The Palestine Chronology

The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian involved in a traffic altercation with an IDF jeep nr. Jenin; occupies 2 medical clinics in Nablus, firing fr. the facilities on stone-throwing Palestinians, killing 1 Palestinian; fires on 3 Palestinians allegedly attempting to infiltrate the Israeli border fence in the Negev, killing 1 Palestinian (2 others escape); fatally beats a 17-yr.-old Palestinian for violating the curfew in Hebron; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Dura; denies an ailing Palestinian woman passage through a checkpoint to a clinic, allowing her to die; conducts arrest raids nr. Tulkarm. Israeli courts sentence an Israeli Arab taxi driver to 15 yrs. for driving 2 suicide bombers to Tel Aviv, an East Jerusalem Palestinian to 6 yrs. for providing Palestinian militants with information used to carry out attacks on Israelis. (HA, JTA 12/30; NYT, WP, WT 12/31; LAW, PCHR, WP 1/1; NYT 1/2; PRCS press release 1/5)

The Israeli Central Elections Comm. decides to follow Atty. Gen. Rubinstein’s 2/19 advice to disqualify Israeli Arab MK Ahmad Tibi (Ta’al) fr. running in 1/03 elections on the grounds that he does not support the Jewish character of the State of Israel, supports armed attacks against it (a charge he denies); turns down a similar request to bar MK `Abd al-Malik Dahamshe and his United Arab List; rules that Herut mbr. Baruch Marzel, the fmr. head of the outlawed Kach movement who placed 2d on Herut’s slate of MK candidates, can participate in the 1/28 elections. The Knesset bans mbrs. of Kach, which advocates the deportation of Arabs fr. Israel and the occupied territories, from holding parliamentary office. (HA 12/30, 12/31; ADL, HA, MM 1/2; DUS 1/2 in WNC 1/3; MA 1/3 in WNC 1/6; WT 1/8; JPI, NYT 1/10)

In Mombassa, Kenya, a previously un-known group called the Government of Universal Palestine in Exile–Army of Palestine, thought to be connected to al-Qa‘ida, stages a dual attack marking the 55th anniversary of the 1947 UN partition res., firing 2 missiles at an Israeli charter jet carry-ing 261 Israeli tourists leaving Mombassa airport, missing the plane; simultaneously, 3 suicide bombers detonate a car bomb outside the lobby of an Israeli-owned hotel, killing 3 Israeli tourists, 10 Kenyans (an 11th dies on 12/18), injuring 80, causing extensive damage. Hrs. later in Beit She’an in n. Israel, 2 AMB mbrs open fire on, toss grenades at a crowd of voters outside the local Likud polling station, killing 6 Israelis, wounding 20 before being fatally shot by Israeli police. Sharon convenes a security mtg. to discuss responses; once again does not invite Netanyahu (see 11/21). In Hebron, a 4-yr.-old Palestinian is fatally wounded by IDF gunfire in his home. The IDF also shells residential areas of Rafah r.c.; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara, Tulkarm. In a Tel Aviv court, Israeli Arab Nissim Nasser pleads guilty to spying for Hizballah in exchange for a reduced sentence. (AP, CNN, HA, MM 11/28; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/29; HA, NYT, WP, WT 11/30; AYM 12/2 in WNC 12/6, 12/9; LAW, PCHR 12/3; JT 12/4 in WNC 12/5; JPI, MEI 12/6; WT 12/7; JTA 12/18)

Likud primaries go on despite the day’s attacks, with Sharon winning (56% to 40%) over Netanyahu. (MM 11/28; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/29; NYT 11/30; MEI 12/6; AYM 12/13 in WNC 12/16)

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon visits Hebron, calls for the expanding of Jewish settlements in and around Hebron to create “settlement contiguity” btwn. 4 Jewish enclaves in He-bron, the outlying Kiryat Arba settlement, the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs site. In response, Jewish settlers declare a new settlement on the site of the olive grove bulldozed by the IDF on 11/16 and move in 3 shipping containers, tents, cisterns; the IDF constructs a 7-ft. concrete wall around the site. IDF undercover units attempt to assassinate Riad ‘Abd al-Ghani in Tulkarm, missing him, killing his brother, wounding a 2d brother. The IDF fires rockets, tank shells at the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Preventive Security Force (PSF) headquarters complex in Gaza, sends troops in to set fire to 2 buildings, injuring 2 PSF officers, 1 Palestinian journalist. The IDF also fires on Palestinians in Gaza City, Nur al-Shams refugee camp (r.c.); bulldozes 8 dunams of Pal-estinian land in Bayt Lahia; blows up 2 Palestinian homes in Balata r.c.; detains for 2 hrs. a PRCS ambulance carrying Palestinians seriously injured in a car accident; fires on 2 ambulances outside a hospital in Gaza, nr. Shati‘ r.c.; detains, searches 6 ambulances, including 1 transporting a patient, for up to 70 mins. at checkpoints. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/18; MENA 11/18 in WNC 11/19; AFP 11/19 in WNC 11/21; PCHR 11/20; WJW 11/21; MEI 11/22; PRCS press release 11/23)

