US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV1910

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEL AVIV 001910 
 
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 27-29, 2004 -- 
(1500 HOURS LOCAL) -- TWO PALESTINIANS KILLED IN WEST BANK 
VIOLENCE; UNRWA REJECTS AS UNSAFE IDF REQUIREMENT FOR STAFF 
TO CROSS EREZ ON FOOT 
 
 
THIS IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM EMBASSY TEL AVIV AND CONGEN 
JERUSALEM. 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: A seven-year-old Palestinian boy was shot 
and killed March 27 in Balata refugee camp during an exchange 
of fire between the IDF and Palestinian gunmen.  Both sides 
claimed that inadvertent fire by the other had killed the 
boy.  A group of Israeli settlers occupied and vandalized a 
school in the Palestinian village of Sawwiya March 26 before 
being removed by Israeli security forces.  Although crossing 
points into the Gaza Strip have been partially re-opened for 
merchants, some goods, and some international staff, 
international agencies have refused to allow their staff to 
cross through Erez on foot, as required by the IDF, citing 
unacceptable security risks to the staff members in the event 
of an attack (see Tel Aviv septel).  A total of 31 
Palestinians were arrested in the West Bank and Gaza March 
27-29.  End Summary. 
 
--------- 
West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Death: A seven-year-old Palestinian boy was shot and 
killed March 27 in Balata refugee camp, near Nablus, during 
an exchange of fire between the IDF and Palestinian gunmen. 
Both sides claimed that inadvertent fire by the other had 
killed the boy. 
 
-- Death: The IDF killed a Palestinian man March 28 in Bariya 
village during an attempt to arrest him.  According to press 
reports, the man went up to the roof of his house, where the 
Israeli troops shot and killed him.  The IDF reportedly said 
the man, Ahmad Tul, had brandished a stick which they thought 
was a gun. 
 
-- Injury: Two Israelis were wounded March 26 when a bomb 
exploded near their car as they drove near Bayt Aryeh 
settlement. 
 
-- Injury: Two Palestinians were wounded March 28 when 
Molotov cocktails were thrown near Rachel,s Tomb in 
Bethlehem. 
 
-- Injury: One Palestinian was injured March 28 in Nablus in 
the course of being arrested by the IDF.  The army succeeded 
in arresting the man and one other Palestinian in this 
operation. 
 
3.  (SBU) ARRESTS: 
 
-- The IDF arrested 25 Palestinians throughout the West Bank 
over the reporting period. 
 
4.  (SBU) DEMOLITIONS: 
 
-- The IDF destroyed a house in Bidya village that belonged 
to a man who used an ax to attack three Israelis near Tel 
Aviv last week. 
 
5.  (SBU) SETTLEMENT EXPANSION/EVACUATION/VIOLENCE: 
 
-- A group of Israeli settlers attacked a school in the 
Palestinian village of Sawwiya March 26.  They occupied the 
school, vandalized it, and remained for several hours before 
being removed by Israeli security forces. 
 
-- The IDF March 28 dismantled a container placed by settlers 
along "Worshippers' Way," between Kiryat Arba and Hebron. 
 
6.  (SBU) SEPARATION BARRIER: 
 
-- The IDF used tear gas to break up demonstrations against 
the separation barrier in Qatanna village March 28. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
7.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Two Palestinians, including one UNRWA employee 
of the Rafah sanitation office, were injured March 27 by 
shrapnel during clashes that erupted during an IDF incursion 
into Rafah (see "Incursions"). 
 
-- Injury: The IDF reported that one soldier was injured 
March 28 in an exchange of fire with Palestinian gunmen west 
of Khan Yunis. 
 
-- Injury: The IDF reported that one Palestinian was injured 
March 28 in Rafah when the IDF fired a tank shell at what it 
termed an uninhabited structure. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets/Hand Grenades: The IDF reported that one 
mortar was fired at Netzarim settlement March 27, one at 
Katif settlement March 27, two at Nissanit settlement March 
27, and one at Neve Dekalim March 26 and a second March 28. 
 
-- Shootings: A total of eight shooting attacks were reported 
March 26-29, according to the IDF: three near Khan Yunis, two 
each near Slaw settlement and Rafah, and one near Rafiah Yam. 
 
 
-- Explosions: The IDF reported that an explosive device was 
detonated against IDF troops during a March 27 IDF incursion 
into Rafah. 
 
8.  (SBU) ARRESTS: 
 
-- UNRWA reported that six Palestinians were arrested March 
28 at the Abu Khouli-Gush Katif checkpoint. 
 
9.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: 
 
-- UNRWA reported that two IDF tanks, two bulldozers and one 
excavator entered the al-Barahma area of Rafah March 27 and 
leveled an area of previously demolished houses.  The IDF 
placed and detonated six explosive charges, reportedly to 
destroy tunnels according to UNRWA.  Two Palestinians, 
including one UNRWA employee who was sitting outside his 
house, were injured in the clashes that broke out as 
Palestinian militants fired small arms and anti-tank missiles 
at the IDF forces, who returned fire. 
 
10.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open for Palestinians. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was closed to Palestinian laborers March 
27-29, but 59 merchants over 28 years old were able to enter 
Israel March 28.  On March 29, 158 merchants over 28 years 
old entered Israel.  Diplomats in vehicles and internationals 
on foot were allowed to cross on March 27-29, and 
ministerial-level Palestinians were authorized to cross with 
prior coordination with COGAT March 28-29.  International 
agencies refused, effective March 27, to allow international 
staff to cross through Erez on foot, citing unacceptable 
security risks to the staff members in the event of an attack 
(see Tel Aviv septel). 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open March 28 and 29, with 
3,581 workers entering the Zone on March 28 and 1,782 
entering on March 29. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers March 
27-29, but re-opened for the import into Gaza of aggregates 
used in construction March 28 and 29. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was partially open for the import and 
export of goods into the Gaza Strip March 27-29.  Unpacked 
goods may enter, but no Palestinian containers may enter or 
exit.  UNRWA reported March 29 that this arrangement was only 
barely adequate to the need for commercial goods and 
foodstuff to enter the Gaza Strip.  Sources confirm that 
containers of UNRWA-consigned goods are allowed into Gaza, 
but that the empty containers are not consistently being 
allowed back out.  UNRWA is currently declining to receive 
such containers, claiming that the re-export problems will 
result in UNRWA being charged large demurrage fees for the 
stalled containers (see Tel Aviv septel). 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for Palestinian travelers. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was open March 27-29 for people 
to cross out of the Gaza Strip.  Toufah checkpoint was open 
for women, children under 12-years-old, and males over 35 
years-old on March 27.  Toufah was closed March 28-29, 
according to UNRWA. 
 
********************************************* ******************** 
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website. 
********************************************* ******************** 
KURTZER