63 / 15150 Results
  • September 25, 2005

    Overnight, the IDF conducts air strikes on the home of PRC mbr. ‘Amr Qarmut in Jabaliya r.c. in what may be an assassination attempt (causing damage but no injuries), a Hamas-run school in Gaza...

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  • September 13, 2005

    A day after the IDF completes withdrawal fr. Gaza, Sharon, DM Mofaz separately vow that Israel will “make every effort to direct resources to the development” of West Bank settlement blocs....

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  • July 14, 2005

    Sharon authorizes the widening of the IDF’s campaign to include Hamas. Later 4 rockets fired fr. n. Gaza hit the Israeli town of Netiv Haasara, killing 1 Israeli woman, wounding 1; Hamas, the AMB...

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  • June 21, 2005

    Overnight, the IDF arrests 52 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in the largest raids against the group in the West Bank since 3/05; half of the mbrs. are arrested in Hebron, others in Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah...

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  • February 8, 2005

    Abbas, Sharon hold their 1st talks in Sharm al-Shaykh, then each meets separately with Mubarak, King Abdallah of Jordan. Afterward, Abbas announces that “Palestinian will stop all acts of violence...

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  • January 16, 2005

    Sharon orders the IDF to intensify operations against Palestinian militants and to act “without restrictions, I emphasize, without restrictions” to halt “terrorism,” stating that Abbas is “not...

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  • September 30, 2004

    The IDF escalates its n. Gaza incursion, sending troops deep into Jabaliya r.c., occupying several homes as outposts, sparking clashes with Palestinians, shelling and conducting at least 5 air...

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  • August 5, 2004

    The IDF pulls out of Bayt Hanun, pulls back from the outskirts of Jabaliya r.c., ending Operation Active Shield, revealing the widespread destruction (including an estimated 3,900 dunams bulldozed...

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  • March 11, 2004

    The IDF raids a high school nr. Nablus, arrests a 10th grader; raids a mosque in al-Bireh, arresting 1 Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding a man on his roof; conducts...

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  • January 12, 2004

    The IDF raids Tulkarm r.c., rounding up all inhabitants of 1 section of the camp for questioning, detaining 230 Palestinian men, allowing women and children to go after 10 hrs.; sends APCs into...

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  • January 11, 2004

    The IDF intercepts a Palestinian suicide bomber (the 16-yr.-old brother of a 15-yr.-old killed by the IDF on 1/3) nr. Nablus; to avoid capture, the bomber detonates his device, killing only...

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  • September 11, 2003

    In response to the 9/9 suicide bombings, Sharon’s security cabinet declares Arafat “a complete obstacle” that Israel will “work to remove . . . in a manner, and at a time of its choosing.” In...

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  • May 11, 2003

    The IDF places its tightest seal on the Gaza Strip since the al-Aqsa intifada began, barring everyone except diplomats and aid workers fr. entering or exiting (though 9 international aid workers...

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  • May 10, 2003

    The IDF imposes a tight curfew on Hebron; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis, 1 in Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 25 dunams of land in Khuza, 20 dunams e...

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  • November 17, 2002

    Israeli PM Ariel Sharon visits Hebron, calls for the expanding of Jewish settlements in and around Hebron to create “settlement contiguity” btwn. 4 Jewish enclaves in He-...

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  • August 22, 2002

    Israel's Interior M Eli Yishai says he has initiated steps to revoke the residency status of 4 East Jerusalem Palestinians arrested for participation in a Hamas cell (see 8/21); he...

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  • August 5, 2002

    In light of the increase in violence, Ben-Eliezer promises a "long list of actions" in the West Bank and Gaza that would "make the closure much bigger than it is now"; bans all Palestinian travel...

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  • July 8, 2002

    The IDF directs live fire at Palestinians crossing into Ramallah at Surda checkpoint just after a curfew had been reimposed without warning, seriously injuring an 18-yr.-old Palestinian girl;...

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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 7, 2002

    A suicide bomber detonates a device in an unlicensed gambling club in the Rishon Letzion suburb of Tel Aviv, killing 15 Israelis, injuring 57. Hamas's military wing claims responsibility, but the...

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  • April 15, 2002

    Sharon says the IDF will pull out of Jenin, Nablus and begin to discharge reservists within a wk. but will stay in Bethlehem, Ramallah until wanted Palestinians there are captured or exiled. The...

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  • April 11, 2002

    The IDF pullbacks fr. 22 small West Bank villages but sends forces into Birzeit, Dahariyya, `Ayn Bayt Himla r.c. nr. Ramallah and briefly reenters Tulkarm to make arrests. In Birzeit, troops...

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  • March 6, 2002

    Retaliating for the firing of Qassam-2s on 3/5, the IDF launches air, land, sea strikes on PA targets across the West Bank and Gaza, striking and partially demolishing Arafat's residence in Gaza...

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  • March 3, 2002

    A AMB sniper using a decades-old carbine rifle fatally shoots 7 IDF soldiers, 3 Jewish settlers, wounding 6 others at a checkpoint nr. Ofra settlement before escaping, leaving his gun behind. In...

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  • December 31, 2001

    The IDF raids Qalandia, arresting 5 Hamas mbrs.; evacuates, seals a Palestinian school nr. Tulkarm. Ignoring Arafat's cease-fire pleas, the PRCs vow retaliation for the IDF's killing of 6...

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  • December 10, 2001

    The IDF attempts to assassinate senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Sidir by firing missiles at his car in Hebron; Sidir is injured, 2 Palestinian children are killed, 6 others are injured. (1 of...

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  • December 5, 2001

    Due to severe weather, violence tapers off noticeably, though an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber lightly injures 5 Israelis outside a hotel in Jerusalem. The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, a...

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  • December 3, 2001

    Upon his return fr. the U.S. Sharon meets with his security cabinet, then his full cabinet to discuss how to respond to the 12/1+n2 attacks. The full cabinet votes to declare the PA "an entity...

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  • October 17, 2001

    At least 1 PFLP gunman assassinates Israeli tourism M Ze'evi in an East Jerusalem hotel, shooting him at point blank range, using a pistol equipped with a silencer, escaping undetected. The PFLP...

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  • October 15, 2001

    The IDF withdraws fr. Palestinian areas of Hebron, vandalizing several homes, cars before leaving. The National Union and Yisrael Beitunia bloc (led by Tourism M Rehavam Ze'evi, Infrastructure M...