Israeli Arab passenger carrying only a pen knife that he does not wield attempts to hijack an El Al plane bound for Istanbul fr. Tel Aviv. He is quickly captured and detained, without injury to any other passen-gers; says that he intended to hijack the plane to protest Israeli actions against Palestinians, that he is not affiliated with any group. He is described by peers as frail, nervous, eccentric young man with a heart condition, who craves popularity and attention. (MM, NYT 11/18; ATL 11/18 in WNC 11/19; CSM, NYT, WP 11/19; NYT, WJW 11/21; NYT 11/26, 11/27; JPI 11/29

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device in a store in Tel Aviv, killing 1 Israeli security guard, 1 Israeli civilian, wounding 30. The IDF assassinates wanted Hamas mbr. Hamid Sidr, firing a missile at his car as it drives nr. Nablus, also killing his passenger, Hamas mbr. Firas Abu Ghazala, and injuring 2 bystanders; fires shells, heavy machine guns at a car traveling 800 m. fr. the border fence nr. Jabaliya, killing all 3 Palestinians inside; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes a hardware store, shelter, tour company parking lot for 50 buses in the al-Tur quarter of Jerusalem, 2 Palestinian homes under construction (1 in Yabad), 2 exisiting Palestinian homes (in Bayt Marsam, Dura), a 3-story building in the Nablus industrial zone, 67 dunams of agricultural land nr. Bayt Hanun; conducts arrest raids nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlement security guards block Palestinians, international activists fr. picking olives in Falami, cut down 10+n15 olive trees as IDF soldiers look on. (GS, PM 11/4; NYT, WP, WT 11/5; Interfax, QA 11/5 in WNC 11/6; LAW, PCHR, PR 11/6; MEI 11/8; JPI 11/15)

Israel releases its annual poverty report, showing that the poverty rate has stayed steady at 17.7% for the past 5 yrs. Unofficial estimates show that of the nearly 320,000 poor families, an estimated 90,000 families are Arab. Nearly 50% of Arab families are below the poverty line, compared to 1 in 7 Jewish families; 50,000 of the 75,000 children in poverty are Arab. (MM 11/5)

Israeli security forces guarding the U.S. emb. in Tel Aviv capture a Palestinian suicide bomber when he bolts fr. the entrance of a nearby cafe after his explosives belt set off a metal detector; no one is injured. 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received on 9/30. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian in her home in Nablus, shells residential areas of Bayt Hanun. Israel bars access to al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers to Palestinians under age 40. Jewish settlers retake the only inhabited settler outpost removed by the IDF on 10/10; the IDF says it has shut 17 of 24 unauthorized outposts it aims to close. (HA, MM 10/11; NYT, WP 10/12; WT 10/13; MM 10/14; LAW, PCHR, PR 10/16)

Some 5,000 Christian evangelicals hold a rally in solidarity with Israel on the sidelines of a Christian Coalition conference in Washington. Addressing the rally, Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson states that "Palestine has been occupied by Yasir Arafat and his thugs . . . [and] we cannot turn it over to them." House majority whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) declares that when he visited the Jewish state, "I didn't see any occupied territory--what I saw was Israel." (WJW 10/17; JPI 10/25; Guardian 10/28)

Senate passes (77-23) a concurrent res. approved by the House (296-133) on 10/10 giving Bush the authority to strike Iraq unilaterally, meaning he needs no further congressional approval to deploy troops, order air strikes, wage a ground war with Iraq. The Pentagon issues orders for the army's V Corps, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force to deploy headquarters staffs, which would coordinate an attack on Iraq, to Kuwait, marking the 1st official nonroutine dispatch of conventional ground forces to the Gulf. (NYT, WP, WT 10/11; NYT 10/12)

Under pressure fr. the U.S., Israel halts demolitions in the PA's Ramallah compound, though soldiers maintain the siege and raise an Israeli flag atop the remaining building where Arafat and his men are holed up. 1,000s of Palestinians defy curfews across the West Bank to protest for a 2d day, demonstrations also continue in Gaza. In Balata r.c., the IDF fires on a group of Palestinian, international protesters killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy. The IDF also bulldozes 9 dunams of land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. In Tel Aviv, 200 Israeli peace activists protest IDF actions in Ramallah. (GS, PM 9/22; ATL, MENA, RFI 9/22, JT 9/23 in WNC 9/23; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/23; LAW, PCHR 9/25; MEI 9/27)

