The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers shoot and kill a Palestinian man in Dura village nr. Hebron in response to stone-throwing at an IDF patrol. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Jenin, 1 village and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Jenin at night. In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops conduct a limited incursion nr. Khan Yunis to level land alongside the border fence. (MNA, REU 7/2; PCHR 7/4)

Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas says he is “optimistic” about U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry’s shuttle diplomacy, in comments he makes to reporters at a Ramallah press conference with Italian PM Enrico Letta. Meanwhile, U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Jen Psaki says in a press conference that no details of the peace talks will be divulged for the time being. In another development, Israel and the PA agree to form a biweekly committee on economic matters, a decision made in a meeting between Palestinian FM Shukri Bishara and Israeli FM Yair Lapid. Issues of concern for the committee will include crossings, fuel, and tax. (JP 7/2; MNA 7/3)

Egyptian pres. Mohamed Morsi rejects the military’s ultimatum to relinquish power, insisting on his democratic legitimacy and warning that any attempt to remove him and his govt. by force will plunge the country into chaos. Both Morsi and the military leadership say they will not back down from a violent confrontation. Violent clashes between supporters and opponents of Morsi in different neighborhoods of Cairo result in an estimated 7–11 deaths. Meanwhile, the Israeli army issues a statement revealing that the Egyptian military has moved several dozen armored vehicles into the border area nr. the Gaza Strip in coordination with Israel, part of efforts to combat security threats in the Sinai. (AP, NYT 7/2)

U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry meets with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of a security conference in Brunei and tells reporters afterward that a proposed peace conference on Syria will not happen until at least 9/2013. Lavrov also says that Kerry had recognized that “consolidating” the various Syrian opposition forces was the most important task ahead of any possible peace conference. (WP 7/2)

An anonymous, senior Israeli official says that U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry presented Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas with a proposal for the renewal of direct negotiations during meetings in the past few days. The official did not elaborate on the proposal’s contents. With Kerry now in Brunei, Middle East adviser Frank Lowenstein and State Dept. legal expert Jonathan Schwartz meet with Israel’s National Security Adviser Ya’akov Amidror and Special Envoy Yitzhak Molcho to continue discussions on how to break the deadlock. (HA, JP 7/1; JP 7/2)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages and al-Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, and 1 village each nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jerusalem at night. (PCHR 7/4)

Jerusalem Municipal officials meet with members of the Knesset Finance Cmte. and approve funding for infrastructure construction on housing tenders for 930 homes in Har Homa settlement. The work is part of a project approved in 8/2011 for around 1,000 housing units to further the development of Har Homa. Meanwhile, Israeli DM Moshe Ya’alon announces that extremist Jewish settlers carrying out so-called price-tag attacks against Palestinians will be designated a “forbidden organization,” enabling security forces to use broader powers in investigating such incidents. The statement comes 2 weeks after the cabinet approved the step. (HA 7/1)

The Egyptian military issues a 48-hour ultimatum to Pres. Mohamed Morsi to meet the demands of protesters or face the army’s intervention, as hundreds of thousands of supporters and opponents of the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated govt. again take to the streets. (AP, REU 7/1)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Nablus, Tulkarm, 1 village nr. Hebron, 1 village nr. Ramallah, 1 village nr. Bethlehem and Aida r.c. in Bethlehem at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Bethlehem in the morning, in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Jericho and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. Meanwhile, Jewish settlers set fire to Palestinian-owned land nr. Nablus. (WAFA 6/30; PCHR 7/4)

U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry makes one more visit to Ramallah in the morning, holding brief talks with Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas, their 3d meeting in 3 days. Afterward, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat says that there had been no breakthrough. Kerry, speaking to reporters in Ben-Gurion Airport on his way to Brunei, sounds a more positive note and cites unspecified “real progress.” Kerry departs after 4 days and 13 total hours of talks with Abbas and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Meanwhile, Netanyahu tells a cabinet meeting that any future agreement with the Palestinians will be submitted for approval in a national referendum. (AFP, HA 6/30)

Israeli media reports that the Jerusalem Municipality will advance plans to build 930 new housing units in Har Homa settlement, a development that Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat condemns in a Ramallah press conference. (JP 6/30)

Millions of demonstrators take to the streets across Egypt on a planned day of protest against the govt. of Pres. Mohamed Morsi. As night falls, violent clashes break out between opponents and supporters of Morsi, resulting in 4 deaths. Assailants storm the Cairo headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood, setting it on fire. (REU, WP 6/30)

Sec. Baker says that Saddam had expressed tentative interest in compromise settlement of Gulf crisis, but that Washington considers the termns unacceptable and continues to insist Iraq withdraws completely from Kuwait. Compromise reportedly suggests that Iraq would leave Kuwait, but retain Bubiyan Island and Rumaila oilfield; Baker also urges Israel to cooperate with UN probe of Haram al-Sharif killings [NYT, LAT, WP, WT, MEM 10/17].

Bush admin. is urging UN Sec.-Gen. Perez de Cuellar to send UN investigating team to Jerusalem soon in an effort to stem possible new campaign at UN against Israel [NYT 10/17].

Japanese cabinet approves plan to send troops to Gulf in that country's lst military activity abroad since World War II; plan encounters opposition in parliament where final approval is needed [NYT, WP 10/17].

British For. Sec. Hurd speaks before Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee; reportedly says Britain opposes Palestinian state and is not "enthusiastic" about the PLO as negotiating partner for Israel (cf. 10/17) [JDS, IDF 10/16 in FBIS 10/17].

Six non-Arab Muslim nations - Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Pakistan, and the Maldives - issue statement appealing to Saddam to leave Kuwait [AFP 10/16 in FBIS 10/18].