409 / 15150 Results
  • May 7, 2004

    Overnight, the IDF raids Nur al-Shams r.c. outside Tulkarm to arrest wanted Islamic Jihad mbrs.; Islamic Jihad mbrs. Sa‘id Musay’i, Wa’il ‘Khadir are fatally shot when they open fire on the troops...

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  • May 5, 2004

    The IDF fatally shoots wanted senior Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Imad Janajra (target of assassination on 4/23 when the IDF killed a college professor in a case of mistaken identity) outside...

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  • May 2, 2004

    Palestinian gunmen (1 Islamic Jihad mbr., 1 PRC mbr.) ambush a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Gush Katif, killing a Jewish settler woman, her 4 children, wounding 2 IDF soldiers in a car escorting...

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  • April 29, 2004

    The IDF conducts a major raid on alFara‘ r.c. nr. Jenin, occupying a cultural center as an observation post, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians (injuring 12, including a Palestinian cameraman...

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  • April 16, 2004

    The IDF continues operations in Rafah, withdrawing early in the morning; bars Palestinians ages 16–35 fr. traveling through the Rafah checkpoint, Palestinians under age 45 fr. praying at al-Aqsa...

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  • April 14, 2004

    The IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Biddu, wounding 12; blows up 2 Palestinian homes in Bethlehem, 1 in Nablus;...

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  • April 13, 2004

    The IDF conducts predawn arrest raids, house searches in Nablus in search of wanted Hamas activist Jafar Masri, arrests Masri’s wife and brother but does not find him. The IDF also begins work on...

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  • April 7, 2004

    The IDF cuts down 180 olive trees in a Palestinian grove nr. Biddu northwest of Jerusalem to make way for the separation wall, sparking clashes in which 35 Palestinians, 2 IDF soldiers are injured...

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  • April 1, 2004

    The IDF chases wanted AMB mbrs. into the admin. offices of a psychiatric hospital in Bethlehem, exchanges gunfire with them, arrests 9 (including the AMB local cmdr.), causing no injuries, but...

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  • March 16, 2004

    Overnight, the IDF destroys the educational studies campus of Gaza City’s al-Aqsa University, blowing up 2 buildings and bulldozing the 5.5 dunam campus, 30 dunams of surrounding agricultural land...

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  • March 14, 2004

    An AMB mbr. and a Hamas mbr., both fr. Gaza’s Jabaliya r.c., stage a double suicide bombing inside Israel’s Ashdod port, some 30 mi. north of the Strip, killing 11 Israelis, wounding 20, and...

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  • March 12, 2004

    The IDF fires on residential areas nr. Bethlehem, Qalqilya; demolishes several Palestinian homes in Rafah, conducts house searches, arrest raids in Bethlehem; fires tear gas, percussion grenades...

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  • March 4, 2004

    Israel seals the West Bank, Gaza through 3/7 for the Purim holidays. The IDF makes a major raid on Rafah in search for smugglers’ tunnels, fatally shooting a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy nr. his...

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  • February 21, 2004

    The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who strays too close to the Gaza border fence nr. al-Bureij. r.c.; bulldozes 20 dunams of land outside Gaza City, 3 dunams in Rafah; fires on residential areas...

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  • February 20, 2004

    The IDF conducts arrest raids in Bayt Sahur, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and nr. Dayr alBalah; bulldozes 8 dunams of olive groves, 4 greenhouses in Dayr al-Balah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis...

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  • February 17, 2004

    The IDF fires on Palestinian farmers working their fields nr. Khan Yunis, seriously wounding 1; fires on a Khan Yunis cemetery, wounding 1 Palestinian; detains 4 Palestinian fishermen off the...

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  • February 15, 2004

    The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin; issues confiscation orders for a 15-dunam plot of land adjacent to Negohot settlement nr. Hebron. Some 200 Palestinian journalists...

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  • February 5, 2004

    The IDF assassinates Hamas mbr. Nasir Abu Shuka with an exploding cell phone in Bureij r.c.; fatally shoots a PFLP mbr. who throws a grenade at an IDF patrol in Rafah; fatally shoots a Palestinian...

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  • January 31, 2004

    The IDF demolishes 9 Palestinian homes nr. Ramallah; bulldozes 11 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis; fires on residential areas of Rafah. (PCHR 2/8, 2/12)

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  • January 28, 2004

    The IDF makes a major predawn raid into Gaza City, targeting Palestinians who have stepped up attacks on Netzarim settlement in recent wks., sparking clashes that leave 5 Palestinian gunmen(4...

