In the West Bank, IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian child outside Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, in response to a group of Palestinian youth throwing stones at Beit El settlement. The 14-year-old was shot in the back, and witnesses say that he was not participating in the stone throwing. The IDF conducts house searches and arrest raids in 1 village each nr. Hebron, Qalqilya and Ramallah, and in Jenin, and Jenin r.c. at night; patrols in 1 village nr. Salfit in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Hebron, 1 village each nr. Qalqilya and Ramallah, and in Tulkarm at night. Also in the West Bank, Jewish settlers attack a Palestinian house and its residents in c. Hebron, causing some damage before Israeli forces intervene. Meanwhile, Palestinians, Israelis, and international activists participate in a demonstration in Nabi Salih to mark the 2nd anniversary of the killing of Mustafa al-Tamimi, a local resident. Israeli forces violently disperse the demonstrators, injuring 1 Palestinian with a live bullet to the jaw. In the Gaza Strip, IDF troops fire shells at Palestinian farmers nr. Bayt Hanun, causing no injuries. Meanwhile, media reports say that 3 rockets fired from inside Gaza land inside the territory, causing no casualties. (AFP, MNA 12/7; PCHR 12/12)
U.S. Pres. Obama says that the chances of reaching a comprehensive deal with Iran over its disputed nuclear program are 50-50 or worse, in comments made at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. (See document D1 in JPS 171 for extended excerpts of Obama’s remarks.) Meanwhile, IAEA spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi says that Tehran is proceeding with testing more efficient uranium enrichment technology, in remarks quoted by state news agency IRNA. (AP, IRNA, REU 12/7)