The Palestine Chronology

IDF commandos ambush, assassinate wanted PA intelligence officer Ayid Mansur outside his home in Nablus. The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian nr. the new security wall in Zita; raids a makeshift PSF jail in Tulkarm, arresting 6 PSF officers, 12 prisoners (the PSF officers, 9 prisoners are later released); conducts arrest raids, searches houses, blows up 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas, bulldozes 1 Palestinian home and part of a mosque in Brazil r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house-to-house searches, fires on residential areas in Askar r.c.; raids Qalandia r.c., detaining 50 Palestinians; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Lahia, Gaza City, Rafah; bulldozes 17.5 dunams of Palestinian land s. of Khan Yunis. Some 40 prominent Israelis outraged by recent Jewish settler attacks on Palestinian olive pickers travel to the West Bank to participate in a Palestinian olive harvest. (GS, LAW, PCHR 10/30; PCHR, PR 11/6; MEI 11/8)

DM and Labor party head Ben-Eliezer resigns fr. the government hrs. before Sharon’s FY 2003 budget passes (67-45) in the Knesset, with all 25 Labor party MKs voting against. Afterward, the 5 other Labor Ms, including FM Shimon Peres, resign. (HA, MM 10/30; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/31; JT 10/31 in WNC 11/1; al-Quds 11/2, MENA 11/3 in WNC 11/5; AYM 11/2 in WNC 11/8; JPI, MEI 11/8)

An IDF undercover unit assassinates senior Hamas mbr. Asim Sawafta in Tubas. The IDF also shoots a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy in the head in Tubas, seriously wounding him; shells residential areas s. of Gaza City, in and around Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Aqraba, Khirbat Karma; blows up 1 Palestinian home in Jenin r.c.; detains 2 ambulance workers in Jenin town. A Palestinian gunman infiltrates the West Bank settlement of Hermesh, opens fire on residents outside their homes, killing 3 Jewish settlers (including 2 teenage girls), injuring 2 before being shot dead. Jewish settlers begin rebuilding the Havat Gilad site. A PA security court sentences a Palestinian to death for collaboration with Israel. (JTA 10/29; al-Quds 10/29 in WNC 11/5; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR 10/30; WP 10/31; MEI 11/8)

Arafat announces the make up of his new cabinet. Although most PC mbrs. angrily criticize Arafat’s failure to remove old EA mbrs. accused of corruption, they approve (56-18) the new cabinet. (AP, HA 10/29; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT10/30; ITAR-TASS 10/30 in WNC 10/31; MM 10/31; AYM 10/31 in WNC 11/1; QA 10/31, 11/1 in WNC 11/5; MEI 11/8)

The IDF fatally shoots a 16-yr-old Palestinian boy in Tulkarm r.c.; halts an ambulance outside Jenin, detains 2 Palestinian dialysis patients returning fr. treatment (1 blind; 1 paraplegic, wheelchair bound) on suspicision of being wanted men, releases them after 10 hrs.; fires on Palestinian nr. Bayt Hanun, wounding 2; demolishes 7 Palestinian homes (1 in Jenin, 3 in Jenin r.c., 3 Rafah); bulldozes greenhouses in Rafah; raids a school in Jenin, arresting a school guard for not having an ID (confiscated by IDF in 6/02); digs trenches around Jenin, Nablus to prevent Palestinians fr. leaving or entering except through 3 IDF checkpoints. Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing minor damage outside a school, no injuries. Jewish settlers at Havat Gilad attack and chase off nearby Palestinian olive pickers, steal what olives they have picked, harvest the grove for themselves. Late this evening, the IDF raids, shuts down Havat Gilad outpost again (see 10/25). (JTA 10/28; MA 10/28 in WNC 10/29; NYT, WP, WT 10/29; LAW, NYT, PCHR 10/30; HA 11/2; HA 11/6)

