The Palestine Chronology

The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Tulkarm, killing a 11-yr.-old Palestinian boy; bars a Palestinian heart attack victim from reaching a hospital in Ramallah, allowing him to die; fires on nonviolent protest march on an IDF checkpoint by 150 Palestinian, European demonstrators in Gaza, wounding a Palestinian cameraman working for the Associated Press; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Dura. (BBC, HA, NYT, WP, WT 12/30; LAW, PCHR 1/1)

The IDF reoccupies Bethlehem following Christmas celebrations, reimposes a 24-hr. curfew on residents; assassinates local AMB head Jamal Yahya in Tulkarm; assassinates Hamas mbr. Bassam Ashqar, ambushing his car in Ramallah, also killing a Palestinian bystander; raids Qabatiyya, assassinating local Islamic Jihad leader Yusif Abu Rub, demolishing his family house, arresting local Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades head Natzir Nazal, senior Hamas mbr. Talal al-Baz; sends undercover units into a hospital in Ramallah, fatally shooting wanted Palestinian Samir al-Shamali, who was working there as a guard, in what may be an assassination, sparking demonstrations, clashes with local residents that leave 1 Palestinian stone thrower dead; fatally shoots 2 Palestinians “approaching” Netzarim settlement; fires on demonstrators protesting the curfew in Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 20; raids a village n. of Ramallah, firing stun grenades, causing an elderly Palestinian to suffer a fatal heart attack; imposes a curfew on Beitunia, sends 30 tanks into the town; conducts house-to-house searches, arrest raids in Qalqilya; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. The PA accuses Israel of stepping up attacks on Palestinians in an effort to scuttle Fatah-Hamas talks in Cairo. The IDF also announces that it has begun building 300-yd.-wide buffer zones around several Jewish settlements in the West Bank (see Quarterly Update in JPS 126). Palestinians fire 2 mortars at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing damage but no injuries. This evening, Israeli DM Shaul Mofaz orders the IDF to step up pressure on militant groups in the territories. (HP, LAW, PCHR, PM 12/26; HA, NYT, WP, WT 12/27; AYM, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, al-Quds 12/27, De Standaard 12/28 in WNC 12/31; NYT, WT 12/28; LAW, PCHR 1/1)

In what may be an assassination, the IDF fatally shoots wanted senior Hamas mbr. Talib Abu Hawash during a raid in Nablus, allowing him to bleed to death over several hrs. while denying access to ambulances. The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian who strays too near Netzarim settlement; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanina, 5 cow pens in Ramallah. Palestinians fire grenades at IDF outposts nr. Gush Katif, Rafah, causing no injuries. (LAW, PCHR 12/25; HP, WP, WT 12/26; HA 12/27)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed Hamas mbrs. attempting to cross the border fence into Israel; fatally shoots a Palestinian farmer who strays too close to Gush Katif settlement; fatally shoots a mentally ill Palestinian who approaches an IDF patrol nr. the Egypt-Gaza border; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; sets up barricades, digs trenches around al-Naqura, occupies 1 Palestinian home as an outpost, further hindering travel btwn. Nablus and Jenin, Tulkarm; bulldozes 5 dunams of olive trees nr. Arrabe; conducts arrest raids in Arrabe, Bethlehem, Jenin, Ramallah. Israel announces that Palestinians may resume bus service btwn. West Bank towns for the first time since the start of the al-Aqsa intifada. Buses will operate fr. 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will only transport passengers to the crossing point outside the next city (e.g., a Palestinian would have to take 5 buses to travel the 40 mi. fr. Jenin to Ramallah). (NYT, WP 12/17; LAW, NYT, PCHR, PR 12/18; TJT 12/19; JT 1/1)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, Tulkarm. The IDF reports that Palestinians throw grenades at troops in Gaza throughout the day, causing no injuries. A Lebanese-born Israeli Arab is sentenced to 6 yrs. in prison for having contact with Hizballah (see Quarterly Update in JPS 126). The Israeli High Court bards the IDF fr. starting construction of a settler bypass road linking Kiryat Arba settlement with the Tomb of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque. (JTA, LAW, PCHR 12/11; NYT 12/12)

