US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV711

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000711 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE; 
NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; 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:  PIJ AND AAMB INJURE FOUR IDF 
SOLDIERS IN THE WEST BANK; ONE PALESTINIAN KILLED AND TWO 
IDF SOLDIERS INJURED AT THE HAGOSH JUNCTION IN GAZA STRIP. 
FEBRUARY 4, 2005 (1600 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
This is a joint Embassy Tel Aviv/ConGen Jerusalem cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) In the West Bank on February 3, the Palestinian 
Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades wounded four IDF 
soldiers in a shooting attack south of Hebron.  Eight 
international activists were lightly injured in clashes with 
the IDF when protesting the construction of the seamline 
barrier on February 1.  Two Hamas members were arrested in 
Silwad and in Nablus.  A 16-year-old Palestinian was arrested 
at the Huwara checkpoint carrying an explosive belt and a 
makeshift handgun with 20 bullets.  The IDF went on high 
alert and imposed curfews in the Jerusalem area to prevent a 
terrorist attack.  In the Gaza Strip, the IDF killed a 
Palestinian who opened fire and threw a hand grenade at them 
at the Hagosh junction.  PA President Abu Mazen reportedly 
ordered the arrest of the planners of the attack.  The IDF 
safely dismantled two explosive devices.  End summary. 
 
--------- 
West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) Attacks/Security: 
 
-- Deaths:  Nil 
 
-- Injuries:  According to Israeli and Palestinian sources, 
four IDF soldiers were wounded in a shooting attack south of 
Hebron near the settlement of Eshkolot on February 3. 
According to Palestinian sources, Palestinian Islamic Jihad 
(PIJ) and al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility 
for the attack, but IDF sources say they are unsure the 
groups actually perpetrated the attack. 
 
-- Injuries:  According to Israeli and Palestinian media, 
eight international activists were lightly injured in clashes 
with the IDF when protesting the construction of the seamline 
barrier near Hebron on February 1. 
 
--Shootings:  According to Palestinian sources, shots were 
fired at an IDF jeep in the Nablus area.  No injuries have 
been reported. 
 
-- Arrests:  According to Palestinian reports, IDF units 
arrested one Hamas member in Silwad, and another in Nablus on 
February 3. 
 
-- Arrests:  According to Israeli and Palestinian reports, 
IDF troops arrested a 16-year-old Palestinian Mahmoud Tabouq 
at Huwara checkpoint near Nablus on February 3.  Tabouq was 
carrying an explosive belt in his bag, as well as a makeshift 
handgun with 20 bullets. 
 
3.  (SBU) Closures/Curfews: 
 
-- According to Palestinian sources, the IDF imposed a curfew 
on the West Bank villages of Dahirya and was searching for 
Palestinian militants on February 3.  According to Israeli 
sources, the IDF also imposed a curfew on the village of 
al-Burg. 
 
-- According to Israeli and Palestinian reports, in Jerusalem 
the police went on high alert in the afternoon of February 3, 
imposing curfews of several hours on Abu Dis, Ezariya, and 
Sawareh villages and setting up roadblocks in the eastern 
parts of the city.  Israeli police sources said that two 
Palestinians were arrested, thereby averting a terrorist 
attack.  Israeli police sources could not give further 
details because of a court injunction. 
 
---------- 
Gaza Strip 
---------- 
 
4.  (SBU) Attacks/Security: 
 
-- Deaths:  The IDF killed one Palestinian at the Hagosh 
junction when the Palestinian opened fire and threw a hand 
grenade at them on February 3.  Two IDF soldiers were lightly 
injured.  PA security sources suspect the DFLP was 
responsible.  Negotiations Affairs Minister Sa'eb Erekat told 
the Consul General on February 4 that Abu Mazen ordered the 
arrest of anyone involved in the attack. 
 
-- Explosives:  The IDF reported that it dismantled an 
explosive device 1.5 km. northwest of the Rafah Terminal on 
February 3.  There were no injuries. 
 
-- Explosives:  The IDF reported that it dismantled a 40 kg. 
explosive device 1 km. southwest of the Sufa crossing on 
February 3.  There were no injuries. 
 
-- Shooting:  The IDF reported a shooting attack against an 
IDF patrol west of Rafah.  There were no injuries. 
 
5.  (SBU) Closures/Curfews: 
 
-- Abu Kholi Road was closed on February 4. 
 
-- Erez was open on February 4.  There was no information 
available on Erez Industrial Zone. 
 
-- Karni crossing was closed on February 4. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and 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 4. 
 
-- Sufa crossing was closed on February 4. 
 
-- Salahadeen Road was open on February 4. 
 
-- The Tel al-Sultan and Tufa checkpoints were closed on 
February 4. 
 
********************************************* ******************** 
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website. 
********************************************* ******************** 
KURTZER