In Ramallah, the IDF blows up 6 buildings (including the 4-story PA Interior Min.) in the PA compound in Ramallah, destroys 11 caravans that temporarily house PSF offices, leaving the building in which Arafat is taking shelter the only structure in the compound still intact; digs a trench around the Arafat's building and fires on, demolishes staircases inside to keep him confined to 1 floor; another 20 Palestinians surrender to the IDF, but Israel says none of them are among the wanted Palestinians; an IDF sniper fatally shoots a PSF officer nr. the compound. The IDF makes a predawn raid on an area of Gaza City, fatally shooting 2 Palestinians, blowing up 6 metal workshops, damaging 2 nearby workshops, 5 stores, and 10s of houses. In response, Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol in Gaza, injuring 1 IDF soldier, 1 border policeman. The IDF also raids Rafah, firing live ammunition and tanks shells at residential areas, killing 2 Palestinian boys; closes PLO Jerusalem affairs adviser Sari Nusseibeh's offices in Jerusalem as well as offices of a Palestinian sports team union and the Jerusalem Society of Culture and Art, confiscating computers; conducts arrest raids in Burqa. A Scottish teenager injured in the 9/19 Tel Aviv bombing dies of his injuries, bringing that toll to 6. (HA, NYT, PM, WP 9/20; AFP, MENA 9/20, QA 9/21 in WNC 9/23; MEZ, NYT, WP, WT 9/21; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MM 9/26; MEI 9/27)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus in Tel Aviv, killing 5 Israelis, injuring more than 50. Sharon convenes his cabinet, which unanimously decides to launch Operation Matter of Time to "isolate” Arafat, calls for the immediate extradition of around 20 wanted Palestinians (including Force 17 head Mahmud Damara, PA General Intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi) allegedly among the 200 Palestinians hiding in Arafat's offices (8 surrender in the evening). The IDF immediately reimposes 24-hr. curfews on all West Bank areas except Hebron; sends tanks into Ramallah to surround Arafat's offices (1 tank fatally shoots a 10-yr.-old Palestinian boy 6 times; troops shoot, wound 2 Arafat bodyguards in the PA headquarters compound); fires on "Palestinian schoolchildren challenging the army's attempt to impose a curfew" in Amari r.c., killing a 11-yr.-old Palestinian; shells residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Hanun (where an IDF tank runs over a roadside bomb, injuring 2 soldiers), Jenin r.c. (blowing up 1 Palestinian home), Nablus, Qalqilya, the Tulkarm area; bulldozes 19 dunams of agricultural land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. Jewish settlers open fire on a Palestinian taxi nr. Tulkarm, seriously injuring the driver. (AP, HA, JTA, LAW, MM, PM 9/19; ATL, ITAR-TASS 9/19 in WNC 9/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/20; Interfax, MA, Radio Monte Carlo 9/20 in WNC 9/23; MEZ, NYT 9/21; AYM 9/23 in WNC 9/25; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MA 9/25 in WNC 9/26; WJW 9/26; MEI 9/27)

IDF tanks fire shells at 2 Palestinians “moving suspiciously” near Brakha settlement, killing them. The IDF raids a Palestinian radio station in Nablus, confiscating all equipment; demolishes a Palestinian house in Rafah without warning, while its residents are sleeping (6 are injured before they manage to flee); fires on residential areas of Ramallah; raids, demolishes an Islamic charitable society orphanage in Bayt Awla nr. Hebron that houses 300 children under 12. Jewish settlers seize a Palestinian house in East Jerusalem, nr. Jabal Mukabir, claiming they own the structure, which will be the basis of a new enclave. (JTA 9/3; LAW, PCHR, Radio Tariq al-Mahabbeh [Ramallah], WP 9/4; MEI 9/13)

The Israeli High Court rules that the government can banish to Gaza the West Bank relatives of Palestinians accused of staging attacks on Israelis only in "extreme cases" where "that person, by his own deeds, constitutes a danger to the security of the state." The ruling argues that such forced transfer constitutes "assigned residence" under Articles 41 + n43 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, is there for legal under international law. The court thus upholds an 8/12 military court order to expel to Gaza for 2 yrs. the brother, sister of senior AMB mbr. Ali Ajuri (assassinated 8/6/02) for allegedly aiding in the staging of the 7/17/02 Tel Aviv bombing; overrules an order to expel another Palestinian for lending a car, food to his brother, Naseer Assida, without knowing he was (allegedly) plotting the 7/16/02 ambush of a settler bus; Assida has not been captured. (HA, JP, MM 9/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/4; MM, WJW 9/5)

The IDF temporarily lifts the curfew on Hebron; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, destroying 1 Palestinian home; bulldozes 3 Palestinian homes s. of Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Khan Yunis, Karabatha Bani Harith, Rafah (taking 8 Palestinians to Morag settlement for interrogation); temporarily detains, beats, confiscates the camera of Palestinian journalist for Reuters. Israel's National Religious Party (NRP) reports that 4 new settler bypass roads are under construction in the West Bank. (Hatzofe 8/18 in WNC 8/20; LAW, PCHR 8/21; PCHR 8/26)

