The Palestine Chronology

During an undisclosed operation in southern Gaza, undercover Israeli special forces open fire on Hamas fighters from a moving car in Khuza‘a, sparking an exchange of heavy fire; 1 Israeli soldier and 1 Hamas fighter are killed and another Israeli soldier is critically injured. While the Israeli special forces are still in Gaza, the Israeli Air Force targets armed Palestinian fighters near Khuza‘a with a number of air strikes, killing 6, including a senior member of Hamas’s military wing. After the strikes, unidentified Palestinians launch at least 17 rockets and other projectiles into southern Israel. Three are intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system; the rest land in open areas, causing no damage or injuries. Israeli artillery and aircraft then strike more than 50 sites across Gaza, causing dozens of Palestinian injuries and extensive damage. Separately, dozens of right-wing Israeli activists block the road leading to the Kerem Shalom border crossing, preventing trucks bearing basic commodities and fuel to enter Gaza for hours in protest of the violence at the border protests on 11/9. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats near Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse dozens of Palestinian students at a rally commemorating the late Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat in Hebron; there are no reported injuries. They also arrest 5 Palestinians and issue 1 arrest summons during late-night raids near Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Bethlehem; deliver stop-work orders to a Palestinian school under renovation in Hebron; and patrol in and around Qalqilya and Hebron. (MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, YA 11/11; HA, HA, JP, JT, MNA 11/12; PCHR 11/15)

Thousands of Palestinians gather at rallies across the West Bank to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the death of former Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat. IDF troops violently disperse them in central Hebron, sparking minor clashes; 2 Palestinians are arrested. Meanwhile, Israeli police arrest a Palestinian man near Ramallah, allegedly for planning an attack in a nearby settlement. IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians during latenight raids near Jenin and Ramallah, and patrol near Tulkarm, Salfit, and Hebron. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian agricultural lands near Juhur al-Dik, causing no serious damage or injuries. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 11/9; PCHR 11/16)

Palestinians across the West Bank demonstrate in commemoration of the 12th anniversary of Yasir Arafat’s death. IDF troops violently disperse demonstrations in Bethlehem, Ramallah, al-Bireh, and Tulkarm injuring at least 5 Palestinians. Separately, IDF troops shoot and injure a Palestinian as he throws a Molotov cocktail at them nr. Ramallah; arrest 7 Palestinians during late-night raids nr. Jenin, Tubas, and Nablus, as well as in Qalqilya; and patrol during the day nr. Qalqilya and Hebron. Israeli forces demolish 2 agricultural structures nr. Qalqilya. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Gaza City and Nuseirat r.c., causing no damage or injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian farmers working nr. Gaza City, causing no injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 4 Palestinians during raids in Ras al-Amud and Silwan. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 11/10; PCHR 11/17)

In the most high-profile incident of the day, undercover Israeli soldiers raid a hospital in Hebron and arrest a Palestinian patient—an alleged suspect in the stabbing of an Israeli settler on 25 October—and shoot and kill the man’s cousin. Meanwhile, Palestinians across the West Bank demonstrate in commemoration of the 11-year anniversary of former PLO chair Yasir Arafat’s death. IDF troops violently disperse them in al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron, w. of Tulkarm, 2 areas nr. Ramallah (al-Bireh and Jalazun r.c.), and Bethlehem; at least 70 Palestinians are injured. Elsewhere, IDF troops conduct a series of raids in Qalandia r.c. nr. Ramallah, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinians youths; 13 Palestinians are injured. Palestinian youths throw stones at Israeli settlers’ vehicles nr. Nablus, causing no damage. The IDF then raids stores in a nearby village, sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; there are no serious injuries. The IDF also conducts raids in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, Nablus and 2 nearby villages, 1 village nr. Tulkarm, Jalazun r.c. and 1 village nr. Ramallah, 2 villages nr. Jenin, as well as 3 villages, Aida r.c. and al-Azza r.c. nr. Bethlehem, arresting 44 Palestinians and issuing an arrest summons to 1. Off Gaza’s coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats, causing no damage or injuries. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raid a school in Silwan, arresting a Palestinian youth and issuing the school’s principal an arrest summons. They arrest 4 other Palestinians on raids in the Old City and Issawiyya. (MNA, WAFA 11/11; HA, JP, MNA, PCHR, WAFA, YA 11/12; PCHR 11/19)

The Jerusalem Municipality approves the construction of 891 new units in a settlement nr. Bayt Jala. (WAFA 11/11)

Israel’s Knesset approves, 55–31, the 1st reading of a bill that will allow the govt. to bar anyone who calls for a boycott of Israel from entering the country. (HA, JP 11/11)

The EU Commission adopts an interpretive notice “on indication of origin of goods from the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967,” including guidelines requiring products imported from Israel’s West Bank settlements to be labeled as such. (HA, JP, MNA, REU, YA 11/11; YA 11/12)

In the West Bank, IDF troops clash with residents in a village nr. Qalqilya during a raid, with 1 Palestinian wounded by a tear gas canister striking him on the hand. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning, and in 1 village and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night; patrols in Tulkarm and 1 village each nr. Jenin and Ramallah in the morning, in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Jenin in the afternoon, and in 2 villages each nr. Hebron and Jenin, and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. IDF troops also demolish water wells and tents in 3 locations across the n. Jordan Valley. (MNA 12/3; PCHR 12/5)