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  • January 25, 2004

    The IDF raids Nabi Salih village nr. Ramallah, rounding up and detaining the 500 residents outside in the rain for 2 hrs., searching homes, photographing and fingerprinting all men before...

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  • January 20, 2004

    The IDF sends troops into Rafah to search for smugglers’ tunnels, completely demolishes 22 Palestinian homes, a mosque along the Rafah border with Egypt, heavily damages another 16 homes, leaving...

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  • January 19, 2004

    The IDF issues confiscation orders for 700 dunams of Palestinian land (including 10 Palestinian homes) in Dayr al-Balah nr. Kefar Darom settlement; for no apparent reason, fires on Palestinians...

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  • January 16, 2004

    The IDF completely demolishes 3 Palestinian homes, bulldozes 9 dunams of land outside Rafah, along the settler bypass road linking Gush Katif and Morag settlements; completely demolishes 6...

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  • January 5, 2004

    The IDF continues patrols in Nablus, fires on stone-throwing youths, killing 1 Palestinian; demolishes 2 smugglers’ tunnels, 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah; bulldozes 6 Palestinian homes, 46 dunams...

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  • January 1, 2004

    The IDF fires on Palestinian youths breaking curfew, throwing stones at troops in Nablus, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian; fires on residential areas of al-Qarara; conducts arrest raids, house...

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  • December 27, 2003

    The IDF sends additional tanks, troops into Nablus, making the incursion begun on 12/18 (now dubbed Operation Still Water) the largest into the city in over a yr., firing on stone-throwing youths...

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  • December 26, 2003

    Israel says it will retaliate for the 12/25 PFLP suicide bombing but will not hit Hamas targets, since Hamas has refrained fr. attacks inside Israel for several mos. The IDF demolishes the bomber’...

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  • December 25, 2003

    The IDF assassinates a senior Islamic Jihad military leader, Muklid Humayid, firing a missile at his car as he drives in Gaza City, also killing another Islamic Jihad mbr. traveling with him, 3...

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  • December 12, 2003

    The IDF removes sand barriers blocking the main road linking Hebron to Bethlehem that have been in place since the start of the intifada in 9/00, replacing them with a single iron gate and...

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Overnight, the IDF raids Nur al-Shams r.c. outside Tulkarm to arrest wanted Islamic Jihad mbrs.; Islamic Jihad mbrs. Sa‘id Musay’i, Wa’il ‘Khadir are fatally shot when they open fire on the troops, a 3d mbr. surrenders. The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian on a Nablus rooftop who allegedly is armed; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Beita; blows up a car in Nablus allegedly rigged as a car bomb; blocks the entrances to Kafr Dik village nr. Qalqilya; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes nr. Rafah, 1 nr. Khan Yunis; bulldozes 17 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis; erects a new IDF post in Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids nr. Jenin. The PSF fortifies Arafat’s headquarters in Ramallah, placing wrecked cars and concrete-filled barrels around the entrance to impede the IDF in the event of a raid. (AFP 5/7; MA, VOI, VOP, YA 5/7 in WNC 5/11; NYT 5/8; PCHR 5/13)

The IDF fatally shoots wanted senior Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Imad Janajra (target of assassination on 4/23 when the IDF killed a college professor in a case of mistaken identity) outside Nablus in an apparent assassination; raids Dayr al-Balah, demolishes 1 building, fires on stonethrowing Palestinians, killing 1 Palestinian, seriously wounding 17, including a Palestinian photographer covering the scene for AFP; fires on 2 Palestinians who approach Gaza’s Qarni crossing through a closed military zone, killing 1 Palestinian while the other escapes; begins construction of the separation wall nr. Qalandia; conducts large-scale arrest raids in Hebron, taking at least 60 Palestinians to an unknown destination; conducts smaller arrest raids in Bethlehem, Nablus, Tulkarm (reportedly detaining Hamas’s Tulkarm head Rifat Nafif); confiscates 22 dunams of Palestinian land in Far‘un nr. Tulkarm; bulldozes 7 dunams of land, 1 Palestinian home in Wadi al-Silqa; demolishes a 3-story apartment building and 7 Palestinian homes, severely damages 9 homes, bulldozes 3 dunams of land in Rafah; fires at stone-throwing youths outside Nisanit settlement. Without explanation, Israel releases Hamas cofounder Muhammad Taha, held in administrative detention since 3/03, in Gaza. (VOI, VOP, XIN 5/5 in WNC 5/7; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/6; VOI 5/6 in WNC 5/8; VOP 5/8 in WNC 5/11; PCHR 5/13)

