The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, injuring 3 with live ammunition and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a funeral procession in Beit Umar by attacking the pallbearers. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 17 with baton rounds and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protesters in Ein al-Beida and al-Juwaya in the Masafer Yatta area, arresting 5 international activists and causing tear-gas related injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seized 1 tractor and farm equipment in al-‘Awja. 7 Palestinians were arrested during late-nights raid in Burqa, ‘Askar refugee camp, al-Yamun, and al-Dahariya. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/1; PCHR 7/7; UNOCHA 7/22)

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report that Palestinian security forces in the West Bank and Gaza systematically torture critics of the PA and Hamas in their detention. HRW called on countries donating to PA security forces to cut off their funding and for the ICC to investigate the issue. HRW said that Palestinian security forces use solitary confinement, beatings, and stress positions to punish and intimidate critics and political opponents and to elicit confessions. (AP, HA, JP, REU 7/1)

It was reported that newly appointed Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid would move into a house seized by Israel from a Palestinian family who fled Jerusalem during the Nakba. The house, Villa Hanna Salameh on Balfour Street, will serve as Prime Minister Lapid’s temporary housing until renovations at the prime minister’s official residence has been completed. (HA, MEE 7/1)

31 Democrats in the House of Representatives sent a letter to U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken expressing concern over Israeli plans to construct settlements in the E-1 area of the West Bank. The Democrats were led by Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). (Mark Pocan 7/1; WAFA 7/4)

In the West Bank, 2 Israeli settlers were escorted out of central Ramallah by Palestinian security forces after Palestinians attacked their car and subsequently set it on fire. Israeli officials claimed the 2 had entered central Ramallah by mistake, while others reported that the 2 were playing loud religious music to try to provoke a reaction from Ramallah residents. The 2 settlers were unharmed. Israeli forces demolished 2 agricultural structures in Nahalin. Israeli forces also raided the home of 1 Palestinian journalist coving the displacement of Palestinians in al-Twana in the Masafer Yatta area, seizing his cameras. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 6 tractors, 5 cars, 4 water tanks, and 3 trucks in Khirbet ar-Ras al-Ahmar. 4 Palestinians were arrested during house raids in Yatta, Idhna, Rafat, and Beit Sira. In East Jerusalem, around 150 Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. 2 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Isawiya and Silwan. (AP, HA, MEMO, MEMO, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/1; MEMO, PCHR, WAFA 12/2)

1 Israeli settler was sentenced to 20 months in prison for throwing stun grenades at Palestinian homes in Sarta in January, injuring 1. The settler was part of a group of several settlers who also threw rocks and vandalized 4 homes and 2 cars. (HA 12/1; MEMO 12/2)

The company Meta Inc., formerly known as Facebook, said it had removed 150 accounts, 79 pages, and 13 groups from Facebook and Instagram that it says are linked to Hamas. (HA 12/2)

At the UNGA, 3 resolutions pertaining to Palestine and Israel passed. 1 resolution condemning Israel’s annexation of the Syrian Golan Heights passed 94-8-69. 1 resolution calling for intensified efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with a 2-state solution passed 148-9-14. The countries that vote against were Australia, Canada, Hungary, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and the U.S. A final resolution calling for preserving the Status Quo at the Holy sites in Jerusalem, usually passing with a higher margin, passed 129-11-31. Several countries, including the UK, explained their opposition to the resolution, saying that it usually refers to the Haram al-Sharif compound by also including the Jewish terminology the “Temple Mount.” The UK clarified that its vote does not signify a policy change, only an objection to the change in language. (UKGOV, UN 12/1; TOI, WAFA 12/2)

