63 / 15150 Results
  • January 21, 2009

    Israel announces the complete withdrawal of ground forces from Gaza. Israeli naval vessels direct heavy machine gun fire at beaches in n. Gaza, causing no reported injuries. Israel allows 118...

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  • November 20, 2007

    In Gaza, IDF bulldozers, tanks level land at al-Qarara nr. Khan Yunis. Palestinians nr. al-Bureij r.c. fire 4 mortars toward Israel, but all fall inside the Gaza border. Palestinians nr. Rafah...

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  • October 16, 2007

    Overnight, the IDF launches major arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, clashing with armed Palestinians, killing local AMB leader Basim Abu Saria and a 71-yr.-old Palestinian man,...

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  • June 3, 2007

    In Gaza, Hamas fires mortars at the IDF post at Erez crossing, wounding 4 IDF soldiers. In the West Bank, the IDF raids Jenin, exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, killing Muhammad Farhati,...

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  • February 13, 2007

    IDF troops on the n. Gaza border shoot, wound a Palestinian farmer who strays nr. the border fence n. of Bayt Lahiya. AMB mbrs. fire an RPG at an IDF observation post on the Gaza border e. of Gaza...

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  • January 31, 2007

    IDF troops on the Gaza border east of Bureij r.c. fire on, arrest 3 unarmed Palestinian teenagers who stray nr. the border fence. IDF troops stationed in the Erez industrial zone fire on armed...

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  • October 30, 2002

    IDF commandos ambush, assassinate wanted PA intelligence officer Ayid Mansur outside his home in Nablus. The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian nr. the new security wall in Zita; raids a makeshift...

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  • October 17, 2002

    The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Rafah r.c., killing 6 Palestinians (including 2 women, 2 teenagers, a 9-yr.-old girl) and wounding 50; the IDF says it was...

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  • September 26, 2002

    IDF helicopters fire 2 missiles 2 cars in Gaza City in its 4th attempt to assassinate most-wanted Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Muhammad Dayif; 2 Hamas mbrs. are killed, Dayif escapes with...

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  • August 30, 2002

    In Jenin r.c., 3 IDF soldiers, 5 Palestinians are wounded in an exchange of gunfire. The IDF directs heavy machine gun fire, shells at residential areas of Jenin r.c. (wounding with...

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  • August 1, 2002

    The IDF soldiers stationed in Netzer Hazani settlement direct shells, machine gun fire at nearby residential areas of al-Qarara, fatally shooting a 9-yr.-old Palestinian girl. A Palestinian dies...

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  • June 23, 2002

    The IDF calls up another 3,000 reservists; shells a building in Tulkarm r.c., killing 1 PSF officer (children nearby reportedly were stoning the tank); imposes 24-hr. curfews on Abu Dis, Anabta,...

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  • June 20, 2002

    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...

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  • May 27, 2002

    Before dawn, the IDF sends troops back into Aida r.c., Bayt Jala, Bethlehem, Dahaysha r.c. in the largest incursion since Israeli PM Ariel Sharon declared the end of the 1st stage Operation...

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  • May 25, 2002

    The IDF sends troops, APCs into Bethlehem, reoccupying most of the city, directing shells and heavy machine gun fire at residential areas, demolishing the home of senior Islamic Jihad mbr....

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  • March 14, 2002

    Just before Zinni arrives, Israel begins pulling back gradually fr. Ramallah. The U.S., PA say that is not enough, with the State Dept. publicly stating, "We want to see a full withdrawal" fr....

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  • March 5, 2002

    Israeli-Palestinian violence continues to escalate, leaving 1 Israeli civilian, 1 Jewish settler, at least 6 Palestinians dead. A package bomb planted by a Jewish vigilante group called Revenge of...

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  • February 28, 2002

    In the morning, the IDF sends troops, tanks into Balata (an AMB stronghold); surrounds and attacks Jenin r.c. without entering it. The massive two-pronged operation, called Colorful Journey, meets...

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  • February 25, 2002

    For the 2d time in 2 days at the same location, IDF soldiers open fire on a Palestinian car that had been given IDF approval to cross a Nablus checkpoint to deliver a pregnant Palestinian woman in...

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  • February 5, 2002

    The IDF directs shells/heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, Qarni, Rafah, Wadi al-Silqa; occupies a Palestinian home, bulldozes land in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids...

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  • January 21, 2002

    In its largest military operation in the West Bank and Gaza since 1967, Israel sends a large number of IDF infantry, tanks, APCs, armored bulldozers into Tulkarm in a predawn operation to totally...

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  • December 2, 2001

    A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a powerful device on a bus in Haifa, killing 14 Israelis, 1 Filipino, and injuring more than 40. Arafat condemns the attack, outlaws "any movement, organization,...

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  • November 29, 2001

    As U.S. envoy Zinni meets with PA officials, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus in Hadera, Israel, killing 3 Israelis, wounding 7. The bomber reportedly boarded the bus in...

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  • November 26, 2001

    The IDF withdraws fr. Jinin. A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device nr. the Erez crossing in n. Gaza, wounding 2 Israeli border policemen. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at...

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  • November 15, 2001

    In a predawn raid, the IDF send 12 tanks and armored vehicles, 6 bulldozers into Khan Yunis, firing shells and heavy machine guns at homes, killing 1 Palestinian, injuring at least 13, completely...

