1 Palestinian killed.
Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify, leaving 1 Palestinian dead.
The IDF shells residential areas of al-Bireh, severely damaging the Local
Government Min., Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Fatah High Command
offices. (WP, WT 2/10)
PM-elect Sharon meets with outgoing PM Barak, who has yet to
officially resign as head of Labor, and offers him position of DM in a unity
government. Labor MK Peres would be offered the role of FM. Barak, Peres
to not reject the offers. (MM 2/9; NYT, WP 2/10; WT 2/11; WJW 2/15)
Arafat phones Sharon to congratulate him, expresses hopes peace
talks could resume soon, mentions the economic hardship in the West Bank and
Gaza. Sharon says he will only take steps to lift the blockade if the PA halts
violence and rearrests Islamists released fr. PA jails in the past 4 mos. (Chicago
Tribune [Internet], NYT, WP 2/10)
In a Sharq al-Awsat interview published today, Syrian pres. Bashar
al-Asad says Syria's peace terms have not changed, he would resume talks
with any Israeli PM who is serious about reaching an agmt., he is willing
to meet with Arafat if there is a clear objective and agenda. (MM 2/9; SA
2/9 in WNC 2/13; SA 2/14 in WNC 2/15) (see Doc. B6)
1 Israeli killed.
The IDF shells
residential areas of Tulkarm; occupies a commercial building in al-Bireh as an
outpost. (NYT, WP 2/10; LAW 2/9; PCHR 2/13)
The EU endorses a draft plan by France, based
on the Peres-Qurai` ideas, that calls for Palestinian elections
and the immediate creation of a Palestinian state followed by state-to-state
negotiations on an Israeli withdrawal, final settlement. Israel rejects
the idea; the PA accepts it. (CNN 2/9; AFP 2/9, MENA 2/10 in WNC 2/11;
NYT, WT 2/10; MM 2/11; AN 2/11 in WNC 2/12; JP [Internet] 2/12; MM, WP 2/15; MEI
2/22; WP 2/25)
Palestinian gunmen fire on a settler vehicle nr. Ariel,
killing 1 Jewish settler, wounding another.
The IDF demolishes 8 Palestinian homes in
Rafah; conducts arrest raids in East Jerusalem; fires on residential areas of
Abasan, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Tulkarm. (HA, REU 2/9; HA, NYT, WT 2/10; VOI 2/10 in
WNC 2/11; PCHR 2/20)
Israeli pres. Moshe Katsav formally invites Sharon to form a
coalition government. Sharon accepts, saying that “The new government will have
to complete the campaign against terror, remove the terrorist leadership, and
create the conditions for the emergence of a new Palestinian leadership with
which it will be possible to make real peace.” (WT 2/10)
Outside Gush Katif settlement, 3 Islamic Jihad mbrs. detonate a car
bomb nr. an IDF checkpoint, killing themselves, lightly injuring 4 IDF
soldiers; soldiers open fire on Palestinians waiting to cross the
checkpoint, wounding 2.
1 Palestinian killed.
IDF undercover units driving a car with Palestinian license plates
raid Balata r.c., open fire on wanted PFLP mbr. Samir Khudaysh without
warning, seriously wounding, then arresting him. The IDF also fires on a
group of armed Palestinians nr. Jenin, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 2;
surrounds, fires tear gas into a secondary school nr. Hebron; occupies a
Palestinian apartment building nr. Jenin as a military post, expelling the 32
residents; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Nablus, Tulkarm
r.c. and nr. Hebron, Ramallah; raids, searches dorms at al-Najah University in
Nablus, arresting 3 students; arrests 6 Palestinian fishermen off the coast of
Gaza for fishing in a prohibited area. The IDF, accompanied by Hebron
Jewish settlers, raid Khirbat Janba, outside Hebron; search the caves and
mud houses of 36 Palestinian families (around 350 people), order them to
leave the area (see 1/29). (PCHR 2/12)
1 Palestinian killed.
The IDF fires on 4 Palestinians walking nr. Gush Katif settlement,
killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 3; fires on residential areas of
Khan Yunis. (BBC, NYT, PCHR, WT 2/10; WP 2/11; PCHR 2/17)
A Hamas mbr. dies in a mysterious explosion in Gaza; PA
officials say a bomb he was handling exploded, Hamas calls it an
assassination.
