6 Palestinians killed. 2 Israelis killed.
Israeli-Palestinian clashes
continue, leaving a total of 6 Palestinians, 2 Israelis dead.
This evening, after the Arab summit ends, Sharon
orders air, land, sea strikes against Force 17 targets in Dayr al-Balah,
Jabaliyya, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Ramallah, killing 3 Palestinians, injuring
62. Nr. Beitunia, a Palestinian woman is shot dead by IDF troops.
In Rafah, a Palestinian boy is killed when he triggers unexploded IDF
ordnance. The IDF reinforces its troop presence around Abu Sunayna in
Hebron with 8 tanks, 15 troop carriers, numerous military jeeps and 3 new
outposts; shells residential areas in Nablus; confiscates 28 dunams of
Palestinian land in Beitunia to expand an IDF post; bulldozes Palestinian land
in Mount Jarzim, Wadi Silqa. Israel issues demolition orders for 19
Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem for construction of the "ring road"
linking the Jewish settlements around Jerusalem; 658 dunams of Palestinian land
is slated to be bulldozed for the project. Jewish settlers attack
Palestinians and their property in Bayt Furik, Hebron, Silat Dahir. Settlers fr.
Ma'ale Adumim, Kefar Atsion reportedly move into the Israeli controlled section
of Hebron to reinforce settlers there. In Hebron, the PSF arrests a local
Fatah mbr. for the 3/26 shooting that killed a settler baby. (BBC, CNN,
HP, MM, REU 3/28; AFP, ATL 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/29; AFP,
Interfax, MENA, al-Quds 3/29 in WNC 3/30; LAW, MM, WP 3/30; MA, MENA,
al-Safir 3/30 in WNC 4/2; MM 4/3; JP, MEI 4/6; al-Quds 4/15 in WNC
4/16; WP 4/23; al-Ahram [Internet] 4/26)
The
Arab League summit closes. Arab states approve a $240 m. emergency aid for
the PA over the next 6 mos. (MM 3/28; HJ 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, NYT, WP 3/29; JT
3/29 in WNC 3/30; HJ 3/29 in WNC 4/3; al-Ra'i 3/30, Star 3/31, JT
4/1 in WNC 4/2; JP, MEI 4/6; al-Quds 4/10 in WNC 4/12) (see Peace
Monitor)
A
Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a nail bomb at a bus stop just inside
Israel, nr. Qalqilya, killing 2 Israelis, wounding 4. Hamas, and a
previously unknown group named the Popular Army Front+nReturn Battalions
claim responsibility. Israeli sappers disarm bombs in the Israeli cities
of Petah Tikva, Netanya.
5 Israelis killed.
The IDF closes main roads across Gaza, cutting the Strip into 3 sections. Sharon convenes his cabinet to discuss the
escalating Palestinian attacks. U.S. Secy. of State Colin Powell phones
Sharon to urge against exiling Arafat. The cabinet agrees to "totally
isolate" Arafat, calls up 20,000 IDF reserves in preparation for a major
assault. (HA 3/28; XIN 3/28 in WNC 3/29; MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 3/29; NYT 3/30; WT
4/1; MEI 4/5; WP 5/6)
The Arab summit unanimously adopts the Saudi initiative, pledges $480
m. aid to the Palestinians, urges against a U.S. attack on Iraq. (CNN 3/28;
al-Quds, XIN 3/28 in WNC 3/29; HA, NYT, WP, WT 3/29; al-Majallah 3/30
in WNC 4/1; HA 4/4; MEI, MM 4/5)
A Hamas gunman infiltrates Elon Moreh settlement, kills 4 Jewish
settlers. 1 Israeli injured in the 3/27 Netanya attack dies. The
PSF arrests senior Hamas, Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Bethlehem,
Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah. Arafat issues an urgent appeal for an
unconditional cease-fire.
