Chronology of Events in Israel and Palestine - IEMed
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Chronologies
Appendices
Chronology of Events
in Israel and Palestine
Chronology of Events
2017 begins with the announcement scenario, the luke-warm attempt by the that makes it compulsory for them to do
in January by the recently elected US US Administration to try to resume the military service – from which, until re-
President Donald Trump to move the peace process between Israel and Pal- cently, they were exempt – and the
US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to estine offers no significant progress. court investigations linking the Prime
Jerusalem. An announcement that, 11 The rise in regional and international Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife
months later, in December, is made tensions caused by the new US admin- Sara and other Likud members to cas-
final together with Washington’s rec- istration’s impulsive politics also con- es of corruption or the government
ognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, tributes to endangering the reconcilia- crisis caused by the replacement of the
despite warnings from practically the tion process between Fatah and Hamas Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA)
entire international community. In the that had been making promising pro- with the Israel Broadcasting Corpora-
diplomatic sphere, the decision leads gress throughout the year in the context tion (IBC), among other developments.
the Organization of Islamic Coopera- of the electricity supply crisis and un-
tion to recognize Jerusalem as the paid civil servant salaries in the Gaza
capital of a Palestinian state and caus- Strip. This process is sparked by the January 2017
es friction in the United Nations with new political road map adopted by Ha-
the US veto of Egypt’s draft resolution mas in May, in a swerve towards more Israel
398
submitted to the Security Council to moderate and realistic stances, thereby
withdraw the recognition, followed by breaking with the trajectory marked by • On 6 January Israel announces cuts
the United Nations General Assembly’s the founding charter of the Shiite move- of six million dollars in funds earmarked
vote in favour of the resolution pushed ment in 1988, despite February’s elec- for the United Nations, in protest against
forward by Turkey and Yemen to reaf- tion of Yahya Sinwar as the new leader the Security Council’s approval, on 23
firm that Jerusalem’s future must be of the Islamic Resistance Movement. December 2016, thanks to the US ab-
resolved through negotiations between The reconciliation process between stention, of a resolution condemning the
the parties. On the street, Donald Palestinian factions continues to be Israeli settlements in Palestinian terri-
Trump’s decision triggers protests and considered as a critical threat to Israel’s tory. This is one of the last measures
new episodes of violence in Gaza and existence by the Israeli government, taken by the Barack Obama presidency,
the West Bank at the end of the year, who, meanwhile, approves the new despite pressure from his successor,
which come after the surge in violence Amichai/Emek Shilo settlement in the the Republican Donald Trump and Is-
mid-year following Israel’s decision to middle of the West Bank – to provide rael.
install security checks and limit access homes for the evacuees from Amona • On 22 January Israel approves the
to the Noble Sanctuary / Temple Mount. – and new extensions to existing set- construction of 560 new homes in East
The drastic and accelerated change in tlements in East Jerusalem, Ariel, Givat Jerusalem.
direction of US policy with respect to Zeev and Beit El. With regard to West • On 24 January the Defence Minister
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the Israeli-Palestinian conflict affects Bank settlements, there is also a major Avigdor Lieberman reports the approv-
the region’s fragile stability – also development with February’s approval al of 2,500 more homes in the West
marked by a rise in tensions between by the Knesset (Parliament) of the Bank settlements of Ariel (900 units)
Syria and Israel in the context of the Regularization Bill, which will allow the and Givat Zeev (652 units), erected
Syrian conflict – and begins to affect retrospective legalisation of some right on the Green Line, and in Beit El
the system of the United Nations itself, 4,000 homes in the C Area of the Oslo (100 units), a settlement to which the
with announcements from the US and Accord, but which in August is provi- US President Donald Trump, his new
Israel, during the crisis over Jerusa- sionally suspended by Israel’s Su- ambassador to Israel David Friedman,
lem’s status, of their readiness to leave preme Court. As regards Israel’s home and his son-in-law and advisor Jared
UNESCO, due to its “anti-Israel bias” policy, 2017 is also marked by the op- Kushner, give significant sums of money
and for having approved Palestine’s position of the ultra-orthodox Jews, on a yearly basis, according to the
membership in 2011. In view of this known as haredim, to the legal reform Haaretz newspaper.Palestine February 2017 tions, Hamas appoints Yahya Sinwar as
Appendices
leader of the movement to replace Ismail
• On 8 January protests intensify in the Israel Haniyeh. Sinwar founded the Majd sec-
Gaza Strip against the Hamas govern- tion, the intelligence unit of Ezzedeen
ment over the frequent cuts in the pow- • On 1 February Israeli forces begin the al-Qassam, Hamas’ armed militia, spent
er supply which in recent months have eviction of the Amona settlement. Ten 22 years in prison in Israel after being
gone on throughout most of the day. The Israeli police officers are injured in clash- sentenced to life imprisonment for his
in Israel and Palestine
deficient electricity supply is a constant es with settlers attempting to prevent the involvement in various attacks and the
issue, especially since the only power evacuation ordered by the Israeli Su- murder of Palestinians accused of col-
plant in the strip was forced to shut preme Court, which has ruled that the laborating with Israel.