In Tel Aviv, Israeli DM Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, PA Interior M `Abd al-Razzaq Yahya agree on implementation of Ben-Eliezer's Gaza First plan: the IDF is to withdraw fr. parts of Gaza and fr. Bethlehem within 48 hrs.; the PA is to take control of security in areas evacuated; if calm is maintained, Israel would extend the arrangement to Hebron. Israel makes no promises to halt assassinations, arrest raids, home demolitions; the PA makes no promises to make preventive arrests of mbrs. of opposition groups. National unity talks among the 12 Palestinian factions making up the National and Islamic Higher Coordinating Comm. of the Intifada (NIHC) reportedly continue in Gaza. (XIN 8/18 in WNC 8/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/19; AFP 8/19, AYM 8/20 in WNC 8/21; MM 8/21; al-Quds 8/21 in WNC 8/22, 8/23; MM 8/22; MA 8/25 in WNC 8/26; JPI, MEI 8/30)

The IDF assassinates wheelchair-bound senior Hamas mbr. Nasir Jarrar (who had lost an arm, 2 legs in 2 previous assassination attempts in 5/01 and 4/02) in a friend's home in Tubas, firing rockets fr. helicopters at the house, then bulldozing it; 1 Palestinian used as a human shield by the IDF to warn Jarrar to surrender is killed, a 2d Palestinian bystander is wounded; the IDF says its use of a Palestinian as a "messenger"--what it says is a 20-yr.-old policy called the "neighbor procedure"--is not the same as using human shields. The IDF bulldozes 48 dunams of agricultural land btwn. Qarni crossing and Shuhada Junction. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/15; NYT, PCHR, WT 8/16; JP 8/18)

Israel arraigns West Bank Fatah cmdr. Marwan Barghouti (arrested by the IDF on 4/15/02) in a Tel Aviv court on charges of being an "arch-terrorist," murdering 26 Israeli civilians in 37 attacks; the indictment says that 16 Palestinians now in Israeli custody, including 2 of Barghouti's top aides will testify against him. (AP, LAW, MM 8/14; NYT, WP, WT 8/15; MM 8/16)

The IDF assassinates wanted AMB mbrs. Ali Ajuri (who allegedly plotted the 7/17 Tel Aviv bombing, reportedly is the leader of al-Nathir) and Murad Marshud, firing air-to-surface missile at them in Jenin. Israel orders Ajuri's brother, sister deported to Gaza for sheltering him. The IDF also captures an armed Egyptian infiltrator, who crossed the border into Israel nr. Elat; imposes a curfew on al-Qarara, orders all men over age 15 to surrender for questioning, conducts house-to-house searches, bulldozes 3 dunams of agricultural land. (AP, HA, LAW, MM 8/6; LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 8/7) (see 7/19)

Throwing out appeals by 49 Palestinian families, Israel's High Court upholds the IDF's right to demolish homes of Palestinians accused of "terrorist" attacks without giving family mbrs. warning. Currently, 107 homes that housed suicide bombers are slated for demolition, plus 100s of other homes belonging to other "suspected terrorists." (HA, MM, NYT, WP 8/7; al-Quds 8/7 in WNC 8/12)

Israel backs off plans to expel to Gaza 21 male relatives of suspected Palestinian militants (see 7/19). Sharon tells his cabinet that he will abide by Atty. Gen. Rubinstein's ruling that family mbrs. would have to have been directly involved in supporting the attacks in order to be deported. A small remote controlled bomb explodes underneath a commuter train in Rehovat nr. Tel Aviv, slightly injuring the driver; no one takes responsibility. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Jenin; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. A Jewish settler driving in Hebron deliberately runs over a Palestinian man, seriously injuring him. (MM, NYT, WT 7/22; MM 7/23; PCHR 7/24; LAW 7/31)

Sharon, Housing M Natan Sharansky announce plans to create 14 new Jewish localities in the Negev and Galilee to strengthen Jewish control of the land, create a security buffer btwn. Jenin and Afula (the site of numerous Palestinian attacks). (HA 7/22; Between the Lines 8/02)

The IDF blows up the family homes of senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades member Ali Ajuri (allegedly behind the 7/17 Tel Aviv bombing) in Askar refugee camp, Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades member Nasser Assida (allegedly behind the 7/16 Emmanuel bus ambush) in Tal, also damaging 6 other homes; arrests their 21 male relatives, whom Israel threatens to expel to Gaza as a deterrent to other militants; neither suspect is captured. The IDF also shoots, seriously injures a Palestinian farmer working in his field nr. Qalqilya; fires stun grenades and teargas at Palestinians leaving Friday services at the Bani Na`im Mosque; ransacks the offices of a Bani Na`im charity, confiscating computers; demolishes the science lab of an elementary school in Hebron. Residents of Arak Burin nr. Nablus say they have been without water for 34 days, since the IDF began barring water trucks fr. entering the village. (Amnesty International, GS, al-Haq, LAW, MM 7/19; NYT, WP 7/20; MENA, QA 7/20, AN, JT 7/21 in WNC 7/22; AYM 7/21 in WNC 7/24; LAW, PCHR 7/24)

