The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, the IDF detains 3 shop owners and demolishes their auto repair shops in Qalqilya, destroying equipment within and causing substantial losses. (PCHR 8/20)

The Israeli government denies reports that it has officially approved a construction freeze to last until 2010 but confirms that PM Benjamin Netanyahu, DM Ehud Barak, and Housing and Construction M Ariel Atias have made a decision to suspend soliciting of new bids for settlement construction in the West Bank. (JP 8/18; WP, WT 8/19; WJW 8/20; WT 8/21)

A Fatah al-Islam (FI) mbr. jailed in Lebanon for his participation in clashes between FI and the Lebanese army in ‘Ayn al-Hilwa r.c. in 2007 (see Quarterly Updates in JPS 145, 146) escapes fr. a highsecurity prison with the help of 8 other would-be escapees. (NYT 8/19)