The IDF shells the home of PSF West Bank head Jibril Rajub,
injuring 6 bodyguards; Rajub, his family are home but are not injured. The IDF
also directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at al-Arub refugee camp, Bayt Jala,
al-Bireh, Hebron, al-Khadir, Ramallah. Jewish settlers establish a new
settlement enclave in Nabi Salih, nr. Ramallah; occupy 2 Palestinian shops in
Jerusalem's Old City; set Palestinian wheat fields on fire nr. Hebron. Israel's
Peace Now reports that at least 15 new Jewish settlement sites
have been established since Sharon was elected in 2/01. (HP, Peace Now press
release 5/20; NYT, PMC, WT 5/21; HA, WP 5/22; HA, MM, NYT 5/23; PCHR 5/24; LAW
5/25; MEI 6/1)
Angry over Sharon's decision to use F-16s on 5/18 without consulting
the full cabinet or security cabinet, the full Israeli cabinet limits the
"kitchenette" (Sharon, Peres, Ben-Eliezer) to ordering strikes
against 3 types of Palestinian targets without prior approval. (HA 5/21; MA 5/21
in WNC 5/22) (see Peace Monitor)
The Mitchell Comm. gives Israel, the PA its final
report, which is identical to its preliminary report (see 5/16). Comm. heads
Mitchell and fmr. sen. Warren Rudman send a letter to the
Anti-Defamation League stressing that the report makes no direct linkage
between halting violence, halting settlements. (MENA 5/21 in WNC 5/22; ITAR-TASS
5/21, AYM, HJ, MENA 5/22 in WNC 5/23; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/22; MM, WP 5/23; AYM,
HA, JT, MA, MENA, QA, al-Ra'i 5/23 in WNC 5/24; WJW 5/24; QA 5/25 in WNC
5/29; MEI 6/1; NYT 6/2) (see Doc. A2, B2, C2 in JPS 120; Doc. A???? in
this issue)
U.S. VP Dick Cheney states that the Israel should stop using
American-supplied F-16s against Palestinian targets. Sharon says Israel
will use as much military force against the Palestinians as it deems necessary.
(MM, NYT, WT 5/21; al-Quds 5/21 in WNC 5/22; QA 5/21 in WNC 5/23; WJW
5/24; MEI 6/1)
A Palestinian suicide bomber detonates a device in an Afula bus
station, injuring 1 patrolman, when he is stopped by Israeli police for a
security check. The IDF conducts arrest raids into Tulkarm, Zabuna nr.
Jenin; shells residential areas nr. Khan Yunis. (MM 5/20; NYT, WT 5/21; LAW
5/22)
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF pulls some troops out of Bayt Hanun, where it has demolished
14 Palestinian homes since 5/16; The IDF also tightens the closure, curfews on
Hebron; reinforces troops around Qalqilya, closing the only entrance to the
city; issues a confiscation order for 1,700 dunams of land in Nahalin and Husan,
w. of Bethlehem, for construction of a new settler bypass road; confiscates a
3-story building, conducts arrest raids in Nahalin; arrests senior PA
intelligence official Ahmad Barqawi in Ramallah on suspicion of having
himself carried out several attacks on Israelis; delays transportation of a
Palestinian heart attack victim to a Jenin hospital, allowing him to die;
halts at a road block, beats 2 photojournalists in Bethlehem; demolishes
15 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 2 in Nablus; fires on residential areas of
Tal al-Sultan. The IDF also raids the Hebron offices of the international
peace group Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), checks passports and visas
of all CPT volunteers, photographs several mbrs.; tells mbrs. they may not go
near any Jewish settlement, may not operate in the PA-controlled H1 area
of the city, must limit operations in Israeli-controlled H2 (where CPT offices
are located), may not return to H2 if they leave. (CPT press release, HA, HP, MM
5/20; HP, WP, WT 5/21; VOI 5/21 in WNC 5/22; HA, LAW, PCHR 5/22; PR 5/28; MEI
5/30)
Bush phones Abbas, then Sharon to tell them that he is
still committed to the road map, invites the leaders to send envoys to
Washington to discuss implementation. (HA 5/20; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/21)
Some 600 Palestinians demonstrate
against Hamas for firing rockets fr. the Bayt Hanun area, prompting the
IDF incursion on 5/15.