The IDF fatally shoots wanted Hamas mbr. Yasin al-Agha in Khan Yunis and wanted Palestinian Usama Badra in Balata r.c. in what may be assassinations, also demolishing Agha’s house; bars a Palestinian woman in labor fr. reaching a hospital in Nablus, allowing her baby to die; conducts arrest sweeps in Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, al-Qarara, Ramallah; bulldozes 45 dunams of land in al-Qarara. Israel says it will not allow PA head Yasir Arafat to attend Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem this yr.; Sharon spokesman Gissin says Arafat’s presence at Christmas Eve ceremonies would be “an offence to humanity and a slap in the face to Christianity.” (AP 12/10; al-Quds 12/10 in WNC 12/12; LAW, NYT, PCHR 12/11; PM, PR 12/18)

IDF soldiers halt a taxi-van in Ramallah, smash its windows, spray it with gunfire, killing a 95-yr.-old Palestinian woman, wounding a 2d passenger; claim the taxi was moving in a closed military zone. The IDF also closes two District Coordination Offices (DCOs), liaisons btwn. the IDF and PSF, in Jenin and Ramallah; demolishes a PSF outpost in al-Qarara; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. In Hebron, 4 IDF soldiers detain 5 Palestinians at a barbershop, forcibly shave the heads of 2 of them, use 3 as human shields, standing behind them and firing over their soldiers at stone throwers (LAW, PCHR 12/3; NYT, WP, WT 12/4; WT 12/31; WP 1/1; SA 1/13 in WNC 1/14)

The IDF imposes a curfew on Ramallah; blows up 2 Palestinian homes before dawn in Jalbun; conducts arrest raids targeting AMB, Hamas mbrs. in Nablus; safely detonates a roadside bomb found in East Jerusalem, in an area usually patrolled by Israeli police; safely detonates a 2d explosive device found nr., Baqa’ Sharqiyya; fires residential areas of Bayt Hanun, Dayr al-Balah, Khan Yunis, Tal Zu’rub; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara; bulldozes 5 dunams of Palestinian land outside Khan Yunis. 2 Hamas gunmen open fire inside Dolah settlement in Gaza, wounding 2 Thai workers, 1 Jewish settler; 1 of the gunmen is shot dead. 2 IDF soldiers are lightly injured in an exchange of gunfire with a Palestinian nr. Neve Dekalim settlement. Israeli police arrest 2 Jews for stabbing, wounding a Palestinian in Jerusalem in an apparent hate crime. (JTA 11/29; HA, NYT, WP 11/30; LAW, PCHR 12/3)

Bush simultaneously imposes and waives a congressionally mandated sanction to “downgrade” the PLO office in Washington for at least 180 days, citing the PA for noncompliance with its commitment to work against violence. (NYT 12/3; MM 12/4; WJW 12/5; HA, WT 12/6; MEI 12/20)

Under pressure fr. the U.S. to end its op-erations in the city quickly, the IDF pulls out of main areas of Bethlehem before dawn. The IDF also opens fire on 100s of Palestinian schoolchildren who defy the curfew in Nablus to go to classes, throw stones at troops, killing an 8-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding 13; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Tulkarm, injuring 4; sur-rounds the PA Supply Min. in Ramallah, orders the surrender of PSF officers, who are then arrested; raids the Muslim Society offices, school in Hebron, confiscating files; halts an ambulance in Qalqilya, arrests the patient; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Sanur. (NYT 11/25; NYT, WP 11/26; LAW, PCHR 11/27; PRCS press release 12/2)

Israel asks the U.S. for $4 b. in new military aid to “defray the costs of fighting terrorism” plus $10 b. in loan guarantees to support its struggling economy. (HA, WP 11/26; MM, NYT 11/27; MEI 12/6; BBC 12/11)

The IDF opens fire on residential areas of Khan Yunis (killing 1 Palestinian), Rafah (killing a 2d Palestinian); demolishes 3 Palestinian homes, car repair shop, and a cattle pen in 3 villages n. of Jerusalem, killing 150 cows, razing surrounding land in the process; blows up 2 Palestinian homes in Jenin; bulldozes 30 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Dayr al-Balah; bars an ambulance fr. transporting a dialysis patient to the hospital for treatment; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Ramallah (including arresting 4 PSF officer manning a security post in a hospital, 5 PSF officers guarding the Education Min.), Tubas. (Palestine Digest 11/3; LAW, PCHR 11/6; PRCS press release 11/10)

