The Palestine Chronology

No Israeli-Palestinian violence is reported. OCHA reports, however, that in the previous week, 2 Palestinian children were injured when they accidentally triggered unexploded IDF ordnance while playing nr. Gaza City (different from those injured on 3/20). (PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30)

Israel’s centrist Kadima party replaces Tzipi Livni as leader, giving the post to fmr. IDF chief of staff Shaul Mofaz. (NYT 3/28)

Some 700 mbrs. of the critically pro-Israel lobbying group J Street spend the day lobbying Capitol Hill against a military strike on Iran. The advocacy day is part of J Street’s annual conference, which this yr. drew 2,500 participants. The conference itself, in addition to focusing on lobbying against a strike on Iran, stressed the importance of supporting a 2-state solution and settlement expansion as undermining peace. (NYT 3/28; WJW 3/29)

The IDF continues Operation Vanguard in Jenin, arresting Islamic Jihad mbr. Fayiz Tubasi, wanted for plotting the 10/21 suicide bombing; conducts arrest raids in Ramallah, Tulkarm (where troops search a school); shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; razes 219.5 dunams of land nr. Bayt Hanun. An AMB gunman fires on an IDF patrol nr. Beit El, is fatally shot by the soldiers. IDF soldiers nr. Tulkarm bar an ambulance fr. transporting a patient to the hospital, search the vehicle, order paramedics to return fr. where they came. (HA 11/1; LAW, PCHR 11/6; PRCS press release 11/10)

After the mandatory 48 hr. waiting period, Labor party resignations take effect, leaving Sharon with a right-wing minority coalition of 55 of 120 Knesset seats. Sharon invites Likud party rival and fmr. PM Benjamin Netanyahu to take the position of FM, fmr. IDF chief of staff Shaul Mofaz to take the position of DM. (HA 11/1; NYT, WP 11/2)

IDF troops conduct predawn arrest raids in Birzeit, Hebron; sappers detonate a large bomb discovered in Qalqilya. IDF troops posted at Keddumim fatally shoot 1 Palestinian who apparently strayed too nr. the settlement. (NYT 6/15; LAW 6/19)

In Washington, PA Planning M Nabil Shaath presents Powell with a written outline of a peace proposal that makes concession on the status Jerusalem, refugees but demands Israel's withdrawal to the 1967 borders. Powell holds separate mtgs. with Saudi FM Prince Saud, IDF Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz. (NYT 6/15; QA, al-Quds 6/15 in WNC 6/17; WT 6/16; AP 6/17; WP 6/18; DUS, al-Quds 6/18 in WNC 6/19; CNN 6/19; QA 6/19 in WNC 6/20; HA 6/20; HA 6/26; HA 7/3)

Israeli-Palestinian violence continues. The IDF says that overnight Palestinians threw 60 grenades at an IDF post in Rafah, where a Palestinian boy was killed on 7/7, but caused no damage. Following the boy's funeral today, Palestinians fire on the same IDF post, causing no injuries. Undercover IDF units kidnap senior Hamas mbr. Ayoub Sharawi, wanted by Israel for allegedly "dispatching terrorist cells," fr. Hebron. The IDF also directs machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis (injuring 2), Yibna; occupies 2 Palestinian homes in Nabi Salah as a military post, evicting residents and injuring 12, including 1 Palestinian woman who suffers a miscarriage; bulldozes 40 dunams Palestinian land nr. Netzarim settlement; sets fire to an olive grove along the Zawata-Bayt Ibia road; fires on a Force-17 post in Hebron. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF vehicle outside Hebron, injuring at least 1 soldier; fire on a Jewish settler bus nr. Ramallah, injuring 1 settler. Jewish settlers vandalize Palestinian property, severely beat 3 Palestinians in Hebron; vandalize Palestinian homes, cars in al-Sahla; bulldoze land, set fire to cattle pens, damage water wells in al-Musafir. 2 Palestinians are shot, wounded by snipers nr. Abraham Avino settlement in Hebron. The PA sentences Tahir Walid Jabir to life in prison with hard labor for collaborating with Israel. (PMC 7/8; HA, HP, NYT, PMC, WT 7/9; NYT 7/10; MEI 7/13)

After an Israeli cabinet mtg. on the security situation, DM Ben-Eliezer says Israel will ease its "policy of restraint," gauge its response to "terrorist attacks in terms of their potential to do violence, and not their results." The cabinet reportedly approves IDF Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz's revisions to the IDF's 6/2 assault plan, entitled "The Destruction of the Palestinian Authority and Disarmament of All Armed Forces," which he recommends be implemented after the next big suicide bombing inside Israel that causes heavy casualties. (HA 7/8; MM 7/11; AFP [Internet], CBS News [Internet] 7/12; HA, WP 7/13; REU 7/14; WP 7/16; AN 7/16 in WNC 7/17)

With Sharon's permission, Peres meets with Palestinian Council (PC) speaker Ahmad Qurai` to discuss the cease-fire. (NYT 7/12; MA 7/17 in WNC 7/18; MM 7/19)

