The Palestine Chronology

In an unusual incident in Ramallah, 9 Israelis try to visit a Palestinian’s home for a fastbreaking meal, but stone-throwing Palestinian youths block them and set their vehicle on fire. PASF and IDF troops secure the group’s departure from the oPt. Meanwhile, the IDF arrests 3 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Bethlehem and Tulkarm and patrols nr. Hebron and Ramallah throughout the day. Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders to 2 residential buildings under construction and demolition notices to 4 structures nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 15 Palestinians during late-night raids in Ras al-Amud, Silwan, Qalandia r.c., and Wadi al-Juz. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish the bedouin village of al-Araqib for the 100th time in 6 years. (MNA, TOI 6/29; JP, PCHR 6/30; PCHR 7/14)

The Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing for the 1st of 5 planned days over the course of the next week. (OCHA 7/5)

Israel’s security cabinet approves the reconciliation deal with Turkey announced officially on 6/27. Only 3 ministers vote against it: DM Lieberman, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. During a debate over the deal in the Knesset, MK Haneen Zoabi (Joint List) calls the IDF soldiers who raided the Mavi Marmara in 5/2010 “murderers,” sparking a heated confrontation with several right-wing MKs. Later, PM Netanyahu pledges to expel Zoabi from the Knesset. (HA, JP, YA 6/29).

Following pressure from the Israeli NGO Adalah, Israeli police make public portions of their new rules of engagement, approved by Israel’s atty.-gen. in 9/2015 amid the surge of violence. The new rules authorize the police to respond to stone- or firecracker-throwing with live fire. (JP 7/4; HA 7/5)

In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 6 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during raids nr. Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya; and patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus. Israeli settlers set fire to and destroy 15 olive trees nr. Nablus, and throw stones at Palestinian vehicles nr. Salfit, damaging 1. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians and issue arrest summons to 5 during raids in Kafr ‘Aqab, the Old City, and Silwan. Meanwhile, a Palestinian man demolishes his own home in Silwan to avoid paying Israeli demolition fees. (PLONAD 5/28; PCHR 6/2; OCHA 6/9)

PA pres. Abbas meets with Egyptian pres. al-Sisi in Cairo to discuss the Egyptian effort to restart direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks alongside the French effort to host a multilateral peace conference in Paris, scheduled for 6/3. Meanwhile, the Arab League meets in Cairo and endorses the French peace initiative. (AP, JP, MNA, TOI 5/28; JP, TOI 5/29)

In a 2d day of cross-border violence, Palestinians fire mortar shells at Israeli patrols along Gaza’s s. and n. borders in 3 separate incidents, causing no injuries or damage. Hamas will take credit for at least 1 of the shellings. Israeli forces launch artillery shells at the 3 sources of shelling and conduct at least 5 air strikes in s. Gaza, causing damage and no injuries. After the day’s violence, the IDF declares a region nr. the border a closed military zone and, according to Palestinian sources, IDF troops conduct unspecified operations along the border in Rafah and nr. Jabaliya r.c. In the West Bank, IDF troops conduct raids and house searches in and around Hebron and nr. Bethlehem, arresting 6 Palestinians; patrols nr. Hebron. Israeli forces deliver a stop-work order to a Palestinian home under construction in Hebron. Israeli settlers attack a group of Palestinian schoolchildren in c. Hebron, causing no injuries, and assault a Palestinian activist nr. al-Ibrahimi Mosque, causing moderate injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during raids and patrols in Issawiyya and al-Tur. In Israel, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes in bedouin communities in the Negev and nr. Lydda. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 5/4; MNA, TOI 5/5; OCHA 5/6; PCHR 5/12)

Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office says that DM Ya’alon and Public Security Minister Erdan have been authorized, as of 5/1, to decide whether or not to return the bodies of Palestinians killed in confrontations with the IDF and Israeli police. This statement reverses Netanyahu’s decision, on 3/27, ordering Ya’alon not to return any bodies. (HA, YA 5/4)

The PLO Exec. Comm. decides to start implementing the PA’s threat to limit security coordination with the IDF if the “current situation” continues. PASF troops are instructed to implement the decision “under supervision of the Palestinian political echelon” and security agencies will decide how quickly to implement it. (MNA 5/7)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian driver after he allegedly rams a group of Israeli soldiers nr. Ramallah, injuring 3 (1 seriously). Palestinian witnesses say the crash was an accident. In the evening, the IDF returns the body of the Palestinian driver. Overnight, Israeli forces carry out the punitive demolition of the doors and windows of an apartment in Nablus, where a Palestinian deemed complicit in the 10/1/2015 killing of 2 Israeli settlers lived. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian journalists conducting a sit-in nr. Ramallah marking World Press Freedom Day; there are no serious injuries. They also conduct late-night raids and house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, arresting 8 Palestinians; patrol nr. Hebron and Nablus. More than 2,000 Israeli settlers, along with an IDF escort, perform religious rites in a Palestinian village nr. Salfit late at night. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian on a patrol in the Old City and a 2d during a raid in al-Tur. Along Gaza’s border, armed Palestinians open fire on IDF vehicles patrolling nr. Jabaliya r.c., causing damage. The cross-border shooting comes shortly after Israeli PM Netanyahu toured the area this morning. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 5/3; MNA 5/4; PCHR 5/5; OCHA 5/6; PCHR 5/12)

