Israeli-Palestinian clashes
continue. A mysterious explosion rips through a Force 17 office in
Ramallah, injuring 3 officers. Israel denies responsibility, though the
attack comes within an hr. of an Israeli inner cabinet mtg. to discuss
responses to recent Palestinian violence. The PA acknowledges the
explosion came fr. inside the building. Reporters witness mbrs. of different
PA security forces scuffling with each other; PA police confiscate reporters
film, video tape. Later, Palestinian mortars land on both sides of the
Gaza-Israel border causing no damage. The IDF fires on several
Palestinians suspected of firing mortars, injuring senior Hamas mbr. Khalil
Sakani; (AP 4/19; AFP [Internet], HA, WP, WT 4/20; NYT, WT 4/21; al-Quds
4/24 in WNC 4/26; MM 4/27; DUS 4/27 in WNC 4/30)
Arafat issues a 2d call to halt mortar attacks across the Green Line; sends
a message to Sharon via a visiting U.S. congressional delegation
suggesting that both leaders deliver simultaneous public calls for a halt to
violence, a renewal of negotiations. Sharon says Arafat should issue cease-fire
orders 1st.
Israeli
FM Peres meets with PA Local Government M Erakat to discuss ways
of reducing violence. Later, Peres holds a 2d mtg. with Arafat economic adviser
Rashid (see 4/18). (EFE [Madrid] 4/19 in WNC 4/24; AYM 4/24 in WNC 4/25)
Palestinian mortars land on both sides of the
Gaza-Israel border causing no damage. Hamas admits its mbrs. fired mortars at Kefar Darom settlement.
7 Palestinians killed.
The IDF completes pullout fr. Jenin r.c. and town, begins pullout fr.
Nablus. The IDF fatally shoots a total of 7 Palestinians, including 2 reportedly attempting to
infiltrate Netzarim settlement, 2 Palestinian children in
Ramallah. In Bethlehem, the IDF arrests wanted Hamas mbr. Khalid
Tafish. (AP, NYT, REU 4/19; NYT, WP, WT 4/20; WT 4/21)
A Islamic Jihad suicide bomber detonates a device at an IDF
checkpoint in Gaza, lightly injuring 2 soldiers.
6 Palestinians killed. 1 Israeli killed.
The IDF launches a major incursion into Rafah r.c., sending some 35
tanks into the camp fr. 3 directions, killing at least 5 Palestinians,
wounding 30, demolishing 13 buildings (home to 23 Palestinian families);
an IDF soldier is killed, 2 are wounded in the operation. The
IDF also fatally shoots in the head a Palestinian cameraman for AP,
who was wearing a fluorescent “press” vest and covering clashes in Nablus, also
wounding 2 other journalists. (MENA 4/19 in WNC 4/21; NYT, WP 4/20; HA 4/21; PR
4/23; LAW, PCHR, WJW 4/24; HA 5/4)
An Islamic
Jihad mbr. infiltrates Shaked settlement, shooting and wounding 2 IDF
soldiers, 1 settler guard before being shot dead by the IDF.
3 Palestinians killed. 1 Israeli killed.
The IDF conducts major house searches and arrest raids in Silwad, home
of the exiled Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khalid Mishal and
Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades West Bank cmdr. Ibrahim Ma’ari Hamid, arresting
70 Palestinians (including Hamid’s 5 brothers, 9 of Hamid and Mishal’s sons,
among other relatives). The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian
at a checkpoint nr. Gaza’s Kissufim crossing into Israel; shoots, mortally
wounds a stone-throwing Palestinian in al-Fawwar r.c., denies medics
access, allowing him to bleed to death; handcuffs a 12-yr.-old Palestinian
boy to the hood of a jeep nr. Biddu, using him as a human shield to prevent
Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall there fr. throwing
stones at them; raids 3 Palestinian schools in Silat al-Dahir nr. Jenin, orders
teachers and students home, declares schools closed for 2 days; stages a
late-night raid on al-Fawwar r.c. nr. Hebron, fatally shooting a Palestinian,
occupying a 3-story apartment building as a base, conducting house-to-house
searches; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Dayr al-Balah, Jenin, and in
Dura (confiscating files fr. the offices of an Islamic charity), Jalazun r.c.,
Nablus, Rafah; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah. (VOI, VOP, YA 4/19 in WNC 4/21; NYT 4/20; VOP 4/20 in WNC 4/22; PCHR 4/22; PR 5/5)
Palestinians attack an IDF post at Hawara checkpoint s. of Nablus, killing 1
IDF soldier; attack an Israeli border patrol unit in Hebron, overturning
their jeep, injuring 3 officers; fire 2 Qassam rockets at Gaza’s Nisanit
settlement, wounding 1 Jewish settler; fire several rockets into Israel, causing
no damage or injuries.