Labor leader Ben-Eliezer says he would vote against Sharon’s proposed 2003 budget unless $150 m. in funds for Jewish settlements are shifted to social services. Sharon accuses Ben-Eliezer of cynically maneuvering to win reelection as Labor party head in party voting on 11/19; threatens to dismiss Labor party MKs fr. the coalition government, force early elections if they vote against. (NYT 10/29; NYT, WT 10/30)

A Hamas suicide bomber is discovered outside a café in Ariel settlement, captured and pinned down by 3 IDF soldiers, fatally shot by 2 Jewish settlers; the gunfire triggers the bomber’s explosives, killing the 3 soldiers restraining him, wounding 18 soldiers and settlers. After hearing news of the bombing, Jewish settlers fr. Itamar attack Palestinians, international peace activists harvesting olives outside Yanun, injuring 6 activists, including 2 Americans (ages 68 and 74), 2 Israelis. IDF troops fatally shoot 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in an apparent assassination in Nablus, wounding a 7-yr.-old boy; fatally shoot 1 Palestinian checking the water tank on his roof in Jenin during the curfew; fatally shoots a Palestinian youth standing outside his home in Jenin r.c.; bulldozes 7 Palestinian homes in Rafah; bulldozes water wells, greenhouses in Muraj. A PA security court sentences a Palestinian to life with hard labor for collaborating with Israel. (al-Quds 10/27 in WNC 10/31; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/28; MA 10/28 in WNC 10/28; LAW, PCHR 10/30; JPI, MEI 11/8)

The IDF continues operations in Jenin, arresting 10s of Palestinians; fires live ammunition at stone-throwing Palestinians in Brazil r.c., killing a 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy; directs tank, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Rafah late in the evening, seriously injuring 3 Palestinians, demolishing 1 Palestinian home; occupies an apartment block in Hebron as an IDF post. AMB mbrs. kidnap, shoot 2 Palestinian women fr. Nablus thought to be collaborators with Israel; 1 woman dies, the other is injured. (WP, WT 10/27; LAW, PCHR 10/30)

The IDF launches Operation Vanguard in response to the 10/21 Hadera bombing, sending 100s of troops (including 90 snipers), heavy vehicles into Jenin town and r.c., where the bombers lived. Troops occupy 50 buildings; conduct house-to-house searches, arrest raids; meet some resistance in the r.c., exchanging gunfire with residents, leaving 6 Fatah mbrs. seriously wounded. The IDF says the incursion is expected to last several days, troops are prepared to stay indefinitely. The IDF also shells residential areas nr. Erez crossing; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron; bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 23 dunams of olive groves in Dayr al-Balah; begins construction of a new IDF post nr. Netzarim; makes a limited pullout fr. Palestinian areas of Hebron; eases curfews in Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm. Palestinian residents of Yanun harvesting their olive groves are chased off by Jewish settlers just 2 days after the IDF promised them protection. Jewish settlers complete rebuilding Havat Gilad. (HA, MM, NYT, WP 10/25; NYT, WP, WT 10/26; MENA 10/27 in WNC 10/28; WP 10/28; LAW, PCHR 10/30)

The IDF opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Jenin, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian, seriously injuring 2 others; fires on residential areas of Rafah, killing 1 Palestinian in his home; demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Jala (arresting wanted Hamas mbr. Fawaz Amru), Qalqilya. A 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/13. A PA security court sentences a Palestinian to death for collaborating with Israel. Israel formally charges 1 of 10 bedouin IDF soldiers arrested on 9/12 for allegedly spying for Hizballah, stressing that he was motivated by greed, not nationalism. (HA, MM 10/24; WP, WT 10/25; MM 10/29; LAW, PCHR 10/30)

