The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians and international activists taking part in a nonviolent march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, moderately injuring 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts separate synchronized morning patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and in 2 villages nr. Salfit; also patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning and in Jericho and 2 villages nr. Salfit late at night; fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them in Nabi Salih, causing no serious injuries; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun. Jewish settlers set fire to a mosque in al-Mughayyir nr. Ramallah, spray graffiti that says “Price Tag—Aley Ayin,” indicating the attack was in retribution for the IDF’s removal of structures at Aley Ayin outpost on 6/2. Jewish settlers fr. Carmiel settlement nr. Hebron prevent local Palestinians farmers and shepherds from reaching their land nr. the settlement, stoning the Palestinians and killing several sheep; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (AP, REU 6/7; WP, WT 6/8; PCHR 6/9; OCHA 6/10)

On Naksa Day, commemorating the 1967 war, IDF troops open fire on 100s of unarmed Palestinian refugees and supporters inside Syria who try to cross a trench and earthen berm 150 m. on the approach to the border fence nr. the town of Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights. Syrian authorities report 22 killed and more than 350 wounded, possibly marking the worst violence on the Syrian border since the 1973 war; Israel says the numbers are exaggerated, however. More protests are held inside Syria nr. the border at Qunaytra; the IDF fires tear gas and percussion grenades when protesters begin to march toward the border, but no injuries are reported. In the West Bank, the IDF clashes with up to 200 stone-throwing Palestinian protesters at the Qalandia crossing (using tear gas and percussion grenades to disperse them) and blocks Palestinian marchers fr. approaching Elon Moreh settlement nr. Nablus. In Gaza, Hamas-affiliated police block 10s (possibly 100s) of demonstrators fr. approaching the Erez crossing. Overall, protests are much smaller than the Nakba Day demonstrations on 5/13–15, with no protests reported in Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon. Meanwhile, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 4 villages nr. Qalqilya, Salfit, and Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun and Nur Shams r.c. By this date, the IDF has also arrested Fatah PC mbr. Hussam Khader in a raid on Nablus. (AFP, AP, IsRN, KUNA, MNA, The Media Line [online] 6/5; NYT, WP, WT 6/6; PCHR 6/9; OCHA 6/10; WT 6/15; PCHR 6/16; OCHA 6/24)

Egypt temporarily closes the Rafah crossing for maintenance; Hamas officials in Gaza complain that they were not notified in advance. The IDF fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at Palestinians conducting a nonviolent protest march nr. Ramallah, moderately injuring 1 Palestinian with live ammunition; conducts late-night patrols in Nabi Elias nr. Qalqilya, firing flash grenades to intimidate residents. (NYT 6/5; PCHR 6/9; OCHA 6/10)

The IDF conducts late-night patrols in Anabta village nr. Tulkarm. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters and spray waste water on them, injuring 1 Palestinian journalist. (PCHR 6/9; OCHA 6/10)

The Israeli DM announces that the 1st permanent section of a border fence between Israel and Egypt has been completed; Israel expects to finish the 135-mi. fence by mid-2012. In the West Bank, the IDF arrests Hamas-affiliated PC speaker Aziz Dweik (no location reported); patrols in 5 villages nr. Jenin, Salfit, and Tulkarm during the day, checking IDs and issuing 2 orders to appear for questioning. Some 200 IDF soldiers and Israeli border police demolish 4 structures at the unauthorized settlement outpost of Aley Ayin nr. Nablus, sparking clashes with Jewish settlers that leave 1 police car destroyed by fire and 6 Israeli border police and 5 settlers injured. Jewish settlers fr. Havat Gilad nr. Qalqilya set fire to nearby Palestinian crops; when local farmers try to chase them away, the IDF intervenes, firing tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets and beating the Palestinians, injuring 3. Israel’s Prawer Commission issues its final report on how best to implement the 2008 Goldberg Commission’s recommendation that Israel should legalize unrecognized bedouin villages in the Negev, so long as their territory does not overlap with existing land settlement plans for the benefit of the Jewish population. (HA, JTA 6/2; PCHR 6/9; OCHA 6/10)

