The Battle of Jenin (Arabic: مجزرة جنين Jenin Massacre) ; (Hebrew: הקרב בג'נין 2002‎ Battle in Jenin 2002) took place between the 3rd and 11th of April 2002 in Jenin's Palestinian refugee camp as part of Operation Defensive Shield during the Second Intifada. For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Fatah (Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades & Tanzim) Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian security forces Commanders Aluf Itzhak Eitan (Central commander) Strength Golani Brigade, Nahal Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade, 408th Reserve Infantry Brigade, Jerusalem Brigade(reserve), Shayetet 13, Armor and Engineering forces. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Caterpillar D9 is a large track-type tractor designed and manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. ... An armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozer used by the IDF. Armored bulldozers are a standard tool of combat engineering battalions, and the Israeli Defence Forces has gained notoriety for their use of armored bulldozers for urban warfare in the Al-Aqsa Intifada. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... It has been suggested that Anem be merged into this article or section. ... Casus belli is a modern Latin language expression meaning the justification for acts of war. ... The Netanya suicide attack (also known as the Netanya bombing and the Passover massacre) was a Palestinian suicide bombing in Park Hotel at Netanya on March 27, 2002. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Emblem of the IDF The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... The Fatah official emblem shows two fists holding rifles and a hand grenade superimposed on a map of the land they claimed as Palestine (roughly, the present State of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip). ... Fatah (Arabic: ); a reverse acronym from the Arabic name Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini (literally: Palestinian National Liberation Movement) is a major secular Palestinian political party and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a generally secular multi-party confederation. ... The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (كتائب شهداء الأقصى) are a Palestinian armed terrorist group closely linked to the Fatah party. ... Tanzim (Organization in Arabic) is a faction of the Palestinian al-Fatah movement. ... Image File history File links Hamas_flag2. ... Hamas (Arabic: ; acronym: Arabic: , or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement,[1]) is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization. ... The emblem of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows a map of the land they claim as Palestine (roughly, present-day Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) superimposed on the images of the Dome of the Rock, two fists and two rifles. ... Mahmoud Tawallbe was the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Jenin, one of the main stronghold of the Iranian-sponsored terrorist organization. ... Emblem of the IDF The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ... The October 2000 events is a term used to describe several days of protests in northern Israel that soon escalated into clashes between Arab citizens of Israel and Israel Police. ... List of massacres committed during the al-Aqsa Intifada This is all wrong info ... Operation Noah’s Ark (Hebrew: מבצע תיבת נוח) was the Israeli military action in which they seized the Karine A, a Palestinian Authority freighter in the Red Sea. ... Most Qassam rockets hit Sderot in Israel This is a list of Qassam rocket attacks where someone has been killed, five or more people have been injured in one attack, or the circumstances of the rocket attack itself were exceptional. ... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Fatah (Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades & Tanzim) Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian security forces Commanders Aluf Itzhak Eitan (Central commander) Strength Golani Brigade, Nahal Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade, 408th Reserve Infantry Brigade, Jerusalem Brigade(reserve), Shayetet 13, Armor and Engineering forces. ... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Fatah and Tanzim Strength Unknown 200 Casualties N/A 9 The Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem occurred during the April/May 2002 Israeli “Operation Defensive Shield” in the West Bank. ... The 2004 Israel-Gaza conflict refers to the series of battles between Palestinian militants and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). ... Operation Rainbow (In Hebrew, מבצע קשת בענן) is a controversial military operation which began on May 18, 2004 in the Gaza Strip. ... Combatants Israel Defense Forces Hamas Casualties 5 killed (3 Of them civilians) 104 - 133 killed (42 of them civilians) Operation Days of Penitence (In Hebrew, מבצע ימי תשובה) was the name used by Israel to describe an Israel Defense Forces operation in the northern Gaza Strip, conducted between September 30, 2004 and October... Combatants  Israel Defense Forces (Israeli Security Forces) Hamas Fatah (al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades), Popular Resistance Committees Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian Army of Islam Commanders Dan Halutz (Chief of Staff) Yoav Galant (Regional) Khaled Mashal (Leader of Hamas[1])Mohammed Deif (Leader of Hamas military wing) Strength 3,000 unknown possibly... Combatants Israel Defense Forces (Israeli Security Forces) Hamas Popular Resistance Committees, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Jaish al-Islam Commanders Dan Halutz (Chief of Staff) Yoav Galant (Regional) Khaled Mashal (Leader of Hamas[1])Mohammed Deif (Leader of Hamas military wing) Casualties 1 killed[1] 48 killed (mostly civilians) 200 wounded... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Hamas Popular Resistance Committees Palestinian Islamic Jihad Commanders Gabi Ashkenazi Khaled Meshaal Mohammed Deif Casualties 2 killed, 110 wounded 168 killed 373+ injured Palestinian civilians: 22 killed Israeli civilians: 5 killed 70 civilians wounded 110+ treated for shock Casualties source: Reuters The 2007 Israel-Gaza... Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... “Hebrew” redirects here. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... It has been suggested that Anem be merged into this article or section. ... The Palestinian flag, adopted in 1948, is a widely recognized modern symbol of the Palestinian people. ... bjhgfshudgfgbfsfas Refugee camp for Rwandans located in what is now the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following the Rwandan Genocide A camp in Guinea for refugees from Sierra Leone. ... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Fatah (Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades & Tanzim) Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian security forces Commanders Aluf Itzhak Eitan (Central commander) Strength Golani Brigade, Nahal Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade, 408th Reserve Infantry Brigade, Jerusalem Brigade(reserve), Shayetet 13, Armor and Engineering forces. ... For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ...

A series of suicide bombing attacks by Palestinian militants on Israeli civilians, prompted Israel to deploy the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) to conduct what it considered a large-scale counter-terrorist offensive, called 'Operation Defensive Shield'.^[2] List of attacks on civilians committed during the al-Aqsa Intifada List of Hamas suicide attacks List of Palestinian Islamic Jihad suicide attacks List of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades suicide attacks Major Palestinian Terror Attacks Since Oslo at Jewish Virtual Library Categories: | | | | ... Palestinian political violence refers to acts of violence committed for political reasons by Palestinians or Palestinian militant groups. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces... Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, and strategies that governments, militaries, and other groups adopt in order to fight terrorism. ...

As part of the operation, Israel targeted Jenin's refugee camp, referred to as "the martyrs' capital" by Palestinians^[3][4][1] after it charged that the city had "served as a launch site for numerous terrorist attacks against both Israeli civilians and Israeli towns and villages in the area",^[5] including the dispatch of 28 suicide bombers since the start of the Second Intifada.^[4] Shaheed (Arabic: شهيد šahīd, plural: شهداء šuhadā’) is a religious term in Islam, that literally means witness. It is a title that is given to a Muslim after his death, if he died during the fulfillment of a religious commandment, or during a war for the religion. ...

The Israeli force consisted of infantry and armored vehicles, supported by attack helicopters. Towards the end of operations armored bulldozers were used heavily ^[6][7][8] which caused extensive damage and contributed to the destruction of around 10% of the camp area.^{[6] [9][10]} Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, bicycles, or other means. ... An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, protected by armour and armed with weapons. ... A Russian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter. ... An armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozer used by the IDF. Armored bulldozers are a standard tool of combat engineering battalions, and the Israeli Defence Forces has gained notoriety for their use of armored bulldozers for urban warfare in the Al-Aqsa Intifada. ...

