1 Israeli killed.
As Israeli-Palestinian clashes pick up slightly, Israel says it
is not satisfied with the PA's cease-fire efforts. A serious exchange of
gunfire, grenades, missiles takes place in Rafah, leaving 22 Palestinians,
3 IDF soldiers wounded. Another Israeli injured in the 6/1 bombing
dies, raising the toll to 20. The IDF bulldozes 50 dunams of Palestinian land nr.
Kefar Darom settlement; shells residential areas of Asira. Jewish settlers
shoot at Palestinian homes, vehicles in Hebron, Jinin; attack Palestinians nr.
Dahiyat al-Barid, Tulkarm. (AFP [Internet], HP 6/4; NYT, WP, WT 6/5; MM, PMC
6/6; MM 6/11)
In light of today's Gaza gun battle, the Bush admin. concludes the
Israeli-Palestinian situation is on the verge of spinning out of control.
After securing Sharon's consent, the State Dept. announces that
CIA Dir. George Tenet will head to the region to seek a more durable
cease-fire but emphasizes that the pressure will be on Arafat to
demonstrate he is serious. Powell demands the PA arrest Islamists
who may be planning attacks, resume security cooperation with Israel. (NYT, WP,
WT 6/5; MM, NYT, WP 6/6; JT 6/7 in WNC 6/8; MEI 6/15)
Palestinians fire 1 mortar in Gaza,
causing no damage. The PSF arrests 2 Palestinians in
connection to the 6/1 bombing.
1 Palestinian killed.
Before dawn, the IDF sends tanks, troops, APCs into Jenin; makes a
smaller incursion into Hebron. In Bayt Umar, the IDF fatally shoots a
16-yr.-old Palestinian stone thrower. In Nablus, the IDF fires on a
marked media car carrying 2 Reuters photographers, damaging the car but causing
no injuries. (REU, WT 6/4; LAW, NYT, WP, WT 6/5)
The IDF demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 3 in Yatta;
conducts arrest raids in Jenin. In Jerusalem, some 20,000 Jewish settlers
demonstrate against the Aqaba summit. In a move deliberately timed with the Aqaba summit,
Tourism M Benny Elon begins work to set up offices of the pro-transfer
Moledet party in 1 of the 2 Palestinian homes next to the U.S.
consulate in East Jerusalem’s Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood that Jewish
settlers have been trying to seize for 1 yr. (see 4/27/03). (JP 6/4 in WNC 6/7;
HA, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 6/5; PCHR 6/12; PR 6/25)
In Aqaba, Bush meets with Abbas, Sharon, King
Abdallah; then meets with Abbas, Sharon only. Afterward, Abbas and Sharon
each give carefully worded statements reiterating their commitments to peace.
(HA, MM 6/4; Interfax, ITAR-TASS, JT, MENA, QA, SA 6/4 in WNC 6/7; HA, MM, NYT,
WP, WT 6/5; DUS, JP, JT, MA, MENA, NHR, QA, al-Quds, al-Ra’i, SA,
SFR, Star, YA 6/5 in WNC 6/8; al-Quds 6/5, DUS 6/6 in WNC 6/10; MM
6/6; THWR , TSHR 6/7 in WNC 7/11; JPI 6/13; PR 6/18; JPI 6/20) (see Quarterly
Update)
Palestinians fire a mortar
at a Jewish settlement, a rocket at an IDF post, both in Gaza, causing no
damage or injuries.
The IDF imposes a curfew on Ramallah, raids and searches an apartment
building, arrests 3 Birzeit University students; demolishes 3 Palestinian
homes in Hebron for construction of the separation wall; bulldozes
land in al-Qarara in apparent preparation for a new IDF post; bulldozes 10
dunams of agricultural land in Wadi al-Silqa; fires on residential areas nr.
