The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, hundreds of Jewish Israelis visit religious sites across the West Bank in the morning, including al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, ahead of Purim on 3/24. When around 500 Israelis arrive at Joseph’s Tomb outside Nablus under an IDF escort, clashes break out with stone-throwing Palestinians from nearby Balata r.c.; there are no serious injuries. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities shut down all checkpoints leading out of the West Bank as well as the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings along Gaza’s border overnight, barring all Palestinians from crossing, except for humanitarian cases. A COGAT spokesperson confirms that the closure of the West Bank is set to extend through 3/26; the Erez border crossing is set to stay closed through 3/25. Israeli forces also erect a number of flying checkpoints around Hebron and close the w. entrance to the city. IDF troops conduct late-night house searches and raids in Nablus and nr. Ramallah, Jenin, and Hebron, arresting 8 Palestinians, issuing arrest summons to 3, and confiscating some electronics. In East Jerusalem, right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif in the morning. Meanwhile, Palestinian men under the age of 50 continue to be barred from the sanctuary. Along Gaza’s n. border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land. The Israeli authorities, meanwhile, return the engines of 59 previously confiscated fishing boats and release an injured Palestinian fisherman who has been detained for 4 mos. (MNA, WAFA 3/23; PCHR 3/24, 3/31)

The Israeli National Council for Planning and Building approves a plan proposed by the settler organization Elad to build a 16,000 m2 archaeological center in the City of David National Park adjacent to the Old City. This approval reverses an earlier ruling restricting the size of the proposed center to 10,000 m2 . (MNA 3/23; HA 3/25, 3/26)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops conduct a limited incursion nr. Bayt Hanun to level land close to the border fence. In the West Bank, Israeli troops shoot and kill a Palestinian in Qabatya village nr. Jenin, during clashes sparked by an arrest raid. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Bethlehem and nearby Dahaysha r.c., in al-Bireh, and 1 village each nr. Jenin and Ramallah at night. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces demolish a 3-story building containing shops and residential apartments, home to 8 family mbrs. It is the 2d such demolition in Bayt Hanina in consecutive days. (MNA, PCHR 10/30)

Israel announces the construction of 1,500 new homes in the East Jerusalem settlement of Ramat Shlomo, following shortly after the Palestinian prisoners release. The govt. also advances plans for a national park on the slopes of Mount Scopus and the establishment of a visitor’s center in the settler-run “City of David” national park in Silwan. Israeli officials brief that both the U.S. and Palestinians knew in advance that such announcements of construction would accompany prisoner releases. Likud dep. minister Ophir Akunis also claims that there was approval for plans for 2,000 further units in settlements outside the blocs. UN Secy.-Gen. Ban Ki-moon calls the news “an obstacle to peace,” while U.S. State Dept. spokesperson Jen Psaki responds by saying that the administration views “continued settlement activity” do not serve to “create a positive environment for the negotiations.” PA Pres. Abbas spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudayna says that the move “destroys the peace process.” (AFP, JP, YA 10/30)

Unnamed Western and Arab diplomats are reported as saying that it is unlikely the “Geneva 2” conference about the future of Syria will take place in 11/2013, as previously mooted. One of the main complications is the question of representation of the opposition, with opinions divided about whether the SNC should be the umbrella under which the opposition enters the negotiations. (REU 10/30)