Palestinian sources described the Israeli actions as indiscriminate and alleged that a massacre took place. International media initially reported the fighting as the Jenin Massacre but subsequent investigations found no evidence of one, although major human rights organizations maintained that there was strong prima facie evidence of IDF war crimes. The Palestinian death toll was estimated at 52 (including 22 civilians), while 23 Israeli soldiers were killed.^[11] Combatants  Israel IDF Fatah (Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Tanzim) Hamas Islamic Jihad Commanders Yedidia Yehuda [1] Mahmoud Tawallbe† Strength 1,000 200-250 Casualties 23 soldiers killed 52 killed (38 armed men, 14 civilians according to IDF; 30 militants, 22 civilians according to HRW) 685 persons arrested (mostly released) The... Photographs of the My Lai massacre provoked world outrage and made it an international scandal. ... Look up prima facie in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In the context of war, a war crime is a punishable offense under International Law, for violations of the laws of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ...

Background

For wider scope background regarding Arab-Israeli Conflict Second Intifada events from March until the first week in May 2002, see: Operation Defensive Shield.

Combatants Arab nations Israel Arab-Israeli conflict series History of the Arab-Israeli conflict Views of the Arab-Israeli conflict International law and the Arab-Israeli conflict Arab-Israeli conflict facts, figures, and statistics Participants Israeli-Palestinian conflict · Israel-Lebanon conflict · Arab League · Soviet Union / Russia · Israel and the United... For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Fatah (Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades & Tanzim) Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian security forces Commanders Aluf Itzhak Eitan (Central commander) Strength Golani Brigade, Nahal Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade, 408th Reserve Infantry Brigade, Jerusalem Brigade(reserve), Shayetet 13, Armor and Engineering forces. ...

The refugee camp of Jenin

Aerial image of the city of Jenin (Jenin refugee camp marked in a square), prior to Operation Defensive Shield and the Battle of Jenin.

The camp of Jenin, adjoining the south-west outskirts of the Jenin city, is the second largest UNRWA refugee camp in the West Bank. It existed since 1953 and housed 13,055 in an area of 548 squared meters, forming a neighborhood of densely packed buildings alongside Jenin-proper and not far from the Green Line. It had come under Palestinian civil and security control with the rest of the city as part of the Oslo Accords in 1995, which dictated a prevention of attacks on Israelis. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Fatah (Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades & Tanzim) Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian security forces Commanders Aluf Itzhak Eitan (Central commander) Strength Golani Brigade, Nahal Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade, 408th Reserve Infantry Brigade, Jerusalem Brigade(reserve), Shayetet 13, Armor and Engineering forces. ... The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is a controversial relief and human development agency, providing education, healthcare, social services and emergency aid to over four million Palestinian refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. ... Israels 1949 Green Line (dark green) and demilitarized zones (light green). ... Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993. ...

Increase in militancy and terrorism

From the beginning of March until the first week in May 2002, there were approximately 16 bombings in Israel, mostly suicide attacks, in which more than 100 Israelis were killed and scores wounded. During the same period the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) led two waves of incursions into Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank. The first wave, from 27 February^[12] through 14 March, had caused significant loss of life.^[13] The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces... is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 73rd day of the year (74th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

After 18 Israelis were killed in two separate Palestinian attacks on March 8 and March 9, and a terrorist attack in Netanya killed 30 and injured 140 on March 27,^[13] Israeli PM Ariel Sharon said No sovereign nation would tolerate such a sequence of events. while DM Ben-Eliezer stated a massacre of this nature is something that no nation can live with.^[2] and within 24 hours Israel called up 30,000 reserve soldiers and launched Operation Defensive Shield in Ramallah and Bethlehem, entering Tulkarm and Qalqilyah a day later.^[1] is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Netanya suicide attack (also known as the Netanya bombing and the Passover massacre) was a Palestinian suicide bombing in Park Hotel at Netanya on March 27, 2002. ... is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...   (Hebrew: , also known by his diminutive Arik אָרִיק) (born February 27, 1928) is a former Israeli politician and general. ... Emblem of the IDF The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Fatah (Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades & Tanzim) Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian security forces Commanders Aluf Itzhak Eitan (Central commander) Strength Golani Brigade, Nahal Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade, 408th Reserve Infantry Brigade, Jerusalem Brigade(reserve), Shayetet 13, Armor and Engineering forces. ... Ramallah (Arabic:  ) is a Palestinian city in the West Bank of approximately 57,000 residents. ... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Fatah and Tanzim Strength Unknown 200 Casualties N/A 9 The Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem occurred during the April/May 2002 Israeli “Operation Defensive Shield” in the West Bank. ... Nickname: City of Generosity Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: City of Tulkarm Location Location in Palestine Government Neighbourhoods Al-Salam, Al-Sowana, Dhinnaba, Iktaba, Irtah, Iskan Al-Mozafeen, Izbat Al-Jarad, Izbat Naser, Nur Shams Camp, Shuwaykah, Tulkarm Camp Mayor Mahmoud Al-Jallad Geographical characteristics Area 246 km² Land 246 km... Qalqilyah (Arabic قلقيلية ; Standard Hebrew קלקיליה Qalqilya) is a Palestinian city in the West Bank. ...

According to Israeli and Palestinian observers who gave information to the UN, 200 armed men from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Tanzim, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hamas had been using the camp as a base, known as "the martyrs' capital",^[3][4][1] and of the 100 suicide bombers who had launched attacks since the Second Intifada began in October 2000, 23^[14] or 28^[13][1] attacks had been launched from there. On of the key planners of attacks was Mahmoud Tawalbe, Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander of the camp.^[1] The Al_Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (كتائب شهداء الاقصى) are one of the militias of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafats al_Fatah faction. ... Tanzim (Organization in Arabic) is a faction of the Palestinian al-Fatah movement. ... The emblem of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows a map of the land they claim as Palestine (roughly, present-day Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) superimposed on the images of the Dome of the Rock, two fists and two rifles. ... Hamas (Arabic: ; acronym: Arabic: , or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement,[1]) is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization. ... Shaheed (Arabic: شهيد Å¡ahÄ«d, plural: شهداء Å¡uhadā’) is a religious term in Islam, that literally means witness. It is a title that is given to a Muslim after his death, if he died during the fulfillment of a religious commandment, or during a war for the religion. ... A suicide bombing is an attack using a bomb in which the individual(s) carrying the explosive materials composing the bomb intend(s) and expect(s) to die upon detonation (see suicide). ... For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ... Mahmoud Tawalbe was the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Jenin, one of the main stronghold of the Iranian-sponsored terrorist organization. ... The emblem of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows a map of the land they claim as Palestine (roughly, present-day Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) superimposed on the images of the Dome of the Rock, two fists and two rifles. ...

