4 Palestinians killed.
Israel restricts Palestinians' access to Jerusalem
for the 3d Friday in a row. Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify again,
leaving 4 Palestinians dead, 250 injured. Main flash points are Bayt
Jala, Bethlehem, Hebron, Jinin, Qalqilya, Qarni checkpoint, Ramallah, Tulkarm.
IDF troops outside Ramallah open fire on an ambulance, severely injuring
the driver. In Gaza, the IDF bulldozes another 3 dunams of Palestinian
land nr. Kefar Darom settlement. (ADM, LAW, MM, PCHR 10/27; IDF Radio [Internet],
Guardian [Internet], NYT, WT 10/28; AYM 10/31 in WNC 11/1)
At least 3 roadside bombs explode nr.
Bethlehem, injuring 1 Israeli border policeman. A synagog in Efrat is
vandalized, presumably by Palestinians, though how they entered the Jewish
settlement is unclear.
Palestinian refugees in `Ayn al-Hilwa camp in Lebanon
demonstrate against the weak Arab League statement issued on 10/22. In
Nairobi, 1,000s of Kenyans march in solidarity with the Palestinians. In the
U.S., similar rallies are held outside the New York Times offices
in New York, as well as in Hartford, Sacramento. (Panafrican News Agency
[Internet] 10/27; al-Safir 10/28 in WNC 10/31)
With Israeli-Palestinian clashes continuing unabated in Bethlehem,
Israel postpones plans to withdraw fr. the area for at least 24 hrs. The
IDF also directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Bayt
Lahia (damaging a PSF post), Jinin, Khan Yunis, Qalqilya, Rafah, Tulkarm
(killing 1 Palestinian); temporarily occupies a Palestinian school in the
PA-controlled section of Hebron; reinforces troops in Bayt Lahia, around
Ramallah. (AFP 10/27; HP, NYT, WP, WT 10/28; LAW 10/31)
PFLP mbrs. arrested by the PSF since the Ze'evi
assassination begin a hunger strike to protest their detention.
4 Palestinians killed. 3 Israelis killed.
IDF troops fatally shoot 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in an apparent assassination in
Nablus, wounding a 7-yr.-old boy; fatally shoot 1 Palestinian checking
the water tank on his roof in Jenin during the curfew; fatally shoots a
Palestinian youth standing outside his home in Jenin r.c.; bulldozes 7
Palestinian homes in Rafah; bulldozes water wells, greenhouses in Muraj. (al-Quds 10/27 in WNC 10/31; MM, NYT, WP,
WT 10/28; MA 10/28 in WNC 10/28; LAW, PCHR 10/30; JPI, MEI 11/8)
A Hamas suicide bomber is discovered outside a café in Ariel
settlement, captured and pinned down by 3 IDF soldiers, fatally shot by
2 Jewish settlers; the gunfire triggers the bomber’s explosives, killing
the 3 soldiers restraining him, wounding 18 soldiers and settlers. After hearing
news of the bombing, Jewish settlers fr. Itamar attack Palestinians,
international peace activists harvesting olives outside Yanun, injuring 6
activists, including 2 Americans (ages 68 and 74), 2 Israelis. A
PA security court sentences a Palestinian to life with hard labor
for collaborating with Israel.
1 Palestinian killed.
On this 1st day of Ramadan, the IDF fires on 8 Palestinians who
stray too close to the Gaza-Israel separation fence nr. Bayt Hanun, killing 1
Palestinian, wounding 1, arresting 4, while 3 flee; conducts house searches,
arrests in Hebron. Israel announces plans to provide electricity, phones,
fences, schools to 8 unauthorized settlement outposts recently
established in the West Bank in violation of the road map. Jewish settlers
fr. Ariel attack a Rabbis for Human Rights delegation in Issawiyya to
document reports that settlers felled 100s of Palestinian olive trees in the
area; 2 rabbis are transported to hospital with injuries. (MM 10/27; VOP 10/27
in WNC 10/29; NYT, WT 10/28; PCHR 10/30)
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF imposes a curfew on Jenin town and r.c., closes off all access
roads leading to the city, conducts arrest raids and house searches, fires on
residential areas; withdraws fr. Bayt Hanun, having leveled 100 d. of citrus
groves since 10/26, 1 Palestinian home, 5 wells. Jewish
settlers fr. Shilo attack, chase off a group of Palestinians harvesting
olives in nearby al-Mughayyir village. Israeli sources confirm that the
West Jerusalem municipality has completed plans for construction of a new
280-unit Jewish settlement quarter in Abu Dis in East Jerusalem following
completion of the separation wall through Abu Dis. A Palestinian dies of
injuries received on 10/2 during the IDF attack on n. Gaza. (HJ, al-Quds, VOI, VOP 10/27 in WNC
10/29; PCHR, PRCS 10/28; PRCS 10/30; PR 11/3; PCHR 11/4)
An Israeli court rules that Palestinian residents of Jerusalem
have the right to register any child under age 12 without having to apply for
family reunification even if 1 parent holds a West Bank ID. Previously, the
Israeli Interior Min. asserted that any such children not registered by age
1 would have to apply for family reunification. (PR 11/3)
Palestinians fire
a Qassam rocket at the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. In Gaza, scores
of Palestinians protest increasing crime, kidnappings, violence in Gaza and
demand security, legal reforms.
