The Palestine Chronology

Just before the PC meets in Ramallah, the IDF assassinates PFLP leader Nidal Salama, firing rockets at his car as he drives through Khan Yunis, also killing 1 Palestinian bystander; surrounds the home of, fatally shoots Bethlehem AMB cmdr. Mahmud Salah in an apparent assassination, also killing AMB mbr. Adnan Juayrish, who was with him; demolishes the home of Salah’s 2 brothers. Just 2 hrs. after Abbas’s new government is confirmed, a suicide bomber detonates a device outside a Tel Aviv nightclub, next to the U.S. emb., killing 2 Israelis, 1 French woman, wounding 34 (including at least 1 American); a 2d bomber escapes when his bomb fails to detonate; AMB, Hamas say they jointly planned the operation; both bombers are British Muslims (1 of Kashmiri, 1 of Pakistani descent) who apparently entered Israel fr. Gaza on British passports. Commenting on the attack, Israeli government spokesman Dore Gold says, ”This is really the first test for the new Palestinian government and unfortunately it has turned out to be a complete failure.” The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian in Rafah; fires on, wounds 2 Palestinian farmers working land in Khuza; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. (HA 4/29; BBC, HA, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/30; Interfax 4/30 in WNC 5/1; LAW, PCHR 5/1; NYT 5/2; JTA 5/6; PR 5/7; JPI 5/9; WP 5/10)

The PC approves (69–12, with 3 abstentions) Abbas’s new government, presented after wks. of debate within Fatah. In his inaugural speech Abbas states that there is no military solution to the conflict with Israel, rejects “terrorism,” pledges to crack down on militant groups and confiscate illegal weapons, demands an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, and without Jewish settlements. Israeli FM Silvan Shalom cautiously welcomes Abbas’s words on violence but says his statements on flnal status are “problematic” and “raise serious questions regarding a readiness to arrive at an agreed-upon resolution.” (HA, MM 4/29; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/30; AYM, Interfax, ITAR-TASS 4/30 in WNC 5/1; SA 4/30, al-Quds 5/1 in WNC 5/2; WJW 5/1; AYM 5/1 in WNC 5/5; HA, MM, WJW 5/2; HA 5/5; MEI 5/16)

IDF undercover units raid Jenin, arresting local Islamic Jihad leader Abu Ali Kasi, 3 associates, killing 1 Palestinian bystander. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Nablus (targeting the tanz im, PFLP), engaging in an exchange of gunfire that leaves 2 IDF soldiers, 1 Palestinian bystander wounded; demolishes a Palestinian home in Qalqilya; bulldozes 20 dunams of land in Khuza. Israeli police charge 4 Druze fr. n. Israel with conspiring to kidnap an IDF soldier. An Israeli court orders sealed the Shaykh Jarrah residences attacked by settlers on 4/27, leaving 48 Palestinians homeless. (HA, JTA 4/28; VOI 4/28 in WNC 4/29; LAW, PCHR 5/1)

A Palestinian suicide bomber fr. Balata r.c. detonates a device at the Kfar Saba railway station in Israel, killing 1 Israeli security guard, injuring 13 Israelis. A statement faxed to Reuters claims the AMB carried out the act with the help of the PFLP, but AMB’s chief spokesman denies this, saying the attack was staged by Nablus breakaway faction of the AMB (see 4/10). Israel says it will not stage a massive retaliation in response. The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Qarawat Bani Zayt, killing 2 Palestinians; fires on an elementary school in Qalqilya, injuring 3 students, 1 teacher; shells residential areas of Rafah; bulldozes nearly 300 dunams of land in Bayt Hanun, 34 dunams in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem (targeting Hamas), al-Qarara, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Mitzpeh Yeriho seize a hilltop nr. Jericho as a new outpost, called Givat Haherut (Liberty Hill), to “prevent invasion” of the area by bedouin shepherds; Israeli police urge the settlers to evacuate the site but leave when they refuse. (HA, LAW, MM 4/24; AFP, ITAR-TASS 4/24 in WNC 4/25; NYT, WP, WT 4/25; al-Quds, VOI 4/25 in WNC 4/28; PR 4/30; LAW, PCHR, WJW 5/1; MEI 5/2)

