Israeli security officials say they now believe that a renegade Islamic Jihad cell fr. Jenin, commanded fr. outside the territories, was responsible for the 2/25 bombing. IDF severely beats a Palestinian at a checkpoint nr. Hebron; demolishes 10 shops built without permits in Bardala, `Ayn al-Bayda; blows up a workshop in al-Yamun nr. Jenin that it claimed was a Hamas weapons factory; issues military orders for the demolition of 1 Palestinian home, 3 wells in Wadi Fukin nr. Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus, nr. Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Ma'ale Shomron nr. Qalqilya beat a Palestinian. (MM, VOI, VOP 3/1; PR 3/2; JAZ, VOP 3/2 in WNC 3/3; PCHR 3/3; NYT 3/6)

British PM Tony Blair hosts a 1-day conference aimed at encouraging and supporting PA reform, strengthening PA governance in advance of Israel's disengagement fr. Gaza in mid-7/05. The U.S., EU, and World Bank agree to lead an international effort to coordinate "institutional renewal" in the Palestinian territories. (AFP, AP, BBC, MM 3/1, ITAR-TASS, JAZ, MENA, VOP 3/1; Independent, MM, NYT, PR, WP, WT 3/2; DUS, ITAR-TASS, JP, MENA, al-Quds al-Arabi, VOI, VOP 3/2 in WNC 3/3; HA, MM, WJW 3/3; HJ, VOP 3/6 in WNC 3/7; MM 3/9; JPI 3/11; see also WP 2/26)

PA Interior M Nasr Yusuf takes part in a ceremony in Jenin r.c., marking the opening of a new security headquarters there; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbrs. fire in the air to protest that the PA security services did not coordinate Yusuf's visit with them; Yusuf, local AMB head Zakariyya Zubaydi meet at the Jenin headquarters to discuss the issue, with Yusuf saying such incidents would not be tolerated. The PA says it has arrested a total of 6 Palestinians in connection with the 2/25 Tel Aviv bombing.

According to the U.S. State Dept.'s annual report on human rights, the Palestinian population of Israel and the occupied territories has reached 5.3 m., for the first time exceeding the Israeli Jewish population of 5.2 m. (Electronic Intifada 3/1)

The IDF sends troops into Balata r.c. and Nablus, destroys a Palestinian car; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; imposes curfews on Abu Dis and Azariyya nr. Jerusalem, searches the College of Science and Technology campus in Abu Dis, checks IDs of all staff mbrs. and students; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin. A Jewish settler shoots, wounds a Palestinian nr. Tulkarm. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in an IDF raid on Jenin r.c. on 1/28/03. (VOP 3/2 in WNC 3/3; PCHR 3/3; OCHA 3/9; PCHR 3/10)

The IDF sends undercover units into Bayt Surik nr. Jerusalem to conduct arrest raids, house searches; temporarily occupies several buildings in Nablus and nearby Salim as observation posts; erects a military observation tower at a crossroads outside Hebron, fires on several passing cars, injuring 3 Palestinians; orders bedouin living nr. al-Zawiyya in Salfit district to evacuate the area, which Israel claims as state land. (OCHA 3/9; PCHR 3/10)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Mughraqa in central Gaza, Yatta. (WP, WT 3/5; PR 3/9; PCHR 3/10)

Palestinian gunmen with the Fatah offshoot al-Awda Brigades fire on a PA security office in Nablus, sparking an exchange of gunfire with security forces that leaves 2 PA officers, 1 bystander wounded. Unidentified gunmen fire at the home of Fatah PC mbr. Jamal Tarifi in Ramallah, causing damage but no injuries.

The IDF fires on residential areas of Kafr Qalil nr. Nablus, wounding 2 Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Ramallah. Jewish settlers attack Palestinian cave dwellers nr. Hebron; the IDF intervenes and disperses the settlers. Jewish settlers fr. Tafuh attack, seriously injure an elderly Palestinian farmer working his land nr. Salfit; the IDF intervenes, allows Palestinians to transport the farmer to a hospital, but does not take action against the settlers. A Jewish settler parked on a road nr. Nablus fires on a Palestinian taxi that passes by, damaging the car but causing no injuries. (NYT, WT 3/6; JP, VOP 3/6 in WNC 3/7; OCHA, PR 3/9; PCHR 3/10, 3/17)

Senior PA, Israeli officials end 2-days of back-channel talks outside London to coordinate Israeli disengagement fr. Gaza and to discuss ways "to support the disengagement process and to take advantage of the opportunity in order to take the peace process further beyond the disengagement." (WT 3/7)

PA security forces raid Dura nr. Hebron, seize bombs and weapons, arrest at least 13 Palestinians. Palestinians fatally shoot an alleged Palestinian collaborator in Ramallah. Unidentified Palestinians throw a Molotov cocktail at the home of PA preventive security officer and Fatah mbr. Jamal Khadayr, causing damage but no injuries.

