Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV331
2005-01-19 14:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

WB/G SITREP: ONE ISRAELI SHIN BET OFFICER AND

Tags:  KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000331 

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: ONE ISRAELI SHIN BET OFFICER AND
EIGHT OTHER ISRAELIS KILLED BY SUICIDE BOMBER IN GAZA
STRIP; 17 PALESTINIANS ARRESTED IN WEST BANK; JANUARY 19,
2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL)


This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000331

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: ONE ISRAELI SHIN BET OFFICER AND
EIGHT OTHER ISRAELIS KILLED BY SUICIDE BOMBER IN GAZA
STRIP; 17 PALESTINIANS ARRESTED IN WEST BANK; JANUARY 19,
2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL)


This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable.


1. (SBU) Summary: As newly elected PA Prime Minister Mahmoud
Abbas met with leaders of several armed militant factions in
the Gaza Strip on January 18 at Gush Katif junction, a
suicide bomber detonated explosives, killing one Shin Bet
officer and wounding eight other Israelis. Hamas claimed
credit for the attack. In the West Bank, one Palestinian man
was found shot to death under mysterious circumstances and 17
others, mostly Hamas activists, were arrested January 18.
End Summary.

--------------
West Bank
--------------


2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY:

-- Death: The body of a 66-year-old Palestinian was
discovered January 18 in Yatta village south of Hebron. The
man had been shot three times in the head. Palestinian
police are conducting an investigation.

-- Injuries: Nil.

-- Incursion/Arrests: The IDF launched an incursion into
Nablus January 18 and arrested 13 Palestinians, mostly Hamas
activists.

-- Arrest: IDF soldiers January 18 entered a Palestinian
village north of Ramallah and arrested a Hamas activist.


-- Arrest: The IDF January 18 arrested a PFLP activist in
Ramallah.

-- Arrests: The IDF January 18 arrested a Palestinian married
couple from Tulkarm at the Allenby Bridge crossing. The
circumstances surrounding the arrests are unknown.


3. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS:

-- The IDF January 18 demolished two Palestinian homes during
an incursion into Nablus. One of the homes belonged to a
wanted Hamas militant.


4. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- An unnamed PA official quoted in AFP January 19 said that
a new Palestinian cabinet would be formed within the next two
weeks.

-- The Palestinian Authority will observe Eid al-Adha for
four days beginning January 20. All PA offices starting

January 19 are closed for the holiday and will reopen on
January 24.

--------------
Gaza
--------------


5. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: Israeli media reported that a Shin Bet (Israeli
security) officer was killed on January 18 after a suicide
bomber from Khan Yunis detonated explosives at Gush Katif
junction (see "injuries"). Hamas claimed responsibility for
the attack.

-- Injuries: According to Israeli news reports, eight persons
(five IDF soldiers and three Shin Bet staffers) were injured
at Gush Katif junction by a suicide bomb attack on January 18
(see "death.")

-- Mortars/Rockets: According to Palestinian media, the
Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, launched a Qassam
rocket at Nisanit, another at Netzer Hazani and a third at
Morag all on January 18. On January 18, the same Palestinian
publication claimed that the group fired a rocket at Eley
Sinay and another at Nisanit. It further claimed that the
Al-Qassam Brigades fired an RPG and a Yasim mortar at an
Israeli bulldozer and at the "the Zionist special forces"
during an Israeli incursion into east Al-Shuja'iyah.

-- Shootings: Nil.

-- Explosions: Palestinian media reported January 18 that the
Al-Qassam Brigades exploded a large roadside bomb next to an
Israeli bulldozer in the western refugee camp in Khan Yunis.


6. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: According to UNRWA, the IDF
began an incursion into Beit Hanoun on January 19. No
further details were available.


7. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was closed at Abu Houli Junction, with a major detour
at Netzarim Junction on January 19.

-- Erez Crossing was open for diplomats and internationals,
and for a limited number of Palestinians January 19.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was closed January 19.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers January
19 and for the import of aggregates used in construction.

-- Karni Terminal was closed January 19.

-- Rafah Terminal was closed for arrivals and departures
January 19.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed January 19. Toufah
checkpoint was closed for residents of al-Mowassi, with a few
exceptions.


8. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmud Abbas held
separate meetings January 18 with PA security chiefs and
Hamas representatives in the Gaza Strip. Additional meetings
are expected to take place January 19. Palestinian press
reports quoted ,Abd al-Razzaq al-Majaydah, the head of the
National Security Forces as stating that an arrangement is
underway to deploy forces on the borders of the Gaza Strip
within the next two days to prevent violations, namely Qassam
rocket and mortar attacks against Israeli targets.

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