The IDF conducts a major late-night operation targeting Islamic Jihad in and around Jenin, raiding and searching the homes of at least a dozen local Islamic Jihad figures (arresting all but 1) and raiding, searching, and confiscating the files of 2 charities affiliated with Islamic Jihad. The Jenin offices of the Palestine People’s Party are also searched. During the day, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian construction company building in Jinsafut nr. Qalqilya; sends undercover units in a civilian vehicle with Palestinian license plates into al-Bireh to raid and search a restaurant, arresting 4 Palestinians and seizing surveillance tapes; conducts early morning patrols in Silat alDahir nr. Jenin (photographing old houses and alleys), Iraq Burin nr. Nablus (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing youths who confront them, seriously wounding 1), and Tulkarm; conducts afternoon and evening patrols in ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya (without incident) and in Bayt Liqya and Nabi Salih (in both cases firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stonethrowing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries); conducts late-night patrols in Alar nr. Tulkarm and late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar set fire to Palestinian crops s. of Nablus; the IDF hinders Palestinian fire crews from reaching the scene. The IDF escorts 1,600 Jewish worshipers to visit Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus; some 200 Israelis who did not have authorization for the visit sneak in with the group, refuse to leave, and are forcibly removed by soldiers. (MNA 5/30; PCHR, WJW 6/2; OCHA 6/3)

At a massive rally in Istanbul commemorating the 1st anniversary of Israel’s 5/2010 attack on the aid flotilla to Gaza that killed 9 Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara, the flotilla organizers, the U.S.-based Free Gaza Movement (FGM), and the Turkish charity Humanitarian Relief Foundation (known by its Turkish acronym IHH), announce plans for at least 1,500 activists and 10 boats to set sale in late 6/2011 as part of the “Freedom Flotilla II” to break the Gaza siege. Israel denounces the effort as supporting “a designated terrorist group” (Hamas) and warns it will use force if necessary to halt the flotilla. (DPA, REU 5/30)

Egypt reopens the Rafah crossing as planned, permitting most Palestinians to cross freely for the first time in 4 yrs. (men ages 18–40 are the only group required to secure visas to enter Egypt). Unidentified Palestinians fire a homemade Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel for the 1st time since 4/18, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF bars Palestinian farmers fr. working their land nr. Bet Ayn settlement nr. Hebron; conducts late-night patrols in Bil‘in, sounding sirens and firing stun and flash grenades to intimidate residents; conducts late-night patrols without incident in Qalqilya; makes late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho and Nur Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm. The IDF also fires tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists staging a nonviolent march through Iraq Burin village nr. Nablus to nearby Brakha settlement to protest the settlers’ seizure of village lands to expand the settlement; 3 internationals are arrested. (AFP 5/28; MNA, NYT, WP 5/29; PCHR 6/2; OCHA 6/3)

In Qatar, Abbas briefs Arab League FMs on the recent speeches by Obama and Netanyahu. The FMs agree to support the Palestinians’ UN statehood bid in absence of a viable alterative. Abbas then goes to Cairo to brief Egypt’s acting government. (REU, WAFA 5/28; MENA 5/30)

The IDF conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, 3 nr. Salfit (issuing 1 Palestinian orders to appear for questioning). Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters and spray waste water on them, injuring 1 Palestinian and accidentally starting 2 fires damaging 1 Palestinian home and burning an olive grove; 2 Palestinians and 4 internationals are arrested. (PCHR 6/2; OCHA 6/3)

Six members of the Italian contingent of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are wounded when their convoy detonates a roadside bomb planted along their route outside Sidon in s. Lebanon. No group takes responsibility. (NYT, WP 5/28; DS 5/29)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jericho, 3 villages nr. Qalqilya, and 2 villages nr. Ramallah during the day; in 1 instance (in Bayt Liqya nr. Ramallah), troops fire live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas at stonethrowing Palestinian youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus beat a Palestinian shepherd grazing his flock nr. the settlement, severely injuring him. (PCHR 6/2; OCHA 6/3)

Netanyahu addresses AIPAC, leaving aside discussion of the peace process to praise areas of bilateral cooperation. (IFM 5/23; JTA 5/24)

PA PM Salam Fayyad suffers a heart attack while visiting the U.S. for his son’s college graduation. He is given immediate catheterization to open a clogged artery and is discharged on 5/25 after 2 days of observation. (NYT, WP 5/24)

