WB/G SITREP: ONE PALESTINIAN KILLED IN GAZA STRIP;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002059

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; 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 CASC IS
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: ONE PALESTINIAN KILLED IN GAZA STRIP;
35 MORTARS/ROCKETS FIRED AT ISRAELI TARGETS: MAY 20, 2005
(1600 HOURS LOCAL)


This is a joint Embassy/ConGen cable.


1. (SBU) Summary: In the Gaza Strip, IDF soldiers shot and
killed one Palestinian militant overnight May 19-20 and
wounded another during an early morning attack on the Kfar
Darom settlement with anti-tank rockets and mortar fire. No
Israelis were reported injured. The IDF and UNRWA reported
that Palestinian militants also fired some 35 mortars and
rockets at Israeli settler and IDF targets May 19-20. At
least one Qassam rocket was fired into Israel landing near
the Israeli town of Sderot. No Israeli injuries were
reported in any of these attacks. In the West Bank, the IDF
arrested five Palestinians during an early morning incursion
on May 20 into Nablus. The IDF confirmed on May 20 that
settler extremists stole ammunition and other equipment from
an IDF outpost in the Yizhar settlement. End summary.

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


2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: Nil.

-- Injury: Israeli settlers from the Ramat Yashai settlement
in Hebron on May 19 assaulted and injured an elderly
Palestinian woman. The woman was treated at a local hospital
with moderate injuries.


3. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Incursion/Arrests: The IDF on the morning of May 20
entered Nablus and arrested five Palestinians, three from the
Askar refugee camp and two from the Balatah refugee camp.
The IDF withdrew its forces from the city that same morning.

-- Demonstration: Palestinians in Nablus planned to hold a
demonstration May 20, following noontime prayers, to protest
the reported desecration of the Koran in Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba.

-- Ammunition/equipment stolen: IDF officials confirmed to
the Israeli daily Ha'aretz on May 20 that ammunition and
night-vision equipment had disappeared from the IDF post at
the Yizhar settlement on several occasions. The IDF
suspected that settler extremists took the ammunition and
other equipment in an attempt to carry out future attacks
against Palestinians. The IDF Central Command removed the
IDF outpost from the settlement several months ago.

-- Border Police sentenced: According to Israeli media
reports, the Jerusalem district court on May 19 sentenced two
Israeli Border policemen for their participation in the
beating and physical abuse of two Palestinians at a Border
Police post in Abu Dis last year. One of the two policemen
received a sentence of eight months in prison, while the
other was ordered to four months of community service. Two
other Border Police were previously sentenced, while a fifth
is currently awaiting sentencing.


4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- Fatah candidates on May 19 won at least 14 out of the 15
contested seats in municipal elections held in Al-Ram, north
of Jerusalem. Hamas did not win any seats.

-- PLO Negotiations Affairs head Sa'eb Erekat on May 19 held
talks with PM Sharon's chief of staff Dov Weissglas.
According to Israeli media reports, Erekat and Weissglas
agreed "in principle" to a June meeting between PM Sharon and
PA President Mahmud Abbas.

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


5. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death/Injury: UNRWA reported that IDF soldiers shot and
killed one militant overnight May 19-20 and wounded another
when a group of three attacked Kfar Darom settlement with
anti-tank rockets and mortar fire. No Israelis were reported
injured; the third militant escaped. According to UNRWA and
the IDF, the attack was launched from an unused UNRWA school
on the outskirts of the settlement. The school was heavily
damaged and the surrounding wall demolished by IDF responsive
tank fire (see "Mortars/Rockets").
-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF and UNRWA reported that
Palestinian militants fired some 35 mortars and rockets at
Israeli settler and IDF targets in the Gaza Strip May 19-20.
At least one Qassam rocket was fired into Israel, landing
near the Israeli town of Sderot. Palestinian militants fired
at least three anti-tank rockets at IDF outposts near Rafah
overnight May 19-20 according to the IDF. No Israeli
injuries were reported in any of these attacks.

-- Shootings: UNRWA and Israeli media reported numerous
instances of exchanges of fire as IDF soldiers responded to
mortar and shooting attacks overnight May 19-20.

-- Explosions: The IDF reported that IDF sappers found and
safely disposed of one IED north of Nahal Oz Crossing May 19,
and another near an IDF outpost southwest of Khan Yunis the
same day.


6. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open May 20, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction. Abu Khouli checkpoint closed at midday, according
to local sources.

-- Erez Crossing was closed May 20.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was closed May 20.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers May 20,
but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction.

-- Karni Terminal was closed May 20, after two mortar rounds
fell nearby.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures May

20.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed May 20. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males
aged 16-30.


7. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- Media and Palestinian sources reported that a Palestinian
Appellate court invalidated municipal election results in
Bayt Lahiya and al-Bureij May 19, in response to suits
brought by Fatah alleging election fraud. The court ruled
that all results from all polling stations that used their
basis and four regular polling stations in al-Bureij should
be annulled. Results from two civil registry stations and
three regular stations were annulled in Bayt Lahiya.
Election results in al-Mughragha were reportedly upheld after
a separate appeal against the results there was found to be
without basis by the court.






Connelly