down in July 2015 for failing to pay homes were illegally constructed in Pal- • On 26 February, after two days of
taxes to the Palestinian National Author- estine territory. meetings in Istanbul, the Palestinians
ity (PNA). • On 3 February the new Trump admin- Abroad Conference establishes a new
• On 17 January the Fatah-led PNA istration in the US issues a statement political entity to represent the Palestin-
agrees on the formation of a national regarding Israel’s decision in January to ian diaspora and defend their rights.
unity government with Hamas, following build new settlements and expand exist-
three days of Russian-brokered nego- ing ones. The statement asserts that Conflicts between the Parties
tiations in Moscow. Both organizations while the existence of settlements need
are thereby to form a new National not be an impediment to peace, the new • On 21 February, in a unprecedented
Council that will include Palestinians in constructions or the expansion of already veredict, a military court in Tel Aviv sen-
exile and will organize new elections, the existing ones beyond their current tences sergeant Elor Azaria to 18 months
first in which Fatah and Hamas would boundaries could be. in prison. for shooting a Palestinian as-
participate since 2006. It is worth noting • On 6 February the Knesset (Parlia- sailant in the head and killing him, while
that the agreement also includes Is- ment) approves the controversial Regu- he was lying injured on the floor, on 24
lamic Jihad. larization Bill with 60 votes in favour and March 2016 in Hebron.
52 against, in connection with the set-
Peace Negotiations tlements in occupied Palestinian terri-
tory in the West Bank. The text, drafted March 2017
• On 15 January Paris hosts an inter- with the support of the ultra-Orthodox
399
national conference under the auspices party and member of the government, Israel
of the French government to try to re- HaBayit HaYehudi (The Jewish Home) of
launch the Arab-Israeli peace process, Naftali Bennett, will enable the retroac- • On 17 March the Syrian Armed Forc-
with a view to reaching a definitive solu- tive legalisation of some 4,000 homes in es confirm they have shot down an Is-
tion based on the coexistence of both settlements in Area C of the Oslo Ac- raeli military jet, coinciding with an attack
states. With 70 countries in attendance cord, which is entirely under Israeli con- launched by the Israeli Air Force against
– although without the participation of trol. Under the new bill the properties can targets in Syrian territory, in what would
either Israel or the PNA –, the meeting then be declared as state-owned in ex- be the most serious incident between
urges the US’s impending Trump ad- change for economic compensation for both countries since the beginning of the
ministration not to abandon the broad the Palestinian owners. war in Syria. The same day, the Russian
consensus from the international com- • On 9 February several rockets Foreign Minister summons the Israeli
munity concerning the conflict and launched from the Egyptian Sinai Penin- ambassador in Moscow Gary Koren over
criticizes the intentions of the President- sula towards the city of Eilat are inter- the attacks launched by the Israeli Air
elect Donald Trump to move the US cepted by the Iron Dome defence sys- Force against Syrian army targets close
embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jeru- tem. This attack coincides with another to the town of Palmyra.
salem. similar attack carried out from Syria • On 19 March the Prime Minister Ben-
against the Golan Heights, occupied by jamin Netanyahu threatens to call early
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Conflicts between the Parties Israel since 1967, in response to an at- legislative elections if the Israel Broad-
tack launched against a position close to casting Corporation (IBC), the new pub-
• On 18 January a Palestinian is shot the Syrian army. lic television broadcaster to replace the
dead while attempting to drive into Is- • On 28 February the Israeli police be- old Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA)
raeli police during a demonstration fol- gins evicting the new buildings of the begins broadcasting on 30 April, in a
lowing clashes over the demolition of Ofra settlement, illegally constructed on crisis with the Finance Minister Moshe
illegally constructed homes in the private Palestinian land in the West Bank. Kahlon who accuses him of being reluc-
Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran, in tant to the existence of the new public
Negev. In reaction to the demolition Palestine body, over which the government would
works, protests break out led by Pal- have less control. Netanyahu’s political
estinian citizens in various places in • On 13 February after a lengthy and opponents accuse him of using the com-
Israel. complex process of internal consulta- plaints aimed at the body by employeesover the numerous dismissals arising to a lesser extent, with Hamas and the forms part of a series of initiatives
Appendices
from the transition from IBA to IBC, as Popular Front for the Liberation of Pales- adopted by the PNA to force Hamas to
an excuse to deny approval for the new tine (PFLP) – begin a hunger strike in assume full responsibility for the terri-
television station. several Israeli prisons led by the former tory it governs or surrender control to
• On 31 March the Israeli government Fatah militia leader Marwan Barghouti, Ramallah, in light of Hamas’ refusal to
approves the creation of a new settle- following the failed negotiations with the buy fuel from the PNA for the enclave’s
ment in Amichai, also known as Emek Israeli Prison Service (IPS) over the res- only power plant.
