In Jenin, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) assassinates local Hamas leader Nazih al-Siba' using a remote controlled explosive device; 1,000s of Palestinians take to the streets to protest against Israel. A Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) suicide bomber infiltrates a Karnei Shomron settlement in the West Bank, detonating a device in a food court, killing 3 Jewish settlers, injuring more than 20. The IDF responds with missile strikes against targets in Nablus. Palestinians fire 1-2 Qassam-2 rockets, 2 mortars at IDF positions in Gaza and across the border inside Israel, causing no damage. In response, the IDF conducts raids into areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) around Bureij, killing 2 Palestinians and injuring 12, destroying a PA Preventive Security Force (PSF) training base, several PSF posts. (AP, LAW 2/16; XIN 2/16 in WNC 2/19; NYT, WP, WT 2/17)
Saturday, February 16, 2002