In the West Bank, 1 Palestinian 10-year-old was seriously injured by Israeli forces during the weekly anti-settlement protests in Kafr Qaddum. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers seized a water well in the northern part of the Jordan Valley. Also in the northern part of the Jordan Valley, 3 Palestinians were detained at the Hamra checkpoint; all 3 are members of the Palestinian security forces. In Gaza, 34 Palestinians were injured by live ammunition and others were injured by rubber-coated bullets and by tear gas inhalation during the Great March of Return protest. 1 Palestinian teenager’s condition was reportedly serious. Israeli authorities reported that 2 rockets were fired from Gaza to Israel. The rockets were reportedly shot in revenge for the murder of a member of Hamas the Israeli military killed by mistake on 7/11, according to Israeli forces. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/12; WAFA 7/15; HA 7/21)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces seized agricultural equipment belonging to a Palestinian farmer in Khirbat Jabara near Tulkarm. In Nablus, Israeli forces fired at Palestinian security forces in what Israeli forces called a mistake; 1 Palestinian police officer was injured. 12 Twelve Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids. Meanwhile, a Palestinian was handed a demolition order for his house. In Gaza, a Palestinian medic who was shot during the Great March of Return protests in May succumbed to his wounds. This brings the death toll stemming from the Great March of Return to 222. (HA, WAFA 6/10; HA, MEMO, MEMO, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/11)

The Israeli supreme court ruled in favor of the settlement group Ateret Cohanim’s acquisition of 3 buildings in the Christian quarter of the Old City in East Jerusalem belonging to the Greek Orthodox church. The ruling ended a 14-year-long legal battle that started when church officials sold the buildings without the knowledge of the larger body of church officials, leading to the ousting of the then patriarch. (HA 6/11)

The International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano said that Iran had increased its uranium enrichment. Iran had previously announced that it would start increasing its uranium enrichment if Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signatories did not uphold their commitments to the agreement. (HA 6/10)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and house arrests in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and in 2 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, in Nablus and 1 nearby village, 1 village nr. Tulkarm, and in Bethlehem at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Jenin in the morning, in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron and 1 village each nr. Jenin, Ramallah and Tulkarm at night. In al-‘Arub r.c. the raid prompts clashes with residents, and Israeli forces injure 15 youth with rubber-coated metal bullets. Meanwhile, around 12 Jewish settlers from Esh Kodesh outpost nr. Nablus are detained and beaten by villagers after trespassing. They are later handed over to Palestinian security forces who in turn, deliver them over to Israeli soldiers. (HA, PNN 1/7; PCHR 1/9)

The Syrian National Coalition postpones a vote on whether or not to participate in the planned peace conference next month, despite internal dissent about the best course of action. Opposition chief negotiator Hadi al-Bahra says that the vote could happen as early as 1/15. (AP 1/7)

In the West Bank, IDF troops conducted a number of incursions in Hebron and villages in the surrounding area, provoking clashes in a number of locations. The IDF fires rubbercoated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at stone-throwing Palestinians in al-Fawar r.c., the center of Hebron, al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, an area e. of al-‘Arub r.c., and the Hawara area. In the Hawara area nr. Hebron, live ammunition is used, and IDF troops shoot and wound a Palestinian youth. Separately, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron at night and patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. In East Jerusalem, Jewish extremists vandalize 10 cars in Bayt Safafa, also leaving “price-tag” graffiti on walls nearby. (HA 8/27; PCHR 8/29)

A Palestinian is killed in disputed circumstances in ‘Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, as Palestinian security forces conduct a raid to apprehend a different, wanted man. Local residents insist that Amjad Odeh was shot in the head by a gunshot from a Preventive Security Force mbr., but Nablus governor Jibrin al-Bakri suggests that the victim may have been shot by the wanted gunmen in an example of accidental crossfire. Following Odeh’s death, many Palestinians attack security forces, and residents of al-Fara‘a r.c. shut the main Nablus-Tubas road with burning tires. In Nablus itself, youth target PA vehicles and property. (MNA 8/2)

The U.S. and French governments say they are in a position for a strike on Syria, while the Arab League adds its support for punitive action and blames the Asad regime for the recent chemical weapons attack. However, the Arab League does not back a retaliatory military strike. With a divided UNSC, the U.S. and its allies face the prospect of going it alone with regard to military action. (AP, NYT 27/8)

