The Palestine Chronology

For a 2d day, the IDF maintains its closure of Nahalin village, where an Israeli settler was stabbed and injured on 2/9. Meanwhile, a Palestinian is killed in clashes between stonethrowers and IDF troops in al-‘Arub r.c. that erupt when Israeli forces patrol in the camp. They also conduct late-night house searches and raids in al-Fawar r.c. and 3 villages nr. Hebron, Tulkarm and Tulkarm r.c., 2 villages nr. Nablus, and 1 each nr. Ramallah and Jenin, arresting 17 Palestinians. Israeli forces demolish 7 residential structures, 6 animal shelters, and a water pipeline in and around alFarisiya village in the n. Jordan Valley. They also patrol in 4 villages nr. Hebron, Tulkarm and 1 nearby village, and 1 village nr. Jenin. An Israeli settler attacks a Palestinian vehicle with an ax outside a settlement nr. Qalqilya, causing damage. Israeli forces later arrest the settler. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 2/10; PCHR 2/11, 2/18)

 Israeli and Turkish officials meet in Zurich for another round of talks on a possible rapprochement. They will meet again on 2/11. (HA, TOI 2/9, 2/10)

In the West Bank, a Palestinian youth succumbs to injuries sustained when shot by a stray IDF bullet on 11/23 nr. Nablus. Meanwhile, IDF troops stationed at a shooting range on the grounds of Palestine Technical University in Tulkarm clash with Palestinian protesters, injuring 15 students with rubber-coated steel bullets and live fire. Protests against Israeli raids onto the campus have been ongoing since 11/15, disrupting classes and injuring many students. IDF troops also clash with Palestinians during late-night raids in a village nr. Bethlehem and Qalandia r.c. nr. Ramallah, injuring 1 Palestinian in the 1st and arresting 2 Palestinians and confiscating property in the latter. The IDF conducts another late-night raid in 1 village nr. Hebron, arresting 3 Palestinians; patrols in 1 village nr. Salfit and 3 nr. Hebron. Israeli forces deliver stop-work orders for 2 homes and an agricultural structure under construction in a village nr. Hebron. In Gaza, IDF troops stationed along the border fence shoot and injure a Palestinian farmer working e. of Khan Yunis. Later, an IED explodes nr. the fence e. of Rafah, causing no injuries or damage; the IDF then fires 6 artillery shells in the direction of Khan Yunis, injuring 3 Palestinians. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish a home in Shaykh Jarrah, displacing 7 Palestinians; prevent workers from repairing a water leak at Haram al-Sharif; issue an arrest summons to a Palestinian and confiscate her property on raids in al-Thawri. (HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA 12/16; MNA, PCHR, WAFA 12/17; PCHR 12/31)

In Zurich, senior Israeli and Turkish officials agree on central provisions of a reconciliation agreement that would normalize ties between their countries after almost 5 years of tension. The 3 conditions outlined by Turkish pres. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 12/14 have not yet been met. (HA, HUR, NYT, TOI 12/17; REU 12/18)

In the West Bank, IDF troops violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at weekly demonstrations against the Israeli occupation, and in favor of the PFA’s bid to suspend Israel from FIFA, in 6 areas nr. Ramallah (Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Nabi Salih, Silwad, outside Ofer Prison, and Jalazun r.c.), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 4 Palestinians are injured. The IDF conducts late-night raids and house searches in 1 village nr. Hebron and al-Azza r.c. nr. Bethlehem, arresting 1 Palestinian and issuing 1 arrest summons; patrols during the day in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, al-Fawar r.c. and 1 village nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces assault and arrest 3 Palestinians at an entrance to Issawiyya, sparking clashes with residents and injuring 5 Palestinians. (MNA, TOI 5/29; PCHR 6/4)

PFA chair Rajoub amends the PFA’s res. to suspend Israel from international soccer in the hours before a scheduled vote on the measure at the annual FIFA congress in Zurich. Instead, the delegates approve, 165–18, a modified measure establishing a comm. to monitor movement restrictions on Palestinian soccer players, Israeli racism, and the status of teams based in Israeli settlements. (HA 5/13; NYT 5/28; EI, HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI 5/29)

According to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, Iran continues to withhold key information about the alleged military dimensions of its past nuclear activity. Sanctions relief for Iran in its ongoing negotiations with the P5+1 depends on the IAEA’s ability to complete the investigation. (AP, JP 5/29)

Palestinian delegation presents Israeli delegation with detailed response to Israel's agenda for negotiations. Israel has not presented its new "semi-autonomy" proposals because of the Palestinian delegation cut. (Qol Yisra'el 12/11 in FBIS 12/11)

EC transfers 15 million ECU ($20 million) to o.t. credit institutions, 29 million ECU ($40 million) to the Palestinian Housing Council. (Davar 12/8 in FBIS 12/11)

First Israeli-Palestinian Intl. Academic Conf. on Water opens in Zurich. Israelis and Palestinians each field 25 experts, among some 100 participants. (MM 12/11)

Islamic Jihad mbr. kills 1, wounds 3 Israeli policeman in heavily armed battle near Jenin, before being killed (MM 12/10, 12/11)

To mark Intl. Human Rights Day, Knesset ed. comm. releases Israeli racism survey. Poll finds almost 40% support violence against Arabs in response to Arab acts of terror, nearly 30% favor pressuring Arabs to leave Israel. (MM 12/11)