Chronology: October 16, 2010-January 15, 2011

Abbreviations

ABC,

ABC News

AFP,

Agence France Presse

Al-Ahram,

Ahram.org

Al-Arabiya,

Alarabiya.net

Al-Bawaba,

Albawaba.com

Al-Jazeera,

Aljazeera.net

AA,

Asharq Alawsat

AP,

Associated Press

BBC,

www.bbc.co.uk

CSM,

Christian Science Monitor

CNN,

www.cnn.com

Dawn,

www.dawn.com

DS,

Daily Star

DT,

Daily Times

EurasiaNet,

www.eurasianet.org

The Guardian

GN,

Gulf News

Haaretz

Hurriyet

IRIN,

Integrated Regional Information Networks

INN,

Israel National News

JP,

The Jerusalem Post

KT,

Khaleej Times

MEO,

Middle East Online

The National

NPR,

National Public Radio

New York Daily News

NYT,

The New York Times

RFE/RL,

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Reuters

UAE

Interact

VOA,

Voice of America

WJ,

The Wall Street Journal

WP,

The Washington Post

The Washington Times

Ynet,

Ynet News

Zaman

Arab-Israeli Conflict

See also Israel, Palestinian Affairs

Oct. 17:

Palestinian President Mahmud 'Abbas declared that if Palestinians were able to establish a state from pre-1967 borders, they would be willing to renounce all historic claims against Israel. The Palestinian leadership also considered appealing to international bodies to pressure Israel to rethink its settlement policy. [AP, NYT, 10/20]

Oct. 18:

The Israeli military confirmed the arrest of Hamas Member of Parliament Hathem Qufishe. Qufishe was taken from his home for "security questioning." He was previously held in prison following the 2006 capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit until his release in November 2009. [BBC, 10/18]

Oct. 21:

A Haifa court began hearing the civil lawsuit brought by the family of Rachel Corrie against the State of Israel for "unlawful killing" and denial of "basic human rights." An Israeli military bulldozer crushed Corrie to death as she protested the demolition of Palestinian homes in March 2003. The family was not permitted to see the soldier accused of driving the bulldozer. [Al-Jazeera, 10/21]

Oct. 31:

An Israeli soldier, "Corporal S," was jailed after being found guilty of abuse and behavior unbecoming of a soldier by a military court. Photographs were found on the soldier's phone that allegedly showed him and two other soldiers posing with detainees. "Corporal S" was the first to be jailed in the case. [BBC, 11/1]

Nov. 17:

Israel's inner cabinet approved on principle a plan to withdraw from the northern half of Ghajar, a village on its borders with Lebanon and Syria, though it did not set a specific date for withdrawal. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon would assume control of the area. The pullout raised fears among villagers that their community would be divided. [AP, NYT, 11/17]

Nov. 21:

Israeli soldiers accused of using a Palestinian child as a human shield by forcing him to check for bombs were demoted and sentenced to three months in prison. The Israeli Supreme Court banned the army from using human shields in October 2005. The Geneva-based rights group Defence for Children International (DCI) claimed 15 violations of that ban in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and called the sentence "unbelievable." [AFP, 11/21]

Nov. 28:

Fatah, led by Chairman Mahmud 'Abbas, formally declared its refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Fatah also declared its opposition to the concept of land for peace, stating that the group would not return to negotiations until Israel completely froze settlement construction throughout all areas of Jerusalem claimed by the Palestinian Authority. [INN, 11/28]

Nov. 30:

Citing security concerns, Israel banned the construction of two United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools in Gaza. The UNRWA, which planned to construct 12 schools, had to send away 40,000 schoolchildren in September 2010 due to lack of facilities. [MEO, 11/30]

Dec. 8:

After three weeks of failed negotiation, the US abandoned attempts to pressure Israel into halting further settlement construction. Talks failed when Israel refused to agree on settling border issues, demanding that security issues be addressed first. Palestinian President 'Abbas said negotiations would not continue without a further freeze. [The Guardian, 12/8]

Dec. 26:

Two militants on the Gaza border were killed as they allegedly planted a bomb along the security barrier. Israel and Hamas exchanged threats afterwards...