The IDF fires on, seriously wounds Islamic Jihad mbr. Anas Sharita in an attempt to arrest him in Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Jenin (targeting Islamic Jihad, including 2 mbrs. arrested in a hospital, where 1 was receiving treatment for gunshot wounds), Qalqilya (targeting the PFLP); fires on Palestinians at Surda checkpoint nr. Ramallah for no apparent reason, wounding 5; demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in al-Mughraqa, 1 in Bayt Hanun (also bulldozing 37 dunams of land). Late in the evening, Hamas mbr. Shibli Tamasi is killed, 3 Palestinians are wounded in a mysterious explosion in Idna. Palestinians fire a Qassam rocket at Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. (HA 4/23; HA, LAW, PCHR 4/24; PR 4/30; LAW, PCHR 5/1)

IDF soldiers fire on, halt, search an ambulance in Burkin, beat and injure 2 paramedics. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Nablus targeting the PFLP. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 4/8. (YA 4/14 in WNC 4/15; LAW, PCHR 4/17; PRCS press release 4/21)

In the Jordan Valley, 2 Palestinian gunmen (1 AMB, 1 PFLP) raid an IDF base, killing 2 IDF soldiers, wounding 9 before being shot dead. Later, in the 2d such incident in 2 days, IDF helicopters fire missiles at Islamic Jihad military leader Mahmud Zatma as he drives through Gaza City, assassinating him, injuring 15 Palestinian bystanders (including 12 children leaving school, 1 woman). In an apparent assassination attempt, IDF undercover units raid Tulkarm, fire on a car carrying 3 AMB mbrs., wounding them, killing 1 bystander. The IDF also signs an order to expel detained West Bank Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Safuri (arrested in 8/02) to Gaza; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, nr. Netzarim; shells residential areas of Rafah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Ramallah. (HA, MM 4/10; NYT, WP 4/11; PR 4/16; LAW, PCHR 4/17; MEI 4/18)

The IDF says that it plans to deport fr. Hebron to Gaza several relatives of Muhammad Qawasmi, the 3/5 Haifa suicide bomber, claiming they either knew of or assisted in planning the bombing. An Israeli wounded in the 3/5 attack dies of her injuries, bringing the toll to 17. The IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in al-Mughraqa, 3 in Rafah, 1 in Jenin, 1 in al-Qarara (killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 3 in the operation); fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Nablus (detaining a wheelchair-bound Palestinian); fires shells at an ambulance in Rafah, injuring the driver. The IDF also arrests senior PFLP leader and PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. Adnan Jabir in Bethlehem, making him the 4th PLO Exec. Comm. mbr. arrested by the IDF; the others are Taysir Khalid (DFLP), ‘Abd al-Rahim Maluah (PFLP), and Raqad Salim (Arab Liberation Front). (HA 3/11; NYT 3/12; LAW, PCHR 3/13)

The IDF pulls out of the n. Gaza “security zone” it reoccupied on 3/7, having bulldozed at least 314 dunams of land, demolished 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Lahia. The IDF fatally shoots 2 AMB mbrs. planting roadside bombs outside Kefar Darom settlement; shells residential areas of Hebron, killing 1 Palestinian, destroying his home; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Bayt Hanun, 1 in Jenin, 1 in al-Qarara; bulldozes 10 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Hanun. A Palestinian gunman ambushes an IDF patrol nr. the Tomb of the Patriarchs/ al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 5, taking refuge in an apartment building; Hamas, the PFLP each take responsibility; the IDF evacuates the building, shells and bulldozes it, killing the gunman. A Beit El military court sentences a Fatah mbr. to 4 consecutive life terms for planning a 3/21/02 suicide bombing in Jerusalem. The AMB and military wings of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the PFLP in Nablus issue a letter warning the IDF to withdraw fr. Nablus and other PA areas in 2 wks. or they will resume military operations inside Israel. (HA 3/10; VOI 3/10 in WNC 3/11; HA, MM, NYT 3/11; NYT, PR, WP 3/12; LAW, PCHR 3/13)

The Reston Connection (Reston, VA) reports that at a private function last wk. in Virginia, Rep. James Moran (D-VA) said, “If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this [i.e., planning for war]. The leaders of the Jewish community are influential enough that they could change the direction of where this is going, and I think they should.” Jewish orgs. condemn his comments as “reprehensible and anti-Semitic.” House minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) says Moran’s comments “have no place in the Democratic party.” (HA, WP 3/11; WJW 3/13; WP 3/15; MEI 3/21; WJW 4/10)

