20 Palestinians killed. 2 Israelis killed.
Despite another attempt to secure a cease-fire,
Israeli-Palestinian clashes in Israel and throughout the West Bank and Gaza
continue, leaving 10 Palestinians, 7 Israeli Arabs, 1 IDF
soldier, 1 Jewish settler dead and some 300 Palestinians injured;
3 Israeli Arabs wounded on 10/1 also die. Israel closes roads in n. Israel,
the West Bank, Gaza to civilian traffic. Around 30 exchanges of gunfire btwn.
Israeli security forces and armed Palestinian civilians and police are reported.
Nr. Tulkarm, Jewish settlers fatally shoot a Palestinian. The
IDF dep. chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon warns that if Palestinians do not stop
attacking troops guarding Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, the IDF will move in even
though the area is under full PA control; the IDF has taken up positions around
areas A but has not crossed into them. Barak authorizes his forces to use
"all necessary means" to protect Israeli lives, quell riots. (AP, MM 10/2; AFP,
ANSA, EFE [Madrid], Interfax, RL, XIN 10/2 in WNC 10/3; RL, SAPA [Johannesburg]
10/2, JT, HJ, al-Quds, SA 10/3 in WNC 10/6; CSM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/3;
HJ, al-Quds, Sabah 10/3, MA 10/6 in WNC 10/10; MM 10/9)
The IDF claims that Muhammad al-Dura, the
12-yr.-old killed at Netzarim Junction on 10/1, had been throwing stones at
soldiers before he was shot, contradicting widely broadcast footage of the
incident recorded by France 2 TV showing the boy and his father pinned down by
gunfire for 45 minutes. The pair were returning from errands and had been
dropped off by a taxi, which refused to take them across Netzarim Junction
because of heavy IDF fire. (Age [Melbourne], HA [Internet], MM, WP 10/3;
MA 10/6 in WNC 10/10) (see Doc. B3)
In New York, the UNSC begins closed-door mtgs. on
several draft resolutions regarding the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli clashes.
Britain, the U.S. lobby against issuing a resolution, saying, at
most, a statement should be read. (UPI 10/3; HA [Internet] 10/4; WJW 10/5)
U.S. secy. of state Albright announces that she will
meet with Arafat, Barak in Paris on 10/4 to discuss the clashes,
the peace process. All 3 will then meet with Mubarak in Sharm al-Shaykh
on 10/5. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/3; Radio France International 10/3 in WNC 10/6)
In Paris, PA Planning M Shaath briefs French pres.
Chirac on the ongoing clashes. Chirac calls on both sides to deescalate the
violence, calls for an international inquiry into the clashes. (AFP 10/2, 10/3,
Le Monde 10/4 in WNC 10/6)
Palestinians set afire an industrial plant owned by Jewish
settlers. Nr. Hebron.
In Amman, Arafat, King Abdallah discuss the
Israeli-Palestinian clashes, call on Israel to pull back forces to
restore calm, and urge Arab states to convene an emergency summit. In Cairo,
Mubarak, Syrian pres. Asad also call for an Arab summit. Massive
rallies protesting Israeli actions are held in Amman, Cairo,
Damascus, refugee camps in Lebanon, Yemen. Protests are also
held outside Israeli embassies and legations in many European and North
American cities, including Ann Arbor, Austin, Brussels, Chicago, Detroit,
Houston, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, New Haven, New York, Ottawa. (AP, BDL,
UPI 10/2; MENA 10/2 in WNC 10/3; MENA 10/2, JT, MENA 10/3, JT 10/4 in WNC 10/6;
NYT, WP, WT 10/3; AYM 10/3 in WNC 10/12; MM, WT 10/4; WJW 10/5; HJ 10/5,
al-Quds 10/7 in WNC 10/10; JP 10/13)
2 Israelis killed.
Sharon calls an emergency mtg. of his cabinet after Gaza attack.
The IDF fires tear gas, rubber bullets at Birzeit University students, staff
conducting a peaceful protest march to Surda checkpoint, injuring 3
journalists covering the event, 1 marcher. (HA 10/2; MM, REU, WP, WT 10/3;
MA, al-Quds 10/3 in WNC 10/4; MM 10/4; MM 10/8; LAW 10/10; JP, MEI 10/12)
Bush for the 1st time publicly endorses the creation of a Palestinian
state, saying it "has always been a part of our vision, so long as the right
of Israel to exist is respected." The State Dept. says this does
not mark a change in either U.S. or admin. policy. (MENA 10/2 in WNC 10/3; MM,
REU, WP, WT 10/3; AFP, AN, DUS, MA, al-Nahar, QA, al-Quds 10/3 in
WNC 10/4; MM 10/4; JT, MA, MENA 10/4 in WNC 10/5; al-Quds, al-Ra'i
10/4, SA 10/5, AKH 10/8 in WNC 10/9; al-Quds 10/9 in WNC 10/10; AN 10/10
in WNC 10/11; MEI 10/12; MENA, al-Quds 10/13 in WNC 10/15)
In Gaza, 2 Hamas mbrs. raid Aley Sinai settlement, tossing
grenades into buildings and shooting IDF soldiers guarding the settlement as
well as residents, killing 2 Jewish settlers, wounding 7 soldiers and 8
settlers before being shot dead. Arafat orders the PSF to hunt for
the assailants. Palestinians also fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in s. Gaza.
The IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Tamun; clashes with
Palestinians in Silat al-Haratiyya, injuring 9; fires on residential areas of
Jenin; conducts house-to-house searches in Juhur al-Dik nr. Gaza City, detaining
more than 100 Palestinians, taking them to Neve Dekalim settlement for
interrogation (all but 6, who are taken to jail in Israel, are released after 9
hrs.). Jewish settlers fr. Tapuach nr. Hebron harvest
Palestinian olive trees while Palestinian residents are under curfew, shoot
at international peace activists who attempt to intervene. Israel says it
has arrested alleged West Bank ALF leader Rakad Salim on charges of
paying families of Palestinian suicide bombers, other Palestinians wounded or
killed during the intifada on behalf of Iraq. (HA, LAW, PCHR, Rabbis for
Human Rights press release 10/2; HA 10/3; PCHR 10/9)
IDF soldiers discover a package bomb at a gas station in Afula;
the device is disarmed; no group claims responsibility. Palestinians
throw an explosive device at an IDF vehicle nr. Askar r.c., lightly
injuring 1 soldier.
2 Palestinians killed.
The IDF fatally shoots wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. Mazin Salama
in Tulkarm; shells residential areas of Rafah, killing 1 Palestinian,
wounding 3 (ages 55–65); fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, critically
wounding an 18-mo.-old Palestinian in his home; begins leveling a
120-dunam area of Palestinian land nr. Hebron to create a settlers-only bypass
road; discovers, destroys a car bomb in Nablus, allegedly being prepared for an
attack in Israel; conducts arrest raids around Jenin. Saying Israel has no
responsibility to meet its road map obligations until Palestinians crack down on
militant groups, the Israeli Housing Min. approves construction of 600
new housing units in Jewish settlements in and around East Jerusalem.
(BBC, HA, MM 10/2; VOP 10/2 in WNC 10/4; NYT, WP, WT 10/3; PCHR 10/9)
15 Palestinians killed.
The IDF expands Operation Days of Penitence, using some 200 tanks and
APCs to seize control of a 3.5 mi2 of costal territory in n. Gaza. In Jabaliya
r.c., IDF missile strikes kill 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and 2 Hamas mbrs.,
wound 4 bystanders; gunfire kills at least 3 Palestinians (possibly
Islamic Jihad mbrs.); demolitions of Palestinian homes continue; the IDF
uses loudspeakers to urge 10s of Palestinians to evacuate their homes. The
IDF fatally shoots another 4 Palestinians trying to infiltrate Israel
fr. n. Gaza. A Palestinian militant dies of injuries sustained in
Jabaliya on 10/1. The IDF also opens fire on Palestinians in central Gaza
protesting against Days of Penitence; shells residential areas of Rafah, killing
a 62-yr.-old Palestinian; evacuates, demolishes 4 Palestinian homes
in Rafah, shooting and seriously wounding a Palestinian woman (6-mos. pregnant)
in the process; fires on several residential areas of Khan Yunis, bulldozing 14
d., damaging an elementary school and forcing students to evacuate; conducts
arrest raids in al-Qarara. In the West Bank, the IDF imposes a 1-day
curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron, fires on stone-throwing youths; conducts
arrest raids at Hebron University and in Abu Nujaym and Artas nr. Bethlehem,
Bayt Umar nr. Hebron, Silwad, Tulkarm, Tura nr. Jenin. A 4-yr.-old
Palestinian dies of injuries received on 7/30/04. (HA, NYT, XIN 10/2; AFP,
JAZ, VOI, VOP 10/2, VOI 10/3 in WNC 10/5; NYT, WP, WT 10/3; PCHR 10/7)
The IDF officially "suspends" Operation First Rain, which began
on 9/24, to "see if the Palestinian Authority is willing and capable of taking
advantage of the new situation." Late in the evening, the IDF launches
arrest raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm and in and around Bethlehem, Hebron.
Israeli border police report that over the previous 2 days they have
arrested 1,200 Palestinians in Jerusalem for failing to have travel or work
permits. (AFP, IMEMC, YA 10/2; REU, UPI, WP, WT 10/3; HA, REU, WT, XIN 10/4;
PCHR 10/6; DS 10/8; MEI 10/12)
The Israeli FMin. adopts a new “national image management” strategy to
improve Israel’s image abroad, “rebranding” it as “cool,” “hip,” “relevant and
modern,” by downplaying religion and “avoiding any discussion of the conflict
with the Palestinians.” (Forward 10/14)
PA security forces clash with Hamas
mbrs. in Gaza City, with violence spreading to Shati` r.c., leaving 1 PA
police officer, 2 Palestinian bystanders dead, at least 50
Palestinians wounded over several hrs. in the first intra-Palestinian fighting
in Gaza since the Israeli withdrawal, sparked when PA security forces
allegedly tried to arrest Muhammad Rantisi, Hamas activist and son of
assassinated Hamas leader `Abd al-`Aziz Rantisi; during the clashes Hamas mbrs.
fire RPGs at 2 PA police stations, PA police run out of ammunition. Separately,
shots are fired at the Gaza City home of Hamas political leader Mahmud Zahhar,
causing damage but no injuries.