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Overnight, the IDF conducts air strikes on the home of PRC mbr. ‘Amr Qarmut in Jabaliya r.c. in what may be an assassination attempt (causing damage but no injuries), a Hamas-run school in Gaza City (injuring 23 Palestinians), and a cultural center in Bayt Hanun run by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), causing damage but no injuries; arrests 207 Palestinians (mostly Hamas and Islamic Jihad mbrs., including Hamas political leaders Shaykh Hasan Yusuf and Muhammad Ghazzal) in the largest raids across the West Bank since 2/05. During the day, Sharon says that he has given the IDF “free rein” to act against Palestinians firing rockets. The IDF continues to mass troops on the n. Gaza border, breaks the sound barrier over Gaza roughly every 2 hrs., fires artillery shells fr. Nahal Oz into open areas nr. Bayt Hanun as a warning to Palestinians (marking Israel’s 1st shelling of Gaza since 1967); fires missiles fr. F-16s at a car s. of Gaza City, assassinating senior Islamic Jihad leader Muhammad Shaykh Khalil, Islamic Jihad mbr. Nassir Barhum, wounding 4 bystanders. In the evening, Hamas agrees to stop rocket attacks immediately. Later, an IDF helicopter gunship strikes 3 targets in Khan Yunis, including the homes of senior AMB mbrs. Ziyad Abu Hayya and Mahir al-Farra in what may be assassination attempts, causing heavy damage, injuring 17 Palestinians; the IDF says it is targeting AMB arms storage facilities. A 12-yr.-old Palestinian wounded in the 9/23 Jabaliya explosion dies, bringing that toll to at least 16. (AFP, AP, HA, IMEMC, JAZ, WP, WT, XIN, YA 9/25; CSM, HA, IMEMC, JP, NYT, WP, WT 9/26; HA 9/27; AFP, DS, MEI, PCHR 9/29)

Today’s Independent (9/25) reports that a new book by 2 prominent Israeli journalists, Ofer Shelah and Raviv Druker, states that “at a conference of officers as early as May 2001, Shaul Mofaz, now defense minister and then chief of staff, asked for the tape to be switched off before telling them that he wanted a ‘price’ exacted from the Palestinians of 10 killed a day on each of the army’s seven fronts.” The book also reports that after 6 IDF soldiers were killed in an ambush in 3/02, “Mofaz personally ordered a revenge operation in which for the first time [sic—see “Overview of Israeli Military Operations,” Resource File Doc. A, JPS 134] Palestinian police officers would be shot, whether they posed a threat or not.” (Independent 9/25)

A day after the IDF completes withdrawal fr. Gaza, Sharon, DM Mofaz separately vow that Israel will “make every effort to direct resources to the development” of West Bank settlement blocs. Meanwhile, Palestinians continue looting fmr. Gaza settlement sites for a 2d day, overwhelming PA security forces to strip some greenhouses. Egypt, daunted by the number of Palestinians seeking to cross the Rafah checkpoint, declares the border open for several days as a good-will gesture, allowing 1,000s on either side of the border to cross; many Palestinians rush to buy Egyptian goods (including food, medicine, sheep for the upcoming Ramadan holidays) that are dramatically cheaper than those in Gaza, and visit family and friends they have not seen in yrs. before the border is resealed. Israel criticizes the lax Egyptian, PA security; Egypt, the PA blame Israel for failing adequately to coordinate disengagement. Egyptian border guards patrolling the border find a smugglers tunnel containing 38 fire arms, 3 rocket propelled grenades (RPGs); the PA security forces seize the weapons. Palestinian militant groups hold larger rallies than on 9/12 (including 10,000s of Palestinians at a Hamas rally in Gaza City), celebrating the disengagement as a victory of the resistance; at Islamic Jihad rallies, mbrs. display their arms, but at Hamas rallies, mbrs. do not; Abbas warns that he will no longer tolerate the “chaos of weapons.” In the West Bank, the IDF occupies the top floor of a 4-story residential building nr. Hebron as an observation post, fires on stone-throwing youths who challenge the troops, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 4; demolishes a Palestinian home in ‘Issawiyya, East Jerusalem, nr. French Hill settlement. (HA, NYT, YA 9/13; AFP, IMEMC, Independent, NYT 9/14; PCHR 9/15)

Sharon authorizes the widening of the IDF’s campaign to include Hamas. Later 4 rockets fired fr. n. Gaza hit the Israeli town of Netiv Haasara, killing 1 Israeli woman, wounding 1; Hamas, the AMB each claim responsibility (the AMB for the fatal strike, which it says was in retaliation for the 7/10 assassination attempt); as many as 21 mortars and rockets are fired during the day, also damaging an IDF post. The IDF also continues operations in and around Tulkarm; launches arrest raids targeting Islamic Jihad nr. Bethlehem, in Abu Dis and Asira al-Qibliyya, and in and around Hebron. Abbas declares a state of emergency, placing PA security forces in Gaza on high alert and ordering them to prevent any fire on Israeli targets. PA police later fire on a car that fails to stop at a checkpoint in Bayt Lahiya, sparking a clash with Hamas gunmen in the car that leaves 5 Hamas mbrs., 3 policemen wounded; Hamas mbrs. later attack a PA police post, torch 2 police cars in retaliation. Abbas goes to Gaza to hold emergency talks with Hamas leaders regarding clashes in Bayt Lahiya. An Israeli wounded in the 7/12 bombing dies, bringing that toll to 5. (AFP, IMEMC, JTA, PRCS 7/14; HA, VOI, VOP 7/14 in WNC 7/15; HA, NYT, UNIS, WP, WT, XIN, YA 7/15; NYT, REU, WP 7/16; HA 7/17; OCHA, PR 7/20; PCHR 7/21)

Overnight, the IDF arrests 52 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in the largest raids against the group in the West Bank since 3/05; half of the mbrs. are arrested in Hebron, others in Jenin, Qalqilya, Ramallah. Minutes before Sharon and Abbas hold their 1st mtg. since the 2/8 Sharm al-Shaykh summit to coordinate disengagement, IDF aircraft fires 2 missiles at a group of Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Bayt Lahiya in what Israeli officials say is a failed attempt to assassinate a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. The Israel FMin. says that “the message was very clear—that Israel cannot accept the fact that Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and the alAqsa Brigades have weapons.” The PA urges Islamic Jihad, the AMB to abide by the cease-fire. Palestinians fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in s. Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, Qalqilya and around Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm. (AFP, HA, JAZ 6/21; VOP 6/21 in WNC 6/21; Daily Star, HA, NYT, PR, WP, WT 6/22; PCHR, WP, WT 6/23; VOI 6/23 in WNC 6/24; QA 6/27 in WNC 6/28; Jordan Times 7/1)

