In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement chased Palestinians harvesting olives off their land in Burin. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians harvesting olives with...
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October 9, 2021
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October 7, 2021
In the West Bank, some 60 Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement threw stones at Palestinians harvesting olives in Burin. Israeli settlers from the Telem settlement also uprooted and...
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September 11, 2021
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement raided Burin, leading to a confrontation with Palestinian residents; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces violently dispersed...
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September 2, 2021
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement threw stones at 1 house and 2 vehicles in Burin, breaking the windshields of the cars. 1 Israeli settler also rammed 1 Palestinian...
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July 14, 2021
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement vandalized 150 olive trees in Burin. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian shepherd leading a herd of sheep near the Yitzhar...
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October 12, 2020
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers in the Yitzhar settlement erected a sign saying, “[e]ntry for Arabs is dangerous.” Israeli settlers also stole olive harvests in Burin. Elsewhere, Israeli...
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September 5, 2019
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement cut down Palestinian-owned olive trees in Burin village. 5 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces during late-night raids in...
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July 10, 2019
In the West Bank, Israeli forces detained 14 Palestinians during daytime and late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement...
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October 22, 2013
In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops conduct 2 separate limited incursions to level land close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun and Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, IDF troops kill 1 armed Palestinian...
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May 11, 2013
Dozens of Jewish settlers from Yitzhar settlement enter Burin village nr. Nablus and clash with Palestinians. The IDF intervenes, violently dispersing the Palestinian residents with tear gas and...
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February 22, 2010
Palestinians protesting Netanyahu’s 2/21 decision to add sites in Bethlehem and Hebron to Israel’s national heritage roster clash with IDF troop in Hebron; no serious injuries are reported. IDF...
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September 25, 2009
The IDF makes an air strike on Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood, killing 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs., possibly injuring 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. and 3 bystanders. (NYT, WP 9/26; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor...
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July 21, 2009
IDF troops briefly enter s. Gaza to bulldoze land along the border fence e. of Abasan, firing on nearby residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian. Israeli naval vessels detain a Palestinian...
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July 24, 2008
In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Jenin town and r.c., Nablus; patrols in, fires on residential areas of Tulkarm, causing no...
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July 13, 2008
The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and nr. Jenin. Israeli police arrest a Jewish settler fr. Yitzhar for recent mortar attacks on Burin (see 7/9). (HA 7/...
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May 3, 2008
In Gaza, the IDF sends tanks, bulldozers into Juhur al-Dik, areas n. of Rafah to bulldoze land. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Tulkarm,...
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October 2, 1998
Israel seals borders with the occupied territories to prevent what DM Mordechai claims are plans for an "unprecedented, horrific" attack by Hamas. (MM 10/2; ITV 10/2 in WNC 10/6; WT 10/3)