Palestinian gunmen (1 Islamic Jihad mbr., 1 PRC mbr.) ambush a Jewish settler vehicle nr. Gush Katif, killing a Jewish settler woman, her 4 children, wounding 2 IDF soldiers in a car escorting them; the soldiers return fire, killing the 2 gunmen. The IDF retaliates by assassinating the senior Nablus AMB military cmdrs. Nadir Abu Layl and Hashim Abu Hamdan, firing a missile at their car as they drive through Nablus, also killing 2 AMB mbrs. traveling with them, injuring 3 bystanders. The IDF then rockets a building in Gaza City that houses a Hamas radio station (possibly attempting to assassinate a senior Hamas mbr. who reportedly was being interviewed at the time), the offices of al-Ayyam and al-Quds newspapers, a Fatah radio station; no one is injured. The IDF also raids Wadi al-Silqa nr. the site of the ambush, orders all Palestinian residents to leave their homes, searches homes, arrests 1 Palestinian, bulldozes 15 Palestinian homes. The IDF also bulldozes 4 Palestinian homes and 6 dunams of land nr. Morag settlement, 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah; fires on a funeral procession in Khan Yunis, wounding 2 Palestinians; fires on residential areas of Tubas, sparking protests, then opening fire on stone-throwing youths; conducts arrest raids in and around Jenin. Late in the evening, 4 Jewish settler families, escorted by IDF soldiers and 100s of mbrs. of the radical Ateret Cohanim settler group, expel 2 Palestinians families fr. their homes in Abu Dis, occupy the buildings, surround them with a fence, claming they stand on part of an 80-dunam plot they purchased in 1927. (VOP 5/2 in WNC 5/4; BBC, HA, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/3; YA 5/3 in WNC 5/5; MM 5/4; PR 5/5; PCHR 5/6; PR 5/12; MEI 5/14)

Likud mbrs. reject Sharon’s unilateral disengagement plan, with nearly 60% opposed. Sharon says he will draft a revised plan in consultation with his party, but meanwhile will move forward with planning a withdrawal. (XIN 5/2 in WNC 5/4; NYT, WP, WT 5/3; AYM 5/3 in WNC 5/5; MM, NYT, WP 5/4; al-Quds 5/4 in WNC 5/6; AYM, DUS 5/4 in WNC 5/7; JTA 5/5; JPI, MEI 5/14)

The IDF conducts a major raid on alFara‘ r.c. nr. Jenin, occupying a cultural center as an observation post, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians (injuring 12, including a Palestinian cameraman covering the scene for al-Jazeera), hitting a 65-yr.-old Palestinian woman in the head with a tear gas canister, killing her. The IDF also apologizes for the 4/23 killing of college professor Abu Laymun, whom it initially claimed was an armed Hamas activist, admits it erred; fatally shoots a stonethrowing Palestinian in Haris nr. Ariel settlement; tightens freedom of movement in Hebron; demolishes 16 Palestinian homes in Hebron (built by a British aid organization), 12 in Khan Yunis (damaging another 8); fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Husan. Jewish settlers seize 6 dunams of Palestinian land s. of Bethlehem and w. of al-Khadir. Palestinians fire an antitank rocket at an IDF position in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, MA 4/29; VOP, YA 4/29 in WNC 5/1; NYT 4/30; PCHR 5/6)

The IDF continues operations in Rafah, withdrawing early in the morning; bars Palestinians ages 16–35 fr. traveling through the Rafah checkpoint, Palestinians under age 45 fr. praying at al-Aqsa Mosque; shells a Palestinian car that accidentally enters a closed military zone in Tulkarm, seriously injuring the driver; opens fire on Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Beitunia, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian; bulldozes 25 dunams of land in al-Qarara, 8 dunams nr. Dayr al-Balah; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Dura, al-Walaja nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Hebron seriously beat a Palestinian, fracturing his shoulder. (AFP 4/16; VOP 4/16 in WNC 4/20; WT 4/17; PCHR 4/22)

The IDF fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall nr. Biddu, wounding 12; blows up 2 Palestinian homes in Bethlehem, 1 in Nablus; conducts arrest raids in and around Bethlehem and in a-lArub r.c., East Jerusalem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus; demolishes a PSF post, bulldozes 1.5 dunams of agricultural land nr. Dayr al-Balah. In Gaza City, 3,000 Palestinians demonstrate for the release of jailed Fatah tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, other Palestinian prisoners. Jewish settlers attempting to rebuild the illegal outpost in Hebron removed on 4/13 scuffle with IDF troops; 2 settlers are injured. Late in the evening, the IDF begins sending troops into Rafah allegedly to search for smugglers’ tunnels, firing on residential areas. (HA 4/14; VOP 4 /14 in WNC 4/16; PCHR 4/15, 4/22)

