islamic Jihad Hebron cmdr. Muhammad Sidr. Analysts suggest the bombing may be a joint operation or the work of a Hamas offshoot.) PA PM Mahmud Abbas, whois meeting with Islamic Jihad leaders at the time tourge them toextend the cease-fire to 6 mos., breaks off the mtg., denounces the attack, cancels cease-fire talks with Hamas scheduled for 8/20. Israel suspends further talks on a transfer of territory to PA control. The IDF sends tanks, troops into Hebron, surrounding villages to conduct searches, arrest raids; demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Jabal Mukabir in East Jerusalem; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. Israeli authorities demolish an Israeli Arab home in Lod, the 40th to be demolished in 2003; the Prime Minister’s Office reports that Israel has also demolished 117 bedouin homes in the Negev this yr. In Nablus, a shootout btwn. rival AMB factions fr. Nablus, Balata r.c. leaves 1 AMB mbr. dead. (HA, JP, MM 8/19; MENA 8/19 in WNC 8/21; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/20; IDF Radio, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, JP, MA, MENA, VOI, YA 8/20 in WNC 8/22; MM, PCHR, WJW 8/21; QA, al-Quds 8/21 in WNC 8/23; al-Ra’i 8/21, AYM, al-Ra’i 8/22 in WNC 8/26; JPI 8/22; JPI, MM 8/29)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Hebron (targeting Hamas, Islamic Jihad); fires on farmers working their fields nr. Khan Yunis, forcing them to leave; makes incursions in Nablus; sends troops into Ramallah to halt a marked al-Ayyam vehicle, arrests 4 Palestinian journalists; announces that it has arrested 3 PFLP mbrs. in recent days for plotting an attack on IDF forces in the West Bank. Hamas, Islamic Jihad say their cease-fire may have to be reassessed if the U.S. fails to urge Israel to halt construction of the separation wall. (AP 7/30; PCHR 8/7)

Dahlan, Mofaz discuss IDF redeployment fr. Jericho (where the IDF has no presence) and Qalqilya (encircled by the separation wall, with 1 IDF checkpoint providing entry, exit). Dahlan rejects the offer as hollow. (HA, IDF Radio, MA, MM, NYT, YA 7/31; VOI 7/31 in WNC 8/1)

Hamas, Islamic Jihad issue a joint statement saying that they will not surrender their weapons; they argue that they agreed to a cease-fire to support national unity efforts, a PSF attempt to disarm them would go against unity efforts, removing the basis of the cease-fire agmt. Abbas says he will not order the PSF to disarm the militant groups, though PA police will confiscate unlicensed weapons found during inspections of vehicles at PSF checkpoints. The IDF, PSF launch a joint search for a missing Israeli taxi driver feared kidnapped by Palestinians seeking a prisoner swap. The IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding a woman in her home; conducts arrest raids in Ramallah. Jewish settlers in Hebron attack Palestinians, occupy a Palestinian home and surrounding land. (BBC, WP 7/14; PM 7/15; PR 7/16; PCHR 7/24)

In Ramallah, 10s of Palestinian refugees attack, lightly injure Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki, vandalize his office to prevent him fr. holding a press conference to release data showing that while 95% of refugees polled wanted Israel to recognize the right of return, only a minority (10% overall; 23% in Lebanon, 13% in the occupied territories, 5% in Jordan) percentage would want to return to their homes in what is now Israel, 54% overall would accept monetary compensation in lieu of return. (HA 7/13; JP, NYT, WP, WT 7/14; PR 7/16; MM 7/28)

The PSF says it has released 9 PRC mbrs. recently arrested after the comms. agreed to abide by the Hamas–Islamic Jihad cease-fire. The IDF begins construction of a permanent fence in the Old City of Hebron separating the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarch fr. the Palestinian-controlled section of the city; shoots, wounds a Palestinian “acting suspiciously” in Tulkarm; fires on Palestinians who reportedly attack an IDF outpost in s. Gaza, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids in Jenin, detaining 15 Palestinians, including a local Islamic Jihad leader. Late in the evening, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device in a home in Kfar Yavetz, in central Israel nr. the West Bank, killing 1 Israeli; a statement by Islamic Jihad’s Jenin cell says it has broken the ceasefire since Israel has not complied with requirements to free all Palestinian prisoners, but senior Islamic Jihad officials, including chief spokesman in Gaza Muhammad al-Hindi, say the attack was not coordinated with the group’s leadership, which reaffirms its adherence to the cease-fire. Unidentified Palestinians fire on, detonate a roadside bomb nr. workers building Israel’s separation wall nr. Qalqilya, causing no injuries. In separate incidents, the PSF arrests 3 Palestinians nr. the Gaza border with Israel. (BBC, MM, NYT, WT 7/8; MM, NYT, PR, WP 7/9; SFR 7/9 in WNC 7/12; PCHR 7/10; JPI 7/18)

