2002 in Israel

2002
in
Israel

Decades:
See also:

Events in the year 2002 in Israel.

Incumbents

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Events

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Daniel Kahneman is awarded the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

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(also see Second Intifada)

Israel begins construction of the West Bank Separation Barrier to protect Israeli civilians from Palestinian terrorism

The most prominent events related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict which occurred during 2002 include:

  • February 19 – Israel Defense Forces used explosives to destroy the five-storey main building and transmission tower of the Palestine Broadcasting Center in Ramallah claiming retaliation for the killing of six people by a Palestinian gunman linked to Fatah. The Israeli Government later singled out PBC for broadcasting material deemed to be anti-Semitic or that incited violence against Israeli citizens during the Second Intifada.[3][4]
  • April – The Israeli government approved the construction of a continuous security barrier which would separate the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Israeli population centers, thus prevent the infiltration of Palestinian Arab terrorists, particularly suicide bombers into Israeli population centers.
  • August 14 – The Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti is sentenced to five life sentences after being convicted by a civilian Israeli court on charges of murdering Israeli civilians and membership in a terrorist organisation.

Palestinian militant operations against Israeli targets

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The most prominent Palestinian militant acts and operations committed against Israeli targets during 2002 include:

Israeli military operations against Palestinian militancy targets

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Military equipment confiscated from Karine A

The most prominent Israeli military counter-terrorism operations (military campaigns and military operations) carried out against Palestinian militants during 2002 include:

