Overnight, the IDF makes an air strike on Islamic Jihad mbrs. operating nr. the Gaza border fence e. of al-Maghazi r.c. who fire 2 rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at the Kissufim IDF base inside Israel (causing no injuries), killing 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs., wounding 1. Palestinians fire several rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, damaging a synagogue in Netivot, but causing no injuries. In the afternoon and late evening, the IDF makes at least 9 air strikes on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into Bil‘in village during the day, firing toward stone-throwing youths who confront them, causing no reported injuries; conducts evening arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem; conducts similar late-night operations in ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr. Jericho and nr. Jenin. In Jerusalem, a Palestinian construction worker in a bulldozer rams and flips a police car, pushing it into an empty bus, injuring 2 police officers, before police and bystanders shoot him dead; Israel considers it a terrorist attack, though the man apparently acted on his own. Jewish settlers fr. Matityahu settlement nr. Ramallah burn a Palestinian home. (NYT, WP 3/6; OCHA 3/10, 3/11; PCHR 3/12)
Thursday, March 5, 2009