11 Palestinians killed.
The IDF continues Operation Rainbow, moving deeper into Rafah, killing
8 Palestinians (including Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades local cmdr.
Khalid Abu Azna, who is assassinated in a helicopter air strike), detaining
70, bulldozing at least 1 Palestinian home, knocking down a small zoo
(killing some animals, freeing others); the IDF admits it has found no
smugglers’ tunnels since the start of the operation. The IDF also
assassinates Qalqilya Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades leader Mazin Yasin;
opens fire on stone-throwing youths in Hebron (killing a 13-yr.-old
Palestinian), Qalqilya; conducts arrest raids in Jenin, Khan Yunis,
Qalqilya. Another 13-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injures sustained during
the 5/11 IDF raid on Gaza City. An Israeli court convicts West
Bank Fatah secy., Palestinian Council (PC) mbr., and tanzim leader Marwan
Barghouti on 5 counts of murder in connection with 3 AMB shooting attacks in
2001–2, acquits him on 21 other counts for lack of evidence; Barghouti was
detained in 4/02. (MM, REU 5/20; HA, ITAR-TASS, JP, MA, VOI, VOP, YA 5/20 in WNC
5/22; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/21; PR 5/26; PCHR, WJW 5/27; MEI 5/28; PR 6/2)
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF conducts arrest raids in Mughraqa in central Gaza, nr. Bethlehem; patrols in
Nablus, firing on residential areas; occupies a Palestinian home in Hebron as an
observation post. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba severely beat 3
Palestinian girls. (IMEMC 5/20; NYT 5/21; OCHA 5/25; PCHR 5/26)
In Gaza, 3 Palestinians representing the AMB, Hamas, Islamic
Jihad stage a joint attack on Kefar Darom settlement, firing rifles, 1
mortar, 6 grenades, causing damage but no injuries; the IDF fires back,
killing 1 Hamas mbr., wounding a 2d, who escapes with the 3d assailant;
the IDF says that PA security forces spotted the attackers but did not
stop them, waiting until after the clash to retrieve the body of the dead man,
turn his weapons over to the IDF. Israel pledges to respond to such
attacks as it did today, “without escalating the fighting.”
5 Palestinians killed.
The IDF makes an air strike on a moving car in Gaza, assassinating senior
Islamic Jihad military cmdr. Muhammad Dadu, killing 3 bystanders and wounding 4;
patrols in Balata r.c. late in the evening, fatally shooting a Palestinian woman
who comes to her window to observe events; conducts arrest raids, house searches
in and around Tulkarm town and r.c., nr. Hebron, Jenin. (JAZ,
PNN 5/20; MENA, PSCT, VOI 5/20 in WNC 5/21; NYT, WP, WT 5/21; AFP, Daily Star,
HA, MM 5/22; PCHR 5/25)
Meanwhile, a bomb
explodes at the PA General Intelligence Service (GIS) offices in Gaza, seriously
wounding GIS chief Tariq Abu Rajab in an apparent assassination attempt, killing
his bodyguard, wounding 8 others (unidentified gunmen shot, wounded a bodyguard
outside Abu Rajab’s home on 5/14); PA security forces taking the wounded to the
hospital fire fr. the windows of their cars to clear the streets; mbrs. of the
ESF, believing themselves under attack, fire toward the convoy, causing no
injuries. No group takes responsibility for the bombing; PA PM Ismail Haniyeh
calls for an investigation. In response to the attempt on Abu Rajab’s life, a
group calling itself the Fatah Protection Unit demands that PA Pres. Mahmud
Abbas dismiss the Hamas-led government and call new elections, that the Interior
Min. disband the ESF. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen fire on the home of
Interior Min. spokesman Khalid Abu Hilal, causing damage but no injuries.