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In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement chased Palestinians harvesting olives off their land in Burin. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians harvesting olives with stones and sticks near Qalqilya. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinians harvesting olives near Bidya. Israeli settlers also attacked PA land surveyors working in the Masafer Yatta area, forcing them to leave. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers vandalized Palestinian-owned vehicles near Beit Iksa. Israeli forces seized 1 excavator in Dirat. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians said to have been throwing stones at Jewish people at the Damascus Gate plaza; 4 were arrested. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/9; HA 10/11; TOI 10/12; PCHR 10/14)
The 2 main Lebanese power plants ran out of diesel fuel, stopping all state production of energy in Lebanon. The 2 power plants received some diesel fuel almost 24 hours after shutting down, providing some energy to Lebanon. (AJ, REU 10/9; AJ, MEMO 10/10; HA, REU 10/11)
In the West Bank, some 60 Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement threw stones at Palestinians harvesting olives in Burin. Israeli settlers from the Telem settlement also uprooted and vandalized some 100 olive seedlings in Tarqumiyah. Israeli forces razed land near al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians protesting the attack on their land; 1 was physically assaulted and 4 were injured by rubber-coated bullets. Israeli forces also razed land in al-Zawiya for the 2d day in a row and demolished 2 residential buildings in al-Zanbah. 8 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Tell, Zabbuba, al-Fara‘a refugee camp, and Aida refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in the Old City. 3 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 during a raid in Isawiya and 1 at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Gaza; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/7; HA 10/11; PCHR 10/14)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas spoke to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi over the phone. (WAFA 10/7)
Members of the Israeli Labor Party met with Palestinian officials in Ramallah. (WAFA 10/8)
Haaretz reported that the Israeli military did not refer an incident to the Israeli police where an Israeli settler took an assault rifle from an Israeli soldier and shot at Palestinians on 6/26. The Israeli military said it had referred the case to the Israeli police, but the police denies it ever received notice of the incident. Palestinian eyewitnesses said that the Israeli soldier gave the settler the gun for him to shoot with. The Israeli military also refused to respond to Haaretz’s enquiry about an incident in May where a masked Israeli soldier shot and killed 1 Palestinian in ‘Urif. The soldier in question was also a settler and was not on duty when he shot and killed the Palestinian man, wearing only a face covering and army pants. (HA 10/7)
At Americans for Peace Now’s annual gala, Democratic senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) said that he and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) are working to significantly increase the U.S. humanitarian aid to Gaza as the Senate is working on a bill to give Israel $1 billion in military aid, allegedly to replenish the Iron Dome missile defense system arsenal. Senator Sanders said giving Israel $1 billion in military aid without addressing the suffering of the people in Gaza “would be wrong and unconscionable.” Sanders explicitly called for the U.S. to condition its military aid to Israel, saying that “[i]t is totally appropriate for the United States to say what that aid may and may not be used for.” Sanders also said that he is unimpressed by the policies of Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, saying that Bennett is pursuing the same policies as Benjamin Netanyahu when it comes to occupied Palestinian territories. Sanders called the current Israeli policy “a one-state reality in which one people enjoy perpetual political dominance over another.” (HA, MEMO 10/8)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement raided Burin, leading to a confrontation with Palestinian residents; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters at the Huwwara checkpoint, injuring 8 with rubber-coated bullets and 15 with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Arroub refugee camp, causing tear-gas related injuries, and 4 were arrested. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Qalqilya, causing tear-gas related injuries and 2 arrests. Palestinians also protested in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners that escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6 in al-Bireh, Ramallah, and Bethlehem. 11 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Sa‘ir, Hebron, and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, Palestinians threw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers in Isawiya, and Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian with a rubber-coated bullet; 1 was arrested. 1 other Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in the Old City. In Gaza, for the 2d day in a row, 1 rocket was fired at Israel and was intercepted, and Israel conducted air strikes, hitting 4 different targets in Khan Yunis and Rafah, causing damage. In Israel, 2 of the 6 Palestinian prisoners who escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6, Zakaria Zubeida and Mohammed Aradeh, were arrested near Umm al-Ghanam. 2 others were arrested on 9/10, while 2 are still free. (AJ, AP, MEE, REU 9/10; AP, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/11; AP, HA, REU, WAFA 9/12; AJ 9/13; PCHR 9/16)
