Overnight, the IDF launches a major raid into Gaza, dubbed Operation Autumn Clouds, sending 100s of infantry soldiers, tanks, helicopters into Bayt Hanun, sealing and imposing a curfew on the town, clashing with Palestinians (who fire automatic weapons, antitank rounds), conducting air strikes, occupying some Palestinian homes as operational bases and sniper posts, bulldozing 18 d. of land, killing 5 Hamas mbrs., 1 Islamic Jihad mbr., 1 PA security officer, 2 civilians, wounding 41 Palestinians (the majority gunmen, but including 8 children, 2 women); 1 IDF soldier is also killed. Palestinians fire at least 8 rockets fr. n. Gaza into Israel in response, lightly wounding 2 Israelis, marking the largest 1-day barrage in wks. The IDF also fires on residential areas of Abasan, wounding 1 Palestinian. Meanwhile, the Israeli cabinet debates, rejects requests by the IDF, frustrated over continued (though declining in recent wks.) rocket fire fr. Gaza, to expand military operations in Gaza, voting instead to continue pinpoint operations. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and Tulkarm (firing on residential areas, stone-throwing youths, wounding 5), in Qalqilya, and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin. (REU 11/1; NYT, PCHR, WP 11/2; IFM 11/6)

In Gaza, the IDF continues major operations in Bayt Hanun, rounding up Palestinian men ages 16–45 and driving them outside of town for questioning (detaining 15, releasing the others), clashing with militants, killing 2 Palestinian gunmen, 2 civilians, wounding another 20 Palestinians; 2 IDF soldiers are lightly injured; a 4-yr.old Palestinian dies of injuries received on 11/1; some 60 Palestinian gunmen take refuge in the 850-yr.-old al-Nasir Mosque, which is quickly surrounded by the IDF. Late in the evening, the IDF conducts air strikes in n. Gaza on Palestinians allegedly preparing to fire rockets, killing 2 Palestinians. Palestinians fire several rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting an Israeli home, lightly wounding 2 Israelis. In the West Bank, the IDF raids an elementary school in Hebron while classes are in session, firing tear gas, percussion grenades, injuring 15 children; sends undercover units into Tulkarm in a car with Palestinian license plates to arrest 3 wanted Palestinians; conducts other arrest raids in al-Saf nr. Bethlehem (demolishing the home of a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr., firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 5) in Nablus (fatally shooting 1 Palestinian civilian), Ramallah, Tulkarm. (NYT, WT 11/3; PCHR 11/9)

In ongoing operations in Bayt Hanun, the IDF overnight fires tear gas, stun grenades, exchanges gunfire with Palestinian militants in al-Nasir Mosque, sending bulldozers in to demolish parts of the structure, prompting some gunmen to surrender. During the day the IDF fatally shoots 2 Palestinian women, wounds around 40 who are part of a group of 2,000 women heeding Hamas’s call to position themselves outside the mosque as human shields; the IDF claims that wanted gunmen were hiding among the women; some 60 gunmen inside the mosque escape; the IDF bulldozes the entire mosque. (Later, 1,000 Palestinian women march outside Egypt’s diplomatic mission in Gaza City, denouncing Israel’s actions and calling for Egypt’s intervention.) During the day, the IDF also expands operations to Bayt Lahiya and Jabaliya r.c., killing at least 9 Palestinians (including 4 Hamas mbrs., 2 Palestinian medics in an ambulance), shelling areas, making at least 1 air strike destroying a Palestinian home; makes an air strike on a car in Gaza City (assassinating Hamas mbrs. Muhammad Farhat, Tamir Hillis, Imad Mushtaha) and on a car in Rafah (assassinating Hamas mbr. Ahmad Abu Humayd); bulldozes 19 d. of Palestinian land e. of Gaza City; fires on farmers who stray near the border fence outside al-Maghazi, wounding 1; conducts a series of late-night air strikes in Rafah. A Palestinian wounded in Bayt Hanun clashes on 11/2 dies. Palestinians fire at least 5 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem (demolishing a Palestinian home, killing 1 Palestinian; raiding and searching a hospital), Nablus (killing 2 Palestinians including 1 civilian), Tulkarm. A Palestinian wounded nr. Bethlehem on 11/2 dies. (NYT, WP, WT 11/4; NYT 11/5; PCHR 11/9)

