Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JERUSALEM3129
2006-07-24 12:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 24 SITREP

Tags:  PHUM PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL IS 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHJM #3129/01 2051232
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 241232Z JUL 06
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3674
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 003129 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE
OPS PLEASE PASS TO SECRETARY'S PARTY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL IS
SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 24 SITREP


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

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SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 003129

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE
OPS PLEASE PASS TO SECRETARY'S PARTY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL IS
SUBJECT: MGGZ01 - JERUSALEM JULY 24 SITREP


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

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) There continued to be isolated incidents of violence
in Gaza July 23-24, with reports of three Palestinian
fatalities. The IDF arrested 20 Palestinians in the West
Bank on July 24. 11 Qassams were launched from Gaza into
Israel on July 23, and an additional three were launched on
July 24. A senior Hamas official denied that the July 22
Palestinian factions meeting in Gaza had reached agreement on
a cease-fire, but a ConGen Fatah contact noted that progress
is being made toward the conclusion of one. The Rafah and
Karni/al-Mintar crossings are closed July 24, but the Nahal
Oz fuel transfer point is operational. All ten electricity
feeder lines from Israel into Gaza are operational July 24.

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MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
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2. (SBU) Isolated incidents of violence continued in Gaza on
July 23-24. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claimed
responsibility for the July 23 firing of an anti-tank rocket
at an IDF outpost near the Erez Crossing. No injuries were
reported. On July 24, an Israeli Air Force helicopter fired
a missile at a two-story house at the entrance to the Shati
refugee camp near Gaza City. Israeli press reports stated
that the house was a storage facility for Hamas and PIJ
weapons. Three Palestinians living in the house next door
were injured in the attack. In a separate incident, the
Israeli media reported that an IDF tank shell exploded next
to a small hospital in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya
later on the morning of July 24. There were no reports of
injuries in that explosion. Sources in the President's
Office reported that three Palestinians in the Nada housing
project in northern Beit Lahiya were killed by an Israeli
tank shell on July 24. The sources told ConGen FSN political
specialist that the IDF has since instructed people living in
the project to evacuate their homes.


3. (SBU) IDF arrest operations continued in the West Bank on
July 24. Israeli media reported that the IDF arrested 20
Palestinians in early morning raids in Bethlehem, Hebron,
Tarkumiya, and Ramallah.


4. (SBU) At least 11 Qassams were fired on July 23 from
northern Gaza into the western Negev and Sderot. Three
Qassams were fired from northern Gaza on July 24, two of
which landed near Sderot and one landed south of Ashkelon.
There was no reported damage or injuries.

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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
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5. (C) Usama Muzaini, a senior Hamas official and member of
Hamas' political bureau, said in media remarks on July 23
that Hamas is still conditioning the release of the captured
Israeli soldier on a simultaneous release of Palestinian
prisoners. Muzaini also denied reports that there was a
cease-fire agreement concluded during President Abbas' July
22 meeting with Palestinian political factions in Gaza.
Muzaini stated a cessation of Qassam rockets would occur in
exchange for an end to Israeli military operations and the
release of Palestinian prisoners. Muzaini also said that
Hamas is still debating whether to separate the issue of the
soldier captured in Gaza from the kidnapped IDF soldiers in
Lebanon. Fatah activist Ibrahim abu al-Naja told ConGen FSN
political specialist that progress had been made toward
renewing the cease-fire, and that Hamas is being pressured to
hand over the captured Israeli soldier to the Egyptians in
exchange for an Israeli commitment to release Palestinian
minors, women, and prisoners serving long terms.


6. (SBU) The National and Islamic Factions (NIF) and the
Public Committee of Families of Prisoners called for a strike
and demonstrations to be held on July 25 during the visit of
Secretary Rice to Ramallah. A leaflet was released on July

SIPDIS
23 in which the NIF criticized the visit and described US
foreign policy as biased towards Israel.

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HUMANITARIAN UPDATE
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7. (SBU) The Rafah passenger crossing is closed July 24.
The Karni/al-Mintar crossing is closed, as of 1100 local on
July 24, according to USAID Gaza-based staff. It was last
open July 20 when 220 truckloads entered Gaza. The Nahal Oz
fuel transfer station is operational July 24.


8. (SBU) All ten electricity feeder lines from Israel into
Gaza are operational July 24. Since these ten lines only
meet 50 percent of Gaza's total demand, electricity is
rotated every eight hours between two zones in each
governorate.

WALLES