Monday, October 14, 2013

In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah in the morning, in 1 village each nr. Hebron and Tulkarm in the afternoon, and in 1 village nr. Hebron at night. There are reports from locals that in Bayt Awa village nr. Hebron, Palestinians attacked Israeli watchtowers with stones and petrol bombs, where soldiers responded with tear gas grenades. Some 30 Jewish settlers attack a Palestinian vehicle nr. Nablus, whose driver managed to escape without injury. (MNA 10/14; PCHR 10/24)

The Obama administration is urged by U.S. lawmakers not to relieve the pressure on Iran, a day before a new round of P5+1 talks, in a letter signed by a group of 6 Democratic and 4 Republican sens. The sens. say they are open to suspending new sanctions only if Tehran takes significant steps in slowing its nuclear program. Signatories to the letter include Robert Menendez (D-NJ), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Cmte., and Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham. (REU 10/14)

U.S. Secy. of State Kerry and UN envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi tell reporters that an international conference to set up a transitional govt. must be organized and held urgently, in remarks following a meeting at the home of the U.S. amb. to Britain. (AP 10/14)