US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV2040

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002040 
 
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 APRIL 2, 2004 -- (1400 
HOURS LOCAL) -- ONE PALESTINIAN KILLED IN IDF INCURSION 
INTO RAFAH 
 
REF: TEL AVIV 1911 
 
THIS IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM EMBASSY TEL AVIV AND CONGEN 
JERUSALEM. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (SBU) Summary: One Palestinian was killed April 2 in a 
heavy exchange of fire that erupted between IDF soldiers and 
Palestinian militants during an IDF incursion into the 
al-Salaam area of the Rafah refugee camp.  On April 1, UNRWA 
said in a press release that it was suspending delivery into 
Gaza of food aid for Palestinian refugees due to the 
unresolved issue of removing empty shipping containers from 
Gaza (see reftel and Tel Aviv septel).  UNRWA said that 
failure to remove the empty shipping containers while still 
bringing in full ones would result in a bottleneck and 
prohibitive demurrage costs.  In the West Bank, Israeli 
police shot six Palestinians with rubber bullets and injured 
about 30 other Palestinians with tear gas in response to 
stone-throwing by some worshippers at the Haram al Sharif 
complex April 2.  The police made 20 arrests.  Settlers in 
Hebron beat up a Palestinian boy April 1, and threw stones at 
an Arab bus in the northern West Bank, lightly injuring two 
babies, according to press reports.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Death: Nil. 
 
-- Injury: Israeli police shot six Palestinians with rubber 
bullets and injured about 30 other Palestinians with tear gas 
in response to stone-throwing by some worshippers at the 
Haram al Sharif complex April 2.  The police made 20 arrests. 
 
-- Injury: Settlers in Hebron beat up a Palestinian boy April 
1, according to press reports.  One settler was also wounded 
in the incident. 
 
-- Injury: Settlers threw stones at an Arab bus in the 
northern West Bank, lightly injuring two babies, according to 
press reports. 
 
-- Shooting: Palestinians shot at an IDF jeep near Janin 
April 1, but caused no injuries. 
 
3.  (SBU) ARRESTS: 
 
-- The IDF arrested seven Palestinians throughout the West 
Bank April 1. 
 
4.  (SBU) DEMOLITIONS: 
 
-- Palestinians reported that the IDF destroyed a house west 
of Ramallah April 1.  The house reportedly belonged to a 
Hamas member, Mohammad Hasan Adnan, imprisoned in Israel. 
 
5.  (SBU) SETTLEMENT EXPANSION/EVACUATION: 
 
-- Palestinians claimed that settlers took over four dunams 
of agricultural land April 1 outside Al Khadar village, near 
Bethlehem. 
 
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Gaza 
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6. (SBU)  ATTACKS: 
 
-- Death: UNRWA reported that one Palestinian was killed 
April 1 during an IDF incursion into the al-Salaam area of 
the Rafah refugee camp (see "Incursions"). 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets/Hand Grenades: The IDF reported 
Palestinians April 1 fired one mortar at Kfar Darom 
settlement, two mortars near Neve Dekalim, and one near 
Netzer Hazani. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported one shooting attack near Gadid 
settlement April 1. 
 
-- Explosions: The IDF reported that two IEDs were discovered 
and safely deactivated south of Nahal Oz Crossing April 1. 
 
7.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: 
-- UNRWA reported that IDF tanks and jeeps entered the Rafah 
refugee camp at approximately 0020 hours April 2, reportedly 
to search for tunnels used for the smuggling.  Palestinian 
militants fired on the troops and one Palestinian man was 
shot and killed in the ensuing heavy crossfire.  The 
operation was ongoing as of 1400 hours April 2. 
 
8.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open for Palestinians. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was closed to Palestinians laborers April 2, 
but open for merchants over 28 years of age.  The number of 
merchants crossing April 2 was unavailable.  The IDF also 
allowed diplomats in vehicles and internationals on foot to 
cross.  UN agencies, however, refuse to authorize their 
non-diplomatic staff to cross on foot; staff must wait to 
cross until they can join someone crossing in a diplomatic 
vehicle.  The Erez Industrial Zone was closed April 2 due to 
a security alert, according to Israeli media. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers April 2, 
but open for the import into Gaza of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was partially open for the import and 
export of goods into the Gaza Strip.  Unpacked goods may 
enter, but no Palestinian shipping containers may enter or 
exit.  On April 1, UNRWA said in a press release that it was 
suspending delivery into Gaza of food aid for Palestinian 
refugees due to the unresolved issue of removing empty 
shipping containers from Gaza (see reftel and Tel Aviv 
septel).  UNRWA said that failure to remove the empty 
shipping containers while still bringing in full containers 
would result in a bottleneck and prohibitive costs. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for Palestinian travelers. 
 
-- Information on the status of Tel al-Sultan and Toufah 
checkpoints April 2 was unavailable. 
 
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KURTZER