In the West Bank, IDF troops assault Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Nablus, causing no injuries. They also conduct raids nr. Nablus, Tulkarm, and Ramallah, arresting 6 Palestinians and sparking clashes with stone-throwing residents of Sabastiya village (there are no serious injuries). The IDF patrols nr. Hebron and Salfit during the day. In East Jerusalem, unidentified youths throw stones at an Israeli car in al-Tur, lightly injuring 2 Israelis. Later, stonethrowers injure a 3d Israeli outside the Old City. Israeli forces arrest 3 Palestinians leaving the Old City and 17 more during raids in al-Tur, Silwan, and Wadi al-Juz late at night. Meanwhile, more than 200 rightwing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif for a 2d straight day, while Israeli forces seize the ID cards of a number of Palestinians attempting to gain access to the sanctuary. (MNA, TOI, WAFA 10/18; PCHR 10/20)
UNESCO’s Exec. Board approves the Palestinian-backed “Occupied Palestine” draft res. about Israel’s discriminatory administration of Haram al-Sharif that was approved by a separate UNESCO body on 10/13. (AJ, ALM, AP, HA 10/18)