October 27, 2003

On this 1st day of Ramadan, the IDF fires on 8 Palestinians who stray too close to the Gaza-Israel separation fence nr. Bayt Hanun, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 1, arresting 4, while 3 flee; conducts house searches, arrests in Hebron. Israel announces plans to provide electricity, phones, fences, schools to 8 unauthorized settlement outposts recently established in the West Bank in violation of the road map. Jewish settlers fr. Ariel attack a Rabbis for Human Rights delegation in Issawiyya to document reports that settlers felled 100s of Palestinian olive trees in the area; 2 rabbis are transported to hospital with injuries. (MM 10/27; VOP 10/27 in WNC 10/29; NYT, WT 10/28; PCHR 10/30)