The 4 Palestinian prisoners who were caught by Israeli forces after escaping Gilboa prison on 9/6 were at a court in Nazareth for a closed-off remand hearing. The Shin Bet asked the court to extend the prisoner’s detention with the Shin Bet for 13 days. The 4 have not been allowed to meet with a lawyer. 1 of the prisoners, Zakaria Zubeida, was later admitted to a hospital after receiving heavy beatings by Israeli interrogators. (HA 9/11; MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/12; PCHR 9/14)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement threw stones at 1 house and 2 vehicles in Burin, breaking the windshields of the cars. 1 Israeli settler also rammed 1 Palestinian child with his car near the Kiryat Arba settlement. Israeli forces raided Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians; tear-gas related injuries were reported. 4 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Fahma, Jaba‘, and Tubas. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters east of Jabalia refugee camp, killing 1 Palestinian and injuring 5 others with live ammunition; Israeli forces claimed Palestinians threw explosives at them. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian with live ammunition east of Abasan. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 6 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya, injuring 1 with live ammunition. In Israel, Israeli forces demolished the Bedouin village al-Araqeeb for the 192d time since 2010. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/2; MEMO 9/3; PCHR 9/9)
In Syria, Israel conducted air strikes near Damascus, causing damage. Syrian state TV said the country’s missile defense system had intercepted most of the Israeli missiles. During the attack, 1 surface-to-surface missile was fired at Israel but landed in the sea. (AJ, HA, JP, TOI 9/3)
Israel released 1 pregnant Palestinian woman from prison after international and Palestinian pressure. The woman was released to house arrest and on $12,000 bail. She is accused by Israel of an attempted stabbing in March outside of an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. (WAFA 9/1; HA, MEMO, TOI, WAFA 9/2; HA, MEE 9/3; AJ 9/5)
Hamas said it rejected the framework agreement between the U.S. and the UNRWA signed on 7/15, calling it “dangerous and humiliating.” Hamas said that the framework threatens the refugee issue and is an obstacle to UNRWA employees. (MEMO 9/3; ALM 9/23)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian king Abdullah II in Cairo. The 3 leaders were said to have been coordinating their stance on Israel for the upcoming UN general assembly meeting in October. President al-Sisi’s spokesperson said after the meeting that al-Sisi emphasized that the creation of a Palestinian state depends of reconciliation between the PA and Hamas. President Abbas called for renewed peace negations under the auspices of the International Quartet for Middle East Peace. An unnamed PA source said, according to Haaretz, that the Biden administration has conveyed to the PA that it will not exert pressure on the Israeli government to engage diplomatically with the PA while Israel is in budget negotiations. (AJ, AP, HA, JP, MEMO, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 9/2; MEMO, WAFA 9/3)
The Jewish National Fund (JNF) approved a project that will seek to obtain from Palestinians 530 properties in the West Bank and 2,050 properties in East Jerusalem by reviewing documents only registered by the JNF to see if they can be used to evict Palestinians using Israeli courts. The JNF has set aside $31 million for the settler project. (HA 9/2)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement vandalized 150 olive trees in Burin. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian shepherd leading a herd of sheep near the Yitzhar settlement. Israeli forces also demolished 1 agricultural structure and delivered 2 demolition orders in Nabi Samwil, demolished 11 residential structures in al-Qabbun, and seized 1 tractor, water tanks, and solar panels. Elsewhere, Israeli forces arrested 33 Palestinian students from Birzeit University after detaining 45 students who were visiting the family who were victims of an Israeli punitive demolition in Turmus ‘Ayya on 7/8; 12 of the 45, all females, were released the same day. 16 other Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Beita, Tulkarm, al-Far‘a refugee camp, and Tuqu’; during the raid in al-Far‘a refugee camp, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians, injuring 1 with live ammunition. (HA, MEE, MEMO, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/14; AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, PCHR, WAFA 7/15; HA 7/20)