The Knesset Interior Comm. discusses the civilian aspects of the Or Commission’s 9/1/03 report into the 10/00 riots during which 13 Israeli Palestinians were killed by police (see Peace Monitor in JPS 118; Chronology in JPS 130). Fmr. High Court Justice Theodore Or says that the government has done nothing to implement his comm.’s recommendations (particularly for achieving equal rights for Israeli Palestinians), address the issues raised in the report. (YA 6/21)

Abbas, Sharon hold their 1st talks in Sharm al-Shaykh, then each meets separately with Mubarak, King Abdallah of Jordan. Afterward, Abbas announces that “Palestinian will stop all acts of violence against all Israelis everywhere,” Sharon vows to “cease all military activity against all Palestinians anywhere,” including assassinations, to the extent that the Palestinians halt violence. Sharon announces a package of gestures to be implemented if quiet is maintained, including Israel’s turnover of security control for 5 West Bank cities, a prisoner release, easing restriction on Palestinian movement. Hamas, Islamic Jihad say that they will not officially sign onto the cease-fire, but will not abrogate it. (BBC, HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 2/8; AFP, ATL, AYM, HJ, ITAR-TASS, JAZ, MENA, QA, VOI, VOP 2/8, XIN 2/9 in WNC 2/9; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/9; al-Quds 2/12 in WNC 2/13; PR 2/16; MEI 2/18)

The IDF reopens Qarni commercial crossing after a 4-wk. closure, allowing only about one-third of normal traffic through, limiting imports to basic goods and exports to flowers, tomatoes; raids, searches a secondary school in al-Khadir; conducts arrest raids in al-Mawasi; confiscates a strip of land 2 d. long and 350 m. wide to create a corridor linking Hebron’s Tal Rumayda settlement with Shuhada Street. Late in the evening, after the Sharm al-Shaykh summit, AMB gunmen fire on a Jewish settler vehicle in the West Bank, throw Molotov cocktails at IDF jeeps that arrive on the scene, causing no injuries. PA security forces find, seal 2 smugglers’ tunnels in Rafah. The NIHC protests the PA security forces’ arrest of 3 DFLP central comm. mbrs. on 2/5; demands the immediate release of Issam Abu Duqqah, who is still in custody. (HJ, VOI, YA 2/8 in WNC 2/9; WT 2/9; PCHR 2/10; PR 2/16)

Sharon orders the IDF to intensify operations against Palestinian militants and to act “without restrictions, I emphasize, without restrictions” to halt “terrorism,” stating that Abbas is “not lifting a finger” to stop attacks on Israelis. The IDF withdraws fr. Gaza City (having bulldozed a total of 80 d., wounding at least 13 Palestinians since 1/15) but continues targeted operations in the outskirts of the city; shells Khan Yunis, damaging 1 Palestinian home, then firing on the family when they emerge to check the damage, killing a Palestinian mother and son, wounding the father, saying soldiers fired on suspicious “figures gathering information about IDF troops” in the area; separately fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, hitting Nasser Hospital; fires on residential areas of Balata r.c., Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Abasan nr. Khan Yunis, Hebron, Husan, Ithna, Saida. Hamas fires 3 mortars at an IDF post in Gaza, 1 Qassam rocket at Gadid settlement, causing no damage or injuries. Palestinian gunmen fire on an IDF patrol in Jenin, wounding 4 soldiers. (AFP, HA, JAZ, VOI, VOP, YA 1/16, MENA 1/17 in WNC 1/20; NYT, WP, WT 1/17; JTA 1/18; HA, OCHA 1/19; PR 1/20; PCHR 1/27)

The IDF escalates its n. Gaza incursion, sending troops deep into Jabaliya r.c., occupying several homes as outposts, sparking clashes with Palestinians, shelling and conducting at least 5 air strikes on residential areas, leave at least 27 Palestinians dead (including 15 armed Palestinians; 12 unarmed bystanders, including 10 killed by IDF shelling at an UNRWA school) and more than 131 wounded; 6 IDF soldiers are also wounded. Troops also demolish at least 22 Palestinian homes in Jabaliya to allow better access for military vehicles, occupy a UN school and a PA security office. Palestinian gunmen fatally shoot 2 IDF soldiers, 1 Jewish settler jogger outside Jabaliya nr. Aley Sinai settlement, before being shot dead by troops. In the evening, Sharon’s security cabinet approves a plan, codenamed Days of Penitence, for a major, prolonged ground offensive in n. Gaza. Elsewhere in Gaza, the IDF bulldozes 2 d. of greenhouses and apiaries in Dayr al-Balah; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, fires on residential areas in Rafah. In the West Bank, the IDF declares the northern and central Jordan Valley a closed military zone; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun, Dura, Faqqu’a and Yamun nr. Jenin, Hebron, Qalandia r.c. (AP, HA, MM 9/30; AFP, VOI, VOP 9/30 in WNC 10/2; MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 10/1; QA 10/1 in WNC 10/5; PCHR 10/7)

The IDF pulls out of Bayt Hanun, pulls back from the outskirts of Jabaliya r.c., ending Operation Active Shield, revealing the widespread destruction (including an estimated 3,900 dunams bulldozed, 10,000s of trees razed) wrought since it entered and sealed the area on 6/28. At the Bayt Hanun municipal office, 6 armed, masked AMB mbrs. break up a news conference called by 3 PC mbrs. to discuss the pullout, denounce the PA for failing to do anything while the area was under siege. After the pullout, Palestinians fire at least 7 Qassam rockets toward Sederot and the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. The IDF also fires on, shells residential areas of Khan Yunis (wounding a Palestinian inside a hospital nearby, seriously damaging a home), nr. Gaza City; fires on, demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Khuza nr. Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Halhul nr. Hebron, Ramallah. A 12-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. Some 150 Jewish settlers erect tents on a new unauthorized settlement outpost nr. Hebron, harass local Palestinians. Sharon orders 3,700 acres of Palestinian land to be annexed to Ma’ale Adumim settlement for construction of a new neighborhood, linking the settlement to Jerusalem 4 mi. to the west. (AP, BBC, HA, MA, MM, REU 8/5; VOI, VOP 8/5 in WNC 8/7; VOI 8/5 in WNC 8/10; AFP, MM, NYT, WT 8/6; al-Quds 8/6 in WNC 8/10; PR 8/11; PCHR 8/12; NYT 8/18)

The IDF raids a high school nr. Nablus, arrests a 10th grader; raids a mosque in al-Bireh, arresting 1 Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding a man on his roof; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Nablus, Rafah. In implementation of a new security plan (Quarterly Update), the PA deploys large numbers of PSF officers on the streets of Gaza City. (MM 3/11; HA 3/14; PR 3/17; PCHR 3/18)