Limited Israeli forces had entered the camp along a single route twice in the previous month; they had encountered heavy resistance and quickly departed. The command decided to this time send in three thrusts comprised mainly of the reservist 5th Infantry Brigade/Nachshon from the town of Jenin to the north, as well as a company of the Nahal Brigade from the southeast and Battalion 51 of the Golani Brigade from the southwest. The force of 1,000 troops also included elements of the Naval commando and Duvdevan Unit special forces, the Armoured Corps, and Combat Engineers with armored bulldozer for neutralising the roadside bombs that would line the alleys of the camp according to Military Intelligence. Anticipating the heaviest resistance in Nablus, IDF commanders sent two regular infantry brigades there, assuming they could take over the Jenin camp in 48-72 hours with just the one reservist brigade, an assessment which turned out to be overly optimistic. The force's entry was delayed until April 2 due to rain.^[1] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Golani Brigade חטיבת גולני (aka. ... Shayetet 13 ( שייטת 13 ) is the Israeli naval commando elite special forces unit. ... Duvdevan (Hebrew: דובדבן. Literally - cherry) is a Special Forces unit within the Israeli Defense Forces. ... Armor Corps logo Merkava Mk III tank The Israeli Armor Corps is a corps of the Israel Defense Forces, since 1998 subordinate to GOC Army Headquarters. ... The Israeli Combat Engineering Corps (‎ Heil HaHandasa HaKravit) is the combat engineering forces of the Israel Defense Forces. ... An armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozer used by the IDF. Armored bulldozers are a standard tool of combat engineering battalions, and the Israeli Defence Forces has gained notoriety for their use of armored bulldozers for urban warfare in the Al-Aqsa Intifada. ... Munitions rigged for an IED discovered by Iraqi police in Baghdad, November 2005. ... Aman badge The Directorate of Military Intelligence (Hebrew: , Agaf HaModiin - lit. ... Map of the West Bank, with Nablus in the center north. ... is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Since the previous Israeli withdrawal, Palestinian militants had prepared by boobytrapping both the town and camp's streets in a bid to trap the Israeli soldiers,^[15] some of them as large as 113 kilograms (250 pounds). Matt Rees of Time magazine compared this weight to the 25 pounds of a typical suicide bomber's charge. They had also cut tunnels between homes to maintain mobility without exposing themselves to the street.^[1] This article is about an antipersonnel trap designed for use against humans. ... The international prototype, made of platinum-iridium, which is kept at the BIPM under conditions specified by the 1st CGPM in 1889. ... The pound or pound-mass (abbreviations: lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass (sometimes called weight in everyday parlance) in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

The battle

Israeli forces entered on 2 April, and had secured the town of Jenin by the second day. Israeli intelligence estimated that half the population of noncombatants had left before they arrived, and 90% had done so by the third day, leaving around 1,300 people.^[1] The EU's contribution to the UN report said "at least 4,000 remained inside and did not evacuate the camp."^[13]

Palestinian militants had expected an air strike since their security forces' barracks in the Gaza Strip and West Bank had been repeatedly bombed by an Israeli military that didn't want to risk the casualties of Close Quarters Combat.^[1] However in Jenin, the IDF chose not to bomb the spots of resistance using aircraft in order to minimize civilian losses,^[13] even with the risk of increased losses to infantry,^[16] although there was limited use of helicopters.^[13][1] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hand to hand combat. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, bicycles, or other means. ... For other uses, see Helicopter (disambiguation). ...

A leader of Fatah gunmen in the camp told Time that it was only when his forces saw the Israelis advancing on foot that they decided to stay and fight.^[1] Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant Tabaat (or Thabet) Mardawi enthusiastically told CNN from his prison in Israel, that after learning the IDF was going to use troops, and not planes, "It was like hunting ... like being given a prize... The Israelis knew that any soldier who went into the camp like that was going to get killed... I've been waiting for a moment like that for years." Mardawi told CNN that Palestinian fighters had spread "between 1000 and 2000 bombs and booby traps" throughout the camp.^[16] Time (whose trademark is capitalized TIME) is a weekly American newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. ... The emblem of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows a map of the land they claim as Palestine (roughly, present-day Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) superimposed on the images of the Dome of the Rock, two fists and two rifles. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... This article is about an antipersonnel trap designed for use against humans. ...

An IDF Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer driving along a 1.2 km stretch of the main street to clear booby traps set off 124 explosions.^[1] The Caterpillar D9 is a large track-type tractor designed and manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. ... An armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozer used by the IDF. Armored bulldozers are a standard tool of combat engineering battalions, and the Israeli Defence Forces has gained notoriety for their use of armored bulldozers for urban warfare in the Al-Aqsa Intifada. ...

By the third day, despite previous Israeli assessments, the Palestinians were still dug in, and seven Israeli soldiers had been killed. As the IDF advanced, the Palestinians fell back to the heavily defended camp centre - the Hawashin district.^[1] The Israelis began to call in AH-1 Cobra helicopters to hit rooftop positions along with Caterpillar D9 armoured bulldozers to detonate the booby traps and clear a path for tanks.^[1] The Bell AH-1 Cobra is an attack helicopter. ...

On the seventh day, 9 April, 13 Israeli soldiers were killed when Palestinian fighters used civilians to lure an Israeli patrol into a booby-trapped ambush, and then opened fire on those retrieving wounded.^[15] When another soldier was killed on the camp's edge, it became the deadliest day for the IDF since the end of the 1982 Lebanon War.^[1] is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... An ambush is a long established military tactic in which an ambushing force uses concealment to attack an enemy that passes its position. ... Combatants Israel South Lebanon Army LF (nominally neutral) PLO Syria Amal (switched sides) LCP Commanders Menachem Begin (Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon, (Ministry of Defence) Rafael Eitan, (CoS) Yasser Arafat Strength Israel: 76,000 troops 800 tanks 1,500 APCs 634 aircraft Syria: 22,000 troops 352 tanks 300 APCs 450...

Change in Israeli tactics

A Caterpillar D9R armored bulldozer used by the IDF during the battle.

After the April 9 ambush, the IDF changed tactics, presumably in order to continue the operation without risking more Israeli deaths, and increased to a dozen the Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozers in operation. The IDF maintained that the heavy bulldozers were mainly used to clear walls and streets of booby traps, open routes and widen alleyways for armored fighting vehicles, and to secure locations and movement for IDF troops. Time reported that while houses were knocked down by the bulldozers, they could not have buried the amount of people alleged by Palestinians since it takes a half-hour to fully wreck a building, and because Israeli soldiers say they always called any residents to leave in advance. Even if civilians were too frightened to leave initially, they surely would once the D9 started working. A senior Palestinian military officer told Time that the gunmen's own booby traps probably buried some civilians and fighters alive, some of the larger charges capable of more devastation than a D9.^[1] IDF D9R bulldozer (Taken from the Hebrew wikipedia) File links The following pages link to this file: Al-Aqsa Intifada Caterpillar D9 Israeli Engineering Corps ... IDF D9R bulldozer (Taken from the Hebrew wikipedia) File links The following pages link to this file: Al-Aqsa Intifada Caterpillar D9 Israeli Engineering Corps ... The Caterpillar D9 is a large track-type tractor designed and manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. ... An armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozer used by the IDF. Armored bulldozers are a standard tool of combat engineering battalions, and the Israeli Defence Forces has gained notoriety for their use of armored bulldozers for urban warfare in the Al-Aqsa Intifada. ... Emblem of the IDF The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Caterpillar D9 is a large track-type tractor designed and manufactured by Caterpillar Inc. ... An armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozer used by the IDF. Armored bulldozers are a standard tool of combat engineering battalions, and the Israeli Defence Forces has gained notoriety for their use of armored bulldozers for urban warfare in the Al-Aqsa Intifada. ... This article is about an antipersonnel trap designed for use against humans. ... An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is a military vehicle, equipped with protection against hostile attacks and often mounted weapons. ... Time (whose trademark is capitalized TIME) is a weekly American newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. ...

