In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to vending stalls on Route 90 near Ein al-Beida. Israeli forces close the entrance to Deir Istiya and block a road between Burqa and Sebastia. Israeli...
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March 29, 2024
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March 24, 2024
In the West Bank, Israeli forces assault a Palestinian man during a raid in Sa’ir. Israeli forces also arrest 16 Palestinians during raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Tulkarm....
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December 8, 2022
In the West Bank, 100s of Israeli settlers attended a ceremony at a Yeshiva in the Homesh settlement...
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April 23, 2022
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot and injured 3 Palestinians near Surif; 10 settlers had been throwing stones at Palestinian vehicles before 1 of the settlers started shooting at...
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February 20, 2021
In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized a tractor near Jericho and assaulted its 2 Palestinian owners as they tried to prevent the seizure, leading to hospitalization of 1 and arrest of the other...
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December 12, 2019
In the West Bank, 14 Palestinians were arrested, including 11 during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jericho; 3 were arrested at flying checkpoints near Qalqilya....
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April 22, 2019
A Jerusalem court ordered the eviction of Israeli settlers from a Palestinian home in Hebron that was acquired by the Israeli settlers on forged documents. The Palestinian family’s home was taken...
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April 7, 2017
IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements in 3 villages nr. Ramallah...
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December 21, 2015
In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian at a checkpoint in Hebron after she allegedly draws a knife on them. Israeli forces raid a home in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, demolishing its...
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December 19, 2012
Fourteen of 15 mbrs. of the UNSC make statements condemning Israel’s settlement construction plans, while the U.S. vows to veto any resolution on the issue. Four separate statements are made by...
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September 23, 2006
Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Lahiya to search several Palestinian homes, confiscating phones and money, briefly detaining 4 Palestinians, withdrawing late in the evening. Four...
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May 6, 2003
The IDF arrests 2 Palestinian fishermen who stray into a closed military zone off the coast of Gaza, blows up their boat “as a precautionary measure”; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. An...
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April 5, 1993
Extended Palestinian leadership suspends 4 days of meetings in Tunis, postpones decision on resumption of talks until 4/18-19 FMs meeting in Amman. Hamas declined invitation to attend. (RMC 4/3 in...
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May 11, 1984
Social/Economic/Political:
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Pal. Women's Work Committee holds 3rd annual conference in Jerusalem under slogan "Toward a Unified Popular Women's Movement." Gush...
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to vending stalls on Route 90 near Ein al-Beida. Israeli forces close the entrance to Deir Istiya and block a road between Burqa and Sebastia. Israeli forces also arrest 25 Palestinians during raids in and around Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarm, Qalqilya, and Jerusalem. In East Jerusalem, Christians mark Good Friday while thousands of Christians from the West Bank are prevented from entering the city. Around 125,000 worshippers attend Friday prayers at the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Maghazi, Jabalia refugee camp, and Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 71 people, including 17 people at a police station in Gaza City. Israeli forces continue to raid and besiege al-Shifa Hospital. An Israeli soldier is killed in combat. In Lebanon, Israeli forces assassinate Hezbollah member Ali Abed Akhsan Naim in an airstrike on Bazouriyeh. Israeli forces also bomb Ayta ash Shab and Meiss Ej Jabal. Hezbollah forces fire missiles at Israeli military positions in Avivim, Metula, and al-Malikiyya. In Jordan, protesters demonstrate outside of the Israeli embassy in Amman for the sixth day in a row. In Syria, Israeli forces bomb Aleppo, killing 52 people. A Syrian colonel is assassinated when his booby-trapped car explodes in Damascus. The colonel reportedly had close links to Hezbollah. (AJ, AJ, AJ, AJ, AP, AP, AP, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/29; AJ, HA 3/30; UNOCHA 4/3)
More than 32,623 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,400 children and 8,900 women, and around 75,092 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 444 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 111 children. More than 4,700 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 253 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,520 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 135 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. U.S. and UK forces airdrop aid over northern Gaza. (AJ, HA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA, WAFA 3/29; UNOCHA 4/3)
