The PSF arrests 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. who may have participated in a foiled attack on Netzarim on 12/28, 4 PFLP mbrs. who may have been involved in the 10/17 Ze'evi assassination. (Israel claims that the PFLP mbrs. had nothing to do with the murder.) Nr. Ramallah, unidentified assailants fire on a Jewish settler bus, causing no injuries. (HA, WT 12/30)
A group of 250 Jewish, Arab Israeli peace activists delivers 2 tons of food, clothing to the Palestinian village of Bayt Umar, which has been closed by an IDF military blockade for over 1 yr. IDF soldiers manning the Surda checkpoint on the Bethlehem-Birzeit road push, shove, kick, aim rifles, and fire tear gas and percussion grenades at around 100 mbrs. of an ad hoc group foreign civilians, known as International Checkpoint Watch, who position themselves at the crossing as nonviolent observers to protect Palestinians traveling the route. (GS 12/29; NYT 12/30)