With Israeli-Palestinian clashes showing no sign of abating, IDF chief of staff Gen. Shaul Mofaz announces that the army will begin initiating attacks on Palestinian targets, especially Fatah leaders, and using more force against demonstrators. During the day, 5 Palestinians are killed, over 100 injured; a 6th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. Nr. Qarni crossing in Gaza, IDF tanks fire on Palestinian demonstrators, killing 2, wounding 25. Also in Gaza, Palestinian gunmen fire on and detonate a small bomb nr. a bus carrying Jewish settlers under IDF escort, causing no injuries. In drive-by shooting in East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers wound a Palestinian security guard outside Agusta Victoria hospital. Armed settlers also open fire on Palestinians in Haris, wounding 3. Other hot spots are nr. Jinin, Nablus, Ramallah. Nr. Ariel settlement, the IDF bulldozes Palestinian olive groves. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/30; AYM 10/30 in WNC 11/1; NYT, WP 10/31; AIC 11/2; al-Quds 11/9 in WNC 11/13)

A day before the Knesset reconvenes, Barak and Sharon are still unable to reach an agmt. on forming a unity government despite 7 days of talks. The Shas party, which pulled out of Barak's coalition in 7/00, before the Camp David talks, says it will give Barak a 1-mo. safety net against no-confidence votes. In return, Barak suspends plans for secular social reforms (see 8/20). (MM, NYT, WT, YA 10/30; MM, WT 10/31; MM 11/1; WJW 11/2; MEI 11/10)

Israel carries out 1 airstrike against a Hizballah base in n. Lebanon, wounding 2 Hizballah mbrs., before halting its attacks. IDF chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz notes that Israel's latest airstrikes mark the 1st time in the 18-yr. conflict that the IDF has targeted Lebanese infrastructure in response to army deaths rather than civilian casualties in n. Israel. Barak says the new retaliation policy will hold. (MM 2/10; IRNA, MENA, RL 2/10 in WNC 2/11; CSM, MM, NYT 2/11)

In Khazira village, West Bank, a car bomb explodes, killing 1 Palestinian, severely injuring another. PA, Israeli police think the men were Hamas mbrs. plotting an attack on Israelis. (WJW 2/17; JP 2/18)

A joint mtg. of the donors's Joint Liaison Comm., Local Aid Coordination Comm. is held in al-Barid, nr. Jerusalem. (AYM 6/30 in WNC 7/1; AYM 6/30, 7/1 in WNC 7/6)

Arafat meets with King Abdallah in Amman for talks on the peace process, coordinating positions in advance of final status talks; also reportedly undergoes medical checkup. (RMC 6/29 in WNC 6/30; al-Ra'i 6/20 in WNC 7/2)

In Washington, Egyptian pres. Mubarak meets with Secy. of State Albright, encourages U.S. to support 7/14-15 mtg. of the signatories to the Fourth Geneva Convention. U.S. says it still opposes the mtg. (NYT, WT 6/30; MEI 7/16)

IDF Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz announces that outgoing DM Arens has issued instructions to the IDF to ignore the 1996 April understandings, suspended Israel's participation in the Israel-Lebanon Monitoring Group (ILMG), claiming that Hizballah's 6/24 rocket attacks on n. Israel voided the 4/96 agmt. The April understandings, which ended Israel's 1996 Grapes of Wrath campaign against Lebanon, called on all parties in s. Lebanon to avoid harming civilians. (RL, RMC 6/29 in WNC 6/30; MM, WT 6/30; RL 6/30 in WNC 7/1; RL 7/3 in WNC 7/6; MM 7/5; JP 7/9)

Turkish court finds PKK leader Ocalan guilty of treason, a charge that automatically carries a death sentence and is automatically appealed. Turkey has not carried out an execution since 1984. Public response is muted as the verdict was widely expected. (AFP, ATL, La Une Radio [Brussels], LPA, MTI [Budapest], NTV [Moscow], RAI Televideo [Rome], RNE-1 Radio [Madrid], SAPA [Johannesburg], Xinhua [Beijing] 6/29 in WNC 6/30; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/30) (see 6/21)

In 3d mtg. with U.S. envoy Ross, PM Netanyahu presents proposal for an "escrow" arrangement for FRD (see Peace Monitor). After presenting the idea to PA officials, who reject it, Ross returns home, having made no progress. (IDF Radio, ITV 5/10, IDF Radio, Les Echos [Paris] 5/11 in WNC 5/12; WP, WT 5/11; CSM, NYT 5/12)

PM Netanyahu does not raise U.S. FRD proposal, Washington invitation for discussion in weekly cabinet mtg. (WP, WT 5/11) (see 5/6)

DM Mordechai appoints Maj. Gen Shaul Mofaz over Maj. Gen. Matan Vilnai to replace Lt. Gen. Amnon Shahak as IDF chief of staff. Netanyahu openly preferred Vilnai but would not overrule Mordechai's choice. Previous chiefs of staff have all served for 4 yrs., but Shahak informed Mordechai in 7/97 that he did not want to return after his 3d yr. ended in 1/98 because he does not like working with Netanyahu. (MM 5/11)

Jordan's General Intelligence Dept. announces arrest of 7 Jordanians, 1 "Arab national" on charges of carrying out 5 bombing in Jordan over the past 2 mos. (MM 5/11; al-Hadath [Amman] 5/11 in WNC 5/12; JT, al-Ra'i 5/11 in WNC 5/13)

Nr. Tyre in s. Lebanon, physical fight breaks out btwn. Hizballah, Amal mbrs., leaving 5 injured. After mtg. on recent clashes (see 5/8), the 2 groups issue a joint statement saying that the incidents were isolated, nonpolitical; they will turn brawlers over to Lebanese authorities, abide by judicial ruling. (RL 5/10 in WNC 5/12)