The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian woman in Hebron, causing light injuries. Israeli settlers also fenced off 8 dunams (2 acres) of land near Jaba. 17 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Hizma, ‘Anata, Tarqumiyah, al-Dawha, Abu Dis, and Dheisheh refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished 1 school under construction in Shu‘fat refugee camp. 1 Palestinian family also demolished their own home in al-Tur. 1 Palestinian was arrested in Shu‘fat refugee camp. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/6; PCHR 7/8)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh ordered the 21 Palestinians who were arrested during an anti-PA protest in Ramallah on 7/5 to be released. (WAFA 7/6)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas called the Israeli president Reuven Rivlin on the occasion that President Rivlin is leaving office on 7/7. (HA, WAFA 7/6)

The members of the Knesset did not extend the law barring family reunification between Israeli citizens and Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, as it expired. The vote was 59-59-2; the 2 abstainers were from Ra’am (United Arab List). The law had been extended annually since it was 1st introduced in 2003. (AJ, AP, HA 7/5; AJ, ALM, AP, BBC, CNN, GDN, MEMO, NPR, REU, TOI, WAFA 7/6)

Lebanon’s prime minister Hassan Diab called on the international community to help his country deal with its financial struggles, warning that Lebanon is facing a “social explosion” in days. Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz said he had offered Lebanon humanitarian aid through UN intermediaries. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, TOI 7/6)

The World Bank, EU, and UN issued a report saying that rebuilding Gaza after Israel’s assault in May, dubbed Operation Guardian of the Walls, will cost $485 million over the next 2 years. It estimates $300 million in material damage and $190 million in economic losses. The report also stated that urgent help for food and other necessities was needed for 45,000 people, new housing for 4,000 families, and the creation of 20,000 new jobs. (AJ, ALM, WAFA 7/7; AP, HA 7/8)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 15 olive trees in Artas. Israeli settlers with military escort also forced Palestinian farmers to leave their land in Kisan. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers vandalized Palestinian-owned vehicles in Bruqin. Israeli authorities issued a military order seizing more than 658 dunams (163 acres) of Palestinian-owned land in al-‘Ubaydiyya. 10 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 near the separation barrier and 6 during raids in Hizma, Hebron, al-‘Arub refugee camp, and Nablus; clashes erupted during the raid in Hizma, leading to tear-gas related injuries. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/6; PCHR 3/11)

Demonstrations against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued for the 37th Saturday in a row. Protesters were demanding Prime Minister Netanyahu’s resignation over Israel’s COVID-19 response, handling of the Israeli economy, and the corruption cases against him. (HA 3/6; WAFA 3/7)

Lebanese caretaker prime minister Hassan Diab threatened to resign to pressure politicians to form a government. Diab’s threat came as Lebanon entered the 5th day of mass protest as the country is facing a deep financial crisis in parallel with its political crisis. (HA, REU 3/6; AJ 3/7)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces demolished 1 house and 1 water well, displacing 5 Palestinians west of Jenin; and demolished 1 house in Bayt Iksa. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 3 water pumps from Bayt Umar. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Hizma, Nablus, Jenin, Jericho, and Yatta. In East Jerusalem, 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Shu‘fat refugee camp and Issawiyya. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khuza‘a; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 8/10; PCHR 8/13)

The Israeli high court of justice blocked a punitive demolition of the family home of an alleged Palestinian attacker who is accused of killing an Israeli soldier on 5/12 during a raid in Ya‘bad. The majority opinion cited “serious damage to a number of basic rights, including property rights and human dignity.” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the decision a “miserable ruling.” (HA 8/10)

Prime Minister Netanyahu said in an interview that Israel had not annexed parts of the West Bank yet because the U.S. had not given him their final approval. Netanyahu said that U.S. president Donald Trump had been preoccupied by other issues and had put Israeli annexation on hold. (JP 8/11)

After daily protests since the massive explosion in the Beirut port on 8/4, Lebanese prime minister Hassan Diab and his cabinet resigned. Lebanese president Michal Aoun asked the prime minister to stay in a capacity as caretaker until a new government is formed. (AJ, REU 8/10; HA, REU 8/11)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque and wrote racist graffiti on walls in al-Bireh. Israeli forces razed Palestinian farmland to expand an Israeli settlement near Burqin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 4 animal barns in Nahalin. 11 Palestinians were arrested, including 9 during late-night raids in and around Anata, Hebron, Shu‘fat, and Jenin; 2 were arrested at a military checkpoint near Nablus. In Gaza, Israeli forces made incursions to level land east of Rafah. (HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/27; PCHR 7/29)

In the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants were said to have exchanged fire near the Lebanese border; no casualties were reported. Israel claimed that Hezbollah operatives had entered Israel, leading to an exchange of fire. Hezbollah, however, said that it had not opened fire on Israeli forces and that the Israeli claims were a publicity stunt. The Lebanese prime minister Hassan Diab later said that Israel’s conduct was a dangerous military escalation in violation of Lebanese sovereignty. (REU, REU 7/27; AJ, HA, HA, HA, REU 7/28)

The U.S. Democratic Party finalized its platform for the 2020 elections. While the platform states opposition to Israeli annexation of West Bank settlements and calls for a 2-state solution, it also dismissed progressive amendments to dealing with Israel, such as conditioning military aid and calling for an end to the occupation of the West Bank. The amendments were voted down 117-34. The platform also recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Jewish Voice for Peace called the platform “wildly out of touch with the Democratic base.” (HA 7/27; JVP Action 7/28; WAFA 7/29)

The EU said it was “deeply concerned” about the detention of PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Gheith and called for “full respect of bilateral agreements between Israel and the PLO” with regard to East Jerusalem. Governor Gheith was arrested on 7/19 during a house raid; it was the 18th time he has been arrested since becoming governor 2 years ago. (WAFA 7/28)

The EU contributed with $27 million to the PA to help pay for the June salaries for PA civil servants. The PA has only paid civil servants half their salaries, citing the refusal to receive tax revenue payments collected by Israel because it would include coordination between the PA and Israel. (WAFA, WAFA 7/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 16 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus. In Israel, 3 Palestinians from Gaza who had breached the Gaza fence were shot dead by Israeli forces. The Israeli military alleged that the 3 threw improvised explosives at the Israeli forces. (REU, WAFA, WP 1/21; AJ, HA, WAFA 1/22; PCHR 1/23)

Israeli defense minister Naftali Bennett said that Israel would annex the West Bank if the PA acted to erase the distinction between Areas A, B, and C. Chairperson of the Kahol Lavan party Benny Gantz separately said that he would work to advance annexation of the Jordan Valley if elected prime minister. (HA 1/21)

In Lebanon, a new government was formed under the new prime minister Hassan Diab. Prime Minister Diab described his 20 new ministers as a technocratic “rescue team.” Despite the formation of the new government, the protest that started in 2019 continued in Lebanon. (HA 1/21; AJ 1/22)