A Palestinian is killed and another is injured when a smuggling tunnel on Gaza’s Rafah border with Egypt collapses. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm in the morning; raids and searches a business in Silat al-Dahir nr. Jenin, without giving cause; conducts late-night patrols in Nabi Salih, firing tear gas and warning shots at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries. Jewish settlers attempt to set up a new settlement outpost in Jerusalem’s E1 development area. (HA 5/23; PCHR 5/26; OCHA 5/27)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in and around Tulkarm and in 1 village nr. Jenin during the day; makes a late-night raid into Kafr Ra‘i village nr. Jenin, detaining 2 Palestinians and taking them to a military court in nearby Salem village to testify as witnesses in the case against another Palestinian; makes a late-night raid into Ramallah, searching a home and ordering the owner to appear for questioning. The IDF also fires tear gas, stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists staging a nonviolent march through Iraq Burin village nr. Nablus to nearby Brakha settlement to protest the settlers’ seizure of village lands to expand the settlement. The Israeli human rights group Peace Now reports that in late 4/2011, the Israeli DMin. approved construction of 294 settlement housing units in Beitar Ilit (south and west of Jerusalem), saying tenders for the construction should be issued soon. (UPI 5/23; PCHR 5/26; OCHA 5/27)

Obama and Netanyahu hold a difficult but “productive” meeting at the White House to discuss the peace process, particularly their views on the 1967 borders as the basis of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Afterward, Obama stresses their points of agreement, while Netanyahu criticizes Obama as “unrealistic.” (CSM 5/20; NYT, WP 5/21)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border e. of Abasan fire warning shots at Palestinians staging a nonviolent march to the border fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a no-go zone, wounding 1 Palestinian. Late at night, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border shell and fire on a Palestinian teenager nr. the c. Gaza border fence e. of al-Bureij r.c., killing him. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 nr. Salfit, and 1 nr. Tulkarm. Nr. Hebron, 2 Palestinian children are injured when they accidentally trigger unexploded IDF ordnance. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in and Ni‘lin nr. Ramallah, Nabi Salih in the north c. West Bank. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 1 Palestinian and 1 international activist; 10 Israelis and 1 international are arrested. (PCHR 5/26; OCHA 5/27)

As the quarter opens, Israel maintains a tight siege on Gaza, aimed at unseating the governing Hamas authority. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) enforces a 300-meter no-go zone inside the full length of the Gaza border and limits the Palestinian fishing zone off Gaza to 500–1,000 m off Bayt Lahiya and Rafah and 3 naut. mi. elsewhere. In the West Bank, governed by the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA), IDF operations and restrictions on Palestinian movement are relatively low. Today, the IDF patrols in Far‘un village nr. Tulkarm in the evening, firing tear gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, causing no serious injuries; patrols in Jit village nr. Qalqilya late at night. (PCHR 5/19; OCHA 5/20)

In Cairo, Hamas and Fatah open their first round of talks on implementing their 5/4/11 national reconciliation agreement that would reunite West Bank and Gaza institutions and prepare for new elections. (REU 5/16)

In a speech to the Knesset before leaving for the U.S., Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu lays out his conditions for accepting a Palestinian state, but still does not go far enough to satisfy minimum Palestinian demands, stating that “the root of the conflict is not the absence of a Palestinian state,” but rather “the refusal to recognize a Jewish state.” (HA 5/16; NYT, WT 5/17; WP 5/18; JPI 5/27)

Italy upgrades the status of the Palestinian representation in Rome from a delegation to a full diplomatic mission. (HA 5/16)

