US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV2207

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002207 
 
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: #71, APRIL 15, 1700 
-- IDF HELICOPTOR FIRES MISSILE DURING RAFAH INCURSION, 
3,000 PALESTINIANS DEMONSTRATE IN RAMALLAH IN SUPPORT OF 
JAILED FATAH LEADER 
 
 
THIS IS A JOINT MESSAGE FROM CONGEN JERUSALEM AND EMBASSY TEL 
AVIV 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary.  IDF forces detained settlers during the 
evacuation of Havat Maon outpost April 14.  IDF forces 
clashed with Palestinian protesters at Biddu April 14 and 15, 
and roughly 3,000 people demonstrated in Ramallah in support 
of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghuti.  In the Gaza Strip, 
the IDF uncovered a weapons tunnel during an incursion into 
Rafah.  A covering helicoptor fired a missile at gathering 
Palestinians there, killing one.  Gush Katif leadership 
promised to organize against Sharon's withdrawal plan.  End 
Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Death:  Nil. 
 
-- Injury:  One Israeli soldier was lightly injured during 
the IDF evacuation of the Havat Maon outpost near Hebron on 
April 14 (septel).  Seven Israeli settlers were detained by 
Israeli police during the evacuation. 
 
-- Injury:  Palestinian gunmen shot and injured an IDF 
soldier on patrol near Silwad on April 14. 
 
-- Injury:  Palestinian gunmen shot and injured an Israeli 
soldier during an IDF incursion into Jenin on April 14. 
 
-- Injury:  Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and rubber-coated 
bullets into a crowd of Palestinians demonstrating against 
the separation barrier in Biddu on April 14, which resulted 
in 21 Palestinians injured from rubber-coated bullets and 25 
treated for tear gas inhalation. 
 
-- Injury:  IDF troops used tear gas and rubber-coated 
bullets to disperse demonstrators in Biddu again on April 15, 
with 15 Palestinians injured as a result. 
 
3. (SBU) SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS/ARRESTS: 
 
-- Roughly 3,000 Palestinians in Ramallah rallied on April 15 
in support of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghuthi. 
 
-- Israeli troops arrested 17 Palestinians from across the 
West Bank on April 14. 
 
4. (SBU) DEMOLITIONS: 
 
-- The IDF demolished three houses in the West Bank on April 
14 that belonged to families of Palestinian militants.  Two 
homes were in Bethlehem, and one home was in Shwayka, north 
of Tulkarm. 
 
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Gaza Strip 
---------- 
 
3.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: IDF sources report that one Palestinian was killed 
when an IDF helicopter covering anti-tunnel operations in 
Rafah fired a missile at two armed men. 
 
-- Injuries: According to UNWRA at least 20 Palestinians were 
injured during that missile attack.  Palestinian sources 
report between 7 and 15 injuries. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets/Shootings:  According to the IDF, 
Palestinians fired one mortar shell south of Dugit village 
and one anti-tank missile each at the IDF outposts at Rafah 
and Kfar Darom on April 15.  An IDF helicopter fired one 
missile into a crowd at Rafah (see "deaths" above.) 
 
4.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was closed at Netzarim junction and subject to random 
closures at Abu Kholi, according to UNRWA. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was closed to Palestinian laborers April 15 
but open to merchants and internationals.  UNRWA states that 
28 merchants crossed into Israel.  The Erez industrial zone 
was open after two days of closures due to a sit-in strike, 
and UNWRA states that 2,228 workers entered April 15. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was open for materials, but not for laborers. 
 
-- Karni Terminal, the only Gaza Strip-GOI crossing for the 
import and export of goods, began allowing Palestinian 
containerized goods both in and out of Gaza April 14, and 
UNRWA reports that these are still moving, albeit extremely 
slowly. 
-- Rafah Terminal was closed to Palestinians. 
 
-- The Al-Mowassi checkpoints were closed at Tel al-Sultan, 
but open at Toufah. 
 
5.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS 
 
-- Israel Radio reports that IDF troops entered the refugee 
camp at Rafah for anti-tunnel operations.  The IDF reports 
that an unspecified number of Palestinians raising white 
flags approached troops and revealed the existence of one of 
the tunnels.  UNRWA reports that troops retreated to the edge 
of block J at around 1300 hours (see "deaths" above.) 
 
-- UNRWA reports that the small number of IDF tanks that 
entered the Salam area on April 14 remain in the area 
demolishing houses. 
 
7.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS 
 
-- Israeli media reports that settlers in Gush Khatif reacted 
negatively to the April 14 Bush-Sharon press conference, 
stating that the two leaders said nothing new and that the 
status of settlement blocks was still unclear.  Gush Katif 
leadership announced a program of outreach to the 
approximately 45,000 Likud members in southern Israel to 
encourage them to vote against the plan in Likud's May 2 
referendum. 
 
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