16 May–15 August 2011 Author(S): Michele K
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Chronology: 16 May–15 August 2011 Author(s): Michele K. Esposito Source: Journal of Palestine Studies, Vol. 41, No. 1 (Autumn 2011), pp. 218-237 Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Institute for Palestine Studies Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/jps.2011.XLI.1.218 . Accessed: 06/03/2015 15:03 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. University of California Press and Institute for Palestine Studies are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Palestine Studies. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Fri, 6 Mar 2015 15:03:55 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Chronology 16 May–15 august 2011 CoMpiled by MiChele K. esposito This section is part 111 of a chronology begun in JPS 13, no. 3 (Spring 1984). Chronology dates reflect North American Eastern Standard Time (EST). For a more comprehensive overview of events related to the al-Aqsa intifada and of regional and international developments related to the peace process, see the Quarterly Update on Conflict and Diplomacy in this issue. 16 MAY delegation to a full diplomatic mission. (HA 5/16) As the quarter opens, Israel maintains a tight siege on Gaza, aimed at unseating 17 MAY the governing Hamas authority. The Is- rael Defense Forces (IDF) enforces a In an op-ed in the New York Times, 300-meter no-go zone inside the full length PA pres. Mahmud Abbas publicly an- of the Gaza border and limits the Palestin- nounces plans to put a resolution to the ian fishing zone off Gaza to 500–1,000 m UNGA in 9/2011 calling for recognition of off Bayt Lahiya and Rafah and 3 naut. mi. a Palestinian state on 1967 borders and ad- elsewhere. In the West Bank, governed mission of Palestine as a full member of the by the Fatah-led Palestinian Author- UN. (NYT 5/17) ity (PA), IDF operations and restrictions In the West Bank, the IDF conducts on Palestinian movement are relatively late-night patrols, arrest raids, and house low. Today, the IDF patrols in Far‘un vil- searches in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm. In East lage nr. Tulkarm in the evening, firing tear Jerusalem, Jewish settlers raid a school gas and stun grenades at stone-throwing and beat students in their classrooms. Palestinians who confront them, causing (PCHR 5/19; OCHA 5/20) no serious injuries; patrols in Jit village nr. At the close of 2 days of extensive talks Qalqilya late at night. (PCHR 5/19; OCHA in Cairo, Fatah and Hamas agree on a 5/20) mechanism to implement their unity deal. In Cairo, Hamas and Fatah open their No details are released. (MENA, WP 5/18) first round of talks on implementing their 5/4/11 national reconciliation agreement that would reunite West Bank and Gaza 18 MAY institutions and prepare for new elections. (REU 5/16) (see Quarterly Update for In the West Bank, the IDF conducts details) late-night arrest raids, house searches in In a speech to the Knesset before leav- al-‘Arub refugee camp (r.c.) nr. Hebron ing for the U.S., Israeli PM Benjamin and Kafr Haris nr. Salfit. (PCHR 5/19, 5/26; Netanyahu lays out his conditions for ac- OCHA 5/27) cepting a Palestinian state, but still does not go far enough to satisfy minimum Pal- 19 MAY estinian demands, stating that “the root of the conflict is not the absence of a Palestin- U.S. pres. Barack Obama gives a ma- ian state,” but rather “the refusal to recog- jor speech on the Middle East meant to nize a Jewish state.” (HA 5/16; NYT, WT reassess U.S. priorities in the region, partic- 5/17; WP 5/18; JPI 5/27) (see Quarterly ularly in light of the recent prodemocracy Update for details) uprisings (the “Arab Spring”). He speaks Italy upgrades the status of the Pales- extensively about the peace process at the tinian representation in Rome from a close of the address (including denouncing Journal of Palestine Studies Vol. XLI, No. 1 (Autumn 2011), pp. 218–237, ISSN: 0377-919X; electronic ISSN: 1533-8614. © 2011 by the Institute for Palestine Studies. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press’s Rights and Permissions website, at http://www.ucpressjournals.com/reprintInfo.asp. DOI: jps.2011.XLI.1.218. JPS4101_16_Chronology.indd 218 28/10/11 5:43 PM This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Fri, 6 Mar 2015 15:03:55 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Chronology 219 the Palestinian statehood initiative, urging Palestinian and 1 international activist; 10 against Hamas participation in a national Israelis and 1 international are arrested. unity government, and endorsing the 1967 (PCHR 5/26; OCHA 5/27) lines with agreed land swaps as the basis of border negotiations) but does not offer a new U.S. peace initiative. Netanyahu 21 MAY immediately denounces the reference to 1967 lines, saying they would jeopardize In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Israeli security. (HA, MNA, MA, NYT, WP, and around Tulkarm and in 1 village nr. YA 5/19; NYT, WP, WT 5/20) (see Doc. Jenin during the day; makes a late-night D1, Quarterly Update for details) raid into Kafr Ra‘i village nr. Jenin, detain- Israel’s Jerusalem planning com- ing 2 Palestinians and taking them to a mili- mission approves construction of 1,600 tary court in nearby Salem village to testify new settlement housing units in East Jeru- as witnesses in the case against another salem (Har Homa/Jabal Abu Ghunaym and Palestinian; makes a late-night raid into Ra- Pisgat Ze’ev). In the West Bank, the IDF mallah, searching a home and ordering the patrols in Tulkarm, 3 villages nr. Ramal- owner to appear for questioning. The IDF lah, and 1 village nr. Jenin during the day also fires tear gas, stun grenades at Pales- and in Jericho and Birzeit nr. Ramallah late tinian, Israeli, and international activ- at night; conducts arrest raids nr. Bethle- ists staging a nonviolent march through hem (targeting stone-throwing youths) and Iraq Burin village nr. Nablus to nearby Qalqilya. (WAFA, YA 5/19; PCHR 5/26; Brakha settlement to protest the settlers’ OCHA 5/27) seizure of village lands to expand the set- tlement. The Israeli human rights group Peace Now reports that in late 4/2011, the 20 MAY Israeli DMin. approved construction of 294 settlement housing units in Beitar Ilit Obama and Netanyahu hold a diffi- (south and west of Jerusalem), saying ten- cult but “productive” meeting at the White ders for the construction should be issued House to discuss the peace process, par- soon. (UPI 5/23; PCHR 5/26; OCHA 5/27) ticularly their views on the 1967 borders as the basis of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Afterward, Obama stresses their 22 MAY points of agreement, while Netanyahu crit- icizes Obama as “unrealistic.” (CSM 5/20; Obama gives a major address to the NYT, WP 5/21) (see Quarterly Update for American Israel Public Affairs Comm. details) (AIPAC). While he restates his belief that IDF troops on the s. Gaza border e. of discussion of final borders should take the Abasan fire warning shots at Palestinians 1967 lines as the starting point for negotia- staging a nonviolent march to the border tions, he clarifies that agreed land swaps fence to protest Israel’s imposition of a would be necessary and would certainly no-go zone, wounding 1 Palestinian. Late result in “a border that is different than the at night, IDF troops on the n. Gaza border one that existed on June 4, 1967,” stating shell and fire on a Palestinian teenager that any controversy over his 5/19 speech nr. the c. Gaza border fence e. of al-Bureij was “not based on substance.” (JTA, NYT, r.c., killing him. In the West Bank, the WP, WT 5/23) (see Quarterly Update for IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 details) nr. Salfit, and 1 nr. Tulkarm. Nr. Hebron, In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 2 Palestinian children are injured when village nr. Ramallah and 1 nr. Jericho; pa- they accidentally trigger unexploded IDF trols in al-Jarushiyya village nr. Tulkarm, ordnance. Palestinians (sometimes ac- randomly stopping cars and checking IDs; companied by Israeli and international conducts late-night arrest raids, house activists) hold weekly nonviolent demon- searches in and around al-‘Arub r.c. and strations against the separation wall, land nr. Tulkarm; searches the home of Hamas confiscations, and settlement expansion in politburo mbr. Aysha Dar Suleiman in Bil‘in and Ni‘lin nr. Ramallah, Nabi Salih in ‘Arura village nr. Ramallah, arresting her. the north c. West Bank. IDF soldiers fire Jewish settlers heavily damage a Pales- rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and tinian home located between the Gush stun grenades at the protesters, injuring 1 Etzion and Efrat settlements nr. Bethlehem. JPS4101_16_Chronology.indd 219 28/10/11 5:43 PM This content downloaded from 66.134.128.11 on Fri, 6 Mar 2015 15:03:55 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 220 Journal of Palestine Studies Jewish settlers fr.