Gaza’s Morag settlement; conducts arrest raids nr. Hebron, Nablus. (VOI 6/5 in
WNC 6/8; PCHR 6/10)
The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches around Bethlehem and
in al-`Azza r.c., Bayt Surik nr. Jerusalem, Yatta; halts a taxi nr. Ramallah,
detains 1 passenger—Samir Burnat, a leading organizer of nonviolent protests
against the separation wall in Bil`in. (HA 6/4; AP,
IMEMC, NYT 6/5; PCHR 6/9; al-Ahram 6/10; PR 6//15; BBC 6/16)
Some 40 mbrs. of PA military
intelligence loyal to Musa Arafat (forced to retire in 4/05) attack the PC
building in Gaza City and block the main road to Rafah checkpoint, temporarily
detain PA Amb. to North Korea Shakir Abu Aida in protest against Abbas's
recent age limits for PA security officers, release him unharmed. Palestinian
attorneys stage a 1-day strike to protest the PA's failure to protect
judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers fr. increasing vigilantism.
The IDF reopens Sufa and Qarni crossings; patrols in Qarawat Bani Hassan nr.
Nablus and Bidiyya nr. Nablus, conducting random ID checks; conducts arrest
raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c. and nr. Bidiyya, Hebron, Ramallah;
issues military orders confiscating 895 d. of land nr. Qalqilya for “security
purposes.” Late in the evening, Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, accompanied by
10 IDF soldiers, raid 2 Palestinian homes in Hebron, beating the residents,
setting fire to at least 30 olive trees, preventing firemen fr. reaching the
area. (MM, WP 6/5; NYT 6/6; OCHA 6/7; PCHR 6/8)
In Gaza City and Khan Yunis, Fatah, Hamas gunmen trade fire, leaving 3
gunmen and 1 bystander dead.
Overnight, the IDF sends
troops into Rafah and neighboring Shuka, ordering all Palestinian men over age
15 to surrender for ID checks, temporarily detaining 40 for questioning and
arresting 4 (2 of them NSF mbrs.); during the day-long raid, the IDF occupies
several homes as observation posts, bulldozes roads and a PSF post. The IDF
also occupies a 1,000-meter-deep strip of land n. of Bayt Hanun and Bayt
Lahiya, partially demolishing 1 Palestinian home; bulldozes Palestinian
land nr. the Qarni industrial zone. The Israeli navy fires on
Palestinian fishermen off the Rafah coast, seriously wounding 1. In the West
Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. (OCHA 6/6; PCHR 6/7;
NYT 6/10)
The Lebanese army, FI
continue to trade fire at Nahr al-Barid r.c., with the army reinforcing
positions around the camp. The UNRWA manages to bring food, water into
the camp and to evacuate a few civilians; warns that humanitarian conditions
are deteriorating. Meanwhile, clashes btwn. the Lebanese army, Jund
al-Sham continue overnight at `Ayn al-Hilwa r.c., leaving 2 Lebanese soldiers,
2 Jund al-Sham mbrs. dead and several buildings afire; Palestinian
officials hold emergency talks with army officers in Sidon, convince Jund
al-Sham to turn over its positions to other Islamist factions in the camp to
ease tensions. Separately, a bomb explodes on an empty bus in a
Christian suburb e. of Beirut, injuring 10 Lebanese. (NYT, WT 6/5)
Palestinian doctors said that a Palestinian worker at a Gaza fuel terminal had been wounded by an errant rocket fired
by Palestinian militants. The Israeli army said that the attack on the Gaza side of the Nahal Oz crossing prompted it
to cease transferring industrial fuel, cooking gas and diesel to Gaza. (AP)
IDF arrested eight Palestinians in Jenin, Al-Yamun and Silat Harithiya, PA security sources said. (WAFA)
Two Palestinians were hit by rubber bullets when clashes erupted between protestors and Israeli soldiers during a rally
protesting the construction of the separation wall in the village of Bi'lin west of Ramallah. Palestinians and Israeli
and foreign peace activists who participated in the rally said that Israeli soldiers had attacked them with tear gas
