The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized some 100 olive saplings in Qusra. An Israeli settler also opened fire at PA Lands and Water Authority employees working near al-Twana; no injuries were reported and the settler was detained by Israeli forces. 1 Palestinian was arrested at a checkpoint southwest of Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian family demolished their own home in Jabal Mukabir and Israeli forces razed land east of Issawiyya. Israeli forces also sprayed skunk water at Palestinian homes and arrested 1 minor during a late-night raid in Issawiyya. 1 other Palestinian was arrested during a house raid in Abu Tor. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at agricultural lands east of al-Qarara, Abasan, and Bayt Hanun; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 4/4; WAFA 4/5; PCHR 4/8)

The Palestinian election committee said it had approved all 36 candidate lists submitted for the Palestinian legislative elections on 5/22. (AJ, TOI 4/4; AN 4/5)

Romania announced a $180,000 contribution to the UNRWA. (WAFA 4/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces sealed off several roads, including 4 to Ramallah-area villages and to 1 village near Nablus. Israeli forces fired tear gas at students and teachers in Abu Dis, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also fired tear gas and rubber-coated bullets during a raid in al-‘Arub refugee camp. Israeli settlers and military escort toured an evacuated settlement outpost near Jenin. 10 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Qalqilya, Jenin, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested 6 Palestinians during raids in Silwan, Abu Tor, and the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/10; PCHR 2/13)

On the 2d day of Yom Kippur, Israeli forces escort a number of right-wing Jewish activists around Haram al-Sharif. The group attempts to perform Jewish rites in commemoration of the holiday, but they are blocked by Islamic Waqf guards. All Palestinian men under the age of 40 are barred from the sanctuary and all but 3 entrances are closed for the 2d day in a row. (HA, MNA, WAFA 9/23; PCHR 10/1)

In the West Bank, thousands of Palestinians march through c. Hebron for the funeral of the Palestinian woman who was killed by the IDF on 9/22, and clashes ensue between stone-throwing youths and Israeli forces. Late at night, Palestinians throw firebombs at an Israeli settlement nr. Ramallah, causing minor damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 12 Palestinians on late-night raids in Sur al-Bahir and Ras al-Amud. Meanwhile, Jewish Israeli youths throw stones at a Palestinian boy, causing minor injuries, and separately at Palestinian cars in s. Jerusalem. Unknown assailants throw a firebomb at a Jewish family’s home in Abu Tor, causing damage. On Gaza’s border e. of Jabaliya r.c., Israeli forces arrest 1 Palestinian attempting to cross into Israel for work. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 9/23; MNA, TOI 9/24; PCHR 10/1)

Israel’s Defense Ministry announces the easing of additional restrictions on Palestinian movement and access during the Muslim holiday ‘Id al-Adha, supplementing the restrictions announced on 9/21: border crossings hours will be extended; married men older than 45 and married women older than 30 from the West Bank will be allowed to pray at Haram al-Sharif on 9/24 and 9/25. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 9/24)

In the West Bank, IDF troops assault and detain a mentally disabled Palestinian teenager at a checkpoint nr. Jenin and another Palestinian elsewhere nr. Jenin. Israeli police arrest 2 Israeli settlers in the Bat Ayin settlement nr. Jerusalem, sparking clashes between the settlers and the IDF. Israeli forces begin leveling 70 dunams of land outside a Palestinian village nr. Bethlehem; level land nr. Nablus and demolish 300 olive tree seedlings. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in and around Hebron, and nr. Ramallah, arresting 4 Palestinians; patrols in and around Hebron, 1 village nr. Qalqilya, and 3 nr. Ramallah. Israeli settlers steal 9 sheep and kill 2 others in a Palestinian’s agricultural plot nr. Ramallah. The PASF detains over 40 Hamas affiliates in various villages and cities, primarily Hebron, Tulkarm, and Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinian women as they are exiting Haram al-Sharif and 2 youths as they are playing in Silwan. They also conduct house searches and raids in al-Tur and Beddo village, arresting 8 Palestinians. Palestinians throw rocks at settlers’ cars in Abu Tor. (WAFA 3/8; HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 3/9; PCHR 3/12)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of al-Maghazi open fire on a Palestinian tending to lemon trees nr. the border fence, causing a moderate injury and then arresting him. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 5 Palestinians at a checkpoint nr. Jenin; assault a Palestinian university student nearby, causing moderate injuries. They also assault a group of Palestinians peacefully protesting outside an Israeli settlement nr. Bethlehem. IDF troops open fire on a Palestinian nr. Bethlehem after he drives his car toward them. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids nr. Bethlehem, Salfit, Hebron, and Tulkarm; patrols in al-Fawar r.c., as well as nr. Hebron and Qalqilya. Palestinians throw stones at IDF troops patrolling nr. Ramallah, injuring 1. In East Jerusalem, unknown assailants throw bottles at Israeli settlers’ buildings in Shaykh Jarrah and Ras al-Amud, causing damage but no injuries. Later, unknown assailants burn 6 Palestinianowned cars in Silwan and Abu Tor. Israeli forces conduct arrest raids and house searches in Ras al-Amud. In West Jerusalem, dozens of Palestinians from al-Tur, East Jerusalem, gather outside the municipal govt. offices to protest the increased arrests of Palestinian children. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 2/8; HA, WAFA 2/9; PCHR 2/12)

