ISRAELI MOD DISCUSSES DISENGAGEMENT AND GROWING NUMBER OF TERRORIST ATTACKS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 004403



SIPDIS



E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2015

TAGS: PREL, KWBG, KPAL, PTER, IS, GAZA DISENGAGEMENT, ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS

SUBJECT: ISRAELI MOD DISCUSSES DISENGAGEMENT AND GROWING

NUMBER OF TERRORIST ATTACKS



Classified By: Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)



1. (S) Summary: Israel suffered three attacks within the

span of one hour in an effort to break the calm ("tahdiya")

and derail the impending disengagement, according to

Brigadier General Eitan Dangot, Military Secretary to Defense

Minister Mofaz, who met with the Ambassador and Acting DATT

on July 13. Hizballah fired at the IDF post at Rosh Hanikra,

causing no injuries. A PIJ member drove a truck laden with

gas canisters into the Shavei Shomron settlement, injuring

only himself. A PIJ suicide bomber detonated an explosive

charge outside a Netanya mall, killing four and wounding 91

Israelis. As a result the IDF resumed operations against PIJ

in the West Bank in efforts to prevent future terror attacks

on Israel, as well as to stop the increasing violence prior

to the disengagement. As disengagement approaches, Dangot

explained, the potential negative impact of successful

attacks increases, particularly in its effect on domestic

public opinion and support. Dangot provided a summary of the

July 12 Security Cabinet meeting, and noted that additional

meetings are scheduled to take place this month. The Prime

Minister expressed his vision that the disengagement would

result in the end of the military occupation of Gaza. The

cabinet approved an MoD request to solicit the international

community for funding for crossing facilities; and the

cabinet agreed that areas evacuated within the northern West

Bank would remain classified as "area C" for the near term.

End summary.



--------------

PIJ CAMPAIGN?

--------------



2. (S) Dangot provided a brief summary of the July 12

attacks. Dangot stated that all three attacks took place

within the span of one hour, and were likely linked. PIJ, he

stated, is attempting to provoke a strong Israeli response in

efforts to destroy the "tahdiya" or calm. On July 12:



-- A gunman fired several rounds at the IDF position at Rosh

Hanikra. The IDF did not respond, he stated, and no one was

injured in the attack. The IDF noted that Hizballah had

vacated posts along the southern border with Israel prior to

the attack, suggesting the link to Hizballah.



-- A Palestinian drove a small pickup truck loaded with gas

canisters into the Shavei Shomron settlement. The driver had

waited for someone to exit the settlement and drove through

the open gate. He detonated the explosive device near the

settlement's kindergarten, which was no longer in session.

The Palestinian was severely burned; there were no other

casualties. The IDF, Dangot stated, believes that wanted PIJ

leader Louis Saadi or his deputy was involved in planning the

attack.



-- A suicide bomber detonated an explosive charge near a mall

in Netanya, killing four Israelis, severely wounding at least

six others, and causing a total of 91 to seek medical

treatment. PIJ claimed responsibility for the attack. The

IDF believes that Tulkarm area PIJ commander Louay Saadi was

behind the attack. Saadi, who masterminded the Stage Club

attack in Tel Aviv on 25 February, is in hiding. Saadi's

cell operates in the Tulkarm area, including the villages of

Atil, Ilar and Saida.



3. (S) Dangot stated that PIJ-sponsored attacks are

increasing. In Gaza, the IDF has tracked PIJ connected

incidents for the past weeks and has noted a marked increase

in mortar, Qassam rocket, explosive charge and shooting

attack against Israelis. These attacks, he explained, are

not the work of breakaway PIJ cells, but part of a campaign

orchestrated by the PIJ headquarters in Damascus. Damascus

is pushing the field to conduct attacks against Israel, said

Dangot.



--------------

PA Inaction

--------------



4. (S) The IDF received a number of indications that Saadi

was planning terror attacks, and passed Saadi's name to the

PA several months ago. The GOI requested that PA Minister of

Interior Nasir Yusif arrest him. To date, said Dangot, the

PA has taken little action against the organization. In

Tulkarm, eleven PIJ fugitives declined to sign a declaration

ending terror attacks and refused to surrender their weapons

to the PA. In response, the PA centralized them in Tulkarm

and provided them shelter at night. Moreover, Dangot noted

that Mahmud Abbas failed to clearly blame PIJ, during his

condemnation of yesterday's terror attack.



