The Palestine Chronology

Israel seals the West Bank through 5/10 for independence day celebrations (by the Hebrew calendar); Israeli Palestinians hold marches to commemorate the Nakba (the expulsion of Palestinians in 1948 when Israel was formed; most other Palestinians observe Nakba Day ca. 5/15, Israel’s independence day by the Gregorian calendar). The IDF patrols in Qalqilya, nearby ‘Azun, and Ya‘abad village nr. Jenin. In Gaza, students at al-Azhar University celebrate the reconciliation agreement. (MNA 5/8; NYT 5/9; OCHA, PCHR 5/12)

Palestinians fire 3 rockets (including 1 Grad), 1 mortar into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Israeli naval vessels intercept a Palestinian fishing boat off the c. Gaza coast, releasing the fishermen but seizing the boat. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 village nr. Ramallah in the morning and 4 villages nr. Qalqilya late in the day. In Gaza, 1,000s of Palestinian students at al-Azhar University hold a sit-in on campus in support of national reconciliation. (IsRN, XIN 3/20; IsRN, JP, WP 3/21; PCHR 3/24; OCHA 4/1)

An IDF bulldozer crushes, kills American International Solidarity Movement (ISM) worker Rachel Corrie, part of a group blocking bulldozers fr. demolishing a Palestinian home in Rafah. The IDF also seals the West Bank, Gaza for Purim (3/17–19); fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian; fatally shoots a 2d Palestinian standing in his doorway in Rafah; bulldozes 2 dunams of land, 12 olive trees in Dayr al-Balah; raids areas around Bethlehem, Salfit. Arafat cancels the al-Azhar University workers union elections, fearing a landslide victory by Hamas, Islamic Jihad. (BBC, LAW 3/16; ITV, MA 3/16 in WNC 3/17; JP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/17; WT 3/18; PR 3/19; PCHR, WJW 3/20; MEI 3/21)

Israel continues strikes on PA targets, destroying 2 PSF buildings in Gaza City, wounding 18 Palestinians, and damaging al-Azhar University buildings, Palestine Bank offices, the UNRWA school for the blind. In the West Bank, the IDF ambushes, fatally shoots 2 Palestinians. The funeral for a Hamas mbr. killed outside Shaykh Yasin's house on 12/5 turns into an anti-Arafat protest. The PA bars the press fr. covering a large pro-Hamas rally in Hebron. (AFP, REU 12/7; NYT, REU, WT 12/8; WP 12/9; LAW 12/12)

At Zinni's request, CIA, PA, Israeli security officials hold a "heated" trilateral security comm. mtg. in Tel Aviv. Separately, Ben-Eliezer meets with Arafat financial adviser Muhammad Rashid to discuss ways of achieving a cease-fire. (NYT, WP, WT 12/8; MENA 12/8, MA 12/9 in WNC 12/11; HA, WT 12/9)

PA security officials say that they have arrested 2 Palestinians, Ayash Daoud and Husni Fayiz, on charges of selling Palestinian land to Jews in the 1980s. (WT 7/3) (see 6/10)

PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) arrests Fathi Ahmad Subuh, a prof. at al-Azhar Univeristy's Gaza campus, for asking 2 questions regarding PA, al-Azhar University corruption on his final exam 6/21. (LAW 7/7; PR 7/18; JP 7/19; NYT 8/16)

In Gaza, settlers fr. Gush Qatif settlement bulldoze land belonging to Palestinians fr. Dayr al-Balah, precipitating Palestinian demonstration. IDF soldiers fire on protesters with live ammunition, killing 1, wounding 6. (MM 7/2; NYT, WT 7/3; PR 7/4)

In Hebron, Palestinians observe general strike, hold demonstrations to protest anti-Muslim posters, throw more than 100 molotov cocktails at soldiers. IDF snipers fire on the demonstrators, wounding 7 with live ammunition, 30 with rubber bullets. (MM 7/2; NYT, WT 7/3) (see 7/1)

In Amman, Jordan, the U.S. sign an investment promotion agmt. to provide investors fr. both countries with financial guarantees. Only 3 other Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia) have similar agmts. with the U.S. (RJ 7/2 in WNC 7/3)

Jordan abolishes its 50% non-Jordanian equity ownership ceiling in the Amman Financial Market, transportation, insurance, banking, telecommunications, agricultural sectors. (JT 7/2 in WNC 7/3; JT 7/6 in WNC 7/8)

In s. Lebanon, 1 Lebanese civilian is wounded by IDF shelling. Later, 1 SLA mbr. is killed, 3 are wounded in a Hizballah attack nr. Jazzin. (RL 7/2 in WNC 7/3)