48 / 15150 Results
  • August 22, 2005

    The IDF completes the evacuation of settlers fr. Gaza, with residents of the last inhabited settlement, Netzarim (est. 1972, pop. 496, size 1,760 d., hrs. to evac. 7), and 300 disengagement...

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  • August 18, 2005

    In the morning, the IDF says that 70% of Gaza settlers have been evacuated, most Gaza residents have not resisted the evacuation, most protests and resistance are by West Bank settler youth (and...

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  • January 27, 2005

    The IDF fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays onto a settlers-only bypass road nr. Gaza’s Netzarim settlement; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in ‘Ayn...

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  • January 18, 2005

    A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device nr. an IDF base nr. Gush Katif Junction in s. Gaza, killing 1 Shin Bet officer, wounding 7 IDF soldiers. IDF soldiers angry over the bombing fire on...

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  • January 15, 2005

    Abbas is sworn in as PA pres.; reappoints Qurai‘ as PM, calls on him to form a government; calls for immediate talks with Israel, recommends going beyond the road map to include parallel talks on...

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  • November 20, 2004

    The IDF shells residential areas, fires on stone-throwing youths in Nablus, killing 2 15-yr.-old Palestinian boys; fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays too close to Gaza’s...

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  • November 11, 2004

    Within hrs. of Arafat’s death, the PC, in keeping with the Basic Law, formally swears in PC speaker Rawhi Fattuh as interim head of the PA until elections are organized within the next 60 days;...

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  • September 13, 2004

    The IDF assassinates senior AMB Jenin mbr. Mahmud Abu Khalifa (whom it tried to assassinate on 8/30), wanted AMB mbrs. Amjad and Yamin Abu al-Hayja in a missile strike on their car Jenin; shells...

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  • September 11, 2004

    The IDF pulls troops out of n. Gaza, ending a 4-day operation that left 8 Palestinians dead, 100 wounded, 10,000s without electricity or water, 50 Palestinian homes demolished or severely damaged...

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  • August 12, 2004

    The IDF makes a predawn raid on Rafah, shelling residential areas, demolishing 10 Palestinian homes and a carpentry workshop; during the operation, 1 IDF soldier is wounded by a Palestinian sniper...

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  • June 17, 2004

    The IDF partially reopens the Erez crossing into Israel for the 1st time since 3/15, issuing permits for 513 Palestinian workers over age 35 (though only around two-thirds are able to enter Israel...

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  • April 12, 2004

    The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian home nr. Netzarim settlement; conducts arrest raids in Aida r.c., Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm town and r.c., Ramallah. In Gaza, 3...

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  • March 24, 2004

    The IDF catches a 16-yr.-old Palestinian boy wearing a suicide bomb at a checkpoint s. of Nablus, defuses the bomb, detains the boy; the Balata r.c. AMB takes responsibility, angering many...

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  • March 22, 2004

    The IDF assassinates Hamas spiritual leader and founder Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, firing 3 internationally banned flechette missiles at him as he leaves a Gaza City mosque after morning prayers, also...

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  • March 14, 2004

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

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  • February 22, 2004

    An AMB suicide bomber fr. Husan detonates a device on a bus in Jerusalem, killing 8 Israelis, wounding 50. Israel says that the attack is proof that Israel needs to build the separation wall. The...

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  • February 5, 2004

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

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  • November 18, 2003

    An al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) gunman opens fire on an IDF checkpoint outside Jerusalem, killing 2 IDF soldiers; the gunman escapes toward al-Khadir village; the IDF seals al-Khadir, conducts...

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  • October 31, 2003

    The IDF fires on a group of Palestinian college students who attempt to cross a settler bypass road as a shortcut to their Nablus campus, wounding 1. 10s of Israelis rally in the Negev to call on...

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  • September 14, 2003

    The IDF declares the Ramallah–al-Bireh region a closed military zone, erects additional checkpoints on all roads leading to Ramallah; tightens Palestinian movement in the Qalqilya, Tulkarm regions...

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  • August 25, 2003

    The IDF withdraws forces to the outskirts of Jenin, Nablus but maintains closures on the cities; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding an 11-yr.old Palestinian girl; conducts arrest...

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  • May 14, 2003

    IDF undercover units raid Nablus, sparking numerous demonstrations and exchanges of gunfire, in which wanted AMB mbr. Taysir Shihab is fatally shot, 20 Palestinians (mostly stone-throwing youths)...

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  • April 10, 2003

    In the Jordan Valley, 2 Palestinian gunmen (1 AMB, 1 PFLP) raid an IDF base, killing 2 IDF soldiers, wounding 9 before being shot dead. Later, in the 2d such incident in 2 days, IDF helicopters...

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  • April 7, 2003

    Overnight, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who strays too close to Netzarim settlement. The IDF also raids Balata r.c., arresting 5 Islamic Jihad mbrs., blowing up their apartment; conducts...

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  • March 7, 2003

    The IDF carves out a 4 mi2 “security zone” in Gaza around Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, Jabaliya r.c. to prevent Palestinians fr. firing rockets, mortars into Israel; stations 100 military vehicles in...

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  • February 23, 2003

    Overnight, the IDF launches a raid on Bayt Hanun that it expects to last for several days, demolishing 5 Palestinian homes, bulldozing 6 dunams of land, clashing with local Palestinians, killing 7...