A Palestinian wounded by the IDF 2 wks. ago deteriorates rapidly, dies after an Israeli hospital insisted on transferring him to a Palestinian hospital on 2/25 despite the extreme weather. The IDF arrests an Islamic Jihad mbr. in the West Bank, blows up a car it says he was rigging as a bomb; blows up 9 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 1 in Balata r.c. (also destroying 2 nearby homes). An IDF military court accuses a Nablus-based PFLP cell of plotting to assassinate Shas leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the Israeli amb. to Jordan. A Tel Aviv court sentences an Israeli Arab to 4 yrs. for transferring arms to the tanzim. (HA 2/26; HA, LAW, PCHR, PM 2/27; LAW 3/13)

Bush outlines his vision for the Middle East in a post-Saddam Hussein environment, arguing that the overthrow of the Iraqi pres. and his regime will serve as a catalyst for peace in the region, explicitly linking resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and creation of a “truly democratic Palestinian state” to removing Hussein (HA, NYT, WP, WT 2/27; MENA 2/27 in WNC 2/28; JP, WP 2/28; al-Quds 3/2 in WNC 3/5; MM 3/5; WJW 3/6; MEI 3/7)

Overnight, the IDF launches a raid on Bayt Hanun that it expects to last for several days, demolishing 5 Palestinian homes, bulldozing 6 dunams of land, clashing with local Palestinians, killing 7 Palestinians (1 crushed in his home when it is demolished), wounding 28, detaining a Palestinian Reuters cameraman for involvement in “terrorist activity”; during the day, troops commandeer houses as outposts, fortify their positions, patrol streets, destroy bridges and roads, dig trenches, erect barricades. The IDF also fatally shoots 3 Palestinians elsewhere— an armed Palestinian attempting to infiltrate Netzarim settlement, a 15-yr.-old Palestinian on a playground in Khan Yunis, a Palestinian who fails to heed orders to halt; arrests DFLP Ramallah head Ibrahim Abu Hijla; bulldozes 24 dunams of land, 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Khan Yunis. An 11th Palestinian dies of injuries received in Nablus on 2/22. A PFLP sniper fatally shoots 1 IDF soldier in Khan Yunis. Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets at Sederot, causing no damage. (AP, HA, LAW 2/23; HA, NYT, WP, WT 2/24; NYT, PMC 2/25; PR 2/26; LAW, PCHR 2/27)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians attempting to sneak into Israel fr. Gaza; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian in Tulkarm when he fails to heed orders to halt; opens fire on Palestinian stone throwers in Nablus, injuring 12; demolishes a Palestinian home in Nablus; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Abud, Tamun, Tura. A 4th Palestinian dies of injuries received on 2/11. (AP, HA, WT 2/21; HA, NYT, WT 2/22; LAW 2/23; LAW, PCHR 2/27)

PLO Exec. Comm. gen. secy. and senior PA negotiator Mahmud Abbas says that the PA is calling for a 1-yr. demilitarization of the intifada. The AMB, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) reject the call. (HA 2/21; Interfax 2/21, SA 2/23 in WNC 2/24; NYT 2/23; al-Quds, JT 2/24 in WNC 2/25; AYM 2/24 in WNC 2/26)

The IDF raids Nablus, fatally shooting a wanted tanzim mbr. in what may be an assassination, arresting 6 others; raids Qalqilya, encounters a stone-throwing mob, opens fire on the protesters, killing an 8-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding 9; fatally shoots a armed Palestinian nr. Kissufim crossing in Gaza; demolishes a Palestinian home in Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c.; conducts arrest raids targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Beitunia, Husan, Jenin, Kafr Qalil; fires on residential areas of al-Qarara, Rafah. A PFLP gunman fatally shoots an IDF officer in Manger Square in Bethlehem; the IDF sends tanks into the city, declares it a closed military zone. Late this evening, the IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. Dugit settlement. Israeli police arrest an Israeli DMin. supervisor responsible for overseeing construction of a section of Israel’s new security fence on charges of collaborating with building contractors to uproot Palestinian olive trees, sell them for profit inside Israel. (HA 2/11; HA, NYT, PR, WP, WT 2/12; VOI 2/12 in WNC 2/13; PCHR 2/20)

