The Israeli navy fires on Palestinian fishing boats off the Rafah coast, causing no damage or injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Jenin and in Aida r.c., Bayt Fajjar. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/2; OCHA 1/3; NYT 1/7; PCHR 1/11)

In Jabaliya r.c., a Hamas mbr. shoots, wounds the brother of a senior Fatah mbr., violating a deal for a general truce btwn. the factions and prompting Fatah mbrs. to seize 10 Hamas mbrs., sparking an exchange of gunfire (leaving 3 wounded, including at least 1 bystander) and the retaliatory kidnapping of 7 Fatah mbrs.; Fatah releases 7 of the Hamas mbrs. later in the day. In Gaza City, unidentified gunmen kidnap Peruvian AFP photographer Jaime Razuri; the Daghmash clan, reportedly behind the 8/27 kidnapping of 2 Fox News journalists in a bid to gain control of the local PRC faction, is reportedly behind the kidnapping, demanding that Hamas handover several mbrs. responsible for killing clan mbrs. in exchange for Razuri’s release.

The Israeli navy fires 7 shells at Palestinian fishing boats off the Bayt Lahiya coast, causing no injuries, but forcing the boats to return to shore. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Tulkarm in a vehicle with Palestinian license pates to arrest a wanted Palestinian; sends undercover units into Balata in 2 vehicles with Palestinian license plates to arrest a wanted Palestinian, exchanging fire with the suspect, wounding him and a 2d Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Tubas. (MM 1/2; OCHA, WP 1/3; PCHR 1/11)

Palestinian militants fire mortars at Qarni crossing, lightly injuring an Israeli truck driver. In Bayt Lahiya, a Hamas mbr. dies, 1 is wounded when a bomb he is handling explodes prematurely. Fatah, Hamas mbrs. in Jabaliya r.c. release all remaining mbrs. kidnapped on 1/1. Fatah, Hamas mbrs. exchange fire in Bayt Lahiya, wounding 2 Palestinians.

IDF soldiers on the n. Gaza border fire on a group of Palestinians scavenging in the fmr. Dugit settlement site n. of Bayt Lahiya, wounding 1. IDF soldiers on the central Gaza border fire on Palestinian shepherds who stray nr. the border fence nr. Bureij r.c., causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Kahil, Tubas, and nr. Bethlehem, Tulkarm (targeting Islamic Jihad); issues a military order confiscating 200 d. of Palestinian land nr. Tulkarm to build a fence around Avnei Hefetz settlement. The Israeli High Court rules that Palestinian residents of al-Hadidiyya (pop. 80) in the Jordan Valley pose a security threat to Jewish settlers in Ro’i settlement and must vacate the village by 2/10 or face eviction. (REU 1/3; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/4; OCHA 1/10; PCHR 1/11; OCHA 1/31)

In Bayt Lahiya, suspected Hamas gunmen fatally shoot an AMB mbr.; suspected Fatah mbrs. ambush an ESF patrol, wounding 2 ESF mbrs.; suspected Hamas mbrs. then kidnap 4 Fatah mbrs. In Khan Yunis, PSF and ESF forces clash, leaving 3 PSF officers dead (each side claims the other fired first); suspected Hamas mbrs. kidnap a PSF officer. In Jabaliya r.c, Fatah, Hamas mbrs. exchange gunfire, killing 1 Palestinian bystander, wounding 9 Palestinians. In Tulkarm, unidentified gunmen fire on the Religious Affairs Min., causing no injuries.

The IDF makes its largest daylight arrest raid in the West Bank in more than 2 yrs., sending troops, armored vehicles, bulldozers into Ramallah, with helicopter support, arresting 4 and sparking an exchange of gunfire that leaves 4 Palestinians dead (including at least 3 bystanders), more than 20 wounded (including a journalist); the main target, local AMB leader Rabi‘a Hamad, is wounded but escapes. In addition, the IDF sends undercover units into al-Duha nr. Bethlehem in a vehicle with Palestinian license plates, where they shoot, wound, arrest a wanted Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-Khadir nr. Bethlehem. Meanwhile, IDF troops on the Gaza border fire on Palestinian farmers working their land nr. the border fence n. of Bayt Lahiya, wounding 4. (HA, MM 1/4; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/5; NYT 1/6; HA 1/7; MM 1/8, 1/9; OCHA 1/10; PCHR 1/11; MM 1/12)

