Cablegate: Wb/G Sitrep: Settlers Beat and Injure Palestinians
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001890
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE;
NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA;
DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DRL FOR A/S CRANER;
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN;
USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG PTER ASEC PHUM CASC KPAL
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: SETTLERS BEAT AND INJURE PALESTINIANS
AND FOREIGN ACTIVISTS IN WEST BANK: MARCH 25-28 (1630 HRS
LOCAL)
This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly. This is a joint message from Embassy Tel Aviv
and ConGen Jerusalem.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The IDF reported no security incidents in
the Gaza Strip between March 25-28. UNRWA reported that
Palestinian militants fired small arms at Gadid settlement
and fired a mortar shell at Netzarim settlement, causing no
injuries. Israeli media reported that anti-disengagement
"squatters" have occupied empty buildings in Gush Katif. In
the West Bank, the IDF shot and injured a Palestinian
motorist who reportedly refused to slow down at a roadblock,
and Palestinian gunmen reportedly shot an IDF soldier during
an IDF arrest operation in Jenin. Israeli security forces
arrested eight PIJ members; two settlers attempting to enter
the Haram al Sharif; and two IDF soldiers who reportedly
attempted to sell an M16 to a Palestinian. Israeli settlers
beat and injured several Palestinians and foreign activists
in locations throughout the West Bank. End Summary.
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Gaza Strip
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS:
-- Deaths: Nil.
-- Injuries: Nil.
-- Shootings: UNRWA reported that Palestinian gunmen fired
small arms at Gadid settlement at 0800 hrs March 28. No
injuries were reported.
-- Mortars: UNRWA reported that Palestinian militants fired a
mortar shell at Netzarim settlement at 2330 hrs March 25. No
injuries were reported.
-- Explosives: UNRWA reported that a Palestinian-made bomb
exploded in Gaza City at 2230 hrs March 25. No injuries were
reported.
3. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS
-- Israeli media reported that the holiday-related closure of
the Gaza Strip was lifted March 27. Route Four (Salahadeen
Road), the main north-south traffic artery, was open March
27-28 at both Netzarim and Abu Khouli checkpoints.
-- The Erez Crossing was open to diplomats, internationals,
Palestinian laborers, and merchants March 27-28. UNRWA
reported that 3,024 laborers and 368 merchants crossed into
Israel March 28.
-- Erez Industrial Zone was open March 27-28. UNRWA reported
that 570 laborers entered the zone March 28.
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian workers, but open
for the import of aggregates used in construction, March
25-28.
-- Karni terminal was open March 25-28.
-- Rafah Terminal was open, without age restrictions, for
Palestinians March 27-28.
-- Tel al-Sultan and Toufa checkpoints were open March 27-28.
4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
-- Israeli media reported that anti-disengagement "squatters"
have occupied 280 of the 410 empty publicly-owned housing
units in the Gush Katif settlement block. The GOI will
reportedly require the Amidar company, who manages the units,
to evict the squatters or pay a fine of NIS 60,000 per head.
-- Israeli and Palestinian media reported that several
thousand unemployed Palestinians marched to the PLC offices
in Gaza City on Sunday, protesting the lack of government
assistance.
---------
West Bank
---------
5. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY:
-- Deaths: Nil.
-- Injuries: Israeli settlers severely beat a Palestinian
woman near Ein Yabus, south of Nablus, on March 25, according
to Palestinian newspapers.
-- Injuries: An Israeli peace activist suffered head
injuries and five Palestinians suffered minor injuries during
clashes with Israeli police during separation barrier
protests near Qalqiliya on March 25, according to Palestinian
newspapers.
-- Injuries: The IDF shot and seriously injured a
Palestinian motorist who reportedly failed to slow down at an
IDF roadblock on March 26, according to Palestinian
newspapers.
-- Injuries: Israeli settlers from Ma,un settlement, south
of Hebron, beat up four foreign peace activists accompanying
Palestinian animal herders near Yatta village on March 27,
according to Palestinian and Israeli newspapers.
-- Injuries: Several Palestinian and Israeli youths suffered
minor injuries in scuffles that broke out near Jaffa Gate in
Jerusalem,s Old City on March 27, according to Palestinian
newspapers.
-- Injuries: Settlers beat up three Palestinian youths
during a settler demonstration in Hebron on March 27,
according to Palestinian newspapers.
-- Injuries: One IDF soldier was shot and injured in an
arrest operation in Jenin on March 28, according to Israeli
radio.
-- Attacks: Settlers from Yitzhar settlement, near Nablus,
threw stones at and broke windows in Palestinian homes in
Asira al-Qibilya village on March 25, and were dispersed by
the IDF, according to Palestinian sources.
-- Attacks: A total of five firebombs were thrown at Israeli
vehicles in the West Bank on March 27, in incidents near
Helmesh settlement, west of Ramallah, and Salem village near
Nablus, according to Israeli and Palestinian media.
-- Arrests: The IDF arrested two Israeli soldiers on March
27 on suspicion of selling an M16 to a Palestinian near
Jenin, according to Israeli newspapers.
-- Arrests: Two Jewish settlers, apparently drunk, were
arrested by Israeli police for trying to enter the Haram
al-Sharif/Temple Mount on March 27, according to Israeli and
Palestinian newspapers.
-- Arrests: The IDF arrested eight PIJ members in and around
Jenin on March 28 for attempting to manufacture rockets,
according to Israeli security sources quoted on Israeli radio.
6. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:
-- The Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC), a key Fatah
governing body, began a two-day meeting on March 27 in Gaza.
The FRC is discussing holding primaries to identify the
candidates who will run on Fatah,s party slate in July PLC
elections. President Abbas, Prime Minister Quraya,, FM
al-Qidwa and other PA officials in the FRC are currently
attending.
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KURTZER