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa fence off and begin planting 40 d. of Palestinian land in Yatta, on the eastern side of the settlement. (OCHA, PR 3/9; PCHR 3/10)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in `Azun, Yatta, Qabatya nr. Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Ma'on attack Palestinians herding sheep outside Hebron, injuring 3. (MM 3/7; WT 3/8; OCHA, PR 3/9; PCHR 3/10; IMEMC 3/12)

Palestinian gunmen fire on an Israeli border police post nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, wounding 2. In response, the IDF imposes a 24-hr. curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron (still in place as of 3/12), beats several Palestinians, raids and searches homes, rounds up 200 Palestinians ages 16–40 for interrogation. Rival PA policemen clash in Ramallah, leaving 1 PA policeman dead.

The IDF fires on residential areas of Rafah; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Simba nr. Hebron; arrests 6 Islamic Jihad mbrs. in Jenin in connection with the 2/25 Tel Aviv bombing; raids, ransacks the home of a PA police officer in Qalqilya, arrests him and 3 other Palestinians without explanation. Separately, Shin Bet announces it has captured a PA policeman wanted in connection with the lynching of 2 IDF reservists in Ramallah in 10/00. Armed Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim nr. Qalqilya bar Palestinian farmers fr. working their fields near the settlement. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai in Hebron attack Palestinian property in Tal Rumayda, causing damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba threaten Palestinians in Wadi al-Nasara neighborhood, block Palestinians from moving on the road that leads to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs. (VOI 3/8; VOP 3/8 in WNC 3/9; HA 3/9; PCHR 3/10; OCHA 3/16; PCHR 3/17)

Syria begins redeploying its troops in Lebanon to the Biqa` Valley in preparation for the withdrawal of all 14,000 soldiers and 1,000 intelligence officers. The move comes under international pressure on Syria to comply with UN Res. 1559 in the wake of the 2/14 assassination of fmr. Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri. (JAZ, MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/8; AFP, DUS, JAZ, MENA 3/8, JAZ 3/9 in WNC 3/9; MM 3/9; JAZ, MM 3/10; MEI 3/18, 4/1)

The IDF sends troops into al-Bathan nr. Nablus who surround, open fire on a car carrying 3 Palestinians, wounding 1, arresting all 3 without explanation; later conducts arrest raids in the same area; also conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Yamun nr. Jenin. Jewish settlers fr. Asfar uproot more than 55 olive trees belonging to Palestinians in nearby Hebron. The Ramallah–al-Bireh governorate removes, bans all pictures, placards, graffiti on building walls in the 2 cities in a "beautification" campaign. (PCHR, al-Quds 3/10; OCHA 3/16; PCHR 3/17)

The IDF raids Tulkarm, assassinates Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Abu Khazna (Muhammad Abu Khalil) whom Israel alleges planned the 2/25 Tel Aviv bombing; bulldozes his home. Abbas condemns the raid, saying "just as calm is demanded of us, we also ask that Israel not do things like this." The IDF also conducts arrest raids in Nablus. (VOI 3/10; WP, WT 3/11; NYT 3/13; OCHA, PR 3/16; PCHR 3/17; BBC 3/28)

In Ramallah, around 25 armed, masked AMB mbrs. break into a Fatah meeting on reform, fire in air, drive the 1,000 participants out, shouting that they are being ignored by the Fatah leadership.

