This day in the History of the 2nd Intifada

March 29 2001

3 Palestinians killed.

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue, leaving 3 Palestinians dead. Israeli gunships hover over Palestinian territory but do not fire. The IDF directs shelling, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Hebron (especially Abu Sunayna). Jewish settlers in Hebron confiscate 200 dunams of Palestinian land in al-Buwayta, erect a tent; set fire to a Palestinian store in the central market area. (AFP [Internet] 3/29; HP, LAW, WP, WT 3/30)

March 29 2002

8 Palestinians killed. 4 Israelis killed.

The IDF launches Operation Defensive Shield, sending scores of tanks into Ramallah before dawn to encircle Arafat's compound, reoccupy tall buildings as sniper and observation posts, dig up roads, create roadblocks, demolish water mains, declare a 24-hr. curfew. As the day progresses, the IDF bulldozes the compound walls; sends tanks, APCs, armored bulldozers, and troops into the complex, moving room-to-room to collect documents, demolishing 9 of 10 buildings, trapping Arafat and his closest aides in a windowless office of the remaining building; 5 Palestinians, 2 IDF soldiers are killed, around 50 Palestinians are injured, and another 70 (mostly Force 17 mbrs. guarding the compound but also including medical workers) are detained. IDF soldiers fire at a Nilesat TV car, seriously injuring a cameraman. The U.S. states that it "understands the Israeli government's need to respond to these acts of terror." The Arab states, EU, Russia, the UN condemn Israel's actions. (AP, CNN, MM, REU, WP 3/29; AFP, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MA 3/29, ANSA 3/30 in WNC 4/1; NYT, WP, WT 3/30; WP 3/31; MM 4/2; JP, MEI 4/5)

As Israel's Ramallah operation proceeds, an 18-yr.-old Palestinian girl, an AMB mbr., detonates a suicide bomb in Jerusalem, killing 2 Israelis, wounding 31. In Gaza, a Palestinian gunman infiltrates Netzarim, fatally shooting 2 Jewish settlers before being shot dead by the IDF; no group takes responsibility. (NYT, WP, WT 3/30)

March 29 2003

1 Palestinian killed.

The IDF opens fire on a crowd of stone-throwing Palestinians in Askar r.c., killing 1 Palestinian child; harasses Palestinian fishermen fishing in a permitted zone off the Gaza coast. (NYT, WP 3/30; PCHR 4/3)

March 29 2004

The IDF reinforces roadblocks in East Jerusalem; demolishes the Palestinian home in Rafah that American ISM activist Rachel Corrie died defending on 3/16/03; fires on residential areas of, bulldozes some land in Rafah; fires on, wounds a Palestinian construction worker at the same UNRWA school site where a worker was wounded on 3/23; conducts arrest raids in Askar r.c., Husan, Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Harsina nr. Hebron uproot a stand of 300 grapevines owned by nearby Palestinians. (VOP 3/30 in WNC 4/1; PCHR 4/1)

March 29 2005

1 Palestinian killed.

The IDF severely beats an 80-yr.-old Palestinian at a flying checkpoint outside Tulkarm, accusing him of warning wanted Palestinians of the presence of the IDF in the area; arrests 3 unarmed PA traffic policemen in the Palestinian section of Hebron on charges that they were in a prohibited area; arrests 3 Palestinians in Gaza on suspicion of smuggling arms; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Asira nr Nablus; begins construction of a new 2-km section of the separation wall w. of Ramallah. An AMB mbr. being pursued by the IDF is killed in a car crash in Ramallah. (PR 3/30; AYM, HJ 3/30 in WNC 3/31; PCHR 3/31; OCHA 4/6)

In Rafah, 5 unidentified Palestinians beat, moderately injure Hamas municipal elections candidate Azmi Abu Mur.

