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December 2003
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60 palestinians killed by israeli action this month
7 israelis killed by palestinian action this month
Sharon announces that Israel may take major parts of the West Bank - in coordination with US
On December 1st in Geneva, some 150 Israelis and Palestinians involved in the drafting of the unofficial Geneva Accord hold a formal unveiling of their peace initiative at a ceremony attended by fmr. U.S. pres. Jimmy Carter and addressed by fmr. Polish pres. Lech Walesa, fmr. South African pres. Nelson Mandela. Arafat does not endorse the details of the plan, but issues a statement declaring it a “brave and courageous initiative.” Sharon continues to denounce it as “subversive.”
On 12/8 the UN General Assembly (UNGA) passes a nonbinding resolution calling on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague to issue an advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s separation wall.
In a major policy address given to the annual Herzliya Conference on Israeli strength and security, Sharon threatens that if Palestinians do not show progress on the road map soon, he would end negotiations and unilaterally define Israel’s “security lines,” taking large areas of the West Bank, keeping all of Jerusalem, and removing a number of Jewish settlements. He vows that such steps “will be fully coordinated with the United States.”
13 reservists of the IDF elite commando unit Sayaret Matkal sign an open letter to Sharon refusing to serve in the occupied territories, stating, “We have long ago crossed the line between fighting a just cause and oppressing another people.”
IDF steps up assassinations, which nearly doubles the palestinian body count in relation to the month before.
Israeli actions |
Negotiations |
Palestinian actions |
Every
is one palestinian killed by israeli action |
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Every
is one israeli killed by palestinian action |
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Before dawn, the IDF launches a major raid on al-Amari
r.c. in Ramallah that lasts 16 hrs., sending in nearly 100 armored vehicles
supported by helicopters to attack Hamas targets; the IDF warns the PA before
entering Ramallah, promises that no operations will take place nr. PA head
Yasir Arafat’s headquarters. During the raid 3 Hamas mbrs. and an
11-yr.-old Palestinian boy are killed, 29 Hamas mbrs. are arrested, 9 youths
who throw stones at troops are wounded, 2 Palestinian homes (1 in
al-Amari r.c., 1 in Ramallah) are demolished. The IDF also conducts
arrest raids in Jenin, Qalqilya, Rafah, Tulkarm town and r.c., and villages
around Nablus. Israel begins construction of a new Jewish settlement
neighborhood in East Jerusalem called Golden View. (AP, JP, MM, NYT 12/1; VOI,
VOP, YA 12/1 in WNC 12/3; NYT, WP 12/2; LAW, PCHR 12/4; MEI 12/5)
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In Geneva, some 150 Israelis and Palestinians involved in the drafting of the
unofficial Geneva Accord hold a formal unveiling of their peace
initiative at a ceremony attended by fmr. U.S. pres. Jimmy Carter and
addressed by fmr. Polish pres. Lech Walesa, fmr. South African pres.
Nelson Mandela. Arafat does not endorse the details of the plan, but
issues a statement declaring it a “brave and courageous initiative.” Sharon
continues to denounce it as “subversive.” (BBC, HA, MM, NYT 12/1; MENA, QA, VOP
12/1 in WNC 12/3; HA, JP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/2; ITAR-TASS, Le Monde, XIN
12/2 in WNC 12/4; PR 12/3; QA 12/3 in WNC 12/6; MM, WJW 12/4; MEI 12/5; PR
12/10; JPI 12/12) (see special document section in JPS 130)
In an extensive New York Times interview, Syrian pres. Bashar
al-Asad urges the U.S. to support the resumption of Israeli-Syrian
peace talks. The U.S. brushes off the overture. (NYT 12/1; VOI, YA 12/1
in WNC 12/3; SANA 12/1, 12/2 in WNC 1/6; MM, WT 12/2; MM 12/3; MA 12/3 in WNC
12/4; MM 12/4; THWR 12/5, THWR, Tishrin 12/6 in WNC 1/9; MM 12/8, 12/10)
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The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian outside Ramallah who
throws a Molotov cocktail at soldiers; fatally shoots a 2d Palestinian in
an exchange of fire in Jenin; fires on residential areas of Nablus, Rafah,
Ramallah; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Jenin, 1 in East Jerusalem, 1
in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Nablus. Israel approves
construction of 1,720 new housing units in West Bank, Gaza Jewish settlements,
raising to 2,819 the number of units approved since the road map was announced.
