The Palestine Chronology

Israel resumes attacks on PA targets, with F-16s dropping bombs on a PSF post in Gaza, injuring 18 Palestinians. Under the force of continued Palestinian demonstrations, PSF pulls back fr. Shaykh Yasin's house. The NIHC ultimately brokers an informal agmt. btwn. Hamas and the PA under which Yasin agrees to observe a "voluntary house arrest," leaving only to go attend prayer services at a nearby mosque. Sharon claims PA is not making a serious effort to arrest wanted Palestinians. In Gaza, Palestinians fire 6 mortars at 2 Jewish settlements and toss grenades at an IDF post, causing no injuries. The IDF returns fire killing 1 Palestinian; a 2d Palestinian dies of a heart attack at an IDF checkpoint when soldiers refuse him passage to a hospital. A Palestinian woman gives birth at an IDF checkpoint when soldier refuse to let her ambulance pass. Fatah stages a pro-Arafat rally in Gaza, but only 1,000 Palestinians take part. (NYT, WP, WT 12/7; al-Quds 12/7 in WNC 12/11; MM 12/10; IRNA 12/10 in WNC 12/12; NYT 12/21)

Egyptian FM Ahmad Maher meets with Sharon, Arafat in a new cease-fire effort, presses Israel to relax its demand for a 7-day quiet period. Instead, Sharon hands Maher a list of demands to transmit to Arafat. U.S. envoy Zinni, still in the region, also meets with Arafat today. (HA 12/6; MENA 12/6 in WNC 12/7; WT 12/7; MENA 12/7, 12/9 in WNC 12/11; AKH 12/13 in WNC 12/17; MEI 12/21; MEI 2/8; al-Majallah 2/9 in WNC 2/11)

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)

Palestinians fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage. Afterward, PSF officers attempt to arrest the group at a checkpoint, exchanging gunfire with them, wounding 3. In Haifa, Israeli police arrest a Palestinian for planting a bomb nr. a building complex, dissemble the device. Israel announces that several days ago, the Shin Bet arrested Arafat bodyguard Anis Namura on charges of organizing a group to carry out attacks on Israeli targets in the West Bank. The PA denies Namura is a Force 17 mbr. Palestinians report that the IDF has recently moved more helicopters into Jewish settlements in the West Bank. (WP 7/22; MM 7/23; REU, WT 7/24; MEI 7/27)

At a Likud Central Comm. mtg. in Tel Aviv, Sharon is criticized for "being soft," not "crushing" Arafat, the PA. Leading the criticism is fmr. PM Benjamin Netanyahu. (MM, NYT, WP 7/23; MA 7/23 in WNC 7/24; MM 7/25, 7/26; MEI 7/27; JP 8/3)

Palestinians fire another mortar at Nahal Oz kibbutz, causing no damage. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian passenger in a taxi that passes a checkpoint without stopping. The IDF also shells residential areas of al-Khadir; bulldozes Palestinian trees btwn. Abu Dis and Jabal al-Mukabir; tightens the closures on Bethlehem, Nablus. Inside Israel, Israeli police arrest a Palestinian carrying a bomb. The body of a Palestinian suspected of collaborating with Israel is found in a West Bank village. Israel's Peres says that, although the PA is still not making a 100% effort to halt violence, evidence in recent days suggests that the PSF is taking action against renegade gunmen; Israeli security sources corroborate reports that Arafat has ordered the PSF place a number of wanted Palestinians in "protective custody" but say Israel considers this "insufficient." Peres also says that 15 illegal settlement outposts should be dismantled within 2-3 wks. (HA, HP 7/11; NYT, WP 7/12)

The Israeli government orders the demolition of 34 Palestinian homes in al-Midya, on the border of the Green Line, where Israel intends to create a buffer zone with the West Bank. The Jerusalem Municipality also orders the demolition of 2 more houses and 15 dunams of surrounding land in Shaykh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, for construction of a train line linking West Jerusalem with the Pisgat Ze'ev settlement. (Orient House press release 7/11; PMC 7/12)

