An unidentified assailant allegedly attempts to stab an Israeli soldier in Tel Aviv. He then flees the area. In the West Bank, IDF troops arrest a Palestinian youth at a checkpoint nr. Nablus on suspicion that she was planning to carry out an attack, and fire tear gas canisters at Palestinian students in a village nr. Bethlehem, causing a number of injuries. Late at night, they conduct a raid on an alleged weapons manufacturing workshop in a village nr. Bethlehem, arresting 3 Palestinians and confiscating a number of weapons. They conduct further raids nr. Tulkarm, Hebron, and Nablus, arresting 3 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to 2; patrol in 5 villages nr. Hebron. Israeli forces demolish a motorcycle repair shop outside Qalandia r.c. Meanwhile, a Palestinian succumbs to injuries sustained in clashes with the IDF on 2/29. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolish 4 stores in Bayt Hanina. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Khan Yunis. (HA, MNA, WAFA, YA 3/15; MNA 3/16; PCHR 3/17)
Israeli nongovernmental organization Peace Now reports that the Israeli govt. has reinstated its policy of confiscating large swaths of Palestinian land, specifying that the Israeli govt. declared 2,342 dunams (580 acres) nr. Jericho “state land” on 3/10. After the report, both the UN secy.-gen. and the U.S. State Dept. criticize the Israeli govt.’s settlement expansion policy. (MNA, PCN, REU, TOI 3/15; REU, WAFA 3/16; EI 3/30)