JENIN: PA ARRESTS TWO PIJ MILITANTS; NEW IDF

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 000817 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/PASCUAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWBG PINS IS PGOV PTER SUBJECT: JENIN: PA ARRESTS TWO PIJ MILITANTS; NEW IDF INCURSION REF: A. JERUSALEM 791 ¶B. JERUSALEM 777 ¶C. JERUSALEM 764 ¶1. (SBU) PA General Intelligence (Mukhabarat) officers arrested PIJ militants Ra'ad Abu al-Rub and Yusif Kmayl in Jenin May 12, according to a PIJ spokesman, who said another militant, Ala'a Abu al-Rub, escaped a PA arrest attempt in Qabatiya also May 12. National Security Forces (NSF) contacts said the two PIJ members, accused of firing at Jenin's police station, are in police custody at Jenin's hospital undergoing treatment for gunshot injuries. NSF contacts said another PIJ militant, Salih Abu Zayyad, is in jail after his May 11 arrest (Ref A) pending a court hearing. NSF contacts say the PA is still searching for al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades leader Nasser Khzaymih. They also said Khzaymih and the PIJ militants are wanted for offenses against the PA, and the GOI has not requested they be arrested. PA Patrols Western Villages, Investigates "Fake Checkpoint" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In addition to villages reported Ref A, a Presidential Guard/NSF/police force patrolled through Umm al-Rihan, 'Arab al-Hamdan, and Nazlat Zayd (small villages west of Nablus near the separation barrier) late May 12. NSF/police contacts say they arrested 21 criminal suspects May 12-13 in these villages and Jenin. Jenin NSF commander BG Sulayman Imran said May 13 that the NSF are investigating whether criminals set up a checkpoint and impersonated NSF soldiers in 'Arrana village (north of Jenin). Fresh IDF Incursion in Jenin Refugee Camp and Burqin; 2 Arrested -------------- ¶3. (SBU) NSF contacts report that the IDF entered Jenin Refugee Camp early May 13 and arrested Musa Ahmad Sa'id and Jamil Abd al-Latif Nabhan. Local press report that the IDF also entered Burqin village, west of Jenin, at roughly the same time, but left without making arrests. WALLES