US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1306

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001306 
 
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: THREE PALESTINIANS LIGHTLY INJURED 
AND SEVEN OTHERS ARRESTED IN WEST BANK; PALESTINIANS SHOOT 
AT IDF SOLDIERS IN GAZA, BUT NO INJURIES RESULT;  MARCH 4, 
2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: Palestinians clashed with the IDF on March 
3 in areas near Jerusalem and Hebron to protest construction 
of the separation barrier.  Three Palestinians were injured 
and seven others were arrested in the West Bank March 3-4. 
Palestinians shot at IDF soldiers in Gaza March 3, but no 
injuries were reported.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Clashes/Injuries: Palestinians clashed with the IDF on 
March 3 in Bayt Surik, northwest of Jerusalem, to protest 
construction of the separation barrier.  At least 16 
Palestinians suffered teargas inhalation during the clashes. 
(See &Arrests8). 
 
-- Clashes/Injuries: Palestinians clashed with the IDF on 
March 3 in the village of Dura near Hebron to protest 
construction of the separation barrier.  Three Palestinians 
involved in throwing rocks at IDF soldiers sustained light 
injuries. 
 
-- Injury: An Israeli motorist on March 3 sustained light 
injuries after Palestinians threw stones at passing Israeli 
vehicles traveling along the Modi,in Road (Route 443). 
 
3.  (SBU) ARRESTS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Arrests: Israeli Border Police arrested four Palestinians 
during clashes with the IDF on March 3 in Bayt Surik over the 
construction of the separation barrier. 
 
-- Arrests: The IDF on March 3 entered the village of Deir 
Istiya west of Qalqiliya and arrested two Palestinian Islamic 
Jihad (PIJ) activists. 
 
-- Arrest: The IDF arrested March 3 one Palestinian in the 
village of  Ein el-Beida in the northern Jordan Valley. 
 
-- Weapons Confiscation: Based on information from the PA 
security services, the IDF on March 3 confiscated a cache of 
rifles and ammunition from the village of Ya,bad, west of 
Jenin.  The IDF also discovered and defused some explosive 
devices. 
 
-- Shooting: Unknown individuals fired gunshots the evening 
of March 3 at the home of former PA Minister for Civil 
Affairs Jamil Tarifi in Ramallah.  There were no reported 
injuries.  The perpetrators fled the scene by car.  The PA 
police are conducting an investigation. 
 
4.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- PA President Abbas is scheduled to meet March 4 Jordanian 
King Abdullah in Amman.  According to Palestinian press 
reports, Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mish,al have arranged 
a meeting in Yemen later this month to discuss a variety of 
issues, including the cease-fire agreement and upcoming 
legislative council elections in July. 
 
-- During a March 3 meeting in Ramallah, a contingent of 
Fatah activists accused the Fatah Central Committee of 
mismanagement and poor leadership, which, they contend, 
contributed to the strong showing by Hamas during January 
municipal elections in the Gaza Strip.  According to press 
reports, 32 Fatah activists announced their resignation from 
a Fatah steering and mobilization committee in protest. 
 
-- PA Minister of Interior Nasir Yusif is scheduled to visit 
on March 4 the West Bank cities of Hebron and Bethlehem to 
confer with the local PA security chiefs. 
 
-- Israeli authorities extended closure orders on March 3 for 
three Palestinian organizations in East Jerusalem.  The 
Israeli authorities closed the three organizations -- the 
Islamic Folklore Committee, the Society Development 
Organization, and the al-Sanabel Cultural Society -- in 2003 
for reported ties to Islamic organizations. 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
(SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Nil. 
 
-- Shootings:  The IDF reported that two shooting incidents 
occurred March 3 between Palestinians and IDF soldiers based 
in Kfar Darom, 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 March 4, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction.  Only public transportation is allowed to cross Abu 
Khouli checkpoint. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinians March 3, and 1,050 laborers 
and 190 merchants crossed into Israel March 3. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open March 3, and 533 
laborers entered March 3. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed March 4. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open, but operating slowly March 4. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures March 
4. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed March 4.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi, except for 
males between the ages of 16-35. 
 
 
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KURTZER