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  • February 20, 2003

    The IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement in Gaza, shuts main roads, dividing the Strip into 3 sections; fatally shoots a wanted tanz im mbr. in Tulkarm in what may be an assassination...

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  • January 11, 2003

    In Gaza, 2 Palestinian children (ages 12, 14) armed with knives infiltrate Netzarim settlement, are shot at and wounded by a settler rabbi, captured by IDF troops. The IDF erects a new checkpoint...

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  • December 26, 2002

    The IDF reoccupies Bethlehem following Christmas celebrations, reimposes a 24-hr. curfew on residents; assassinates local AMB head Jamal Yahya in Tulkarm; assassinates Hamas mbr. Bassam Ashqar,...

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  • December 25, 2002

    In what may be an assassination, the IDF fatally shoots wanted senior Hamas mbr. Talib Abu Hawash during a raid in Nablus, allowing him to bleed to death over several hrs. while denying access to...

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The IDF completes the evacuation of settlers fr. Gaza, with residents of the last inhabited settlement, Netzarim (est. 1972, pop. 496, size 1,760 d., hrs. to evac. 7), and 300 disengagement protesters leaving willingly after holding final prayer service, with only minor scuffles with soldiers; Netzarim residents say they have applied to the Israeli government to move to the West Bank settlement of Ariel. The IDF also raids, searches houses in al-Mawasi. Overnight, 10s of armed Jewish settlers protesting disengagement march through at least 8 West Bank Palestinian villages nr. Homesh and Sanur, firing in the air, occupying the rooftops of Palestinian homes, vandalizing property; the IDF intervenes to remove them. During the day, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, occupying 2 houses as observation posts; conducts house searches, interrogations nr. Jenin, occupying 2 Palestinian homes as observation posts. Jewish settlers fr. Eli stone, lightly injure 2 Palestinians. Jewish settlers fr. Einav attack Palestinians, damage Palestinian crops and homes in Ramin village nr. Nablus. A French sound technician kidnapped in Gaza on 8/14 turns up at a PA police station in Gaza City; no group claims responsibility, though there are rumors that he was kidnapped by a prominent clan and was released only after Abbas freed 6 family mbrs. fr. jail. (HA, IMEMC, XIN 8/22; HA, NYT, WP, WT 8/23; PCHR, PR 8/25; NYT 8/28)

In the morning, the IDF says that 70% of Gaza settlers have been evacuated, most Gaza residents have not resisted the evacuation, most protests and resistance are by West Bank settler youth (and some American Jewish youth) who have come to Gaza in recent wks. to block the withdrawal. During the day, the evacuations of Gan Or (est. 1983, pop. 350, size 1,692 d., hrs. to evac. 5), Kefar Darom (est. 1989, pop. 490, size 276 d., hrs. to evac. 12), Kefar Yam (est. 1983, pop. 15, hrs. to evac. 3), Netzer Hazani (est. 1973, pop. 460, size 250 d., hrs. to evac. 5), Neve Dekalim (est. 1983, pop. 2,700, size 1,443 d., hrs. to evac. 35), Shirat Hayam (est. 2001, pop. 40, hrs. to evac. 5) settlements are completed. An increasing number of settlers set fire to their homes and to greenhouses as they leave to prevent them fr. being turned over to Palestinians. For the 1st time, 1 armed resident in Kefar Yam, 4 armed disengagement protesters in Shirat Hayam threaten to shoot IDF soldiers if they follow orders to remove settlers, but only if soldiers fire first; the incidents defuse without violence. Some Shirat Hayam residents also throw rocks at Palestinians in Mawasi as they evacuate. In Kefar Darom, 65 resident families agree to leave, but as many as 2,000 outside protesters refuse, many of them barricading themselves inside and on the roof of a synagogue; for the 1st time during the disengagement, the IDF uses water cannons against protesters and 2 IDF soldiers refuse to obey their orders, are removed by fellow soldiers; 58 Israelis are injured in clearing the synagogue, including at least 3 IDF soldiers, 27 border police (1 seriously when he falls accidentally); protesters throw paint thinner at IDF Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, several soldiers. In Neve Dekalim, some 1,500 disengagement protesters hole up in 2 synagogues, refusing to leave even after residents have voluntarily evacuated, but are eventually extracted. Jewish settlers in s. Gaza spread nails along the coastal road in alMawasi to prevent movement of Palestinian vehicles. Meanwhile, Palestinians fire a rocket at Netzarim (still inhabited), lightly injuring an IDF soldier; 2 mortars at Gadid settlement (still inhabited), 3 mortars at Morag (evacuated) causing no damage or injuries. Palestinian gunmen fire on IDF troops nr. Kefar Darom, lightly injuring 1. The IDF conducts arrest raids in al-Mawasi; fires on residential areas of Bayt Lahiya, seriously injuring 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, Jewish settlers fr. Homesh and Sanur attempt to break into a Palestinian home in nearby Asa’sa village; the IDF intervenes to stop them. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim throw stones at Palestinian shops, cars nr. Qalqilya. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dura, nr. Tulkarm; confiscates 500 d. of agricultural land nr. Eli settlement nr. Nablus. In Israel, disengagement protesters block roads nationwide. (AP, BBC, HA, Israeli Radio, ITV 8/18; NYT, WP, WT 8/19; PCHR 8/25)