A day later, Mahmoud Tawallbe and two other militants went into a house so as to get close enough to a tank or armoured D-9 bulldozer to plant a bomb. According to a British military expert working in the camp for Amnesty International, a D9 driver probably saw him and rammed a wall down onto him. Tawallbe's name subsequently became familiar in the Arab world.^[1] Mahmoud Tawallbe was the head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Jenin, one of the main stronghold of the Iranian-sponsored terrorist organization. ... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ...

The D9s led Israeli forces deeper into the camp until on the ninth day, a D9 sliced the wall off a house in the heavily defended Hawashin district, and 39 dazed gunmen surrendered with their hands in the air. Among the militants were Palestinian Islamic Jihad members Tabaat Mardawi and Ali Suleiman al-Saadi, known as Safouri, Israeli targets responsible for a number of attacks and whose incarceration meant the combat would soon end.^[1] The emblem of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows a map of the land they claim as Palestine (roughly, present-day Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) superimposed on the images of the Dome of the Rock, two fists and two rifles. ...

According to Time, "It was real urban warfare, as a modern, well-equipped army met an armed and prepared group of guerrilla fighters intimately familiar with the local terrain. For both sides, Jenin has been added to the memories that invest the conflict in the Middle East with such bitterness." A total of 23 Israeli soldiers were killed in the street fighting.^[1]

Aftermath

Aerial photograph of the area demolished in the Jenin camp's central Hawashin district.

The introduction of the heavily armored bulldozers, which shrugged off explosives and RPGs alike, ^[17] and the threat of being buried alive, caused the Palestinian militants to surrender. Later, IDF forces withdrew gradually from the refugee camp under international pressure. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... An armored Caterpillar D9 bulldozer used by the IDF. Armored bulldozers are a standard tool of combat engineering battalions, and the Israeli Defence Forces has gained notoriety for their use of armored bulldozers for urban warfare in the Al-Aqsa Intifada. ... An RPG-7 captured by the US Army RPG, or Rocket propelled grenade is a loose term describing hand-held, shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons capable of firing an unguided rocket equipped with an explosive warhead. ...

After the conflict Israeli reports claim that 8-9% of the houses within the refugee camp were destroyed. This was largely within an area of intense fighting of approximately 100 m by 100 m according to the IDF. ^[18]. An area within the refugee camp, 100 m by 200 m according to some (up to 400 m by 500 m by other estimates)^[19][20] was reported to have been flattened. ^[21] Reports added that six (globalsecurity.org) or ten (BBC) percent of the camp were destroyed in the fighting.^{[22] [4]}

Most of the demolition occurred in the Hawashin neighborhood, where most of the militants and explosives remained. Israel states that it demolished those houses because they were densely rigged with explosives.^[15]

In October 2002, according to the Walla news agency, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas websites reported that their forces in Jenin before the Israeli entry included 250 armed militants. The official Kol Yisrael radio station reported that 15,000 explosive charges were at the militants' disposal, as well as a large number of handguns. The militants were well organized and had an extensive system of communications. Kol Yisrael (The Voice of Israel) is the name of Israels public domestic and international radio service. ...

Al-Ahram Online interviewed with "Omar the Engineer", a Palestinian bombmaker who claimed that some 50 homes were booby trapped. "We chose old and empty buildings and the houses of men who were wanted by Israel because we knew the soldiers would search for them," he said.^[15]

According to Lt. Colonel Adir Haruvi of the IDF, numerous buildings, passages and even bodies were booby-trapped, often prompting Israelis to use armored bulldozers to level numerous buildings.^[23] The Israelis also claimed to have found more than a dozen explosive-making labs. ^{[citation needed]}

Body count estimates

Palestinian initial estimates were of hundreds of casualties while Israeli officials gave estimates as high as 150 deaths. In examples cited in the time line below, figures include both civilians and armed combatants unless otherwise indicated.

• April 2 - Jenin is cut off and the incursion begin the following day.

• April 6 - in an Arab League emergency meeting Nabil Shaath, at the time a Palestinian chief negotiator, delivers a speech in which he claims the IDF soldiers were commanded to completely destroy Jenin and compares Israeli actions in the West Bank towns of Jenin and Nablus to the Sabra and Shatila Massacre.^[24]

• April 7 - Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian minister and chief Palestinian negotiator is quoted in the Washington Times making the first allegation of a massacre made in a Western media publication.^[24]

• NBC News hears from Secretary-General of the Palestinian Authority Abdel Rahman that "over 250 Palestinians killed".^[24]

• April 10 - BBC reports that Israel estimates 150 Palestinians died in Jenin but Palestinians say the number is far higher.^[25]

• Saeb Erekat on a phone interview to CNN from Jericho, estimates 500 dead in the whole Israeli offensive and states that the Jenin refuge camp no longer exists and that reports of executions are coming from there.^[26] Israelis gave their response a short time later saying that it is a fabrication and a lie.^[27]

• April 11 - negotiated surrender of 34 Palestinian militants.[8] Palestinians are reporting 500 dead.^[28]

• April 12 - Fighting ends

• IDF Brigadier-General Ron Kitrey said on Israeli Army Radio that there are apparently hundreds killed, the IDF quickly clarified he meant hundreds of casualties (killed or injured).^[29] Secretary-General of Palestinian Authority Ahmed Abdel Rahman alleged, according to United Press International as a reaction to Kitrey's initial comments, that thousands of Palestinians were either killed and buried in massive graveyards or smashed under houses destroyed in Jenin and Nablus. He claimed that the Israelis took hundreds of bodies to northern Israel to hide a massacre and added that, "This massacre is not less than the massacres committed against the Palestinian people in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila in Lebanon"^[30] Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, Emmanuel Nahshon, said he did not believe thousands of people were killed and added that "in places where there are battles, people get killed".

• April 13 - Palestinian Information Minister, Yasser Abed Rabbo, accuses Israel of digging mass graves for 900 Palestinians in the camp, half of them women and children. ^[31]
• April 14-15 - After IDF reportedly estimate 188 Palestinians were killed^[32] and one spokesperson estimated the number at 250^[33], a final figure of 45 is given.