The IDF assassinates wanted PFLP mbr. Imad Mabruk in al-`Ayn r.c.; fatally shoots an armed Palestinian nr. a Jewish settlement in Gaza; arrests 3 Hamas mbrs. nr. Ramallah carrying 44 lbs. of explosives, allegedly en route to stage a suicide bombing; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Rafah, 1 in Sawahara; conducts arrest raids in Kefar Darom, Nablus. A Palestinian wounded in Tulkarm on 2/9 dies of his injuries. A roadside bomb explodes nr. an IDF patrol in Rafah, causing no injuries. Late in the evening, the IDF seals the West Bank, Gaza for 3 days, citing concerns there will be anti-Israeli attacks during the Id al-Adha holiday. (AP, HA 2/10; VOI 2/10 in WNC 2/11; HA, NYT, WT 2/11; VOI 2/11 in WNC 2/12; PR 2/12; PCHR 2/20)

The IDF fatally shoots a “suspicious” Palestinian nr. Tulkarm; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Furik, al-Til. In a joint AMB-PFLP operation, 2 Palestinian gunmen attack an IDF post nr. Nablus, killing 2 IDF soldiers, wounding 1 before being shot dead. An Israeli Arab stabs, lightly injures an Israeli policeman in n. Israel before being shot dead by another officer. Based on information fr. the IDF interrogation of 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. capture in the West Bank today, Israeli police find an explosive belt in the washroom of a mosque in the Israeli-Arab town of Taibeh, which they remove and detonate. (MM, REU 2/6; VOI 2/6 in WNC 2/7; NYT, WP 2/7; HA, NYT 2/8; PR 2/12; PCHR 2/20)

Following up on the Sharon-Qurai` talks on 2/5, PA Interior M Hani al-Hassan meets secretly with Sharon chief of staff Dov Weisglass at the home of U.S. Amb. to Israel Dan Kurtzer to discuss possible resumption of Israeli-PA cease-fire talks. (HA, MM 2/10; JT, QA, al-Quds, SA 2/10 in WNC 2/11; HA, MM 2/11; PR 2/12; MEI 2/21)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. Atzmona settlement; conducts arrest raids (targeting Hamas, Islamic Jihad, PFLP) in Bethlehem, al-Fahs, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, al-Qarara, Ramallah, Tufah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Ras al-Amud, 1 in `Aqbat Tafuh. Late in the evening, IDF helicopters fire missiles at the Gaza City home of senior Hamas mbr. Muhammad Atil, killing his 2 teenage children, wounding 11. The IDF reports that it has removed fr. his post an intelligence officer who “disrupted” a planned air strike in retaliation to the 1/5 Tel Aviv bombing in order to “prevent harm to innocent Palestinians”; the officer was in possession of, refused to share intelligence information critical to the mission. The IDF begins work on a 45 km stretch of the separation fence btwn. Kafr Salim and Beit She’an, nr. Jenin. (HA, REU 1/27; HA, NYT, WT 1/28; MA 1/28 in WNC 1/29; LAW, PCHR, PR 1/29; PR 2/5)

Palestinian factions close 4-days of talks in Egypt without reaching an agmt. on a cease-fire and national unity platform. (HA, MM 1/27; MENA 1/27 in WNC 1/28; MENA, SA, XIN 1/28 in WNC 1/29; PCHR, PR 1/29; MM 1/30; MEI 2/21)

International Atomic Energy Agency, UN inspectors report that Iraq has generally cooperated with inspections but has not been proactive; they have found no evidence of biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons but say some questions remain. (MM 1/27; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/28; MM 1/31)