The IDF reinforces troops around East Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron, Jenin. Jewish settlers break into, vandalize the shari`a court in Hebron, several nearby Palestinian homes; Israeli police intervene belatedly, disperse but do not detain the settlers. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino demolish part of a Palestinian home next to the settlement. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim prevent Palestinian farmers fr. reaching their land in neighboring Kafr Qadim. (PM 3/12; OCHA 3/16; PCHR 3/17; Independent 4/21)

The IDF seals Saida and Allar nr. Tulkarm, imposes a curfew, fires on residential areas, conducts arrest raids and house searches; later conducts arrest raids, house searches in `Azun nr. Qalqilya, Baqa` al-Sharqiyya (targeting Islamic Jihad mbrs.), Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah, al-Nazla and al-Til nr. Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba attack Palestinians nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs, severely beating 2 Palestinian children ages 10 and 13. (VOP 3/12; NYT, WP 3/13; OCHA 3/16; PCHR 3/17; PR 3/30)

In Gaza, 2,500 unemployed Palestinians storm the PC building, throwing stones at police, breaking windows, demanding that the PA provide jobs and welfare services for the unemployed and poverty stricken.

The IDF fires on 3 Palestinians attempting to sneak into Israel fr. Jabaliya to find work, seriously wounding 1, lightly injuring 1, while 1 escapes; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Baqa` al-Sharqiyya. The IDF also imposes new restrictions on Palestinian movement nr. the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, erecting an iron gate 30 m away fr. the site, closing the main road leading to the site to Palestinians, checking all Palestinians before allowing them through the gate to the site. Jewish settlers fr. Ma'on attack 5 Palestinian shepherds grazing their animals nearby; the IDF intervenes, arrests the Palestinians, takes them to Kiryat Arba for interrogation, releases them later. Israel authorizes the construction of a "temporary wall" btwn. Jerusalem, the West Bank in areas where the legal disputes to the route of the separation wall are still underway; approves a new route for the separation wall around Jerusalem that would annex Ma'ale Adumim settlement, surround Shu`fat r.c. with fences, isolate Palestinian neighborhoods and villages n. of the city, incorporate Bilal Bin Rabah mosque n. of Bethlehem into Jerusalem. (AP, IMEMC 3/13; WT 3/14; OCHA 3/16; PCHR 3/17)

At Hebron University, 100s of students supporting Fatah disrupt a Hamas student rally in advance of campus elections, leaving 9 Palestinians injured.

The IDF demolishes a Palestinian home in n. Jerusalem to make way for the separation wall; fires on Palestinians who halt their car and emerge to survey their agricultural land nr. Tulkarm (lightly injuring 1), takes them to the hospital only after 3 hrs. of questioning; shoots, wounds a Palestinian who strays nr. the separation wall nr. Qalqilya; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hazma nr. Jerusalem, Tulkarm; conducts arrest raids Hebron, al-Qarara nr. Khan Yunis, Salim nr. Nablus, Sawahara nr. Jerusalem. For a 2d day, Jewish settlers fr. Ma'on shoot at, attack Palestinian shepherds grazing their animals nr. the settlement. Jewish settlers fr. Almatan nr. Qalqilya uproot 10s of olive trees, bulldoze Palestinian agricultural land in neighboring Kafr Thuluth. A Jewish settler injures an 8-yr.-old Palestinian girl in a hit-and-run in Hebron. A Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (IMEMC 3/14; OCHA 3/16; PCHR 3/17)

Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF patrol on the Rafah border, causing no injuries.

"In the framework of easing restrictions" on Palestinians, Israel rescinds expulsion orders against 4 Palestinians sent to Gaza several yrs. ago, allowing them to return to their homes in the West Bank. The IDF shoots, wounds a Palestinian who allegedly "rioted" at a roadblock nr. Qalqilya; raids Budrus nr. Ramallah, fires on stone-throwing youths, wounding 3; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Mughayyir nr. Ramallah, Tayasir nr. Jenin, Tulkarm; places cement blocks across the Bir Nabala–al-Ram road (a major commercial thoroughfare) and on the Dahiyat al-Barid–Qalandia road n. of Jerusalem. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim bar 10s of Palestinian farmers fr. accessing their lands in nearby Kafr Qadim. (VOI, VOP 3/15; JP, OCHA 3/16; PCHR 3/17; IMEMC 3/25)

