US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1585

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001585 
 
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: AT LEAST SIX PALESTINIANS WOUNDED IN 
SEPARATION BARRIER PROTEST -- MARCH 17, 2005 (1200 HOURS 
LOCAL) 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: Two Palestinian youths were wounded by IDF 
gunfire in Tulkarm after they threw a firebomb at an IDF jeep 
on March 16, and at least six Palestinians were wounded by 
rubber-coated bullets and tear gas during a protest against 
the construction of the separation barrier in Safa and 
Bil,in villages, west of Ramallah, the same day.  In Gaza, 
Palestinian militants fired one mortar shell at Neve Dekalim 
and launched one shooting attack at an IDF outpost north of 
Rafah the evening of March 16.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
--------- 
 
2.  (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: According to Palestinian and Israeli media, two 
Palestinian youths were wounded by IDF gunfire in Tulkarm 
after they threw a firebomb at an IDF jeep on March 16.  The 
IDF arrested one of two youths, while the second was 
hospitalized. 
 
-- Injuries: According to Palestinian sources, at least six 
Palestinians were wounded by rubber-coated bullets and tear 
gas during a protest against the construction of the 
separation barrier in Safa and Bil,in villages, west of 
Ramallah, on March 16. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, Azam Jubara, 
the Palestinian security officer in charge of criminal 
investigations in Jenin, was arrested by the IDF at a 
roadblock near Jenin on March 16. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, IDF troops 
arrested a member of Hamas in Tulkarm on March 16. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, the IDF went into 
the village of Mughir, northeast of Ramallah, on March 16 and 
arrested three Palestinian men, including two brothers. 
 
-- Security Incidents: According to Palestinian sources, IDF 
soldiers fired tear gas towards a funeral procession in 
Budrus village, west of Ramallah, on March 16, thinking it 
was a protest against the separation barrier.  Several 
mourners suffered from tear gas inhalation. 
 
3.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- According to Palestinian sources, General Nasser Yusif, 
the Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of Interior and 
Commander of the National Security Forces, met with a Chinese 
government official in Ramallah on March 16.  The Chinese 
reportedly promised to deliver a package of assistance to the 
PA security forces.  In addition, General Yusif met with a 
Dutch official delegation March 16 possible Dutch support to 
build a Security Training Academy in Jericho. 
 
-- According to Palestinian media, a group of gunmen broke 
into the PA Ministry of Transport in Ramallah on March 16. 
Sources reported that the gunmen burst into the ministry and 
aimed their guns at its director-general, Ramadan Al-Keilani. 
 The gunmen, apparently members of the Fatah-affiliated 
Al-Aqsa Martyrs, Brigades, wanted the ministry to license 
illegal on-call taxicabs to work in Ramallah and El-Bireh. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
4.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Palestinian militants fired one mortar 
shell at Neve Dekalim the evening of March 16, according to 
the IDF. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported that Palestinian militants 
launched one shooting attack March 14, targeting an IDF 
outpost north of Rafah. 
5.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open March 17, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction.  As of March 13, private vehicles are allowed to 
transit Abu Khouli checkpoint. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinians March 16, and 1,045 laborers 
and 174 merchants crossed into Israel. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open March 16, and 590 
laborers entered. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers March 
17, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open March 17. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures March 
17. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint remained closed march 17.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. 
 
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KURTZER