The IDF bulldozes 63 shops, market stalls in Nazlat Issa, 1 of the only thriving Palestinian commercial centers, located very close to the West Bank border with Israel; maps of Israel’s planned security fence show the fence running e. of Nazlat Issa, which would cut off the village fr. the rest of the West Bank. The IDF also beats 2 Palestinian photographers for international agencies as they try to photograph an IDF jeep driving through Nablus with 2 Palestinian youths clinging to the hood, threaten to kill the journalists if they see the photo published; fires on residential areas of Bayt Lahia; conducts arrest raids (targeting Hamas, Islamic Jihad) in Hebron, Jenin r.c., Jericho, Nablus, Ramallah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Yatta, nr. Hebron. Islamic Jihad says that 2 of its low-ranking mbrs. have escaped fr. the IDF’s Ofer detention center in the West Bank. Israeli border police halt a suspicious van nr. Umm al-Fahm, just inside the Green Line; the 4 occupants of the car flee (2 into Israel, 2 into the West Bank); police find 300 kg. of explosives inside. Shin Bet arrests the wife of jailed PFLP leader Saadat at the Allenby border crossing, on her way to Jordan to fly to Brazil for a conference; gives no reason for her detention. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 3/4/02. (BBC, HA 1/21; HA, LAW, NYT, PCHR, PM, PR, WT 1/22; PM 1/23)

Reversing an 8/18/02 decision, the Israeli High Court rules that the IDF’s "neighborhood procedure" (i.e., sending a Palestinian to warn a wanted individual to surrender to IDF troops waiting nearby) is legal, saying the IDF may not force Palestinians to act as human shields, but it may use them if they “volunteer.” (HA, WT 1/22)

In Gaza, 2 Palestinian children (ages 12, 14) armed with knives infiltrate Netzarim settlement, are shot at and wounded by a settler rabbi, captured by IDF troops. The IDF erects a new checkpoint at the e. entrance to Askar r.c.; fires on Palestinians who throw stones at the new crossing, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 9. The IDF also fires tear gas at Palestinians crossing the Anata + n. Jerusalem checkpoint, causing 1 pregnant Palestinian woman to miscarry; conducts arrest raids in Hebron (targeting Hamas), Ramallah (targeting the PFLP). An Islamic Jihad mbr. is killed apparently when a grenade he is carrying explodes. The body of a missing Palestinian is found nr. Nablus; the IDF says he was apparently killed by IDF gunfire on 1/1. Late in the evening, the IDF sends 50 tanks, bulldozers into Khan Yunis; demolishing around 30 workshops, stores, offices, a clinic; clashes with Hamas mbrs., fatally shooting 1 Palestinians, wounding 13; bulldozes 9 dunams of land; conducts arrest sweeps, house searches. The IDF also raids Bayt Hanun, demolishing a Palestinian home, killing 1 Palestinian in the process. (HA 1/11; VOI 1/11 in WNC 1/13; HA, WT 1/12; HA, NYT, WP 1/13; LAW, PCHR, PR 1/15)

The IDF continues operations in Bureij r.c. (searching, vandalizing PFLP offices), Maghazi r.c., Nussayrat r.c.; demolishes 25 Palestinian homes, bulldozes 7 dunams of land, arrests several Palestinians in Rafah r.c. The IDF also bars a Palestinian woman in labor fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a hospital; she gives birth to a healthy baby at the crossing. A Palestinian gunman occupies an Israeli house in Maor, nr. the West Bank border, fires once at the 2 occupants before his gun jams and the occupants escape; Israeli police surround the home, fatally shoot the gunman. The body of a missing Israeli businessman is found in his burnt-out car nr. Tubas; the AMB takes responsibility for the killing. A Palestinian is killed in a mysterious explosion n. of Ramallah; the IDF suspects that a bomb he was carrying exploded prematurely. A Jewish settler deliberately hits an elderly Palestinian pedestrian with his car in Qalqilya, injuring him. (AP, CNN, HA, PCHR, REU, WP 1/2; AFP 1/2 in WNC 1/3; HA, NYT, WT 1/3; LAW, PCHR, PR 1/8; PCHR 1/9)

The IDF fires flechette shells, live ammunition at 5 unarmed Palestinian laborers attempting to sneak into Israel nr. the Qarni border crossing, killing them; the IDF says it thought they were attempting to infiltrate Israel to stage an attack. The IDF also fires on 2 PFLP mbrs. attempting to infiltrate a Gush Katif settlement, killing 1, allowing the other to escape; fatally shoots an armed Palestinian attempting to infiltrate a kibbutz in Israel; bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah r.c.; bulldozes 3 unoccupied Palestinian homes, 4 dunams of land in al-Mughraqa; conducts an arrest raid in Qalqilya. Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot 2 IDF soldiers in Hebron, nr. the cite of the 11/15 Islamic Jihad ambush. (REU 12/12; MM, NYT, WP 12/13; NYT 12/14; MM, PM 12/16; LAW, NYT, PCHR, PR 12/18; MEI 12/20)