(MM 12/2; NYT, PR, WP12/3; LAW, PCHR 12/4)
Israel says it would only seriously consider resuming peace talks with
Syria if Damascus “renounces terror” (including halting all aid to
Hizballah and Palestinian groups) and agrees to resume talks “without
preconditions” (i.e., without starting talks fr. the point at which they left
off in 3/00). (HA 12/2)
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3 DECEMBER
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The IDF removes 3 roadblocks outside Ramallah; shoots, wounds 2
Palestinians in Balata r.c.; blows up a Palestinian home nr. Hebron. (MM
12/3; LAW, MM, PCHR 12/4; PCHR 12/11)
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4 DECEMBER
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The IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest
raids in Nablus, firing on Palestinian youths who gather to throw stones at the
troops. The Israeli High Court approves the transfer to Gaza of 12
West Bank Palestinian administrative detainees; a decision in the case
against a 13th detainee is pending. (PCHR 12/4; PR 12/10;
PCHR 12/11)
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Palestinian factions reopen cease-fire talks in Cairo under Egyptian
auspices. (MM 12/4; MENA, VOP, XIN 12/4 in WNC 12/6; WP, WT 12/6; MEI 12/19)
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For the 1st time in more than a yr., the IDF allows Palestinian
store owners in Hebron to open their shops, clean their storefronts. The
IDF also fatally shoots 2 Hamas mbrs. laying a roadside bomb in Gaza;
fatally shoots a Palestinian baggage handler at the Rafah crossing to
Egypt, mistakenly believing he was attacking when he ran to help someone with
their luggage; transfers 12 West Bank Palestinian administrative detainees
to Gaza; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis,
partially destroying 1 Palestinian home. (NYT, REU 12/6; NYT 12/8; PCHR
12/11)
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6 DECEMBER
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The IDF erects a new observation tower in Abasan on the e. border of
the Gaza Strip nr. Khan Yunis; reinforces a 2d observation tower in nearby
Khuza’; conducts arrest raids s. of Hebron. (PCHR 12/11)
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7 DECEMBER
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The IDF erects a new military post in Shaykh Ajlin s. of Gaza City;
bulldozes 3 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Balata,
Nablus, Qabatya, Tulkarm; searches houses in Hebron. (VOI, YA 12/8 in WNC 12/10; PCHR 12/11)
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Palestinians fire a
mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. |
8 DECEMBER
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The IDF imposes curfews on Salfit, 6 surrounding villages; fires
on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding a 10-yr.-old Palestinian girl
inside her school; conducts arrest raids in Aida r.c.; seals a Palestinian
home in East Jerusalem. A Palestinian prisoner
who suffered a stroke in Israel’s Megiddo prison on 12/4 dies; the PA says that
he was healthy when he entered prison, that Israel was negligent in delaying his
transportation to a hospital. (VOP 12/8 in WNC 12/10; VOI 12/9 in WNC 12/11; PR
12/10; PCHR 12/11)
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The UN General Assembly (UNGA) passes a nonbinding resolution calling
on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague to issue an
advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s separation wall. (HA 12/8;
ITAR-TASS, VOP 12/8 in WNC 12/10; HA, MM, WP 12/9; JP 12/9 in WNC 12/10; PR
12/10; THWR 12/12 in WNC 1/16; MEI 12/19)
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Palestinians fire a mortar at Gaza’s
Gadid settlement, causing no damage or injuries.
