October 20, 2001

The IDF sends tanks, troops into areas A in Qalqilya and Tulkarm, occupying a PSF office in Qalqilya, detaining 7 Palestinians, including 2 Force 17 mbrs. A senior IDF official says it has no immediate plans to pull out of PA-controlled towns it has reoccupied since 10/18. The IDF continues to direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at areas in, around Bethlehem throughout the day, killing 8 Palestinians, including a altar boy outside the Church of the Nativity. Churches in Jerusalem again demand Israel's withdrawal fr. Bethlehem. The PA says it has arrested 20 PFLP mbrs. in connection with the Ze'evi assassination. (AP, LAW 10/20; WP, WT 10/21; JT 10/21 in WNC 10/22; NYT, WP 10/22; AYM 10/22, MENA 10/23 in WNC 10/24; MM 10/23; PCHR 10/24)