US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV2163

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002163 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD 
NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR 
DS/IP/NEA; DRL FOR A/S CRANER 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN 
USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FFP 
CENTCOM FOR GENERAL ABIZAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KWBG, PTER, ASEC, PHUM, CASC, KPAL, SItrep, Sitrep 
SUBJECT: THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND: #69, APRIL 10-13, 
2004 - 1700 LOCAL; TWELVE AL-AQSA MILITANTS ARRESTED AFTER 
CIVIL DISPUTE; IDF KILLS TWO PALESTINIANS IN OPERATION AT 
NETZARIM SETTLEMENT 
 
 
THIS IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM CONGEN JERUSALEM AND EMBASSY TEL 
AVIV 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary. Four Palestinians were killed by IDF fire 
over the reporting period, including a 12 year old girl who 
lived near Gani Tal settlement in Gaza.  In the West Bank, 12 
al-Aqsa Brigade members were arrested after they tried to 
abduct an accused collaborator in Qalqilya.  In Gaza there 
was heavy mortar and rocket firing near Khan Younis, and 
laborers staged a sit-in strike at the Erez industrial zone. 
The Erez checkpoint will be closed to both laborers and 
merchants at least through the Independence day holiday.  The 
Islamic and National Powers staged demonstrations over the 
weekend in Gaza city and Nuseriat camp.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Death: Israeli soldiers shot and killed one Palestinian 
during an incursion into Aqraba village, south of Nablus, on 
April 11. 
 
-- Injury:  Israeli troops shot and injured one Palestinian 
during an incursion into Nablus on April 13. 
 
-- Injury:  Israeli troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets 
at a crowd in Durra on April 10, wounding 12 Palestinians. 
The IDF arrested five Palestinians from Durra after the 
clashes. 
 
-- Injury:  Three Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation 
during clashes with the IDF over the separation barrier in 
Baytuniya, near Ramallah, on April 9. 
 
-- Shootings:  Shots were fired at IDF patrols in Tulkarm and 
Jenin on April 12.  No injuries were reported. 
 
 
3.  (SBU) SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS/ARRESTS: 
 
-- Israeli troops arrested 13 Palestinians from Bethlehem, 
Hebron, and Jenin on April 12.  The IDF arrested 18 
Palestinians from across the West Bank on April 11. 
 
-- The IDF raided the Tulkarm District Coordination Office 
(DCO) on April 11, and checked IDs of Palestinian employees 
there before withdrawing.  No injuries were reported. 
 
-- PA police arrested 12 al-Aqsa Brigades militants in 
Qalqilya on April 11 after they tried to abduct an accused 
collaborator. 
 
4.  (SBU) CONFISCATIONS: 
 
-- IDF troops occupied two buildings during an incursion into 
Nablus on April 13.  The soldiers later withdrew from one of 
the buildings, and established an observation post on the 
roof of the other. 
 
-- Jewish settlers took over the al-Aqtab Mosque in Hebron on 
April 12. 
 
 
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Gaza Strip 
---------- 
 
5.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
--Deaths: 3.  On 4/10 Iman Tolba, 12 years old, was shot dead 
near Gani Tal settlement in Gush Katif.  UNWRA reported that 
IDF fire from the settlement was responsible.  On 4/12 IDF 
fire killed two Palestinians and wounded a third at Netzarim 
settlement.  The IDF identified the three men as armed 
terrorists attempting to carry out an attack on the 
settlement. 
 
--Injuries: Nil. 
 
--Mortars/Rockets/Shootings: The IDF reported that 
Palestinian militants fired nine mortar shells over the 
reporting period.  They also reported that five Qassam 
rockets were fired, several at Kefar Dorum and Neveh Dekelim 
settlements. 
 
5.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS 
 
--Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open for Palestinians. 
 
--Erez Crossing was closed for the Pesach holiday.  The Erez 
industrial zone was open from 10/4 to 12/4 with 1,842, 1,781, 
and 1,592 laborers entering respectively.  According to 
UNWRA, Erez industrial zone workers staged a sit-in strike in 
response to IDF tightening of border crossings.  On Tuesday 
4/13, Erez crossing was closed to both laborers and 
merchants, and the IDF says it will remain closed at least 
through the Independence day holiday. 
 
--Sufa Crossing was open for materials but not for laborers. 
 
--Karni Terminal was partially open for the import and export 
of goods into the Gaza Strip.  Only un-containerized 
Palelstinian goods were allowed to enter or exit Gaza. 
Containerized UNWRA goods were allowed to enter and exit Gaza 
but at a very slow rate due to 100% checks.  On 4/12 the IDF 
closed the crossing due to the Pesach holiday. 
 
--Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures from 
0900 hrs to 1700 hrs. 
 
--Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed but Toufah checkpoint 
was open for Al Mawasi residents.  Male Palestinian residents 
between 18-40 years of age could only return with prior 
coordination wtih the IDF. 
 
6.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS 
-- UNWRA reported that on 4/12 IDF forces demolished a 
three-story home near Netzarim settlement.  The house 
belonged to Abu Kutsa but had been used by the IDF as an 
observation post for several months. 
 
 
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