PM FAYYAD COMPLAINS AFTER TWO UNARMED YOUTHS SHOT

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 001390 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWBG PGOV PHUM IS SUBJECT: PM FAYYAD COMPLAINS AFTER TWO UNARMED YOUTHS SHOT AND KILLED NEAR NIL'IN BY IDF PM: Boys Were Unarmed, Posed No Threat to Soldiers -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Palestinian Authority (PA) PM Salam Fayyad told the Consul General July 30 that shootings that killed two Palestinian youths near Ni'lin July 29-30 raised questions about IDF rules of engagement (ROEs) in the West Bank. He said information available to the PA suggests that lethal force was used against unarmed Palestinians who posed no threat to IDF soldiers. He said 11-year-old Palestinian Ahmad Husam Musa was killed by a live round to the head. He added that Musa was shot far from protesters as he and other young boys neared a fenced area. Fayyad said he feared the shootings of unarmed demonstrators could ignite protests and asked the USG to raise the issue with the GOI and seek an explanation. ¶2. (SBU) PA police contacts report that the IDF also shot 17-year-old Yusif Ahmad Amira in the head twice with rubber-coated bullets during July 30 protests in Ni'lin. Police told local press that Amira suffered severe head trauma and is clinically dead. Police report that the IDF and border police shot and injured six other Palestinians with rubber-coated bullets during the protests. ¶3. (SBU) According to press, PA Presidency Chief of Staff Rafiq Hussayni toured Ni'lin July 30 and urged residents to continue protests against Israeli land confiscation and barrier construction. He called Ahmad Musa's killing a "terrible crime" and told media that "Israel is attacking Palestinian land to hinder the chances of peace." WALLES