US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1561

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001561 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR 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 ISRAELI SETTLER AND ONE 
PALESTINIAN INJURED IN WEST BANK; ONE MORTAR SHELL EXPLODES 
IN GAZA, BUT NO INJURIES-- MARCH 16, 2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: One Israeli settler was injured in a 
shooting incident perpetrated by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' 
Brigades, and one Palestinian was injured by IDF fire in the 
West Bank March 15-16.  Gaza was quiet, except for one mortar 
shell explosion near Neve Dekalim, but no injuries resulted. 
End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2.  (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
--Injuries: According to Palestinian and Israeli media, an 
Israeli settler was wounded in a shooting attack in the 
Hebron city center on March 15.  The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' 
Brigades took responsibility for the attack. 
 
-- Injuries: According to Palestinian sources, a Palestinian 
man was shot and injured by the IDF near Habla village, 
Qalqilya governorate, when he attempted to flee from soldiers 
at a checkpoint on March 16. 
 
-- Shootings: According to Palestinian and Israeli sources, 
shots were fired at an Israeli car near Bracha settlement, 
near Nablus, on March 15.  No injuries were reported. 
 
-- Shootings: According to Palestinian sources, three 
Palestinians were arrested by the IDF in Nablus, and two in 
Kharbtha village, west of Ramallah, on March 15. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, two Palestinians 
were arrested by the IDF in Taysir village in the Jordan 
Valley on March 15.  Two assault rifles were confiscated. 
 
-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian and Israeli 
sources, an explosive device detonated at an Israeli bus stop 
near al-Aroub camp, north of Hebron, on March 15.  No 
injuries were reported. 
 
3.  (SBU) CLOSURES/CURFEWS: 
 
-- According to Palestinian sources, the IDF opened roads 
between Tal village, Sura and Iraq Burin, all near Nablus, on 
March 15. 
 
4.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- According to Palestinian sources, the Arab American 
University in Jenin held elections on March 15.  The Fatah 
youth bloc won 15 seats, Hamas/Palestinian Islamic Jihad won 
14 seats, the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine 
(PFLP) won 3 seats, and Democratic Front for Liberation of 
Palestine (DFLP) won 1 seat. 
 
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Gaza 
---- 
 
5.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: One mortar shell exploded near Neve 
Dekalim on March 16, but no injuries resulted, according to 
the IDF. 
 
-- Shootings: Nil. 
 
-- Explosions: Nil. 
 
6.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. 
 
7.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open March 16, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinians March 15, and 1,050 laborers 
and 188 merchants crossed into Israel. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open March 15, and 572 
laborers entered. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers, but was 
open for the import of aggregates used in construction March 
16. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open, but operated slowly March 16. 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures March 
16. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed March 16.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. 
 
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KURTZER