The Palestine Chronology

Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv reports that U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry is planning to visit Jerusalem and Ramallah ‘‘once every two weeks’’ in a bid to revive peace talks. His third trip to the region in 2 weeks (3/4, 3/24) begins 4/6. (AFP, AP 4/3)

Israeli soldiers stationed at a military post shoot and kill a Palestinian teenager nr. Tulkarm, after what the IDF says was a firebomb attack (an account disputed by witnesses). A Fatah-called general strike is observed in Hebron and East Jerusalem, as protests continue following the death of prisoner Maysara Abuhamdieh. Palestinians protesting the death clash with IDF forces in and around Hebron, in Nablus and Tulkarm, nr. Bethlehem, and outside Ofer prison nr. Ramallah (where 7 are injured with rubber bullets). In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in and around Hebron and nearby al-‘Arub r.c. in the afternoon, and in 1 village nr. Hebron at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in al-‘Arub r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron, in 1 village nr. Ramallah, and in Tulkarm at night. Unidentified Palestinian militants fire 2 rockets from Gaza into Israel, causing no injuries or damage. (HA, MNA 4/3; HA, PCHR 4/4)

A source in the office of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says that special envoy to Turkey Joseph Ciechanover and National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror will go to Ankara on 4/11 for the start of talks on restoring Turkish-Israeli ties. (HA 4/3)

U.S. and Jordanian officials say that the two countries are training Syrian opposition forces that could be used to establish a future buffer zone alongside Syria’s southern border. (WP 4/3)

Hundreds of Palestinian activists set up a tent camp they name ‘‘Bab al-Shams’’ (‘‘Gate of the Sun’’) in the area of the West Bank nr. East Jerusalem known as E1, land Israel has earmarked for further settlement development. Elsewhere in the West Bank, the IDF patrols in and around Hebron and the nearby al-‘Arub r.c., in Jenin, and in 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. Israeli soldiers attack weekly nonviolent demonstrations held by Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, al-Nabi Salih), 1 village nr. Bethlehem (al-Ma‘sara), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum). There are no serious injuries, except in al-Nabi Salih, where 1 Palestinian is wounded by a rubber-coated steel bullet. Jewish settlers from Esh Kodesh outpost destroy over 200 olive trees in Qusra village nr. Nablus. In the Gaza Strip, the IDF opens fire on Palestinians in the Israelideclared buffer zone long the border nr. Jabalya r.c., killing 1 man and wounding another. (MNA, REU 1/11; PCHR 1/17)

Hamas releases a report estimating that 885 Palestinians have been killed in Syria’s civil war, and around 20,000 Palestinians have fled to Lebanon. (Daily Star 1/11)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 2 rockets or mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (2 synchronized) in the evening; conducts late-night patrols in 2 villages nr. Jenin and Jericho; and conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and Nablus, firing tear gas and stun grenades at stonethrowing youths who confront them in Nablus (causing no serious injuries). Palestinians (accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, al-Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin. IDF soldiers fire live ammunition (al-Nabi Salih only), rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters; a Palestinian child (al-Nabi Salih) and 1 Swedish activist (Kafr Qaddum) are moderately injured by tear gas canisters, and 1 Palestinian (Kafr Qaddum) is moderately injured by a rubber-coated steel bullet. (YA 7/28; 8/2; OCHA 8/3)

Pres. Obama signs into law the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, which calls for an unprecedented strengthening of military, intelligence, and technology cooperation intended to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge. Experts describe the act as prescribing a ‘‘laundry list of security enhancements’’ for Israel (see QU in JPS 165 for details). (JTA, White House press release 7/27; WP 7/28, 7/30; Defense News 8/1)

Hamas acting PM in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh meets with Egyptian pres. Morsi in Cairo to discuss Fatah-Hamas reconciliation prospects and ways of further easing the siege of Gaza. (WP 7/28)

villages nr. Salfit, 1 nr. Qalqilya (firing percussion grenades to intimidate residents), and 1 nr. Ramallah; detains 4 Palestinian children nr. Qalqilya for stone throwing; conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah (fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at stone-throwing Palestinians who confront them, causing no serious injuries) and 1 nr. Jenin; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, and al-Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, causing no serious injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Esh Kodesh settlement nr. Nablus uproot 45 olive trees on nearby Palestinian land. (PCHR 9/15; OCHA 9/16)

After Friday prayers, 1,000s of Egyptian protesters besiege the Israeli emb. in Cairo, tear down the wall recently built outside (see 9/3), scale the building to rip down the flag, gain access to the offices, and throw documents into the street. Egyptian security forces collect the ambassador, his family, and other staff who are away from the emb. and secure them at the airport for evacuation to Israel. The 6 employees inside the emb. lock themselves in an office and await rescue. Egyptian riot police arrive in 50 APCs and fire tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, who respond with stones and Molotov cocktails. Heavy clashes continue overnight, with riot police unable to secure the embassy. (WP 9/10; NYT, WP 9/11)

Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Israel retaliates with 3 air strikes on a Hamas security compound in Gaza, killing 2 Hamas mbrs. guarding the site, wounding 2 bystanders. Israeli naval forces fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the n. Gaza coast, wounding 1 fisherman. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tulkarm in the morning, randomly stopping Palestinians to check their IDs; storms an al-Wataniya cell phone transmission tower nr. Jenin, searching the site and surrounding area for 2 hrs.; uproots 400 d. of Palestinian olive trees nr. Nablus, hauling them away; patrols in Jiftlik village nr. Jenin and nearby Aqabat Jabir and ‘Ayn al-Sultan r.c. in the evening; conducts late-night patrols and arrest raids in Birzeit and nr. Salfit. Hamas authorities violently disperse a demonstration by students at al-Quds Open University calling for national reconciliation, killing 1 Palestinian student. (AFP, JP, MNA, WAFA 3/16; NYT, PCHR, WP 3/17; PCHR 3/24; OCHA 4/1)

In Syria, where there have been a handful of small antigovernment actions since 2/16, 200 protesters (students, activists, families of prisoners) gather outside the Interior Min. to demand the release of political prisoners. Security forces storm the gathering, arresting 36, including a 10-yr.-old boy. Meanwhile, Syrian activists have organized a Facebook fan page online (with more than 47,000 fans) called “The Syrian Revolution 2011,” calling for massive protests after Friday prayers on 3/18. (NYT 3/17)

In Bahrain, govt. soldiers firing tear gas and rubber bullets and backed by tanks and helicopters clear Manama’s Pearl Square of protesters and remove a tent city that has been in place for weeks; 3 protesters and 2 security officers are killed. (NYT, WP, WT 3/17)

Israeli officials announce that PM Benjamin Netanyahu, in consultation with DM Ehud Barak and Israel’s atty. gen. Yehuda Weinstein, have asked Israel’s High Court to respond to 15 petitions filed by Peace Now demanding the immediate removal of Israel’s unauthorized settlement outposts by ordering the dismantling of outposts built on privately owned Palestinian land before the end of 2011 (with the exception of a house owned by a fallen IDF officer) but authorizing the legalization of those built on state land. This would mean that 6 outposts would be removed, of which 5 are inhabited (47 homes), while more than 100 others would be legalized. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 3 structures at the Havat Gilad unauthorized settlement outpost; Jewish settlers stone Israeli border police overseeing the demolition, who respond with tear gas and rubber bullets, leaving 15 persons lightly injured and 17 settlers under arrest. Afterward, Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus exact their “price-tag doctrine” attack in nearby Hawara village, fire-bombing a house, injuring 2 children, and damaging other property. Separately, Jewish settlers fr. Halmish nr. Ramallah block a road leading to Nabi Salih and stone passing Palestinian vehicles; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Later, Jewish settlers fr. Gilad occupy a plot of Palestinian land nr. Qalqilya, setting up tents and mobile homes, but are evacuated by the IDF later in the day. The IDF also patrols in 4 villages nr. Hebron, Jenin, and Qalqilya; enters Kafr Laqif village nr. Qalqilya and fires stun grenades, claiming local youths stoned passing Jewish settler vehicles; no injuries are reported. In Gaza, the IDF shells the abandoned Dahaniyya airport site in s. Gaza, wounding 1 Hamas mbr. and destroying a nearby vacant home. IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials in the fmr. settlement sites, killing 1 Palestinian. IDF troops on the c. Gaza border shell open areas e. of Jabaliya, forcing farmers in the area to leave their plots but causing no injuries. Hamas authorities arrest 4 of 20 Palestinians responding to an online call by Palestinian student groups to rally in Gaza City for national unity. (MNA 2/28; HA 3/1; JP, WT 3/2; PCHR 3/3; OCHA 3/4; AFP 3/7; JTA 3/8; UNIS 3/22)

Overnight, unidentified Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets and 1 manufactured Grad rocket fr. Gaza into Israel; the Qassams land harmlessly (1 inside Gaza, 2 in Israel), while the Grad strikes nr. a cattle farm, causing damage and injuring some livestock. In the afternoon, unidentified Palestinians fire 3 mortars into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Later in the afternoon, the Popular Resistance Comms. (PRCs; an umbrella group comprising all Gaza factions) fire another 4 mortars into Israel containing white phosphorous scavenged fr. unexploded IDF ordnance (UXO), causing no damage or injuries. Israel files an official complaint with the UN over the serious escalation and retaliates in the evening with 4 air strikes in and around Bani Suhayla village s. of Khan Yunis, targeting and destroying an Islamic Jihad training site, 1 Palestinian home, and an agricultural storehouse, causing heavy collateral damage to another 2d home, and injuring 6 Palestinian civilians (including children ages 2 and 14). Late at night, 2 more air strikes destroy a smuggling tunnel on the Rafah border. Meanwhile, in the morning, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire warning shots at Palestinians scavenging for construction materials in the abandoned settlement sites nr. the border, wounding 1. Late at night, IDF troops make an incursion 1,500 m into al-Shuka in s. Gaza, firing on residential areas to keep Palestinians in their homes, monitoring the area, and withdrawing after 3 hrs.; IDF troops on the s. Gaza border open heavy fire on the demolished Dahaniyya airport site, causing no reported injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih/Dayr Nizam nr. Ramallah. IDF soldiers fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, leaving 5 Palestinians lightly injured (3 by tear gas canisters, 1 by a rubber-coated steel bullet) and 10s suffering tear gas inhalation. (JP, REU, YA 11/19; WP, YA 11/20; PCHR 11/25; OCHA 11/26)

