In the West Bank, the IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 2 nearby villages at night, and in 1 village nr. Qalqilya at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron in the afternoon, and 2 villages nr. Hebron at night. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian-owned property and vehicles in Jit village nr. Nablus. The settlers are subsequently forced to leave the village when residents confront them. (MNA 2/22; PCHR 2/27)
The UNSC passes a resolution on Syria’s humanitarian crisis, demanding that both the govt. and opposition allow immediate access everywhere in the country for agencies delivering aid. After 2 weeks of negotiations, Russian and Chinese objections to the original Western and Arab-backed text were overcome with the dropping of a reference to possible sanctions. Instead, the resolution refers to vague “further steps” if the demands are not met. (AP, REU 2/22)
A suicide bomber kills 2 Lebanese soldiers and a civilian, wounding 17, in an attack on an army checkpoint nr. Hermel, a Hizballah stronghold close to the Syrian border. The attack is claimed by the Jabhat al-Nusra Front in Lebanon. It is the 3d such attack in recent weeks in Hermel. (AFP, REU 2/22)
U.S. Under Secy. of State Wendy Sherman tells reporters in Jerusalem that under a final agreement, Iran would be able to maintain a domestic nuclear enrichment program appropriate for its needs. Sherman makes her remarks during a visit for talks with Israel’s Intelligence and Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz and National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen. (HA 2/22)