The IDF fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays onto a settlers-only bypass road nr. Gaza’s Netzarim settlement; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c. nr. Nablus, Husan, al-Mawasi. A Palestinian farmer working his land nr. Jenin is killed when he accidentally detonates an unexploded piece of IDF ordnance. A 13-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries caused by unexploded IDF ordnance on 1/25/05. (IMEMC 1/27; NYT 1/28; PR 2/2; PCHR 2/3)

Israeli atty. gen. Mazuz rules that the Jewish National Fund, which owns 10,000s of acres of land in Israel, may not restrict land sales to Jews, must also allow Arabs and non-Jews to buy property. (HA 1/27; NYT 1/28; HA 1/31; Forward 2/4)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device nr. an IDF base nr. Gush Katif Junction in s. Gaza, killing 1 Shin Bet officer, wounding 7 IDF soldiers. IDF soldiers angry over the bombing fire on Palestinians waiting to cross the nearby Abu Huli and al-Mahatin checkpoints, wounding 2, denying them medical treatment, only allowing them to leave the area to seek treatment after 2 hrs. The IDF makes a late-night incursion into Nablus, arrests 13 Hamas mbrs., destroys 2 Palestinian homes; fires on residential areas nr. the n. Gaza border and in Dayr al-Balah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, nr. Gaza City, nr. Ramallah. Islamic Jihad fires 2 rockets at Netzarim settlements and detonates a roadside bomb by an IDF patrol in Bayt Hanun, causing no damage or injuries. The PRCs fire 2 rockets at Netzarim, causing no damage or injuries. An Israeli teenager injured in a Qassam attack on 1/15 dies. (JAZ, VOI,. XIN 1/18, MA, VOI 1/19 in WNC 1/20; AP, HA, MM, NYT 1/19; WP 1/20; PCHR 1/27)

Abbas arrives in Gaza for several days of consultations, meets with faction leaders, security heads there. Abbas meets with Hamas leaders to urge them to halt attacks on Israeli targets. (JAZ 1/18 in WNC 1/20; MM, NYT, UPI, WT 1/19; PR 1/20)

Abbas is sworn in as PA pres.; reappoints Qurai‘ as PM, calls on him to form a government; calls for immediate talks with Israel, recommends going beyond the road map to include parallel talks on final status issues. Israel replies that there is “no necessity to find an alternative to the road map.” Abbas also vows to hold legislative elections on 7/17. (AFP 1/15; JAZ, PSCT, VOP 1/15 in WNC 1/20; NYT, WP, WT 1/16; PCHR 1/27)

The IDF makes a predawn raid on the al-Zaytun neighborhood of Gaza City launching Operation Eastern Step (billed by the IDF as pinpoint operations against Palestinians launching mortars and rockets fr. the area), shelling residential areas, raiding and occupying buildings as observation posts, bulldozing Palestinian land, sparking clashes, killing 5 Palestinians (2 resistance mbrs., 3 civilians), wounding 10. In retaliation, Hamas fires 6 mortars at Gaza’s Netzarim settlement (injuring a 7-yr.-old Jewish settler, lightly injuring another child), Sederot (killing 1 Israeli, lightly injuring 2). The IDF also fires on a group of children playing near what they mistakenly believe to be an unoccupied IDF post on the Rafah-Egypt border, other Palestinians race to extract the children and also come under fire, leaving 1 Palestinian adult and a child dead, 6 Palestinians wounded; fires missiles fr. a helicopter, destroying a workshop, severely damaging a home in Bayt Lahiya; fires on residential areas of Rafah; demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Khan Yunis; bulldozes 40 d. in Shaykh Ajlin; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dayr al-Hatab nr. Nablus, Dura, Issawiyya, Jericho, Yatta. (XIN 1/15; JP, VOI, VOP 1/15 in WNC 1/20; HA, NYT, WT 1/16; PCHR 1/18; OCHA 1/19)

The IDF shells residential areas, fires on stone-throwing youths in Nablus, killing 2 15-yr.-old Palestinian boys; fatally shoots a mentally handicapped Palestinian who strays too close to Gaza’s Netzarim settlement; fires on residential areas of Rafah; shells, bulldozes 18 d. of land in Wadi alSilqa. (VOI, VOP 11/20 in WNC 11/23; WT 11/21; PCHR 11/25)

Within hrs. of Arafat’s death, the PC, in keeping with the Basic Law, formally swears in PC speaker Rawhi Fattuh as interim head of the PA until elections are organized within the next 60 days;Qurai‘ maintains the position of PM, responsible for daily PA operations. Qaddumi is elected as head of Fatah by the 15-mbr. Fatah Central Comm. Abbas is voted head of the PLO by the PLO Exec. Comm. The State Dept. says that it is prepared to help the Palestinians hold elections if asked; says that Israel still must carry out Gaza disengagement. France sends Arafat’s body off to Egypt with full military honors. Throughout the day, Palestinians across the territories rally, demonstrate in honor of Arafat. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/11; JAZ, VOI, VOP 11/11 in WNC 11/13; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/12)

