WB/G SITREP: ISRAELI FORCES SHOOT AND INJURE THREE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001917 SIPDIS SENSITIVE NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE; NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DRL FOR A/S CRANER; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWBG PTER ASEC PHUM CASC KPAL SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: ISRAELI FORCES SHOOT AND INJURE THREE PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK: MARCH 29, 2005 (1100 HRS LOCAL) This is a joint message from Embassy Tel Aviv and ConGen Jerusalem. This message is sensitive. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian-made bomb detonated in the car of a prominent Gaza lawyer, injuring him lightly. Gazan militants fired on IDF positions, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured three Palestinians near Hebron and Nablus. Shots were fired at a UN vehicle near Jerusalem, and Palestinians threw firebombs at Israeli vehicles near Ofra and Shuqba, causing no injuries. The IDF arrested one Hamas member and two Fatah members. End Summary. -------------- Gaza Strip -------------- ¶2. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Injuries/Explosives: UNRWA reported that a Palestinian-made explosive device detonated in the car of prominent lawyer Majed Nemer el-Jefarawi March 29, injuring him in the leg and hand. UNRWA said it suspected the explosion was in protest of Jefarawi's candidacy in upcoming Legal Association elections. -- Shootings: The IDF reported three instances of shooting at IDF vehicles March 28-29. Of these, one took place west of Khan Younis, and two northwest of Rafah. No injuries were reported. ¶3. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS -- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic artery, was open March 29 at both Netzarim and Abu Khouli checkpoints. -- The Erez Crossing was open to diplomats, internationals, Palestinian laborers, and merchants March 29. At the time of this writing the number of Gazans to cross into Israel was unknown. -- Erez Industrial Zone was open March 29. At the time of this writing the number of Gazan laborers to enter the Zone was unknown. -- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian workers, but open for the import of aggregates used in construction, March 29. -- Karni terminal was open March 29. -- Rafah Terminal was open, without age restrictions, for Palestinians March 29. -- Tel al-Sultan and Toufa checkpoints were open March 29. ¶4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -- Israeli media reported that the removal of graves from the Gush Katif cemetery in tandem with Gaza disengagement will be carried out entirely by representatives of the Chief Rabbinate. -- Settler leadership met March 29 to revise its anti-disengagement strategy in light of the Knesset's March 28 rejection of referendum legislation. The leadership reportedly plans to enlist tens of thousands of people to enter the Gaza Strip and West Bank settlements slated for evacuation. -------------- West Bank -------------- ¶5. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Injuries: Israeli Border Police shot and injured a Palestinian man who approached a separation barrier construction site south of Hebron on March 28, according to Palestinian newspapers. -- Injuries: The IDF shot and injured two Palestinian brothers during an operation in Kufur Qalil, outside Nablus, on Match 28, according to Palestinian newspapers. -- Attacks: A firebomb was thrown at an Israeli bus traveling near Ofra settlement northeast of Ramallah on March 28, without causing any injuries or serious damage, according to Israeli radio and Palestinian newspapers. -- Attacks: A firebomb was thrown at an Israeli car near Shuqba village, north of Modi,in on March 28, without causing any injuries, according to Israeli radio. -- Attacks: Shots were fired at a UN vehicle in Jerusalem near Notre Dame on March 28, according to a UN spokesperson, without causing any injuries or damage. -- Arrests: The IDF arrested a youth Hamas member who was traveling in a vehicle near Bir Zayt, north of Ramallah, on March 28, according to Palestinian security sources. -- Arrests: The IDF arrested two Fatah members in Azun village, near Qalqiliya, on March 29, according to Palestinian newspapers. -- Curfews/Closures: After shots were fired at an IDF checkpoint near Huwara on March 27, the IDF entered and imposed a curfew on the village, blocking its entrance, on March 28, according to Palestinian sources. ¶6. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: -- The Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC),a key Fatah governing body, voted March 28 to hold primary elections to select candidates to run on Fatah,s party slate, according to FRC sources. -- After a meeting with PA President Abbas (Abu Mazen) in Gaza last night, Hamas leader al-Zahar told Palestinian media March 28 that Hamas has agreed to join the PLO and participate in PLO civil organs, provided that certain conditions are met, relating to the PLO,s operating structures and charter. ********************************************* ******************** 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