The IDF maintains, for a 2d day, the closure of Araqa where 2 Palestinians were killed on 2/14; declares it a closed military zone. They conduct raids in the village, arresting 2 Palestinians. Meanwhile, IDF troops conduct raids in al-Am‘ari r.c. nr. Ramallah, arresting 2 Palestinians and sparking clashes with stonethrowing and armed youths; 42 Palestinians and 1 Israeli soldier are injured. Late at night, they escort 17 busloads of Israelis to Joseph’s Tomb outside Nablus to perform religious rites, sparking more clashes with stone-throwers; there are no serious injuries. Israeli forces demolish 20 residential structures in a village nr. Nablus; deliver stop-work orders to 2 homes under construction in Qalqilya. Throughout the day, the IDF conducts raids and house searches in 2 villages each nr. Jenin and Salfit and 1 nr. Bethlehem, as well as in Qalqilya and Hebron, arresting 11 Palestinians and issuing an arrest summons to 1; patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron and 1 nr. Tulkarm. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City, causing no damage. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. Meanwhile, the Egyptian authorities keep the Rafah border crossing open for a 3d and final day. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault and arrest a Palestinian youth outside the Old City after they search and find a knife on her person. They also arrest 1 Palestinian on a raid in Issawiyya. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 2/15; TOI 2/16; OCHA, PCHR 2/18)

Palestinian hunger striker al-Qiq refuses an Israeli court offer to transfer him from Emek Medical Center in Afula to a hospital in East Jerusalem, demanding to be treated at a Palestinian hospital in the West Bank. Al-Qiq has been on hunger strike since 11/24, days after he was captured from his Ramallah home and held under administrative detention. (MNA 2/16)

A total of 5 Palestinians are killed across the oPt today. First, IDF troops shoot and kill 2 Palestinians in ‘Araqa village nr. Jenin after they allegedly shoot at the soldiers. IDF troops later cordon off the roads leading to and from Araqa and patrol the area. IDF troops shoot and fatally injure a 3d Palestinian youth at a checkpoint n. of Bethlehem after he allegedly attempts to stab in Israeli soldier (he succumbs to his injuries later in the day). In the evening, Israeli forces shoot and kill a 4th and 5th Palestinian after they allegedly attempt to open fire on Israeli border police and civilians nr. Jerusalem’s Old City. IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian youth after she allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier in c. Hebron. Palestinian witnesses report that the young woman did not attempt a stabbing. A video of the alleged stabbing is later dispersed in the media depicting Israeli soldiers pushing a disabled Palestinian witness from his wheelchair. No Israelis are injured in any of the incidents described above. (JP, TOI, YA 2/14; MNA 2/15; PCHR 2/18)

Elsewhere in the oPt, the Egyptian authorities keep the Rafah border crossing open for the 2d of 2 planned days, allowing passage in both directions. They say in the evening that they will extend the opening a 3d day on 2/15. The IDF maintains, for a 6th and final day, its punitive closure of Qabatiya, where an Israeli settler was stabbed and injured on 2/9. IDF troops patrol in a village nr. Jenin, sparking minor clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 1 Palestinian is injured. They also conduct house searches and raids late at night in Tulkarm, Tulkarm r.c., Nablus, 4 villages nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Ramallah, arresting 10 Palestinians; patrol further in Qalqilya, 7 villages nr. Hebron, and 1 nr. Salfit. The Israeli authorities return to his family in East Jerusalem the body of a Palestinian who was killed by Israeli police on 10/15 (the family reportedly agreed to allow only 14 people to attend his funeral and paid NIS 20,000 [around $5,150] as collateral to secure the release of his body). This is the 1st body returned to East Jerusalem since the wave of violence began in 10/2015. Meanwhile, Palestinians verbally confront 5 right-wing Jewish activists who are attempting to pray at Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces escort the activists out of the sanctuary before the incident can escalate. Israeli forces also arrest 6 Palestinians on raids in al-Tur. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 2/14; HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 2/15; OCHA, PCHR 2/18)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian in c. Hebron after she allegedly stabs and lightly injures an Israeli soldier, and a Palestinian bystander is reportedly stabbed and injured when he tries to intervene. After an autopsy, a Palestinian forensic physician says that, though the Palestinian woman was shot 3 times, she could have survived if the IDF had not left her bleeding on the ground. A Palestinian driver rams an Israeli border police jeep, injuring 4 Israeli soldiers and causing minor damage. The IDF troops then open fire on the Palestinian vehicle, injuring 2 passengers. The IDF maintains its closure of Nahalin village for a 5th day. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids in Dahaysha r.c. and 2 villages nr. Bethlehem, and 1 village nr. Jenin, arresting 6 Palestinians; patrol in 2 villages nr. Jenin and 1 nr. Tulkarm. In Gaza, the Egyptian authorities open the Rafah border crossing in both directions for the 1st of 2 planned days. (HA, MNA, TOI, YA 2/13; MNA 2/14; OCHA, PCHR 2/18)

