The Palestine Chronology

The donors’ Ad Hoc Liaison Comm. (AHLC) holds a regular semiannual meeting in Brussels to discuss the state of the Palestinian economy, PA budget priorities, and donor assistance. The AHLC expresses concern that the growth of the Palestinian economy slowed significantly in 2011 and that the PA budget deficit has grown dangerously, largely because donor contributions have fallen and Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement and access have not been adequately reduced. While acknowledging PA efforts to maintain a stable economy, the AHLC warns that the PA cannot be successful without increased donor support and positive actions from Israel. (Europa 3/31)

The IDF makes a pre-dawn incursion into n. Gaza to level land and clear lines of sight along the border fence nr. Bayt Lahiya, firing on nearby agricultural areas to keep Palestinians away, causing no injuries. In the evening, unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket and 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts late-night patrols in Tulkarm and 1 village nr. Jericho. (YA 3/21; PCHR, YA 3/22; PCHR 3/29; OCHA 3/30)

A 24-yr.-old French man of Algerian descent, Mohammed Merah, claims responsibility for the shootings in and around Toulouse (see 3/19/12) and barricades himself in his apartment in a tense stand-off that includes exchanges of gunfire, leaving 2 police officers wounded. Merah confirms that he carried out the attacks to protest French foreign intervention in Afghanistan, as well as to avenge the deaths of Palestinian children killed by the IDF in Gaza. While Merah claims to have received al-Qa`ida training and had been on French and U.S. government watch lists, the French authorities believe he acted alone and had no serious link to alQa`ida or other groups. (NYT 3/22)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Nr. al-Maghazi r.c., 2 Palestinians are injured when they accidentally trigger unexploded IDF ordnance while scavenging for scrap metal. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Tulkarm (2 simultaneously) and 2 in Ramallah in the morning; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in Nabi Salih and nr. Jenin. Hunger-striking administrative detainee Hana Shalabi is “in grave danger of dying” according to Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, which provides her with a doctor. OCHA reports that since 3/14, 4 Palestinians have been injured in smuggling tunnel accidents on the Gaza border. (JP 3/20; WT 3/21; PCHR 3/22; OCHA 3/23)

JSC head Gen. Dempsey receives IDF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz in Washington for talks on Iran and Syria as part of the regular U.S.-Israel strategic dialogue. Gantz also meets with White House and Defense Dept. officials, but no details are released. (JPI 3/30)

Speaking at a conference on Palestinian refugees in Brussels, EU foreign policy adviser Catherine Ashton expresses condolences for the 3/19/12 Jewish deaths in Toulouse and regrets over recent tragedies worldwide that have resulted in child casualties, citing among them Israel’s recent air strikes on Gaza (3/9–12) that injured 14 Palestinian children. Israeli PM Netanyahu denounces her for making “the comparison between a deliberate massacre of children and defensive, surgical actions.” Ashton’s spokesman issues a statement saying that her words were “grossly distorted.” (NYT 3/21)

Unidentified Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts morning patrols in 2 villages each nr. Jenin and Ramallah in the morning and afternoon patrols in Qalqilya and in 2 villages each nr. Jenin, Qalqilya (synchronized), and Tulkarm; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. (JP 3/19; PCHR 3/22; OCHA 3/23)

In Toulouse, France, a gunman on a motor scooter opens fire on a Jewish school, killing a rabbi and 4 students (all dual French-Israeli citizens), wounding another 6 students (1 seriously). Authorities say the shooting appears linked to 2 recent shootings of 3 French soldiers in and nr. Toulouse. In those attacks, an assailant believed to be targeting French soldiers of Arab extraction to punish them as traitors for participating in the French military given its involvement in Afghanistan allegedly lured and shot 3 soldiers; 2 of North African origin were killed, whereas a black soldier was wounded. (NYT, WP, WT 3/20)

British FM Hague meets with Israel’s Vice PM Dan Meridor on a 2-day official visit to Israel. Talks cover Iran but focus on economic cooperation. (JPI 3/30)