Overnight, the IDF makes an incursion into Bethlehem, surrounding and firing on the home of a wanted Palestinian, raiding and several nearby homes, occupying 1 as an observation post; over the next 12 hrs., troops evacuate, partially bulldoze, then storm the surrounded, vacant home, incorrectly believing the wanted man to be inside, rendering the house uninhabitable. The IDF also enters al-Khadir village nr. Bethlehem and al-Masayaf neighborhood in Ramallah in the morning, randomly checking Palestinians’ IDs, arresting 2 in al-Khadir and summoning 2 in Ramallah for questioning; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities formally open a synagogue built on confiscated and demolished Palestinian property; the ceremony is attended by several senior Israeli officials, rabbis, and right-wing Israeli MKs. (NYT 10/13; OCHA 10/15; PCHR 10/16)
Sunday, October 12, 2008