US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1028

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001028 
 
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: IDF ARRESTS SIX PALESTINIANS IN THE 
WEST BANK, INJURES ANOTHER LIGHTLY FEBRUARY 18, 2005 (1300 
HOURS LOCAL) -- 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: One Palestinian was lightly injured by IDF 
riot gas inhalation in the West Bank during a protest against 
the separation barrier and six Palestinians were arrested by 
the IDF in the West Bank February 17.  Two shooting incidents 
occurred near Rafah overnight February 17-18, but no injuries 
resulted.  The IDF announced February 18 that it would end 
its policy of demolishing the homes of terrorists and their 
families.  End Summary. 
 
--------- 
West Bank 
--------- 
 
 (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: One Palestinian was lightly injured by IDF riot 
gas inhalation in a protest against the separation barrier 
near Yatta in the Hebron area February 17, according to 
Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Arrests:  The IDF arrested four Palestinians in the same 
incident on February 17, according to Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Arrests:  The IDF arrested two Palestinians in Qalqiliya 
February 17 on security charges, according to Palestinian 
sources. 
 
-- Demolitions:  Bayt Surik (northwest of Jerusalem) 
villagers reported Israeli bulldozers and armed guards 
uprooting and clearing their olive groves on February 17 to 
make way for the separation barrier and buffer zone. 
 
  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- Waqf officials at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount told 
the Palestinian press that they are on high alert after 
receiving information about possible plots by Jewish 
extremists to damage the mosques. 
 
-- Jericho,s police chief Abu al-Abd Samud, was fired 
February 17 by West Bank Police Chief Ala,a Husni for 
failing to protect the Jericho police station during riots 
last week that resulted in significant damage to police 
offices. 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
(SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Nil. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinians shot at IDF 
soldiers near Rafah in two separate incidents overnight 
February 17-18, but no injuries occurred. 
 
-- Explosions: Nil. 
 
(SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. 
 
(SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open February 18, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction.  Abu Khouli was open February 18 for public 
transportation. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for diplomats and internationals 
and for a limited number of Palestinians February 18, and 533 
laborers and 67 merchants crossed into Israel February 17. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open February 18. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers February 
18, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open, but operating slowly on February 
18. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures 
February 18. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed February 18.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. 
 
(SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: Defense Minister Mofaz and 
Defense Chief of Staff Ya'alon announced February 18 the GOI 
is ending the policy of punitive demolitions of terrorists' 
houses or those of their families in the West Bank and Gaza. 
 
********************************************* ******************** 
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