Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV5051
2005-08-15 16:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

DISENGAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT, AUGUST 15, 2005

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 005051 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG KPAL PREL ECON EAID IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: DISENGAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT, AUGUST 15, 2005

This is a joint message from Embassy Tel Aviv and Consulate
General Jerusalem.
This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 005051

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWBG KPAL PREL ECON EAID IS GAZA DISENGAGEMENT
SUBJECT: DISENGAGEMENT SITUATION REPORT, AUGUST 15, 2005

This is a joint message from Embassy Tel Aviv and Consulate
General Jerusalem.
This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: The first day of disengagement proceeded
as planned with minimal violence well within anticipated
parameters. The message below outlines the dissemination of
eviction notices to settlers; the overall security situation
in Gaza, including the kidnapping of a French journalist by
Palestinian militants and a bombing attack on an MFO bus on
the Egyptian side of Rafah; developments in GOI-PA
coordination on the civil and economic aspects of
disengagement, including GOI planning for use of the USD 50
million; internal Israeli political developments; and the
closure and humanitarian access situation. End Summary.


2. (SBU) SETTLER EVACUATION STATUS

-- The IDF reported that evacuation orders were delivered
August 15 to the settlements of Atzmona, Kfar Yam, Pa,at
Sadeh, Neveh Dekalim, Tel Katifa, Gan Or, Gadid, Kerem
Atzmona, Ganei Tal, Bedolakh, Morag, Rafiah Yam, Alei Sinai,
and Nisanit. According to IDF and Israeli media sources,
55-65 percent of settlers (approximately 900 of Gaza,s 1,486
families) have agreed with the SELA disengagement
administration to leave voluntarily in exchange for
compensation.

-- IDF Chief of Staff Halutz announced August 15 that
distribution of the evacuation orders was going "as planned,"
but Israeli media and IDF sources noted that ground troops
and police refrained from entering the settlements of
Netzarim, Kfar Darom, Katif, and Dugit. At other
settlements, including Morag and Ganei Tal, authorities
engaged in prolonged verbal altercations with settler leaders
before they were allowed to enter.

-- Israeli media reported that hundreds of anti-disengagement
youth activists rioted at Neve Dekalim settlement the night
of August 14, burning tires and attempting to march down the
main Gush Katif road towards the security forces stationed at
the settlement gate. Activists shattered the windows and
punctured the tires of military vehicles. Maj. Uri Singer
cited IDF estimates of between 3,000 and 5,000
anti-disengagement youth activists who have infiltrated the

Gush Katif settlements, as opposed to earlier media reports
of over 7,000.


3. (SBU) SECURITY SITUATION

-- Deaths/Injuries: According to Israeli media, five IDF
troops were injured by friendly fire early August 14 in Gaza
when troops reportedly retaliating against Palestinian
gunfire inadvertently shelled an armored personnel carrier.
One soldier was seriously injured.

-- Injuries/explosions: Israeli media and Multinational
Forces and Observers (MFO) personnel reported that an
explosive device (IED) exploded August 15 in close proximity
to a minibus traveling on an access road to the North Camp
MFO base near the Egyptian section of Rafah. The blast
lightly injured two Canadian soldiers. This access road is
reportedly used almost exclusively by MFO personnel.
International investigators reportedly found a second
command-detonated IED approximately 30 meters from the site
of the explosion, indicating that the MFO was being targeted.

-- Kidnapping: Masked and armed men abducted a
French-Algerian journalist from France,s Channel 3 at
approximately 1200 midnight August 15 in Gaza City.
According to UNRWA, no information exists as to who took the
journalist, where he is and on the abductors, demands.

-- Shootings: Israeli media reported that IDF soldiers and
armed Palestinians exchanged gunfire near Kfar Darom
settlement the night of August 14. No injuries were reported.

-- Mortars: According to the IDF, Palestinian militants fired
two mortar shells at Kefar Darom settlement and two at Gadid
settlement the night of August 14. No injuries were reported.

-- Arrests: Israeli police arrested nine Israeli settlers in
Sa Nur and Homesh settlements August 14 during
anti-disengagement clashes, according to Israeli media
reports.


4. (SBU) PALESTINIAN REACTIONS

-- Gazan private sector contacts cited an atmosphere of calm,
joy, and celebration in the streets. Several relatively
small Hamas, PIJ, and Fatah demonstrations reportedly took
place August 14-15, including a PIJ march through Gaza City
that ended at the PLC offices, and a Hamas-sponsored midnight
prayer of thanks for the withdrawal.


5. (SBU) GOI-PA COORDINATION
-- PA security sources report that the August 14 meeting
between PA Interior Minister Nasser Yusif and GOI DefMin
Shaul Mofaz failed to achieve concrete results, and that
Mofaz denied PA requests for ammunition to support
disengagement security.

