FACTIONAL VIOLENCE AGAIN FLARES IN GAZA AS ABBAS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 000030 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KWBG PTER IS KPAL SUBJECT: FACTIONAL VIOLENCE AGAIN FLARES IN GAZA AS ABBAS AND HANIYAH MEET REF: JERUSALEM 5060 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. After nearly a week of relative calm, Fatah-Hamas violence surged January 1-4. Hamas military wing gunmen killed two Preventive Security Organization (PSO) officers (including the PSO's Inspector General for Gaza),a Fatah official and two bodyguards on January 4, while one Hamas militant was killed. Another five Palestinians, including three PSO members, were shot and killed in clashes January 3. President Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) met with PM Ismayil Haniyah late January 4, with both agreeing to pull all gunmen off Gaza's streets and end factional violence. January 5 was largely quiet through 1600 local, although Fatah and Hamas traded public recriminations throughout the day. End summary. Gaza Factional Violence Flares; Seven Killed in Gaza January 4 -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Early January 4, PSO member Ayman Bahbuh was shot and killed in an exchange of fire with Hamas gunmen. On the same day, Hamas militants attacked PSO Col. Muhammad Ghrayib's house in Jabaliya with an RPG and assault rifles, killing Col. Ghrayib, senior Fatah official Hasan Abu Khalil, and two bodyguards, and seriously injuring Ghrayib's wife and three other bodyguards. One Hamas militant, Ayman Subuh, was also shot and killed. After the January 3 attack on his convoy, in which Hamas gunmen destroyed his vehicle with an RPG and kidnapped two of his bodyguards, Ghrayib had appeared on Palestinian television calling on Palestinians to protect him and security leaders against "Hamas killers." Hamas military wing gunmen subsequently fired on a violent Fatah demonstration against the killings in Jabaliya, killing another Fatah member, Shadi Abu 'Asar. Hamas and al-Aqsa Brigades militants also kidnapped several of the other faction's members January 4. Fatah sources also reported that Hamas militants raided former Prisoners' Affairs Minister Sufian Abu Zaydah's home January 4, firing off an explosive device during the attack. Abbas and Haniyah Appeal for Calm; Atmosphere Still Tense -------------- ¶3. (SBU) President Abbas met with PM Haniyah late January 4, with both agreeing to pull all Fatah and Hamas gunmen off Gaza's streets and end all intra-Palestinian violence, according to Palestinian newspapers. Arabic-language media quoted Haniyah as insisting that "these clashes must stop, this bloodshed must end. Let all of you love one another and resolve differences through dialogue not weapons. Weapons must only be directed against the Israeli occupation." Press accounts also indicated that they agreed to the principle of a national-unity government (NUG),but did not advance new ideas on NUG formation during the meeting. January 5 was largely quiet through 1600 local, although Fatah and Hamas traded public recriminations throughout the day. Fatah is demanding that those responsible for the January 4 killings of PSO and Fatah be brought to justice, while Hamas claims that Fatah militants burned and looted 3 Islamic organization buildings near Ramallah, and fired at Hamas-affiliated institutions in Tulkarm on January 4. Three Palestinians Shot Near Perimeter Fence; 2 Qassams -------------- ¶4. (SBU) IDF gunfire injured three Palestinians near Bayt Lahiya January 4, when the men (whom Palestinian sources say were not armed) approached Gaza's perimeter fence. PIJ militants in Bayt Hanun fired two rockets toward Sderot, neither of which caused injuries or damage. January 3: 4 Killed in Firefights -------------- ¶5. (SBU) According to PA security forces, 3 PSO members were shot and killed in firefights with Hamas military wing members in Khan Yunis January 3. In Bayt Lahiya, an unknown sniper shot and killed Fatah member Ala'a Muhammad 'Inaya while he was standing on the roof of a house. Hamas-Fatah clashes in Jabaliya claimed the life of a female bystander, Muna Salha, and injured 3 other bystanders. One of Interior Minister Sa'id Siyam's bodyguards, Samir Khayl, was killed in Gaza City on January 3 by an explosive device he was handling, according to Palestinian security sources. In the JERUSALEM 00000030 002 OF 002 West Bank, al-Aqsa gunmen kidnapped Deputy Health Minister (Hamas) Bashar al-Karni from his home in Ramallah on January 3, and released him January 4, according to Palestinian security sources. Peruvian Journalist Abducted -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Unknown militants abducted Peruvian journalist Jaime Razuri (Agence France-Presse) France) on January 1, prompting President Abbas to order PA security forces to search for him. Al-Aqsa and Hamas released their prisoners in PIJ-brokered exchange late January 2, but Razuri has not been released. WALLES