The IDF completes its redeployment fr. Bayt Hanun, opens Gaza’s main north– south road to joint patrols with the PSF, removes many roadblocks and checkpoints in n. Gaza. Nr. Nablus, AMB gunmen ambush, fatally shoot a Bulgarian who works at a nearby Jewish settlement; the AMB has not signed on to the Hamas–Islamic Jihad–Fatah cease-fire. Israel acknowledges that for several days, police have been escorting Jews on tours of the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, despite the government’s failure to reach an agmt. on such visits with the Waqf; the holy site was closed to non-Muslims after Sharon’s controversial visit to the site in 9/01 that sparked the current intifada. Israeli authorities inform residents of Bayt Iqsa, northwest of Jerusalem, that 14,000 dunams of their communal land will be expropriated for construction of a new Jewish settlement to be called Alona. (BBC, HA, MM 6/30; MM, WP 7/1; PR, WT 7/2; AYM 7/2, al-Quds 7/3, MENA 7/4 in WNC 7/10; PCHR 7/3; REU 7/4; PR 7/9; HA 7/14)

Dahlan, Gilad finalize details for an IDF redeployment fr. Bethlehem, which they set to begin on 7/2. (HA 6/30; HA, NYT, WP 7/1)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in al-Bireh, Ramallah. (PM 6/30; PCHR 7/3)

Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad formally announce cease-fires against all Israelis everywhere for a minimum of 3 mos. The DFLP, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) say they will abide by the truce. Hrs. after the announcement, the IDF begins redeploying fr. Bayt Hanun. (AYM 6/29, AYM, al-Quds, SFR 6/30, AFP, MENA, QA, al-Ra’i 7/1, AYM, MENA, NHR, SFR 7/2, AYM, HA, SFR 7/3, MA 7/4 in WNC 7/10; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/30; PR 7/2; AYM 7/5 in WNC 7/11; MEI 7/11)

Overnight, the IDF raids Jenin, arresting local Hamas cmdr. Wa’il Aljui. The IDF also raids 2 Palestinian homes in Gaza City, fatally shooting 4 Palestinians, including wanted Hamas mbr. Amran al-Gul in an apparent assassination, also wounding 15 Palestinians, demolishing 3 Palestinian homes, partially destroying another 8. Hamas mbrs. respond with gunfire, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 1. (HA, MM, NYT 6/27; NYT, WT 6/28; PCHR 7/3)

Dahlan, Gilad finalize an agmt. for the IDF to redeploy fr. Bayt Hanun in n. Gaza, share security control of Gaza roads, turn over security control for most of Gaza (except settlements and security zones that make up roughly 35% of the Strip); discussions on an IDF pullout fr. Bethlehem continue. Meanwhile in Cairo, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah finalize a unilateral cease-fire agmt. Formal declarations of the 2 agmts. are expected to be made on 6/29, during Rice’s visit. (Forward, HA, MM 6/27; NYT, WP, WT 6/28) (see 6/14)

The IDF reports that in the past 24 hrs., it arrested 1,300 Palestinians for being inside Israel illegally, deported all but 19 to the occupied territories. Today, the IDF opens fire on stone-throwing youths in Yamun, killing a 15-yr.-old Palestinian, wounding 6 others ages 9–14; raids the only emergency medical clinic in the Old City of Nablus, vandalizing the building, destroying medicine; fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun, injuring 7 children on their way to school; conducts arrest raids in Hebron (targeting Hamas), Silat al-Haratiyya, Silat al-Dahir, Tamun, Tubas, Yabad; digs trenches alongside roads in Araba, Yabad, bulldozes land in Khan Yunis, Rafah. The IDF seizes a boat off the northern coast manned by a Hizballah mbr. and 7 arms smugglers, carrying explosives detonators. Israel claims that the boat was bound for Egypt, the Hizballah mbr. intended to infiltrate Gaza from there, carrying arms ordered by Arafat; Arafat and Hizballah deny this. The Israeli Housing Min. issues tenders for construction of 502 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim settlement. Israel announces plans to banish 2 West Bank Hamas mbrs. being held in administrative detention to Gaza for 2 yrs., citing “security reasons.” (HA, HP, UPMRC 5/22; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/23; JP 5/23 in WNC 5/27; PR 5/28; LAW, PCHR, WJW 5/29)