The IDF continues Operation Vanguard in Jenin, arresting Islamic Jihad mbr. Fayiz Tubasi, wanted for plotting the 10/21 suicide bombing; conducts arrest raids in Ramallah, Tulkarm (where troops search a school); shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; razes 219.5 dunams of land nr. Bayt Hanun. An AMB gunman fires on an IDF patrol nr. Beit El, is fatally shot by the soldiers. IDF soldiers nr. Tulkarm bar an ambulance fr. transporting a patient to the hospital, search the vehicle, order paramedics to return fr. where they came. (HA 11/1; LAW, PCHR 11/6; PRCS press release 11/10)

After the mandatory 48 hr. waiting period, Labor party resignations take effect, leaving Sharon with a right-wing minority coalition of 55 of 120 Knesset seats. Sharon invites Likud party rival and fmr. PM Benjamin Netanyahu to take the position of FM, fmr. IDF chief of staff Shaul Mofaz to take the position of DM. (HA 11/1; NYT, WP 11/2)

Outside Hadera, 2 Islamic Jihad suicide bombers detonate a car bomb next to a bus, killing 14 Israelis, wounding 40. The IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. Kefar Darom; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Qabatya, some agricultural land nr. Aley Sinai settlement; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Qalqilya; bars an ambulance fr. crossing an IDF checkpoint, allowing an ailing Palestinian to die. Another Palestinian dies of injuries received on 12/10/01. Palestinians reportedly fire a mortar in Gaza, causing no damage or injuries. At Havat Gilad, Jewish settlers again try to rebuild sites demolished by the IDF. Jewish settlers fr. Shvut Rachel attack Palestinians harvesting olives nr. Nablus, setting 7 Palestinian cars and 50 trees afire, uprooting another 54 trees; in response, some 200 Palestinian start marching toward the settlement, but the IDF turns them away. Jewish settlers fr. Shilo fire on Palestinian farmers n. of Ramallah, wounding 4. (HA, MM, WP 10/21; Interfax 10/21 in WNC 10/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/22; AFP, ATL, ITAR-TASS 10/22 in WNC 10/23; LAW, MM, PCHR 10/23; WJW 10/24; MEI 10/25)

The IDF fatally shoots 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs., Wassim Saba'na and Muhammad Musa, in Nablus in what is likely an assassination; shoots at a "suspicious figure" nr. a Jewish settlement nr. Nablus, wounding 1 Palestinian; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Jenin; fires on a Birzeit University dormitory; shells residential areas of Bayt Hanun, Khan Yunis; conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Rantis; lifts curfews on Nablus, Tulkarm, Ramallah for several hrs. Late in the evening, the IDF raids Dayr al-Balah, bulldozes 2.5 dunams of agricultural land. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF APC in Nablus, another device nr. Qalqilya, neither causing damage. In Hebron, Jewish settlers assault Israeli police investigating complaints of settler violence on 10/12. Following the funeral in Bethlehem for Muhammad Ubayyat, assassinated by the IDF on 10/13, several mourners seriously beat Fatah prisoner's club head Issa Qaraqa', toss a grenade into the home of Bethlehem mayor and new elections comm. head Hanna Nassir; Fatah says it considers the attacks an assault on Fatah itself. (HA 10/14; NYT, PM, WT 10/15; LAW, PCHR, PR 10/16)

AMB mbr. Muhammad Ubayyat is killed when a bomb in a pay phone he is using explodes; the IDF apparently intended to assassinate Ubayyat's brother, Bethlehem tanzim cmdr. Nassir Ubayyat, and killed Muhammad in error. The IDF makes a predawn raid on Rafah r.c., demolishing 6 Palestinian homes allegedly hiding tunnels to Egypt, killing 2 Palestinians (including a 4 yr. old crushed by a falling wall), wounding 25, bulldozing 10 dunams of land; fatally shoots 2 Palestinians nr. the Rafah border; fires on a Palestinian vehicle nr. Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian woman, injuring 2 others; fatally shoots a stone-throwing Palestinian teenager in Tulkarm; bulldozes 3 bird farms, a water network in Abasan; demolishes a Palestinian home in Jenin; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah. (LAW, NYT, PM, WP, WT 10/14; LAW, PCHR 10/16)

