May 19, 2006

The IDF conducts major arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (searching a mosque, firing on residential areas, seriously wounding 1 Palestinian); also conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Ramallah. In Gaza City, PA police, Fatah mbrs. exchange fire with ESF forces, leaving 2 police officers, 1 Fatah mbr., 1 Hamas mbr. wounded. Palestinian customs officials detain Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri as he enters Gaza at the Rafah crossing after EU monitors discover he is trying to smuggle in $815,000 in Euros, confiscate the money; anyone entering Gaza must declare sums over $2,000. (IMEMC, MM, WP, XIN 5/19; HA, JAZ, NYT, WP, WT 5/20; PCHR 5/25)