A Jewish settler injured in the 7/16 bus ambush dies of her injuries, bringing the toll in that attack to 9. A previously unknown group called al-Nathir claims responsibility for the 7/17 Tel Aviv bombing, originally claimed by Islamic Jihad. The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian house, aviary nr. Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Hebron (including confiscating files fr. Hebron University student union offices), Jenin, villages around Khan Yunis, the al-Mawasi area, Nablus, Tal; fires on residential areas of Rafah. (NYT 7/19; LAW 7/18; LAW, PCHR 7/24)

The FMs of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia hold a 30-min. mtg. with Bush, White House chief of staff Andrew Card, Powell, Rice to discuss ways of keeping the peace process moving and to present a working paper (drafted with the PA, approved by Arab League FMs on 7/12). (WP 7/18; MENA 7/18 in WNC 7/22; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/19; QA 7/19, al-Safir 7/20 in WNC 7/22; AYM 7/21 in WNC 7/23; MM 7/25; MEI 7/26)

2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers stage a double bombing outside a cafe in Tel Aviv, killing 1 Israeli, 2 foreign workers, injuring 3. An 8th victim of the Emmanuel bus ambush on 7/16, a baby born prematurely to a Jewish settler injured in the attack, dies. The IDF tracks, engages in a 3 hr. gun battle with the 3 Palestinian gunmen involved in the ambush, leaving 2 Palestinians and 1 IDF officer dead, 3 IDF officers injured; 1 of the Palestinians escape again. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Silat al-Dahir, leaving 2 suspected AMB mbrs. dead; fatally shoots a Palestinian allegedly attempting to sneak into Israel nr. Qalqilya; arrests senior Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Muhammad Nashteh in Ramallah. In Amari r.c., 2 Palestinian children are killed, 11 are wounded when they trigger an unexploded IDF shell. In Ramallah, a mysterious explosion kills 2 Palestinians. The IDF F-16s bomb, destroy a foundry in Gaza that the IDF claims was a Hamas bomb-making facility. In Ramallah, PalNet Internet service, raided on 7/15, is restored. The IDF orders the confiscation of 60 dunams of Palestinian land btwn. Gaza City and Netzarim settlement for construction of a settlement bypass road. (LAW, PCHR 7/17; MM, NYT, WP, WT 7/18; WP 7/19; PCHR 7/21; MEI 7/26; XIN 7/28 in WNC 7/29)

An AMB mbr. attempts to ram a car loaded with homemade pipe bombs into a Tel Aviv dance club but is fatally shot by a security guard. The car blows up, injuring 3 Israelis. The IDF makes an incursion in to Gaza City, demolishes 3 alleged bomb-making factories. The IDF sends troops into Nur al-Shams r.c., Tulkarm r.c. and town. Palestinians ambush an IDF convoy in Tulkarm r.c., killing 1 IDF soldier, injuring 2. The IDF fires tank shells, machine guns at the r.c., wounding 8 Palestinians. (GS, MM, NYT, WP 5/24; NYT, WP 5/25; MA 5/26 in WNC 5/28; LAW 5/29; PCHR 5/30)

A remote-controlled bomb blows up a diesel truck parked outside a major refinery nr. Tel Aviv. Israeli authorities call it a failed attempt by Palestinians to create a catastrophic explosion. No one claims responsibility. A mysterious explosion in a house in Nablus kills 2 Palestinian youths, injures 5. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who allegedly threw a grenade at troops nr. the Rafah border; conducts arrest raids into villages n. of Hebron and in Jenin, Qalandiya r.c., Rafah, Silat al-Dahir, Rafah (destroying 22 shops, 5 Palestinian homes). The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) complains that the IDF has repeatedly stopped and searched 2 of its ambulances, including forcing the patients out of the ambulance, opening oxygen containers, damaging medical supplies. A Palestinian woman delivers a stillborn baby in Nablus after being detained at IDF checkpoints for hrs. (MM 5/23; JP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/24; MA 5/26 in WNC 5/28; LAW 5/29; PCHR 5/30; JPI 6/7)

A suicide bomber detonates a device in an unlicensed gambling club in the Rishon Letzion suburb of Tel Aviv, killing 15 Israelis, injuring 57. Hamas's military wing claims responsibility, but the political wing will not confirm. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm city, detaining about 40 Palestinians; bulldozes a Palestinian home, fatally shoots a Palestinian boy in Rafah; begins work on Jewish settler bypass roads nr. Khan Yunis, nr. Nablus. In Bethlehem, the siege of the Church of the Nativity continues, with Italy complaining it has not been consulted on the 5/6 agmt. (AFP, AP, CNN, MM 5/7; AFP, ANSA, XIN 5/7 in WNC 5/8; al-Quds 5/7 in WNC 5/9; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/8; MA, RNE 5/8 in WNC 5/9; MM, WJW 5/9; al-Ra'i 5/9 in WNC 5/10; MM 5/10; AYM 5/12 in WNC 5/15; JP 5/16; MEI 5/17; HA 5/24)