Israeli DM Ehud Barak signs an order banning 36 foreign nonprofits that have given money to charities run by the Islamic Charitable Association (ICA), which Israel alleges is connected to Hamas (see Quarterly Update in JPS 148), initiating what it vows will be an “unprecedented” military campaign to seal “scores” of offices that had received money from the 36 groups, viewing the action as “essential for the disruption of Hamas operations” in the West Bank. Late at night, the IDF raids and seals the first 7 ICA charities in Nablus. During the day, the IDF detains 1 Palestinian at a demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (see 7/5); a Palestinian girl videotapes soldiers handcuffing, blindfolding, beating the Palestinian, then shooting him at close range with a rubber-coated steel bullet, injuring him; he is treated by a IDF medic and released. Nr. Salfit, an armed Palestinian shoots, wounds a Jewish settler fr. nearby Yaqir settlement, is shot dead by an IDF soldier; the IDF later (7/20) alleges that the gunman, Mahmud ‘Azi fr. Qarawat Bani Hasan, was the head of the ICA. Late in the evening, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Bireh, nr. Bethlehem and Hebron. Meanwhile, Palestinians fire 2 mortars from Gaza toward Israel; both land inside the Strip, causing no damage or injuries. (BBC 7/7; IFM, OCHA 7/9; BBC, IFM, PCHR 7/10; AHR 7/20; PCHR 7/24)

In Gaza, the IDF makes 2 air strikes on Islamic Jihad mbrs. driving in Khan Yunis, missing the car, hitting the street and a house, killing 2 Palestinian bystanders, including a pregnant woman, and wounding 15 bystanders; prevents EU monitors fr. reaching the Rafah crossing, forcing it to close for the day; closes the Sufa and Kerem Shalom crossings for the day, citing security threats; detains 2 unarmed Palestinians attempting to sneak across the Gaza border into Israel to find work; fires on 2 Palestinians swimming off the Gaza coast nr. the Egyptian border, suspected of smuggling, wounding 1. Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Dura (firing on residential areas, then firing live ammunition at stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no injuries), Nablus (firing rubber bullets at stone-throwing youths, wounding 12); conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Hebron, and in Bethlehem and Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah. In Gaza City, a bomb goes off in a car driven by a mbr. of the Fatah-dominated PSF, injuring the 3 people in the car; no group claims responsibility. Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound 2 Fatah mbrs. in Khan Yunis. (OCHA 6/21; ITV, MENA, VOI, YA 6/21 in WNC 6/22; HA, MM, PCHR, WP, WT 6/22; VOI, YA 6/22 in WNC 6 /23; HA 6/24; OCHA 6/28; PCHR 6/29)

The IDF makes a predawn raid into Nablus, searching houses and the al-Najah University women’s dorms, arresting 1 Palestinian, clashing with AMB gunmen, leaving 1 AMB mbr. dead; also conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin. Palestinians in Salfit accuse the IDF of recently rounding up dangerous wild pigs inside Israel and releasing them in the area; the pigs have been devastating agricultural property and threatening Palestinians nr. Salfit since. The IDF critically wounds an Australian activist during the weekly nonviolent protests against the separation wall in Bil‘in, shooting him in the head with a rubber bullet, causing a brain hemorrhage. In Nablus, some 5,000 Palestinians (including armed AMB mbrs.) gather to donate money, jewelry to the cash-strapped PA; at the same time, Hamas sponsors a telethon that brings pledges fr. as far as Qatar, Saudi Arabia; officials do not say how much they raise. (AP, IMEMC, World News Australia 5/12; PCHR 5/18)

