WB/G SITREP: APRIL 22, 2005 (1600 HOURS LOCAL) --

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001668

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NEA FOR FO; NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; DEPT FOR
DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PBTS PHUM KWBG KPAL IS ASEC
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: APRIL 22, 2005 (1600 HOURS LOCAL) --
11 PEACE ACTIVISTS INJURED IN THE WEST BANK, TWO SHOOTING
INCIDENTS IN THE GAZA STRIP RESULT IN NO INJURIES.

This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable.


1. (SBU) Summary: In the West Bank, 11 Palestinian and
foreign peace activists were lightly injured when hit by
rubber-coated bullets during clashes with the IDF in the
village of Bil,in, west of Ramallah, April 21. The IDF
found and defused a six-kilogram explosive device near Jenin
on April 21. Two detainees who are members of Palestinian
Islamic Jihad (PIJ) escaped from Tulkarm prison, April 22.
In the Gaza Strip, the IDF reported two shooting incidents
April 21, one near Neve Dekalim and one south of an IDF
outpost at Rafah, but no injuries occurred. According to
Israeli media April 22, sources in the Prime Minister's
office are reporting that Gaza disengagement will be
postponed until August 15. End Summary.

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West Bank
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS/ARRESTS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries: According to Palestinian reports, 11 Palestinian
and foreign peace activists were lightly injured by
rubber-coated bullets during clashes with the IDF in the
village of Bil,in, west of Ramallah, April 21. Activists
were protesting construction of the separation barrier on
lands belonging to village residents.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, IDF troops
entered Jenin April 21, conducted a major search operation,
and arrested three Palestinians.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, the IDF arrested
four Palestinians in the village of Dahariya, near Hebron,
April 22.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, the IDF
arrested a Fatah activist near Salfit, April 21.


3. (SBU) SECURITY INCIDENTS:

-- According to Palestinian media, the IDF found and defused
a six-kilogram explosive device in a near Jenin on April 21.

-- According to Palestinian reports, IDF entered Nablus on
April 21 and surrounded a house in Balata refugee camp. Two
members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs, Brigades, who were inside the
house, engaged in a brief shoot-out with the IDF, but managed
to escape. Following the incident, al-Aqsa Martyrs,
Brigades in Nablus announced that it is no longer committed
to the Sharm el-Sheikh ceasefire understanding, citing
continued Israeli operations against militants.

-- According to Palestinian reports, the IDF completely
sealed off the area around the enclave of settlements in the
Old City of Hebron, April 21. Reportedly, shots were fired
towards settlers, homes prompting the closure.

-- According to Palestinian reports, two detainees, Ahmad
Radad and Shafiq Marouf, both members of Palestinian Islamic
Jihad (PIJ),escaped from Tulkarm prison on April 22. They
had been arrested in connection to the February 2005 suicide
bombing in Tel Aviv. Palestinian Authority (PA) security
forces are looking for the escapees.

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Gaza
--------------


4. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries: Nil.

-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that three mortar shells
exploded April 22, two in the vicinity of an IDF outpost west
of Khan Yunis and one near Neve Dekalim, but no injuries
occurred.

-- Shootings: The IDF reported two shooting incidents April
21, one near Neve Dekalim and one south of an IDF outpost at
Rafah, but no injuries occurred.


5. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil.

6. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open April 22, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction. Abu Khouli checkpoint was closed.

-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a
limited number of Palestinians April 21, and 1,665 laborers
and 82 merchants crossed into Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open April 21. The number of
laborers who entered was not available.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers April
22, but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction.

-- Karni Terminal was open April 22.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures April

22.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed April 22. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males
aged between 16-30.


7. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- According to Israeli media April 22, sources in the Prime
Minister's office are reporting that the evacuation of
settlers from Gaza will be postponed until August 15. PM
Sharon reportedly announced the delay the week of April 11,
following a request from a Sephardic rabbi that the settlers
not be forced to move during the three-week period
commemorating the destruction of the First and Second
Temples. That period coincided with the originally scheduled
evacuation dates.
Pearce