The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Umm Safa, throwing stones at Palestinian farmers working their land. Israeli settlers also blocked Route 60 between Jerusalem and Ramallah, burning tires in protest over an Israeli demolition of a settlement outpost nearby. Israeli forces issued 12 stop work notices for 1 soccer field and 11 shacks in Masha and demolished an irrigation system under construction in Artas. Israeli forces also razed some 50 dunams (12.35 acres) of Palestinian land near Bruqin to expand the Brukhin settlement. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians celebrating Mawlid, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad, assaulting people gathered at the Damascus Gate Plaza. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters near the Gaza fence, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas east of Khuza’a. Israel claimed that Palestinians launched incendiary balloons at Israel. (QDS, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/27; HA 9/28; PCHR 10/5)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh met with Saudi non-resident ambassador to Palestine and consul general in Jerusalem Nayef al-Sudairi in Ramallah. It was al-Sudairi’s third day of meetings with Palestinian officials in the West Bank. Al-Sudairi also canceled a visit to the Haram al-Sharif compound on the occasion of Mawlid, reportedly after social media calls to prevent the visit in protest over the Saudi-Israeli normalization plans and due to the visit not being coordinated with the Jordanian-run Waqf, making the security a matter for the Israeli police. (HA, HA, MEE, NYT, QDS, WAFA 9/27)

UN envoy for the Middle East peace process Tor Wennesland said after visiting Gaza that the situation was dire and that all parties must avoid another conflict, saying that “the people of Gaza have suffered enough.” Wennesland also briefed the UN Security Council, saying that Israel has advanced more than 10,000 settlement housing units in the last 3 months, calling on Israel to cease settlement activity immediately and calling on member states to up funding for UNRWA and the World Food Programme, which both need funding for food assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. (REU, UN, WAFA 9/27; HA, HA 9/28)

The U.S. admitted Israel into its Visa Waiver Program, allowing Israelis to enter the U.S. for 90 days without obtaining a visa. Democratic senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeff Merkey (D-OR), and Peter Welch (D-VT) criticized the move, saying Israel has failed to meet the reciprocity requirements as not all U.S. citizens are treated equally by Israel, referring to Palestinian Americans who do not enjoy the same freedom of movement in Israel and Israeli-controlled crossings in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as other Americans do. Palestinian American member of the House Rashida Tlaib also criticized the decision, saying “it explicitly condones and enables the Israeli government’s discriminatory practices towards Americans requesting entry, including hours of detainment and interrogation.” U.S. embassy to Israel chargé d’affaires ad interim Stephanie Hallett said the embassy had established a working group to solve the issue of Palestinian Americans not being able to drive from the West Bank to Israel. (AX 9/26; AJ, ALM, AP, AX, CNN, HA, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, REU 9/27; AJ, AJ, HA 9/28; WAFA 9/29)

The Lebanese army said it had exchanged smoke grenades with Israeli forces while working to remove “infringements” placed by Israeli forces on the Lebanese side of the Blue Line. A similar incident occurred on 9/23. (HA 9/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers blocked Route 60 near Turmus ‘Ayya. Israeli forces raided Tura, leading to tear-gas related injuries. (WAFA, WAFA 6/29; PCHR 7/6; UNOCHA 7/8)

A Jerusalem district court made an injunction against the evacuation of a settlement outpost near the Eli settlement after Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant approved an evacuation order for the outpost. (HA, WAFA 6/29)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken announced that former U.S. ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro had been appointed senior advisor for regional integration, a full-time ambassador-level position seeking to convince more countries to normalize relations with Israel. (ALM, HA 6/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 1 mosque in Kisan and placed an Israeli flag on top of the mosque. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor near Silwad, claiming he had thrown stones at vehicles traveling on Route 60. The PA called the killing an execution. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 9 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition and injured others with tear gas during a late-night raid in Jenin. Israeli forces also delivered a demolition notice for 1 house under construction in al-Farra in the Masafer Yatta area. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of the shore; no injuries were reported. (AP, JP, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/24; AJ, HA, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/25; PCHR 6/26; PCHR 6/30; UNOCHA 7/2)