After 2 weeks of increasing tension and clashes in East Jerusalem over access at Haram al-Sharif, Israeli authorities ban male and female volunteer guards— murabitun and murabitat—from the sanctuary on the grounds that they disturb and intimidate Jewish visitors. Around 50 Palestinian women gather outside Haram al-Sharif in the morning to protest the Israeli restrictions on their access. Late at night, suspected right-wing Jewish activists spray racist graffiti on walls in the Old City and Israeli forces arrest 7 Palestinians on raids in al-Tur and Jabal Mukabir. In the West Bank, unknown assailants shoot and lightly injure an Israeli settler driving nr. Nablus. Later, Israeli settlers set fire to dozens of olive trees outside a nearby Palestinian village and Israeli forces block the entrances to the village and order a curfew. Separately, Israeli forces raze agricultural land and seize an irrigation network nr. Hebron. IDF troops conduct late-night house searches and raids nr. Jericho, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Bethlehem, arresting 4 Palestinians; patrol in al-‘Arub r.c and nr. Hebron. The Israeli authorities reopen a road nr. Ramallah that has been closed for 15 years (it was initially reported reopened on 5/25, but Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories [COGAT] delayed the opening to perform unspecified maintenance). Off Gaza’s coast nr. Rafah, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no injuries. Later, Israeli forces e. of Khan Yunis arrest 2 Palestinians attempting to cross into Israel. (HA, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 9/9; PCHR, WAFA 9/10; PCHR 9/17; OCHA 9/18)

PNC pres. Zanoun announces that the PNC convention scheduled for 9/14–15 has been postponed in response to various Palestinian political groups’ requests for a delay and calls for a boycott. He says that a comm. comprising himself, the PLO Exec. Comm., and the heads of the various factions will meet to prepare to convene the PNC within 3 mos. (JP, MNA, WAFA 9/9)

UNRWA commissioner-gen. Pierre Krähenbühl reaches an agreement with the UNRWA employees union in Gaza to end the recent protests over reductions in agency services. The union went on strike for a week on 8/24, then agreed to return to work on 8/31 in exchange for a tentative agreement to limit class sizes. (MNA 9/9)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces bar 3 Palestinian journalists from entering Haram al-Sharif while right-wing Jewish activists tour the sanctuary. Meanwhile, Israeli police and Palestinian youths clash for the 3d day in a row, in Issawiyya, injuring a Palestinian child. In Gaza, a Palestinian youth is seriously injured when he accidentally detonates an unexploded Israeli munition in Shuja‘iya. Israeli forces level land during a limited incursion e. of Rafah. In the West Bank, Israeli forces raze Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem and block off an agricultural road in a nearby village. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids nr. Jenin, Tulkarm, and Hebron, arresting 5 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 1; patrol in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron and nr. Salfit. Israeli settlers assault 3 Palestinians outside a settlement nr. Nablus. In Israel, 3 Jewish Israelis assault a Palestinian in Dayr Yasin nr. Jerusalem. (MNA, WAFA 9/8; JP, MNA 9/9; PCHR 9/10; OCHA 9/18; WAFA 10/1)

In the Gaza Strip, Egyptian authorities keep the Rafah border crossing open for a 2d day. Off the n. coast, Israeli naval forces open fire with live ammunition on Palestinian fishing boats, moderately injuring 1 fisherman. Also, the Gaza power plant shuts down 1 of its 3 currently operating turbines due to lack of fuel imports, increasing the planned power outages from 12 to 18 hours per day. In the West Bank, the municipal govt. of the Kiryat Arba settlement delivers a notice of unpaid property taxes to a Palestinian on whose lands the settlement was built, which will reportedly force him and his family to leave their land. Separately, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes and 2 animal shelters in a village in the s. Hebron hills. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Nablus, Hebron, Jenin, as well as Tulkarm r.c.; patrols nr. Hebron and Tulkarm. They also arrest 1 Palestinian at a military checkpoint nr. Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a home in Jabal Mukabir and a building in Shu‘fat; conduct house searches and arrest raids in Silwan. Meanwhile, security guards deny a group of right-wing Jewish activists entry to Haram al-Sharif. In Israel, a Palestinian man from Tulkarm attacks Jewish Israelis on a bus in Tel Aviv, injuring 13 with a knife, before police shoot him in the leg and detain him. (AFP, HA, MDW, MNA, NPR, WAFA 1/21; MNA, PCHR 1/22; MNA 1/23; PCHR 1/29; OCHA 1/30)

The PLO Exec. Comm. meets in Ramallah to discuss the submission of a new draft res. to the UNSC. It would call for 1 year of negotiations sponsored by the UNSC’s permanent mbrs., and a 2-year timetable for the end of the Israeli occupation. (MNA 1/20)

U.S. Speaker of the House of Reps. John Boehner (R-OH) announces that Israeli PM Netanyahu has accepted his invitation to come to Washington and address a special meeting of Congress on Iran. The Obama admin. criticizes Boehner and Netanyahu for not informing the White House before today. Netanyahu will address Congress on 3/3. (HA, POL, REU, TOI 1/21; MDW 1/22)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of Khan Yunis detain 3 Palestinians as they attempt to cross the border fence into Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli forces conduct house searches and arrest raids nr. Ramallah and Jenin; patrol nr. Hebron and Salfit; demolish 30 dunams (around 7.4 acres) of wheat fields nr. Bethlehem; and deliver eviction orders to several Palestinian bedouin families in a village nr. Jericho. Israeli settlers level land so they can establish a road leading to an outpost s. of Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces fire sound bombs and tear gas at Palestinian students as they exit their elementary school in al-Tur, then arrest 1 of their parents. (MNA, WAFA 1/15; PCHR 1/22; OCHA 1/23)

