DFLP CLAIMS MORTAR STRIKE ON KEREM SHALOM CROSSING

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001371 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2017 TAGS: PTER KWBG KPAL IS PGOV SUBJECT: DFLP CLAIMS MORTAR STRIKE ON KEREM SHALOM CROSSING AREA Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) claimed joint responsibility (along with the PRC and al-Baraq Army) for mortar attacks against Kerem Shalom and Sufa crossings on June 27, claiming the attack was "retaliation for the murder of Palestinians by occupation forces." No injuries were reported from the attacks. DFLP Mil-Wing Weak, Doesn't Conduct Independent Attacks -------------- ¶2. (C) According to General Intelligence staff officer Salim al-Qaysi (please protect),the National Resistance Brigades (NRB, the DFLP's small military-wing) has been operative since 2002 in Gaza, but is weak, has financial problems and has less than 200 members. Al-Qaysi said the NRB does not conduct independent attacks, but rather tacks onto other militants' plans, providing support with the aim of garnering publicity, rather than doing significant damage themselves. In the West Bank, al-Qaysi reports the DFLP is politically oriented, and has a few NRB cells that lack the capability to carry out independent terrorist attacks. Note on DFLP Background -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The DFLP is a small and divided PLO faction with Marxist/Pan-Arabist roots that has one PLC seat. Taysir Khalid is the DFLP's representative on the PLO Executive Committee and Nayif Hawatmah, the official commander of the NRB, is the faction's representative in Jordan. The DFLP was a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) until 1999 when it was delisted after many years without terrorist activities associated with the group. Khalid and other DFLP leaders rejected the Israeli-Palestinian agreements starting with the 1993 Declaration of Principles, but accept the principle of achieving statehood through negotiations. While DFLP cells claimed responsibility for a few minor attacks against Gaza settlements from 2001-2004, the organization has otherwise operated as a political movement in recent years without evident connection to terror. WALLES