12 Palestinians killed.
Meanwhile, Palestinian-Israeli clashes continue in the
West Bank, Gaza, and Israel, leaving 9 Palestinians dead, 10s wounded; 2
Palestinians die of wounds received earlier. An Israeli Arab is killed in
a clash Israeli police in Kefar Manda in the Galilee. The IDF eases
open-fire regulations, permitting soldiers to fire on any vehicles approaching
checkpoints and continues to use heavy weapons, but overall the fighting is less
intense than in previous days. The most serious clashes are nr. Bethlehem,
Jaffa, Nablus, Netzarim Junction. (MM 10/4; ANSA, IRNA 10/4 in WNC 10/6; LAW,
NYT, WP, WT 10/5; HJ, Daily Star 10/5 in WNC 10/10; MM 10/9)
In Paris, U.S. Secy. of State Albright, CIA Dir.
Tenet meet with Arafat, Barak. After 12 hrs. of talks, joined
at times by UN Secy.-Gen. Annan and French pres. Chirac, the sides
reach an arrangement under which Barak agrees to withdraw troops to their
positions before 9/28, Arafat agrees to try to curb Palestinian rioting, both
sides agree to keep people away fr. 3 hot spots (Netzarim Junction in Gaza,
Joseph's Tomb in Nablus, and the "circle area" nr. Ramallah). The U.S. had hoped
Arafat and Barak would sign a document outlining the agmts., but the Arafat
would do so only if the text included provisions for an international inquiry,
which Barak rejected. After the mtg. Albright, Arafat leave for Sharm al-Shaykh.
Barak returns to Israel, saying there no point in meeting with Mubarak.
(MM, REU 10/4; AFP, ATL, Interfax, IRNA, ITAR-TASS, MENA, Yonhap [Seoul] 10/4,
AFP, IDF Radio, Interfax, JT, MA, MENA, al-Quds, SA, VOI 10/5 in WNC
10/6; AP, CSM, LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; Arab News 10/5, AYM, HJ, MENA
10/6, SA 10/7, MENA 10/9 in WNC 10/10; MM, WP 10/6; AYM, Le Monde 10/11
in WNC 10/12; MM, WP 10/12; JP, MEI 10/13) (see Peace Monitor)
Protests against Israel's actions are held in
Damascus, where 1,000s of students demonstrate outside the U.S. emb.;
in Cairo, where 1,500 students demonstrate outside the Israeli emb.; and
in Amman, where riot police fire tear gas to disperse 800 protesters
marching toward the Israeli emb., injuring 62. In Copenhagen, 5,000
attend a Palestinian solidarity rally. Smaller rallies are staged in Istanbul,
London, Rome. In the U.S. demonstrations are staged in
Dearborn, Detroit, Madison, Miami, New Haven, Portland. (MENA 10/4 in WNC 10/5;
ATL 10/4, JT 10/5 in WNC 10/6; MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; MENA 10/5, HJ 10/6 in WNC
10/10; MENL 10/11)
The PA releases 12 Hamas political prisoners
who had been held without charge in PA jails. Israel says the PA is
giving a "green light for terrorism." (HJ 10/5 in WNC 10/6; WP 10/6)
The PC convenes an emergency session in Ramallah,
denounces Israel's aggression, calls for an Arab summit. (WP 10/5)
Citing "compelling national security interests," the State
Dept. sends Amb. Indyk back to Israel to maintain contact with
Israeli officials during the clashes. (WT 10/5) (see 9/22)
1 Palestinian killed. 3 Israelis killed.
In Hebron, the IDF fatally shoots
1 Palestinian, wounds 3 others; shells residential areas of the
PA-controlled section of the city. The IDF also directs shells, heavy
machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt Lahia, al-Qarara (where soldiers
occupy a residential building as an outpost). In Bethlehem, a mysterious
explosion seriously injuries senior Fatah mbr. Rami Kamel. (HA, IGPO
10/4; HP, LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; MEI 10/12; LAW 10/13)
Angered by continued U.S. pressure on Israel to exercise
restraint toward the Palestinians while Washington builds its coalition against
Bin Laden, Sharon accuses the U.S. of sacrificing Israel to "appease the
Arabs" the way Britain sacrificed Czechoslovakia to Hitler in 1938. The
Israeli cabinet authorizes the IDF to "take all necessary measures"
to defend Israeli citizens. (BBC 10/4; AFP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/5; MA, NYT 10/6;
JT, al-Quds 10/7, AKH 10/8 in WNC 10/9; MM 10/8; AN 10/10 in WNC 10/11;
MM 10/11; MA 10/11 in WNC 10/12; MEI 10/12; MM 10/25; ITAR-TASS 10/24 in WNC
10/25)
A Palestinian gunman dressed in an IDF paratrooper uniform opens fire
at the Afula bus station inside Israel, killing 3 Israelis, wounding 7
before being fatally shot by police.