The IDF moves troops back into Jenin, after withdrawing to the outskirts of the city on 10/18; fires on Palestinian farmers in Jenin; bulldozes 18 Palestinian homes (15 in Jiftlik, 1 in `Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., 1 in Balata r.c., 1 in Rafah, 1 in Salim); bars a Palestinian heart attack victim fr. crossing and IDF checkpoint to reach a hospital for 2 hrs., allowing him to die; raids 2 homes in Hebron, sets fire to residents’ belongings. IDF commandos raid Balata r.c., arrest 2 Palestinians, leave behind their van, booby trapped with explosives; the van later explodes, injuring 10 Palestinians. With the IDF’s pledge of protection, Palestinian residents of Yanun return to their homes (see 10/18). The PA complains that btwn. 9/4 and 10/16, the IDF has taken 750 single-bed truckloads, 250 double-bed truckloads of sand out of Gaza for use in construction projects inside Israel. (LAW, PCHR 10/23; AYM 10/23 in WNC 10/28; NYT, WT 10/24; HA 11/15)

U.S. Asst. Secy. of State William Burns arrives in Jerusalem to meet with Israeli, PA officials regarding a U.S. draft road map; presents the PA with the draft for the 1^st time (see 10/16). (HA, MM, PR 10/23; HA, MM, NYT 10/24; MM, NYT, WT 10/25; AYM 10/25, 10/26 in WNC 10/28; WP 10/26; MEI 11/8)

The Knesset rejects (23-51) a proposed bill that would ban fr. the parliament any party trying to incite the expulsion of Palestinians, Israeli Arabs. (AFP 10/23)

Israel says it will delay its military response to the 10/21 Hadera bombing in deference to U.S. regional concerns, but will reimpose curfews, blockades across the Palestinian territories and suspend steps to ease restrictions. The IDF bars Palestinians across the West Bank fr. harvesting olives, saying troops cannot protect pickers fr. Jewish settlers; the ban is lifted late in the evening after Arab MKs file a petition with the Israeli High Court opposing the order. Israel's Infrastructure M Efi Eitam orders a halt to all drilling for water by West Bank Palestinians, freezes the issue of permits for future drilling. The IDF bars a Palestinian heart attack victim fr. crossing an IDF checkpoint to reach a hospital, allowing him to die; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes (Balata r.c., Nablus, Rafah); demolishes 4 barracks, 3 Palestinian homes, 3 bakeries, several cattle sheds in Yatta; bulldozes 10 dunams of land in Bayt Lahia; conducts arrest raids in Khan Yunis, Rafah. Israel releases AFP photographer Hussam Abu Alan, detained without charge on 4/24/02. (HA, PM, REU 10/22; LAW, NYT, PCHR, PR, WP 10/23; WT 10/24; AYM 10/24 in WNC 10/28; al-Quds 10/30 in WNC 10/31)

Outside Hadera, 2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers detonate a car bomb next to a bus, killing 14 Israelis, wounding 40. The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. Kefar Darom; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Qabatya, some agricultural land nr. Aley Sinai settlement; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Qalqilya; bars an ambulance fr. crossing an IDF checkpoint, allowing an ailing Palestinian to die. Another Palestinian dies of injuries received on 12/10/01. Palestinians reportedly fire a mortar in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. At Havat Gilad, Jewish settlers again try to rebuild sites demolished by the IDF. Jewish settlers fr. Shvut Rachel attack Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Nablus, setting 7 Palestinian cars and 50 trees afire, uprooting another 54 trees; in response, some 200 Palestinian start marching toward the settlement, but the IDF turns them away. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo fire on Palestinian farmers n. of Ramallah, wounding 4. (HA, MM, WP 10/21; Interfax 10/21 in WNC 10/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/22; AFP, ATL, ITAR-TASS 10/22 in WNC 10/23; LAW, MM, PCHR 10/23; WJW 10/24; MEI 10/25)