A group of French experts rules out polonium poisoning as the cause of death for the late Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat, differing from the conclusions reached by Swiss scientists last mo. (See document A2 in JPS 170 for extended excerpts of the Swiss team’s report.) (AFP 12/3)

Andreas Reinicke, EU special rep. for the Middle East peace process, tells journalists at the European External Action Service in Brussels that at least half the EU’s mbr. states currently support labelling products manufactured in Israeli settlements. (ToI 12/3)

Palestinian UNRWA workers in the West Bank go on strike, protesting low salaries and the agency’s decision to not renew the contracts of 55 workers. (MEMO 12/3)

In a televised interview, Hizballah leader Shaykh Hasan Nasrallah accuses Saudi Arabia of being behind the suicide bombing attacks that targeted the Iranian Embassy in Beirut on 11/19. He dismisses claims that differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran are sectarian, saying that they are based on Riyadh’s desire to be the dominant regional influence. (AP, DS, REU 12/3)

Israel officially acknowledges for the 1st time that it is providing humanitarian aid along the border fence for victims of Syria’s civil war, an announcement made by DM Ya’alon during a visit to the occupied Golan Heights. (AP 12/3)

The head of IDF Central Command Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon orders that fences nr. Ofra and Adam settlements will be removed, 3 months after a deadline the IDF had committed to at Israel’s High Court of Justice. The unauthorized sections of fence are blocking Palestinian farmers from their land. The IDF will defend the settlements with patrols instead. (HA 3/10)

In the West Bank the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, 1 village nr. Ramallah in the afternoon, and in 1 village nr. Tulkarm at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Bethlehem, in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, in 3 villages nr. Hebron, in 1 village nr. Jenin and 1 in village nr. Tulkarm at night. (PCHR 3/14)

Yasser al-Wadia, the general coordinator for independent Palestinian political figures, says that Palestinian faction officials, including representatives of Hamas and Fatah, will meet in 4/2013 for renewed national unity talks with Egyptian mediation. (MNA 3/10)

Palestinians across the West Bank rally after Friday prayers to protest the 2/23 death of Arafat Jaradat in Israeli detention, clashing with the IDF in many locations. IDF soldiers use live fire and rubber-coated metal bullets against protesters at Qalandia checkpoint (injuring 6 Palestinians, including 1 seriously) and outside the Ofer detention center nr. Ramallah (injuring fifteen) Israeli soldiers also open fire on Palestinian boys throwing stones nr. al-Jazloun r.c. north of Ramallah, seriously injuring 1. In Hebron, Palestinians demonstrate to mark the anniversary of the 1994 massacre of Palestinian worshippers by a Jewish settler at the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, leading to clashes with the IDF that leave 2 Palestinians injured. Meanwhile, IDF forces violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements and occupation in 4 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, al-Nabi Salih, Budrus, and Ni‘lin), 2 villages nr. Qalqilya (Jayyous and Kafr Qaddum), 1 village nr. Salfit (Burqin), 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma’sara), and on a road south of Hebron. There are 11 injuries total; 5 in Bil‘in, 4 in al-Nabi Salih, and 2 in Budrus. PA PM Salam Fayyad attends the protest in Bil‘in. The IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah in the morning, in 1 village nr. Tulkarm and in the center of Hebron in the afternoon (clashes in latter, 1 wounded), and in 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Silwan, al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, and in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. In the Gaza Strip, IDF soldiers open fire on Palestinians picnicking close to the border fence nr. Jabaliya r.c., injuring 3. Later in the day, IDF soldiers open fire on Palestinians close to the border fence nr. Bayt Lahiya, injuring 1. (JP, MNA 3/1; PCHR 3/7)

U.S. Pres. Barack Obama phones Russian pres. Vladimir Putin, to discuss Iran and Syria. The White House says Putin and Obama agree to hold talks in 6/2013 on the sidelines of a meeting of leading industrial nations in Northern Ireland. (AP 3/1)

An Israeli official tells the media that U.S.-Israeli efforts to soften the wording of the Palestinians’ resolution for the UNGA have failed, though reports indicate that the U.S. is still trying to convince key countries not to support it. Other reports suggest that the UK will back the bid if Abbas agrees not to use the upgrade to take Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. France says it will vote in favor. (Guardian, HA, JP, REU 11/27)

Investigators exhume the remains of Yasser Arafat in Ramallah in order to seek possible traces of poison. A Palestinian medical team worked with Swiss, French, and Russian forensic teams, before the tomb is resealed. French magistrates opened a murder inquiry into Arafat’s death in August, following findings by a Swiss institute of high levels of polonium on Arafat’s clothing supplied by his widow Suha, as part of an Al Jazeera investigation. (AFP, REU 11/27)

Former Israeli FM Tzipi Livni announces that she is leaving the Kadima party and will run in the forthcoming elections as the head of a new party, Hatnua. A handful of Kadima MKs resign from the party and are expected to join her new party. (YA 11/27)

In Gaza, a Fatah delegation joins Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh for a ceremony to honor families bereaved in Operation Pillar of Defense. Meanwhile, Palestinian factions hold a meeting in Gaza Strip and agree to hold a joint rally raising Palestinian flags to support the UN bid. (MNA 11/27)

