Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05JERUSALEM3005
2005-07-14 14:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

WB/G SITREP: OPERATIONS IN TULKARM, GENERAL

Tags:  PTER PBTS PHUM KWBG CASC IS 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 003005 

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: OPERATIONS IN TULKARM, GENERAL
CLOSURE OF WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP ONGOING: JULY 14, 2005
(1600 HOURS LOCAL)

This is a joint Embassy/ConGen cable.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 003005

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: OPERATIONS IN TULKARM, GENERAL
CLOSURE OF WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP ONGOING: JULY 14, 2005
(1600 HOURS LOCAL)

This is a joint Embassy/ConGen cable.


1. (SBU) Summary: IDF operations in Tulkarm continued for
a second day following the July 12 suicide bombing in
Netanya, which killed five Israelis. A general closure
remains in effect for the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In Nablus, the IDF on the evening of July 13 shot and killed
a local leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The IDF
on July 13-14 arrested 10 PIJ activists in several West Bank
locations. In the Gaza Strip, Qassam rockets were fired in
the direction of the Israeli town of Sderot and at the Gush
Katif settlement in Gaza, but there were no reported
injuries. Other sporadic rocket, mortar, and shooting
attacks on July 13-14 resulted in no reported injuries.
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas is
scheduled to travel to the Gaza Strip to confer with the
leaders of Palestinian factions, including Hamas and PIJ, in
what Palestinian media reports described as an attempt to
preserve the calm agreed to by the PA and the factions in
Cairo last March. End summary.

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


2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: IDF soldiers operating in Nablus the evening of
July 13 shot and killed a Palestinian man alleged to be a
local Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader. According to
Israeli sources, IDF soldiers shot the PIJ member, who was
reportedly armed, as he attempted to evade capture.
Palestinian witnesses say that the man was meeting with a
British journalist when the IDF broke into his house and
chased him outside. Following the incident, the IDF withdrew
from Nablus.

-- Injury: Israeli settler youths on July 13 attacked and
lightly injured a Palestinian girl in Hebron.

-- Stoning/Injury: Israeli settlers on July 13 stoned
Palestinian vehicles in the vicinity of Jit village, west of
Nablus. One Palestinian sustained light injuries.

-- Settler Violence: Israeli settlers from Yizhar settlement
on July 13 set fire to a Palestinian vehicle and stoned homes

in Asira al-Qibliya village, south of Nablus. There were no
reported injuries from these incidents.


3. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Arrests: The IDF on July 13-14 arrested a total of 10 PIJ
activists in several localities throughout the West Bank,
including Hebron and Nablus.

-- Closure: The IDF is continuing operations in Tulkarm and
nearby Attil village following the July 12 suicide bombing in
Netanya.


4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas is
scheduled to visit the Gaza Strip to meet with the leaders of
the Palestinian factions, including Hamas and PIJ. According
to Palestinian sources, the purpose of the meeting is to
reaffirm the calm agreed to between the PA and the factions
in Cairo last March. Abbas is also expected to raise the
issue of coordination with the factions on Israeli
disengagement from Gaza.

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


5. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Nil.

-- Injuries: Nil.

-- Explosive Devices: The IDF reported that Palestinian
police found three explosive devices July 13: one near the
Dugit settlement, one near the Kissufim Crossing, and one
near the Gush Katif settlement. IDF soldiers dismantled the
latter two, according to the IDF. No injuries were reported.

-- Kidnapping: According to media reports, the British and
Austrian engineers who had been kidnapped and detained by
Palestinians in Gaza July 13 have been released following
negotiations between Fatah and the abductors. The two are
reportedly in good health.

-- Mortars: According to the IDF, a mortar was fired at
Israeli civilians July 14 in the vicinity of the Gadid. No
injuries were reported.

-- Rockets: According to Israeli media reports, one Qassam
rocket was fired at the Sapir College near Sderot causing
some property damage, and one was fired at Gush Katif
settlement, causing damage to a home. No injuries were
reported.

-- Shootings: The IDF reported two shootings July 13 aimed at
IDF targets: one near Rafiah Yam settlement and one near the
Kissufim Crossing. No injuries resulted.

-- Shootings: According to the IDF, one shooting occurred in
the early morning of July 14 targeting IDF soldiers near the
Rafiah Yam settlement. No injuries resulted.


6. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/INTERNAL CHECKPOINTS:

-- Erez Crossing was open to internationals only on July 14.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was closed July 14.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers on July
14, but was open for construction materials.

-- Karni Terminal was open on July 14.

-- Rafah Terminal was open on July 14 in both directions
without age restrictions.

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open on July 14 with the exception of the closure
noted below, with a major detour at Netzarim Junction.

-- Kissufim Junction, the main entry point to Gush Katif
settlement bloc, was closed to non-residents July 14.

-- Toufah checkpoint was open July 14, except to males aged
16-30.


7. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- The IDF is maintaining a general closure of the Gaza Strip
starting the morning of July 13. According to UNRWA, as a
result of the closing, thousands of Palestinians who have
work permits will not be allowed to enter Israel. The IDF
announced that the closure will remain in effect "until a
renewed security assessment is held."

-- After the IDF implemented a GOI order to bar non-resident
Israelis from entering the Gaza Strip and those areas to be
evacuated in the northern West Bank, a large traffic jam
formed at the Kissufim checkpoint, the main point of entry to
the Gush Katif settlement bloc in Gaza. The Israeli media
reported that the IDF arrested five protesters in the early
morning of July 14 and towed cars blocking the Kissufim
junction. The IDF is allowing non-resident Israelis who
obtain a permit to enter the Gaza Strip.
PEARCE