1 Israeli killed.
With the authorization of Barak and Ben-Ami
(who is also Israel's internal security M), Likud MK Sharon leads a group
of Likud MKs into the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount under heavy
escort and police helicopter guard to assert Israeli sovereignty over the
disputed site. 1,000 Israeli riot police are deployed on the buildings
surrounding the mosque compound. Sharon attempts to enter the Marwani Mosque
(which some Jews consider to be the site of Solomon's stables) but is barred by
200 Palestinians, including several Israeli Arab MKs, who sit
peacefully in his path. After Sharon leaves, Palestinians scuffle with and throw
stones at police, who fire tear gas, rubber bullets at them. 24 Palestinians, 25
policemen are injured. Rioting spreads throughout East Jerusalem and to
Ramallah, where 6 Palestinians are injured. (IsRN, LAW, MA [Internet], MM 9/28;
HJ 9/28, al-Quds, MENA 9/29 in WNC 10/2; CSM, NYT, WP, WT 9/29; WP 10/1;
NYT 10/3; WJW 10/5; MEI 10/13)
Rachelim settlement issues tenders for construction of 14
new housing units and related infrastructure. (IsRN 9/28)
In Washington, the Israeli, PA delegations end
consultations with the U.S. peace team, return home. (REU 9/28; NYT 10/2; WP
10/22)
In Gaza, another roadside bomb explodes nr. an IDF patrol
causing no injuries. An IDF soldier injured by a roadside bomb on 9/27
dies. (WP, WT 9/29)
7 Palestinians killed.
The IDF kills a total of 6 Palestinians, wounds more than 100
(at least 50% with live ammunition) in confronting demonstrations across the
West Bank, Gaza marking the 1st anniversary of the al-Aqsa intifada. (In Nablus
alone, 10,000 Palestinians rally.) A 7th Palestinian dies in a mysterious
explosion. The worst fighting is in Hebron (where the IDF shells
residential areas, killing 2; and Palestinians fire on 2 vehicles,
lightly injuring 2 Jewish settlers), Qarni crossing, Rafah (where an
IDF tank reportedly fires into a crowd, killing 3 Palestinians). In Rafah,
some 150 Palestinians clash with PSF officers attempting to
disperse demonstrators, vandalize 3 empty PSF offices. The IDF also
conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Salfit. Jewish settlers destroy 100
dunams of Palestinian crop land, several greenhouses nr. Mihula. (HP, MM 9/28;
HP, NYT, WP, WT 9/29; Le Monde 9/29 in WNC 10/2; HP, WP, WT 9/30;
al-Quds 9/30 in WNC 10/1; MM 10/1; IRNA 10/3 in WNC 10/4; HA 10/21)
Despite increasing violence, Israel, the PA reconvene the
trilateral security comm. for the 1st time since 7/25. Arafat issues
another statement calling on Palestinian to adhere to the cease-fire. (AFP, MM
9/28; HP, NYT, WP, WT 9/29; MM 10/1)
Demonstrations across the
West Bank, Gaza marking the 1st anniversary of the al-Aqsa intifada. (In Nablus
alone, 10,000 Palestinians rally.)
2 Palestinians killed.
In Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots 1 Palestinian youth
protesting at Shuhada Junction; fires on residential areas in Rafah, killing
1 Palestinian, wounding 22; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, injuring
7; fires on youths protesting in Bayt Lahia, injuring 10; detains, questions,
destroys the camera of a Palestine TV cameraman. (NYT, WT 9/29; LAW, PCHR 10/2;
PCHR 10/3)
10,000s of Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza rally to mark the 2d
anniversary of the al-Aqsa intifada; 50,000 turn out for the largest rally in
Gaza City; several 1,000 Palestinian children hold a candle light march in
Jericho.
The IDF sends tanks into, fires on residential areas of
Jenin, al-Maghazi r.c., Nablus; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in
Bayt Furik, wounding a 12-yr.-old; searches a home, assaults a Palestinian in
Shaykh Ajlin; bulldozes 3 dunams of land in al-Maghazi r.c., an olive grove and
road in al-Mughraqa. (WP, WT 9/29; PCHR 10/2)
On the 3d anniversary of the outbreak of the al-Aqsa intifada, 1,000s of
Palestinians across the occupied territories stage rallies in support of
Arafat. Palestinians fire 5 mortars at Gush Katif,
causing no damage or injuries.
3 Palestinians killed.
The al-Aqsa intifada enters its 5th yr. The IDF continues operations
in Jenin, searching homes, arresting some 80 Palestinians, fatally shooting a
mentally handicapped Palestinian who leaves his Jenin home after dark during
the curfew (ongoing since 9/25); the death brings Palestinians to the streets to
riot; the IDF fires on protesters (killing a 17-yr.-old Palestinian,
wounding 6), blows up a Palestinian home. The IDF also raids
Nablus, arrests, then fatally shoots wanted AMB mbr. Majdi Khalifa in an
outright execution; sends troops into Shaykh Ajlin nr. Gaza City; conducts
arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c., Tulkarm r.c. and villages
around Nablus, Ramallah. Late in the evening,
the IDF sends 30 tanks into Bayt Hanun, Jabaliya r.c. in response, also
cutting electricity to n. Gaza. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar burn 100s of d. of
olive groves belonging to nearby Bayt Furik. (AP, HA, MM, PM, REU 9/28; AFP,
VOI, VOP 9/28 in WNC 9/30; MM, NYT, PR, PRCS, WP, WT 9/29; VOI, YA 9/29 in WNC
10/1; PCHR, WJW 9/30; PCHR 10/1)
Palestinians fire at least 4 Qassam rockets
at Sederot, damaging a house but causing no injuries. Palestinians release without comment CNN
producer Ali (kidnapped on 9/27), who says his captors were AMB
mbrs.; the AMB denies this.