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  • November 5, 2001

    The IDF withdraws to the outskirts of Qalqilya, keeping a closure on the city, positioning itself to reinvade quickly if so ordered. The body of a PSF officer, missing since 10/20, is found in the...

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  • November 1, 2001

    IDF helicopters fire rockets at a Palestinian taxi nr. Tulkarm, killing 2 Hamas mbrs., wounding and capturing the taxi driver. The IDF also abducts a 3d Hamas mbr. fr. Nablus; shells residential...

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  • October 30, 2001

    Peres says that he is preparing a personal peace initiative, that he will probably meet with Arafat on the sidelines of a 2-day economic conference that opens in Spain on 11/2. Sharon, expressing...

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  • October 28, 2001

    Under U.S. pressure, Sharon pulls the IDF out of Bethlehem, Bayt Jala. Jewish settlers assault journalists covering the pullout. Islamic Jihad gunmen kill 4 Israelis, wound 30 in a drive-by...

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  • October 27, 2001

    With Israeli-Palestinian clashes continuing unabated in Bethlehem, Israel postpones plans to withdraw fr. the area for at least 24 hrs. The IDF also directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at...

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Israel announces the complete withdrawal of ground forces from Gaza. Israeli naval vessels direct heavy machine gun fire at beaches in n. Gaza, causing no reported injuries. Israel allows 118 truckloads of goods into Gaza. Hamas mbrs. reportedly begin rounding up alleged collaborators with Israel, including Fatah mbrs. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Qabatya to ambush and arrest local Islamic Jihad leader Salah Kmail, and into Qiffin nr. Tulkarm to raid a carpentry shop, arresting Islamic Jihad mbr. Omar Daoud; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, Jenin and nr. Salfit, Tulkarm; fires on Palestinians demonstrating against OCL in Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, wounding 2; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Ni‘lin (injuring 11 Palestinians, including 5 children). (AP, HA, MM, REU 1/21; IDF Radio, IHY, MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT, YA 1/22; NYT 1/23; JP, MM 1/26; PCHR 1/29)

In Gaza, IDF bulldozers, tanks level land at al-Qarara nr. Khan Yunis. Palestinians nr. al-Bureij r.c. fire 4 mortars toward Israel, but all fall inside the Gaza border. Palestinians nr. Rafah fire 3 mortars toward Kerem Shalom crossing, causing no damage. In both cases, the IDF responds with heavy machine gun fire, causing no reported damage or injuries. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol inside the Israeli border nr. Kissufim base, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm and nr. Hebron, Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah. (OCHA 11/21; PCHR 11/22)

Overnight, the IDF launches major arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, clashing with armed Palestinians, killing local AMB leader Basim Abu Saria and a 71-yr.-old Palestinian man, wounding 8 Palestinians (2 gunmen, 1 cameraman for the German press agency, and 5 bystanders, including a woman and a child); during the operation, the IDF blows up an apartment in a 4-story complex, damaging 2 other apartments, 10 nearby buildings, 4 cars, 7 electricity relays, 3 water pipes, displacing 3 Palestinian families (20 persons). Also in the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Anabta nr. Tulkarm, firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron and in al-Bireh, Jenin town and r.c., Ramallah. In 2 separate incidents nr. Nablus, Jewish settlers attack Palestinians harvesting olives; the Palestinian DCO contacts its IDF counterpart, which removes the settlers; 1 Palestinian is injured. In Gaza, the IDF bulldozes 3 d. of Palestinian olive groves nr. Qarni crossing; Palestinians fire 3 mortars at the troops, who respond with heavy machine gun fire; no injuries are reported. (NYT, OCHA 10/17; PCHR 10/18)

In Gaza, Hamas fires mortars at the IDF post at Erez crossing, wounding 4 IDF soldiers. In the West Bank, the IDF raids Jenin, exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, killing Muhammad Farhati, cmdr. of a joint AMB–Islamic Jihad squad called Belt of Fire; conducts additional arrest raids, house searches in Jenin and nr. Bethlehem, Tulkarm; bars members of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) fr. patrolling nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs. In Gaza, a Haniyeh bodyguard is kidnapped by Fatah’s elite Force 17 mbrs., who hold him for 7 hrs., beat him, shave off his eyebrows and beard, shave the number 17 into his hair. In Gaza City, 50 PA TV employees protest threats by a little-known group, Swords of Truth, to its female anchors accused of “destroying Islamic culture” by appearing on broadcasts unveiled and wearing makeup. (WT 6/3; NYT 6/4; OCHA 6/6; PCHR 6/7; NYT 6/9)

Exchanges of fire intensify btwn. the Lebanese army, FI at Nahr al-Barid r.c. In ‘Ayn al-Hilwa r.c. nr. Sidon, Jund al-Sham mbrs. attack soldiers surrounding the camp after hearing news of the death of its senior mbr., Abu Raid, in Nahr al-Barid; 1 soldier, 2 Jund al-Sham mbrs. are wounded in the fighting, which involves heavy machine gun, automatic weapon, and RPG fire. (NYT, WP, WT 6/4; WT 6/5)