On the anniversary of the Nakba, 1,000s of Palestinians fr. the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria stage marches (mostly nonviolent, though some stone throwing) toward the Israeli border. In Lebanon, though troops, riot police, and UNIFIL soldiers deploy to prevent marchers fr. reaching the border, a large group succeeds in reaching the border fence nr. Hizballah-controlled Maroun al-Ras village, where they throw stones at IDF troops. IDF troops open fire into Lebanon, leaving 10 Palestinians dead and at least 112 wounded. Palestinians refugees marching fr. Syria knock down the border fence into the Golan Heights, enter the Druze village of Majdal Shams, and rally in the village square, erecting Palestinian flags. IDF troops open fire to drive them back across the border, killing 4 Palestinians and wounding around 200. On the border with Jordan, Jordanian troops fired tear gas and scuffle with some 800 Palestinians, preventing them fr. reaching the border, leaving 14 demonstrators and 3 police officers lightly injured. In Egypt, govt. forces reinforce their border, preventing some 250 Palestinians fr. marching to the Rafah crossing. In Cairo, riot police fire tear gas, disperse protesters converging on the Israeli embassy, injuring around 120. On the Gaza border, IDF troops fire live ammunition and artillery at Gazans marching toward the border, wounding at least 125. In the West Bank, IDF troops fire tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse around 1,000 stone-throwing Palestinians marching toward the Qalandia crossing (injuring 10s) and violently beat scores of Palestinians marching fr. Palestinian-controlled area A toward Israeli security-controlled area B in Hebron (injuring 10s). A large peaceful rally commemorating the Nakba is held in Ramallah. Numerous smaller and protests clashes are also reported in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; rights groups say some 185 Palestinians have been injured in these clashes over the past 3 days, 153 of them in Jerusalem. Netanyahu accuses the demonstrators of “incitement” and challenging “the very existence of Israel.” Other Israeli officials accuse Iran and Syria of instigating the Palestinians, noting that Syrian security did nothing to prevent Palestinians fr. approaching the border. (DS, IFM, IsRN, JAZ, JP, MA, YA 5/15; Christian Science Monitor, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/16)

Unrelated to the “March to Palestine,” IDF troops fired across the border into Gaza, killing a Palestinian who allegedly was planting an explosive device. Inside Israel, an Israeli Palestinian drives his truck into several cars, a bus, and pedestrians in Tel Aviv, killing 1 Israeli and injuring 17 in what Israeli police say was a deliberate terrorist attack; the driver, who is arrested, strongly denies deliberately harming anyone, saying he lost control of his vehicle when a tire blew. The IDF also patrols in 2 village nr. Qalqilya (arresting 1 Palestinian teenager for throwing stones) and 2 nr. Tulkarm; sends undercover units into Nur al-Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm late at night, surrounding and raiding a house and arresting 1 Palestinian; conducts other late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around al-‘Arub r.c. and Hebron, and nr. Salfit. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron throw 4 Molotov cocktails at a nearby Palestinian home, causing minor damage. Israel resumes transferring VAT taxes to the PA (see 5/1), having received PA assurances that none of the money would be accessible to Hamas under the new Fatah-Hamas unity deal, but warning that it would reconsider suspending transfers if Hamas was allowed to join a PA govt. (NYT 5/16; PCHR 5/19; OCHA 5/20)

At quarter’s end, fierce fighting is ongoing in Libya and NATO intervention continues. Rebel-held areas increasingly report shortages of food and medical supplies. No reliable figures on casualties are available since independent media access and communications are extremely difficult. Deaths are thought to be well into the 1,000s and perhaps as high as 10,000. (WP 5/16; REU 6/9)

The White House announces that U.S. special envoy George Mitchell has submitted his resignation, effective 5/20 (the day Obama is to meet with Netanyahu at the White House). Secy. of State Clinton appoints Mitchell aide David Hale as interim special envoy. (NYT, WP 5/14)

In Jerusalem, Israeli police and settlement security guards outside Beit Yonatan in Silwan fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths, seriously wounding a Palestinian teenager walking some distance away. Numerous clashes are also reported, particularly around East Jerusalem, as Palestinians demonstrate in commemoration of the Nakba. In the Jordan Valley, a Palestinian boy is injured when he accidentally triggers IDF UXO. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 2 Palestinians (including 1 child) and 1 international activist; 2 Palestinians and 2 Israeli activists are arrested. (WP 5/15; PCHR 5/19; OCHA 5/20)

Heeding calls fr. Palestinian organizers on Facebook, 100s of Jordanians in Amman and 1,000s of Egyptians in Cairo rally after Friday prayers in support of Palestinian rights. (AP, DPA, Huffington Post 5/13)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tulkarm and several nearby villages repeatedly during the day; patrols in a major show of force in Nabi Salih late at night, firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades in the streets to harass residents and temporarily occupying the local council headquarters as an observation post. Palestinians and international activists demonstrate in Bayt Umar against settlement expansion; the IDF fires stun grenades and beats several demonstrators, injuring 4 Palestinians (including 1 child). In Gaza City, Hamas authorities break up a demonstration by 10s of Salafists protesting the U.S. assassination of Osama Bin Laden. (WP 5/8; OCHA, PCHR 5/12)