1 Israeli killed.
Overnight, IDF helicopters fire missiles at a Fatah office and
a PA security forces building in Gaza City, a PFLP office in
Bureij r.c., a bridge in Bayt Hanun, several open fields and empty buildings in
n. Gaza; the predawn air strikes on Gaza City cut electricity. In the West Bank,
the IDF makes coordinated raids on at least 8 Islamic charitable
institutions in and around Hebron and in Bethlehem, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, sealing
the offices and confiscating computers, files, and office equipment. The IDF
says that it is prepared to bombard civilian areas of Gaza if rocket fire does
not cease. The PA denounces Israel for detaining at least 30
Hamas campaign officials and 17 candidates in upcoming municipal and
legislative elections during the past wk. of arrest raids; Israel says it has
detained 415 Palestinians since 9/23, including some 250 Hamas mbrs.
(AFP, AP, JAZ, WP 9/28; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 9/29; WT 10/2; PCHR 10/6; MEI 10/12)
Hamas affirms responsibility for the killing of an Israeli kidnapped
on 9/21 and found nr. Ramallah on 9/26, claims that he was a Shin Bet officer.
In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in al-Fara‘a r.c., firing on stone-throwing
Palestinians who confront them, wounding 2 (ages 11, 14); conducts arrest raids,
house searches in and around Hebron, Nablus and in ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c. nr.
Jericho, Qabatya (exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, wounding 1), Tubas.
(NYT 9/29; WT 10/1; NYT 10/2; OCHA 10/4;
PCHR 10/5)
As the PA begins paying civil servants another $350 portion of their overdue
wages (with aid received fr. Qatar, Saudi Arabia), 100s of Fatah-affiliated PA
police demonstrate in Gaza City against the Hamas-led government’s failure to
pay their salaries, burning tires, overturning trash bins, blocking roads; the
Hamas-led government accuses Abbas of holding back international aid run through
his office that could be used to pay more back salaries owed in order to
undermine Haniyeh (civil servants have received payments equivalent to 2 mos.
salary over the past 7 mos.). A Palestinian dies of injuries received during
clashes btwn. Fatah, the ESF on 9/22.
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF patrols in Kafr Dan nr.
Jenin; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at Palestinian, Israeli, international activists
taking part in the weekly nonviolent
demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil`in, injuring 5. An Army of Islam mbr. dies of injuries
received in an 9/26 IDF air
strike on Gaza City. (OCHA 10/3; PCHR 10/4)
After nearly a wk. of talks with Quartet
reps. and officials from Israel, the PA, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Syria, and the UAE on the
sidelines of UN mtgs. in New York, the Bush admin. formally announces
that a Palestinian-Israeli peace summit has been planned for 11/15 in Annapolis, MD. (WT 9/29; see also NYT, WP, WT
9/24)
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak urged cabinet ministers to adopt a tougher stance on punishing West Bank settlers over violent acts against Palestinians. He cited the unruly behaviour of settlers who he said tended to take the law into their own hands, adding that the offenders have rarely been brought to court or tried for their actions. Mr. Barak also stressed that settler attacks on Israel Police officers and Israel Defense Forces soldiers stationed near settlements presented a danger to Israeli public service and that the Government must create an environment in which legal authorities work together to put offenders behind bars. (Haaretz)
The Israeli Navy fired shots at fishermen from Rafah and sunk their boat. The same day, two Palestinians were injured when clashes broke out between Israeli forces and Palestinian youth in the West Bank village of Bi'lin after dozens of Israeli military jeeps were used to close the streets and prevented worshippers from entering mosques for evening prayers. Two persons were taken to hospital. (Ma'an News Agency)
Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered the Palestinians sovereignty over the Jordan Valley in exchange for Israel retaining three main settlement blocks in the West Bank: "Ariel", "Ma'aleh Adumim" and the "Gush Etzion". (Haaretz)
Israeli Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he would resume building in existing West Bank settlements if elected prime minister. He referred to construction in Jerusalem when he was prime minister, saying that "in Jerusalem, which is now being treated like a settlement, I built "Har Homa" (Jabal Abu Ghneim), which protects Jerusalem from the South, and in addition, I also built the "Ma'aleh Hazeitim" neighbourhood." Mr. Netanyahu stated that there was currently no chance of a peace deal with the Palestinian Authority and therefore, the only option was an economic arrangement. In recent closed conversations, he had stated that he would not evacuate settlements in any peace deal. (The Jerusalem Post)
An Israeli court extended the detention of Ahmad Sa'adat, the Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He had been due for release on 25 October. (Ma'an News Agency)