Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
04TELAVIV2455 | 2004-04-29 14:14:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Tel Aviv |
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 TEL AVIV 002455 |
1. (SBU) Summary. In the West Bank, IDF forces killed one suspected al Aqsa member and arrested three Fatah activists, and house demolitions and curfews continued in various locations. In the Gaza strip, individuals bombed the home of police chief Ghazi Jablai, one Palestinian was killed for suspected collaboration with Israeli forces, and the IDF tightened security at checkpoints in response to the attempted vehicular suicide-bombing of April 28. End summary. -------------------------- West Bank -------------------------- 2. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Death: One Palestinian was killed April 29 in Janin by other Palestinian gunmen, who shot him by mistake, according to Palestinian security sources. The incident was originally reported as a targeted killing by the IDF so that the man,s family could receive martyrs, benefits. ARRESTS: -- The IDF arrested three Fatah activists April 28 in Ramallah. 3. (SBU) DEMOLTIONS: -- The IDF destroyed two houses in Sura village April 28. The houses reportedly belonged to Hamas members who are jailed in Israel for trying to attack a settlement last year. 4. (SBU) CURFEW/CLOSURE: -- Bayt Sahour, south of Jerusalem, remained under curfew April 29 in the wake of an attempted shooting attack against nearby Har Homa settlement last weekend. -- Yabad village was under curfew April 29, as the IDF conducted searches in the village. -------------------------- Gaza Strip -------------------------- 5. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths: According to UNRWA, Palestinian gunmen shot and killed 39-year-old Jihad Silmi in Gaza city April 28, claiming that he was a collaborator. -- Injuries: According to UNRWA, one Palestinian was injured in a domestic dispute near Rafah. -- Mortars/Rockets/Shootings: According to UNRWA, Palestinians fired two mortars towards Neve Dekalim and two mortars towards Kefar Dorom. There was sporadic shooting by Palestinians in the Rafah area April 29 (see "incursions".) -- Explosions: A large explosion from a remote control bomb took place at the house of Chief of Police Ghazi Jabali in Gaza City at 0230 hours April 29. There were no injuries but the blast heavily damaged the ground floor of the building. UNRWA and Palestinian media sources report that this assassination attempt might have been a continuation of violence between Jabali's police and backers of rival Gaza strongman Mohammad Dahlan, which began in early February. 6. (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. UNRWA reports that the IDF has advised that diplomatic and Israeli vehicles will be subject to lengthy delays at Abu Kholi because the suicide bomb car they destroyed April 28 was disguised as an Israeli vehicle. -- Erez crossing was closed to Palestinians and subject to random closures for internationals, and the Erez industrial zone was closed April 29. -- Sufa Crossing was open for materials but not laborers April 29. -- Karni Terminal, the only Gaza Strip-GOI crossing for the import and export of goods, allowed Palestinian containerized goods both in and out of Gaza April 29. -- Rafah Terminal was open except to Palestinians between the ages of 16 and 35 April 29. -- The Al-Mowassi checkpoints were closed at Tel al-Sultan but open at Toufah April 29. 7. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS -- According to UNRWA and the IDF, IDF forces entered the Zurub area near Rafah with three tanks and two bulldozers in response to sporadic gunfire. Gunfire continued and Palestinians exploded a bomb under an IDF tank, and the tanks and bulldozers moved out of the area after approximately two hours April 28. ********************************************* ******************** 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 |