The IDF issues confiscation orders for 150 d. of Palestinian land n. of Ariel settlement for construction of the separation wall. Israel says it will not hand over security control of West Bank cities until the mortar fire ceases, demands the PA security forces in Gaza step up their efforts to maintain quiet. A Jewish settler is injured when a Palestinian throws a Molotov cocktail at his car nr. Migdalim s. of Nablus and e. of Salfit. (JP 2/1; HA, NYT, OCHA 2/2; PCHR 2/3)

Palestinians fire mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries.

The IDF reopens the Rafah crossing to Palestinians traveling to Egypt for the 1st time since 12/12; conducts arrest raids in Nablus. PA police say they have discovered and destroyed a smugglers’ tunnel btwn. Gaza and Egypt, filling it will sand and water. The IDF fires tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international demonstrators protesting construction of a settler bypass road nr. Hebron; 1 soldier beats a Canadian protester. (PR 2/2; NYT, PCHR 2/3; PCHR 2/10)

The IDF arrests a 16-yr.-old Palestinian at Hawara checkpoint nr. Nablus for carrying a bag with "an apparent explosive belt, an improvised weapon, and 20 bullets"; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Ithna, al-Mawasi, Nablus; sends troops into al-Fara'a r.c. to search local Palestinians on the street, fires on Palestinian youths who throw stones at troops; issues military orders confiscating at least 130 d. of agricultural land s. of Nablus to establish a buffer zone around Emmanuel settlement; issues a military order confiscating 25 d. of Azariyya land for separation wall construction. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in IDF shelling of Bayt Lahiya on 1/4/05. (IMEMC 2/3; HA, WP 2/4; NYT 2/6; PCHR 2/10; OCHA 2/23)

Inside Israel, some 1,000 Israeli border police backed by 16 bulldozers level 4,000 d. of bedouin land in the al-Araqib area of the Negev, seal off all roads leading to the area to prevent the bedouin owners fr. returning. The Israel Lands Dept. says the goal of the operation is to "salvage the state's lands from the Arab bedouins who seized and exploited them." (JAZ 2/4)

A DFLP mbr. throws grenades at an IDF vehicle in s. Gaza, slightly wounding 2 soldiers; soldiers shoot, kill the assailant. 2 AMB mbrs. fire on an IDF jeep nr. Hebron, wounding 4 IDF soldiers, escaping.

The IDF fatally shoots 2 unarmed Palestinians apparently attempting to sneak into Israel nr. Bayt Hanun to find work; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron; fires tear gas at Palestinians conducting a peaceful protest against the separation wall nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Ma'ale Gilboa in the n. Jordan Valley fence off 400 d. of Palestinian land n. of Bardala village e. of Jenin, begin grazing cows. A Jewish settler seriously injures a Palestinian in a hit-and-run incident nr. Qalqilya. (IMEMC 2/6; PCHR 2/10)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Rafah. Jewish settlers accompanied by IDF soldiers seize up to 1,000 d. of Palestinian agricultural land e. of Sa'ir nr. Hebron, set up tents, plant olive trees. (NYT 2/5; HA 2/6; HJ 2/8 in WNC 2/9; PCHR 2/10)

Palestinian security forces detain 3 DFLP central comm. mbrs. in connection with the 2/3 attack that wounded 2 IDF soldiers in Gaza, marking the security forces' 1st arrest of Palestinians since Abbas took office; holds the DFLP mbrs. for 5 hrs. questioning, releases all but 1; the DFLP denounces the action, saying the PA was caving into pressure fr. Israel.

The IDF shells the cemetery area nr. Khan Yunis; fires at residential areas of Dura, hits and injures a 15-yr.-old Palestinian boy with a military jeep. (VOI, VOP 2/6 in WNC 2/7; OCHA 2/9; PCHR 2/10)

PA security forces destroy a smugglers' tunnel in Rafah.

