Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV51
2005-01-04 16:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  KWBG PHUM PREL PTER ASEC CASC GZ IS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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.

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.

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