NEW JENIN-AREA IDF INCURSIONS; PA CONDUCTS LOCAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001527 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA, NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/SINGH E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2018 TAGS: KWBG PGOV IS PREL PTER SUBJECT: NEW JENIN-AREA IDF INCURSIONS; PA CONDUCTS LOCAL SECURITY CAMPAIGN NEAR NABLUS Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Multiple IDF Incursions in Jenin Governorate -------------- ¶1. (C) NSF and General Intelligence (Mukhabarat) contacts told PolOff and POL FSN that the IDF entered Rummana village (Area B, NW of Jenin) late August 16 and detained four members of the Mukhabarat. The four were operating inside the village when the IDF entered and were released after one hour. ¶2. (SBU) Also on August 16, the IDF entered Jalaqmus and al-Mugayir (Area A, east of Jenin),and later conducted successive presence patrols and ID checks in the Area B villages of Zububa, Ta'nnik (NW of Jenin) and Silt al-Dahir (SW of Jenin). No arrests were made in these actions, according to NSF-prepared security reports. PA police report an additional raid in Tammun (Area A, south of Tubas),where the police recently opened a new police station. Local PA Security Campaign Nets Arrests, Stolen Cars South of Nablus -------------- ¶3. (SBU) PA National Security Forces (NSF) and police conducted a security campaign in Bayta village (Area B, south of Nablus and east of Huwwara) on August 17, recording 18 arrests of criminals with outstanding warrants and confiscating 70 stolen/unregistered vehicles. NSF contacts report the arrested include militants Nazih Na'uim, 'Uruba Shurafa, Hathifa Hilal and Ala'a Rajih. PA Arrests More Hamas Activists -------------- ¶4. (SBU) West Bank Hamas spokesmen told local press that PA security arrested 23 of their members August 16-18, most in the northern West Bank. Press noted that several of these Hamas activists had been previously detained and questioned in the past two weeks. Hamas press statements claimed that over 100 Hamas activists remain in PA custody, and called for their immediate release. WALLES