Clashes in the s. Egyptian city of Beni Suef between supporters of ousted pres. Morsi, supporters of the military, and security forces result in the death of 2 Muslim Brotherhood mbrs. by live ammunition. (REU 8/27)

In an effort to reopen the Ramallah– Jerusalem road in al-Amari r.c. nr. Ramallah, Palestinian security forces open fire on Palestinians demonstrating in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Three Palestinian youths are wounded in the legs by live ammunition. (MNA 1/21)

Egyptian security forces seize 1 ton of explosives in the Sinai Peninsula allegedly bound for the Gaza Strip, the largest single such capture. Local media report that police have seized a total of 5 tons of explosives as well as disassembled rockets and automatic weapons in the last 3 mos.—all apparently headed for Gaza. Egyptian maj. gen. Sameeh Bashadi says that in the past 3 days, 10 Palestinians have been detained after entering Sinai illegally from the Gaza Strip and that a list of Palestinians entering Egypt through the tunnels has been distributed to the Egyptian security forces. (HA, MNA 1/20)

Israeli naval vessels open fire on Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast nr. al-Waha, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF storms the alKaramah protest tent village nr. Bayt Iksa, issues demolition and evacuation orders, and fires stun grenades and tear gas. The IDF also patrols in Jenin in the morning, in 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in 3 villages nr. Ramallah at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in Tubas and in 2 villages each nr. Hebron and Jenin at night. (MNA 1/20; PCHR 1/23)

Palestinian pres. Abbas arrives in Saudi Arabia to attend the 3d Arab Economic, Social and Developmental Summit, where he renews his call for urgent financial aid. Meanwhile, Palestinian union chief Bassam Zakarneh announces that PA civil servants will hold protests on 1/21 and strike on 1/23 to protest late payment of salaries. (JP 1/21; MNA 1/20)

Hamas official Ghazi Hammad announces that Tunisian pres. Moncef Marzouki will visit the Gaza Strip on 2/9, without giving further details. Meanwhile, Lebanon-based senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan arrives in the Gaza Strip for the 1st time on a visit of a few days. (AFP 1/20; JP 1/21)

The IDF begins imposing new regulations (announced 3/25) on Palestinians entering Jerusalem through Qalandia crossing nr. Ramallah: only Palestinians holding a permit to enter Israel may cross, even to enter the West Bank village of al-Ram (between Qalandia and the Green Line), effectively making the crossing an international checkpoint into Israel and annexing al-Ram. IDF drones fire on the car of AMB cmdr. Muhammad Hijazi as he drives in Gaza City in an apparent assassination attempt; Hijazi survives unharmed but his aide in the car, 2 Palestinian Security Forces officers nearby are wounded. The IDF also fires artillery shells at a group of Islamic Jihad mbrs. attempting to fire a rocket in the n. Gaza no-go zone, killing 1 Islamic Jihad mbr., wounding 3; fatally shoots an Islamic Jihad al-Quds Brigade mbr. Samir Furayhat in disputed circumstances during an arrest raid on Yamun (Islamic Jihad does not claim it was an assassination); conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem and Tulkarm, in Nablus, nr. Qalqilya. (IMEMC, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, XIN 3/27; PCHR 3/30, 4/6)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Rafah. Palestinian security forces detain 3 DFLP central comm. mbrs. in connection with the 2/3 attack that wounded 2 IDF soldiers in Gaza, marking the security forces’ 1st arrest of Palestinians since Abbas took office; holds the DFLP mbrs. for 5 hrs. questioning, releases all but 1; the DFLP denounces the action, saying the PA was caving into pressure fr. Israel. Jewish settlers accompanied by IDF soldiers seize up to 1,000 d. of Palestinian agricultural land e. of Sa’ir nr. Hebron, set up tents, plant olive trees. (NYT 2/5; HA 2/6; HJ 2/8 in WNC 2/9; PCHR 2/10)

