The IDF blows up 1 Palestinian home in Tulkarm, 1 in Amari r.c.; partially demolishes a small mosque, bulldozes 3 grave sites nr. Netzarim settlement; fires at stone-throwing Palestinians in Jenin, Kafr `Ayn, Qarawat Bani Zaid, injuring a total of 7 (including 1 who is arrested, severely beaten, dumped outside a nearby village); conducts arrest raids targeting Hamas in Hebron. A Jerusalem court sentences an East Jerusalem Palestinian to 19 yrs. in prison for organizing a “terror cell” comprising mbrs. of the Bethlehem PSF; the alleged cell never staged any attacks. (AP, HA 4/1; VOI 4/2 in WNC 4/3; PCHR 4/3)

A Nazareth magistrate court tosses out the 2001 indictment against Israeli Arab MK Azmi Bishara for organizing trips for Israeli Arabs to visit family in Syria, ruling the visits were of a humanitarian nature, did not amount to treason for contact with a hostile government, and took place before Bishara was stripped of parliamentary immunity in 11/01, but says it will pursue charges against his aides. (ADL, HA 4/1)

The IDF raids Tulkarm r.c., rounds up all males ages 14-40, detains some 2,000, buses them outside of the r.c., bars those released fr. returning home for 3 days, begins house-to-house searches, breaking through walls to move btwn. residences; raids Jenin, firing on residential areas; conducts other arrest raids in Bethlehem, Hebron (targeting Hamas); demolishes 3 Palestinian homes in Amari r.c., 1 in Bayt Hanina, 1 in Hebron; blows up a Palestinian apartment in Tulkarm, damaging 2 others. A 15-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received on 3/28. The 1st Jewish settlers move into homes in Ras al-Amud/Ma’ale Ha’Zeitim. In the Negev, the IDF sprays toxic chemicals on bedouin crops. (GS, HA, PM, PR 4/2; VOI 4/2 in WNC 4/3; ADL, HA, PCHR 4/3; HA, WP 4/4; AFP 4/7 in WNC 4/9; PR 4/9; LAW, PCHR, WJW 4/10)

The IDF continues house-to-house searches in Tulkarm r.c.; assassinates wanted Hamas mbr. Khalid Rayan (aka Khalid Bakir) in Nablus (there is an exchange of gunfire during an “arrest raid” that wounds 2 IDF soldiers, but soldiers walk up to Rayan’s body and shoot him in the head to make sure he is dead); for no apparent reason fatally shoots a 14-yr.-old Palestinian standing outside his home in Qalqilya; fatally shoots a Palestinian farmer working in a field nr. a closed military zone in n. Gaza; demolishes 6 Palestinian homes in Sur al-Bahir, 1 in al-Tur; raids Nussayrat r.c., firing on residential areas, conducting house-to-house searches, knocking through walls to move to adjoining buildings; extends indefinitely the closure of Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron, initially shut on 1/15/03. (HA 4/3; WP 4/4; PR 4/9; LAW, PCHR 4/10)

The IDF ends its raid on Tulkarm r.c. after arresting Islamic Jihad head Anwar Aliyan, demolishing 1 Palestinian home; allows male residents to return. The IDF also imposes a 24-hr. curfew on Jenin, begins house-to-house searches there; fires on residential areas of Hebron; conducts arrest raids in Nussayrat r.c.; attacks a soccer team in Ramallah, beating the coach and players. (HA 4/4; PM, WT 4/5; LAW, PCHR 4/10)

IDF fires on residential areas of Qabatiyya; demolishes 4 Palestinian homes in Rafah; occupies 2 Palestinian homes as outposts. The IDF shoots, wounds 2 ISM mbrs. (1 American, seriously wounded with a gunshot to the face; 1 Dane, shot in the leg) in Jenin; ISM says the pair emerged fr. ISM offices to investigate gunfire (the American wearing a clearly marked reflective vest), saw 2 IDF armored personnel carriers, halted and stood with hands raised for several minutes before they were fired upon. (NYT, WT 4/6; LAW, PCHR, PR 4/10)