Forensic Architecture says Israel is committing deliberate ecocide in Gaza, adding to the famine. The organization finds that Israel has uprooted most of the orchards in Gaza and systematically targeted agricultural farmlands since 10/7/2023. (FA, GDN 3/29)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas speaks with Bulgarian president Rumen Radev in a phone call, discussing the situation in Palestine. (WAFA 3/29)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will return to ceasefire negotiations. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly pitched to U.S. officials during his visit to Washington D.C. earlier this week that Arab forces are brought to Gaza to defend aid convoys and the jetty the U.S. is planning to build. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, REU 3/29; HA 4/1)
The Washington Post reports that the U.S. has approved the transfer of 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs, 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, and F35-A fighter jets worth $2.5 billion to Israel. The PA foreign ministry issues a statement saying “[d]emanding [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu to stop killing civilians and supplying him with weapons is an unprecedented principled and moral contradiction.” (HA, REU, WP 3/29; AJ, AJ, HA 3/30; AJ 3/31)
The Times of Israel reports that the U.S. has informed the Israeli Finance Ministry that U.S. sanctions on Israeli settlers do not have to be enforced by Israeli banks. The clarification reportedly comes after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would retaliate against the sanctions by further impeding the Palestinian economy. (HA, TOI 3/29)
The Harvard University law school’s student government calls on the university to “divest completely from weapons manufacturers, firms, academic programs, corporations, and all other institutions that aid the ongoing illegal occupation of Palestine and the genocide of Palestinians.” (AJ 3/31)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces assault a Palestinian man during a raid in Sa’ir. Israeli forces also arrest 16 Palestinians during raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Tulkarm. In East Jerusalem, an Israeli settler stabs and injures a Palestinian bus driver. Israeli forces raid al-Qibli Mosque at the Haram al-Sharif compound, forcibly removing worshippers. Israeli forces also prevent Palestinian Christians from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday celebrations. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Khan Yunis, Rafah, Dayr al-Balah, and Gaza City, killing at least 84 people, including several at the aid distribution point at the Kuwait Roundabout in Gaza City for the second day in a row. Israeli forces also raids and besiege of al-Shifa Hospital for the seventh day in a row. Elsewhere, Israeli forces also raid and besiege the Nasser and al-Amal hospitals in Khan Yunis, killing at least 1 medic. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Ayta ash Shab, al-Adissa, Baalbek, and Souari, killing a Syrian national in Souari. Hezbollah forces attack al-Marj. In Jordan, police violently disperse protesters outside of the Israeli embassy. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/24; AJ, REU, UNOCHA 3/25)
More than 32,226 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 13,400 children and 8,900 women, and around 74,518 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 7,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 440 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 111 children. More than 4,665 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 251 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,489 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 70,000 housing units have been destroyed and 290,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023, constituting over 60% of all housing units. 137 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. U.S. and Jordanian forces airdrop aid over northern Gaza. UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini says Israel has informed the UN that it will no longer allow UNRWA to distribute aid in northern Gaza. (AJ, HA, REU, WAFA 3/24; REU, WAFA, UNOCHA, UNOCHA 3/25)
Israel says it has arrested 800 people at al-Shifa Hospital in the past week. (AJ, NYT, REU 3/24)
Israeli general Amir Avivi says a U.S. State Department official accused Israel of “systematic” sexual abuse of Palestinian women during a recent meeting. (AJ 3/24)
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres meets Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, saying the only effective way to provide aid to Gaza is by land. (REU 3/24)
During a phone call, French president Emmanuel Macron tells Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that forced displacement of Palestinians from Rafah would constitute “a war crime” and “strongly condemn[s]” Israel’s seizure of 1,978 acres of Palestinian land in the West Bank announced on 3/22. (AJ, HA 3/24)
U.S. vice president Kamala Harris says in an interview the U.S. is “ruling out nothing” in terms of how the U.S. might respond if Israel invades Rafah. (AJ, HA, NYT 3/24; AJ 3/25)
