The IDF confirms that the Israeli DMin. has
approved a 250-acre expansion of the West Bank settlement of Alfe Menashe;
work has already begun. (AP 9/21)
Separately, PA, Israeli officials say talks are
on hold while the U.S. decides if it will offer bridging proposals. U.S.
NSA Berger says the U.S. is also weighing the possibility of holding
another round of summit talks or sending Secy. of State Albright to the
region. (MM 9/21; MM, WP, WT 9/22)
Israeli-Palestinian violence declines further. Arafat specifically
orders Fatah mbrs. not to use arms. The IDF reports that
Palestinians fired 3 mortars at a Gaza settlement, causing no damage, and
threw grenades at an IDF post, causing no injuries. The IDF shells
residential areas of Hebron. (NYT, WP 9/22; HP 9/24)
4 Palestinians killed.
In Ramallah, the IDF continues demolition work at the PA compound,
setting fire to storehouses, bulldozing the Ramallah governate building; says it
now seeks the extradition of 50 Palestinians inside Arafat's offices; warns
those inside the remaining building to evacuate or risk being harmed when the
IDF blows it up, prompting 1,000s of Palestinians to take to the street
in protest, despite the curfew. The IDF fires stun grenades, live
ammunition at the crowds, killing 2 Palestinians (including a journalist
with Voice of Palestine). (After al-Jazeera TV broadcasts news of the
spontaneous Ramallah demonstrations, 1,000s of Palestinians violate the
curfews Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm and rally in Gaza to protest; the IDF
kills 1 Palestinian protester in Nablus, a 2d Palestinian in
Tulkarm and demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Qabatya, Qalqilya.) None of
the Palestinians in the Ramallah compound evacuates, the IDF does not blow up
the building; unnamed Israeli officials suggest the threat was "psychological
combat" aimed at making living conditions so unbearable for Arafat that
he seeks refuge abroad. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in al-Fara'
r.c., Jenin, Rafah; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; fires on an
ambulance in Nablus, damaging it, wounding 1 Palestinian bystander. (PM 9/21;
MENA 9/21, ITAR-TASS, XIN 9/22 in WNC 9/23; NYT, PM, WP, WT 9/22; HA 9/23;
al-Quds 9/23 in WNC 9/24; MM 9/24; LAW, PCHR, PR 9/25; MEI, MM 9/27; PRCS
press release 9/27)
The IDF demolishes 1 Palestinian home, 2 greenhouses in Rafah;
fires on residential areas of Bayt Dajan, Bayt Furik, Khan Yunis. (PCHR 9/25)
The IDF launches a major incursion into Jenin, imposes a curfew,
conducts house-to-house searches, fires on residential areas, arrests at least
15 Palestinians; bulldozes 70 d. in Khan Yunis; fires on Palestinians,
internationals holding a nonviolent protest against the separation wall
in Budrus, where the IDF has bulldozed 250 d. in the past wk.; fires on
residential areas of Nablus; conducts arrest raids and house searches in Asira,
`Azun nr. Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Jenin r.c., Kharas nr. Hebron, Nablus, Silat
al-Harith nr. Jenin, Silwan, Tulkarm r.c., Yatta. Jewish settlers fr. Itamar nr. Nablus attack, severely beat a
Palestinian farmer picking dates, leaving him with skull fractures,
multiple injuries. (PM 9/21; VOI, VOP 9/21 in WNC 9/23; PR 9/22; PCHR 9/23)
Palestinians fire 3
Qassam rockets at Sederot and the Negev, causing no damage or
injuries.
Israel's Interior M Ophir Pines-Paz signs an order declaring Gaza
foreign territory and the 4 Israeli checkpoints leading into the Strip
international crossings; Israelis and foreign nationals will henceforth have to
use passports to cross. The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in
Aida r.c., nr. Hebron. A Jewish settler fr. Pisgat Ze'ev in Jerusalem is
reportedly kidnapped in Ramallah, where he has business dealings. (HA, JT, REU
9/23; YA 9/26; NYT 9/27; PCHR 9/29)
5 Palestinians killed.
In Gaza, the IDF makes an overnight arrest raid into Um al-Nasir nr. Rafah,
surrounding a home, exchanging gunfire with wanted Palestinians, firing tank
shells at the house, killing 1 wanted Palestinian, 1 female bystander (allowing
her to bleed to death over 4 hrs., barring an ambulance fr. reaching her) in
what may be an assassination, wounding another 8 Palestinians, demolishing 13
Palestinian homes before withdrawing; shells shepherds tending a flock nr.
Jabaliya r.c., killing 3 Palestinian teenagers. A 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy is
injured when he accidentally detonates unexploded IDF ordnance in al-Maghazi
r.c. Palestinians fire 4 rockets into Israel, causing damage but no injuries. In
the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Dayr Abu Sa’if nr. Jenin in a
car with Palestinian license plates, arresting 3 farmers working in a field,
quickly releasing 2; patrols in, fires tear gas at residents of Tubas; conducts
arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin town and r.c. and in Nablus,
Tulkarm (firing on residential areas, cutting phone service, damaging an
electricity transformer) and nearby Bala’ a (firing live and rubber-coated steel
bullets, percussion grenades, tear gas at stone-throwing youths, wounding 10s of
Palestinians). The Israeli Housing Min. approves construction of 164 new
settlement housing units in 3 West Bank settlements (Ariel 88; Alfe Menashe 56;
Karnei Shomron 20). (PCHR 9/21; NYT, WP 9/22; OCHA 9/27; PCHR 9/28)
Israel imposes
a 2-day seal on its West Bank border for Yom Kippur. In Gaza, the IDF sends troops back into Shuka village, raiding and searching homes (reportedly
stealing jewelry, money, personal articles from at least 1 residence), arresting 11 Palestinians. Nr. Bayt Lahiya, 4 Palestinians are injured when they accidentally
trigger IDF UXO. In the West Bank, the IDF ends a 4-day incursion
into `Ayn Bayt al-Ma’a r.c., having arrested around 50 Hamas and PFLP
mbrs., including 2 senior local Hamas cmdrs. The IDF also conducts
arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron; 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 4. Citing national preparation for Yom Kippur, Israel bars all West Bank Palestinians fr. attending Friday prayers in Jerusalem, raising anger during Ramadan. (REU 9/21; NYT 9/22; OCHA 9/26; PCHR 9/27; HA 9/30)
In Bayt Hanun, a bomb explodes in the
Agricultural Union Comm. offices, causing damage but no injuries; no group
claims responsibility.
The PLO issued a report detailing Israeli Road Map violations since the Annapolis Conference of November 2007. During this period, the Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction approved the construction of 4,486 houses in settlements, 92 per cent of which would be built in East Jerusalem with the rest in the West Bank. The Ministry had also invited tenders for the building 2,178 houses, the report stated. (Xinhua)
Jordan's King Abdullah II spoke by telephone with PA President Abbas, who was preparing to travel to the US for talks with President Bush. The discussion tackled "ongoing efforts aimed at advancing the peace process," according to a Royal Court statement. "Abbas kept the monarch informed about the issues he was going to take up with President Bush at the White House on Thursday [25 September]," the statement added, referring to the core issues of Jerusalem, settlements, refugees and borders. (DPA)
Kayed Al-Ghoul, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said that he expected Egypt to succeed in launching a national Palestinian dialogue in the second half of October. Palestinians factions, meeting with the Egyptian mediators in Cairo, were now expecting to get the action plan of the dialogue and its date, according to Mr. Al-Ghoul. (Xinhua)