THIS WAS 2006 Jan. 15: An unanimous Israeli Cabinet decision states, inter alia: “Due to JERUSALEM the participation of Hamas, Israel has announced that it will not cooperate with these elections and will not coordinate them on a political level with Jan. 2: In Jerusalem, Israeli police breaks up a political gathering of the PA. However, Israel will not prevent the elections from being held... Fateh supporters at the Christmas Hotel, but makes no arrests. Opening hours at the crossings will be expanded on Election Day… Jan. 3: On the official opening day Freedom of movement and passage will be allowed for those involved of campaigning for the upcoming in the elections, candidates and activists except for those identified elections, Israeli police detains at least with terrorist organizations. The presence and freedom of movement of eight PLC candidates campaigning international observers and local observers not identified with terrorist in Jerusalem, incl. Hanan Ashrawi, organizations will be allowed. Election propaganda by persons identified Mustafa Barghouthi, Hatem Abdul with terrorist organizations will not be permitted within Jerusalem; The Qader and Ahmed Ghneim. Communications Min. will prepare to operate five post office branches [in - Hamas officials (led by Mohammad Abu Ter) and leaders of the Northern East Jerusalem] as was done in the past.” In a phone conversation with Branch of the Islamic Movement (led by Sheikh Ra’ed Salah) hold a news Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice, Pres. Abbas later complains about Israel’s conference at the Ambassador Hotel in East Jerusalem, presenting a electoral restrictions. video and pictures showing excavations near the Western Wall Tunnel, - In East Jerusalem, Israeli raids a Hamas office allegedly being used for and a synagogue they said was under construction, both endangering election-related activities and detains six people, incl. Hamas candidate the foundations of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Mohammed Abu Ter. They are released the next day. - Ma’ariv reports that the 2001 sale of a building in the Old City to the - The Israeli bulldozers demolish three houses in Beit Hanina, Silwan and “Esh Ha’Torah” yeshiva is worsening Israel’s relations with the Vatican Jabal Al-Mukabber under the pretext of not having building permits. and the Christian world. Jan. 16: Israeli police raid the Fida’s offices in East Jerusalem, arresting Jan. 4: The Israeli Min. of Infrastructure closes six gas stations in Hizma five people, claiming the office harbored activities of the DFLP, which village. Israel considers a terrorist group. - The WJM demolishes a house under construction belonging to Osama Jan. 18: The CEC begins registering voters from East Jerusalem in Abu Khalaf in Beit Hanina under the pretext of being unlicensed. preparation for the PLC elections. - Palestinians protesting against the construction of the separation barrier - Israeli police break up a PFLP campaign meeting at a hotel in East being built in Anata, clash with the army. Jerusalem and arrests seven party activists on the grounds that the - Construction begins along a 2.5 km stretch of the separation barrier faction was outlawed by Israel. south of Ma’ale Adumim and Kedar. - A public opinion poll carried out by Dr. Aharon Fein and the Tazpit Jan. 10: Pres. Abbas says the US has assured him that, despite Israeli Research Institute for the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies shows misgivings, East Jerusalem Palestinians will be allowed to vote in the city, that 54.4% Israeli Jews would be willing to give up East Jerusalem’s saying “We are on the way to elections and there’s no doubt about it, but Arab neighborhoods (36% are not) and effectively re-divide the city if something happens along the way, we’ll decide how to act.” as part of a genuine peace agreement, though 75% of those ready for - Acting PM Olmert tells Sec. of State Rice that Palestinians living in East such concessions do not believe it is possible to achieve genuine peace Jerusalem will be allowed to vote in the PLC elections, but that “terror with the Palestinians. Only a small percentage are willing, even as part organizations and their representatives will not be able to participate in of a genuine peace agreement, to give up the Old City, the Western Wall the vote in Jerusalem.” and the Temple Mount. - Israeli state TV reports that Israeli DM Mofaz had ordered that a - The WJM and the Israeli Min. of Transportation reportedly announced “provisional” barrier be built in three areas around East Jerusalem, for plans to construct eight new railways in Jerusalem, with the first which the High Court of Justice had ordered in 2005 the suspension of connecting the settlements to the north of Jerusalem (Pisgat Ze’ev and work: Bir Nabala, Shu’fat RC, and Sheikh Sa’ad. Neve Ya’acov) with settlements to the west of the city, cutting through - Israeli DM Mofaz says that Jerusalem’s Palestinians would be permitted Shu’fat. to vote along the same lines as in previous Palestinian elections, when Jan. 19: Israeli police raids a Hamas election office in East Jerusalem some residents were allowed to cast “absentee” ballots at five post offices and orders it shut down for 15 days to prevent Hamas from operating while the remainder cast ballots in West Bank suburbs. in Jerusalem. Jan. 11: Israeli police arrests and fines six Palestinians for hanging - Senior Fateh member and adviser to Pres. Abbas Ahmed Abdel Rahman campaign posters for the upcoming PLC elections on billboards in East is detained for illegally campaigning in the Old City of Jerusalem. Jerusalem. - EU monitors and CEC officials says that the logistics provided by the Jan. 12: Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz Israeli Govt. to allow East Jerusalem residents to vote in the PLC elections decides to construct three would not provide a “free and fair” environment. parts of a temporary fence in Jan. 20: Israeli forces storm a Fateh election rally East Jerusalem near Bir Nabala in At-Tur and arrest Fateh candidate Othman Abu and Shu’fat RC in the north and Gharbiyeh. Sheikh Sa’ad in the south of Jan. 22: Israeli forces storm an election campaign Jerusalem. rally in East Jerusalem and arrest independent Shu’fat RC candidate, Abdul Latif Ghaith, and seven other Palestinians. Othman Abu Gharbiyeh - Labor Party candidate Ami Ayalon tells Israel TV that “When there will be a final arrangement with the Palestinians, the Arab neighborhoods [of Jerusalem] won’t be part of the State of Israel.” Jan. 24: The WJM fines Hamas, Fateh and the PFLP NIS 500,000 for hanging campaign posters in East Jerusalem in violation of city bylaws, claiming special municipal bulletin boards had been set up to hang Sheikh Sa’ad Bir Nabala JERUSALEM PALESTINE REGIONAL GLOBAL 1 PALESTINE IN REVIEW campaign posters legally, but as the Palestinian factions boycott the Feb. 19: The Israeli Supreme Court issues an order to cancel the third municipality they refused to apply for municipal permits to do so. part of the separation barrier which was supposed to be constructed in Jan. 25: The Palestinians of Bir Nabala and was about to divide the village into two parts east and East Jerusalem participate in west of the bridge. the election of the PLC at the Feb. 22: The Israeli Chief Commander Ya’er Naveh issues a new military post offices in the city and the order to confiscate over 41,3 dunums of lands from Beit Hanina and Bir suburbs. Nabala for the separation barrier. Feb. 24: Kol Ha’Zeman reports that the ILA is working on a plan to expand Pisgat Ze’ev settlement (currently 40,000 residents) by 1,100 new housing units. Feb. 27: Israeli authorities open a new passage in the separation wall in Al-Za’im village to Palestinians holding special permits. - Israeli forces demolish the house of the Al-Ja’bari family in Beit Hanina under the pretext of not having building licenses. March 1: Newly elected Hamas MP Mohammed Abu Ter is questioned by Jerusalem police on suspicion of illegal Hamas activities. Jan. 26: Israel reportedly plans to reroute part of the separation barrier March 2: Israeli bulldozers demolish the house of Ibrahim Al-Faqeh in in Beit Iksa near Jerusalem in order to close all gaps in the wall to prevent Umm Al-Lahem northwest of Jerusalem. Palestinian workers from accessing Israel. - An Israeli truck driver is stabbed and injured in the Atarot industrial by Jan. 27: Ha’aretz reports that five Israeli Arab families have offered Palestinian attacker who manages to flee. to purchase five new abutting homes built in Har Homa valued at $1 - Ma’ariv reports a 31% growth in private home sales in Jerusalem and million. a 23% decrease in home sales in the West Bank. Of 12,372 private Jan. 28: Israeli police summon newly elected PLC member Mahmoud housing units sold in Israel and the settlements in 2005, 9.5%, or 1,180, Abu Ter (Hamas - Jerusalem) and warn him not to carry out any Hamas of those were in Jerusalem and 3.5%, or 436, in the West Bank. Israel’s activity in Jerusalem. housing inventory plummeted to 11,900 in 2005, with Jerusalem’s Jan. 29: The Israeli army constructs new parts of the separation barrier housing inventory decreasing by 52% and West Bank housing inventory in Dahiet Al-Barid. decreasing by 15.6%. March 3: Following a petition by residents of Abu Dis, Israel’s High Ha’aretz reports that thanks to ACRI, East Jerusalem residents Feb. 1: Court issues a 14-day interim decision to suspend the construction of who wish to apply for residency permits for their spouses will now benefit the separation barrier around Ma’ale Adumim.