Tuesday, April 23, 2013

In the West Bank, the IDF uproots over 1,300 olive trees in the village of Susiya in the southern Hebron hills. The IDF patrols in 4 villages nr. Jenin and 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, and in Jenin, Tulkarm, and 4 villages nr. Tulkarm at night. IDF soldiers conduct house searches and arrest raids at night in 1 village nr. Bethlehem in the morning, and in Hebron, 1 village nr. Hebron, al-Fawar r.c. nr. Hebron, and in 1 village nr. Bethlehem. (MNA 4/23; PCHR 4/25)

Israeli officials claims to have evidence the Syrian government has used chemical weapons and thus crossed U.S. Pres. Obama’s so-called ‘‘red line,’’ though they do not give details. In response, White House press secy. Jay Carney says that the administration is still looking for ‘‘conclusive evidence, if it exists.’’ (NYT 4/23)