In reaction to IDF killing spree in Ramallah Abbas issues a statement saying that the raid proves that “Israeli calls for peace and security are fake.” Haniyeh again cuts short his regional tour to return to Gaza to deal with factional violence. In accordance with new security arrangements agreed by Abbas, Israel, the U.S., and European Union (EU) on 1/3, Haniyeh is forced to undergo a stringent security check before being allowed back into Gaza. Suspected Fatah mbrs. ambush an ESF convoy in Bayt Lahiya, killing 1 ESF mbr., wounding 2. Later in the evening, ESF mbrs. surround the Bayt Lahiya home of PSF Col. Muhammad Gharib, who was allegedly involved in the ambush, sparking an exchange of gunfire and RPGs that leaves Gharib, 4 of his guards dead, at least 36 Palestinians wounded (including 8 children). In al-Maghazi and Dayr al-Balah, 5 Palestinians are wounded in clashes btwn. Fatah, Hamas supporters. Hamas releases Fatah mbrs. kidnapped in Bayt Lahiya on 1/3 in a deal brokered by smaller factions. In Gaza City, a Hamas mbr. dies of injuries he received on 1/3 when a bomb he was handling exploded prematurely. In Jenin, unidentified assailants set fire to car of the PA Prison Affairs M.

Egyptian security forces blow up a smuggler’s tunnel on the Rafah border. In the West Bank, Jewish settlers fr. Suissa nr. Hebron, begin work on a new settlers-only bypass road that will confiscate or isolate up to 150 d. of Palestinian land. (MM 1/5; NYT, WP 1/6; OCHA 1/10; PCHR 1/11; AIC 2/13)

Islamic Jihad fires 3 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In Gaza City, unidentified gunmen fatally shoot a prominent local imam ‘Adil Nassar, known to be highly critical of Hamas;no group claims responsibility. Separately, suspected Fatah mbrs. throw a grenade, open fire on 2 Hamas mbrs., seriously wounding them. Two Palestinians wounded in the attack on PSF Col. Gharib’s home on 1/4 die. In Jenin, unidentified assailants set fire to an Islamic club, the Teachers’ Comm. building.

IDF troops on the Gaza border fire on residential areas of Bayt Lahiya, wounding 1 Palestinian; fire on residential areas of al-Qarara in s. Gaza, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Nablus (detaining a PA Military Intelligence officer whose brother is wanted). (HA, NYT, WT 1/7; OCHA 1/10; PCHR 1/11)

In Gaza City, the Daghmash clan kidnaps several Hamas mbrs.; later in the day, Daghmash mbrs. fatally shoot 3 mbrs. of the Diri clan, a pro-Hamas family, and wound 5 others. In the West Bank, suspected Fatah gunmen kidnap Dep. Mayor of Nablus Mahdi Hambali in Nablus, Interior Min. official Ihad Ghidhan from the Interior Min. offices in Ramallah; Ghidhan is shot, wounded, released later in the day. Suspected Fatah mbrs. also shoot, wound Hamas-affiliated al-Najah University lecturer Marwan Qaddumi in his home in Nablus. In Hebron, AMB mbrs. enforce a strike, prevent stores fr. opening to protest Hamas attacks in Gaza. In Gaza City, a Hamas mbr. dies of injuries he sustained on 12/29 when explosives he was handling detonated prematurely.

In Gaza, IDF soldiers in the Erez industrial zone fire on Palestinians collecting scrap metal nr. the site, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids nr. Jenin, Qalqilya and in Aida r.c., Balata r.c., Nablus (detaining a PA General Intelligence officer). (NYT, WP, WT 1/8; OCHA, WT 1/10; PCHR 1/11)

AFP photographer Razuri is released unharmed in Gaza City. Fatah gunmen release a video of Nablus dep. mayor Hambali, kidnapped on 1/6, threatening to expand attacks on Hamas if the ESF is not disbanded.