The UN human rights office said it had found that the bullet that killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh on 5/11 was fired by Israeli forces and not during crossfire with Palestinian militants as Israel has claimed. A representative of the UN human rights office said that “[i]t is deeply disturbing that Israeli authorities have not conducted a criminal investigation” into the killing of Abu Akleh. The UN representative called the bullets fired by the Israeli forces “well-aimed” at journalists wearing flak jackets with “PRESS” markings. (AJ, AP, AX, GDN, HA, MEE, NBC, NPR, OHCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WSJ 6/24; IN 6/25)

Amnesty International criticized the PA for its response to the killing of PA critic Nizar Banat in June 2021. The regional director for the Middle East of North Africa Heba Morayef said that “[t]he flawed military trial of 14 low-ranking security officers will not bring about justice” in the case. The family of Banat is no longer partaking in the PA trial, as it does not believe it will bring justice; it is preparing a civil lawsuit instead. (MEE 6/23; AP 6/24)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles driving on Route 60 near the Yitzhar settlement, causing damage. Israeli settlers also started construction on a pool near a water spring in Khirbet al-Farisiya. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, killing 1 Palestinian man with a shot to his head; 68 others were injured, including 4 with rubber-coated bullets. The PA foreign ministry called in the ICC to take action against Israel’s killing of Palestinian protesters. The man was the 9th victim of Israeli gunfire related to the weekly anti-settlement protest in Beita since May. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 6 with rubber-coated bullets, including 2 minors. 5 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Beitunia and al-Bireh. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested in Isawiya and Jabel Mukaber. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces arrested 2 Palestinian fishermen and confiscated their boat. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian bird hunters near the Gaza fence; no injuries were reported. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/10; MEMO, PCHR 12/11; WAFA 12/12; HA, MDW 12/13; PCHR 12/16; HA 12/24)

In Lebanon, an explosion killed 1 and injured 4 others in the Burj el-Shamali refugee camp. Sources in the camp said the explosion happened in a Hamas weapons depot; however, Hamas denied the claim, saying the explosion was due to an electrical fault in a warehouse storing oxygen and gas cylinders for COVID-19 patients. (AJ, AP, HA, REU 12/10; AP, MEMO 12/12)

The New York Times reported that Israel consulted with the Biden administration before it struck 2 targets in Iran in June and September this year. (NYT 12/10; HA 12/11)

In promotional material for the upcoming book Trump’s Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, it was revealed that former U.S. president and likely candidate for the Republican presidential ticket in 2024, Donald Trump, made significant U.S. policy changes to help former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu win elections in Israel. Former President Trump told Ravid that he recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel and, separately, announced plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem to help Netanyahu, who was struggling in the Israeli elections. Trump also told Ravid that he left the Iran Nuclear deal because of Israel and dismissed the idea that it was due to Israeli intelligence, mocking the idea that Israel had presented anything new at the time. Ravid further reports in his book that Trump believes that Netanyahu never had any interest in making peace with the Palestinians. Trump explained to Ravid that PA president Mahmoud Abbas “was almost like a father” and that he thought Abbas wanted to make peace more than Netanyahu. Trump acknowledged to Ravid that his strategy of pressuring the Palestinian leadership back to negotiations after recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel had failed, saying “[t]hese are hardened people.” Netanyahu and Trump had a significant personal fallout due to Israel’s push to annex most of the West Bank, outside of the framework of the Trump administration’s plan for a peace deal. It was also revealed that Trump now holds a grudge against Netanyahu because Netanyahu congratulated U.S. president Joe Biden on his election win in 2020, which Trump has falsely claimed to be fraudulent and has never officially conceded. Trump said he had not talked to Netanyahu since losing the election and said to Ravid during the interview, “fuck him [Netanyahu].” (AP, AX, AX, HA 12/10; FWD, HA, HA 12/12; AX, HA, IN, MEE, MEMO 12/13; TOI 12/14; GDN 12/20)

