FATAH GUNMEN ATTACK GOVERNMENT FACILITIES IN WEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002485 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC KPAL KWBG IS SUBJECT: FATAH GUNMEN ATTACK GOVERNMENT FACILITIES IN WEST BANK, SPECIAL SECURITY FORCES STILL DEPLOYED IN GAZA REF: JERUSALEM 2470 Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Chris Stevens, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Fatah gunmen June 15-16 attacked Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and governmental offices in the West Bank, and fired at the car of a HAMAS PLC member in Jenin. As of 1500L on June 16, ConGen Fatah contacts reported that HAMAS-affiliated Special Security Forces (SSF) remain deployed throughout Gaza. Palestinian militants fired Qassam rockets June 16 into Israel. END SUMMARY. -------------- FATAH GUNMEN ATTACK PA/PLC FACILITIES IN WEST BANK -------------- ¶2. (C) During the night of June 15-16, Fatah gunmen attacked Palestine Legislative Council (PLC) and other government offices in Tulkarm and Ramallah, causing damage to equipment inside the buildings. In a separate incident the night of June 15, Fatah gunmen attacked the municipal building in Nablus and set it on fire. The Fatah Hawks in Nablus claimed responsibility. ConGen Fatah contacts described the violence as &spillover8 from the Fatah-Hamas violence in Gaza. ¶3. (C) Suspected Fatah gunmen in Jenin June 16 riddled with bullets the car of HAMAS PLC member Khalid Said. Said, who was inside his house at the time, was not injured in the attack. In Gaza City on June 16, gunmen fired rocket-propelled grenades at the Preventive Security Organization (PSO) headquarters. There were no reported injuries. -------------- SPECIAL SECURITY FORCES STILL ON STREETS OF GAZA -------------- ¶4. (C) As of 1500L on June 16, Fatah sources reported that Ministry of Interior (MOI) Special Security Forces (SSF) remain deployed throughout Gaza. The SSF has not withdrawn to Civil Police training centers as stipulated in the June 14 agreement between President Abbas and PM Haniyyah (reftel). -------------- QASSAM ROCKET-FIRE CONTINUES -------------- ¶5. (C) At least three Qassam rockets were fired from the northern Gaza Strip into the Western Negev the morning of June 16. Elements from the Popular Resistance Committees and al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility. There were no reported injuries. STEVENS