• April 15 - When asked by Wolf Blitzer, in a CNN interview, about the accusations that the Israeli troops committed a massacre at the Jenin camp, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, replied that that there are very hard battles in the camp, and noted to Blitzer that, while "you already know that this story is a lie.", he is still using the 'massacre' term.^[34]

• Palestinian Cabinet Minister (also PA Acting Prime Minister in 2005) Nabil Shaath, in a Palestinian reaction to the interview with Sharon, accused the Israeli Prime Minister for resembling Milosevic and claimed it is a second Sabra and Shatila by him. Shaath added that the actual death toll is unknown because, "already a lot of the bodies have been snatched and buried elsewhere in unidentified graves that we learned about during the Jenin massacre." and added an allegation that Sharon "took six days to perpetrate the massacre and six days for a cover-up.".^[34]

• On this date, the first observers were allowed into the camp.^[34][20]

• April 18 - Zalmon Shoval, adviser to Prime Minister Sharon, defended Israel's actions, saying it was fighting for its life; estimating that only about 65 bodies had been recovered, of which five were civilians.^[35]

• April 30 - Qadoura Mousa, the director of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement for the northern West Bank set the total dead at 56 after a team of four Palestinian-appointed investigators reported to him in his Jenin office.^[10]

• Considering the Palestinian body count the U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, suggested that he may disband the U.N. fact-finding team supposed to determine whether a massacre had taken place.

According to the United Nations (which was prevented from making a visit), "at least 52" Palestinian deaths were confirmed.^[13] Human Rights Watch "confirmed that at least fifty-two Palestinians were killed ... This figure may rise".^[36] No other Palestinian deaths from the battle have been confirmed since this time. The IDF estimate the number at 52. The designation of combatants differs (IDF counts 38 "armed men", HRW counts 30 "militants"). Palestinian Fatah investigators claimed the death toll is 56,^[37] announced on April 30 by Qadoura Moussa, the Fatah director for the Northern West Bank. 23 Israeli soldiers were also killed.^[38] Headquarters Cairo, Egypt1 Official languages Arabic Membership 22 Arab states 2 observer states Leaders  -  Secretary General Amr Moussa (since 2001)  -  Council of the Arab League Sudan  -  Speaker of the Arab Parliament Nabih Berri Establishment  -  Alexandria Protocol March 22, 1945  Area  -  Total 13,953,041 (Western Sahara Included) = 13,687,041... Nabil Shaath (also spelled Shaath, born 1938), a senior Palestinian official, has held the following titles: Palestinian chief negotiator Palestinian cabinet minister Palestinian International Co-operation Minister Planning Minister for the Palestinian National Authority Acting Prime Minister of the PNA Shaath served as Palestines first ever foreign minister... Combatants Lebanese Phalangist No combatants Commanders Elie Hobeika No commander Strength 150 irregulars Unarmed civilian population Casualties 2 700 - 3,500 civilians (see below) The Sabra and Shatila massacre (or Sabra and Chatila massacre; Arabic: مذبحة صبرا وشاتيلا) was carried out in September 1982 by a Lebanese Forces militia group against Palestinian refugee... Saeb Erekat Saeb Erakat (Sa’ib Muhammad Salih ‘Urayqat | Arabic: صائب عريقات ; born 1955) was the chief of the PLO Steering and Monitoring Committee, from which he negotiated with Israel regarding the Oslo Accords from 1995 until his resignation in protest from the Palestinian government, in May 2003. ... The Washington Times is a daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1982 as a conservative alternative to the Washington Post by members of the controversial Unification Church. ... NBC News endcap, used from 2002 to present. ... ‘Abd ar-Rahman (Arabic: عبدالرحمن, Persian, Pashto script: عبدالرحمان) is a theophoric Arabic name that means servant of the Most Merciful, al-Rahman being one of the 99 names of God. ... Saeb Erekat Saeb Erakat (Sa’ib Muhammad Salih ‘Urayqat | Arabic: صائب عريقات ; born 1955) was the chief of the PLO Steering and Monitoring Committee, from which he negotiated with Israel regarding the Oslo Accords from 1995 until his resignation in protest from the Palestinian government, in May 2003. ... The Taking of Jericho, by Jean Fouquet Near central Jericho, November 1996 Jericho (Arabic  , Hebrew  , ʼArīḥā; Standard YÉ™riḥo Tiberian YÉ™rîḫô / YÉ™rîḥô; meaning fragrant.[1] Greek Ἱεριχώ) is a town in Palestine, located within the Jericho Governorate, near the Jordan River. ... Combatants  Israel (Israel Defense Forces) Fatah (Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades & Tanzim) Hamas Palestinian Islamic Jihad Palestinian security forces Commanders Aluf Itzhak Eitan (Central commander) Strength Golani Brigade, Nahal Brigade, Paratroopers Brigade, 5th Reserve Infantry Brigade, 408th Reserve Infantry Brigade, Jerusalem Brigade(reserve), Shayetet 13, Armor and Engineering forces. ... Israel Army Radio, or Galèi Tzáhal as it is called in Hebrew (גלי צהל, lit. ... Yasser Abd Rabbo (Abu Bashar) is a Palestinian politician (b. ... Wolf Blitzer (born March 22, 1948 in Buffalo, New York) is an American journalist and author. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ...   (Hebrew: , also known by his diminutive Arik אָרִיק) (born February 27, 1928) is a former Israeli politician and general. ... Anthem: Biladi Capital Ramallah and Gaza de facto, as the current location of government institutions. ... The Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority is the head of government of the Palestinian government. ... Nabil Shaath (also spelled Shaath, born 1938), a senior Palestinian official, has held the following titles: Palestinian chief negotiator Palestinian cabinet minister Palestinian International Co-operation Minister Planning Minister for the Palestinian National Authority Acting Prime Minister of the PNA Shaath served as Palestines first ever foreign minister... “MiloÅ¡ević” redirects here. ... Combatants Lebanese Phalangist No combatants Commanders Elie Hobeika No commander Strength 150 irregulars Unarmed civilian population Casualties 2 700 - 3,500 civilians (see below) The Sabra and Shatila massacre (or Sabra and Chatila massacre; Arabic: مذبحة صبرا وشاتيلا) was carried out in September 1982 by a Lebanese Forces militia group against Palestinian refugee... Qadoura Mousa is the governor of the Jenin Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority, in the northern West Bank. ... Fatah (Arabic: ); a reverse acronym from the Arabic name Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini (literally: Palestinian National Liberation Movement) is a major secular Palestinian political party and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a generally secular multi-party confederation. ... The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. ... Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 1997 to January 1, 2007, serving two five-year terms. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... Fatah (Arabic: ); a reverse acronym from the Arabic name Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini (literally: Palestinian National Liberation Movement) is a major secular Palestinian political party and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a generally secular multi-party confederation. ...

Allegations of a massacre

The battle attracted widespread international attention due to Palestinian allegations that massacre was committed and as a result of inflated reports on body counts by Palestinian officials and Jenin residents.^[39] Journalists and international groups were banned by the IDF from entering the camp during the fighting on safety grounds, and at one point the IDF itself reported casualties as high as 250,^{[40][7] [41][42][43]} yet many journalists reported that a massacre of Palestinian civilians may have taken place during the fighting,^[44][6][35] and unconfirmed "eyewitness" claims that hundreds, or even thousands, of bodies had been secretly buried in mass graves by the IDF were spread.^{[6][45][46][47][39]} These allegations were aired widely in the Arab world and European media (most prominently in the British media), inciting extreme antipathy toward Israel.^[6][46] Critics in conservative American publications responded by alleging a "Big Jenin Lie".^[48][49] Photographs of the My Lai massacre provoked world outrage and made it an international scandal. ... Photographs of the My Lai massacre provoked world outrage and made it an international scandal. ... Image:Mass Grave Bergen Belsen May 1945. ... “Arab States” redirects here. ... A European is primarily a person who was born into one of the countries within the continent of Europe. ... The United Kingdom has an extremely diverse media with an almost unrivalled number of outlets, second only to the United States. ...