3 Palestinians killed.
The IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian allegedly
laying a roadside bomb nr. the n. Gaza border fence, wounding a 2d; conducts
arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, in Nablus, in and around Hebron. (IMEMC,
XIN 2/9; NYT 2/10; PCHR 2/16; AFP 2/22)
In Gaza, 1 AMB mbr., 1 PRC mbr. are fatally shot when they
jointly attack the IDF post at the Erez crossing with gunfire and
grenades, causing no injuries; the IDF shuts the Erez crossing in
response. In
Gaza City, unidentified Palestinian gunmen ambush, kidnap Egyptian
military attaché Hussam al-Musali; no group claims responsibility or issues
demands; Hamas denounces the action. The PA releases 39 Islamic
Jihad prisoners, 7 AMB mbrs. held in its Jericho jail since arrest
sweeps following the 12/5/05 Islamic Jihad suicide bombing in Netanya.
Following Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque, some 200 Israeli riot police raid
the mosque compound, clash with stone-throwing Palestinian worshipers protesting
over Israel’s excavation work nr. the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount (see 2/6);
riots spread to other areas of the Old City, leaving at least 30 Palestinians
requiring hospitalization, 15 policemen injured; some 3,000 Israeli police had
been stationed around the mosque in anticipation of violence. UNESCO calls on
Israel to “suspend any action [at the site] that could endanger the spirit of
mutual respect.” In the West Bank, the IDF fires live ammunition, tear gas,
percussion grenades to disperse a 10s of Palestinians in Hebron peacefully
protesting Israel’s construction at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount; also fires
on stone-throwing Palestinians holding a similar demonstration outside ‘Arub
r.c., seriously wounding 1 Palestinian; sends troops into ‘Azun, fires on
stone-throwing youths who confront them, wounding 2 Palestinians. (NYT 2/9; NYT,
WP, WT 2/10; MM 2/12; OCHA 2/14; PCHR 2/15)
1 Palestinian killed.
During the day, the IDF makes at
least 1 air strike on a rocket launching site in Gaza, seriously injuring 1
Palestinian. Late in the
evening, the IDF makes 4 air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza: in
al-Bureij r.c., assassinating Hamas cmdr. Muhammad Abu Mtair; nr. Khan
Yunis, destroying a security post and damaging several nearby houses but
causing no injuries; in Rafah, destroying 2 factories (alleged weapons depots)
and 1 house, damaging 10 other homes, injuring 10 bystanders; in Gaza City,
destroying 2 workshops (alleged weapons factories), injuring 13 bystanders (including
7 women, 3 children), damaging several nearby homes and a car. In the West
Bank, the IDF lifts the curfew on, withdraws fr. Azun; patrols in Tubas;
conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, firing on residential
areas, causing no reported injuries. (IFM, WP 2/10; NYT, WP 2/11; OCHA 2/13; PCHR
2/14)
Islamic Jihad fires around 20 rockets fr. Gaza into
Israel, seriously injuring 2 Israeli brothers (ages 8, 19).
2 Palestinians killed.
Israel launched air strikes on two Hamas targets in Gaza. Islamic Jihad confirmed that one of its militants was killed in one of the air strikes. A Palestinian died of wounds sustained during Israel’s “Operation Cast Lead” in the Gaza Strip. (AP, Haaretz, IMEMC, The Jerusalem Post, Ma’an News Agency, Reuters)
Israeli settlers attacked farmlands belonging to Palestinian farmers from the village of Al-Khadr, located near Bethlehem. According to the farmers, armed settlers arrived and installed two portable homes on the land, which was not the first attempt by settlers to annex village land located near the “Efrat” settlement. (IMEMC)
Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak said that a longer term truce between Israel and the Palestinians could come into effect as early as next week. He expressed hope for “a return to calm” after discussing with French President Nicolas Sarkozy efforts for a one-year or two-year truce. A Hamas spokesman said that it accepted a one-and-a-half-year truce agreement with Israel. It was reported that significant progress had been made in negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding a new ceasefire formula which would include the reopening of border crossings between
Israel and the Gaza Strip, and the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. It was reported that some 1,000 Palestinian prisoners could be released in exchange but that his release was hinging possibly on the freeing of a small number of prisoners whom Israel did not wish to release. The main points of the deal would reportedly include:
- A ceasefire for 18 months in the Gaza Strip (unrelated to the West Bank), with possible extension for another 18 months. Hamas has promised to prevent attacks from the Gaza Strip and the IDF will avoid attacks of its own.