2 Palestinians killed.
The IDF conducts arrest raids in Khan Yunis (fatally shooting 1
Palestinian), Tulkarm r.c. (fatally shooting a 2d Palestinian);
bulldozes 20 dunams of land in, fires on residential areas of Rafah. Israel also
reinforces its security presence in East Jerusalem, fearing demonstrations
against the war in Iraq after Friday prayers; 30,000 protest in Gaza city,
smaller rallies are held in West Bank towns, but nothing is reported in East
Jerusalem; the IDF fires on demonstrators nr. Qalandia, wounding 2. (HA
3/28; PR 4/2; PCHR 4/3)
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF allows Palestinian workers into the Erez Industrial Zone for
the 1st time since 3/15, but keeps the Erez crossing sealed; fatally shoots
wanted AMB mbr. Jamil al-Tal in his home nr. Hebron in an apparent
assassination; blows up a Palestinian home in Bidiyya nr. Qalqilya;
conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Dahaysha r.c., Tulkarm r.c.,
and nr. Hebron. (MENA 3/28 in WNC 3/30; NYT 3/29; PCHR 4/1,
4/8)
Israeli State Atty. Edna Arbel, Israel’s top prosecutor, recommends
that Sharon be indicted on charges of accepting a bribe for his role in a
1999 deal under which prominent Israeli businessman and Likud activist David
Appel paid about $100,000 to Sharon’s son Gilad Sharon (for
“marketing advice”) and $580,000 to the Sharon family ranch in the Negev in
exchange for Sharon (then FM) lobbying Greece in support of Appel’s project to
build a Greek island resort; the project never came to fruition. If indicted,
Sharon could be forced to step down as PM. (NYT, WP, WT 3/28; MM, NYT, WP, WT
3/29; NYT, WT 3/30; MM 4/6)
A PFLP gunman shoots, wounds an IDF soldier
outside a Jewish settlement in Gaza.
Overnight, the IDF makes a major raid into Jenin, sending in 30
military vehicles and helicopters, fires on residential areas, raids and
searches Palestinian homes, detaining at least 9 Islamic Jihad mbrs. The
IDF also shoots, wounds a Palestinian shepherd grazing his flock nr. the
separation wall in Bayt `Awwa nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house
searches in Dahariyya, Fahma nr. Jenin (arresting 3 PA security officers),
Jama`in and Kafr Qalil nr. Nablus (firing on residential areas, wounding 2
Palestinians inside their home), Surif, Za'atra nr. Hebron. (OCHA 3/30; PCHR 3/31; OCHA
4/6; al-Quds 4/23 in WNC 4/26)
In Gaza City,
Fatah-affiliated lawyer Majid al-Jafari is moderately injured when an
explosive charge planted underneath his parked car explodes; Jafari received
death threats after recently announcing his independent candidacy for the local
bar association; no group claims responsibility.
Israel closes all Gaza crossing into Israel, reimposing the full seal on the
territories (set on 3/11) for parliamentary elections; sends troops into
al-Fawwar r.c. to conduct arrest raids and house searches, fires on
stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 6; also conducts arrest
raids, house searches in and around Hebron and in Bethlehem, Nablus, Tubas.
Israeli security contractors guarding the separation wall nr. Jerusalem shoot,
wound a Palestinian who strays too close to the wall. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba attack Palestinians,
vandalize property in Hebron. Separately, Jewish settlers fr. Hebron attack
Palestinian children on their way to school by a Palestinian road that passes
near a settler- only bypass road. Inside Israel, 2 bedouin are killed in the
Negev when they accidentally detonate an unexploded Palestinian rocket. (IMEMC,
YA 3/28; VOP 3/28 in WNC 3/29; HA, MM, NYT, OCHA 3/29; PCHR 3/30; MM 4/7, 4/13,
4/21)
Israel holds parliamentary elections, with voter turnout at a relatively low
63%. The Kadima party, founded by Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, wins 29
of the 120 Knesset seats (less than expected) compared to Labor with 19 seats,
Likud (the biggest loser compared with its 38 seats last election) with 12, Shas
with 12, Yisrael Beiteinu with 11, National Union–National Religious Party with
9, Pensioners’ Party with 7, United Torah Judaism with 6, Meretz with 5, and 3
Arab parties with a total of 10. (MM 3/28; HA, JP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/29; NYT, WT
3/30; WP 3/31; XIN, YA 4/3)
Islamic Jihad fires a Grad
missile (an Eastern European rocket with a range greater than a Qassam but less
than a Katyusha) fr. Gaza towards Ashkelon, which lands unexploded causing no
damage or injuries.
The PC approves (71–36, with 2 abstentions) the Hamas-led cabinet. (NYT 3/29;
XIN 3/28 in WNC 3/29)
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF sends bulldozers into Gaza w. of Rafah to level land along the border
fence. In the West Bank, IDF demolishes 3 Palestinian businesses, an animal pen
in Barta‘a nr. Jenin; fires on stone- throwing Palestinian youths nr. the
Qalandia checkpoint outside Jerusalem, seriously wounding 1 with a bullet to the
head, lightly wounding 3 others; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Askar
r.c., Balata, Nablus, Tulkarm and nr. Hebron, Jenin r.c. (exchanging fire with
AMB mbrs., killing 1 AMB mbr., wounding 2), Ramallah, Salfit. Israeli police in
riot gear remove the remaining 450 right-wing Jewish settlers and activists fr.
the Homesh settlement site (see 3/26). Jewish settlers stone Palestinian cars
nr. Jit Junction nr. Qalqilya, injuring 1 Palestinian. Jewish settler teenagers
in Hebron ambush, beat a 12-yr.-old Palestinian boy on his way home fr. school.