The IDF raids Gaza’s Massadir village, imposing a curfew, ordering all men ages 20–50 to surrender for questioning, arresting 34; Palestinians fr. neighboring villages gather outside Massadir, throw stones at troops, who fire on them, killing 2 Palestinians, wounding 14. The IDF also confiscates a Palestinian home in Hebron, expelling the family; fires on residential areas, demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Jenin (cutting electricity), al-Yamun. (NYT 4/7; PR 4/9; LAW, PCHR 4/10)

Overnight, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian who strays too close to Netzarim settlement. The IDF also raids Balata r.c., arresting 5 Islamic Jihad mbrs., blowing up their apartment; conducts arrest raids in al-Qarara, Salim, Tulkarm r.c. (targeting Fatah); demolishes 4 Palestinian homes containing 11 housing units in Issawiyya, 3 in Salim, 1 nr. Nablus. An Israeli court sentences an East Jerusalem Palestinian to 25 yrs. for firing on Jewish settler vehicles, causing no injuries. Israel’s Finance Min. awards the Israeli town of Sederot, which has experienced light damage and light injuries fr. Palestinian mortar and rocket attacks, “front line status,” which gives residents property and income tax breaks of up to 30% and $13.5 m. in aid. Peace Now reports that Jewish settlers have recently established anew or reoccupied at least 6 unauthorized settlement outposts. (HA 4/7; MA 4/7 in WNC 4/9; HA, PM 4/8; PR 4/9; LAW, PCHR 4/10)

The IDF assassinates senior Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades mbr. Sa`ad Arabid (whom Israel tried to kill in 8/01), firing missiles at his car as he drives through Gaza City, also killing his bodyguard, a 3d Hamas mbr., 4 bystanders, injuring 53 Palestinians. Undercover IDF troops fatally shoot wanted Palestinian Badir Yasin in Salfit in what may be an assassination. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Silwan; demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Nablus. (GS, HA, PM 4/8; ITV, VOI, XIN 4/8 in WNC 4/9; HA, LAW, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/9; Interfax, QA 4/9 in WNC 4/10; LAW, PCHR, PM 4/10; QA 4/10 in WNC 4/11; MEI 4/18)

After rocket attack on Sederot, the IDF sends tanks into Bayt Hanun, sparking stone-throwing protests by Palestinians; the IDF fires on demonstrators, killing 5 Palestinians, wounding at least 10. The IDF also raids Nur al-Shams r.c.; detains all men, arresting 16, busing others outside the camp; conducts house-to-house searches, breaking through walls; demolishes 1 Palestinian home. The IDF also demolishes 1 Palestinian home in Silwan, 1 in Ramallah; detains, beats 2 Palestinian cameramen working for AFP and Reuters for filming troops in Hebron forcing Palestinians to close their stores; conducts arrest raids in Abud. In Jaba`, a bomb explodes in a Palestinian high school, wounding 19 students; although the Jewish militant group Revenge of the Innocent Babes, which has staged at least 1 (3/5/02, possibly 9/17/02) similar bombing, claims responsibility for the attack, the IDF says it is “confident” that a Palestinian brought the bomb to school. A 12-yr.-old Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (AFP, HA 4/9; HA, LAW, NYT, PCHR, PM 4/10; QA 4/10 in WNC 4/11; al-Quds 4/11 in WNC 4/14; PR 4/16; LAW, PCHR 4/17)

Coalition forces secure control of most of Baghdad. By evening, the U.S. declares that Hussein’s government has “collapsed,” but warns that the military struggle may continue for some time, as troops continue to meet significant resistance in some areas. Looting is pervasive in Basra and Baghdad, mostly targeting government buildings, state-owned companies, hotels. (BBC, MM 4/9; NYT, WP, WT 4/10; XIN 4/10 in WNC 4/11; MA 4/11, XIN 4/13 in WNC 4/14; MM 4/14; MEI 4/18; MM 4/22; NYT 4/24)

