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.

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Gaza Strip
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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.

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