IDF undercover unit ambushes, kills 3 Hamas mbrs. in Hebron, imposes curfew. (QY 4/16 in FBIS 4/18; CSM, NYT 4/17; CSM, MM 4/18; MEI 4/28; JP 4/29)
PA court sentences 2 Hamas mbrs. to 2 yrs in prison for training with illegal weapons, involvement in attack last yr. that left 1 IDF soldier dead. (QY 4/16 in FBIS 4/18; CSM, NYT 4/17; NYT 5/3)
PA continues mtgs. with Hamas to reduce tensions. No agmt. is reached but PA releases another 50 Hamas mbrs. (RMC 4/16, QY 4/17 in FBIS 4/19) (see 4/14)
New group calling itself Palestine National Democratic Coalition (PNDN) led by Firuz Yari announces it has broken away fr. PFLP, apparently following dispute over whether PFLP should continue as an underground group, remain outside PA bureaucracy. Observers say PNDN's proparticipation platform "has huge potential." (HA 4/16 in FBIS 4/20)