The IDF redeploys fr. 2 Palestinian neighborhoods in Hebron; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; confiscates 2,600 dunams of Palestinian land in Izbat Salman and Izbat Jilad for construction of the security fence; bulldozes 200 olive trees in Qalqilya for the security fence, 31 dunams of land in Dayr al-Balah, 7 dunams in al-Mughraga in s. Gaza (also destroying 3 cars, partially demolishing 2 Palestinian homes); raid the al-Sultan Cultural Center in Hebron, arresting 1 employee, photocopying the center’s files; bars Palestinian fire trucks fr. fighting a blaze nr. Askar r.c. The IDF clashes with some 1,000 Jewish settlers who refuse to evacuate Havat Gilad, leaving 8 soldiers injured; troops clear the area, dismantle trailers, but 100s of settlers return after dark to reoccupy the site. In Gaza, Palestinians reportedly fire 2 antitank grenades at an IDF convoy nr. Netzarim, several mortars at Gush Katif, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MM, NYT, WT 10/21; MA 10/21 in WNC 10/22; LAW, PCHR 10/23)

Across the U.S., evangelical Christian churches observe a day of prayer for Israel. (WP 10/21)

The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Rafah r.c., killing 6 Palestinians (including 2 women, 2 teenagers, a 9-yr.-old girl) and wounding 50; the IDF says it was responding to Palestinian gunfire on an IDF bulldozer working build an observation tower with an overview of the camp, causing no injuries. The IDF also bulldozes 2.5 dunams of Palestinian land and an irrigation system nr. Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Tal; shells, destroys a closed Palestinian summer resort nr. Aley Sinai settlement. The IDF removes Jewish settlers, trailers fr. Havat Gilad; late in the evening, some 300 Jewish settlers retake the site. Settlers voluntarily leave a 2d enclave, allowing the IDF to dismantle it, bringing to 22 the number of enclaves removed in recent days. Jewish settlers assault Palestinians, Israeli peace activists attempting to harvest olives nr. Yasuf village; the IDF presses settlers to leave the area, allow harvesting to continue. Jewish setters nr. Hebron confiscate 90 dunams of Palestinian land. A PA security court sentences 1 Palestinian, a fmr. Hamas mbr., to death for collaborating with Israel. (REU 10/17; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; AFP, al-Quds 10/18 in WNC 10/21; WP 10/19; LAW, PCHR 10/23; MEI 10/25; JPI 11/8)

A fmr. U.S. defense official corroborates rumors that Israeli special forces recently conducted a covert reconnaissance mission in w. Iraq to determine Iraq's capacity to strike Israel with Scud missiles. Military analyst and fmr. Pentagon official Anthony Cordesman says that Baghdad is estimated to have only 12+n25 Scuds; by comparison, during the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq fired 39 Scuds at Israel alone. (WP 10/18) (see 9/29)

The IDF directs machine gun fire at residential areas of Rafah r.c. to disperse stone throwing youths, hitting several homes and a school, killing 1 Palestinian bystander, wounding 14, including 9 children; conducts arrest raids in Hebron; bulldozes 100 dunams of olive groves s. of Hebron. Some 2,000 Jewish settlers gather at Havat Gilad to protest the IDF's removal of the unauthorized settler outpost, the 1st inhabited enclave (2 families) to be removed by the IDF in the past wk.; 10s of settlers throw stones at, slash tires of reporters vehicles, Palestinian vehicles, a PRCS truck but do not assault soldiers; most settlers leave in the evening, saying the IDF agreed to allow settlers to stay at the site during daylight hrs. (LAW, MM, PCHR 10/16; HA, NYT, WT 10/17; HA, MM 10/18)

            In Washington, Bush receives Sharon for talks on Iraq, the Palestinians; gives Sharon a U.S. draft road map for creation of a Palestinian state that the U.S. plans to submit to the Quartet as an alternative to the EU draft discussed on 9/17. (HA, MM 10/16; AP, HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/17; AYM 10/17 in WNC 10/21; HA, MM 10/18; HA 10/19; al-Quds 10/20 in WNC 10/22; MM 10/22; MEI 10/25)

