1991–1992 Ramallah curfew

Curfew during the First Intifada yes From December 1991 to January 1992 during the First Intifada, the Israeli government imposed a curfew on the Palestine residents of the Ramallah–Al-Bireh area. Events On the evening of 1 December 1991, three days before the start of the bilateral peace negotiations in Washington, Palestinian militants fired shots at the car of Israeli settler Zvi Klein as he travelled from the settlement of Ofra to Jerusalem.2 December 1991 Jewish Settler Badly Wounded in Shooting North of Jerusalem https://www.jta.org/archive/jewish-settler-badly-wounded-in-shooting-north-of-jerusalem 7 May 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency The shots struck Klein in the head, severely injuring him, while less severely injuring his daughter.1 December 1991 Sunday, December 1, 1991 https://chronology.palestine-studies.org/node/9706 9 May 2025 The Palestine Chronology Klein was treated in the Hadassah Medical Center, but died of his injuries.3 December 1991 West Bank Seethes with Tension After Settler Dies of Injuries https://www.jta.org/archive/west-bank-seethes-with-tension-after-settler-dies-of-injuries 7 May 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency As a result of the shooting, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rapidly imposed a full-day curfew on the Ramallah–Al-Bireh area, confining all Palestinian residents to their homes around the clock. After imposing the curfew, Israeli soldiers began searching the area for the shooters. The curfew was temporarily lifted for four hours on 4 December, to allow Palestinians to buy supplies.4 December 1991 Wednesday, December 4, 1991 https://chronology.palestine-studies.org/node/9709 9 May 2025 The Palestine Chronology The curfew was relaxed on 15 December, from an around-the-clock ban on residents leaving their homes to a nighttime ban between 17:00 and 6:00.16 December 1991 Arab-jewish Tensions Mounting in West Bank and East Jerusalem https://www.jta.org/archive/arab-jewish-tensions-mounting-in-west-bank-and-east-jerusalem 7 May 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency On the same day, the Israeli military imposed a ban on all West Bank Palestinians from being within 150 metres of major motorways in the West Bank at night.15 December 1991 Sunday, December 15, 1991 https://chronology.palestine-studies.org/node/9720 9 May 2025 The Palestine Chronology According to Clyde Haberman of The New York Times:For the many here who commute to jobs in Jerusalem, curfew means having to figure out how to leave work early to be in one's house by 5 P.M. For a chocolate factory, it means shutting down the night shift. For taxi drivers, it means a big reduction in the work day. For children, it means being off the streets earlier than they like or their parents can stand, and taking their games indoors. One common diversion is playing Israeli soldier, which includes pointing imaginary rifles at one another and shouting, "Mamnouwa a tajawool!" -- Arabic for "curfew is imposed!" And for almost everyone, it means long periods without seeing relatives and friends, thus deepening the isolation that was already considerable under the multiple blows of long military occupation and the repeated strikes imposed by the uprising... The two weeks of 24-hour curfew that followed the Zvi Klein slaying were especially difficult, residents say. They never got advance word about when the restrictions would be temporarily lifted to permit them to replenish supplies, and some learned that they were free to move about only after it was too late. Often, neighborhood stores were empty or reduced to rotting fruits and vegetables. In a winter that has been uncommonly cold, fuel supplies ran low. For the last six weeks, curfew has not set in until 5 P.M., and it is therefore easier to arrange one's life. Even so, a dentist here says that almost no patients show up in the afternoon because they are afraid of the most remote chance that they might violate the curfew. On 28 January 1992, the Supreme Court of Israel ruled that the IDF should lift the curfew by 11 February at the latest.29 January 1992 Israel Court Tells Army To Lift Town's Curfew https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/29/world/israel-court-tells-army-to-lift-town-s-curfew.html 7 May 2025 The New York Times Reactions In Israel Minister of Defence Moshe Arens stated that "I hope [Palestinians] understand we have no choice but to take these measures."16 December 1991 Israelis Restrict Movement of Palestinians at Night https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/16/world/israelis-restrict-movement-of-palestinians-at-night.html Haberman Clyde 7 May 2025 The New York Times IDF military commander in the West Bank Danny Yatom denied that curfews were imposed as punishment, saying that they served "purely intelligence and operational reasons." Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Benjamin Netanyahu accused Palestinians of trying to sabotage the ongoing peace negotiations via attacks.17 December 1991 ISRAELIS HOLD FIRM ON TERMS OF TALKS https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/17/world/israelis-hold-firm-on-terms-of-talks.html Crossette Barbara 7 May 2025 The New York Times In early February 1992, the Israeli military relaxed its regulations on firing at Palestinians as a result of the Klein shooting and other shootings aimed at settlers' cars.3 February 1992 Israel Eases Army Gunfire Rules https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/03/world/israel-eases-army-gunfire-rules.html 7 May 2025 The New York Times Israeli NGO Peace Now described the curfew as collective punishment. Yossi Sarid of Ratz warned that settler vigilantism risked "the end of the democratic system in Israel, and things may develop into a civil war." The shooting provoked strong reactions from the settler community in the West Bank, who accused the Israeli military of failing to protect them. On 9 December, following a ceremony at the site of the shooting to mark the end of the shiva mourning period, a group of settlers rioted through Ramallah, smashing cars and windows.10 December 1991 Settlers Rampage Through Ramallah, but Intifada Anniversary Mainly Quiet https://www.jta.org/archive/settlers-rampage-through-ramallah-but-intifada-anniversary-mainly-quiet 7 May 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency A second settler riot occurred on 15 December, in Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Hebron, and Halhul.18 December 1991 Israeli Authorities Concerned About Vigilantism by Settlers https://www.jta.org/archive/israeli-authorities-concerned-about-vigilantism-by-settlers 7 May 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency On 19 December, a group of settlers blockaded the road between Nablus and Jerusalem in protest over Palestinian attacks on settler cars.19 December 1991 Thursday, December 19, 1991 https://chronology.palestine-studies.org/node/9724 9 May 2025 The Palestine Chronology The Rehelim settlement, which was illegally founded on 2 December 1991, was initially assumed by many in Israel to have been founded in response to Klein's shooting. Later information, however, showed that the settlement had been approved by the Israeli government in late-November 1991, in response to an October 1991 shooting at the Tapuach Junction which killed two settlers heading to an anti-peace negotiations protest.6 December 1991 Settlers Will Be Allowed to Stay for Now at New West Bank Outpost https://www.jta.org/archive/settlers-will-be-allowed-to-stay-for-now-at-new-west-bank-outpost 7 May 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency In Palestine According to Clyde Haberman of The New York Times, the curfew provoked more resentment among Palestinians than the Gulf War curfew in Palestine in early 1991, saying that Ramallah residents "do not understand the security concerns invoked by Israel. From their vantage point, it amounts to collective punishment," and quoting Ramallah psychologist Youssef Abu Samra as saying that "It seems to me that Israel is trying to put Palestinians in a ghetto."28 January 1992 In West Bank Town, Curfew Deepens Resentment https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/28/world/in-west-bank-town-curfew-deepens-resentment.html Haberman Clyde 7 May 2025 The New York Times Internationally Human Rights Watch described the curfew as "an act of collective punishment, in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law," citing both "its severity and scope."1 January 1993 Human Rights Watch World Report 1993 - Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/hrw/1993/en/93172 7 May 2025 Human Rights Watch Analysis Gil Sedan of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency wrote in late January 1992 that while Palestinians "were, for the first time, treated as equals at a peace conference," referring to the Madrid negotiations, "they made no political gains. There was no independence, no autonomy, no change of living conditions in the territories under Israeli rule. The Washington talks failed to get beyond wrangling with Israel over procedure. Meanwhile, Palestinian extremists have reverted to terrorism, fatally shooting four Israeli settlers from ambush in the past two months. The Israelis retaliated with curfews, mass arrests and deportation orders against 12 Palestinian activists, which are now being appealed before the High Court of Justice."30 January 1992 News Analysis; PLO Tension with Palestinians Behind Boycott of Moscow Talks https://www.jta.org/archive/news-analysis-plo-tension-with-palestinians-behind-boycott-of-moscow-talks Sedan Gil 7 May 2025 Jewish Telegraphic Agency Alan Cowell of The New York Times warned of the effect the curfew, and other curfews imposed by the Israeli government during the First Intifada, would have on the Palestinian Christian communities, saying that "Christians have generally had greater educational opportunities" in Palestine since the 19th century, and as a result, "The church schools had also helped to mold a Palestinian middle class that dominated local commerce, and arguably had the most to lose when the strikes and curfews of the uprising closed down stores and businesses."12 February 1992 The Holy Land Is Losing Its Christians, Leading to Fears of Vacant Shrines https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/12/world/the-holy-land-is-losing-its-christians-leading-to-fears-of-vacant-shrines.html Cowell Alan 7 May 2025 The New York Times References Category:First Intifada Category:Curfews