The U.S.’s Abrams, Burns, Hadley arrive in Israel for further consultations on Sharon’s disengagement plan. Meanwhile in Washington, Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz briefs U.S. VP Dick Cheney, Powell on Israel’s latest thinking regarding evacuating settlements, maintaining security control in Gaza postwithdrawal. In Cairo, Israeli FM Silvan Shalom meets with Egyptian pres. Husni Mubarak and FM Ahmad Maher, who provide assurances that Egypt would secure its border with Gaza following an Israeli pullout. (AFP, HA, JP, MM, NYT, REU 3/11; MENA 3/11 in WNC 3/13; MM, WP 3/12; MA 3/12 in WNC 3/16; PR 3/17; MEI 3/19)

The IDF raids Tulkarm r.c., rounding up all inhabitants of 1 section of the camp for questioning, detaining 230 Palestinian men, allowing women and children to go after 10 hrs.; sends APCs into Rafah, shelling residential areas, wounding 3, demolishing 1 Palestinian home and 2 stores, severely damaging 5 homes; demolishes another Palestinian home nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Anabta nr. Tulkarm, Asira nr. Nablus, Jaba’ nr. Jenin, Kubar nr. Ramallah, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tarqumiyya and Yatta nr. Hebron. Israel completes a section of separation wall cutting off Abu Dis fr. Jerusalem. Palestinians report that the IDF has bulldozed 24 dunams of agricultural land outside Hebron since 1/9, for construction of the wall. (ISM press release 1/12; WT 1/13; PCHR 1/15; WP 2/10)

Sharon makes a statement to the Knesset reiterating his intention to disengage unilaterally fr. the occupied territories if the Palestinians do not make concessions soon. The Knesset endorses Sharon’s statement byavote of 51-39. (AFP 1/12; MM 1/13; PR 1/14)

The IDF intercepts a Palestinian suicide bomber (the 16-yr.-old brother of a 15-yr.-old killed by the IDF on 1/3) nr. Nablus; to avoid capture, the bomber detonates his device, killing only himself; no group claims responsibility. The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Beita nr. Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian bystander. In Tel Aviv, 100,000 right-wing Israeli protesters (many affiliated with the settler movement) protest against rumored plans by Sharon to uproot Jewish settlements as part of a unilateral disengagement fr. the occupied territories. (AFP, HA, MM 1/11; NYT 1/12; VOP 1/11 in WNC 1/13; MM 1/13; NYT, PR 1/14; YA 1/14 in WNC 1/16; PCHR 1/15; JPI 1/23)

Right-wing settler activist Baruch Marzel announces a new Israeli political party, the Jewish National Front, which advocates the “transfer” of Arab communities to “new locations east of the Jordan River” and pledges “to ensure the immigration of 2 million Jews and the emigration of 2 million Arabs” in the coming yrs. Marzel says that the only group to submit a formal objection to the new party was the National Religious Party, which argued that the goals of the 2 parties were too similar. (Itim News Service 1/11)

In response to the 9/9 suicide bombings, Sharon’s security cabinet declares Arafat “a complete obstacle” that Israel will “work to remove . . . in a manner, and at a time of its choosing.” In Ramallah, the IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement; occupies the PA Culture Min. building, overlooking Arafat’s headquarters; flies low-level sorties over Arafat’s compound. In response, 1,000s of Palestinians surround Arafat’s headquarters to provide him protection. The IDF also demolishes 16 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 2 in Hebron, 2 in Ramallah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Hebron. (AFP, HA, MM, REU 9/11; AFP, JP, XIN 9/11 in WNC 9/12; MENA 9/11 in WNC 9/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/12; AFP, ATL, ITAR-TASS, Palestine Satellite Channel Television, QA, al-Quds, VOP, XIN 9/12, AN, ATL, IRNA, MENA, alQuds 9/13, HA, IRNA, JT, MA, MENA, YA 9/14 in WNC 9/16; MM, NYT, WP 9/13; PR 9/17; PCHR 9/18; JPI, MEI 9/26)

The IDF places its tightest seal on the Gaza Strip since the al-Aqsa intifada began, barring everyone except diplomats and aid workers fr. entering or exiting (though 9 international aid workers are denied entry for no reason; see 5/10), requiring journalists to apply for entry and to coordinate their trips with the IDF. International medical relief organization Medecins du Monde permanently ends its operations in Gaza, saying IDF measures make it impossible to continue work; numerous other international aid groups suspend Gaza operations. The IDF demolishes at least 3 Palestinian homes in Rafah, also bulldozing 40 dunams of land; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. Palestinian gunmen fire on a vehicle nr. Ofra settlement, killing 1 Jewish settler; the AMB, PFLP each claim responsibility. (XIN 5/11; AIDA, HA, MM, NYT 5/12; AYM 5/13 in WNC 5/15; PR 5/14; PCHR 5/15)

Sharon presents Powell with a plan for a series of limited measures to ease restrictions on Palestinians, releases 63 Palestinian prisoners as a gesture. Powell asks Israel to accept the road map, but Sharon refuses. Powell then meets with Abbas and PC speaker Ahmad Qurai‘, presses the PA to disarm Palestinian militant groups. Abbas says he will start with dialogue, not force; criticizes Sharon’s proposed gestures as mostly symbolic. (MENA, VOI 5/11 in WNC 5/12; SA 5/11, JP, QA 5/12 in WNC 5/13; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/12; AFP 5/13; AYM 5/12 in WNC 5/15; MM, PR 5/14; MEI 5/16)

The IDF imposes a tight curfew on Hebron; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis, 1 in Bayt Hanun; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 25 dunams of land in Khuza, 20 dunams e. of Bayt Hanun; arrests another 3 ISM volunteers in Tulkarm; bars 6 foreign aid workers fr. entering Gaza, without giving a reason (see 5/5). (GS, HA 5/10; AFP, Arab News 5/11; AIDA 5/12; PCHR 5/15)

Powell arrives in Israel for mtgs. aimed at starting implementation of the road map with Abbas (who has accepted the plan), Sharon (who has not); meets with FM Shalom, who reiterates Israel’s position that Abbas must dismantle militant groups before Israel would take steps to implement the road map. (HA 5/10; XIN 5/10 in WNC 5/12; HA, NYT, WP, WT 5/11; MEI 5/16)

