The Palestine Chronology

After Friday prayers 30 Palestinians inside the al-Aqsa Mosque compound pelt officers outside the complex with stones in protest of Bush's decision to sign legislation requiring U.S. recognition of united Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Some 50 Israeli police storm the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, fire tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinian worshipers leaving al-Aqsa Mosque. The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint in Barata nr. Hebron; fires on residential areas of Jenin, wounding at least 3, including a 15-yr.-old Palestinian hit inside his home, barred evacuation to a hospital, bleeds to death (the IDF admits that soldiers violated open-fire regulations); fires on a Palestinian taxi breaking curfew in Nablus, seriously injuring the driver, a 12-yr.-old Palestinian bystander; conducts arrest raids in Dura, Hebron; bulldozes a PSF post, more than 23 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Khan Yunis. An IDF soldier is shot, wounded in Nablus. Palestinians fire 4 mortars at Gush Katif settlement block in Gaza, an antitank missile at an IDF outpost, causing no damage. (HA, REU 10/4; LAW, NYT, WT 10/5; PCHR 10/9)

The IDF raids an alleged explosives factory in Nablus, killing most-wanted Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades West Bank head Yusif Suragji and 3 other Hamas mbrs.; the PA claims they were assassinated. Hamas vows to launch an "all-out war" against Israel. In retaliation, an AMB gunman opens fire in West Jerusalem, wounding 16 Israelis before being fatally shot by Israeli police. Hamas spokesman `Abd al-`Aziz claims that the PA is actively tipping off the IDF to the location of Hamas operatives, granting the IDF entry to PA areas; threatens that Hamas will make sure the "conspirators . . . pay the price." In Nablus, 2,000 Palestinians angry over the deaths march on the local PA headquarters and PSF office demanding the release of 28 detained Hamas mbrs., torching 3 PSF cars. PSF officers shoot tear gas, stun grenades at the crowd, fire their weapons in the air, killing 1 Palestinian. To calm tensions, the PSF "temporarily" releases the brother of 1 of the Hamas mbrs. killed today so he may attend the funeral. IDF withdraws to the outskirts of Tulkarm after a massive 24-hr. incursion but also fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis. In Ramallah, 1 IDF soldier is killed by IDF machine gun fire; the army says it is investigating the incident. (CNN, HA, MM 1/22; HA, NYT, WP, WT 1/23; PCHR 1/23; MEI 1/25)