In Syria, troops and tanks surround, cut off, and raid Baniyas and Zabadani village outside Damascus. (NYT, WP 5/8)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes a major incursion into Silat al-Harithiyya nr. Jenin in the afternoon, storming 4 houses, arresting several Palestinians, and ordering all residents to surrender their cell phones; patrols in al-Bireh, 2 villages nr. Ramallah, and 1 nr. Tulkarm (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun, Tubas. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 3 Palestinians; 1 Palestinian child is arrested. (OCHA, PCHR 5/12)

In Syria, troops use heavy machine guns and artillery against Syrians demonstrating after Friday prayers in Homs; at least 11 protesters and 10 soldiers are killed. Other protests continue nationwide. (NYT, WP 5/7)

Egypt announces that it plans to reopen the Rafah crossing to Gaza (closed since 1/29/11, except to Gazans returning fr. abroad) within the next 2 wks. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya and 1 nr. Ramallah during the day and 2 villages nr. Jenin late at night; searches an open area nr. Qalqilya in the evening, arresting a Palestinian farmer tilling a field; makes an incursion into Bayt Liqia in the evening in a large show of force (cf. 4/23), firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades a stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring an 8-yr.-old Palestinian; 3 international activists are arrested. (WP 4/30; PCHR 5/5; OCHA 5/6)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border e. of Gaza Valley village for unknown reasons fire 6 artillery shells at a house nr. the border, injuring 4 family mbrs. (including 1 woman and 2 children, ages 5 and 10). In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin in the morning; also patrols in Bil‘in, firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 2 teenagers (1 seriously with live ammunition); patrols without incident in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the afternoon and in Jericho in the evening. (PCHR 5/5; OCHA 5/6)

In the West Bank, PA police fire on a group of Jewish settlers attempting to sneak into Nablus to pray at Joseph’s Tomb before dawn, killing 1 Jewish settler and wounding 4; the PASF says forces fired when the settlers removed a physical road barrier and then sped down a road to the tomb, refusing orders to halt; the IDF, which regularly escorts settlers to the tomb to pray, confirms that it did not authorize the settlers’ visit. Later in the day, 10s of masked Jewish settlers following the funeral procession for the dead man fr. a settlement outside Nablus to Jerusalem for burial attack Palestinian homes en route, vandalize cars, and injure 1 Palestinian boy. In addition, Jewish settlers in Shaykh Jarrah in East Jerusalem attack a woman and 6 children with pepper spray and vandalize 2 Palestinian vehicles. Meanwhile, the IDF conducts synchronized patrols in 4 villages e. of Qalqilya. At the same time, troops raid Jayyus village n. of Qalqilya fr. 3 directions, arresting 2 teenage boys (ages 15 and 16) for cutting an opening in a fence that the IDF set up to cut off access to village farmlands and raiding a coffee shop to warn patrons that more arrests will follow if the fence is damaged again; when confronted by stonethrowing youths, the troops fire tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them. (NYT, WP 4/25; PCHR 4/28; OCHA 4/29)

Israeli naval vessels direct shells, intensive machine gun fire, and illumination rounds at Palestinian fishing boats heading out fr. the n. Gaza coast before dawn, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jericho, 2 villages nr. Jenin, 1 nr. Ramallah, 1 nr. Salfit, and 1 nr. Tulkarm. Late in the evening, the IDF enters Bayt Liqia village nr. Ramallah, patrolling streets and sounding sirens to harass residents, then firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them. (PCHR 4/28; OCHA 4/29)

The IDF enters al-Funduq village nr. Qalqilya in the morning, patrolling streets and ordering shop owners to close until early afternoon, saying Jewish settlers plan a demonstration in the area (though none is reported); also patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 5 Palestinians (including a child) and 1 international activist; another 5 Palestinians (including a child) and 3 international activists are arrested. (PCHR 4/28; OCHA 4/29)

In Syria, security forces use extreme violence to disperse massive (10,000s) demonstrations after Friday prayers in at least 20 towns nationwide (fr. the northern Kurdish region, to the coast area, to the capital and southern suburbs), killing at least 109 in the worst violence since protests began. (NYT, WP 4/23)