  • January 2 – Karine A Affair: IDF Shayetet 13 naval commando captures the Palestinian Authority owned freighter "Karin A" in the Red Sea, which was on its way to the shores of the Gaza Strip. The vessel is found to be carrying 50 tons of weapons from Iran believed to be intended for Palestinian militants' use against Israelis. The weapons found on the ship include short-range Katyusha rockets, antitank missiles and high explosives.[5][21][22]
  • January 12 – The Israeli army assassinates al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade member Ra'id Karmi in Tulkarm.[5]
  • January 22 – The Israeli army kills West Bank leader of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigade (IQB), Yusaf Suragji, with three other Hamas members in Nablus.[5]
  • January 22 – The Israeli army fire missiles at a car in Khan Yunis executing senior Hamas member Adil Hamdan (Bakr Hamdan). Another six Palestinians are killed in other incidents.[5]
  • February 1 – The Israeli army demolish the Palestine Broadcasting Center in Gaza City. Six Palestinians are killed in Brazil Refugee Camp.[5]
  • February 4 – The Israeli army fires missiles at a car near Rafah, killing five members of the PFLP including wanted man Ayman Bihdari.[5]
  • February 16 – In Jenin, the Israeli army use a remote-controlled bomb to execute Nazih al-Siba', a local Hamas leader.[7]
  • February 19 – The Israeli navy fire a missile into Yasser Arafat's compound in Gaza City killing 4 members of Force 17. Later in the day the army fire 18 shells into the compound killing 5 Preventive Security Force (PSF) officers.[7]
  • February 20 – An Israeli army incursion into Nablus kills nine Palestinians. A further seven Palestinians are killed in other incidents.[7]
  • February 28 – Operation Colorful Journey. The Israeli army attacks Balata refugee camp and Jenin. At least eleven Palestinians are killed, including Balata AMB leader Kayid Abu Mustafa and six PSF officers.[7]
  • March 4 – In an apparent attempt to execute Hamas politician, Hussein Abu Kuwayk, the Israeli army fires rockets at a truck in Ramallah killing his wife and 3 children as well as two bystanders.[7]
  • March 5 – Israeli helicopters fire a missile at a car in Ramallah killing three, including AMB members Muhannad Abu Halawa and Fawzi Murrar.[7]
  • March 6 – Thirteen Palestinians are killed in various incidents. Those killed included senior Hamas member 'Abd al-Nassar Ghazal.[7]
  • March 7 – Sixteen Palestinians are killed in various incidents, including two ambulance workers.[7]
  • March 8 – In Khuza'a, Khan Yunis, the Israeli army execute 16 Palestinians including PSF regional commander Major General Ahmad Mifraj. A further 24 Palestinians are killed in other incidents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The highest single-day death toll since the al-Aqsa intifada began.[7]
  • March 11 – An Israeli army raid into the Jabaliya refugee camp kills 18 Palestinians. A further six Palestinians are killed in Gaza. [7]
  • March 12 – Thirty Palestinians killed by 20,000 Israeli soldiers with 150 tanks attacking the Al-Amari refugee camp of Ramallah and al-Bireh.[7]
  • March 14 – Six Palestinians killed in Tulkarm including senior AMB member Mutasim Makhluf.[7]
  • Operation Defensive Shield (March 29 – May 3, 2002) – Large-scale counter-terrorist operation conducted by the IDF into Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank aimed to halt Palestinian suicide bombings against civilians in Israel during the Second Intifada, which results in extensive damage to terrorist infrastructure and an important decrease of Palestinian attacks.
    • Battle of Jenin (April 1–11) – Israel attacked Palestinian militants in the city of Jenin.
    • Battle of Bethlehem (April 2 – May 10) – Israel occupied Bethlehem and tried to capture wanted Palestinian militants who were hiding in the Church of the Nativity.
    • Battle of Nablus (April 3–8) – Israel attacked Palestinian militants in the city of Nablus.
  • April 3 – Israeli army execute six Palestinians in Jenin. One Israeli reservist killed.[7]
  • April 5 – IQB regional commander, Qays Udwan, and five other Hamas members, are killed by the Israeli army in Tubas. Twelve Palestinians are killed in Nablus when the Israeli army destroy large sections of the eastern market area.[7]
  • April 6 – At least fifty Palestinians and five Israeli soldiers are killed as Operation Defensive Shield continues.[7]
  • April 7 – In Nablus, at least 14 Palestinians are killed by the Israeli army.[7]
  • April 7 – Ansar III prison camp for Palestinian detainees is re-opened.[7]
  • April 8 – Thirty Palestinians killed by Israeli army in the Jenin refugee camp. Two Israeli soldiers are killed.[7]
  • April 10 – The Israeli army kill eleven Palestinian in Nablus old city.[7]
  • April 15 – Palestinian political figure Marwan Barghouti, who was accused by the Israeli authorities of the murder of Israeli civilians and attacks on Israeli soldiers, is captured by the Israel Defense Forces in Palestinian Authority administered city of Ramallah.[7]
  • April 22 – Israeli army in Hebron assassinate senior AMB member Marwan Zallum.[7]
