US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV653

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000653 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE; 
NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHIE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR 
DS/IP/NEA; 
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: PALESTINIAN YOUTH WOUNDED BY IDF 
GUNFIRE IN ROCK-THROWING CLASH IN WEST BANK; SHOOTING 
INCIDENTS, BUT NO INJURIES IN GAZA STRIP.  FEBRUARY 3, 2005 
(1500 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: In the West Bank, a Palestinian was shot 
and wounded by IDF soldiers during stone-throwing skirmishes 
near the village of Burqa south of Jenin.  Two Palestinian 
youths were injured during stone-throwing clashes with the 
IDF in Nablus.  Four Palestinians were arrested in various 
areas of the West Bank.  The IDF lifted the closure of the 
village of Saida near Tulkarm.  In the Gaza Strip, the IDF 
reported that Palestinian militants engaged in three 
instances of shooting at IDF soldiers and Israeli settlers 
throughout the Gaza Strip.  UNRWA reported that IDF soldiers 
engaged in sporadic fire inside the Rafah refugee camp 
throughout the day February 3.  No injuries have been 
reported from these incidents.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil 
 
-- Injuries: According Palestinian sources, a Palestinian 
student was shot and wounded by IDF soldiers during 
stone-throwing skirmishes near the village of Burqa south of 
Jenin on February 2. 
 
-- Injuries: According to Israeli and Palestinian media, two 
Palestinian youths were injured during stone-throwing clashes 
with the IDF in Nablus on February 2. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian reports, three 
Palestinians, including one Popular Front for Liberation of 
Palestine (PFLP) member, were arrested by the IDF in Nablus 
on February 2. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, the IDF arrested 
a wanted Islamic Jihad militant near Qalqiliya on February 2. 
 
3. (SBU) CLOSURES/CURFEWS: 
 
-- According to Palestinian sources, the IDF left the village 
of Saida near Tulkarm on February 2 concluding a nine-day 
operation in the village. 
 
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Gaza Strip 
---------- 
 
4. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants 
engaged in three instances of shooting at IDF soldiers and 
Israeli settlers throughout the Gaza Strip February 2-3.  No 
injuries were reported. 
 
-- Shootings: UNRWA reported that IDF soldiers engaged in 
sporadic fire inside the Rafah refugee camp throughout the 
day February 3.  No injuries were reported. 
 
-- Explosives: The IDF reported that IDF soldiers safely 
confiscated three Palestinian-made explosive devices near an 
IDF outpost close to the Rafah refugee camp February 2-3. 
 
5. (SBU) CHECKPOINTS AND CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Erez crossing was closed to Palestinians, but open to 
diplomats and internationals on February 3. 
 
-- Erez Industrial Zone was closed February 3. 
 
-- Route 4 (Salahadeen Road) was open with a detour at Abu 
Kholi February 3. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals, and open for 
departures with the limitation that Palestinian males must be 
over the age of 35 and have a foreign residence or be 
traveling on a medical emergency on February 3. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed, and Tufa checkpoint 
was open for residents of Al-Massawai on February 3. 
 
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KURTZER