The Palestine Chronology

The IDF sends undercover units into Tulkarm in a car with Palestinian license plates to arrest a wanted Palestinian; later sends a 2d undercover unit into Tulkarm that is intercepted by PA security forces, withdraws after an exchange of fire, causing no injuries; sends undercover units into Jenin, who exchange fire with local gunmen, withdraw under IDF support, without making any arrests; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Jenin next to the separation wall; patrols in Tubas, firing on residential areas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, Tulkarm and in Aida r.c., al-Fara‘a r.c. (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops). In Rafah, at least 100 Fatah, Hamas gunmen clash, leaving 1 Hamas mbr. and 1 Palestinian bystander dead and 15 Palestinians wounded, with Hamas firing antitank weapons and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at the local PSF headquarters. (Hamas says that Fatah gunmen fired on a Hamas funeral procession, precipitating the clash, while Fatah says that Hamas mbrs. in the procession fired first on the PSF headquarters along the route.) Soon after, 100s of Fatah-dominated PA security forces and AMB mbrs. reacting to the Gaza violence rampage through Ramallah, raiding, firing on, vandalizing, setting fire to the PC building and the cabinet headquarters in a show of force against Hamas. Later, Fatah gunmen kidnap Change and Reform PC mbr. Khalil Rabei, set fire to his Ramallah office; Rabei is freed hrs. later at Abbas’s intervention; 7 other Change and Reform PC mbrs. take refuge in the Muqata‘a under Abbas’s protection. Abbas declares a state of emergency and curfew. Inside Israel, Israeli police arrest 7 Palestinians in Shafa ‘Amr suspected in the 8/4/05 killing of an IDF soldier who boarded a bus in the town and opened fire, killing 4 Palestinians before being beaten to death. In addition, unknown assailants vandalize the Orthodox Christian Church in Majdal nr. Nazareth; the recently refurbished church, which tends to a growing Russian Orthodox population, has been threatened on several occasions by local right-wing Jews. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/13; PCHR 6/15)

Early this morning, IDF helicopters, tanks attack the PSF West Bank headquarters in Beitunia, where some 200 PSF officers and staff have encamped since 3/30, setting the building ablaze. The CIA intervenes to secure the safe evacuation of the staff, surrender of 180 officers, but some refuse to leave. In Ramallah, the IDF continues house-to-house searches, stumbling upon 22 PSF officers hiding in an apartment, fatally shooting 2 though none resist arrest; raids, shuts Ramallah's al-Quds Educational TV, arresting 2 employees; revokes the credentials of 2 Abu Dhabi TV journalists, threatens legal action against CNN and NBC for broadcasting fr. Ramallah; confiscates 3 ambulances, detains 9 paramedics. PRCS suspends services in Ramallah, noting the IDF now has 15 medical workers in custody. This afternoon, the IDF lifts the Ramallah curfew for 3 hrs. so residents can buy food, bury those killed since 3/29 (bodies have been double-stacked in morgues, with no electricity). In Bethlehem, IDF troops order all men age 14-45 to surrender; fight their way to the doorway of the Church of the Nativity, where some 200 Palestinian gunmen, civilians have now sought refuge; fire on 20 journalists on the balcony of the Star Hotel, injuring 1; fire a warning shot at a clearly marked Reuters car. Palestinians also take refuge in Bethlehem's Omar Mosque, Santa Maria Church, the Russian Orthodox Church and hospice; the IDF surrounds those holy sites, occupies Bethlehem University as its main staging area. In Aida and Dahaysha, the IDF orders Palestinian women age 15-25, men age 14-45 to surrender. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device at an IDF checkpoint into Jerusalem, killing only himself, causing no injuries. At least 7 Palestinians are killed today, including 2 motorists ambushed by settler vigilante group Tears of the Orphans and Martyrs (see 3/5) nr. Tulkarm, a mother and son shot by the IDF and allowed bleed to death, a woman shot dead by an IDF sniper as she left a Ramallah hospital (troops fire on medical workers attempting to retrieve her body). 3 Israelis injured in the 3/27 Netanya attack die, bringing the toll of the bombing to 23; 1 Israeli injured in the 3/31 Haifa attack dies, bringing that toll to 16. Israel expands its list of "wanted" Palestinians to include some of Arafat's top aides, including intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi, PSF 2d in command in Gaza Rashid Abu Shabak, Fatah tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, but not PSF heads Dahlan or Rajub. (AP, HA, PRCS press release, NYT, WP, WT 4/2; MENA 4/2 in WNC 4/3; NYT, WP, WT 4/3; WP 4/4; QA 4/4 in WNC 4/5; MEI 4/5)

Sharon tells envoys of EU, Russia, UN they may meet with Arafat if they agree to escort him into exile. Peres proposes that Arafat "voluntarily" leave the territories asylum in foreign country. (AP, HA, MM 4/2; AFP 4/2 in WNC 4/3; NYT, WP 4/3)

