US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV1613

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 001613 
 
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 13-15, 2004 
(1600 HOURS LOCAL) -- SUICIDE ATTACK BY TWO GAZA RESIDENTS 
IN ASHDOD; SIX PALESTINIANS KILLED IN GAZA; ONE PALESTINIAN 
KILLED IN WEST BANK. 
 
THIS IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM EMBASSY TEL AVIV AND CONGEN 
JERUSALEM. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary. At approximately 1630 hours March 14, two 
18-year-old residents of a Gaza refugee camp blew themselves 
up at the Ashdod port, killing 10 and injuring 15.  Hamas and 
Islamic Jihad took joint responsibility for the attack.  The 
IDF killed one Palestinian when responding to a roadside 
explosion near an IDF jeep on patrol near Taluza on March 13. 
 During the reporting period, 26 Palestinians were injured 
during three separate anti-barrier clashes.  In one of those 
incidents Palestinians threw a firebomb, damaging an IDF 
bulldozer.  Nine Palestinians and one AmCit were arrested 
during the reporting period.  The AmCit was participating in 
an anti-barrier demonstration northwest of Jerusalem.  In 
Gaza, the IDF shot and killed six suspected Palestinian 
terrorists March 13-15.  One Palestinian was lightly wounded 
March 15 when the IDF targeted two Gaza City workshops where 
Kassem rockets were allegedly manufactured.  In addition, 
Palestinians fired six mortar shells and three anti-tank 
missiles, according to the IDF.  In the wake of the March 14 
terror attack in Ashdod, the Erez Crossing was closed to 
Palestinian workers on March 15.  End Summary. 
 
--------- 
West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Death: The IDF killed one Palestinian March 13 during 
clashes in Taluza village, near Nablus. 
 
-- Injury: The IDF wounded seven Palestinians March 14 when 
protesters tried to prevent work on the separation barrier 
northwest of Jerusalem.  One of the protesters threw a 
firebomb, which damaged an Israeli bulldozer but caused no 
injuries.  Work did not continue on the barrier after the 
protest. 
 
-- Injury: The IDF injured one Palestinian March 14 in 
Bethlehem when clashes broke out on the margins of a 
demonstration mourning the death of Abu Abbas in Iraq. 
 
-- Injury: Palestinians lightly injured an Israeli motorist 
March 14 when they threw stones at the motorist,s car as it 
traveled on Route 443 in the West Bank. 
 
-- Injury: The IDF injured seven Palestinians March 13 in 
Nilin village, where clashes erupted during protests against 
work on the separation barrier. 
 
-- Injury: The IDF injured 12 Palestinians with tear gas and 
rubber-coated bullets during an anti-barrier clash March 15 
near Dir Qaddis village. 
 
-- Bomb: A roadside charge blew up near an IDF jeep on patrol 
in Taluza village, near Nablus.  No one was injured.  This 
incident led to an Israeli response that left one Palestinian 
dead (see &Death8). 
 
3.  (SBU) ARRESTS: 
 
-- The IDF arrested two Palestinians throughout the West Bank 
March 13. 
 
-- The IDF arrested seven Palestinians throughout the West 
Bank March 14-15. 
 
-- The IDF arrested one AmCit March 14 during a protest 
against the separation barrier northwest of Jerusalem.  She 
was being transferred to a holding facility for women in 
Hadera as of 1600 hours local. 
 
4.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: 
 
-- The IDF mounted an incursion into Tulkarem March 15 and 
took over four houses to use as observation posts. 
 
---- 
GAZA 
---- 
 
5. (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
--Deaths:  According to the IDF, two Palestinians were shot 
by IDF soldiers near the Nahal Oz Crossing on the morning of 
March 13.  The Palestinians were suspected of attempting to 
infiltrate Nahal Oz.  According to Israel Radio, a 
Kalashnikov rifle, bullet clips, and hand grenades were found 
next to the bodies. 
 
-- The IDF also reported that it shot and killed three 
Palestinians carrying an explosive device near Netzarim at 
0930 hours March 14.  The IDF subsequently dismantled the 
explosive device. 
 
-- According to UNRWA, on the morning of March 15 the IDF 
shot and killed a Palestinian in the Shoka area of Rafah. 
The IDF reported that the Palestinian was a suspect shot 
during an arrest attempt. 
 
-- Injuries:  According to UNRWA, in the early morning hours 
of March 15, one Palestinian was slightly injured when IDF 
helicopters shot 10 missiles into two workshops suspected of 
producing Kassem rockets in Gaza City in retaliation for the 
March 14 Ashdod bombings.  (See Israel, below.) 
 
-- WAFA (Palestinian News Agency) reported that a 14-year-old 
Palestinian was wounded in the shoulder by IDF gunfire in the 
early morning hours of March 14. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets/Hand Grenades:  The IDF reported that 
Palestinians fired at least five mortar shells in three 
separate incidents March 13: at 0750 hours March 14 at least 
two shells were fired at Netzarim, at 1245 at least two 
shells were fired at an IDF outpost west of Khan Yunis, and 
at 1730 hours a mortar shell was fired at Dugit. 
 
-- The IDF reported that Palestinians fired a mortar at IDF 
soldiers located north of Netzarim at 1715 hours March 14, 
and an anti-tank missile at an IDF outpost near Neve Dekalim 
at 2140 hours.  IDF also reported that two hand grenades were 
used against IDF soldiers near Kissufim Crossing.  No 
injuries were reported. 
 
-- Israel radio reported that Palestinians fired an anti-tank 
rocket at a bus carrying civilians on the Karni-Netzarim road 
on the morning of March 15.  UNRWA reported that two 
anti-tank rockets and a roadside charge were used against the 
bus.  Israel Radio reported that the bus was damaged but no 
injuries were reported. 
 
-- Catch-up:  At 1225 hours March 12, Palestinians fired an 
anti-tank missile at Netzarim village, according to the IDF 
 
-- Shootings:  In addition to the IDF initiated shooting of 
two Palestinians noted in Deaths, above, during the reporting 
period the IDF reported nine additional instances where 
Palestinians shot at IDF soldiers in various locations in 
Gaza. 
 
-- Explosions:  Nil. 
 
6.  (SBU) ARRESTS:  Nil.  (But see "Deaths," above.) 
 
7.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS:  Nil. 
 
8.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open for Palestinians during the reporting 
period. 
 
-- In the wake of the Ashdod bombings, Erez Crossing was 
closed March 15.  The Erez Industrial Zone was open. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was open March 14, but closed March 15 in 
the wake of the Ashdod bombings. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open during the reporting period for 
the import and export of goods into the Gaza Strip. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for Palestinian travelers during 
the reporting period. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint and Toufah checkpoint was open 
for departures only on March 15, according to UNRWA. 
 
7.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
According to press reports, the Palestinian Authority 
released four Palestinians suspected of carrying out the 
bombing of a U.S. diplomatic convoy March 15.  Three U.S. 
embassy personnel were killed in that attack, which took 
place near the Erez crossing. 
 
------------ 
Israel 
------------ 
 
8.  (SBU) At approximately 1630 hours March 14, two 
18-year-old residents of a Gaza refugee camp blew themselves 
up at the Ashdod port, killing 10 and injuring 15.  Hamas and 
Islamic Jihad took joint responsibility for the attack. 
 
 
 
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