in Israel and Palestine
Shilo, to accommodate 42 Jewish fami- toration of rights withdrawn in recent
lies evacuated in early February from the years and the end of the preventive deten-
illegal enclave of Amona. This is the first tion and isolation systems. The measure May 2017
settlement to be newly built in the West is interpreted in Israel and certain sectors
Bank in the last 25 years. of Fatah as a demonstration of Bargh- Israel
outi’s strength compared with the leader-
Palestine ship at the heart of the Palestine Libera- • On 22 May roughly 200 Palestinians
tion Organization (PLO) and the PNA. On imprisoned in Israel join the hunger
• On 16 March the Hamas members of 27 April a general strike is staged in the strike declared by another 1,300 prison-
the Palestinian Legislative Council in Palestinian territories in solidarity with the ers after the Israel Prison Service re-
Gaza announce the formation of a com- ongoing prisoner protest. fuses to negotiate over the prisoners’
mittee to manage the Strip’s government • On 27 April the Israeli Air Force at- demands regarding their living condi-
institutions, led by Abdel Salam Siam, the tacks an arms depot allegedly operated tions, the practice of torture, abuse and
former secretary general of the Hamas by Hezbollah close to the Damascus medical negligence and the abolition of
Council of Ministers in Gaza, and com- airport. the so-called administrative detention.
prising seven members, each of whom • On 23 May a missile fired from the
is appointed to oversee a ministry of the Palestine Sinai Peninsula in Egypt lands in Is-
Palestinian unity government. raeli territory after exploding in the air.
• On 19 March a Hamas military court • On 6 April, in an unexpected and • On 27 May thousands of people
hands down death sentences to two unprecedented move, the Russian For- demonstrate in Tel Aviv to demand a
drug traffickers from the Gaza Strip. eign Minister says he sees West Jeru- two-state solution to the Israeli-Pales-
• On 27 March the spokesman for the salem as the future capital of Israel and tinian conflict.
400
Interior Ministry of Gaza Iyad al-Bazem East Jerusalem as the capital of the • On 27 May the Palestinian prisoners
announces the closure of the border be- Palestinian State. end their hunger strike after reaching an
tween Gaza and Israel “until further no- • On 8 April thousands of Palestinian agreement with the government of Is-
tice,” while investigations are carried out civil servants take to the streets of Gaza rael, the Palestinian Authority and the
into the murder, on 24 March in the Tel to protest against the pay cuts approved Red Cross over visiting rights, accord-
al-Hawa neighbourhood, of Mazen Fuqa- by the PNA and demanding the resigna- ing to which, from now on, each pris-
ha, the commander of Hamas’ armed tion of the Palestinian Prime Minister oner can receive a family visit twice a
wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades. Rami Hamdallah and the Finance Min- month instead of once.
ister Shukri Bishara. On 11 April Ham- • On 31 May the Israeli Finance Min-
Conflicts between the Parties dallah, assures that the pay cut for civil ister Moshe Kahlon meets with the Pal-
servants in the Gaza Strip – which does estinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah
• On 13 March a Palestinian citizen is not affect civil servants in the West in an unusual visit aimed at presenting
shot dead in East Jerusalem by Israeli Bank – is a “temporary” measure and Hamdallah with a series of proposals,
soldiers after he stabbed and wounded that the cuts will be reimbursed. Ham- which include the 24-hour opening of
two soldiers. dallah attributes the measure to the the Allenby Bridge border crossing, an
• On 23 March the Israel Defence economic crisis exacerbated by the increase in the number of building per-
Forces shoot down a Palestinian leaving blockade Israel continues to impose on mits for Palestinians living in Area C of
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three others wounded during clashes in the Strip and Hamas’ unwavering con- the West Bank and greater develop-
Beit El, the West Bank, in which the Pal- trol over the enclave, which vetoes stra- ment in the industrial areas close to the
estinians had used molotov cocktails tegic projects of the Palestinian govern- West Bank cities of Jenin and Hebron.
against the Israeli soldiers. ment, refuses to redistribute taxes
among the population or surrender a Palestine
proportional part to the PNA.
April 2017 • On 27 April the PNA notifies the Is- • On 1 May Hamas announces its new
raeli government that it will stopping political roadmap, which amends the
Israel paying for the electricity that Israel sup- 1988 founding charter and which con-
plies the Gaza Strip. The decision, templates “more moderate” positions
• On 17 April some 1,100 Palestinian which endangers the precarious econ- and the implicit recognition of an Is-
prisoners – linked mostly with Fatah and, omy and medical services in the Strip, raeli state, while at the same time con-sidering the establishment of an inde- since 17 April ends with multiple epi- tary General hold a meeting in Beirut,
Appendices
pendent and sovereign Palestinian sodes of unrest between Palestinian the latest in a series of meetings in an
state, with its capital in Jerusalem and demonstrators and Israeli security forc- effort to improve relations for the last
the 1967 borders. The organization es in the West Bank – especially in two months, which, since 2012, have
thereby renounces its historical position Nablus – and the border with the Gaza been especially cold.