- A full reopening of the crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip for more than mere humanitarian assistance. Israel had conditioned a full reopening of the crossings on the release of Gilad Shalit.
- Gilad Shalit will be returned to Israel in the near future, in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
- Reopening of the Rafah border crossing, to be run by PA officials, with Hamas being allowed to maintain a presence at the crossings. (AP, AFP, Haaretz, IMEMC, The Jerusalem Post, Ma’an News Agency, Reuters, Xinhua, Ynetnews)
Palestinian factions received invitations to attend a reconciliation meeting in Cairo on 22 February. (AP)
PA President Abbas told journalists in Warsaw: “I don’t know who will win the [Israeli] election, but we will cooperate with any new Israeli government emerging from the elections on the basis of the bilateral accords and the international resolutions which have been adopted up to this point. We also expect that the new Israeli Government will stop installing new settlements. If the new Government does not do this, I don’t know what will become of the peace process.” He added, “I
call on Israel to meet its obligations, otherwise the entire world will be frustrated that peace is not coming, and that violence and terrorism are knocking at our door – it is the only alternative to peace.” (AFP, Ma’an News Agency)
UNRWA announced that the Hamas authorities had returned to the UNRWA warehouses in Gaza City and Rafah all of the aid supplies which had been seized on 3 and 5 February and that UNRWA was therefore lifting its suspension on the import of its humanitarian supplies into Gaza. An UNRWA spokesman said that deliveries were not expected until after Israeli elections on 10 February. (AP, BBC, The Jerusalem Post, Ma’an News Agency, www.unrwa.org, Ynetnews)
The United Nations Development Programme said, “Three weeks of fighting in Gaza has had a strong economic, social and psychological toll on the lives of Palestinians living there, according to the findings of a survey commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The phone survey, conducted during the last week of January, shows that unemployment in Gaza increased by 7 points since the outbreak of violence last December, rising from 36 per cent to 43 per cent. Full-time employment, already at a record low (50 per cent), has declined further to 45 per cent.” (www.undp.org)
UNRWA indicated that its food aid to 900,000 refugees in the Gaza Strip continued to be jeopardized by the decision of the Israeli Government to refuse entry of three truckloads of nylon pellets used for making plastic bags used for food distribution. Peter Lerner, spokesman for the IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, said that Israel had prohibited raw materials from entering the Gaza Strip lest they fall into the hands of Hamas but noted that UNRWA could import plastic bags into Gaza. In addition, UNRWA had been denied approval to bring into Gaza 12 truckloads of bulk paper to print books, including its human rights textbooks,
and had also been prevented from importing 5 trucks of exercise books for some 200,000 children. (The Jerusalem Post, www.unrwa.org)
The Department for International Development of the British Government said it had “provided Ł200,000 to the Mines Advisory Group to assess and clear the danger of unexploded bombs and other explosives in Gaza.” Also, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander announced that the UK was providing “a further Ł1.8 million for life-saving support to vulnerable groups including children and old people living in Gaza.” (www.dfid.gov.uk)
At a special meeting of Nordic Foreign Ministers in Oslo, the five Ministers issued a joint statement in support of Gaza and UNRWA. “UNRWA’s situation is serious, and it is essential that the international donor community joins together to support the agency’s work for Palestinian refugees in the region,” the Ministers said. (www.regjeringen.no)
Briefing correspondents at a press conference at UN Headquarters on her recent visit to the region, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, reiterated the call for Israel to open its border crossings with Gaza and to expand the list of items to be allowed in, especially school supplies, saying that around 400 trucks per day would be needed to meet humanitarian needs arising from the recent conflict, and over 1,000 trucks would eventually be needed once reconstruction began. According to Ms. Coomaraswamy, fewer than 200 trucks were permitted to enter Gaza on a typical day, and that some items useful to children , such as paper needed to produce school books, had not been
allowed in. She also noted a great need for psychosocial support among children, especially those that had witnessed violence at close range, sometimes against their own parents and siblings. Ms. Coomaraswamy said she intended to submit a detailed report of her visit, and would brief the Security Council on the findings. On the list of the Security Council’s “six grave violations against children in conflict” was the denial of humanitarian access, she stressed, saying that the current blockade on Gaza fell into that category of violations. (UN News Centre)