Israel initiates land, sea, air strikes against PA targets in the West Bank and Gaza, leaving 3 Palestinians dead and destroying the PA intelligence headquarters in Gaza City, the naval headquarters in Nussayrat, a PA police station in Rafah. Israel claims the action is in response to mortar attacks staged fr. those areas. In East Jerusalem, DFLP gunmen ambush a Jewish settler vehicle, killing 1 settler, wounding 1. IDF troops guarding Har Homa settlement direct shells, heavy machine gun fire at Bayt Sahur, injuring at least 8 Palestinians. Troops continue to bombard the town as Red Crescent medical workers attempt to reach the wounded, killing a Palestinian paramedic, destroying 3 ambulances. The IDF also arrests PC vice chmn. Bishara Daoud on his way to Jerusalem to participate in the coronation of the new Greek Orthodox patriarch, detain him for interrogation. (AP, HP, WP 9/15; LAW, PMC, WP, WT 9/16; NYT 9/20; LAW 9/29)
Saturday, September 15, 2001