Editing Second Intifada (section)

===2002===
[[File:Karin A weapons.jpg|thumb|Military equipment confiscated from [[Karine A]]]]

In January 2002, the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] [[Shayetet 13]] naval commandos captured the ''[[Karine A]]'', a freighter carrying weapons from [[Iran]] towards Israel, believed to be intended for Palestinian militant use against Israel. It was discovered that top officials in the [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]] were involved in the smuggling, with the Israelis pointing the finger towards [[Yasser Arafat]] as also being involved.

Palestinians launched a spate of suicide bombings and attacks against Israel, aimed mostly at civilians. On 3 March, a Palestinian sniper killed 10 Israeli soldiers and settlers and wounded 4 at a checkpoint near [[Ofra]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Victims/Pages/Sgt-Maj-res-%20Yochai%20Porat.aspx |title=Sgt.-Maj.(res.) Yochai Porat |date=3 March 2002 |publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] |access-date=28 September 2014 |archive-date=30 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830185356/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Victims/Pages/Sgt-Maj-res-%20Yochai%20Porat.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> using an [[M1 Carbine]]. He was later arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. The rate of the attacks increased, and was at its highest in March 2002.<ref name=Fal09/>

In addition to numerous shooting and grenade attacks, the month saw 15 suicide bombings carried out in Israel — an average of one bombing every two days. The high rate of attacks caused widespread fear throughout Israel and serious disruption of daily life throughout the country. March 2002 became known in Israel as "Black March".<ref name=Fal09>{{cite book |editor=Ophir Falk |editor2=Henry Morgenstein |title=Suicide terror: understanding and confronting the threat |publisher=Wiley |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-470-08729-9}}</ref> On 12 March [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1397]] was passed, which reaffirmed a [[Two-state solution]] and laid the groundwork for a [[Road map for peace]].<ref name=Rub03/>

On 27 March, the wave of violence culminated with a suicide bombing during a [[Passover]] celebration at the Park Hotel in [[Netanya]] in which 30 people were killed. The attack became known as the [[Passover massacre]].<ref name="Bts ODS">{{cite web |url=http://www.btselem.org/download/200207_defensive_shield_eng.pdf |title=Operation Defensive Shield: Palestinian Testimonies, Soldiers' Testimonies |date=July 2007 |publisher=[[B'Tselem]] |access-date=7 April 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064004/http://www.btselem.org/download/200207_defensive_shield_eng.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In total, around 130 Israelis, mostly civilians, were killed in Palestinian attacks during March 2002.<ref name=Rub03/> On 28 March, Arab leaders, whose constituencies were exposed to detailed television coverage of the violence in the conflict, set out a comprehensive [[Arab Peace Initiative]] that was endorsed by Arafat, but virtually ignored by Israel.<ref name=Rub03>[[Barry Rubin]],Judith Colp Rubin, [https://books.google.com/books?id=KRjiBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT427 ''Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819140014/https://books.google.com/books?id=KRjiBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT427 |date=19 August 2020 }} Oxford University Press, 2003 p.427 n.14</ref>{{sfn|Mattar|2005|p=40}}<ref>Neil Caplan, [https://books.google.com/books?id=JyAgn_dD43cC&pg=PT167 ''The Israel–Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories,''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819133731/https://books.google.com/books?id=JyAgn_dD43cC&pg=PT167 |date=19 August 2020 }} John Wiley & Sons, 2011 p.167</ref><ref>Galia Golan, [https://books.google.com/books?id=-zqDBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA170 ''Israeli Peacemaking Since 1967: Factors Behind the Breakthroughs and Failures''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820043011/https://books.google.com/books?id=-zqDBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA170 |date=20 August 2020 }} Routledge, 2014 p.170.</ref>