Meanwhile in Washington, Bush meets with Sharon, formally endorses Sharon’s unilateral disengagement plan, marking a dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward the peace process (HA, MM, REU 4/14; JP, VOP 4/14 in WNC 4/16; al-Ra’i 4/14, AFP, DUS, THWR, TSHR, VOP, XIN 4 /15 in WNC 4/17; HA, JP, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 4/15; CSM, HA, FT, JT, MEI, MM 4/16; AFP, DUS, ITARTASS, MENA, NHR, al-Ra’i 4/16 in WNC 4/20; NHR 4/16 in WNC 4/27; WP 4/17; JTA 4/19; PR 4/21; MEI 4/30)

The IDF conducts predawn arrest raids, house searches in Nablus in search of wanted Hamas activist Jafar Masri, arrests Masri’s wife and brother but does not find him. The IDF also begins work on a stretch of the separation wall outside of Husan; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm r.c., Yatta; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Nablus; bulldozes a Palestinian home, levels several others that were previously heavily damaged in Rafah; bulldozes 1.5 dunams of agricultural land nr. Khan Yunis; announces that it has arrested 4 bedouin, 7 Egyptians, a Nablus Palestinian allegedly involved in a scheme to smuggle weapons fr. Egypt to Nablus. Palestinian gunmen fire on an IDF bus outside Hermesh settlement nr. Baqa‘ al-Sharqiyya, wounding 1 IDF soldier. A Palestinian stabs, wounds 2 Israeli police officers in French Hill settlement in East Jerusalem, is arrested. The IDF evacuates an illegal settlement outpost nr. Hebron that has been evacuated 7 times previously (most recently on 3/31), says 5 more outposts are due to be removed soon. At the same time, 50 armed Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba rampage through Palestinian areas of Hebron, vandalizing 6 Palestinian homes, injuring 4 Palestinians; IDF soldiers observe but do not intervene. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar bulldoze Palestinian land in neighboring ‘Ayn Abus. (HA, Israel Radio News 4/13; HA, NYT, WP 4/14; PCHR 4/15)

The IDF cuts down 180 olive trees in a Palestinian grove nr. Biddu northwest of Jerusalem to make way for the separation wall, sparking clashes in which 35 Palestinians, 2 IDF soldiers are injured; the IDF later replants some of the stumps on a new plot, but Palestinians have little hope they will survive through the dry season. The IDF also imposes a curfew on Nablus and surrounding villages, conducts arrest raids, fires on stone-throwing Palestinians; conducts arrest raids in Dahaysha r.c., al-Duha nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jayyus, Ramallah, Tulkarm; occupies a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah as an observation post; demolishes a well and 3 greenhouses, bulldozes 4 dunams of land nr Rafah. Armed Jewish settlers seize 2 Palestinian homes in Silwan; the IDF erects 2 observation posts nearby to protect them, prevent clashes like those of 3/31. (PM 4/7; VOP 4/7 in WNC 4/9; PCHR, PM, WT 4/8; PCHR 4/15)

The IDF chases wanted AMB mbrs. into the admin. offices of a psychiatric hospital in Bethlehem, exchanges gunfire with them, arrests 9 (including the AMB local cmdr.), causing no injuries, but terrifying patients, detaining hospital workers. The PA, hospital officials denounce both sides for endangering the patients. The IDF also fires on residential areas outside Qalqilya; conducts arrest raids nr. Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Efrat bulldoze 4 dunams of olive and almond trees in neighboring Palestinian village of al-Khadir. UNRWA halts food aid to Gaza, unable to restock foodstuffs because of Israel’s restrictions on entry to Gaza (see 3/26). (MM, UNRWA press release 4/1; WP, WT 4/2; PR 4/7; PCHR 4/8)