During the day, the IDF continues operations in Rafah, demolishing 5 Palestinian houses completely, redeploying tanks surrounding Tal al-Sultan away fr. the area (bulldozing 120 dunams of agricultural land before leaving), moving tanks and bulldozers into Brazil r.c., firing on residential areas. The IDF withdraws fr. Rafah after sundown, effectively ending Operation Rainbow, saying that since 5/17 it found 3 tunnels and demolished 56 “structures” that allegedly had provided cover for Palestinian gunmen, that it will regroup and resume operations soon. After the pullback, the IDF fires on a funeral in Rafah, seriously injuring several Palestinians. The IDF also raids Balata r.c., fires on stone-throwing youths, killing 1 Palestinian. (JTA, MM, NYT, PM, REU 5/24; MENA, VOI 5/24 in WNC 5/26; AP, NYT, WP, WT 5/25; MM, PR 5/26; PCHR 5/27; JPI 6/4)

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Sulayman meets separately with Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, Palestinian Authority (PA) head Yasir Arafat to present them with a list of conditions that Egypt would require to be in place before it would agree to retrain Palestinian security forces to assume security control in Gaza under Sharon’s disengagement plan. (MM 5/24; MENA, VOI, YA 5/24 in WNC 5/26; AP, MM, NYT, REU, WT 5/25; MENA, VOP 5/25 in WNC 5/27; WP 5/26; AYM 5/26, AYM, VOP 5/27 in WNC 6/1; NYT, WP 5/28; VOP 5/31 in WNC 6/2) 

An IDF intelligence officer is fatally shot by his Palestinian informant, who in turn is shot dead by the officer's bodyguard. The Brigade of Shalhavet and Gilad takes responsibility for killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 3 in a 2d drive-by shooting. Jewish settlers also attack Palestinians in Sha'r and Tammun, severely injuring 3. The IDF directs shells and heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Nablus; confiscates 100s of dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis to create a buffer zone around Gush Katif bloc, set up a new IDF post; confiscates 10s of dunams nr. al-Mintar crossing; conducts an arrest raid into Nablus. (AP, HP, MM 6/14; MA [Internet], NYT, WP, WT, YA [Internet] 6/15; al-Quds 6/15 in WNC 6/19; AYM 6/18 in WNC 6/20; WJW 6/21)

The PA-Israeli cease-fire implementation begins. The IDF moves tanks out of most PA-controlled areas; moves troops out of Netzarim Junction; reopens major Gaza roads to Palestinian traffic; reopens the Gaza+nEgypt border crossing. The IDF does not redeploy forces fr. Nablus, Rafah, and Ramallah, where most of the day's clashes occur; Sharon says Israel will not lift closures in areas where the cease-fire has not been implemented or has been violated. West Bank PSF head Rajub announces on IDF Radio that Arafat has called on all Palestinian security forces to abide by the cease-fire. (AP 6/14; HA, NYT, WP, WT 6/15)

Syrian troops turn over to the Lebanese army 5 strategic positions in and around Beirut. (RL 6/14 in WNC 6/15; MM, WT 6/15; AFP, RL 6/15 in WNC 6/18; NYT 6/16, 6/20; MEI 6/29)

Dore Gold, adviser to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, meets with Arafat adviser Mahmud Abbas, PA Information M Yasir `Abid Rabbu to discuss a memorandum of understanding or pledges concerning aspects of Oslo II that have not been implemented that Netanyahu would extend to Arafat as part of a Hebron deal. (ITV 11/16 in WNC 11/29; JP 11/23)

Arafat adviser Abbas heads to Amman to brief King Hussein on talks with Israel. (JTV 11/16 in WNC 11/19)

Lebanese FM Faris Buwayz tells PM Rafiq Hariri that, after his mtg. with U.S. Amb. Richard Jones 11/15, he is pessimistic that Israeli negotiations with Syrian will resume soon. (RL 11/16 in WNC 11/19)

Hamas mbr. Muhammad Assaf is killed in an explosion in Qabatiyya, West Bank. Israel claims that a bomb that he was preparing for a suicide attack in Israel went off accidentally. Palestinian Security Forces (PSF) arrest 5 men with ties to Assaf. (NYT, WP, WT 11/17; ITV 11/17 in WNC 11/19, 1/29; JP 11/23)