Thursday, June 28, 2001

Israeli-Palestinian violence continues, leaving 1 Jewish settler dead. Palestinians fire 3 large mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no damage. The IDF tightens the closure on Tulkarm; flies helicopters over Bethlehem. Jewish settlers block roads, stone passing Palestinian vehicles nr. Qalqilya; shoot at water tanks on buildings in Ramallah; vandalize Palestinian homes in Silat al-Dahir, which is under its 10th day of curfew. (HP 6/28; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/29; Between the Lines 7/01)

After mtg. separately with Arafat and Sharon, Powell announces that the sides have agreed that after 7 days of "complete quite," they will observe a 6 wk. cooling-off period, followed by a "several mos." of confidence building, only after which negotiations would resume. FM Peres says that if even 1 Palestinian attack takes place during the 7-day or 6 wk. periods, the clock would reset to zero. At least 3,000 Palestinians rally in Gaza City to protest Powell's visit. (AP, CNN, USIS Washington File 6/28; XIN 6/28 in WNC 6/29; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/29; HJ 6/29, MENA 6/30, 7/1 in WNC 7/2; AYM 6/30 in WNC 7/6; WP 7/1; MM 7/2; WJW 7/5; MEI 7/13)