The IDF expands operations in n. Gaza, launching an air strike on a minivan in Gaza City, assassinating Hamas cmdr. Luay al- Burnu, 2 other Hamas mbrs.; shelling Jabaliya r.c., killing 1 Hamas mbr., wounding 4; later making an air strike on Jabaliya, killing 2 Hamas mbrs., wounding a by- stander in what may be an assassination. An IDF sniper fatally shoots a 12-yr.-old Palestinian girl in the head in Gaza; the IDF say he was aiming at an armed Palestinian. In Bayt Hanun, the IDF fatally shoots a Hamas mbr. in exchanges that also leave an IDF officer seriously wounded; fires an antitank rocket to demolish the home of a Palestinian militant, collapsing the walls of a neighboring home, killing a Palestinian civilian; demolishes at least 4 other Palestinian homes; continues house to house searches; lifts the curfew for 3 hrs. to let residents buy food. IDF operations along the Rafah border also continue. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Ramallah, in Jenin and Nablus; demolishes a Palestinian home in Bethlehem. (NYT, WP, WT 11/5; PCHR 11/9)

In Gaza, the IDF continues operations in n. Gaza, fatally shooting 2 Palestinian militants, 1 PA security officer in Bayt Hanun; expanding operations in Jabaliya r.c., firing on residential areas. Palestinians fire some 10 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no serious damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF searches homes in Askar r.c. nr. Nablus, firing on a PSF post, wounding 3 PSF officers; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Nablus. (NYT, WP 11/6; PCHR 11/9)

As Operation Autumn Clouds continues, a female Palestinian suicide bomber, claiming retaliation for a 6/9/06 IDF attack on the Bayt Lahiya beach that killed 8 Palestinians, detonates a device nr. IDF troops in Bayt Hanun nr. the site of a mosque where the IDF killed 2 Palestinian women on 11/3, lightly wounding 2 IDF soldiers. The IDF conducts at least 2 air strikes on Jabaliya, killing at least 2 armed Palestinians, 1 Palestinian schoolboy, wounding several students on their way to school; fatally shoots 1 armed Palestinian in clashes in Bayt Lahiya. Late in the evening, the IDF begins withdrawing troops fr. Bayt Hanun but does not say whether it is ending operations there; Olmert vowed on 11/5 not to halt operations until Palestinian rocket fire, which has increased since the troops entered, is significantly reduced. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron, nr. Ramallah, and in Aida r.c. nr. Bethlehem, ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ nr. Nablus, Bayt Jala. (NYT, WP, WT 11/7; PCHR 11/9)

Lebanese political factions reopen a wk. of national dialogue to discuss Hizballah’s demand to form a new national unity government. (NYT, WT 11/6; WT 11/11) (see 10/31)

The IDF pulls most troops out of Bayt Hanun before dawn; bulldozers and tanks remain positioned nr. Bayt Lahiya. Clashes continue in Jabaliya during the day, leaving at least 8 Palestinians dead, including an AMB mbr. assassinated in an air strike on his car in n. Gaza (3 AMB mbrs. are wounded), 2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. nr. Bayt Lahiya, the sister-in-law of Change and Reform PC mbr. Jamila al-Shanti (who helped organize the 11/3 women’s demonstration in Bayt Hanun), 2 Palestinians affiliated with Hamas are killed in Jabaliya r.c. when the IDF fires tank shells at Palestinians who allegedly fired RPGs fr. Shanti’s home, a Palestinian civilian fatally shot nr. Bayt Lahiya. IDF air strikes destroy the Gaza City home of a senior Hamas military cmdr., damage several neighboring homes after ordering the residents to leave. A Palestinian wounded in Bayt Hanun on 11/6 dies. Palestinians fire 6 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel (4 hitting nr. Ashkelon), causing no damage or injuries; IDF artillery shells Bayt Hanun in response. The IDF says it seized “large amounts of weaponry” during the operation, including rocket launchers, RPGs, mines, rifles, ammunition but no rockets or antitank weapons. The UN estimates that some 250 Palestinians were wounded, 30 Palestinian homes demolished, 100 damaged (residents put the number at around 40 demolished, 400 damaged), water and sewerage systems damaged, large tracks of trees uprooted during the operation. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Qalqilya (in a car with Palestinian license plates to arrest several wanted Palestinians, wounding 1), al-Yamun nr. Jenin (assassinating AMB mbrs. Tahir ‘Abahra, Salim Abu al-Hayja, Mahmud Abu Hasan, ‘Ala’ Khamaysa and killing 1 Palestinian bystander, wounding 3 Palestinians); conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem. (IFM, REU 11/7; NYT, WP, WT 11/8; PCHR, WP 11/9)