which called for a Palestinian state Strip. • On 15 June at least nine Palestinian
“from Jordan to the Mediterranean.” Ha- • On 25 May a Palestinian dies two websites based outside of the West
in Israel and Palestine
mas, also breaks its historical ties with days after being shot down after he Bank are blocked inside the territory by
the Muslim Brotherhood and continues stabbed a Border Police officer in Net- order of the PNA’s public prosecutor.
to restructure its leadership with the ap- anya. The blocked pages include the Palestin-
pointment of the former Hamas leader ian Information Center, the Hamas-
Ismail Haniyeh, as director of the politi- linked Shehab news agency and the
cal office of the Shiite movement. This June 2017 Voice of Fatah – close to Mohammed
historic change in direction taken by Dahlan, the Palestinian MP thrown out
Hamas comes despite February’s elec- Israel of Fatah in 2011.
tion of Yahya Sinwar as the movement’s • On 19 June Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the
new leader, a development which, at the • On 10 June Benjamin Netanyahu official spokesman of the Palestinian
time, was thought to preempt a change demands that the United Nations Relief presidency since the days of the Presi-
towards more radical stances. and Works Agency for Palestine Refu- dent Yasser Arafat, is unanimously ap-
• On 25 May Hamas executes two gees in the Near East (UNRWA) be shut pointed as member of the Fatah Central
Palestinians by hanging and a third by down following the previous day’s dis- Committee. The appointment of Abu
firing squad, who were convicted of kill- covery of a secret tunnel under one of Rudeineh, a Christian Palestinian from
ing one of the heads of the party’s the organization’s schools in Gaza. UN- Bethlehem, is the latest example of the
armed wing under Israeli orders. RWA denies all responsibility and unique relationship between Fatah and
blames the Islamist movement Hamas. the Palestinian Christians.
Peace Negotiations • On 19 June the Israeli Prime Minister • On 20 June Israel’s national power
Benjamin Netanyahu announces the company begins reducing its supply to
• On 21 and 22 May on his second beginning of construction of the new the Gaza Strip following a decision by
stop – following Saudi Arabia – on his Amichai settlement (Emek Shilo), in the Benjamin Netanyahu’s government,
401
first foreign visit as President of the West Bank, which will house the 300 taken at the request of the PNA Presi-
United States, Donald Trump visits Is- settlers evacuated from the Amona set- dent, Mahmoud Abbas. The Fatah lead-
rael and Palestine meeting in Tel Aviv tlement. This is the first Israeli settlement er’s request to reduce the payment of
and Bethlehem with Benjamin Netan- built in Palestinian territory in two dec- the Israeli power supply by 40% comes
yahu and Mahmoud Abbas respec- ades. in the context of its dispute with Hamas,
tively, with the aim of “reviving” the • On 25 June Benjamin Netanyahu which has controlled Gaza for the last
peace process. In this regard, in an orders the suspension of the project to 10 years.
interview with the conservative news- establish a common prayer area for men • On 22 June the only power plant in
paper Israel Hayom, Trump asserts that and women at the Wailing Wall in Jeru- the Gaza Strip resumes operation at a
he is “working very hard to finally salem. reduced capacity, following a fuel deliv-
achieve peace between the people in • On 29 June the parole board of the ery from Egypt.
Israel and the Palestinians.” For the mo- Maasiyahu prison grants the former Is-
ment, his electoral promise to transfer raeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert early Peace Negotiations
the US embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusa- release after serving two-thirds of his
lem, a “red line” for the Palestinians, is 27-month prison sentence, handed • On 21 June Jared Kushner, White
put on hold. down for crimes of corruption. House advisor and son-in-law of the US
President Donald Trump, holds separate
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Conflicts between the Parties Palestine meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu and
Mahmoud Abbas in an effort to relaunch
• On 18 May clashes break out near • On 5 June the PNA denies that it has the peace process.
the Kalandia border checkpoint, in the not paid the salaries of 47 Hamas MPs
West Bank, between the Israeli secu- on the same day that representatives of Conflicts between the Parties
rity forces and Palestinian demonstra- the Islamist prisoners accuse it of stop-
tors protesting over the death hours ping the salaries of nearly 300 prisoners • On 1 June an Israeli soldier is
earlier of a Palestinian who was shot by in Israeli jails. wounded close to the Israeli settlement
an Israeli settler, whose vehicle had • On 14 June with the backdrop of the of Mevo Dotan after being stabbed with
been stoned in Nablus. Qatar crisis, Mousa Abu Marzook, Vice- a screwdriver by a Palestinian teenager,
• On 19 May a march in support of the President of Hamas’ political bureau and who dies the following day from the bul-
Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s Secre- let wounds he received in response.• On 6 June a man identified as Mo- • On 26 July the Prime Minister Ben- unrest in East Jerusalem and on the bor-
Appendices
hamed Taha, is shot dead by an Israeli jamin Netanyahu threatens to close der between Israel and Gaza, following
security guard during clashes between down the Jerusalem offices of the Qatari the Friday prayers, when the Palestinian
police and demonstrators at a protest television news network al-Jazeera for factions had called upon their supporters
in Kafr Qasim. inciting the rise in violence. to face up to the Israeli soldiers.
