Cablegate: Wb/G Sitrep: April 20, 2005 (1500 Hours Local) --

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 JERUSALEM 001633

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NEA FOR FO; NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; DEPT FOR
DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PBTS PHUM KWBG KPAL IS ASEC
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: APRIL 20, 2005 (1500 HOURS LOCAL) --
SHOOTINGS IN THE OLD CITY OF HEBRON AND IN THE GAZA STRIP
RESULT IN NO INJURIES.

This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable.

1. (SBU) Summary: In the West Bank, a Palestinian man was
hospitalized April 19 after he was shot by an Israeli
soldier. Palestinian militants also reportedly fired shots
at Bet Romano settlement in the Old City of Hebron April 19.
The IDF arrested five Palestinians April 19 in various areas
of the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, five shooting incidents
reportedly occurred April 19, but no casualties or injuries
resulted. End Summary.

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West Bank
---------

2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries: According to Palestinian reports, a Palestinian
taxi driver was hospitalized April 19 after an Israeli
soldier shot him following a heated argument. According to
witnesses, the argument began when the soldier refused to
allow the children of the taxi driver to pass through the
Bayt Eiba roadblock, near Nablus.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, two Palestinian
Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members were arrested in the village of
Silat Harthiya, near Jenin, April 19. IDF forces entered the
village and surrounded a house, briefly exchanging fire with
the two wanted militants before they eventually turned
themselves in.

-- Detentions: According to Palestinian reports, the IDF
closed the area of the Old City of Hebron near Bet Romano,
after Palestinian militants fired shots on April 19. The IDF
detained 30 to 40 Palestinians following the shootings but
released most of them the same day. (see "Security
Incidents.8)

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, IDF soldiers
arrested three Palestinians at checkpoints north of Ramallah
and near Tulkarm April 19. Two of those arrested were
Palestinian military intelligence officers, and the third was
a Palestinian Authority (PA) police officer.

-- Shooting: According to Palestinian sources, Palestinian
militants reportedly fired shots at Bet Romano settlement in
the Old City of Hebron on April 19, but no injuries were
reported (see 8Arrests.8)

3. (SBU) CONFISCATIONS:

According to Palestinian media, the IDF issued confiscation
orders April 19 for 338 dunums (approximately 85 acres) of
Palestinian land near Bayt Hanina, north of Jerusalem,
reportedly for "military purposes."

----
Gaza
----

4. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries: Nil.

-- Mortars/Rockets: Nil.

-- Shootings: According to Israeli media, five shooting
incidents occurred in the Gaza Strip April 19, but no
casualties or injuries resulted. The media said that shots
were reportedly fired by unidentified persons at Israeli
troops on the Karni-Netzarim road and in Gush Katif, Morag
and the Rafah area. The IDF reported that Palestinians shot
at IDF soldiers April 19 at outposts near Neve Dekalim and
Toufah, and in Morag, but no casualties or injuries resulted.

-- Explosions: Nil.

5. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil.

6. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic
artery, was open April 20, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction. Abu Khouli checkpoint was open.

-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a
limited number of Palestinians
April 19, and 4,800 laborers and 360 merchants crossed into
Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open April 19 and 670
laborers entered.
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers April
20, but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction.
-- Karni Terminal was open April 20.
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures April
20.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed April 20. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi.
Pearce

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