According to the Anti-Defamation League, International organizations, non-governmental organizations, and many foreign governments prematurely attacked Israel for committing atrocities during its military operations and before the facts were in. But while a massacre of hundreds was alleged, reported and condemned, it is now essentially certain that no such massacre occurred.^[50] The Anti-Defamation League (or ADL) is an advocacy group founded by Bnai Brith in the United States whose stated aim is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. ...

Many Arabs and Palestinians continue to use the term "Jenin Massacre" (Arabic: مجزرة جنين). Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ...

Post-fighting investigations

In an article about the battle in Jenin, Time ruled out Palestinian allegations of massacre, writing that: Time (whose trademark is capitalized TIME) is a weekly American newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. ...

A Time investigation concludes that there was no wanton massacre in Jenin, no deliberate slaughter of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers. But the 12 days of fighting took a severe toll on the camp.^[1]

United States Secretary of State Colin Powell visited Jenin during the month of the battle, and upon returning to the States testified to a congressional panel that there was no evidence of mass graves or a massacre.^[51] Seal of the United States Department of State. ... General Colin Luther Powell, United States Army (Ret. ...

Human Rights Watch found no evidence for a massacre, but said "However, many of the civilian deaths documented by Human Rights Watch amounted to unlawful or willful killings by the IDF. Many others could have been avoided if the IDF had taken proper precautions to protect civilian life during its military operation, as required by international humanitarian law." The human rights organization also criticized Palestinian militants for having endangered the lives of Palestinian civilians in part by "intermingling" with them. Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... Emblem of the IDF The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ...

Derek Holley, a military advisor to Amnesty International, corroborated that there was no massacre. "Talking to people and talking to witnesses, even very credible witnesses, it just appears there was no wholesale killing." he added.

International statements and human rights reports

In late April and on May 3, 2002, the UN, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch released reports about the Israeli military incursions into Jenin. The reports documented that approximately 30 Palestinian militants, 22 Palestinian civilians, and 23 Israeli soldiers were killed in the fighting and thus found no evidence to sustain claims that a massacre took place. However, HRW did say that Israel "committed serious violations of international humanitarian law, some amounting prima facie to war crimes,"^[52] while Amnesty International similarly alleged evidence that Israel had committed war crimes. is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... International humanitarian law (IHL), also known as the law of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus comprised of the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law. ... Look up prima facie in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ...

The Anti-Defamation League questioned how HRW and AI could both acknowledge the lack of a supposed Israeli massacre and the endangerment of Palestinian civilians by Palestinian gunmen and still maintain its accusation of Israel, and labelled the reports prejudiced.^[53] The Anti-Defamation League (or ADL) is an advocacy group founded by Bnai Brith in the United States whose stated aim is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. ...

UN visiting mission

The United Nations visiting mission ordered by the UN Commission on Human Rights on 5 April 2002 and headed by Mary Robinson, ex-President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was refused entry to Israel. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, a commission supervised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, is composed of representatives from 53 member states, and meets each year in regular session in March/April for six weeks in Geneva. ... For the poet, see Mary Robinson (poet). ... The purpose of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights involves the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide through direct contact with individual governments and the provision of technical assistance where appropriate. ...

UN fact finding mission

The United Nations Security Council unanimously proposed a fact finding mission with resolution 1405 on April 19, 2002 (ie 8 days after the surrender of the majority of the militants). The Government of Israel considered the intitiative to set up the mission as "an anti-Israeli diplomatic offensive"^{[citation needed]}. April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

While formally agreeing to co-operate with the inquiry, the government of Israel set a list of preconditions, three being most important to them:

• That the mission should include anti-terrorism experts. Derek Holley, an Amnesty International military advisor went public saying that this was necessary in a report posted by the BBC. ^[54]
• That the UN agree not to prosecute Israeli soldiers for any violations of international law which might be uncovered during by the mission.
• And that the mission limit its scope exclusively to events in Jenin.

These conditions were justified by the Israeli government's legal experts^{[attribution needed]} on the grounds that "the conditions under which the UN proposed the mission were unfair, as the UN did not agree to give the anti-terrorism expert full membership, would not give the mission a strict mandate, nor declare the mission solely investigatory (as opposed to having a judicial purpose)". According to the Israeli legal experts, all three positions violate of the UN's own principles (as stated in the "Declaration on Fact-finding by the United Nations", A/RES/46/59 of December 9, 1991)^{[citation needed]}. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...

The UN refused to accept the last two conditions, whereupon the Israeli authorities announced that they would not allow the mission entry into any Israeli-controlled territory, nor cooperate with its activities in any way. Some commentators ascribed this to an agreement with Bush, who on 18th April told the world's press that Sharon "gave me a timetable and he’s met the timetable."^[55]

The members of the UN mission waited for several days in Switzerland. As described in several commentaries on the Israeli and international press at the time, the United Nations had several choices:

• Accept the Israeli conditions. Palestinian and other Arab diplomats at the UN headquarters made clear they would condemn such a move^{[citation needed]};
• Proceed with the investigation without Israeli cooperation and without physical access to Jenin. This would have meant relying largely on Palestinian eye-witnesses who had been able to exit the West Bank;
• Continue pressure on the Israeli Government to change its stance. This was felt to have little possibility of success in light of US support for Israel's position on the mission's team.^{[citation needed]}

On the May 3, 2002, UN Secretary General Kofi Anan announced that he was disbanding the fact-finding mission. is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian diplomat and the seventh and current Secretary-General of the United Nations. ...

On the May 7, 2002, the UN General Assembly passed^[56], condemning both the Israeli operations and Israel's refusal to cooperate with the fact-finding team. At the same time, the UN issued a press release^[57] repeating the points made and including statements made by the representatives of individual nations. The GA requested the Secretary-General to present a report, drawing upon available resources and information. is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

UN report

The UN report stated that fifty-two Palestinian deaths had been confirmed by the end of May 2002, which mirrored the IDF report, but fell short of the estimate by a senior Palestinian Authority official who had claimed that about five hundred were killed which was not corroborated by evidence.^[13] This report was criticized by the group Human Rights Watch as being "flawed" due to a lack of first-hand evidence.^[58] The report itself states that a fact-finding team led by Martti Ahtisaari was unable to visit the area as planned due to concerns of the Israeli government, which meant that the report had to rely on papers submitted by different nations and NGOs, and other documents. Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (IPA: ) (born June 23, 1937 Viipuri, Finland) is a former President of Finland (1994–2000) and a UN diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work. ...

The report explains the rising violence of the first two years of the al-Aqsa Intifada, with particular reference to the suicide bombings that had been carried out. It describes all the operations carried out in the West Bank. For other uses, see al-Aqsa (disambiguation). ...