Israel transfers Jericho to PA security control; reporters in the town say there is no real change as a result, only one checkpoint on the main road into town has been removed (replaced by a PA checkpoint 500 yds. away, as a sign of the PA asserting its control), though all other checkpoints into and out of the city remain in place; reporters covering the transfer say that many Palestinians interviewed during the day did not realize a transfer had occurred. The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Anabta nr. Tulkarm. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino settlement in Hebron attack 1 of the few remaining Palestinian homes in the city's Jewish enclave, demolishing its roof, damaging its foundation, clashing with Israeli police who intervene, injuring 1 officer. Jewish settlers fr. Keddumim settlement uproot 45 olive trees belonging to Palestinians fr. nearby Kafr Qadim. (BBC, HA, IDF Radio, JAZ, MM, PR, VOI, VOP 3/16; MM, NYT, WP, WT 3/17; AFP, ITAR-TASS, PCHR, al-Quds 3/17; HA 3/18; HJ 3/19; OCHA, PR 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians nr. Ramallah; shoots, wounds a Palestinian who strays too close to Rafiah Yam settlement in s. Gaza; conducts arrest raids, house searches in the Wadi al-Husayn area of s. Hebron, rounding up all men and holding them for 5 hrs. of interrogation; places temporary curfews on Bardala and Kardala e. of Jenin, orders all Palestinian males ages 15–60 to surrender for ID checks; also conducts arrest raids in al-Mawasi nr. Khan Yunis. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba beat a Palestinian in Hebron; the IDF observes but does not intervene. (HA 3/18; JP 3/28; OCHA, PR 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo pledge to extend the unofficial truce until the end of 2005, provided that the lull in violence continues and that Israel follows through on its Sharm al-Shaykh pledges to turn over security control of West Bank cities and release a significant number of Palestinian prisoners. Abbas and the factions agree to form a comm. to study rebuilding the PLO on new foundations that would allow Hamas, Islamic Jihad to join. (Daily Star, MM, REU 3/17; BBC, HA, MM, NYT, VOP, WP, WT 3/18; JAZ 3/19; AP, JAZ 3/21; PR 3/23; MEI 4/1)

The IDF imposes a curfew on Allar nr. Tulkarm, raids and occupies a girls school and 4 Palestinian homes as observation sites, detains 10s of Palestinians for interrogation; also conducts arrest raids, house searches in `Azun nr. Qalqilya, Dahariyya nr. Hebron; closes checkpoints into East Jerusalem before Friday prayers, fires tear gas and percussion grenades to disperse Palestinians waiting to cross; beats a Palestinian farmer tilling his land nr. the separation wall in Dayr al-`Asal nr. Hebron; fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at a nonviolent Palestinian demonstration against the separation wall nr. Bil`in, seriously injuring a Palestinian, lightly injuring a foreign journalist with the Associated Press. Some 40 Jewish rabbinical students club, stone 8 Palestinian laborers working legally at Nachliel settlement, seriously injuring at least 5; Israeli police intervene but the settlers escape; police sources say the 8 Palestinians were "almost lynched." Jewish settlers fr. Brakha settlement nr. Nablus ambush, beat, seriously injure a Palestinian truck driver passing the settlement. 10s of Jewish settlers fr. Halamish settlement occupy a plot of nearby Palestinian land housing the water spigots controlling the water supply to the settlement and nearby Palestinian villages. (HA, MM 3/18; VOP 3/19; AYM 3/20; OCHA 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

Ma'ariv 3/18 reports that that the financial officer of the Greek Orthodox Church, Nikolaos Papadimas, who has power of attorney for Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos, recently signed a secret deal, without Irineos's permission, to sell the church's Omar Bin Khattab Square property in the Old City of Jerusalem to Jewish investors fr. abroad and then fled the country with his family, depositing $1.5 m. in a Tel Aviv bank account. The square is a valuable commercial area inside the Jaffa Gate, where 3 prominent Palestinian hotels and a number of shops are located. Irineos denies that he gave permission for the sale, meaning that, by church bylaws, the sale is void. (JAZ, MA, al-Quds, VOP 3/19 in WNC 3/28; HA, VOP 3/23; AP 3/24; NYT 3/25; PR 3/30; al-Quds, VOP 4/3 in WNC 4/4; NYT 4/4; Independent 5/10; HA 5/15; PR 5/18)

PA security officers seal a smugglers' tunnel in Rafah; some Palestinians confront the officers with stones, causing no injuries; 1 Palestinian is arrested.