IDF soldiers shoot, wound a Palestinian who argues with them at a
checkpoint outside Nablus; sends troops into Kafr Qadim nr. Qalqilya to search
shops, vehicles. (OCHA 4/20; PCHR 4/21)
The IDF shells n. Gaza in response to a Palestinian rocket fired fr. Gaza
into Israel that causes no damage or injuries; closes Gaza’s Sufa and Kerem
Shalom commercial crossings for the day; shells n. Gaza, wounding a Palestinian
child; sends troops back into Nablus, who fire on residential areas and on
stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 5 youths and 2 bystanders;
patrols in al-‘Araqa nr. Jenin; fires on residential areas of Azun; conducts
arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. (MM 4/19; PCHR 4/20; OCHA 4/26; PCHR
4/27)
IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Lahiya fire on 2 Palestinian
teenagers who stray nr. the border fence, wounding 1. The
Israeli navy fires on Palestinian fishermen off the coast of Nussayrat r.c. and
Rafah, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF
exchanges fire with Palestinian gunmen nr. Ramallah, leaving 2 IDF soldiers
wounded; fires on stone-throwing Palestinians at Qalandia checkpoint, causing no
reported injuries; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes (48 residents) nr. Susia
settlement, 1 home (16 residents) nr. another Hebron settlement; bulldozes 5 d.
of Palestinian olive groves nr. Avigail settlement nr. Hebron; raids the Change
and Reform offices in Hebron, confiscating computers and files; conducts
late-night arrest raids in Jenin town and r.c., Qabatya and nr. Hebron. For the
3d day, Jewish settlers occupying a Palestinian home in Hebron vandalize nearby
Palestinian homes, attack Palestinian residents, and try to break into several
Palestinian homes. (NYT 4/20; OCHA 4/25; PCHR 4/26)
Palestinians fire an
antitank missile at an IDF post along the Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun; the IDF
responds with heavy gunfire; no injuries are reported on either side. In Rafah, a Hamas mbr. is injured when an
explosive device he is handling explodes prematurely. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen shoot, wound a PA
intelligence officer in Qalqilya.
6 Palestinians killed.
During the day, the IDF conducts air strikes
on Jabaliya, killing 4 armed Palestinians and a Hamas-affiliated
police officer, wounding 2 armed Palestinians; shells, destroys an empty
armored vehicle in Abasan, previously belonging to the PA police but seized by
Hamas in the 7/07 fighting, wounding 3 bystanders, including a child. In Rafah,
an Islamic Jihad mbr. is injured when explosives he is handling explode
prematurely. An Islamic Jihad mbr. injured in a similar incident on 4/17
dies. In the West Bank, the IDF raids a mall in Hebron, giving store
owners notice that their properties will be confiscated in 2 days (a children’s
library and clinic associated with the ICA are located in the mall). In
Hebron, an 8-yr.-old Palestinian boy being chased by a group of Jewish
settlers falls and breaks his arm. (NYT, WP 4/20; OCHA 4/23; PCHR 4/24)
Under cover of morning fog and mortar fire,
3 Hamas suicide bombers driving explosive laden vehicles (an old PA
armored vehicle, 2 trucks painted to resemble IDF jeeps) break through the
perimeter fence at the Kerem Shalom crossing, detonating the cars as IDF
soldiers approach, wounding 13 soldiers (3 moderately, 10 lightly); the IDF
makes a helicopter air strike on a civilian car it claims is connected to the
attack, killing 1 Palestinian civilian, wounding 4. Half an hour later, IDF
tanks reportedly fire on another vehicle that approaches another Gaza crossing,
causing no injuries.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak had proposed that Israel's new Government hold parallel peace talks with both Syria and the Palestinians, an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity. "We must go to Washington with a proposal for a regional peace agreement which will include talks with Syria and the Palestinians that will ensure Israel's interests," the official said. Barak's plan will also include a Palestinian recognition of Israel as the State of the Jewish people. (Haaretz)