The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian farmer and demolishes a chicken farm, irrigation system in Abasan; bulldozes 6 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Kefar Darom; uses an amublance carrying patients as cover for firing on stone-throwing Palestinians in Nablus. In Hebron, Jewish settlers bar the muezzin at the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs fr. giving the call to prayer; invade Waqf offices, vandalizing equipment, making a bonfire out of documents (including deeds to all Waqf property in the city); break into a local Palestinian school, spray painting walls with "Death to Arabs," Stars of David. Jewish settlers fire on Palestinians harvesting olive nr. Nablus, causing no injuries; the IDF intervenes, arresting 6 Palestinians, barring others fr. continuing the harvest. Jewish settlers set fire to an olive grove nr. Ramallah, destroying around 2,000 trees. (HA, MM 10/14; LAW, PCHR 10/16)

A Hamas suicide bomber, prevented fr. getting on a bus nr. Israel’s Bar Ilan Junction, detonates his device nearby, killing 1 Israeli, injuring 16. The IDF sends tanks into Rafah, fatally shoots 2 Palestinians, demolishes 9 Palestinian homes; conducts arrest raids in 20 villages around Ramallah, detaining 55 Palestinians; places a curfew on Hebron after Palestinian gunmen in the area fire on nearby Tal Rumayda settlement, causing no injuries; bulldozes 100 acres of olive groves, 5 wells nr. Jabaliya. 2 Palestinians die of injuries sustained earlier (1 in the IDF shelling of Khan Yunis on 10/7, bringing the toll of that incident to 17). The IDF evacuates 1 inhabited, 1 uninhabited settler outpost, says it plans to dismantle 24 such outposts (only 3 of them thought to be occupied) within the next 6 wks. Jewish settlers dismantle 6 unoccupied outposts themselves. The PA calls on Hamas to turn over mbrs. involved in the 10/7 Abu Lahiya murder; 20,000 attend Abu Lahiya's funeral in Gaza. (HA, MM 10/10; HA, MM, NYT, PM, WP, WT 10/11; Interfax 10/11, QA 10/12 in WNC 10/15; LAW, PCHR 10/16; MEI 10/25; JPI 1 1/8)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Bayt Lahia, Jenin, Rafah r.c. (killing a 12-yr.-old Palestinian girl inside her house); kills 1 Palestinian nr. Tulkarm who was allegedly en route to stage a suicide bombing; fires on a busload of university students in Jenin, wounding 8; conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Tulkarm. 2 Palestinians die of injuries received in the 10/7 IDF attack on Khan Yunis, which Sharon describes as a "success" despite the fact that the IDF failed to capture or kill 2 Hamas mbrs. targeted in the attack. Palestinians fire on a settler vehicle nr. Hebron, wounding 4 Jewish settlers; Jewish settlers assault Palestinians on the street, break windows of Palestinian cars; the IDF reinforces troops in the city, reimposes a curfew, but does not intervene to stop settler attacks. (HA, NYT, PCHR, PM, WP, WT 10/9)

In Jenin r.c., Islamic Jihad mbr. Samir Nursi is fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with an IDF soldier. Jewish settlers fire on Palestinians harvesting olive groves in Aqraba village, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding another. A Palestinian taxi driver dies of injuries received on 10/5. IDF soldiers fire on a heard of cows on a Palestinian farm nr. Jabaliya r.c., killing 3 cows, wounding several others. (NYT, WP, WT 10/7; PCHR, Radio Tariq al-Mahabbeh [Ramallah] 10/9)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths violating the curfew in Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian teenager; sends an APC into the demolished areas of Arafat's Ramallah compound for the 1st time since the IDF pullback on 9/29 (pulls it out by the end of the day); arbitrarily reimposes a curfew on Jenin, immediately firing on a taxi, seriously wounding the driver. Jewish settler attack Palestinians picking olives in Aqraba, pistol whipping several, stealing the day's harvest. (PM 10/5; XIN 10/5 in WNC 10/7; NYT, WP, WT 10/6; NYT 10/8; PCHR 10/9)

IDF snipers occupy buildings overlooking Arafat's Ramallah compound, including at least 1 Palestinian home and the PA Culture Min.; Ben-Eliezer says the purpose is "to put [our] hands on all those inside who are suspects if they try to come out." After allowing visits twice in the past 2 wks., Ben-Eliezer orders the IDF to bar Jewish worshipers fr. Joseph's Tomb in Nablus for safety reasons. (HA 10/1; NYT, WT 10/2)

