In the West Bank, Israeli forces shoot and kill a Palestinian teenager by the separation wall nr. Hebron. Family and witnesses say the boy was foraging for plants with friends when shot, while an Israeli military spokesperson claims that the deceased was spotted damaging the fence and ignored warnings to move away. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in Hebron and 1 village nr. Jenin in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Qalqilya, 1 village nr. Hebron, and Salfit at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the afternoon, and in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. In East Jerusalem, IDF troops demolish a Palestinian-owned home in Bayt Hanina, as well as 2 mobile homes and sheep barns in al-Ashraqiya. More than 90 Israeli army recruits and some 20 right-wing Jewish activists enter and tour Haram al-Sharif. (MNA, PNN, REU, 3/19; PCHR 3/20)
The Jerusalem municipality approves construction permits for 184 housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, with 144 in Har Homa C, and 40 in Pisgat Ze’ev. (HA, REU 3/19)
In response to the previous day’s roadside bombing, the Israeli air force conducts air strikes against several Syrian military targets, killing 1 soldier and wounding 7. It is unclear which group planted the bomb, but Israeli DM Ya’alon says that Israel holds Pres. Bashar al-Asad responsible for “what happen in [his govt.’s] territory.” (AP, REU 3/19)
Israeli DM Ya’alon telephones U.S. Defense Secy. Chuck Hagel to make amends for remarks he made at Tel Aviv University on 3/17, but reports differ on whether or not he makes an explicit apology. Earlier, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and Israeli PM Netanyahu spoke about the Israeli DM’s comments, and Netanyahu addressed the Knesset, saying that the U.S. remains Israel’s greatest ally. State Dept. spokesperson Psaki says that“clearly [Ya’alon’s] comments were not constructive” and that “it is certainly confusing to us.” (HA, JP 3/19)
Meetings in Vienna between representatives of Iran and the P5+1 countries break up without agreement on the issues of uranium enrichment levels and the Arak heavy-water reactor, with the sides agreeing to meet again in Vienna from 4/7 to 4/9. (REU 3/19)