For the 2d day, IDF troops stationed in the Erez industrial zone fire at Palestinians collecting scrap metal nr. the border fence, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Abu Dis, Azariyya, Nablus, and Qabatya, in and around Hebron, and nr. Jenin, Tulkarm. Israel’s Local Committee at the Jerusalem Municipality submits plans to build 1,000 housing units in the East Jerusalem settlement of Har Homa. Plans reportedly are also being drafted to expand the Jewish settlements of Ramat Rachel, Mei Naftuah, New Arnona, Gilo, and Givat Hamatos. (MM, YA 1/8; MM 1/9; OCHA 1/10; PCHR 1/11; OCHA 1/17)

Palestinians fire a rocket fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. In Ramallah, unidentified assailants attempt to kidnap the acting mayor of al-Bireh; unknown gunmen fire on the offices of fmr. PA Finance M Salam Fayyad, causing no injuries; suspected Fatah mbrs. fire on shops and offices run by Hamas mbrs., set fire to 1. In Gaza, 10,000s of Fatah supporters hold the largest Fatah rally since 1994 marking the 42d anniversary of the movement; speeches by Fatah leaders focus on rallying support for Fatah and against Hamas.

For a 3d day, IDF troops at the Erez crossing fire at Palestinians collecting scrap metal nr. the border fence, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the 1st such incident since the Gaza ceasefire went into effect on 11/26, an Islamic Jihad mbr. receives a phone call fr. the IDF warning him to evacuate his home pending an air strike; family and neighbors surround the home and no strike is carried out. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Bethlehem, in Silat al-Harithiyya, nr. Nablus. Inside Israel, Israeli forces demolish 21 bedouin homes in Twayyil in the Negev. (Negev Coexistence Forum press release 1/9; OCHA, WP, WT 1/10; PCHR 1/11)

An ESF mbr. is injured in an exchange of fire btwn. ESF, Fatah mbrs. in Bayt Lahiya. ESF, Force 17 mbrs. clash nr. Abbas’s office in Gaza City, leaving a Force 17 mbr. wounded. After nearly 6 mos. of silence, the PRC faction holding captured IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit say that he is in “good health” and is being treated according to “Islamic standards.”

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Jericho and neighboring ‘Aqabat Jabir r.c., Qalqilya, Tamun and nr. Hebron. The Israeli navy fire 7 shells at Palestinian fishing boats nr. Rafah, forcing the boats back to shore, causing no injuries; later in the day arrests 6 Palestinian fishermen off the Rafah coast, confiscating 2 boats. Inside Israel, the Israel Lands Authority issues demolition orders for a Palestinian playground in the unrecognized village of Dahamesh nr. Ramla, stating it was built illegally on state land and “represents an incursion into farmland beyond the boundaries of the unrecognized settlement”; children in Dahamesh had no safe place to play before the playground was built with EU donor funds. (HA 1/10; PCHR 1/11; OCHA 1/17; PCHR 1/18)

In Gaza City, DFLP, PFLP, Islamic Jihad mbrs. hold a sit-in to protest ongoing Fatah-Hamas violence. Meanwhile, ESF, Fatah mbrs. exchange fire in Bayt Lahiya, wounding 1 ESF mbr. A Force 17 mbr. injured in clashes with Fatah in Gaza City on 1/9 dies. In the West Bank, suspected Fatah mbrs. vandalize, set fire to offices of the Jinata municipality (controlled by Hamas) nr. Bethlehem.

IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on Palestinian shepherds who stray close to the border fence e. of al-Maghazi r.c., causing no injuries. The Israeli navy fires on Palestinian fishing boats of the Gaza coast nr. Shatti’ r.c., wounding 1 fisherman, damaging 1 boat. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Jenin in 2 vehicles with Palestinian license plates to arrest 2 wanted Palestinians; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. Under IDF escort, Jewish settlers fr. Suissa continue to bulldoze large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Yatta for construction of a settler bypass road (50 d. are razed by 1/14, with another 100 d. expected to be leveled). (OCHA 1/17; PCHR 1/18)

In Battir nr. Bethlehem, Fatah, PFLP mbrs. exchange fire, leaving 4 Palestinians wounded.