Arafat collapses in his Ramallah headquarters and deteriorates
dramatically during the day, reportedly lapsing in and out of consciousness. His
personal doctor is summoned fr. Amman, a medical team fr. Egypt, and his wife
fr. Paris, raising speculation that he is nearing death. (AP, BBC, CNN, HA, REU
10/27; JAZ, JP, LBC, MENA, PSCT, VOI, VOP, YA 10/27 in WNC 10/29; AP, BBC, HA,
MM, NYT, REU, WP, WT 10/28; PR, WT 11/3; MEI 11/5)
7 Palestinians killed.
By morning, the IDF imposes a general curfew across the West Bank,
sealing all Palestinian-controlled areas (including the northern villages of
Alar, Qabatya, Sa`ida, al-Til, Yabad, which are considered Islamic Jihad
strongholds), cutting off the n. West Bank from the rest of the West Bank,
barring all Palestinian private vehicles in the n. West Bank; recommends that
Palestinians leave the n. Gaza border area nr. Bayt Hanun; reshuts the Erez,
Qarni crossings (opened 10/26). Overnight IDF air strikes on suspected
rocket launching sites in n. Gaza damage a bridge but cause no injuries. During
the day, the IDF continues mock air raids, sonic booms over Gaza;
sends 35 jeeps, Apache helicopters into Jenin to arrest local Islamic Jihad
leader `Abd al-Halim Izzeddin (a leading moderate in the group), 3 other
Islamic Jihad mbrs.; also arrests the father of the 10/26 bomber, 13 suspected
Islamic Jihad mbrs. in raids across the n. West Bank in connection with the
Hadera bombing; 3 Hamas mbrs. are also arrested. In addition, the IDF
clashes with more than 150 radical settler youths while evacuating 5
unauthorized settlement outposts nr. Efrat, Elon Moreh, Keddumim, Kiryat
Arba, Worshippers Way in Hebron, leaving 1 IDF soldier hospitalized. Jewish
settlers fr. Kiryat Arba harass Palestinians in Hebron. In the evening, the
IDF assassinates Islamic Jihad n. Gaza cmdr. Shadi Muhanna,
Muhanna deputy Muhammad Qandil, 5 others (including at least 3
bystanders), wounding 19 in an air strike on Muhanna's car as he drives in
Jabaliya r.c. just as evening prayers let out; also conducts several F-16 air
strikes on open areas in n. Gaza (in 1 instance possibly targeting Abu Rish
Brigades and Hamas positions in the area, but causing no injuries); conducts
patrols, arrest raids, house searches in Dura, Jenin town and r.c., and nearby
Kefar Rai. (AP, HA, YA 10/27; CSM, HA, JT, NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 10/28; NYT 10/29;
PCHR 11/10)
The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin. Jewish settlers
attack Palestinian homes in Hebron. (OCHA 11/1; PCHR 11/2)
Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound a Fatah
mbr. in Gaza’s Nussayrat r.c.
The IDF sends troops into Wadi
al-Silqa in central Gaza, raiding and searching homes, occupying several as
observation posts, imposing a curfew, firing on anyone on the streets (wounding
2 unarmed Palestinians), bulldozing a greenhouse and 1 d. of land. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Qalqilya, Tulkarm. (OCHA 10/31; PCHR 11/1)
In Khan Yunis, suspected Fatah mbrs. detonate a bomb under an ESF vehicle outside an ESF post, causing no injuries.
A Palestinian girl was injured when Israeli forces opened fire at her school and the surrounding farms in southeast Gaza Strip. Other students suffered from shock when troops stationed at the border east of Khan Yunis fired at Palestinian farmers who were working in their fields 500 metres away from the border security fence. (Xinhua)
New PA troops in Hebron conducted their first operation, arresting around 20 persons, which were described as "fugitives." Those arrested were from the towns of As-Samu and Yatta, south of Hebron. (AP, Ma'an News Agency)
A statement from the Union of Agricultural Work Committees said that farmers, whose lands were near the settlement of "Otni'el," were assaulted, along with volunteers who had accompanied them to the fields for the harvest. A campaign to help farmers pick their olives began on 15 October and would continue until 13 November. (Ma'an News Agency)
Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the security establishment to increase the use of administrative injunctions against unruly Israeli settlers in the West Bank. During a meeting with top security officials, Mr. Barak ordered the establishment of a committee to monitor settler activity. "The attempt to challenge the authority of the State and its representatives on the ground – the police and IDF – is a [grave] phenomenon," the Defense Minister said. "The security establishment must counter and eradicate this phenomenon." (Ynetnews)
US Consul General in Jerusalem Jacob Walles said that Israeli settlers` attacks on Palestinian farmers in the West Bank were unacceptable, adding that the US Government had contacted the Israeli authorities to stop such attacks. He made his remarks during a visit to Turmus Ayya village, northeast of Ramallah. (WAFA)
The meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and PA President Abbas scheduled for 27 October was postponed. The decision was made by both sides, according to Saeb Erakat, Head of the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO. (Xinhua)
PA President Abbas said that the factions of the PLO had agreed on the Egyptian draft proposal for Palestinian political unity. He added that there were "no guarantees" that the Egyptian reconciliation plan would succeed, but that the Arab countries especially Egypt were exerting all efforts to achieve reconciliation, alongside the Arab League and its Secretary-General. He also expressed approval that the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative was back on the table. He said that normalization [with Israeli] would not come "for free" and that the Israeli flag would be raised in Arab States only if Israel pulled out of occupied land. Mr. Abbas would visit Saudi Arabia on 28 October for talks with King Abdullah on the upcoming dialogue in Egypt. (AFP, Ma'an News Agency)