The IDF clashes with Islamic Jihad gunmen in, shells residential areas of Nablus and Balata r.c., leaving 1 IDF soldier dead, 3 buildings afire; fires on stone-throwing youths, killing 2 Palestinian boys ages 10 and 12, injuring 25; confiscates video footage of clashes fr. a Reuters cameraman. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Hebron, Gaza City (killing 1 Palestinian); conducts arrest raids in of Beitunia, Burkin, Hebron (reportedly detaining 5 mbrs. of a cell that has staged roadside bombings in the area), Qabatya, Tulkarm, al-Yamun; fires tank shells at residential areas of Gaza, leaving 1 Palestinian woman clinically dead (the IDF claims it was responding to mortar fire). In Ramallah, the IDF surrounds, fires shells a building where it claims some of the wanted Palestinians who hid in Arafat's offices during the siege are located; demands their surrender. (HA 9/30; HA, NYT, WP, WT 10/1; LAW, MM, PCHR 10/2; PCHR 10/3; MEI 10/11)

Bush signs the FY 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which requires the admin. to identify Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Bush says that he interprets the wording on Jerusalem as a "sense of Congress," not as binding on U.S. policy. The bill also urges the pres. to impose sanctions on the Palestinians if they do not comply with signed agmts.; withholds $10 m. of $35 m. in economic aid to Lebanon for failing to assert its authority over Hizballah; provides an additional $300 m. in aid to Israel, including $100 m. for munitions; rejects equivalent aid for Egypt. (Israel says the other $200 m. is going to be used to cover shortfalls in the defense budget.) (HA, JP, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/1; MM, NYT, PR, WT 10/2; Gulf Times [Doha], MENA, al-Quds 10/2 in WNC 10/3; MM 10/3; al-Quds 10/3 in WNC 10/4; AYM, MENA 10/4 in WNC 10/7; PR 10/9; MEI 10/11)

Israel ends the siege on Arafat's compound in Ramallah, allowing Arafat, all those inside with him to leave; troops remain in Ramallah however. A Palestinian heart attack victim dies at an IDF checkpoint nr. Khan Yunis when troops deny his passage to a hospital for several hrs. Palestinians in Nablus defy the curfew by reopening schools. The IDF surrounds 3 Nablus schools, forces them to close; fires on curfew breakers in nearby Balata r.c., injuring 3 children. The IDF also fires tear gas into an education center for children and the mentally disabled in Shu`fat r.c., injuring 150 children; demolishes 4 Palestinian houses nr. Netzarim settlement; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian children nr. Bayt Hanun and Khan Yunis, injuring 4. (AFP, JT 9/29, Interfax, MENA, QA 9/30 in WNC 10/1; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/30; CSM 10/1; LAW, PCHR 10/2; MEI 10/11; WP 11/8)

The Jerusalem Report, citing Britain’s respected Jane’s Foreign Report, claims that IDF special forces are currently operating inside western Iraq, with the knowledge of the U.S., to locate missile launchers that could be used against Israel. (JP 9/29)

The IDF fatally shoots wanted Palestinian Muhammad Yaghmur in nr. Hebron in an apparent assassination; shells residential areas of, conducts arrest raids in Dayr al-Balah, Jenin. 100s of Palestinians defy curfews in West Bank cities to hold peaceful marches marking the 2d anniversary of the al-Aqsa intifada. In Gaza City and Khan Yunis, 1,000s of Palestinians protest against the 9/26 IDF missile strike targeting Dayif. The IDF fires tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets at stone-throwing youths in Khan Yunis (seriously injuring a Palestinian boy), Ramallah. Israeli police arrest 3 Israeli Arabs in Ramla on suspicion of plotting an attack for Hamas; bar Palestinians under age 40 fr. attending Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque. (NYT, WP 9/28; LAW, PCHR, PR 10/2; HA 10/7)

U.S. Amb. to Israel Daniel Kurtzer delivers a personal message fr. Bush to Sharon, asking the PM to quickly end the IDF siege on Arafat's Ramallah offices, noting that Israel's continued defiance of the 9/24 UNSC res. is hurting U.S. efforts to build a coalition against Iraq; Secy. of State Colin Powell, National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice follow up with phone calls. Sharon sends his bureau chief Dov Weisglass to Washington for low-key mtgs. with Powell, Rice. (HA 9/27; WP 9/28; WT 9/29; NYT 9/30; MM 10/2; MEI 10/11)