In Ravid’s book Trump’s Peace, new details about the normalization agreement between Israel and the UAE are also revealed. According to Ravid, Avi Berkowitz, aide to senior advisor to the president Jared Kushner, suggested to Netanyahu on 6/30/2020 that he normalize relations with the UAE instead of moving ahead with annexation of parts of the West Bank. The UAE ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Otaiba had been in talks with the U.S. about normalization since March 2019 and had been pushing normalization with Israel. Ravid also writes in his book that UK ambassador to the UN Karen Elizabeth Pierce warned Berkowitz and U.S. special envoy to Iran Brian Hook that the UK and other countries would recognize the State of Palestine if Israel moved forward with annexing parts of the West Bank. (FWD 12/12; AX, HA 12/13; MEMO 1/4)

Germany contributed with $23.75 million to the UNRWA. (WAFA 12/10)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers vandalized 8 cars, 4 trucks, and several buildings with graffiti in Hebrew and with the Star of David in Huwwara; several cars also had their tires slashed. In a separate incident near Huwwara, Israeli settlers threw stones on Palestinian vehicles traveling on Route 60; several Palestinian-owned vehicles were damaged. In Kafr Qaddum, Israeli forces violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protest, injuring at least 7 Palestinians with rubber-coated bullets; Israeli forces also raided several homes during the protest. Palestinians suffered from tear gas inhalation in Ni‘lin and Bayt Sira when Israeli forces violently dispersed a similar protest there. Elsewhere in the West Bank, 2 Palestinians were arrested in Asira south of Nablus. The 2 were arrested after clashes had erupted during an Israeli raid on the village. In Gaza, 5 Palestinians were killed and more than 51 injured. 3 of the killed had died in Israeli airstrikes; the 2 others were killed and the many injured were due to Israeli firing of live ammunition toward the protesters partaking in the Great March of Return. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 220. Two Israeli soldiers were lightly injured by gunfire fired from the Gaza side of the fence. (HA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/3; AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 5/4)

UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territories Jamie McGoldrick said in a statement that demolitions in East Jerusalem “[h]ave increased at a staggering pace over the last month” and that “[t]his must stop.” (WAFA 5/3; MDW 5/4)

The EU announced that it had contributed $16.8 million to help pay the salaries and pensions of Palestinian civil servants in the West Bank. (MNA, WAFA 5/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed the weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum; 1 Palestinian was hospitalized after being shot in his mouth by a rubber-coated bullet. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting in Ni‘lin village. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinians driving on Route 60 near Burqa; no injuries were reported. Parts of Route 60 south of Bethlehem were closed for a marathon arranged by Israeli settlers. An Israeli settler critically injured a 15-year-old Palestinian by ramming into him with his car by Tuwanah near Hebron. Palestinians were detained at a flying checkpoint east of Jenin. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested: 1 during a late-night raid in the Old City of Jerusalem and 2 at Haram al-Sharif. In Gaza, 1 Palestinian was critically wounded by an Israeli sniper using live ammunition during the weekly Great March of Return protest. Over 10,000 Palestinians protested and at least 80 were injured. (HA, MNA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/5; MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA 4/6)

A new settler bypass road in the Nablus district of the West Bank was approved for construction by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The road will bypass the Palestinian town Huwwara and parts of the road will be built on Palestinian-owned land previously seized by Israel. (MNA 4/5)

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas departed for Jordan for a 3-day trip to partake in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa by the Dead Sea. (WAFA 4/5)

The South African foreign minister Lindiwe Sisulu announced that South Africa would not reinstate its ambassador to Israel who was recalled in 2018 due to Israel’s lethal response to the Great March of Return. (HA 4/6)