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border shoot, wound a Palestinian farmer who strays nr. the border fence n. of Bayt Lahiya. AMB mbrs. fire an RPG at an IDF observation post on the Gaza border e. of Gaza City, causing no damage or injuries; the IDF directs heavy machine gun fire in return, killing 1 AMB mbr. The Israeli navy fires on the Gaza beach nr. Bayt Lahiya, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 11 bedouin homes nr. 3 Jewish settlements southwest of Jenin; bulldozes 38 d. of Palestinian olive, almond trees nr. Nablus; raids the offices of the al-Ihsan Charitable Society in Hebron, confiscating files, computer discs; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in Nur al-Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm, Tulkarm r.c. The PA fires 470 mbrs of the security forces (at least 150 fr. the Presidential Guard; the remainder fr. Force 17, Military Intelligence, the PSF) for “mutinous behavior”. Today, 10s of fired security officers stage a sit-in outside the PC offices in Gaza to demand that the PA rescind their dismissals. (Jerusalem Post 2/13; OCHA 2/14; PCHR 2/15; OCHA 2/21)

IDF troops on the Gaza border east of Bureij r.c. fire on, arrest 3 unarmed Palestinian teenagers who stray nr. the border fence. IDF troops stationed in the Erez industrial zone fire on armed Palestinians who approach their post, causing no injuries. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF unit patrolling the Gaza border fence nr. Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injures; the IDF unit retaliates with heavy machine gun fire into Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends an undercover unit into Nablus in a car with Palestinian license plates to arrest a wanted Palestinian, wounding 1 bystander, then firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops, wounding a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy; demolishes a Palestinian home in the old city of Nablus; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (blowing up the 2d story of a Palestinian home), in al-‘Arub r.c., and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm. Fatah mbrs. fire on Hamas mbrs. in Bayt Lahiya, wounding 1. Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound a Force 17 officer in Gaza City. Suspected Fatah mbrs. set fire to the car of a Hamas mbr. in Khan Yunis. (PCHR 2/1; OCHA 2/7; PCHR 2/8)

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

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

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

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

IDF helicopters fire 2 missiles 2 cars in Gaza City in its 4th attempt to assassinate most-wanted Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Muhammad Dayif; 2 Hamas mbrs. are killed, Dayif escapes with moderate wounds, some 30 bystanders (including 15 children) are injured. The IDF intercepts an explosives-packed Palestinian car at al-Ram checkpoint nr. Tulkarm, allegedly en route to stage a car bombing in Jerusalem. In Kefar Labid nr. Tulkarm, IDF commandos conduct an arrest raid, prompting an exchange of gunfire that leaves senior Hamas mbr. Nashat Abu Jabara, 1 IDF officer dead; then demolish Abu Jabara's home. The IDF also arbitrarily imposes a curfew in Hebron then fires tear gas, rubber bullets at Palestinians in Hebron's market, killing a Palestinian infant; fatally shoots another Palestinian Gaza; demolishes 1 Palestinian home, bulldozes more than 60 dunams of agricultural land nr. Bayt Hanun; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Qabatya; bulldozes 20 dunams of agricultural land nr. Bayt Lahia; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis. Palestinian gunmen fire on a settler vehicle nr. Hebron, injuring 4 Jewish setters. Jewish settlers dedicate the new HaGefen neighborhood of 1,150 housing units in Beitar Ilit; the new enclave of Migron nr. Psagot, comprising 30 families. (AP, CNN, HA 9/26; HA, LAW, MM, NYT, PRCS press release, WP, WT 9/27; NYT 9/28; MM 9/30; QA 9/30 in WNC 10/1; LAW, PCHR, PR 10/2; PCHR 10/3; MEI 10/11)

In Jenin r.c., 3 IDF soldiers, 5 Palestinians are wounded in an exchange of gunfire. The IDF directs heavy machine gun fire, shells at residential areas of Jenin r.c. (wounding with live ammunition 3 Palestinian children who broke curfew), Khan Yunis; fires rubber-coated steel bullets stone throwers in Amari r.c., wounding 2. In Tulkarm, the AMB fatally shoots a Palestinian woman who allegedly collaborated with Israel in the 1/14/02 assassination of AMB leader Ra'id Karmi; the woman is the niece of the woman killed by the AMB on 8/24. (HA, JTA 8/30; NYT, WT 8/31; WP 9/1; NYT 9/2; LAW, PCHR 9/4)

Israeli Labor and Social Welfare M Shlomo Benizri (Shas) convenes the Israel Council for Demography, which has been inactive for 5 yrs., to draw up "guidelines on how to formulate a policy that will preserve Israel's Jewish character." The main topics discussed are the "need to encourage [Jewish] families to have more children," the "problem of foreign workers in Israel." The council has 37 mbrs. including public figures, lawyers, scientists, physicians. (HA 8/30; HA, MM 9/9)

The IDF soldiers stationed in Netzer Hazani settlement direct shells, machine gun fire at nearby residential areas of al-Qarara, fatally shooting a 9-yr.-old Palestinian girl. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 7/15. The body of a bound, fatally shot Israeli businessman is found in a Tulkarm industrial zone. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian agricultural land nr. Dayr al-Balah, Rafah; demolishes the home of local Islamic Jihad military cmdr. Muhammad Abu Tabikh in Jenin; blows up a home in al-Brazil, damaging 7 nearby houses; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm. (MM 8/1; NYT 8/2; LAW, PCHR 8/7)

