In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Huwwara, injuring 6 Palestinians and damaging property, including throwing stones at an ambulance and setting a fire truck on fire. 4 Israelis and 2...
Occupied Palestine/Israel: State attorney denies June 1980 car bomb victims Karim Khalaf & Ibrahim Tawil access to files compiled from evidence. Bulldozers...
IDF patrol ambushed on perimeter of West Beirut; UN official charges Israel creating armed committees in 60 villages south of Litani, as part of plan to implement "...
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In the West Bank, Israeli settlers raided Huwwara, injuring 6 Palestinians and damaging property, including throwing stones at an ambulance and setting a fire truck on fire. 4 Israelis and 2 Palestinians were arrested. Israeli settlers also threw stones at Palestinian homes in ‘Asira al-Qibliya, damaging 2. Israeli forces shot and injured 6 Palestinians during a raid in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, including 4 with live ammunition and 2 with baton rounds. Israeli forces also shot and injured 1 Palestinian minor during a raid in al-Khader. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces had previously raided the compound to clear it for the settlers. Elsewhere in Jerusalem, Israeli pro-government protesters assaulted Palestinians passing by the crowd, seriously beating 1 Palestinian man. 3 Israelis were later arrested. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/27; AJ, AJ 3/28; ; PCHR, WAFA 3/30; UNOCHA 3/31)
HaMoked reported that data from the Israeli Prison Service showed that on 3/1 Israel was holding 971 people in administrative detention, 967 of whom were Palestinians and 4 of whom were Israeli Jews. (HA 3/27; HA 4/2)
Israelis protested against the Israeli government’s plans to overhaul the judicial system. The protests escalated after Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant was fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 3/26 following Gallant’s calls for a freeze on the legislation. The Israel airports trade union closed down Ben-Gurion International Airport for all incoming and outgoing flights. Later other unions followed, closing down several embassies around the world. Israeli president Isaac Herzog also issued a statement directed at Netanyahu calling on him to freeze his pursuit for control over the judicial branch of government. Later in the day Netanyahu survived 2 no-confidence votes in the Knesset, 59-53 and 60-51. In the evening Netanyahu announced a pause to his government’s plans “to give a real opportunity for real dialogue.” To appease National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who had threatened to resign if the legislation was paused, Netanyahu promised him that he will establish a national guard under Ben-Gvir’s command. The New York Times reported that U.S. officials had intensely pressured the Netanyahu government to pause the legislation. (HA 3/26; AJ, AJ, AJ, ALM, AP, AP, AX, BBC, GDN, HA, HA, HA, MEE, NYT, NYT, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA 3/27; ALM, AP, NYT 3/28; AX, HA, MEE, REU 3/29; NYT 3/31)
The White House banned U.S. federal agencies from using commercially available spyware that poses national security and human rights risks. The executive order follows a report that more than 50 U.S. government employees in 10 countries have been targeted by spyware. Previous hacks of the phones of U.S. government personnel in Uganda were linked to the Israeli NSO Group and its Pegasus spyware. (MEE, WP 3/27; HA 3/29)
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: Mossad ex-director Amit announces private project to launch Israeli communications satellite. DM Rabin tells Knesset Israel has abandoned idea of achieving political gains with IDF in Lebanon. Foreign Min. announces plan to send relief supplies to hunger-stricken Africa with financing by US Presidential Task Force on Intl. Private Enterprize.
Arab World: Rebel Palestinian guerrilla leader Sabri al-Banna (Abu Nidal) dies of heart attack in Baghdad. Palestine National Fund meets in San'a'. Egypt permits 1st nuclear-powered US Navy ship to pass through Suez Canal.
Other Countries: US Pres. Reagan wins reelection by landslide. Military Action: Lebanese & Palestinian fighters ambush "national guard" leader Mahmoud Tabajah in Ghassab Tadmin, S. Lebanon, killing him & 2 aides for working with IDF.
Social/Economic/Political
Occupied Palestine/Israel: State attorney denies June 1980 car bomb victims Karim Khalaf & Ibrahim Tawil access to files compiled from evidence. Bulldozers open several roads on al-Jib villagers' land; owners file case in protest. Arriving in Jerusalem, UN Sec. Gen. De Cuellar received by PM Shamir and FM Kimche who charge UN encourages "terrorists and murderers" seeking Israel's destruction. Kfar Darom yeshiva members tour Gaza, looking for site of future settlement in heart of Gaza city.
Arab World: Lebanese parliament votes in favor of Karami government.
Other Countries: In Geneva, Arab & Muslim countries walk out when Costa Rica Pres. Monge addresses ILO conf. to protest his moving embassy to Jerusalem; US delegation leads standing ovation by Western bloc.
Military Action
Arab World: IDF conducts search of Burj al-Rahal, S. Lebanon; residents hurl stones at IDF, troops shoot at villagers, killing 2. Head of Israel-backed "national guard" in Idwri village, S. Lebanon injured by car-bomb explosion.
Military Action:
IDF patrol ambushed on perimeter of West Beirut; UN official charges Israel creating armed committees in 60 villages south of Litani, as part of plan to implement "Organization for a Unified South," with goal of 5,000 to 12,000 armed men; Amal forces and newly formed National Guard of Lebanon clash in coastal village of al-Ghaziyeh.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Foreign Minister Shamir arrives in Bonn for talks with West German leaders; Finance Minister Aridor to visit South Africa this week seeking increased economic aid; Ibna al-Balad (Sons of the Village) distributes leaflet calling for rejection of West Bank and Gaza groups supporting Reagan plan, police arrest some members on suspicion of having painted the walls of their club in the colors of the PLO flag; Uri Avnery, Matti Peled and Ya'acov Arnon, who met with Arafat in Tunis, leave Sheli party; Peace Now demonstrates outside Begin's office to protest continued Israeli presence in Lebanon; Defense Ministry says Israel will take all steps necessary for security of Galilee, even if this means a de facto division of Lebanon into spheres of influence; Village League head Mustafa Dudeen leaves for visit to US.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Issam Sartawi says previous Palestine National Council resolutions amount to recognition of state of Israel and that Arafat has accepted formula of Palestinian state in West Bank and Gaza; 800 residents of South Lebanon meet under Israeli guard in Klea, form Organization for a Unified South (OUS), call for peace treaty with Israel and support for Saad Haddad.
US and Other Countries: US evangelical groups such as Moral Majority, Religious Roundtable increasing support for Israel.
