The Palestine Chronology

In light of the 10/16 AMB attacks, the IDF suspends contacts with the PA; closes to private Palestinian vehicles 2 stretches of the main north–south artery through the West Bank (Route 60) between Jerusalem and Ramallah and Jerusalem and Hebron; reinforces troops in the s. West Bank, encircling Hebron, Bethlehem; reimposes recently dismantled checkpoints around Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah. The IDF also closes the Qarni crossing for half a day; conducts arrest raids targeting the AMB in Jenin. Some 40 Jewish settlers attack Palestinian vehicles on the Bayt Furik–Bayt Dajan road nr. Nablus. Palestinians east of Tubas say that the IDF had recently fenced off and begun bulldozing 1,000 d. of Palestinian orchards, farmland nr. Rotem for the apparent expansion of the settlement. (HA, IMEMC, JAZ, PM 10/17; HA, CSM, NYT 10/18; PCHR 10/20; OCHA 10/31)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tamun nr. Jenin, fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront the troops, seriously wounding a 13-yr.-old boy; patrols in, fires on residential areas of Tubas, Tulkarm; later conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tubas, nr. Bethlehem; allows the PA to open the Rafah checkpoint for several hrs. to allow Palestinians making the hajj to leave for Saudi Arabia. Jewish settlers fr. Alon Shvut nr. Bethlehem uproot 210 Palestinian fruit trees in neighboring Artas. (PCHR 10/6)