In Washington, King Abdallah holds talks with Bush on the peace process, dangers of striking Iraq. Abdallah urges Bush to outline specific steps, time line for moving the peace process forward. Bush says that he's still committed to the creation of a Palestinian state in 3 yrs. but he does not think any new steps by Israel are necessary at the moment. (JT 8/1 in WNC 8/2; NYT, WP, WT 8/2; DUS 8/2 in WNC 8/7)

The IDF calls up another 3,000 reservists; shells a building in Tulkarm r.c., killing 1 PSF officer (children nearby reportedly were stoning the tank); imposes 24-hr. curfews on Abu Dis, Anabta, Araqa, Bayt Jibrin r.c., Bayt Wazzan, al-Funduq, Hashimiyya, Kafr Rumman, Yamun, Zawata; conducts arrest raids and house-to-house searches in Jenin town and surrounding villages, fatally shooting a 2d Palestinian in Yamun; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at the al-Mawasi checkpoint and residential areas in Dahaysha r.c., Khan Yunis; fire live ammunition, rubber bullets at Palestinians approaching al-Bireh, Jawal, Surda checkpoints into Ramallah; bulldozes nearly 100 dunams of agricultural land n. of Bayt Lahia. The PA places Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin under house arrest, arrests 11 Hamas mbrs. in Gaza. An IDF soldier dies of injuries received on 6/15; a Palestinian boy dies of injuries received on 6/21. (HP 6/23; NYT, WP, WT 6/24; RMC 6/24 in WNC 6/25; NYT 6/25; QA 6/25 in WNC 6/26; LAW 6/26; PCHR 6/27)

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)

Before dawn, the IDF sends troops back into Aida r.c., Bayt Jala, Bethlehem, Dahaysha r.c. in the largest incursion since Israeli PM Ariel Sharon declared the end of the 1st stage Operation Defensive Shield on 4/21, conducting house-to-house searches; occupying the UNRWA school in Dahaysha r.c.; arresting 10s of Palestinians, including wanted Fatah mbr. Ahmad Mughrabi, blowing up his home; declaring the area a closed military zone, barring entry to journalists; occupying Bethlehem Radio 2000 offices, seriously damaging, confiscating equipment; directing shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas, seriously damaging several homes. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Umm al-Sharayit; withdraws to the outskirts of Tulkarm, but maintains a curfew; tightens controls on Palestinian movement across the West Bank. In the evening, a AMB suicide bomber (a cousin of AMB Nablus cmdr. Titi, assassinated on 5/22) detonates a device in cafe in Petah Tikva, killing 2 Israelis, injuring 37. A bomb is found, neutralized in French Hill settlement. (HP, LAW, NYT 5/27; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/28; ITAR-TASS 5/28 in WNC 5/29; LAW 5/29; MEI 5/31)

The IDF sends troops, APCs into Bethlehem, reoccupying most of the city, directing shells and heavy machine gun fire at residential areas, demolishing the home of senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Shihada; troops still hold most of Bethlehem at nightfall. The IDF also fires tank shells, machine guns a Palestinian mother, daughter working their farm nr. the Gaza border with Israel, killing them; the IDF says they were in a prohibited area. Denied passage by the IDF, a Palestinian woman gives birth at a checkpoint; the baby dies. The IDF withdraws to the outskirts of Tulkarm r.c.; at least 9 more IDF soldiers have been injured in the operation since the fatal ambush on 5/24. The IDF imposes curfews on Palestinian villages along the Green Line nr. Qalqilya, Tulkarm. (AFP, NYT, WP, WT 5/26; WP 5/27; LAW 5/29; PCHR 5/30; MEI 5/31)

An "intense debate" is reportedly underway among U.S. Pres. George W. Bush and his senior advisers over whether to press for Arafat's removal. Arafat adviser Muhammad Rashid, in Washington for several days for a low-key meetings with U.S. officials at the CIA, Pentagon, State Dept. and with Jewish leaders, argues that Arafat is central to the peace process. (NYT 5/26)

Just before Zinni arrives, Israel begins pulling back gradually fr. Ramallah. The U.S., PA say that is not enough, with the State Dept. publicly stating, "We want to see a full withdrawal" fr. area A, including all Palestinian towns, refugee camps. During the day, at least 5 Palestinians are killed in Ramallah, 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received on 3/5; 2 explosions nr. Tulkarm kill 6 Palestinians (including senior AMB mbr. Mutasim Makhluf) in what are thought to be assassinations; 2 Palestinian collaborators are killed by Fatah Hawks mbrs. in Bethlehem. In an incident similar to that on 2/14, Palestinian assailants detonate a powerful roadside bomb in Gaza, destroying a Merkava tank, killing 3 IDF soldiers, wounding 2; the AMB, PFLP each claim responsibility. In al-Bireh and nr. Ramallah, Palestinians fire RPGs at 2 tanks, damaging them. Palestinian gunmen fire on Gilo settlement, causing no damage. In retaliation, the IDF sends tanks into the heart of Bethlehem, firing repeatedly at a Catholic maternity hospital and orphanage, which houses 16 patients and 50 children ages 5 and younger, causing damage but no injuries. IDF shelling, heavy machine gun fire are also reported in `Ayn Arik, Beitunia, al-Irsal, al-Tira, Umm al-Sharayit. The IDF demolishes 15 Palestinian homes in al-Mighraqa village in Gaza; makes arrest raids into onto al-Naqura, Shu`fat. Jewish settlers fr. Ma'ale Mikhmas, guarded by IDF soldiers, attack and drive off several bedouin families camping nr. the settlement. (AFP 3/13, MA, QA, XIN 3/14 in WNC 3/15; HP, LAW, MM 3/14; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/15; Die Presse [Vienna] 3/15, al-Quds 3/16 in WNC 3/18; LAW 3/20; MEI 3/22)