In Gaza, the IDF makes predawn artillery strikes on Bayt Hanun in retaliation for 11/7 rocket fire, hitting a residential area, killing 19 Palestinian civilians (17 in 1 family, including 8 children, 6 women), wounding 60–80 (including at least 26 children) in what the army says is a regrettable error; Israel suspends artillery fire on n. and e. Gaza pending an investigation. The IDF also fatally shoots 2 Palestinians (at least 1 armed), wounding 6 in Jabaliya; makes an air strike demolishing 1 Palestinian home in Gaza City after warning residents to leave. By nightfall, the IDF completes withdrawal of its forces fr. n. Gaza population centers into the border area btwn. the Strip and Israel officially ending Operation Autumn Clouds, leaving a total of 78 Palestinians dead (including 1 PSF officer and 50 civilians, including 16 children, 10 women), 262 wounded (including at least 67 children, 58 women), 250 d. of land razed, at least 16 homes and a mosque demolished, some 120 homes, 3 mosques, several schools, a hospital severely damaged Palestinians fire 13 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel in retaliation, causing no damage or injuries. In Damascus, Hamas leader Mishal calls on all factions to retaliate; a n. Gaza faction of Hamas’s Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades issues a statement blaming the U.S. for the casualties for its support of Israel and calls for attacks on U.S. targets worldwide, but a spokesman for Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades rejects the call, saying Hamas’s only theater of operations is Palestine. Bush sends his condolences, calls on all sides for restraint. The IDF also makes an air strike on a car in Gaza City, assassinating Hamas mbrs. Ahmad Awad (reportedly a chief rocket maker and son-in-law of PA FM Mahmud Zahhar), Ramzi Shuhaybir.In the West Bank, the IDF fires on Palestinians demonstrating against Operation Autumn Clouds, wounding 5; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin and Nablus, nr. Bethlehem and Jerusalem; orders 71 bedouin to evacuate land nr. Ramallah on the grounds that it is “state land.” (BBC, HA, IFM, al-Mezan Center for Human Rights 11/8; NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 11/9; OCHA 11/15; PCHR 11/16)

Israel says that the death of 19 Palestinians in Bayt Hanun on 11/8 was caused by a faulty artillery radar system. Palestinians fire 6 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, lightly injuring 2 Israelis. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Abu Dis and Hebron, nr. Bethlehem and Qalqilya. (NYT, WP, WT 11/10; OCHA 11/15; PCHR 11/16)

French DM Michele Alliot-Marie says that French forces in s. Lebanon came within seconds of firing on IDF F-16s that repeatedly dived on their positions a wk. ago. The IDF says the incident is under investigation. UNIFIL reported 14 Israeli violations of the cease-fire last wk., including near daily overflights of Lebanon, including 3 mock air raids over the French troops’ headquarters in the south. (WP 11/10)

In Jabaliya, a roadside bomb explodes outside the home of a PFLP cmdr., injuring his bodyguard; internal Palestinian rivalries are suspected to be the cause.

In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron. A Palestinian wounded in the 11/8 artillery strike on Bayt Hanun dies. (WP, WT 11/11; PCHR 11/16)

The UN presents Lebanese PM Siniora with a proposal to set up a war crimes tribunal to prosecute suspects in the 2/05 Hariri assassination. (WP 11/11)

In Gaza, the IDF fires on residential areas of Khan Yunis, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Askar r.c. and Jenin town and r.c., in and around Tulkarm (raiding the offices of the Palestinian Center for Media and Studies, vandalizing them, confiscating computers and electronic equipment, and sealing the offices), nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers in Hebron attack a group of 40 Palestinian children on their way to school, injuring several, stealing some of their school bags. Separately, Jewish settlers fr. Hebron prevent Palestinian farmers fr. reaching their land nr. Ma’on settlement. (OCHA 11/15; PCHR 11/16)