In Cairo, the Arab League agrees to make the “necessary communications and consultations” with international partners to submit a new proposal on behalf of the Palestinians to the UNSC. Diplomats from 5 Arab countries will form a joint comm. to organize the resubmission, and PA Pres. Abbas agrees to respect the comm.’s decisions regarding timing. (AP, HA, JP, MNA, WAFA 1/15; TOI 1/17)

After meeting with the U.S. Consul Gen. to Israel and Palestine Michael Ratney in Ramallah, PA PM Hamdallah calls on the international community to pressure Israel into unfreezing its tax revenue transfers to the PA. (AJ, REU, WAFA, YA 1/15) 

Iranian FM Zarif meets with German FM Steinmeier in Berlin, then with EU foreign affairs chief Mogherini, to discuss the ongoing negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. In Geneva, reps. of Iran and the U.S. discuss the negotiations. (AFP 1/16; MNA 1/17)

In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at a junction between Bethlehem and Hebron, later alleging that the man was attempting to steal a car. The IDF raids the home of 2 PA security officers nr. Nablus, and Palestinian officials call it a provocative step. On a late-night arrest raid in Jenin r.c., Israeli soldiers shoot and injure a Palestinian man with rubber-coated metal bullets and arrest 4 others, sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents and arresting 1 more. Hours after unknown assailants shoot at an Israeli military vehicle nr. Abud village n. of Ramallah, Israeli forces conduct house-to-house raids in the village, fire stun grenades and flares, and shut down a road leading to a nearby monastery. The IDF also conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Salfit and Hebron; demolishes 1 Palestinian home and 2 animal shelters in a village nr. Ramallah; arrests a Palestinian outside the Gush Etzion settlement nr. Bethlehem. Separately, an Israeli settler runs over with his car 2 sheep belonging to a Palestinian nr. Nablus. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities reopen the Erez border crossing, having closed it on 1/8. IDF troops e. of Rafah open fire on agricultural land nr. the border fence, causing damage. Dozens of employees of the Hamas-run govt. protest outside the PA unity govt.’s headquarters in Gaza City, calling for their full salaries to be paid for the 1st time since 6/2. In East Jerusalem, unknown Israelis vandalize 11 Palestinian-owned vehicles in Bayt Safafa, puncturing tires and leaving racist pricetag graffiti. Israeli forces conduct a house search in al-‘Izzariya, arresting 2 Palestinians. In s. Israel, an Israeli police officer shoots and kills a 22-year-old Palestinian with live ammunition during an arrest raid in Rahat in the Negev, sparking clashes between the police and local Palestinians. Separately, Israeli forces demolish several steel structures in the nearby Palestinian bedouin village al-‘Araqib. This is the 80th time Israeli authorities have ordered demolitions in the village since 2010, when it was 1st targeted. (JP, MEE, MNA, NYT, TOI, WAFA 1/14; MNA, PCHR, WAFA 1/15; EI 1/16; PCHR 1/22; OCHA 1/23)

Hamas reactivates Gaza’s separate Palestinian Legislative Council and convenes a session of the body, a move that contravenes the national reconciliation deal that was announced on 4/23. No other parties attend the session. The decision comes after 2 weeks of increased tension between Hamas and the PA unity govt. (AFP, MNA, NYT 1/14; MNA 1/15)

PA Pres. Abbas meets with Egyptian pres. al-Sisi in Cairo to discuss Abbas’s proposed resubmission of the draft UNSC res. and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. (MNA, REU, WAFA 1/14)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets with Iranian FM Zarif in Geneva to discuss the negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. Kerry says he is hoping to “accelerate the process to make greater progress,” but he will not participate in the coming 3 days of bilateral talks or the broader talks between reps. of Iran and the full P5+1 on 1/18. (ALM 1/17)

In the Sinai Peninsula, the Sinai Province of the Islamic State kills 3 bedouins suspected of collaborating with Israel. (MNA 1/15)

In the Gaza Strip, employees of the ministries of public works, labor, justice, and women’s affairs—those led by Gaza-based ministers of the PA unity govt.—go on strike, protesting unpaid salaries since 6/2. In the West Bank, Palestinians throw stones at Israeli settlers’ vehicles nr. Sinjil, injuring 2 women. Israeli police arrest a settler in connection with the shooting of a Palestinian nr. Hebron on 1/10. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Jenin, Hebron, and Bethlehem; patrols nr. Jericho, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, Hebron, and Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians. (MNA 1/12; OCHA, PCHR 1/15)

Following up on the 1/11 meeting between political factions in Gaza, a Hamas spokesperson says that the group will make a political decision to quit the PA unity govt. if the crisis facing civil employees is not resolved. (MEMO 1/12; JP 1/13)

Egyptian authorities announce that they will not open the Rafah border crossing this week, reversing their 1/11 announcement. The decision comes after the Sinai Province of the Islamic State captures an Egyptian security officer nr. Shaykh Zuwayd. (MNA 1/12)