Private Israeli security contractors working for Karme Tzur settlement nr.
Hebron prevent Palestinian farmers fr. reaching their land nearby, beating 2,
confiscating their equipment. Separately, Jewish settlers fr. Karme Tzur beat a
Palestinian farmer working his land nearby. (REU 3/28; NYT, WT 3/29; WP 3/30;
OCHA 4/4; PCHR 4/5; NYT 4/8)
When AMB, Islamic Jihad fire 9 rockets into Israel, causing no damage or
injuries, the IDF shells n. Gaza for the 1st time since the 11/26 cease-fire
went into effect, wounding 4 Islamic Jihad mbrs. preparing to fire a rocket into
Israel, also killing 1 Palestinian bystander and wounding 2; Israel says the
strike was not intended to signal a change of policy or an escalation.
In Jabaliya r.c., ESF mbrs. fire on
a car of Fatah mbrs., causing no injuries. In Bayt Hanun, suspected Fatah gunmen
fire on the car of a senior Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr., seriously injuring
him, his wife and 2 children, a bystander.
1 Palestinian killed.
IDF troops
inside Israel fatally shoot an armed Palestinian who approaches the s.
Gaza border. The IDF also bulldozes 5 d. of Palestinian land inside the
border fence nr. Wadi al-Silqa; later conducts arrest raids, house searches in
Wadi al-Silqa, detaining 3 Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF
conducts late-night house searches in and around Nablus but makes no arrests;
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
8, including 3 children). Jewish settlers fr. Efrat uproot 100
Palestinian olive trees to make way for new construction begun on 3/23. (OCHA
4/2; PCHR 4/3)
Palestinians
stone Jewish settler vehicles nr. Ramallah, causing no injuries. In n. Gaza, 50,000
Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah al-Yasir (an AMB offshoot) supporters
hold a peaceful demonstration calling on the Arab League summit assembling in
Damascus to find a way to break Israel’s siege of Gaza.
In Jabaliya r.c., 2,000 Palestinians attend a rally organized by Islamic
Jihad to call on Fatah and Hamas to form a unity government.
Israeli forces entered the Tulkarm refugee camp and the nearby town of Dir Al-Ghusun in the northern West Bank. While in the area, troops handed out a number of interrogation orders to residents, according to witnesses. (Ma’an News Agency)
Israeli soldiers used tear gas to disperse some 50 demonstrators in Hebron's Old City protesting against the settlements and Israeli closures in the West Bank, the Israeli army and Palestinian witnesses said. Palestinian youths threw stones at Israeli troops. Video footage from the scene showed Israeli soldiers pushing demonstrators, including Israeli Arab lawmaker Mohammad Barakeh. Demonstrators said the protest was part of several events aimed at marking Land Day, the annual protest against Israel's appropriation of Arab-owned land in Galilee. (Reuters)
Israeli police reported that undercover Israeli police officers disguised as Palestinians were attacked by settlers in the West Bank. Police spokesman Dany Peleg said that the settlers threw stones at the officers and damaged a Palestinian vehicle, while two others attempted to run the police over near an outpost in the West Bank. (AFP)
A draft declaration drafted by Arab Foreign Ministers ahead of the Arab League Summit at Doha said that the Arab initiative would not be on the table for ever. "Arab commitment to this initiative is dependent on an Israeli acceptance of it," the declaration stated. It reiterated, however, that the peace initiative remains "a strategic Arab choice to achieve just and comprehensive peace." (AFP)
In an article published in The Washington Post, PA Chief Negotiator Saeb Erakat said that the Middle East peace process might not survive if the new Israeli Government led by Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu failed to accept a two-State solution, with the establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian State based on 1967 borders. He said, "The peace process lives on borrowed time …. with its credibility at stake, it will not survive another round of failed negotiations ─ and neither will the two-State solution." (The Washington Post)
Israeli Border Police seized 208 Palestinians living without permits in Israel and deported them to the West Bank. (Ma’an News Agency)