Off the coast of the Gaza Strip nr. Rafah, Israeli naval vessels open fire at Palestinian fishing boats, injuring 4 and damaging 2 boats. The Israeli military claims that the boats were identified in a “suspected smuggling attempt.” In the West Bank, residents sent fire to an Israeli watchtower in Aida r.c. in Bethlehem, as a week of clashes continues. Meanwhile, Israeli bulldozers level Palestinian land in Susia, nr. Hebron. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village nr. Jenin at night; patrols in 3 villages nr. Hebron at night. In the al-Tur neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities demolish a Palestinian building containing 2 apartments, a mosque, and a medical center. (AFP, MNA 3/26; PCHR 3/27)
U.S. Secy. of State John Kerry arrives in Amman for talks with King Abdallah and then PA Pres. Abbas, in a last-minute effort aimed at preventing the peace negotiations from collapsing. Kerry also speaks with Israeli PM Netanyahu by phone. A Palestinian source cited by AFP says that Abbas refuses to discuss a U.S. framework agreement for the continuation of talks unless Israel releases the scheduled 4th batch of Palestinian prisoners on 3/29. Meanwhile, the Arab League summit in Kuwait closes with a final declaration by Arab leaders expressing support for Abbas’s efforts and rejecting the demand for recognition as a Jewish state. (HA 3/25; AFP, JP 3/26)
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announces that more than 49% of the raw materials for Syria’s poison gas and nerve agent program have been shipped overseas, with the total percentage of chemicals either removed or destroyed standing at 53.6%. (AP 3/26)