The IDF demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Dura; bulldozes 3 homes and farm land nr. Netzarim settlement in Gaza; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths nr. Bayt Hanun and Kefar Darom, wounding 13; fatally shoots 1 Palestinian in his Jenin home; raids a UNRWA hospital in Qalqilya, assaulting several staff mbrs. Palestinians fire 3 Qassam rockets into the Negev, lightly injuring 4 Israelis, damaging 1 house; fire on a settler vehicle nr. Ramallah, injuring 2 Jewish settlers. Jewish settlers announce the completion of 14 permanent housing units in Rehalim nr. Nablus. The PA says it has arrested 11 Palestinian collaborators who aided Israel in various assassinations. (HA, LAW, PCHR 9/25; al-Quds 9/25 in WNC 9/26; CNN, HA, LAW, NYT 9/26; UN press release 10/1; LAW, PCHR 10/2)

Before dawn, the IDF launches a major incursion (90 tanks, bulldozers, helicopter cover) into Gaza City and Bayt Lahia, killing 9 Palestinians (including wanted local AMB leader Muhammad Kishku, senior Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Yasin Nassar in what may be assassinations), wounding 24, blowing up 1 Palestinian home, 13 metal workshops. Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb underneath 1 of the 20 tanks entering Gaza City, disabling it, injuring 2 IDF soldiers (see 9/5). Israel says the incursions are the start of a major campaign in the Gaza Strip targeting Hamas, though troops withdraw fr. Gaza City by the end of the day. The IDF also fires live ammunition at stone-throwing children in Bayt Hanun and Khan Yunis, wounding 8 and 2 respectively; fires live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at Palestinian protesters defying the curfew in Hebron; conduct arrest raids in al-Ram. Israeli police place Fatah secy. in Jerusalem Salah al-Zuhaykha under house arrest for allegedly arranging protests under orders fr. Arafat. (AP, HA, MEZ, MM, PCHR, WP, WT 9/24; AFP 9/24 in WNC 9/25; HA, LAW, NYT, PCHR, PR, WP 9/25; al-Quds 9/25 in WNC 9/26; MEI 9/27, 10/11)

After 2 days of debate, the UN Security Council (UNSC) passes (14-0, with the U.S. abstaining) Res. 1435 on the siege in Ramallah, which expresses grave concern over the Palestinians' humanitarian plight and reoccupation of Palestinian cities, "demands" Israel's immediate halt attacks on the PA headquarters. The IDF says its operations will continue "until their objectives are met." (HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/24; ATL, MENA 9/24 in WNC 9/25; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/25; al-Quds, XIN 9/25 in WNC 9/26; DUS 9/25 in WNC 10/1; AP, HA, MM, NYT, WJW, WT 9/26; JT 10/7 in WNC 10/8; MEI 10/11)

The IDF bars the transportation of an ailing Palestinian infant to a hospital in Hebron, allowing her to die; fires live ammunition at stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Khan Yunis, wounding 2; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bayt Wazzan; conducts arrest raids in Beitunia, Burqa. A Palestinian gunman opens fire on Jewish settlers nr. the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, killing 1 Jewish settler, wounding 3. Palestinians in Ramallah defy the curfew for a 3d day to protest the IDF's ongoing siege of Arafat's headquarters. (HA 9/23; AFP, al-Quds 9/23 in WNC 9/24; MM, NYT, WP 9/24; LAW, PCHR 9/25; PRCS press release 9/27)

Under pressure fr. the U.S., Israel halts demolitions in the PA's Ramallah compound, though soldiers maintain the siege and raise an Israeli flag atop the remaining building where Arafat and his men are holed up. 1,000s of Palestinians defy curfews across the West Bank to protest for a 2d day, demonstrations also continue in Gaza. In Balata r.c., the IDF fires on a group of Palestinian, international protesters killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy. The IDF also bulldozes 9 dunams of land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. In Tel Aviv, 200 Israeli peace activists protest IDF actions in Ramallah. (GS, PM 9/22; ATL, MENA, RFI 9/22, JT 9/23 in WNC 9/23; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/23; LAW, PCHR 9/25; MEI 9/27)