The UAE inaugurated its embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv as agreed to in the 2 countries’ normalization deal from 2020. (AJ, AP, AX, HA, REU 7/14)
A spokesperson for Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party said that President Erdoğan and Israel’s president Isaac Herzog agreed to improve the 2 countries’ ties, including on trade and tourism, in a phone conversation on 7/12. The 2 countries still do not have ambassadors in each other’s countries after they were expelled in 2018. (AJ, HA 7/12; ALM 7/13; AJ, MEMO, REU 7/14; HA, TOI 7/15)
The Israeli military said that its Iron Dome missile defense system almost shot down a fighter jet, mistaking it for a rocket during Israel’s assault on Gaza in May, dubbed Operation Guardian of the Walls. During the operation, the Iron Dome system also shot down an Israeli military drone. (HA 7/14)
Germany contributed $17.7 million to the UNRWA and the World Food Programme in support of Palestinians in Gaza. (WAFA 7/14)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers in the Yitzhar settlement erected a sign saying, “[e]ntry for Arabs is dangerous.” Israeli settlers also stole olive harvests in Burin. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in Burqa, injuring 5 with rocks and damaging vehicles. Palestinians accessing their land on the other side of the separation barrier from where they live found some 60 olive trees were vandalized and olive crops were stolen. Israeli forces blocked off several roads to villages in the Jenin area, preventing Palestinians from harvesting their olive crops. 11 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Halhul, Kafr Qaddum, Nablus, and Ya‘bad. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested in Shu‘fat refugee camp. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of al-Sudaniyya; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/12; PCHR 10/15)
Israel approved construction of 500 new settlement housing units in the Tzur Hadasah settlement near Bethlehem. (MEMO, WAFA 10/12)
B’Tselem said that a Palestinian man who has been hunger striking to protest his administrative detention for nearly 80 days is “on the verge of death.” (AJ 10/12)
PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh asked members of the EU parliament, during an online debate, to recognize the state of Palestine and to be more active in a future peace process. (WAFA 10/13)
The Israeli cabinet approved Israel’s normalization deal with the UAE; the Knesset is set to vote on the deal on 10/15. (HA, HA, REU 10/12)
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement cut down Palestinian-owned olive trees in Burin village. 5 Palestinians were arrested by Israeli forces during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Ramallah, and Nablus; 1 of the arrested Palestinians also had 200 Jordanian Dinars and 600 NIS confiscated, amounting to $455. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian demolished his own house in Silwan to avoid exorbitant Israeli-imposed demolition fees; the demolition displaced a family of 5. (WAFA 9/5; PCHR 9/12)
Jason Greenblatt, the U.S. special representative for international negotiations and part of the U.S. peace team, announced that he was resigning his position in the Trump administration, but that he will remain in his position “in the coming period.” (HA, NYT 9/5)
The U.S. blocked a statement from the UN Security Council over what it perceived as wrongly attributing “moral equivalence” between Israel and Hezbollah in the latest round of cross-border fire on 9/1. (HA 9/6)
In the West Bank, Israeli forces detained 14 Palestinians during daytime and late-night raids in and around Ramallah, Jenin, Bethlehem, and Qalqilya. Israeli settlers from the Yitzhar settlement ignited a fire, destroying hundreds of Palestinian-owned olive trees in Burin. Separately, Israeli settlers cut down 160 olive trees near Susiya. Israeli forces demolished a cement wall in Hizma, a caravan in Idhna near Hebron, and seized a garbage truck in Bayt Furik. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces forcefully evicted a Palestinian family from their home in Silwan to make way for Israeli settlers; at least 1 member of the family was arrested. Israeli forces also arrested 4 Palestinians during daytime and late-night raids in Qatanna and Silwan. In Issawiyya, Israeli forces destroyed a monument erected for a Palestinian man killed by Israeli forces on 6/27. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 7/10; HA, WAFA 7/11)
