2 Palestinians killed. 2 Israelis killed.
Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 2
Palestinians dead, 80 wounded. Nr. Nablus, Jewish settlers uproot a
Palestinian olive grove; attack Palestinian cars and property around Hawwara,
Hebron, Tulkarm. The IDF confiscates and levels 70 dunams of Palestinian
land to build a road linking Morag, Gush Katif settlements.
However, Israel acknowledges that PA police are making more of an
effort to halt stone throwers; Arafat unequivocally denounces the Islamic Jihad
bombing; and Barak phones Arafat to express condolences over today's Palestinian
fatalities. In Gaza, the IDF evacuates a position linking Qarni to
Netzarim settlement, pulls tanks back fr. main roads. (AFP [Internet], MM,
NYT, REU, WP, WT 11/2; JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/3; MEI 11/10)
While in New York, Israel's Ben-Ami (promoted to FM
today) reportedly sets up a public relations (PR) headquarters to aid in
Israel's PR efforts in the North America. The office head, fmr. IBA dir.
gen. Aryeh Mekel, will coordinate among the FMin.'s PR dept., a
special steering comm. of senior officials of U.S. Jewish organizations,
and 6 major U.S. PR firms that have been contracted. (MA [Internet] 11/8;
HA [Internet] 11/13)
Israel begins reviewing a project for 4,000 new housing
units in Har Homa settlement (Jabal Abu Ghunaym) in East Jerusalem.
If approved, the site would be known as Har Homa B, would link Har Homa with
Gilo settlement. (al-Quds 11/2 in WNC 11/3; LAW 11/4)
Early this morning, Arafat, Peres wrap up
talks, and Barak announces that the sides have agreed to try again to
implement the 10/17 Sharm al-Shaykh arrangements. The Israeli cabinet
suspends punitive attacks on Palestinian targets. Differences quickly arise,
however, over plans for Arafat, Barak to issue statements on ending the violence
(see Peace Monitor). As the sides discuss how to resolve their differences, 2
Islamic Jihad activists detonated a car bomb in West Jerusalem,
killing 2 Israelis, wounding 9. (AFP [Internet], MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 11/2; ATL,
Interfax, MENA, XIN 11/2 in WNC 11/3; ATL, Cyprus News Agency 11/2, MENA,
al-Quds 11/4, al-Quds 11/5 in WNC 11/6; JP [Internet], MM, NYT, WP,
WT 11/3; MM 11/6; MEI 11/10)
Israeli-Palestinian clashes diminish overall, though sharp fighting is
reported on the Gaza coast. (WP 11/4)
Based on new intelligence information, the IDF chief rabbi officially
declares dead the 3 IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hizballah in 10/00.
(MM 11/2; WP 11/3)
On the sidelines of a Euro-Mediterranean economic conference in Spain,
Spanish PM José María Aznar hosts a working lunch with Arafat,
Peres, Mubarak to discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Although
Peres lacks a mandate fr. Sharon to conduct negotiations, the men
reportedly hold "serious and intense" talks on the situation. (AFP, MM, REU
11/2; RNE 11/2 in WNC 11/3; MENA 11/2, EFE [Madrid], RNE 11/3 in WNC 11/5; WT
11/3) (see 10/30)
The U.S. widens its campaign to freeze "terrorist" assets to include
all groups on the State Dept. list of "terrorist" orgs., including Hamas,
Hizballah, Islamic Jihad, the PFLP. (NYT, WP 11/3; WJW
11/8; SAF 11/8 in WNC 11/9; MM 11/13; SA 11/13 in WNC 11/14; JT 11/19 in WNC
11/20) (see 9/24)
The IDF arrests 2 Palestinians with explosives at an IDF
checkpoint in the West Bank, apparently averting a suicide bombing; conducts
arrest raids in Jenin; blows up a “suspicious looking” Palestinian car in
al-Khadir; invades Mighraqa, destroying a number of electricity towers, cutting
power to the village, bulldozing the roads inside the village, digging trenches
across the main road, damaging the water network; conducts arrest raids in
al-Qarara; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. IDF soldiers at a
checkpoint outside Jenin, break the windshield of an ambulance transporting
patient to the hospital. (NYT, PM, WP 11/3; LAW, PCHR 11/6; PRCS press release
11/10)