In the West Bank, 100s of Israeli settlers attended a ceremony at a Yeshiva in the Homesh settlement outpost. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinians in Hebron and physically assaulted 2. Israeli forces shot and killed 3 Palestinians and injured 10 others during late-night raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp. Israeli forces also shot and killed 1 Palestinian minor with 2 shots in his back and injured 2 others with live ammunition in Abud; Israel claimed that the 3 had thrown stones at settler cars in the area. Elsewhere, Israeli forces delivered a demolition order for 1 home in Maeen and 2 stop-work orders for homes in Shaab al-Butum and Qawawis in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also raided an office of the PA Ministry of Culture in Jenin, damaging books and paintings. Meanwhile, Israeli forces removed a Palestinian flag from the roof of a school in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, replacing it with an Israeli flag. 14 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, Nablus, Beita, Beit Furik, Jenin, Jenin refugee camp, Bethlehem, Aida refugee camp, and Hebron. (AJ, AN, AP, HA, HA, HA, IN, MDW, MEE, MEMO, PCHR, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/8; MEE, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR 12/9; PCHR 12/15; UNOCHA 12/22)
The Palestinian civil affairs authority said that Israel had approved 650 of 900 travel applications submitted by Palestinian Christians in Gaza to visit relatives in the West Bank and abroad during the Christmas holidays. (MEE, MEMO, WAFA 12/8; ALM 12/14; MEMO 12/15)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Arab-China Summit in Riyadh. (WAFA, WAFA 12/8)
Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu requested to a 2-week extension for forming the next Israeli government from Israeli president Isaac Herzog. President Herzog granted a 10-day extension on 12/9. (HA, REU, TOI 12/8; HA 12/9)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot and injured 3 Palestinians near Surif; 10 settlers had been throwing stones at Palestinian vehicles before 1 of the settlers started shooting at Palestinians. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian stores and vehicles in the Old City of Hebron, causing damage. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers assaulted 1 Palestinian family near a checkpoint in Hebron. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 3 with baton rounds. In East Jerusalem, Israel restricted Palestinian Christians’ access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the celebration of the Holy Fire. 4,000 worshippers were allowed to attend the event. Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinians during a raid in Qalandia refugee camp; 3 were arrested. In Gaza, Israel said 1 rocket launched from Gaza landed in an open area in southern Israel; no injuries or damage were reported. Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian shepherds east of Abasan; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen northwest of Gaza City; no injuries were reported. (HA 4/22; HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/23; +972 4/27; PCHR 4/28; UNOCHA 5/13)
Israel closed all crossings from the West Bank and Gaza to East Jerusalem and Israel for the Jewish holiday of Passover. (HA 4/21)
Israel announced that it had closed the Erez crossing between Israel and Gaza, citing rockets launched from Gaza at Israel. Israel did not say when the crossing would reopen. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, WAFA 4/23; HA, MEMO 4/24; HA 4/25)
UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini said in a message that the agency is exploring the option of engaging more agencies within the UN in the work of UNRWA to help alleviate UNRWA’s chronic underfunding. (UNRWA 4/23; WAFA 4/27; TOI 5/2)
Iranian media reported that Iranian and Saudi Arabian officials had met in Baghdad to resume talks to mend the 2 countries’ ties. Omani and Iraqi officials were also at the meeting. (HA 4/23; REU 4/25)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized a tractor near Jericho and assaulted its 2 Palestinian owners as they tried to prevent the seizure, leading to hospitalization of 1 and arrest of the other. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with sponge grenades. 2 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Hizma and al-Shuyukh. In East Jerusalem, 2 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Silwan and Issawiyya; during the arrest in Silwan, Israeli forces also confiscated 1 Palestinian-owned vehicle. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian lands east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 2/20; PCHR 2/25)
UNRWA announced that it will unify its food basket system in Gaza, canceling double portions for the most vulnerable families to expand its services to another 60,000 people. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights warned that the move will harm the poorest people in Gaza and that UNRWA needs to enhance its food program. (PCHR 2/21)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree banning police pursuits and detentions based on “reasons related to freedom of expression and political affiliation.” The decree also said prisoners held because of political affiliation or for voicing opinions should be released. President Abbas also signed a decree allocating a minimum of 7 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council to Palestinian Christians. (AP, HA, WAFA, WAFA 2/20; WAFA 2/21)
According to al-Arabiya, the Israeli government has asked Egypt to help negotiate a prisoner release with Hamas. (HA 2/20)
1 Israeli navy ship entered Lebanese territorial waters. (WAFA 2/21)
