US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV1326

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001326 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD 
NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DRL FOR A/S CRANER; 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; 
USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KWBG, PTER, ASEC, PHUM, CASC, KPAL, IS, GZ, SItrep, Sitrep 
SUBJECT: THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND: MARCH 3, 2004 (1400 
HOURS LOCAL) -- IAF KILLS THREE HAMAS MILITANTS NEAR 
NETZARIM; ONE PALESTINIAN KILLED IN TULKAREM SHOOTOUT 
 
 
THIS IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM EMBASSY TEL AVIV AND CONGEN 
JERUSALEM. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: The IDF killed three Hamas militants March 
3 near Netzarim after the three had reportedly fired two 
mortars at Netzarim settlement.  Two missiles, believed to 
have been fired from an F-16, destroyed the militants' 
vehicle and killed the occupants as they tried to leave the 
area.  Two bystanders were also wounded.  In the West Bank, 
the IDF shot and killed one Palestinian in Tulkarem during an 
exchange of fire with Palestinian gunmen.  The IDF later 
raided a hospital and arrested militants who were wounded in 
the shootout.  A Palestinian protester who was seriously 
injured February 26 when the IDF used lethal force to 
disperse anti-fence demonstrators in Biddu died March 2.  End 
Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Death: The IDF March 3 shot and killed one Palestinian in 
Tulkarem during an exchange of fire with gunmen.  The dead 
man was identified by Palestinian sources as Qays Aref Ofeh, 
said to be a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs, Brigades.  The IDF 
later raided a hospital to arrest militants who had been 
wounded in the shootout. 
 
-- Death: A Palestinian protester who was seriously injured 
February 26 when the IDF used lethal force to disperse 
anti-fence demonstrators in Biddu died March 2. 
 
3.  (SBU) ARRESTS: 
 
-- The IDF March 2 arrested 16 Palestinians at locations 
throughout the West Bank. 
 
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Gaza Strip 
---------- 
 
4.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths/Injuries: The IDF killed three Hamas militants 
March 3 near Netzarim after the three had reportedly fired 
two mortars at Netzarim settlement.  Two missiles, believed 
to have been fired from an F-16, destroyed the militants' 
vehicle and killed the occupants as they tried to leave the 
area.  Two bystanders were also wounded. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that one mortar was 
fired near Khan Yunis March 2, and the IDF fired tank shells 
at a Palestinian-owned building north of Rafah March 3. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported a total of four shootings 
March 2-3: three near Khan Yunis, and one near Netzarim. 
 
-- Shootings: UNRWA reported that several houses were damaged 
in during clashes near Gadid settlement when the IDF returned 
fire at the Austrian Housing Project in Khan Yunis. 
 
-- Explosions: An explosive device was found and safely 
detonated south of Rafah March 3, according to the IDF. 
 
5. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open for Palestinians March 3. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open March 3, and 8,850 Palestinian 
laborers crossed into Israel.  All workers must be married 
and over age 35.  The Erez Industrial Zone was also open, 
with 3,024 workers entering the Zone. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was open for Palestinian workers March 3, 
but the number of workers who crossed was unavailable.  Sufa 
was also open March 3 for the import into Gaza of aggregates 
used in construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open March 3 for the import and export 
of goods into the Gaza Strip. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for Palestinian travelers March 3. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed March 3.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. 
 
 
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KURTZER