On the subject of Jenin, it says the "IDF urged civilians in Arabic to evacuate the camp. Some reports, including of interviews with IDF soldiers, suggest that those warnings were not adequate ..... Estimates vary on how many civilians remained in the camp throughout but there may have been as many as 4,000."

The UN report confirmed that "at least 52 Palestinians" deaths were reported by the Jenin hospital by the end of May 2002 and that Palestinian reports of 500 dead had not been substantiated.

Following the ambush of April 9 the IDF changed tactics and began bombardment with tanks and missiles, and demolished parts of the camp using armoured bulldozers. The report says "Witness testimonies and human rights investigations allege that the destruction was both disproportionate and indiscriminate, some houses coming under attack from the bulldozers before their inhabitants had the opportunity to evacuate."

According to the report, supplies of food and water were delivered to the camp starting on April 16th but this was impeded by the large amounts of explosives present. Negotiations began to bring in specialist equipment and workers to remove the explosives, but in the several weeks it took to negotiate the entry of these teams, at least two Palestinians were killed in explosions.

Human Rights Watch report

See also: Criticism of Human Rights Watch#Battle of Jenin

The Human Rights Watch report found "no evidence to sustain claims of massacres or large-scale extrajudicial executions by the IDF". The report agreed with the total casualty figures provided by the IDF but documented a higher proportion of civilian casualties. Amnesty International concurred. The HRW report documented instances of unlawful or willful killing by the IDF, some of which could have been avoided if proper procedures were followed, as well as instances of summary executions. It also documented use of Palestinians as 'human shields', by the IDF, and prevention of humanitarian organizations from accessing the camp despite the great need. The report concluded: Human Rights Watch, a United States-based international non-government organisation that conducts research and advocacy on human rights, has been criticised in the form of commentaries from various organisations, journalists, and bloggers. ... Human Rights Watch Banner Human Rights Watch is a United States-based international non-government organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. ... Human shield is a military term describing the use of civilians to deter an enemy from attacking certain targets—in particular military targets. ...

Israeli forces committed serious violations of international humanitarian law, some amounting prima facie to war crimes. Human Rights Watch found no evidence to sustain claims of massacres or large-scale extrajudicial executions by the IDF in Jenin refugee camp. Ultimately, Human Rights Watch verified the deaths of at least 52 Palestinians, of whom it concluded that at least 27 were suspected to be armed combatants, and at least 22 were civilians.^[59] International humanitarian law (IHL), also known as the law of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus comprised of the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law. ... Look up prima facie in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

While focusing mainly on the actions of the IDF, the report also stated that:

Palestinian gunmen did endanger Palestinian civilians in the camp by using it as a base for planning and launching attacks, using indiscriminate tactics such as planting improvised explosive devices within the camp, and intermingling with the civilian population during armed conflict, and, in some cases, to avoid apprehension by Israeli forces.

The report notes that:

The presence of armed Palestinian militants inside Jenin refugee camp, and the preparations made by those armed Palestinian militants in anticipation of the IDF incursion, does not detract from the IDF's obligation under international humanitarian law to take all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians ... Unfortunately, these obligations were not met.

Human Rights Watch also criticized the UN investigation for presenting a "watered-down account of the very serious violations in Jenin," for presenting "competing" claims while drawing "almost no conclusions on the merits of those claims," and for failing to address the "issue of accountability for serious violations that may have been committed, some of which rise to the level of war crimes".^[60]

Amnesty International

Amnesty International's report on Jenin and Nablus was issued on November 4, 2002. It did not contain accusations that a massacre had occurred. However, the Amnesty report asserts that war crimes were committed by Israel, stating that unlawful killings occurred; there was a failure to ensure medical or humanitarian relief; demolition of houses and property occurred; water and electricity supplies to civilians were cut; torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in arbitrary detention occurred; and Palestinians civilians were used for military operations or as "human shields."

One section of the Amnesty report which is strongly denied by Israel is the charge that some civilians were not warned before their houses were demolished and that they were buried in the rubble. The IDF claims that it broadcast calls to evacuate, but many residents said that they had not heard or understood the call.

Amnesty International acknowledged Israel's "right and responsibility to take measures to prevent unlawful violence," while re-iterating its obligations to comply with international humanitarian law in doing so.

Amnesty research included reviewing Israeli High Court cases and examining medical records, statements, and video documentation. Delegates conducted numerous interviews. Testimony and other evidence were cross-checked for accuracy. In many cases, Israel did not cooperate with Amnesty, and did not respond to inquiries about fighting in Jenin. Amnesty also says that much of the destruction took place after April 11, the date it argues combat died down.^[20]

Other controversies

• A popular video footage of a fake burial procession, shot by an aerial drone on April 28, showed Palestinian pallbearers carrying a green blanket-wrapped "corpse" who was accidentally dropped and then stood up and placed himself back in the blanket.^{[61] [62]}

• During the battle, Dr. David Zangen, chief medical officer of the Israeli paratroop unit that was fighting in Jenin, reported that the IDF had worked to keep the local Palestinian hospital open and that Israeli doctors had offered the Palestinians blood for their wounded, who then refused to be given "Jewish blood". Col. Arik Gordin of the IDF Office of Military Spokesmen has stated Israel subsequently flew in 2,000 units of blood from Jordan and arranged 40 more units of blood from the Muqased Hospital (East Jerusalem), which were sent to the Ramallah and Tulkarm hospitals, and also facilitated the delivery of 1,800 units of anti-coagulants that had come from Morocco.^[63][64]

Ramallah (Arabic:  ) is a Palestinian city in the West Bank of approximately 57,000 residents. ... Nickname: City of Generosity Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: City of Tulkarm Location Location in Palestine Government Neighbourhoods Al-Salam, Al-Sowana, Dhinnaba, Iktaba, Irtah, Iskan Al-Mozafeen, Izbat Al-Jarad, Izbat Naser, Nur Shams Camp, Shuwaykah, Tulkarm Camp Mayor Mahmoud Al-Jallad Geographical characteristics Area 246 km² Land 246 km...

See also

• Jenin, Jenin
• Media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Pallywood
• Urban warfare
• Violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 2002

Jenin, Jenin is a 2002 Israeli documentary by Mohammed Bakri filmed in Jenin. ... The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is being pursued not only in the cities, towns, and countryside of Israel and the occupied territories of West Bank and the Gaza Strip with bombs and bullets, it is also a media battle being waged on television and in newspapers and magazines. ... Pallywood (a portmanteau of Palestinian and Hollywood) is a neologism used to refer to news events alleged to have been staged by Palestinian and other cameramen to portray Israel in an unfavorable light. ... Urban warfare is a modern warfare conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. ... Note: This compilation includes only those attacks that resulted in casualties. ... The conflict between various Palestinian groups and Israel has existed in one form or another since the first half of the 20th century, and has left much bitterness and death on both sides. ... Violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: 2000 - 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total Death Toll in 2000: 41 September (death toll: 2) September 27: an Israeli soldier killed in Gaza Strip. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... Note: This compilation includes only those attacks that resulted in casualties. ... It has been suggested that Terrorist attacks against Israel in 2003 be merged into this article or section. ... Terrorism against Israel: Pre-2000 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 This page is a partial listing of incidents of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2004. ... Terrorism against Israel: Pre-2000 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 This page is a partial listing of incidents of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2005. ... Violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Pre-2000 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 This page is a partial listing of incidents of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2005. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into 2007 Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ...