The Israeli security cabinet formally severs all direct contacts with the PA, which it calls a “hostile entity,” and vows to “work toward preventing any entrenchment of the Hamas government’s rule”; says Israel will not rule out “personal” contacts with Abbas but views the PA as a single entity, meaning that opening a separate negotiating channel with him to bypass the Hamas-led government is not an option; Israel will also refuse to meet with foreign officials who meet with Hamas mbrs. during their regional visits. After Palestinians fire 5 rockets towards Israel (causing no damage or injuries; 2 land inside Gaza), the IDF heavily shells the n. Gaza no-go zone and populated areas in Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, and Jabaliya r.c., killing a PA security officer evacuating Palestinians fr. the area, wounding at least 16 Palestinians (including 3 PA security officers), hitting a taxi, and heavily damaging the PA Customs Bureau, a factory, and 1 house. IDF undercover units raid Bayt Ta’mar nr. Bethlehem, assassinate PRCs Salah alDin Brigadeshead Jabir Akhras; the IDF has attempted to assassinate Akhras several times, most recently 3 mos. ago. The IDF also sends troops into Nablus, firing on areas of al-Najah University campus (hitting a female Palestinian student in the face with a rubber bullet, causing her to lose an eye), fatally shooting a Palestinian for no apparent reason, conducting arrest raids, house searches; also conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm, nr. Hebron, in villages surrounding Nablus; occupies a Palestinian building in Bayt Jala nr. Bethlehem as an observation post. Palestinians in Qalqilya report that for several days, the IDF has been harassing, delaying the entry of non-Qalqilya residents (primarily shoppers fr. surrounding villages) into the city, barring them fr. driving cars across the checkpoint. A Palestinian family evicted fr. its home in al-Tur on 3/29 reoccupies its home, but is quickly evicted by the IDF for “squatting.” (HA, IMEMC, PNN 4/9; AP, JP, PCHR 4/9; HA, JP, NYT, WP, WT 4/10; PCHR 4/13; Islamic Republic News Agency 4/16; HA 4/23)

As the campaign period for the 1/25 Palestinian elections opens, Israeli police in East Jerusalem arrest Independent Palestine candidate Mustafa Barghouthi as he campaigns, releases him after 4 hrs.; detain 7 Fatah candidates campaigning in the city; disperse a Third Way rally led by Palestinian Council (PC) mbr. Hanan Ashrawi (Jerusalem); in 2 separate incidents, bars Central Election Commission (CEC) staff mbrs. fr. crossing a Tulkarm checkpoint to attend an election-related mtg. in nearby Dayr al-Ghusun and the Jordan Valley; blocks the transportation of election campaigning material fr. the West Bank to Gaza; sends troops into Jenin town and r.c. Meanwhile, the IDF opens the new Kerem Shalom commercial crossing on the Egypt-Gaza-Israel border; fatally shoots wanted Palestinian Mustafa Muhammad during an arrest raid nr. Hebron; raids a Palestinian school in Anata n. of Jerusalem, firing rubber bullets, injuring 1 teacher, 1 student and then fires on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops, wounding 8; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanina; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Jalazun r.c., Jenin town and r.c., Nablus, Qalqilya; dismantles 3 unauthorized settlement outposts nr. Bat Ayin, Efrat, Pdu’el. In response to the 1/2 assassination, Islamic Jihad fires at least 12 rockets at the Negev, the ARB fires a rocket at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF responds with artillery fire on 8 roads leading to the n. Gaza no-go zone, causing no injuries. The AMB, ARB claim joint responsibility for detonating an explosive device nr. an IDF bulldozer operating on Jenin r.c., seriously injuring 1 IDF soldier. PA police arrest Gaza AMB leader Ala’ al-Hams for plotting the kidnapping of 3 Britons on 12/28. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino break into, rob, vandalize several Palestinian shops in Hebron. (AFP, AP, BBC, HA, IMEMC, JAZ 1/3; IMEMC, PMC, WP, WT, YA 1/4; HA, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 1/5; HA 1/6; PLO Negotiation Affairs Dept. press release 1/23)

In the 2d such incident in a wk. (see 12/2), an IDF naval patrol fires on a Palestinian boat nr. the Egyptian border, suspecting it of being involved in smuggling arms; 1 Palestinian is killed, 1 is missing. The IDF fires tear gas, rubber bullets at the car of UN special rapporteur on human rights John Dugard when he visits Bil‘in village to observe the weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Nablus and nr. Qalqilya, Tulkarm; enters, fires on residential areas of Jenin; issues confiscation orders for Palestinian land west of Dura for construction of 5 observation towers surrounding Nahal Negohot settlement. A 17-yr.-old Palestinian girl attempts to stab an IDF soldier in Hebron, is arrested. (YA 12/9; AP, HA, IMEMC 12/10; NYT 12/11; PCHR 12/15)

The IDF makes a predawn arrest raid on Awarta nr. Nablus targeting the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); fires on 3 unarmed Palestinians attempting to cross the Gaza border fence into Israel to find work, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 2; fires on, damages a Palestinian fishing boat off Rafah, arresting the fisherman; fires tear gas, rubber bullets, percussion grenades at Palestinians holding a weekly nonviolent protest against the separation wall in Bil‘in; confiscates 5 d. of Palestinian land nr. Alon settlement nr. Nablus for construction of an IDF outpost. Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries; fire at an IDF patrol nr. the s. Gaza border, causing no damage or injuries. (IMEMC, YA 12/2; HA, IMEMC 12/3; HA 12/4; PCHR 12/8)