Israeli security forces shut down 3 Nazarethbased Muslim charities—Muslim Women for al-Aqsa, al-Fajr, and Ruad al-Aqsa—suspected of channeling funds to Hamas and inciting violence at Haram al-Sharif. (HA 1/12; AFP 1/13)

Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Rafah, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, seriously injuring 1 fisherman and destroying his boat. Meanwhile, Israeli forces level land nr. the border fence e. of Bayt Lahiya. In the West Bank, Israeli troops detain a senior Fatah official at a checkpoint e. of Bethlehem. Two Israeli settlers report to local IDF troops that they are being assaulted by 4 Palestinians nr. the Itamar settlement, prompting the soldiers and private settlement security guards to arrest the alleged assailants. The arrest sparks clashes between around 50 settlers and Palestinians from a nearby village; 2 of the Palestinians are shot and injured. (An internal IDF investigation will conclude that the initial call was erroneous.) (MNA, TOI, WAFA 1/3; OCHA 1/15; TOI, 1/20; WAFA 1/22)

In the West Bank, a Palestinian man is crushed to death in line at a checkpoint nr. Tulkarm, the same checkpoint where 1,000s of Palestinians protested poor conditions on 12/21. An Israeli settler hits a 10-year-old Palestinian boy with his car nr. Bethlehem, moderately injuring him. Overnight, 2 Israeli settlers throw Molotov cocktails at a Palestinian home nr. Hebron and leave racist price-tag graffiti. Israeli forces demolish a home nr. Hebron and raze a nearby agricultural area. IDF troops detain 8 Palestinian children outside Ofer prison nr. Ramallah, then fire tear gas canisters at their parents when they attempt to recover their children. They also arrest a 14-year-old Palestinian girl after she throws stones at Israeli settlers’ cars. Israeli settlers clash with Palestinians in Burin village, then IDF troops open fire on the Palestinians with live ammunition, injuring 4. Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Rafah, Israeli naval forces arrest 3 Palestinian fishermen. In East Jerusalem, unknown assailants throw stones at a bus in Shaykh Jarrah, lightly injuring 1 Palestinian woman. A Jewish Israeli vandalizes the Dormition Abbey nr. the Old City. Then, a Palestinian man stabs an Israeli settler in the back with a screwdriver nearby, moderately injuring him. Israeli police arrest a Palestinian on charges related to violent threats against Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely. (JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 12/31; WAFA 1/1; OCHA 1/15; DS 1/29)

Under the aegis of the State of Palestine, Pres. Abbas signs a request to join the ICC, and signs many other international treaties and conventions, at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Fatah at the presidential compound in Ramallah. The ICC will take up to 60 days to process the request. (MNA 12/30; AM, JP, MNA, NYT, 12/31; MNA, WAFA 1/1)

Hundreds of employees of the Hamas-run govt. in Gaza go on a 1-day strike, protesting the PA unity govt.’s decision on 12/30 to rehire civil servants who lost their jobs when Hamas came to power in 2007. (MNA 12/31; AFP 1/1)

Israel’s High Court of Justice rejects a petition to ban all punitive home demolitions, a policy resurrected following the 6/2014 abduction and killing of 3 Israeli settler teenagers. The court also rejects a petition to block the demolition of the Jabal Mukabir homes of the 2 Palestinians who attacked a West Jerusalem synagogue on 11/18. (Israel’s Supreme Court froze the demolition order for the synagogue attackers’ homes on 11/27.) It also, however, freezes the 2d order to demolish the home of the Palestinian who allegedly attempted to assassinate right-wing Jewish activist Yehuda Glick on 10/29. (HA, JP, TOI 12/31; HA 1/1)

In West Jerusalem, a Palestinian man succumbs to injuries sustained during a funeral procession on 9/7. Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Rafah, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats and detain 3 fishermen. In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers shoot and wound a Palestinian as they accompany Israeli settlers on an incursion nr. Nablus. The IDF patrols in Hebron, al-‘Arub r.c., and 1 village nearby; sets up 2 new checkpoints in a village nr. Bethlehem after raiding a school in the area on 12/28. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces detain 2 Palestinian women outside Haram al-Sharif; demolish 4 homes, a restaurant, and a butcher shop in Jabal Mukabir. (MNA, WAFA 12/30; PCHR 12/31; OCHA 1/15)

The UNSC rejects the amended Palestinian draft res., submitted by Jordan on 12/29, with 8 mbrs. voting in favor, 2 opposing, and 5 abstaining. The Palestinian leadership announces an emergency session on 12/31 to discuss its next steps. (AP, HA, MNA, REU 12/30; TOI, YA 12/31)

The PA unity govt. delegation that traveled to Gaza on 12/29 meets with local officials in Gaza City and works out an agreement on the civil servant employment crisis. Spokesperson Ihab Bseiso says that the PA will guarantee the positions of all 70,000 employees who were laid off when the Hamas-run govt. came to power in 2007 and offer remaining positions to employees of the Hamas-run govt., effectively firing all 50,000 employees hired by Hamas. Hamas officials criticize the agreement and dozens of former govt. employees demonstrate outside the meetings. (MNA, WAFA 12/30)