In the Gaza Strip, the IDF opens fire on farmers and civilians nr. Jabalya at the border fence, causing no injuries. The IDF opens fire nr. Rafah at Palestinians nr. the border, wounding 1. The IDF also fires warning shots at Palestinians collecting scrap metal nr. Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Jenin, and conducts house searches and arrest raids in Tulkarm at night. Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails launch a 1-day hunger strike in solidarity with long-term hunger strikers Ayman Sharawna and Samer Issawi. (MNA 11/27; PCHR 11/29)

The IDF carries out air strikes on a number of targets in the Gaza Strip, killing 1 armed Palestinian and wounding a number of civilians. Palestinian groups fire around 100 rockets and mortars into Israel, causing 3 injuries and structural damage. Israeli PM Netanyahu tells the weekly cabinet meeting that the army is prepared to intensify its attacks; a number of ministers urge an escalation in military operations (such as assassinations), as well as other measures, like cutting off electricity. A source in Netanyahu’s office says that the PM is preparing international public opinion for a military operation in Gaza. (AP, HA 11/11; JP 11/12; PCHR 11/14)

U.S. pres. Barack Obama tells PA pres. Abbas that his administration opposes a Palestinian bid for non-state membership of the UN. Abbas tells a rally in Ramallah marking the anniversary of Yasir Arafat’s death that the PA is under huge pressure to stop the UN initiative, but that they would continue regardless, as it is intended to save the two-state solution. (AFP, JP 11/11)

PA pres. Abbas announces that Russia will join an international investigation into whether Yasir Arafat was murdered. French and Swiss experts will exhume the late Palestinian leader’s body later in the month, after an Al Jazeera report in July suggested he was murdered with polonium. (REU 11/11)

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Bethlehem (firing rubber bullets and tear gas at children going to school) in the morning; patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 1 village nr. Ramallah. Israeli police deliver notices to 13 Israeli activists, banning them from taking part in weekly demonstrations in West Bank villages. (972mag 11/11; PCHR 11/14)

Israeli forces fire into Syria in what the military calls a warning, after stray munitions from fighting between Syrian troops and rebels hit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The incident, described by Israel Radio as the 1st direct engagement of the Syrian military on the Golan since the countries’ 1973 war, highlights international fears that Syria’s civil war could ignite wider regional conflict. An Israeli security source said the military fired in the direction of a Syrian army mortar crew that had launched a shell that overshot the Golan disengagement fence on Sunday, exploding near a Jewish settlement without causing casualties. (REU 11/11)

In New York, Secy. of State Clinton and Netanyahu meet for 7 hrs. (including at least 2 hrs. one-on-one) to finalize an incentives package and discuss other steps toward reviving peace talks. (NYT, WP 11/12)

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border shell an open area and vacant home e. of Abasan village where a group of armed Palestinians were assembling, causing no reported casualties. In the West Bank, the IDF enters Jit village nr. Qalqilya to evacuate and close a secondary school where children were holding an assembly commemorating the 6th anniversary of Yasir Arafat’s death; sends undercover units into Jab‘a village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, raiding a home and detaining 1 Palestinian; patrols in Zabbuba village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no injuries; conducts late-night house searches in and around Hebron and in Bil‘in, making no arrests; conducts late night patrols without incident in Tulkarm town and r.c. Jewish settlers stone Palestinian vehicles on the Nablus–Ramallah road. (OCHA 11/24; PCHR 11/25)

The IDF sends 2 tanks, 2 armored personnel carriers to take up positions in the fmr. Nisanit settlement site nr. the n. Gaza border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm town and r.c. and in Bethlehem (arresting Change and Reform PC mbr. Khalid Tafish), Ramallah (arresting Change and Reform PC mbr. Salih). On the 3d anniversary of Yasir Arafat’s death, 1,000s of Fatah supporters hold a memorial rally in Ramallah. (NYT, WP 11/13; PCHR 11/15)

IDF plainclothesmen fatally shoot wanted al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (AMB) mbrs. Ahmad Abahra and Muhammad Zayid as their car crosses a checkpoint in Jenin in an apparent assassination. The IDF also erects a new observation tower nr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron; sends troops into Silwad nr. Ramallah, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding and arresting 2; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, nr. Tulkarm; begins work on a new segment of the separation wall northwest of Ramallah that is expected to seize at least 5,330 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of land in Abud village; bulldozes 26 d. of land outside Bethlehem for construction of a permanent IDF post. Palestinians in Bethlehem report that for the past few days, the IDF has imposed new arrangements at the entrances to the city, requiring tourists entering and exiting to leave their busses, enter a transit hall for passport and baggage checks and customs processing that last up to 2 hrs. The Israel Lands Admin. issues tenders for construction of 13 new housing units in Ma’ale Adumim settlement nr. Jerusalem; the Israeli Housing Min. issues tenders for construction of infrastructure projects in Adam, Ariel, Ma’ale Adumim settlements. Jewish settlers beat a Palestinian harvesting his olive trees in Awarta. In Gaza, 100s of AMB mbrs. fire rifles in the air, defying the ban on carrying weapons in public, calling for reform within Fatah, demanding jobs and an international investigation into the 11/04 death of Yasir Arafat based on rumors (thus far unsubstantiated) that he was poisoned. In Nablus, AMB mbrs. protesting a recent PA crackdown on illegal weapons and criminal activity fire on PA police, leaving 1 PA policeman wounded. (Arab Hotel Association press release, PCHR, REU, XIN, YA 11/17; HA, NYT, WP, WT 11/18; PCHR 11/24)