Palestinian factions end a round of cease-fire talks in Cairo, with
the factions refusing to adopt a unilateral cease-fire but expressing a “general
readiness” for a comprehensive cease-fire involving Israel. (MENA, QA, VOP,
al-Zaman [London] 12/8 in WNC 12/10; AYM 12/8, al-Quds 12/9 in WNC
12/11; MM, WP 12/9; MM 12/10; QA 12/11 in WNC 12/16; QA 12/12, AYM, SA 12/14 in
WNC 12/16; al-Quds 12/18 in WNC 12/23; MEI 12/19)
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The IDF captures an alleged Palestinian suicide bomber en route
to stage an attack; fatally shoots a stone-throwing Palestinian youth in
Qalandia; uncovers, destroys a smugglers’ tunnel to Egypt in Rafah; fires on
residential areas of Rafah. In Hebron, 3 Hamas mbrs. are killed in a
mysterious explosion; the IDF claims they were preparing a bomb, Hamas claims
they were assassinated. Palestinians toss grenades at an IDF
patrol in Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Hagay
settlement in Hebron seize 10 dunams of land belonging to the Palestinian
village of Rihiyya. (JTA 12/9; VOI, VOP, YA 12/9 in WNC 12/11; HA 12/10; PR
12/10; VOP 12/10 in WNC 12/12; PCHR 12/11)
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10 DECEMBER
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The IDF blows up a 2d smugglers’ tunnel to Egypt in Rafah (see 12/9),
demolishing a Palestinian home; fires on residential areas of Birzeit,
Brazil r.c. Israeli police say that in recent days, they have arrested
9 East Jerusalem Palestinians on suspicion of putting together a Haram
al-Sharif/Temple Mount security patrol financed by the PA. Jewish
settlers unilaterally evacuate 1 unauthorized settlement outpost in
the central West Bank; the IDF says it has received orders to dismantle
another 5. An Israeli military court exonerates for lack of evidence
PA General Intelligence officer Musa Shahin, who was placed in
administrative detention in 7/02 for allegedly firing on 2 IDF posts. (HA 12/10;
al-Quds 12/10 in WNC 12/16; PCHR 12/11)
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Islamic Jihad says that it could agree to the establishment of a
Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders “on a temporary basis.” (VOP 12/10
in WNC 12/12)
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The IDF sends 20 tanks, troops into Rafah to arrest senior Islamic
Jihad mbr. Khalid Qadi, sparking a gun battle that leaves 6 Palestinians
dead (including 2 Hamas mbrs., 3 bystanders, 1 medic
evacuating the wounded), 20 injured; the IDF captures Qadi, demolishes his plus
8 other Palestinian homes. The IDF also issues orders barring
Israeli citizens fr. entering Palestinian villages in area B
(technically, parts of the West Bank under PA civil and Israeli security
control) as of 12/21; demolishes another Palestinian home nr. Hebron;
places a curfew on Jenin, fires on residential areas. (MM, NYT, WP 12/11; VOP
12/11 in WNC 12/13; PRCS 12/12; VOP, YA 12/12 in WNC 12/16; PR 12/17; PCHR
12/18; MEI 12/19)
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12 DECEMBER
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The IDF removes sand barriers blocking the main road linking Hebron to
Bethlehem that have been in place since the start of the intifada in 9/00,
replacing them with a single iron gate and observation tower to control
Palestinian traffic; fires on residential areas of Jenin (where a curfew is
still in place), Wadi Gaza (on the e. border of the Strip). A group of Jewish
settlers attempts to visit Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus but comes under fire fr.
AMB, Islamic Jihad gunmen, who wound 7; the IDF arrests another 8
settlers for illegally entering a Palestinian area without its knowledge.
Jewish settlers also fence off 1,750 dunams of Palestinian land outside
Ramallah, belonging to Turmus ‘Ayya village, fire guns at Palestinians who
attempt to reach their olive groves on the land. (AP, HA, BBC 12/12; VOI, YA
12/12 in WNC 12/16; PR 12/17; PCHR 12/18)
Bush signs the Syria Accountability Act, which recommends
immediate sanctions on Syria. (WT 12/13; SANA, Syrian Arab Television Network
12/13, THWR 12/14 in WNC 1/16; JT, MENA 12/14 in WNC 12/16; al-Dustur
12/14 in WNC 12/17; THRW 12/14 in WNC 1/17; MM 12/16).