UNRWA’s office in Gaza announces that over the next week it will distribute $1.1 m. in cash payments to around 800 families whose homes were partially or completely destroyed during OPE. On 1/27, the office suspended its cash assistance program, which served these same families. Meanwhile, the PA Finance Ministry announces that, for the 2d mo. in a row, PA employees whose monthly wage is NIS 2,000 (around $520) or more will receive only 60% of their salary, and those with lower wages will receive their entire salary. (MNA, WAFA 2/8)

On the sidelines of the security conference in Munich, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry meets with reps. of the 3 other mbrs. of the Middle East Quartet. In a statement, they call for a resumption of peace negotiations and for all parties to avoid actions that may “prejudice final status issues.” (REU, TOI, YA 2/8)

Also at the Munich conference, Kerry and Iranian FM Zarif discuss the negotiations over Iran’s disputed nuclear program. Both Kerry and Zarif affirm that they do not want to extend the negotiations again. Zarif also meets with FMs of the rest of the P5+1. (AFP, HA, REU, TOI 2/8; ALM 2/12)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops e. of Jabaliya open fire on a group of Palestinian youth nr. the border fence, injuring 1. Off the s. coast, Egyptian naval forces open fire on a Palestinian fishing boat, injuring 1 fisherman and arresting the other. In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Nabi Salih, and Ni‘lin), and 1 village nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum), injuring 4 Palestinians with rubber-coated metal bullets and gas canisters in Bil‘in. Israeli soldiers also violently disperse protests outside Ofer detention center and Silwad nr. Ramallah, injuring 4 Palestinians, as well as in Susiya village nr. Hebron, where they assault Mustafa Barghouti, secy.-gen. of the Palestinian National Initiative. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Ni‘lin; patrols nr. Hebron, Ramallah, Tulkarm, Jenin, and Jericho. An Israeli settler attempts to hit a Palestinian child with his car nr. Tulkarm. Separately, unknown assailants throw stones at Israeli settlers’ cars nr. the Ofra settlement, lightly injuring 2 women. In East Jerusalem, IDF troops clash with Palestinians in Wadi al-Juz, al-Tur, al-‘Izzariya, and Abu Tor, firing tear gas and stun grenades and detaining 5 Palestinian youths. The Israeli police arrest 3 Palestinian women as they exit Haram al-Sharif and ban 4 others from entering the area for 3 days, following their release from detention late on 1/22. (MNA, TOI 1/23; MNA, WAFA 1/24; PCHR 1/29)

In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces shoot and kill a Palestinian in Abu Tor suspected of the attempted assassination of Yehuda Glick on 10/29. During the day, Israeli authorities close Haram al-Sharif to everyone and increase police and border police patrols in the city. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, and in 1 village each nr. Jenin and Tulkarm; patrols in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Jenin. (AFP, JP, MNA, REU 10/30)

Sweden officially recognizes the state of Palestine. In response, the Israeli govt. recalls its amb. to Sweden, Yitzhak Bachmann, for consultations. (He will be returned to Sweden on 11/29.) (AFP, HA 10/30; JP 11/20)

Fatah receives approval from Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Yasir Arafat with a rally in Gaza City, which they schedule for 11/11. This is the 1st time Fatah activists are permitted to hold such a commemoration in Gaza since 2007. (MNA 10/30)