Likud PM Ariel Sharon agrees to the demand of his coalition partner, newly elected Labor leader Amir Peretz, to hold early elections in 2/06 or 3/06. (BBC, WT 11/17; NYT, WP 11/18)

The IDF sends 50 tanks into an area around Morag, bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes and 46 d., searches other homes, arrests at least 10 Palestinians; fires on residential areas of Nablus; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah. The National and Islamic Higher Coordinating Comm. of the Intifada organizes marches in Ramallah, Tulkarm in support of ailing Arafat. (XIN 11/8; VOP 11/8 in WNC 11/10; PRCS 11/11)

The IDF continues operations in Jenin for a 3d day, firing on stone-throwing youths, conducting arrest raids and house searches; demolishes 7 Palestinian homes in Rafah; confiscates 308 d. of Palestinian land in Shufa nr. Tulkarm for military purposes; bulldozes 31 d., 3 wells nr. Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’, al-‘Aza, al-Khadir. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Shvut Rachel chase Palestinian olive harvesters away fr. their groves; the IDF intervenes, allowing Palestinians to continue the harvest. (HA, PM 10/29; VOI 10/29 in WNC 10/30; PRCS 10/30; PCHR 11/4)

Arafat arrives at a military hospital in Paris. Before leaving Ramallah, he authorizes Abbas, who is secy. gen. of the PLO Exec. Comm. and the dep. secy. of the Fatah Central Comm., to assume responsibility for day-to-day affairs of the PLO and Fatah in the territories. (Technically, Faruq Qaddumi, as secy. of the Fatah Central Comm., automatically becomes Fatah chmn. in Arafat’s absence, but since he based in Tunis, Abbas, as dep. secy., assumes his duties in the territories.) (BBC, HA, MM, WT 10/29; AFP, HJ, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, JAZ, al-Quds, PSCT, VOI, VOP 10/29 in WNC 10/30; NYT, WP, WT 10/30; MM 11/1; WJW 11/4; MEI 11/5)

The IDF send troops into Nablus and neighboring Bayt Furik, firing on stonethrowing youths, shells residential areas, wounding 5; fires on Palestinians waiting to cross a checkpoint e. of Jerusalem, wounding 1; shells residential areas of Rafah; fires on residential areas of Balata r.c., Brazil r.c., Dayr Ghassana nr. Ramallah, Tulkarm; fires on a PSF observation post in Rafah, injuring 1 PSF officer; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bethlehem, 1 in Dahaysha r.c.; raids, checks identification of everyone in a PSF office nr. Hebron. (VOI 8/8 in WNC 8/10; PCHR 8/12)

PA Planning M Nabil Qassis resigns to accept a position as pres. of Birzeit University. Arafat does not immediately name a replacement. (PSCT 8/7 in WNC 8/10; NYT, WP, XIN 8/8; PR 8/11)

The IDF raids Nablus, fatally shoots local Islamic Jihad military cmdr. Shadi Salim in an apparent assassination, severely beats a 2d Palestinian. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dahaysha r.c. and nr. Ramallah, Tulkarm; fatally shoots a Palestinian who allegedly attempts to infiltrate Gaza’s Gan Or settlement; fires on residential areas of Rafah. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol in Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during the 7/22 IDF raid on Bayt Hanun; a 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received during the 5/18 IDF raid on Rafah. (HA 6/23; VOI, VOP 6/23 in WNC 6/25; PCHR 6/24; PR 6/30; PCHR 7/1)

Egyptian envoy Sulayman presents Arafat, PA PM Ahmad Qurai‘, Sharon with a detailed timetable for moving forward with Sharon’s disengagement plan in a way that would link disengagment to the road map, a comprehensive cease-fire. (AP, MM 6/23; MENA, VOI, VOP 6/23 in WNC 6/25; MM 6/24; AYM, VOP 6/24 in WNC 6/26; NYT 6/25; Globes 7/8 in WNC 7/9)

The IDF launches a major predawn raid on Khan Yunis, fatally shooting 2 Palestinians, wounding 23, demolishing 34 Palestinian homes completely, 8 partially before withdrawing during the day; reinvades Khan Yunis after dark, demolishing another 16 Palestinian homes completely, 1 partially. During the day, IDF also deploys troops to surround Arafat’s headquarters in Ramallah; shells residential areas of the Old City of Nablus, Rafah; fires on stonethrowing youths nr. Nisanit settlement; conducts arrest raids, bulldozes 10 dunams of land in Wadi al-Silqa; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Arub r.c., Jenin, Nablus, al-Qarara, and nr. Dayr al-Balah. Nr. Tulkarm, a 10-yr.-old Palestinian is killed, 2 children are wounded when they accidentally detonate unexploded IDF ordnance while playing. A 17-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received on 4/23. (BBC, MM, PCHR, PM, WP, XIN 5/4; VOP 5/4 in WNC 5/6; WT 5/5; PCHR 5/6)