Overnight, the IDF destroys the educational studies campus of Gaza City’s al-Aqsa University, blowing up 2 buildings and bulldozing the 5.5 dunam campus, 30 dunams of surrounding agricultural land. During the day, IDF helicopters fire missiles at the home ofIslamic Jihad leader Muhammad al-Hindi in Gaza City, missing him but assassinating Islamic Jihad mbrs. Nassir Yasin and Husni Sarafiti, wounding at least 7 bystanders. IDF helicopters also fire missiles at the Rafah home of PRC leader Faraj Abu Jarrar, assassinating him, killing fellow PRC mbr. Mahmud Abu Nahal, wounding at least 6. The IDF also demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Nablus, 1 nr. Ramallah, 1 in Tulkarm r.c.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Bireh, Hebron, Jenin, al-Maghazi, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Carmiel nr. Hebron, accompanied by IDF soldiers, bulldoze more than 10 dunams of nearby Yatta agricultural land. Jewish settlers fr. Mafdal Oz nr. Hebron seize, raze 13 dunams of nearby Palestinian agricultural land; Jewish settlers fr. Itamar nr. Nablus beat, threaten to kill a Palestinian fr. nearby Awarta village. Late in the evening, large formations of IDF armored vehicles gather outside the main entry points to the Gaza Strip in apparent preparation for a major incursion; Israeli security officials say that Sharon has authorized the IDF and Shin Bet to “act without limitations against top figures from all terror organizations.” (HA, MM, PCHR 3/16; PSCT, VOP 3/16 in WNC 3/18; HA, NYT, PR, REU, WP 3/17; NYT, PCHR, WP 3/18; PR 3/24)

An AMB mbr. and a Hamas mbr., both fr. Gaza’s Jabaliya r.c., stage a double suicide bombing inside Israel’s Ashdod port, some 30 mi. north of the Strip, killing 11 Israelis, wounding 20, and marking the 1st suicide bombing inside Israel staged fr. Gaza and the 1st targeting civilian infrastructure. Hamas, AMB issue a communiqu´e stating that “joint, qualitative operations” involving various factions will be their practice in the future. In response, the IDF launches air strikes against 3 metal foundries, a printing press (alleged weapons factories) in Gaza City, wounding 1 Palestinian. The IDF also fatally shoots 3 armed Palestinians attempting to infiltrate Netzarim settlement; fatally shoots a Palestinian during an arrest raid in Rafah; fires on Palestinians playing soccer on a field nr. Neve Dekalim settlement, wounding 1; fires rubber bullets, stun grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international demonstrators protesting the separation wall nr. Mod’in Ilit settlement, wounding 10; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c., al-Qarara and nr. Nablus, Qalqilya. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’ale Shomron nr. Qalqilya bulldoze 150 dunams of adjacent Palestinian land. Jewish settlers fr. Asfar nr. Hebron confiscate 60 dunams of nearby Yatta village land (see 3/6). (BBC, HA 3/14; VOP 3/14 in WNC 3/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/15; MM 3/16; QA, al-Quds 3/16 in WNC 3/18; MM, PR 3/17; HA, PCHR, WJW 3/18; MEI 3/19; JPI 3/26; WP 4/1)

The IDF fires on residential areas nr. Bethlehem, Qalqilya; demolishes several Palestinian homes in Rafah, conducts house searches, arrest raids in Bethlehem; fires tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinians demonstrating peacefully against the separation wall nr. Ramallah. The IDF also issues orders confiscating 32,000 dunams of West Bank land along the Green Line nr. Ariel settlement for construction of a 3-mi. segment of the separation wall. (VOP 3/12 in WNC 3/16; WT 3/13; PCHR 3/18)

Israel seals the West Bank, Gaza through 3/7 for the Purim holidays. The IDF makes a major raid on Rafah in search for smugglers’ tunnels, fatally shooting a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy nr. his school, wounding 9, firing on an ambulance, demolishing 1 Palestinian home, severely damaging 21 homes plus water and electrical works, bulldozing 23 dunams of land; no tunnels are found. In an apparent assassination, the IDF also shells the home of the Palestinian Resistance Comms. (PRC) Rafah head Awni Kulab, killing him, seriously injuring his wife and son; conducts arrest raids nr. Hebron, in Qalqilya; bulldozes 600 dunams of Palestinian land btwn. the separation wall and the Green Line outside Qalqilya. Jewish settlers conduct patrols with IDF soldiers in Hebron, photograph Palestinian homes, raid and vandalize 1. (AFP, MM, REU 3/4; VOP 3/4, al-Quds, VOP 3/5 in WNC 3/12; NYT, WT 3/5; PM 3/9; PR 3/10; PCHR 3/11)