The IDF shoots, wounds, then beats a Palestinian in Hebron for no apparent reason; sends troops into Nablus, erects checkpoints, searches several Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulances; conducts arrest raids in al-Tawani nr. Hebron, Tubas, Yatta; fires steel-coated rubber bullets, tear gas at Palestinians, Israelis, international peace activists conducting a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in, injuring an Israeli. (OCHA 4/6; PCHR 4/7)

In Gaza, 3 Palestinian gunmen fr. the Abu Rish Brigades (a Fatah offshoot), Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian Resistance Comms. (PRC) attack an IDF post outside Morag, fatally shooting 3 IDF soldiers before 2 are shot dead; 1 escapes, wounds an Israeli journalist, is then shot dead. The IDF sends troops into Nablus and surrounding camps, fires on residential areas, blows up 2 Palestinian homes; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; fires rubber bullets at Palestinian, international peace activists staging a nonviolent protest against the separation wall outside Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and Nablus, and in al-‘Aza, Bethlehem, Jenin town and r.c., al-Khadir, al-Mughraqa; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in al-Mughraqa; bulldozes 6 Palestinian homes, 40 d. of agricultural land in Khan Yunis. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Sederot, lightly injuring 1 Israeli. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in Nur al-Shams on 9/14; a 2d Palestinian dies of injuries received in Rafah on 9/19. (BBC, MM, XIN 9/23; VOP 9/23 in WNC 9/25; MM, NYT, WP 9/24; HA, PR 9/29; PCHR 9/30)

The IDF fatally shoots a 14-yr.-old Palestinian in Nablus, an 18-yr.-old Palestinian in Bethlehem; occupies a Palestinian home, fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Bayt Fajjar nr. Bethlehem, mortally wounding 1 Palestinian bystander, barring others fr. removing him to an ambulance, allowing him to bleed to death; bulldozes 5 Palestinian homes, 200 dunams of citrus groves in Bayt Hanun; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bayt Surik in n. Jerusalem; bulldozes 16 dunams of land in al-Qarara, 13 dunams and an irrigation network in Wadi al-Silqa; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Jenin (where Palestinian gunmen fire on troops, injuring 1 IDF soldier) and nr. Ramallah; fires tear gas, rubber bullets at Palestinian, Israeli, international peace activists staging a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall nr. Salfit, injuring 50. IDF undercover units raid a wedding in Ramallah, arrest 3 wanted Hamas mbrs., 1 of whom is the groom. Hamas distributes $100,000 in aid to 87 families fr. the Zaytun section of Gaza City whose homes were damaged or demolished during the 5/11–13 IDF raids there. (VOI, YA 6/10 in WNC 6/12; NYT, WP 6/11; VOI, VOP 6/11 in WNC 6/15; PCHR 6/17)

An AMB mbr. and a Hamas mbr., both fr. Gaza’s Jabaliya r.c., stage a double suicide bombing inside Israel’s Ashdod port, some 30 mi. north of the Strip, killing 11 Israelis, wounding 20, and marking the 1st suicide bombing inside Israel staged fr. Gaza and the 1st targeting civilian infrastructure. Hamas, AMB issue a communiqu´e stating that “joint, qualitative operations” involving various factions will be their practice in the future. In response, the IDF launches air strikes against 3 metal foundries, a printing press (alleged weapons factories) in Gaza City, wounding 1 Palestinian. The IDF also fatally shoots 3 armed Palestinians attempting to infiltrate Netzarim settlement; fatally shoots a Palestinian during an arrest raid in Rafah; fires on Palestinians playing soccer on a field nr. Neve Dekalim settlement, wounding 1; fires rubber bullets, stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international demonstrators protesting the separation wall nr. Mod’in Ilit settlement, wounding 10; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c., al-Qarara and nr. Nablus, Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’ale Shomron nr. Qalqilya bulldoze 150 dunams of adjacent Palestinian land. Jewish settlers fr. Asfar nr. Hebron confiscate 60 dunams of nearby Yatta village land (see 3/6). (BBC, HA 3/14; VOP 3/14 in WNC 3/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/15; MM 3/16; QA, al-Quds 3/16 in WNC 3/18; MM, PR 3/17; HA, PCHR, WJW 3/18; MEI 3/19; JPI 3/26; WP 4/1)

The IDF sends tanks, troops into Balata r.c. in a predawn raid, erecting earthen barriers, bulldozing recently repaved streets, occupying at least 2 Palestinian homes as staging areas, conducting house-to-house searches, and firing live ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas at stone-throwing youths, wounding 14 Palestinians (including a 12- yr.-old hit by a live bullet in the face), 2 ISM volunteers. The IDF alsoissues confiscation orders for 4,000 dunams of Palestinian land in Bethlehem, reportedly for settlement expansion; imposes a curfew on Hawara (nr. Nablus) after Jewish settlers attack local Palestinian farmers harvesting their olives; shoots, wounds a Palestinian child in Tulkarm r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Qalqilya, Silat al-Dahir (nr. Jenin). (VOP 11/4 in WNC 11/6; PCHR, PR 11/5; PCHR 11/6)