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon visits Hebron, calls for the expanding of Jewish settlements in and around Hebron to create “settlement contiguity” btwn. 4 Jewish enclaves in He-bron, the outlying Kiryat Arba settlement, the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs site. In response, Jewish settlers declare a new settlement on the site of the olive grove bulldozed by the IDF on 11/16 and move in 3 shipping containers, tents, cisterns; the IDF constructs a 7-ft. concrete wall around the site. IDF undercover units attempt to assassinate Riad ‘Abd al-Ghani in Tulkarm, missing him, killing his brother, wounding a 2d brother. The IDF fires rockets, tank shells at the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Preventive Security Force (PSF) headquarters complex in Gaza, sends troops in to set fire to 2 buildings, injuring 2 PSF officers, 1 Palestinian journalist. The IDF also fires on Palestinians in Gaza City, Nur al-Shams refugee camp (r.c.); bulldozes 8 dunams of Pal-estinian land in Bayt Lahia; blows up 2 Palestinian homes in Balata r.c.; detains for 2 hrs. a PRCS ambulance carrying Palestinians seriously injured in a car accident; fires on 2 ambulances outside a hospital in Gaza, nr. Shati‘ r.c.; detains, searches 6 ambulances, including 1 transporting a patient, for up to 70 mins. at checkpoints. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/18; MENA 11/18 in WNC 11/19; AFP 11/19 in WNC 11/21; PCHR 11/20; WJW 11/21; MEI 11/22; PRCS press release 11/23)

Israeli Arab passenger carrying only a pen knife that he does not wield attempts to hijack an El Al plane bound for Istanbul fr. Tel Aviv. He is quickly captured and detained, without injury to any other passen-gers; says that he intended to hijack the plane to protest Israeli actions against Palestinians, that he is not affiliated with any group. He is described by peers as frail, nervous, eccentric young man with a heart condition, who craves popularity and attention. (MM, NYT 11/18; ATL 11/18 in WNC 11/19; CSM, NYT, WP 11/19; NYT, WJW 11/21; NYT 11/26, 11/27; JPI 11/29

Israel's Interior M Eli Yishai says he has initiated steps to revoke the residency status of 4 East Jerusalem Palestinians arrested for participation in a Hamas cell (see 8/21); he says, "There is no need to wait for a trial because the evidence is clear and based on intelligence of their terrorist activity." Israeli police detain senior Greek Orthodox Church official Atallah Hanna at his East Jerusalem home on charges of "expressing support for terrorist organizations," "illegally entering an enemy country" (Lebanon and Syria); release him after 5 hrs. of questioning. The IDF arrests the head of Hamas's Qalqilya political wing; bulldozes 7 dunams of olive groves in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids in Dura. (AFP, HA 8/22; MM, WT 8/23; MM 8/27; LAW, PCHR 8/28)

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon cancels plans to make a trip to the U.S. to attend a rally in support of Israel in Tallahassee with Florida gov. Jeb Bush, brother of U.S. Pres. George W. Bush, on 9/9, a day before the Florida Democratic primary; go to LA to attend another rally hosted by a Republican candidate in tight midterm elections there. Democrats had denounced the visit, which was arranged with Pres. Bush's sway, but Sharon says he decided he would have to stay in Israel to prepare for a budget battle which will take place in 10/02. Sharon canceled two previous trips to Florida when he cut short previous trips to the U.S. because of bombings in Israel. (NYT, WP 8/23; MA 8/23 in WNC 8/26)

In light of the increase in violence, Ben-Eliezer promises a "long list of actions" in the West Bank and Gaza that would "make the closure much bigger than it is now"; bans all Palestinian travel in the n. West Bank; seals the s. Gaza Strip. The IDF makes a predawn raid on Burqa village, assassinates wanted AMB mbr. Khalid Sayf, also killing 1 Palestinian bystander; opens fire on a group of Palestinians violating the curfew nr. Nablus, killing a 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy. Palestinian gunmen ambush a settler vehicle nr. Nablus, killing 2 Jewish settlers, wounding 2. A Palestinian car explodes nr. Umm al-Fahm, killing the Palestinian driver and injuring another in what the IDF says was a premature detonation of a suicide bomb; al-Nathir takes responsibility. The IDF says it has captured Hamas mbr. Mazan Fukha, who allegedly plotted the 8/4 bus bombing; shells, demolishes a autobody shop in Gaza City that allegedly served as a weapons factory; conducts arrest raids nr. Khan Yunis, Tubas; shells residential areas nr. Dayr al-Balah. (MM, WP, WT 8/5; AFP 8/5 in WNC 8/5; NYT, WP, WT 8/6; LAW, PCHR 8/7)

With Sharon's permission, Ben-Eliezer presents his Gaza First plan to PA Interior M Yahya, senior PA security officials. (HA, WP 8/6; MM 8/7; HA 8/8; MM 8/16) (see 7/15)

For the 10th yr. in a row, the Anti-Defamation League sponsors a group of U.S. college newspaper editors on a trip (8/5-18) to Israel, Poland, Bulgaria to learn about the history of the Holocaust, the founding of Israel, the Israeli Palestinian conflict. (JTA 8/6)

The IDF directs live fire at Palestinians crossing into Ramallah at Surda checkpoint just after a curfew had been reimposed without warning, seriously injuring an 18-yr.-old Palestinian girl; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, destroying the 1 Palestinian home; direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Khan Yunis. (LAW 7/8; PCHR 7/10)

Sharon authorizes Peres to reopen high-level meetings (suspended in 3/02) with senior PA officials, excluding Arafat, but bars him fr. discussing political issues. Peres meets with new PA Finance M Fayyad, new Interior M Yahya. (MM, NYT, WP 7/9; XIN 7/9 in WNC 7/10; WT 7/10; SA 7/10 in WNC 7/11; WJW 7/11; AYM 7/12 in WNC 7/16; AFP 7/20, XIN 7/21 in WNC 7/22; HA, NYT, WP 7/21; JP, MM, WT 7/22; WT 7/23)

Bush says that Israel is justified in occupying the West Bank until "security improves." (NYT 7/9; WJW 7/11)

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)

A suicide bomber detonates a device in an unlicensed gambling club in the Rishon Letzion suburb of Tel Aviv, killing 15 Israelis, injuring 57. Hamas's military wing claims responsibility, but the political wing will not confirm. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Tulkarm city, detaining about 40 Palestinians; bulldozes a Palestinian home, fatally shoots a Palestinian boy in Rafah; begins work on Jewish settler bypass roads nr. Khan Yunis, nr. Nablus. In Bethlehem, the siege of the Church of the Nativity continues, with Italy complaining it has not been consulted on the 5/6 agmt. (AFP, AP, CNN, MM 5/7; AFP, ANSA, XIN 5/7 in WNC 5/8; al-Quds 5/7 in WNC 5/9; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/8; MA, RNE 5/8 in WNC 5/9; MM, WJW 5/9; al-Ra'i 5/9 in WNC 5/10; MM 5/10; AYM 5/12 in WNC 5/15; JP 5/16; MEI 5/17; HA 5/24)

