US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV946

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 000946 
 
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: TWO AL-AQSA MILITANTS AND A 
15-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN KILLED IN WEST BANK; MORTARS FIRED 
IN GAZA, BUT NO INJURIES; FEBRUARY 16, 2005 (1300 HOURS 
LOCAL) 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: The IDF shot and killed two Al-Aqsa 
militants in the West Bank, while an Israeli settler killed a 
15-year-old Palesinian in Ramallah.  In Gaza, militants fired 
mortar shells at Morag and Neve Dekalim.  No injuries were 
reported in either attack.  End Summary. 
 
--------- 
West Bank 
--------- 
 
 (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: The IDF shot and killed two al-Aqsa Martyrs 
Brigades gunmen near Bracha settlement, south of Nablus, on 
February 15, according to Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Deaths: An Israeli shot and killed a 15-year-old 
Palestinian named Bala,a Hani near Baytuniya, by Ramallah, 
on February 15.  Palestinian sources described the Israeli as 
a settler and Israeli media described him as a security guard 
at a construction site for the fence.  Palestinian sources 
suspect the teen threw rocks at the Israeli's vehicle, before 
he shot the boy. 
 
-- Injuries: The same Israeli settler/security guard shot and 
seriously wounded a second Palestinian youth in the same 
incident on February 15, according to Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Injuries: One Israeli border policeman was lightly injured 
when Palestinians threw rocks at his patrol in Har Adar, near 
Jerusalem, during a protest against the separation barrier 
being built there, according to Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Injuries: Several Palestinians were lightly injured by 
riot control gas and rubber-coated bullets fired by the IDF 
in Hebron on February 15, according to Palestinian sources, 
who say that a large crowd of Palestinians were protesting a 
new road being built through Islamic Waqf property and a 
Muslim cemetery to connect Tel Rumeideh settlement with 
Jewish settlements in Hebron,s Old City. 
 
-- Arrests: Nil. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
(SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries:  Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Israeli media reported that Palestinians 
fired several rounds of mortar fire at Morag February 16, but 
no injuries were reported.  The IDF reported two mortar shell 
explosions near Neve Dekalim overnight February 15-16.  No 
injuries resulted. 
 
-- Shootings: Nil. 
 
-- Explosions: Nil. 
 
(SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. 
 
(SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open February 16, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinian laborers.  380 workers and 140 
merchants crossed into Israel February 15. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open for a limited, but 
unknown number of Palestinians February 16. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers February 
16, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open, but operating slowly February 16. 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures 
February 16, but with restrictions for Palestinian males 
between the ages of 16-35. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed February 16.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for pedestrian residents of al-Mowassi 
February 16. 
 
 
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KURTZER