1 Palestinian killed.
After Friday prayers 30 Palestinians inside the al-Aqsa Mosque
compound pelt officers outside the complex with stones in protest of Bush's
decision to sign legislation requiring U.S. recognition of united Jerusalem
as Israel's capital. Some 50 Israeli police storm the Haram
al-Sharif/Temple Mount, fire tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinian
worshipers leaving al-Aqsa Mosque. The IDF fatally shoots 1
Palestinian at a checkpoint in Barata nr. Hebron; fires on residential areas
of Jenin, wounding at least 3, including a 15-yr.-old Palestinian hit
inside his home, barred evacuation to a hospital, bleeds to death (the IDF
admits that soldiers violated open-fire regulations); fires on a Palestinian
taxi breaking curfew in Nablus, seriously injuring the driver, a 12-yr.-old
Palestinian bystander; conducts arrest raids in Dura, Hebron; bulldozes a
PSF post, more than 23 dunams of Palestinian land nr. Khan Yunis. (HA, REU 10/4; LAW, NYT, WT 10/5; PCHR 10/9)
An IDF
soldier is shot, wounded in Nablus. Palestinians fire 4 mortars at
Gush Katif settlement block in Gaza, an antitank missile at an IDF
outpost, causing no damage.
4 Palestinians killed. 14 Israelis killed.
In response to Haifa bombing,
the IDF shells, demolishes an empty Palestinian home in Gaza City,
and empty garage in Bureij r.c.; makes a failed assassination attempt on an
Islamic Jihad mbr. in central Gaza, firing missiles at him in an open field,
but missing him; moves troops into Jenin. Mbrs. of the Israeli peace group
Gush Shalom, the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) surround
Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters to act as human shields should Israel attempt
to “remove” him. During the day, the IDF also raids Tulkarm r.c.,
assassinates AMB mbr. Sirhan Biharan Hassin Sirhan, whom Israel says
killed 5 Israelis in Kibbutz Metzer on 11/10/02, also killing a 9-yr.-old
Palestinian bystander; fires on residential areas of Rafah. A Palestinian
toddler dies of injuries received on 10/2; a 2d Palestinian dies of
injuries received in 2002. (GS, HA 10/4; AFP, MENA, VOP 10/4, AFP, IRNA,
ITAR-TASS, al-Quds, VIRI, VOP, XIN 10/5 in WNC 10/7; NYT, WP, WT 10/5;
MM, WP 10/6; al-Ra’i 10/6 in WNC 10/8; HA, MM, NYT 10/7; PR, WP 10/8;
PCHR, WJW 10/9; MEI 10/10; MM 10/17)
A female Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device in a Haifa
restaurant, killing 14 Israeli Jews, 5 Israeli Arabs, wounding
around 50. (The bomber, Hanadi Taysir Jaradat, who had just graduated fr.
law school in Jordan, watched as IDF undercover units assassinated her
brother and cousin, both Islamic Jihad mbrs., outside their family home in Jenin
on 6/12/03.) Israel says Arafat is to blame for failing to order
the PSF to take steps to dismantle Islamic Jihad. Bush says the bombing
“underscores once again the responsibility of the Palestinian authorities to
fight terror,” says “the new Palestinian cabinet must dedicate itself to
dismantling the infrastructure of terror,” does not call for Israeli restraint;
Powell also phones Israeli FM Silvan Shalom to express condolences
and strong condemnation of the attack, but does not urge restraint.
9 Palestinians killed. 1 Israeli killed.
In continuing operations in n. Gaza, the IDF kills 5 Palestinians
(including at least 2 civilians, one of them a 15-yr.-old girl) in shelling and
gunfire in Jabaliya. Elsewhere in Gaza, the
IDF fires warning shots at a group of Palestinians in Khan Yunis, killing a
4-yr.-old Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah.
In the West Bank, 2 wanted Palestinians and 1 IDF soldier are
killed, a 3d wanted Palestinian and 4 bystanders are injured in an exchange of
fire during an IDF arrest raid on Ramallah; the IDF says the soldier was
killed by friendly fire. The IDF bulldozes a grove of 120 olive trees nr.
Tulkarm, large areas of agricultural land in Surif for construction of the
separation wall; imposes a curfew on Palestinians in Hebron to allow
Jewish settlers to hold Sukkoth parades, during which settlers throw
bottles, stones at Palestinian homes; conducts arrest raids in and around
Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, Tulkarm. A 70-yr.-old Palestinian dies fr.
injuries she received in Nablus on 7/22/04. (MM, NYT, WP 10/4; AFP, IDF Radio,
VOI, YA 10/4 in WNC 10/6; HA, NYT, PRCS, WP 10/5; PCHR 10/7; JPI 10/15)
In retaliation to IDF Gaza incursion, Palestinians fire an antitank
missile at an IDF patrol in n. Gaza, wounding 2 troops; fire 2 Qassam
rockets at Sederot, lightly injuring 1 Israeli.
