IDF OPERATION IN NABLUS ON FEBRUARY 27

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000362

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2018
TAGS: KWBG PREL PTER PHUM IS
SUBJECT: IDF OPERATION IN NABLUS ON FEBRUARY 27


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


1. (C) Summary. PA security sources reported February 27
that an undercover IDF unit opened fire at five Palestinians
in Nablus. Four were arrested and one died of his wounds.
According to PA security sources, three were al-Aqsa Martyrs
Brigades activists whom the PA had sought to include in the
GoI amnesty program. A Nablus al-Aqsa activist told the
press that after this operation, "the Brigades are no longer
obliged to observe a cease-fire." End Summary.

UNDERCOVER IDF UNIT OPERATION IN NABLUS
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2. (C) According to PA security sources, an undercover IDF
unit entered the Makhfiya area of Nablus at 1005 local
February 27 and opened fire on five Palestinians leaving the
Military Intelligence (MI, "Istikhbarat") headquarters. One
Palestinian was killed and four taken into custody.
According to PA security sources, Israeli officials opened
fire after one of the Palestinians pulled out a hand gun
during the arrest. PA security sources said that additional
IDF troops entered Nablus when the undercover unit departed.


ONE DEAD, ONE WOUNDED
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3. (C) According to PA security sources, three were members
of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades: Ibrahim al-Msaymi from Balata
refugee camp, Wa'al al-Msaymi from Balata refugee camp, and
Yasir Salam. Ibrahim al-Msaymi died of his wounds, and his
body was quickly returned to PA security officials, and Wa'al
was wounded. Istikhbarat chief BG Majid al-Faraj said the
other two, Ali Batarshah and Ibrahim al-Jibrini, are not
known al-Aqsa members.

PA SOUGHT TO INCLUDE SUSPECTS IN FUGITIVE PROGRAM
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4. (C) Al-Faraj said he believes Ibrahim al-Msaymi and Wa'al
al-Msaymi were the operation's principal targets. He told
Pol Specialist that the PA had asked to include both in the
fugitives program, but the GoI did not agree. The PA
nevertheless convinced them to sign pledges not to carry out
attacks and to surrender to the MI headquarters where they
remained on and off over three months. He said Yasir Salam
had been accepted by Israel into the fugitives program.
Faraj publicly blamed the GOI for undermining PA efforts to
enforce security in Nablus and earn public confidence with
this operation.


5. (C) PA security chiefs in Nablus, including Mukhabarat
officers Abu Hadid and Abdullah Kamil and MI officer Mahmud
Walwil, told Pol Specialist that this IDF operation could
have serious security consequences in the West Bank. On
behalf of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Ahmad al-Ka'abi
publicly denied the IDF claim that the five were planning an
attack and announced that the Brigades in Nablus are no
longer bound by a cease-fire.

INITIAL REACTION TO IDF OPERATION
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6. (C) Roughly 12,000 Palestinians attended the funeral of
Ibrahim al-Msaymi in the Balata refugee camp February 27.
Sixteen armed gunmen were present at the funeral, but no
security incidents occurred. PA security sources also report
that four al-Aqsa Brigades members in Nablus' Juneid prison
were injured February 27 after lighting their cell on fire to
protest that they were not allowed to attend the funeral.

WALLES