US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV886

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000886 
 
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: FEBRUARY 14, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) 
-- GOI APPROVES PRISONER RELEASE; ONE PALESTINIAN KILLED IN 
WEST BANK 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: Palestinian militants launched three 
shooting attacks at IDF and Israeli settler targets February 
11-14, including one in which militants fired on Israeli 
laborers who were putting up a fence along the Kissufim Road. 
 No injuries were reported.  The GOI agreed February 14 to 
the release of some 500 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom 
must have served at least two-thirds of their sentences and 
have no "blood on their hands" from direct attacks against 
Israelis.  The bodies of 15 Palestinian militants were to be 
handed over in Gaza February 14 as a good will gesture to Abu 
Mazen.  In the West Bank, the IDF shot and killed a 
Palestinian man February 14 who reportedly attacked an IDF 
solider with a knife in Nablus.  Abu Mazen named BG Mahmoud 
Asfour as acting commander of Gaza and West Bank police on 
February 12, according to Palestinian security sources, 
replacing Sa,eb al-Ajaz, whose resignation, along with those 
of eight other security commanders, was accepted last week 
after the Hamas shelling of Gaza settlements.  End Summary. 
 
--------- 
West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: The IDF shot and killed a Palestinian man who 
reportedly attacked an IDF solider with a knife in Nablus on 
February 14, according to an IDF spokesman. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Arrests: The IDF arrested a PFLP activist in Bayt Rima, 
north of Ramallah, on February 11, according to Palestinian 
sources. 
 
-- Arrests: The IDF arrested a Hamas activist in Hebron, a 
Palestinian policeman in East Jerusalem, and three 
Palestinians in Qalqiliya on February 13-14, according to 
Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Incursion: The IDF entered Salfit on Saturday, February 
12, and checked IDs of several Palestinian men, but left 
without making an arrest, according to Palestinian sources. 
 
3.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- PA sources said that Israel will officially turn over 
security control of Jericho to the PA on February 15, 
followed by Qalqiliya and Tulkarm next week. 
 
-- Abu Mazen named BG Mahmoud Asfour as acting commander of 
Gaza and West Bank police on February 12, according to 
Palestinian security sources, replacing Sa,eb al-Ajaz, whose 
resignation, along with those of eight other security 
commanders, was accepted last week after the Hamas shelling 
of Gaza settlements. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
4.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: The IDF did not report any rocket or 
mortar fire February 11-14.  UNRWA reported that IDF tanks 
fired three shells towards the Egyptian border 
with Rafah February 14, apparently towards suspected 
smugglers. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants 
launched three shooting attacks at IDF and Israeli settler 
targets February 11-14.  UNRWA said that in one of these 
attacks on February 11, militants fired on Israeli laborers 
who were putting up a fence along the Kissufim Road.  No 
injuries were reported in any of these attacks. 
 
-- Explosions: PA security forces found and, in coordination 
with the IDF, safely deactivated two explosive devices: one 
near Morag February 11 and a second near an IDF outpost west 
of Rafah February 13. 
-- Arrests: Israeli media reported that settlers from Gush 
Katif blocked the Abu Khouli/Gush Katif interchange February 
11, throwing stones at Palestinian vehicles in protest 
against rocket and mortar fire on the settlements.  IDF 
troops arrested seven settlers and re-opened the checkpoint 
after approximately two hours, according to UNRWA. 
 
5.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. 
 
6.  (SBU) INTRA-PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE: 
 
-- UNRWA and Palestinian sources reported that the families 
of two men killed February 10 in the attack on the central 
prison in the Suraya complex in Gaza City (see February 10 
SitRep) blocked the main coastal road near Nuseirat February 
13, disrupting traffic for two hours until dispersed by PA 
police. 
 
-- Catch-up item: UNRWA reported that, in addition to the 
three prisoners killed in the February 10 attack on the 
Central Prison in Gaza City, four PA security officers were 
also shot and injured. 
 
7.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open February 12-14, with a major detour at 
Netzarim Junction.  As of February 9, Abu Khouli checkpoint 
is open 24 hours a day, although still subject to sporadic 
closures due to security alerts.  Private cars, however, are 
still prohibited from crossing the checkpoint. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinian merchants February 12.  On 
February 13, Israel re-opened the crossing to Palestinian 
laborers as well, and 207 laborers and 75 merchants crossed 
into Israel. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was partially open, and 300 
laborers entered the zone February 13. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers February 
12-14, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open for limited imports and exports 
February 12-14. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures 
February 12-14, except for men between the ages of 16-35. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed February 12-14. 
Toufah checkpoint was open for female residents of 
al-Mowassi, and for males under age 16 and over age 35. 
 
8.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- Israeli media reported that the GOI agreed February 14 to 
the release of some 500 of the approximately 7,600 
Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails.  According 
to a GOI communique, the prisoners who will be released must 
have served at least two-thirds of their sentences and have 
no "blood on their hands" from direct attacks against 
Israelis.  Media also reported that the bodies of 15 
Palestinian militants were to be handed over in Gaza February 
14 as a good will gesture to Abu Mazen. 
 
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