The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Tulkarm, nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah and in al-Arub r.c., al-Fawwar r.c., Jenin r.c. and town. Some 6,000 Israeli troops and riot police evacuate the unauthorized Amona outpost and demolish 9 settler homes there (leaving 12 mobile homes intact), scuffling with 100s of Jewish settlers who come to defend the site; settlers pelt police with rocks, sand, paint and police respond with batons, water cannons, leaving a total of 219 injured, including at least 80 officers, some 140 settlers, 2 right-wing MKs. Hamas mbrs. fire a rocket at the home of PA security forces cmdr. Sulayman Abu Mutlik and towards the PA security forces cmdr. in Dayr al-Balah; no injuries are reported. Armed AMB mbrs. raid the offices of Palestinian Satellite Channel in Ramallah to protest the PA’s failure to pay the salaries of some 65 employees of PA controlled media outlets. (NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 2/2; HA 2/5; PCHR 2/9)
Wednesday, February 1, 2006