The Palestine Chronology

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border exchange fire with unidentified Palestinians n. of Bayt Hanun, leaving 1 Palestinian gunman and 1 Palestinian bystander wounded. (PCHR 9/3)

In the West Bank, the IDF dismantles part of the infrastructure at Ma’ale Ephraim checkpoint controlling access to the Jordan Valley, stating that it will only periodically be staffed (a decision reversed later in the mo.); conducts late-night raids, house searches in and around Jenin, in Qalqilya, and nr. Jericho and Bethlehem, arresting 6 Palestinians (including 2 teenagers). (OCHA 9/3; PCHR 9/10; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 9/09; OCHA 10/2)

In Jerusalem, PA national economy M Basim Khoury and Israeli dep. PM Silvan Shalom discuss economic cooperation, marking the 1st senior-level meeting between Israel and the PA since Netanyahu took office in 3/09. (WP 9/3)

Overnight, the IDF launches major arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, clashing with armed Palestinians, killing local AMB leader Basim Abu Saria and a 71-yr.-old Palestinian man, wounding 8 Palestinians (2 gunmen, 1 cameraman for the German press agency, and 5 bystanders, including a woman and a child); during the operation, the IDF blows up an apartment in a 4-story complex, damaging 2 other apartments, 10 nearby buildings, 4 cars, 7 electricity relays, 3 water pipes, displacing 3 Palestinian families (20 persons). Also in the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Anabta nr. Tulkarm, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron and in al-Bireh, Jenin town and r.c., Ramallah. In 2 separate incidents nr. Nablus, Jewish settlers attack Palestinians harvesting olives; the Palestinian DCO contacts its IDF counterpart, which removes the settlers; 1 Palestinian is injured. In Gaza, the IDF bulldozes 3 d. of Palestinian olive groves nr. Qarni crossing; Palestinians fire 3 mortars at the troops, who respond with heavy machine gun fire; no injuries are reported. (NYT, OCHA 10/17; PCHR 10/18)

The IDF raids Abasan nr. Khan Yunis in pursuit of wanted Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Basim Kadih, fatally shooting him in an apparent assassination, also killing his wife, sparking an exchange of gunfire in which 3 Hamas mbrs. are killed (including 1 who is run over by an IDF jeep, then executed by an IDF soldier, who gets out of the jeep, shoots him in the head), wounding 10 others (at least 6 of whom are hit with live ammunition in the head and chest). The IDF then demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in Abasan, including Kadih’s, and bulldozes 4 dunams of land. The IDF also fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. the Kissufim crossing; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Dahaysha r.c.; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; fires on Palestinian, Israeli demonstrators protesting against the separation wall nr. Kharbata northwest of Ramallah, wounding at least 5 people, including a 9-yr.-old Palestinian boy, an Israeli hit in the eye; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Nablus. 2 Palestinians die of injuries received earlier. (PCHR, XIN 3/21; VOP 3/21 in WNC 3/23; HA, WP 3/22; PCHR 3/25)

Palestine National Authority (PNA) hold 1st official mtg. in Tunis, presided over by PLO Chmn. Arafat. (Algerian TV 5/26 in FBIS 5/27)

World Bank approves $30 m. credit fr. Trust Fund for Gaza to 3-yr., $128 m. Emergency Rehabilitation Project to improve Gaza water supply, sanitation.  (World Bank release, 5/26)

Trial opens in Beirut of Namiq Kamal, charged in 1976 murder of U.S. Amb. Francis Meloy, embassy counselor, and Lebanese driver.  Kamal, fugitive Basim Muhammad Farkh, and 3d Lebanese, all with links to PFLP, had been arrested at time but released during civil war.  (MM 5/26; WT 5/27, 5/30)

Death in New York of frmr. Undersecy of State George W. Ball, frequent critic of Israeli policies.  (NYT, WP, WT 5/28)

Britain ends 12-yr-old arms embargo on Israel, allowing Israeli firms to bid on Defence Min. tenders.  Embargo had been imposed after 1982 Lebanon war.  (JP 6/4)