9 Palestinians killed.
During the day in Gaza, the IDF fires on Jabaliya r.c., seriously wounding a Palestinian
woman inside
her home. In the evening, Olmert convenes his security cabinet, which authorized the IDF to step up
attacks on Hamas, Islamic Jihad. Soon
after, the IDF makes an air strike targeting IQB cmdr. Samih Farwanah
in Gaza City, who is at the home of Hamas-affiliated Change and Reform Palestinian
Council (PC) mbr. Khalil al-Haya, assassinating Farwanah, killing 7 of Haya’s relatives, wounding more than
12; fires a missile at Hamas mbr.
Nasser Hammuda, biking through Gaza City, wounding him in an apparent
assassination attempt; makes an air strike on an alleged Hamas weapons factory
in Gaza City, killing 1 Palestinian security guard, wounding 3
bystanders; makes an air strike on the home of an Islamic Jihad mbr., destroying it and a neighboring meeting
hall, causing no injuries; shells residential areas of
Bayt Lahiya, heavily damaging 2 homes, wounding 6 Palestinians. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts
arrest raids, house searches in al-Arub r.c nr. Hebron and in and around
Bethlehem, Jenin town and r.c.; raids 4 TV and radio stations in Nablus seizing
computers and broadcasting equipment; begins bulldozing 130 dunams (d.; 4 d. =
1 acre) of apricot and date orchards nr. Artas nr. Bethlehem to make way for
the separation wall. Under IDF escort, Jewish settlers fr.
Efrat nr. Bethlehem uproot Palestinian trees nr. the settlement. Jewish
settlers fr. Karme Tzur nr. Hebron unleash an attack dog on a Palestinian
farmer working his land nr. the settlement, injuring him. (HA, IFM, NYT, PCHR, WP 5/20; HA, NYT, OCHA, PCHR, WP, WT 5/21; OCHA
5/23; PCHR 5/24)
Overnight, Lebanese police
and soldiers raid several homes in Tripoli in an attempt to capture a group
connected to the tiny militant group, Fatah al-Islam (FI), that was suspected of carrying out a bank robbery on
5/19. The raids spark gun battles that
quickly spread throughout the city and to the outskirts of Nahr al-Barid
r.c. (pop. 40,000), where FI is based. When FI forces leave the camp to
ambush and capture nearby army positions, the Lebanese army fires tank shells, mortars into the camp, quickly
precipitating massive clashes (including RPG, heavy weapons fire by FI) that continue throughout the day. In total, at
least 27 Lebanese
soldiers, 20 FI mbrs., and 9 Palestinian civilians inside the
camp are killed and scores are wounded during the day. By nightfall, the army regains control of areas surrounding the
camp, seals the camp to prevent militants
fr. escaping; cuts water and electricity to the camp to urge a surrender. Syria closes several border crossings
n. and w. of Tripoli in reaction. Separately, a car bomb explodes nr. a shopping mall in the Christian
neighborhood of Achrifiyya in Beirut, killing 1 Lebanese woman, wounding 12; no group claims responsibility. (AP,
NYT, REU, WP, WT 5/21; WT 5/24; NYT 6/20, 7/7)
Palestinians
fire at least 12 rockets, 2 mortars fr. Gaza into Israel, damaging 2 trucks on the Israeli side of the Qarni
crossing but causing no injuries. In
Rafah, an al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbr. is injured when explosives
he is handling detonate prematurely.
Meanwhile, Hamas, Fatah observe a cease-fire
during the day; stores begin to reopen and
residents venture out for the 1st time in a wk.