The U.S. imposes sanctions on 9 new targets that the Treasury Dept. says are either facilitating Iran’s efforts to avoid sanctions or contributing to human rights abuses. (JP, REU 12/30)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops violently disperse 2 separate groups of Palestinian protesters, injuring 3 with live ammunition nr. the Erez border crossing and 4 nr. Shuja‘iya. Separately, Israeli soldiers fire live ammunition at Palestinian farmers approaching the border fence nr. Khan Yunis, causing no injuries. Meanwhile, the Gaza power plant shuts down, having exhausted its fuel reserves. Scheduled power outages increase from 12 to 18 hours a day, on average, with all electricity consumed having been purchased from Israel and Egypt. Meanwhile, Hamas prevents 37 children orphaned during OPE from attending a 1-week publicity tour to Israel and the West Bank sponsored by an Israeli nongovernmental organization, saying that the trip’s goal was normalization. In the West Bank, an 8-year-old Palestinian from Nabi Salih is moderately injured when a leftover Israeli sound bomb explodes in his hand. IDF troops raid a school in a village s. of Bethlehem. Later, Israeli forces raze agricultural land in a village s. of Nablus, then set up earth mounds in the area in preparation for military exercises. The IDF also conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Nablus, Jenin, and Ramallah, as well as Askar r.c. and Jenin r.c.; patrols nr. Tulkarm, Hebron, Jenin, and Jericho. An Israeli settler hits a 7-year-old Palestinian boy with his car, moderately injuring him, before fleeing the area s. of Hebron. PA security forces conduct a late-night raid n. of Ramallah and arrest 1 Palestinian journalist. (MNA, NYT, WAFA 12/28; EI, MNA 12/29; YA 12/30; PCHR 12/31; OCHA 1/2)

Senior Hamas official Abu Marzuq criticizes the Palestinian leadership for amending the proposed UNSC res. without consulting Hamas. Meanwhile, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry calls PA Pres. Abbas and asks him to delay the submission of the amended res. until after the Israeli elections on 3/17/2015. (MNA, TOI 12/28; HA, TOI 12/29; ALM 12/30)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops open fire on Palestinians collecting raw materials close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun, injuring 1. Off the coast nr. Rafah, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen, causing no damage, and arrest 2. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 9 Palestinian-owned structures in Issawiyya and the E1 area nr. Jerusalem. Meanwhile, IDF soldiers uproot an estimated 600 almond trees nr. Nahalin village nr. Bethlehem. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron and in Jenin at night; patrols in 1 village each nr. Ramallah and Tulkarm in the morning, in 4 villages nr. Jenin and in Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Hebron at night. Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinianowned land nr. Salfit, damaging around 20 fruit trees. (MNA, UNOCHA 5/19; PCHR 5/22)

In his 1st public comment on the subject since 1/20, Iran’s Pres. Hassan Rouhani says that “in spite of the existing difficulties” he remains hopeful for a comprehensive deal with the P5+1 group over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. (AFP, IRNA 5/19)

The IDF strikes another 80 targets, including Gaza’s football stadium and smuggling tunnels on the Rafah border. Gaza’s Ministry of Health says that the Palestinian death toll surpasses 100, including over 30 women and children. The IDF puts the death toll at 95, and says 1/3 were civilians. Rescue workers continue to search for 2 missing persons in the rubble of the destroyed al-Dalou family home (see 11/18). Palestinian armed groups fire 42 rockets into Israel, bringing the total to 1,128 rockets since Israel’s operation began on 11/14; over 300 rockets have been intercepted by Iron Dome, and fewer than 40 have landed in populated areas. (AP, MNA, REU 11/19)

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffs a French-Qatari cease-fire initiative on the grounds that it could interfere with Egyptian mediation efforts (see 11/18). UN secy.-gen. Ban Ki-moon arrives in Cairo to discuss the cease-fire talks. Hamas chief Mishal meets with Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo, with the Egyptian side indicating that a cease-fire is close. Turkish PM Erdogan denounces Israel for conducting ‘‘terrorist attacks’’ in Gaza. A coalition of almost 40 international aid agencies issue an urgent call for a cease-fire; Amnesty International calls additionally for an arms embargo on Israel and Hamas. (Guardian, HA, WSJ 11/19)

In the West Bank, the IDF kills 2 Palestinians in separate incidents, as Palestinians continue to protest the attack on Gaza: 1 Palestinian from alNabi Salih dies of wounds he sustained on 11/17 when the IDF opened live fire on demonstrators, and the 2d Palestinian is shot dead by IDF troops in Hebron, who claimed they felt that their lives were in danger. At night, the IDF also conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Tubas and 1 nearby village, 1 village nr. Nablus, al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Hebron. A Jewish settler injures a Palestinian man in a deliberate hit-and-run nr. Ofra settlement, after a Palestinian demonstration against Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense. (MNA 11/19; PCHR 11/22; OCHA 11/27)

In East Jerusalem, PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Hanan Ashrawi addresses diplomats from Asia, the EU, Latin America, and the Middle East, calling on them to increase donor aid to the PA and to support a revived Palestinian statehood bid at the UN (see QU in JPS 165 for details). (NYT 8/14)

