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Cablegate: Wb/G Sitrep: Clashes in Gaza City Between Pa

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 001996

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: CLASHES IN GAZA CITY BETWEEN PA
SECURITY FORCES: MAY 17, 2005 (1700 HOURS LOCAL)

This is a joint Embassy/ConGen cable.

1. (SBU) Summary: At least three Palestinians were shot
and injured the evening of May 16 in Gaza City during an
altercation that broke out between members of the PA civil
police and the anti-riot police unit. The ensuing gun battle
went on for several hours. In the West Bank, PA police on
May 16 discovered the remains of a Palestinian man and woman
in a water well near Jenin. The police are investigating,
but suspect that the dead Palestinians were killed more than
three years ago on suspicion of collaborating with Israel.
The IDF on May 16 conducted land-clearing operations near
Nablus. The Israeli High Court on May 16 revoked an
injunction that prohibited work on construction of the
separation barrier in the vicinity of the Ariel settlement.
End summary.

---------
West Bank
---------

2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: Nil.

-- Injury: Nil.

-- Bodies discovered: The PA police on May 16 discovered the
remains of a Palestinian man and woman in a water well in the
vicinity of Qabatiya village, south of Jenin. The police
suspect that the dead Palestinians were killed more than
three years ago on suspicion of collaborating with Israel.

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-- Shooting: Unknown gunmen on May 16 fired gunshots at an
Israeli vehicle traveling in the vicinity of 'Azzun village,
east of Qalqiliya. There were no injuries reported from this
incident.

3. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Incursions: The IDF on May 16 entered villages in the
Salfit district in search of wanted militants. There were no
arrests reported from these operations.

-- Arrest: Israeli Police on May 16 arrested a Palestinian in
Samu' village, south of Hebron, for killing his Israeli
mother-in-law and injuring his wife during a May 15 incident
in the Israeli city of Beersheva.

4. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS:

-- The IDF on May 16 destroyed three houses and an unknown
number of shacks in the northern West Bank villages of Zububa
and Ti'innik northwest of Jenin, for lacking of proper
building permits.

-- The IDF on May 16 leveled approximately 30 dunams of land
and uprooted trees around Kafr Qaddum, west of Nablus.

5. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- The Israeli High Court on May 16 revoked an injunction
that prohibited work on construction of the separation
barrier in the vicinity of the Ariel settlement.

----
Gaza
----

6. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries/Arrest: UNRWA reported that three Palestinians
were shot and injured the evening of May 16 in Gaza City
during an altercation that broke out between members of the
PA civil police and the anti-riot police unit. According to
Palestinian reports, civil police officers detained a member
of the police anti-riot unit for questioning. Other members
of the arrested man's unit then converged upon police
headquarters in an effort to free their colleague, firing
their weapons as they arrived. The ensuing gun battle went
on for several hours. While PA sources reported that as many
as 10 Palestinians were injured by gunfire, UNRWA could
confirm that only three Palestinians were admitted to
hospital.

-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that Palestinian
militants fired one mortar shell at Gani Tel settlement May
17.

-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants
launched two shooting attacks at IDF outposts near Rafiah
Yam, one on May 16 and the other on May 17.

7. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic
artery, was open May 17, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction.

-- Erez Crossing was open for Palestinians May 16, and a
total of 3,936 laborers and 182 merchants crossed into Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was closed May 16.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers May 17,
but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction.

-- Karni Terminal was open May 17.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures May
17.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed May 17. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males
aged 16-30.
Pearce

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