THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND: #69, APRIL 10-13,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002163

SIPDIS

NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD
NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR
DS/IP/NEA; DRL FOR A/S CRANER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN
USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FFP
CENTCOM FOR GENERAL ABIZAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG PTER ASEC PHUM CASC KPAL
SUBJECT: THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND: #69, APRIL 10-13,
2004 - 1700 LOCAL; TWELVE AL-AQSA MILITANTS ARRESTED AFTER
CIVIL DISPUTE; IDF KILLS TWO PALESTINIANS IN OPERATION AT
NETZARIM SETTLEMENT


THIS IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM CONGEN JERUSALEM AND EMBASSY TEL
AVIV


1. (SBU) Summary. Four Palestinians were killed by IDF fire
over the reporting period, including a 12 year old girl who
lived near Gani Tal settlement in Gaza. In the West Bank, 12
al-Aqsa Brigade members were arrested after they tried to
abduct an accused collaborator in Qalqilya. In Gaza there
was heavy mortar and rocket firing near Khan Younis, and
laborers staged a sit-in strike at the Erez industrial zone.
The Erez checkpoint will be closed to both laborers and
merchants at least through the Independence day holiday. The
Islamic and National Powers staged demonstrations over the
weekend in Gaza city and Nuseriat camp. End Summary.

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


2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: Israeli soldiers shot and killed one Palestinian
during an incursion into Aqraba village, south of Nablus, on
April 11.

-- Injury: Israeli troops shot and injured one Palestinian
during an incursion into Nablus on April 13.

-- Injury: Israeli troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets
at a crowd in Durra on April 10, wounding 12 Palestinians.
The IDF arrested five Palestinians from Durra after the
clashes.

-- Injury: Three Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation
during clashes with the IDF over the separation barrier in
Baytuniya, near Ramallah, on April 9.

-- Shootings: Shots were fired at IDF patrols in Tulkarm and
Jenin on April 12. No injuries were reported.



3. (SBU) SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS/ARRESTS:

-- Israeli troops arrested 13 Palestinians from Bethlehem,
Hebron, and Jenin on April 12. The IDF arrested 18
Palestinians from across the West Bank on April 11.

-- The IDF raided the Tulkarm District Coordination Office
(DCO) on April 11, and checked IDs of Palestinian employees
there before withdrawing. No injuries were reported.

-- PA police arrested 12 al-Aqsa Brigades militants in
Qalqilya on April 11 after they tried to abduct an accused
collaborator.


4. (SBU) CONFISCATIONS:

-- IDF troops occupied two buildings during an incursion into
Nablus on April 13. The soldiers later withdrew from one of
the buildings, and established an observation post on the
roof of the other.

-- Jewish settlers took over the al-Aqtab Mosque in Hebron on
April 12.


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


5. (SBU) ATTACKS:

--Deaths: 3. On 4/10 Iman Tolba, 12 years old, was shot dead
near Gani Tal settlement in Gush Katif. UNWRA reported that
IDF fire from the settlement was responsible. On 4/12 IDF
fire killed two Palestinians and wounded a third at Netzarim
settlement. The IDF identified the three men as armed
terrorists attempting to carry out an attack on the
settlement.

--Injuries: Nil.

--Mortars/Rockets/Shootings: The IDF reported that
Palestinian militants fired nine mortar shells over the
reporting period. They also reported that five Qassam
rockets were fired, several at Kefar Dorum and Neveh Dekelim
settlements.


5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS

--Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open for Palestinians.

--Erez Crossing was closed for the Pesach holiday. The Erez
industrial zone was open from 10/4 to 12/4 with 1,842, 1,781,
and 1,592 laborers entering respectively. According to
UNWRA, Erez industrial zone workers staged a sit-in strike in
response to IDF tightening of border crossings. On Tuesday
4/13, Erez crossing was closed to both laborers and
merchants, and the IDF says it will remain closed at least
through the Independence day holiday.

--Sufa Crossing was open for materials but not for laborers.

--Karni Terminal was partially open for the import and export
of goods into the Gaza Strip. Only un-containerized
Palelstinian goods were allowed to enter or exit Gaza.
Containerized UNWRA goods were allowed to enter and exit Gaza
but at a very slow rate due to 100% checks. On 4/12 the IDF
closed the crossing due to the Pesach holiday.

--Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures from
0900 hrs to 1700 hrs.

--Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed but Toufah checkpoint
was open for Al Mawasi residents. Male Palestinian residents
between 18-40 years of age could only return with prior
coordination wtih the IDF.


6. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS
-- UNWRA reported that on 4/12 IDF forces demolished a
three-story home near Netzarim settlement. The house
belonged to Abu Kutsa but had been used by the IDF as an
observation post for several months.


********************************************* ********************
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.
********************************************* ********************
LeBaron