Zinni meets with local reps. of the quartet--an ad hoc diplomatic formation of the EU, Russia, UN, U.S. employed at times when presenting a united international front may more effectively press Israel and the PA to take a desired course of action. He then meets with Sharon. (XIN 3/14 in WNC 3/15; MM, NYT, WT 3/15; MEI 3/22)

Israeli-Palestinian violence continues to escalate, leaving 1 Israeli civilian, 1 Jewish settler, at least 6 Palestinians dead. A package bomb planted by a Jewish vigilante group called Revenge of the Innocent Babes (in reference to the 3/2 Beit Israel attack) explodes on a playground at a Palestinian school in East Jerusalem, injuring 2 teachers, 24 children. In response to the 3/4 AMB attack in Tel Aviv, IDF F-16s rocket Palestinian targets across Gaza and in Bethlehem, Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarm; helicopters fire a missile at a car in Ramallah, killing 3 Palestinians, including 2 wanted AMB members, Muhannad Abu Halawa and Fawzi Murrar. The IDF also makes incursions into Palestinian areas nr. Bayt Lahia, Jabaliya, Khan Yunis, Tamun; direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bethlehem, al-Khadir, Qalqilya; demolishes greenhouses in Issawiyya. Nr. Gush Etzion settlement, Palestinian gunmen fire on a Jewish settler vehicle, killing 1 settler. A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a devices on a bus in Afula, Israel, killing 1 Israeli. Palestinians also launch 2 Qassam-2s fr. Gaza into Israel, for the 1st time hitting an apartment building in Sederot, injuring 2 children. Jewish settlers attack a PSF post in Qalqilya, stone a Palestinian car nr. Ramallah. (HP, MM 3/5; XIN 3/5 in WNC 3/6; LAW, MM, NYT, PCHR, PMC, WP, WT 3/6; MA 3/6 in WNC 3/7; AYM 3/7 in WNC 3/8; MEI 3/8; JP 3/15)

     Sharon convenes his inner cabinet, then his full cabinet to discuss how to respond to the 3/4 Tel Aviv attack. Participants reportedly debate launching massive "mopping-up" operations in refugee camps, incursions into a list of villages in areas A and B, escalating attacks on Ramallah (including removing Arafat). The cabinet gives the IDF "free rein to further intensify military pressure on the PA, especially in Ramallah," bars all Palestinian vehicular traffic in the West Bank. (MM 3/5; NYT, PMC, WP, WT 3/6) quote in PMC 3/6

In the morning, the IDF sends troops, tanks into Balata (an AMB stronghold); surrounds and attacks Jenin r.c. without entering it. The massive two-pronged operation, called Colorful Journey, meets strong resistance, touching off fierce gun battles that continue into the night, leaving 1 IDF soldier and at least 11 Palestinians dead (4 in Balata, including Balata AMB leader Kayid Abu Mustafa; 7 in Jenin, including 6 PSF officers), wounding over 150 Palestinians (over 100 in Balata, 40 in Jenin). Troops bar ambulances fr. entering the camps to aide the wounded. In the afternoon, the IDF declares a brief cease-fire, ordering unarmed residents to leave Balata, but few do--most fearing permanent exile. The IDF cuts electricity and water to the camp; evicts, demolishes several Palestinian homes at the edge of the camp; conducts house-to-house searches, breaking through walls to move fr. building to building, demolishing at least 5 homes, damaging 100; occupies a UN-operated boys school. Israel says the operation is designed to arrest Palestinians wanted for "terrorist attacks," but none are arrested during the day. As the day progresses, violence spreads to other West Bank towns, especially in the Bayt Jala-Gilo area. The IDF also sends tanks to surround Tulkarm; tightens closures on Dayr al-Balah, Gaza City, Qalqilya, Ramallah, as well as access to Jerusalem; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; occupies a PSF post in Tamun; directs heavy machine gun fire at Aida r.c., Bayt Jala, Bethlehem; bulldozes Palestinian land in Azariyya for construction of a settler bypass road. The PA suspends trilateral security comm. talks. (AP, HP, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP 2/28; BDL, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/1; AFP 3/1, AYM 3/2, XIN 3/3 in WNC 3/4; WP, WT 3/2; LAW 3/6; MEI 3/8)