The IDF tightens restrictions on Palestinian movement into Jericho (turned over to PA security control on 3/16); announces plans to install an electronic gate at the entrance to Wadi al-Silqa nr. Dayr al-Balah, near a settler bypass road, to control Palestinian movement in and out; arrests 3 Palestinians attempting to sneak into Israel nr. al-Mintar crossing to find jobs; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Budrus nr. Ramallah, Dayr al-Ghusun, al-Til. Jewish settlers fr. Ma'on attack, beat several Palestinian farmers working their land nearby. (AYM 3/20; PCHR 3/24)

Several Palestinian gunmen raid the PA's Rafah police office, fire shots in the air, free a jailed Palestinian, who was arrested on 3/18 for throwing stones at PA security officers sealing a smugglers' tunnel in Rafah.

An Israeli border policeman fires on a group of Palestinians attempting to circumvent a checkpoint btwn. Jerusalem and Bethlehem, seriously injuring 1. The IDF fires on a group of Palestinian children returning home fr. school who apparently stray too close to a separation wall construction site, wounding 3; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Saida, Nur al-Shams r.c. (targeting Islamic Jihad mbrs.), Tulkarm r.c.; bulldozes 22 d. of land in Surif nr. Hebron for construction of the separation wall. (HA, VOP 3/20; VOI 3/21; OCHA 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

Palestinians fire a rocket toward Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. Unidentified Palestinian gunmen fire on an IDF patrol searching for stolen cars in al-Amari r.c. nr. Ramallah, wounding 2 soldiers seriously, 2 lightly; the IDF seals al-Amari, conducts house searches. A PA court sentences 5 Palestinians to jail terms of 3–5 yrs. for collaborating with Israel.

After further talks btwn. Israeli, PA officials, the IDF turns over security control of Tulkarm, pledges not to target wanted Palestinians fr. Tulkarm. The IDF closes checkpoints into East Jerusalem for several hrs; lifts the curfew on Allar, imposed on 3/18; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bayt Hanina; fires on residential areas of Burqa nr. Nablus, occupies a Palestinian home as an observation post; raids, searches the Youth Development Society in Husan nr. Bethlehem, temporarily detains 4 board mbrs.; bulldozes 2 d. of Waqf land nr. Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem to build a parking lot for busses transporting Jewish worshipers to the site; bulldozes 4 d. of agricultural land e. of Hebron to establish a new military post; uproots 16 olive trees w. of Ramallah for construction of the separation wall, turns the trees over to local Palestinians for replanting. (JP 3/21; NYT, WP, WT 3/22; OCHA, PR, WP 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

Israeli PM Ariel Sharon approves the construction of 3,500 new housing units in Ma'ale Adumim to link the Jewish settlement to East Jerusalem; claims the building would not violate the road map because the construction was approved in principle in 1999 and the project is of "strategic importance" to Israel. The PA protests. The U.S. State Dept. refuses to comment. (AP, BBC, REU 3/21; VOP 3/21 in WNC 3/28; JP, MENA, NYT, WP, WT 3/22; CSM, PR 3/23; MM 3/29; MEI 4/1)

The IDF, PA security officers hold a ceremony to jointly unlock the gate (set up after the outbreak of the al-Aqsa intifada, locked since 2001) on the Anabta–Tulkarm road, finalizing the transfer of security control over Tulkarm; the IDF sets up a checkpoint 30 m. down the road to check Palestinian IDs; all other checkpoints into and out of the city, all villages surrounding Tulkarm remain under Israeli control. The IDF demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Silwan; uproots 300 olive trees in Surif nr. Hebron for construction of the separation wall; issues a military order confiscating a plot of land (exact size not specified) in Nahalin w. of Bethlehem for construction of the separation wall, citing the 1950 Absentee Property Law (see Quarterly Update in JPS 135). Jewish settlers fr. Ma'on spread poisoned food pellets on 30 d. of Palestinians grazing land. The IDF says that the PA security forces have sealed 18 smuggler's tunnels to date. (HA 3/22; HA, OCHA, PR 3/23; PCHR 3/24)

The IDF seals the West Bank, Gaza for 5 days for the Purim holiday; conducts arrest raids in `Aba and `Ayn al-Bayda nr. Jenin, al-Til nr. Tulkarm (temporarily occupying 7 Palestinian homes). (HA 3/23; NYT, PCHR 3/24; PCHR 3/31)