-- MoD advisor Netzach Mashiach met with USAID and EconCouns
August 15 to discuss possible uses for the USD 50 million.
The GOI has agreed to focus spending on technological
upgrades at the border crossings, and to compile a list of
scanners and other security technology for use at the
passages.

-- Brig. Gen. Baruch Spiegel met with World Bank country
director Nigel Roberts and donor representatives August 15 to
discuss the status of the GOI-PA passages negotiations. The
GOI is ready to agree in principle to increased efficiency at
Karni and Erez crossings after new scanning technology is
installed, but will not enter into a formal or written
agreement with the PA on the specifics of the improvements.
Spiegel affirmed that the GOI will discuss a door-to-door
system of cargo transfer only after the GOI-PA technical
teams have reached agreement on the West Bank-Gaza convoy
system.

-- The Israeli MFA reported that the protocol for removal of
rubble from the demolition of settlement houses is nearly
complete, and will be finalized by the Ministry of Justice
and the IDF legal advisor. Issues that must be resolved
include which elements of the IDF will be responsible for
demolition and security, who will transport used rubble to
Egypt for disposal, and the degree to which the EC will be
involved in both planning and contracting. World Bank and
QSE Wolfensohn representatives will meet August 15 with the
GOI on the protocol.

-- The Israeli Ministry of Environment told ESTHoff August 14
that the MoE was unaware of any meetings to be held this week
to review demolition plans, contrary to what MoD sources
earlier told Ambassador. According to the MoE, the GOI is
still planning for "light" demolition of houses with prior
removal of any asbestos-containing materials.


6. (SBU) GOI POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS

-- The Israeli Cabinet voted 16-4 August 15 in favor of
evacuating the Gush Katif settlement bloc. As expected,
Likud Ministers Danny Naveh, Limor Livnat, Tzachi Hanegbi,
and Yisrael Katz voted against the evacuation. The
dissenting ministers gave no indication during the meeting
that they would follow Binyamin Netanyahu and resign from the
government in protest over disengagement. A Cabinet vote
authorizing the evacuation of the third group of four
settlement groups will likely take place within several days.
A vote on the remaining group of four settlements in the
northern West Bank will take place shortly thereafter.

-- IDF Chief of Staff Halutz told the August 15 cabinet
session that the IDF will decide only August 16 regarding the
order of the settlements to be evacuated.

-- Likud MK and disengagement foe Gilad Eldan told Poloff
from Gush Katif August 15 that he and Coalition Whip Gideon
Sa'ar (Likud) were visiting Gaza settlements to try to calm
the situation and head off violence between settlers and the
IDF. He said that he would be meeting with settler leaders
and IDF representatives. Labor MK Danny Yatom and Shinui MK
Eti Livni visited Kfar Darom, where settler youths reportedly
punctured one of Yatom's car tires. Labor MK Amram Mitzna
also visited several Gaza settlements.


7. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/HUMANITARIAN ACCESS

-- Erez Crossing and Industrial Zone: Erez crossing was
closed August 15 to Palestinians. It was open to
internationals, diplomats, and journalists with prior
coordination with the IDF. According to COGAT, the IDF
intends to close Erez during the two days of evacuation of
the northern Gaza settlements later the week of August 14.
At other times the terminal will be subject to random
unannounced closures.

-- Rafah Terminal: According to the UN, Rafah terminal is
open for Palestinians August 15.

-- Abu Kholi junction: According to Gazan contacts, Abu Kholi
and Netzarim junctions were open to Palestinians August 15
despite earlier IDF announcements that they would be closed
to Palestinians during daylight hours for the duration of the
evacuation.

-- Karni Terminal: According to Gazan business contacts,
Karni terminal was open August 15.

-- Kissufim, the main crossing used to enter Gush Katif and
Kfar Darom settlements, closed for the last time at midnight
on August 14.

-- The UN continues to draw down its staff in Gaza, citing a
lack of improvement in the security situation in the wake of
the August 15 kidnapping of the French-Algerian journalist.
PA President Abbas has condemned the kidnapping and has
promised to provide PA security to representatives of
international donor agencies operating in Gaza, but has yet
to do so.

-- In response to a request from PA Prime Minister Abu
Ala,a, Norway agreed to donate USD 47,750 for communications
and media equipment for the Premises of the PM,s Gaza
office. The request was reportedly made in an attempt to
ensure effective intra-PA communication during the
disengagement.

-- According to UNRWA and the IDF, the UN has provided eight
weeks worth of food and humanitarian supplies to Gaza
refugees, and has pre-positioned enough food, medicine, and
fuel inside Gaza to last through November. The UN/DSS
operations center reported no incidents of blocked
humanitarian access as of 1530 August 15.

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