Saturday, May 15, 2004

The IDF fires missiles at the Gaza City office and home of Islamic Jihad’s Gaza head Hindi, who is not there at the time, wounding 8 Palestinians; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; fires on stone-throwing youths nr. Kefar Darom settlement, wounding 1 seriously. The IDF also temporarily halts house demolitions in Gaza on order fr. the Israeli High Court, which agrees to hear a petition against the bulldozing by a Palestinian human rights group. In Tel Aviv, more than 120,000 Israelis attend a Peace Now rally calling for a full Israeli pullout fr. Gaza. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during the IDF’s 5/11 raid on Gaza City. (NYT, WT 5/15; PSCT, VOP 5/15, HA, JP, VOI, YA 5/16 in WNC 5/18; NYT, WP, WT 5/16; PCHR 5/20)

Powell meets with PA PM Ahmad Qurai‘ in Amman, urges him to “seize the opportunity” presented by Sharon’s unilateral disengagement. (VOP, XIN 5/15, AYM, MA, MENA, XIN 5/16 in WNC 5/18; NYT, WP, WT 5/16; WP 5/17)