In response to the attack on a settler family on 8/25, the IDF dispatches F-15s and F-16s to bomb the PA Military Intelligence headquarters outside Gaza City and the PSF headquarters in Salfit, killing 1 PSF officer, wounding 18 Palestinians. Also in Gaza City, IDF shells, destroys the PSF headquarters and bulldozes 2 PSF checkpoints; helicopters hover over Arafat's headquarters but do not fire. This evening, after the AMB fatally shoots an Israeli civilian driving outside Tulkarm, the IDF shells PSF buildings and checkpoints in Tulkarm, al-Bireh, killing 1 PSF officer. Sharon meets with Ben-Eliezer, Peres; reportedly decides to step up retaliatory attacks on PA targets, shorten the time btwn. incident and retaliation, even if this means striking occupied buildings. (AP, NYT, WT 8/26; NYT, WP, WT 8/27; MA 8/27 in WNC 8/28; al-Quds 8/29 in WNC 8/30; al-Quds, Star 8/30 in WNC 8/31)
Sunday, August 26, 2001