For the 2d time in 2 days at the same location, IDF soldiers open fire on a Palestinian car that had been given IDF approval to cross a Nablus checkpoint to deliver a pregnant Palestinian woman in labor to a hospital. The woman's husband is killed instantly, her father-in-law left paralyzed, while she is ordered to strip, is left bleeding on a cold stretcher for 45 mins. before the IDF transports her to a hospital, where she delivers a healthy baby. The soldiers brigade cmdr. issues a statement saying the soldiers acted "according to procedures." Nr. Bethlehem, an AMB gunmen fire on a Jewish settler vehicle, seriously wounding a pregnant Jewish settler en route to a Jerusalem hospital, killing her father, another passenger; the woman delivers a healthy baby. An AMB mbr. opens fire on at a bus stop in Neve Ya'aqov settlement, wounding 5 settlers, 3 policemen before being shot, wounded, arrested. Nr. Tulkarm, a 15-yr.-old Palestinian girl runs toward an IDF checkpoint wielding a knife, is shot dead by troops; she leaves a suicide note denouncing the Israeli occupation. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of al-Khadir, Rafah, Tal Sultan. Jewish settlers erect new caravans in Itamar settlement. (BBC, HP 2/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/26; PCHR 2/27; JP 3/8)

The IDF directs shells/heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, Qarni, Rafah, Wadi al-Silqa; occupies a Palestinian home, bulldozes land in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Dayr al-Balah, Dayr al-Sharaf, Hebron, Tal; fires on a Palestinian boat off Gaza, wounding 1 fisherman; places new roadblocks on the roads linking Nablus with Qalqilya, Tulkarm. Palestinians fire 3 mortars at Gush Katif settlement causing no damage. The IDF reports that incidents of Palestinian violence are up to an average of 17/day (see 12/30). 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (HA, HP 2/5; LAW, PCHR 2/6; PCHR 2/13)

In Jenin, a mob of more than 1,000 Palestinians enraged by reduced sentences handed down by a judge, storms a makeshift PA security courtroom and executes 3 Palestinians convicted of murdering a popular PSF officer over an intrafamily feud; 100 PSF officers surrounding the building are unable to fend off the mob. Since 9/01, the IDF has demolished Jenin's 2 police headquarters, its security headquarters, 2 prisons, the governor's administrative offices, and its military courtroom, leaving the PA without a secure compound to hold the controversial trial. The military court sought to move the trial to Jericho but could not due to Israeli closures. (AP, HA 2/5; MM, NYT, WP 2/6)

In New York, Ben-Eliezer says that Arafat is not a partner for peace; urges the U.S. to open talks with more "realistic" Palestinians who could form an alternative leadership. He also alleges that Israel has new intelligence information that al-Qa`ida mbrs. have been relocating to Lebanon to join forces with Hizballah; says he will encourage the U.S. to target Hizballah in its war on terror when he meets with officials in Washington on 2/6. (XIN 2/5 in WNC 2/8; AP, HA 2/6; MM 2/7; al-Quds 2/16 in WNC 2/19)

In its largest military operation in the West Bank and Gaza since 1967, Israel sends a large number of IDF infantry, tanks, APCs, armored bulldozers into Tulkarm in a predawn operation to totally reoccupy the city, taking control of the city center, occupying buildings (including a college, the mayor's home) and apartments as observer posts, hoisting Israeli flags, imposing a 24-hr. curfew, conducting house-to-house searches, detaining at least 30 Palestinians. The IDF reportedly responds to "scattered resistance," leaving 2 Palestinians dead, 15 wounded. IDF soldiers also fire on 2 ambulances coming to the aid of the wounded, seriously injuring 1 ambulance driver. Israel says the operation will last "only a few days." The IDF also sends tanks deep into PA-controlled Nablus; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Ramallah; conducts an arrest raid in Nahalin. Senior IDF officials suggest that Israel is preparing to make more deep incursions into PA areas "to destroy more infrastructure and to kill more terrorists." The IDF also bulldozes Palestinian land along bypass road 60 outside Hebron. Some 40 Palestinians attempt to block the bulldozers but are confronted by armed Jewish settlers who fire in the air and beat the Palestinians, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian. The PA releases NISP head Salih (arrested 1/5). (MM, WP 1/21, 1/22; al-Quds 1/23 in WNC 1/30; MEI 1/25; PCHR 1/26; JP 2/1)

The Israeli-Arab legal center Adalah formally asks Israeli atty. gen. Elyakim Rubenstein to reconsider his recent decision not to compel the Custodian for Absentees' Property to comply with Israeli 1998 freedom of information act by releasing data on the moveable property of Palestinian refugees seized by Israel in 1948. Rubenstein rejected the request on the ground that it would damage Israel's foreign relations, require excessive time and resources to comply. Adalah 1st submitted its request in 1999. The atty. gen.'s office ignored 15 follow-up requests for a decision btwn. 1999 and 2002. (Adalah press release 1/28)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a powerful device on a bus in Haifa, killing 14 Israelis, 1 Filipino, and injuring more than 40. Arafat condemns the attack, outlaws "any movement, organization, or gathering" that does not abide by his cease-fire order, orders confiscation of illegal weapons, reiterates plans for a crackdown, saying that around 90 Palestinians have already been arrested. Israel dismisses the arrests as "a stunt," seals PA areas, bans all Palestinian vehicular traffic, shells residential areas of Jinin. In one of several similar incidents in the Bethlehem area, 20 PSF officers attempting to arrest journalist Issa Zawahara, who has ties to Islamic Jihad, are chased off by an angry crowd of Palestinians. Arafat later meets with PA security heads, convenes the Palestinian Council (PC) to discuss the recent attacks. (AFP, AP, HA 12/2; AFP, ATL, Interfax, LPA, XIN 12/2 in WNC 12/3; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/3; DUS, MA 12/3 in WNC 12/4; WT 12/4; AYM 12/4 in WNC 12/5; LAW 12/5; WJW 12/6; MEI 12/7; JP 12/14)