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13 DECEMBER
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The IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement around Nablus,
Tulkarm; shuts the only entry point to Qalqilya; opens fire on a taxi in Nablus
that reportedly fails to stop for a checkpoint, killing 1 Palestinian
student en route to al-Najah University in Nablus; shells, fires on residential
areas of Khan Yunis. The IDF reports that Palestinians have fired
more than 20 mortars at Gush Katif since 12/12, causing light damage, no
injuries. (AP 12/13; VOP 12/13 in WNC 12/16; NYT 12/16; PR 12/17; PCHR 12/18; HA
12/20)
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The IDF places a closure on al-Khadir village nr. Bethlehem; erects a
new checkpoint outside Jenin; conducts arrest raids nr. Ramallah, fatally
shooting wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. Riyadh Fakhri Khalifa, wounding and
arresting 2 other wanted men; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. Late in
the evening, the IDF fires on 6 Palestinian laborers attempting to
sneak across the Gaza border into Israel, killing 2, arresting 1. (PRCS 12/14;
VOP 12/14 in WNC 12/16; PCHR 12/16; PR 12/17; PCHR 12/18)
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15 DECEMBER
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Overnight and early this morning, the IDF demolishes 22 Palestinian
homes in Khan Yunis that allegedly provided cover for mortar attacks,
leaving 178 Palestinians (25 families) homeless; another 6 Palestinian homes
housing 40 Palestinians (6 families) are heavily damaged. The IDF also
erects several new roadblocks in the Jenin area; fires on residential areas of
Brazil r.c., Hebron, Nablus. The IDF also removes 1 uninhabited
unauthorized settlement outpost nr. Nablus, scuffling with Jewish
settlers who attempt to block the move. (BBC, PCHR 12/15; NYT 12/16; PR
12/17; PCHR 12/18; MEI 12/19)
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16 DECEMBER
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Israel says it will bar Arafat fr. attending Christmas
celebrations in Bethlehem for the 3d straight yr. The IDF imposes a
curfew on, raids Balata r.c., firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the
troops, killing a nearby Palestinian child, wounding at least 10; sends
troops into Halhul nr. Hebron as school lets out, firing on stone-throwing
Palestinian children, wounding 1, arresting 1, damaging a clearly marked press
vehicle driven by an AP cameraman, who says soldiers deliberately opened
fire on him with live ammunition; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr.
Hebron, in Tulkarm; demolishes a PSF post in Dayr al-Balah. (NYT, PR., WP
12/17; PCHR 12/18; WP 12/22)
After the U.S. capture of Iraqi pres. Saddam Hussein on 12/14,
Israel acknowledges that in 1992 it aborted a plan to assassinate Hussein
after 5 IDF soldiers were killed on 11/5/92 in a training exercise
practicing the operation. (MM 12/16; WT 12/17)
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The IDF fires on residential areas of Rafah, killing a 16-yr.-old
Palestinian; bars an ambulance fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a
hospital, allowing an ailing Palestinian to die; conducts house-to-house
searches in Balata r.c. (PCHR 12/18)
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The IDF makes a major raid into Nablus in a campaign against the
“developing terrorist infrastructure” there, killing 4 Palestinians,
including senior PFLP mbrs. Jibril Awwad and Firas Haneni, Hamas mbr.
Majdi Bahish in what appear to be assassinations, wounding 2. (VOI, VOP, YA
12/18 in WNC 12/20; WP 12/19; PR 12/24; PCHR 12/25)
In a major policy address given to the annual Herzliya Conference on Israeli
strength and security, Sharon threatens that if Palestinians do
not show progress on the road map soon, he would end negotiations and
unilaterally define Israel’s “security lines,” taking large areas of the West
Bank, keeping all of Jerusalem, and removing a number of Jewish settlements.
He vows that such steps “will be fully coordinated with the United States.”
(AP, HA, MM, NYT, REU 12/18; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/19; ITAR-TASS, MA,
al-Quds, YA 12/19, al-Quds 12/20, HA, MA, YA 12/21 in WNC 12/23; NYT,
WP 12/20; AYM 12/21 in WNC 12/24, 12/25; PR 12/24; Forward 12/26; MM 1/6;
MEI 1/9)
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19 DECEMBER
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The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home and 3 greenhouses,
bulldozes 3 dunams of land in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c.,
Beitunia; fires on residential areas of Ramallah. (VOP 12/19 in WNC 12/20; HA,
PRCS 12/20; VOP 12/20 in WNC 12/23; PCHR 12/25)
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The ICJ agrees to give an advisory opinion on the separation wall.
Invites interested parties to submit any relevant information on the wall in
writing by 1/30, in preparation for oral testimony and hearings beginning 2/23.
