WB/G SITREP: FIVE PALESTINIANS AND ONE ISRAELI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001636 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: FIVE PALESTINIANS AND ONE ISRAELI INJURED IN THE WEST BANK; PALESTINIANS LAUNCH TWO ROCKETS IN THE GAZA STRIP -- MARCH 18, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: West Bank settlers wounded five Palestinian workers were wounded in an attack in Nahliel and an Israeli woman was lightly wounded by a metal object thrown at her car in the West Bank March 18. Palestinians launched two rockets in the Gaza strip March 17, but no injuries occurred. End Summary. -------------- West Bank -------------- ¶2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Injuries: According to Palestinian and Israeli media, five Palestinian workers were wounded in an attack by West Bank Jewish settlers in the settlement of Nahliel, west of Ramallah, on March 17. The settlers severely beat the Palestinian workers with stones and clubs. -- Injuries: According to Palestinian and Israeli media, an Israeli woman was lightly wounded when a metal object was thrown at her vehicle near Hawara, in the Nablus area, on March 17. -- Injuries: According to Palestinian sources, a young Palestinian man was lightly injured when an Israeli settler attacked him in the old city of Hebron on March 17. -- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, three Hamas members were arrested in the Ramallah and Nablus areas on March 17. -------------- Gaza -------------- ¶3. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Injuries: Nil. -- Mortars/Rockets: According to UNRWA, Palestinians launched one rocket at Netzarim March 17 and another rocket at Ganei Tal, but no injuries resulted. -- Shootings: Nil. -- Explosions: According to UNRWA, overnight March 17-18 an explosion occurred in the northern Gaza strip. No injuries occurred. ¶4. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. ¶5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: -- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic artery, was open March 18, with a major detour at Netzarim Junction. Abu Khouli was open March 18. -- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a limited number of Palestinians March 17, and 1,550 laborers and 190 merchants crossed into Israel. -- The Erez Industrial Zone was open March 17, and 549 laborers entered. -- Sufa Crossing was closed March 18. -- Karni Terminal was open March 18. -- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures March ¶18. -- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed March 18. Toufah checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. ¶6. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: -- In Gush Katif, 10,000 people attended a mass prayer rally March 17 in Neve Dekalim to protest Gaza disengagement. No injuries or arrests occurred. ********************************************* ******************** 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