US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1525

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001525 
 
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: ONE PALESTINIAN WOUNDED BY IDF FIRE 
IN WEST BANK; ONE PALESTINIAN WOUNDED IN GAZA, ACCORDING TO 
IDF, TWO WOUNDED, ACCORDING TO UNRWA  -- MARCH 14, 2005 
(1300 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: One Palestinian was wounded in the West 
Bank by IDF fire and, according to UNRWA, two Palestinians 
were wounded in IDF-initiated shootings in Gaza.  The IDF, 
however, says that only one Palestinian was wounded in the 
same incident.  Thousands of Gazans turned out March 12 to 
peacefully protest unemployment, calling upon the Palestinian 
Authority to open border crossings into Israel, which would 
allow them to work in Israel, according to Israeli media. 
End Summary. 
 
--------- 
West Bank 
--------- 
 
(SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: According to Palestinian media, IDF troops 
operated north of Tulkarm in Saida and Allar on March 12. 
During the course of the operation, one Palestinian, who 
reportedly threw three firebombs at IDF soldiers, was wounded 
by IDF gunfire. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, a 19-year-old 
Palestinian woman was arrested by IDF soldiers in Hebron on 
March 12.  She was carrying a knife at the time of the arrest 
and was detained on suspicion of planning to stab a soldier. 
According to Israeli sources, the woman was later released. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, four members of 
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) were arrested during an IDF 
operation in the village of Baqa al Sharqiya on March 13. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, two wanted 
Palestinian militants were arrested by the IDF in Hebron and 
Silwad, near Ramallah, on the morning of March 14. 
 
-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian sources, 
Israeli settlers in Hebron physically assaulted two 
Palestinian teenagers on March 12. 
 
(SBU) DEMOLITIONS/CONFISCATIONS: 
 
-- According to Palestinian sources, the IDF confiscated 160 
dunums of land in Der al Hatab village, near Nablus, on March 
13.  The village council claimed that the confiscation was 
ordered for military purposes.  The lands are adjacent to the 
Alon Moreh settlement, near Nablus. 
 
(SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- The Hebron University administration held student council 
elections on March 14.  A reported nine students were injured 
in clashes between Hamas and Fatah supporters in pre-election 
violence March 13. 
 
-- United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan is scheduled 
to meet with PA President Abbas and other PA officials on 
March 14.  A Palestinian NGO called for a protest against 
Annan for his reported refusal to visit refugee camps or 
inspect the Palestinian villages harmed by the separation 
barrier. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
(SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: The IDF reported that one Palestinian was 
moderately injured northeast of Nachal Oz by IDF fire. 
According to UNRWA, two Palestinians were injured with one 
transported by the IDF for medical treatment, and the other 
one transported by Palestinian security forces for medical 
treatment to an area hospital. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Nil. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinians shot at IDF 
soldiers March 11 in two incidents, one north of Rafah and 
another near Kfar Darom, but no injuries resulted.  On March 
14, the IDF reported that soldiers shot at Palestinian 
suspects northeast of Nachal Oz, moderately injuring one 
Palestinian.  According to UNRWA, two Palestinians were 
injured in this incident (see "Injuries"). 
 
-- Explosions: Nil. 
 
(SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. 
 
(SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was closed March 12-14, with a major detour at 
Netzarim Junction.  Only public transportation was allowed to 
cross Abu Khouli checkpoint March 12-13.  On March 14, 
private vehicles were allowed to cross. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinians March 11-13, and on March 11, 
573 laborers aged 35 and above and 83 merchants crossed into 
Israel.  On March 12, 38 laborers and 18 merchants crossed 
into Israel, and on March 13, 1,065 laborers and 149 
merchants crossed into Israel. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was closed March 11-12, but open 
on March 13 with 583 laborers entering. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers March 
12-14, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction March 13-14. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open March 12-14, but operated slowly. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures March 
12-14. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed March 12-14.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi March 12-14. 
 
(SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- Israeli media reported that thousands of unemployed Gazans 
peacefully protested March 12 calling upon the Palestinian 
Authority to help them find jobs.  The protesters demanded 
that the PA press the GOI to open the Israeli-Palestinian 
border crossings to allow them to return to work in Israel. 
No injuries or arrests occurred. 
-- Hamas leader Mohammed Ghazal announced at a press 
conference March 12 in Nablus, that Hamas would participate 
in local elections in Gaza and the West Bank during the 
summer of 2005. 
 
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