On 29 March, Israel launched [[Operation Defensive Shield]], which lasted until 3 May. The IDF made sweeping incursions throughout the West Bank, and into numerous Palestinian cities. Arafat was put under siege in his [[Mukataa|Ramallah compound]].<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/arafat-siege-could-end-soon/ ''Arafat Siege Could End Soon''] . CBS, 29 April 2002</ref> The UN estimated that 497 Palestinians were killed and 1,447 wounded by the Israeli incursion from 1 March to 7 May.<ref name="UNPressRelease"/> A UN report cleared Israel of allegations of massacre, but criticized it for using excessive force on the civilian population. Israeli forces also arrested 4,258 Palestinians during the operation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3685678,00.html |title=Operation Defensive Shield (2002) |work=[[Ynetnews]] |date=12 March 2009 |access-date=28 September 2014 |archive-date=25 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825062508/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3685678,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Israeli casualties during the operation totaled 30 dead and 127 wounded. The operation culminated with the recapturing of Palestinian Authority controlled areas.<ref name="UNPressRelease">{{cite press release |date=1 August 2002 |title=Report of Secretary-General on recent events in Jenin, other Palestinian cities |publisher=[[United Nations]] |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2002/SG2077.doc.htm |access-date=28 September 2014 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093858/http://www.un.org/press/en/2002/SG2077.doc.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Battle of Jenin====
{{Main|Battle of Jenin (2002)}}
[[File:IDF-D9L003.jpg|thumb|[[IDF Caterpillar D9]]]]

Between 2 and 11 April, a siege and fierce fighting took place in the Palestinian refugee camp of the city of [[Jenin]]. The camp was targeted during Operation Defensive Shield after Israel determined that it had "served as a launch site for numerous terrorist attacks against both Israeli civilians and Israeli towns and villages in the area."<ref name="mfa1">{{cite web |title=Jenin's Terrorist Infrastructure |publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] |access-date=22 September 2008 |date=4 April 2002 |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/4/Jenin-s%20Terrorist%20Infrastructure%20-%204-Apr-2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218182029/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/4/Jenin-s%20Terrorist%20Infrastructure%20-%204-Apr-2002 |archive-date=18 February 2009 }}</ref> The Jenin battle became a flashpoint for both sides, and saw fierce urban combat as Israeli infantry supported by armor and attack helicopters fought to clear the camp of Palestinian militants. The battle was eventually won by the IDF, after it employed a dozen [[IDF Caterpillar D9|Caterpillar D9]] [[armored bulldozer]]s to clear Palestinian [[booby trap]]s, detonate explosive charges, and raze buildings and gun-posts; the bulldozers proved impervious to attacks by Palestinian militants.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Matt Rees |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1002406,00.html |title=Untangling Jenin's Tale |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=13 May 2002 |access-date=28 September 2014 |author-link=Matt Rees |archive-date=26 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026160651/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1002406,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

During Israeli military operations in the camp, Palestinian sources alleged that a massacre of hundreds of people had taken place. A senior Palestinian Authority official said in mid-April that some 500 had been killed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2165272.stm |title=UN says no massacre in Jenin |date=1 August 2002 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 May 2012 |archive-date=5 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205040128/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2165272.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> During the fighting in Jenin, Israeli officials had also initially estimated hundreds of Palestinian deaths, but later said they expected the Palestinian toll to reach "45 to 55."<ref name="NYT UN">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/02/world/death-on-the-campus-jenin-un-report-rejects-claims-of-a-massacre-of-refugees.html |last=Bennet |first=James |author-link=James Bennet (journalist) |date=2 August 2002 |title=Death on the Campus: Jenin; U.N. Report Rejects Claims of a Massacre of Refugees |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=19 May 2012 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211044050/https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E6DD1E3BF931A3575BC0A9649C8B63 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the ensuing controversy, Israel blocked the United Nations from conducting the first-hand inquiry unanimously sought by the Security Council, but the UN nonetheless felt able to dismiss claims of a massacre in its report, which said there had been approximately 52 deaths, criticising both sides for placing Palestinian civilians at risk.<ref name="NYT UN"/><ref>{{cite news |title=U.N. report: No massacre in Jenin |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2002-08-01-unreport-jenin_x.htm |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=[[USA Today]] |date=1 August 2002 |access-date=28 September 2014 |archive-date=23 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623064530/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2002-08-01-unreport-jenin_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Based on their own investigations, [[Amnesty International]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/149/2002/en/ |title=Shielded from Scrutiny: IDF violations in Jenin and Nablus |date=November 2002 |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |page=2 |access-date=19 May 2012 |quote=Amnesty International's extensive research ... led it to conclude that ... some of the actions amounted to ... war crimes. |archive-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122054904/https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/149/2002/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Human Rights Watch]]<ref name="HRW May">{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/israel3/israel0502.pdf |title=Jenin: IDF Military Operations |date=May 2002 |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |access-date=19 May 2012 |page=3 |quote=Human Rights Watch's research demonstrates that, during their incursion into the Jenin refugee camp, Israeli forces committed serious violations of international humanitarian law, some amounting ''prima facie'' to war crimes. |archive-date=11 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011222710/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/israel3/israel0502.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> charged that some IDF personnel in Jenin had committed [[war crimes]] but also confirmed that no massacre had been committed by the IDF. Both human rights organizations called for official inquiries; the IDF disputed the charges.

