April 1, 2006

In response to Palestinians firing 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel overnight (causing no damage or injuries), the IDF shells the n. Gaza no-go zone fr. land and sea, severely damaging the Bayt Lahiya electricity grid, a number of houses, 3 cars. The IDF also closes the Nablus–Tulkarm road into Tulkarm, sealing the city (other access roads were closed on 3/30); conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, nr. Nablus. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba uproot and take back to the settlement 60 olive tree saplings fr. nearby Palestinian land. Other Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba vandalize a Palestinian home; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Also in Hebron, Jewish settlers fr. Beit Hadasah throw bottles and stones at Palestinian school children, escorted by international peace activists, injuring 1 activist; the IDF observes but does not intervene. Separately, Jewish settlers in Hebron throw bottles and stones at Palestinians to prevent them fr. using Shuhada Street. Jewish settlers fr. Mehola attack a Palestinian shepherd grazing his sheep nr. Bayt Furik outside Nablus, violently beating him, stabbing his sheep, killing 15 and wounding 5. PM Haniyeh orders all Palestinian gunmen off Gaza City streets to reduce tensions after clashes on 3/31; the PRCs say they will observe the call, but in a show of defiance, 300 armed Fatah mbrs. march through the streets, firing in the air, demanding that the PA arrest PRC mbrs. involved in the 3/31 violence. (HA, JAZ 4/1; WT 4/2; PCHR 4/6)