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF bulldozes large areas in Abasan, inside the Gaza border s. of
Kissufim crossing. (IMEMC 10/4; NYT
10/5; NYT, PCHR 10/6; HA 10/25)
A Palestinian woman stabs, wounds an IDF soldier at
the Hawara checkpoint outside Nablus before being fatally shot.
3 Palestinians killed.
In Gaza, the IDF partially reopens Rafah crossing as a gesture marking U.S.
Secy. of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit today; makes an air strike on a car
driving nr. Khan Yunis, assassinating Islamic Jihad mbr. Yasir al-Banna, Abu
Rish Brigades mbr. Omar al-Zaqzuq. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest
raids, house searches nr. Tulkarm and in and around Hebron, Jenin town and r.c.
In Israel, an Israeli border
policeman fatally shoots a Palestinian laborer fr. Hebron being detained in IDF
custody in Jaffa for working without a permit, claims his gun went off
accidentally; the worker was also reportedly severely beaten by 9 policemen; the
guard who shot him is placed under house arrest pending an investigation. (NYT,
PCHR, REU, WP 10/5; OCHA 10/11; PCHR 10/12)
In Qalqilya, 4 unidentified gunmen assassinate local Hamas official Muhammad
Odeh; no group takes responsibility. Unidentified gunmen fire on a car carrying
PC mbrs. in Gaza City, wounding 1 Palestinian.
1 Palestinian killed.
Israel
allows a technical team fr. Siemens to enter Gaza with a shipment of spare
parts and tools to perform maintenance on Gaza’s power plant, expected to take about 3 wks. to complete. IDF troops on the Gaza border inside Israel fatally shoot a Palestinian who strays nr. the border fence nr. Nussayrat
r.c.; sends tanks into Gaza nr. the Rafah crossing to bulldoze an ESF post. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bil`in. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba steal at least 2 tons of
grapes fr. a Palestinian farmer, attack and vandalize his home. (NYT 10/5; OCHA 10/9, 10/10; PCHR 10/11)
Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries.
Suspected
Fatah mbrs. detonate a roadside bomb nr. an ESF patrol in Gaza, wounding 3 ESF mbrs. Unidentified assailants toss an explosive device at the Fatah
al-Yasir offices in Khan Yunis, injuring 2 bystanders. Gaza
municipal employees begin an open-ended strike to protest nonpayment of
their salaries.
Attending the opening of an industrial park financed by France and Germany in Jenin, visiting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that he believed that a detailed peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians before the end of 2008 was unlikely. "We talked ... about the peace process," PA President Abbas said in a joint news conference with Mr. Kouchner: "We emphasized that we are continuing this process, whether it is with the outgoing Prime Minister, Olmert, or with Livni, if she forms her Government, and also with the new [US] Administration, which we hope will handle this immediately and directly." (AP, DPA, WAFA)
French Foreign Minister Kouchner toured Jenin and praised the PA security services for restoring order, saying he would share his positive assessment with Israeli and European Union (EU) leaders. When asked about a report in Asharq Al-Awsat about a French proposal to deploy monitors or an EU peacekeeping force in the future Palestinian State, he replied that "this is a suggestion that was proposed before, and we are working on studying this proposal. A decision was not taken yet, but the idea itself is not bad." (AP, Haaretz, WAFA)
Egypt's presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad confirmed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had asked Egypt to invite Israeli and Palestinian leaders and members of the Quartet to meet before President Bush's term ends, and that Egypt endorsed the proposal. (AP)
Senior Fatah leader and chief of the PA delegation to the intra-Palestinian dialogue in Cairo Nabil Sha'ath said that the comprehensive dialogue would be launched on 4 November. Mr. Sha'ath said that Fatah accepted the proposal to form a national unity Government with Hamas which would be recognized by the Arabs and the international community. "The mission of this Government will focus on rebuilding of the Palestinian security apparatuses and preparation for presidential and legislative elections," said Mr. Sha'ath. Musa Abu Marzouq, a senior Hamas leader, said, "The scheduled [Hamas] meeting with the Egyptian side will tackle the essence of Palestinian disputes, which are related to rebuilding the security apparatuses, forming a national unity Government and preparing for the elections." Hamas leader Ismail Radwan said: "We reject discussing the idea of holding early legislative elections." "Every party has to settle everything in Cairo," said Ahmed Yousef, political adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. "They should come back with good news that they reached understandings achieving the national reconciliation, or think deeply about breaking up the PA." (Xinhua)
China, the PA and the United Nations Development Programme signed an agreement to construct the PA Foreign Ministry's new office building. PA President Abbas attended the ceremony in Ramallah and laid a corner stone for the new structure. (WAFA, Xinhua)