Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04TELAVIV2235
2004-04-16 15:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND: #72; APRIL 16, 1700

Tags:  KWBG PTER ASEC PHUM CASC KPAL 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002235 

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: #72; APRIL 16, 1700
HOURS LOCAL -- PALESTINIAN KILLED NEAR RAMALLAH,
DEMONSTRATIONS IN GAZA PROTEST BUSH-SHARON JOINT STATEMENT

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002235

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: #72; APRIL 16, 1700
HOURS LOCAL -- PALESTINIAN KILLED NEAR RAMALLAH,
DEMONSTRATIONS IN GAZA PROTEST BUSH-SHARON JOINT STATEMENT

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


1. (SBU) Summary. In the West Bank, IDF fire killed one
Palestinian demonstrator near Ramallah and injured nine near
the Old City. The IDF arrested seven Palestinians including
a 28-year-old woman carrying a bag of explosives. In Gaza,
Hamas and Islamic Jihad organized demonstrations in support
of Palestinian prisoners and against the Bush-Sharon
statement. End Summary.

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


2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: The IDF killed one Palestinian April 16 during
clashes that erupted in Bitunia, near Ramallah, after Friday
prayers. Demonstrators protested the separation barrier and
chanted slogans denouncing assurances given this week to
Israel.

-- Injury: The IDF injured nine Palestinians in Hebron April
16 when it used force to disperse demonstrators near the Old
City.

-- Shooting: Nil.


3. (SBU) ARRESTS:

-- The IDF arrested a 28-year-old Palestinian woman, who was
carrying a bag containing 25-kg of explosives, April 15 near
Ariel settlement. The explosives reportedly were intended
for use in a non-suicide bomb attack. The woman, Fatan
Daraghmah, was reported to be the mother of six children.
She lives in Liban Sharqiya village and was said to be a
member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs, Brigades.

-- The IDF arrested seven Palestinians around the West Bank
April 15-16.


4. (SBU) CURFEWS/CLOSURES:

-- Israel limited attendance at Friday prayers at Al Aqsa
mosque to Jerusalem ID holders over the age of 45.


5. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- Demonstrations were held around the West Bank April 16 to
protest U.S. assurances given to Israel earlier in the week.
Protests were in held Ramallah, Janin, Nablus, Bethlehem,
Hebron, and several smaller towns and villages. The IDF used
force to break up at least three of the rallies.

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


6. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries: According to IDF sources, two Palestinians were
injured in IDF-initiated shootings near Han Yunes on April 15.

-- Mortars/Rockets/Shootings: According to IDF sources, IDF
troops initiated shooting and threw hand grenades west of
Khan Yunes; Palestinians fired two anti-tank missiles near
the Erez industrial zone and fired six mortar shells at
various locations April 15. Palestinians fired one mortar
shell near Netzarim village April 16.


7. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was closed at Netzarim junction and subject to random
closures at Abu Kholi April 16, according to UNRWA.

-- Erez Crossing was closed to Palestinian laborers but open
to merchants and internationals, and the Erez industrial zone
was open. At time of writing no information was available as
to the number of crossings into the zone or into Israel.

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

-- Karni Terminal, the only Gaza Strip-GOI crossing for the
import and export of goods, was open for Palestinian
containerized goods, according to UNRWA.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for Palestinians.

-- The Al-Mowassi checkpoints were closed at Tel al-Sultan
but open at Toufah.


8. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS

-- UNRWA reported that according to a final tally of results
of the April 15 IDF incursion into Rafah, 28 houses were
demolished, five were partially demolished, and 23 were
damaged, on Block J. Four houses were demolished in Salam.


9. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

-- UNRWA reported that on April 16 there were demonstrations
of approximately 3,000 Hamas supporters in Jobalya camp and
2,000 Islamic Jihad supporters near Beit Lahav to protest
statements made at the April 14 Bush-Sharon press conference.

-- UNRWA reported that approximately 2,000 people attended a
Gaza city memorial demonstration organized by Hamas in honor
of martyrs and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails April

16.


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