Israeli Jerusalem municipal officials approve construction of 12 commercial and hotel towers (24–33 floors each) on East Jerusalem’s Jabal Abu Ghunaym/Har Homa settlement site. The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin and Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Eliezer settlement nr. Bethlehem, escorted by the IDF, bulldoze and level 5 d. of Palestinian agricultural land and a well in nearby al-Khadir village; the leveling cuts off Palestinian access to another 11 d. of crop land. (PCHR 8/16; OCHA 8/18)

With Israel’s suspension of fuel shipments to Gaza since 8/5, rolling blackouts across Gaza increase fr. 8–10 hrs./day to 12 hrs./day. An uncorroborated report says that unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; conducts arrest raids, house searches in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning and 2 villages nr. Hebron and Jenin late at night. OCHA reports that since 8/1, the IDF has demolished 3 structures in the Bethlehem area: a restaurant, part of another building, and a local road used by Palestinian farmers to access their crop land. (Mivzak Live [Internet] 8/7; PCHR 8/9; OCHA 8/10)

Israel’s Finance Comm. allocates nearly $1.8 m. to move some structures at Migron settlement outpost to the site near Psagot where Migron settlers are to relocate. (JPI 8/17)

As many as 35 unidentified gunmen attack an Egyptian checkpoint near the Rafah border, fatally shooting 16 Egyptian security officers and wounding 3. Some of the assailants then steal 2 armored personnel carriers, which they pack with explosives and drive toward Kerem Shalom commercial crossing, where the borders of Egypt, Israel, and Gaza meet. The IDF calls in an air strike on the vehicles as they breach the border, killing at least 3 assailants. No group takes responsibility. Egypt seals the Rafah border crossing into Gaza as a precaution. Israel shuts the Israeli-Egypt side of Kerem Shalom and halts fuel shipments to Gaza through the Israel-Gaza side, but otherwise continues to allow limited imports of goods from Israel to Gaza. Hamas authorities in Gaza deny any Palestinian involvement, call the attack ‘‘terrorism,’’ and close smuggling tunnels from their side as well, stating that ‘‘Palestinian resistance factions are committed to fighting only against the Israeli occupation, and they launch their operations only from the Palestinian territories.’’ (MNA, NYT, WP 8/6; NYT 8/7)

An Israeli warplane makes an air strike on Rafah targeting 2 Tawhid and Jihad mbrs. as they ride a motorcycle through Rafah, assassinating Eid Oukal and wounding Ahmad Said Isma‘il; Israel accuses the men of being behind the 6/18 Sinai attack that killed an Israeli Palestinian worker and of plotting other crossborder attacks on Israeli civilians; no mention is made of the Sinai attack earlier in the day. Later, unidentified Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF responds by directing artillery fire and shooting from helicopters at the demolished Dahaniyya airport site and open areas e. of Rafah for several hours, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Ramallah. (NYT, PCHR 8/6; PCHR 8/9; OCHA 8/10)

The PA cancels plans to host a meeting in Ramallah of foreign envoys representing the Non-Aligned Movement to express solidarity with the Palestinians, stating that Israel has refused to grant entry permits to the representatives of Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Indonesia, and Malaysia on the grounds that their countries do not recognize the State of Israel. The PA reportedly (NYT 8/6) intended to announce plans to revive its UN statehood effort at the opening of the next UNGA session in 9/2012. The group was also expected to release a ‘‘Ramallah Declaration’’ denouncing Israeli settlement expansion. (NYT, WP 8/6)

Iran airs the confessions of more than a dozen alleged conspirators to the killing of 5 nuclear scientists since 2010, claiming that the suspects were trained in Israel by the Mossad. (WP 8/6)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; 1 rocket is intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome antimissile system. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron in the evening and nr. Hebron late at night. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on and Susia settlements nr. Hebron uproot at least 45 olive trees fr. a plot of nearby Palestinian land. OCHA reports that Israeli authorities in East Jerusalem demolished 1 Palestinian animal pen and forced a Palestinian family to demolish an extension to their home. In West Bank Area C, the IDF demolishes 3 Palestinian agricultural storehouses and 4 wells nr. Bethlehem and Hebron. (YA 7/24; PCHR 7/26; OCHA 7/27)

Pro-Israel Republican donor Sheldon Adelson, who previously pledged to spend $100 m. of his personal wealth to defeat Obama in the 2012 presidential campaign, agrees to give at least $6.5 m. to fund a new advertising campaign (word of mouth, social media, television) by the Republican Jewish Coalition aimed at drawing Jewish voters in the key battleground states of Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania away from Pres. Obama and to Republican candidate Mitt Romney. (NYT 7/25)

The IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 early in the morning and the other late at night; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Bet Ayn nr. Hebron uproot 47 olive and almond trees, and 10 grape arbors on nearby Palestinian land. Jewish settlers raze 14 d. of Palestinian agricultural land nr. Bethlehem to establish a settler-only road. (PCHR 7/26; OCHA 7/27)

U.S. intelligence officials assert, without offering evidence, that a Hizballah cell linked to Iran carried out the 7/18 suicide attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria in retaliation for Israel’s recent assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists. (NYT 7/20)

U.S. pres. Obama signs legislation to extend the terms of Israel’s loan guarantees through the end of 9/2016. Without the move, loan guarantees would have expired at the end of 9/2012. Since 2004 the U.S. has given Israel $9 b. in loan guarantees, of which Israel has used $5.2 b. (HA 7/22; Foreign Policy online 7/31)