  • April 24 – Senior AMB member Yacub Sarayra is assassinated in Bani Na'im. A second Palestinian is also killed.[7]
  • April 26 – Local Qalqilya PFLP leader, Ra'id Nazil is killed in an Israeli army raid.[7]
  • April 28 – Two Jewish settlers are arrested attempting to place a bomb at the Maqasid Hospital, Jerusalem.[7]
  • April 29 – The Israeli army launch a major pre-dawn incursion into Hebron. Ten Palestinians are killed, including wanted Hamas member, Tarik al-Dufashi.[7]
  • May 1 – Six Palestinians trapped in Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah, who were wanted by the Israelis, surrender themselves into British/US custody.[7]
  • May 3 – Israeli army raid Nablus house and kill senior Hamas member, Ali Hudairi, and four others. One Israeli soldier is killed.[7]
  • May 14 – Israeli army assassinates two Palestinian intelligence officers, Halhul.[7]
  • May 16 – In Beitunia, the Israeli army assassinates wanted PSF officer Ahmad Ghanem.[11]
  • May 22 – In the Balata refugee camp, Israeli army fire rockets, assassinating AMB Nablus commander Mahmud Titi. Two other AMB members and a bystander are also killed. IJ member, Khalid Zakami, is killed in an unexplained explosion, Jenin.[11]
  • June 12 – The Israeli army kill eight Palestinians in Gaza.[11]
  • June 17 – Israeli army assassinate local al Khadir AMB leader, Walid Sbeh.[11]
  • June 18 – Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Student leader, Yusif Bisharat, is assassinated by the Israeli army in Hebron.[11]
  • June 19 – Israeli army starts barring all Palestinians with West Bank ID cards from entering Jerusalem.[11]
  • June 22 – Operation Determined Path begins.[11]
  • June 24 – Israeli army assassinate two IQB leaders, Yasir Raziq and 'Amr Kufa. The two drivers of the cars destroyed in the missile attack, as well as a further two passengers, are also killed. Thirteen bystanders are injured.[11]
  • June 24 – US halt all direct dealing with Yasser Arafat for allegedly funding June 19, French Hill, suicide attack.[11]
  • June 30 – In Nablus, senior AMB member, Muhammad Tahir , is assassinated by the Israeli army with a member of Hamas is also killed.[11]
  • July 4 – Senior AMB members, Jihad al-Omarayn and Wa'il al-Nimral are killed by a bomb in their car. Presumed to be an Israeli assassination.[11]
  • July 9 – Near Jenin, PIJ member, Mu'ammar Daraghma, is fatally shot by Israeli soldiers while driving in a presumed assassination.[11]
  • July 22 – An Israeli warplane fires a one-ton bomb at an apartment in a densely populated neighborhood of Gaza City, killing Salah Shehade, top commander of Hamas's military wing (the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades), who headed Israel's most wanted list and whom Israel accuses of masterminding several terror attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians in the Gaza strip and in Israel proper during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. The apartment building is flattened and 14 civilians are killed, including Shehade's wife and nine children.[23] The attack occurred hours after AMB, Tanzim, Hamas, and IJ had agreed to declare a unilateral cease-fire.
  • July 28 – Curfew in Nablus lifted for the fifth time in forty days.[11]
  • August 2 – In Salim, Nablus, Israeli army execute Hamas member, Amjad Jabour, outside his home.[11]
  • August 5 – In Burqa, Nablus, Israeli forces assassinate AMB member, Khalid Sayf. A Palestinian bystander is also killed.[11]
  • August 6 – In Jenin, AMB members Ali Ajuri and Murad Marshud, assassinated by air to surface missile.[11]
  • August 7 – Israeli army commandos assassinate Tulkarm local AMB commander, Ziad Da'as. Two Palestinian bystanders also killed.[11]
  • August 7 – In Khan Yunis, an Israeli army sniper assassinates Hamas member Hussam Hamdan, son of top Hamas political leader Ahmad Nimr.[11]
  • August 12 – In Yamun, Jenin, Israeli soldiers take AMB member Ghazal Frayhat into custody before fatally shooting him.[11]
  • August 14 – In Tubas, Israeli army fire rockets into a house assassinating senior Hamas member Nasir Jarrar. The victim was reliant on a wheelchair having lost one arm and both legs in previous Israeli attempts to kill him.[11]
  • August 19 – Israeli army hands control of Bethlehem back to the PSF.[18]
  • August 20 – In Ramallah, Israeli commandos assassinate senior PFLP member Muhammad Saadat, brother of the head of the PFLP, Ahmad Saadat.[18]
  • August 20 – In Tulkarm, Israeli army assassinates Tanzim member, Afsam Salim.[18]
  • August 23 – In Jenin, Israeli army assassinate AMB Jenin commander Muhammad al-Ott, in a firefight.[18]
  • August 31 – In Tubas, Israeli army fire four missiles at a car in an attempt to assassinate local AMB leader, Jihad Sawafta and kills one AMB member, Rafat Daraghma and two teenagers in the car. One missile strikes a house killing two children.[18]
  • September 1 – In Hebron, Israeli army shoot dead four unarmed Palestinians.[18]
  • September 10 – Israeli army raid kills wanted Palestinian Mahmud Harfush.[18]
  • September 13 – In Gaza, unexplained explosion kills three Palestinians including wanted Fatah member Iyad Sharif.[18]