Later, in the 2d such incident in 2 days, IDF helicopters fire missiles at Islamic Jihad military leader Mahmud Zatma as he drives through Gaza City, assassinating him, injuring 15 Palestinian bystanders (including 12 children leaving school, 1 woman). In an apparent assassination attempt, IDF undercover units raid Tulkarm, fire on a car carrying 3 AMB mbrs., wounding them, killing 1 bystander. The IDF also signs an order to expel detained West Bank Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Safuri (arrested in 8/02) to Gaza; conducts arrest raids in Nablus, nr. Netzarim; shells residential areas of Rafah; demolishes a Palestinian home in Ramallah. (HA, MM 4/10; NYT, WP 4/11; PR 4/16; LAW, PCHR 4/17; MEI 4/18)

The IDF shoots British ISM activist Thomas Hurndall in Rafah, leaving him brain dead; the Briton was standing btwn. IDF soldiers and a group of stone-throwing Palestinian youths when troops opened fire, hitting him in the head. IDF helicopters fire missiles at a cemetery in Khan Yunis, injuring 7 Palestinians. The IDF also sends troops, 10s of tanks into Bureij, conducting house-to-house searches, arresting at least 4 Palestinians; conducts similar raids in Nablus, Qalandia. Jewish settlers shoot at Palestinian farmers working nr. Harsina settlement, wounding 5. (HA 4/11; NYT 4/12; LAW, PCHR 4/17)

“Frenzied looting” continues across Iraq, particularly in Baghdad, unchecked by coalition forces, spreads to private homes, hospitals, banks. In Washington, U.S. Secy. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld strongly criticizes press coverage of the mayhem, saying, “Stuff happens! . . . Freedom’s untidy. And free people are free to make mistakes, and to commit crimes and do bad things.” (NYT, WP WT 4/12; MEI 4/18)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing youths outside Hebron, killing 1 Palestinian bystander; fires on a checkpoint outside Khan Yunis for no apparent reason, wounding a Palestinian waiting to cross. A Palestinian being chased by IDF troops nr. Nablus falls, suffers fatal head injuries. (PR 4/16; LAW, PCHR 4/17)

As coalition forces guard the Iraqi Oil Min. in Baghdad, looters ransack the treasures of the National Museum of Antiquities, one of the world’s greatest repositories of artifacts, destroying what they do not steal. (NYT, WP, WT 4/13; WP 4/14; MEI 4/18)

IDF soldiers fire on, halt, search an ambulance in Burkin, beat and injure 2 paramedics. The IDF conducts arrest raids in Nablus targeting the PFLP. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 4/8. (YA 4/14 in WNC 4/15; LAW, PCHR 4/17; PRCS press release 4/21)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Bayt Hanun, Jenin; shells residential areas of Rafah; blows up a Palestinian home, 1 unit in an apartment building in Hebron. An IDF military court sentences 4 Hamas mbrs. each to 29 life terms plus 20 yrs. for involvement in planning the 3/27/02 Netanya bombing. Jewish settlers fr. Hebron run over, kill an 11-yr.-old Palestinian, chase 2 Palestinian school girls; attempt to reestablish a settlement outpost on the road to the Tomb of the Patriarchs/al-Ibrahimi Mosque, but are evacuated by the IDF, which declares the area a closed military zone. Other Jewish settlers fire on 3 Palestinian cars in Bayt Hanun. (HA 4/15; PR 4/16; LAW, PCHR 4/17)

U.S. Special Forces in Baghdad capture Palestine Liberation Front leader Muhammad Abbas (Abu Abbas). Abbas reportedly had tried to flee to Syria twice but was denied entry; Syria reportedly passed information to the U.S. about his whereabouts. Abbas was convicted in absentia in 1986 by an Italian court for masterminding the 10/85 Achille Lauro hijacking, in which an American was killed. Italy wants to extradite Abbas to serve his life sentence, but the U.S. is debating whether to try him itself. (NYT, WP, WT 4/16; MM, NYT, WP 4/17; PR 4/23; MEI 5/2)