2 Palestinians killed.
In Gaza, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian fisherman off the coast of
Gaza; sends tanks into southeastern Bayt Hanun, firing on industrial areas,
heavily damaging a factory and 2 houses; fires missiles fr. a helicopter gunship
destroying a workshop in Khan Yunis, killing 1 Palestinian child (age 15),
wounding a 2d (age 16) sleeping in a house nearby; bulldozes 20 d. of
agricultural land e. of Jabaliya r.c. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest
raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c. (firing on residential
areas), Tamun. (AP 10/2; NYT, WP, WT 10/3;
PCHR 10/5)
As Fatah-Hamas tensions continue, Fatah gunmen fire on the car of
Hamas-affiliated Dep. PM Sha‘ir in Nablus, wounding his 2 bodyguards, who return
fire, wounding 1 Fatah mbr.; Sha‘ir is not in the car at the time. Fatah gunmen
also force the closure of the Agriculture, Interior, and Local Government Min.
offices and set fire to offices of Hamas-affiliated PC mbrs. in Bethlehem;
attack, vandalize a women’s center, Islamic school run by Hamas in Nablus. In
addition, unidentified masked gunmen kidnap, temporarily hold a Hamas-affiliated
Finance Min. official in Nablus; attack an Islamic center in Qabatya; vandalize
the Prisoners’ Friends Association office, a law office, and a car in Jenin.
Fatah militants also enforce a general strike in several areas across the West
Bank, forcing stores, private schools to close in a show of force against Hamas,
fatally shooting a restaurant owner in Jericho who refuses to comply. In Gaza,
some 5,000 Fatah mbrs. demonstrating in Rafah, calling for the disbanding of the
ESF and resignation of Interior M Siyam, clash with ESF officers, leaving 1
Fatah mbr., 1 ESF mbr. dead, at least 14 wounded; Fatah, ESF gunmen trade fire
outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, injuring 2 Palestinians; Fatah militants
set fire to the PA Agriculture Min. offices in Gaza City; Fatah-affiliated
students stone the home of a Hamas-affiliated cabinet M in Bayt Hanun. Haniyeh
orders all PA ministries closed to protest the 10/1 Fatah attacks on government
buildings. Abbas, Haniyeh appeal again for calm.
1 Palestinian killed.
Israel
releases 29 Palestinian prisoners fr. Gaza (see 10/1); once again, the IDF fires on Palestinians waiting at the Erez crossing to welcome the prisoners
home, wounding a Reuters cameraman. Late in the evening, the IDF sends
troops into Khan Yunis, bulldozing agricultural land, searching and occupying
Palestinian homes as observation posts, exchanging fire with local Palestinian
gunmen, killing 1 armed Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nur al-Shams r.c. nr. Tulkarm, nr. Ramallah. At least 15 Jewish settlers, escorted by IDF soldiers, enter and stay overnight in Joseph’s Tomb nr. Nablus. 100s of Jewish settlers set up
tents on the vacated Homesh settlement site, level land, set up sand barriers;
the IDF restricts Palestinian movement in the area. (OCHA, WP 10/3; NYT, PCHR 10/4; NYT 10/5)
In Gaza City, 4 AMB mbrs. are killed when explosives they are carrying detonate prematurely
outside an ESF post that they apparently planned to attack; 1 passerby is wounded.
Settlers from the unauthorized outpost of "Shvut Ami" set fire to olive trees belonging to Palestinians in the village of Kafr Qaddum, east of Nablus. (Haaretz, Ma'an News Agency, Ynetnews)
In an interview with Haaretz, IDF commander in the West Bank Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni criticized extremist settlers who had attacked Palestinians and Israeli soldiers in recent weeks. He said that their radical behaviour had intensified in light of the encouragement they received from the settler leadership, rabbis and the public. "There has been a rise in Jewish violence in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]. In the past, only a few dozen individuals took part in such activity, but today that number has grown into hundreds. That's a very significant change. These hundreds are engaged in conspiratorial actions against Palestinians and the security forces. It's a very grave phenomenon," he said. (Haaretz)
A senior Israeli official said that an international summit would be held in Egypt in November, with representatives from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the Quartet. The official said that the Israeli and PA participants would brief the Quartet on progress made in the peace talks and that the event would probably take place in Sharm el-Sheikh on the anniversary of the Annapolis Conference. Quartet Representative Tony Blair would participate, as well as officials from Egypt and Jordan. (Haaretz)