3 Palestinians killed.
Israeli-Palestinian clashes escalate. Nr.
Itamar settlement, Jewish settlers open fire on a Palestinian family
harvesting their olive crop, killing 1, wounding 3. A PA policeman is
killed by IDF fire in Gaza. A 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received
earlier. Settlers fr. Itamar fire on
Palestinian homes in neighboring Hawara village, attack a Palestinian ambulance
driver. (ADM, LAW, MM, PCHR, REU 10/17; MENA 10/17, al-Quds 10/18, MA
10/19 in WNC 10/19; ADM, Bahrain Tribune [Internet], CSM, HA [Internet],
LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; WJW 10/19; HJ 10/24, MENA 10/25 in WNC 10/30)
After several more hrs. of talks among Arafat,
Barak, Clinton, Mubarak, King Abdallah, Annan,
and Solana, Clinton announces that Arafat, Barak have agreed on steps
toward halting the clashes. No details are released. The agmts. are oral and
reportedly are vague, not giving an order of who is to take what step 1st. The
sides agree that Clinton will appoint an international inquiry comm. to
investigate the recent clashes. The U.S. for the 1st time acknowledges
that Arafat "may not have control of everything" but still says it expects a
cessation of violence "within hours." (AFP [Internet], MM, REU 10/17; ATL,
Interfax, MENA, RL 10/17 in WNC 10/18; LAW, NYT, WP, WT, YA 10/18; JT,
al-Quds, SA 10/18, Le Monde 10/19 in WNC 10/19; WJW 10/19; JP 10/20;
MEI 10/27; MA 11/6 in WNC 11/9) (see Doc. D5)
Palestinian gunmen fire at Gilo settlement, critically wounding an
Israeli border policeman. IDF tanks fire on the neighboring
Palestinian village of Bayt Jala in retaliation.
Hamas's Shaykh Ahmad Yasin, West Bank Fatah leader
Marwan Barghouti say their supporters will continue the uprising despite the
Sharm agmts. The DFLP, Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine issue similar statements. Palestinians in
Bethlehem, Gaza City, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah
demonstrate against the Sharm mtg. 1,000s of Egyptian students in Cairo,
7,000 Palestinian refugees in Tripoli, Lebanon, hold similar
demonstrations. A rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people is held in
New York. (ADM, LAW, MM, PCHR, REU 10/17; RMC 10/17 in WNC 10/18; MENA
10/17, al-Quds 10/18, MA 10/19 in WNC 10/19; ADM, Bahrain Tribune
[Internet], CSM, HA [Internet], LAW, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; WJW 10/19; HJ 10/24,
MENA 10/25 in WNC 10/30)
1 Palestinian killed. 1 Israeli killed.
Hamas mbr. Iyad al-Akhras is killed in an explosion in his
Gaza home in what may be an assassination. The IDF also fires a missile
at a Palestinian car in Nablus, but the rocket misses, 3 Palestinians escape
unharmed. The IDF makes a predawn incursion into al-Qarara, firing heavy
machine guns at homes, bulldozing 10s of dunams of cultivated land for
construction of a settler bypass road; directs machine gun fire at residential
areas of Gaza City, Jinin, Rafah; bulldozes secondary Palestinian roads around
Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, Jewish settlers angry over
Ze'evi's murder attack, beat Palestinians. (HP 10/17; WT 10/18)
After a lengthy Israeli inner cabinet mtg., Sharon issues an
ultimatum to the PA: arrest and extradite Ze'evi's killers and the
PFLP's current leaders and "dismantle terror organizations" or face a
response more severe than any recent reprisal. Sharon then convenes a special
session of the Knesset (boycotted by Arab MKs), where he declares,
"We will wage all-out war on the terrorists" and "those who collaborate with
them." National Union+nYisrael Beitunia MKs suspend their resignations to
see how Sharon responds. The IDF sends tanks, troops 2.5 mi. into area A
around Jinin; reimposes tight closures on, places 24 hr. curfews on, and directs
shells and heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Azariyya, al-Bireh,
Jinin, Nablus, Ramallah; deploys helicopters to hover over major Palestinian
population centers; bars Arafat fr. using Gaza airport. (HP, MM 10/17;
AFP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; JP [Internet], WP 10/29)
Powell phones Sharon to urge Israel to use restraint. The
White House calls on the PA to "immediately find and bring to
justice those who committed this murder," saying Arafat must "take vigorous
action against terrorists." (MM, WP 10/18; Interfax, MENA, QA 10/18 in WNC
10/19)
At least 1 PFLP gunman assassinates Israeli tourism M Ze'evi in
an East Jerusalem hotel, shooting him at point blank range, using a pistol
equipped with a silencer, escaping undetected. The PFLP says it is retaliating
for the assassination of PFLP secy. gen. Mustafa on 8/27; also takes
responsibility for a suicide car bombing in Gaza that wounds 2 IDF
soldiers. Arafat immediately condemns the assassination, orders the
PSF to arrest the killers. The PSF quickly arrests 3 PFLP
mbrs. but releases them after questioning. (AP, HA, HP, JP [Internet], MM, REU
10/17; AFP, ATL, XIN 10/17 in WNC 10/18; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; al-Quds
10/18 in WNC 10/19; Tehran Times 10/20 in WNC 10/22; WJW 10/25)