(ICJ press release 12/19)
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20 DECEMBER
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The IDF continues operations in Balata r.c. for the 5th day, firing on
residential areas and stone-throwing youths (wounding 5), demolishing 1
Palestinian home; conducts arrest raids nr. Bethlehem; fires on residential
areas of Khan Yunis. (PM 12/20; YA 12/21 in WNC
12/23; PR 1/7; PCHR 12/25)
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Palestinians fire a mortar at Gush Katif
settlement in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. |
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The IDF conducts an overnight raid of Nablus, detaining
regional Hamas spokesman Adnan Asfur; continues house-to-house searches in
Balata r.c. for the 6th day, during which a 5-yr.-old Palestinian playing
in his yard is killed by stray gunfire, a 53-yr.-old Palestinian dies fr.
tear gas inhalation during a raid on his home; demolishes 7 Palestinian homes
in Rafah, also firing on residential areas; begins implementing an order to raze
3,000 dunams of land in and around Tarqumiyya nr. Hebron for Jewish settlement
infrastructure; bulldozes 14 dunams of land in Wadi al-Silqa nr. Dayr al-Balah.
A Palestinian teen dies of injuries received on 12/16. 13 reservists
of the IDF elite commando unit Sayaret Matkal sign an open letter to
Sharon refusing to serve in the occupied territories, stating, “We have long
ago crossed the line between fighting a just cause and oppressing another
people.” (HA, REU 12/21; IDF Radio 12/21 in WNC 12/23; HA, MM, NYT, PM, PRCS,
WP, WT 12/22; MM 12/23; PR 12/24; PCHR 12/25)
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Overnight, the IDF conducts arrest raids in Hebron; raids Jenin,
searching homes, firing on residential areas. During the day, the IDF
delays a Palestinian woman in labor at a Nablus checkpoint for over 1 hr.,
causing the death of her twins; imposes a curfew on parts of Hebron;
fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Nablus; fires on Palestinians waiting
to cross the Abu Huli checkpoint nr. Dayr al-Balah, wounding 5; fires on UNRWA
workers repairing waterlines nr. Khan Yunis, wounding 3; conducts arrest raids
nr. Ramallah, bringing to 22 the number of alleged Hamas mbrs. arrested
in the area over the past wk. Shortly after the Dayr al-Balah shooting,
the IDF demolishes 7 Palestinian homes, bulldozes 37 dunams of
land in nearby Wadi al-Silqa; sends tanks, troops into Rafah to search for
smugglers’ tunnels, clashing with residents, leaving 2 Palestinians dead.
A Palestinian dies of injuries received last wk. (PM 12/22; HA,
VOI, VOP 12/22 in WNC 12/24; BBC, HA, NYT, WP, WT 12/23; VOP 12/23 in WNC 12/25;
WP 12/24; PCHR 12/25; HA 1/8)
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In the evening, 2 AMB gunmen ambush,
fatally shoot 2 IDF soldiers nr. Dayr al-Balah before being shot dead; 5
Palestinian bystanders are wounded by the IDF return fire. Palestinian gunmen also ambush 2 Jewish settler vehicles traveling fr.
Kiryat Arba settlement to Cave of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron,
wounding an Israel border patrol officer escorting the settlers, escape
unharmed. |
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The IDF continues operations in Rafah, fatally shooting 8
Palestinians (including 2–3 armed Palestinians), wounding up to 41,
destroying 23 Palestinian homes (leaving 765 Palestinians homeless),
heavily damaging 16 homes and 2 UNRWA centers, occupying several tall
buildings as observation posts, uncovering and demolishing 1 smugglers’ tunnel.
The IDF also intensifies operations in Balata r.c. (ongoing for 8 days),
expands crackdown to all of Nablus, imposing a 24-hr. curfew, demolishing 1
Palestinian home, dividing the city in half with roadblocks.
(AFP, BBC, HA, NYT, PCHR, PRCS 12/23; VOP 12/23 in WNC 12/25; NYT, PR, WP, WT
12/24; PCHR, WT 12/25; PR 1/7)
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Palestinians
fire 2 Qassam rockets at Nisanit settlement, lightly injuring 2 settlers,
damaging a building; 1 at Sederot inside Israel, causing no damage or injuries. |
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The IDF pulls troops out of Nablus but continues operations in Balata
r.c.; demolishes a 3-story apartment building in Rafah; fires on
Palestinians attempting to circumvent roadblocks around Bayt Furik nr. Nablus,
wounding 1; fires on Palestinian teenagers on their way to school in Hebron,
wounding 2; searches buildings in Khan Yunis; bulldozes 50 dunams of land nr.
