MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 22 SITREP

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 003096

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM ASEC CASC KPAL KWBG
SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 22 SITREP


Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)


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Summary
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1. (C) Events in Gaza and the West Bank have been quieter
than in previous days. The IDF ended its multi-day operation
in Nablus, after demolishing a number of PA security
buildings. One of the wanted Palestinians was reportedly
pulled alive from the wreckage following the IDF departure.
President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) is due to return to
Ramallah on July 22; among the meetings tentatively scheduled
for him on July 23 are CODEL Hoekstra, the German and French
foreign ministers, and a UK minister of state. USSC
conversations with the PASF about an anti-Qassam plan
continue. A draft is expected July 24, but PASF planners all
caveat that a political agreement with Hamas is necessary
before their plans can be effective. The Rafah and Karni
crossings are closed on July 22, as is the Nahal Oz fuel
transfer point. Damage to two electricity lines has left the
area around Beit Hanoun and Jabaliyya, as well as Rafath,
without power.

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Military Developments
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2. (C) The IDF ended their several-day operation in Nablus on
July 21. IDF operations included the dismantling of the
Nablus Muqataa and several other security buildings. After
the IDF left, one of their targets in the raid - wanted
militant Ahmed Sanakreh - was reportedly pulled from the
wreckage, badly injured but alive.


3. (SBU) 4 Qassam rockets were fired from Gaza toward the
western Negev. No damage or injuries were reported. IDF
arrest operations continue in other parts of the West Bank.

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Political
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4. (C) President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) is scheduled to
return from Gaza to Ramallah late on July 22. In addition to
a meeting tentatively scheduled with CODEL Hoekstra, Abu
Mazen is to meet with the foreign ministers of Germany and
France, along with UK Minister of State for the Middle East
Kim Howells.


5. (C) No political breakthroughs were reported in the
discussions Abu Mazen held with factional leaders in Gaza
over the last several days. Press reports indicate that
Hamas is still talking about formation of a National Unity
Government, but at a later stage and presumably under Hamas
leadership.

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Political-Military Developments
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6. (C) Conversations held over the past several days by
members of the US Security Coordination Mission keyed on
guiding the PA Security Forces to produce an anti-Qassam
firing plan by July 24, and a draft is expected by that date.
Conversations in both Gaza and Ramallah reveal that PASF
planners firmly believe that any successful anti-Qassam
campaign must start with a political agreement between
Palestinian factions.

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Humanitarian Update
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7. (SBU) Rafah is closed. Karni is closed, as it usually is
on Saturdays. However, Karni was also closed all day July

21. The Nahal Oz fuel point is closed; it was open on July

21. 8 of 10 electricity feeder lines are open. Damage to
the other two feeder lines in the north and in the south mean
that the area around Beit Hanoun and Jabaliyya, as well as
Rafath, are without power.


WALLES