Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV381
2005-01-21 15:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

PA SECURITY FORCES BEGIN DEPLOYING IN NORTHERN GAZA

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000381 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2009
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG GZ IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: PA SECURITY FORCES BEGIN DEPLOYING IN NORTHERN GAZA

Classified By: Pol/C Norm Olsen for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000381

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2009
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG GZ IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: PA SECURITY FORCES BEGIN DEPLOYING IN NORTHERN GAZA

Classified By: Pol/C Norm Olsen for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: A force of some 2,000 PA security personnel
began deploying in the northeastern Gaza Strip, near Bayt
Hanoun and Bayt Lahiya January 21 in an agreed-upon effort
between the IDF and Gaza security chief Mousa Arafat aimed at
preventing rocket fire at Israeli towns. Observers on the
ground report that the numbers should be sufficient to the
task at hand and that the men themselves appear confident
they will be able to accomplish their mission without a
strong challenge from the militants, as they believe Abu
Mazen has come to "understanding" with these groups not to
launch attacks. One journalist, however, reported that she
came across members of one Fatah splinter group assessing the
seriousness of the PA's effort to stop their activity. Other
Fatah-affiliated militants have let it be known that unless
all militant groups agree to stop their actions
simultaneously, they will not abide by any cease-fire. They
argue that absent a full cease-fire, the GOI will continue to
target them. End Summary.

--------------
Boots on the Ground
--------------


2. (SBU) Confirming Israeli media reports, Ministry of
Interior DG for Community Affairs Abdulsamia Efrangi told
Poloff January 21 that approximately 2,000 PA security
personnel in total were beginning to deploy in northern Gaza
to prevent rocket fire at Israel emanating from the area
around Bayt Hanoun. In response to Poloff's question,
Efrangi clarified that, given the 24-hour nature of the task
at hand, the 2,000-man deployment translates into some
500-700 personnel on the ground at any one time. Efrangi
added that the number initially deployed January 21 could be
smaller than 500, as Palestinians celebrate the second day of
the Eid al-Adha holiday. On the ground visual inspection by
international personnel and journalists January 21 appeared
to confirm that number. Movement restrictions through Abu
Khouli and the ensuing difficulty of gathering forces
together in the north were also cited as possible reasons for
a slightly more drawn-out deployment. Any slight delay in
deployment notwithstanding, Efrangi claimed that Mousa Arafat

is determined that the deployment succeed. "It is his big
test," Efrangi said.


3. (SBU) UNSECOORD representative in Gaza Simon Butt
assessed that the 2,000 personnel announced by the PA are
sufficient to the task of securing the Bayt Hanoun area.
Butt said that additional forces would be required if the PA
decides to secure the area around Khan Yunis, some 15 miles
away, to prevent mortar and rocket attacks against the Katif
settlement bloc. Khan Yunis is well known as an area where
residents are actively hostile to the PA, whereas residents
of Bayt Hanoun are, on the contrary, appealing for order and
protection from Israeli retaliation generated by the militant
activity there.


4. (SBU) The number of rockets fired within and from Gaza
dropped dramatically in the two days prior to the deployment
and following the barrage of rockets attacks January 15-18
that killed an Israeli teenager in Sderot and injured several
other people. Israeli and Palestinian commentators viewed
the high rate of militant attacks as an attempt by the
militant groups to strengthen their positions prior to the
resumption of talks with Abu Mazen, now currently underway.
Gazans with whom Poloff spoke ascribed the drop in no small
part to the onset of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

-------------- --
PA Security and Militants Both Appear Confident
-------------- --


5. (C) NYT stringer Taghreed el-Khodary told Poloff that she
traveled along with a PA security team the morning of January
21 as they deployed on the outskirts of Bayt Hanoun, well
known as a location from which militants fire Qassams into
Israel. El-Khodary said that the troops appeared confident
that they were up to the task of securing the area. Asked
how they would respond to attempts by militants to fire
rockets from the area under their control, the troops
reportedly said they would "carry out their duties" without
hesitation. That being said, team members also expressed the
belief that their leadership had "come to an agreement" with
Hamas not to launch attacks and that they would not be
seriously challenged. Whether or not the agreement is
public, el-Khodary concluded, these men were confident that
it was, indeed, in place.


6. (C) El-Khodary told Poloff that while observing the
deployment of PA security forces near the Erez Crossing, she
had met a "carload" of Aymon Juda militants (nominally under
the umbrella of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades) who were out
doing the same thing. The militants, according to the
journalist, made no attempt to dissemble when she questioned
them about their purpose: they were there to observe and
determine whether the deployment is "serious."

--------------
All or Nothing
--------------


7. (C) Gaza journalist Nidal al-Mughrabi, who also has good
access to al-Aqsa faction leaders, told Poloff recently that,
based on conversations with several commanders, he understood
that the Fatah factions would indeed be ready to sign on to a
cease-fire, but only/only if all militant groups, including
the Fatah splinter groups sign on simultaneously. The
commanders also demanded that they be guaranteed both jobs
and safety from Israeli attack. Without the full basket,
there would be no deal. Al-Mughrabi said that the more
radical organizations such as the Popular Resistance
Committees, Fatah Hawks and Abu Rish Brigades are less
inclined to agree.

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