The IDF eases some restrictions on Palestinian movement around Nablus; conducts a late-night raid on Budrus village nr. Ramallah, site of several recent demonstrations against the separation wall, rounding up women and children, photographing them; installs 2 new electronic gates at the entrances to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs to control Palestinian access (see 3/13); conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron (occupying a Palestinian home as an observation post, then allowing settlers to move in), Husan (occupying a Palestinian home as an IDF post). Israeli border police drive through Bil‘in village nr. Ramallah, taunting local youths over loudspeakers, saying “All of Bil‘in’s children are cowards. Let’s see you throw stones”; detains a 14-yr.-old boy who throws stones, questions him, releases him 2 mi. fr. the village. In Hebron, a Jewish settler woman stops a 9-yr-old Palestinian boy on his way home fr. school, takes him to Ramat Yishai settlement, and severely beats him with a rock, breaking his teeth, injuring his back and limbs. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino attack 4 nearby Palestinian homes, causing damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba beat, injure an international peace activist in Hebron. (WT, YA 3/25; IMEMC 3/26; OCHA 3/30; PCHR 3/31)
Thursday, March 24, 2005