Palestinians protest in Bethlehem, Hebron and Ramallah in solidarity with hunger-striking prisoners in Israeli jails. In al-Khader village nr. Bethlehem, Palestinians demonstrate by Route 60, until they are violently dispersed by Israeli soldiers. The IDF also clashes with Palestinians nr. al-‘Arub r.c. north of Hebron, shooting 1 Palestinian in the leg; 1 IDF soldier is moderately injured. Palestinians throw stones in Hebron and on Highway 446 nr. Ramallah; no one is injured in these clashes. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in Bethlehem and 3 villages nr. Hebron at night. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen off the coast of northern Gaza, wounding 2. (HA, MNA 2/18; PCHR 2/21)

The PA’s director of custom taxes and VAT Ahmad al-Hilou says that Israel is still withholding tax revenues from the PA, a step taken in 11/2012 as a response to the successful UN bid (see JPS 167). A meeting between PA and Israeli officials to discuss transferring 1/2013 tax revenues is set for 2/28. (MNA 2/18)

Egyptian security officials say that a delegation from Cairo will visit Israel for talks on the Gaza cease-fire and border restrictions, and will present a demand for Israel to allow commercial goods to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing. The visit comes a day after an Israeli delegation visited Cairo. (MNA 2/18)

The Turkish media report that Israel has supplied electronic warfare systems to the Turkish military, the first such exchange since the deadly attack on the Mavi Marama in 5/2010. An Israeli defense source says that the deal came about after American pressure and due to an Israeli desire to improve relations with Turkey. (HA 2/18)

European Union foreign ministers announce that the sanctions regime against Syria will remain the same, with the addition of an amendment allowing for the supply of ‘‘non-lethal support and technical assistance for the protection of civilians’’—wording intended to further aid rebels, but stopping short of a push by Britain and France to make support for the rebels more explicit. (AP 2/18)

An IDF drone fires a missile at PFLP mbrs. nr. the Gaza border fence e. of Jabaliya, killing 2 PFLP mbrs., wounding a 3d. In the West Bank, the IDF removes an earthen barrier blocking the northern entrance to Halhul n. of Hebron that has been a major impediment to Palestinian movement along Route 60, the main road in the s. West Bank; demolishes 5 structures on a Palestinian farm nr. Bethlehem; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Jerusalem, Ramallah. (OCHA, PCHR 1/6)

The IDF makes air strikes on a rocketlaunching site in n. Gaza (decapitating a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding another child), a group of unidentified armed Palestinians in Gaza City (wounding 4), and a group of Hamas mbrs. in Gaza City (killing 2 Hamas mbrs., wounding 3); sends armored vehicles, bulldozers into Gaza to level land around the Qarni industrial zone. IDF troops on the central Gaza border nr. Juhur al-Dik exchange fire with armed Palestinians inside Gaza, causing no reported injuries; troops later shell farmers working a field in the same area, killing 1 Palestinian farmer, wounding 2. Israeli naval vessels fire on Palestinian fishing boats off the Rafah coast, forcing them to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron and Nablus, nr. Tulkarm. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that since 5/16, Jewish settlers have seized and leveled 200 d. of Palestinian land around Revava Settlement nr. Salfit for construction of settler-only bypass roads. (OCHA, WP 5/21; PCHR 5/22)

Israel releases fmr. Education M Nasser al-Sha‘ir (arrested 5/24, dismissed by Abbas on 6/14) after he signs a pledge renouncing his ties to Hamas, vowing never to hold an official position representing the group. In Gaza, 2 Palestinian children are injured by a roadside bomb planted nr. an ESF post. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes nr. Jerusalem (in Anata, Bayt Hanina); conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and Ramallah, nr. Bethlehem, in Hebron. Some 3,500 Jewish settlers bring construction materials to the Homesh settlement site with the intention of rebuilding the settlement vacated under Israel’s 9/05 disengagement plan; settlers set fire to 10s of nearby Palestinian olive trees, vandalize fuel tanks and cars at a nearby Palestinian gas station. The IDF closed several main checkpoints (nr. Hebron, Qalqilya, Ramallah) and stretches of Route 60 to block settlers fr. reaching the site, causing major obstacles to Palestinian movement. (OCHA, WT 7/18; PCHR 7/19)