The Quartet (the European Union, Russia, UN, and U.S.) gives qualified endorsement to Sharon’s disengagement plan. (MM, WP 5/4; FT, JTA, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 5/5; VOP 5/5 in WNC 5/7; MM 5/6; AYM 5/9 in WNC 5/12; VOP 5/11 in WNC 5/13)

Fearing an Israeli attack, Arafat expels 20 wanted AMB mbrs. fr. his Ramallah headquarters, where they have been hiding for several mos. in fear the IDF will assassinate them. Later in Tulkarm r.c., the IDF fatally shoots 3 AMB mbrs. in an apparent assassination but it is not known whether they were among the 20 fr. Ramallah. In continuing clashes in Bayt Lahiya, the IDF fatally shoots a 9-yr.-old Palestinian girl and a 16-yr.-old Palestinian boy, bulldozes a center for handicapped Palestinians and 1 Palestinian home; a 4-yr.-old Palestinian girl dies of tear gas inhalation. The IDF also sends tanks, 25 bulldozers into Rafah, demolishing 22 Palestinian homes completely and 2 partially, leaving 60 families homeless; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Dayr al-Balah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Tubas. Palestinians fire an antitank missile at an IDF post outside Kefar Darom settlement, seriously injuring 2 IDF soldiers. The IDF retaliates by tearing up nearby Palestinian farmland with tanks, ordering a Palestinian family to evacuate their home. Late in the evening, unidentified assailants attack, severely beat AFP photographer Jamal Aruri outside his Ramallah home. (AFP, BBC, MM, PCHR 4/22; MA, VOI, YA 4/22 in WNC 4/24; AFP, NYT, WP 4/23; VOI, YA 4/23 in WNC 4/27; NYT, WP, WT 4/24; PR 4/28; PCHR 4/29; PR 5/5)

In Gaza, 4 armed Palestinians in jeeps disguised to look like IDF jeeps try to attack the IDF post at Erez crossing: the 1st attacker detonates his jeep outside a gate, apparently as a diversion; the 2d attacker drives to a PA Preventive Security Forces (PSF) post at the crossing, detonates his jeep, killing himself, 2 PSF officers, wounding 19 PSF officers, Palestinian taxi drivers; the 3d and 4th attackers crash their jeep into the IDF post, trade gunfire with IDF soldiers before being shot dead; no IDF soldiers are injured. The AMB, Hamas, Islamic Jihad issue a joint statement accepting responsibility, naming 2 AMB, 1 Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbr. as the attackers. The IDF withdraws troops surrounding Arafat’s Ramallah compound (see 3/5); lifts a curfew on Husan that has been in place since 2/27; fatally shoots a PSF officer in Tulkarm and fires on a PSF post in Bayt Hanun (wounding 1 PSF officer) for no apparent reason; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, nr. Hebron; bulldozes 15 dunams of land along the Hebron–Bethlehem road for construction of a 2-km fence to protect Jewish settler vehicles traveling on a nearby bypass road. Jewish settlers fr. Hebron raze 110 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Yatta (see 2/29). (NYT, WP, WT 3/7; PR 3/10; LAW, PCHR 3/11)

Before dawn, the IDF launches a major raid on al-Amari r.c. in Ramallah that lasts 16 hrs., sending in nearly 100 armored vehicles supported by helicopters to attack Hamas targets; the IDF warns the PA before entering Ramallah, promises that no operations will take place nr. PA head Yasir Arafat’s headquarters. During the raid 3 Hamas mbrs. and an 11-yr.-old Palestinian boy are killed, 29 Hamas mbrs. are arrested, 9 youths who throw stones at troops are wounded, 2 Palestinian homes (1 in al-Amari r.c., 1 in Ramallah) are demolished. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Qalqilya, Rafah, Tulkarm town and r.c., and villages around Nablus. Israel begins construction of a new Jewish settlement neighborhood in East Jerusalem called Golden View. (AP, JP, MM, NYT 12/1; VOI, VOP, YA 12/1 in WNC 12/3; NYT, WP 12/2; LAW, PCHR 12/4; MEI 12/5)

In Geneva, some 150 Israelis and Palestinians involved in the drafting of the unofficial Geneva Accord hold a formal unveiling of their peace initiative at a ceremony attended by fmr. U.S. pres. Jimmy Carter and addressed byfmr. Polish pres. Lech Walesa, fmr. South African pres. Nelson Mandela. Arafat does not endorse the details of the plan, but issues a statement declaring it a “brave and courageous initiative.” Sharon continues to denounce it as “subversive.” (BBC, HA, MM, NYT 12/1; MENA, QA, VOP 12/1 in WNC 12/3; HA, JP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/2; ITAR-TASS, Le Monde, XIN 12/2 in WNC 12/4; PR 12/3; QA 12/3 in WNC 12/6; MM, WJW 12/4; MEI 12/5; PR 12/10; JPI 12/12)

In an extensive New York Times interview, Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad urges the U.S. to support the resumption of Israeli-Syrian peace talks. The U.S. brushes off the overture. (NYT 12/1; VOI, YA 12/1 in WNC 12/3; SANA 12/1, 12/2 in WNC 1/6; MM, WT 12/2; MM 12/3; MA 12/3 in WNC 12/4; MM 12/4; THWR 12/5, THWR, Tishrin 12/6 in WNC 1/9; MM 12/8, 12/10)

