Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05JERUSALEM4288
2005-09-12 15:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

DISENGAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT, SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 004288 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NSC FOR ABRAMS/MUSTAFA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG KPAL PREL ECON EAID PINS IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: DISENGAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT, SEPTEMBER 12, 2005
(AS 0F 1500 LOCAL TIME)


This is a joint message from Consulate General Jerusalem and
Embassy Tel Aviv.

This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JERUSALEM 004288

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NSC FOR ABRAMS/MUSTAFA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG KPAL PREL ECON EAID PINS IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: DISENGAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT, SEPTEMBER 12, 2005
(AS 0F 1500 LOCAL TIME)


This is a joint message from Consulate General Jerusalem and
Embassy Tel Aviv.

This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: As of 0900 local time September 12, all
settlers and IDF personnel had departed the Gaza Strip. PA
security forces took over Gaza settlement areas in stages
before dawn September 12. Rafah crossing was closed in both
directions by Israel, pending an agreement on border crossing
arrangements, but the IDF no longer has a presence at the
crossing and hundreds of Palestinians crossed Rafah on foot
September 12. Egyptian border guards shot and killed one
Palestinian and injured two others while dispersing crowds
that overran the border crossing. Palestinian press quoted
PA President Mahmud Abbas September 11 calling Gaza "a giant,
open-air prison that remains occupied if Israel remains in
control of the border crossings, particularly Rafah." The
Israeli Cabinet voted September 11 to leave Gaza synagogues
intact. Palestinian crowds entering Kfar Darom, Netzarim and
Morag settlements set fire to synagogues there, according to
UNRWA, late September 11. Palestinians also looted and
burned some businesses in the Erez Crossing Industrial Zone.
Unknown militants fired a Qassam rocket toward Sderot
September 11 and another on September 12, but no injuries or
damage resulted. Poll results released September 11 indicate
that 84 percent of Palestinians see Israel's disengagement
from Gaza as the result of Palestinian armed resistance, with
40 percent giving primary credit to Hamas. The poll also
shows, however, strong preference for maintaining a ceasefire
with Israel. End Summary.


2. (SBU) DISENGAGEMENT FROM SETTLEMENTS, CROSSINGS

Gaza Strip:

-- IDF Redeployment: According to Israeli media and UNRWA
reports, Gaza IDF commander BG Aviv Kochavi departed the Gaza
Strip at 0900 this morning through Kissufim crossing, the
last Israeli to leave Gaza after remaining IDF units
conducted a staged withdrawal on September 11. All settlers
and Israeli civilian workers have already left Gaza.


-- PA Security Takeover: According to UNRWA, PA security
forces took over Gaza settlement areas in stages, starting
with Morag and ending with Elei Sinai and Dugit, before dawn
September 12. Large crowds accompanied PA security forces to
the settlement areas to celebrate Israel's withdrawal. Large
groups of armed militants are also in the former settlement
areas, according to UNRWA.

-- Rafah crossing: While Rafah crossing is officially closed
in both directions by Israel, pending an agreement on border
arrangements, the IDF no longer maintain a presence at Rafah.
Palestinian media reported that hundreds of Palestinians and
some Egyptians crossed both into Egypt and into Gaza on
September 12. IDF South Command Liaison Major Singer
reported that many Palestinians had crossed via Rafah into
Egypt, but that 25 had been turned back. One "smuggler" had
been killed by the Egyptians and two wounded, according to
Major Singer. (Palestinian sources also claim that Egyptian
border guards shot and killed a Palestinian man on September
12--see "Security Situation" below). Press reports quote
Egyptian presidential spokesman Sulayman Awad as denying
reports of a killing. Palestinian press quoted PA President
Mahmud Abbas September 11 calling Gaza "a giant, open-air
prison that remains occupied if Israel remains in control of
the border crossings, particularly Rafah." USAID is looking
into the possibility of providing technical support to
facilitate opening of Rafah crossing.

-- Erez crossing is open to international/humanitarian
traffic but closed to private Palestinian movement from Erez
into Israel, according to UNRWA.

-- Erez Industrial Zone: Early on September 12,
approximately 200 Palestinians entered the Erez Industrial
zone and began looting businesses, according to Gaza
businessmen and IDF contacts. Some buildings were set
ablaze. The &few dozen8 PA security personnel at the scene
could not handle the mob, according to an IDF officer. A
Gaza businessman complained that the PA had not worked with
the IDF to maintain security as the Israelis withdrew.

-- Philadelphi Corridor: The IDF completed withdrawal from
the Philadelphi Corridor September 12, with 500 Egyptian
border police beginning deployment there.