Egyptian troops demolish a smugglers’ tunnel on the Rafah border. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Tamun; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Bayt Kahil. (OCHA 1/17; PCHR 1/18)

PA security forces, ESF mbrs. exchange fire in Jabaliya r.c., wounding 1 Palestinian. Later, PA security forces, ESF mbrs. in Jabaliya clash again after the PA forces discover a tunnel under their base; no on is injured.

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers in Hebron beat a 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy. (NYT 1/14; OCHA 1/17; PCHR 1/18)

U.S. Secy. of State Condoleezza Rice begins a 3-day tour of Israel, Ramallah, Egypt, Jordan to explore with Olmert, Abbas, Pres. Husni Mubarak of Egypt, King Abdallah of Jordan the possibilities of reviving road map implementation and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. (IFM, NYT, State Dept. press release, WP, WT 1/14; IFM, MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/15 MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/16; MM 1/18)

The Fatah-aligned PA Government Employees Union (GEU; comprising some 80,000 members, about half of public workers, including 25,000 healthcare workers and 37,000 teachers) ends a strike that began on 9/2 to protest the Hamas-led PA’s failure to pay salarie; the workers are to receive 1-mo.’s salary immediately, with the remaining back salaries paid in installments over the next 6 mos. In Jabaliya r.c., unidentified gunmen shoot, wound 2 PRC mbrs.

IDF troops on the Gaza border fire several tank shells killing 2 PRC mbrs. planting a roadside bomb nr. the border fence n. of Bayt Hanun. IDF troops on the s. Gaza border fire on Palestinian shepherds who stray close to the border fence e. of al-Maghazi r.c., causing no injuries. The IDF also send troops, bulldozers into Abasan to level land nr. the border with Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem and in and around Jenin town and r.c., Nablus. (NYT 1/15; OCHA 1/17; PCHR 1/18)

In Gaza, the IDF sends bulldozers into al-Qarara to level land along the border with Israel. In the West Bank, the IDF imposes a curfew on Hawara nr. Nablus, bulldozes 8 d. of Palestinian land nr. the Hawara checkpoint; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Hebron and in Aida r.c., ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’, Nablus, Tulkarm. The Israeli Housing Min. announces bids for construction of 44 new Jewish settlement units in Ma’ale Adumim nr. Jerusalem. Jewish settlers damage a Palestinian water pipeline in Duma nr. Nablus. (MA, MM 1/15; NYT, WP, WT 1/16; OCHA 1/17; PCHR 1/18)

Palestinians fire 2 rockets fr. Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Islamic Jihad mbrs. detonate a roadside bomb nr. and IDF vehicle patrolling the border fence e. of Khan Yunis, drawing IDF fire; no injuries are reported on either side.

The IDF fires on stone-throwing Palestinians in Anata nr. Jerusalem, seriously injuring a 10-yr.-old Palestinian girl on a school playground nearby; demolishes a Palestinian home in Silwan in Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in al-‘Arub, Jenin town and r.c., Tulkarm town and r.c., Yatta. (OCHA 1/17; PCHR 1/18; AP 1/19; NYT 1/20)

Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound an AMB mbr. in Rafah.

The IDF sends bulldozers, a helicopter into Nablus searching for wanted Palestinians, surrounds and partially bulldozes a home before realizing it is vacant, calls in reinforcements who clash with Palestinian gunmen and fire on stone-throwing youths, killing 1 armed Palestinian, a 15-yr.-old Palestinian boy, wounding 5 Palestinians; fires on Palestinians demonstrating against the separation wall in Anata, seriously injuring a 10-yr.-old Palestinian girl; demolishes a Palestinian home in al-Tur in East Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Qalqilya, and in Azariyya, Jenin town and r.c. A Palestinian is injured when he accidentally detonated unexploded IDF ordnance nr. Jabaliya r.c. In Ramallah, unidentified masked men set fire to 2 mobile TV units belonging to Saudi TV channels. (OCHA 1/24; PCHR 1/25)

The IDF sends troops into Tulkarm, fires percussion grenades, rubber bullets outside several schools preventing some children fr. reaching morning classes; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Hebron; forces a severely ill Palestinian cancer patient to cross the Hawara checkpoint by foot, causing him to collapse and die. A 10-yr.-old Palestinian girl dies of injuries sustained fr. IDF gunfire in Anata on 1/17. (AP 1/19; NYT 1/20; NYT, OCHA 1/24; PCHR 1/25)