In the West Bank, 14 Palestinians were arrested, including 11 during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jericho; 3 were arrested at flying checkpoints near Qalqilya. During a raid in Ramallah, 1 Palestinian paramedic was injured by gunfire as Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. In Israel, a Palestinian village was raided by Israeli extremists, slashing the tires of some 20 Palestinian-owned vehicles and writing racist graffiti like “Muhammad is a pig” on buildings, including a mosque. (AJ, HA, WAFA, WAFA 12/12; PCHR 12/19)
A spokesperson for Israel’s military liaison said that none of the around 1,000 Palestinian Christians in Gaza would be allowed entry to the West Bank to celebrate Christmas or visit family. (REU 12/12; WAFA 12/13; HA 12/14)
A Jerusalem court ordered the eviction of Israeli settlers from a Palestinian home in Hebron that was acquired by the Israeli settlers on forged documents. The Palestinian family’s home was taken over by settlers in 2005 and the legal proceedings were ongoing since 2007. The Israeli settlers appealed the court’s decision which also stipulated that the settlers must pay the Palestinian family $161,000. Elsewhere in the West Bank, Israeli forces sealed off the al-Ibrahimi Mosque for Muslim worshippers in preparation for Passover celebrations. Israeli forces also arrested 18 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Salfit, and Ramallah. In the raid near Jenin, Israeli forces fired tear gas, causing dozens of residents to suffer from tear gas inhalation. In East Jerusalem, 170 right-wing Israelis, led by Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel, stormed Haram al-Sharif with Israeli police escort. In Gaza, a prosthetic hospital was inaugurated to help the many Palestinians in Gaza who have lost limbs. The hospital’s expenses are covered by the Qatar Fund for Development. A day after Israel denied access of Christian Palestinians in Gaza to the West Bank and East Jerusalem for Easter celebrations, Israeli authorities reversed its position, allowing 500 Christians to enter the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire against Palestinian farmers near Rafah and on Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Rafah; no injuries were reported. (AJ, HA, HA, MNA, MNA, MNA, MNA, WAFA 4/22; HA, MNA, WAFA 4/23)
IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against Israel’s occupation, separation wall, and settlements in 3 villages nr. Ramallah (Nabi Salih, Bil‘in, and Ni‘lin) and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 2 Palestinians are injured. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops arrest 1 Palestinian during a late-night raid in Bethlehem; and patrol nr. Nablus and Hebron during the day. An Israeli settler driver allegedly rams 2 Palestinians outside Hebron, causing minor injuries. Israeli settlers throw stones at a Palestinian family’s flock in the n. Jordan Valley, killing 1 sheep and injuring a goat. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian shepherds working nr. Gaza City, causing no injuries. (MNA 4/7; HA 4/10; PCHR 4/13)
The Israeli authorities announce that they will be closing crossings to and from the West Bank and Gaza during the upcoming Passover holiday. The closure will last from midnight on 4/9 until midnight on 4/17, and only exceptional cases will be allowed to exit the territories, including humanitarian situations and Palestinian Christians hoping to enter Jerusalem to celebrate Easter. (JP, TOI 4/7; MNA 4/8; JP 4/9; TOI 4/10)
In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian at a checkpoint in Hebron after she allegedly draws a knife on them. Israeli forces raid a home in Dahaysha r.c. nr. Bethlehem, demolishing its doors and sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths; 1 Palestinian is assaulted and arrested. Meanwhile, IDF troops clash with and violently disperse Palestinians throwing stones and protesting the recent Israeli crackdown on the oPt w. of Tulkarm, in 1 village nr. Qalqilya and 2 nr. Ramallah; 4 Palestinians are injured. The IDF also conducts late-night house searches and raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 each nr. Bethlehem and Nablus, in and around Tulkarm, and in Tubas, arresting 10 Palestinians; patrols in 6 villages and al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron and 1 village nr. Qalqilya. Late at night, Israeli settlers leave price-tag graffiti on a Palestinian home and throw smoke grenades through its windows nr. Ramallah, causing no injuries. On Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion e. of Khuza‘a to level land along the barrier fence. Twice off the coast nr. Bayt Lahiya, Israeli naval forces open fire on and detain a number of Palestinian fishing boats, arresting 4 Palestinians and confiscating 2 boats. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police arrest a Palestinian youth in the Old City after she is found to be carrying a knife; arrest and bar from Jerusalem for 5 mos. a Palestinian, on a raid in the Old City. (JP, MNA, TOI 12/21; HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 12/22; PCHR 12/31)
Israel’s COGAT announces the partial lifting of a series of movement restrictions on Palestinian Christians around the Christmas holidays. (HA, MNA 12/21; TOI 12/22)
Fourteen of 15 mbrs. of the UNSC make statements condemning Israel’s settlement construction plans, while the U.S. vows to veto any resolution on the issue. Four separate statements are made by the 8 council mbrs. from the Non-Aligned Movement, the 4 European mbrs., as well as Russia and China. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Comm. approves the creation of a new Jewish settlement, Givat Hamatos, in the s. of East Jerusalem, not far from Har Homa. In addition, Israel’s Defense Ministry advances plans to build 523 homes in Giva’ot settlement in the Gush Etzion bloc, though this plan is long-standing and unrelated to the recent high-profile construction announcements tied to the Palestinian bid at the UN. (REU, HA, JP 12/19)
