Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue to escalate, leaving 1 Palestinian, 1 Jewish settler dead in separate shooting incidents. Claiming revenge for the death of Fatah mbrs. on 4/25, a group calling itself the Four Martyrs fires mortars at a Kefar Darom, Netzer Hazani, and Nissanit settlements in Gaza, wounding 5 settlers (1 seriously) in Netzer Hazani. Fatah denies any connection to the group; Israel blames Arafat directly. The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential aras of Khan Yunis; bulldozes 100s of dunams of Palestinian nr. Dugit settlement, Khan Yunis; detains 7 Palestinian fishermen at sea. Armed Jewish settlers bar the entrances of Haris, attempt to enter the village, but are blocked by international peace activists who hold them off until Ariel settlement security officers take them away. (NYT, WP, WT 4/29; International Solidarity Movement press release 5/1; LAW 5/4; MEI 5/4)
Saturday, April 28, 2001