Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV3560
2005-06-08 15:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

WB/G SITREP: MORTAR AND ROCKET FIRE CONTINUES IN

Tags:  KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 003560 

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: MORTAR AND ROCKET FIRE CONTINUES IN
GAZA OVERNIGHT; TWO PROTESTERS INJURED IN WEST BANK BARRIER
PROTEST -- JUNE 08, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL)


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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 003560

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: MORTAR AND ROCKET FIRE CONTINUES IN
GAZA OVERNIGHT; TWO PROTESTERS INJURED IN WEST BANK BARRIER
PROTEST -- JUNE 08, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL)


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


1. (SBU) Summary: The IDF on June 7 clashed with
demonstrators protesting the construction of the separation
barrier near the village of al-Ramadin, southwest of Hebron.
Two protesters sustained light injuries during the protest.
PA President Mahmud Abbas is scheduled on June 8 to travel to
the Gaza Strip to discuss the recent escalation in violence
and the rescheduling of legislative elections with the
Palestinians factions. In Gaza, the casualty count from the
June 7 rocket attack on a Ganei Tel greenhouse rose to three,
after a second Palestinian worker died of his injuries later
in the day June 7. Mortar and rocket fire continued in and
from Gaza overnight June 7-8 with some ten mortar rounds,
three rockets and three anti-tank missiles fired at IDF,
Israeli and Israeli settler targets. No injuries were
reported in any of these attacks. The militants escaped
without injury. PA security forces confronted a militant
cell northwest of Bayt Lahiya the evening of June 7 as the
militants were preparing to launch rockets at the northern
settlement bloc, according to UNRWA. The militants escaped,
but the PA forces were able to seize one of the rockets
before it could be fired. PA security forces also clashed
with PIJ militants in the early morning hours of June 8 near
Jabaliya, as the militants were preparing to launch rockets
into Israel. The militants reportedly captured one member of
the security forces, who was held for several hours until
Palestinian mediators intervened and negotiated his release.
End Summary.

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


2. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Death: Nil.

-- Clashes/Injuries: The IDF on June 7 clashed with
demonstrators protesting the construction of the separation
barrier near the village of al-Ramadin, southwest of Hebron.
Two protesters sustained light injuries during the protest.



-- Shooting: Palestinian gunmen on June 7 fired at an IDF
position south of Jenin. There were no injuries reported
from this incident.

-- Shooting: Palestinian gunmen on June 7 fired at IDF
soldiers operating near Ya,bad village, west of Jenin. There
were no injuries reported from this incident.


3. (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY:

-- Arrests: Israeli security sources reported that three
members of the PFLP were arrested the morning of June 7 in
Jerusalem. The three PFLP members are accused of making
contacts between PFLP leaders in Jericho and other members of
the group in Jerusalem in order to carry out attacks.

-- Arrest: Israeli Border Police at the Idhna checkpoint,
west of Hebron, on June 7 arrested a Palestinian driving a
vehicle containing ammunition, five flares, and a Molotov
cocktail.

-- Incursion: The IDF on the morning of June 8 entered Marda
village, north of Salfit, in response to a planned
demonstration to protest the construction of the separation
barrier.

-- Incursion/Arrests: The IDF on June 8 entered Qalqilya and
Nablus to conduct searches. Two Fatah activists were
arrested in the operations.

-- Arrest: According to Israeli sources, the IDF arrested a
wanted member of the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) at a
checkpoint north of Ramallah.


4. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS:

-- The IDF on June 7 reportedly uprooted trees and leveled
agricultural land belonging to villagers from Asira
al-Qibliya, south of Nablus.


5. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

-- Palestinian media on June 8 reported that Palestinian
Authority (PA) Prime Minister Ahmad Quraya, condemned the
June 7 Israeli operation in Qabatiya village, near Jenin.
The PA Ministry of Interior also released a statement
denouncing the Israeli operation, but urged all Palestinian
factions to maintain the period of calm agreed to by the
factions in Cairo.

-- PA President Mahmud Abbas is scheduled on June 8 to travel
to the Gaza Strip for discussions with the Palestinian
factions following his meeting in Ramallah with British
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. Abbas is planning to discuss
the recent escalation in violence and the rescheduling of
legislative elections.

-- The PA Ministry of Interior (MOI) announced June 7 that PA
Preventive Security Organization (PSO) officers and PA
policemen who had engaged in a shootout in Ramallah last
month have been disciplined and sentenced to prison. The MOI
said that PSO and police officers are serving out their
sentences in a PA jail in Jericho.

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


6. (SBU) ATTACKS:

-- Deaths: Israeli media reported that the casualty count
from the June 7 rocket attack on a Ganei Tel greenhouse rose
to three, after a second Palestinian worker died of his
injuries later in the day June 7.

-- Injuries: Nil.

-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that militants fired a
total of ten mortar rounds at IDF and Israeli settler targets
in the Gaza Strip overnight June 7-8. In the late afternoon
of June 7, militants fired three anti-tank missiles in two
separate attacks in Rafah and near the Kissufim Crossing, and
fired three rockets into Israel near kibbutz Or-Aner. No
injuries were reported in any of these attacks.

-- Mortars/Rockets: UNRWA reported that PA security forces
clashed with PIJ militants in the early morning hours of June
8 near Jabaliya, as the militants were preparing to launch
rockets into Israel. According to UNRWA staff, the militants
captured one member of the security forces, who was held for
several hours until Palestinian mediators intervened and
negotiated his release.

-- Mortars/Rockets: PA security forces confronted a militant
cell northwest of Bayt Lahiya the evening of June 7 as the
militants were preparing to launch rockets at the northern
settlement bloc, according to UNRWA. The militants escaped,
but the PA forces were able to seize one of the rockets
before it could be fired.

-- Shootings: IDF soldiers exchanged fire with Palestinian
militants near Karni Crossing the evening of June 7.


7. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS:

-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic
artery, was open June 8, with a major detour at Netzarim
Junction.

-- Erez Crossing was open June 7, and 3,971 laborers and 398
merchants crossed into Israel.

-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open June 7, and 625 laborers
entered the zone.

-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers June 8,
but was open for the import of aggregates used in
construction.

-- Karni Terminal was open June 8.

-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures June

8.

-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed June 8. Toufah
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males
aged 16-30.


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