Ben-Eliezer says Israel may pull forces out of Hebron by 10/18 if the situation there remains calm. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian in Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids, partially destroys a Palestinian home in Jenin; demolishes a Palestinian home in Qabatya; occupies, searches a hospital in Yatta for 5 hrs. Israeli police detain, question Jerusalem's chief Muslim cleric Shaykh Ikrima Sabri regarding an interview with a Dubai-based newspaper in 6/02 in which he allegedly "incited violence" by saying he did not see any religious prohibition against suicide bombings. Sabri denies making the comment, is freed after several hrs. Israeli police also raid a Palestinian home in Jerusalem's Old City; detain, question, release 1 Palestinian. (XIN 10/15 in WNC 10/16; LAW, NYT, PCHR, PM, PR, WP, WT 10/16; MENA 10/16 in WNC 10/17; REU 10/22)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs., Wassim Saba'na and Muhammad Musa, in Nablus in what is likely an assassination; shoots at a "suspicious figure" nr. a Jewish settlement nr. Nablus, wounding 1 Palestinian; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Jenin; fires on a Birzeit University dormitory; shells residential areas of Bayt Hanun, Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Rantis; lifts curfews on Nablus, Tulkarm, Ramallah for several hrs. Late in the evening, the IDF raids Dayr al-Balah, bulldozes 2.5 dunams of agricultural land. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF APC in Nablus, another device nr. Qalqilya, neither causing damage. In Hebron, Jewish settlers assault Israeli police investigating complaints of settler violence on 10/12. Following the funeral in Bethlehem for Muhammad Ubayyat, assassinated by the IDF on 10/13, several mourners seriously beat Fatah prisoner's club head Issa Qaraqa', toss a grenade into the home of Bethlehem mayor and new elections comm. head Hanna Nassir; Fatah says it considers the attacks an assault on Fatah itself. (HA 10/14; NYT, PM, WT 10/15; LAW, PCHR, PR 10/16)

AMB mbr. Muhammad Ubayyat is killed when a bomb in a pay phone he is using explodes; the IDF apparently intended to assassinate Ubayyat's brother, Bethlehem tanzim cmdr. Nassir Ubayyat, and killed Muhammad in error. The IDF makes a predawn raid on Rafah r.c., demolishing 6 Palestinian homes allegedly hiding tunnels to Egypt, killing 2 Palestinians (including a 4 yr. old crushed by a falling wall), wounding 25, bulldozing 10 dunams of land; fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. the Rafah border; fires on a Palestinian vehicle nr. Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian woman, injuring 2 others; fatally shoots a stone-throwing Palestinian teenager in Tulkarm; bulldozes 3 bird farms, a water network in Abasan; demolishes a Palestinian home in Jenin; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah. (LAW, NYT, PM, WP, WT 10/14; LAW, PCHR 10/16)

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)

A Hamas suicide bomber, prevented fr. getting on a bus nr. Israel’s Bar Ilan Junction, detonates his device nearby, killing 1 Israeli, injuring 16. The IDF sends tanks into Rafah, fatally shoots 2 Palestinians, demolishes 9 Palestinian homes; conducts arrest raids in 20 villages around Ramallah, detaining 55 Palestinians; places a curfew on Hebron after Palestinian gunmen in the area fire on nearby Tal Rumayda settlement, causing no injuries; bulldozes 100 acres of olive groves, 5 wells nr. Jabaliya. 2 Palestinians die of injuries sustained earlier (1 in the IDF shelling of Khan Yunis on 10/7, bringing the toll of that incident to 17). The IDF evacuates 1 inhabited, 1 uninhabited settler outpost, says it plans to dismantle 24 such outposts (only 3 of them thought to be occupied) within the next 6 wks. Jewish settlers dismantle 6 unoccupied outposts themselves. The PA calls on Hamas to turn over mbrs. involved in the 10/7 Abu Lahiya murder; 20,000 attend Abu Lahiya's funeral in Gaza. (HA, MM 10/10; HA, MM, NYT, PM, WP, WT 10/11; Interfax 10/11, QA 10/12 in WNC 10/15; LAW, PCHR 10/16; MEI 10/25; JPI 1 1/8)

