Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM2650
2006-06-26 15:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

GAZA MILITANTS ABDUCT ISRAELI SOLDIER

Tags:  KPAL KWBG PREL PGOV PTER IS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #2650/01 1771528
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 261528Z JUN 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3027
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002650 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2016
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL PGOV PTER IS
SUBJECT: GAZA MILITANTS ABDUCT ISRAELI SOLDIER


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002650

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2016
TAGS: KPAL KWBG PREL PGOV PTER IS
SUBJECT: GAZA MILITANTS ABDUCT ISRAELI SOLDIER


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Popular Resistance Committee (PRC) and HAMAS
militants staged a brazen raid on an IDF outpost on the
Israeli side of the Gaza border June 25, killing two soldiers
and abducting a third. President Abbas (Abu Mazen) issued a
statement denouncing the attack as a violation of the
"understandings" between Palestinian factions.
Representatives of HAMAS praised the attack, while government
spokesmen called for the factions not to harm the soldier.
PA security contacts privately criticized the attack as
provocative and commented that the raid may signal a turn by
some Gaza militants to tactics and strategy associated with
Lebanese Hizballah. END SUMMARY.

--------------
HAMAS and PRC Militants
Stage Attack in Israel
--------------


2. (SBU) HAMAS' military wing and PRC factions associated
with deceased militant leader Jamal Abu Samhadanah attacked
an IDF outpost on the Israeli side of the Gaza border at
0530L on June 25. Media sources reported that a group of 8
militants crossed into Israel using an 800 meter tunnel.
Working in three teams armed with assault rifles and RPGs,
the militants attacked a guard tower, tank, and an empty
armored personnel carrier. The gunmen killed two soldiers
and abducted a third before fleeing back into Gaza by
detonating a hole in the border fence. Media sources
reported that the abducted soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit,
was moderately injured in the attack, and holds a French
passport in addition to Israeli citizenship.

--------------
Abu Mazen Criticizes Attack
--------------


3. (SBU) Abu Mazen's Gaza office released a statement
criticizing the June 25 attack as a "violation of the
understandings reached between all the Palestinian factions."
The statement criticized HAMAS for carrying out an operation
against Israel despite a reported commitment to return to a
ceasfire: "Our nation has a right to ask whether the
perpetrators of this operation represent themselves or a
faction that has committed to respecting the ceasefire?" Abu
Mazen's statement called on the international community and
the Quartet to intervene. Israeli and Palestinian media
sources reported that security forces loyal to Abu Mazen are
working to secure Shalit's release.

--------------
HAMAS and PA Government Make
Conflicting Statements Regarding
Soldier Abduction
--------------


4. (SBU) Cabinet spokesmen and HAMAS representatives put out
divergent messages regarding the June 25 attack. HAMAS
Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri praised the attack during a June 25
interview with al-Jazeera satellite network, describing it as
"a natural response to the enemy's crimes against women and
children" and a "fulfillment of our duty to Huha Ghalia."
(NOTE: Ghalia's family was killed in a June 9 explosion on a
Beit Layha beach. Most Palestinians blame IDF shelling for
the deaths. END NOTE.)


5. (SBU ) In contrast, PA government spokesman Ghazi al-Hamad
called upon the factions that kidnapped Shalit not to harm
him and promised to take action "as soon as we get
information." During a June 25 press conference at Abu
Mazen's office in Ramallah, West Bank-based Deputy PM Nasir
al-Sha'ir called on Shalit's abductors to preserve his life,
treat him well, and immediately release him. PM Haniyyah has
not made a public statement.

--------------
A Turn Towards
Hizballah Tactics?
--------------


6. (C) During June 26 conversations with ConGen officers,
Presidential Guard sources criticized the attack as
"provocative" and "counterproductive" and described it as
evidence of the desire of some militant groups to imitate
Hizballah tactics and strategy. Presidential Guard COL
Mahmud Issa commented to POL FSN during a June 26 telcon,
"This is not Lebanon and these types of attacks will only
cause more bloodshed." Issa added that the carefully planned
attack reminded him of Hizballah's tactics and speculated
that the level of planning, technical competence and the
length of the tunnel indicated that the PRC and HAMAS
militants must have been preparing for several months.

WALLES