The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who strays too close to the Gaza border fence nr. al-Bureij. r.c.; bulldozes 20 dunams of land outside Gaza City, 3 dunams in Rafah; fires on residential areas of Rafah. Nr. Bethlehem, Jewish settlers fire on local Palestinians fr. moving vehicles, seriously wounding at least 3. (JP 2/21; VOP 2/21 in WNC 2/24; NYT 2/22; LAW, PCHR 2/26)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Bayt Sahur, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and nr. Dayr alBalah; bulldozes 8 dunams of olive groves, 4 greenhouses in Dayr al-Balah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Nablus. Palestinians fire an antitank missile at an IDF patrol in Gaza, lightly injuring 2 soldiers. Palestinians also fire a mortar at an IDF patrol outside a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. In Hebron, 3 IDF soldiers are wounded in a friendly fire incident. Nr. Qalqilya, 100s of Jewish settlers block the IDF fr. removing a caravan fr. an unauthorized settlement outpost. (VOP 2/20 in WNC 2/24; HA 2/21; LAW, PCHR 2/26)

The IDF fires on Palestinian farmers working their fields nr. Khan Yunis, seriously wounding 1; fires on a Khan Yunis cemetery, wounding 1 Palestinian; detains 4 Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Dayr al-Balah; bulldozes 45 dunams (4 dunams = 1 acre) of Palestinian agricultural land, irrigation works nr. Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, in Dahaysha refugee camp (r.c.), nr. Jenin, in Qalqilya; orders confiscation of 141 dunams of land in al-Mughayar village e. of Jenin for construction of the separation wall. A Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (VOP 2/17 in WNC 2/19; PCHR 2/19)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin; issues confiscation orders for a 15-dunam plot of land adjacent to Negohot settlement nr. Hebron. Some 200 Palestinian journalists temporarily occupy the PC building in Gaza to protest several recent mysterious attacks on reporters (e.g., 1/8, 2/2, 2/13). (VOP 2/15 in WNC 2/18; WP 2/16; PR 2/18; PCHR, WJW 2/19)

The IDF assassinates Hamas mbr. Nasir Abu Shuka with an exploding cell phone in Bureij r.c.; fatally shoots a PFLP mbr. who throws a grenade at an IDF patrol in Rafah; fatally shoots a Palestinian youth nr. Netzarim settlement; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. Jenin, 1 nr. Ramallah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Aza r.c., Balata r.c., Bayt Sahur, Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus; bulldozes 45 dunams of land in Wadi al-Silqa. In Gaza, an AMB mbr. is killed by friendly fire during an attempted AMB ambush of an IDF patrol. Palestinians also fire an antitank rocket at an IDF patrol nr. Gaza’s Neve Dekalim settlement, causing no damage or injuries. (HA 2/5; WP 2/6; VOP 2/6 in WNC 2/10; PCHR 2/8, 2/12)

The IDF demolishes 9 Palestinian homes nr. Ramallah; bulldozes 11 dunams of land nr. Khan Yunis; fires on residential areas of Rafah. (PCHR 2/8, 2/12)

The IDF makes a major predawn raid into Gaza City, targeting Palestinians who have stepped up attacks on Netzarim settlement in recent wks., sparking clashes that leave 5 Palestinian gunmen(4 Islamic Jihad mbrs., 1 Hamas mbr.), 4 Palestinian bystanders dead, 7 Palestinians (including an ambulance driver) wounded; Hamas fires 2 Qassam rockets at Netzarim in response, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF also demolishes 3 Palestinian homes nr. Hebron, 1 in al-Qarara; searches homes, bulldozes 1 dunam of land in al-Qarara. In coordination with the IDF, PSF officers resume patrols in West Bank cities. (MM, PCHR 1/28; VOP 1/28 in WNC 1/30; BBC, HA, LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 1/29; WP 2/11; PCHR 2/12)

The IDF raids Nabi Salih village nr. Ramallah, rounding up and detaining the 500 residents outside in the rain for 2 hrs., searching homes, photographing and fingerprinting all men before releasing all residents, withdrawing; conducts a similar but smaller operation in Burqa village nr. Nablus, rounding up residents, firing on homes, arresting 1 man. The IDF also erects signs around Qalqilya warning that “any Israeli who enters” the city will be fined $780; imposes a curfew on, conducts arrest raids in al-‘Arub r.c., Nablus; bulldozes 2 dunams of land in Khan Yunis. Jewish settlers attack Palestinians in Hebron, injuring 5. (LAW 1/25; LAW, PCHR 1/29)

Hamas leader ‘Abd al-Aziz Rantisi proposes a 10 yr. truce with Israel in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal to 1967 borders, stressing that the deal would not include Hamas’s recognition of Israel or an end of the conflict. (REU 1/25; VOP 1/25 in WNC 1/27; HA, WP 1/26) (see 1/7)

