SETTLERS RETALIATE AGAINST PALESTINIANS FOLLOWING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 002198 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE. NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2018 TAGS: KWBG PHUM ASEC IS PBTS PTER SUBJECT: SETTLERS RETALIATE AGAINST PALESTINIANS FOLLOWING EVACUATION OF RAJABI COMPOUND Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Settler violence broke out in Hebron and spread across the West Bank immediately after the IDF's evacuation of the Rajabi compound on December 4, injuring around 25 Palestinians, including one shooting victim in critical condition. Contacts reported seeing burning Palestinian fields, trees, houses, and cars. The IDF declared the southern West Bank a closed military zone in order to keep out Israelis who are not residents of Hebron or nearby settlements. Protesters attempted to close the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv main highway, and security at the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif was significantly increased before December 5 noon prayers. Violence tapered off late on December 4 and no major incidents have been reported on December 5 to 1700 local. End summary. SETTLERS RIOT IN HEBRON -------------- ¶2. (C) UNOCHA southern field worker Tareq Talahme told Poloff December 4 that "hundreds" of settlers entered Hebron following the evacuation of the Rajabi House, torching fields, olive groves, and yards in Wadi Nasara, between Hebron and Kiryat Arba settlement. He said the IDF pulled out of Wadi Nasara, leaving a vacuum for the settlers to attack. Talahme said settlers set fire to five houses near the Rajabi compound, and damaged more than 27 cars. Palestinian radio outlets called on residents of outlying villages to come to Hebron to offer "protection." ¶3. (U) NGO B'tselem aired video December 4 of a Palestinian shot by a settler in the stomach at point-blank range. The Palestinian victim, Hosni Abu Saither, is in critical condition, and another Palestinian in the Hebron area was moderately injured by settler gunfire, according to press reports. ¶4. (U) Brigadier General Noam Tibon, the head of the IDF's West Bank division, declared all of the southern West Bank a closed military zone late on December 4 to prevent Israelis who are not residents of Hebron or nearby settlements from approaching the area. ¶5. (U) Hebron Governor Hussein Al-Araj stated that the IDF is responsible for the consequences of the incidents in Hebron. He demanded that they stop the settlers' attacks and declared that "the protection of residents who are in an Israeli controlled area is the responsibility of the army, according to the Geneva Conventions." VIOLENCE ACROSS THE WEST BANK -------------- ¶6. (C) South Nablus Services Council President Mansour Tawfiq Dmeidi confirmed press reports that settlers attacked the villages of Burin and Huwara, south of Nablus, damaging homes, burning trees, agricultural fields and cars late on December 4. ¶7. (C) NGO Rabbis for Human Rights field worker Zacharia Sadeh confirmed to Poloff December 4 that most northern West Bank roads were blocked by settlers, and widespread fires were visible in the Nablus region. Nablus Governor Jamal Moheisen publicly warned that "we will call on the Palestinian residents to go out to the streets and fight back" if Israeli authorities did not bring the settlers under control. ¶8. (C) Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Chief of Medical Services Dr. Wael al-Qadan told RefCoord December 5 that settlers stopped a PRCS ambulance in Hebron December 4 and defaced the ambulance, painting "let the Arabs die" and covering the red crescent symbol with the star of David, and yelled obscenities at the PRCS staff. JERUSALEM TRAFFIC BLOCKED -------------- ¶9. (U) Press reported that around 100 demonstrators protesting the evacuation of the Rajabi compound sat in the road on Route 1 at the entrance to Jerusalem, blocking the main artery between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Twenty-eight were reportedly detained, some for throwing stones at policemen. ¶10. (U) Jerusalem police announced late on December 4 restricted entry at the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif. Only men over age 45 with Israeli ID cards, and women of any age, JERUSALEM 00002198 002 OF 002 may enter the compound for December 5 midday prayers. Security around the compound was strengthened. PALESTINIAN REACTION -------------- ¶11. (U) Chief PLO Negotiator Sa'eb Erekat condemned settler violence against Palestinians in Hebron. Erekat held the GOI responsible for "a flagrant violation of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention." Erekat demanded that the Quartet intervene immediately to end criminal actions, including arson, assault, and vandalism. ¶12. (U) PLO Secretary General Yaser Abed Rabbo told the press that PA President Abbas had called on the GOI to evacuate all settlers from Hebron. (Note: Approximately 700 settlers live in the center of Hebron, among 35,000 Palestinians. End note.) Abed Rabbo said President Abbas will call for an urgent UNSC meeting on "the critical situation in the occupied Palestinian territories." WALLES