US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV6197

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006197 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE; 
NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHIE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR 
DS/IP/NEA; 
DRL FOR A/S CRANER; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; 
USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP, PRM FOR DEWEY/GREENE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KWBG, PHUM, PREL, PTER, ASEC, CASC, GZ, IS, SItrep, Sitrep 
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: ONE SOLDIER KILLED, FOUR INJURED 
DURING GAZA INCURSION: DECEMBER 7, 2004 (1200 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: A member of the IDF canine unit and his 
dog were killed near Karni Crossing December 7 when an IED 
exploded as soldiers were conducting a search for weapons. 
Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.  Four additional 
IDF soldiers were injured in the ensuing gun battle as they 
attempted to extricate the soldier, and at least 7 
Palestinians were also injured, three of whom later died of 
their injuries.  A PIJ militant was killed in a missile 
strike cinducted from a UAV in the same area later in the 
morning.  A total of 180 agricultural laborers were allowed 
to enter Israel at Erez for work December 7, for the first 
time in months.  A limited number of merchants are also being 
allowed to enter on a daily basis.  In the West Bank, the IDF 
arrested 27 Palestinians in the West Bank on security charges 
on December 6, and destroyed a multi-story residential 
building in East Jerusalem for lack of a building permit. 
End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2.  (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Arrests: The IDF arrested 27 Palestinians in the West Bank 
primarily in Nablus, Qalqilya and Bethlehem, on security 
charges December 6, according to Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Demolitions: The IDF destroyed a multi-story residential 
building and two shops in the Jabl Muqabr neighborhood of 
East Jerusalem for lack of a building permit, according to 
Israeli media and local activists.  This is the seventh 
demolition in ten days in the Jerusalem area. 
 
3.  (SBU) SEPARATION BARRIER:  Barrier construction is 
underway east of Neve Yaakov settlement in Jerusalem, next to 
built-up areas in al-Ram. 
 
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Gaza 
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4.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths/Injuries: The IDF reported that a member of the IDF 
canine unit and his dog were killed in the early morning 
hours December 7 when an IED exploded as they were conducting 
a search for weapons in the area between the Nahal Oz and the 
Karni Crossings.  Hamas claimed responsibility for the 
attack.  Four additional IDF soldiers were injured in the 
ensuing gun battle as they attempted to extricate the 
soldier.  At least 7 Palestinians were also injured, three of 
whom later died.  Israeli media reported that a PIJ militant 
was killed in an IAF missile strike conducted from a UAV in 
the same area later in the morning (see 
"Incursions/Demolitions"). 
 
-- Injuries: The IDF reported that shrapnel injured one 
Palestinian worker December 6 near Neve Dekalim settlement 
(see "Mortars/Rockets"). 
 
-- Catch-up item: Injuries: UNRWA reported that two 
Palestinians were injured December 5 in the al-Barahma area 
of the Rafah refugee camp during an exchange of fire between 
Palestinians militants and IDF soldiers. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that Palestinian 
militants fired one Qassam rocket into Israel near Kibbutz Or 
Haner and four mortar shells at Neve Dekalim settlement 
December 6.  One Palestinian worker was injured in the mortar 
attack on Neve Dekalim, according to the IDF. 
 
-- Explosions: The IDF reported that IDF soldiers found and 
safely disposed of a 40-kilogram explosive device near the 
Sufa Crossing December 6.  Hamas militants detonated an 
explosive device near the Karni Crossing December 7, killing 
an IDF soldier, according to the IDF (see Deaths/Injuries" 
and "Incursions/Demolitions"). 
 
5.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: 
 
-- UNRWA reported that IDF undercover units, supported 
subsequently by APCs and IAF helicopters, entered the area 
between the Nahal Oz and Karni Crossings just after midnight 
December 7 to search for weapons, according to IDF and 
Israeli media reports.  Militants gathered to repel the 
incursion.  One IDF soldier and his bomb-sniffing dog were 
killed when an IED detonated, and four other soldiers were 
wounded trying to recover the body.  The clashes continued 
throughout the night and into the day, with a total of two 
Palestinians reported killed and at least ten more injured, 
according to UNRWA.  The operation is ongoing as of 1200 
hours. 
 
-- UNRWA reported that three IDF bulldozers and five armored 
vehicles entered eastern al-Qarara (south of the Kissufim 
road, near Khan Yunis) December 5, uprooting 30 dunams of 
olive trees before withdrawing. 
 
6.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open December 7, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinian merchants December 6-7.  A 
reported 102 merchants crossed into Israel December 6, and 67 
crossed into Israel December 7.  UNRWA reported that 180 
agricultural laborers (married and over age 30) entered 
Israel December 7. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone remained closed December 6-7, 
although 70 factory owners were allowed entry to the zone to 
inspect their property December 6, and 69 were allowed entry 
December 7. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers December 
7, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open but reportedly operating slowly. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures 
December 7.  Although the IDF no longer prohibits the exit of 
male Palestinians age 16-35 from the Gaza Strip lengthy 
checks at the border mean that few Palestinians in this 
category are actually able to exit.  There are no age 
restrictions for entry into Gaza. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed December 7.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. 
 
 
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