The IDF raids Shaykh Ajlin, exchanging fire with armed Palestinians (leaving 1 Palestinian dead), shelling residential areas (killing 2 Palestinian civilians, wounding 7), bulldozing 120 d.; fatally shoots an Egyptian who apparently infiltrated into Gaza fr. Egypt; fatally shoots 3 Palestinians (at least 2 of them armed) s. of Netzarim; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Bayt Omar nr. Hebron, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 10; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians protesting the separation wall nr. Jayyus, wounding 2 with live ammunition; fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus. Some 100 AMB mbrs. (some armed and masked) outside Arafat’s headquarters in Ramallah call for an investigation into Arafat’s death and rumors he was poisoned by Israeli agents, chant slogans denouncing Abbas, fmr. PA security chief Muhammad Dahlan as agents for the CIA. Israeli border police disperse 100s of Palestinians conducting nationalist marches in East Jerusalem in memory of Arafat. In Haifa, Israeli police disperse some 100 Israeli Palestinians holding a candlelight vigil for Arafat, detain a woman carrying a Palestinian flag. ( JP, VOI, YA 11/11 in WNC 11/13; HA 11/17; PCHR 11/18)

The IDF assassinates senior AMB Jenin mbr. Mahmud Abu Khalifa (whom it tried to assassinate on 8/30), wanted AMB mbrs. Amjad and Yamin Abu al-Hayja in a missile strike on their car Jenin; shells agricultural areas nr. Netzarim (injuring a Palestinian woman working her field), residential areas of Rafah; raids a dorm at Ramallah’s Education College, interrogates students; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Aza r.c., Dahaysha r.c., Nablus and neighboring Kafr Khalil, al-Zahiriyya nr. Hebron, al-Qarara. Late in the evening, the IDF shells residential areas of Rafah nr. the Philadelphi Route, destroying 1 Palestinian home and a 4-story apartment building, leaving 53 Palestinians homeless. A Hamas mbr. dies of injuries received in the 9/7 IDF strike on Gaza City, bringing that toll to 15. In Nablus, some 100 AMB mbrs. set fire to the home of PA police officer Hamas Hajat (who along with his family is in hiding) in revenge for his killing of an AMB mbr; the house is destroyed, no one is injured; some 100 PA policemen observe the arson but do not intervene. (PRCS 9/13; VOI, VOP 9/13 in WNC 9/15; WP, WT 9/14; PR 9/15; PCHR 9/16; MEI 9/24)

The IDF pulls troops out of n. Gaza, ending a 4-day operation that left 8 Palestinians dead, 100 wounded, 10,000s without electricity or water, 50 Palestinian homes demolished or severely damaged. The IDF further restricts Palestinian movement in the n. Jordan Valley; imposes curfews on Asira and Qussin nr. Nablus; fires on residential areas of Tulkarm r.c. and town; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Duha nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Iktaba nr. Tulkarm, Silwad; detains a Palestinian paramedic at a checkpoint outside Tulkarm for several hrs. Palestinians fire 2 mortars at Netzarim settlement in s. Gaza, damaging 1 house, lightly injuring 2 soldiers. A Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (HA, JP, MENA 9/11 in WNC 9/14; WP 9/12; PRCS 9/13; PR 9/15; PCHR 9/16)

The IDF makes a predawn raid on Rafah, shelling residential areas, demolishing 10 Palestinian homes and a carpentry workshop; during the operation, 1 IDF soldier is wounded by a Palestinian sniper. Later in the day in Rafah, the IDF deliberately fires on a PRCS ambulance, 5 uniformed doctors, 2 uniformed nurses, a clearly identified driver distributing first aid kits (donated by Germany) to Palestinians made homeless by IDF demolitions in an attempt to scare them away, causing no injuries. In Nablus, the IDF detains 3 BBC journalists, a Palestinian doctor who attempt to enter an apartment for a prescheduled interview with a resident, not realizing that the building had been occupied as an IDF observation post; the IDF releases them with an apology after 3 hrs. of questioning. The IDF also bulldozes 100 dunams of land in Mughraqa nr. Netzarim settlement, destroying 5 wells and related irrigation works; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Tulkarm; raids the Islamic Charitable Association of Hebron, confiscating computers and office equipment, sealing the offices; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts house searches, arrest raids in Tulkarm and villages nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. Late in the evening, the IDF raids Gaza City’s Zaytun neighborhood, searching homes, shelling and firing on residential areas. (AFP, HA, PM, XIN 7/12; HA 8/13; PR 8/18; PCHR 8/19)

The IDF partially reopens the Erez crossing into Israel for the 1st time since 3/15, issuing permits for 513 Palestinian workers over age 35 (though only around two-thirds are able to enter Israel because of prolonged searches). The IDF also sends tanks, troops into Palestinian residential areas nr. Gaza’s Netzarim settlement, creating sand berms around 4 Palestinian homes, causing some damage to the buildings, destroying a well and a bird farm; conducts arrest raids in Tubas; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Balata r.c. and Nablus, wounding 5; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; raids a home in Hebron, severely beating 25 residents; razes a grove of 400 olive trees in s. Nablus for construction of a new separation wall segment. (VOP 6/17 in WNC 6/19; PCHR 6/24)

