In Gaza, unknown gunmen attempt to assassinate a Fatah official in Gaza City, injuring 2 of his bodyguards. In the West Bank, Israeli forces conduct raids and searches in the “Gate of Jerusalem”...
Hamas detonates a roadside bomb nr. Mughraqa, disabling an IDF tank, injuring 4 soldiers. In response, the IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in Mughraqa. The IDF also fires on residential areas...
2 bombs, the 4th and 5th since Sharon's 2/6 election, explode outside the Jewish settlements of Talpiot, French Hill in East Jerusalem, killing an apparent Palestinian suicide bomber...
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In Gaza, unknown gunmen attempt to assassinate a Fatah official in Gaza City, injuring 2 of his bodyguards. In the West Bank, Israeli forces conduct raids and searches in the “Gate of Jerusalem” protest tent camp in Abu Dis, sparking clashes with Palestinian and international activists who were building concrete rooms; 4 Palestinians and 1 international are detained; several activists are lightly injured with rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades. That night, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops return to the camp to demolish and evacuate it, but activists begin rebuilding as soon as the soldiers leave. The camp was first set up on 2/3 to protest the Israeli govt.’s plans to displace Palestinian bedouins in the E1 area. The IDF conducts house searches and raids in 1 village each nr. Nablus and Jenin, in and around Hebron, and nr. Bethlehem, arresting 11 total, including a Palestinian Authority (PA) security officer; patrols in 3 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 nr. Hebron. Israeli settlers accompanied by IDF troops enter Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus late at night to perform religious rites. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police accompany a group ofsettlers on a tour of Haram al-Sharif. Israeli authorities continue to require women entering the area to leave their ID cards at the entrance and submit to interrogation; 3 Palestinian women are arrested. Israeli forces conduct house searches and raids in Shaykh Jarrah and al-Tur, arresting 4 Palestinians, issuing summons to 2, and demolishing a wall in al-Tur. (AFP, MNA, TOI, WAFA 2/16; MNA, PNN, WAFA 2/17; IMEMC, PCHR 2/19)
Israeli authorities approve the construction of a solid waste landfill on 520 dunams (1 acre equals about 4 dunams) of primarily Palestinian-owned land in East Jerusalem; around 120 Palestinian bedouins would be evicted from their homes. Both Palestinian residents and Israelis from the nearby French Hill settlement lodged formal complaints in the weeks ahead of the approval. (MNA 2/17; HA 2/18)
Hamas detonates a roadside bomb nr. Mughraqa, disabling an IDF tank, injuring 4 soldiers. In response, the IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in Mughraqa. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis (killing a 7-yr.-old Palestinian girl playing outside her home), Rafah (wounding an 8-yr.-old boy); demolishes a Palestinian home in Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids nr. Hebron, Netzarim settlement. A Palestinian youth attempts to stab an Israeli border policeman in Jerusalem; is shot, wounded, arrested. AMB gunmen fatally shoot George Khoury, son of a prominent Israeli Arab attorney, nr. East Jerusalem’s French Hill settlement, mistaking him for a Jewish settler; AMB issues an apology to the family, calling Khoury a martyr. Another Palestinian dies of injuries received during the IDF missile attack on Rafah on 3/17. (MM 3/19; VOP 3/19 in WNC 3/23; NYT, WP, WT 3/20; NYT, WP, WT 3/21; PR 3/24; HA, PCHR 3/25)
2 bombs, the 4th and 5th since Sharon's 2/6 election, explode outside the Jewish settlements of Talpiot, French Hill in East Jerusalem, killing an apparent Palestinian suicide bomber, injuring 35 Israelis. Islamic Jihad takes responsibility for both attacks. Right-wing opposition MKs, Jewish settlers accuse Sharon of not taking Israeli security seriously and demand retaliation, with Likud Education M Limor Livnat saying Arafat should be targeted. Sharon's office says Israel will respond "at the time and place we choose." (AFP [Internet], MM 3/27; ITAR-TASS 3/27 in WNC 3/28; MM, NYT, WP 3/28; WJW 3/29; AFP 3/29 in WNC 3/30; JP, MEI 4/6)
In the West Bank and Gaza, Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 1 Palestinian dead. In Hebron, Jewish settlers attempt to storm Abu Sunayna for a 2d day, are push back by the IDF (which continues to urge Palestinian residents to evacuate the area). After dark, the settlers set fire to 5 Palestinian-owned stores, 7 cars, Waqf offices in the PA-controlled section of Hebron. Jewish settlers place caravans on confiscated Palestinian land on Mount Jarzim in Nablus. Israel arrests 2 Israeli border policemen for beating, torturing a Palestinian at a checkpoint into Israel earlier today. (MM 3/27; HA, HP, NYT, WP 3/28; AFP [Internet], NYT 3/29; MEI 4/6)
The 1st full Arab League summit in 12 yrs. opens in Amman. The agenda covers the peace process, aid to the Palestinians, Arab solidarity, inter-Arab economic ties, sanctions on Iraq. (MM 3/27; AN, DUS, JT, SA 3/27 in WNC 3/28; AYM 3/27, HJ, JT, SA 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, WP, USIS Washington File 3/28; JP, MEI 4/6)
On the sidelines of the Arab summit, Syrian pres. Asad meets with Arafat, marking the 1st senior-level Palestinian-Syrian mtg. since 1993. (JT 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, WP, USIS Washington File 3/28; JT, al-Quds 3/29 in WNC 3/30; DUS 3/30 in WNC 4/2; al-Majd 4/2 in WNC 4/3; AYM 4/2, HJ 4/3 in WNC 4/5; JP, MEI 4/6; MM 4/20)
After a week of negotiations on 2 compromise proposals fail, the U.S. vetoes a UNSC resolution backing a UN observer force to help protect the Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza. (AP 3/27; XIN 3/27 in WNC 3/28; WP 3/28; MM, NYT, WJW, WT 3/29; al-Quds 3/29 in WNC 3/30; MM 3/30; al-Quds 4/3 in WNC 4/5)