In Gaza, Hamas authorities surround a house in Nussayrat r.c. and trade gunfire with suspects in the 4/15 Arrigoni murder inside the house, leaving 3 Hamas policemen wounded; 1 suspect (a Jordanian) then detonates a grenade inside the house to prevent his partners (both Gazans) fr. being taken alive, killing 1 Palestinian and wounding 1, before fatally shooting himself. Another Palestinian detained by Hamas authorities on 4/15 as a suspect in the Arrigoni murder dies in police custody. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts synchronized evening patrols in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Givat Arousa outpost nr. Nablus vandalize nearby Palestinian homes; then stone-throwing Palestinians confront them, 1 settler opens fire, wounding 1 Palestinian; the IDF then intervenes, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades and beating Palestinians, lightly injuring 2 Palestinians and seriously beating 2 Palestinian journalists who arrive to cover the clash. (NYT, WT 4/20; PCHR 4/21; OCHA 4/29)

Israel imposes a closure on the West Bank through 4/26 for the Passover holiday. Israeli police announced that after nearly 2 wks. in detention, 2 Palestinian teenagers fr. Awarta village have confessed to the 3/11 Itamar murders, adding that the teens had connections to the PFLP but it was unclear if the PFLP was involved in the attack. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at farmers working their land nr. the border fence, forcing them to leave; no injuries are reported. The Israeli teenager injured in the 4/7 missile strike on an Israeli school bus dies. In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at 10s of Palestinians demonstrating nr. Ramallah to mark Prisoners Day, injuring 1 Palestinian and arresting 1; patrols in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm, 2 nr. Qalqilya, and 1 nr. Jenin during the day; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Palestinian youths who have stayed in Ramallah’s Manara Square since 3/15 end their hunger strike for Palestinian reconciliation after being informed that the PA has released 11 Hamas political prisoners and issued an official order to “end media incitement” against Hamas. (NYT, WP 4/18; PCHR 4/21; OCHA 4/29)

Early in the morning, Hamas authorities in Gaza storm a house in Gaza City where they believe Italian peace activist Vittorio Arrigoni is being held by Tawhid and Jihad, only to find that he had already been hung; 5 suspects are arrested in the raid. During the day, Palestinians fire 2 Grad rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Hamas sends a message to Israel stating that it is doing everything possible to prevent rocket fire. The IDF makes 2 latenight air strikes on empty Hamas training sites in Gaza City and Shati’ r.c., causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah; makes a latenight raid into Bayt Umar, harassing and beating the family of an organizer of the weekly demonstrations against the separation wall for 2 hrs. before leaving; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and nr. Qalqilya. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 2 Palestinians (including a child). (IsRN, NYT 4/15; JP, NYT, WP 4/16; PCHR 4/21; OCHA 4/29)

In Gaza, the radical Salafist group Tawhid and Jihad issues a statement saying it has kidnapped an Italian national in Gaza and will kill him by 5:00 p.m. local time on 4/15 if Hamas authorities do not release its imprisoned leaders (Hisham Saidani and Shaykh Abu Wali al-Makdisi, arrested in 3/2011), other supporters, and “global jihadists.” A Palestinian wounded by IDF shelling in Gaza on 4/8 dies of his injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Jericho and Ramallah in the morning and 4 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 nr. Nablus, and 1 nr. Tulkarm late at night. Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus attack Palestinian farmers working their land nearby; when the Palestinians throw stones at the settlers, the IDF intervenes, firing tear gas at the Palestinians to disperse them. (NYT 4/15; PCHR 4/21; OCHA 4/29)

The IDF continues heavy air strikes (including 1 missile dropped fr. a war plane and 13 missiles fired fr. helicopters and drones) and artillery attacks (more than a dozen) hitting at least 19 targets across Gaza, killing another 11 Palestinians (5 civilians and 6 militants), wounding 20 (19 civilians and 1 militant), and damaging a commercial building and several homes. Israeli DM Barak stresses that the assaults are in response to the bus attack on 4/7 and not the start of a major offensive. Palestinians fire another 24 mortars and 6 rockets, causing damage in 2 incidents but no injuries. Various factions claim responsibility for firing, including the AMB, DFLP, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the PRCs. Israel’s new Iron Dome system intercepts 3 of the rockets. In addition, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fired warning shots at Palestinian farmers nr. the border fence, forcing them to flee. Israeli naval vessels fired toward the Gaza City beach and at Palestinian fishermen off the coast w. of Nussayrat r.c., causing no injuries. With the past 24 hrs. marking the worst flare-up in crossborder violence since OCL, UN Secy.-Gen. Ban calls on both sides to observe a ceasefire immediately. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jericho and 2 villages nr. Ramallah (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries); conducts morning arrest raids, house searches nr. Jericho. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih/Dayr Nizam. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no serious injuries; 5 Palestinians are arrested. (IsRN, JP, MNA 4/8; JP, MNA, NYT, WP 4/9; IFM 4/10; PCHR 4/14; OCHA 4/15)

