Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM141
2009-01-15 14:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:  

CONGEN FSN EMPLOYEE PLEADS FOR EMERGENCY

Tags:  AFSN KWBG MOPS PHUM PREF PTER KPAO IS 
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VZCZCXRO7722
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHJM #0141 0151431
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 151431Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3858
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000141 

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, M FOR DIRECTOR GENERAL THOMAS; NSC
FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019
TAGS: AFSN KWBG MOPS PHUM PREF PTER KPAO IS
SUBJECT: CONGEN FSN EMPLOYEE PLEADS FOR EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE AS IDF POUNDS GAZA CITY

REF: A. JERUSALEM 138

B. JERUSALEM 132

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000141

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, M FOR DIRECTOR GENERAL THOMAS; NSC
FOR ABRAMS/PASCUAL/RAMCHAND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019
TAGS: AFSN KWBG MOPS PHUM PREF PTER KPAO IS
SUBJECT: CONGEN FSN EMPLOYEE PLEADS FOR EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE AS IDF POUNDS GAZA CITY

REF: A. JERUSALEM 138

B. JERUSALEM 132

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


1. (C) Summary: PD FSN Essam Mattar called PD Chief from Gaza
City by phone January 15 and begged for assistance to be
evacuated from Gaza. He had fled earlier in the day from his
home, which was destroyed by Israeli rocket fire, seeking
shelter from Israeli military operations raging in his
neighborhood of Tel al-Hawa, south Gaza City (ref A). Mattar
said he and his family could see Israeli tanks from where
they were sheltering, and that they feared for their safety.
End Summary.


2. (C) At 1125 local time January 15, PD FSN Essam Mattar,
resident in Gaza, telephoned the PD Jerusalem office,
pleading for assistance. He said Israeli rocket fire had
destroyed his house, and he, his wife, and children had fled,
taking nothing with them. "It was a miracle no one was
killed," he said. "My home is completely destroyed." Mattar
lives in Tel al-Hawa and has been alternating between his
home and his parents' home, closer to the center of Gaza
City, depending on the tempo of fighting.


3. (C) Mattar said he was sheltering temporarily with three
other families in Bourj al-Ashral tower. However, he said,
that location was also being hit by Israeli shelling, and he
could see Israeli tanks from there. Mattar said he had not
seen any Hamas fighters or signs of street fighting.


4. (C) Mattar begged PD chief for ICRC assistance to
extricate him and his family from the fighting. He said he
fears for the safety of his family and is terrified to move
without protection. He described the situation as "very,
very, very bad."


5. (C) Note: Mattar has declined ConGen offers of evacuation
from Gaza over the years, always choosing to stay put. "Gaza
is my home," he has said in the past. Since December 27,
Mattar has turned down repeated offers to be added to a list
of non-Amcit USG employees and their dependents for which
post is seeking safe passage from Gaza to the West Bank.
This time was the first that Mattar has shown fear or panic.
End note.


6. (C) Gaza ICRC contacts told ConGen that given intense
fighting in Gaza City, ICRC's movements are limited, and they
cannot assist Mattar. PD will offer Mattar use of the PD
office in Gaza for shelter if he believes it is safe to move.
Note: American Corner Director Awni Karzon declined the
same offer on January 14 (ref B) after he visited the office
location. Karzon said the neighborhood in which the PD
office is located was completely deserted, and he feared he
would be too isolated if he or his family needed help. End
note.


7. (C) Karzon told PD Chief that "today (January 15) is
totally different" from previous days, and that people are
extremely fearful and panicked. He said IDF troops were 500
meters from the neighborhood where he has sought shelter in
South Remal, just north of Tel al-Hawa. He expressed concern
about those who have already fled their homes, wondering
where they, and he, will go now.

WALLES