A female Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device in a Haifa restaurant, killing 14 Israeli Jews, 5 Israeli Arabs, wounding around 50. (The bomber, Hanadi Taysir Jaradat, who had just graduated fr. law school in Jordan, watched as IDF undercover units assassinated her brother and cousin, both Islamic Jihad mbrs., outside their family home in Jenin on 6/12/03.) Israel says Arafat is to blame for failing to order the PSF to take steps to dismantle Islamic Jihad. Bush says the bombing “underscores once again the responsibility of the Palestinian authorities to fight terror,” says “the new Palestinian cabinet must dedicate itself to dismantling the infrastructure of terror,” does not call for Israeli restraint; Powell also phones Israeli FM Silvan Shalom to express condolences and strong condemnation of the attack, but does not urge restraint. In response, the IDF shells, demolishes an empty Palestinian home in Gaza City, and empty garage in Bureij r.c.; makes a failed assassination attempt on an Islamic Jihad mbr. in central Gaza, firing missiles at him in an open field, but missing him; moves troops into Jenin. Mbrs. of the Israeli peace group Gush Shalom, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) surround Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters to act as human shields should Israel attempt to “remove” him. During the day, the IDF also raids Tulkarm r.c., assassinates AMB mbr. Sirhan Biharan Hassin Sirhan, whom Israel says killed 5 Israelis in Kibbutz Metzer on 11/10/02, also killing a 9-yr.-old Palestinian bystander; fires on residential areas of Rafah. A Palestinian toddler dies of injuries received on 10/2; a 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received in 2002. (GS, HA 10/4; AFP, MENA, VOP 10/4, AFP, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, al-Quds, VIRI, VOP, XIN 10/5 in WNC 10/7; NYT, WP, WT 10/5; MM, WP 10/6; al-Ra’i 10/6 in WNC 10/8; HA, MM, NYT 10/7; PR, WP 10/8; PCHR, WJW 10/9; MEI 10/10; MM 10/17)

The IDF declares the Ramallah–al-Bireh region a closed military zone, erects additional checkpoints on all roads leading to Ramallah; tightens Palestinian movement in the Qalqilya, Tulkarm regions; fires on a group of Palestinians vandalizing the separation wall outside Ramallah, killing a 14- yr.-old Palestinian boy; conducts arrest raids targeting the AMB in Nablus, firing on residential areas; bulldozes 8 Palestinian homes and dynamites 1 in Rafah, 4 nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, Rantis. Across the occupied territories, 1,000s of Palestinians rally in support of Arafat; the IDF fires on demonstrators in Kefar Darom, wounding 7. Palestinians fire a mortar at Netzarim, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, NYT, WP 9/15; YA 9/15 in WNC 9/17; PCHR 9/18; HA 9/26)

The IDF seals the West Bank and Gaza and tightens restrictions on Palestinian movements (including reimposing all Gaza checkpoints removed after the Palestinian ceasefire declaration on 6/29), expecting retaliation for its 9/6 attempt to assassinate Shaykh Yasin. In Khan Yunis, the IDF fires 4 missiles at the home of Hamas mbr. ‘Abd al-Salam Abu Musa, claiming it is a Hamas arsenal; Abu Musa escapes moments before the attack, which injures 15 bystanders, damages 9 surrounding homes. The IDF alsoarrests PA official Akram Tubasi on charges of smuggling weapons fr. Egypt to Gaza; demolishes a Palestinian home in Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Jaba’, Khan Yunis, Qalqilya, Ramallah; fires on residential areas of Rafah. Hamas mbrs. detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol in Gaza, lightly wounding 3 soldiers. (Israel National News 9/7; NYT, WP, WT 9/8; PCHR 9/11)

Arafat nominates PC speaker and Oslo architect Ahmad Qurai‘ to replace Abbas as PM. Qurai‘ says he would accept the nomination, provided he receives assurances of cooperation fr. the EU, Israel, U.S. (AP, BBC, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/8; HA, NYT, WP, WT 9/9; AYM, ITAR-TASS 9/9 in WNC 9/11; MM 9/10)

The IDF seals the West Bank and Gaza; surrounds, tightens closures on all Palestinian cities; sends additional tanks to the outskirts of Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, detaining 17 Palestinians, including relatives of the 8/19 bomber; fires on residential areas of Rafah. Late in the evening, the IDF imposes curfews on, sends tanks and troops into Hebron (raiding, searching 3 mosques), Jenin, Nablus (where residents report hearing helicopters, machine gun fire through most of the night), Tulkarm (where the IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian, wounds 7). Israel also opens the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif to non-Muslims without agreement of the Waqf; some 150 Jews under police protection visit the site. (HA, REU 8/20; YA 8/20 in WNC 8/22; MM, NYT, PCHR, PM, WP, WT 8/21)

Abbas convenes the PA Executive Authority (EA, or cabinet) to discuss how to respond to the 8/19 suicide bombing; puts 4 recommendations to PA head Yasir Arafat for approval, threatening to resign if he does not accept them all, which he does. (HA 8/20; HA, NYT, WP 8/21; AYM 8/24 in WNC 8/26)

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon convenes his security cabinet, which approves “a series of military steps” against Hamas, Islamic Jihad, which Israel would launch only if the PA fails to take action itself. (HA 8/20; JP, YA 8/20 in WNC 8/22; NYT, WP 8/21; IDF Radio, QA, VOI, YA 8/21 in WNC 8/23)