• On 16 June an Israeli police officer is • On 25 July the Israeli government
stabbed to death in Jerusalem in an ac- Peace Negotiations decides to remove the metal detectors
in Israel and Palestine
tion that Daesh claims responsibility for which they had installed at the entrance
and is praised by various Palestinian fac- • On 9 July Mahmoud Abbas meets to the Noble Sanctuary / Temple Mount
tions. Should such a claim be confirmed, with the Egyptian President Abdel Fat- of the Old City of Jerusalem.
denied by Hamas, which asserts that two tah al-Sisi in Cairo, to study a possible • On 27 July at least 96 people are
of the authors were members of the relaunch of the peace talks between injured in new clashes in the Noble
Popular Front for the Liberation of Pales- Palestinians and Israelis based on the Sanctuary / Temple Mount between
tine and the third belonged to the Islam- co-existence of the two states. Abbas Palestinians and Israeli security forces,
ist movement controlling Gaza, this informs al-Sisi of the initiative of the US when thousands of Muslims turn up for
would be Daesh’s first attack in Israel. President Donald Trump to push the prayers following the withdrawal of the
Virtually simultaneously and just 100 me- peace process forward, as well as the special security measures established
tres away, two other Palestinians open Israeli actions on the ground, which in- by Israel.
fire and attempt to stab several police clude settlement construction. The • On 28 July the Israeli police force
officers. The attack, which causes minor meeting comes days after a Hamas del- announces that it will prohibit access to
injuries ends with the death of the attack- egation travels to the Egyptian capital men under the age of 50 to Friday
ers, shot down by security officers. In to talk about improving bilateral relations prayers in the Noble Sanctuary / Temple
response, Benjamin Netanyahu orders – which have deteriorated since the Mount, following the recent escalation
the cancellation of visiting permits for overthrow in July 2013 of the Islamist in tension.
Palestinians planning to meet relatives Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi- • On 29 July Israel lifts all access re-
from the occupied territories. and to address the Palestinian recon- strictions to the Noble Sanctuary / Tem-
• On 19 June the Israel Defense Forc- ciliation process. ple Mount. The authorities also carry out
es shoot and kill a Palestinian man a raid on the offices of various Arab
armed with a knife who was allegedly Conflicts between the Parties media outlets and a Ramallah producer
402
attempting to stab several soldiers at for an alleged crime of inciting hatred.
the Kalandia checkpoint. • On 12 July two Palestinians are killed
during clashes with the Israeli army dur-
ing a raid of the Jenin refugee camp, in August 2017
July 2017 the West Bank. 39 Palestinian citizens
have now been killed in clashes with Is- Israel
Israel raeli security forces since the year began.
• On 14 July two Israeli police officers • On 6 August the Israeli Communica-
• On 10 July Avi Gabbai wins in the are killed and a third injured at the hands tions Minister Ayoob Kara announces
second round of the primary elections of three Palestinians in an attack on the that he is revoking the credentials of
to lead the Israeli Labor Party, gaining entrance to the Noble Sanctuary / Tem- journalists from the al-Jazeera television
52% of the votes, against Amir Peretz’s ple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. station and will proceed with the closure
47%. With a 59% turnout of the 52,502 Following the murders, the Israeli au- of their offices in Israel after the Prime
registered members, Gabbai is victori- thorities decide to install metal detec- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses
ous despite not having the support of tors at the entrances to the Noble Sanc- the Qatari media outlet of inciting vio-
the party apparatus and not being an tuary / Temple Mount, a measure that lence against Israel during its coverage
MP –which means that Isaac Herzog, increases protests and clashes with the of the latest crisis at the Noble Sanctu-
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who was defeated in the first round, will Muslim community. ary / Temple Mount.
continue as leader of Labor’s parliamen- • On 17 July dozens of faithful Muslims • On 18 August the controversial law
tary opposition-. clash with members of the Israeli secu- on illegal enclaves in the West Bank,
• On 12 July the Israeli military court rity forces at the Lions’ Gate in the Old passed in February in the Israeli Parlia-
in Ofer, the West Bank, sentences City of Jerusalem. ment and which gives the government
Khalida Jarrar, member of the Palestin- • On 18 July at least 14 Palestinians authority to expropriate private land from
ian Legislative Council, to six months of are injured in fresh clashes between Palestinian citizens in exchange for eco-
administrative detention over links with Muslims and the Israeli police in the prox- nomic compensation, is provisionally
the Popular Front for the Liberation of imity of the Noble Sanctuary / Temple suspended by order of the Supreme
Palestine, after arresting him at the be- Mount. Court.
