The Palestine Chronology

The IDF sends 30 tanks, troops into Nussayrat r.c. to capture wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad SaaŽn, fatally shooting 7 Palestinians, including Saafin and a 4-yr.-old girl, and demolishing Saafin’s home. The IDF also fires on a funeral procession in Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian, injuring 10s; fires on, seriously damages 2 ambulances in Jabaliya r.c.; raids Balata r.c. (arresting Fatah Palestinian Council mbr. Hussam Khadir on charges of “involvement in terrorism,” confiscating his computer), Bayt Lahia (ordering all men btwn. 15 and 40 to turn themselves in, detaining 100s, fatally shooting 4 Palestinians, including 2 naval police officers); conducts house-to-house searches in Jenin town. In Tulkarm, 2 Fatah mbrs. are killed, 3 injured in a mysterious explosion. Hamas fires 5 Qassam rockets at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MM 3/17; NYT, WP 3/18; MM 3/19; PCHR 3/20)

After wks. of negotiations with other UNSC mbrs, the U.S., Britain abandon efforts to pass a new UN res. on Iraq, determining it would certainly fail. In the evening, Bush makes an address stating that “Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military confiict commencing at a time of our choosing,” and urging all foreign nationals, including inspectors and journalists, to leave Iraq immediately for their own safety. (AP 3/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/18; IDF Radio, ITV 3/18 in WNC 3/19)

The IDF carves out a 4 mi2 “security zone” in Gaza around Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, Jabaliya r.c. to prevent Palestinians fr. firing rockets, mortars into Israel; stations 100 military vehicles in the zone; razes 100 dunams of land; says troops will stay indefinitely. The IDF also fatally shoots 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. who attempt to infiltrate Netzarim settlement; conducts house searches in Nablus, breaking through walls to move from house to house. In the West Bank, 2 Hamas mbrs. dressed as yeshiva students infiltrate Kiryat Arba settlement, fatally shoot 2 Jewish settlers, wounding 6 before being killed by armed settlers. (HA 3/7; NYT, WP, WT 3/8; WP 3/9; PR 3/12; LAW, PCHR, WJW 3/13)

At the UNSC, UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix reports that Iraq is cooperating with inspectors, who have yet to find evidence of WMDs; estimates inspections could be completed within wks. U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell replies that Iraq clearly has not met the requirements for cooperation, disarmament set out in UNSC Res. 1441, saying, “There are some people who simply, in my judgment, don’t want to see the facts clearly.” The U.S., Britain submit a draft UNSC res. that would give Iraq until 3/17 to reveal all its WMDs or face retaliation. France, Germany, Russia argue for completing UN inspections, saying that lack of progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is much more of a threat to the region than Iraq. (WP 3/7; NYT, WP, WT 3/8; NYT 3/9; MM 3/10)

Violence drops as the worst winter storm in yrs. hits region. The IDF fatally shoots a 13-yr.-old Palestinian, wounds 7 others, demolishes 8 Palestinian homes in Rafah; bulldozes 7 dunams of land and demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Khan Yunis, also shelling residential areas; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Jenin, Tulkarm. A 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 2/16. A Haifa district court convicts 2 Israeli Arabs fr. the Galilee on charges of aiding a Palestinian who detonated a suicide bomb on 8/4/02. Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz says Israel plans to step up “active defense” in the Strip targeting Hamas. (HA, MM 2/25; HA, WP, WT 2/26; LAW, PCHR 2/27)

U.S. Pres. George W. Bush warns that he will accept nothing short of “full disarmament” by Iraq, he is willing to go to war even without passage of a 2d UNSC res., slated for vote on 3/3. U.S. diplomats tell UNSC mbrs. that a military attack is inevitable, any attempt to delay would destroy the UN’s credibility. (NYT, WP, WT 2/26)

The IDF demolishes 14 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 2 in al-Mughraqa; fires on residential areas of Rafah. (PCHR 2/20)

After 6 days of mtgs. in Ramallah with the Quartet reps. of the EU, Russia, the UN (the U.S. declines to send a rep.), Arafat publicly declares his intention to appoint a PM. (HA, MM, WT 2/14; NYT, WP 2/15; MM 2/17, 2/18, 2/20; MEI 2/21)

At the UNSC, UN weapons inspectors give their 2d report on Iraq, saying that they have not found any evidence of WMDs, there is no “convincing evidence” that Iraq is evading inspections, but Iraq has not accounted for all of the weapons it was believed to have held previously. An irate Powell reiterates U.S. claims that Iraq is hiding weapons of mass destruction, duping the inspectors. (HA, MM 2/14; NYT, WP, WT 2/15; MEI 2/21)