THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND APRIL 2, 2004 -- (1400

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002040 SIPDIS SENSITIVE NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; 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 IS GZ SUBJECT: THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND APRIL 2, 2004 -- (1400 HOURS LOCAL) -- ONE PALESTINIAN KILLED IN IDF INCURSION INTO RAFAH REF: TEL AVIV 1911 THIS IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM EMBASSY TEL AVIV AND CONGEN JERUSALEM. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Summary: One Palestinian was killed April 2 in a heavy exchange of fire that erupted between IDF soldiers and Palestinian militants during an IDF incursion into the al-Salaam area of the Rafah refugee camp. On April 1, UNRWA said in a press release that it was suspending delivery into Gaza of food aid for Palestinian refugees due to the unresolved issue of removing empty shipping containers from Gaza (see reftel and Tel Aviv septel). UNRWA said that failure to remove the empty shipping containers while still bringing in full ones would result in a bottleneck and prohibitive demurrage costs. In the West Bank, Israeli police shot six Palestinians with rubber bullets and injured about 30 other Palestinians with tear gas in response to stone-throwing by some worshippers at the Haram al Sharif complex April 2. The police made 20 arrests. Settlers in Hebron beat up a Palestinian boy April 1, and threw stones at an Arab bus in the northern West Bank, lightly injuring two babies, according to press reports. End Summary. -------------- West Bank -------------- ¶2. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Death: Nil. -- Injury: Israeli police shot six Palestinians with rubber bullets and injured about 30 other Palestinians with tear gas in response to stone-throwing by some worshippers at the Haram al Sharif complex April 2. The police made 20 arrests. -- Injury: Settlers in Hebron beat up a Palestinian boy April 1, according to press reports. One settler was also wounded in the incident. -- Injury: Settlers threw stones at an Arab bus in the northern West Bank, lightly injuring two babies, according to press reports. -- Shooting: Palestinians shot at an IDF jeep near Janin April 1, but caused no injuries. ¶3. (SBU) ARRESTS: -- The IDF arrested seven Palestinians throughout the West Bank April 1. ¶4. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS: -- Palestinians reported that the IDF destroyed a house west of Ramallah April 1. The house reportedly belonged to a Hamas member, Mohammad Hasan Adnan, imprisoned in Israel. ¶5. (SBU) SETTLEMENT EXPANSION/EVACUATION: -- Palestinians claimed that settlers took over four dunams of agricultural land April 1 outside Al Khadar village, near Bethlehem. -------------- Gaza -------------- ¶6. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Death: UNRWA reported that one Palestinian was killed April 1 during an IDF incursion into the al-Salaam area of the Rafah refugee camp (see "Incursions"). -- Injuries: Nil. -- Mortars/Rockets/Hand Grenades: The IDF reported Palestinians April 1 fired one mortar at Kfar Darom settlement, two mortars near Neve Dekalim, and one near Netzer Hazani. -- Shootings: The IDF reported one shooting attack near Gadid settlement April 1. -- Explosions: The IDF reported that two IEDs were discovered and safely deactivated south of Nahal Oz Crossing April 1. ¶7. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: -- UNRWA reported that IDF tanks and jeeps entered the Rafah refugee camp at approximately 0020 hours April 2, reportedly to search for tunnels used for the smuggling. Palestinian militants fired on the troops and one Palestinian man was shot and killed in the ensuing heavy crossfire. The operation was ongoing as of 1400 hours April 2. ¶8. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS: -- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic artery, was open for Palestinians. -- Erez Crossing was closed to Palestinians laborers April 2, but open for merchants over 28 years of age. The number of merchants crossing April 2 was unavailable. The IDF also allowed diplomats in vehicles and internationals on foot to cross. UN agencies, however, refuse to authorize their non-diplomatic staff to cross on foot; staff must wait to cross until they can join someone crossing in a diplomatic vehicle. The Erez Industrial Zone was closed April 2 due to a security alert, according to Israeli media. -- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers April 2, but open for the import into Gaza of aggregates used in construction. -- Karni Terminal was partially open for the import and export of goods into the Gaza Strip. Unpacked goods may enter, but no Palestinian shipping containers may enter or exit. On April 1, UNRWA said in a press release that it was suspending delivery into Gaza of food aid for Palestinian refugees due to the unresolved issue of removing empty shipping containers from Gaza (see reftel and Tel Aviv septel). UNRWA said that failure to remove the empty shipping containers while still bringing in full containers would result in a bottleneck and prohibitive costs. -- Rafah Terminal was open for Palestinian travelers. -- Information on the status of Tel al-Sultan and Toufah checkpoints April 2 was unavailable. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** KURTZER