In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 30 olive tree saplings in Qarawat Bani Hassan. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a raid in Dheisheh refugee camp, 6 others were...
The U.S. calls on the PA to halt hunger strikes, criticisms of the prisoner release; speed confiscations of illegal weapons, reduction in number of PA police. (NYT 12/12)
Israel allows more Palestinian workers to resume their jobs in the Erez industrial zone; permits 30 doctors to leave West Bank, Gaza for their jobs in East Jerusalem hospitals. (QY 3/21 in FBIS 3/...
IDF blows up the home of Yahya Ayyash's family in Rafat, West Bank. Israeli officials say the use of explosives rather than bulldozers to demolish the home is meant as a statement to would-be...
After 2 postponements, FM Peres, Arafat meet in Taba to resolve deadlock over Hebron, electricity, water, prisoners; say they will meet without break until they come to an agmt. (MENA, VOP 9/15,...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Minister of Industry and Trade Ariel Sharon moves into apartment in Muslim quarter of Jerusalem's Old City; merchants close shops in...
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In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 30 olive tree saplings in Qarawat Bani Hassan. Israeli forces shot and killed 1 Palestinian man during a raid in Dheisheh refugee camp, 6 others were wounded. Israeli forces also arrested, Yahya al-Saadi, the son of senior Islamic Jihad commander Bassam al-Saadi during a raid in Jenin. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolished 1 mosque in Dura, 3 agricultural structures in Tarqumiyah, and issued a stop-work notice for 3 stores in Bayt Rima. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in al-Khader and Hebron, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israel said that 2 Israeli soldiers were injured by an explosive device thrown at them near Aida refugee camp, causing light injuries. 16 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Ni’lin, al-Bireh, Dheisheh refugee camp, and Hebron. In East Jerusalem, 1 Palestinian was arrested during a late-night raid in Shu’fat refugee camp. In the Naqab, Israeli forces demolished the Palestinian village al-Araqib for the 210th time since 2010. (AJ, AP, HA, MEE, MEMO, MEMO, PCHR, REU, TOI, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 12/5; MEMO 12/6; PCHR 12/8; UNOCHA 12/16)
An Israeli court upheld a demolition order for an apartment building in Wadi Qaddum in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, giving the resident until 12/7 to demolish the building. Approximately 100 Palestinians reside in the building. (WAFA 12/5)
PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh welcomed the EU and UN’s criticism of the 12/2 killing of a Palestinian in Huwwara but urged the organizations to take tangible action to hold Israel accountable. (WAFA 12/5)
PA foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki met with ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, providing materials about Israeli war crimes against Palestinians. Chief Prosecutor Khan said that he aims to visit Palestine, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023. (WAFA 12/5; MEMO, WAFA 12/6; TOI 12/7)
The U.S. weapons manufacture Lockheed Martin joined Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in developing a laser-based anti-missile system, dubbed the Iron Beam. (HA 12/5)
The U.S. calls on the PA to halt hunger strikes, criticisms of the prisoner release; speed confiscations of illegal weapons, reduction in number of PA police. (NYT 12/12)
Israel rejects U.S. compromise formula for release of Palestinian political prisoners, reaffirms it will not implement 2d stage of FRD unless the full Palestine National Council (PNC) votes to annul the PLO charter. Nr. Qalqilya, the IDF opens fire on Palestinians demonstrating for the release of political prisoners, killing 2, wounding 27. (MM 12/11; ITV 12/11, 12/12 in WNC 12/15; LAW, WP, WT 12/12)
One of Israel's most wanted, Hamas mbr. Yahya al-Gul, escapes fr. a PA prison in Gaza, where he had been held since 3/98. PA places his family under house arrest. (PR 1/15)
In Gaza, 200 mbrs. of Palestinian opposition parties, Hamas, 8 Palestinian Council mbrs. hold conference to denounce the Wye agmt., annulment of the PLO charter; call on PLO mbrs. to boycott 12/14 PNC mtg. (WT 12/12)
UNSCOM carries out 14 surprise inspections without Iraqi interference. (WP 12/12) (see 12/9)
Lebanon files protest with the UN Security Council (UNSC) against repeated Israeli mock raids over Beirut since 12/9. (RL 12/11 in WNC 12/14)
Israel allows more Palestinian workers to resume their jobs in the Erez industrial zone; permits 30 doctors to leave West Bank, Gaza for their jobs in East Jerusalem hospitals. (QY 3/21 in FBIS 3/21)
In Abu-Dis, the IDF bulldozes the home of Palestinian involved in attacks on Israelis in 10/94 and 12/94. Nr. Nablus, IDF demolishes home of 3d Palestinian connected with 8/21/95 bus bombing. (QY 3/21 in FBIS 3/21; CSM 3/22) (see 3/20)
IDF bans entry to Gaza of vaccines, other medicines through Hanun checkpoint. (PBC 3/21 in FBIS 3/21)
