GAZA VIOLENCE AND WEST BANK UNREST CONTINUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002444

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC KPAL KWBG IS
SUBJECT: GAZA VIOLENCE AND WEST BANK UNREST CONTINUE

REF: JERUSALEM 02399

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Fatah-Hamas violence continued in Gaza June
14, resulting in the death of a Hamas activist and the
wounding of a Preventive Security Organization (PSO) official
in Khan Yunis. President Mahmud Abbas condemned the June 13
Israeli air strike in Gaza that killed 11 Palestinians,
including eight civilians. Palestinian protests in Gaza
against the air strike resulted in two Palestinian injuries.
In the West Bank, Hamas and Fatah supporters participated in
demonstrations in Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron. There were
no injuries reported, though there were some reports of
property damage. Palestinian civil servants June 14 stormed
the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) building in
Ramallah, threatened Hamas PLC members, and demanded payment
of salaries. On June 13, Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
representatives claimed responsibility for a shooting near
JerQalem earlier in the day that injured one Israeli
security guard. END SUMMARY.

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PSO CHIEF SHOT; HAMAS MEMBER KILLED IN GAZA
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2. (C) The PSO commander in charge of Khan Yunis, Rifat
Kulab, was shot and wounded June 14 by two gunmen reportedly
affiliated with Hamas. According to Fatah sources, Kulab's
bodyguard returned fire, killing one Hamas gunman. Hamas
spokesmen accused Kulab's bodyguards of provoking the
incident after Hamas Special Security Forces (SSF) attempted
to stop Kulab's car. Sources in the President's office told
ConGen POL FSN that Hamas gunmen subsequently attacked
Kulab's house and set it on fire. No injuries were reported.

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REACTION TO GAZA AIR STRIKE
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3. (C) President Abbas issued a statement on June 13
condemning an Israeli air strike earlier in the day that
killed 11 Palestinians, including three Palestinian Islamic
Jihad (PIJ) members, three children, and four health care
workers. In a related development, three Palestinian
militant groups (the Martyr Abu-Ali Mustafa Brigades, the
al-Aqsa Martyrs, Brigades, and the National Resistance
Brigades) issued a statement claiming responsibility for
three rockets launched at an Israeli military base near Gaza.
The statement said they launched the rockets in response to
the Israeli air strike.

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WEST BANK UNREST
--------------


4. (C) In Ramallah, PA security forces opened fire at a car
that failed to stop at a PA police checkpoint. The driver, a
Palestinian from the al-Amari refugee camp, was killed in the
shooting. Following the incident, dozens of gunmen from the
camp took to the streets of Ramallah, destroying some traffic
lights, and causing damage to buildings and restaurants. The
PA security forces did not confront the protestors. (Note:
This incident is apparently unrelated to the ongoing
Fatah-Hamas conflict. End note.)


5. (C) In Nablus, approximately three thousand Hamas
supporters demonstrated in the city against the June 12
attacks in Ramallah and other parts of the West Bank
(reftel). In Jenin, however, hundreds of Fatah armed men
demonstrated against the Hamas government. There were no
violent clashes in either of those demonstrations. Thousands
of Hamas supporters also protested in Hebron. The
participants condemned the June 12 attacks against the
Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC),and demanded that
immediate action be taken to protect the government
installations.


6. (C) According to Fatah sources and the media,
approximately 120 Palestinian civil servants and Fatah
members June 14 stormed a session of the PLC in Ramallah to
demand payment of salaries. The protestors reportedly
damaged some of the equipment in the hall and verbally
attacked Hamas PLC members. PLC Speaker Aziz Dweik adjourned
the session and called on the protestors to leave the
building. The protestors dispersed about one hour later,
following the intervention of Fatah members. Following the
resumption of the session, Dweik scheduled a special session
of the PLC on June 19 to discuss the non-payment of civil
servant salaries.

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CHECKPOINT SHOOTING
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8. (C) Al-Aqsa Martyrs, Brigades issued a press statement
on June 13, claiming responsibility for the shooting of an
Israeli security guard near the Atarot (north of Jerusalem)
crossing point earlier in the day (reftel). The security
guard was lightly wounded in the attack.


WALLES