Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV3526
2005-06-07 15:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

WB/G SITREP: THREE QASSAMS FALL ON SDEROT, TWO

Tags:  KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 003526 

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: THREE QASSAMS FALL ON SDEROT, TWO
KILLED IN GAZA ROCKET ATTACK; TWO PALESTINIANS KILLED,
SEVEN PALESTINIANS AND ONE IDF SOLDIER WOUNDED IN JENIN --
JUNE 7, 2005 (1600 HOURS LOCAL)

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 003526

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: THREE QASSAMS FALL ON SDEROT, TWO
KILLED IN GAZA ROCKET ATTACK; TWO PALESTINIANS KILLED,
SEVEN PALESTINIANS AND ONE IDF SOLDIER WOUNDED IN JENIN --
JUNE 7, 2005 (1600 HOURS LOCAL)

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


1. (SBU) Summary: Hamas militants fired five Qassam rockets
into Israel the morning of June 7, three of which landed in
the town of Sderot. No injuries were reported, but three
Israelis were treated for shock. Also on June 7, Islamic
Jihad and, according to some reports, Hamas, claimed
responsibility for an attack on Ganei Tel, in the Gush Katif
settlement bloc, that killed two workers and wounded at least
five more. Preliminary reports say that one of the dead
workers is Palestinian and the second possibly Chinese; the
five wounded workers are all Palestinian, according to media
reports. In the West Bank, IDF troops surrounded a
Palestinian house in Qabatiya village, near Jenin, June 7.
During a fierce confrontation between Palestinian gunmen and
the IDF, Naser Zakarneh of the Palestinian Authority (PA)
military intelligence forces and Murawah Kamil, head of
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) military wing in Jenin, were
killed. In addition, seven other Palestinians were wounded
by IDF gunfire. Palestinian sources in Jenin also reported
that an IDF soldier was injured in the clashes. End Summary.

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


2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY:

-- Deaths: According to Palestinian and Israeli reports, IDF
troops surrounded a Palestinian house in Qabatiya village,
near Jenin, June 7. During a fierce confrontation between
Palestinian gunmen and the IDF, Naser Zakarneh of the
Palestinian Authority (PA) military intelligence forces and
Murawah Kamil, head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
military wing in Jenin, were killed. In addition, seven
other Palestinians were wounded by IDF gunfire. Palestinian
sources in Jenin also reported that an IDF soldier was
injured in the clashes.

-- Injuries: According to Palestinian sources, a Palestinian

was injured in Tulkarm when IDF soldiers attempted to arrest
him June 6.

-- Injuries: Palestinian media reported clashes between the
residents of Marda village, near Salfit, and IDF soldiers
June 6. Two Palestinians were reportedly lightly injured.
The clashes erupted after IDF soldiers reportedly uprooted
some 800 olive trees for the construction of Ariel
settlement's separation fence.

-- Arrests: Palestinian media sources reported that the IDF
arrested one Palestinian at Bet Eba checkpoint, near Nablus,
June 6. The Palestinian was reportedly in possession of
explosives and an IDF uniform.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, the IDF
arrested a Palestinian girl bearing a knife near Hebron June

6.

-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, IDF troops
entered Jenin and arrested seven Palestinian militants, one
of them armed, on June 7.

-- Arrests: Palestinian media reported that the IDF entered
Askar refugee camp, near Nablus, and arrested two Fatah
activists June 7.

-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian sources,
Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an IDF post in Kiryat Arba,
near Hebron, June 6. No injuries were reported.


3. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

-- Palestinian media reported that both PA President Mahmud
Abbas (Abu Mazen) and Prime Minister Ahmad Quraya, (Abu
Ala,a) have criticized the GOI for allowing what they termed
Israeli extremists to visit the Haram al-Sharif (Temple
Mount) compound June 6. Two Israelis were lightly injured
during clashes with Palestinians that ensued on the compound,
according to the Israeli police.

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


4. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths/Injuries: Palestinian and IDF sources reported that
two laborers were killed and at least five others were
wounded June 7 when what appears to have been a Qassam rocket
struck the greenhouse in which they were working in Ganei
Tel, in the Gush Katif settlement bloc. All of the wounded
are reportedly Palestinian; preliminary reports claim that
one of those killed was Palestinian and the other Chinese,
although the nationality of the second worker was not
confirmed as of 1600 hours. Islamic Jihad took
responsibility for the attack, according to Israeli media,
although there are also claims that Hamas may have also been
involved (see "Mortars/Rockets").

-- Death: UNRWA and Israeli media reported that IDF soldiers
shot and killed a man in the al-Zuroub area of the Rafah
refugee camp overnight June 6-7. The man's identity remained
unclear as of 1600 hours, although Palestinian sources claim
he may have been Egyptian. Israeli media reported that the
man was shot after climbing over the border fence with Egypt,
quoting IDF officials who said they believed the man may have
been involved in weapons smuggling.

-- Mortars/Rockets: UNRWA reported that on June 7 Hamas
militants fired at least six homemade rockets at Neve Dekalim
and Gadid settlements, one of which hit a house in Neve
Dekalim. In second attack a short time later, militants
fired an anti-tank rocket at IDF forces stationed along the
border fence with Egypt. No injuries were reported in either
attack. Islamic Jihad and, according to some reports, Hamas,
claimed a third mortar/homemade rocket attack on Neve Dekalim
and Ganei Tel settlements June 7 that resulted in the deaths
of two laborers and the injury of at least five more (see
"Deaths/Injuries").

-- Mortars/Rockets: Israeli media and Palestinian sources
reported that Hamas militants fired five Qassam rockets into
Israel the morning of June 7, three of which landed in
Sderot. No injuries were reported, but three Israelis were
treated for shock.

-- Mortars/Rockets/Explosions: The IDF reported that
Palestinian militants fired one mortar shell at Nissanit
settlement overnight June 6-7. UNRWA reported that militants
fired three mortar shells at Neve Dekalim and threw homemade
bombs at IDF outposts along the settlement fence overnight
June 6-7. The IDF responded with machine-gun fire towards
Khan Yunis refugee camp. Militants also fired an anti-tank
rocket at a tank stationed along the border fence with Egypt
in Rafah in the same period, according to UNRWA. The IDF
responded with machine-gun fire at the al-Zuroub area of the
camp. No injuries were reported in any of these attacks.

-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants
launched a total of four shooting attacks at IDF and Israeli
settler targets in southern Gaza June 6-7. No injuries were
reported.


5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open June 7, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction.

-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and Palestinians
June 6, and 3,700 laborers and 310 merchants crossed into
Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open June 6, and 622 laborers
entered the zone.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers June 7,
but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction.

-- Karni Terminal was open June 7.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures June

7.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed June 7. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males
aged 16-30.


6. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- UNRWA reported that Hamas organized a demonstration of
some 3,000 Hamas supporters in Jabaliya the evening of June 6
in protest over the incidents that took place the same day on
the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif.

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