The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli soldier was shot and injured during a settler protest near Nablus; it was reported that the Nablus-based Palestinian Lion’s Den militant group took responsibility for the shooting; Israeli settlers blocked an entrance to Nablus during the protest in which they demanded more security in Israeli settlements. 1 person opened fire at a taxi and a bus traveling near Beit Furik; 1 taxi driver was injured. Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Huwwara, causing damage. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near Beit Furik, causing damage. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians in Huwwara, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also assaulted 2 paramedics working for the Palestine Red Crescent Society after stopping their ambulance near Beit Furik. Elsewhere, Israeli forces seized 1 tractor in al-Farisiya and delivered demolition notices for 8 houses in the Masafer Yatta area. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. (HA, HA, JP, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/2; PCHR 10/6; UNOCHA 10/16)

HaMoked reported that Israel is currently holding 798 Palestinians in administrative detention, the highest number since 2008. (AP, HA 10/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 170 olive trees in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya and set 1 vehicle on fire in Asira al-Qibliya, writing “Jewish blood is not cheap” on nearby walls. Israeli settlers also opened fire on Palestinian vehicles driving near the Migdal Oz settlement. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinian vehicles near the al-Hamra checkpoint, smashing the windshields on 5 vehicles. Israeli settlers also threw stones at 1 Palestinian vehicle near Jericho, injuring the driver. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers stopped a Palestinian taxi driver near the Dead Sea before beating him. Israeli settlers also vandalized 2 vehicles in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces raided Ya‘bad, arresting 4 of the family members of 1 Palestinian man who killed 5 people in Israel on 3/29. Israeli forces also took measurements for a punitive demolition. Elsewhere, Israeli forces raided al-Khader, causing tear-gas related injuries. 20 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Bayt Rima, Ein Misbah, Deir Abu Masha‘al, Bir al-Basha, Kafr Qaddum, Balata refugee camp, al-‘Ibayyat, and Beit Umar. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Isawiya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen; no injuries were reported. (HA, HA, MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/30; HA, PCHR, WAFA 3/31; +972 4/4; UNOCHA 4/10)

The Israeli cities of Netanya, Ramle, Holon, and Givatayim suspended construction and gardening work at public schools in an apparent effort to limit work by Palestinian laborers. Ramat Gan’s mayor also told building contractors in the city to end work on sites that “rely on Arab labor.” In addition, the Israeli military banned the entry of Palestinian workers into Israeli settlements. The restrictions on Palestinian workers come as 3 different attacks were carried out in Israel over the past week, including 2 by Palestinian citizens of Israel and 1 by a Palestinian from the West Bank. (HA 3/30)

Israel’s security cabinet decided to revoke work permits for relatives of Palestinians who have attacked Israelis and pushed forward a plan to reinforce the separation barrier. Israeli police also asked the security cabinet to limit access to the Haram al-Sharif compound to Muslim worshippers 60 and older—a request the security cabinet did not immediately respond to. Prime minister Naftali Bennett also called on all licensed Israelis to start carrying a weapon. (HA 3/30; HA, HA 3/31)

Prime Minister Bennett spoke with U.S. president Joe Biden, who offered his condolences after 11 people have been killed in attacks in Israel in the past week. (HA 3/31)

Israeli president Isaac Herzog met with Jordan’s king Abdullah II in Amman. (HA, REU 3/29; ALM, HA, REU 3/30)

A total of 2 Palestinians are killed and 15 injured when IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists at Friday demonstrations against the Israeli occupation in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, outside the Beit El settlement, and outside Ofer Prison), Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya, and in 3 areas along Gaza’s border. Separately, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that a Hamas fighter was killed by an electric shock in a tunnel nr. Rafah this morning. Meanwhile, Palestinians throw stones at Israeli forces in 2 areas nr. Bethlehem (Aida r.c. and al-Khadir), sparking clashes in which 5 Palestinians are injured, including 2 paramedics and 1 journalist. The IDF conducts a late-night raid in a village nr. Bethlehem, sparking clashes with stonethrowing Palestinian youths; 1 Palestinian is shot and injured. IDF troops conduct further late-night raids and house searches in Hebron, Bethlehem, and 2 villages and Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem, arresting 3 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 4; patrol in 7 villages nr. Hebron and 2 nr. Jenin, as well as Tulkarm and 1 village nearby. Israeli settlers disguise a large rock as a pile of garbage and place it in the middle of a road nr. Salfit; a Palestinian taxi driver later crashes his car into the rock, causing major damage. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrest an elderly Palestinian woman at Haram al-Sharif and confiscate NIS 1,800 (around $100) from her. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI 1/15; MNA 1/16; PCHR 1/21)

Ajnad Bayt al-Maqdis fighters fire 5 rockets toward s. Israel; 2 land in open areas nr. Sderot, causing no damage or injuries, and 3 land short of the border fence. Holding Hamas responsible, IAF jets launch late-night air strikes on 2 Hamas military sites in Gaza City and Bayt Hanun, causing extensive damage but no injuries. (HA, MNA, TOI 1/1; PCHR 1/7)