In Jeddah, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) calls on the U.S. to fulfill its international obligations to protect the Palestinians and to stop applying a double standard in favor of Israel, or turn the matter over to the UN. (MM 7/16, 7/20)

In a predawn operation, the IDF bulldozes at least 17 Palestinian homes, 12 stores in Rafah refugee camp, leaving 150 Palestinians homeless and sparking a gunfight that leaves 5 Palestinians, 3 IDF soldiers wounded. Terming the demolitions "highly provocative," the U.S. announces plans to send Dep. Asst. Secy. of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Satterfield to the region to push U.S. cease-fire initiatives. Meanwhile, Palestinians fire a mortar at Nahal Oz kibbutz, causing no injuries but marking the 1st confirmed mortar attack inside the Green Line since 5/4. A Palestinian woman gives birth at an IDF checkpoint when soldiers deny her passage, the baby dies before reaching a hospital. For the 2d time in 2 days, a Palestinian man dies of a heart attack at an IDF checkpoint when soldiers refuse to allow him passage to a hospital. Jewish settlers set fire to 50 dunams of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Avni Hefets settlement. (MEZ, MM, WP 7/10; HP, NYT, PMC, WP, WT 7/11; JT 7/11 in WNC 7/12; HJ, IRNA 7/12 in WNC 7/13; ATL 7/12 in WNC 7/16)

Palestinians fire up to 6 mortars, several grenades at an IDF post in Gaza, causing no damage. The IDF fires a shell at a Palestinian vehicle in Khan Yunis, injuring 5 Palestinians. Around 1,000 Palestinian demonstrators clash with IDF soldiers at a checkpoint outside al-Bireh. Another serious clash is reported in Tulkarm. The IDF also directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Sahur, Silat al-Dahir; bulldozes Palestinian land nr. Salfit; places a closure on Bayt Furik; tightens the closure on Dayr Istya, Qalqilya; sets up new blockades, checkpoints around Azun, Nablus, Qalqilya. Jewish settlers raise 10s of trees in Dayr Balut, cut of running water to 6 Palestinian villages nr. Nablus. (AFP [Internet], HP 6/29; HP, NYT, WP 6/30)

Around 100 Israeli, international peace activists attempt to reach the Palestinian village of al-Khadir, nr. Bethlehem, where they have planned to set up a "peace camp" with local Palestinians to protest ongoing Israeli violence. The activists are halted outside the village by the IDF, which says the area is a closed military zone, although settlers passes unimpeded. When the activists set up a nonviolent roadblock to settler vehicles, Israeli police arrest the organizers, forces the others onto their busses and back to Tel Aviv. Inside al-Khadir, 150 Palestinian participants also demonstrate, but the IDF disperses them with gunfire, wounding 4, and imposes a curfew. (Gush Shalom press release 6/29)

On the sidelines of a conference in Lisbon, Arafat, Peres hold talks on maintaining the cease-fire. (RTP Internacional TV [Lisbon] 6/30 in WNC 7/2; AFP [Internet], NYT, WT 7/1; MM 7/2, 7/5)

Hizballah fires rockets at an IDF post in Shaba` Farms, injuring 2 soldiers. Israel sends warplanes into Lebanese air space 5-6 times. (Daily Star [Internet] 6/30; al-Safir 6/30 in WNC 7/2; WT 7/1: MM, WP, WT 7/2; al-Safir 7/4, SA 7/5 in WNC 7/7; MEI 7/13)

Palestinians fire 8 mortars at 2 Jewish settlements in Gaza, damaging greenhouses. A Palestinian dies after IDF soldiers bar his crossing through a checkpoint to Nablus hospital for kidney dialysis. The IDF also bulldozes Palestinian land nr. Kissufim crossing in Gaza and in Abud, Luban al-Sharqiyya, al-Khadir, al-Sawiya in the West Bank. Jewish settlers fire on Palestinian cars nr. Alon Moreh settlement. (HP, IGPO, PMC 6/10; MM, NYT 6/11; PMC 6/12)

