Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JERUSALEM843
2009-05-22 04:31:00
SECRET
Consulate Jerusalem
Cable title:
COORDINATION FAILURE RESULTS IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHJM #0843 1420431 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 220431Z MAY 09 FM AMCONSUL JERUSALEM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4907 INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 8608 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 5199 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 4783 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T JERUSALEM 000843
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER KWBG KPAL IS MOPS
SUBJECT: COORDINATION FAILURE RESULTS IN
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN FORCES EXCHANGE OF FIRE
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese for reasons 1.4 (
B) and (D)
S E C R E T JERUSALEM 000843
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER KWBG KPAL IS MOPS
SUBJECT: COORDINATION FAILURE RESULTS IN
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN FORCES EXCHANGE OF FIRE
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese for reasons 1.4 (
B) and (D)
1. (S) SUMMARY. Palestinian sources state, that in the early
morning hours of May 21, two Palestinian General Intelligence
(GI) officers, in the course of an Israeli-approved operation
against Hamas in the West Bank city of Qalqiliya, exchanged
fire with an undercover Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unit.
According to Palestinian security sources, the IDF unit
apparently was not briefed on the Palestinian operation,
resulting in confusion and a subsequent firefight. According
to media reports, the IDF and PA have agreed to further
investigate the incident. One Palestinian remains
hospitalized, whose care Israeli authorities have offered to
pay for. END SUMMARY.
POOR COORDINATION, EXCHANGE OF FIRE
--------------
2. (S) According to Palestinian security contacts, at
approximately 01:30 on May 21, a Volvo van with Palestinian
tags was stopped by a Palestinian patrol on Al Wadi road near
Hableh junction in Qalqiliya city. The Volvo's occupants
were plainclothes IDF officers, who showed their IDs and were
allowed to continue. The Palestinian patrol then alerted
surrounding units about the presence of the IDF unit.
3. (S) According to Mahmud Hamad, Director of the Palestinian
General Intelligence (GI) office in Qalqiliya, a GI operation
was also underway at the time to search a Hamas residence in
an Area C section of Qalqiliya city. Hamad said that he had
coordinated the GI operation three days prior with the
Israeli District Coordination Office, and had Israeli
approval to proceed.
4. (S) The Palestinian GI unit noticed the Volvo van near the
Hamas residence they were searching. According to Hamad, GI
officers approached the vehicle and asked the occupants to
identify themselves. The Volvo reportedly sped away and the
GI officers pursued. According to Hamad, GI warning shots
fired a shot into the air resulted in a return of fire from
the IDF unit, and a brief firefight ensued.
5. (S) Media reports claim two IDF officers were lightly
injured and one Palestinian officer was hospitalized. The
IDF has reportedly offered the PA to jointly investigate the
incident. Mahmud Hamad said the Israelis apologized for the
incident and offered to provide medical care for the wounded
officer.
REACTIONS
--------------
6. (C) National Security Forces commander MG Thiab Ali (Abu
Fatah) told PolSpec that it was a "miracle" that there had
not been a larger firefight and more casualties. Abu Fatah
said this type of poor coordination is an ongoing problem.
He said both the Joint Patrol and the GI, seeing a
Palestinian-plated vehicle after dark in Area C near an
operation targetting a Hamas residence, profiled the van as
likely Hamas.
MARCHESE
SIPDIS
NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER KWBG KPAL IS MOPS
SUBJECT: COORDINATION FAILURE RESULTS IN
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN FORCES EXCHANGE OF FIRE
Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Greg Marchese for reasons 1.4 (
B) and (D)
1. (S) SUMMARY. Palestinian sources state, that in the early
morning hours of May 21, two Palestinian General Intelligence
(GI) officers, in the course of an Israeli-approved operation
against Hamas in the West Bank city of Qalqiliya, exchanged
fire with an undercover Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unit.
According to Palestinian security sources, the IDF unit
apparently was not briefed on the Palestinian operation,
resulting in confusion and a subsequent firefight. According
to media reports, the IDF and PA have agreed to further
investigate the incident. One Palestinian remains
hospitalized, whose care Israeli authorities have offered to
pay for. END SUMMARY.
POOR COORDINATION, EXCHANGE OF FIRE
--------------
2. (S) According to Palestinian security contacts, at
approximately 01:30 on May 21, a Volvo van with Palestinian
tags was stopped by a Palestinian patrol on Al Wadi road near
Hableh junction in Qalqiliya city. The Volvo's occupants
were plainclothes IDF officers, who showed their IDs and were
allowed to continue. The Palestinian patrol then alerted
surrounding units about the presence of the IDF unit.
3. (S) According to Mahmud Hamad, Director of the Palestinian
General Intelligence (GI) office in Qalqiliya, a GI operation
was also underway at the time to search a Hamas residence in
an Area C section of Qalqiliya city. Hamad said that he had
coordinated the GI operation three days prior with the
Israeli District Coordination Office, and had Israeli
approval to proceed.
4. (S) The Palestinian GI unit noticed the Volvo van near the
Hamas residence they were searching. According to Hamad, GI
officers approached the vehicle and asked the occupants to
identify themselves. The Volvo reportedly sped away and the
GI officers pursued. According to Hamad, GI warning shots
fired a shot into the air resulted in a return of fire from
the IDF unit, and a brief firefight ensued.
5. (S) Media reports claim two IDF officers were lightly
injured and one Palestinian officer was hospitalized. The
IDF has reportedly offered the PA to jointly investigate the
incident. Mahmud Hamad said the Israelis apologized for the
incident and offered to provide medical care for the wounded
officer.
REACTIONS
--------------
6. (C) National Security Forces commander MG Thiab Ali (Abu
Fatah) told PolSpec that it was a "miracle" that there had
not been a larger firefight and more casualties. Abu Fatah
said this type of poor coordination is an ongoing problem.
He said both the Joint Patrol and the GI, seeing a
Palestinian-plated vehicle after dark in Area C near an
operation targetting a Hamas residence, profiled the van as
likely Hamas.
MARCHESE