The IDF makes a predawn raid on Salfit, imposing a curfew, blowing up 2 Palestinian homes; fires on Palestinian protesters in Rafah, killing 2 Palestinian teenagers, wounding 25 others (including a 1-yr.-old boy); lifts the day curfew on e. Nablus (see 10/7); fires on residential areas and 2 schoolyards in Khan Yunis, injuring 8 Palestinians (at least 4 of them children). The IDF removes caravans fr. 2 unoccupied settler outposts in the West Bank; Jewish settlers dismantle 2 other unoccupied outposts. Jewish settlers block, attack a group of 5 international peace activists, 100 Palestinians attempting to reach Palestinian olive groves btwn. Elon Moreh and Itamar settlements, injuring 6 Palestinians; the IDF intervenes, orders Palestinians to leave. Israel releases Reuters journalist Jussry al-Jamal whom the IDF has held without charge since arresting him 5 mos. ago during Operation Defensive Shield; 3 other Palestinian journalists detained in 4/02, a reporter for al-Quds and 2 photographers for Agence France-Presse, are still being held. Israel also links Tubas, 21 surrounding villages to the Israeli electricity grid; the PA funded the $517,000 cost of the link-up. (HA, MM, PCHR 10/9; HA, NYT, PM, WP, WT 10/10)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Bayt Lahia, Jenin, Rafah r.c. (killing a 12-yr.-old Palestinian girl inside her house); kills 1 Palestinian nr. Tulkarm who was allegedly en route to stage a suicide bombing; fires on a busload of university students in Jenin, wounding 8; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarm. 2 Palestinians die of injuries received in the 10/7 IDF attack on Khan Yunis, which Sharon describes as a "success" despite the fact that the IDF failed to capture or kill 2 Hamas mbrs. targeted in the attack. Palestinians fire on a settler vehicle nr. Hebron, wounding 4 Jewish settlers; Jewish settlers assault Palestinians on the street, break windows of Palestinian cars; the IDF reinforces troops in the city, reimposes a curfew, but does not intervene to stop settler attacks. (HA, NYT, PCHR, PM, WP, WT 10/9)

Before dawn, the IDF sends 40 tanks and helicopters into Khan Yunis, occupying and blowing up buildings, firing on residential areas, killing a total of 14 Palestinians; in one incident a missile fired by an IDF helicopter at a Palestinian crowd kills 10 Palestinians, wounds more than 100; in a 2d incident, troops fire on a hospital where 100s of Palestinians are gathered to check on the status of relatives, leaving a hospital worker clinically dead, seriously injuring 3 (including a child shot in the neck), and firing grenades at the admin. office, equipment and supplies dept., training dept., and other facilities. The IDF the raid is part of its new strategy to put pressure on Hamas (see 9/24), calling Khan Yunis a "nest of terror." The IDF lifts the day curfew on w. Nablus; shoots at, mortally wounds a Palestinian motorist on the Nablus + n. Qalqilya road, blocks an ambulance fr. reaching him, allowing him to bleed to death; shells around an elementary school in Jenin while class is in session, causing damage to the school but no injuries; raids a school in the al-Mawasi area of Gaza, arresting 1 staff mbr.; bulldozes 78 dunams of olive groves nr. Jabaliya r.c. In Gaza City, masked Palestinian gunmen kidnap, murder PSF riot police chief Raghib Abu Lahiya. An attempt by PSF officers to arrest the assailants sparks a clash that leaves 5 Hamas mbrs. dead, 30 other Palestinians injured; Hamas denies involvement, says one of its mbrs. whose brother was killed by Abu Lahiya on 10/1/01 arranged the murder as a personal vendetta. (AP, HA, JTA, MM, PM, WP, WT 10/7; AFP 10/7 in WNC 10/8; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/8; AFP, MENA, al-Quds, XIN 10/8 in WNC 10/9; AP, MM, NYT, PCHR, PR, WP, WT 10/9; AKH, SA 10/9 in WNC 10/15; NYT, PM, WP 10/10; MEI 10/11; JPI 10/18; MEI 10/25; JPI 11/8)