Tenet discusses his cease-fire plan with PA security officials in Ramallah, but a 3-way mtg. with Israeli security officials is postponed to give the U.S. more time to review both sides' 6/9 responses. (JT, SA 6/10 in WNC 6/11; WT 6/11; DUS, HJ, MA, al-Ra'i 6/11 in WNC 6/12)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes, now in their 8th mo., continue, with Israel Defense Force (IDF) increasingly striking Palestinian targets and entering areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) without provocation so as to "keep them guessing and [have] them spend more time defending themselves" and with Palestinians stepping up their sniping at soldiers and settlers and firing of mortars (especially in Gaza). To date, around 511 Palestinians, 82 Israelis have been killed. Today, 1 Palestinian is shot dead by IDF troops. The IDF also shells the PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) offices in Jabaliyya, Jinin; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis; sends tanks, bulldozers into 2 PA-controlled areas in Gaza, occupying a multistory building in al-Qarara nr. Gush Katif settlement and a factory in Dayr al-Balah. IDF soldiers at a checkpoint on the Nablus-Ramallah road halt a Red Crescent ambulance en route to pick up a critically ill patient, severely beat 3 medics, empty the ambulance and damage supplies; the harassment ends when the International Comm. of the Red Cross (ICRC) intervenes. (AFP [Internet], HP 5/16; MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/17; LAW, WT 5/18)

The IDF concedes that the 5/14 attack on a PSF post in Beitunia that left 5 PSF officers dead was a "blunder" and that the area was quiet when soldiers attacked. (WP 5/17; AN, HJ 5/17 in WNC 5/18, 5/21; HA, NYT 5/18)

PA Information M Yasir `Abid Rabbuh appeals to Congress to support the recommendations of the Mitchell Comm., the U.S.-led international inquiry into the causes of the al-Aqsa intifada headed by fmr. U.S. sen. George Mitchell. The comm.'s preliminary report (submitted to Israel and the PA on 5/1) suggests a two-pronged approach to restoring calm based on Israel halting all settlement construction, the PA making a 100% effort to halt violence. The comm.'s final report is expected in 1 wk. The State Dept. says Secy. of State Colin Powell is considering meeting with Sharon, Arafat on the sidelines of his trip to Africa, Europe 5/22+n30. (WT 5/18)

In Washington, U.S. Pres. George W. Bush holds a strategy session on the Middle East with his top foreign policy advisers, including Secy. of State Powell, Secy. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, National Security Adviser (NSA) Condoleeza Rice. Powell advocates using the recommendations of the Mitchell Comm. and the Jordanian-Egyptian initiative as the base for a cease-fire plan. Both plans call for a full freeze on settlement construction, which admin. officials claim they cannot directly demand from Israeli PM Ariel Sharon. (MM 5/16; MM, NYT 5/17)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue at the same low level. However, 2 serious incidents are apparently staged by Palestinians: a mortar is fired at Netzarim settlement, causing no injuries; assailants attempt to deliver a bomb by donkey, but the bomb does not go off. In the 3d such incident in a wk., an ailing Palestinian dies en route to a Nablus hospital when his family's car is detained at an IDF checkpoint for 30 mins. before being turned back, halted at a 2d checkpoint for 40 mins., turned back again, and forced to take a 3d route. The IDF also confiscates, begins bulldozing 3,500 dunams of land btwn. Ramallah, Nablus owned by 43 Palestinian families; fires teargas into a school in Silwan; shells residential areas in Bayt Rima, Khan Yunis. Jewish settlers bulldoze Palestinian land nr. Salfit, move prefabricated houses onto the land to create a new settlement enclave. (YA 1/31; LAW 2/3; ADM 2/5)