The IDF reopens the Erez and Sufa crossings into Gaza (closed on 1/18); launches missiles at a car in Gaza City, assassinating PRC mbr. Mahmud ‘Abd al-A‘al, wounding 2 other PRC mbrs. and 3 bystanders; fires on 3 Palestinian teenagers approaching the Gaza border fence nr. Bureij r.c., wounding 1; fires shells fr. naval vessels at the Rafah shore, causing no damage or injuries; arrests Change and Reform candidate Muhammad Totah campaigning in East Jerusalem; bars an Alternative candidate fr. entering Jerusalem to attend a campaign rally; raids the East Jerusalem campaign offices of independent candidate ‘Abd alLatif Ghaith and 9 campaign workers; conducts patrols in Rujib nr. Nablus, Zabbuba nr. Jenin (firing on residential areas); conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah and in Nur al-Shams r.c., Tulkarm, Qalqilya, Qitna n. of Jerusalem. (AFP, HA, JP 1/22; NYT, WP 1/23; PCHR 1/26)
Sunday, January 22, 2006