The IDF announces plans to divide the West Bank into 8 isolated zones (Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Tulkarm); to impose severe new restrictions on the movement of Palestinians, goods btwn. zones. (UNRWA press release 5/14; al-Quds 5/16 in WNC 5/17; HA, JT [Internet] 5/17; HA 5/18; AYM 5/28 in WNC 5/20; PMC 5/19; HA 5/22; NYT 5/24)

In Washington, Sharon, Bush hold talks on PA reform, barely touch on the idea of a peace conference. They agree that the priority should be halting Palestinian violence, restructuring the PA, unifying the PA security services. Sharon also says that it is "premature" to discuss a Palestinian state, Israel will never agree to withdraw to 1967 lines; suggests Israel will not resume political talks until Arafat has been removed fr. power. Bush say he will send CIA dir. Tenet to the region to help rebuild the PA security forces. Sharon returns to Israel in light of the Rishon Letzion bombing. (AP, CNN, MM 5/7; MENA, al-Quds 5/7 in WNC 5/8; AYM 5/7, MA 5/8 in WNC 5/9; HA, JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/8; MM, WJW, WP 5/9; QA, al-Ra'i 5/9 in WNC 5/10; MM 5/10; AYM 5/10 in WNC 5/13; JP [Internet] 5/10; JP 5/16)

Sharon says the IDF will pull out of Jenin, Nablus and begin to discharge reservists within a wk. but will stay in Bethlehem, Ramallah until wanted Palestinians there are captured or exiled. The IDF enters 2 more West Bank villages; lifts the curfews on Bethlehem, Ramallah for a few hrs. In Ramallah, IDF commando units arrest Fatah's Barghouti (see 4/2). The IDF now says it has detained more than 5,000 Palestinians since 3/29. UNRWA workers are allowed part way into Jenin r.c. for the 1st time since 4/3 but are barred fr. distributing food, water, medicine. Journalists who reach the center of the camp say the IDF has "obliterated" 2 city blocks of the main residential area, the "smell of decomposing bodies" hangs in the air, but wks. of work will be needed to determine if a massacre took place. In Bethlehem, 2 ailing Palestinians fr. the Church of the Nativity surrender; the IDF allows relief workers to bring water, medical supplies to those still inside. The IDF, Palestinian gunmen briefly exchange fire nr. Manger Square, leaving 1 Palestinian, 2 soldiers wounded. The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian nr. Qur'a r.c., 1 in al-Doha; a 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (Addameer press release, HA, UPMRC 4/15; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/16; MA 4/16 in WNC 4/18; B'Tselem press release, HA 4/17; AFP, WJW 4/18; MEI 4/19; SA 4/29 in WNC 4/30)

The IDF pullbacks fr. 22 small West Bank villages but sends forces into Birzeit, Dahariyya, `Ayn Bayt Himla r.c. nr. Ramallah and briefly reenters Tulkarm to make arrests. In Birzeit, troops occupy the main PSF station, begin house-to-house searches. The IDF lifts the curfews on Jenin r.c. (which it says it has quelled), Nablus for several hrs. for the 1st time since 4/3; pulls troops back fr. the old city in Nablus, allowing residents, some journalists and local medical workers to see the extent of devastation for the 1st time. The IDF continues to bar ICRC, UNRWA teams fr. entering the towns. In Jenin r.c., the IDF fatally shoots a 13.-yr.-old boy who gets "too close" to an IDF tank post during the break in curfew; continues to bulldoze buildings. In Nablus, the local hospital says the morgue is filled to capacity; it has had to move in a refrigerated truck to handle overflow. PA officials who reach Ramallah's city hall report that the IDF has ransacked and burned the building, confiscated or destroyed important documents, particularly relating to Palestinian land ownership. In Hebron, a Palestinian suicide bomber reportedly detonates a device nr. an IDF checkpoint, injuring several bystanders. (AFP, AP, WP 4/11; BBC, NYT, WP, WT 4/12)

On arrival in Tel Aviv, Powell is greeted by Sharon, who says the IDF is "not about to leave" Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah; even when troops pull out, they will surround and seal the cities (as they are doing to Qalqilya, Tulkarm) to ensure there are no "terrorist" attacks. The White House says Bush never expected Israel to halt incursions, withdraw fr. PA areas in "a mere eight days"; says Bush considers Sharon to be a "man of peace." (AP 4/11; NYT, WP, WT 4/12; MEI 4/19)

Retaliating for the firing of Qassam-2s on 3/5, the IDF launches air, land, sea strikes on PA targets across the West Bank and Gaza, striking and partially demolishing Arafat's residence in Gaza City and a UNRWA school for the blind, among other sites. The IDF also shells the PA compound in Ramallah while Arafat is meeting with EU special envoy Miguel Moratinos; they are not injured. Sharon vows to continue the strikes "without letup" until the Palestinians stop attacking Israeli soldiers, civilians. During the day, at least 13 Palestinians are killed, including senior Hamas mbr. `Abd al-Nassar Ghazal in a possible assassination in Gaza, 4 PA naval police killed by IDF shelling in Gaza, 1 Palestinian shot dead nr. Nablus, 1 killed in a questionable explosion nr. Qalqilya, 4 who die of injuries received earlier. 2 IDF soldiers are killed in clashes in Khan Yunis and Rafah. F-16s bomb a Gaza police headquarters where PSF officers had been scheduled to meet, leading the PA to believe the attack was a failed assassination attempt against PSF chief Brig. Gen. `Abd al-Raziq Majayda. The IDF also makes arrest raids and demolishes at least 2 Palestinian houses in Gaza; fires on a Palestinian school in Silat al-Dahir, injuring 4 students; bulldozes Palestinian land in al-Khadir; maintains closure on Balata, Jenin. Over 20 Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar fire on a neighboring Palestinian village; attack IDF soldiers who intervene, beating them, puncturing tires on their jeeps. Jewish settlers also cut down 300 Palestinian-owned olive trees nr. Hebron; IDF troops reportedly fire warning shots at Palestinians who attempt to intervene. (AP, HP, MM 3/6; AFP, al-Quds 3/6 in WNC 3/7; JP [Internet], LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/7; MENA, RNE 3/7 in WNC 3/8; JP 3/15)