Before dawn, IDF helicopters fire 5 missiles at a school in Khan Yunis, extensively damaging it; fatally shoots a Palestinian drummer going alley-to-alley in Askar r.c. nr. Nablus despite the curfew to declare the start of the day’s Ramadan fast (Ramadan began on 11/6), bars an ambulance fr. reaching him, allowing him to bleed to death. During the day, the IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian driving in Bethlehem; holds a Palestinian woman in labor at a Bethlehem checkpoint for 2 hrs., causing her baby to die; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Nablus; raids an emergency clinic in Hebron, vandalizing patient files. A PFLP suicide bomber detonates a car bomb nr. an IDF post in Gaza, killing himself but causing no other injuries. Palestinians fire 5 mortars at Gush Katif settlement, causing no damage or injuries. (LAW, PCHR, PM, UPMRC, WT 11/27; HA, WP 11/28)

Israel’s Interior M Eli Yishai announces his decision to strip Israeli Arab Qays Obeid, now residing in Lebanon, of his Israeli citizenship for allegedly spying for Hizballah, marking the 2d time Yishai has stripped an Israeli Arab of his citizenship. (HA 11/27)

The IDF fires on Palestinians waiting to cross an IDF checkpoint w. of Nablus, killing 1  Palestinian; conducts house-to-house searches, arrests in Aida r.c., Bayt Umar, Bethlehem, Jit, Tal, Tubas, Tulkarm; raids, fires on residential areas of Rafah, Nablus, Nur al-Shams r.c., Tulkarm; bulldozes 14 dunams of land s. of Dayr al-Balah; raids the al-Ihsan charitable society, Hebron University dean’s offices in Hebron, confiscating computers, files; forces at gunpoint a 24-yr.-old Palestinian to undress in the main street of Nablus, bark like a dog. Late in the evening, the IDF sends 10s of tanks, armored person-nel carriers (APCs) into Qalqilya, imposes a curfew, raids Waqf offices, conducts arrest raids targeting Popular Front for the Lib-eration of Palestine (PFLP) mbrs. The UN sends an envoy to the West Bank to investigate the 11/22 death of a UNRWA official, new charges (11/23) by Israel that Palestinian gunmen were firing from inside the UNRWA’s Jenin r.c. compound, prompting the IDF gunfire. (NYT, WT 11/25; WT 11//26; LAW, PCHR 11/27)

The IDF assassinates wanted AMB mbr. Rafat Daraghma, firing 4 missiles at his car in Tubas, also killing 2 Palestinian teenagers in the vehicle; 1 missile misses the car, hits a house, killing 2 Palestinian children, injuring 7 others; the main target of the attack, local AMB leader Jihad Sawafta, escapes. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in al-Bireh, Ramallah (arresting Hamas spokesman Hassan Yusif); bulldozes agricultural land in al-Qarara; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in `Ayn Arik nr. Ramallah. A PFLP gunman infiltrates Brakha settlement nr. Nablus, wounding 2 before being shot dead by Jewish settlers. In Jaba', AMB gunmen kill an alleged Palestinian collaborator. (NYT, WP, WT 9/1; AFP, MM, NYT 9/2; LAW, PCHR 9/4; MEI 9/13)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Ramallah, detaining PFLP politburo mbrs. Bashir Khayri and Ali Jaradat, PFLP activist Sakir Hanacha (see 8/25); temporarily lifts the curfew on Hebron. Late in the evening, Palestinians fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing light damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers establish a new settlement enclave nr. Eli settlement. (PCHR, WT 8/28; JP 8/29; AFP, Peace Now press release 9/2)

Israel says there will be no further IDF redeployments fr. PA areas at least until late 9/02, after the Jewish holidays. The IDF raids the home of, arrests PFLP politburo mbr. al-`Alim Yunis Da'na; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Salfit (demolishing several Palestinian homes); fires on residential areas of Jenin, Khan Yunis; bulldozes 13 dunams of agricultural land along the Shuhada Junction + n. Qarni settler bypass road. (XIN 8/25 in WNC 8/26; NYT 8/26; PCHR 8/28; MEI 8/30)