References

Look up time in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Fatah (Arabic: ); a reverse acronym from the Arabic name Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini (literally: Palestinian National Liberation Movement) is a major secular Palestinian political party and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a generally secular multi-party confederation. ... The Engineering Faculty Boulevard The Smolarz Auditorium Tel Aviv University (TAU, אוניברסיטת תל אביב, אתא) is one of Israels major universities. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... RealVideo is a proprietary video format developed by RealNetworks. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... This article concerns the British newspaper. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... GlobalSecurity. ... Large format camera lens. ... ...

External links

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ...

Reports by human rights groups, the UN, the IDF and the PA

• The Battle of Jenin: A Case Study in Israel's Communications Strategy The Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies
• Declaration on Fact-finding by the United Nations
• Full Text of UN Report
• The Secretary General's report on Jenin
• Human Rights Watch: Jenin War Crimes Investigation Needed
• Full Text of Human Rights Watch Report
• Executive Summary, The Battle in Jenin – The Israel Defence Force’s , Response to the Report by Amnesty International (IDF spokesman's official response to the report)
• Human Rights Watch - Jenin: IDF Military Operations
• Israeli aerial photographs of the combat area
• Collection of Israeli statements regarding Operation Defensive Shield, at Israel's Foreign Ministry website

Press reports, opinions and articles about Jenin battle

Whilst considering these press and news reports, it is important to consider the date. At first, many international newspapers reported the possibility of a massacre, whereas 3-4 weeks on, they often describe the massacre as particularly unlikely.

• Anatomy of Anti-Israel Incitement: Jenin, World Opinion and the Massacre That Wasn't, Anti-Defamation League report, June 2002.
• Urban Warfare and the Lessons of Jenin, analysis in Azure magazine.
• Amid the ruins of Jenin, the grisley evidence of a war crime The Independent
• The media tries to mop up its horrific coverage of Jenin. Honest Reporting
• The Weekly Standard - The Big Jenin Lie
• TIME magazine writeup on Jenin
• A Study in Palestinian Duplicity and Media Indifference Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting
• The Road to Jenin - A documentary by Pierre Rehov
• Jenin War Diary of a Hasidic Soldier - April 25, 2002 - Sergeant Major Rami Meir
  • Part I, Part II.
  • Reprint: Part I, Part II.
• "Palestinian fighter describes 'hard fight' in Jenin. Says he didn't see large numbers killed", CNN interview with Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant Tabaat Mardawi (April 23, 2002)
• The Truth about Jenin - Testimony of General Eyal Shlein, IDF Spokesperson, April 12, 2002
• Asia Times: A street fight called Jeningrad by Paul Belden
• The story of D9 bulldozer driver from Yediot Ahronot with Gush Shalom comments
• Palestinian view of UN report

Articles from The Observer and The Guardian The Anti-Defamation League (or ADL) is an advocacy group founded by Bnai Brith in the United States whose stated aim is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. ... The Independent is a British compact newspaper published by Tony OReillys Independent News & Media. ... Honest Reporting (also HonestReporting or honestreporting. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... The emblem of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad shows a map of the land they claim as Palestine (roughly, present-day Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip) superimposed on the images of the Dome of the Rock, two fists and two rifles. ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ...

• Ten-day ordeal in crucible of Jenin, Peter Beaumont (April 14, 2002)
• The lunar landscape that was the Jenin refugee camp, Suzanne Goldenberg (April 16, 2002)
• 'We fight like girls and we are accused of a massacre', Ewen MacAskill (April 20, 2002)
• Battle for truth in Jenin, Bryan Whitaker (April 23, 2002)
• Israel accused over Jenin assault, Chris McGreal in Jerusalem and Brian Whitaker (April 23, 2002)
• Not a massacre, but a brutal breach of war's rules, Peter Beaumont in Jenin (April 25, 2002)

Articles from the BBC April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 106th day of the year (107th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ...

• Forensic expert barred from Jenin (17 April 2002)
• Jenin camp 'horrific beyond belief' (18 April 2002)
• Jenin 'massacre evidence growing' (18 April 2002)
• Expert weighs up Jenin 'massacre' (29 April 2002)
• 'No Jenin massacre' says rights group (3 May 2002)
• UN condemns Israel over Jenin (8 May 2002)

Articles from Ha'aretz is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 108th day of the year (109th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 108th day of the year (109th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 128th day of the year (129th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Haaretz (הארץ, The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ...

• Palestinians: IDF tanks enter Nablus; reservist killed in Jenin (4 April 2002)
• Peres calls IDF operation in Jenin a 'massacre' (9 April 2002)
• Court: IDF can't move bodies; Lieberman: Barak must be ousted (13 April 2002)
• Court rejects petitions demanding IDF not remove Jenin dead (14 April 2002)
• IDF bulldozers buried Jenin dead, Palestinians claim
• Court told: IDF leaving dead to rot in Jenin
• Security Council meets after Israel denies entry to UN team (29 April 2002)
• Ticking bomb

is the 94th day of the year (95th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 119th day of the year (120th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

Published personal accounts

The books below present contrasting Israeli and Arab views of the battle. Each is a collection of personal anecdotes, based on the authors' interviews with eyewitnesses / participants:

Israeli Accounts

• Goldberg, Brett (2003). A Psalm in Jenin. Israel: Modan Publishing House [9], 304. ISBN 965-7141-03-6.  is a sketch of the experiences of several Israeli soldiers who participated in the battle (either as combatants or auxiliaries such as field medics), based on their accounts and/or accounts of families and friends, in the case of soldiers who fell in the battle.

Arab Accounts

• Baroud, Ramzy Mohammed, editor (January, 2003). Searching Jenin: Eyewitness Accounts of the Israeli Invasion 2002. Seattle, Washington: Cune Press, 256. ISBN 1885942346.  is a series of interviews with Arab children and adults who either hid during the battle, or who worked during the battle (such as a Red Crescent ambulance driver,) and describe what they saw and felt. None of the interviewees admit to having fought in the battle.

Related issues to Jenin battle

• Jenin - center of Terrorism
  • "Jenin Al Kassam" A Hothouse of Terrorism
  • Israel Defense Forces' briefing on terrorist activity in Jenin
  • List of suicide bombings originating in Jenin
• Photos of fake funeral in Jenin
  • Israel Defense Forces' footage of the fake burial in Jenin (original link, not working)
  • Israel Defense Forces' footage of the fake burial in Jenin (reprint + video)
• MYTH & FACT of Jenin "massacre"
• 60 Minutes: Pallywood
• Muhammed Bakri's film Jenin Jenin
• The Road to Jenin Film by Pierre Rehov, intended in part to expose alleged "propaganda and misinformation spread by Bakri".
• IMEMC:Jenin child tells the story of how soldiers killed his father in 2002

Coordinates: 32°27′39″N 35°17′20″E / 32.46083, 35.28889 Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...