In Nablus, IDF soldiers halt a Palestinian electric company employee driving a company truck who is returning fr. making authorized repairs during a curfew, kill him with 1 shot to the head; the IDF later apologizes, says it will investigate. The IDF fatally shoots an armed Hamas mbr. attempting to sneak into Israel fr. Gaza. An AMB gunman infiltrates Mehola settlement, fatally shooting 1 Jewish settler, seriously wounding a 2d before being shot dead. A 4th Palestinian dies of injuries received on 8/7. The IDF use water cannons, horses to break up a nonviolent demonstration by 500 Israeli, Palestinian peace activists nr. a Bethlehem-Jerusalem checkpoint, injuring 2; for no apparent reason opens fire with live ammunition, rubber bullets, percussion grenades on Palestinians waiting to cross Surda checkpoint in Ramallah, seriously injuring 2; bulldozes at least 4 dunams of agricultural land nr. Kefar Darom settlement in Gaza. (NYT, WP, WT 8/11; NYT 8/12; PCHR 8/16)

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)

In Ramallah, senior Fatah mbr. Ashraf Bardawil is injured when a bomb in or nr. his car explodes; IDF helicopters are hovering over the area at the time, raising speculation it was an assassination attempt. The IDF also arrests Majdi Alawna, a senior PA liaison official with Israel in Nablus, on charges of sabotaging cooperation with Israel. Nr. Ramallah, IDF troops fire rubber bullets to disperse a crowd of Palestinians protesting the closure of the Ramallah-Birzeit road, injuring 6. Palestinian stone-throwers seriously a Jewish settler baby nr. Nablus. Jewish settlers set fire to Palestinian fields, grain storage units in Hawara, Jit. Israel allows shipments of food, fuel into the West Bank, Gaza for the 1st time since the 6/1 bombing. Another Israeli injured in the 6/1 Tel Aviv bombing dies, raising the toll to 21. (HA, MM, REU 6/5; MM, PMC, WP 6/6; WJW 6/7)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate, leaving 8 Palestinians dead, including senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Sa'ir al-Khruf, who is assassinated by the IDF. (1 Palestinian dies en route to the hospital when his ambulance is detained by the IDF for over 1 hr.) In Nablus, 20,000 Palestinians attend a funeral for 3 of the dead killed overnight. Israel allows a small number of West Bank, Gaza Palestinians over age 35 to attend Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque. Those that are barred scuffle with Israeli police who respond with rubber bullets, stun grenades, tear gas. The IDF also placed curfews on Salfit, Qasrah to conduct an arrest sweep. IDF directed shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas in Aida, Aqbat Jabir camp, Bayt Jala (damaging an elementary school), al-Bireh, Dayr al-Balah, Nablus, Ramallah (damaging the PA Local Government Min.), Tulkarm; bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land across Gaza, in Qalqilya. In Rafah, the IDF fires a shell at a family protesting the bulldozing of their land, injuring 6 children. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian property around Qalqilya, shoot at Palestinians in Silt al-Thahir (wounding 1). (ADM, LAW 12/15; NYT, WP, WT 12/16; PCHR 12/18; NYT 1/17)

Israel's Ben-Ami meets with Arafat at Erez to discuss resuming peace talks, holds follow-up mtg. with PA Information M `Abid Rabbuh in Tel Aviv. The State Dept. says that midlevel Israeli, PA negotiators may come top Washington the wk. of 12/18. (NYT, WP 12/16) (see 12/10)

In Gaza, over 30,000 Palestinians attend a Hamas rally in support of continuing the al-Aqsa intifada no matter what stand the PA regarding negotiations with Israel. (MEI 12/22)

At a PC mtg., PA chief negotiator `Abid Rabbuh resigns in protests after learning that secret PA-Israeli final status talks recently started in Stockholm. The Stockholm talks are being held btwn. Israel's Internal Security M Ben Ami, lawyer Gilead Sher and PC speaker Qurai`, PC mbr. Hassan Asfour, PSF chief Muhammad Dahlan. (MENL 5/15; MENA 5/15 in WNC 5/16; NYT, WT 5/16)

U.S. Consul General John Herbst delivers Arafat a letter fr. Pres. Clinton regarding the peace process. No details are released. (MENL 5/15)

PA, Israeli interim issue team meet. PA interim affairs negotiator Saeb Erakat says Arafat instructed him to discuss only the immediate demand that 230 Palestinian prisoners be released. Israeli negotiator Eran, however, asks that the Palestinian demonstrations in support of the prisoners be halted so the talks can be held in a positive atmosphere. (NYT, WT 5/15)

Across the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinians marking the 52d anniversary of the Nakba hold demonstrations to protest the continued detention of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and to demand that the PA push the refugee issue in negotiations with Israel. In several locations, the IDF clashes with protesters, opening fire with live ammunition and rubber bullets, killing 1 Palestinian and wounding at least 30. 2 IDF soldiers are also injured. The worst clashes are in nr. Netzarim junction in Gaza and in Nablus, Qalqilya, and Ramallah in the West Bank. (AYM 5/14 in WNC 5/17; NYT, WP, WT 5/15; MEI 5/19)