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm and nr. Jenin, Jerusalem, Ramallah. An IDF official says that in the last few days, the PA security forces have taken positive steps to stop rocket and mortar launches from Gaza; confirms they have destroyed 2 smugglers' tunnels linking Rafah and Egypt. (VOI 2/7; NYT 2/8; JP 2/8 in WNC 2/9; PCHR 2/10)

In response to a petition filed with the Israeli High Court in 3/04, the Israel Lands Administration (ILA) admits to aerially spraying bedouin agricultural land in the Negev with chemical agents (some of them not approved by the Agriculture Min. for aerial use), with the aim of effectively and cost-efficiently decreasing Arab "encroachment" on "huge swaths of land belonging to the state," saying that further spraying operations are needed. From 2002 through 2004, the ILA sprayed and destroyed 1,000s of dunams of bedouin agricultural land. (Adalah press release 2/05)

Palestinians fire a mortar at Neve Dekalim, fire on an IDF vehicle patrolling the Gush Katif security fence, causing no damage or injuries.

The IDF reopens Qarni commercial crossing after a 4-wk. closure, allowing only about one-third of normal traffic through, limiting imports to basic goods and exports to flowers, tomatoes; raids, searches a secondary school in al-Khadir; conducts arrest raids in al-Mawasi; confiscates a strip of land 2 d. long and 350 m. wide to create a corridor linking Hebron's Tal Rumayda settlement with Shuhada Street. (HJ, VOI, YA 2/8 in WNC 2/9; WT 2/9; PCHR 2/10; PR 2/16)

Abbas, Sharon hold their 1st talks in Sharm al-Shaykh, then each meets separately with Mubarak, King Abdallah of Jordan. Afterward, Abbas announces that "Palestinian will stop all acts of violence against all Israelis everywhere," Sharon vows to "cease all military activity against all Palestinians anywhere," including assassinations, to the extent that the Palestinians halt violence. Sharon announces a package of gestures to be implemented if quiet is maintained, including Israel's turnover of security control for 5 West Bank cities, a prisoner release, easing restriction on Palestinian movement. (BBC, HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 2/8; AFP, ATL, AYM, HJ, ITAR-TASS, JAZ, MENA, QA, VOI, VOP 2/8, XIN 2/9 in WNC 2/9; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/9; al-Quds 2/12 in WNC 2/13; PR 2/16; MEI 2/18)

Hamas, Islamic Jihad say that they will not officially sign onto the cease-fire, but will not abrogate it. Late in the evening, after the Sharm al-Shaykh summit, AMB gunmen fire on a Jewish settler vehicle in the West Bank, throw Molotov cocktails at IDF jeeps that arrive on the scene, causing no injuries. PA security forces find, seal 2 smugglers' tunnels in Rafah. The NIHC protests the PA security forces' arrest of 3 DFLP central comm. mbrs. on 2/5; demands the immediate release of Issam Abu Duqqah, who is still in custody.

The IDF fires on 4 Palestinians walking nr. Gush Katif settlement, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 3; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. (BBC, NYT, PCHR, WT 2/10; WP 2/11; PCHR 2/17)

A Hamas mbr. dies in a mysterious explosion in Gaza; PA officials say a bomb he was handling exploded, Hamas calls it an assassination.

The IDF fires on a Palestinian car that attempts to bypass a roadblock, causing the car to crash, killing the Palestinian driver; issues military orders confiscating 150 d. of Bayt Hanina land, 50 d. of Shu`fat land for construction of the separation wall around Jerusalem. (BBC, MM, NYT, WT 2/10; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/11; AP 2/14; PCHR 2/17; MEI 2/18)

In response to the 2 Palestinian deaths on 2/9, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the PRCs fire 35 mortars and 18 rockets at Gush Katif, Morag, Neve Dekalim settlements, causing minor damage to 1 house and no injuries, threatening the Israeli-Palestinian truce. Palestinian gunmen aligned with a senior Fatah official break into a PA prison in central Gaza, fatally shoot 3 Palestinians in retaliation for the slaying of the official's brother.

The IDF expels Palestinian families fr. 2 Palestinian homes in Hebron allegedly to protect Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba who pass by the area. (PCHR 2/17)

In the Galilee village of Mughar, Druze residents demonstrate, loot Christian-owned stores, destroy several cars; Israeli police do not intervene. (PR 2/16)

The IDF raids, searches a PA security office in Salfit; detains 60 officers for ID checks, claiming to look for wanted men; makes no arrests. A Jewish settler fr. Keddumim beats, chases away 2 Palestinian women (ages 45, 50) fr. a bus stop outside Nablus nr. the settlement. (PCHR 2/17)

In Mughar in the Galilee, Christians hold a protest against the Israeli police for failing to intervene in the 2/11 riots. Christians clash with Druze, leaving 10 people injured. (PR 2/16)

The IDF confiscates 301 d. of land on both sides of the separation wall w. of Jenin. Late in the evening, Jewish settlers fr. Neve Dekalim fire percussion grenades at residential areas of Khan Yunis. (PR 2/16; PCHR 2/17)

PA security services summon several Hamas mbrs. for questioning in various locations. Hamas complains that mbrs. are harshly, though not violently, treated.

