The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian minor near the Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron, causing hospitalization. Israeli forces assaulted 2 Palestinian minors near Kisan. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bruqin, causing tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered stop-work notices for 2 houses under construction in Hamsa. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. 1 Palestinian family demolished parts of their own home in Silwan. 3 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City and in Silwan. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 11/20; PCHR 11/24; UNOCHA 11/25)

It was reported that Israeli forces in the Jenin area had distributed leaflets to Palestinian residents warning them against attempting to cross the separation wall, saying “If you cross the fence, fire will be opened directly at you . . . We promise you that we will hurt you and will hold you accountable if you make any mistake!” The Israeli military said that it had not approved the language in the leaflets. (HA 11/20)

PA President Mahmoud Abbas met the leaders of Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the UN and FIFA at the sidelines of the World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar. (WAFA 11/20; WAFA 11/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians working their land near Sinjil. Israeli settlers also assaulted Palestinian shepherds near Kisan. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers blocked a road between Nablus and Qalqilya.

In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting an incursion by Israeli settlers at the Haram al-Sharif compound; 30 were injured by baton rounds and tear gas.

In Gaza, 5 rockets were fired at Israel; 4 of them were intercepted and 1 caused damage to a house in Sderot. Israel subsequently conducted air strikes, causing damage to several homes in al-Bureij refugee camp, Gaza City, and Nusseirat refugee camp. (HA 4/20; AJ, AJ, AP, AP, CNN, HA, IN, JP, NPR, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/21; PCHR 4/28; UNOCHA 5/13)

Israel closed all crossings from the West Bank and Gaza to East Jerusalem and Israel at 5 P.M. for the Jewish holiday of Passover. The closure will remain in effect until an unspecified time on 4/23. (HA 4/21)

U.S. acting assistant secretary of state for Near East affairs Yael Lempert and deputy assistant secretary for Israeli and Palestinian affairs Hady Amr met with PA president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid in separate meetings in an effort to calm the situation surrounding the Haram al-Sharif compound, where Israeli forces have attacked Palestinian worshippers for a week, including in al-Aqsa Mosque. (HA 4/21; WAFA 4/22)

The Arab league slammed Israel for interfering with Muslims’ rights to worship at the Haram al-Sharif compound and criticized the Israeli government for continuing to allow Jewish people to worship at the Holy site. The statement was released after a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Jordan from the UAE, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and the PA. (AJ, REU, WAFA 4/21)

Iran said it had arrested 3 people suspected of being Mossad agents. (HA 4/20; AP 4/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with military escort raided Asira al-Qibliya, throwing stones at houses and vehicles, leading to a confrontation with Palestinian residents; tear-gas related injuries were reported. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians sitting near Herod’s Gate plaza, causing injuries from pepper spray; 1 minor was arrested. (WAFA, WAFA 3/26; PCHR 3/31; UNOCHA 4/10)

Palestinians in the West Bank voted in the 2d round of municipal elections. No elections were held in Gaza as Hamas boycotted the elections, and in East Jerusalem Israel prevented elections from taking place. In the week leading up to the elections, Israel arrested 3 candidates and there was speculation whether Israel had coordinated with Fatah to ensure that the party would win the election. The Central Elections Commission said that the voter turnout for the 2d phase of the municipal elections was 53.69%. Candidates running on independent lists won 64.4% of the votes. Hamas, which formally boycotted the elections, allowed candidates to run as independents in the West Bank. (WAFA 3/21; HA, MEE 3/25; AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/26; WAFA 3/27; ALM 3/28; ALM, PCHR 3/29)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken arrived in Israel for a 3-day visit attending a summit of countries that have normalized ties with Israel and for meetings with PA officials. Secretary Blinken will later visit Morocco and Algeria. Jordan was said to have been informally invited and had declined the invitation. The PA called on the participants to bring up issues related to Palestinians during the summit and criticized Israel for using Iran to remove Palestine from the international agenda. (AX 3/25; AP, HA 3/26; HA, HA 3/27)