Israel allows the Rafah crossing to Egypt to open for departures for the 1st time since 3/6, sparking a surge by 100s of Palestinians seeking to exit that leaves a 61-yr.-old Palestinian dead; PA presidential guardsmen controlling the exit use clubs, fire at the ground to push back travelers seeking to exit, wounding 7 and prompting the European Union (EU) observers to close the crossing. The IDF also sends bulldozers into Gaza e. of Bureij r.c. to level land. Palestinians shut the Sufa crossing to protest the attack today on the Palestinian director of the crossing by unknown gunmen (no injuries reported). In the West Bank, the IDF storms a mosque, several houses in Hebron nr. the settler-only bypass road Route 60, threatening to demolish the mosque if there were any more stone-throwing from the area (the IDF cmdr. involved is later suspended for his actions); fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Tubas nr. Jenin, wounding 3 Palestinian teenagers and a 60-yr.-old bystander; shoots, wounds an unarmed Palestinian attempting to cross the separation wall nr. Abu Dis; conduct arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin, Ramallah (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 2 with live ammunition). PA security force mbrs. demonstrate in Gaza City and Bureij r.c. to protest the PA’s nonpayment of salaries, local banks’ automatic deduction of debts owed from the partial salary payments that are automatically deposited. (WT 3/9; OCHA 3/14; PCHR 3/15)

The IDF bars Palestinians under age 45 fr. attending Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque; raids al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem, arresting 6 youths (aged 14–17) for throwing stones at Israeli vehicles along nearby Route 60; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. (PCHR 2/23)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shuts the Hebron–Bethlehem road to Palestinian traffic; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes northwest of Jerusalem for construction of the separation wall; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Ramallah, in Tulkarm, nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. 10 Jewish settler girls fr. Binyamina settlement cut open sacks of olives harvested by Palestinians in nearby Sinjil; more than 10 IDF soldiers observe but do not intervene until after the damage is done, detaining 6 of the girls. (YA 11/16; PCHR 11/17, 11/24)

The IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement around Jerusalem, in Hebron citing the Sukkoth holiday; continues arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, as well as in Jaba’ nr. Jenin; fires on stonethrowing Palestinians along the Jerusalem– Bethlehem road nr. Kefar Etzion, killing 1 Palestinian. The IDF also ends escorts of Palestinian children in s. Hebron, citing concerns that troops could be drawn into clashes with angry Jewish settlers targeting Palestinians for retribution following the 10/16 drive-by shootings; the IDF began escorts about 1 yr. ago to protect the children fr. repeated attacks by Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on. Jewish settlers fr. Elon Moreh cut down 30 olive trees, burn another 200 in Salim in revenge for the drive-by shootings on 10/16. (HA 10/20; HA, Independent 10/21; PCHR 10/27)

Abbas, Bush meet in Washington but do not announce any new initiatives. In a pessimistic statement, Bush cautions that a Palestinian state might not be established by the time he leaves office in 2009. (AFP, REU 10/20; AFP, HA, JTA, NYT, WP, WT 10/21; WT 10/22; YA 10/23; JTA 10/24; DS 10/25)

In light of the 10/16 AMB attacks, the IDF suspends contacts with the PA; closes to private Palestinian vehicles 2 stretches of the main north–south artery through the West Bank (Route 60) between Jerusalem and Ramallah and Jerusalem and Hebron; reinforces troops in the s. West Bank, encircling Hebron, Bethlehem; reimposes recently dismantled checkpoints around Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah. The IDF also closes the Qarni crossing for half a day; conducts arrest raids targeting the AMB in Jenin. Some 40 Jewish settlers attack Palestinian vehicles on the Bayt Furik–Bayt Dajan road nr. Nablus. Palestinians east of Tubas say that the IDF had recently fenced off and begun bulldozing 1,000 d. of Palestinian orchards, farmland nr. Rotem for the apparent expansion of the settlement. (HA, IMEMC, JAZ, PM 10/17; HA, CSM, NYT 10/18; PCHR 10/20; OCHA 10/31)