ginning of the month during a raid in • On 21 July three Palestinians are • On 31 August Israeli security forces
Ramallah. killed and almost 500 injured in major carry out a raid on a Palestinian broad-caster in Hebron, the al-Hurriya Media by Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Hezbol- West Bank. The Shiite movement’s
Appendices
Company that manages the Manbar al- lah and Iran, and after the Israeli Prime decision comes after the 40% cuts in
Hurriya radio station and al-Nauras tel- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns payments for the Israeli power supply
evision station, which are then shut that Israel will not allow the creation of decreed by the Palestinian President
down for a period of six months accused missile factories in Lebanon, or an Ira- Mahmoud Abbas.
of inciting terrorism. nian presence on the Israeli-Syrian • On 27 September despite Israeli op-
border. position, the International Criminal Po-
in Israel and Palestine
Palestine • On 7 September the Syrian army ac- lice Organization (Interpol) approves
cuses Israel of attacking the Syrian Sci- Palestine’s entry as a member state of
• On 17 August at least two people entific Studies and Research Centre, in the organism during its 86th General
are killed in clashes on the Gaza Strip Masyaf, Hama, from Lebanese aero- Assembly held in Beijing.
between Hamas and Salafi militants also space, which, according to Israeli ana-
operating in the neighbouring Egyptian lysts could be a chemical weapons and Conflicts between the Parties
Sinai. missile plant. Israel neither confirms nor
denies the information about an attack • On 26 September two Israeli secu-
Peace negotiations which, as in previous similar cases, rity guards and an Israeli police officer
would be aimed at destroying Iranian are killed and another police officer in-
• On 23 August three advisors of the weapons, some of which would be des- jured in an armed attack carried out by
US President Donald Trump, including tined for Hezbollah. a Palestinian man at the entrance to the
his son-in-law Jared Kushner, begin a • On 8 September the Israeli Public Israeli Har Adar settlement, close to Je-
tour of the Middle East to try to unblock Prosecutor Avichai Mandelblit charges rusalem. The Palestinian is shot dead by
the frozen peace process between Is- Sara Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Min- Israeli security officers.
raelis and Palestinians. Travelling with ister’s wife, with alleged fraud and
Kushner are the White House’s Special abuse of public funds, in the investiga-
Envoy to the Middle East Jason Green- tion known as the “meals-ordering affair” October 2017
blatt and Trump’s Deputy National Se- into the excessive spending at the Prime
curity Adviser Dina Powell. Minister’s official residence in Jerusa- Israel
lem. This comes after the news in Au-
Conflicts between the Parties gust, according to which the Israeli • On 12 October Israel announces
403
police has publicly recognized the exist- that its Air Force has attacked a Syrian
• On 19 August the Israeli police kill a ence of a criminal probe into Benjamin anti-aircraft battery which had previ-
young Palestinian who had attacked a Netanyahu under suspicion of bribery, ously fired a missile at Israeli jets on a
checkpoint in Zotara, in the north of the fraud and abuse of power. reconnaissance mission over Lebanon.
West Bank, armed with a knife. • On 15 October the Israeli army re-
Palestine ports the launch of two rockets from
Syria into Israeli territory, with warning
September 2017 • On 11 September the chief of Ha- sirens sounding in the regional council
mas’ armed wing Ismail Haniyeh asserts of Eshkol, close to the Gaza Strip.
Israel that the group is prepared for a recon- • On 17 October the Israeli army
ciliation process with Fatah without raids and shuts down eight Palestin-
• On 3 September the Israeli govern- preconditions. ian media outlets in the West Bank,
ment approves 14 million euros to re- • On 17 September in response to accused of inciting violence against
sume construction of the new Amichai the Egyptian mediation’s call for dia- Israel.
settlement in the West Bank, work on logue with Fatah, Hamas announces • On 19 October hundreds of ultra-
which had been suspended for two that it will dismantle its Administrative Orthodox Jews block various streets
months due to insufficient funds. Committee, in operation in the Gaza in Jerusalem in protest against the ap-
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• On 3 September David Sharan, for- Strip since March. Hamas created the plication of the military service law,
mer cabinet chief of the Prime Minister Administrative Committee in light of which is compulsory for all Israeli
Benjamin Netanyahu is identified as a what it considered a complete absence citizens, and the recent arrest of con-
suspect in the court investigation known of attention from the Palestinian unity scientious objectors from their com-
as Case 3000 over the suspected brib- government, set up in 2014. Fatah con- munity.