The IDF bulldozes a Palestinian home nr. Netzarim settlement; conducts arrest raids in Aida r.c., Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarm town and r.c., Ramallah. In Gaza, 3 Palestinian gunmen (1 each fr. the AMB, Islamic Jihad, Hamas) attempt to infiltrate Netzarim settlement and IDF post; the IDF fatally shoots 2 of the gunmen, the 3d escapes. Jewish settlers fr. Susia attack Palestinian farmers in their fields nearby, damage 14 dunams of crops. (VOP 4/12 in WNC 4/14; HA, NYT 4/13; PR 4/14; PCHR 4/15)

The IDF catches a 16-yr.-old Palestinian boy wearing a suicide bomb at a checkpoint s. of Nablus, defuses the bomb, detains the boy; the Balata r.c. AMB takes responsibility, angering many Palestinians. The IDF also sends 25 tanks, bulldozers into Khan Yunis to raze 5 farms, 7 Palestinian homes that allegedly “provided cover” for Palestinian gunmen, also demolishing a main road and effectively dividing the town in half; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Hebron (wounding 8), residential areas nr. Qalqilya; conducts arrest raids in Aida r.c., ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’a r.c., Balata r.c., Dahaysha r.c., Jayyus, Nablus, Tubas nr. Jenin; temporarily occupies a Palestinian home nr. Nablus as an observation post. Palestinian gunmen fire on an IDF patrol outside Gaza’s Gadid settlement, lightly injuring 1 soldier; also fire on IDF soldiers nr. Ramallah, nr. Netzarim settlement, causing no damage or injuries. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 2/11. (BBC, HA, REU, WT 3/24; VOP 3/24 in WNC 3/26; MM, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 3/25; AYM 3/26 in WNC 3/30; PR 3/31; PCHR 4/1; MEI 4/2; PR 4/7)

In Washington, Weisglass, Eiland present U.S. officials (including Rice) Sharon’s “preferred plan” for unilateral disengagement fr. Gaza plus 6 settlements in the West Bank (Ganim, Hermesh, Homesh, Mevo Dotan, Qadim, Sa-Nur). (MM 3/24; MM 3/26; HA 3/28)

The IDF assassinates Hamas spiritual leader and founder Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, firing 3 internationally banned flechette missiles at him as he leaves a Gaza City mosque after morning prayers, also killing 3 bodyguards, 4 bystanders, wounding at least 17 Palestinians, including Yasin’s 2 sons. Immediately, 100,000s of Palestinians take to the streets throughout the territories to protest the assassination. The IDF seals Gaza; clashes with Palestinian demonstrators in Balata r.c. (killing an al-Najah Radio correspondent in Balata r.c., apparently thinking his mobile phone was a weapon), Bethlehem, Dayr al-Balah, Hebron (fatally shooting 1 Palestinian watching fr. his balcony), Jenin, Khan Yunis (killing 3 Palestinians), Nablus; fires on residential areas of Rafah, Qalqilya, Tal Zu’rub; imposes a curfew on areas around Jenin, fires on residential areas; temporarily occupies a Palestinian home as an IDF post nr. Dayr al-Balah. 100s of Palestinian youths in East Jerusalem gather at checkpoints to throw stones at IDF soldiers; Palestinian prisoners in 2 Israeli jails riot. Palestinians fire Qassam rockets, mortars, antitank rockets at Gush Katif and Netzarim settlements, nearby IDF posts, the western Negev, damaging 2 apartments in Netzarim but causing no injuries. An ax-wielding Palestinian fr. the West Bank village of Bidiyya wounds 3 Israelis outside an army base in Tel Aviv before being arrested. An unidentified assailant said to be Arab stabs, lightly wounds 3 Israelis on a Jaffa bus. 4 Palestinians are arrested for beating up a Jewish settler in East Jerusalem. Jewish settlers detain, beat a Palestinian man in the Jordan Valley. An estimated 200,000 Palestinians, including reps. of all Palestinian factions, take part in Yasin’s funeral services later in the day, with 21 PSF officers forming an honor guard for Yasin’s coffin, Gaza churches ringing their bells, mosques broadcasting Qur’anic verses. Meanwhile, Israeli defense chiefs meet, agree to target the entire remaining Hamas leadership immediately, without waiting for another Hamas attack. Israel also announces that it will close the only mental health clinic serving East Jerusalem Palestinians (1,200 patients) because of “security concerns.” (AP, BBC, CSM, HA, MA, MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 3/22; AP, ATL, ITARTASS, MNR, MENA, IDF Radio, IRNA, ITARTASS, JP, VIRI, VOI, VOP, XIN 3/22 in WNC 3/24; al-Arabiyya TV [Dubai], Syrian Arab News Agency 3/22 in WNC 4/27; AFP, BBC, CSM, HA, JT, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/23; AFP, AYM, DUS, HA, al-Hayat al-Jadida, JT, MA, MENA, al-Ra’i, THWR, TSHR, VIRI, YA 3/23 in WNC 3/25; MM, NYT, PR, WP 3/24; ATL, ITAR-TASS, Izvestiya, JT, al-Ra’i, SA, VOP, XIN 3/24 in WNC 3/26; AYM 3/24 in WNC 4/3; JT, MM, PCHR, WJW 3/25; ITAR-TASS, MENA, NHR, VIRI 3/25 in WNC 3/27; MM 3/26; MNR 3/27 in WNC 3/30; AYM 3/30, VOP 3/31 in WNC 4/2; MEI 4/2; PCHR 4/15)