Abu Huli checkpoint in central Gaza. A Palestinian is killed in Nablus
when his car mysteriously explodes; the IDF alleges he was transporting a
car bomb. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in Rafah on 12/23. (PM
12/24; NYT, PCHR 12/25)
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The IDF assassinates a senior Islamic Jihad military leader, Muklid
Humayid, firing a missile at his car as he drives in Gaza City, also killing
another Islamic Jihad mbr. traveling with him, 3 Palestinian
bystanders, wounding 15. The IDF
also sends troops back into Nablus, imposing a 24-hr. curfew; bars all vehicular
traffic btwn. the occupied territories and Israel; conducts arrest raids in
Jenin, Wadi al-Silqa; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 1
Palestinian home and 3 dunams of land in Dayr al-Balah, 4 dunams of land in
Khan Yunis. (NYT, WP, WT 12/26; HA 12/28; PCHR 1/1; MEI, PCHR 1/9)
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Soon after IDF assassination in Gaza, a PFLP suicide bomber
detonates a device at a bus stop in Tel Aviv, killing 4 IDF soldiers,
1 Israeli civilian, wounding 15 Israelis; the PFLP says the attack is
in retaliation for the IDF assassination of 2 PFLP mbrs. on 12/18. |
26 DECEMBER
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Israel says it will retaliate for the 12/25 PFLP suicide
bombing but will not hit Hamas targets, since Hamas has refrained fr.
attacks inside Israel for several mos.. The IDF
demolishes the bomber’s family home in Bayt Furik within hrs. The IDF
also fires live ammunition at some 200 Israeli, Palestinian, international peace
activists staging a nonviolent protest along the separation wall nr.
Qalqilya, wounding 1 Israeli (who had just finished 3 yrs. IDF service),
1 American; fires tear gas at another group of protesters at the
separation wall west of Ramallah; fires on a funeral process in nr. Khan Yunis
(wounding 5 boys, ages 11–18), residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids
nr. Khan Yunis; bulldozes 8 dunams of land in al-Qarara. A Palestinian dies of injuries received
on 12/25. (WT 12/27; JTA, NYT, PRCS, WP, WT 12/28; CSM 12/29; PCHR, WJW 1/1; MM
1/5; BBC 1/6; JPI 1/8; MEI 1/9)
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In Gaza, 10,000s of
Palestinians attend the funeral for Islamic Jihad’s Humayid,
assassinated by the IDF on 12/25. |
27 DECEMBER
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The IDF sends additional tanks, troops into Nablus, making the
incursion begun on 12/18 (now dubbed Operation Still Water) the largest into the
city in over a yr., firing on stone-throwing youths, killing 1 Palestinian,
wounding 17; closes all roads leading to Tulkarm; erects a number of new
roadblocks at entrances to villages around Tulkarm; tightens existing
checkpoints, erects 3 new ones around Jenin; demolishes a Palestinian home
in Balata r.c.; bulldozes 85 dunams of olive groves east of al-Bureij r.c.;
fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding a Palestinian toddler in her
home; conducts arrest raids in Dayr al-Balah. The IDF also bars 2
bus-loads of international peace activists fr. reaching a 2d day of
separation wall protests (see 12/26) in Qalqilya, where 1,000s of
Palestinians demonstrate, throw stones at IDF troops. Jewish settlers
place mobile homes on the 2 sites of unauthorized settlement outposts
previously removed by the IDF nr. Hebron. (NYT, WP, WT 12/28; PM 12/29; PCHR
1/1)
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The IDF fires tank shells at 3 Palestinians firing mortars
at Gaza’s Netzarim settlement in Gaza, killing them; the mortars cause no
damage or injuries. The IDF also conducts arrest raids nr. Hebron,
Qalqilya; demolishes a Palestinian home in Balata r.c., several
structures at an UNRWA school in Dayr al-Balah. IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen.
Moshe Ya’alon visits the hospitalized Israeli peace activist wounded
by IDF fire on 12/26, says soldiers apparently did not know Israelis were among
the demonstrators, promises a full investigation. Nr. Hebron, 5 Jewish settlers severely beat a
Palestinian. (NYT, PM, WP 12/29; VOI, YA 12/29 in WNC 12/31; PCHR 1/1; MM
1/5; MEI 1/9)
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Some 1,000 Palestinians
in villages around Ramallah hold nonviolent demonstrations against the
separation wall. |
29 DECEMBER
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The IDF pulls troops out of Nablus, lifts the 24-hr. curfew after a
wk. of operations, during which 10s of Palestinians were detained; fires on
residential areas of Khan Yunis, hitting an 8-yr.-old Palestinian in the chest
with live ammunition; conducts arrest raids in and around Hebron, in Rafah.