U.S. Pres. George W. Bush phones Sharon to tell him that Israel has a right to defend itself following the “vicious” 8/19 bombing, reportedly does not urge restraint. U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell phones Abbas tourge him to take action against Palestinian militant groups immediately. (HA 8/20; WP 8/21; HA 8/24; AYM 8/24 in WNC 8/26)

The IDF arrests 17 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Hebron; claims they planned, carried out anti-Israeli attacks on orders fr. their “headquarters” in Syria; says it is still searching for the cell leader Diab Suwayki, whom it has tried to assassinate twice. The IDF also demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in, fires on residential areas of Rafah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bayt Furik; raids 2 buildings in Ramallah containing medical and law offices, destroying furniture, files; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Tulkarm, seriously injuring a 13-yr.-old Palestinian; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis r.c.; confiscates 76 Palestinian taxis operating on the Ramallah+nJerusalem road (see 1/20); conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Jenin, Nablus. A Hamas gunman ambushes, lightly wounds a Jewish settler nr. Dayr al-Balah; in response, the IDF demolishes 4 Palestinian homes, bulldozes 31 dunams of land nr. Kefar Darom. The IDF says it has noticed increased efforts by the PA to halt the firing of Qassam missiles and planting of bombs in Gaza; says the PA stepped up efforts before elections, but has continued them after elections as well. An Israeli court orders Arafat, the PA to pay more than $10 m. in damages to Israel's Egged bus company for losses caused by Palestinian suicide bombings. (AP, HA, PM, REU 2/4; LAW, PCHR, PR, WP, WT 2/5; TJT, WJW 2/6)

In Ramallah, the IDF continues demolition work at the PA compound, setting fire to storehouses, bulldozing the Ramallah governate building; says it now seeks the extradition of 50 Palestinians inside Arafat's offices; warns those inside the remaining building to evacuate or risk being harmed when the IDF blows it up, prompting 1,000s of Palestinians to take to the street in protest, despite the curfew. The IDF fires stun grenades, live ammunition at the crowds, killing 2 Palestinians (including a journalist with Voice of Palestine). (After al-Jazeera TV broadcasts news of the spontaneous Ramallah demonstrations, 1,000s of Palestinians violate the curfews Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm and rally in Gaza to protest; the IDF kills 1 Palestinian protester in Nablus, a 2d Palestinian in Tulkarm and demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Qabatya, Qalqilya.) None of the Palestinians in the Ramallah compound evacuates, the IDF does not blow up the building; unnamed Israeli officials suggest the threat was "psychological combat" aimed at making living conditions so unbearable for Arafat that he seeks refuge abroad. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in al-Fara' r.c., Jenin, Rafah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; fires on an ambulance in Nablus, damaging it, wounding 1 Palestinian bystander. (PM 9/21; MENA 9/21, ITAR-TASS, XIN 9/22 in WNC 9/23; NYT, PM, WP, WT 9/22; HA 9/23; al-Quds 9/23 in WNC 9/24; MM 9/24; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MEI, MM 9/27; PRCS press release 9/27)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus in Tel Aviv, killing 5 Israelis, injuring more than 50. Sharon convenes his cabinet, which unanimously decides to launch Operation Matter of Time to "isolate” Arafat, calls for the immediate extradition of around 20 wanted Palestinians (including Force 17 head Mahmud Damara, PA General Intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi) allegedly among the 200 Palestinians hiding in Arafat's offices (8 surrender in the evening). The IDF immediately reimposes 24-hr. curfews on all West Bank areas except Hebron; sends tanks into Ramallah to surround Arafat's offices (1 tank fatally shoots a 10-yr.-old Palestinian boy 6 times; troops shoot, wound 2 Arafat bodyguards in the PA headquarters compound); fires on "Palestinian schoolchildren challenging the army's attempt to impose a curfew" in Amari r.c., killing a 11-yr.-old Palestinian; shells residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Hanun (where an IDF tank runs over a roadside bomb, injuring 2 soldiers), Jenin r.c. (blowing up 1 Palestinian home), Nablus, Qalqilya, the Tulkarm area; bulldozes 19 dunams of agricultural land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. Jewish settlers open fire on a Palestinian taxi nr. Tulkarm, seriously injuring the driver. (AP, HA, JTA, LAW, MM, PM 9/19; ATL, ITAR-TASS 9/19 in WNC 9/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/20; Interfax, MA, Radio Monte Carlo 9/20 in WNC 9/23; MEZ, NYT 9/21; AYM 9/23 in WNC 9/25; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MA 9/25 in WNC 9/26; WJW 9/26; MEI 9/27)

In Ramallah, IDF commandos assassinate senior Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) mbr. Muhammad Saadat, brother of PFLP head Ahmad Saadat; the IDF also raids Tulkarm r.c., fatally shoots wanted tanzim mbr. Afsam Salima in an apparent assassination. A Hamas sniper fatally shoot an IDF soldier nr. Gadid settlement in retaliation for the IDF sniper shooting of a Hamas mbr. a wk. ago; IDF forces in the area return fire killing a 15-yr.-old Palestinian bystander. IDF also shells Khan Yunis, Tulkarm r.c. (killing 1 Palestinian); raids Dayr al-Balah (conducting house-to-house searches), Jenin r.c. (firing live ammunition and tank shells at stone throwers, injuring 5), al-Yamun (occupying 2 Palestinian homes). (MM 8/20; HA, LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP 8/21; PCHR 8/26; MEI 8/30)