In retaliation for a 4/1 air strike that killed 3 senior Hamas mbrs., Hamas militants fire an advanced Russian-made laser-guided Kornet antitank missile fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting a school bus and wounding the bus driver and 1 student and marking a serious escalation of crossborder violence. During the rest of the day, Palestinians fire around 45 rockets and mortars into Israel, damaging 1 house but causing no injuries; the barrage includes 2 Grad rockets that were intercepted by Israel’s new Iron Dome missile defense system. The IDF retaliates with heavy artillery fire (10s of rounds fired) and more than 20 air strikes (including missiles dropped fr. war planes and fired fr. helicopters and drones) against at least 16 targets across the Gaza Strip, killing 5 Palestinians (1 Hamas mbr. and 4 civilians) and wounding 20 (at least 19 civilians), and collaterally damaging 10s of homes. In the West Bank, the IDF bulldozes 3 roads, 10 electricity poles, 2 walls surrounding a home, and part of a room of a house nr. Tubas; patrols in and around Tulkarm town and r.c., in al-Bireh, and in 3 villages nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah (firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no serious injuries); conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon. (IsRN, JP 4/7; NYT, WP 4/8; IFM 4/9, 4/10; HA 4/11; PCHR 4/14; OCHA 4/15)

After 4 days of violent protests in Yemen (at least 12 dead, more than 270 injured), the GCC begins efforts to broker a deal for Saleh’s rapid transition fr. power. (NYT 4/8; see also NYT, WP 4/4; NYT, WP, WT 4/5–6)

In the morning, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fatally shoot 1 Palestinian who approaches the border fence for unclear reasons; there are no reports he was armed and no faction claims him as a mbr. During the day, Hamas convenes Gaza factions to urge them to reimpose a ceasefire. Late in the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds with air strikes on 2 “infiltration tunnels” on the n. Gaza border, lightly to moderately injuring 4 Palestinian bystanders and damaging a recycling center, a construction company, and 11 homes. In the West Bank, the IDF enters Jenin in the afternoon to search the theater run by Mer-Khamis (killed on 4/4) and question locals about his murder. The IDF also patrols in 4 villages nr. Jenin, 3 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 nr. Ramallah (firing tear gas at stone-throwing youths who confront them), and 1 nr. Tulkarm. The PASF says it has arrested a fmr. al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (AMB) mbr. for suspected involvement in the Mer-Khamis killing. (AFP, JP, XIN 4/5; IsRN 4/6; PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

Israel makes an air strike on a car in Gaza City, assassinating 3 senior Hamas mbrs. (Muhammad Mahdi al-Dayah, Abdullah Lobbad, and Isma‘il Lobbad) and injuring 1 bystander. Israel claims the Hamas mbrs. were plotting to kidnap Israelis in Israel and Egypt during Passover later in 4/2011; Hamas denies that it operates outside the borders of historic Palestine but says the 3 were senior weapons developers. The DFLP says it will no longer observe a cease-fire toward Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night searches in Qalqilya, summoning 1 Palestinian for questioning. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no serious injuries; 3 Palestinians (including 2 children) are arrested. Jewish settlers fr. Beit Hadassah settlement in Hebron set fire to the awnings of several Palestinian stores. (NYT 4/2, 4/3; JTA 4/4; PCHR 4/7; OCHA 4/15)

In a Washington Post op-ed online (in print on 4/3), South African judge Richard Goldstone, head of the UN committee that investigated possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during OCL, says that “if I had known then what I know now,” he would have concluded that Gazan “civilians were not intentionally targeted as a matter of [Israeli] policy” and would have given more weight to crimes perpetrated by Hamas. (WP 4/1; IFM, NYT, WP 4/3; NYT 4/6; JTA, NYT, YA 4/7; NYT, 4/20)