The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Israeli forces demolishing a settlement outpost near the Yitzhar settlement; 3 soldiers and 1 settler were injured and several military vehicles were damaged. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling near Sabastia. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man near Haris at the Ariel settlement, claiming he had charged Israeli settlers and soldiers with a knife; no Israeli injuries were reported. 2 Palestinians were arrested for driving with the Palestinian man to the Ariel settlement: 1 on 12/31 and 1 on 1/2. The PA called the killing an execution. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 5 with rubber-coated bullets, including 1 minor. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets and 7 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed a protest in Bayt Dajan, injuring 44 Palestinians with tear gas. Meanwhile, Israeli forces shut down the main road between Nablus and Jenin. Israeli forces also delivered a demolition order for a house in Umm al-Rihan. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested during a house raid in Beit Fajjar. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian using a rubber-coated bullet during a raid in Isawiya; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting the Israeli eviction plans against the Salem family in Sheikh Jarrah; 1 minor was arrested and several Palestinian flags were confiscated. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Jabel Mukaber, assaulting 1 and arresting 1. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian shepherds east of al-Bureij; no injuries were reported. In Israel, 1 Palestinian Israeli man was killed in Umm al-Fahm, marking the 126th murder of a Palestinian Israeli in 2021. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, JP, MEE, MEMO, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/31; MEMO 1/1; TOI 1/2; PCHR 1/6)

B’Tselem reported that 2021 saw the most killing of Palestinians since 2014. According to B’Tselem, 319 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and Israeli settlers. 9 Israelis were killed by Palestinians. The human rights organization also said 2021 saw the most demolitions of Palestinian homes in 5 years. 295 residential structures were demolished, displacing 895 Palestinians, including 463 minors. Israel also demolished 548 non-residential structures. (B’Tselem 1/4/2022)

Israel’s ministry of defense announced that it had signed a deal with the U.S. to buy 12 Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky CH-53K helicopters and 2 Boeing KC-46 refueling planes. (MEMO 12/31)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 22 structures and 1 demolition order for an agricultural shed in Qusra and demolished 1 water well in Ni‘lin. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting a late-night raid in Bethlehem, causing tear-gas related injuries. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in ‘Anata, Abu Dis, al-Ubeidiya, Jenin, Burqa, and Sabastia. In East Jerusalem, Israeli municipality workers demolished a construction material shop in ‘Anata. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a house raid in the Old City. In Gaza, 1 Palestinian merchant was arrested while entering Israel via the Erez crossing. (WAFA 11/29; MEMO 11/30; PCHR 12/2)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Lebanon’s president Michel Aoun in Doha. (WAFA 11/29)

Israel approved using $2.4 billion of its U.S. military aid to purchase 10-15 Lockheed Martin CH-53k helicopters. (ALM, HA 11/29; MEMO 12/3)

Israel and the UK signed a 10-year agreement on cybersecurity, technology, trade, and defense. (HA, MEE, MEMO 11/29)

The new U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides arrived in Jerusalem. Ambassador Nides will not be living in the for U.S. consulate to Palestinians on Agron Street, as former Ambassador David Friedman had partly done, but will be accommodated elsewhere in Jerusalem in a rented property. Former Ambassador Friedman initiated the sale of a U.S.-owned property used as housing for the U.S. ambassador to Israel south of Tel Aviv. (JP 11/29; NYT 12/1; HA 12/2)

Officials from Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the UK met in Vienna for the 1st day of new talks to find an agreement between Iran and the U.S. after the U.S. left it during the Trump administration. This was the 1st meeting since Iran’s new president Ebrahim Raisi was inaugurated in August. (AJ, AP 11/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers cut down 6 electric poles supplying electricity to a Palestinian home at the outskirts of Burin. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita, injuring 2 with live ammunition and 35 others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 10 with rubber-coated bullets and others with tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, leading to tear-gas related injuries. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in al-Khader, Bayt Jala, and Dura. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces dispersed Palestinians protesting against Israeli threats to evict Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah, confiscating several Palestinian flags. 4 Palestinian children were arrested in Wadi Hilweh. (AJ, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/30; MEMO 7/31; PCHR 8/5)

Israel said it would expand the Gaza fishing zone from 6 to 12 nautical miles at its largest point from 8/2. (MEMO 7/30)

The U.S. state department said it had approved the sale of 18 CH-53K helicopters to Israel, including engines, navigation systems, weaponry, support equipment, spare parts, and technical support. The package is worth $3.4 billion. (HA 7/30)

The Biden administration appointed Deborah Lipstadt as the special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism. Lipstadt needs Senate confirmation before assuming her new position. Lipstadt has used her platform to conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism, including by smearing BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti as an anti-Semite. (HA 7/30; AA 8/10)

Mercy-USA for Aid and Development donated food supplies for 5,000 Palestinians in Gaza via the UNRWA. (WAFA 7/30)