  • September 19 – Operation Matter of Time to isolate Yasser Arafat.[18]
  • September 24 – 90 Israeli tanks with bulldozers and helicopters move into Gaza City and Bayt Lahia. Nine Palestinians are killed, including local AMB leader Muhammad Kishku and senior IQB member Yasin Nassar.[18]
  • September 26 – Israeli army fire two missiles at two carts in an attempt to assassinate most wanted member of IQB, Muhammad Dayif. Two Hamas members killed and thirty bystanders injured.[18]
  • September 26 – In Tulkarm, Israeli army assassinate senior Hamas member Nashat Abu Jabara and demolish his home. One Israeli soldier killed.[18]
  • September 27 – Near Hebron. Israeli army assassinate wanted Palestinian Muhammad Yaghmur.[18]
  • September 29 – Israeli army end siege of Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah.[18]
  • October 6 – PIJ member Samir Nursi assassinated in Jenin refugee camp following exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers.[18]
  • October 7 – Israeli army sends 40 tanks with helicopters into Khan Yunis. Fourteen Palestinians killed.[18]
  • October 12 – AMB member Muhammad Ubayyat assassinated by exploding phone, in what is believed to have been an Israeli attempt to assassinate his brother, Bethlehem tanzim commander Nassir Ubayyat.[18]
  • October 14 – In Nablus, Two PIJ members, Wassim Saba'na and Muhammad Musa, assassinated.[18]
  • October 17 – Israeli army shells residential area of Rafah. Six Palestinians killed, including two women, two teenagers and a nine-year-old.[18]
  • October 25 – Hundreds of Israeli soldiers, backed by scores of tanks and other military vehicles, take control of the Palestinian Authority administered city of Jenin in response to a suicide bombing that killed 14 people.[18]
  • October 29 – In Tubas, Israeli army undercover unit assassinate senior Hamas member Asim Sawafta.[18]
  • October 30 – In Nablus, Israeli commandos assassinate PA intelligence officer, Ajid Mansur.[18]
  • October 31 – In Jenin, Operation Vanguard. Ends November 10.[18]
  • October 32 – Three Hamas members assassinated in an explosion. Hamas spokesman, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi acknowledges that they were probably preparing a bomb.[18]
  • November 4 – In Nablus, Israeli army fire missile at a car assassinating wanted Hamas member Hamid Sidr. Another Hamas member, Firas Abu Ghazala is also assassinated.[18]
  • November 9 – In Jenin, Israeli army assassinates PIJ leader Iyad Sawalha in a raid on his house.[18]
  • November 15 – In Tulkarm, Israeli army undercover unit assassinate Hamas member Mahmud Obeid.[18]
  • November 17 – In Tulkarm, Israeli army undercover unit attempt to assassinate Riad 'Abd al Ghani, instead execute his brother.[20]
  • November 19 – In Tulkarm, Israeli army assassinates AMB member Tariq Zaghal. Three bystanders killed.[20]
  • November 22 – In the Jenin refugee camp, senior UNRWA official Iain Hook is shot dead by an Israeli army sniper while inside the UNRWA compound.[20]
  • November 26 – An Israeli rocket attack on a house in Jenin refugee camp kills AMB Jenin commander Ala' Ahmad Sabbagh and IQB Jenin commander Imad Nasharti.[20]
  • December 4 – Israeli army fire five missiles into a building in Gaza City killing Palestine Resistance Committee (PRC) member Mustafa Sabah who is reported to be the inventor of an anti-tank bomb used in earlier attacks.[20]
  • December 4 – In Hebron, the Israeli army shoot dead two PIJ members, Sami Shawer and Ahmad Srour.[20]
  • December 6 – Ten Palestinians including two UNRWA workers are killed when forty Israeli tanks enter Bureji refugee camp searching for PRC leader Ayman Shishniyya.[20]
  • December 7 – Near Jenin, Israeli army assassinate PIJ member 'Abd al-Hadi Omar.[20]
  • December 10 – In Khan Yunis, the Israeli army assassinates Hamas member Yasin al-Agha and in Balata refugee camp, the Israeli army assassinates wanted Palestinian Usama Badra.[20]
  • December 12 – Israeli army shell-fire kills five unarmed labourers in the Gaza Strip.[20]
  • December 13 – In the Nur al-Shams refugee camp, Israeli army assassinates Hamas's Tulkarm military commander, Tariq 'Abid Rabbuh.[20]
  • December 13 – In Bethlehem, Israeli army kill Hamas member Jadallah Shuka.[20]
  • December 16 – The Israeli army fatally shoots two armed Hamas members attempting to enter Israel from the Gaza Strip. Elsewhere in the Gaza Strip the Israeli army kill two civilians in separate incidents.[20]
  • December 23 – In Jenin, Israeli army assassinates two wanted Hamas members. Shaman Suduh and Mustafa Baqash.[20]
  • December 25 – In Nablus, Israeli army shoot senior Hamas member, Talib Abu Hawash denying him medical attention having him exsanguinate.[20]
  • December 26 – In Tulkarm, Israeli army assassinate local AMB head Jamal Yahya. In Ramallah, a car is ambushed assassinating Hamas member Bassam Ashqar. In Qabatiyya local PIJ leader, Yusif Abu Rub, is also assassinated. An Israeli undercover enter a hospital in Ramallah and kill wanted man, Samir al-Shamali, who was working as a guard. Six other Palestinians are killed by the Israeli army during the day.[20]