The IDF seals the West Bank, Gaza for Passover; makes an arrest raid in Nablus in which 1 wanted Palestinian, 1 IDF soldier are killed in an exchange of gunfire; fires rockets fr. a Rafah watchtower, killing Islamic Jihad military cmdr. `Abd al-Hamid Abu al-Aysh, who was allegedly planting a roadside bomb; fatally shoots a Palestinian who resists arrest in Hebron; shoots, wounds a Palestinian grazing sheep nr. Qalqilya; conducts other arrest raids in Balata r.c., Bethlehem, Jenin; demolishes a Palestinian home in Hebron. (HA 4/15; NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/16; LAW, PCHR 4/17)

The IDF fires on residential areas of Dayr al-Balah, Rafah, Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in Aida r.c., Burkin, Jenin town and r.c., al-Khadir; bulldozes 5 dunams of land in Dayr al-Balah. 2 Palestinians die of injuries received earlier (on 2/19, 4/8). IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Moshe Ya’alon says that he has ordered the IDF to remove ISM activists from the territories “for their own benefit” and because they are “creating provocations that injure our freedom of action on the ground.” (LAW, PCHR 4/17; GS 4/23; LAW, PCHR 4/24)

The IDF opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Rafah (killing 1 Palestinian), Tulkarm ( killing a 2d Palestinian); fires on residential areas of Jenin town and r.c., Rafah. The IDF also reportedly surrounds a hospital in Tulkarm, demanding a wanted man was inside; troops withdraw by noon, apparently deciding he is not inside. A 3d Palestinian dies of injuries received on 4/8. (VOI, YA 4/17 in WNC 4/18; NYT, WP 4/18; LAW, PCHR 4/24)

The IDF shells residential areas of Khan Yunis. Israeli security arrests 12 Israeli border police for violent crimes against Palestinians, including 4 detained in connection with the 12/30/02 beating death of a Palestinian in Hebron, thought to be the 1st fatality of the Israeli forces’ “lottery”. (NYT, WP 4/19; HA 4/21; LAW, MM, PCHR, WJW 4/24)

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)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing youths in Qalqilya, killing 1 Palestinian; fires on residential areas of Rafah. IDF soldiers surround the homes of 7 Tulkarm families, threaten to demolish them if their wanted sons do not turn themselves in; 1 Palestinian turns himself in, no homes are destroyed. An IDF tank rolls over, destroys an empty ambulance in Rafah. Palestinians report that Jewish settlers fr. Shim’a have recently set up a new unauthorized outpost nr. Hebron, moving 5 trailers onto the site. (AYM 4/20 in WNC 4/21; HA, PRCS press release, WP 4/21; PR 4/23; LAW, PCHR 4/24)

The IDF undercover units conduct arrest raids in Jenin, shooting and wounding 5 Palestinians, detaining 4; conduct additional arrest raids in Aida r.c., Balata r.c., Bayt Jalah, Nahalin, Ramallah. The IDF also fires rubber bullets at several Palestinian children (ages 9–14) allegedly violating a curfew in Hebron, wounding 1; fires live ammunition at a checkpoint nr. Gaza City for no apparent reason, injuring 1 Palestinian child, damaging several vehicles; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Bayt Furik, threatens to demolish a 3d house if the son of the family does not turn himself in for questioning; bulldozes 10s of dunams of olive groves in East Jerusalem to make way for a settler bypass road. (HA 4/21; HA 4/23; LAW, PCHR 4/24)

U.S. dir. of the reconstruction of Iraq U.S. Lt. Gen. Jay Garner (ret.) arrives in Baghdad to begin work. Garner visited Israel in 1998 at the expense of the pro-Israel lobbying group the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), has signed a statement blaming the Palestinians for Israeli-Palestinian violence, has said that the U.S. needs Israel to project U.S. force in the Middle East. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/22)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem, Hebron; bulldozes 34 dunams of land in Abasan. The IDF also detains an ISM activist, an Italian journalist for photographing soldiers detaining Palestinian women, children in Nur al-Shams r.c.—the 1st implementation of a new policy, aimed at ISM in particular, to bar pro-Palestinian activists fr. entering Israel and the territories, deport those already there. (HA 4/23; GS, LAW, PCHR 4/24)