ery in the purchase of German subma- siders the committee as a shadow gov-
rines for the Israeli navy. ernment. Hamas also announces that Palestine
• On 5 September Israel begins 11 it will accept the holding of general
days of military exercises in the north elections in the PNA, which would be • On 3 October the PNA government
of the country, the largest scale ma- the first since 2006 in which Hamas holds its first meeting in the Gaza Strip
noeuvres since 1998, coinciding with won in Gaza, sparking the long show- since 2014, in an act that symbolizes
the advance in Syria of the axis formed down with Fatah, which governs in the the re-establishment of the PNA’s con-trol two weeks after Hamas announced support of a “national home” for the December 2017
Appendices
the dismantlement of its Committee, Jewish people in Palestine and which,
which had been governing the Strip. 30 years later, would take the shape of Israel
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Resolution 181 in the United Nations
Netanyahu criticizes the reconciliation General Assembly of 29 November • On 2 December various Arab media
initiative, believing that a rapproche- 1947, under which it was proposed to report that Israeli fighter jets have fired
ment between Fatah and Hamas will divide Palestine into two states, one missiles from Lebanese airspace at Syr-
in Israel and Palestine
come at the “cost of the existence” of Arab and another Jewish. ian army targets close to Damascus.
Israel. • On 8 November the UK Internation- The main target of the attack is an Ira-
• On 10 October the Commissioner al Development Minister Priti Patel nian military base close to al-Qiswa.
General of the UN’s support agency hands in her resignation after it comes • On 4 December Israeli jets attack
for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) to light that she held a series of private areas of the Jamaraya region, close to
Pierre Krähenbühl warns the European and unauthorised meetings with senior Damascus and which include a scien-
Parliament that the situation in the Israeli officials, including Benjamin Ne- tific research centre and weapons
Gaza Strip is “a timebomb” and calls tanyahu, during her holiday to the coun- stores of the regime and its allies.
for support to cover the 77 million dol- try in August. • On 7 December the UN Security
lars the agency needs to continue its • On 18 November Israel issues evac- Council meets following the request of
aid operations for Palestinian refugees uation orders for 300 Bedouins from eight of its 15 members to address the
in 2017. Jabal al-Baba, as part of Tel Aviv’s Cor- status of Jerusalem after the US Presi-
• On 10 October representatives of ridor E1 urban development plan. dent Donald Trump’s announcement
Fatah and Hamas begin new negotia- • On 26 November the Prime Minister two days before that Washington rec-
tions in Cairo for national reconciliation. Benjamin Netanyahu reaches an agree- ognizes the city as the Israeli capital and
• On 12 October Hamas and Fatah ment with the ultra-Orthodox parties to the consequent move of the embassy in
take a further step towards national put an end to the crisis sparked by the Tel Aviv to the city that both Israel and
reconciliation in Cairo, with an agree- resignation of the Health Minister Yaak- Palestine claim as their capital. On 10
ment for the Rafah border crossing, ov Litzman after the government gave December the Arab League condemns
which joins the Gaza Strip with Egypt, permission to workers in charge of re- Trump’s decision and calls upon him to
to be controlled by Fatah as of 1 No- pairing a train track in the south of the withdraw it. The Vatican also condemns
vember. The unity government will also country in the middle of Shabbat, the the decision of the US President. The
404
deploy its own security forces – some Jewish day of rest. EU abstains from condemning the deci-
3,000 officers – in the Strip before the • On 27 November the Israeli army an- sion, essentially due to Hungary and the
year’s end. Both factions set a two- nounces that Tamir-Adir, the naval ver- Czech Republic’s reluctance, but at the
month deadline to address the pend- sion of its Iron Dome air defence system same time rules out moving its delega-
ing problems, which include the con- is already operational. tions in Israel to Jerusalem. For his part,
trol of the Islamists’ weapons arsenal • On 29 November 18 ultra-Orthodox the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne-
and Israel. Jews are arrested in Jerusalem during a tanyahu, on an official visit in the Union,
new protest against their recruitment says that he is confident that both the
Conflicts between the Parties into the army. EU and its Member States will end up
following the US’s initiative.
• On 9 October the Israeli army fires Palestine • On 9 December a massive march in
at a Hamas target in the Gaza Strip in Tel Aviv protests against government
retaliation to the previous day’s launch • On 1 November Hamas hands over corruption and the cases affecting the
of a rocket from the Palestinian enclave official control of its border posts to the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
into Israeli territory. PNA, in the context of the national rec- under investigation for fraud and bribery.