A AMB sniper using a decades-old carbine rifle fatally shoots 7 IDF soldiers, 3 Jewish settlers, wounding 6 others at a checkpoint nr. Ofra settlement before escaping, leaving his gun behind. In response, IDF tanks, helicopters, F-16s strike PSF targets in Bethlehem, killing 4 PSF officers, wounding 20. In retaliation for the Beit Israeli suicide bombing on 3/2, IDF helicopters rocket the PA headquarters, a small factory in Bethlehem. The IDF also shells the PA military intelligence office in Salfit, killing 1 PA intelligence officer, wounding 5; shells a building within Arafat's compound in Ramallah; briefly invades Qalqilya. In Gaza, an AMB gunman fatally shoots an IDF soldier. Sharon convenes his inner cabinet to chart an intensified policy of "sustained military pressure" against the PA, militant Palestinian groups. Jewish settlers rally outside the PM's residence in Jerusalem, demanding harsher attacks on the Palestinians. 100s of Hamas supporters rally in Jabaliya. Arafat condemns the Beit Israeli attack, but says nothing about today's AMB strikes. (HA, NYT, WP, WT 3/3; AFP, XIN 3/3 in WNC 3/4; JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/4; MM 3/5; AKH 3/6 in WNC 3/7; WJW 3/7; MEI 3/8; JP 3/15)

The IDF raids Qalandia, arresting 5 Hamas mbrs.; evacuates, seals a Palestinian school nr. Tulkarm. Ignoring Arafat's cease-fire pleas, the PRCs vow retaliation for the IDF's killing of 6 Palestinians on 12/30. Some 2,000 Palestinians, 300 foreign nationals, and 100s of Israelis take part in a day of nonviolent protests against the ongoing Israeli siege. (AFP 12/31; WT 1/1; LAW, WP 1/2)

Sharon denies Israeli pres. Moshe Katsav's request for permission to appear before the PC and offer a cease-fire bid. (AP 12/31; AP, JP [Internet], WT 1/1; WP, WT 1/2; MA 1/2 in WNC 1/3; HA, MM 1/3; MEI 1/11)

The IDF attempts to assassinate senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Sidir by firing missiles at his car in Hebron; Sidir is injured, 2 Palestinian children are killed, 6 others are injured. (1 of the dead, 5 of the injured are bystanders.) A 3d Palestinian is killed in al-Bireh by an IDF tank shell. The IDF also shells, destroys a PSF headquarters in n. Gaza; enters Rafah to bulldoze 3 Palestinian homes; uproots 200 olive trees in Sinjil. Palestinians fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, lightly injuring 1 Jewish settler. Jewish settlers in Hebron severely beat 2 Palestinian girls. Palestinians, Israeli peace activists stage a nonviolent protest at an IDF roadblock in Qalandia. (HP, LAW, MM 12/10; AP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/11; WT 12/12; AYM 12/12 in WNC 12/13; HA, LAW 12/13)

Arafat, Sharon meet separately with Zinni, urge him not to cut his trip short. Powell says that Zinni will indeed stay, that he never really intended to leave but just wanted to pressure the sides to act. (AP, MM, NYT, WT 12/11) (see 12/9)

In Washington, Bush hosts the White House's 1st menorah-lighting and Hanukkah party. Speaking privately with American Jewish leaders, Bush reportedly assails Arafat and the State Dept., identifies with Sharon, says that winning the war on terror means getting rid of groups like Hamas, Hizballah. (MM 12/12; MM, WJW 12/13; NYT 12/14; AYM 12/14 in WNC 12/17; WP 12/15; JT [Internet] 12/19; JP 2/1)

In Brussels, EU FMs call on Arafat to dismantle the "terrorist networks" of Hamas and Islamic Jihad; to declare, in Arabic, the end to the "armed intifada." Also call on Israel to halt assassinations, settlement expansion, attacks on the Palestinian infrastructure. (AFP 12/10; NYT, WT 12/11; IRNA, MA, SA 12/11 in WNC 12/12; AFP, MM, WT 12/12; Le Monde 12/12 in WNC 12/13; DUS 12/12 in WNC 12/14; MEI 12/21)

Due to severe weather, violence tapers off noticeably, though an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber lightly injures 5 Israelis outside a hotel in Jerusalem. The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, a water network in Rafah, nr. Morag settlement; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire a residential areas of Jinin, Nablus, Rafah; confiscates Palestinian land in Dayr al-Balah; reinforces positions around Nablus, Qalqilya. In the afternoon, Israel, which had already curtailed operations due to the weather, announces it is halting strikes on PA targets for 12 hrs. to give Arafat a chance to demonstrate he is cracking down on opposition groups; names 36 Palestinians it wants arrested immediately, vowing to resume strikes on the morning of 12/6 unless the PA shows progress. Meanwhile, in a briefing to Likud MKs, Sharon vows to step up Israel's assassination campaign, bans all Palestinian vehicles on interurban West Bank roads, bars Arafat fr. leaving Ramallah, bans VIP passage for PA officials, promises continued attacks on PA military and symbolic targets. Late this evening, the IDF raids the PA Central Bureau of Statistics, vandalizing the building and confiscating computers, financial records, raw survey data (especially on political and social issues), and the names and addresses of survey respondents. Attempting again to implement Arafat's 12/3 arrest order, the PSF takes up positions around the Gaza City home of Hamas's Shaykh Yasin, confiscates his car, cuts his telephone service. In reaction, 100s of Palestinians converge on Yasin's home to challenge the PSF; the sides exchange gunfire leaving 1 Hamas mbr. dead, 2 wounded. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 11/28. (AP, HA, HP, JP [Internet], LAW, MM 12/5; LPA, XIN 12/5 in WNC 12/6; AFP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/7; PR 12/12; WP 12/21)

Upon his return fr. the U.S. Sharon meets with his security cabinet, then his full cabinet to discuss how to respond to the 12/1+n2 attacks. The full cabinet votes to declare the PA "an entity that supports terrorism," adds Force 17 (Arafat's "presidential guard") to its list of terrorist groups, authorizes Sharon to escalate military action. FM Shimon Peres, other Labor MKs walk out of the cabinet mtg. in protest but do not formally withdraw fr. the governing coalition. (AP, CNN, HA, MM 12/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/4; MM, WJW 12/6; MEI 12/7; MA 12/7 in WNC 12/12; WP 12/9)

