WB/G SITREP: JUNE 16, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) --

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002461

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: JUNE 16, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) --
FOUR MEMBERS OF PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD ARRESTED IN THE
WEST BANK, PALESTINIAN MILITANTS FIRE FIVE MORTAR SHELLS IN
THE GAZA STRIP


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


1. (SBU) Summary: In the West Bank, the IDF arrested four
members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) June 15. Israeli
settlers uprooted or set on fire 140 Palestinian-owned olive
trees near Nablus-area settlements. In the Gaza Strip, IDF
forces entered al-Mughragha overnight June 15-16 and arrested
one Palestinian. Palestinian militants fired five mortar
shells at IDF and settler targets in the Gaza Strip overnight
June 15-16, but no injuries were reported. End Summary.

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West Bank
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY:

-- Deaths/Injuries: Nil.

-- Arrests: Palestinian media sources reported that the IDF
on June 15 arrested three members of Palestinian Islamic
Jihad (PIJ) in Bani Zayd village, north of Ramallah, while
another PIJ member was arrested at a roadblock in the same
area.

-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian sources,
Israeli settlers uprooted 40 olive trees near the village of
Qaryout, south of Nablus, June 15.

-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian sources,
Israeli settlers set on fire about 100 olive trees near the
village of Kufr Qalil, near Nablus, June 15.


3. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS/CONFISCATIONS:

-- According to Israeli and Palestinian reports, Jerusalem
municipality bulldozers demolished two Arab homes in the East
Jerusalem neighborhoods of Al-Tur and Abu Tur June 15.
According to the municipality, the buildings were constructed
without permits.


4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

-- Palestinian media reported that an IDF commander in charge
of the Ramallah area, Col. Miki Idestein, announced that East
Jerusalem residents would be allowed to enter Ramallah and
any Area 'A' city in the West Bank without permits. The
commander's statements were reportedly made to refute rumors
that Israeli blue ID holders will be forced to apply for
permits in order to move to and from Ramallah, effective at
the end of July. The IDF commander also reportedly said that
four terminals for vehicles and seven for pedestrians to
check West Bank residents entering Jerusalem would be open by
August. The checkpoints at Atarot and Al-Ram would be
removed by the end of August, once the Qalandiya terminal is
completed, according to the media report.

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


5. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: Nil.

-- Injury: Nil.

-- Mortars/Rockets/Shootings: The IDF reported that
Palestinian militants fired a total of five mortar shells in
four separate attacks on IDF and Israeli settler targets in
the Gaza Strip overnight June 15-16.


6. (SBU) ARRESTS:

-- UNRWA reported that IDF forces entered al-Mughragha
overnight June 15-16 and arrested one Palestinian.


7. (SBU) PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES:

-- Palestinian sources reported that Gaza IDF commander BG
Kochavi met with Gaza NSF commander Sulayman Hillas June 15
in Gaza. The two discussed the increase in mortar and rocket
attacks and agreed to enhance cooperation at the field
commanders, level, according to Palestinian sources.


8. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open June 16, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction.

-- Erez Crossing was open June 15 and 3,376 laborers and 324
merchants crossed into Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open June 15, and 324
laborers entered.
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinians June 16, but was
open for the import of aggregates used in construction.

-- Karni Terminal was open June 16.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures June

16.

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


9. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- UNRWA reported that Fatah supporters demonstrated the
evening of June 15 in Khan Yunis in protest against the
reported desecration of the Koran in an Israeli prison.
PEARCE