• Serious terrorist attacks continue in Judea and Samaria. At the center of events this past week was the IED attack on a father and his two children visiting a natural spring near the community of Dolev, northwest of Jerusalem. The 17-year-old daughter was killed and the father and son were critically injured. In ITIC assessment, it was carried out by one of the organizations and not a by an individual terrorist. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad welcomed and praised the attack; the Palestinian Authority had no comment.
  • In the Gaza Strip violence continues, threatening to lead to escalation rather than a lull. This past week five rockets and four mortar shells were fired into Israeli territory. Three of the rockets were fired during a festival in the southern city of Sderot attended by 4,000 people. No organization claimed responsibility, as after recent attacks. In response the IDF attacked terrorist targets in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories announced that following the rocket fire Israel would reduce by 50% the amount of fuel it delivers to the Gaza Strip power plant.
  • About 9,200 Palestinians participated in the weekly return march in the Gaza Strip, more than in recent weeks. Despite efforts made by Hamas’ restraint force to limit the friction between rioters and IDF soldiers, there was an increase in violence on the ground compared to previous weeks. Hand grenades and Molotov cocktails were thrown, IEDs were placed, incendiary balloons were launched and attempts were made to sabotage the border fence and in some instances to cross it.
  • This past week the Palestinian Authority (PA) agreed to accept refunds from Israel from the tax on oil. The amount involved is about two billion shekels (about $570 million), which will ease the PA’s economic crisis. The head of the Qatari committee for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip arrived in the Gaza Strip bringing another installment of funds to be distributed to 100,000 needy families, $100 to each.

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