In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops conduct 2 separate limited incursions to level land close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun and Khan Yunis. In the West Bank, IDF troops kill 1 armed Palestinian after he sought refuge in a cave nr. Bayt Liqya village, a man wanted for his alleged role in an attack on an Israeli bus during “Operation Pillar of Defense” in 11/2012. In addition, a Palestinian run over by a settler car in Qalqilya on 10/15 dies in hospital from his injuries. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, and in Hebron and 3 nearby villages at night. In Qabatya nr. Jenin, IDF troops set up a flying checkpoint at the entrance to the village where around 20 soldiers check IDs and inspect vehicles. Residents throw stones and soldiers fire tear gas, causing no reported injuries. Also in the West Bank, IDF troops temporarily displace 17 families in the n. Jordan Valley on the basis of conducting military drills. Jewish settlers nr. Bethlehem uproot 80 olive seedlings, and other settlers nr. Bethlehem pump sewage water on agricultural lands, while in a further separate incident nr. Bethlehem, settlers throw stones at Palestinian vehicles, causing minor damage. Settlers nr. Qalqilya uproot more than 50 olive trees, while separately, settlers from Yitzhar assault a Palestinian farmer from Burin village nr. Nablus. (MNA 10/22; PCHR 10/24)
PA Pres. Abbas warns that the Palestinians will not accept Israeli control over a border with Jordan and that it could be a deal breaker. Speaking on a visit to Lithuania, Abbas also praises EU demands that Israel stops settlement construction. (AFP 10/23)
Reps. of 11 countries from the “Friends of Syria” group meet in London to encourage the Syrian opposition to join talks under the proposed “Geneva 2” framework. However, SNC head Ahmed Jarba tells a news conference following the meeting that their conditions included the impossibility of Asad being allowed to remain in power. The SNC says it will continue internal discussions about whether or not to attend the proposed peace conference. (REU 10/22)
Dozens of Jewish settlers from Yitzhar settlement enter Burin village nr. Nablus and clash with Palestinians. The IDF intervenes, violently dispersing the Palestinian residents with tear gas and rubber-coated metal bullets, but causing no serious injuries. Jewish settlers also enter Urif village nr. Nablus and clash with Palestinian residents, causing no serious injuries. In the West Bank at night, the IDF patrols in Jericho, 1 village nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, 3 villages nr. Jenin, in Nablus, 1 village nr. Nablus, 1 village nr. Ramallah and 1 village nr. Tulkarm. (AFP 5/11; PCHR 5/16)
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine–General Command (PFLP–GC) says that it is forming combat units to recapture the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The announcement comes after Syrian pres. Bashar al-Asad and Hizballah indicated that they would support such operations. (REU 5/11)
PLO Secy.-Gen. Fathi Abu al-Ardat says that at least 55,000 Palestinian refugees have fled Syria to Lebanon since the civil unrest in Syria began. (DS 5/11)
Palestinians protesting Netanyahu’s 2/21 decision to add sites in Bethlehem and Hebron to Israel’s national heritage roster clash with IDF troop in Hebron; no serious injuries are reported. IDF troops conduct late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Fara‘a r.c. s. of Tubas and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah. In Gaza, the IDF makes a day-long incursion to level land along the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya to clear lines of sight. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus uproot 45 Palestinian olive trees in nearby Burin village; the IDF imposes a curfew on the village while the settlers work. Palestinians report (PCHR 2/24) that in the previous wk. Israel’s Jerusalem planning comm. convened to discuss a plan to build 549 settlement housing units on 153 d. of Bayt Safafa land s. of Jerusalem as part of a 4-stage settlement expansion plan, though no decisions were taken; the plan (several parts of which were approved before Netanyahu declared a temporary settlement freeze in 11/09) is aimed at reinforcing the separation of Jerusalem from the s. West Bank. (NYT, WT 2/23; PCHR 2/24; OCHA 2/25)
The IDF makes an air strike on Gaza City’s al-Tuffah neighborhood, killing 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs., possibly injuring 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. and 3 bystanders. (NYT, WP 9/26; OCHA Humanitarian Monitor 9/09; PCHR 10/1; OCHA 10/2)