PA police arrest several Hamas mbrs. during a raid aimed at arresting Muhammad Daif, the new head of the Qassam Brigades following the assassination of Yahya Ayyash. (CSM 3/22)
Influential Lebanese Shi`ite figure Riyad `Abdallah announces formation of the Movement of Democratic Reformers, the Foundation Movement. Party will be based in s. Lebanon, have the objective of making "peace with Syria and Israel on the grounds of geographical continuity." Hizballah accuses `Abdallah of being an SLA agent. (AFP, MBC 3/21 in FBIS 3/22)
World Bank bars U.S. fr. bidding on $2.1 b. in International Development Association contracts after the U.S. falls $934 m. behind in meeting its pledges. (WT 3/22)
Hizballah Sec. Gen. Hassan Nasrallah says that since the beginning of the yr., Israeli shelling in Lebanon has left 2 civilians dead, 24 wounded, 92 homes and buildings (incl. a church and hospital) damaged. (MM 3/21)
IDF blows up the home of Yahya Ayyash's family in Rafat, West Bank. Israeli officials say the use of explosives rather than bulldozers to demolish the home is meant as a statement to would-be bombers. (QY 3/14 in FBIS 3/15; NYT, WP, WT 3/15; MM 3/20)
In the West Bank, Palestinian infant dies when IDF refuses to allow parents to pass a checkpoint to get to a hospital. (WP 3/15, 3/25; MEI 3/29)
Lebanon's chief Shi'ite leaders call a nationwide strike to protest Israel's occupation of s. Lebanon. Most schools, stores, businesses, government offices close. Hizballah attacks IDF patrol, wounding 8 soldiers. (MM, WT 3/15; VOL 3/15 in FBIS 3/18)
Voter and candidate registration for Palestinian elections closes. (JP 1/6; CSM 1/19; WT 1/20)
In Gaza, no. 1 on Israel's most wanted list, Yahya Ayyash, thought to be behind many of Hamas's major bombings, is killed when his booby-trapped cellular phone explodes. Hamas, PA blame Mossad. Israel neither confirms or denies responsibility. Arafat pays condolences to Hamas's Zahhar. (IDF Radio, QPAR, QY 1/5 in FBIS 1/5; NYT, WP, WT 1/6; MM 1/8; WP, WT 1/9; ITV, QPAR 1/5, RMC 1/6, IDF Radio, HA, MA, MENA, QY, RMC 1/7, QY, RE, 1/8, QY 1/9 in FBIS 1/11; MM 1/9; WJW 1/11; JP 1/13; NYT 1/14)
After 2 postponements, FM Peres, Arafat meet in Taba to resolve deadlock over Hebron, electricity, water, prisoners; say they will meet without break until they come to an agmt. (MENA, VOP 9/15, MENA 9/16 in FBIS 9/18)
Despite FM Peres's protests, South African FM Nzo meets with Faisal Husseini at Orient House, discusses status of Jerusalem. (VOP 9/16 in FBIS 9/18)
In Damascus, Japanese PM Tomiichi Murayama, 60 Japanese officials meet with Pres. Asad. Delegation then leaves for 2-day official visit to Israel and the self-rule areas. (JP 9/16; KYODO [Tokyo], QY 9/17, JP 9/18 in FBIS 9/18; KYODO [Tokyo] 9/16 in FBIS 9/19)
Israeli police arrest 3 Palestinian in connection with Halhul attack 9/8; say motive was criminal, not political. They also detain Ayshah Ayyash in attempt to coerce her son, most wanted Hamas mbr. Yahya Ayyash, to surrender. (IDF Radio, QY 9/16 in FBIS 9/18; WP, NYT 9/17; CSM, MM 9/18; JP 9/23; QY 10/7 in FBIS 10/10)
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Minister of Industry and Trade Ariel Sharon moves into apartment in Muslim quarter of Jerusalem's Old City; merchants close shops in protest [LAT 12/16]. Complete commercial strike closes stores in E. Jerusalem, Nablus, Jenin, Ramallah, al-Birah, and other W. Bank towns [FJ 12/20]. Israel bans distribution of al-Sha'b in W. Bank and Gaza Strip for 12 days [FJ 12/20]. Khan Yunis youth shot 12/12 by Israeli soldiers dies in Barzali Hospital [FJ 12/20]. Palestinian journalists from occupied territories hold sit-in at Arab Journalists' Association's Jerusalem office to protest administrative detention of Radwan Abu 'Ayyash [FJ 12/20]. Israeli police announce capture of 2 Palestinians charged with murder of Israeli soldier [FJ 12/20].
Arab World: Arab League calls for emergency session to discuss Israeli actions in occupied territories [CSM 12/16].
Other Countries: Trial of Ibrahim Khalid, only survivor of 4-man team that attacked Leonardo da Vinci Airport in 1985, opens in Rome. Abu Nidal and Rashid Hamida are being tried in absentia [LAT 12/16]. U.S. calls for Israeli restraint in handling disturbances in W. Bank and Gaza Strip [NYT 12/16]. Israeli Def. Min. Rabin meets with U.S. congressional leaders in Washington [WP 12/19].
Military Action
Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF soldiers fire on Palestinian demonstrators at Gaza's Shifa Hospital, killing at least 2, wounding more than 11. Dozens are arrested. Palestinians at hospital attack Western journalists. UN reports 2 Palestinians are shot, killed: 1 at Bayt Hanun, in northern Gaza Strip, and 1 at Dayr al-Balah refugee camp. Palestine Press Service reports another demonstrator is killed by soldiers during protest march from Beach refugee camp to Shifa Hospital [LAT, NYT 12/16]. In W. Bank, demonstrations are reported in Nablus, Bir Zeit, Abu Dis village near Jerusalem, and Qalandiya, Am'ari, and Jalazun refugee camps [FJ 12/20].
Arab World: With tank and helicopter support, Israeli troops move north of S. Lebanon security zone, raid Shi'i villages of Maydun and Kafr Hunah. Lebanese sources report 6 fighters are wounded, 20 captured [NYT 12/16].