March 29 2006

Israel lifts the seal on the West Bank; partially reopens Qarni crossing for import and export of goods; continues to shell the n. Gaza no-go zone fr. land and sea, damaging several buildings but causing no injuries; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Tulkarm, and in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, Jenin town and r.c., Nablus, Tulkarm r.c. In Silwan and al-Tur (Mount of Olives), East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinian families are evicted fr. their homes (30 Palestinians in 3 apartment buildings in Silwan; 2 apartment buildings in al-Tur), which they have lived in for at least 40 yrs., after an Israeli court rules that the buildings were legally acquired by the Jewish National Fund in 1923. Jewish settlers fr. Kefar Etzion uproot Palestinian olive trees nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba, escorted by the IDF, vandalize an empty car belonging to the PA Education Min. (OCHA 3/29; DS, PCHR 3/30; IMEMC 3/31; HA 4/3; PCHR 4/6; HA 4/23)

Abbas swears in the new Palestinian cabinet. PM Haniyeh says his government will allow Abbas to pursue peace negotiations with Israel, will continue reform efforts. The U.S. orders its diplomats, contractors not to have any further contacts with PA ministries, though contacts with Abbas, his office would be allowed; presses the international community to do the same. (AP, Canada TV, REU 3/29; AFP, HA, MM, NYT, REU, WP 3/30; VOP 3/30 in WNC 3/31; HA 3/31)

March 29 2007

2 Palestinians killed.

IDF troops on the Gaza border fire on, wound a Palestinian farmer who strays nr. the border fence e. of Jabaliya. In Khan Yunis, a 6-yr.-old Palestinian is killed, 2 children (ages 2 and 5) are injured when they accidentally trigger an explosive device in their home. In the West Bank, the IDF raids an internet cafe in Orayf nr. Nablus, detaining, beating, releasing 2 14-yr.-old Palestinians they accuse of throwing stones; sends undercover units into Ramallah to raid a cafe, arrest a wanted Palestinian (a bodyguard for Fatah PC mbr. Jamal al-Tirawi); patrols Tubas; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin; fires on stone-throwing youths nr. Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 2; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, percussion grenades at 10s of Palestinians holding nonviolent protests against the separation wall at 2 points along the wall outside Qalqilya, injuring several. A 15-yr.old Palestinian injured by IDF fire at the Qalandia checkpoint on 3/28 dies. (OCHA 4/4; PCHR 4/5)

March 29 2008

2 Palestinians killed.

In Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike on a group of armed Palestinians nr. Jabaliya r.c., killing 2 Palestinian resistance mbrs., wounding 2; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches (using dogs) in Wadi al-Silqa. IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on agricultural areas nr. Khuza e. of Khan Yunis, wounding a Palestinian farmer working his field. In the West Bank, the IDF surrounds a girls’ orphanage in Hebron for 40 mins., withdraws without making arrests (see 2/26); conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Amari r.c. nr. Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Elkana nr. Salfit vandalize a Palestinian home nr. the settlement (the family has been attacked 10s of times by Elkana settlers trying to force them to leave the area). (OCHA 4/2; PCHR 4/3)

March 29 2009

Four Palestinians from the Al-Lubban village north of Ramallah had been detained, according to the Israeli military. (Ma’an News Agency)

In a security briefing to the Israeli Cabinet, Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin said that since Israel concluded its three-week offensive against the Hamas leadership in January, 45 tons of raw materials for the production of weapons had been smuggled into the Strip, along with 22 tons of explosives, dozens of rockets, mortar shells, and anti-aircraft missiles. He said that other organizations were pursuing plans to kidnap Israeli soldiers and carry out terror attacks from Sinai into Israel as well as in the West Bank. (Haaretz)

Ahead of his visit to the Czech Republic, Israel’s President Shimon Peres gave assurances that Israel's new Government would keep up peace talks, following the 27 March Czech Republic warning of "consequences" if the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu did not accept the principle of a two-State solution of the Middle East conflict. "The new Government is bound by the decisions of the preceding one," Peres told Israel Public Radio, adding there would be continuation of peace negotiations. (AFP)

