Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 2 Palestinians, 1 Jewish settler dead. Palestinians fire 2 mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza causing no injuries. Jewish settlers stone Palestinian cars nr. Keddumim settlement, fire on Palestinians in Bazari (injuring 2). The IDF shells residential areas of al-Bireh and Ramallah, damaging offices of the PA Central Bureau of Statistics, the Local Government Min., WAFA news agency; bulldozes Palestinian land in Bayt Hanun. Sharon announces that he has given the IDF "freedom beyond imagining" to act against Palestinians, saying, "There are things we will tell the public about. There are things we will deny, and there are things that will remain hidden forever." (MM 5/1; NYT, WP 5/2; MA 5/2 in WNC 5/3; LAW, WT 5/4)
Tuesday, May 1, 2001