December 18, 2001

The PA continues to close Hamas offices, says it has arrested over 180 Palestinians since 12/2. Israel says it is not enough; more senior mbrs. of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and individuals on Israel's most-wanted list must be apprehended. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) says it will not adhere to Arafat's cease-fire call. Palestinians toss a grenade at an IDF post on the Gaza-Egypt border, causing no injuries; the IDF directs heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Rafah in response. The IDF also fires on a PSF post nr. Jenin, wounding 1 PSF officer. (LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP 12/19; MM, WJW 12/20)