and rubber bullets, claiming the demonstrators had thrown stones at them. (Ma'an News Agency)
US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told reporters following the meeting between President Bush and Prime
Minister Olmert: "At this point we follow the lead of the parties and the parties have indicated that they want to
continue this [peace] process... These are negotiations entered into by Prime Minister Olmert certainly, but on behalf
of the Government. It involves participation by other ministers in this process." Mr. Olmert told reporters: "I hope
that we will be able to make decisions during 2008," and noted that "not even half of the year has gone by." (AP,
www.whitehouse.gov)
The Israeli occupation and conflict with the Palestinians had undermined Israel's economic growth and cost at least an
extra New Israeli Sheqalim (NIS) 36.6 billion ($10.9 billion) in defence spending over the past two decades, according
to a report by the Adva Centre, an Israeli think tank. (www.adva.org)
The Knesset approved in a preliminary reading an amendment to the Israeli Basic Law whereby Jerusalem would be
considered not just the capital of Israel, but the capital of the entire Jewish people. Member of the Knesset Avshalom
Vilan, who had voted against the bill, said that he was worried it would cause the collapse of the peace process,
making it impossible to reach a political compromise on Jerusalem. (Haaretz)
Hamas would hear Israel's response to an Egyptian offer for a Gaza ceasefire after Prime Minister Olmert's return from
Washington, Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahhar said. Hamas' position would be determined when it received the Israeli
answers on some questions involving the lifting of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and stopping violence.
(Xinhua)
Osama al-Muzini, a leader of Hamas, threatened that the Palestinians would storm the Gaza Strip border in "all
directions", including the Rafah terminal, if the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip remained in place. (Xinhua)
PA President Abbas told a Cabinet meeting: "If they [Israelis] want serious negotiations with good intentions, then
they have to stop the settlements, release prisoners and remove roadblocks." "We need Arab efforts and Arab presence if
possible so that we can solve our problems," he said in reference to the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip. (AP, DPA)
The Head of the Palestinian negotiating team, Ahmed Qureia, told a Fatah meeting in Ramallah that "to reach a final
agreement this year will require a miracle." He said the Palestinian and Israeli teams had discussed all possible files
for a final status agreement and committees had been formed to discuss every issue; however, "no tangible progress has
been achieved so far." (DPA)
PA President Abbas called in a speech for a national dialogue with Hamas to implement the Yemen initiative "to end the
internal division that harms our people, [our] cause". He added that if the talks were successful, he would call for
new legislative and presidential elections. Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu welcomed the call for talks. (AP, WAFA)
PA President Abbas rejected presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's call for Jerusalem to be the
undivided capital of Israel, made in an address to AIPAC. "The whole world knows that holy Jerusalem was occupied in
1967 and we will not accept a Palestinian State without having Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian State", he
said. Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahhar told reporters in Gaza: "The statements of Obama that undivided Jerusalem
is the capital of the occupation State is rejected and condemned. It reflects the biased US position towards Israel".