The IDF fires on, seriously wounds Islamic Jihad mbr. Anas Sharita in an attempt to arrest him in Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Jenin (targeting Islamic Jihad, including 2 mbrs. arrested in a hospital, where 1 was receiving treatment for gunshot wounds), Qalqilya (targeting the PFLP); fires on Palestinians at Surda checkpoint nr. Ramallah for no apparent reason, wounding 5; demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in al-Mughraqa, 1 in Bayt Hanun (also bulldozing 37 dunams of land). Late in the evening, Hamas mbr. Shibli Tamasi is killed, 3 Palestinians are wounded in a mysterious explosion in Idna. (HA 4/23; HA, LAW, PCHR 4/24; PR 4/30; LAW, PCHR 5/1)

After the Kfar Saba railway station bomb, Israel says it will not stage a massive retaliation in response. The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths in Qarawat Bani Zayt, killing 2 Palestinians; fires on an elementary school in Qalqilya, injuring 3 students, 1 teacher; shells residential areas of Rafah; bulldozes nearly 300 dunams of land in Bayt Hanun, 34 dunams in Rafah; conducts arrest raids in Bethlehem (targeting Hamas), al-Qarara, Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Mitzpeh Yeriho seize a hilltop nr. Jericho as a new outpost, called Givat Haherut (Liberty Hill), to “prevent invasion” of the area by bedouin shepherds; Israeli police urge the settlers to evacuate the site but leave when they refuse. (HA, LAW, MM 4/24; AFP, ITAR-TASS 4/24 in WNC 4/25; NYT, WP, WT 4/25; al-Quds, VOI 4/25 in WNC 4/28; PR 4/30; LAW, PCHR, WJW 5/1; MEI 5/2)

An IDF soldier is killed by friendly fire nr. Ramallah. IDF troops conducting a predawn arrest raid in Jenin are ambushed by AMB gunmen, who wound 1 IDF soldier. The IDF continues with the raid, detaining, stripping, searching, questioning 10s of Palestinian men, arresting 12, releasing others in their underwear. The IDF also conducts arrest sweeps in Qalqilya, Tulkarm; bulldozes 113 dunams of land in Khuza. The Palestinian Water Authority says it has been informed that the Israeli Infrastructure Min. will stop supplying al-Bireh, Jenin, Nablus, Tubas, Ramallah, other towns with water and will not allow Palestinians to drill new water wells or maintain existing ones. (AFP, HA 4/25; WT 4/26; LAW, PCHR 5/1)

The IDF opens fire on stone-throwing Palestinians outside Balata r.c., wounding 5; bulldozes 40 dunams of land in Abasan, 32 dunams in Khuza, 29 dunams in al-Qarara; blows up 1 Palestinian home in Qalqilya; conducts arrest raids in Khan Yunis. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 4/19. International aid workers in Gaza report that the IDF is requiring them to undergo additional security checks on entering and leaving Gaza, causing new delays. (HA 4/26; LAW, PCHR 5/1; AIDA 5/12)

The IDF conducts arrest raids in Hebron, Kafr Ni’ma, Khan Yunis, Ramallah; imposes a curfew on Qalqilya; shells residential areas of Rafah. Late in the evening, at least 20 armed Jewish settlers accompanied by Tourism M Benny Elon attempt to serve eviction papers to 2 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem’s Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood that settlers have tried to seize for 1 yr.; settlers beat, seriously injure 4 Palestinians; Israeli police intervene, halt the attack, say they will examine the validity of the eviction warrant, but do not arrest the settlers. The IDF “evacuates” an uninhabited unauthorized outpost set up on an deserted IDF base nr. Hebron; Jewish settlers file a petition delaying the IDF’s evacuation of a 2d, inhabited outpost nr. Hebron. (HA 4/28; LAW, PCHR 5/1; ICHAD 5/4; PR 5/7)

