The IDF tightens closures throughout the West Bank; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Rafah, at a PSF post outside Qalqilya; demolish 5 Palestinian homes in Bayt Hanina; establishes new checkpoints outside Qalqilya, Tulkarm; continues demolitions in Yibna (see 7/3), destroying an unknown number of homes, farming structures, cisterns. Palestinian gunmen fire on 2 vehicles driving along the Israeli border nr. Tulkarm, killing 1 Israeli civilian; 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (HP 7/4; LAW 7/9)
Israel's security cabinet selects 26 Palestinians as prime targets for assassination. The UN, the U.S. reiterate their opposition. The PA says Israel is essentially renouncing the U.S. cease-fire arrangement. As the cabinet mtg. takes place, plainclothes gunmen shoot, wound senior Fatah mbr. Hazim Natshe, on Israel's most wanted list, in an apparent assassination attempt in Hebron. (HA 7/4; AYM, DUS, MA, QA 7/4, MA, MENA 7/5 in WNC 7/7; AP, NYT, WT 7/5; AP 7/6; MEI 7/13; MM 7/18; MA 7/18 in WNC 7/19)