US embassy cable - 04TELAVIV6470

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 006470 
 
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: NO INJURIES IN ANTI-TANK MISSILE 
STRIKE ON NORTHERN GAZA SYNAGOGUE; SETTLER VANDALISM IN 
WEST BANK: DECEMBER 21, 2004 (1200 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: Settlers from Zufin settlement, near 
Qalqiliya, uprooted and torched trees near the West Bank 
village of Jayyus December 20.  Also on December 20, settlers 
from Yitzhar settlement, near Nablus, disconnected the water 
supply to an IDF outpost and punctured the tires of a 
military jeep as the soldiers were attempting to prevent the 
hookup of a water supply to an illegal settlement outpost. 
On December 20, militants detonated an explosive device 
against an IDF patrol near Rachel,s Tomb in Bethlehem, 
according to Israeli and Palestinian newspapers.  No injuries 
were reported.  In Gaza, Palestinian militants December 21 
fired two anti-tank missiles at the northern Israeli 
settlements, one of which struck a synagogue during morning 
prayers.  No injuries were reported, but the building was 
extensively damaged, according to media reports.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Arrests: On December 20, a total of nine Palestinians were 
arrested in the different areas of the West Bank, according 
to Palestinian dailies. 
 
-- Explosion: On December 20, militants detonated an 
explosive device against an IDF patrol near Rachel,s Tomb in 
Bethlehem, according to Israeli and Palestinian newspapers. 
No injuries were reported. 
 
3. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS/CLOSURES 
 
-- On December 20, an Israeli driver working for a gas 
company had to be rescued from stone-throwers after he drove 
his private car into Qalandia refugee camp, according to 
Israeli and Palestinian reports.  The Israeli was unharmed. 
 
-- On December 21, the IDF entered the center of Nablus and 
imposed curfew, according to Palestinian dailies. 
 
-- On December 20, settlers from Zufin settlement, near 
Qalqiliya, uprooted and torched trees near the West Bank 
village of Jayyus, according to Palestinian reports. 
 
-- On December 20, settlers from Yitzhar settlement, near 
Nablus, disconnected the water supply to an IDF outpost, and 
punctured the tires of a military jeep, according to Israeli 
radio.  The IDF soldiers were attempting to prevent the 
hookup of a water supply to an illegal settlement outpost. 
 
4.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS 
 
-- A memorial service for Yaser Arafat was held at the 
Muqata,a in Ramallah on December 21, according to 
Palestinian reports.  Similar services were held in the other 
West Bank cities for people unable to reach Ramallah. 
 
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Gaza 
---- 
 
5.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injury: UNRWA reported that an eight-year-old girl was 
shot and wounded December 21 in Rafah during an exchange of 
fire between IDF soldiers and Palestinian militants. 
 
-- Injuries: UNRWA reported that at least one Palestinian was 
shot and wounded by IDF gunfire December 21 along the Coastal 
Road, along the Netzarim detour. 
 
-- Injuries: UNRWA reported that IDF gunfire wounded two 
Palestinians in Rafah December 20. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Israeli media reported that Palestinian 
militants December 21 fired two anti-tank missiles at the 
northern Israeli settlements.  One of the missiles struck a 
synagogue during morning prayers.  No injuries were reported 
but the building was extensively damaged, according to media 
reports. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF reported that Palestinian 
militants fired two Qassam rockets at targets in Israel 
December 20, one at Kibbutz Or Haner and the other at Kibbutz 
Nativ Ha'asura.  Militants also fired a total of eight mortar 
shells at IDF and Israeli settler targets in the Gaza strip 
overnight December 20-21. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants 
launched three shooting attacks in the Gaza Strip overnight 
December 20-21. 
 
6.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: 
 
-- UNRWA reported that IDF tanks and bulldozers entered the 
area near Sufa Crossing December 20 and began excavations 
aimed at locating tunnels. 
 
7.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was closed December 21 at Netzarim Junction, when the 
IDF blocked the Coastal Road detour.  The Coastal Road was 
re-opened at 1200 hours, according to UNRWA. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinians December 20.  Information on 
the number of Palestinians who crossed into Israel was not 
available. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone remained closed December 21, 
although a small number of factory owners have been allowed 
entry. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers December 
21, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open December 21. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was closed for arrivals and departures 
December 21. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed December 21.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. 
 
 
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