The IDF sends troops into Rafah to search for smugglers’ tunnels, completely demolishes 22 Palestinian homes, a mosque along the Rafah border with Egypt, heavily damages another 16 homes, leaving 400 Palestinians homeless; raids 2 Palestinian charities in Ramallah, confiscating computers, files; fires stun grenades, tear gas into a high school in Nablus; fires on residential areas of Rafah, wounding 3. The IDF also expels a West Bank Palestinian administrative detainee to Gaza; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Askar r.c., Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus, Salfit, Ramallah; bulldozes 5 dunams of land in Bayt Lahia, 2 dunams nr. Kefar Darom; arrests 4 herders nr. Bayt Hanun. IDF soldiers scuffle with Jewish settlers who protest the removal of a synagogue built by supporters of deceased right-wing Rabbi Meir Kahane, the only permanent structure at the unauthorized settlement outpost of West Tapuach; soldiers do not attempt to remove trailer homes at the site. Palestinians fire 3 mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. (AP, HA, MM, PCHR, PRCS 1/20; NYT, PR, WP 1/21; LAW, MM, PCHR 1/22; JPI 1/30)

Israel retaliates for Hizballah’s 1/19 shelling of an IDF bulldozer inside s. Lebanon by sending warplanes to strike Hizballah targets in s. Lebanon. In Washington, U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell accuses Hizballah of deliberately taking action to escalate hostilities with Israel. (HA 1/20; LBC, MNR 1/20 in WNC 1/22; NYT, PR, WP, WT 1/21; WJW 1/22; MNR 1/22 in WNC 1/24)

The IDF issues confiscation orders for 700 dunams of Palestinian land (including 10 Palestinian homes) in Dayr al-Balah nr. Kefar Darom settlement; for no apparent reason, fires on Palestinians waiting to go through the Erez crossing, wounding 25; fires on residential areas of Rafah, seriously injuring 1 woman outside her home; fires on, seriously wounds a deaf-mute Palestinian woman who strays too close to the separation wall nr. Qalqilya; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm. (PCHR 1/20; VOI, VOP, YA 1/20 in WNC 1/22; LAW, PCHR 1/22)

The IDF sends a bulldozer into Lebanese territory to clear mines laid by Hizballah along the de facto border. Hizballah shells the bulldozer when it crosses the demarcation fence into Lebanon, killing 1 IDF soldier, wounding 2. (HA 1/19; LBC, MNR 1/19 in WNC 1/21; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/20; IDF Radio, MNR 1/20 in WNC 1/22; MM 1/21; IRNA 1/21 in WNC 1/23; MM 1/22, 1/23; NYT 1/29)

The IDF completely demolishes 3 Palestinian homes, bulldozes 9 dunams of land outside Rafah, along the settler bypass road linking Gush Katif and Morag settlements; completely demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Rafah (seriously damaging 2 others), 1 in Khan Yunis; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Nablus. (PM 1/16; VOP 1/61 in WNC 1/21; LAW, PCHR 1/22)

In Haifa, an Israeli Arab finds a bomb placed nr. his car, disarms it. This is the 5th such incident in Haifa in 30 mos.; earlier explosions left 2 Israeli Arabs injured. The Israeli government issues an order banning the press fr. discussing a letter sent to the Israeli daily Ma’ariv, claiming responsibility for some of the incidents. MK Issam Makhoul alleges that a Jewish extremist group wrote the letter. (HA 1/27)

The IDF continues patrols in Nablus, fires on stone-throwing youths, killing 1 Palestinian; demolishes 2 smugglers’ tunnels, 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah; bulldozes 6 Palestinian homes, 46 dunams of land in al-Qarara; demolishes a Palestinian home in Hebron, 1 Khan Yunis; seals 2 Palestinian homes in Wadi al-Silqa. A Jewish settler driving nr. Qalandia checkpoint hits 2 Palestinians, killing 1. The IDF issues confiscation orders for 1,559 dunams of land in Beitunia w. of Ramallah for construction of the separation wall. Palestinians fire an antitank rocket at an IDF patrol in Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. (YA 1/5 in WNC 1/7; NYT 1/6; PR 1/7; PCHR, PM 1/9)

