US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV6225

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006225 
 
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:  FIVE PALESTINIANS KILLED IN GAZA; 
ONE PALESTINIAN INJURED AND EIGHT OTHERS ARRESTED IN THE 
WEST BANK: DECEMBER, 8, 2004 (1500 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: IDF forces killed five Palestinians in the 
Gaza strip December 7-8, while the number of injured 
Palestinians was reportedly as high as 11.  One Palestinian 
was injured in Hebron on December 7, while the IDF arrested 
eight Palestinians December 7-8 in the West Bank.  End 
Summary. 
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West Bank 
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2.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injury: A Palestinian in Hebron was seriously injured the 
evening of December 7 by the premature detonation of an 
explosive device he was throwing at an Israeli vehicle. 
 
3.  (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Arrests: The IDF arrested eight Palestinians December 7-8, 
during arrest operations in Nablus, Jenin and the Ramallah 
area. 
 
-- Clashes/Arrests: Approximately 700 Israelis and 
Palestinians participated in demonstrations December 7 in 
Budrus village to protest the building of the separation 
barrier.  Several protestors suffered tear-gas inhalation 
during clashes with the IDF.  Israeli troops arrested at 
least 40 demonstrators during the clashes, but all were 
eventually released from custody. 
 
-- The IDF December 8 raided the Hebron office of a Hamas 
charitable organization.  The IDF reportedly ransacked the 
office and took away several items including computer 
equipment before leaving. 
 
4.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- PLO Chairman Abu Mazen, Prime Minister Abu Ala,a, and 
Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister Nabil Sh,ath were 
scheduled to meet with Lebanese officials December 8 
following a two-day visit to Syria. 
 
-- Hasan Khraishah, the acting Speaker of the Palestinian 
Legislative Council (PLC) and candidate for PA President, 
announced December 8 that he would be withdrawing from the 
presidential race, after facing the prospect of having to 
resign as acting PLC speaker if he chose to remain a 
candidate. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
5.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Death: Israeli media reported that a Palestinian youth was 
killed by IDF fire overnight December 7-8 on the outskirts of 
Gaza city. 
 
-- Deaths/Injuries: The total number of Palestinian 
casualties resulting from clashes that erupted between IDF 
soldiers and Palestinian militants following the December 6-7 
IDF incursion into the area west of Karni crossing is four 
dead, 11 injured, according to UNRWA.  The IDF reported that 
four Palestinians were injured in the same clashes. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Israeli media reported that two antitank 
shells were fired at Nissanit settlement in the Gaza strip 
and a mortar shell was fired at Neve Dekalim in the southern 
Gaza strip December 8.  No injuries or damage occurred in 
these incidents, although two Israeli children reportedly 
suffered from shock in Nissanit.  The IDF reported four 
incidents in which a total of five mortar shells exploded on 
December 7, near the Nahal Oz crossing and Neve Dekalim.  No 
injuries were reported.  According to the IDF, Palestinians 
launched a Qassam rocket at Kibbutz Saad December 7, but no 
injuries occurred.  Palestinians also launched an anti-tank 
missile at an IDF bulldozer south of Rafah on December 7, but 
no injuries occurred. 
 
-- Explosions: Nil. 
 
6.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. 
 
7.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open December 8, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for diplomats, international 
workers and a limited number of Palestinians on December 8. 
The exact number of Palestinians crossing into Israel was 
unavailable. 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone remained closed December 8, 
except for visits by a small number of factory owners. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed December 8 for Palestinian 
laborers, but open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open December 8, but was reportedly 
operating slowly. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open December 8 for arrivals and 
departures.  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 8.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi December 8. 
 
 
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