Sharon, Bush meet at the White House. Sharon says he does not expect Arafat to take serious steps to arrest those responsible for recent suicide attacks, says Israel will "do what we have to do to protect our citizens." Neither Bush nor U.S. officials urge Israeli restraint. (JP [Internet] 12/2; LPA 12/2 in WNC 12/3; MM, WP, WT 12/3; WT 12/4; VIRI 12/4 in WNC 12/5; MM 12/5)

Meanwhile, Hamas also takes responsibility for a drive-by shooting in Gaza, which leaves 1 Jewish settler dead. In the Jordan Valley, 7 settlers are wounded in a 2d drive-by shooting. Palestinians in Bayt Jala fire on Gilo, injuring 2 settlers. Armed Jewish settlers accost Palestinians in Hizma. An Israeli security guard outside an East Jerusalem bank fatally shoots a Palestinian, apparently fearing that he was about to stage an attack. The IDF fatally shoots 4 Palestinians nr. a Jinin checkpoint, 1 Palestinian in Tulkarm; fires a tank shell at a Palestinian in Qabatiyya, killing him. The IDF also directs shells/heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Aida, Jinin, Khan Yunis, Salim; conducts arrest raids in Abu Dis, Azariyya, Burqa. In Gaza, some 1,000 Hamas supporters rally in support of continued attacks on Israeli targets. In Nablus, 300 Palestinians attend a rally against political arrests sponsored by the National and Islamic Higher Comm. for the Follow-up of the Intifada (NIHC). (HA 12/2; XIN 12/2 in WNC 12/3; PMC, REU, WP 12/3; LAW 12/5)

As U.S. envoy Zinni meets with PA officials, an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus in Hadera, Israel, killing 3 Israelis, wounding 7. The bomber reportedly boarded the bus in the Israeli Arab town of Umm al-Fahm. A Palestinian gunman also kills 1 IDF soldier in a drive-by shooting at a West Bank checkpoint. The IDF opens fire on a Palestinian car at a Jordan Valley checkpoint, killing 2 Palestinians that "acted suspiciously" by making a U-turn to avoid the congested crossing. The IDF also opens fire on a French delegation (135 politicians, journalists, intellectuals) touring homes demolished by the IDF in Khan Yunis; seals Hebron; sets up more roadblocks, especially on the road to Bethlehem; tightens the closure on Tulkarm, bulldozing areas along the Green Line; raids a Palestinian factory nr. Qarni crossing, confiscating electrical equipment; directs heavy machine gun fire on residential areas of Jinin; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. Jewish settlers, under IDF protection, place caravans on a new settlement site nr. Dayr al-Balah. (AFP, HP 11/29; AFP, AP, HP, MM, NYT, WT 11/30; al-Quds 11/30 in WNC 12/3; LAW 12/5)

Sharon arrives in the U.S. on an official visit, accuses Arafat of having built a "coalition of terror" against Israel. (MM 11/30; NYT 12/1)

The IDF withdraws fr. Jinin. A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device nr. the Erez crossing in n. Gaza, wounding 2 Israeli border policemen. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis, injuring 6 children; conducts arrest raids in Dayr al-Balah; tightens the closure on Tulkarm, digging ditches across roads, bulldozing agricultural land around the city. (HP 11/26; AP, HP, NYT, WP 11/27; NYT 11/28)

Special envoys Burns, Zinni arrive in Israel to begin work toward a cease-fire. (HA, MM, WP 11/26; AYM 11/26, 11/27 in WNC 11/28; JP [Internet], NYT 11/27; WJW 11/29; al-Quds 11/29 in WNC 11/30; Le Monde 11/30 in WNC 12/3; JP 12/7)

In a predawn raid, the IDF send 12 tanks and armored vehicles, 6 bulldozers into Khan Yunis, firing shells and heavy machine guns at homes, killing 1 Palestinian, injuring at least 13, completely demolishing 15 Palestinian homes, partially destroying 11. The IDF claims the action was in response to Palestinian gunfire aimed at Neve Dekalim. The IDF conducts a similar raid into Tulkarm, damaging several homes, uprooting an orchard, cutting electricity; sends tanks under helicopter cover into al-Shawawra village, damaging several homes, arresting 7 Palestinians; shells, fires on residential areas of Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahia, Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Kafr al-Dik, Salfit. In Jinin, 100s of Palestinians still angry over the arrest of Islamic Jihad's Tawalbi clash with PSF mbrs. The PSF releases 2 PFLP mbrs. ordered freed by the PA High Court on 11/7. (AP, HP, JP [Internet], PCHR, WT 11/15; NYT 11/16; AYM 11/16 in WNC 11/19; AFP 11/18; MEI 11/23)