In Ramallah, the IDF continues demolition work at the PA compound, setting fire to storehouses, bulldozing the Ramallah governate building; says it now seeks the extradition of 50 Palestinians inside Arafat's offices; warns those inside the remaining building to evacuate or risk being harmed when the IDF blows it up, prompting 1,000s of Palestinians to take to the street in protest, despite the curfew. The IDF fires stun grenades, live ammunition at the crowds, killing 2 Palestinians (including a journalist with Voice of Palestine). (After al-Jazeera TV broadcasts news of the spontaneous Ramallah demonstrations, 1,000s of Palestinians violate the curfews Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm and rally in Gaza to protest; the IDF kills 1 Palestinian protester in Nablus, a 2d Palestinian in Tulkarm and demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Qabatya, Qalqilya.) None of the Palestinians in the Ramallah compound evacuates, the IDF does not blow up the building; unnamed Israeli officials suggest the threat was "psychological combat" aimed at making living conditions so unbearable for Arafat that he seeks refuge abroad. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in al-Fara' r.c., Jenin, Rafah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; fires on an ambulance in Nablus, damaging it, wounding 1 Palestinian bystander. (PM 9/21; MENA 9/21, ITAR-TASS, XIN 9/22 in WNC 9/23; NYT, PM, WP, WT 9/22; HA 9/23; al-Quds 9/23 in WNC 9/24; MM 9/24; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MEI, MM 9/27; PRCS press release 9/27)

In Ramallah, the IDF blows up 6 buildings (including the 4-story PA Interior Min.) in the PA compound in Ramallah, destroys 11 caravans that temporarily house PSF offices, leaving the building in which Arafat is taking shelter the only structure in the compound still intact; digs a trench around the Arafat's building and fires on, demolishes staircases inside to keep him confined to 1 floor; another 20 Palestinians surrender to the IDF, but Israel says none of them are among the wanted Palestinians; an IDF sniper fatally shoots a PSF officer nr. the compound. The IDF makes a predawn raid on an area of Gaza City, fatally shooting 2 Palestinians, blowing up 6 metal workshops, damaging 2 nearby workshops, 5 stores, and 10s of houses. In response, Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol in Gaza, injuring 1 IDF soldier, 1 border policeman. The IDF also raids Rafah, firing live ammunition and tanks shells at residential areas, killing 2 Palestinian boys; closes PLO Jerusalem affairs adviser Sari Nusseibeh's offices in Jerusalem as well as offices of a Palestinian sports team union and the Jerusalem Society of Culture and Art, confiscating computers; conducts arrest raids in Burqa. A Scottish teenager injured in the 9/19 Tel Aviv bombing dies of his injuries, bringing that toll to 6. (HA, NYT, PM, WP 9/20; AFP, MENA 9/20, QA 9/21 in WNC 9/23; MEZ, NYT, WP, WT 9/21; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MM 9/26; MEI 9/27)

A Hamas suicide bomber detonates a device on a bus in Tel Aviv, killing 5 Israelis, injuring more than 50. Sharon convenes his cabinet, which unanimously decides to launch Operation Matter of Time to "isolate” Arafat, calls for the immediate extradition of around 20 wanted Palestinians (including Force 17 head Mahmud Damara, PA General Intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi) allegedly among the 200 Palestinians hiding in Arafat's offices (8 surrender in the evening). The IDF immediately reimposes 24-hr. curfews on all West Bank areas except Hebron; sends tanks into Ramallah to surround Arafat's offices (1 tank fatally shoots a 10-yr.-old Palestinian boy 6 times; troops shoot, wound 2 Arafat bodyguards in the PA headquarters compound); fires on "Palestinian schoolchildren challenging the army's attempt to impose a curfew" in Amari r.c., killing a 11-yr.-old Palestinian; shells residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Bayt Hanun (where an IDF tank runs over a roadside bomb, injuring 2 soldiers), Jenin r.c. (blowing up 1 Palestinian home), Nablus, Qalqilya, the Tulkarm area; bulldozes 19 dunams of agricultural land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. Jewish settlers open fire on a Palestinian taxi nr. Tulkarm, seriously injuring the driver. (AP, HA, JTA, LAW, MM, PM 9/19; ATL, ITAR-TASS 9/19 in WNC 9/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 9/20; Interfax, MA, Radio Monte Carlo 9/20 in WNC 9/23; MEZ, NYT 9/21; AYM 9/23 in WNC 9/25; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MA 9/25 in WNC 9/26; WJW 9/26; MEI 9/27)