WB/G SITREP: NINE PALESTINIANS INJURED IN WEST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002255 SIPDIS SENSITIVE NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHIE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: NINE PALESTINIANS INJURED IN WEST BANK CLASHES -- APRIL 12, 2005 (1200 HOURS LOCAL) This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Palestinians in Nablus on April 11 clashed with IDF soldiers conducting arrest operations in the city, resulting in light injuries to nine Palestinians. Palestinian gunmen on April 11 opened fire and threw stones at a Palestinian Authority (PA) police station in Hebron, following a raid by the PA police on a local market to remove stalls illegally placed by vendors. The owners of the stalls attacked the police station, causing some damage but no reported injuries. The IDF arrested a total of six Palestinians overnight April 11-12 in the West Bank. In Gaza, Palestinian militants fired a total of 15 mortar shells and homemade rockets in nine separate attacks on IDF and Israeli settler targets overnight April 11-12 in the Gaza Strip, according to UNRWA. The IDF reported four mortar shells fired in three attacks during the same period. Neither UNRWA nor the IDF had any reports of injuries from the attacks. End Summary. -------------- West Bank -------------- ¶2. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Clashes/Injuries: Palestinians in Nablus on April 11 clashed with IDF soldiers conducting arrest operations in the city, resulting in light injuries to nine Palestinians. ¶3. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY: -- Incursions/Arrests: The IDF on the evening of April 11 entered the West Bank city of Qalqiliya and the villages of Azzun and Azzun Atma to search for wanted Palestinian militants. During these operations, the IDF arrested two Fatah activists from Qalqiliya. -- Arrests: The IDF on April 12 arrested a total of four Palestinians in Hebron and the Jenin area. In Hebron, the IDF entered the city and arrested a member from the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Three members from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) were arrested by the IDF in the vicinity of Jenin. -- Incursion: The IDF on April 12 entered Yatta village, south of Hebron, to conduct searches for wanted militants. There were no reported arrests from this operation. ¶4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: -- Palestinian gunmen on April 11 opened fire and threw stones at a Palestinian Authority (PA) police station in Hebron, following a raid by the PA police on a local market to remove stalls illegally placed by vendors. The owners of the stalls attacked the police station, causing some damage but no reported injuries. -------------- Gaza -------------- ¶5. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Injuries: Nil. -- Mortars/Rockets: UNRWA reported that Palestinian militants fired a total of 15 mortar shells and homemade rockets in nine separate attacks on IDF and Israeli settler targets overnight April 11-12 in the Gaza Strip. The IDF reported four mortar shells fired in three attacks during the same period. Neither UNRWA nor the IDF had any reports of injuries from the attacks. -- Shootings: According to the IDF, Palestinian militants shot at an IDF outpost southeast of Netzarim April 11. ¶6. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: -- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic artery, was open April 12, with a major detour at Netzarim Junction. -- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a limited number of Palestinians April 11, and 4,574 laborers and 290 merchants crossed into Israel. -- The Erez Industrial Zone was open April 11, and 668 laborers entered. -- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers April 12, but was open for the import of aggregates used in construction. -- Karni Terminal was open April 12. -- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures April ¶12. -- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed April 12. Toufah checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. ********************************************* ******************** 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. ********************************************* ******************** CRETZ