Peres, in his speech to the UNGA, says that there is support in Israel for a Palestinian state, Palestinian independence; the gap btwn. Israeli, Palestinian positions are more emotional than political. (HA, MM 11/15)

The IDF withdraws to the outskirts of Qalqilya, keeping a closure on the city, positioning itself to reinvade quickly if so ordered. The body of a PSF officer, missing since 10/20, is found in the area evacuated by the IDF; he had been shot 10 times. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/21. Israel tightens Palestinian access to East Jerusalem, deploying more border police, special forces units; placing new checkpoints nr. the "Greater Jerusalem" boundary at Anata, Bayt Hanina, Jaba', Shu'fat; closing the Bethlehem road checkpoint into the city; placing a closure on Azariyya. IDF troops, under cover of shelling and heavy machine gun fire, enter Rafah, demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, damage 2 others. The IDF also reinforces troops in Jinin, Tulkarm; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Hebron, Tulkarm; digs a trench across the main Jinin-Nablus road. Jewish settlers set fire to a Palestinian store, vandalize several other shops in the Israeli-controlled section of Hebron; shoot, wound a Palestinian teenager in Silat al-Dahir; stone Palestinian cars in East Jerusalem. Egyptian officials say that 1,200 Palestinians are trapped on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border, that Israel is only allowing 200 Palestinians/day into Gaza. (AFP, HP, NYT, WP, WT 11/5; NYT, WP 11/6; al-Quds 11/6 in WNC 11/7; PCHR 11/8; MENA 11/19 in WNC 11/20)

On the sidelines of an Euro-Mediterranean economics conference in Brussels, Arafat, Peres hold informal talks with EU reps. on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. (AFP 11/5 in WNC 11/6; NYT, WT 11/6)

IDF helicopters fire rockets at a Palestinian taxi nr. Tulkarm, killing 2 Hamas mbrs., wounding and capturing the taxi driver. The IDF also abducts a 3d Hamas mbr. fr. Nablus; shells residential areas of Tulkarm; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at a preparatory school in Rafah, trapping students inside, damaging the building. (LAW, MM 11/1; WP 11/2; PCHR 11/8)

Peres says that he is preparing a personal peace initiative, that he will probably meet with Arafat on the sidelines of a 2-day economic conference that opens in Spain on 11/2. Sharon, expressing surprise, reminds Peres he must coordinate any mtgs. with Arafat with the PM's Office. (AP, MM 10/30; NYT, WP, WT 10/31; HA 11/6; HP 11/7; MENA 11/8 in WNC 11/9; JP 11/11 in WNC 11/14) (see Peace Monitor)

Israel demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. The U.S. condemns the action as highly provocative. The IDF conducts raids into Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahia under intense shelling and heavy machine gun fire, hitting electricity generators, cutting power to the area; also makes arrest raids in Araba, Tulkarm; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis; fires on Palestinian fishermen off Dayr al-Balah; bulldozes 10s of dunams of Palestinian land in Wadi Qana, reportedly to expand Ma'ale Shomron settlement; bulldozes 6 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Netzarim settlement; reinforces troops on the Nablus-Qalqilya road (cutting power to the area), around Tulkarm. Palestinians fire several mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage. The PA says it has arrested 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in connection with the Hadera attack on 10/28. Families of Palestinians placed under 6-mo. administrative detention by the PSF over the past 2 wks. hold a demonstration outside PSF offices in al-Bireh, Ramallah; scuffle with PSF officers. (LAW 10/30; HP, LAW, NYT, WT 10/31)

In the Galilee, 400 Israeli police clash with 1,000 Israeli Arabs residents of al-Tira and Taybeh protesting the government's expropriation of village lands for a highway, leaving more than 40 Israeli Arabs (including 3 MKs), 18 police officers injured. (JP [Internet] 10/30; HA 10/31)

Under U.S. pressure, Sharon pulls the IDF out of Bethlehem, Bayt Jala. Jewish settlers assault journalists covering the pullout. Islamic Jihad gunmen kill 4 Israelis, wound 30 in a drive-by shooting in Hadera, are fatally shot by Israeli police. AMB gunmen kill 1 IDF soldier on the West Bank-Israeli border, escape into the West Bank. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Nablus, al-Ubayat; reinforces positions in Jinin, Tulkarm; opens fire on 9 Palestinian schools in the PA-controlled section of Hebron, injuring 4 students with rubber-coated metal bullets, 15 with tear gas; directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Qalqilya. Jewish settlers stone Palestinian cars outside Silwad. (HP 10/28; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/29; QA 10/29 in WNC 11/1; LAW 10/31)

With Israeli-Palestinian clashes continuing unabated in Bethlehem, Israel postpones plans to withdraw fr. the area for at least 24 hrs. The IDF also directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Lahia (damaging a PSF post), Jinin, Khan Yunis, Qalqilya, Rafah, Tulkarm (killing 1 Palestinian); temporarily occupies a Palestinian school in the PA-controlled section of Hebron; reinforces troops in Bayt Lahia, around Ramallah. PFLP mbrs. arrested by the PSF since the Ze'evi assassination begin a hunger strike to protest their detention. (AFP 10/27; HP, NYT, WP, WT 10/28; LAW 10/31)