In Washington, Shalom holds further talks on Sharon’s disengagement plan with VP Dick Cheney, Powell, Rice. (WP 3/23)

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

An AMB suicide bomber fr. Husan detonates a device on a bus in Jerusalem, killing 8 Israelis, wounding 50. Israel says that the attack is proof that Israel needs to build the separation wall. The IDF immediately sends troops into Husan, seals nearby Bethlehem. The IDF also bars an ambulance fr. crossing a checkpoint to reach a Hebron hospital, allowing an ailing Palestinian woman to die; fires in residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c., Balata r.c., Bethlehem; issues orders expropriating 27 dunams of Palestinian land until 12/05 for construction of a security fence around Gaza’s Netzarim settlement. A Hamas mbr. dies in Khan Yunis when a missile he is trying to fire prematurely explodes. Palestinians report that the IDF has recently begun barring Palestinians under age 35 fr. crossing checkpoints around Nablus. On the eve of the International Court of Justice hearings on the wall, Israel begins dismantling a 5-mi. stretch of the barrier running east of the n. West Bank village of Baqa‘ al-Sharqiyya; the wall running west of the village will remain; Israel also reportedly plans not to build a 12.5 mi. stretch of wall cutting Jenin off fr. the Jordan Valley, not to dig deep trenches around Ben-Gurion Airport, to remove 2,953 feet of wall in the Qalqilya area. Palestinians across the territories begin holding demonstrations against the wall to coincide with the hearings. Jewish settlers throw rocks, bottles at Palestinian cars in East Jerusalem. (AFP, NYT, WP, WT 2/22; VOP, XIN 2/22 in WNC 2/24; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 2/23; AFP, MENA 2/23 in WNC 2/25; al-Quds 2/23 in WNC 2/26; AP 2/25; PCHR 2/26; MM 3/12)

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

An al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) gunman opens fire on an IDF checkpoint outside Jerusalem, killing 2 IDF soldiers; the gunman escapes toward al-Khadir village; the IDF seals al-Khadir, conducts house-to-house searches, arresting 3 Palestinians. The IDF raids Rafah, sparking an exchange of gunfire that leaves 1 Palestinian dead and 11 wounded, demolishing 7 Palestinian homes, damaging 2 others; fires on Palestinians at Qarni and Surda crossings for no apparent reason, wounding 3; shoots, wounds a 16-yr.-old Palestinian who breaks curfew in Asira nr. Nablus; fires on stone-throwing youths in Burqa nr. Nablus, wounding 3; fires on Palestinian farms nr. Netzarim settlement, killing 1 horse, wounding another; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Nablus. The IDF also arrests a Palestinian farmer harvesting his olive grove nr. Salfit, threatens to bulldoze the grove and family home if the family returns to the site; 50 mbrs. of Rabbis for Human Rights, B’Tselem intervene, harvest the olives for the family, vow to stay on the site, block bulldozing until the issue is resolved. In Gaza, Palestinians fire an antitank missile at a Jewish settler convoy, causing no damage or injuries. (BBC, HA, ISM press release, MM 11/18; NYT, WP 11/19; VOP 11/19 in WNC 11/21; PCHR 11/20)

The IDF fires on a group of Palestinian college students who attempt to cross a settler bypass road as a shortcut to their Nablus campus, wounding 1. 10s of Israelis rally in the Negev to call on Israel to evacuate Netzarim, where 3 soldiers were killed on 10/23. (HA 10/31; PCHR 11/6)

The IDF declares the Ramallah–al-Bireh region a closed military zone, erects additional checkpoints on all roads leading to Ramallah; tightens Palestinian movement in the Qalqilya, Tulkarm regions; fires on a group of Palestinians vandalizing the separation wall outside Ramallah, killing a 14- yr.-old Palestinian boy; conducts arrest raids targeting the AMB in Nablus, firing on residential areas; bulldozes 8 Palestinian homes and dynamites 1 in Rafah, 4 nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, Rantis. Across the occupied territories, 1,000s of Palestinians rally in support of Arafat; the IDF fires on demonstrators in Kefar Darom, wounding 7. Palestinians fire a mortar at Netzarim, causing no damage or injuries. (HA, NYT, WP 9/15; YA 9/15 in WNC 9/17; PCHR 9/18; HA 9/26)

The IDF withdraws forces to the outskirts of Jenin, Nablus but maintains closures on the cities; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding an 11-yr.old Palestinian girl; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c.; bulldozes 2 dunams of land in n. Gaza. Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets into Israel, fire on a Jewish settler convoy nr. Netzarim, causing no damage or injuries in either incident. (AP, PM 8/25; HA, MA, VOI, YA 8/25 in WNC 8/27; PCHR 8/28)

