In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Hebron and 1 nr. Tulkarm at night. (PCHR 3/21)
Israel’s new housing minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi), himself the founder of a number of settlements, rejects the idea of a construction freeze in West Bank settlements, pledging to ‘‘build in Judea and Samaria.’’ (ToI 3/17)
The European Union reveals that it contributed around €20.8 million ($27.2 million) to the PA to cover the payment of 2/2012 salaries and pensions of over 80,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, funding channelled through the donors’ PEGASE mechanism. (WAFA 3/17)
Iranian authorities indict 18 suspects on charges related to the killing of nuclear scientists—attacks Tehran has claimed are linked to Mossad, the CIA, and MI6. (AP 3/17)