In Lebanon, 5 Hizballah and Amal cabinet mbrs. quit the cabinet over the failure of the national dialogue over 4 days to reach a new power sharing agmt. PM Siniora says he will not accept their resignations, though he may not be able to enforce his decision. The 4 days of talks broke down over Hizballah’s demands that it, with its allies, be allocated a third of cabinet seats, so it would have veto power over cabinet decisions. The governing coalition is willing to allow Hizballah’s ally, the Free Patriotic Movement led by Christian leader Michel Aoun, to enter the cabinet, but not with enough seats to have automatic veto power. (Eight ministers would need to resign to collapse the Siniora government.) The governing coalition portrays Hizballah’s attempts to obtain a veto as an effort to block creation of an international tribunal on the Hariri assassination (see 11/10). (NYT, WP, WT 11/12; NYT 11/13)

In Gaza, the IDF shells an area outside Jabaliya used by Palestinians to launch rockets, killing a 14-yr.-old Palestinian, wounding 2 Palestinians; conducts late-night arrest raids, house searches in al-Shuka. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c. and Hebron, nr. Bethlehem (searching the offices of al-Rua‘a TV), Jenin. An ailing Palestinian infant dies after the IDF delays his parents fr. crossing a Nablus checkpoint to reach a hospital for 2 hrs. Jewish settlers fr. Shim’a settlement nr. Hebron prevent Palestinians fr. harvesting their fields. A Palestinian wounded on 11/3 in Bayt Lahiya, a Palestinian militant wounded on 11/3 in Bayt Hanun, and a Palestinian teenager wounded on 11/6 in Jabaliya die. (OCHA 11/15; PCHR 11/16; OCHA 11/22)

In Gaza, the IDF launches an air strike destroying an auto dealership in Gaza City, damaging several surrounding homes. Late in the evening in the West Bank, the IDF sends bulldozers, helicopters into ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ r.c., fires on residential areas, occupying several Palestinian homes as observation posts, firing on stone throwing Palestinians who confront the troops (wounding 8), exchanging fire with armed Palestinians, killing 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bethlehem, Qalqilya (confiscating around $11,700, a computer, several cameras fr. a Reuters cameraman). Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai vandalize a Palestinian home in Hebron. Separately, Jewish settlers fr. Tilim settlement prevent Palestinians fr. harvesting their olive groves outside Hebron. (PCHR 11/16)

After a 6th cabinet minister (an independent aligned with Pres. Emile Lahoud) resigns, Siniora convenes the reduced Lebanese cabinet, which unanimously approves the 11/10 UN plan for an international tribunal on the Hariri assassination. Lahoud, Hizballah and its allies denounce the vote, saying it is unconstitutional given the reduced cabinet’s lack of sectarian balance. (NYT, WP 11/14; WT 11/15)

In Gaza, the IDF launches an air strike on Gaza City, damaging a workshop, several houses. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searched in al-Fawar r.c. and Jenin town and r.c., and nr. Bethlehem, Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Suissa bulldoze 5 d. of Palestinian land nearby the settlement. (OCHA 11/15; PCHR 11/16)

In Gaza, the IDF launches air strikes destroying the homes of 5 Palestinian militants in Jabaliya, Gaza City, and Rafah after warning residents to leave, destroying the homes of 2 bystanders, wounding 1 bystander. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian bystander during an arrest raid in Nablus; conducts arrest raids in Balata r.c., Qabatya, Tulkarm. (NYT, PCHR, WP, WT 11/16; PCHR 11/23)

Hamas, Islamic Jihad fire at least 13 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, killing 1 Israeli woman in Sederot (marking the 1st fatality in a rocket strike since 7/05, the 7th fatality since rocket strikes began in 1/02), wounding 2 Israelis in Ashqelon and Sederot, damaging a home.

In Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pulls out of al-Shuka nr. Rafah, ending a 3-day incursion, during which 7 Palestinian homes were destroyed, roads and water networks were damaged; makes an air strike on the homes of a mbr. of the Popular Resistance Comms. (PRCs) in Jabaliya refugee camp (r.c.), a mbr. of the Hamas-dominated Executive Support Force (ESF) in Rafah (also destroying 3 neighboring houses) after warning the residents to leave; makes air strikes destroying another home in Rafah, 1 in Bayt Lahiya, a workshop in Khan Yunis also giving advanced warning; bulldozes 3 homes nr. the Sufa crossing in Rafah; sends bulldozers into Abasan nr. Khan Yunis to level land. Palestinians fire 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin and in Bethlehem, Balata r.c. and Dayr Ishtiyya nr. Nablus (searching a mosque), Tulkarm. (NYT 11/17; OCHA 11/22; PCHR 11/23)