1 Palestinian killed.
Israel increases to 10,000 the number of entry permits to
Palestinian laborers fr. Gaza (though only 6,200 are able to enter) but
tightens restrictions on who may obtain the permits (must be over 35, married,
with children, with a magnetic card and valid work permit, approved by Israeli
security). The IDF reinforces roadblocks around Balata r.c., fires on
residential areas, prompting Palestinian youths to throw stones at the military
vehicles; soldiers open fire on the stone-throwers, wounding 5 youths, a
53-yr.-old bystander. A Palestinian woman gives birth at a checkpoint
after IDF soldiers deny her passage to a hospital. A Palestinian
dies of injuries received earlier. (NYT, WP 11/3; PR 11/5; PCHR 11/6)
1 Palestinian killed.
U.S. Pres. George W. Bush narrowly wins reelection. (MM 11/2; HA, MM,
NYT, WP, WT 11/3; VOP 11/3 in WNC 11/5; MM 11/4; Globes, HA, JAZ, JP, JT,
MA, MENA, YA 11/4 in WNC 11/6; al-Safir 11/4, al-Dustur, MNR,
al-Ra'i 11/5, al-Dustur 11/6 in WNC 11/9; SA 11/6 in WNC 11/10; MM
11/5; HA 11/9; JPI 11/12)
The IDF blows up 3 Palestinian homes in and nr. Askar r.c.
belonging to the family of the 11/1 suicide bomber, 2 senior PFLP mbrs.; raids a
clinic in Nablus, searches ambulances, interrogates paramedics; conducts arrest
raids and house searches, bulldozes 50 d., demolishes 2 poultry farms and
several wells nr. Kefar Darom. AMB mbr. Fadi Qaffisha dies of injuries
received in the IDF assassination of Mari on 11/1. A
Jewish settler injures a 7-yr.-old Palestinian girl in a hit-and-run
incident nr. Hawara south of Nablus. (PRCS 11/2; VOI 11/2 in WNC 11/4; NYT, WP
11/3; VOI 11/3 in WNC 11/5; PCHR, WJW 11/4)
Palestinians fire
several mortars at Neve Dekalim, causing no damage or injuries.
1 Israeli killed.
IDF troops supported by helicopters continue arrest raids, house
searches in villages around Jenin. Late in the evening, the IDF launches
additional raids in al-Fara`a r.c., villages nr. Bethlehem. An IDF
soldier wounded in Jenin on 11/1 dies. (HA, JTA, REU, YA 11/2; WP 11/3;
PCHR 11/10)
Hamas says that in light of
the 11/1 Abu Qara assassination, it will not renew the unilateral truce with
Israel when it expires at the end of 2005.
9 Palestinians killed.
In Gaza, the IDF continues major operations in Bayt Hanun, rounding up
Palestinian men ages 16–45 and driving them outside of town for questioning
(detaining 15, releasing the others), clashing with militants, killing 2
Palestinian gunmen, 2 civilians, wounding another 20 Palestinians; 2 IDF
soldiers are lightly injured; a 4-yr.old Palestinian dies of injuries received
on 11/1; some 60 Palestinian gunmen take refuge in the 850-yr.-old al-Nasir
Mosque, which is quickly surrounded by the IDF. Late in the evening, the IDF
conducts air strikes in n. Gaza on Palestinians allegedly preparing to fire
rockets, killing 2 Palestinians. Palestinians fire several rockets fr. Gaza into
Israel, hitting an Israeli home, lightly wounding 2 Israelis. In the West Bank,
the IDF raids an elementary school in Hebron while classes are in session,
firing tear gas, percussion grenades, injuring 15 children; sends undercover
units into Tulkarm in a car with Palestinian license plates to arrest 3 wanted
Palestinians; conducts other arrest raids in al-Saf nr. Bethlehem (demolishing
the home of a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr., firing on stone-throwing Palestinians
who confront the troops, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 5) in Nablus (fatally
shooting 1 Palestinian civilian), Ramallah, Tulkarm. (NYT, WT 11/3; PCHR 11/9)
1 Palestinian killed.
In Nablus, the PA deploys a new 308-mbr.