Around this date (before Ramadan begins on 7/20), Israel, as a goodwill gesture to Abbas, advances the PA almost $45 m. in VAT taxes for 7/2012 to help it meet monthly budget expenditures. Israel notably makes the move just before a visit by U.S. secy. of state Hillary Clinton, though it says it was not asked to do so by the U.S. (JPI 8/3)

The IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Jericho in the morning; conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, in Jenin and 1 nearby village (synchronized), and in 1 village nr. Jericho; conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus. (PCHR 7/19; OCHA 7/20)

The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in 2 villages nr. Salfit (synchronized), in Jericho and 1 nearby village (synchronized), and 1 village each nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Adei Ad outpost nr. Nablus beat a Palestinian shepherd grazing his sheep nearby and kill his sheep; an Israeli guard fr. nearby Shilo settlement intervenes and the settlers flee; the guard summons Israeli border police, who photograph the scene and take the shepherd’s formal complaint. (PCHR 7/19; OCHA 7/20)

In Israel, 1,000s of Israelis demonstrate in Tel Aviv to mark the 1st anniversary of the launch of the 2011 social justice protests against the rising cost of living. During the protest, one of the prominent activists connected with the July 14 Movement, Moshe Silman, immolates himself and is critically injured (he dies on 7/20). (WP 7/17; NYT 7/21)

IDF troops on the c. Gaza border capture and arrest 2 Palestinians (including 1 teenager) attempting to sneak into Israel to find work. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Jericho, neighboring ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c., and 2 villages each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah in the morning; in Ramallah, 2 nearby villages, and 1 village nr. Qalqilya in the afternoon; and in Jericho late at night. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Qalqilya in the afternoon; and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, and Ramallah late at night. (PCHR 7/12; OCHA 7/13)

Hamas authorities in Gaza demolish 200 residential structures (180 belonging to 1 clan) in the Abu Amrah area of Gaza City, saying they were built without permission on ‘‘state land.’’ Some families are offered modest compensation. (OCHA 8/3)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for recyclable goods in the former settlement sites, wounding 1 Palestinian. Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. OCHA reports that over the past 3 days, Israel has allowed Gaza authorities to import 20,000 tons of construction aggregates that have been stored at the Sufa crossing since it was closed in 10/2007. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Jericho and Ramallah in the morning; in 2 villages nr. Jenin and Jericho in the afternoon; and in Jericho, 1 nearby village, and 2 villages nr. Ramallah late at night. Jewish settlers fr. Taffuh settlement nr. Nablus cut down at least 120 olive trees in the nearby Palestinian village of Yatma. Jewish settlers also seize 5 d. of Palestinian agricultural land nr. al-Khadir village nr. Bethlehem and install a mobile home. (TOI 6/5; PCHR 7/12; OCHA 7/13)

Ha’Aretz journalist Uri Blau, who used leaked classified government documents for several reports he published, confesses to reduced charges of possessing classified information without authorization but ‘‘with no intention to harm national security’’ in exchange for 4 mos. community service. (WP 7/6) (see 5/31/12)

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney announces plans for a 2-day visit to Israel before he formally accepts the Republican nomination. He plans to meet with Israeli PM Netanyahu, PA PM Salam Fayyad, U.S. amb. to Israel Daniel Shapiro, and leaders of Israel’s Labor party. He has visited Israel 3 times previously, most recently in 1/2011. (NYT, WP 7/3)

An Israeli drone makes a predawn air strike on a Palestinian rocket-firing team nr. Dayr al-Balah, missing them and causing no injuries, but damaging 2 homes. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Qalqilya during the day; raids and searches a Palestinian home nr. Jenin in the afternoon; and conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm, and nr. Bethlehem and Qalqilya. (PCHR 7/5; OCHA 7/13)

Hamas authorities suspend the CEC’s work a day before voter registration is scheduled to open across Gaza, accusing Fatah authorities of having intimidated Hamas supporters in the West Bank to keep them from registering there. Fatah spokesman Fayiz Abu Aita calls the Hamas action a ‘‘suspension of the reconciliation process.’’ (NYT 7/3)

In Israel, public debate intensifies regarding a 2/2012 High Court decision to order the 2002 Tal Law, exempting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students from military service, to expire on 7/31 and to move toward a universal draft. Fearing a coalition split over the issue, Israeli PM Netanyahu disbands a committee he had charged with forming the new policy on national military service. Instead, he orders the leaders of the parties in his coalition to draft the policy proposal, stating that if no agreement can be reached by 7/31, he will instruct the IDF to ‘‘draft according to its needs’’ but take ‘‘into consideration the various publics so as to prevent a rift in the nation.’’ Kadima head Mofaz, who joined the coalition based on a pledge by Netanyahu to move toward a universal draft, calls the move a ‘‘crass’’ violation of their coalition agreement. (NYT 7/3; WT 7/4; WP 7/5)

The Palestinians postpone indefinitely the Abbas-Mofaz mtg. announced on 6/28 and set for 7/1. Though no official reason is given, insiders say (WP 7/1) that Abbas came under strong pressure from other Palestinians not to meet. (WP 7/1)

The IDF patrols in 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah in the morning; and in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 each nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Qalqilya, and Tulkarm late at night. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah. (PCHR 7/5; OCHA 7/13)