The IDF eases some restrictions on Palestinian movement around Nablus; conducts a late-night raid on Budrus village nr. Ramallah, site of several recent demonstrations against the separation wall, rounding up women and children, photographing them; installs 2 new electronic gates at the entrances to the Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs to control Palestinian access (see 3/13); conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron (occupying a Palestinian home as an observation post, then allowing settlers to move in), Husan (occupying a Palestinian home as an IDF post). Israeli border police drive through Bil`in village nr. Ramallah, taunting local youths over loudspeakers, saying "All of Bil`in's children are cowards. Let's see you throw stones"; detains a 14-yr.-old boy who throws stones, questions him, releases him 2 mi. fr. the village. In Hebron, a Jewish settler woman stops a 9-yr-old Palestinian boy on his way home fr. school, takes him to Ramat Yishai settlement, and severely beats him with a rock, breaking his teeth, injuring his back and limbs. Jewish settlers fr. Avraham Avino attack 4 nearby Palestinian homes, causing damage but no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba beat, injure an international peace activist in Hebron. (WT, YA 3/25; IMEMC 3/26; OCHA 3/30; PCHR 3/31)

The IDF raids Budrus nr. Ramallah, fires on residential areas, sparking clashes that leave 2 Palestinians injured; sends troops into Salim with military orders to occupy a Palestinian home as an IDF post for 1 mo., confining the 16 family mbrs. to 1 floor; conducts arrest raids, house searches in `Azun; fires rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas at a nonviolent Palestinian demonstrations against the separation wall in Bil`in (injuring 1 Palestinian), Dayr Ballut nr. Nablus (wounding 2 Palestinians). Palestinians complain that 100s of people were unable to attend Friday prayers at Hebron's Ibrahimi Mosque because of prolonged IDF checks at the newly installed electronic gates surrounding the site (see 3/13, 3/24). Some 20 Jewish settlers fr. Yitzhar settlement nr. Nablus rampage through the nearby village of Asira, breaking windows, throwing stones, beating a 50-yr.-old Palestinian woman; when IDF troops come to Yitzhar later in the day to investigate, some 150 settlers throw stones, clash with troops; later in the evening settlers attack Palestinian homes again, causing damage but no injuries; Yitzhar officials say the attackers were "a number of boys" who had gotten drunk for Purim. Jewish settlers fr. Otniel nr. Hebron detain 3 Palestinian women, 4 children cultivating olives on their nearby land; hold them at the settlement for 5 hrs., until PA security officials intervene with the IDF to secure their release. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai rampage through Palestinian areas of Hebron for 3 hrs., damaging Palestinian homes but causing no injuries. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba throw stones and bottles at 2 Palestinian homes in Hebron, threaten to burn them. Jewish settlers fr. Ma'on attack 10s of Palestinians, 4 international peace activists helping Palestinians clean up poisoned feed that the settlers spread on Palestinian land nr. Yatta on 3/22. (HA 3/26; OCHA 3/30; PCHR 3/31)

A Palestinian is injured in an explosion in Gaza City, reportedly while preparing a bomb; 3 Palestinians are injured in a similar incident in Khan Yunis.

An IDF patrol enters Sabastia nr. Nablus, chases a taxi, causing it to crash; denies an ambulance permission to take the injured driver to the hospital, arresting him instead. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches in Hebron, nr. Nablus and Ramallah. Jewish settlers fr. Gush Katif bar Palestinians fr. traveling the coastal road btwn. Rafah and Khan Yunis, beat 4 Palestinian youths (ages 9–15) on their way to school in al-Mawasi. (VOI, VOP 3/27 in WNC 3/28; PR 3/30; JP 3/30 in WNC 3/31; PCHR 3/31).

Some 20,000 Hamas supporters attend a rally in Nablus marking the anniversary of Shaykh Ahmad Yasin's assassination, launching Hamas's campaign for upcoming legislative council elections.