The IDF beats, fatally shoots a 16-yr.-old Palestinian allegedly wielding a knife in Hebron (Palestinian witnesses deny he was armed); conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah, Qalqilya, and in Dura, Nablus, Yatta; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina; orders 3 Palestinian families to leave their Yatta homes and property or be expelled; begins construction of a new segment of the separation wall in Hazma, Anata villages northeast of Jerusalem. A Jewish settler fr. Keddumim verbally abuses, attempts to attack several Palestinians waiting to be allowed to cross an IDF gate into nearby Kafr Qadim; Palestinians fend him off, the IDF does not intervene. (WP 2/15; NYT, OCHA, PR 2/16; PCHR, PM 2/17)

Unidentified gunmen fire on the Gaza City home of Fatah Revolutionary Council mbr. Sakhr Bseiso, causing damage but no injuries; Bseiso is head of the Fatah comm. charged with investigating corruption.

Fmr. Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri is assassinated in a major car bombing in Beirut; 7 bodyguards, 6 passers-by are also killed, more than 100 are wounded (3 of whom later die). A previously unknown group called Victory and Jihad in Greater Syria claims responsibility. (BBC, al-Hayat, JAZ, MM 2/14; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/15; Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, al-Quds, VOI, XIN 2/15, JAZ, QA 2/16, AFP, Le Monde 2/17 in WNC 2/18; MEI 2/18)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed AMB mbrs. hiding in a vacant house nr. Brakha settlement outside Nablus, alleging they were plotting an attack that had been financed by Hizballah; the AMB considers the shooting an assassination that violates the cease-fire. A Jewish settler driving nr. Hebron fires on 2 Palestinian boys throwing stones at vehicles on the settler-only bypass, killing a 15-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding a 14-yr.-old; the IDF also conducts arrest raids nr Hebron (capturing 1 tanzim mbr.) and Ramallah (capturing 8 Hamas mbrs.); delays passage to a Palestinian woman in labor through the Qalandia checkpoint to reach a hospital, allowing her to cross only after she gives birth at the checkpoint; confiscates 1.3 d. of land to expand the Jewish enclave in Hebron. (HA 2/15; VOI, VOP 2/15, VOI 2/16 in WNC 2/18; NYT, PM, PR, WT 2/16; PCHR 2/17)

Palestinians fire 2 mortars at Neve Dekalim, 1 mortar at an IDF base in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. For the 2d time in 48 hrs., unidentified gunmen fire on the Gaza City home of Fatah Revolutionary Council mbr. Sakhr Bseiso, causing damage but no injuries.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya. A Jewish settler driving in the n. Jordan Valley hits, seriously injures an 8-yr.-old Palestinian. Jewish settlers fr. Ma'on attack, beat several international peace activists escorting Palestinian farmers, shepherds to their land nearby. (NYT, PCHR, WT 2/17; VOI 2/17 in WNC 2/18; PCHR 2/24)

Palestinians fire 2 mortars at Morag settlement in s. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries.

Citing the relative calm since Palestinian factions and Israel declared an unofficial 1-mo. truce on 1/25, the IDF says it will stop "punitive" house demolitions against the families of Palestinian suicide bombers and gunmen, though it defends its legal right to reinstate them "if an extreme change in circumstances takes place"; will continue demolitions to clear buffer zones for the IDF and Jewish settlers (85% of home demolitions overall). (AP, BBC 2/17; BBC, NYT, WP 2/18; PCHR 2/24)

The IDF allows 16 West Bank Palestinians deported to Gaza to return to their homes; increases the number of Palestinian workers permitted into Israel by one-third to 1,500; shoots, critically wounds a 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy nr. Gaza's Netzarim settlement. A Jewish settler fr. Negohot attacks a Palestinian shepherd near the settlement; IDF troops intervene, arrest the settler. (VOI, VOP 2/18 in WNC 2/19; JP 2/20)