The IDF announces plans to divide the West Bank into 8 isolated zones (Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Tulkarm); to impose severe new restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, goods btwn. zones. (UNRWA press release 5/14; al-Quds 5/16 in WNC 5/17; HA, JT [Internet] 5/17; HA 5/18; AYM 5/28 in WNC 5/20; PMC 5/19; HA 5/22; NYT 5/24)

In Washington, Sharon, Bush hold talks on PA reform, barely touch on the idea of a peace conference. They agree that the priority should be halting Palestinian violence, restructuring the PA, unifying the PA security services. Sharon also says that it is "premature" to discuss a Palestinian state, Israel will never agree to withdraw to 1967 lines; suggests Israel will not resume political talks until Arafat has been removed fr. power. Bush say he will send CIA dir. Tenet to the region to help rebuild the PA security forces. Sharon returns to Israel in light of the Rishon Letzion bombing. (AP, CNN, MM 5/7; MENA, al-Quds 5/7 in WNC 5/8; AYM 5/7, MA 5/8 in WNC 5/9; HA, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/8; MM, WJW, WP 5/9; QA, al-Ra'i 5/9 in WNC 5/10; MM 5/10; AYM 5/10 in WNC 5/13; JP [Internet] 5/10; JP 5/16)

The IDF pullbacks fr. 22 small West Bank villages but sends forces into Birzeit, Dahariyya, `Ayn Bayt Himla r.c. nr. Ramallah and briefly reenters Tulkarm to make arrests. In Birzeit, troops occupy the main PSF station, begin house-to-house searches. The IDF lifts the curfews on Jenin r.c. (which it says it has quelled), Nablus for several hrs. for the 1st time since 4/3; pulls troops back fr. the old city in Nablus, allowing residents, some journalists and local medical workers to see the extent of devastation for the 1st time. The IDF continues to bar ICRC, UNRWA teams fr. entering the towns. In Jenin r.c., the IDF fatally shoots a 13.-yr.-old boy who gets "too close" to an IDF tank post during the break in curfew; continues to bulldoze buildings. In Nablus, the local hospital says the morgue is filled to capacity; it has had to move in a refrigerated truck to handle overflow. PA officials who reach Ramallah's city hall report that the IDF has ransacked and burned the building, confiscated or destroyed important documents, particularly relating to Palestinian land ownership. In Hebron, a Palestinian suicide bomber reportedly detonates a device nr. an IDF checkpoint, injuring several bystanders. (AFP, AP, WP 4/11; BBC, NYT, WP, WT 4/12)

On arrival in Tel Aviv, Powell is greeted by Sharon, who says the IDF is "not about to leave" Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah; even when troops pull out, they will surround and seal the cities (as they are doing to Qalqilya, Tulkarm) to ensure there are no "terrorist" attacks. The White House says Bush never expected Israel to halt incursions, withdraw fr. PA areas in "a mere eight days"; says Bush considers Sharon to be a "man of peace." (AP 4/11; NYT, WP, WT 4/12; MEI 4/19)

Before dawn, IDF tanks, troops take over Bayt Jala, Beitunia (surrounding the offices of PSF West Bank head Jibril Rajub). The IDF shells buildings in the PA compound; later, restores electricity to Arafat's offices and allows the PRCS to bring Arafat and around 100 of his men food, bottled water, cell phone batteries. Most other areas of Ramallah remain without water, electricity. In Tel Aviv, an AMB suicide bomber detonates a device in a restaurant, injuring more than 30 Israelis. IDF soldiers fatally shoot 2 AMB mbrs. reportedly armed with explosives, trying to enter Israel. The IDF raids numerous buildings in Ramallah, in 1 instance wounding, then executing 5 PSF officers, raising the confirmed toll in Ramallah for the past 2 days to 12 Palestinians. The IDF detains 10s of Palestinians in Ramallah, including, DFLP dep. secy. gen. Qays Abu Layla, PSF dir. of operations Yunis Alass, Fatah Central Comm. mbr. Sakhir Habash, and around 12 paramedics and nurses, confiscating 3 ambulances; searches a Ramallah hospital for weapons, wounded fighters; orders all Palestinian men in al-Bireh, Ramallah age 15-45 to surrender; takes over al-Watan TV, airs pornographic material (reports confirmed by U.S. Consulate). In Tulkarm, the IDF assassinates senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Ahad Ajaj, his cousin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities search the home of Mufti Ikrima Sabri, detain him for questioning; arrest senior Fatah mbr. Salah Zhikiyya; fire on Palestinians protesting outside al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring 5. More than 15,000 Palestinians demonstrate in Gaza City; other protests are held in Bayt Jala, Bayt Sahur. (LAW, Mezan, REU 3/30; AFP, ANSA, ATL, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MENA, XIN 3/30 in WNC 4/1; NYT, Observer, WP, WT 3/31; HA 4/2; MEI 4/5)