In Ramallah, IDF commandos assassinate senior Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) mbr. Muhammad Saadat, brother of PFLP head Ahmad Saadat; the IDF also raids Tulkarm r.c., fatally shoots wanted tanzim mbr. Afsam Salima in an apparent assassination. A Hamas sniper fatally shoot an IDF soldier nr. Gadid settlement in retaliation for the IDF sniper shooting of a Hamas mbr. a wk. ago; IDF forces in the area return fire killing a 15-yr.-old Palestinian bystander. IDF also shells Khan Yunis, Tulkarm r.c. (killing 1 Palestinian); raids Dayr al-Balah (conducting house-to-house searches), Jenin r.c. (firing live ammunition and tank shells at stone throwers, injuring 5), al-Yamun (occupying 2 Palestinian homes). (MM 8/20; HA, LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP 8/21; PCHR 8/26; MEI 8/30)

Israel's American PR consultants urge Israel, American Jewish groups to adhere to a new PR strategy based on equating Israeli and U.S. values, not attacking PA head Yasir Arafat directly, being more hopeful. The changes come as a result of polls showing that Americans are increasingly blaming both sides in the conflict. (JTA 8/20)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus at Meron Junction in n. Israel, killing 3 IDF soldiers, 2 Israeli civilians, 2 Philippine workers, 2 Israeli Arabs and wounding 40 (mostly soldiers); Hamas says it will not release the name the bomber to prevent Israel fr. retaliating against his relatives. In Jerusalem, an AMB gunman fatally shoots an Israeli guard, an Israeli telephone employee nr. Damascus Gate; Israeli policemen, soldiers open fire indiscriminately in the direction of the shooter, who is near a café, killing him, a Palestinian café patron, wounding 17. Nr. Aley Sinai settlement in Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian frogman as he emerges fr. the sea carrying a rifle, grenades in a sealed bag. AMB gunmen detonate a roadside bomb nr. a settler car nr. Ramallah, fire on passengers, injuring 3 Jewish settlers. PFLP gunmen fire on a settler bus nr. Tulkarm, injuring 4 Jewish settlers. A roadside bomb injures 4 IDF soldiers nr. Ramallah. The IDF demolishes an 18-dunam PA Youth and Sports Min. complex, a 20-dunam PSF training center, 4 privately owned buildings, several boats in Bayt Lahia. Jewish settlers attack a PRCS ambulance nr. Ramallah, injuring 2 paramedics. (AFP 8/4 in WNC 8/5; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/5; LAW, PCHR 8/7)

The IDF reoccupies Beitunia, Bethlehem, Dahaysha r.c.; expands bases there and in Jenin, Qalqilya; conducts raids into Halhul, Tulkarm town and r.c.; raids Shaykh Ajlin, bulldozing Palestinian land, firing on Palestinians working the fields, killing a Palestinian boy; fires on residential areas of Birzeit. The IDF issues a limited call-up of reservists, bars Palestinian workers fr. entering Jewish settlements. In Jenin town, IDF troops evacuate and vandalize a hospital admin. building, throwing a grenade in the foyer, blowing up a safe, spraying the building with heavy machine gun fire, breaking doors, destroying $13,600 of equipment; fire on, seriously damage 2 fire trucks. The IDF reportedly has transferred more than 600 Jenin r.c. residents to Salim detention center for questioning; some 150 are released today, sent to Romani village, are told to stay there for 2-4 wks. Late this evening, a PFLP gunman, retaliating for the arrest of PFLP 2d-in-command Malluh on 6/11, attacks a home in Itamar settlement, killing 4 Jewish settlers and 1 settlement guard, wounding 2 settlers and 2 border policemen before being shot dead. A pregnant Palestinian woman is fatally hit by stray IDF gunfire in her home in Qalqilya. In Gaza, 1,500 unemployed Palestinians who have been cut off fr. their jobs in Israel since 9/00 hold a "March of Hunger," protesting Israeli closures, lack of support fr. the PA. (AFP, AP, HA, LAW, WP, WT 6/20; MA 6/20 in WNC 6/21; XIN 6/20 in WNC 6/24; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/21; PRCS press release 6/24; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