In Gaza, the IDF sends troops into Bayt Lahiya, raiding homes, fatally shooting the body guard of senior Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) mbr. Salih Zaydan; makes air strikes destroying a Palestinian home,an ESF post in Shatti’ r.c. nr. Gaza City, 1 home in Jabaliya, offices of a Muslim charity nr. Gaza City after warning occupants to leave; fires missiles from a helicopter gunship at a mosque in Gaza City, causing severe damage. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches around Nablus, in Qalqilya (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 29, demolishing 2 Palestinian homes). (OCHA 11/22; PCHR 11/23)

The IDF continues operations nr. Bayt Lahiya, firing on residential areas, fatally shooting 1 Palestinian teenager, wounding 5 Palestinians ages 6–18; makes air strikes on a Hamas training camp n. of Shatti’ r.c., causing damage but no injuries. A Jewish settler severely beats a Swedish human rights worker, injures another international human rights worker escorting Palestinian children past Tal Rumayda settlement in Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. Tal Rumayda also throw stones at a Palestinian woman and her 3-yr.-old son, leaving the boy with a head injury. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’on settlement nr. Hebron prevent Palestinian farmers fr. working in their fields nearby. A Palestinian woman dies of injuries sustained during 11/6 IDF air strikes on Jabaliya. A Palestinian man dies of injuries received during an 11/4 IDF attack on Jabaliya. (International Solidarity Movement press release 11/18; OCHA 11/22; PCHR 11/23)

In Gaza, the IDF pulls out of Bayt Lahiya early in the morning. Later in the day, the IDF calls off air strikes on the Jabaliya r.c. homes of local PRC leader Muhammad Barud,a senior Hamas mbr. when, after warning residents to leave, 100s of Palestinians, including Palestinian Authority (PA) PM Ismail Haniyeh, arrive to act as human shields to protect the homes. Also in Gaza, an IDF drone fires on a car of Hamas mbrs. driving nr. Gaza City, killing a 75-yr.old Palestinian bystander, wounding 2 Hamas mbrs., 7 civilians (including 4 children) in an apparent assassination attempt. Hamas mbrs. fire 8 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, seriously wounding 1 Israeli, lightly wounding 2. In the West Bank, IDF undercover units make an arrest raid on Yatta nr. Hebron. The IDF also conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Kahil nr. Hebron, in and around Nablus. (NYT, WP, WT 11/20; OCHA 11/22; PCHR 11/23)

In Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike on a car driving in Gaza City, assassinating Hamas mbrs. ‘Abd al-Qadir Habib, Basil Obaid, wounding 5 bystanders, including a 2-yr.-old boy; sends bulldozers into areas nr. the Sufa crossing to demolish 2 Palestinian homes, into Khan Yunis to demolish 3 greenhouses. In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a Palestinian teenager who approaches soldiers nr. Jericho carrying a toy gun; sends undercover units into Bethlehem, arresting a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr.; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem (sealing the Orphan Care Society in Bethlehem) and in Abu Dis nr. East Jerusalem, Qabatya nr. Jenin. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in a 1/5 attack on Jabaliya. (NYT, WT 11/21; OCHA 11/22; PCHR 11/23)

Overnight, the IDF sends troops back into Gaza City, surrounding the home of senior Hamas military cmdr. Ayman Dayif Allah Hassanian, ordering him to surrender, fatally shooting him and 2 bystanders (including a 70-yr.-old woman) in an exchange of gunfire, also bulldozing 20 dunams (d.; 4 d. = 1 acre) of olive, citrus groves. Early in the morning, the IDF sends troops back into n. Gaza, clashing with Palestinians in Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, Jabaliya and also shelling the area, killing 1 Palestinian gunman, wounding at least 17 Palestinians; also leaving 2 IDF soldiers injured. The IDF also fires on Palestinian fisherman off the s. Gaza coast, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin (firing on stone-throwing Palestinians, wounding 2) and Nablus, in al-Bireh, Jericho, Tulkarm r.c. (MM 11/21; MM, NYT, OCHA, WP 11/22; PCHR 11/23)

Palestinians fire 5 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, hitting a factory, killing an Israeli.

In Gaza City, an unidentified gunman shoots, wounds fmr. Palestinian Council (PC) mbr. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Shahin (Fatah) as he leaves a radio studio after giving an interview criticizing Hamas. In Khan Yunis, unidentified gunman kidnap, hold for several hrs. 2 Italian Red Cross employees, releasing them unharmed without comment.