Israel's American PR consultants urge Israel, American Jewish groups to adhere to a new PR strategy based on equating Israeli and U.S. values, not attacking PA head Yasir Arafat directly, being more hopeful. The changes come as a result of polls showing that Americans are increasingly blaming both sides in the conflict. (JTA 8/20)

Before dawn, the IDF reoccupies Amari r.c., al-Bireh, Qadura r.c., and Ramallah, surrounding Arafat's offices (placing Arafat under de facto house arrest), arresting 13 PSF officers, meeting no resistance; imposes 24-hr. curfews on Aqaba, Dura, Iktaba, Tamun, Taysir, Tubas, Yatta; fires shells at residential areas of Khan Yunis; continues operations in Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus (fatally shooting 1 Palestinian), Qalqilya, Tulkarm areas; lifts curfews in Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya for 3 hrs. The IDF assassinates 2 Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades leaders, Yasir Raziq and `Amr Kufa, in Rafah, firing missiles at their taxis, also killing 2 passengers, 2 drivers, injuring 13 bystanders. Jewish settlers stone an ambulance nr. Tulkarm. In Gaza, Hamas supporters clash with PSF officers enforcing Shaykh Yasin's house arrest, leaving 1 Hamas supporter dead. (BBC, MM, NYT, PRCS press release, WP, WT 6/24; XIN 6/24 in WNC 6/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/25; LAW 6/26; PCHR, WJW 6/27; MEI 6/28)

After a wk.'s delay, Bush gives a major speech outlining the new U.S. policy toward the peace process. Without mentioning Israel's military escalations, Bush says in effect that the Palestinians must remove Arafat and create a Western-style democracy before the peace process can move forward. The U.S. halts direct dealings with Arafat. Bush's decision to call for Arafat's ouster was reportedly influenced heavily by an Israeli intelligence report he received last wk. (uncorroborated by the CIA) claiming that Arafat authorized a $20,000 payment to the AMB, which carried out the 6/19 suicide bombing. (AP, MM, NYT, WP 6/24; MA 6/24 in WNC 6/25; GS, MM, NYT, WP, WT, YA 6/25; AFP, ATL, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 6/25 in WNC 6/26; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/26; AFP, JT, Le Monde 6/26 in WNC 6/27; NYT, WJW, WP 6/27; JT, al-Nahar 6/27 in WNC 6/28; MEI, MM 6/28; NYT, USIS Washington File 6/30; WP, WT 7/1; AN 7/1 in WNC 7/2; JPI 7/5)

Arafat sends the U.S., Arab states a 6-page memorandum outlining an ambitious 100-day reform plan, including plans for presidential and legislative elections in 1/03 and municipal elections in 3/03. (MM 6/24; NYT 6/25; MM 6/26; El Pais 6/26 in WNC 6/27;NYT, WP, WT 6/27; XIN 6/27 in WNC 6/28; AYM 7/1 in WNC 7/3; AYM 7/10, 7/17, 7/21 in WNC 7/23)

Israeli atty. gen. Elyakim Rubinstein says he will not take legal action against those calling for the "voluntary transfer" of Arabs fr. Israel, saying "voluntary transfer" is "immoral" not illegal. (The 13 Palestinians deported to Cyprus in 5/02 were "voluntarily exiled" as part of a deal brokered by Israel and the PA; see 5/22) (HA 6/24; MM 6/27)

In response to Israeli appeals to local satellite channels to drop coverage of BBC World and CNN International because of their "pro-Palestinian bias" (1 channel replaced CNN with Fox News coverage on 6/20), CNN chief news exec. Eason Jordan arrives in Israel to apologize publicly on behalf of the network, to unveil a special 5-part series on Israeli victims of violence (aired 6/24-28) and a Web "memorial" to Israeli victims of Palestinian violence. (WT 6/24; NYT 6/25; WJW 6/27; MEI 6/2; see also JTA 6/20, MSNBC 6/21)

Late in the evening, the IDF sends 10s of tanks, troops back into Amari r.c., Ramallah in a massive incursion to bulldoze buildings damaged in early attacks and conduct arrest raids, surround Arafat's headquarters, impose curfews, conduct house-to-house searches; 1 Palestinian is killed. The IDF also makes late-night arrest raids in Hebron, Qalqilya, Tulkarm. In Gaza City, the PSF arrests Islamic Jihad leader Shaykh Abdallah Shami for plotting the 6/5 bombing. (LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/10; MEI 6/14)

Arafat appoints a new "transitional" EA. Among the new mbrs. are Maj. Gen. `Abd al-Razzaq Yahya, named interior M to oversee security reforms, and respected IMF economist Salam Fayyad, named finance M to oversee economic reforms. (BBC 6/9; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/10; AFP, MENA, QA 6/10 in WNC 6/11; HA, JP, WP 6/11; MENA, SA 6/11 in WNC 6/12; PR 6/12; SA 6/13 in WNC 6/14; MEI 6/14; al-Nahar 6/16 in WNC 6/17; QA 6/18 in WNC 6/19)

Sharon arrives in Washington; meets with Pentagon, National Security Council officials. (WP 6/10)