Sunday, April 22, 2001

A Palestinian suicide bomber kills himself, 1 Israeli civilian and wounds around 40 others at a bus stop in Kefar Saba, outside Tel Aviv. Though the Popular Army Front+nReturn Battalions claims responsibility, Israel blames the PA directly. Later, a bomb goes off in Haifa, slightly wounding 3 Israeli police officers. Israel-Palestinian clashes continue in the West Bank and Gaza, leaving 1 Palestinian, 1 Jewish settler dead. A 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. The IDF takes over a Palestinian home in PA-controlled Dayr al-Balah for use as a new IDF post, displacing a family of 12. (AP 4/22; AP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/23; AN, JT, SA 4/23 in WNC 4/25; al-Quds 4/25 in WNC 4/30)

Israeli FM Peres confirms reports that he has been holding secret talks with PA officials with Sharon's permission, but he gives no details. PC speaker and PA senior negotiator Ahmad Qurai` says he and Peres have been discussing the Jordanian-Egyptian nonpaper. (NYT 4/23; AYM 4/24 in WNC 4/25; NYT 4/25)