The IDF reportedly has begun removing 100s of bedouin families fr. shanty towns around its Negev air base with the aim of creating a 5,000-meter buffer zone out of concern that bedouin could acquire anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down Israeli air force planes. 10,000s of bedouin live in 10s of unrecognized villages in the area of the air base, some shanties slated for removal have stood for 22 yrs. (JP 2/18 in WNC 2/19)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Rafah; sends troops into al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem, forces 4 shops to close; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Silwad. A Palestinian dies fr. injuries received on 11/19/04 in Nablus. (PR 2/23; PCHR 2/24)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians in Rafah whom it suspected of smuggling arms; opens the Rafah crossing to Palestinians aged 16–35; fires, shells on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar refugee camp (r.c.), Balata r.c., al-Mawasi, Nablus; begins construction of a new separation wall segment e. of Jerusalem nr. al-Ram. 5 armed Jewish settlers fr. Mitzpe Lakhish nr. Hebron severely beat a 17-yr.-old Palestinian grazing animals on his family property nearby. 10s of Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba rampage through Palestinian areas of Hebron, throwing stones at houses, beating 8 Palestinians. In Rafah, 1 PA security officer is killed, 1 is wounded trying to demolish a smugglers' tunnel. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in Nablus on 10/27/04. (IMEMC, JP, MENA, VOP 2/20; HA, NYT 2/21; PR 2/23; PCHR 2/24; MM 2/25)

Israel releases 500 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom must sign pledges that they "opposed terror" and will not undertake "any activity against the State of Israel"; the IDF bars journalists fr. filming prisoners released at Tarqumiyya crossing nr. Hebron, detaining 3 journalists for 1 hr. The IDF imposes a curfew, closure on Nahalin village after local Palestinian youths throw stones at Beitar Ilit settlement, lightly injuring a 2-yr.-old child; raids Nablus to arrest a senior Hamas mbr. who allegedly was plotting a car bombing against an IDF target; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron; fires on Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Bil`in outside Ramallah, wounding 10. Jewish settlers place 5 mobile homes on Palestinian land in al-Rashayda nr. Bethlehem, establishing an unauthorized outpost. (HA, MM 2/211; NYT, WP, WT 2/22; NYT, PR 2/23; PCHR 2/24; MEI 3/4)

The IDF demolishes a 6-story residential building on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Yatta nr. Hebron. (OCHA 2/23; PCHR 2/24)

In Geneva, the World Council of Churches, the main global body of non-Catholic Christians, urges all 342 mbr. churches to divest fr. companies that profit fr. Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. (HA 2/22; AP, PR 2/23)

The IDF fires on Palestinians waiting to cross a checkpoint into Awarta nr. Nablus, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Ras nr. Tulkarm. (VOP 2/23; PCHR 2/24; MM 2/25; PCHR 3/3)

PA security forces find, destroy 2 smugglers' tunnels on the Rafah border.

The IDF fires on a group of Palestinians who attempt to sneak into Israel nr. Gaza's Sufa crossing to find work, killing 1 Palestinian, detaining 2; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus. A Jewish settler seriously injures a 12-yr.-old Palestinian, a 13-yr.-old Palestinian in a hit-and-run nr. Qalqilya; an Israeli ambulance refuses to evacuate the children to an Israeli hospital, taking them to Nablus instead. Jewish settlers fr. Karme Tzur nr. Hebron seize 25 d. of neighboring Palestinian land to expand their settlement. Some 20 Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba seize 15 dunams (d.; 4 dunams = 1 acre) of Palestinian land to build a settler-only road linking the settlement to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, scuffle with Palestinian residents, injuring 3. A Palestinian bystander dies of injuries received during the IDF's 1/26 assassination of a Hamas mbr. in Qalqilya. (VOP 2/25; PCHR 3/3)

After the Palestinian Council (PC) gives its approval (54–12, with 4 abstentions, 14 not attending), PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas swears in PM Ahmad Qurai`'s new cabinet. Abbas says that the cabinet's first main goals will be providing security, reform, holding legislative elections. (AFP, AP, JAZ, MM, PSCT, REU, VOI, VOP 2/24; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/25; HA, HJ, VOP 2/28; PR 3/2; MEI 3/4)