The Israeli Cabinet voted in favour of imposing sanctions on Hamas prisoners held in Israel in an effort to pressure the organization to release Cpl. Shalit, held captive in Gaza since June 2006. Justice Minister Daniel Friedman recommended stripping the Palestinian prisoners of all privileges not anchored in Israeli or international law, such as education, television, newspapers and radio. Hamas’ military wing spokesman, Abu Obeida, said the decision "exposes Israel's distress," adding that it would "only strengthen the organization's insistence on the conditions set for Shalit's release." Mounir Mansour, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners Committee, said these steps would not expedite the release of Shalit, adding that the Hamas prisoners were considering taking extreme measures in response, including an unlimited hunger strike in every Israeli prison. The prisoners' families had also voiced readiness to take steps to identify with the prisoners. (Haaretz)

Palestinian Authority Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Ashraf Al-Ajrami said that Israel planed to deport six Palestinian political prisoners when they finish their sentences at the Ashkelon prison, north of Gaza. According to Mr. Al-Ajrami, Israel had not found a country that was willing to accept the men. He said the PA was negotiating with Israel in an attempt to stop the deportation. (Ma’an News Agency)

According to Rawhi Fattuh, chair of the Gazan Committee for the Entry of Goods, Israel partially opened the Kerem Shalom crossing to let in 115 truckloads, 11 of them filled with humanitarian aid for the United Nations and other agencies. In addition, 104 trucks destined for the Gazan private sector, carrying perishable foods were allowed in. The Nahal Oz crossing was opened to allow the transfer of 200 tons of cooking gas and 450,000 litres of industrial diesel fuel to run the power-generating station in Gaza. (Ma’an News Agency)

In an interview aired on the Nazareth-based radio station Al-Shams, Hamas official Ayman Taha said that negotiations over a prisoner swap in exchange for detained IDF soldier Gilad Shalit would not remain open forever. Mr. Taha denied reports of progress in the negotiations saying that, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's term almost completed, there was no chance for a deal before the next coalition took its place. Israeli Cabinet Secretary Ovad Yehezkel, said that a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas was all but impossible before the current Government steps down. (Haaretz)

The Saraya Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, said in a statement that they had fired two explosive devices at an Israeli Special Forces unit attempting to invade Khan Yunis and claimed that they inflicted casualties among the soldiers. (Ma’an News Agency)

In Damascus, Gen. Omar Kinawi, Egypt’s Intelligence Deputy Chief, held talks with leaders of Palestinian factions ahead of renewed unity talks next week in Cairo, Palestinian officials said. Mr. Kinawi invited the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine to the inter-factional talks expected to resume on 1 April. (AFP)

Adnan Hindi, an official in the Jenin refugee camp, said that the director of a youth orchestra had broken rules by taking the orchestra’s 18 boys and girls to a concert last week near the Israeli city of Tel Aviv to perform in front of Holocaust survivors. Consequently, the orchestra "Strings of Freedom" was shut down. Mr. Himdi said that the orchestra’s director, Wafa Younis, had "used the children for political activities." (Reuters)

NEWS

Electronic Intifada:

MEDIA ENCLOSURE: http://electronicintifada.net/sites/default/files/2024-03/2._minutes_science_and_commercial_counsellors_meeting_-_25.01_redacted.pdf

MEDIA ENCLOSURE: http://electronicintifada.net/sites/default/files/2024-03/day_173.mp3

A Ramadan of heartbreak

27 Mar 2024 12:50

MEDIA ENCLOSURE: http://electronicintifada.net/sites/default/files/2024-03/darryl_li.mp3

A house divided will crumble

26 Mar 2024 10:00

"Where is my leg?"

24 Mar 2024 08:48

Will Netanyahu outlast Biden?

23 Mar 2024 17:10