The IDF sends additional tanks, troops into n. Gaza, bringing the total number of troops in n. Gaza to around 1,000, placing snipers on the rooftops of Palestinian homes, occupying the home of Reform and Change PC mbr. Jamila Shanti, fatally shooting 2 Hamas mbrs.,a Palestinian woman,a 17-yr.-old Palestinian boy and wounding at least 1 gunman, 14 bystanders in Bayt Hanun, Bayt Lahiya, Jabaliya r.c. An IDF soldier is wounded by an antitank missile in Bayt Hanun. The IDF also fires on Palestinian fishermen off the Rafah coast, wounding 1. In Gaza City, the IDF makes an air strike destroying a money exchange, damaging several nearby homes. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the PRCs claim responsibility for firing 8 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel today, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF assassinates al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) mbr. Fadi Armur in Jenin r.c., wounding a 2d target, Islamic Jihad mbr. Ashraf al-Sa‘di; bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes, 2 animal pens nr. Qalqilya; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Qabatya and in and around Hebron, Nablus. A Jewish settler injures a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy in a deliberate hit- and-run nr. Bethlehem. (MM 11/22; MM, NYT, PCHR, WP 11/23; NYT 11/24; OCHA 11/29; PCHR 11/30)

In n. Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike on a car, assassinating PRC cmdr. Fa’iq Abu al- Qumsan, whom Israel claims have been responsible for rocket fire into Israel, his dep. Mahmud al-Basyuni, and Ahmad Abu al-Qumsan, also a PRC mbr.; kills 4 Palestinians (at least 2 of them armed, 1 a bystander), wounds at least 18 (at least 17 of them bystanders) in clashes, shelling related to ongoing operations in which 4 IDF soldiers are lightly wounded by an antitank rocket. The IDF also fires on Palestinian fishermen on the Gaza shore, causing no damage or injuries. Palestinians fire at least 5 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian home, an animal farm in Qarawat Bani Hassan nr. Salfit; fires on stone- throwing Palestinian children nr. Hebron, seriously wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jenin town and r.c. (MM, NYT, WT 11/24; OCHA 11/29; PCHR 11/30)

A 64-yr.-old Palestinian woman detonates a suicide bomb nr. IDF soldiers in Bayt Lahiya, lightly wounding 3; the attack is claimed by Hamas, marking its 1st suicide bombing in 2 yrs., in retaliation for the 11/8 shelling of Bayt Hanun that killed 19 Palestinians; the woman’s family says that she was motivated to stage the attack because her son had been killed, a grandson severely injured, and her mother’s house demolished by the IDF. (Separately, Israel reportedly is considering paying compensation to the families of those killed on 11/19; Israel has previously refused to pay compensation for such artillery errors.)

PA security forces demonstrate in Gaza City against the Hamas-led government’s failure to pay back salaries.

The IDF continues operations in n. Gaza, fatally shooting an armed Palestinian, a Palestinian cameraman filming nr. Jabaliya, and a 10-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding at least 7 civilians; 2 IDF soldiers are injured by a roadside bomb nr. Bayt Lahiya. The IDF also sends bulldozers into the Khan Yunis area to level land. In the West Bank, the IDF sends troops into ‘Askar r.c., fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 2 with live ammunition; patrols in Salfit, firing on stone- throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 1 with live ammunition; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, Tulkarm and nr. Hebron; raids a clinic in Nablus, confiscating medical files, computers. A Palestinian dies of injuries received during an 11/3 IDF attack on Bayt Hanun. (NYT 11/25; OCHA 11/29; PCHR 11/30)

In Gaza, the IDF makes an air strike on a car driving nr. Gaza City, killing 1 Hamas mbr., wounding a bystander; fatally shoots a Palestinian nr. Bayt Lahiya attempting to fire a rocket into Israel, also wounding 8 bystanders; shells a group of armed Hamas mbrs. nr. the Qarni crossing, killing 1 Hamas mbr.,a PA Preventive Security Forces (PSF) officer at a post nearby; fires into al-Qarara, wounding 1 Palestinian farmer; shells the PA Education Min. offices nr. Bayt Lahiya; directs shells, air strikes on Bayt Hanun and Jabaliya, severely damaging 1 Palestinian home, an UNRWA clinic, a PA school; warns residents of a pending air strike on another Palestinian home nr. Jabaliya, but 10s of neighbors gather in the home, forcing the IDF to call off the operation. Palestinians fire 1 rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, IDF troops patrolling in Abu Dis chase a group of Palestinian children who throw stones at their vehicles, firing into the air and firing percussion grenades, detaining 4 children ages 11–13 for questioning; demolishes 4 shops nr. Salfit. (IFM, NYT, WP, WT 11/26; OCHA 11/29; PCHR 11/30)