While the cabinet meets, the PSF continues to arrest mbrs. of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, risking confrontations with hostile Palestinian crowds. Arafat also orders the arrest of Hamas spiritual leader Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, but when PSF officers arrive around midnight, crowds of Palestinians force them to retreat. The PSF says it has arrested more than 100 Palestinians since 12/2. Arafat asks Peres for a 4-day grace period, during which he vows he would crack down on opposition groups. Israel refuses, dismissing the arrests as a "show for international consumption." The U.S. says the PA must "root out the infrastructure of the groups that support terrorists." (HA 12/3; NYT, WP, WT 12/4; AKH 12/4 in WNC 12/5; MEI 12/7; MA 12/7 in WNC 12/11; WT 12/10)

Soon after the cabinet mtg., the IDF launches air raids against Arafat's headquarters and other PA sites around Gaza City, destroying the PSF barracks, Arafat's 2 personal helicopters, injuring 12 Palestinians; sends tanks into Gaza airport to bulldoze runways; sends troops into Ramallah to surround the PA's West Bank headquarters, where Arafat is staying. In Jinin, U.S.-supplied F-16s destroy the Palestinian governate building, jail, PSF headquarters. The IDF also fatally shoots 1 Palestinian nr. Jinin; raids Beitunia, attacking several homes and arresting an Arafat adviser, several Islamic Jihad mbrs. In Bethlehem, Fatah mbrs. Rafat al-Bajali and Nidal al-Dirbani, both on Israel's wanted list, are killed in a mysterious explosion thought to be an IDF assassination. The White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says Israel "obviously has the right to defend itself. The president understands that very clearly." (AFP, AP, CNN, HA 12/3; XIN 12/3 in WNC 12/4; MENA 12/3, AN, MA 12/4 in WNC 12/5; HA, HP, NYT, WP, WT 12/4; HP, LAW 12/5; AYM 12/5 in WNC 12/7; AYM 12/6, al-Safir 12/7 in WNC 12/11; MEI 12/7; WJW 12/14; MEI 12/21)

At least 1 PFLP gunman assassinates Israeli tourism M Ze'evi in an East Jerusalem hotel, shooting him at point blank range, using a pistol equipped with a silencer, escaping undetected. The PFLP says it is retaliating for the assassination of PFLP secy. gen. Mustafa on 8/27; also takes responsibility for a suicide car bombing in Gaza that wounds 2 IDF soldiers. Arafat immediately condemns the assassination, orders the PSF to arrest the killers. The PSF quickly arrests 3 PFLP mbrs. but releases them after questioning. (AP, HA, HP, JP [Internet], MM, REU 10/17; AFP, ATL, XIN 10/17 in WNC 10/18; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; al-Quds 10/18 in WNC 10/19; Tehran Times 10/20 in WNC 10/22; WJW 10/25)

Meanwhile, Hamas mbr. Iyad al-Akhras is killed in an explosion in his Gaza home in what may be an assassination. The IDF also fires a missile at a Palestinian car in Nablus, but the rocket misses, 3 Palestinians escape unharmed. The IDF makes a predawn incursion into al-Qarara, firing heavy machine guns at homes, bulldozing 10s of dunams of cultivated land for construction of a settler bypass road; directs machine gun fire at residential areas of Gaza City, Jinin, Rafah; bulldozes secondary Palestinian roads around Ramallah. Palestinian gunmen reportedly fire at Neve Dekalim, wounding 2 Jewish settlers. In East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers angry over Ze'evi's murder attack, beat Palestinians. (HP 10/17; WT 10/18)

After a lengthy Israeli inner cabinet mtg., Sharon issues an ultimatum to the PA: arrest and extradite Ze'evi's killers and the PFLP's current leaders and "dismantle terror organizations" or face a response more severe than any recent reprisal. Sharon then convenes a special session of the Knesset (boycotted by Arab MKs), where he declares, "We will wage all-out war on the terrorists" and "those who collaborate with them." National Union+nYisrael Beitunia MKs suspend their resignations to see how Sharon responds. The IDF sends tanks, troops 2.5 mi. into area A around Jinin; reimposes tight closures on, places 24 hr. curfews on, and directs shells and heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Azariyya, al-Bireh, Jinin, Nablus, Ramallah; deploys helicopters to hover over major Palestinian population centers; bars Arafat fr. using Gaza airport. (HP, MM 10/17; AFP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; JP [Internet], WP 10/29)

Powell phones Sharon to urge Israel to use restraint. The White House calls on the PA to "immediately find and bring to justice those who committed this murder," saying Arafat must "take vigorous action against terrorists." (MM, WP 10/18; Interfax, MENA, QA 10/18 in WNC 10/19)

The IDF withdraws fr. Palestinian areas of Hebron, vandalizing several homes, cars before leaving. The National Union and Yisrael Beitunia bloc (led by Tourism M Rehavam Ze'evi, Infrastructure M Avigdor Lieberman) quits the governing coalition in protest, leaving Sharon with control of 76 of the Knesset's 120 seats. As troops withdraw, Jewish settlers attempt to storm the vacated Palestinian neighborhoods, also vandalize several homes and shops, but are halted by soldiers, who arrest 21 (all released later in the day). The IDF also eases passage through roadblocks in a handful of areas, including Ramallah, and expands fishing areas off Gaza, in keeping with cease-fire steps. (HA, MM, WP, WT 10/15; AFP, MM, NYT, WP,WT 10/16; MA 10/16 in WNC 10/17; LAW 10/17)

Meanwhile, however, Hamas mbr. Hamad Marshud is killed when a flechette device, apparently planted by the IDF, explodes in a car outside his Nablus office. The State Dept. reiterates the U.S.'s strong opposition to Israel's assassination policy. The IDF also maintains closures on most West Bank, Gaza areas; surrounds, seals Bayt Umar; conducts arrest raids in Dayr Istya; begins building a bridge to link the Gaza settlements of Gush Katif, Kissufim, confiscating 150 dunams of Palestinian land; hands eviction orders to 250 tradesmen at a market area nr. Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Surik, Dayr Istya. Nr. Ramallah, armed Jewish settlers bar Palestinians farmers fr. reaching their olive groves, firing on them, beating them, burning cars. In Jerusalem, Israeli authorities raid the offices of several Palestinian lawyers, architects; search, photograph, destroy company files. (HP 10/15; MENA 10/15 in WNC 10/16; HP, NYT, WP, WT 10/16; LAW, WT 10/17)

In London, Arafat meets with British PM Tony Blair, who calls for the creation of a "viable Palestinian state, as part of a negotiated and agreed settlement, which provides peace and security for Israel." (AP, NYT 10/15; London Press Association, MENA, SA 10/15 in WNC 10/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/16; AN, MENA 10/16 in WNC 10/17)