Cablegate: Wb/G Sitrep: Senior Fatah Official Killed In

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 TEL AVIV 003477

SIPDIS

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: SENIOR FATAH OFFICIAL KILLED IN
NABLUS: JUNE 4-6 (1500 HRS LOCAL)

This is a joint message from Embassy Tel Aviv and Consulate
General Jerusalem

1. (SBU) Summary: In the West Bank, the family of an
alleged Israeli collaborator reportedly killed a senior Fatah
official and his brother in Nablus, sparking demonstrations
at the Muqata,a in Ramallah. An IDF soldier and two foreign
national protesters were injured near Salfit in clashes
between the IDF and demonstrators over the construction of
the Ariel separation fence. Israeli bulldozers began
leveling Palestinian-owned lands in Bayt Surik in preparation
for the construction of the separation barrier northwest of
Jerusalem. In Nablus, 40 Palestinian gunmen attacked the
offices of the governor and the local Ministry of Interior,
demanding to be integrated into the PA security services. A
group of seventy Israelis entered the Haram al-Sharif (Temple
Mount) compound under police escort, sparking clashes with
Palestinians. The situation calmed down after police removed
the Israelis. In the Gaza Strip, IDF fire injured a
Palestinian youth near Neve Dekalim, and one suspected
militant near Khan Yunis. Near Rafah, nine armed Fatah
militants blocked the road into the terminal to protest not
being paid by the PA for three months. End summary.

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West Bank
---------

2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY:

-- Deaths: According to Palestinian reports, a senior Fatah
official and his brother were murdered in Nablus on June 3.
The killers were identified as four brothers, the children of
an alleged Israeli collaborator killed during the first
Intifada. Three of the brothers turned themselves in to
Palestinian security forces, and are currently in the Jericho
prison. The fourth brother surrendered to Israeli
authorities. The killings provoked demonstrations at the
Muqata,a in Ramallah on June 3-4 by family members of those
killed, and Fatah militants who demanded the execution of the
suspects. Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Ahmad
Quraya, (Abu Ala,a) met with the protesters and promised
that the case would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

-- Injuries: According to Israeli and Palestinian sources, an
IDF soldier and two foreign-national protestors were lightly
injured during clashes between the IDF and Palestinian,
Israeli and foreign demonstrators protesting the construction
of a security fence around Ariel settlement June 3. The IDF
detained, but subsequently released, nine demonstrators.

-- Injuries: According to Palestinian reports, two
Palestinians were injured when the IDF entered the village of
Dura, near Hebron, to search the house of a Palestinian man
released on June 2 from an Israeli prison.

-- Injuries: According to Palestinian media, one Palestinian
man sustained moderate injuries when he was beaten by IDF
soldiers as he tried to go through the barrier gate at Nazlat
Isa, north of Tulkarm, June 5. According to Israeli
sources, the man failed to obey IDF orders.

-- Arrests: Palestinian media sources reported that the IDF
arrested one Palestinian for throwing a Molotov cocktail at a
IDF jeep near Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah, June 3.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, the IDF
arrested two Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members near
Yatta June 3.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, IDF soldiers
arrested one PIJ member near Bethlehem June 3.

-- Arrests: Palestinian media reported four Palestinians
arrested by the IDF at the village of al-Qar,a, north of
Ramallah, June 4.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian reports, the IDF
arrested three Fatah members in Nablus June 4.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, the IDF arrested
three Fatah and two PIJ members in the villages of Kafr ,Ayn
and Dayr Husayn, near Ramallah, June 5.

3. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS

-- According to Palestinian media, IDF troops entered the
village of Biddya, near Qalqilya, on June 3, and confiscated
a stockpile of explosives.

-- According to Palestinian reports, Israeli bulldozers
started leveling Palestinian-owned lands in preparation for
the construction of the separation barrier in Bayt Surik,
northwest of Jerusalem. During a demonstration held by
Palestinian, Israeli, and foreign protesters June 4, four
people suffered from tear gas inhalation.

-- Palestinian press reported that settlers uprooted 200
olive trees at the village of Marda, near Nablus, June 4.

-- According to Palestinian reports, the IDF demolished one
house and five barns at the village of Imr Daraj, near Yatta,
June 5. According to the IDF, the structures lacked
appropriate permits, and were located in a closed military
area.

4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

-- Palestinian media reported that 40 Palestinian gunmen
attacked the offices of the governor of Nablus and the local
Ministry of Interior on June 4. The gunmen demanded job
guarantees, and asked to be incorporated into the Palestinian
security services. After the incident, the spokesman for the
Ministry of Interior said that they would consider the
demands of the gunmen.

-- According to Palestinian and Israeli reports, a group of
seventy Israelis, under Israeli police escort, entered the
Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) compound on June 6 to
commemorate Jerusalem Day. Israeli police reported that
Palestinians threw rocks at the group. According to the
Israeli media, the police escorted the group from the
compound, with two of the group members lightly injured.
Palestinian sources reported that no injuries were sustained
during the demonstration.

----------
Gaza Strip
----------

5. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries/shootings: According to UNRWA, IDF fire injured a
17-year-old Palestinian male when he approached the Neve
Dekalim settlement fence with a group of other Palestinian
youth June 6.

-- Injuries/shootings: According to the IDF, IDF fire injured
one suspected Palestinian militant near the IDF outpost north
of Khan Yunis June 5.

-- Mortars: According to the IDF, Palestinian militants fired
two mortar shells June 4-6, one near Nitzanim settlement and
one near Erez crossing.

-- Rioting: According to the IDF, Palestinian youths threw
stones at IDF soldiers and Israeli settlers during a riot
that took place near the IDF outpost south of Katif
settlement June 4.

-- Shootings: According to the IDF, Palestinian militants
engaged in three instances of shooting at IDF soldiers June
5-6, two west of Khan Yunis and one south of Rafah.

6. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS

-- Route Four (Salah Ed-Din Road), the main north-south
traffic artery, was open June 4-6, but closed at Netzarim
junction.

-- The Erez Crossing was open to internationals, diplomats,
and Palestinian laborers June 4-6.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open June 4-6.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for laborers, but open for
aggregates used in construction June 4-6.

-- Karni Terminal was open for the import and export of
materials June 4-6.

-- Rafah Terminal was open with age restrictions June 4-6
(see Political Developments below.)
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed, and Toufa checkpoint
was open with restrictions on males age 16-30, June 4-6.

7. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

-- According to UNRWA, eight armed Fatah militants blocked
the route to Rafah terminal June 4 and 5 in order to protest
not being paid by the PA for three months. They reportedly
stopped several high-level PA officials at the entrance to
the terminal and prevented them from exiting the Gaza Strip
by confiscating their passports.

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