WB/G SITREP: PA INTERIOR MINISTER FIRES JENIN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001243 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: PA INTERIOR MINISTER FIRES JENIN SECURITY CHIEFS AFTER CONFRONTATION WITH AL-AQSA BRIGADES; ONE PALESTINIAN ARRESTED IN WEST BANK; GAZA QUIET MARCH 2, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Palestinian Authority (PA) Interior Minister Nasir Yusif replaced all the PA security chiefs and deputies in Jenin during a March 1 visit to inspect the overall security situation in the city. The dismissals followed a confrontation that included a brief exchange of gunfire between members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Jenin and PA security officers. Unidentified individuals threw a firebomb at an Israeli bus near Nablus March 1, but no injuries were reported. The IDF entered Yatta village south of Hebron and arrested a PIJ activist on March 1. Gaza was reportedly quiet. End Summary. -------------- West Bank -------------- (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Injury: Nil. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY: -- Arrest: The IDF on March 1 entered Yatta village south of Hebron and arrested a Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) activist. The IDF withdrew from the village following the arrest. -- Security Incident: Unknown individuals on March 1 threw a firebomb at an Israeli bus near the settlement of Elon More near Nablus. There were no injuries reported from this incident. -- Clashes: Israeli settlers from the settlement of Itamar on March 1 attacked a number of Palestinian laborers, forcing the laborers to abandon a construction site. There were no injuries reported from this incident. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS/CONFISCATIONS -- Israeli bulldozers on March 1 destroyed 10 shacks used by Palestinian vendors in the northern Jordan Valley villages of Bardala and Ein el-Beida. -- The IDF on March 1 posted notices in the Palestinian village of Wadi Fukin, near Bethlehem, that it planned to demolish three water wells and a house there. -- Israeli bulldozers on March 1 uprooted olive trees in the Palestinian villages of Kufur Thulth and Masha in order to clear land for the building of a section of the separation barrier. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: -- Palestinian Authority (PA) Interior Minister Nasir Yusif replaced all the PA security chiefs and deputies in Jenin during a March 1 visit to inspect the overall security situation in the city. The dismissals followed a confrontation that included a brief exchange of gunfire between members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs, Brigades in Jenin and PA security officers. Al-Aqsa reportedly objected to Yusif,s visit to Jenin because the Interior Minister had failed to coordinate the visit with the local al-Aqsa commander, Zakaria Zubaydah. Yusif and Zubaydah later held private discussions, after which Zubaydah expressed his support for the Interior Minister and his efforts to bring security to the city. -- PA security advisor Jibril Rajoub denied Palestinian press reports that he is planning to travel to Syria to meet with leaders of Hamas and PIJ. He added that a meeting with Palestinian factions is tentatively set for March 15 in Cairo. -------------- Gaza -------------- (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Injuries: Nil. -- Mortars/Rockets: Nil. -- Shootings: Nil. -- Explosions: Nil. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: According to UNRWA, the IDF began a minor incursion into the Erez Industrial Zone area March 2, continuing ongoing construction work around Erez. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: -- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic artery, was open March with a major detour at Netzarim Junction. Abu Khouli was 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 March 1 and 950 laborers and 120 merchants entered Israel March 1. -- The Erez Industrial Zone was open March 1 and 350 Palestinians entered. -- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers March 2, but was open for the import of aggregates used in construction. -- Karni Terminal was open, but operating slowly March 2. -- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures March ¶2. -- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed March 2. Toufah checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except for males between the ages of 16-35. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** KURTZER