Abbas opens talks with Hamas, Islamic Jihad leaders on a cease-fire. The groups say they would agree to halt attacks inside Israel if Israel stopped targeting militants. (HA 5/22; HA, WP, WT 5/23; JP, SA 5/23 in WNC 5/27)

Overnight, IDF undercover units raid Yatta, assassinate wanted Hamas mbr. Muhammad Muhr. The IDF also fires tear gas into a girls primary school in Hebron, injuring 10s of children; demolishes a Palestinian home in Nablus, 2 buildings in Rafah refugee camp (r.c.); conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Jenin, Rafah (targeting Islamic Jihad). Late in the evening, the IDF sends 40 tanks, helicopters, troops into Gaza City on a mission to demolish 4 Palestinian buildings, 1 of them a home, allegedly containing Hamas metal workshops, leaving at least 11 Palestinians dead, 25 wounded: 3 are bystanders killed when the IDF blows up one building causing the wall of an adjacent structure to collapse on top of them; 3 are PA general intelligence officers killed when the IDF fires rockets at their post; 1 is a Hamas mbr. who detonates a suicide bomb nr. a tank, causing no injuries; 4 are gunmen attempting to hold back the incursion. The IDF also announces plans to build a walled corridor surrounding Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, linking it to Jerusalem and encircling 10s of Palestinian homes, businesses. The PA begins deploying 10s of unarmed security personnel in Nablus, called the Palestinian Authority–Joint Forces to handle traffic, civilian complaints; the PA says it has not coordinated with Israel regarding the force. (AP, HA, LAW 2/18; HA, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 2/19; AFP, al-Quds 2/19 in WNC 2/20; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, WT 2/20; MM 2/24; MEI 3/7)

Israeli, PA teams meet with Quartet reps. in London to discuss PA reforms, cease-fire talks, Palestinians’ humanitarian situation, next steps to adoption of the road map plan for resumption of negotiations. The Quartet’s International Task Force for Reform, the donors’ Ad Hoc Liaison Comm. meet on the sidelines. (WP 2/19; NYT 2/20; MEI 2/21; AYM 2/21 in WNC 2/27)

In the 1^st suicide bombing in Israel since 11/21/02, 2 AMB suicide bombers fr. Nablus detonate devices on parallel streets nr. the Tel Aviv bus station during evening rush hr., killing 22 (14 Israelis, 6 foreign workers, 2 remain unidentified and are suspected to be illegal foreign workers) injuring around 100. (Of note, AMB cells in Gaza, Nablus issue statements claiming the operation, whereas cells in Ramallah disavow responsibility, pledge to continue cease-fire talks.) Sharon convenes his security cabinet, including Netanyahu, Mofaz to discuss how to respond. Soon afterward, IDF helicopters fire 8 missiles at, destroys 3 iron workshops in Gaza City allegedly used as mortar factories, injuring 10 Palestinians; 30 IDF tanks enter Rafah, arrest senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Hassan Abu `Armana, his 2 brothers and demolish their family home. During the day, the IDF raids a house in Jenin, arresting 3 brothers of a wanted Palestinian, informing the family that the 3 would not be released until the wanted man turns himself in; also raids Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, Kafr Khalil, Qalqilya. An IDF soldier is lightly wounded by a Palestinian sniper firing fr. Khan Yunis. (HA, REU 1/5; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/6; QA 1/6, ATL, XIN 1/7 in WNC 1/8; MM, WP 1/7; AYM 1/7, AN, JT, al-Nahar 1/8 in WNC 1/9; LAW, PCHR, PR 1/8; WJW 1/9; MEI 1/10; JPI 1/17; MEI 1/24; HA 2/10)