The Palestine Chronology

The IDF assassinates senior Hamas mbr. `Abd al-Rahman Hamad, fatally shooting him at his home in Qalqilya. Israel admits to the killing, which the U.S. calls "unhelpful." Meanwhile, the IDF eases closures in some Palestinian areas where there has been no violence but also tightens access to Jerusalem, directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, establishes a new police station in East Jerusalem, conducts arrest raids in Bayt Amin. Jewish settlers attack, seriously injure 3 Palestinian farmers on the Nablus+nRamallah Road. (AP, WP, WT 10/15; al-Quds 10/15 in WNC 10/16; HP 10/15)

The Israeli cabinet meets to discuss the dramatic reduction in violence in recent days. Although the cabinet does not approve the decision, Sharon declares that the IDF is prepared to pull out of areas A in Hebron that the army seized on 10/4-5. (WP 10/14; MM, WP 10/15; al-Quds 10/15 in WNC 10/16; WT 10/16; WJW 10/18)

Peres and Qurai` meet again in Jerusalem along with Israeli, PA security officials to discuss cease-fire implementation. Israel agrees to open the main road in Khan Yunis, which has been closed for months; reopen Rafah crossing to Egypt, the Allenby Bridge crossing to Jordan for several hrs. every day; gradually remove IDF roadblocks, withdraw IDF troops over a 3 wk. period if calm remains; allow VIP passage btwn. the West Bank, Gaza for senior PA officials, security forces; to allow family visits btwn. the West Bank, Gaza; allow entry of 2,000 Palestinian businessmen into Israel. (JP [Internet] 10/14; HP 10/15)

Islamic Jihad detonates a car bomb in a parking garage in Talpiot settlement in East Jerusalem, causing damage but no injuries. The IDF direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Jinin, Rafah; tightens the closure on Jinin, Khan Yunis, Ramallah, Tulkarm; bars teachers, students fr. entering a school in Hawara; raids a 2d school in Nablus. Jewish settlers severely beat 2 Palestinian children en route to school in Nablus; bulldoze 350 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Mihula; raid Kafr Laqif village nr. Qalqilya, attack several Palestinians, set fire to an olive grove. The IDF bars a pregnant Palestinian woman in labor fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a hospital, forcing her to give birth at the crossing. (AP, HP 10/1; GS, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/2; MM 10/3; LAW 10/10; MEI 10/12)

Senior Israeli, PA security officials discuss cease-fire implementation. Israeli DM Benjamin Ben-Eliezer authorizes the IDF to remove roadblocks around Jericho, reopen the Rafah crossing into Egypt, ease Palestinians' passage through checkpoints, withdraw tanks from areas "where quiet is maintained." (Israeli DMin. press release, JP [Internet] 10/1; AYM 10/1 in WNC 10/2; al-Quds 10/2 in WNC 10/3)

Inside Israel, Israeli Arabs observe a general strike, stage protests to mark the 1st anniversary of the 10/00 riots, which left 18 Israeli Arabs dead (13 killed by Israeli police; 5 by Israeli civilians). Israeli police keep a distance fr. demonstrators; no violence is reported. (MM 10/1)

Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem observe a general strike. IDF soldiers seriously beat mbrs. of an Egyptian TV crew filming the strikes nr. Qalqilya; fatally shoot 1 Palestinian wanted for killing a Jewish settler on 7/24. The IDF also bars a pregnant Palestinian fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a hospital to deliver her baby; directs shells/heavy machine gun fire residential areas of Gaza City, Rafah; shuts the Rafah crossing; reinforces the closures on Jinin, Khan Yunis, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian residents of Hebron. Israeli police arrest 10 protesters outside Orient House. (AP, HA, HP, REU 8/13; AYM 8/13 in WNC 8/14; CNN, NYT, WP, WT 8/14; MENA 8/14 in WNC 8/15; NYT 8/15)

     Late this evening, the IDF sends tanks and bulldozers, escorted by helicopters, into Jinin to surround PA offices, demolish the local PSF headquarters and a PSF checkpoint; soldiers also occupy the local governor's office. The PSF, which evacuated the sites hrs. earlier, does not engage the IDF troops; the incursion sparks only isolated exchanges of gunfire, which leave 3 Palestinians wounded. Israel says the move--marking the IDF's 1st sustained foray into a major PA-controlled city--is to punish the PA for not halting a number of recent suicide bombers who have come fr. Jinin; says it has no intention of permanently reoccupying the area. (AP, HA, HP 8/13; CNN, NYT, WP, WT 8/14; ITAR-TASS 8/14 in WNC 8/15; MEZ, NYT, WT 8/15; SA 8/16 in WNC 8/17)

Egypt dispatches a high-level delegation, led by Mubarak adviser Baz, to Washington for 4-days of talks with U.S. officials to urge the U.S. to focus on restarting Israeli-Palestinian negotiations as well as resuming security contacts. (MENA, SA 8/13 in WNC 8/14; WP 8/14; MENA, SA 8/14 in WNC 8/15; NYT 8/16)

The IDF shells Hamas's press office in Nablus, killing 8 Palestinians, wounding 7. Among the fatalities are Hamas political leaders Jamal Mansur and Jamal Salim, the targets of assassination and prominent public figures known for running a network of welfare programs and medical clinics. Also killed are Fahim Dawabsha, another Hamas mbr. on Israel's wanted list; 2 journalists interviewing Mansur; 2 children outside the building. The attack triggers firefights, especially around Jerusalem; mortar strikes; and 2 ambushes of Jewish settler vehicles that leave 7 settlers wounded. 100s of Palestinians gather outside the Hamas office to protest. Sharon terms the attack "one of our most important successes." The State Dept. "strongly deplores" the "highly provocative" incident. Egypt's Mubarak sends an "urgent letter" to Bush pressing for U.S. to intervene with Israel. Meanwhile, the IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Shu`fat; sends tanks, bulldozers into Bayt Sahur to shell residential areas, demolish part of a home, a water network; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Jala, Gaza City, al-Khadir, Khan Yunis, Rafah; bulldozes additional land outside Ramallah; conducts arrest sweeps in Bayt Hanina, East Jerusalem, Shu`fat, al-Tur, Wadi al-Juz; sets up a new checkpoints nr. Nablus, Ramallah, Zawata; tightens the closures on Salfit, Tulkarm. IDF soldiers also severely beat 2 journalists at a checkpoint nr. Qalandiyya; 2 Palestinians are killed in clashes elsewhere. Jewish settlers vandalize Palestinian cars in East Jerusalem. (AP, HP, LAW, PMC, REU 7/31; MENA 7/31 in WNC 8/1; MENA 7/31, ATL, JT, MA, MENA, XIN 8/1 in WNC 8/2; NYT, WP, WT 8/1; XIN 8/1, AN 8/2 in WNC 8/3; HP 8/2; MENA 8/4 in WNC 8/6; LAW 8/6; JP, MEI 8/10)

A PA security court sentences 4 Palestinians to death for collaborating with Israel in the assassination of senior Fatah official Thabet Thabet on 12/31/00. A 5th defendant is acquitted. (WT 8/1; AYM 8/4 in WNC 8/10; WT 8/7)

The UNSC votes unanimously to extends the UNIFIL mandate through the end of 1/02, implement the staged troop reduction endorsed on 5/18. (UN press release 7/31; AFP 8/1 in WNC 8/2; MEI 8/10)