Israeli authorities demolish 7 Israeli Arab homes, a mosque in
unrecognized villages in the Negev. Jewish settlers
attack Palestinians, Palestinian houses in Hebron. (WT 12/30; PCHR 1/1; MEI 1/9;
HA 1/13)
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Young Fatah mbrs. in Rafah waylay,
essentially kidnap Arafat aide Ramzi Khoury, Gaza governor Muhammad
al-Kidwa at the border crossing as they return fr. Cairo; take them on a
forced 4 hr. tour of the recent IDF destruction in Rafah, protesting the PA’s
failure to provide for 1,000s of homeless Palestinians. |
30 DECEMBER
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The IDF attempts to assassinate senior Hamas military leader Jamal
Jarrah, firing 2 missiles at his car as he drives in Gaza City, wounding 1
of his passengers, 10 bystanders; the attack marks Israel’s 1st targeting of a
Hamas figure since 10/20 and comes soon after the IDF’s 12/26 declaration that
it would not target the group. The IDF fires on farmers nr. Morag
settlement (killing 1 Palestinian), Palestinian workers laying a sewage
channel (seriously wounding 1), Palestinians passing nr. an IDF patrol in
Ramallah (wounding 6), residential areas of Dayr al-Balah and Rafah (injuring
3); bulldozes 25 dunams of land nr. Dayr al-Balah; conducts house-to-house
searches in Nablus, arrest raids in Jenin. A Jewish settler driving nr.
Hebron hits, injures a 5-yr.-old Palestinian boy. (HA 12/30; NYT, PCHR,
WP, WT 12/31; PCHR 1/1)
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31 DECEMBER
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The IDF expels a West Bank Palestinian administrative detainee
to Gaza (see 12/4); fires on stone-throwing youths outside Nablus, killing 1
Palestinian; fires on a group of Israeli, Palestinian, foreign peace
activists staging a nonviolent protest along the separation wall nr.
Budrus, wounding 1 Israeli, 10 Palestinians, and arresting,
deporting 4 foreigners; demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in Khan
Yunis, 2 fences in Hebron; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara. The IDF
also orders 1 Palestinian family isolated btwn. the separation wall
and Green Line nr. Qalqilya to evacuate their home because it “is now located in
Israel”; a human rights group secures permission for the family to stay while
the case is appealed. (HA 12/31; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 1/1; LAW 1/8; PCHR 1/9)
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Abbreviations
IDF
Israeli Defense Forces
PA Palestinian Authority
Chronology Source Abbreviations
ADM (Addameer--Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association, Ramallah)
AFP (Agence France-Presse, Paris)
AIC (Alternative Information Center, Jerusalem)
AP (Associated Press, Internet)
ATL (Anatolia, Ankara)
AYM (al-Ayyam, Ramallah)
BDL (BADIL Resource Center, Bethlehem)
DUS (al-Dustur, Amman)
FAV (Free Arab Voice, Internet)
HA (Ha'Aretz, Tel Aviv)
HJ (al-Hayat al-Jadida, Ramallah)
HP (Hear Palestine, Washington)
HUR (Hurriyet, Istanbul)
IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency, Tehran)
IsRN (Israel Radio News, Internet)
JP (Jerusalem Post International Edition, Jerusalem)
JT (Jordan Times, Amman)
LAW (Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment, Jerusalem)
MA (Ma'ariv, Tel Aviv)
MEI (Middle East International, London)
MENA (Middle East News Agency, Cairo)
MENL (Middle East Newsline, Internet)
MEZ (al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, Jabaliyya)
MM (Mideast Mirror, London)
NYT (New York Times, New York)
PCHR (Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Gaza)
PR (Palestine Report, Jerusalem)
QA (al-Quds al-Arabi, London)
REU (Reuters, Internet)
RL (Radio Lebanon, Beirut)
RMC (Radio Monte Carlo, Paris)
SA (al-Sharq al-Awsat, London)
UPI (United Press International, Internet)
WJW (Washington Jewish Week, Rockville, MD)
WNC (World News Connection [Internet], Washington)
WP (Washington Post, Washington)
WT (Washington Times, Washington)
XIN (Xinhua+nNew China News Agency, Beijing)
YA (Yedi'ot Aharonot, Tel Aviv)
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