In Gaza, IDF troops at Erez crossing fire on Palestinians collecting scrap metal nr. the border, wounding 1; troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun fire 2 tank shells at Palestinian farmers who stray nr. the border fence, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ (blowing up the home of a wanted Palestinian), Bayt Sahur, Nablus. Jewish settlers fr. Ramat Yishai throw stones a Palestinian family in nearby Tal Rumayda. (OCHA 1/24; PCHR 1/25; AIC 2/13)

For a 2d day, IDF troops at the Erez crossing fire into Gaza at Palestinians collecting scrap metal nr. the border, wounding 2 Palestinian teenagers. IDF troops on the Gaza Border nr. Bayt Lahiya shoot, wound a Palestinian who strays too nr. the border fence. Egyptian forces demolish a smugglers’ tunnel on the Rafah border. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem. Jewish settlers beat a Palestinian nr. Qalqilya. (OCHA 1/24; PCHR 1/25)

The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Azariyya, Yatta. (OCHA 1/24; PCHR 1/25)

In Bayt Lahiya, ESF, Fatah mbrs. exchange fire, causing no injuries.

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border fire on a group of Palestinians collecting scrap metal in the fmr. Aley Sinai settlement, wounding 1. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes 5 Palestinian homes in al-Jiftlik nr. Jericho, 2 homes and an 8-unit apartment building nr. Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya (firing on stone-throwing Palestinian youths), Tulkarm. Jewish settlers under the protection of the IDF enter Joseph’s Tomb (transferred to PA control under he Oslo accords) nr. Nablus. A Palestinian militant dies of injuries received in an exchange with the IDF nr. Khan Yunis in 2006. (OCHA 1/24; PCHR 1/25; AIC 2/13)

Days after al-Arabiyya TV received threats fr. a caller denounced the station’s portrayal of Haniyeh in a recent broadcast, unidentified assailants detonate a device outside the station’s Gaza City office, causing no injuries; Hamas, the AMB denounce the attack.

The Israeli navy fires on a Palestinian fishing boat off the Rafah coast, arrests 3 fishermen. IDF troops on the central Gaza border fire on 3 unarmed Palestinians attempting to sneak into Israel to find work, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding and arresting 2; sends bulldozers, tanks 150 m into Gaza e. of Dayr al-Balah to level, excavate land. In the West Bank, the IDF demolishes a Palestinian barn killing animals inside, an irrigation system, and heavily damages 3 greenhouses nr. Nablus; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Azun, Bayt Fajjar. Jewish settlers fr. Ma’ale Adumim severely beat a 16-yr.-old Palestinian. (OCHA, WT 1/24; PCHR 1/25)

Some 40 masked Palestinian gunmen raid a vacant beach resort at a fmr. Israeli settlement site in Gaza owned by Fatah strongman Dahlan, overpowering the few Palestinian security guards watching the site, blowing up a reception hall, stating, without being specific, that they are sending Dahlan a message; no one is injured. ESF, Fatah mbrs. exchange fire outside the Bayt Hanun hospital, causing no injuries. In Gaza City, gunfire erupts btwn. guards outside the Palestinian Electricity Company offices and some 50 Palestinians demonstrating against recent power outages, leaving 1 Palestinian wounded. In Nablus, AMB mbrs. temporarily detain a French diplomat and his 2 body guards, set fire to their car initially suspecting them of being an IDF undercover unit.

The IDF makes an air strike on a rocket launching site nr. Bayt Lahiya, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in Hebron, sets up flying checkpoints, searches Palestinian cars and checks IDs; fires on stone-throwing Palestinian youths outside Nablus, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Aida r.c., Halhul nr. Hebron, Yabad nr. Jenin. Jewish settlers escorted by IDF troops vandalize Palestinian property, cars, a cemetery in Awarta nr. Nablus.

ESF, Fatah mbrs. exchange fire in Bayt Hanun, leaving 2 Fatah mbrs., 2 bystanders wounded. Suspected Hamas gunmen fire on a PA security post e. of Gaza City, wounding 3 PA security officers.