Some 150 Palestinians fr. Dahaysha, Aida, Azza refugee camps nr. Bethlehem make a symbolic visit to the sites of their villages of origin, which were destroyed by Zionist forces in 1948: Bayt Nattif, Zakriyya, and Bayt Jibrin. (BDL 5/15) (see 5/10)

The PA and Israel announce that the PA has captured Muhammad Dayif, a leader of Hamas's Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades who is Israel's most wanted for allegedly organizing a series of suicide bombings in 2+n3/96. Israel also releases Salah Shihada, a Hamas leader who has been jailed for 12 yrs. It is uncertain whether the Shihada release and Dayif capture are part of a reciprocal agmt. related to the negotiations. (MM, NYT, WP 5/15; NYT 5/17; WJW 5/18)

Yugoslavia accepts an international peace plan negotiated by Russia, Finland (acting for NATO) for ending Kosovo conflict. The plan provides "substantial autonomy" for Kosovo, return of all 850,000 ethnic Albanian refugees. U.S. expresses cautious optimism, says air war, which began 3/24, will continue until treaty is fully implemented. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/4; WP 6/5; GIU 6/7; MM 6/11; GIU 6/14)

In Damascus, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdallah holds a 2d round of talks with Pres. Asad before leaving for Amman, where he meets with King Abdallah. (`Ukaz 6/2 in WNC 6/8; MM 6/4)

SLA completes withdrawal fr. Jazzin. Lebanese government says it will not grant amnesty to the 203 SLA mbrs. who elected to surrender to Lebanese authorities rather than evacuate. (MM 6/3; RL 6/3 in WNC 6/8; NYT, WT 6/4; JP 6/11)

Fewer than 3,000 Palestinians across the territories observe the PA's "day of rage" to protest Israeli settlement expansion. In Bethlehem, Gaza, Hebron, Nablus, and Tulkarm, demonstrators clash with IDF soldiers, who respond with tear gas and rubber bullets, in total injuring 36 Palestinians, killing 1. (MM 6/3; HJ 6/3 in WNC 6/8; al-Akhbar, al-Quds 6/3 in WNC 6/9; CSM, NYT 6/4; al-Quds 6/4 in WNC 6/11; LAW 6/6; MM 6/7; JP 6/11; MEI 6/18) (see 5/30)

At a roadblock nr. Yattir settlement in the West Bank, an IDF soldier fatally shoots a Palestinian motorist who allegedly tried to run him over. (CSM, NYT 6/4)

U.S. envoy Ross meets again with PM Netanyahu, DM Mordechai. (WT 9/12)

Reacting to IDF raid 9/10, Palestinians fire at an Israeli bus carrying Jewish settlers to Nablus, causing no injuries. Israeli police fire rubber bullets at Palestinian protesters at a West Bank blockade, wounding 5. (NYT 9/11; NYT, WP, WT 9/12)

Yevgeny Primakov is approved as the new Russian PM. Primakov, who has an intelligence background, strongly supports the Arab position in the peace process, lifting of sanctions on Iraq. (MM 9/14; Vesti 9/17 in WNC 9/21; MM 9/18; ITAR-TASS 9/20 in WNC 9/22)

The Taliban admits its mbrs. killed at least 8 Iranian diplomats in 8/8 raid. Iran warns of retaliation. (MM 9/11; WP 9/12; RJ 9/13 in WNC 9/15; MM 9/15) (see 9/1)

In Washington, Secy. Albright, PM Netanyahu hold 2d day of fruitless talks aimed at restarting peace talks. Lower-level teams headed by U.S. special envoy Ross, Israeli Cabinet Secy. Nave will work over the weekend. Netanyahu spends rest of day making courtesy calls to mbrs. of Congress, attending lunch in his honor hosted by the Comm. on International Relations; does not lobby mbrs. to pressure administration to moderate its position. (MM 5/14; NYT, WP, WT 5/15)

100,000s of Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem turn out for 2-minute moment of silence, nonviolent "March of 1 Million" to mark 50 yrs. of dispossession (known as al-Nakba). Marches in several areas (including, Bethlehem, Gaza, Hebron, Jericho, Jerusalem, Jinin, Nablus, Ramallah) devolve into clashes with IDF, which fires live ammunition, rubber bullets, killing 5 Palestinians, wounding 200-400, making this the worst day of violence in the territories since 9/25/96. 20 Israeli soldiers, policemen and 2 civilians are also injured. Netanyahu calls demonstrations a PA "pressure tactic." (LAW, MM 5/14; IDF Radio, ITV 5/14 in WNC 5/15; NYT, WP, WT 5/15; JTV 5/14, Anatolia [Ankara], Corriere della Sera [Milan] 5/15 in WNC 5/18; LAW 5/18; WP 5/19)