A Palestinian citizen of Israel opens fire in a Tel Aviv pub, killing 2 and injuring 7. The attacker flees and, according to Israeli police on 1/4, kills a 3d Israeli civilian, a taxi driver, in n. Tel Aviv. (The suspect will be killed in a shootout in n. Israel on 1/8.) In the West Bank, Israeli authorities return to their families the bodies of 23 Palestinians killed recently by the IDF, including 17 to the Hebron area. They also return to a Palestinian transportation company in Nablus 11 buses confiscated since 10/1 for carrying Palestinian youths to protests. The IDF conducts a late-night raid in Tulkarm, arresting 1 Palestinian; patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Nablus. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists at demonstrations against Israel’s occupation and recent crackdown on the oPt in 2 villages nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in and Ni‘lin), 2 nr. Qalqilya (Kafr Qaddum and ‘Azun), and along Gaza’s border nr. Bayt Hanun; 5 Palestinians are injured. (AP, HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 1/1; HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 1/2; HA 1/4; PCHR 1/7)

The IDF sends troops, helicopters into Rafah; fires on residential areas, fatally shooting a Palestinian taxi driver, wounding 4 Palestinians; demolishes 20 Palestinian homes (leaving 177 people homeless), 15 shops, 4 sewing factories. The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian bystander during a bungled undercover arrest raid in Jenin; bulldozes 18 d. of Bayt Lahiya land nr. Dugit; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, Ramallah. A Palestinian sniper wounds 2 IDF soldiers guarding a Jewish settlement in s. Gaza. Palestinians fire mortars at an IDF post in Gaza, lightly injuring 3 IDF soldiers, 1 Israeli military contractor; fire a mortar at Gush Katif, wounding 2 Jewish settlers. (PRCS 11/3; VOI, VOP 11/3 in WNC 11/5; NYT, PCHR, WT 11/4; VOI 11/4 in WNC 11/6; PRCS 11/11)

Arafat’s health takes another turn for the worse; doctors admit him to the intensive care unit after he reportedly slips in and out of consciousness several times. (JAZ 11/3, 11/4 in WNC 11/6; BBC, NYT, WT 11/4)

U.S. Defense Secy. Cohen arrives in Saudi Arabia on 2d leg of regional tour; offers kingdom new weapons, military training to help shore up its defense against Iraq. (NYT 3/7; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/8; MEI 3/12) (see 3/6)

Jewish settlers fr. West Bank settlement of Tene Omarim move 7 trailers to nearby hilltop to start new enclave. (AFP [Internet] 3/7)

In separate incidents in Jerusalem, a Palestinian woman tries to stab an Israeli security guard; a Palestinian taxi driver is stabbed, wounded by a suspected Jewish assailant. (MM 3/8) (see 3/6)

In Gaza, Palestinian Authority (PA) head Yasir Arafat meets with Yitzhak Molho, personal atty. and adviser to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyhau. No details about the mtg. are released. (WT 8/18)

The PA says it will match Israel's freeze (imposed since the 7/30 bombings) on transfers of monies owed the PA with a selective boycott of Israeli goods, calls for national unity talks with Palestinian groups opposed to the Oslo process. (NYT, WT 8/17; CSM, NYT 8/18; PR 8/22)

Jordanian Amb. to Israel Umar al-Rifa`i submits offical complaint to Israel, stating that he, Jordanian writer Nasir al-Din al-Nashashibi were harassed at an Israel checkpoint into Israel. (al-Dustur 8/17 in WNC 8/20)

PA police arrest 3 Palestinian car thieves who murdered an Israeli taxi driver in Jericho 8/14. Within hrs. the 3 men are tried, convicted to long prison terms. Israeli police praise the move, but government says cooperation in criminal matters does not prove that the PA is cracking down on "terrorism." (WT 8/17; NYT 8/18; CSM, WP 8/19; IGPO 8/28 in WNC 9/4)

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attack Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) bases in s. Lebanon, drawing fire fr. the Lebanese army. No injuries are reported. (RL 8/16, 8/17 in WNC 8/20)

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: During court hearing in case of Alternative Information Center Director Michael Warschawski, police prosecutor indicates arrest and closure of center were linked to plans to publish study on Israeli torture of Palestinian detainees [FJ 2/20].

Military Action

Occupied Palestine/Israel: Witnesses allege a taxi driver who was shot and killed after running his car into Israeli military patrol, injuring 2 soldiers, was trying to avoid stone-throwing youths. Military claims Palestinian driver intentionally ran into the soldiers [FJ 2/20]. Gaza City's Ansar II detention center reopens [FJ 2/20].

Arab World: Street battles continue in Beirut despite Syrian-proposed cease-fire, bringing casualties to at least 65 killed, 280 wounded since 2/15 [CSM 2/19].