16.03.2001 - For the second time in three months, Palestinians are pressing the U.N. Security Council to send a security force into Palestinian occupied territories, despite staunch objection from Israel and the United States. A similar proposal was voted down in December, but Palestinian U.N. envoy Nasser Al-Kidwa insisted that things are different now because the situation in the territories has deteriorated, the U.S. and Israeli governments have changed and the Security Council has five new members. He wants a new vote next week. The December resolution was defeated after intensive lobbying by the United States, Israel's strongest ally. The Palestinians and their supporters couldn't muster the necessary nine votes in the 15-member council. Al-Kidwa predicted success in a new vote, but any move toward creating such a force still could face possible defeat because the United States - which has veto power - remains opposed to any proposal Israel objects to.

23.03.2001 - A 21-year-old Palestinian security officer was killed when Israeli forces fired tank shells at a position of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's presidential guard unit. Four others were injured. Since the unrest began six months ago, 355 Palestinians have been killed.

28.03.2001 - Israeli helicopters rocketed Palestinian police buildings in Gaza and the West Bank town of Ramallah on Wednesday. Flares lit up the night sky over Ramallah during the assault. Helicopter gunships hit the Ramallah headquarters of Force 17, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's elite guard. Five gunships fired on Force 17 headquarters in Deir al-Balah in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli ships off the coast of Gaza City opened fire on the area of Arafat's office. The buildings under attack - all in areas governed by Arafat's Palestinian Authority - had been evacuated after the Israeli military warned the Palestinians to leave.