Israel announces plans to build new roads in Gaza parallel to the existing settler bypass roads to ease congestion during the evacuation of settlements in 7/05. The IDF sends troops into Balata r.c. who fatally shoot wanted AMB mbr. Ibrahim Isnayri, who allegedly has Hizballah connections, in disputed circumstances (the IDF says troops tried to arrest him, but he opened fire and they responded; Palestinian observers say the IDF fired without warning, Isnayri never fired); the AMB says he was assassinated and it will take revenge, may stop adhering to the cease-fire; Abbas declares it a “serious violation” of the truce. The IDF also raids an elementary school in Budrus nr Ramallah, checks employee IDs, leaves without making arrests; raids, fires on homes in Surif nr. Hebron, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 6; raids fields along a settler bypass road nr. Tulkarm, arrests 8 farmers, interrogates and then releases them; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Aza r.c. nr. Bethlehem, Shufa nr. Tulkarm; demolishes a Palestinian home in Kafr ‘Aqab nr. Qalandia for lack of a permit; issues demolition orders for 92 Palestinian homes in Silwan in East Jerusalem for lack of permits. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai attack, beat a Palestinian man, 6 children in Hebron; in a separate incident beat a 12-yr.-old Palestinian girl heading home fr. school, throw stones and bottles at 10s of Palestinian homes in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Tapuach settlement spread poisoned feed on large areas of Palestinian grazing land outside Nablus (see 3/22). A Jewish settler shoots, wounds a Palestinian driving nr. Hebron. (AP, REU, XIN 4/14; IMEMC, MM, NYT 4/15; OCHA, PR 4/20; PCHR 4/21; MEI 4/29)

The IDF withdraws to the outskirts of Qalqilya, keeping a closure on the city, positioning itself to reinvade quickly if so ordered. The body of a PSF officer, missing since 10/20, is found in the area evacuated by the IDF; he had been shot 10 times. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/21. Israel tightens Palestinian access to East Jerusalem, deploying more border police, special forces units; placing new checkpoints nr. the "Greater Jerusalem" boundary at Anata, Bayt Hanina, Jaba', Shu'fat; closing the Bethlehem road checkpoint into the city; placing a closure on Azariyya. IDF troops, under cover of shelling and heavy machine gun fire, enter Rafah, demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, damage 2 others. The IDF also reinforces troops in Jinin, Tulkarm; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Hebron, Tulkarm; digs a trench across the main Jinin-Nablus road. Jewish settlers set fire to a Palestinian store, vandalize several other shops in the Israeli-controlled section of Hebron; shoot, wound a Palestinian teenager in Silat al-Dahir; stone Palestinian cars in East Jerusalem. Egyptian officials say that 1,200 Palestinians are trapped on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border, that Israel is only allowing 200 Palestinians/day into Gaza. (AFP, HP, NYT, WP, WT 11/5; NYT, WP 11/6; al-Quds 11/6 in WNC 11/7; PCHR 11/8; MENA 11/19 in WNC 11/20)

On the sidelines of an Euro-Mediterranean economics conference in Brussels, Arafat, Peres hold informal talks with EU reps. on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. (AFP 11/5 in WNC 11/6; NYT, WT 11/6)

