The Palestine Chronology

At Bolling Air Force Base (AFB) in Washington, the U.S. peace team hold separate preliminary mtgs. with the Israeli, the PA teams. (HA, JP, MM 12/18; AYM 12/18 in WNC 12/20; WT 12/19; AYM 12/19 in WNC 12/26; NYT, WP, WT 12/20; WJW 12/21; MEI 12/22)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving at least 2 Palestinian dead. In Tulkarm, a senior Fatah mbr. is found stabbed to death in what the PA alleges to be another Israeli assassination. In Gaza, a top PSF officer is killed when he attempts to defuse an unexploded IDF shell. In Nablus, Jewish settlers open fire on a Palestinian high school, wounding 2 pupils. The IDF shells residential areas of Bayt Lahia, al-Bireh, Khan Yunis, Rafah; destroys a water network, 2 PSF posts nr. Bayt Lahia; bulldozes 25 dunams of Palestinian land in the Netzarim area. (LAW, PCHR 12/18; MENA 12/18 in WNC 12/20; LAW, NYT 12/19; MEI 12/22)

Israel suspends plans to allow 13,000 Palestinians into Israel to work, since only a handful of Palestinian requested permits. (MA 12/25 in WNC 12/27; MM 1/5) (see 12/14)

A UNSC res. calling for the deployment of 2,000 unarmed UN observers in the West Bank, Gaza fails to get the 9 votes needed to pass. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/19; MM 12/20; al-Ra'i 12/20 in WNC 12/26; WJW 12/21)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify, leaving 11 Palestinians, 1 IDF soldier dead and over 200 Palestinians, 1 IDF soldier, 1 American wounded. 8 Palestinians and 1 IDF soldier are killed during a gun battle outside Gush Katif settlement in Gaza; the IDF confirms that the soldier is killed by IDF gunfire, 6 of Palestinians are likely killed by settler gunfire. Nr. Rachel's Tomb, an American photographer is seriously wounded by live ammunition fired by the IDF. The IDF shells an unfinished building al-Bireh, killing 2 Fatah mbrs. The 11th Palestinian is fatally shot at Erez crossing. 3 Palestinians die of injuries received earlier. IDF shelling, heavy machine gun fire is reported in Hebron, Nablus. The IDF clears more Palestinian land in the Rafah area. (LAW, PCHR 11/11; LAW, MEZ, NYT, WP, WT 11/12; MA 11/13 in WNC 11/14; NYT 11/19)

An OIC summit opens in Qatar, focusing on the Palestinian situation. (ATL, MENA, RL 11/11, ATL, AYM, IRNA, MENA 11/12 in WNC 11/13; WP 11/12; HA [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/13; IRNA, MENA, RL 11/13 in WNC 11/14; ATL, AYM 11/13, Iraq News Agency, DUS 11/14 in WNC 11/16; MM, NYT, WP 11/14; MM 11/15, 11/16; WP 11/22; JP, MEI 11/24)

In Rome, 30,000 Italians protest against Israel's "massacre of innocent Palestinians." Similar, smaller rallies are held in Oslo, Stockholm. (ANSA 11/11 in WNC 11/13; IsraelWire [Internet] 11/12, 11/13)