WB/G SITREP: AL-AQSA GUNMEN KILL ONE PA POLICEMAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 003992 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: AL-AQSA GUNMEN KILL ONE PA POLICEMAN IN THE WEST BANK; ONE SETTLER INJURED IN GAZA -- JUNE 24, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades gunmen killed one PA police officer, Ziad al-Bzur, during an assault on Jenin,s main police station June 23, according to PA security sources. The tension between al-Aqsa gunmen and PA police began when police arrested an al-Aqsa member for attacking Jenin PLC member Jamal al-Shati's car, and then attacked the police station even after the arrestee was released at al-Shati's request. In clashes between al-Aqsa gunmen and police after the above incident, two PA policemen and one al-Aqsa gunman were shot and injured in exchanges of fire June 23. In Gaza, one settler was injured June 23 in a mortar attack on Netzarim. End Summary. -------------- West Bank -------------- ¶2. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths: Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades gunmen killed one PA police officer, Ziad al-Bzur, during an assault on Jenin,s main police station June 23, according to PA security sources. The tension between al-Aqsa gunmen and PA police began when police arrested an al-Aqsa member for attacking Jenin PLC member Jamal al-Shati's car, and then attacked the police station even after the arrestee was released at al-Shati's request. -- Injuries: In clashes between al-Aqsa gunmen and police after the above incident, two PA policemen and one al-Aqsa gunman were shot and injured in exchanges of fire June 23, according to PA security sources. -- Injury: An IDF soldier was hit by a stone and injured June 23 in clashes with Palestinians near Dura village, southwest of Hebron, according to Israeli newspapers. -- Attack: Rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle near Nablus on June 23, damaging the vehicle, but no injuries resulted. ¶3. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: -- At Abu Mazen's request, the Fatah Central Committee (FCC) approved appointment of Faruq al-Qaddumi as Deputy Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee. Al-Qaddumi will be offered this post as well as "Vice-President of the State of Palestine" at the June 30 FCC meeting in Amman. These positions are reportedly symbolic gestures to al-Qaddumi and do not entail increased political authority. -- The PLO Executive Committee met in Ramallah June 23 and agreed that Abu Mazen should initiate contacts with Hamas, PIJ and other factions to agree on a date for PLC elections. -------------- Gaza -------------- ¶4. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Injuries: Israeli media reported that one settler was injured June 23 in a mortar attack on Netzarim (see "Mortars/Rockets"). -- Mortars/Rockets: Palestinian militants fired one mortar shell at Netzarim June 23 (see "Injuries"). -- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants launched four shooting attacks on IDF outposts near Khan Yunis and Rafah June 23-24. ¶5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: -- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic artery, was open June 24, with a major detour at Netzarim Junction. -- Erez Crossing was open June 23, and 4,105 laborers and 341 merchants crossed into Israel. -- The Erez Industrial Zone was open June 23, and 579 laborers entered. -- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers June 24, but was open for the import of aggregates used in construction. -- Karni Terminal was open June 24. -- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures June 24, but UNRWA reported a backlog of several hundred people on each side of the terminal who were waiting to cross. -- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed June 25. Toufah checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except males aged 16-30. ********************************************* ******************** 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