IDF undercover units raid Nablus, sparking numerous demonstrations and exchanges of gunfire, in which wanted AMB mbr. Taysir Shihab is fatally shot, 20 Palestinians (mostly stone-throwing youths) are injured. The IDF also bars Norwegian special envoy to the Middle East Jakken Bioern Lian entry to Gaza for a scheduled mtg. with PA officials (see 5/11); issues an order expelling a Palestinian fr. the al-Mawasi area, where he resides, for 6 mos.; shells a PSF post nr. Netzarim settlement, killing 3 PSF officers, wounding 2; makes arrest raids in Jenin, sparking clashes that leave a 12-yr.-old Palestinian dead; conducts additional arrest raids in Qalqilya, Tulkarm; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; bulldozes more than 86 dunams e. of Bayt Hanun. Jewish settlers evacuate 7 mobile homes fr. an unauthorized outpost nr. Shilo. Palestinians fire 2 Qassam rockets at Sederot and 5 mortars at Gush Katif settlement, causing no damage or injuries. (AFP, HA, PCHR, REU 5/14; HA, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 5/15)

Israel allows Islamic Movement northern branch head Shaykh Ra’ed Salah, 1 of the 15 arrested on 5/13, out of custody for several hrs. to attend the funeral of his father in Umm al-Fahm, which turns into a massive Israeli Arab rally against Israeli government discrimination. (HA 5/15)

In the Jordan Valley, 2 Palestinian gunmen (1 AMB, 1 PFLP) raid an IDF base, killing 2 IDF soldiers, wounding 9 before being shot dead. Later, in the 2d such incident in 2 days, IDF helicopters fire missiles at Islamic Jihad military leader Mahmud Zatma as he drives through Gaza City, assassinating him, injuring 15 Palestinian bystanders (including 12 children leaving school, 1 woman). In an apparent assassination attempt, IDF undercover units raid Tulkarm, fire on a car carrying 3 AMB mbrs., wounding them, killing 1 bystander. The IDF also signs an order to expel detained West Bank Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Safuri (arrested in 8/02) to Gaza; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, nr. Netzarim; shells residential areas of Rafah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Ramallah. (HA, MM 4/10; NYT, WP 4/11; PR 4/16; LAW, PCHR 4/17; MEI 4/18)

Overnight, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who strays too close to Netzarim settlement. The IDF also raids Balata r.c., arresting 5 Islamic Jihad mbrs., blowing up their apartment; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara, Salim, Tulkarm r.c. (targeting Fatah); demolishes 4 Palestinian homes containing 11 housing units in Issawiyya, 3 in Salim, 1 nr. Nablus. An Israeli court sentences an East Jerusalem Palestinian to 25 yrs. for firing on Jewish settler vehicles, causing no injuries. Israel’s Finance Min. awards the Israeli town of Sederot, which has experienced light damage and light injuries fr. Palestinian mortar and rocket attacks, “front line status,” which gives residents property and income tax breaks of up to 30% and $13.5 m. in aid. Peace Now reports that Jewish settlers have recently established anew or reoccupied at least 6 unauthorized settlement outposts. (HA 4/7; MA 4/7 in WNC 4/9; HA, PM 4/8; PR 4/9; LAW, PCHR 4/10)

The IDF carves out a 4 mi2 “security zone” in Gaza around Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, Jabaliya r.c. to prevent Palestinians fr. firing rockets, mortars into Israel; stations 100 military vehicles in the zone; razes 100 dunams of land; says troops will stay indefinitely. The IDF also fatally shoots 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. who attempt to infiltrate Netzarim settlement; conducts house searches in Nablus, breaking through walls to move from house to house. In the West Bank, 2 Hamas mbrs. dressed as yeshiva students infiltrate Kiryat Arba settlement, fatally shoot 2 Jewish settlers, wounding 6 before being killed by armed settlers. (HA 3/7; NYT, WP, WT 3/8; WP 3/9; PR 3/12; LAW, PCHR, WJW 3/13)

At the UNSC, UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix reports that Iraq is cooperating with inspectors, who have yet to find evidence of WMDs; estimates inspections could be completed within wks. U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell replies that Iraq clearly has not met the requirements for cooperation, disarmament set out in UNSC Res. 1441, saying, “There are some people who simply, in my judgment, don’t want to see the facts clearly.” The U.S., Britain submit a draft UNSC res. that would give Iraq until 3/17 to reveal all its WMDs or face retaliation. France, Germany, Russia argue for completing UN inspections, saying that lack of progress on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is much more of a threat to the region than Iraq. (WP 3/7; NYT, WP, WT 3/8; NYT 3/9; MM 3/10)

Overnight, the IDF launches a raid on Bayt Hanun that it expects to last for several days, demolishing 5 Palestinian homes, bulldozing 6 dunams of land, clashing with local Palestinians, killing 7 Palestinians (1 crushed in his home when it is demolished), wounding 28, detaining a Palestinian Reuters cameraman for involvement in “terrorist activity”; during the day, troops commandeer houses as outposts, fortify their positions, patrol streets, destroy bridges and roads, dig trenches, erect barricades. The IDF also fatally shoots 3 Palestinians elsewhere— an armed Palestinian attempting to infiltrate Netzarim settlement, a 15-yr.-old Palestinian on a playground in Khan Yunis, a Palestinian who fails to heed orders to halt; arrests DFLP Ramallah head Ibrahim Abu Hijla; bulldozes 24 dunams of land, 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Khan Yunis. An 11th Palestinian dies of injuries received in Nablus on 2/22. A PFLP sniper fatally shoots 1 IDF soldier in Khan Yunis. Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets at Sederot, causing no damage. (AP, HA, LAW 2/23; HA, NYT, WP, WT 2/24; NYT, PMC 2/25; PR 2/26; LAW, PCHR 2/27)

The IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement in Gaza, shuts main roads, dividing the Strip into 3 sections; fatally shoots a wanted tanz im mbr. in Tulkarm in what may be an assassination; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Hebron, 1 in Jamayn, 1 in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Ramallah, Tamun; fires on residential areas of Rafah. As IDF operations in Nablus continue, a Palestinian sniper shoots, wounds an IDF soldier. Palestinians fire 1 Qassam rocket at Netzarim settlement, 2 across the Gaza border into Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. Israel issues tenders for construction of 126 new housing units in Efrat settlement. (HA, REU 2/20; HA 2/21; al-Quds 2/21 in WNC 2/24; LAW 2/23; LAW, PCHR 2/27)

After 10 yrs. of federal investigations trying to link him to terrorism, U.S. authorities arrest Palestinian-born U.S. permanent resident Sami al-Arian, a fmr. University of South Florida professor, on charges of fundraising for Islamic Jihad, and “conspiracy to commit murder via suicide attacks.” Another 7 individuals are also charged, several of whom are abroad, including Damascus-based Islamic Jihad head Ramadan Shallah. Arian has been an active fundraiser for 2 Muslim organization that do social work in the territories; the U.S. alleges that he in fact has laundered and funneled money to Islamic Jihad military activities as the organization’s chief financial officer since 1984. (The State Dept. listed Islamic Jihad as a terrorist organization in 1995.) U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft says that provisions of new antiterrorism legislation made the arrest possible. (HA, NYT, WP 2/21; WT 2/22; MM 2/26; MEI 3/7)

In Gaza, 2 Palestinian children (ages 12, 14) armed with knives infiltrate Netzarim settlement, are shot at and wounded by a settler rabbi, captured by IDF troops. The IDF erects a new checkpoint at the e. entrance to Askar r.c.; fires on Palestinians who throw stones at the new crossing, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 9. The IDF also fires tear gas at Palestinians crossing the Anata + n. Jerusalem checkpoint, causing 1 pregnant Palestinian woman to miscarry; conducts arrest raids in Hebron (targeting Hamas), Ramallah (targeting the PFLP). An Islamic Jihad mbr. is killed apparently when a grenade he is carrying explodes. The body of a missing Palestinian is found nr. Nablus; the IDF says he was apparently killed by IDF gunfire on 1/1. Late in the evening, the IDF sends 50 tanks, bulldozers into Khan Yunis; demolishing around 30 workshops, stores, offices, a clinic; clashes with Hamas mbrs., fatally shooting 1 Palestinians, wounding 13; bulldozes 9 dunams of land; conducts arrest sweeps, house searches. The IDF also raids Bayt Hanun, demolishing a Palestinian home, killing 1 Palestinian in the process. (HA 1/11; VOI 1/11 in WNC 1/13; HA, WT 1/12; HA, NYT, WP 1/13; LAW, PCHR, PR 1/15)

The IDF reoccupies Bethlehem following Christmas celebrations, reimposes a 24-hr. curfew on residents; assassinates local AMB head Jamal Yahya in Tulkarm; assassinates Hamas mbr. Bassam Ashqar, ambushing his car in Ramallah, also killing a Palestinian bystander; raids Qabatiyya, assassinating local Islamic Jihad leader Yusif Abu Rub, demolishing his family house, arresting local Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades head Natzir Nazal, senior Hamas mbr. Talal al-Baz; sends undercover units into a hospital in Ramallah, fatally shooting wanted Palestinian Samir al-Shamali, who was working there as a guard, in what may be an assassination, sparking demonstrations, clashes with local residents that leave 1 Palestinian stone thrower dead; fatally shoots 2 Palestinians “approaching” Netzarim settlement; fires on demonstrators protesting the curfew in Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 20; raids a village n. of Ramallah, firing stun grenades, causing an elderly Palestinian to suffer a fatal heart attack; imposes a curfew on Beitunia, sends 30 tanks into the town; conducts house-to-house searches, arrest raids in Qalqilya; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. The PA accuses Israel of stepping up attacks on Palestinians in an effort to scuttle Fatah-Hamas talks in Cairo. The IDF also announces that it has begun building 300-yd.-wide buffer zones around several Jewish settlements in the West Bank (see Quarterly Update in JPS 126). Palestinians fire 2 mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing damage but no injuries. This evening, Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz orders the IDF to step up pressure on militant groups in the territories. (HP, LAW, PCHR, PM 12/26; HA, NYT, WP, WT 12/27; AYM, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, al-Quds 12/27, De Standaard 12/28 in WNC 12/31; NYT, WT 12/28; LAW, PCHR 1/1)

In what may be an assassination, the IDF fatally shoots wanted senior Hamas mbr. Talib Abu Hawash during a raid in Nablus, allowing him to bleed to death over several hrs. while denying access to ambulances. The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian who strays too near Netzarim settlement; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanina, 5 cow pens in Ramallah. Palestinians fire grenades at IDF outposts nr. Gush Katif, Rafah, causing no injuries. (LAW, PCHR 12/25; HP, WP, WT 12/26; HA 12/27)