The Palestine Chronology

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Hebron. Also in Hebron, 100s of Jewish settlers rampage through Palestinian areas of the city, forcing stores to close, vandalizing homes and shops, injuring 2 Palestinians. Jewish settlers fr. Harsina, under IDF protection, uproot 130 Palestinian olive trees in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Gilo nr. Bethlehem beat unconscious a 60-yr.-old Palestinian passing nr. the settlement. Jewish settlers fr. Elon Moreh nr. Nablus cut down more than 200 Palestinian olive trees in nearby Salim. (IMEMC 11/26; HA 11/27, 11/30; PCHR 12/1)

An AMB gunman fires on, damages an IDF jeep in Tulkarm, is killed by return fire. The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians outside Surif; conduct late-night arrest raids, house searches in Hebron and nr. Nablus, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Elon Moreh cut down another 200 olive trees in Salim (see 10/20). (HA 10/21; HA, NYT, WP 10/22; PCHR 10/27)

The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in n. Jerusalem to make way for the separation wall; fires on Palestinians who halt their car and emerge to survey their agricultural land nr. Tulkarm (lightly injuring 1), takes them to the hospital only after 3 hrs. of questioning; shoots, wounds a Palestinian who strays nr. the separation wall nr. Qalqilya; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hazma nr. Jerusalem, Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids Hebron, al-Qarara nr. Khan Yunis, Salim nr. Nablus, Sawahara nr. Jerusalem. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. For a 2d day, Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on shoot at, attack Palestinian shepherds grazing their animals nr. the settlement. Jewish settlers fr. Almatan nr. Qalqilya uproot 10s of olive trees, bulldoze Palestinian agricultural land in neighboring Kafr Thuluth. A Jewish settler injures an 8-yr.-old Palestinian girl in a hit-and-run in Hebron. A Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (IMEMC 3/14; OCHA 3/16; PCHR 3/17)

The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian near the separation wall in Qalqilya; clashes with Palestinians in Salim nr. Nablus, leaving 1 Palestinian wounded; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Bireh, Saida. A Jewish settler fr. Hebron seriously injures a 4-yr.- old Palestinian in a hit-and-run. (VOI 1/23 in WNC 1/24; OCHA 1/26; PCHR 1/27)

The AMB, DFLP, PFLP say they are ready to halt violence if the IDF halts military operations; Israel says it is considering the idea, with Sharon advisers Zalman Shoval and Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland saying “if there will be quiet on the Palestinian side, then there will be quiet on our side.” (VOI, VOP 1/22, VOP 1/23 in WNC 1/24; NYT, WP 1/23; MM 1/24)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a powerful device on a bus in Haifa, killing 14 Israelis, 1 Filipino, and injuring more than 40. Arafat condemns the attack, outlaws "any movement, organization, or gathering" that does not abide by his cease-fire order, orders confiscation of illegal weapons, reiterates plans for a crackdown, saying that around 90 Palestinians have already been arrested. Israel dismisses the arrests as "a stunt," seals PA areas, bans all Palestinian vehicular traffic, shells residential areas of Jinin. In one of several similar incidents in the Bethlehem area, 20 PSF officers attempting to arrest journalist Issa Zawahara, who has ties to Islamic Jihad, are chased off by an angry crowd of Palestinians. Arafat later meets with PA security heads, convenes the Palestinian Council (PC) to discuss the recent attacks. (AFP, AP, HA 12/2; AFP, ATL, Interfax, LPA, XIN 12/2 in WNC 12/3; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/3; DUS, MA 12/3 in WNC 12/4; WT 12/4; AYM 12/4 in WNC 12/5; LAW 12/5; WJW 12/6; MEI 12/7; JP 12/14)

Sharon, Bush meet at the White House. Sharon says he does not expect Arafat to take serious steps to arrest those responsible for recent suicide attacks, says Israel will "do what we have to do to protect our citizens." Neither Bush nor U.S. officials urge Israeli restraint. (JP [Internet] 12/2; LPA 12/2 in WNC 12/3; MM, WP, WT 12/3; WT 12/4; VIRI 12/4 in WNC 12/5; MM 12/5)

Meanwhile, Hamas also takes responsibility for a drive-by shooting in Gaza, which leaves 1 Jewish settler dead. In the Jordan Valley, 7 settlers are wounded in a 2d drive-by shooting. Palestinians in Bayt Jala fire on Gilo, injuring 2 settlers. Armed Jewish settlers accost Palestinians in Hizma. An Israeli security guard outside an East Jerusalem bank fatally shoots a Palestinian, apparently fearing that he was about to stage an attack. The IDF fatally shoots 4 Palestinians nr. a Jinin checkpoint, 1 Palestinian in Tulkarm; fires a tank shell at a Palestinian in Qabatiyya, killing him. The IDF also directs shells/heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Aida, Jinin, Khan Yunis, Salim; conducts arrest raids in Abu Dis, Azariyya, Burqa. In Gaza, some 1,000 Hamas supporters rally in support of continued attacks on Israeli targets. In Nablus, 300 Palestinians attend a rally against political arrests sponsored by the National and Islamic Higher Comm. for the Follow-up of the Intifada (NIHC). (HA 12/2; XIN 12/2 in WNC 12/3; PMC, REU, WP 12/3; LAW 12/5)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Ariel Sharon tells Israel Radio that 30 new settlements in territories are needed to enhance Israel's security [WP 11/7].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: In Yasid 18-yearold Palestinian dies after being shot in the chest by Israeli troops; 8 other Palestinians are injured. In Shaykh Radwan soldiers injure 3 Palestinians during clashes. In Salim troops arrest 5Palestinians [FJ 11/7].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Sixty Israeli Arabs meet to discuss the formation of an Arab political party to compete in Israeli elections [CSM 6/23]. The telephone lines in Tulkarm are cut by the authorities [FJ 6/26].

Military

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Palestinian stonethrowers injure 13 Israeli bus passengers [FJ 6/26]. Clashes are reported in Duhayshah, Balatah camps, Hebron, Nablus, Yatta, Salim, Sebastiya, 'Iraq Burin, Bidya, Bayt 'Awwa [FJ 6/26].

Arab World: In S. Lebanon Israeli soldiers capture 4 Palestinian guerrillas trying to cross into northern Israel.

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: The Israeli army closes 3 schools [LAT 6/20]. D.M. Rabin meets with unnamed Palestinians in order to resolve the uprising. Military governor of the W. Bank meets with merchants from Ramallah trying to find ways to improve commerce [LAT 6/20].

Military

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Soldiers shoot, wound 21-year-old man near Nablus [LAT 6/20, FJ 6/26]. Soldiers uproot 5 dunums of olive trees in Salim [FJ 6/26].

Arab World: The New York Times reports that PLO forces in southem Lebanon have doubled in the past six months [NYT 6/19].