March 12, 2003

The IDF makes a predawn raid on Saida, imposes a curfew, orders all men ages 15 to 65 to turn themselves in for questioning, exchanges gunfire with Islamic Jihad mbrs., leaving 1 Islamic Jihad mbr. and 1 IDF soldier dead, 5 Palestinians and 1 IDF soldier wounded; many Palestinians are still detained at the end of the day. The IDF arrests senior Fatah mbr. Mahmud Hasib as he leaves a mtg. with PA Interior M Hani al-Hassan in Ramallah, claims Hasib planned several shootings of Israelis. (HA 3/12; VOI 3/12 in WNC 3/13; LAW, NYT, PCHR, WP 3/13)