Sunday, January 15, 2006

The IDF reopens Gaza’s Erez crossing (closed on 12/16); fatally shoots an armed Palestinian in Nablus who reportedly was guarding his home after recent clashes with other Palestinians, also killing 1 Palestinian inside the home and wounding 5; detains 3 of Hamas’s Change and Reform candidates in East Jerusalem; bars several candidates running in the Hebron district fr. entering al-Ramadin village to campaign; raids offices in East Jerusalem allegedly linked to Change and Reform campaigning; sends troops into Kafr Dan west of Jenin, fires on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 3; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Alar, Jalazun r.c., Qalqilya, al-Til.Israeli police break up a Change and Reform campaign rally in East Jerusalem, detaining 3 candidates, 3 other Palestinians. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino set fire to 6 Palestinian shops in the Hebron cloth market. (IMEMC, JP, PCHR 1/15; NYT, WP, WT 1/16; PCHR 1/19; PLO Negotiation Affairs Dept. press release 1/23)