The IDF announces that it will issue permits to around 500 Christian Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to visit Bethlehem for Christmas. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Jenin, Nur Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm, 1 village each nr. Hebron and Jenin, and 2 villages nr. Nablus. (JP 12/19; PCHR 12/20)
Palestinian government employees begin a 2-day general strike to protest a delay in the payment of their wages due to Israel’s withholding of around $100 m. customs revenue. Around 50,000 workers take part in the strike. Meanwhile, Palestine Monetary Authority chief Jihad al-Wazir says that Palestinian banks will lend the PA $100 m., set to be repaid when the Arab League delivers its promised financial safety net. (REU 12/19; MNA 12/19)
Israel’s Central Elections Comm. votes to disqualify MK Haneen Zoabi, from Balad party, from running in the forthcoming elections, a decision based largely on her participation in the 2010 Gaza flotilla. (HA 12/19)
Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas offers to take in Palestinian refugees fleeing from fighting in Syria, and UN secy.-gen. Ban Ki-moon calls on Israel to facilitate their entry. Meanwhile, the UN launches its biggest aid appeal to date for Syria, estimating that it needs $1.5 b. to cope with a ‘‘dramatically deteriorating humanitarian situation.’’ Meanwhile, the Security Council passes a U.S.-and-Russian-drafted resolution on extending the peacekeeping mission in the demilitarized zone between Syria and Israel. The resolution expresses concern at the presence of both government and rebel forces in the zone. (MNA 12/18; AP, Guardian, UN News Center 12/19)
Overnight, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Lahiya to search several Palestinian homes, confiscating phones and money, briefly detaining 4 Palestinians, withdrawing late in the evening. Four unidentified Palestinian gunmen stop, confiscate a UN vehicle in Gaza City. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, in and around Jenin town and r.c., Nablus. A delegation of more than 30 Palestinian Christian dignitaries, including Christian mbrs. of the PC, meet with the newly appointed mufti of Jerusalem Shaykh Muhammad Husayn to express thanks for the mufti’s strong denunciation of the 9/16–17 church attacks, to hold talks on Muslim-Christian coordination. (OCHA, Women for Palestine press release 9/27; PCHR 9/28)
The IDF arrests 2 Palestinian fishermen who stray into a closed military zone off the coast of Gaza, blows up their boat “as a precautionary measure”; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. An Israeli court upholds an IDF order to demolish 120 newly built Palestinian homes in Bayt Sahur; the Palestinian Christian group Arab Orthodox Housing Project, which constructed the houses, appeals to the Israeli High Court. (ICHAD, JP 5/6; PCHR 5/8)
Bush names career diplomat Paul Bremer as presidential envoy to Iraq to serve as civilian administrator of Iraq, with seniority over Garner. Bush made the change to elicit more financial assistance fr. countries that had been withholding support out of discomfort over the “military hue” of U.S. reconstruction efforts. Since retiring fr. government in 1989, Bremer has worked with Henry Kissinger’s consulting firm. (NYT, WP, WT 5/7)
Extended Palestinian leadership suspends 4 days of meetings in Tunis, postpones decision on resumption of talks until 4/18-19 FMs meeting in Amman. Hamas declined invitation to attend. (RMC 4/3 in FBIS 4/5; Radio Algiers 4/5 in FBIS 4/6)
Palestinian Christians demand access to East Jerusalem on Easter. O.t. have been sealed since 3/31. (WT 4/6)
Fateh commander in Lebanon accuses Lebanon and Syria of aiding Fateh Revolutionary Council (Abu Nidal) to force Palestinians to resume talks with Israel, declares open war on FRC. Fateh fires rockets at Israel, landing harmlessly in"security zone," in retaliation for 4/1 assassination-lst Fateh attacks on Israel since 10/91. (WT 4/6; AFP, VOL 4/6 in FBIS 4/7)
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) labor. mins. meet in Amman, first such meeting in Jordan since the Gulf war. Kuwait announces it will honor its compensation pledges to Jordanians and Palestinians who lost their jobs after the war. (MM 4/2, 4/14)
Social/Economic/Political:
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Pal. Women's Work Committee holds 3rd annual conference in Jerusalem under slogan "Toward a Unified Popular Women's Movement." Gush Emunim's Rabbi Levinger justifies Jewish terror by blaming gov't. for weakness. 200 Palestinian Christian Labor Party members protest for better position for their candidate Tawfiq Toubi on election slate.
Other Countries: Before Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement mtg., Chrmn. Arafat endorses UN-sponsored conference toward settling Palestine-Israel conflict. US House of Representatives defeats amendment sponsored by Rep. Rahall to eliminate US funding of Israeli's Lavi aircraft.
Military Action:
Arab World: In S. Lebanon: Sidon resident drives car through downtown roadblock, killing 1 IDF soldier; IDF kills driver; 1 Israeli soldier killed in grenade attack on IDF patrol near Nabatiya; IDF raid Ma'arakeh village south of Tyre, villagers respond with hail of stones, IDF opens fire, injuring at least 1.