IDF undercover units raid Jenin, arresting local Islamic Jihad leader Abu Ali Kasi, 3 associates, killing 1 Palestinian bystander. The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Nablus (targeting the tanzim, PFLP), engaging in an exchange of gunfire that leaves 2 IDF soldiers, 1 Palestinian bystander wounded; demolishes a Palestinian home in Qalqilya; bulldozes 20 dunams of land in Khuza. Israeli police charge 4 Druze fr. n. Israel with conspiring to kidnap an IDF soldier. An Israeli court orders sealed the Shaykh Jarrah residences attacked by settlers on 4/27, leaving 48 Palestinians homeless. (HA, JTA 4/28; VOI 4/28 in WNC 4/29; LAW, PCHR 5/1)

Just before the PC meets in Ramallah (see below), the IDF assassinates PFLP leader Nidal Salama, firing rockets at his car as he drives through Khan Yunis, also killing 1 Palestinian bystander; surrounds the home of, fatally shoots Bethlehem AMB cmdr. Mahmud Salah in an apparent assassination, also killing AMB mbr. Adnan Juayrish, who was with him; demolishes the home of Salah’s 2 brothers. Commenting on the Tel Aviv attack, Israeli government spokesman Dore Gold says, "This is really the first test for the new Palestinian government . . . and unfortunately it has turned out to be a complete failure.” The IDF also fatally shoots a Palestinian in Rafah; fires on, wounds 2 Palestinian farmers working land in Khuza; conducts arrest raids in Jenin. (HA 4/29; BBC, HA, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/30; Interfax 4/30 in WNC 5/1; LAW, PCHR 5/1; NYT 5/2; JTA 5/6; PR 5/7; JPI 5/9; WP 5/10)

Just 2 hrs. after Abbas’s new government is confirmed, a suicide bomber detonates a device outside a Tel Aviv nightclub, next to the U.S. emb., killing 2 Israelis, 1 French woman, wounding 34 (including at least 1 American); a 2d bomber escapes when his bomb fails to detonate; AMB, Hamas say they jointly planned the operation; both bombers are British Muslims (1 of Kashmiri, 1 of Pakistani descent) who apparently entered Israel fr. Gaza on British passports.

The PC approves (69-12, with 3 abstentions) Abbas’s new government, presented after wks. of debate within Fatah. In his inaugural speech Abbas states that there is no military solution to the conflict with Israel, rejects “terrorism,” pledges to crack down on militant groups and confiscate illegal weapons, demands an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, and without Jewish settlements. Israeli FM Silvan Shalom cautiously welcomes Abbas’s words on violence but says his statements on final status are “problematic” and “raise serious questions regarding a readiness to arrive at an agreed-upon resolution.” (HA, MM 4/29; MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 4/30; AYM, Interfax, ITAR-TASS 4/30 in WNC 5/1; SA 4/30, al-Quds 5/1 in WNC 5/2; WJW 5/1; AYM 5/1 in WNC 5/5; HA, MM, WJW 5/2; HA 5/5; MEI 5/16) (see Docs. B1, B2)

Overnight, Jewish settlers fatally shoot 2 Palestinians they claim were attempting to infiltrate Elon Moreh settlement. A Jewish settlement guard in the Jordan Valley fatally shoots a 60-yr.-old Palestinian laborer returning from work, whom he believed was attempting to infiltrate the settlement. The IDF for no apparent reason fatally shoots a Palestinian woman tending livestock nr. Qarni crossing, also killing 4 of her animals; demolishes 8 Palestinian homes in Rafah; conducts arrest raids nr. Jenin; removes another vacant unauthorized settlement outpost nr. Hebron. The IDF also detains an ISM mbr. in Rafah. (HA 4/30; LAW, PCHR 5/1; HA 5/2; PCHR 5/8)

After Abbas and his cabinet are sworn in today, the U.S. formally presents Israel, the PA with the road map. (BBC, HA, NYT 4/30; MM, NYT, WP, WT 5/1; MA 5/1 in WNC 5/2; MEI 5/16)