Tuesday, December 1, 2009

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts rare daytime arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron for a 2d day; makes a late-night incursion into Bayt Qad village nr. Jenin, searching an agricultural facility, arresting 1 Palestinian. Jewish settlers at several sites across the West Bank scuffle with new Israeli building inspectors hired by the DMin. to enforce Israel’s 10-mo. settlement building freeze (see 11/25); no major violence or injuries are reported. In East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers escorted by Israeli police and private security guards take possession of an addition to a Palestinian home in Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood, removing the Palestinian family’s furniture, after receiving a court ruling that the property is legally owned by a Jewish organization. Local Palestinians scuffle with the Jewish settlers, leaving 1 settler and 1 Palestinian injured. UN Secy.-Gen. Ban denounces Israel’s “provocative actions.” (NYT, WT 12/2; NYT, PCHR, WJW 12/3; OCHA 12/9)