PA Pres. Mahmud Abbas phones Israeli PM Ehud Olmert to offer a total cease-fire in Gaza (including halts to rocket fire, digging of tunnels) in exchange for a halt to IDF operations in the Strip. Olmert agrees that if Palestinians halt actions first at 6:00 A.M. local time on 11/26, the IDF would halt operations, quickly withdraw troops fr. Gaza if the truce holds. Some Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades factions say they will not adhere to the truce until Israel halts actions first.

PA security forces demonstrate in Gaza City against the Hamas-led government’s failure to pay back salaries.

Soon after the 6:00 A.M. Palestinian ceasefire deadline, the IDF withdraws all troops fr. Gaza, ending n. Gaza operations that began on 11/21 that killed 22 Palestinians (including at least 6 civilians), wounded at least 67 (including 28 children), destroyed 10 houses and 10 businesses, razed 80 d. of agricultural land. (After the pullout, the UN reports extensive damage—estimated at $6.4 m.—to Dahaniyya airport buildings by the IDF stationed there, noting that damage could not have been caused by crossfire with Palestinians.) Btwn. 6:00 and 10:15 A.M. local time, Palestinians fire 9 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, damaging a house but causing no injuries; Israel does not retaliate and the truce seems to hold. Two Palestinians are killed when a tunnel they are digging under the Rafah border collapses. In the West Bank, IDF troops patrol in ‘Azun nr. Qalqilya, fire on stone-throwing Palestinian youths who confront them, wounding 1; conduct arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Qabatya (fatally shooting 2 Palestinian bystanders) and Qalqilya, nr. Bethlehem and Hebron; issues a military order confiscating 565 d. of land belonging to al-Nabi Samwil, Bayt Surik, Bayt Iqsa villages n. of Jerusalem for construction of the separation wall. The Israeli High Court rejects a petition to reroute a section of the separation wall that would envelope Bayt Hanina, Bir Naballah, al-Jadira, al-Jib, and Qalandia villages, cutting them off fr. the rest of the West Bank. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in the 10/13 IDF attack on Abasan. (IFM, WP 11/26; MM, NYT, WP, WT 11/27; OCHA 11/29; PCHR 11/30; OCHA 12/13; PLONAD 2/14)

In the West Bank, the IDF makes an arrest raid on Qalqilya, killing PRC mbr. ‘Abd al-Raziq Bakir Nazzal,a bystander; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron (severely damaging an electricity network in al-Sammu‘), Jenin. In retaliation for the deaths in Qalqilya, the AMB fires 2 rockets fr. Gaza toward Israel; 1 lands in Gaza the other nr. Sederot, causing no damage or injuries. In Hebron, 4 Jewish settler women fr. Ramat Yishai attack several Palestinian children, violently beating a 9-yr.old girl. (NYT 11/28; OCHA 11/29; PCHR 11/30)

Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel in violation of the cease-fire, causing no damage or injuries; Olmert expresses “frustration,” but does not order a response. In the West Bank, the IDF sends an undercover unit in a vehicle with Palestinian license plates into Qabatya to arrest a wanted Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Jala; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes under construction nr. Nablus, 4 homes in Jenin, 2 homes nr. Hebron, 2 offices of the Palestinian General Petrol Corp. (which supervises the import of fuel fr. Israeli companies in accordance with Israeli-Palestinian accords). (BBC 11/28; WT 11/29; OCHA 11/29; PCHR 11/30)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Balata r.c., Nablus and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. (OCHA 12/6; PCHR 12/7)

The IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on, wound a Palestinian who strays nr. the border fence nr. Bayt Lahiya. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian home, 3 shops, a warehouse in Qalqilya as well as 1 home in nearby Wad al-Rasha, 2 animal farms in nearby Wad Qana, 2 homes nr. Bethlehem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (firing on stone-throwing youths who confront them in Nablus, killing 1 Palestinian teenager, wounding 3), and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Jenin, Ramallah. In Hebron, Israeli border police fatally shoot a Palestinian who throws a Molotov cocktail at police, lightly injuring 1 officer. (NYT 12/1, 12/2; OCHA 12/6; PCHR 12/7)