Cablegate: Wb/G Sitrep: Palestinian Killed at West Bank

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 001987

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; 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 CASC IS
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: PALESTINIAN KILLED AT WEST BANK
CHECKPOINT; 14 PALESTINIANS ARRESTED IN WEST BANK AND GAZA:
MAY 13-16, 2005 (1800 HOURS LOCAL)

This is a joint Embassy/ConGen cable.

1. (SBU) Summary: In the West Bank, the IDF on May 16 shot
and killed a Palestinian as he approached an Israeli
checkpoint on foot near Tulkarm. The IDF on May 15 shot and
wounded two Palestinians who had thrown firebombs near 'Abud
village, northwest of Ramallah. In the Gaza Strip, four
Israeli civilians employed by the IDF and working on the
fence along the Gaza-Egyptian border in Rafah suffered from
shock and bruises on May 15 when Palestinian militants fired
an anti-tank rocket towards an IDF tank stationed along the
barrier. There were also reported instances of rocket,
mortar, and exchanges of gunfire between the IDF and
Palestinian militants, but no reported injuries. Some 5,000
Hamas supporters demonstrated May 13 in Jabaliya protesting
the alleged desecration of a Koran at the U.S. detention
center in Cuba. End summary.

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West Bank
---------

2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: A Palestinian woman on May 13 died during an IDF
operation in the vicinity of her home in Hebron. The
circumstances of the death are in dispute. Family members
claim that she died when the IDF raided her home, but IDF
sources claim that she died of a heart attack as they
attempted to evacuate her.

-- Death: The IDF on May 16 shot and killed a Palestinian as
he approached an Israeli checkpoint on foot near Tulkarm.
According to Israeli security sources, the Palestinian pulled
out a knife and attempted to stab one of the soldiers.
Palestinian sources deny the Israeli version of events.

-- Injuries: The IDF on May 15 shot and wounded two
Palestinians who had thrown firebombs near Abud village,
northwest of Ramallah. Both Palestinians were taken to an
Israeli hospital, where one of the injured Palestinians was
reported to be in serious condition.

-- Protest/Injuries: Israeli and Palestinian activists on May
15 demonstrated against the construction of the separation
barrier near Bil'in village, west of Ramallah. Several
demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation during the
protest. (See &Arrests8.)

-- Shooting: An Israeli settler on May 14 fired at a
Palestinian in the vicinity of settler agricultural fields
near Salim village, east of Nablus. The settler claimed that
the Palestinian, who managed to escape uninjured, had
attempted to set fire to the agricultural fields.

-- Shooting: Unknown gunmen on May 15 fired shots at the main
Palestinian Authority (PA) police station in Ramallah. There
were no reported injuries from this incident. PA police are
conducting an investigation, but suspect that the shooting
may be related to a scuffle between PA police and wanted
activists earlier that day.

3. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Arrests: The IDF on May 15 took into custody five Israeli
and one foreign activist during demonstrations in protest of
the construction of the separation barrier near Bil'in
village, west of Ramallah. The IDF also arrested the
coordinator of a Palestinian committee opposed to the
construction of the barrier. (See &Protest/Injuries8.)

-- Incursion/Arrest: The IDF on May 15 entered the Askar
refugee camp near Nablus and arrested two Fatah members.

-- Arrest: The IDF on May 15 arrested a Palestinian woman
when she pulled out a knife near an IDF checkpoint in Hebron.

-- Arrest: The IDF on May 15 arrested a PFLP activist in
Samu' village, south of Hebron, for reportedly planning to
carry out a terrorist attack.

-- Incursion/Arrests: The IDF on May 15 entered Tubas
village, northeast of Nablus, and arrested three
Palestinians. The IDF also confiscated a makeshift rifle and
ammunition.

-- Arrest: The IDF on May 15 arrested a Palestinian in Kafr
Qaddum, west of Nablus, who was among the 500 prisoners
released in February. The circumstances of the arrest are
unknown.

-- Arrest: The IDF on May 15 arrested a Palestinian at the
entrance of al-Khadr village, west of Bethlehem. The
Palestinian was in possession of an explosive device at the
time of the arrest.

-- Closure lifted: The IDF, with the exception of the Jenin
and Nablus areas, on May 15 lifted the total closure on the
West Bank that had been imposed in conjunction with Israeli
Memorial and Independence Day celebrations.

-- Security: The IDF on May 13 set up flying checkpoints on
the Wadi al-Bathan road, which links Nablus with the Jordan
Valley.

4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- PA President Abbas denied press reports, attributed to a
senior Fatah official, of any plans to delay PLC elections
scheduled for July.

----
Gaza
----

5. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injury: The IDF reported that the IDF shot and wounded a
Palestinian May 15 during riots that broke out near the
Israeli settlement of Neve Dekalim. UNRWA reported that the
injured Palestinian was a 12-year-old boy who was shot while
trying to raise a Palestinian flag over an IDF observation
post.

-- Injuries: Israeli media and UNRWA reported that four
Israeli civilians employed by the IDF and working on the
fence along the Gaza-Egyptian border in Rafah suffered from
shock and bruises May 15 when Palestinian militants fired an
anti-tank rocket towards an IDF tank stationed along the
barrier. The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) took
responsibility for the attack.

-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that Palestinian
militants fired two mortar shells at Netzer Hazani May 14,
and two more at Neve Dekalim May 15.

-- Mortars/Rockets: UNRWA reported that Palestinians fired
three mortar shells into the western Negev overnight May
15-16 from the area around the Sufa Crossing.

-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinians and IDF
soldiers exchanged fire near Rafiah Yam May 15 and again May
16 west of Khan Yunis. Two more exchanges of fire occurred
May 14, one near Rafah and the other near Neve Dekalim. IDF
soldiers and Palestinians also exchanged fire May 13 near
Neve Dekalim.

-- Explosions: UNRWA reported that IDF soldiers discovered
and destroyed a tunnel near the border fence with Egypt
opposite Bloc J of the Rafah refugee camp.

6. (SBU) ARRESTS:

-- The IDF reported that IDF soldiers arrested three unarmed
Palestinians May 15 as the three attempted to infiltrate into
Israel across the barrier fence.

-- UNRWA reported that two Palestinians were arrested May 14
trying to cross into Israel illegally.

7. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic
artery, was open May 14-16, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction.

-- Erez Crossing was closed May 14, but re-opened for
Palestinians May 15. A total of 3,770 laborers and 60
merchants crossed into Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was closed May 14-15.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers May
14-16, but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction May 15-16.

-- Karni Terminal was open May 14-16.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures May
14-16.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed May 14-16. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males
aged 16-30.

8. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- UNRWA and media reported that demonstrations took place
throughout the Gaza Strip May 15 to commemorate the 57th
anniversary of al-Nakba, or the Catastrophe, as Palestinians
term the establishment of the state of Israel. Rallies also
took place in the West Bank. Approximately 4,000 people
participated in the demonstration in Gaza City, according to
UNRWA.

-- UNRWA reported that some 5,000 Hamas supporters
demonstrated May 13 in Jabaliya protesting the alleged
desecration of a Koran at the U.S. detention center in Cuba.
Israeli and American flags were burned, according to UNRWA
reports.
Pearce

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