US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV73

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000073 
 
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: EIGHT ARRESTED IN WEST BANK; IN GAZA, 
EIGHT PERSONS KILLED AND 19-20 PERSONS INJURED : JANUARY, 
5, 2004 (1500 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: Violence continued in Gaza January 4-5 
with 11-12 IDF soldiers reportedly injured by Qassam rocket 
attacks and eight Palestinians, including six members of the 
same family and one militant, killed by Israeli gunfire.  In 
the West Bank, eight Palestinians were arrested, including a 
PIJ activist.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Arrests: The IDF arrested PIJ activist Bilal Yasin near 
Jenin on January 4, according to Palestinian sources.  Yasin 
escaped from an Israeli jail near Ramallah two years ago. 
 
-- Arrests: The IDF arrested seven other Palestinians on 
security charges on January 4, according to Palestinian 
sources. 
 
-- Possible Kidnapping: The IDF set up roadblocks around 
Ma,aleh Adumim after Palestinian sources said two IDF 
soldiers were kidnapped, according to Israeli media.  The IDF 
later said that they doubted the reports were true. 
 
3.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- PA Foreign Minister Nabil Sha,ath said January 4 that 
Fatah leaders had recently offered Hamas a meeting to discuss 
stopping rocket launches from Gaza, but that Hamas has 
refused the request. 
 
-- Abu Mazen campaigned in Hebron January 5 and plans to do 
so in Nablus on January 6, and Bethlehem, during the January 
7 Orthodox Christmas, according to Palestinian sources. 
 
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Gaza 
---- 
 
4.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Israeli media reported that seven Palestinians 
were killed January 4, including six members of one family by 
an IDF tank shell in Bayt Lahia (see "injuries"). 
 
-- Death: Israeli troops killed one Palestinian militant 
January 5 near the Erez Crossing between Israel and Gaza 
after he reportedly fired at IDF troops patrolling in the 
area. 
 
-- Injuries: Israeli media reported that eight Palestinians 
were injured in Bayt Lahia on January 4 by an IDF tank shell 
(see "deaths"). 
 
-- Injuries: According to Israeli news sources, 11-12 Israeli 
soldiers were injured by Qassam rockets fired near the 
Gaza-Israel border on January 5. 
 
-- Shootings: According to the IDF, there were seven shooting 
incidents January 4-5 in Nisanit, near Rafah, at the Karni 
crossing, Netzarim and in Rafiah. 
 
-- Explosions: The IDF reported that it found an explosive 
device in Rafah on January 4, which did not detonate. 
Israeli troops also reportedly discovered another explosive 
device and several hand grenades overnight near the Erez 
Crossing.  At least one device exploded overnight January 
4-5. 
 
5.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: UNRWA reported that on 
January 5, Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered the coastal 
road in Northern Gaza and are reportedly bulldozing the area 
around the Palestinian checkpoint at Erez. 
 
6.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open January 5, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was closed for both internationals and for 
Palestinians January 5. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone remained closed January 5. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers January 
5, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open, but reportedly operating slowly 
January 5. 
-- Rafah Terminal was closed for arrivals and departures 
January 5. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed January 5.  Toufah 
checkpoint was closed for residents of al-Mowassi. 
 
 
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KURTZER