The IDF fires on Palestinian youths breaking curfew, throwing stones at troops in Nablus, killing a 16-yr.-old Palestinian; fires on residential areas of al-Qarara; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron; imposes a curfew on, reinforces troops in al-Khadir village nr. Hebron; bulldozes 3 dunams of land in al-Qarara, additional land nr. Dayr al-Balah and Gaza City. In Nablus, 2 IDF soldiers are wounded by a roadside bomb. (NYT 1/2; LAW 1/8; PCHR 1/9)

The IDF sends additional tanks, troops into Nablus, making the incursion begun on 12/18 (now dubbed Operation Still Water) the largest into the city in over a yr., firing on stone-throwing youths, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 17; closes all roads leading to Tulkarm; erects a number of new roadblocks at entrances to villages around Tulkarm; tightens existing checkpoints, erects 3 new ones around Jenin; demolishes a Palestinian home in Balata r.c.; bulldozes 85 dunams of olive groves east of al-Bureij r.c.; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding a Palestinian toddler in her home; conducts arrest raids in Dayr al-Balah. The IDF also bars 2 bus-loads of international peace activists fr. reaching a 2d day of separation wall protests (see 12/26) in Qalqilya, where 1,000s of Palestinians demonstrate, throw stones at IDF troops. Jewish settlers place mobile homes on the 2 sites of unauthorized settlement outposts previously removed by the IDF nr. Hebron. (NYT, WP, WT 12/28; PM 12/29; PCHR 1/1)

Israel says it will retaliate for the 12/25 PFLP suicide bombing but will not hit Hamas targets, since Hamas has refrained fr. attacks inside Israel for several mos. The IDF demolishes the bomber’s family home in Bayt Furik within hrs. The IDF also fires live ammunition at some 200 Israeli, Palestinian, international peace activists staging a nonviolent protest along the separation wall nr. Qalqilya, wounding 1 Israeli (who had just finished 3 yrs. IDF service), 1 American; fires tear gas at another group of protesters at the separation wall west of Ramallah; fires on a funeral process in nr. Khan Yunis (wounding 5 boys, ages 11–18), residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids nr. Khan Yunis; bulldozes 8 dunams of land in al-Qarara. In Gaza, 10,000s of Palestinians attend the funeral for Islamic Jihad’s Humayid, assassinated by the IDF on 12/25. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 12/25. (WT 12/27; JTA, NYT, PRCS, WP, WT 12/28; CSM 12/29; PCHR, WJW 1/1; MM 1/5; BBC 1/6; JPI 1/8; MEI 1/9)

The IDF assassinates a senior Islamic Jihad military leader, Muklid Humayid, firing a missile at his car as he drives in Gaza City, also killing another Islamic Jihad mbr. traveling with him, 3 Palestinian bystanders, wounding 15. Soon after, a PFLP suicide bomber detonates a device at a bus stop in Tel Aviv, killing 4 IDF soldiers, 1 Israeli civilian, wounding 15 Israelis; the PFLP says the attack is in retaliation for the IDF assassination of 2 PFLP mbrs. on 12/18. The IDF also sends troops back into Nablus, imposing a 24-hr. curfew; bars all vehicular traffic btwn. the occupied territories and Israel; conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Wadi al-Silqa; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 1 Palestinian home and 3 dunams of land in Dayr al-Balah, 4 dunams of land in Khan Yunis. (NYT, WP, WT 12/26; HA 12/28; PCHR 1/1; MEI, PCHR 1/9)

The IDF removes sand barriers blocking the main road linking Hebron to Bethlehem that have been in place since the start of the intifada in 9/00, replacing them with a single iron gate and observation tower to control Palestinian traffic; fires on residential areas of Jenin (where a curfew is still in place), Wadi Gaza (on the e. border of the Strip). A group of Jewish settlers attempts to visit Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus but comes under fire fr. AMB, Islamic Jihad gunmen, who wound 7; the IDF arrests another 8 settlers for illegally entering a Palestinian area without its knowledge. Jewish settlers also fence off 1,750 dunams of Palestinian land outside Ramallah, belonging to Turmus ‘Ayya village, fire guns at Palestinians who attempt to reach their olive groves on the land. (AP, HA, BBC 12/12; VOI, YA 12/12 in WNC 12/16; PR 12/17; PCHR 12/18)

Bush signs the Syria Accountability Act, which recommends immediate sanctions on Syria. (WT 12/13; SANA, Syrian Arab Television Network 12/13, THWR 12/14 in WNC 1/16; JT, MENA 12/14 in WNC 12/16; al-Dustur 12/14 in WNC 12/17; THRW 12/14 in WNC 1/17; MM 12/16)