The IDF pulls out of Bayt Rima. Heavy clashes continue in Bethlehem and Tulkarm, leaving a total of 5 Palestinians dead, including a Hamas mbr. killed by an IDF sniper in Bethlehem. The IDF also shells residential areas of Rafah; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah; conducts an arrest raid in Jinin. Journalists in Gaza report that the IDF bulldozing is "methodically creating free-fire [buffer] zones along the periphery of the Strip." (NYT, REU 10/25; HA, NYT, WP 10/26; LAW 10/31)
Sharon briefs his cabinet on U.S. demands for Israel to withdraw fr. areas A. Afterward, he reiterates that the IDF will only pull back if the PA adheres to stringent cease-fire demands, including the arrest and extradition of "terrorists." The cabinet declares that Israel "reserves the right to freedom of activity." In response, the U.S. convenes the trilateral security comm., and envoys fr. the EU, Russia, the UN, and the U.S. meet with Arafat. After the PA pledges that areas A would not be used as staging areas for attacks on Israel after a withdrawal, Israel agrees to begin pulling out of reoccupied Palestinian towns by 10/28. (WP, WT 10/26; NYT, WP 10/27)