-- Synagogues/Structures: The Israeli Cabinet voted September
11 to leave Gaza synagogues intact, reversing course from
previous plans to dismantle or demolish the synagogues.
Palestinian crowds entering Kfar Darom, Netzarim and Morag
settlements set fire to synagogues there, according to UNRWA,
late September 11. PA Interior Minister spokesman Tawfiq Abu
Khusa told Arabic-language media September 11 that the PA
would demolish the synagogues and other public buildings if
the IDF declined to do so, as buildings still standing have
been gutted of their interior fixtures, and may have
structural stability problems.

-- Greenhouses: At 0200 September 12, 1,500 Palestinian
workers, now employed by the Palestinian Economic Development
Company, entered the Gush Katif greenhouses to begin sowing
the crop for the new planting season and to prevent looting
or damage to the greenhouses.

West Bank:

-- While all settlers have departed or were removed from
northern West Bank settlements Ganim, Kadim, Sa Nur and
Homesh, the IDF remains in these areas, according to Israeli
newspapers and PA security sources, and at the nearby Dotan
IDF base. IDF sources told Israeli newspapers that
redeployment from these areas will take place next week, and
that the IDF will complete demolition of civilian/military
structures when it departs.



3. (SBU) SECURITY SITUATION:

Gaza Strip:

-- Death/Injuries: According to PA security sources,
Egyptian border guards shot and killed a Palestinian man and
injured two others while dispersing crowds that overran the
Rafah border crossing September 12.

-- Kidnapping: According to PA security sources, three
Palestinian gunmen, reportedly belonging to al-Aqsa Martyrs
Brigades and demanding an increase in government stipends,
kidnapped an Italian journalist in Dir al-Balah September 10,
but released him several hours later.

-- Injuries: The IDF shot and injured 11 Palestinians with
rubber-coated bullets during stone-throwing clashes around
the demolished Neve Dekalim settlement September 11,
according to Palestinian newspapers.

-- Missile Attack: Palestinian militants fired an anti-armor
missile toward an IDF outpost in northern Gaza September 11,
according to PA security sources, but no injuries or damage
resulted.

-- Qassams: Unknown militants fired a Qassam rocket toward
Sderot September 11, and another September 12, according to
an IDF spokesman, but no injuries or damage resulted.

-- Shooting: Unknown gunmen fired shots at the PA Interior
Ministry's spokesman's office, but no injuries or damage
resulted, according to PA security sources.

-- Violence: Al-Aqsa gunmen briefly took over PA Interior
Ministry and Governorate offices September 10 in Khan Yunis
and Dir al-Balah to demand jobs and salary payments,
according to Palestinian newspapers.

West Bank:

-- Arrests: The IDF arrested two Palestinian women,
separately, in Hebron and Tulkarm September 11 for allegedly
planning attacks against IDF soldiers, according to Israeli
newspapers.

-- Explosives: The IDF reported September 11 that it
discovered two pipe bombs at the Huwwara checkpoint, near
Nablus, during a routine walk-around inspection.

-- Confiscations: Palestinian newspapers reported September
12 that the IDF issued confiscation orders for 578 dunums
(about 146 acres) of land south of Bethlehem for construction
of the separation barrier.


4. (SBU) PALESTINIAN REACTIONS:

-- PA Prime Minister Ahmad Quraya' (currently in Saudi
Arabia) published an op-ed in Palestinian newspapers
September 12 calling Israel's disengagement from Gaza the
result of Palestinian steadfastness and popular resistance.
He called for Palestinians, amidst their celebrations, and
for the international community, not to lose sight of
continuing Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and
actions undermining Jerusalem's status as the future
Palestinian capitol.

-- Poll Results: According to a poll conducted by the
Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (headed by
Ramallah-based Khalil Shikaki) and released September 11, 84
percent of Palestinians see Israel's disengagement from Gaza
as the result of Palestinian armed resistance. 40 percent
give primary credit to Hamas for disengagement, while 21
percent assign credit to the PA and 11 percent credit Fatah.
77 percent of Palestinians support a ceasefire with Israel,
however, with 62 percent opposing continued attacks against
Israel from the Gaza Strip, and 60 percent supporting
collection of arms from Gaza's armed factions. 74 percent of
Palestinians polled said that they plan to vote in PLC
elections (scheduled for January 2006),with 47 percent
saying that they plan to vote for Fatah, 30 percent for
Hamas, 11 percent for other groups, and 11 percent undecided.

-- Hamas Press Conference: Hamas spokesman Isma'il Haniyya
held a press conference September 12 in which he called
disengagement the result of steadfast Palestinian resistance
to occupation. He called on Palestinians to celebrate
Israel's withdrawal and to continue resistance to force
Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Jerusalem.
WALLES