Low-level Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead. In a predawn raid, the IDF sends bulldozers and tanks into Rafah, under cover of shells and machine gun fire, to demolish at least 19 Palestinian homes. Jewish settlers close the Hebron-Bethlehem road, attack Palestinian vehicles. The PA detains Islamic Jihad Gaza head Abdallah Shami for "acting against the Palestinian interests" for criticizing the cease-fire. (LAW 6/23; MEZ, WT 6/24; AFP [Internet] 6/28; MEI 6/29)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 5 Palestinians dead. A 6th Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. A Palestinian sniper fatally shoots a Jewish settler driving through Gaza; the IDF demolishes a nearby abandoned PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) post thought to be the source of the gunfire. IDF helicopter gunships, tanks shell residential areas of Dayr al-Balah (targeting the home of senior PSF official Ahmad `Abd al-Karim), Jericho, Khan Yunis, Nablus, al-Shaykh, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fire on Palestinian homes in Huwarra (nr. Nablus), in Kafr Deek (nr. Salfit). The IDF bulldozes 60 dunams of Palestinian land along setter bypass roads nr. Kefar Darom, 10s of dunams of olive groves nr. Salfit, a Palestinian road and water network in Ramallah. (ADM, LAW, MM 11/21; AFP, MENA 11/21 in WNC 11/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/22; SA 11/22 in WNC 11/24; HJ 11/22 in WNC 11/29; MEI 11/24; WJW 11/30)

In protest over Israel's 11/20 shelling of PA offices, Egypt recalls Amb. Muhammad Bassyouni but does not suspend diplomatic relations. (MM 11/21; AFP, MENA 11/21 in WNC 11/22; MENA 11/21, MENA 11/22, HJ, MENA, al-Quds, SA 11/23 in WNC 11/24; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/22; MEI 11/24; MENA 11/25 in WNC 11/29; MM 11/27; JP 12/1; SA 1/22 in WNC 1/23)

Israel informs the U.S. it will delay the start of the Mitchell Comm.'s investigation into the causes of the al-Aqsa intifada because "the timing is wrong." (MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/22; ATL 11/22 in WNC 11/24; MEI 11/24; WJW 11/30)

FM Peres says 7/4 agmt. calls for phased Israeli pullout fr. West Bank over 2 yrs, starting with 4 towns (Jenin, Nablus, Qalqiliyya, Tulkarm), adding Ramallah, Bethlehem after bypass roads are built; elections to be held end of 1995. PA official says initial pullout will begin 4 wks after agmt. is signed, end 25 days before elections. IDF would temporarily pullout of Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah during voting. PLO will amend charter. Peres warns 7/25 date for signing agmt. might be delayed several wks. Israel's Savir, PA's Qurai` meet in Jerusalem to compose subcomms. to address individual issues. (MM 7/5; HA, VOP 7/5 in FBIS 7/6; WP, WSJ, WT 7/6; PR 7/9) (see 6/27)

In Cairo, technical comm. on Palestinian refugees opens 2d mtg. (MENA 7/4 in FBIS 7/5)=

Arafat, UN Sec. Gen. Butros Butros Ghali meet in Jericho to discuss international presence, joint Israeli-PA patrols in West Bank during interim phase, possibility of Arafat speaking at UN's 50th anniversary conference. (VOP 7/6 in FBIS 7/7)

Addressing the Israeli-American Chamber of Commerce in Tel Aviv, U.S. Amb. to Israel Indyk demands Israel abolish import barriers that discriminate against U.S. imports; notes that, while the U.S. gives Israel $3 b./yr. in loans, grants, $10 b./5 yrs in loan guarantees as incentive to by U.S. products, Israel last yr. ran $1-b. trade surplus with the U.S. and a $7.5-b. trade deficit with the EU. (MM, WSJ 7/6; MM 8/2)

In protest over 7/4 agmt., Jewish settlers begin work on new 600 unit West Bank settlement 6 miles w. of Ramallah. (WT 7/6)

100s of women march in Ramallah, demanding Israel free Palestinian prisoners. Clashes erupt with Israeli border police. (WP 7/6)

Israeli Dep. FM Beilin arrives in Russia for talks aimed at dissuading Russia fr. concluding nuclear arms deal with Iran. (QY 7/5 in FBIS 7/6)