50,000 Palestinians in Syria hold march in Yarmuk refugee camp to commemorate al-Nakba. (JP 5/23)

In Jerusalem, fire damages one of the wooden doors of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Israel police suspect Jewish extremists. (RJ 5/14 in WNC 5/15; WP 5/15)

In Ankara, Iran, Turkey hold talks on expanding ties. (IRNA 5/14 in WNC 5/18) (see 5/4)

In Ankara, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey hold follow-up discussions on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project. (Anatolia [Ankara] 5/14 in WNC 5/15) (see 4/26)

IDF expels 3 Lebanese civilians fr. s. Lebanon security zone for celebrating release of relative fr. SLA custody. (AFP 5/14 in WNC 5/15; RL 5/15 in WNC 5/18)

Arafat, on visit to Amsterdam, tours Anne Frank House. (MENA 3/31 in WNC 4/2; IDF Radio 4/1 in WNC 4/3; WJW 4/9)

Lebanese FM Buwayz arrives in Rome for mtg. with the Pres. Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, PM Romano Prodi discusses Lebanon's demand for Israel's unconditional adherence to UN Res. 425. (RL 4/1 in WNC 4/3)

Nr. Nablus, IDF opens fire with rubber bullets on Palestinians protesting Israeli land confiscations, injuring 1. (WT 4/1)

Suspected Hizballah roadside bomb explodes in the Jazzin enclave in s. Lebanon, killing 6 civilians, wounding 1. IDF urgently contacts SLA to dissuade them fr. retaliating, which could spark fierce clashes similar to those that occurred in 8/97. (ITV 3/31 in WNC 4/1; MM, WP 4/1)

U.S. special envoy Ross meets again with PM Netanyahu, insists that Israel add another 4% to its FRD proposal. Netanyahu refuses, also says that Israel must have a role in monitoring PA security compliance in an FRD agmt. Ross then meets with Arafat. (WT 3/29; MA 3/29 in WNC 3/30; JP 4/4)

In Washington, Secy. Albright meets with Israeli DM Mordechai, warns him that the U.S. is reaching the point where it would simply let Israel, the PA work things out themselves. Mordechai briefs Albright on Israel's proposal for conditional withdrawal fr. s. Lebanon. (MM 3/30;RMC 4/12 in WNC 4/15)

Iranian FM Kamal Kharrazi arrives in Syria for 2-day visit, meets with Pres. Asad. One focus of talks is Israel's s. Lebanon withdrawal offer, which is opposed by both states. (IRNA, SANA 3/28, IRNA, SATN, VIRI 3/29, IRNA, VIRI 3/30 in WNC 3/31)

Iran's Culture and Islamic Guidance M Atollah Mohajerani says that if Israel withdraws fr. s. Lebanon with guarantees for a fixed border, "there will be no further need for Hizballah's resistance operations there." (MM 4/1, 4/2)

1,000s of Israeli Arabs hold march nr. Shaykh Danun, Israel, to mark the destruction of 418 Arab villages destroyed by Jewish forces in 1948. (NYT 3/29; MM 4/6)

In Nablus, IDF opens fire with rubber bullets on Palestinians holding antisettlement demonstration. (NYT 3/29)

In Cairo, Egyptian FM Musa receives an Israeli Peace Now delegation headed by Mordechai Bar-On. (RE 7/14 in WNC 7/16)

Following talks 7/13, 200 PA policemen resume joint patrols with the IDF in Hebron in an attempt to quell riots. IDF allows some shops in the downtown area to reopen (see 7/12). (MM 7/14; CSM, MM, NYT, WT 7/15; MM 7/16; MEI 7/25)

IDF claims that the PA is paying protesters $8+n$11 for every day that they participate in disturbances against the IDF in Hebron. PA denies this. (MM 7/14; IDF Radio, MA 7/14 in WNC 7/16)

IDF arrests 3 PA policemen who were allegedly planning an attack on the Jewish settlement of Har Bracha nr. Nablus. This is the 1st time that the IDF has arrested any mbr. of the PA security services. (YA 7/15 in IL 7/15; ITV 7/16 in WNC 7/17; PR, WT 7/18; ITV 7/18 in WNC 7/22; MEI 7/25)

In Bayt Sahur, an explosion in an apartment kills 1 Palestinian man, wounds a woman. IDF claims that the man, Issa Khalil Shukah, was a mbr. of Hamas. (PR 7/18)

Palestinians clash with IDF in the West Bank town of Bayt Sahur. 1 Palestinian boy is killed by rubber bullet to the head. (WT 7/17; PR 7/18)

In East Jerusalem, IDF demolishes Palestinian home allegedly built without a permit. (YA 7/14 in WNC 7/16)

Iraqi trade delegation postpones indefinitely a visit to Lebanon planned for next mo. (INA 7/14 in WNC 7/16) (see 7/11)

In s. Lebanon, 2 Lebanese civilians are killed, 1 is wounded by Israeli shelling. (RL 7/14, 7/15 in WNC 7/16)