The Palestine Chronology

Bush prepares the U.S. for a long, sustained "war on terrorism." Admin. officials say they are considering lifting the 25-yr.-old ban on U.S. involvement in foreign assassinations, loosening restrictions on FBI surveillance and detention of foreigners. Iran, Hizballah spiritual leader Shaykh Fadlallah denounce the 9/11 attacks. (NYT, WP, WT 9/17; WP 9/18; MM 10/4)

The IDF announces that it is establishing an 18-mi.-long "closed military area," or buffer zone, along the Green Line btwn. Jinin and Tulkarm. In response to the 9/15 DFLP shooting, the IDF sends tanks into Bayt Hanun, al-Qarara, and Ramallah, shelling residential areas while helicopters fire missiles; 2 Palestinians and 1 IDF soldier are killed, 26 Palestinians and 1 IDF soldier are wounded before Israeli forces withdraws fr. areas A 4 hrs. later. In al-Qarara, the IDF confiscates 200 dunams of Palestinian land for a new settler bypass road to Gush Katif (see 9/12), confiscates a Palestinian home as an military post. The IDF also conducts an arrest sweep in Ramallah. (AFP, LAW, WP, WT 9/16; HP, NYT, PMC, WP, WT 9/17; NYT, WP, WT 9/18)

Arafat says he is ready to hold talks with Israel "any time, any place," but Sharon says he will only allow cease-fire talks to resume after 48 hrs. without a Palestinian attack. Sharon reiterates Israeli support for the U.S. effort to build a coalition but is "not prepared to pay the price" if it involves concessions to the PA. Arafat publicly reiterates his call on Palestinians to adhere to a cease-fire. (al-Quds 9/16, XIN 9/17 in WNC 9/18; MM 9/17; NYT, WT 9/18; AFP 9/18 in WNC 9/19; NYT 9/19; ATL 9/19 in WNC 9/20; MM 9/20; AYM 9/22 in WNC 9/26; MEI 9/28)

In Hebron, a Fatah sniper, retaliating for the Jawabiri assassination on 6/24, shoots and wounds a 7-yr.-old Jewish settler, sparking a firefight in which 12 Palestinians, 4 IDF soldiers are wounded. In response, the IDF seals, places a curfew on the Palestinian section of Hebron, bulldozes Palestinian land s. of Hebron; Jewish settlers place more caravans at a new illegal outpost site nearby. Jewish settlers also place caravans on Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya, attack Palestinian cars in Wadi al-Juz, cut off water to Palestinian villages nr. Halmish settlement. Palestinians fire on a settler bus nr. Jerusalem. A gunfight erupts nr. Neve Dekalim settlement, wounding an 11-yr.-old Palestinian. The IDF tightens closures on Qalandia, Tulkarm; confiscates 20 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya; bulldozes Palestinian land in Tulkarm; continues to impose curfews on Bayt Lahia, Bayt Lid, Safarin. Shin Bet announces that 11 days ago, it captured Aziz Salha, who has confessed under interrogation to being involved in the murder of 2 IDF reservists in Ramallah on 10/12/00. (PMC 6/25; AP, HP, MM, WP, WT 6/26; MA 6/26 in WNC 6/27; MM 6/27; JP 7/6; WP 7/7)

Fmr. U.S. senator George Mitchell, head of the Mitchell Comm., recommends that in order to move the cease-fire forward, Israel should immediately implement a full settlement freeze, the U.S. should invite Arafat to the White House. Meanwhile, in Israel, DM Ben-Eliezer says Israel plans to remove 15 illegal settler outposts that have been set up since the al-Aqsa intifada began, noting that they are a danger to security and cannot be defended adequately. (HA, HP, MM, WT 6/26; MA 6/26 in WNC 6/27; MM, WT 6/27; WJW 6/28)

As Israeli-Palestinian clashes pick up slightly, Israel says it is not satisfied with the PA's cease-fire efforts. A serious exchange of gunfire, grenades, missiles takes place in Rafah, leaving 22 Palestinians, 3 IDF soldiers wounded. Another Israeli injured in the 6/1 bombing dies, raising the toll to 20. The PSF arrests 2 Palestinians in connection to the 6/1 bombing. Palestinians fire 1 mortar in Gaza, causing no damage. The IDF bulldozes 50 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Kefar Darom settlement; shells residential areas of Asira. Jewish settlers shoot at Palestinian homes, vehicles in Hebron, Jinin; attack Palestinians nr. Dahiyat al-Barid, Tulkarm. (AFP [Internet], HP 6/4; NYT, WP, WT 6/5; MM, PMC 6/6; MM 6/11)

In light of today's Gaza gun battle, the Bush admin. concludes the Israeli-Palestinian situation is on the verge of spinning out of control. After securing Sharon's consent, the State Dept. announces that CIA Dir. George Tenet will head to the region to seek a more durable cease-fire but emphasizes that the pressure will be on Arafat to demonstrate he is serious. Powell demands the PA arrest Islamists who may be planning attacks, resume security cooperation with Israel. (NYT, WP, WT 6/5; MM, NYT, WP 6/6; JT 6/7 in WNC 6/8; MEI 6/15)

A relative calm prevails in the West Bank and Gaza given the exceptionally tight closure. The IDF records only 3 Palestinian shooting incidents. Another Israeli injured in the 6/1 bombing dies, raising the toll to 19. The PA accuses the IDF of attempting to assassinate senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Bisharat, 1 of Israel's most wanted, by detonating a remote controled bomb nr. his car in Tulkarm. The IDF fires tank shells at residential areas of Tal al-Sultan; bulldozes 15 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. Jewish settlers occupy 10s of dunams of Palestinian land nr. Bethlehem. (HP, WP, WT 6/4; PMC 6/6; NYT 7/2)

PA security officials meet with reps. of all Palestinian factions to press Arafat's cease-fire call. (NYT, WP, WT 6/4; SA 6/5, MENA 6/6 in WNC 6/7; HJ 6/7 in WNC 6/11; MEI 6/15)

After an "intense internal debate," the Bush admin. decides not to send a high-level diplomatic mission to work with Israeli, PA officials to secure a more durable cease-fire, deciding instead to press Arafat to act more forcefully to suppress violence. Powell praises Israel for its restraint. When asked if he has urged Israel to avoid retaliation, Powell says, "I have not given that direct comment to the Israeli government." (NYT 6/4; WP 6/6)