WB/G SITREP: SEVEN DEAD, SIX WOUNDED IN BAYT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000051 SIPDIS SENSITIVE NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE; NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHIE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; DRL FOR A/S CRANER; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP, PRM FOR DEWEY/GREENE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: SEVEN DEAD, SIX WOUNDED IN BAYT LAHIYA: JANUARY, 4, 2004 (1400 HOURS LOCAL) This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: IDF tank fire killed at least seven Palestinians and injured six more January 5 in Bayt Lahiya, as IDF soldiers attempted to target militants launching rockets at Israeli settler targets. One Israeli child was lightly wounded January 4 when Palestinian militants fired mortars at a school bus near the Erez Industrial Zone. UNRWA reported that two Palestinians were injured, one of them a 10-year-old boy while at school, January 3 in the Rafah refugee camp during an exchange of fire between Palestinian militants and IDF soldiers. In the West Bank, the IDF briefly detained several settlers at an outpost in Yitzhar, near Nablus, on January 3, including a uniformed IDF reservist who was calling on the soldiers there to disobey their orders to dismantle the outpost. The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for killing an IDF soldier, whose body was found January 3 in Israel, near Be,ersheva. End Summary. -------------- West Bank -------------- ¶2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: -- Deaths: Nil. -- Injuries: The IDF shot and injured a Fatah gunman in Baytunya, near Ramallah, on January 3, according to Palestinian sources. -- Arrests: The IDF arrested 11 Palestinians in incursions into Baytunya, Nablus, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and Hebron on January 3, according to Palestinian sources. -- Arrests: The IDF briefly detained several settlers at an outpost in Yitzhar, near Nablus, on January 3, including a uniformed IDF reservist who was calling on the soldiers there to disobey their orders to dismantle the outpost. -------------- Gaza -------------- ¶3. (SBU) ATTACKS: -- Deaths/Injuries: IDF tank fire killed at least seven Palestinians and injured six more January 5 in Bayt Lahiya, as IDF soldiers attempted to target militants launching rockets at Israeli settler targets, one of which landed near a school bus and injured one Israeli (see "Injury"). The IDF reported that all of the Palestinians killed were Hamas militants. UNRWA and Palestinian sources reported that all of those killed were between the ages of 11 and 17 (see "Incursions/Demolitions"),and at least three of those killed were civilians. -- Death: Israeli media reported that IDF soldiers shot and killed one Palestinian militant January 3 during the IDF incursion into Bayt Lahiya and Bayt Hanoun. -- Injuries: One Israeli child was lightly wounded January 4 when Palestinian militants fired mortars at a school bus near the Erez Industrial Zone -- Injury: UNRWA reported that two Palestinians were injured, one of them a 10-year-old boy while at school, January 3 in the Rafah refugee camp during an exchange of fire between Palestinian militants and IDF soldiers. -- Catch-up item: Israeli media reported that one of those shot and injured in exchanges of fire near Bayt Lahiya January 2 was a Palestinian journalist reporting for Israel Channel 10. -- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants fired a total of five mortar shells at IDF soldier and Israeli settler targets January 4-5. Militants also fired two Qassam rockets towards the Israeli town of Sderot January 4, according to the IDF, and three more January 5, according to Israeli media. No injuries were reported from any of these attacks. -- Explosions: Israeli media reported that IDF soldiers found and safely detonated a 30-kilogram explosive device January 4 along the Rafah-Egytpian border. ¶4. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: -- The IDF largely re-deployed outside the borders of Bayt Lahiya and Bayt Hanoun January 3, but an IDF tank fired a shell at a group of Palestinians, whom the IDF claims were all Hamas militants, January 4 killing seven Palestinians between the ages of 11 and 17 and wounding six others. IDF armored vehicles remained on the outskirts of the area January 4, according to UNRWA. ¶5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: -- Route Four (Salahadeen Road),the main north-south traffic artery, was open January 4, with a major detour at Netzarim Junction. -- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a limited number of Palestinian merchants January 4. UNRWA reported that the IDF allowed Palestinian pilgrims to exit Gaza at the Erez Crossing for the Hajj. The Palestinians left Erez in Israeli buses, which transported them to the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing via Kerem Shalom, from where they then traveled to Cairo for flights to Saudi Arabia. -- The Erez Industrial Zone remained closed January 4. -- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers January 4, but was open for the import of aggregates used in construction. -- Karni Terminal was open January 4. -- Rafah Terminal remained closed January 4. -- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint remained closed January 4. Toufah checkpoint was open for female residents of al-Mowassi and males over age 50. ¶6. (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -- Abu Mazen concluded his Gaza campaign trip on January 4 and returned to the West Bank. Several militant groups, including Hamas and PIJ, issued statements criticizing Abu Mazen,s call for an end to Qassam rocket and mortar attacks. Abu Mazen said he would not take up arms against Palestinian militants, and signed a pledge not to sign any peace agreement with Israel until all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons are released. GOI FM Silvan Shalom criticized Abu Mazen for remarks he reportedly made in Khan Yunis January 4 vowing to continue resistance against the "Zionist enemies," according to Israeli media. Abu Mazen broke his finger January 3 when a guard accidentally slammed it in his armored vehicle, according to Palestinian sources. -------------- Israel -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Attacks: -- Deaths: The Israeli police found the body of a male IDF soldier in Be,ersheva but did not release details pending investigation, according to Israeli media. The al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for killing the soldier, according to Palestinian newspapers. Israeli media, however, reported that police are investigating the soldier's death as a criminal act rather than an act of terrorism. ********************************************* ******************** 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