Israel continues strikes on PA targets, destroying 2 PSF buildings in Gaza City, wounding 18 Palestinians, and damaging al-Azhar University buildings, Palestine Bank offices, the UNRWA school for the blind. In the West Bank, the IDF ambushes, fatally shoots 2 Palestinians. The funeral for a Hamas mbr. killed outside Shaykh Yasin's house on 12/5 turns into an anti-Arafat protest. The PA bars the press fr. covering a large pro-Hamas rally in Hebron. (AFP, REU 12/7; NYT, REU, WT 12/8; WP 12/9; LAW 12/12)
At Zinni's request, CIA, PA, Israeli security officials hold a "heated" trilateral security comm. mtg. in Tel Aviv. Separately, Ben-Eliezer meets with Arafat financial adviser Muhammad Rashid to discuss ways of achieving a cease-fire. (NYT, WP, WT 12/8; MENA 12/8, MA 12/9 in WNC 12/11; HA, WT 12/9)