The UNSC approves (14-0, with Syria abstaining) Res. 1402, demanding that Israel withdraw fr. Ramallah, but (at U.S. insistence) without giving a deadline. In his 1st statement on Israel's new campaign, Bush says that the U.S. supports Israel's right to "defend itself," that Arafat "can do a lot more" to prevent attacks on Israelis. (MENA, XIN 3/30, JT, MENA 3/31 in WNC 4/1; HA, Independent, NYT, WP, WT 3/31; AN, AFP 3/31 in WNC 4/1; XIN 4/1 in WNC 4/2; AKH 4/1 in WNC 4/3; SA 4/1 in WNC 4/4; MEI 4/5)

The IDF sends additional tanks, troops into Bayt Jala and Bethlehem, fatally shooting at least 1 Palestinian. The IDF also fatally shoots 2 Palestinians in Gaza; a 4th Palestinian dies in a mysterious explosion in Anata; a 5th Palestinian dies of injuries received on 3/15. In Kefar Saba nr. Tel Aviv, an AMB mbr. with a handgun fires on a crowd, killing 1 Israeli, injuring 12 before being shot dead by police, bystanders. In French Hill settlement in East Jerusalem, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device at a bus stop, lightly injuring 9 Jewish settlers. Jewish settlers ambush, stone a Palestinian car nr. Nablus, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian; attempt to raid Kafr Harith village but are blocked by IDF troops. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Bayt Awwa, Kharras, Shu`fat; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes nr. Dayr al-Balah; reopens the Rafah, Allenby Bridge crossings into Gaza, the West Bank; allows some Palestinian exports fr. Gaza through the Qarni checkpoint into Israel. (HP, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/18; LAW 3/20)

Zinni arranges low-level PA-Israeli security mtgs. (JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/18; AYM 3/22 in WNC 3/25)

Israeli-Palestinian violence continues to escalate, leaving 1 Israeli civilian, 1 Jewish settler, at least 6 Palestinians dead. A package bomb planted by a Jewish vigilante group called Revenge of the Innocent Babes (in reference to the 3/2 Beit Israel attack) explodes on a playground at a Palestinian school in East Jerusalem, injuring 2 teachers, 24 children. In response to the 3/4 AMB attack in Tel Aviv, IDF F-16s rocket Palestinian targets across Gaza and in Bethlehem, Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarm; helicopters fire a missile at a car in Ramallah, killing 3 Palestinians, including 2 wanted AMB members, Muhannad Abu Halawa and Fawzi Murrar. The IDF also makes incursions into Palestinian areas nr. Bayt Lahia, Jabaliya, Khan Yunis, Tamun; direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bethlehem, al-Khadir, Qalqilya; demolishes greenhouses in Issawiyya. Nr. Gush Etzion settlement, Palestinian gunmen fire on a Jewish settler vehicle, killing 1 settler. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a devices on a bus in Afula, Israel, killing 1 Israeli. Palestinians also launch 2 Qassam-2s fr. Gaza into Israel, for the 1st time hitting an apartment building in Sederot, injuring 2 children. Jewish settlers attack a PSF post in Qalqilya, stone a Palestinian car nr. Ramallah. (HP, MM 3/5; XIN 3/5 in WNC 3/6; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, PMC, WP, WT 3/6; MA 3/6 in WNC 3/7; AYM 3/7 in WNC 3/8; MEI 3/8; JP 3/15)

     Sharon convenes his inner cabinet, then his full cabinet to discuss how to respond to the 3/4 Tel Aviv attack. Participants reportedly debate launching massive "mopping-up" operations in refugee camps, incursions into a list of villages in areas A and B, escalating attacks on Ramallah (including removing Arafat). The cabinet gives the IDF "free rein to further intensify military pressure on the PA, especially in Ramallah," bars all Palestinian vehicular traffic in the West Bank. (MM 3/5; NYT, PMC, WP, WT 3/6) quote in PMC 3/6

