April 15, 2002

Sharon says the IDF will pull out of Jenin, Nablus and begin to discharge reservists within a wk. but will stay in Bethlehem, Ramallah until wanted Palestinians there are captured or exiled. The IDF enters 2 more West Bank villages; lifts the curfews on Bethlehem, Ramallah for a few hrs. In Ramallah, IDF commando units arrest Fatah's Barghouti (see 4/2). The IDF now says it has detained more than 5,000 Palestinians since 3/29. UNRWA workers are allowed part way into Jenin r.c. for the 1st time since 4/3 but are barred fr. distributing food, water, medicine. Journalists who reach the center of the camp say the IDF has "obliterated" 2 city blocks of the main residential area, the "smell of decomposing bodies" hangs in the air, but wks. of work will be needed to determine if a massacre took place. In Bethlehem, 2 ailing Palestinians fr. the Church of the Nativity surrender; the IDF allows relief workers to bring water, medical supplies to those still inside. The IDF, Palestinian gunmen briefly exchange fire nr. Manger Square, leaving 1 Palestinian, 2 soldiers wounded. The IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian nr. Qur'a r.c., 1 in al-Doha; a 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (Addameer press release, HA, UPMRC 4/15; MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/16; MA 4/16 in WNC 4/18; B'Tselem press release, HA 4/17; AFP, WJW 4/18; MEI 4/19; SA 4/29 in WNC 4/30)