Palestinian gunmen reportedly fire at Neve Dekalim, wounding
2 Jewish settlers.
6 Palestinians killed.
The IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of
Rafah r.c., killing 6 Palestinians (including 2 women, 2 teenagers, a
9-yr.-old girl) and wounding 50; the IDF says it was resonding to Palestinian
gunfire on an IDF bulldozer working build an observation tower with an overview
of the camp, causing no injuries. The IDF also bulldozes 2.5 dunams of
Palestinian land and an irrigation system nr. Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids in
Tal; shells, destroys a closed Palestinian summer resort nr. Aley Sinai
settlement. The IDF removes Jewish settlers, trailers fr. Havat
Gilad; late in the evening, some 300 Jewish settlers retake the site.
Settlers voluntarily leave a 2d enclave, allowing the IDF to dismantle it,
bringing to 22 the number of enclaves removed in recent days. Jewish settlers
assault Palestinians, Israeli peace activists attempting to
harvest olives nr. Yasuf village; the IDF presses settlers to leave the
area, allow harvesting to continue. Jewish setters nr. Hebron confiscate
90 dunams of Palestinian land. (REU 10/17; HA, MM, NYT, WP, WT 10/18; AFP, al-Quds 10/18 in WNC 10/21; WP
10/19; LAW, PCHR 10/23; MEI 10/25; JPI 11/8)
A fmr. U.S. defense official corroborates rumors that Israeli special
forces recently conducted a covert reconnaissance mission in w. Iraq
to determine Iraq's capacity to strike Israel with Scud missiles. Military
analyst and fmr. Pentagon official Anthony Cordesman says that Baghdad is
estimated to have only 12+n25 Scuds; by comparison, during the 1991 Gulf War,
Iraq fired 39 Scuds at Israel alone. (WP 10/18) (see 9/29)
A PA security court sentences 1
Palestinian, a fmr. Hamas mbr., to death for collaborating with Israel.
2 Palestinians killed.
Overnight, the IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinians in clashes in
Brazil r.c. An FBI team meets with PSF officials to begin an
investigation regarding the 10/15 Erez bombing. (NYT, WP 10/18; WT 10/19; PCHR
10/23)
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Balata r.c.; bulldozes
7 Palestinian homes in Brazil r.c. and Rafah. Jewish settlers fr.
Bnei Hefetz nr. Hebron uproot 10s of Palestinian olive trees in neighboring
Khirbet al-Bawayb. Jewish settlers fr. Beit Ein settlement nr. Bethlehem
armed with machine guns raid an olive production facility in nearby Jaba
village, cart away large amounts of olives. A Palestinian dies of
injuries received earlier in Rafah. Unidentified gunmen fire on the home
of Tulkarm mayor Mahmud Jallad, causing light damage but no injuries.
(PRCS 10/17; PR 10/20; PCHR 10/21)
In light of the 10/16 AMB attacks, the IDF suspends contacts with the
PA; closes to private Palestinian vehicles 2 stretches of the main
north–south artery through the West Bank (Route 60) between Jerusalem and
Ramallah and Jerusalem and Hebron; reinforces troops in the s. West Bank,
encircling Hebron, Bethlehem; reimposes recently dismantled checkpoints around
Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah. The IDF also closes the Qarni crossing for
half a day; conducts arrest raids targeting the AMB in Jenin. Some 40
Jewish settlers attack Palestinian vehicles on the Bayt Furik–Bayt Dajan
road nr. Nablus. Palestinians east of Tubas say that the IDF had
recently fenced off and begun bulldozing 1,000 d. of Palestinian orchards,
farmland nr. Rotem for the apparent expansion of the settlement. (HA, IMEMC,
JAZ, PM 10/17; HA, CSM, NYT 10/18; PCHR 10/20; OCHA 10/31)
10 Palestinians killed.
In Gaza, the IDF sends tanks, troops into Jabaliya r.c., clashing with
Palestinian gunmen, killing 1 Hamas mbr., 1 Palestinian civilian; expands
operations on the Rafah border, taking up positions nr. Rafah crossing,
exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen (killing 2 Palestinian militants),
ordering male residents in some neighborhoods to surrender for interrogation
(handcuffing and blindfolding them), reportedly finding a smugglers tunnel (the
13th it says it has found in the past 3 mos.); simultaneously sends troops into
al-Shuka, conducting arrest raids, house searches. Overnight, the IDF sends
troops into Qabatya, conducts arrest raids and house searches, exchanges fire
with Palestinian gunmen (killing 1 Palestinian gunman, wounding 3), fires on
stone-throwing youths who confront them (killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 7).