PFLP mbrs. hold a sit-in outside al-Maghazi r.c. to protest ongoing Palestinian violence. A Palestinian accused of drug dealing dies in ESF custody in Rafah. (PCHR 1/25; OCHA 1/31; PCHR 2/1; AIC 2/13) 25 JANUARY

In the West Bank, the IDF fatally shoots a 17-yr.-old Palestinian during an arrest raid in Tulkarm r.c.; sends an undercover unit into Tulkarm town in a van with Palestinian license plates, fatally shoots a wanted Palestinian who attempts to escape; patrols in Qalandia r.c., firing on stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, wounding 1; conducts arrest raids, house searches in ‘Ayn Bayt al-Ma’ and nr. Hebron, Nablus. (MM 1/26; NYT 1/26, 1/27; WT 1/28; OCHA 1/31; PCHR 2/1)

In Gaza, Islamic Jihad mbrs. fire on an IDF observation post on the border e. of Khan Yunis, sparking an exchange of fire that causes no injuries. Egyptian forces blow up 2 smugglers’ tunnels on the Rafah border. PA security forces discover, detonate a sophisticated roadside bomb nr. the border fence e. of al-Maghazi r.c.

In Gaza, 1 AMB mbr. is shot execution style in n. Gaza by Hamas gunmen who blame the AMB for the death of one of their mbrs.; later 2 ESF mbrs. are killed by a roadside bomb in the same area; shots are fired at FM Zahhar’s home, causing no injuries. Fatah mbrs. kidnap 9 Hamas mbrs. in Gaza; Hamas retaliates by kidnapping 5 Fatah mbrs. In Ramallah, AMB mbrs. angry at Abbas’s Presidential Guard for expelling them fr. the Muqata‘a fire on the diplomatic missions of Canada, China, Germany, causing no injuries.

The IDF injures a 13-yr.-old Palestinian boy in a hit-and-run incident nr. Tubas; conducts arrest raids, house searches in Abu Dis, nr. Hebron. Jewish settlers fr. several settlements nr. Bethlehem close off a main road southeast of Bethlehem to Palestinian traffic to protest the IDF’s ban on their using the road. (NYT, WP, WT 1/27; NYT, WT 1/28; OCHA 1/31; PCHR 2/1; AIC 2/13)

In Jabaliya r.c, Hamas gunmen surround the home of local Fatah leader Mansur Shalail, attempting to detain him in connection with the killing of 2 Hamas supporters; after several hrs.10s of Hamas mbrs. storm the house exchange fire with Shalail and a supporter, leaving 2 Hamas mbrs. dead and withdrawing without detaining or harming Shalail. Meanwhile, Fatah mbrs. storm the al-Hidaya mosque in Gaza City, open fire on worshipers, killing 5 Palestinians, and taking 10 Hamas mbrs. hostage, threaten to kill them if Shalail is harmed; the 10 are not released after Shalail is left unharmed. The incident sparks heavily clashes (including mortar and RPG fire) btwn. Hamas, Fatah mbrs. in Gaza City, including a Hamas attacks on the PSF headquarters, gun battles outside the residences of Abbas, Zahhar, PA internal security head Rashid Abu Shibak of Fatah. Clashes are also reported in and around Jabaliya, in Khan Yunis. In total, 14 Palestinians are killed (including a 2-yr.-old boy killed during an exchange of gunfire btwn. Hamas, Fatah mbrs. in Khan Yunis), 45 wounded in intra-Palestinian fighting during the day. Fatah, Hamas say that national unity talks will be suspended until fighting ceases, each blaming the other for staring the violence. Hamas claims that talks were close to an agmt. when “putschists inside Fatah rushed to blow up the situation to serve their own interests and a foreign agenda.”

The IDF sends an undercover unit into Rummana nr. Jenin, raiding a home and fatally shooting a wanted Islamic Jihad mbr. in an apparent assassination; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Ramallah. (NYT, WP, WT 1/28; OCHA 1/31; PCHR 2/1)

In Gaza, most of the Strip shuts down and streets empty as heavy Hamas-Fatah fighting continues in Gaza City for a 3d day, leaving at least another 6 Palestinians dead (including 2 PSF mbrs., 2 Hamas mbrs., a 12-yr.-old boy), at least 23 wounded. A Hamas mbr. dies of injuries received in clashes with the PSF in Gaza City on 1/26. Hamas, Fatah officials negotiate the release of 7 Hamas mbrs., 4 Fatah mbrs. kidnapped in recent days in Khan Yunis; around 12 Fatah and Hamas mbrs. remain in captivity.