4 Palestinians killed.
The IAF confirmed launching three air strikes in which four Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip. They included a farmer, identified as 32-year-old Ali Ad-Dahdouh, and a 13-year-old, both in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip. The Izz-ad Din Al-Qassam Brigades (armed wing of Hamas) and Palestinian medical sources said that two militants, one of whom was identified as 25-year-old Muhammad 'Udah, had been killed and others injured in Israeli shelling in the Zaytoun neighbourhood of Gaza City. The IAF said that it had fired at persons launching rockets or planting explosives. (AP, Haaretz, Ma'an News Agency, The Jerusalem Post, Ynetnews)
A senior Egyptian official said that Israel had accepted in principle a proposal for a truce in the Gaza Strip. "Israeli leaders [have informed us] of their support for and understanding of the Egyptian proposal for a truce." Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman reportedly relayed the news to a Hamas delegation from the Gaza Strip earlier in the day. Mark Regev, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Olmert said, "As far as we are concerned, we can only indicate that contacts are continuing." Meanwhile, Israeli Cpl. Shalit's father, Noam, said Mr. Olmert had personally promised him in a telephone conversation that his son would be included in any agreement or arrangement reached with Hamas. (The Jerusalem Post)
Israeli defence officials stated that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could take effect in the coming days after Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak had cleared the way by easing a previous demand that the ceasefire be conditioned on the release of soldier Gilad Shalit. Under the initial ceasefire agreement, both sides would stop attacks against each other. Mr. Shalit's release and an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip would be discussed later. (AP)
Palestinian and international officials began arriving for a three-day Palestine Investment Conference to be held in Bethlehem from 21 to 23 May 2008. Dr. Hasan Abu Libda, the Director of the Conference, did not expect the event to bring about tangible changes on the ground but expressed the hope that "light could be shed" on the opportunities and capabilities of the Palestinian economy. He said that the Palestinian private sector might be able, through the Conference, to establish and maintain economic ties with the rest of the Arab world and other regions. Dr. Abu Libda said that among the business proposals to be presented at the Conference was a major contract between a Palestinian businessman and Arab investors which could create 10,000 jobs. PA Minister of the Economy Kamal Hassuna stated that the main objective of the Conference was to get the visitors to learn about the Palestinian economy first-hand and create an "atmosphere of cooperation" between them and the Palestinian private sector. (www.pic-palestine.ps, Ma'an News Agency)
The Islamic Jihad said that it expected Israel to try to crush resistance in the Gaza Strip before announcing its acceptance of a ceasefire. Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al-Batsh said that the Israeli operation against the Gaza Strip was expected to be "limited" and that the ceasefire would be delayed until it had been completed. (Ma'an News Agency)
A 23-year-old Palestinian was moderately injured by Israeli gunfire in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. (Ma’an News Agency)
Six Palestinians were arrested during Israeli raids in the West Bank. (IMEMC)
Israeli Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said the new Israeli Government would not give up East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. “Jerusalem is protected under the policy of the current Government and previous Governments. … Jerusalem will not be divided,” he told a special session of the Knesset, commemorating the anniversary of what Israel celebrates as the “re-unification” of Jerusalem. (DPA)
Armed Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers with batons and rifle butts while working on their land located between Nablus and Qalqilya. (IMEMC)
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak promised to remove unauthorized settlers' outposts. "If not through dialogue, we will do it with quick and aggressive law enforcement," Mr. Barak told a settler leaders meeting in Tel Aviv. (DPA)
Official Palestinian Authority sources told Ynet that following the visit of Jordan’s King Abdullah II to Washington, as well as other visits to the US capital, they had been given the impression that any new American peace plan would call for establishing a Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as its capital. The source stressed that the US official also assured them the new plan would include halting all settlement construction, as well as setting a clear timetable for the realization of the two-State solution and a commitment that the permanent peace agreement would be negotiated according to the understanding set by the Arab peace initiative. (Ynetnews)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was briefed in Geneva by the head of the fact-finding mission on the recent Gaza conflict, appointed by the Human Rights Council, Justice Richard Goldstone of South Africa. Mr. Ban reiterated his support to the work of the mission and said he hoped the mission’s work would proceed smoothly with cooperation by the concerned parties and send a positive message to the international community about accountability. (www.unog.ch)
Members of the fact-finding mission on the recent Gaza conflict, appointed by the Human Rights Council, said they hoped to visit Gaza and southern Israel in early June and hold public hearings on whether war crimes had been committed in the recent conflict. Richard Goldstone, who heads the four-member team, said Israel had not yet officially responded to its request to enter the country for the investigation into its invasion of Gaza. But the team was prepared to enter the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing in Egypt, a “second choice,” Mr. Goldstone said. “We are intent on doing our fact-finding mission, taking account of all relevant factors and allegations by all parties. … We have to complete our field work by the end of June,” he said. “One decision we have taken is we will have a number of days of public hearings. If we can in the region, so much the better, and if necessary we will have them in Geneva,” he added. (Reuters)