STABBING ATTACK IN JERUSALEM; ARRESTS IN THE WEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001949

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017
TAGS: ASEC IS KPAL KWBG PGOV PHUM PREL PTER
SUBJECT: STABBING ATTACK IN JERUSALEM; ARRESTS IN THE WEST
BANK PROVOKE CLASHES

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Israeli police on October 23 arrested a
Palestinian who had stabbed two Israelis that day in
Jerusalem. Later that day, roughly 150 Palestinians clashed
with IDF troops who raided the attacker's village. Seven
Palestinians were arrested during the campaign, most of whom
were released October 24. No faction has claimed
responsibility for the attack, although HAMAS hailed it as a
natural response to Israeli practices in Jerusalem and the
West Bank. End Summary.

ATTACKER APPREHENDED FOLLOWING STABBING;
ONE DEAD, ATTACKER AND ONE OTHER HOSPITALIZED
--------------


2. (C) Shortly after 1100 local time October 23, Israeli
National Police (INP) patrolling the Jerusalem neighborhood
of Gilo arrested 21-year-old Palestinian Muhammad al-Badan
from the village of Tuqu' (south of Bethlehem) after he
stabbed two Israelis -- a policeman who is recovering, and an
86-year-old man who died from his wounds. Al-Badan was shot
during the arrest and transferred to a hospital under police
watch. The INP reported that al-Badan was known to the
police for his involvement in riots and had been arrested
previously for illegal entry into Jerusalem.

IDF CLASHES WITH LOCALS DURING RAID OF
ATTACKER'S HOME; SEVEN ARRESTED, TWO WOUNDED
--------------


3. (C) PA Security Force contacts told ConGen that the IDF
and Shin Bet entered Tuqu' from 1310 to 1530 local time the
same day to search al-Badan's residence. The IDF arrested
four members of the al-Badan family and three of al-Badan's
friends, all of whom were released the next day except Ahmad
al-Badan, the perpetrator's brother. During the operation,
roughly 150 Palestinians clashed with the IDF. Two residents
of Tuqu' were wounded by rubber bullets and others suffered
from the effects of tear gas.

NO CLAIMS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ATTACK
--------------


4. (C) PA sources report that al-Badan had ties to HAMAS,
but no faction has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Local press listed this as the fifth independent terrorist
attack in Jerusalem this year. HAMAS released a statement
that Israeli policies in Jerusalem and the Palestinian
territories encourage violence.


WALLES