Notable deaths

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Abba Eban
  • April 10 – Haim Cohn (born 1911), German-born Israeli jurist and politician.
  • October 2 – Haim Yosef Zadok (born 1913), Austro-Hungarian (Galicia)-born Israeli jurist and politician.
  • October 11 – Maxim Levy (born 1950), Moroccan-born Israeli politician.
  • October 15 – Yaakov (Ze'ev) Farkash (born 1923), Hungarian-born Israeli cartoonist and illustrator.
  • September 7 – Uziel Gal (born 1923), German-born Israeli gun designer best remembered as the designer and namesake of the Uzi submachine gun.
  • November 11 – Yisrael Amir (born 1903), Russian (Lithuania)-born Israeli Haganah member, first commander of the Israeli Air Force.
  • November 11 – Esther Raziel-Naor (born 1911), Russian (Belarus)-born Israeli jurist and politician.
  • November 17 – Abba Eban (born 1915), South African-born Israeli foreign affair minister.
  • Full date unknownYaakov Ben-Tor (born 1910), German-born Israeli geologist.

Major public holidays

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2001 Israel – En davar". Diggiloo Thrush. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court". United Nations Treaty Collection. May 16, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "Israel and the occupied territories". 2002 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. US Department of State. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  4. ^ BBC News Online, 'Palestinians seek $10m for radio attack', January 24, 2002.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Journal of Palestine Studies. XXXI, no. 3 (Spring 2002), University of California Press, pp. 172-194.
  6. ^ Curtius, Mary (January 10, 2002). "Hamas Takes Responsibility for Attack". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi Journal of Palestine Studies XXXI, no. 4 (Summer 2002), University of California Press, pp 199-221
  8. ^ "שלושה הרוגים ו-35 פצועים בפיגוע במסעדה בתל אביב". Ynet.
  9. ^ "Suicide bombing at Cafe Moment in Jerusalem - 9-Ma". Mfa.gov.il. Archived from the original on December 15, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  10. ^ "Chronology of Palestinian Suicide Bombings". Facts of Israel.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Journal of Palestine Studies XXXII no. 1 (Autumn 2002), pp 172-193. online: ISSN 1533-8614.
  12. ^ "Bomb blast at fuel depot could have killed thousands". Israel Faxx. May 24, 2002. Archived from the original on March 25, 2007 – via AllBusiness.
  13. ^ "PA town square memorial honors suicide terrorist and his attack as 'heroic,'" Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook, August 19, 2020, Palestine Media Watch.
  14. ^ Israeli children – Victims of Palestinian Terrorism Archived October 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ "Terrorist bombing at Hebrew University cafeteria". Mfa.gov.il. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  16. ^ "Security forces capture terrorist cell involved in". Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  17. ^ "Terror Blast Kills 7, Including 5 americans, at Jerusalem University". Fox News. August 1, 2002. Archived from the original on July 2, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak Journal of Palestine Studies XXXII no.2 (Winter 2003) pp 172-194. ISSN 0377-919X. online: ISSN 1533-8614.
  19. ^ "Karkur junction". Pmo.gov.il. October 21, 2002. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Journal of Palestine Studies XXXII no.3 (Spring 2003) pp 164-184. ISSN 0377-919X. online: ISSN 1533-8614.
  21. ^ "Statement by IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz regarding interception of ship Karine A". IDF. January 4, 2002. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  22. ^ "Address by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon following the seizing of the ship Karine A". Eilat: IDF. January 6, 2002. Retrieved December 12, 2009. [dead link]
  23. ^ "Israeli strike kills Hamas leader, at least 14 others". USA Today. July 23, 2002. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
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