--------------

Time Running Out

--------------



5. (S) As disengagement approaches, Dangot explained, the

potential negative impact of successful attacks increases,

particularly in its effect on domestic public opinion and

support. Moreover, such attacks decrease Israel's maneuver

space, and make risk-taking in security areas more difficult,

as in the case of Bethlehem, with its close proximity to

Jerusalem. Finally, the IDF does not want to begin

disengagement under the back-drop of increasing violence.



6. (S) During discussions on transferring security

responsibility, the IDF warned the PA that it would reenter

areas transferred to PA security responsibility if the

Palestinians failed to control attacks on Israelis emanating

from them. As a result, the GOI decided last night to take

action against the PIJ, acting where the PA does not. Early

on July 13, the IDF temporarily reentered Tulkarm, and began

a series of arrests. During the initial stages of the

operation, PA security forces fired on, and lightly wounded,

two soldiers. When returning fire, the IDF killed two PA

security forces members.



--------------

Security Cabinet Meeting

--------------



7. (S) Dangot provided a summary of the previous day's

Security Cabinet meeting, stating the group would hold two or

three more meetings on disengagement issues over the next

month. During the July 12 discussions, the Prime Minister

explained his vision that disengagement would mean the end of

the military occupation in Gaza. Once completed, there would

be no symbols of military occupation, including IDF presence

on the Philadelphi Strip.



8. (S) The Security Cabinet discussed potential security

arrangements concerning the ports ) sea, air, and land )

but no decisions were made. It was clear, Dangot stated,

that the IDF would, over time, leave the Philadelphi Strip,

following assessment of the effectiveness of the Egyptian

border deployment, and the effectiveness of the PA security

forces in combating smuggling and cross-border attacks.

Dangot stated that Egypt and Israel are still discussing the

"responsibility" clause, which is holding up agreement on the

deployment of border guards.



9. (S) The Security Cabinet looked also at several options

concerning the Rafah crossing ) leave it as is, shift cargo

operations to Nitsana, or move to Kerem Shalom. No decisions

were made. Dangot stated that the GOI would look at third

party supervision of customs and security arrangements, using

a staged or incremental approach that would help build mutual

confidence and trust.



10. (S) The Prime Minister intends to cancel the military

government in Gaza, Dangott said, but needs a task force from

Justice, Defense and others to explore new legal rulings on

how to proceed with the Palestinians. Concerning the passage

issue, the Security Cabinet agreed to an interim solution of

using truck convoys between Gaza and the West Bank for

door-to-door delivery of cargo in some areas. A similar

system, using busses to transport people could also be

adopted. Dangot added that details were not examined; a team

is needed to study possible long-term solutions such as a

train, sunken road, tunnel, etc.



11. (S) MoD Director-General Amos Yaron briefed the Security

Cabinet on the 3-4 terminals in Gaza and some 38 crossing

points for the West Bank, receiving Cabinet permission to

solicit funding, estimated at some 500 million USD initially,

from the international community. The cabinet also decided

that the Gaza borders would be based on the 1994 map, and

would include the territorial exchanges made in 1949-50.



12. (S) Concerning the West Bank, the Security Cabinet

decided that there would be no change of status for the four

areas containing the evacuated settlements for the time

being. These areas would remain classified as "C" zones.

However, the GOI would continue to coordinate issues with the

PA concerning road construction or other issues. The

Ambassador suggested that Israel carefully examine its

position on Rafah and the Philadelphi Strip, to ensure that

it had an executable exit strategy.



13. (S) Comment: Israel Defense Intelligence assesses that

the Damascus PIJ headquarters is behind the Tuesday attacks,

but continues to sift through information in search of a

"smoking gun." Dangot was careful to explain that renewed

IDF operations would continue in the West Bank, but indicated

that operations in the Gaza strip would be restrained in

efforts not to fuel a new spiral of violence. Nonetheless,

expanded operations against PIJ risk accidental killings of

bystanders, which would surely fuel a new round of violence.

Note: Meeting took place before Hamas attack that killed one

in Nativ Ha'asara.

********************************************* ********************

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.

********************************************* ********************

KURTZER