policing unit trained by Western advisers at a multimillion dollar training
facility in Jericho; they will form part of a new National Security Force unit
set up to “operate in coordination with Israeli forces to fight crime and
terrorism” as part of Abbas’s new security effort “to restore law and
order” in the West Bank, in keeping with road map requirements; the unit will
patrol during the day only, while the IDF will continue night operations. In Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike on an ESF post nr. Rafah, killing 1 ESF officer, wounding 3. Nr. Bayt Hanun, 2 Palestinians are injured when a mortar they are
preparing misfires. A Palestinian is injured when a smuggling tunnel under the
Rafah border collapses. In the West Bank, the IDF lifts the
round-the-clock curfew on `Azun imposed on 10/31; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tulkarm town, r.c. and nr. Qalqilya; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists taking part in
the weekly nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall in Bil`in
(injuring 1 demonstrator, 1 journalist). Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba
and Harsina in Hebron attack, vandalize nearby Palestinian homes, also beating 1 Palestinian. (NYT, WT 11/3; NYT 11/6; OCHA 11/7; PCHR 11/8; NYT 11/14)
For the 1st time since 6/07, Abbas meets with 4 West Bank Hamas officials in an effort to encourage them to
split fr. their Gaza counterparts.
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF killed an elderly Palestinian in Al-Yamoun village near Jenin while four Palestinians, including two children, were injured by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. Israeli troops carried out 35 raids in the West Bank. They entered houses, conducted search operations and arrested 26 Palestinians, including 5 children. The IDF also razed areas of land in the Al-Amra natural reserve near Jenin and prevented Palestinian farmers from reaching their land to harvest olives. (WAFA)
At a Cabinet meeting, Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin warned that an Israeli Government decision to evacuate more territory might lead to a large-scale violent conflict with settlers. The Cabinet meeting ended with the Ministers voting to end all Government support, both direct and indirect, for unauthorized outposts. Following the Cabinet vote, the Yesha Council of settlements termed the decision "scandalous and demagogic," saying there was "no connection" between the outposts and extremist violence. In addition to its decision on outposts, the Cabinet ordered a ministerial committee, headed by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, to submit recommendations within two weeks on how to tighten law enforcement. (Haaretz)
A Palestinian home was damaged when a group of young Israeli settlers pelted it with rocks and glass bottles. The house was located near the ruins of the "Federman Farm" outpost, which the IDF and Border Guard forces had twice evacuated and had demolished the previous week. (www.Ynetnews.com)
Three Palestinian prisoners were slightly injured when an electrical fire broke out in one of the tents in an Israeli prison camp in the Negev desert. (Ma'an News Agency)
Kyriakos Triantaphyllides, head of the European Parliament delegation to Ramallah, expressed disappointment over Israel's refusal to allow the nine-member delegation to visit imprisoned members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). In a press conference at the PLC in Ramallah, Mr. Triantaphyllides said the delegation's visit to the prisoners was pursuant to a European Parliament resolution. (WAFA)
At a press conference after meeting Jordan's King Abdulla II in Amman, PA President Mahmoud Abbas excluded the possibility of reaching a peace agreement with Israel before the end of 2008 as envisaged at the Annapolis conference in November 2007. "There is no possibility for working out a partial agreement, because we seek a comprehensive accord," Mr. Abbas said. (DPA)
Four Palestinians were killed and three went missing when an underground tunnel north of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt collapsed, according to information given by Hamas to Egyptian authorities about the incident. Four Palestinians were also injured and hospitalized after the collapse of another tunnel, according to Palestinian medical sources. (Deutsche Press-Agentur (DPA))