After the battle, most sources, including the IDF and [[Palestinian Authority]], placed the Palestinian death toll at 52–56;<ref name=martinWT>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20020501-5587072.htm |title=Jenin 'massacre' reduced to death toll of 56 |author=Paul Martin |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] |date=1 May 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030415055238/http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20020501-5587072.htm |archive-date=15 April 2003}}</ref> [[Human Rights Watch]] documented 52 Palestinian deaths and claimed that it included at least 27 militants and 22 civilians, and an additional 3 Palestinians whose status as militants or civilians could not be ascertained,<ref name="hrwreport">{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/node/79081/section/3 |title=Jenin |website=[[Human Rights Watch]] |date=2 May 2002 |access-date=28 September 2014 |archive-date=26 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926080324/http://www.hrw.org/node/79081/section/3 |url-status=live }}</ref> while the IDF said that 48 militants and 5 civilians had been killed.<ref name="harel257-258">{{cite book |last1=Harel |first1=Amos |last2=Issacharoff |first2=Avi |date=2004 |script-title=he:המלחמה השביעית : איך ניצחנו ולמה הפסדנו במלחמה עם הפלסטינים |trans-title=The Seventh War: How We Won and Why We Lost in the War with the Palestinians |title=Ha-Milḥamah ha-shevi'it: ekh nitsaḥnu ṿe-lamah hifsadnu ba-milḥamah 'im ha-Palesṭinim |publisher=Yediot Aharonot |location=Tel-Aviv |isbn=978-965-511-767-7 |language=he |pages=257–258}}</ref> According to Human Rights Watch, 140 buildings had been destroyed.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Audeh |first=Ida |year=2002 |title=Narratives of Siege: Eye-Witness Testimonies from Jenin, Bethlehem, and Nablus |url=http://www.palestine-studies.org/journals.aspx?id=4341&jid=1&href=abstract |journal=[[Journal of Palestine Studies]] |volume=31 |issue=4 |page=13 |access-date=7 April 2012 |doi=10.1525/jps.2002.31.4.13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228205343/http://palestine-studies.org/journals.aspx?id=4341&jid=1&href=abstract |archive-date=28 December 2010  |issn=0377-919X }}</ref> The IDF reported that 23 Israeli soldiers had been killed and 75 wounded during the battle.<ref name="HRW May"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Report of the Secretary-General prepared pursuant to General Assembly resolution ES-10/10 |access-date=29 March 2006 |publisher=[[United Nations]] |url=https://www.un.org/peace/jenin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020806175121/http://www.un.org/peace/jenin/ |archive-date=6 August 2002}}</ref>

====Siege in Bethlehem====
{{Main|Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem}}
From 2 April to 10 May, a stand-off developed at the [[Church of the Nativity]] in [[Bethlehem]]. IDF soldiers surrounded the church while Palestinian civilians, militants, and priests were inside. During the siege, IDF snipers killed 8 militants inside the church and wounded more than 40 people. The stand-off was resolved by the deportation to Europe of 13 Palestinian militants whom the IDF had identified as terrorists, and the IDF ended its 38-day stand-off with the militants inside the church.