(DPA, Reuters)
Hamas gunmen seized control of the Palestinian Water Authority office that was spearheading Quartet Representative Tony
Blair's water project in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian and Western officials said. The seizure came ahead of a planned
tender by the Authority for building a water treatment plant and amid negotiations with Israel on bringing critical
building supplies into Gaza. A World Bank official, who was coordinating the project, said that construction was
expected to move forward as planned. (Haaretz)
Israeli settlers had established a new outpost, “Oz Yehonatan,” in the West Bank. They built a wooden structure called the “Obama Hut”. The outpost was named “in recognition of the [US] President’s actions, which have led to a dramatic increase in the number of outposts being built,” said a report from Israel's Arutz Sheva news agency. (Ma’an News Agency, The Jerusalem Post)
After a 48-hour notice for clearing a “closed military area”, the Israeli military began demolishing the Bedouin encampment of Ras Al-Ahmar, in the northern Jordan Valley, which was home to 180 people, according to UN officials monitoring events on the ground. Israeli officials had issued demolition orders for Bedouin homes belonging to 34 families, or a total of 304 people. (Ma’an News Agency)
In Cairo, after a meeting with President Hosni Mubarak, visiting US President Obama said: ”We discussed the situation with Israel and the Palestinians. We discussed how we can move forward in a constructive way that brings about peace and prosperity for all people in the region. And I emphasized to him that America is committed to working in partnership with the countries in the region so that all people can meet their aspirations.” (www.whitehouse.gov)
In a speech at Cairo University, US President Obama said there could be no denying of the right of a Palestinian State to exist, and that he would "personally pursue" its realization, "with all the patience that the task requires". At the same time, Mr. Obama reaffirmed the United States’ "unbreakable bond" with Israel. He went on to say, "The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements," adding, "This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop." He said that the obligations that Israel and the Palestinians had agreed to under the Road Map were clear and for peace to come, it was time for them “and all of us to live up to our responsibilities.” He said: "If we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth … The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two States, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security", adding, "That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest.” (www.whitehouse.gov)
According to the official spokesman of the PA Presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, PA President Abbas had said: "His [President Obama’s] call for stopping settlement and for the establishment of a Palestinian State, and his reference to the suffering of Palestinians ... is a clear message to Israel that a just peace is built on the foundations of a Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as its capital," adding, "President Obama's speech is a good start and an important step towards a new American policy." (Haaretz)
In an opinion piece published in The Times online edition, Israel’s President Shimon Peres said President Obama's journey to Saudi Arabia and Egypt reflected the need for an historic change in the Middle East and a unique chance of achieving it. With the support of the leadership in Egypt, it seemed the time was ripe to end the Israeli-Arab conflict once and for all. (www.timesonline.co.uk)
Mahmoud Ramahi, a former member of the Palestinian Legislative Council from Hamas, said, "I have followed the [Obama] speech closely. There are many positive points,” adding, "There is a difference between his policy and Bush's policy. I see a change in the US foreign policy discourse. But the problem is still on the ground. Would they achieve a Palestinian independent State? If he does that, it would be a relief and good for all parties.” (Haaretz)
The newspaper Al-Hayat reported that the indirect talks for the release of the IDF soldier Gilad Shalit had resumed. The paper said that the head of Hamas’ military wing, Ahmad Jabari, had visited Cairo to carry on with the negotiations. The newly appointed Israeli Special Representative on the Return of the Abducted IDF Soldier Gilad Shalit, Hagai Hadas, had met earlier this week with Mr. Shalit's father and said he would do his utmost to secure Mr. Shalit's release. (Haaretz)
A PA security officer was killed by a grenade thrown by Hamas men, who were holed up in a building in Qalqilya. Later, PA security officers and Hamas gunmen fought, killing three more people identified as members of the armed wing of Hamas. Qalqilya Governor Rabih Al-Khandaqji said that the PA had brought the mother and the brother of one of the Hamas members to the building to convince him to surrender peacefully. Mr. Al-Khandaqji accused Hamas of attempting to repeat its 2007 takeover of Gaza in the West Bank. (Ma’an News Agency)
A World Bank report for the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee underlined that budget support remained indispensable to allow the PA to continue to provide basic services, and was also an appropriate instrument given the PA’s good performance in public sector management. Improvements in security in the West Bank had not yet translated into increases in private sector activities, and Quick-Impact Projects had yet to deliver tangible results. The large sums of money pledged at the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza had not yet translated into tangible progress towards reconstruction due to the extreme closure regime. The Occupied Palestinian Territory’s GNP per capita had declined 1 per cent in 2008. Its dependence on international aid kept growing, according to the report. (www.worldbank.org)
Organizers of the cultural and scientific gathering dedicated to Jerusalem as Arab Capital of Culture for 2009 announced that the event would take place in Amman instead of Jerusalem. “Jerusalem is an occupied city ... We hope that the festival will one day be held in Jerusalem when it is free,” said Abdo Ballan, the festival's Secretary-General at a press conference. (The Jordan Times)