Thursday, April 14, 2016

IDF troops shoot and kill a Palestinian at an entrance to al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron as he allegedly attempts to attack a soldier with an ax. Elsewhere in the West Bank, IDF troops raid a money exchange office in Ramallah early in the morning. They detonate a small explosive in an attempt to open a safe, which causes a large fire and major damage. In the Hebron area, IDF troops shut down a number of Palestinian stores, and assault and arrest a Palestinian taxi driver outside al-‘Arub r.c. Israeli forces destroy a charcoal facility, an agricultural structure, and a number of solar cells nr. Jenin, sparking minor clashes with Palestinians (there are no injuries). They also demolish a rainwater harvesting well nr. Hebron and conduct late night raids nr. Nablus, arresting 4 Palestinians; patrol during the day nr. Hebron. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police arrest 2 Palestinian youths carrying knives, and order the Palestinian National Theater to close for 1 day as punishment for organizing an event sponsored by the PA. Israeli forces arrest 2 Palestinians during late-night raids in the Old City. Along Gaza’s border, Israeli forces conduct a limited incursion to level land nr. Rafah. Separately, Hamas forces establish 3 new bases and a number of temporary structures along the border with Egypt in an attempt to strengthen border security and improve ties with the Egyptian govt. (AFP, EI, HA, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/14; PCHR 4/21)

Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office denies that the PM recently approved the construction of over 200 new settler residences in the West Bank, contrary to Israeli press reports on 4/13. “Almost all of the permits are intended for the upgrading of existing buildings,” the office’s statement reads. Peace Now rejects the PM’s statement, offering photographic evidence showing that the permits are for new residences. (HA, TOI 4/14; JP 4/15)