Also in the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units in vehicles with
Palestinian license plates into ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c. nr. Nablus, opening fire
on a taxi, assassinating wanted AMB mbr. ‘Adil Abu al-Rish, killing his cousin,
who was not wanted; raids offices of Change and Reform PC mbrs. in Ramallah,
arresting the office director; raids al-Quds University campus of religious
studies in Abu Dis, arresting 2 Palestinians; makes arrest raids in Qalqilya
(exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen, killing an Islamic Jihad mbr.,
wounding 13 Palestinians), nr. Nablus, Tulkarm; later makes a 2d raid into
Qalqilya, firing on stone-throwing Palestinians, fatally shooting a Palestinian
civilian. Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar nr. Nablus detain 2 Palestinian workers in
the nearby Hawara cemetery, releasing them after the IDF intervenes. (NYT, WP, WT
10/8; OCHA 10/18; PCHR 10/19; OCHA 11/1)
In Khan
Yunis, unidentified gunmen fire on the home of a Fatah mbr., wounding him. A
Fatah mbr. dies of injuries received in clashes with Hamas on 10/1.
1 Palestinian killed. 1 Israeli killed.
Overnight in Gaza, the IDF sends
tanks and bulldozers supported by aircraft into Abasan, raiding and searching
homes, occupying several houses as observation posts, bulldozing 23 d. of olive
trees, demolishing 1 Palestinian home, clashing with local gunmen
(including firing tank shells and making air strikes), leaving 1 IDF soldier, 1 Hamas mbr. dead, wounding 6 armed Palestinians and 1 bystander. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and Tulkarm
(arresting at least 1 AMB mbr. who was among the AMB mbrs. granted amnesty by Israel in 7/06; see 9/23), in Qabatya, and nr. Hebron, Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Karnei Shomron steal a harvest of olives fr. a
Palestinian farmer nr. Qalqilya. (NYT, PCHR 10/18; OCHA 10/24; PCHR 10/25)
In Gaza City, 4 mbrs. of a Palestinian clan
are killed in clashes with ESF when the ESF attempts to arrest 1 family
mbr. for firing on an ESF patrol earlier in the day; the ESF arrests 25 family mbrs. In Gaza City, 100 Palestinians demonstrate outside the UN
Special Coordinator’s Office (UNSCO) against the continued closure of the Rafah
border.
Israeli forces detained 10 Palestinians in the West Bank: two from the town of Al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, six from villages near Ramallah, and two others from Jenin and Hebron. (Ma'an News Agency)
A group of Israeli settlers destroyed a Palestinian car near the "Alon Moriah" settlement, east of Nablus. (Ma'an News Agency)
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian olive harvesters, wounding an elderly man in the West Bank. They also attacked a Palestinian photographer who was taking pictures of Palestinian farmers picking olives in the West Bank. (AP, WAFA)
In his report on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Israel and Palestinians to forge ahead towards a peaceful settlement to their long-running conflict, in line with the peace process launched last November in Annapolis. The report said, "Time is now running short until we reach the benchmark of the Annapolis process, and there reportedly remain significant gaps. Should the parties not be able to reach a peace agreement by the end of the year, it will be essential that the process not be disrupted and instead continues, with the aim of leading to the long overdue peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine as early as possible," (UN News Centre)
Twenty members of the PA's Criminal Investigation Department were participating in a three-week course directed by experts from Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office, which began on 6 October at the police academy in Jericho. (Ma'an News Agency)
Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip said Hamas was likely to seek to extend its truce with Israel for another six months. (Haaretz)
''Peace for the Children'', a charity initiative launched by the Emirate of Sharjah for the relief Palestinian children under the patronage of the wife of Sharjah Ruler, Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, would spend about US$ 500,000 to deliver health and nutritional services to Palestinian children suffering from acute malnutrition. The fund signed agreements with the London-based Medical Aid for Palestinians and ''Ard Al Insan'' Foundation in the Gaza Strip to improve the well-being of Palestinian children under five through preventive and curative programmes. The health drive would serve 8,000 children for nine months and would be carried out in partnership with UNRWA. (WAFA)