In s. Lebanon, Hizballah attacks an IDF patrol, killing 1 soldier. For the 2d time in 24 hrs., Israel responds with airstrikes against civilian sites, Hizballah bases, wounding 2 persons. Claiming that Hizballah launched strikes fr. civilian areas, PM Barak says Israel will no longer honor the 1996 April Understanding prohibiting all parties in s. Lebanon fr. involving civilians in violence. (AFP, MENA, RL 2/8, RL 2/9 in WNC 2/10; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/9; AYM, al-Quds 2/9 in WNC 2/11; WJW 2/10; MEI 2/11; JP 2/18)

In Jericho, PA police using a bulldozer force their way into a disputed Russian Orthodox monastery in an apparent effort to divide the property btwn. the 2 branches of the church, but U.S. consular officials intervene, persuading the PA to halt the action at least temporarily. (WP 2/9) (see 1/15)

In Cairo, Egypt, Iran hold talks on expanding agricultural cooperation. (MENA 2/8 in WNC 2/10)

PA police attempt to seize control of a monastery in Jericho that is the subject of a dispute btwn. 2 branches of the Russian Orthodox church, but 2 nuns refuse to leave. Police leave the building surrounded, refusing to evict the nuns by force. The PA claims it is acting at the request of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow. (WT 1/18; WP 1/28)

Jordanian PM Rawabida reshuffles the cabinet, bringing 7 technocrats into the new government. (JT 1/16 in WNC 1/19; MM 1/17, 1/27; MEI 1/28)

Arafat travels to Alexandria to ask Pres. Mubarak's support against the "dangerous measures" taken by Israel since the 7/30 bombings. (NYT, WT 8/3; RE 8/2, MA 8/3 in WNC 8/5; MM 8/8)

Israeli, PA security officials discuss security conditions. (NYT 8/4)

Outside Bethlehem, a Palestinian woman tries to stab an IDF soldier, is captured without harming him. (NYT 8/3)

In the West Bank, the IDF arrests 2 Palestinian journalists for being too close to their roadblock, refusing orders to leave. (AFP 8/2 in WNC 8/5)

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside say that the PA has apologized for seizing its monastery in Hebron, barring the patriarch of Moscow when he arrived for a visit; has returned the monastery to the church. (JP 8/2) (see 7/5)

Israel's Civil Aviation Administration reports that during the 1st half of 1997, the number of tourists coming to Israel dropped by 13%. (JP 8/2)

Intervening in a longstanding dispute btwn. rival denominations of the Russian Orthodox Church, the PA forcibly evicts expatriate monks, nuns fr. Hebron's only Christian church, turns control over to reps. of the Russian Patriarch in Moscow. The emigre church leaders recently refused a PA request to lease some church-owned land to the Authority. (NYT 7/11; JP 7/19)

Taunted by stone-throwing settlers cursing the Prophet Muhammad, Palestinians clash with IDF soldiers guarding the Jewish enclaves of Hebron. IDF opens fire with rubber bullets, wounding 1 Palestinian. (NYT, WP, WT 7/6)

In Damascus, Syria, Oman hold talks on military cooperation. (SANA 7/5 in WNC 7/8)

For the 1st time, Lebanon issues $100 m. worth of World Bank-guaranteed treasury bonds in the U.S. (RL 7/5 in WNC 7/8)

Military Action:

2 SA-7 missiles fired at IDF helicopter in eastern Lebanon, no damage reported; artillery exchanges continue in Chouf.

Casualties:

6 killed in Chouf fighting.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF drawing up contingency plans for unilateral troop pullback to Awali river; 30% of doctors return to work; Begin government survives 3 no-confidence motions in Knesset, all critical of economic policies; Arab employee of Russian Orthodox convent arrested in connection with murder of 2 nuns.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: AbuJihad says PLO forces have carried out 350 operations behind IDF lines in past 3 months, says Col. Qaddafi has provided $6m to dissident Fateh officer Col. Abu Musa; Arafat returns to Damascus after 2-day tour of PLO positions in northern Lebanon; Gemayel meets representatives of four nations contributing to MNF.

Arab Governments: Special envoy from King Fahd meets President Assad in Damascus.

US and Other Countries: Reagan Administration now supports Congressional move to increase military and economic grants to Israel by $400m.

Casualties:

3 IDF soldiers wounded by grenade in Sidon.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: IDF builds cement walls to close off two roads connecting al-Arub refugee camp to Bethlehem-Hebron highway after stone-throwing incidents; IDF develops military vehicle for use in occupied territories equipped with tear gas, water hoses and TV camera for collecting evidence in demonstrations; 2 nuns found stabbed to death in convent of Russian Orthodox Church near Jerusalem, no suspects.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Lebanese finance minister travels to Iraq for meeting with President Saddam Hussein.

US and Other Countries: US officials say they still do not know who carried out attack on Beirut US Embassy, will not confirm evidence of Iranian involvement; Reagan formally lifts year-long ban on sale of F-16s to Israel, delivery of planes not expected before September 1986; Senate approves $25 lm emergency military and economic aid to Lebanon, ties it to requirement that substantial expansion of US forces in Lebanon, or creation of new or expanded MNF, be approved by Congress; Greece rejects European Parliament vote calling for it to establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel.