MINOR FACTIONAL CLASHES; CONTINUED QASSAM ATTACKS

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000980 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KWBG IS PTER PGOV PINS ASEC SUBJECT: MINOR FACTIONAL CLASHES; CONTINUED QASSAM ATTACKS AND ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES REF: JERUSALEM 964 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. HAMAS GUNMEN RAIDED A FATAH "SPECIAL FORCE" TRAINING AREA IN CENTRAL GAZA MAY 24, BUT NO INJURIES RESULTED. SENIOR FATAH CONTACTS SAY A HIGH-LEVEL FATAH DELEGATION WILL GO TO CAIRO MAY 26 TO MEET WITH EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS AND SENIOR HAMAS FIGURES TO SOLIDIFY THE FACTIONAL CEASEFIRE, DISCUSS POLITICAL DISPUTES AND CONSIDER A COMPREHENSIVE CEASEFIRE WITH ISRAEL. 14 QASSAM ROCKETS AND AT LEAST 2 MORTARS STRUCK ISRAEL, WITH SOME MORTAR DAMAGE AT EREZ CROSSING BUT NO REPORTED INJURIES OR DAMAGE FROM THE QASSAMS. PALESTINIAN MEDIA AND SECURITY CONTACTS REPORT ONE PALESTINIAN WAS KILLED AND 12 INJURED IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES AND SHELLING ON A BLACKSMITH SHOP, MONEY EXCHANGE SHOP AND MULTIPLE "EXECUTIVE FORCE" POSITIONS. END SUMMARY. SPORADIC FACTIONAL FIGHTING; HIGHT-LEVEL FATAH-HAMAS MEETING -------------- ¶2. (SBU) HAMAS GUNMEN RAIDED A FATAH "SPECIAL FORCE" TRAINING AREA NEAR AL-BURAYJ REFUGEE CAMP MAY 24, CHASING OFF THE TRAINERS, STEALING A RIFLE AND HOISTING HAMAS BANNERS, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FIGHTING BETWEEN GAZA CLANS RESULTED IN ONE PALESTINIAN KILLED AND TWO OTHERS INJURED, BUT BOTH PALESTINIAN SECURITY CONTACTS AND HAMAS PRESS STATEMENTS SAY THE INCIDENT WAS UNRELATED TO FATAH-HAMAS TENSION. ¶3. (SBU) SENIOR FATAH CONTACTS SAY A HIGH-LEVEL FATAH DELEGATION WILL ARRIVE IN CAIRO ON MAY 26 TO MEET WITH EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS AND SENIOR HAMAS FIGURES TO SOLIDIFY THE FACTIONAL CEASEFIRE, ADDRESS OUTSTANDING POLITICAL DISPUTES, NEGOTIATE A COMPREHENSIVE CEASEFIRE WITH ISRAEL, AND DEVISE A FATAH-HAMAS PROGRAM OF POLITICAL PARTNERSHIP. THE SAME CONTACTS REPORT HIGH-LEVEL FATAH-HAMAS MEETINGS IN GAZA SINCE MAY 22 TO DISCUSS A CEASEFIRE WITH ISRAEL (COVERING BOTH GAZA AND THE WEST BANK),BUT THE TALKS HAVE BEEN HELD IRREGULARLY BECAUSE HAMAS FEARS OF ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES ON THEIR LEADERS. QASSAMS AND ISRAELI STRIKES INTENSIFY -------------- ¶4. (SBU) 14 QASSAM ROCKETS AND AT LEAST 2 MORTARS STRUCK ISRAEL FROM 1500 (LOCAL) MAY 24 TO 1400 MAY 25, WITH SOME MORTAR DAMAGE AT EREZ CROSSING BUT NO REPORTED INJURIES OR DAMAGE FROM THE QASSAMS. ¶5. (SBU) PALESTINIAN MEDIA AND SECURITY CONTACTS REPORT THAT IDF TANK FIRE KILLED A PALESTINIAN FARMER IN NORTHERN GAZA MAY 24. LATE MAY 24, ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES AND SHELLING INJURED 12 PALESTINIANS IN STRIKES ON A RAFAH BLACKSMITH SHOP, GAZA CITY MONEY EXCHANGE SHOP AND MULTIPLE "EXECUTIVE FORCE" POSITIONS. WALLES