July 19, 2003

Mbrs. of the AMB’s Jenin faction pull Jenin mayor Haidar Irshayd fr. his car, beat and kidnap him, alleging he is corrupt and has collaborated with Israel, demanding the PA put him on trial; they release Irshayd after receiving a call fr. an aid to Arafat. Meanwhile, Dahlan announces that the PSF has begun “a large-scale campaign” to bring security to Gaza; the DFLP reports that the PSF has arrested 2 of its mbrs. The IDF fires at a Palestinian farmer who attempts to plant agricultural land previously bulldozed by the IDF, damaging his tractor, forcing him off the land. (XIN 7/19 in WNC 7/22; NYT, WP, WT 7/20; MM 7/21; PCHR 7/24)