◆2 sources
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought in the weeks before Israel's elections to launch new air strikes on Iran, according to three senior Israeli defence officers cited in a report. Army chief Eyal Zamir opposed the proposal, and the strikes were not carried out.
8 sources
Israel launched raids at dozens of locations in the occupied West Bank after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting near Hebron. Israeli authorities said two Palestinian gunmen from Hebron carried out the attack and were killed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Hebron closed and preparations for a complete closure of the West Bank; the army later said the West Bank will be closed during Tuesday's parliamentary election. Israeli forces demolished a car-parts shop and other commercial premises west of Hebron, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa and a Reuters reporter. Israel said it was removing illegal structures that could pose a security risk, while neighbours said the buildings were unrelated to the attackers. Several reports said about 2,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes in Hebron, while another put the figure at about 2,200. Israel said residents could leave through three designated exits after questioning, and that people deemed suspicious would be handed to security services. The military said the operation is expected to last several days.