In Jerusalem, Sharon, Israeli pres. Moshe Katsav address a "Transfer Now" conference hosted by the right-wing Moledet party. (Peace Now press release 6/20; MA 6/21 in WNC 6/24)

The IDF makes new incursions into Bethlehem, Dahaysha r.c., al-Khadir, Tulkarm and surrounding villages; continues operations in Ramallah, arresting 30 Palestinians (including PFLP 2d-in-command `Abd al-Rahim Malluh), reportedly uncovering an explosives lab in a Force 17 building; searches a PRCS office nr. Hebron; delays ambulances at checkpoints in the Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah areas. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device in a restaurant in Herziliya, killing 1 Israeli, wounding 8. The IDF fatally shoots a 9-yr.-old Palestinian boy when he strays too close to Netzarim settlement; 2 Palestinians in Gaza, who allegedly fired on a Jewish settler vehicle. The AMB fatally shoots 2 collaborators in Hebron. A 7th Palestinian is found dead nr. Erez crossing; the IDF claims a roadside bomb he was planting accidentally exploded. Nr. Hebron, 3 Jewish settlers are wounded when they accidentally trigger an explosive device in a field. A Palestinian stabs, wounds an Israeli policeman in Jerusalem. Israeli authorities demolish 6 Palestinian homes in Sur al-Bahir in East Jerusalem. (AFP, LAW, MM, PRCS press release, UPMRC 6/11; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/12; AYM 6/30 in WNC 7/31)

Before dawn, the IDF sends troops back into Jenin; declares a curfew on Jenin, 5 surrounding villages; conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm. Nr. Hebron, 2 PFLP gunmen infiltrate a new settlement enclave nr. Karmei Tsur, killing 3 Jewish settlers, wounding 5; 1 PFLP mbr. is shot dead, the other escapes. (NYT, WP, WT 6/8; WP 6/9; MEI 6/14)

Mubarak meets with Bush at Camp David. (MENA 6/7, 6/8 in WNC 6/10; MENA 6/7 in WNC 6/11; WP, WT 6/8; MEI 6/14)

The IDF continues operations in Balata r.c., Nablus for the 5th day; blows up an alleged bomb-making factory, raids and damages a medical center in Balata r.c. In new Askar r.c., the IDF conducts house-to-house searches, breaking through walls; bulldozes 4 cars; damages 22 stores, a medical center. The IDF also sends tanks into al-`Ayn r.c., `Ayn Bayt Hilma r.c., calling on men ages 15-45 to turn them selves in, detaining 100s; conducts arrest raids in al-Bireh, Khan Yunis, Qalqilya (also confiscating files fr. the Qalqilya Charity Comm., Islamic Club), Tulkarm; shells residential areas of Rafah, destroying 1 Palestinian home, damaging 6; bulldozes 50 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Khan Yunis, areas around the Gaza airport. The IDF, Shin Bet also raid the Arab Chamber of Commerce in Jerusalem, arrest 6 Palestinian employees for violating the closure of the building imposed in 8/01. Israel seizes 30 dunams of Palestinian land along the Green Line nr. Issawiyya for creation of buffer zones, 120 dunams in the Jabal Mukabir neighborhood of East Jerusalem for Jewish housing, a tourists complex. Overnight, Palestinians detonate 2 roadside bombs nr. IDF convoys in the West Bank, causing no damage. (AP, HP 6/3; WP, WT 6/4; LAW 6/5; HA, WJW 6/6)

The PA High Court rules that the PA has no legal ground to hold PFLP head Saadat, must release him immediately. In response, the IDF sends tanks toward Jericho, where Saadat is being held; declares the Jericho area a closed military zone; warns it will kill Saadat if he is freed. Arafat quickly convenes the Executive Authority (EA), the PA's cabinet, which over turns the court decision. (AFP, HA, JP, LAW 6/3; RMC 6/3 in WNC 6/4; WP, WT 6/4; MM 6/5; AYM 6/5 in WNC 6/6) (see 5/19)

The U.S. announces it has just scheduled a mtg. btwn. Bush, Sharon at the White House on 6/10, after a visit by Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak. Israeli officials say Sharon asked for the mtg. out of concern that Israel's views were being overshadowed by the "near-constant stream" of Arab visitors to Washington. (JP, NYT, WT 6/4; MM, NYT, WP 6/5; AYM 6/7 in WNC 6/10)