In Jenin r.c., Islamic Jihad mbr. Samir Nursi is fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with an IDF soldier. Jewish settlers fire on Palestinians harvesting olive groves in Aqraba village, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding another. A Palestinian taxi driver dies of injuries received on 10/5. IDF soldiers fire on a heard of cows on a Palestinian farm nr. Jabaliya r.c., killing 3 cows, wounding several others. (NYT, WP, WT 10/7; PCHR, Radio Tariq al-Mahabbeh [Ramallah] 10/9)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths violating the curfew in Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian teenager; sends an APC into the demolished areas of Arafat's Ramallah compound for the 1st time since the IDF pullback on 9/29 (pulls it out by the end of the day); arbitrarily reimposes a curfew on Jenin, immediately firing on a taxi, seriously wounding the driver. Jewish settler attack Palestinians picking olives in Aqraba, pistol whipping several, stealing the day's harvest. (PM 10/5; XIN 10/5 in WNC 10/7; NYT, WP, WT 10/6; NYT 10/8; PCHR 10/9)

After Friday prayers 30 Palestinians inside the al-Aqsa Mosque compound pelt officers outside the complex with stones in protest of Bush's decision to sign legislation requiring U.S. recognition of united Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Some 50 Israeli police storm the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, fire tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinian worshipers leaving al-Aqsa Mosque. The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint in Barata nr. Hebron; fires on residential areas of Jenin, wounding at least 3, including a 15-yr.-old Palestinian hit inside his home, barred evacuation to a hospital, bleeds to death (the IDF admits that soldiers violated open-fire regulations); fires on a Palestinian taxi breaking curfew in Nablus, seriously injuring the driver, a 12-yr.-old Palestinian bystander; conducts arrest raids in Dura, Hebron; bulldozes a PSF post, more than 23 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Khan Yunis. An IDF soldier is shot, wounded in Nablus. Palestinians fire 4 mortars at Gush Katif settlement block in Gaza, an antitank missile at an IDF outpost, causing no damage. (HA, REU 10/4; LAW, NYT, WT 10/5; PCHR 10/9)

IDF snipers occupy buildings overlooking Arafat's Ramallah compound, including at least 1 Palestinian home and the PA Culture Min.; Ben-Eliezer says the purpose is "to put [our] hands on all those inside who are suspects if they try to come out." After allowing visits twice in the past 2 wks., Ben-Eliezer orders the IDF to bar Jewish worshipers fr. Joseph's Tomb in Nablus for safety reasons. (HA 10/1; NYT, WT 10/2)

The IDF clashes with Islamic Jihad gunmen in, shells residential areas of Nablus and Balata r.c., leaving 1 IDF soldier dead, 3 buildings afire; fires on stone-throwing youths, killing 2 Palestinian boys ages 10 and 12, injuring 25; confiscates video footage of clashes fr. a Reuters cameraman. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Hebron, Gaza City (killing 1 Palestinian); conducts arrest raids in of Beitunia, Burkin, Hebron (reportedly detaining 5 mbrs. of a cell that has staged roadside bombings in the area), Qabatya, Tulkarm, al-Yamun; fires tank shells at residential areas of Gaza, leaving 1 Palestinian woman clinically dead (the IDF claims it was responding to mortar fire). In Ramallah, the IDF surrounds, fires shells a building where it claims some of the wanted Palestinians who hid in Arafat's offices during the siege are located; demands their surrender. (HA 9/30; HA, NYT, WP, WT 10/1; LAW, MM, PCHR 10/2; PCHR 10/3; MEI 10/11)

