VISAS VIPER: OCTOBER 2009 MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT

UNCLAS JERUSALEM 002044 SIPDIS INR/TIPOFF CA/VO/L/C E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CVIS PTER ASEC PINR PREL KVPR KWBG SUBJECT: VISAS VIPER: OCTOBER 2009 MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT ¶1. Visas Viper ¶2. The following information is provided for watch-listing purposes as the Department and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) deem appropriate. ¶3. The source for all Visas Viper submissions includes Jerusalem RSO sources, to include both Israeli and Palestinian security contacts, government officials and publications. ¶4. COMMENT: According to United Press International (UPI),Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Ismail Algawasmi living in Richfield, Minnesota, was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on or about October 23, 2009 after a U.S. customs official learned Alqawasmi was wanted in Minnesota for allegedly making "terroristic threats." Specifics about the alleged threats were not reported. Algawasmi arrived at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on a Royal Jordanian Airlines flight from Amman, Jordan. NAME: Algawasmi, Ismail Hashem DOB: 10 JUL 1973 GENDER: Male POB: XWB NATIONALITY: PAL CLASS HITS: Yes ¶5. COMMENT: PA security services arrested five Palestine Liberation Jihad (PIJ) members in the Jenin area in the northern West Bank on or about October 28, 2009. According to PA security services, the arrests came after an investigation of an active PIJ cell in the northern West Bank areas. The group was said to be making pipe bombs and preparing to destabilize the security situation in the Jenin area. One of those arrested was named as Sharif Tahayna, who was subsequently released on October 30, 2009. Palestine Liberation Jihad is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. NAME: Tahayna, Sharif Mohye Al-Dein DOB: 1969 (e) GENDER: Male POB: JORD NATIONALITY: PAL POSITION: PIJ member CLASS HITS: Yes ¶6. COMMENT: According to a statement released by Hamas, several Hamas members were released from an Israeli prison on November 2, 2009, including four Palestinian Legislative Council members. Those Hamas members released following their 42-month terms in prison include: Hatem Qafisha, Khalil Raba'i, Samir Al-Qadi, Mahmoud Dawod Mahmoud Al-Khatib, Wael Al Husseni (Abu Khaled),Mohammad Ismail Othman Al Tul, and Mahir Badir. Hamas is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Pictures of these individuals are available upon request. NAME: Qafisha, Hatem Rabah Rashed DOB: 12 DEC 1960 GENDER: Male POB: JORD NATIONALITY: PAL POSITION: Member of Hamas CLASS HITS: Yes NAME: Al-Qadi, Samir Saleh Ibrahim DOB: 1956 (e) GENDER: Male POB: JORD NATIONALITY: PAL POSITION: Member of Hamas CLASS HITS: Yes NAME: Raba'I, Khalil Mousa DOB: 1952 (e) GENDER: Male POB: JORD NATIONALITY: PAL POSITION: Member of Hamas CLASS HITS: Yes NAME: Bader, Mohammad Maher Yossef DOB: 1956 (e) GENDER: Male POB: JORD NATIONALITY: PAL POSITION: Member of Hamas CLASS HITS: Yes NAME: Al-Khatib, Mahmoud Dawod Mahmoud DOB: 1972 (e) GENDER: Male POB: XWB NATIONALITY: PAL POSITION: Member of Hamas CLASS HITS: Yes NAME: Al Husseni (Abu Khaled),Wael DOB: 25 SEP 1962 GENDER: Male POB: JORD NATIONALITY: PAL POSITION: Member of Hamas CLASS HITS: Yes NAME: Al Tul (Abu Ismail),Mohammad Ismail Othman DOB: 06 JUN 1966 GENDER: Male POB: XWB NATIONALITY: JORD POSITION: Member of Hamas CLASS HITS: Yes ¶7. COMMENT: Israeli Defense Force Central Command ordered Eliav Eliyahu from Yitzhar settlement to stay out of the West bank for six months. According to press reports, the order was issued in October 2009 in response to Eliyahu's harassment of Palestinians, including preventing olive harvests and torching Palestinian agricultural fields. According to press reports, the order is based on Shin Bet information, since Israeli National Police could not provide evidence that would stand up in court. NAME: Eliyahu, Eliav DOB: 1990 (e) GENDER: Male POB: Unknown NATIONALITY: Israeli CLASS HITS: No ¶8. COMMENT: Mohammed Harwish, head of Hamas' military wing in the West Bank town of Tulkarm, was arrested around October 8, 2009 in the village of Surif in the Hebron hills on suspicion of being related to a 2002 bombing in Netanya. The operation also captured his deputy, Adnan Samara. Hamas is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. NAME: Harwish, Mohammed DOB: 1983 (e) GENDER: Male POB: XWB NATIONALITY: PAL POSITION: Member of Hamas CLASS HITS: Yes NAME: Samara, Adnan DOB: 1984 (e) GENDER: Male POB: XWB NATIONALITY: PAL POSITION: Member of Hamas CLASS HITS: Yes ¶9. COMMENT: According to Israeli Police reports, Amjad M.J. Okal was arrested and sentenced by Israeli Defense Forces for offenses in Gaza between December 1987 and February 1989 including: placing explosives with the intention to cause death, illegal membership in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), incitement, stone throwing, and multiple assaults. These incidents took place. Okal served 77 months in prison for these offenses. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Okal is now an employee of the Palestinian Authority. NAME: Okal, Amjad M.J. DOB: 19 JUN 1971 GENDER: Male POB: XGZ NATIONALITY: PAL National ID: 909521320 POSITION: Membership in the PFLP CLASS HITS: Yes RUBINSTEIN