The Palestine Chronology

Israel says it will ease travel of Christian pilgrims (fr. the territories, Israel, abroad) to Bethlehem but says Arafat still may not leave Ramallah. The IDF conducts arrest raids in the PA-controlled section of Hebron (arresting 8 Palestinians) and in Rafah (occupying 6 Palestinian homes); fires on residential areas of Nablus. In Ramallah, the IDF fires tear gas, sound grenades, rubber bullets at 1,000s of Palestinians and 350 foreign peace activists protesting the Israeli siege, injuring 15 Palestinians, 10 foreigners. The PSF shuts 2 metal workshops in Gaza that allegedly made homemade mortars for Hamas. (AP 12/27; WT 12/28; PCHR 1/2)

Israel announces that it has agreed to resume cease-fire implementation under pressure fr. the U.S., even though it believes that the PA has not fulfilled its pledges to date. Peres, PC speaker Qurai` meet and agree on steps to be taken over the next 2 wks. to ease restrictions on Palestinians, halt violence; say Israel will begin lifting closures within 2 days. Meanwhile, Powell praises Arafat for making "a bold choice" in demanding (10/8) that Hamas take part in the cease-fire. (Chicago Tribune [Internet] 10/13; NYT, WP, WT 10/14; MA 10/14 in WNC 10/15)

In Ramallah, 100s of Palestinians hold a peaceful demonstration against the continued Israeli occupation. IDF troops fire rubber bullets, tear gas to disperse the crowd, injuring 30 Palestinians, including 5 medical workers. (UPMRC press release 10/12)

In Gaza City, the PSF clashes with some 2,000 Palestinian students protesting the U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan, opening fire on the crowd with tear gas, rubber bullets, live ammunition. Anti-PA riots last into the night, with outraged Palestinians setting fire to PSF offices and vandalizing Palestinian Airlines offices, cars, stores. In total, 2 Palestinians are killed; 1 Palestinian, 1 PSF officer are left brain dead; 200 Palestinians, 20 PSF officers are injured; 120 Palestinians are arrested. The PA convenes an emergency mtg. with the National and Islamic Higher Comm. for the Follow-up of the Intifada (NIHC), representing all Palestinian factions. Participants issue a joint statement calling for national unity, appealing to the public for calm. Hamas says that Arafat agreed to suspend arrests of Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. in exchange for their cooperation in halting further demonstrations, observing the cease-fire. (AP 10/8; MEZ, NYT, WP, WT 10/9; QA 10/9, ABC [Madrid] 10/10 in WNC 10/11; MM, PR 10/10; MM 10/11; al-Quds 10/11, AYM 10/13 in WNC 10/15; JP, MEI 10/12; LAW 10/13; JP 10/19)

Meanwhile, the IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians; occupies a Palestinian home in al-Qarara as a look-out post for several hrs.; demolishes a Palestinian home, bulldozes agricultural land nr. Bayt Lahia, where around 2,000 dunams have been leveled since 10/3. (MEZ, PMC 10/9; LAW 10/13)

Bush for the 1st time publicly endorses the creation of a Palestinian state, saying it "has always been a part of our vision, so long as the right of Israel to exist is respected." The State Dept. says this does not mark a change in either U.S. or admin. policy. (MENA 10/2 in WNC 10/3; MM, REU, WP, WT 10/3; AFP, AN, DUS, MA, al-Nahar, QA, al-Quds 10/3 in WNC 10/4; MM 10/4; JT, MA, MENA 10/4 in WNC 10/5; al-Quds, al-Ra'i 10/4, SA 10/5, AKH 10/8 in WNC 10/9; al-Quds 10/9 in WNC 10/10; AN 10/10 in WNC 10/11; MEI 10/12; MENA, al-Quds 10/13 in WNC 10/15)

In Gaza, 2 Hamas mbrs. raid Aley Sinai settlement, tossing grenades into buildings and shooting IDF soldiers guarding the settlement as well as residents, killing 2 Jewish settlers, wounding 7 soldiers and 8 settlers before being shot dead. Arafat orders the PSF to hunt for the assailants. Sharon calls an emergency mtg. of his cabinet. Palestinians also fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in s. Gaza. The IDF fires tear gas, rubber bullets at Birzeit University students, staff conducting a peaceful protest march to Surda checkpoint, injuring 3 journalists covering the event, 1 marcher. (HA 10/2; MM, REU, WP, WT 10/3; MA, al-Quds 10/3 in WNC 10/4; MM 10/4; MM 10/8; LAW 10/10; JP, MEI 10/12)