March 29, 2005

The IDF severely beats an 80-yr.-old Palestinian at a flying checkpoint outside Tulkarm, accusing him of warning wanted Palestinians of the presence of the IDF in the area; arrests 3 unarmed PA traffic policemen in the Palestinian section of Hebron on charges that they were in a prohibited area; arrests 3 Palestinians in Gaza on suspicion of smuggling arms; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Asira nr Nablus; begins construction of a new 2-km section of the separation wall w. of Ramallah. An AMB mbr. being pursued by the IDF is killed in a car crash in Ramallah. In Rafah, 5 unidentified Palestinians beat, moderately injure Hamas municipal elections candidate Azmi Abu Mur. (PR 3/30; AYM, HJ 3/30 in WNC 3/31; PCHR 3/31; OCHA 4/6)