• On 31 October at least seven Pal- onciliation process. The demonstration comes during the
estinians are killed in an Israeli airstrike • On 8 November the PNA announces mobilizations that different social lead-
IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2018
on a tunnel in the south of the Gaza it is resuming coordination with Israel for ers have called to oppose a draft law in
Strip. security in the West Bank, which has progress to limit the capacity of the po-
been frozen since June due to the instal- lice regarding recommendations to try
lation of metal detectors at the entrances public officials. There are also protests
November 2017 to the Noble Sanctuary / Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Nahariya, Hadera, Afula,
• On 18 November the US confirms Netanya, Rishon LeZion, Modiin, and
Israel that it will not certify that the PLO meets Beer Sheva. Netanyahu is a suspect in
the conditions needed for its delegation two criminal investigations, Case 1000
• On 2 November 100 years has in Washington to remain open, following – into alleged gifts the Prime Minister
passed since the Balfour Declaration, the Palestinian organization’s request to and his family received – and 2000 –
the British document which, during bring Israel before the International into an alleged deal between Netanyahu
World War I explicitly outlined London’s Criminal Court (TPI). and the owner of the Yediot Aharonotnewspaper Arnon Mozes to reduce the signed with Fatah has failed, after the wheelchair-bound Palestinian demon-
Appendices
circulation of his main competitor Israel persistent divisions between both strator, during a protest against the
Hayom, in exchange for favouring the groups worsen with the US decision to recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli
government in its news coverage –. recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli cap- capital by the US.
• On 10 December a police investiga- ital. For its part, the United Nations • On 22 December at least two Pal-
tion is opened involving the Likud mem- warns of the great risk of a new war in estinians are shot dead by Israeli police
ber David Bitan, suspected of bribery, the region in light of the reconciliation and a further 690 left injured in clashes
in Israel and Palestine
money laundering, fraud and abuse of process’ definitive failure. in the Palestinian territories during an-
trust. other Friday of Rage, which comes after
• On 18 December the US vetoes a Conflicts between the Parties the UN General Assembly votes against
resolution in the UN Security Council the US for recognizing Jerusalem as
submitted by Egypt and which calls for • On 8 December a Day of Rage be- capital of Israel.
the country to withdraw its recognition gins, leading to several days of unrest • On 30 December the Israeli air
of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, force reports an attack on Hamas posi-
transfer of its embassy to Jerusalem amid protests to denounce the US rec- tions in the Gaza Strip in response to
from Tel Aviv. ognition of Jerusalem as the capital of rocket launches the previous day from
• On 21 December Israel dismantles Israel. the Palestinian enclave towards Is-
a Hamas cell planning to kidnap the • On 10 December a security guard is raeli territory.
Likud MP Yehuda Glick and Israeli army stabbed and wounded by a young Pal-
spokesman Avichai Adrai. estinian, who is later arrested, close to
• On 21 December Israel announces a bus station in the centre of Jerusalem. Sources
plans to build three new settlements in • On 12 December two Palestinians
Jordan Valley with capacity for 10,000 riding a motorcycle are killed in an Is- Al-Masry al-Youm
people and to expand existing settle- raeli airstrike close to Beit Lahia, in the Agencia EFE
ments, although, for the time being, no north of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli at- Al-Jazeera
authorization has been given and there tack comes after the Israeli army inter- Associated Press
are no funds for the construction. cepts a new missile launched into BBC World
• On 22 December the United Nations southern Israel from Gaza. Carnegie Endowment for International
General Assembly votes in favour of the • On 15 December more than 880 Peace
405
resolution put forward by Turkey and Palestinians are injured by shots fired Chatham House
Yemen which reaffirms that the future of by Israeli forces in a new day of protests Courier International
Jerusalem should be resolved through in Gaza and the West Bank against the El Mundo
negotiations, despite opposition from decision of the US President Donald El País
Israel and the United States. Trump to declare Jerusalem as Israel’s Euronews
• On 23 December the Israeli Prime capital. Europe Media Monitor
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders the • On 18 December the Israel Defense FRIDE
Israeli ambassador to UNESCO Carmel Forces attack a Hamas training camp in Haaretz
Shama-Hacohen to formalize the re- the Gaza Strip, in response to missiles Il Corriere della Sera
quest to leave the body, which will enter launched hours before from the Pales- International Crisis Group
into force on 31 December 2018. Is- tinian territory, as part of an escalation International Relations & Security Net-
rael thereby joins the US, which also in tensions over the US recognition of work
announces its readiness to leave UN- Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. IRIS
ESCO over its “anti-Israel bias.” • On 18 December, in the West Bank Le Figaro
village of Nabi Salih, the Israeli army Le Monde
Palestine arrests Ahed Tamimi, a Palestinian activ- L’Orient Le Jour
ist who starred in a viral video in which Medarab News
IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2018
• On 13 December in response to she is hitting Israeli soldiers during one Press Releases of the European Com-
America’s decision to move its embas- of the protests in the village, which take mission
sy in Israel to Jerusalem, the represent- place each Friday against the Israeli oc- Press Releases of the Spanish and Bel-
atives of the 57 members of the Or- cupation. gian presidencies of the EU
ganization of Islamic Cooperation, • On 19 December the United Nations Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
meeting in Turkey, declare East Jerusa- High Commissioner for Human Rights Reuters
lem as the capital of the Palestinian Zeid Raad al-Hussein, asks Israel to RTVE
State. open an investigation into the “incom- The New York Times
• On 21 December Hamas says the prehensible” death from Israeli gunfire The Washington Post
Palestinian reconciliation agreement on 15 December of Abu Thuraye, a United Nations News CentreYou can also read