The IDF for no apparent reason severely beats 3 Palestinians in 3 separate incidents at checkpoints in Hebron; beats, detains a 50-yr.-old Palestinian at a checkpoint outside Tulkarm after a prolonged interrogation; issues military orders for 40 residents of Nahalin village nr. Bethlehem to vacate their 4,000 d. of land nr. the Gush Etzion bloc within 45 days for construction of the separation wall. An Israeli guard patrolling a separation wall construction site near Bayt `Awwa fires on, injures a Palestinian who accidentally strays too close to the area. Jewish settlers fence off a piece of Palestinian land in Silwad nr. Ramallah for expansion of Ofra settlement. (IMEMC 3/27; OCHA, PR 3/30; PCHR 3/31)

Overnight, the IDF makes a major raid into Jenin, sending in 30 military vehicles and helicopters, fires on residential areas, raids and searches Palestinian homes, detaining at least 9 Islamic Jihad mbrs. The IDF also shoots, wounds a Palestinian shepherd grazing his flock nr. the separation wall in Bayt `Awwa nr. Hebron; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Dahariyya, Fahma nr. Jenin (arresting 3 PA security officers), Jama`in and Kafr Qalil nr. Nablus (firing on residential areas, wounding 2 Palestinians inside their home), Surif, Za'atra nr. Hebron. (OCHA 3/30; PCHR 3/31; OCHA 4/6; al-Quds 4/23 in WNC 4/26)

In Gaza City, Fatah-affiliated lawyer Majid al-Jafari is moderately injured when an explosive charge planted underneath his parked car explodes; Jafari received death threats after recently announcing his independent candidacy for the local bar association; no group claims responsibility.

The IDF severely beats an 80-yr.-old Palestinian at a flying checkpoint outside Tulkarm, accusing him of warning wanted Palestinians of the presence of the IDF in the area; arrests 3 unarmed PA traffic policemen in the Palestinian section of Hebron on charges that they were in a prohibited area; arrests 3 Palestinians in Gaza on suspicion of smuggling arms; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Asira nr Nablus; begins construction of a new 2-km section of the separation wall w. of Ramallah. An AMB mbr. being pursued by the IDF is killed in a car crash in Ramallah. (PR 3/30; AYM, HJ 3/30 in WNC 3/31; PCHR 3/31; OCHA 4/6)

In Rafah, 5 unidentified Palestinians beat, moderately injure Hamas municipal elections candidate Azmi Abu Mur.

The IDF erects 10s of new checkpoints around Tulkarm (turned over to PA security control on 3/22), imposes a curfew on the nearby villages of Allar (sparking demonstrations by local residents), Saida (also conducting house searches); conducts arrest raids, house searches in `Azun, and Bayt Umar and Halhul nr. Hebron; informs residents of a house nr. a settler bypass road in Wadi al-Silqa that they will only be allowed to enter and leave their home during three 2-hr. periods each day (see 3/19); begins construction of a new 43-km stretch of the separation wall btwn. Tarqumiyya (northwest of Hebron) and Sammu` (southwest of Hebron). (IMEMC 3/30; AYM 3/30 in WNC 3/31; MM, NYT, PCHR 3/31; JAZ, VOI 3/31 in WNC 4/1; MM, WP 4/1; OCHA 4/6; PCHR, PR 4/7)

Palestinians throw stones, a Molotov cocktail at a Jewish settler vehicle Modi'in settlement nr. Ramallah. lightly injuring 3 settlers. After 26 AMB mbrs. on Israel's wanted list are forced by the PA to leave the PA's Ramallah headquarters, where they have been given sanctuary for more than a yr., 6 of them go on a rampage, firing on Abbas's office inside the compound while Abbas is there, ransacking several nearby restaurants, causing no injuries. A PA court convicts 4 Palestinians of collaborating with Israel, sentences 3 to jail terms of 3–5 yrs., releases the 4th.

The IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes, 1 shop in Wadi Rahal nr. Bethlehem for construction of the separation wall; raids the home nr. Jenin of the family of a Palestinian arrested several wks. ago, interrogates the family, beats the prisoner's father; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah; erects a new military post, observation tower outside Aley Sinai settlement in Gaza. Jewish settlers fr. Kiryat Arba beat a Palestinian farmer working his land nearby, force him to leave, threaten to shoot him if he comes back. (IMEMC 3/31; HA, MM, NYT, WP 4/1; OCHA 4/6; PCHR 4/7)

Angry Palestinians set fire to a PA police checkpoint in Tulkarm after officers manning the post fire on a suspected stolen vehicle, wounding at least 1 Palestinian. Unidentified assailants torch the cars of several candidates in municipal elections in Gaza.