The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers with a military escort raided al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya, vandalizing property. Israeli settlers also erected vending stalls on a highway near al-Farisiya. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers stole 14 Palestinian-owned sheep in Kafr ad-Dik. Israeli forces issued demolition notices for a residential structure near Tubas and 3 homes in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition during a raid in Kafr Dan; 4 were arrested. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians during a raid in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound; some settlers were seen openly praying on the compound. In Umm al-Fahm, Israeli authorities demolished several Palestinian-owned agricultural structures. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/7; PCHR, WAFA 6/8; UNOCHA 6/18)

An Israeli bulldozer nearly plowed into a Lebanese protester before UNIFIL soldiers convinced the Israeli soldier manning to bulldozer to move back. Israeli forces have been working on constructing a barrier in the area south of Kfar Chouba near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. (AP, HA 6/9)

Fatah deputy chairperson Mahmud Aloul told reporters that Fatah’s decline in popularity is linked to the party’s inability to deliver on promises made when Fatah adopted a peaceful resistance. Aloul also said he would not seek to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as Fatah chairperson, saying the party needs someone from the younger generation. (ALM, QDS 6/7; ALM 6/10)

U.S. special representative for Palestinian affairs Hady Amr met with members of the family of the 2-year-old boy Israeli forces shot on 6/1 and who succumbed to his wounds on 6/5. On 6/6, Amr’s office called on the Israeli government to “evaluate all use of deadly force that involves civilian casualties.” Amr also met with PLO secretary-general Hussein al-Sheikh. (TOI, WAFA 6/7; WAFA 6/8)

Israeli national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi met with Moroccan officials, including Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, in Rabat, discussing possible Israeli recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. In return for recognition of sovereignty Morocco is reportedly willing to upgrade the 2 countries’ diplomatic missions to embassies and enter a free-trade agreement. (ALM, HA, MEE, REU, TOI 6/7; HA, MEE, REU 6/8; ALM 6/10; HA 6/11)

U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. According to a U.S. official, the 2 discussed Israel normalization, Yemen, Sudan, and human rights. Blinken also met with Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and GCC ministers at a GCC ministerial meeting in Riyadh. The GCC nations and the U.S. issued a joint statement after the meeting calling for a “2-state solution along 1967 borders with mutually agreed swaps consistent with internationally recognized parameters and the Arab Peace Initiative.” Iran reopened its embassy in Riyadh and bin Salman met with Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro a day prior to Blinken’s meetings. (AJ, AP, HA, REU, REU, TOI 6/7; DoS, NYT, REU 6/8; NYT 6/10)

In West Jerusalem, a Palestinian driver rams a group of Israelis at a bus stop nr. Chords Bridge, injuring at least 14 (Hamas will claim the man as a mbr.); Israeli police and bystanders shoot and kill the driver. Israeli PM Netanyahu then orders the fortification of Jerusalem’s bus stops (a plan will be implemented on 12/20). In the West Bank, hundreds of Israeli settlers visit Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus overnight, sparking morning clashes between their IDF escort and Palestinian stone-throwers; 1 Palestinian is injured. IDF troops violently disperse Palestinians protesting in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, injuring 1 Palestinian and damaging his car. The IDF conducts late-night raids and house searches in Hebron and 2 villages nearby, Tulkarm, and 4 villages nr. Ramallah, arresting 16 Palestinians and confiscating personal property; patrol in Nablus, 6 villages nr. Hebron, and 1 nr. Jenin. (HA, JP, MNA, NYT, TOI, YA 12/14; TOI 12/15; WAFA 12/16; PCHR 12/17)

At a ceremony in Ramallah, 3 new ministers are sworn in to the PA cabinet at the request of Pres. Mahmoud Abbas. The cabinet’s secy.-gen., Ali Abu Diyak, is the new minister of justice, replacing Saleem al-Saqqa; Ehab Yasir Aref Bseiso is the new minister of culture, replacing Ziad Abu Amr; and Mahmoud Rashid al-Shaer is the new minister of social affairs, replacing Shawqi al-Aissa. Abu Amr and al-Aissa remain on the cabinet in their roles as dep. PM and minister of agriculture and prisoners’ affairs, respectively. (MNA 12/15; JP 12/17)

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fire 6 rockets into s. Israel at night, causing no damage or injuries, with 2 intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system. In response, the Israeli Air Force strikes 4 targets in the Gaza Strip belonging to Islamic Jihad, causing 1 injury and property damage. The Israeli military also closes the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Nablus, 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 village each nr. Tulkarm, Nablus, Ramallah, Jenin, and Jenin r.c. at night; patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah at night. In East Jerusalem, suspected Jewish extremists vandalize 2 dozen cars in Bayt Hanina, leaving “price-tag” slogans. (HA, MNA 6/24; PCHR 6/27)

Palestinian pres. Mahmud Abbas accepts the resignation of PM Rami Hamdallah, after failing to persuade him to remain in the post during talks over the weekend. Hamdallah is, however, subsequently designated head of an interim govt., until a replacement can be found. Reports indicate that Hamdallah’s unhappiness over his role in the govt. focused on a dispute with Mohammed Mustafa and Ziad Abu Amr, who had been appointed by Abbas as deputy prime ministers. (HA, JP, REU 6/23)

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Hebron and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night; patrols in Salfit and 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, in Jenin and 3 nearby villages in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, 1 village nr. Hebron, and 1 village nr. Ramallah at night. Jewish settlers uproot olive trees in Palestinian-owned fields nr. Hebron and in a separate incident attack Palestinian-owned cars with stones nr. Nablus, causing damage but no injuries. (MNA 6/6; PCHR 6/13)

Former president of an-Najah University Rami Hamdallah is sworn in as Palestinian PM at a ceremony with Pres. Mahmud Abbas, with the 24-member cabinet remaining mostly the same except for a few changes (such as the appointment of 2 deputy PMs, Ziad Abu Amr and Mohammed Mustafa, and a new fin. min., Shukri Bishara). Hamdallah replaces Salam Fayyad, who resigned in 4/2013. Abbas says that the new govt. is intended to remain until there can be an agreement with Hamas about when to hold elections. (MNA, REU 6/6)

Syrian opposition fighters briefly take control of a UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)-operated crossing between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights before it is retaken by the Syrian army. In response, Austria says it will withdraw its 380 members of the 1,000-strong UNDOF force. In a separate incident, a Filipino peacekeeper is injured when a shell lands at another UNDOF base. It is unclear whether the shell was fired by govt. or opposition forces. (AP, REU 6/6)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes a major daytime raid into Hebron, surrounding 4 Palestinian homes, bulldozing surrounding areas, directing tank shells and heavy machine gun fire on the buildings, demanding the surrender of a wanted Hamas mbr. inside, also firing on stone-throwing Palestinians protesting the operation, wounding a 13-yr.-old boy; the operation is ongoing by the end of the day. The IDF also patrols in, fires on residential areas of Bayt Umar, then fires on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 4, arresting 5; conducts daytime arrest raids, house searches in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah and similar nighttime operations in and around Nablus, nr. Hebron. In Gaza, Hamas-led police launch a major crackdown on Fatah in response to the 7/25 bombings, arresting 10s of Fatah supporters and searching several Fatah offices (including those of PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Zakariya al-Agha and PC mbr. Ziad Abu ‘Amr), while IQB mbrs. toss grenades at the home of a Gaza City Fatah leader (causing no reported injuries) and set up roadblocks across the Strip; 2 Hamas mbrs. wounded in the 7/25 beach bombing die. (WT 7/27; OCHA, PCHR 7/30)