In the West Bank, the IDF fires rubbercoated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 6 Palestinians, including 1 teenager) and at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (injuring 1 Palestinian, arresting 1 Palestinian and 2 Israelis); fires sound bombs and violently beats Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in al-Ma‘sara (2 are badly injured); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, sound bombs at Palestinians and international activists protesting in Burin nr. Nablus against the confiscation of land to be razed and annexed by Yitzhar settlement. The IDF also arrests 2 Palestinians teenagers nr. Qalqilya for stone-throwing. (PCHR 10/1)
IDF troops briefly enter s. Gaza to bulldoze land along the border fence e. of Abasan, firing on nearby residential areas, wounding 1 Palestinian. Israeli naval vessels detain a Palestinian fishing boat off the Bayt Lahiya coast, interrogating and releasing the fishermen. The UN reports that 2 Palestinians were killed and 6 were injured in tunnel collapses on the Rafah border in the previous wk.; in addition, the body of a Palestinian missing since 7/1 has been found in a collapsed smuggling tunnel. In the West Bank, IDF undercover units enter Yatta village in a vehicle with Palestinian license plates, raid an auto mechanics shop, arresting 1 Palestinian. The IDF also conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and neighboring ‘Askar r.c., and nr. Hebron, Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar cut down 24 Palestinian olive trees in nearby Burin village. Jewish settlers fr. Gilad settlement stone Palestinian cars on the Qalqilya–Nablus road. In Khan Yunis, a bomb explodes at the wedding of a fmr. Fatah-affiliated PA security officer, injuring 42 Palestinians; no group claims responsibility. (OCHA, PCHR 7/23)
In the West Bank, the IDF conducts latenight arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Jenin town and r.c., Nablus; patrols in, fires on residential areas of Tulkarm, causing no injuries. Some 20 Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar nr. Nablus, angry over the IDF removal of a mobile home fr. an unauthorized outpost nearby, attack and damage Palestinian houses and an electricity system in Burin, causing a fire that destroys 200 d. of olive trees. Israel’s Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Comm. announces that it is reviving plans to build a new Jewish settlement, Maskiyot, in the n. Jordan Valley, approving an initial 22 housing units for the site. (NYT, WP 7/25; HA 7/26; OCHA, PCHR 7/30)
The IDF conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and nr. Jenin. Israeli police arrest a Jewish settler fr. Yitzhar for recent mortar attacks on Burin (see 7/9). (HA 7/13; OCHA 7/16; PCHR 7/17)
In Gaza, the IDF sends tanks, bulldozers into Juhur al-Dik, areas n. of Rafah to bulldoze land. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Tulkarm, and nr. Jenin. Israel announces plans to construct several new housing units in Har Brakha settlement nr. Nablus on 229 d. of Palestinian land fr. neighboring Burin village. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar nr. Nablus vandalize a nearby Palestinian home, set fire to Palestinian crops, beat Palestinians who come to put out the fire. A new contingent of 500 PA security officers trained in Jordan takes up patrols in Jenin, adding to the 150 police officers already there in what the PA has dubbed “Operation Smile and Hope”. In Jabaliya r.c., a Fatah mbr. is injured by an explosive device left outside his door; no group claims responsibility. (NYT, WT 5/4; OCHA 5/7; PCHR 5/8)
Israel seals borders with the occupied territories to prevent what DM Mordechai claims are plans for an "unprecedented, horrific" attack by Hamas. (MM 10/2; ITV 10/2 in WNC 10/6; WT 10/3)
Syria calls for dialogue with Turkey on security issues, accuses Israel of being behind Turkey's recent belligerent tone. (MM 10/2; SANA 10/2 in WNC 10/5; Sabah, SATN 10/2, ATL, JT, SA, SATN 10/3 in WNC 10/6; WP, WT 10/3; NYT 10/4; Anatolia 10/5 in WNC 10/7) (see 10/1)
A British analysts claims that Israel is the government referred to in a passage of the Starr report (see 9/19) in which Lewinsky testified that Clinton said that he suspected a foreign emb. of tapping his phones. The analyst claims that Mossad installed the tap after the FBI began looking into reports of an Israeli mole, Mega, in the administration (see 5/6/97); used its recordings of more than 30 sexually explicit calls btwn. Lewinsky, Clinton to force Clinton to call off the Mega investigation. A Washington source confirms that Israeli bugging, blackmail halted the FBI hunt. (MEI 10/2; see also MM 9/18)
In Hebron, 7 Palestinians are injured as clashes with the IDF continue. (WT 10/3)
Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus fire on Palestinians in the neighboring village of Burin. In East Jerusalem, settlers throw molotov cocktails at a Palestinian home causing light damage. (PR 10/9)