In an apparent assassination attempt aimed at Hamas political leader Hussein Abu Kuwayk, the IDF fires rockets at a truck driving in Ramallah, killing Abu Kuwayk's wife and 3 children, plus 2 Palestinian bystanders. The IDF reenters Jenin r.c., sparking heavy street fighting that leaves at least 9 Palestinians dead, including a doctor killed when his ambulance is hit by an IDF tank shell, also wounding 5 paramedics. The IDF also remains in Balata; temporarily invades Rafah refugee camp, killing 3 Palestinians, bulldozing several Palestinian homes; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Qalqilya; shells, destroys the PSF headquarters in Bethlehem; fires shells fr. gunboats at the PA headquarters in Gaza City but misses; directs heavy machine gun fire at Tamun. Late this evening in Tel Aviv, an AMB gunman (a Balata resident) kills 3 Israelis, wounds 31 before being shot dead by a restaurant patron. (AP, JP [Internet], NYT, WP, WT 3/4; HA, HP, NYT, WP, WT 3/5; LAW, MM, PCHR 3/6; MM, WT 3/7; AYM 3/7 in WNC 3/8; MEI 3/8; JP 3/15; MEI 3/22)

Sharon tells journalists, "If the Palestinians are not being beaten, there will be no negotiations. The aim [of Israel's recent attacks on the Palestinians] is to increase the number of losses on the other side. Only after they have been battered will we be able to conduct talks." Sharon also reaffirms his plans to create buffer zones. (JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP 3/5; al-Quds 3/5 in WNC 3/6; MM 3/6; MENA 3/6 in WNC 3/7; Economist 3/7; MEI 3/8, 3/22)

Sharon meets with his cabinet, which agrees to intensify attacks on Palestinians in response to escalating violence. The IDF stages massive aerial, naval assaults on PA targets in the West Bank and Gaza, leaving a total of 16 Palestinians dead, including 2 Hamas mbrs. allegedly preparing to fire mortars in Gaza. The IDF also makes incursions into Nablus, killing 9 Palestinians, occupying an apartment building, confining 130 residents to a single floor, allegedly ordering some Palestinian men to stand at the windows as human shields. The IDF again shells Arafat's Ramallah compound, hitting a room adjacent to where he is taking shelter, injuring 1 bodyguard; also shells 2 PSF buildings in Gaza City, 1 in Jenin; further tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement, even barring young children who had passed through checkpoints in the morning fr. walking home fr. school. (AP, MM, WT 2/20; AFP 2/20 in WNC 2/21; NYT, Physicians for Human Rights press release, WP, WT 2/21; NYT 2/22)

In Tel Aviv, Israel DM Benjamin Ben-Eliezer holds a secret mtg. with PSF Gaza head Muhammad Dahlan, Arafat financial adviser Muhammad Rashid to discuss the escalating violence. The sides agree to a CIA request to hold a secret trilateral security comm. mtg. on 2/23. (NYT 2/22)

A Palestinian driver crashes through an IDF checkpoint on the Green Line nr. Qalqilya, injuring 1 soldier; commandeers a 2d car fr. an Israeli couple; continues to Tel Aviv, where he hits, injures an Israeli policeman and is fatally shot by security personnel and bystanders. Meanwhile, the IDF fires on residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, Nablus. (JP [Internet], MM 1/28; NYT, WT 1/29; PCHR 1/30)

Israel's Internal Security M Uzi Landau presents to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Comm. his ministry's new "Enveloping Jerusalem" plan to ring West Jerusalem with barriers to prevent West Bank Palestinians fr. entering. (HA, JP [Internet] 1/28; BBC, MM 1/29; MM, NYT, WT 1/30; WJW 1/31; CSM 2/6; JP 2/8)

An Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device on a street in Tel Aviv, wounding at least 18 Israelis, 3 of them critically. 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. In Gaza, the IDF reports that Hamas fired locally made Qassam-1 rockets at Erez crossing, causing no injuries. In retaliation, the IDF launches F-16 air strikes on PA security targets in Gaza City and Tulkarm, injuring at least 7 Palestinians. The IDF also shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 600 m² of Palestinian land in Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Nablus. In Ramallah, 1,000s of Palestinians rally in support of Arafat. The IDF pulls out of Tira neighborhood in Ramallah, which it reoccupied on 1/17. (AP 1/25; NYT, WP, WT 1/26; JT [Internet] 1/27; PCHR 1/30)

56 officers, soldiers in the IDF combat reserves publish a petition in Ha'Aretz publicly refusing to "fight beyond the Green Line for the purpose of occupying, deporting, destroying, blockading, killing, starving, and humiliating an entire people." (HA 1/25; HA 1/28; WP 1/29; WT 1/30; BBC, MM, WJW 1/31; MA 2/1 in WNC 2/4; NYT 2/2; MM 2/4; MM, NYT 2/5; MEI 2/8)

Senior White House, State Dept., CIA, Pentagon officials meet again to discuss the possibility of severing ties with Arafat, the PA/PLO. Bush, his advisers decide to increase public criticism of Arafat and to "redouble" efforts to get Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia to put pressure on Arafat. (AP, HA, MM, WP 1/25; WP, WT 1/26; al-Quds 1/26, DUS 1/27 in WNC 1/28; MM 1/28; AKH 1/28 in WNC 1/29; HA 1/29; MA, al-Quds 2/1 in WNC 2/4)