Bush signs the FY 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which requires the admin. to identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Bush says that he interprets the wording on Jerusalem as a "sense of Congress," not as binding on U.S. policy. The bill also urges the pres. to impose sanctions on the Palestinians if they do not comply with signed agmts.; withholds $10 m. of $35 m. in economic aid to Lebanon for failing to assert its authority over Hizballah; provides an additional $300 m. in aid to Israel, including $100 m. for munitions; rejects equivalent aid for Egypt. (Israel says the other $200 m. is going to be used to cover shortfalls in the defense budget.) (HA, JP, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/1; MM, NYT, PR, WT 10/2; Gulf Times [Doha], MENA, al-Quds 10/2 in WNC 10/3; MM 10/3; al-Quds 10/3 in WNC 10/4; AYM, MENA 10/4 in WNC 10/7; PR 10/9; MEI 10/11)

In the 1st bombing since 8/4/02, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device at a bus stop in a Umm al-Fahm in Israel, killing 1 Israeli policeman, wounding a 2d policeman, 1 Israeli Arab. An AMB gunman ambushes a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Jenin, killing 1 Jewish settler, injuring a Rumanian worker; a 2d Jewish settler is found murdered in East Jerusalem; an alleged Palestinian collaborator is found murdered, apparently by Hamas. The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian at a roadblock, claiming he attempted to run over soldiers; conducts house-to-house searches in Rafah, bulldozing 1 Palestinian home, firing on an UN delegation touring earlier damage; bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes in Abu Dis, belonging to the families of suicide bombers; demolishes 34 residential units in a General Union of Palestinian Workers housing project in `Ayn Sinya nr. Ramallah; fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun, barring an ambulance fr. retrieving at least 1 injured Palestinian; bulldozes, paves over 5 dunams of agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis for a new settler bypass road. According to the IDF, Palestinians fire 3 antitank missiles at an IDF post nr. Rafah, causing no damage. (AP, JTA, LAW, PCHR, REU 9/18; HA, NYT, WP, WT 9/19; QA 9/19 in WNC 9/20; MM 9/20; NYT 9/21; MM 9/24; PCHR, PR 9/25; MEI 9/27; WT 10/26)

The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes nr. Gaza City, damaging 8 others; halts an ambulance nr. Nablus, taking a relative of the patient into custody; fires tear gas at PRCS property, ambulances, paramedics in Nablus, Tulkarm. Palestinians fire 2 mortars, a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, damaging 1 home, causing no injuries; the IDF believes the rocket was a new, larger Qassam-3, with a range of up to 12 km. Palestinian gunmen fire at a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Tulkarm, injuring 1 settler. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 9/10. An Israeli court indicts 4 East Jerusalem Palestinians for murder for their alleged role in the 7/31/02 Hebrew University bombing. A Palestinian indicted in civilian court on terrorism charges on 7/30 is convicted, sentenced to 22 yrs. Israel announces that 6 wks. ago it arrested 10 bedouin IDF soldiers fr. the Galilee on charges of spying for Hizballah. (JTA 9/12; HA, WP 9/13; LAW, PCHR 9/18; PCHR 9/20; HA 10/23; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/24; MM 10/29)

In a speech to the opening session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) a day after the 1st anniversary of the al-Qa`ida attacks on the U.S., Bush warns the UN to take action quickly to force Iraq to "unconditionally accept" inspection, disarmament of its chemical and biological weapons and nuclear research facilities, intimating that the U.S. will take action unilaterally if the UN does not. Bush also reiterates his support for the creation of "an independent and democratic Palestine living side by side with Israel in peace and security," adding that "Palestinians deserve a government that serves their interests and listens to their voices." (NYT, Jerusalem Times, WP, WT 9/12; HA, MM 9/13; AYM 9/13, MENA, al-Quds 9/14, MENA 9/15 in WNC 9/16; NYT 9/14; JT, WP 9/15; MM 9/17; MEI 9/27)

The American Jewish Comm., Israel 21c (a Silicon Valley+n based group supported by executives of high-tech companies) launch an ad campaign to run on cable TV news stations in 100 U.S. cities promoting Israel's side in its conflict with the Palestinians, portraying Israel as the only democratic country and country sharing American values in the Middle East. (JTA 9/17; AP 9/18; WJW 9/19, 9/26)