WB/G SITREP: FEBRUARY 28, 2005 (1200 HOURS LOCAL)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 001170

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE;
NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHIE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR
DS/IP/NEA;
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP, PRM FOR
DEWEY/GREENE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: FEBRUARY 28, 2005 (1200 HOURS LOCAL)
-- FIVE DEAD AND MORE THAN 50 INJURED IN TEL AVIV SUICIDE
BOMBING


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


1. (SBU) Summary: A suicide bomber affiliated with
Palestinian Islamic Jihad detonated an explosive device
outside a Tel Aviv nightclub at 2320 hours February 25,
killing four people and injuring another 55 Israeli
civilians, five of them severely and eight moderately. A
fifth victim died of her injuries overnight February 27-28.
The PA released a statement February 26 condemning the
bombing, charging that the attack sought to sabotage
Palestinian national interests, and promised to pursue the
perpetrators. PA President Abbas also met on February 26
with PA security chiefs and ordered immediate action in
response to the bombing. On February 26, the IDF imposed a
curfew on the West Bank village of Deir al-Ghusun, near
Tulkarm, for several hours, arresting five Palestinians,
including two brothers of the Tel Aviv suicide bomber. The
IDF also arrested the local Imam in the village. PA Interior
Minister Nasir Yusif announced on February 26 that PA
security forces arrested three Palestinians from Deir
al-Ghusun suspected of being associates of the bomber. End
Summary.

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West Bank
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: In Qalqilya, a Hamas activist died on February 26
from injuries received during clashes with the IDF earlier
this month.

-- Attack/Injury: An Israeli Border Policeman shot and
wounded a Palestinian woman on February 26 outside the
Ibrahim Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron after the
woman attempted to stab the policeman with a knife.


3. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Curfew/Arrests: The IDF on February 26 imposed a curfew on
the West Bank village of Deir al-Ghusun, near Tulkarm, and
arrested five Palestinians, including two brothers of the Tel
Aviv suicide bomber. The IDF also arrested the local Imam in
the village. The IDF lifted the curfew several hours later
(see "Israel").

-- Arrests: Palestinian Authority (PA) Interior Minister
Nasir Yusif announced on February 26 that PA security forces
arrested three Palestinians from Deir al-Ghusun in connection
with the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. The three arrested men
are suspected on being associates of the bomber.

-- Arrests: The IDF arrested nine Palestinians February 27 in
the villages of Idhna, near Hebron, and Illar and Attil
villages, near Tulkarm. One of the arrested individuals
includes an officer from the PA intelligence service, the
Mukhabarat.

-- Incursions/Arrests: The IDF entered overnight February
27-28 the Balata refugee camp near Nablus and Ramallah,
arresting at least five Palestinians.

-- Arrests: Israeli police announced on February 27 the
arrest of eight individuals, five Israelis and three
Palestinians, suspected of fraudulently acquiring and selling
West Bank land owned by Palestinians.

-- Security Development: The IDF on February 26 imposed as
many as 13 flying checkpoints in the northern West Bank in
response to the February 25 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

-- Security Development: Palestinian gunmen on February 27
fired gunshots at an Israeli vehicle traveling near the
village of Zawiya in the northern West Bank. There were no
injuries reported from this incident.


4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- The PA on February 26 released a statement that condemned
the February 25 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, charging that
the attack sought to sabotage Palestinian national interests,
and promised to pursue the perpetrators. PA President Abbas
also met on February 26 with PA security chiefs and ordered
immediate action in response to the bombing.

-- PA security advisor Jibril Rajoub declared that the
Palestinian factional talks scheduled to take place in Cairo
on March 5 are postponed until March 15 in the wake of the
February 25 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.

-- PA President Abbas departed Ramallah on February 27 for
Amman, en route to the United Kingdom to attend the March 1
London Conference.

-- Palestinian media reported that Prime Minister Quraya,
appointed PA Minister for Civil Affairs Minister Mohammad
Dahlan as the PA,s Coordinator on the Gaza Disengagement
Plan.

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


5. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Palestinian media reported that one Palestinian
died February 25 from injuries sustained earlier that day
when three Palestinians attempted to cross the Egyptian-Gaza
border at Rafah. The other two men were arrested, according
to Israeli media reports.

-- Injuries: Nil.

-- Mortars/Rockets: Nil.

-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants
launched one shooting attack at an IDF outpost south of Neve
Dekalim February 27.

-- Shootings: UNRWA reported that IDF soldiers opened fire
with machine guns for five minutes February 26 at a group of
Palestinian farmers attempting to approach their bulldozed
fields near Kfar Darom. No injuries were reported.

-- Explosions: Nil.


6. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS:

-- UNRWA reported that an IDF bulldozer leveled ground
northwest of Kfar Darom February 25.


7. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open February 26-28, with a major detour at
Netzarim Junction. Abu Khouli and Netzarim Junction are both
open 24 hours per day. Abu Khouli is open only for public
transportation; no private vehicles are allowed to cross.

-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a
limited number of Palestinians February 25-27, and 530
laborers and 35 merchants crossed into Israel February 25; 47
laborers and 16 merchants crossed February 26; and 978
laborers and 122 merchants crossed February 27.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open February 27, and 457
Palestinian laborers entered the zone. The Erez Industrial
Zone was closed February 25-26.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers February
27-28, but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction. Sufa was closed February 26.

-- Karni Terminal was partially open February 26-28.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures
February 26-28.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed. Toufah checkpoint
was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except for males
between the ages of 16-35.


8. (SBU) ISRAEL:

-- A suicide bomber affiliated with Palestinian Islamic
Jihad (PIJ) detonated an explosive device outside a Tel Aviv
nightclub at 2320 hours February 25, killing four people and
injuring another 55 Israeli civilians, five of them severely
and eight moderately. A fifth victim died of her injuries
overnight February 27-28.
-- According to media reports, the GOI decided to refrain
from responding militarily to the February 25 suicide attack.
The IDF will, however, resume operations, including targeted
killings, against PIJ activists, has delayed the expected
transfer of five West Bank towns to PA security control, and
has postponed indefinitely planned joint meetings to discuss
prisoner releases.

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