PA COMPLAINS IDF KILLING OF PIJ ACTIVIST

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002248

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, IPA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2018
TAGS: KWBG IS PGOV PTER ASEC
SUBJECT: PA COMPLAINS IDF KILLING OF PIJ ACTIVIST
COMPLICATES EFFORTS TO DISARM MILITANTS

Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. According to PA National Security Forces
(NSF) staff, an undercover IDF squad shot and killed a PIJ
militant December 16 without giving the PA notice of the
operation. According to Jenin Governor Qaddura Musa and NSF
staff, the militant had been in voluntary PA custody for
several months, seeking inclusion in the fugitives
disarmament/amnesty deal, and left PA detention two months
ago. President Abbas' Military Secretary said the killing
complicates PA efforts to disarm PIJ activists. A West Bank
PIJ spokesman condemned the incident as an "execution" and
threatened "to avenge the killing at the proper time," while
Gaza PIJ leaders claimed responsibility for four Qassam
rockets that struck Israel on December 16. End summary.

IDF Undercover Squad Kills PIJ
Militant in Yamun (Area A)
--------------


2. (C) According to PA NSF staff, an undercover IDF squad
operating in a white, Palestinian-plated Mercedes taxi shot
and killed PIJ militant Jihad Nawahda in al-Yamun early
December 16. Presidential Military Secretary BG Jihad Jayusi
and NSF staff said the IDF did not give the PA notice of the
operation; the only PA-IDF contact was an IDF request to pick
up Nawahda's body after he was declared dead by IDF medical
personnel.

PIJ Activists Seek Inclusion
in Fugitives Amnesty
--------------


3. (C) According to Jenin Governor Qaddura Musa and NSF
staff, Nawahda had been in voluntary PA custody for several
months. (Note: Several PIJ activists in Jenin and other West
Bank cities have submitted to PA supervision on PA security
compounds to avoid being targeted by IDF special units and
the Shin Bet. End note). Musa said Nawahda and several
other PIJ activists in Jenin sought to be included in the
disarmament/amnesty deal for al-Aqsa Brigades fugitives, but
the GOI has not responded to PA requests to allow this. Musa
said Nawahda left PA detention two months ago after it became
clear he would not be included in the amnesty deal.


4. (C) BG Jayusi and other PA security contacts complained
that the killing makes it harder to disarm PIJ militants, who
use IDF operations to justify retaining weapons. They said
that, as the PA had no evidence that Nawahda had participated
in attacks, and as membership in PIJ is not a crime under PA
law, the PA had no legal basis to forcibly detain Nawahda
after he left the compound where he was being supervised.

PIJ Vows Revenge; 4 Qassams Hit Negev
--------------


5. (SBU) In December 16 statements, a West Bank PIJ
spokesman condemned the incident as an "execution" of an
unarmed activist and threatened "to avenge the killing at the
proper time." Gaza-based PIJ spokesmen claimed
responsibility for four Qassam rockets that struck Israel on
December 16 (no injuries or property damage were reported)
and said the rockets were a response to Nawahda's death.
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