IDF troops on the n. Gaza border nr. Bayt Hanun shoot, wound 2 Palestinians who stray nr. the border fence while trapping birds. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in Qalqilya, nr. Jenin; begins construction of a new fence around Karmi’el, Ma’on settlements nr. Hebron that will confiscate around 1,000 d. of Palestinian land to create territorial unity btwn. the 2 settlements. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/29; OCHA 1/31; PCHR 2/1; AIC 2/13)

In response to the Elat attack, the IDF makes an air strike on a smuggler’s tunnel on the Rafah border, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, nr. Ramallah. (AP, HA, IFM, MM, NYT, REU 1/29; MM, NYT, WP, WT 1/30; MM, OCHA 1/31; PCHR 2/1)

A Palestinian suicide bomber fr. n. Gaza hikes through the Egyptian desert into Israel, hitches a ride to Elat with an Israeli motorist, detonates a device at a bakery there, killing 2 Israelis, 1 foreign worker fr. South Africa, wounding 1; the AMB, Islamic Jihad jointly claim responsibility for the attack, which is the 1st inside Israel since 4/17/06. Islamic Jihad says the bombing sends “a clear message” to Fatah and Hamas to end infighting and unite against Israel.

In Gaza, at least 5 Palestinians (2 ESF mbrs., 1 PA police officer, 2 bystanders) are killed in Fatah-Hamas fighting in Gaza, with clashes reported in Bayt Lahiya, Gaza City, Jabaliya, Khan Yunis. In the most serious incident, ESF mbrs. raid, demolish a Force 17 base s. of Khan Yunis, kidnapping and later releasing 6 Force 17 mbrs.

The IDF makes an air strike destroying a vacant Palestinian home nr. Gaza’s Qarni crossing that allegedly hid a tunnel, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units into Jenin to ambush and capture a wanted Palestinian, shooting and wounding him, 2 bystanders; demolishes 2 Palestinian homes in Azariyya, 2 in Bayt Hanina (also outside Jerusalem), 1 in East Jerusalem; conducts arrest raids, house searches nr. Jenin. (MM, NYT, REU 1/30; MM, NYT, OCHA, WP, WT 1/31; PCHR 2/1; AIC 2/13)

After overnight talks in Gaza City, Fatah, Hamas announce a renewed cease-fire that general holds throughout the day, though mbrs. of the factions trade fire in Gaza City and 1 Hamas mbr. is fatally shot by a Force 17 mbr. in Khan Yunis (in fallout fr. violence there on 1/29). A Fatah mbr. wounded in intra-Palestinian clashes in Khan Yunis in recent days dies.

IDF troops on the Gaza border east of Bureij r.c. fire on, arrest 3 unarmed Palestinian teenagers who stray nr. the border fence. IDF troops stationed in the Erez industrial zone fire on armed Palestinians who approach their post, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, the IDF sends an undercover unit into Nablus in a car with Palestinian license plates to arrest a wanted Palestinian, wounding 1 bystander, then firing on stone-throwing Palestinians who confront the troops, wounding a 14-yr.-old Palestinian boy; demolishes a Palestinian home in the old city of Nablus; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (blowing up the 2d story of a Palestinian home), in al-‘Arub r.c., and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm. (PCHR 2/1; OCHA 2/7; PCHR 2/8)

Palestinians detonate a roadside bomb nr. an IDF unit patrolling the Gaza border fence nr. Khan Yunis, causing no damage or injures; the IDF unit retaliates with heavy machine gun fire into Gaza, causing no damage or injuries.

Fatah mbrs. fire on Hamas mbrs. in Bayt Lahiya, wounding 1. Unidentified gunmen shoot, wound a Force 17 officer in Gaza City. Suspected Fatah mbrs. set fire to the car of a Hamas mbr. in Khan Yunis.