Friday, January 5, 2007

Egyptian security forces blow up a smuggler’s tunnel on the Rafah border. Islamic Jihad fires 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, Jewish settlers fr. Suissa nr. Hebron, begin work on a new settlers-only bypass road that will confiscate or isolate up to 150 d. of Palestinian land. In Gaza City, unidentified gunmen fatally shoot a prominent local imam ‘Adil Nassar, known to be highly critical of Hamas; no group claims responsibility. Separately, suspected Fatah mbrs. throw a grenade, open fire on 2 Hamas mbrs., seriously wounding them. Two Palestinians wounded in the attack on PSF Col. Gharib’s home on 1/4 die. In Jenin, unidentified assailants set fire to an Islamic club, the Teachers’ Comm. building. (MM 1/5; NYT, WP 1/6; OCHA 1/10; PCHR 1/11; AIC 2/13)