Mofaz orders Qarni crossing to remain closed despite warnings by international agencies (see 3/1) that some food supplies are dwindling in Gaza. The IDF conducts 4 air strikes on the n. Gaza no-go zone, damaging several roads, cutting electricity to parts of Bayt Hanun; begins construction of a new 20-mi segment of the separation wall s. of Hebron that will isolate 3,000 Palestinians and 80,000 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of Palestinian land; tightens restrictions on Palestinian travel around Tulkarm; demolishes a Palestinian home nr. East Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., Balata r.c., Tulkarm (firing on residential areas). In retaliation for the 3/1 assassination of Islamic Jihad mbr. Dadu, the AMB, PRCs fire 10 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Palestinian gunmen occupy the PC building in Gaza, fire weapons, demand to speak to the newly elected Hamas leadership to demand the reinstatement of some PA employees who were laid off 2 wks. ago. A Palestinian stabs, wounds an Israeli truck driver at the Atarot industrial zone in n. Jerusalem. (AFP, HA, IMEMC 3/2; NYT 3/3; NYT 3/4; PCHR 3/9)
The PA says it will be 2 wks. late in paying civil servants their 2/06 salaries because of Israel’s decision to cut off VAT transfers and the time it will take to secure additional funds. (REU 3/2)