The IDF places a curfew on Jericho. Palestinians report that the IDF has begun registering the names of all Palestinians traveling to and fr. Nablus through IDF checkpoints. (BBC, JAZ, VOP 2/25, AFP, HA, MA, NYT, PRCS, WP, WT 2/26; al-Arabiyya TV 2/26 in WNC 3/28; HA, JAZ, WP, VOI 2/27; HA, MM 2/28; MM 3/1; OCHA, PR 3/2; PCHR 3/3; MEI 3/4; JPI 3/11)

A Palestinian suicide bomber fr. Dayr al-Ghusun nr. Tulkarm detonates a device outside a Tel Aviv disco, killing 4 Israelis, wounding 23. Israel and the PA immediately blame Hizballah, which denies involvement. Abbas denounces the attack by "terrorists" who want to "sabotage this process," vows to track down those responsible. Palestinian factions deny responsibility, saying they will continue to abide by an unofficial cease-fire. Palestinians fire 2 mortars at Neve Dekalim settlement in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries.

The IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement around Hebron; fires on 3 Palestinians attempting to sneak into Israel fr. Gaza to find work, killing 1 Palestinian, detaining 2; severely beats 2 Palestinians at a checkpoint at the entrance to al-Til nr. Nablus; places a curfew on Dayr al-Ghusun, hometown of the 2/25 suicide bomber, arrests the bomber's 2 brothers, the village imam; fires on residential areas of Tulkarm town, r.c., and neighboring villages. An IDF border policeman shoots, wounds a Palestinian woman in Hebron after she allegedly tries to stab him during a security check. Some 15 Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, escorted by IDF soldiers, severely beat a Palestinian farmer working his land outside Hebron; soldiers arrest the Palestinian, interrogate him before releasing him. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 2/26/04. (HA, JAZ, PRCS, VOI, VOP 2/26; IDF Radio, JAZ, NYT, PRCS, WP 2/27; MM 2/28; MM, PCHR 3/3; MEI 3/4)

A Damascus-based Islamic Jihad cell claims responsibility for the 2/25 Tel Aviv bombing, noting the end of the unofficial 1-mo. truce on 2/25 and stating that Israel had to be punished for cease-fire violations it committed; Islamic Jihad's leadership in Gaza, however, denies responsibility, saying the group would continue to abide by an unofficial cease-fire. Israel shifts blame to Syria, which denies any responsibility, saying Islamic Jihad offices in Damascus have been closed for some time. Meanwhile, the PA security forces arrest 2 suspects in Gaza in connection with bombing; Israeli security forces arrest at least 5 suspects in Israel. PA security forces report that they have uncovered, sealed 12 smugglers' tunnels in Rafah since deploying along the Gaza border.

The IDF steps up military actions in response to the 2/25 Tel Aviv bombing, placing curfews on Alar, Saida villages nr. Tulkarm; conducts overnight arrest raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm; conducts late night arrest raids, house searches in al-Bireh, nr. Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Gil'ad uproot 25 olive trees belonging to Palestinians fr. nearby Jinsafut. (VOP 2/27; WT 2/28; OCHA 3/2; PCHR 3/3)

The Israel on Campus Coalition, an umbrella group of some 26 Jewish organizations across the U.S., launches a free hotline for students who "feel intimidated because of their pro-Israel views." The coalition will track complaints across the country and "offer support teams of faculty, students, and Jewish professionals for complainants who want further aid." (WJW 2/24)

The PA arrests 2 Palestinians in connection with the 2/25 Tel Aviv bombing.

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in `Azun nr. Qalqilya. The IDF also imposes a curfew on, conducts searches in the villages of `Azmut, Dayr al-Hatab, Salim nr. Nablus. An Israeli wounded in the 2/25 Tel Aviv bombing dies of her injuries. (HA, VOI 2/28; OCHA 3/2; PCHR 3/3)

Palestinian gunmen fire on an Israeli security vehicle patrolling the perimeter of Menorah settlement nr. Modi'in, wounding 2 settler security guards. Several armed Palestinians break into a Jenin prison, free a relative jailed for robbery.