Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM3093
2006-07-21 13:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 21 SITREP

Tags:  PREL PHUM ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0052
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #3093/01 2021357
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211357Z JUL 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3609
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 003093 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO, USAID
FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG
SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 21 SITREP


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

-------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 003093

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/LOGERFO, USAID
FOR KUNDER/MCCLOUD/BORODIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG
SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 21 SITREP


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

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Israeli Defense Forces withdrew from the al-Maghazi
refugee camp in Gaza on July 21 after a three-day operation
that left 16 Palestinians dead and approximately 130 wounded.
In Nablus, the IDF continued its operation against the PA
headquarters complex. Two Qassams were fired from Gaza into
the Western Negev on July 21. PA President Abbas and Prime
Minister Haniyyah met with the factions coordination
committee in Gaza on July 20. An Israeli military court on
July 20 ordered the release another detained member of the PA
cabinet. The Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing and the
Rafah passenger crossings in Gaza were closed July 21, while
the Nahal Oz fuel transfer station was operational. All ten
of the electricity feeder lines from Israel to Gaza are
operational on July 21.

--------------
MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
--------------


2. (C) Israeli Defense Forces withdrew from the al-Maghazi
refugee camp in Gaza in the early morning hours of July 21.
Sources in the PA President's office told ConGen FSN
political specialist that 16 Palestinians were killed and
around 130 were injured in the course of the three-day IDF
operation in the camp. The sources also reported significant
destruction to the camp, including destroyed water pipes and
streets, and damaged electricity poles. In a separate
incident, sources in the President's office reported that
four Palestinians, including Hamas-activist Jabel Harara,
were killed on July 21 when the IDF fired at Harara's Gaza
house. Harara's father was critically injured in the
incident.


3. (C) In Nablus, the IDF operation against the PA
headquarters complex continues. A senior aide to the Nablus
governor told ConGen FSN political specialist that IDF
bulldozers have destroyed most of the buildings in the
compound, including the Preventive Security Organization's
office. A total of five Palestinians have been killed thus
far; and the IDF continues to detain 95 PA security officers
at the Huwara military detention facility.


4. (SBU) Israeli media reported that two Qassam rockets were
fired from Gaza into the western Negev. There were no
reported damage or injuries. The IDF issued a statement on
July 21 reporting that a gunman was critically injured and
several others were wounded during a brief gunfight during
the night of July 20-21 near the Karni crossing in northern
Gaza.


5. (C) PA security sources reported that the IDF has
informed the PA National Security Forces stationed at the
Rafah International Airport in Gaza to evacuate.

--------------
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
--------------


6. (C) President Abbas and Prime Minister Haniyyah met with
the members of the factions coordination committee in Gaza on
July 20. Ibrahim Abu al-Naja, the Fatah coordinator of the
National and Islamic Forces Coordinating Committee, reported
that members had agreed that the decision to release the
captured IDF soldier should be a Palestinian one, and that
mediation efforts should be Abbas' and Haniyyah's
responsibility. The committee also affirmed that there
should be no linkage between the kidnapped soldier in Gaza
and the kidnapped soldiers in Lebanon.


7. (C) Fatah sources told Congen FSN political specialist
that the Egyptian security delegation in Gaza met with PM
Haniyyah, who urged the Egyptians to continue their mediation
to end the crisis. They noted that Hamas continues to insist
that a prisoners exchange is the only way to end the crisis
in Gaza.


8. (SBU) The Israeli military court on July 20 ordered the
release of PA Minister of Social Affairs Fakhri Turkman on
4000 NIS bail. Turkman, who was arrested as part of the
large-scale arrests of leading Hamas figures on June 29, is
not a Hamas official, but ran for the Palestinian Legislative
Council (PLC) on a slate of candidates supported by Hamas.
--------------
HUMANITARIAN UPDATE
--------------


9. (SBU) Crossings: According to USAID Gaza-based field
staff, the Karni/al-Mintar commercial crossing and the Rafah
passenger crossing are closed July 21, while the Nahal Oz
fuel transfer station is operational.


10. (SBU) Electricity: According to USAID Gaza-based field
staff, all ten of the electricity feeder lines from Israel to
Gaza are operational on July 21. The single line that
supplies the Middle Gaza Governorate was damaged in the
fighting July 18 and was repaired July 20.
WALLES