October 7, 2005

The IDF arrests fmr. Hamas mbr. and al-Najah University prof. Nasir Sha’ir of Nablus, who has announced plans to run in legislative elections as an independent; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron; fires on residential areas in Hebron. More than 200 PA police surround, search homes in Yatta, seeking suspected arms smugglers and drug dealers, arresting 30 and confiscating illegal weapons. The OBKB releases Hamas mbr. Raz (kidnapped in Tulkarm on 10/6), who says his captors beat him but later apologized. (AP, Irish Examiner 10/7; AFP 10/8; PCHR 10/13)