Monday, March 7, 2016

Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops shoot and moderately injure a Palestinian nr. al-Maghazi. In the West Bank, Israeli police arrest a Palestinian at a checkpoint e. of Jerusalem on suspicion that she was planning a stabbing attack. IDF troops conduct raids in 2 villages nr. Hebron, damaging property and sparking clashes with stone-throwing Palestinian youths in both; there are no serious injuries. They conduct further raids and house searches in and around Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Ramallah, arresting 10 Palestinians. Israeli forces demolish an animal barn nr. Hebron and erect concrete barriers nr. the Gush Etzion junction s. of Bethlehem, where 10 Palestinians have been killed in alleged attacks since 10/2015. Late at night, they carry out the punitive demolition of the Hebron home of the Palestinian driver who was killed on 11/4/2015 after allegedly ramming 2 Israeli soldiers. In East Jerusalem, an Islamic Waqf guard intervenes to stop a Jewish Israeli tour guide from performing prayers at Haram al-Sharif. Israeli police then escort the guide out of the sanctuary. Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians during raids in Abu Dis.

(MNA, WAFA 3/7, 3/8; PCHR 3/10) Citing senior U.S. officials, the Wall Street Journal reports that the Obama admin. is working on a final push toward a 2-state solution before Pres. Barack Obama leaves office in 1/2017, which might include U.S. support for a new United Nations Security Council (UNSC) res. Obama has not, however, made a final decision on the matter. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Netanyahu cancels his trip to the U.S. to attend the annual American Israel Public Affairs Comm. (AIPAC) conference later this mo. Initial press reports speculate that Netanyahu’s cancellation is a response to the Obama admin.’s neglect to schedule a meeting for him with Obama. (NYT, REU, WSJ, YA 3/7; HA, JP, NYT, TOI 3/8)