US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1917

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001917 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR BURNS/SATTERFIELD/DIBBLE; 
NEA/SA/EX FOR RICHE; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA; DRL FOR A/S CRANER; 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN; 
USAID FOR DCHA, DCHA/FPP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KWBG, PTER, ASEC, PHUM, CASC, KPAL, SItrep, Sitrep 
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: ISRAELI FORCES SHOOT AND INJURE THREE 
PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK: MARCH 29, 2005 (1100 HRS 
LOCAL) 
 
This is a joint message from Embassy Tel Aviv and ConGen 
Jerusalem.  This message is sensitive.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian-made bomb 
detonated in the car of a prominent Gaza lawyer, injuring him 
lightly.  Gazan militants fired on IDF positions, causing no 
injuries.  In the West Bank, Israeli forces shot and injured 
three Palestinians near Hebron and Nablus.  Shots were fired 
at a UN vehicle near Jerusalem, and Palestinians threw 
firebombs at Israeli vehicles near Ofra and Shuqba, causing 
no injuries.  The IDF arrested one Hamas member and two Fatah 
members.  End Summary. 
 
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Gaza Strip 
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2.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries/Explosives: UNRWA reported that a 
Palestinian-made explosive device detonated in the car of 
prominent lawyer Majed Nemer el-Jefarawi March 29, injuring 
him in the leg and hand.  UNRWA said it suspected the 
explosion was in protest of Jefarawi's candidacy in upcoming 
Legal Association elections. 
 
-- Shootings: The IDF reported three instances of shooting at 
IDF vehicles March 28-29.  Of these, one took place west of 
Khan Younis, and two northwest of Rafah.  No injuries were 
reported. 
 
3.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS/CHECKPOINTS 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open March 29 at both Netzarim and Abu Khouli 
checkpoints. 
 
-- The Erez Crossing was open to diplomats, internationals, 
Palestinian laborers, and merchants March 29.  At the time of 
this writing the number of Gazans to cross into Israel was 
unknown. 
 
-- Erez Industrial Zone was open March 29.  At the time of 
this writing the number of Gazan laborers to enter the Zone 
was unknown. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian workers, but open 
for the import of aggregates used in construction, March 29. 
 
-- Karni terminal was open March 29. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open, without age restrictions, for 
Palestinians March 29. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan and Toufa checkpoints were open March 29. 
 
4.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS 
 
-- Israeli media reported that the removal of graves from the 
Gush Katif cemetery in tandem with Gaza disengagement will be 
carried out entirely by representatives of the Chief 
Rabbinate. 
 
-- Settler leadership met March 29 to revise its 
anti-disengagement strategy in light of the Knesset's March 
28 rejection of referendum legislation.  The leadership 
reportedly plans to enlist tens of thousands of people to 
enter the Gaza Strip and West Bank settlements slated for 
evacuation. 
 
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West Bank 
--------- 
 
5.  (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths:  Nil. 
 
-- Injuries:  Israeli Border Police shot and injured a 
Palestinian man who approached a separation barrier 
construction site south of Hebron on March 28, according to 
Palestinian newspapers. 
 
-- Injuries:  The IDF shot and injured two Palestinian 
brothers during an operation in Kufur Qalil, outside Nablus, 
on Match 28, according to Palestinian newspapers. 
 
-- Attacks:  A firebomb was thrown at an Israeli bus 
traveling near Ofra settlement northeast of Ramallah on March 
28, without causing any injuries or serious damage, according 
to Israeli radio and Palestinian newspapers. 
 
-- Attacks:  A firebomb was thrown at an Israeli car near 
Shuqba village, north of Modi,in on March 28, without 
causing any injuries, according to Israeli radio. 
 
-- Attacks:  Shots were fired at a UN vehicle in Jerusalem 
near Notre Dame on March 28, according to a UN spokesperson, 
without causing any injuries or damage. 
 
-- Arrests:  The IDF arrested a youth Hamas member who was 
traveling in a vehicle near Bir Zayt, north of Ramallah, on 
March 28, according to Palestinian security sources. 
 
-- Arrests:  The IDF arrested two Fatah members in Azun 
village, near Qalqiliya, on March 29, according to 
Palestinian newspapers. 
 
-- Curfews/Closures:  After shots were fired at an IDF 
checkpoint near Huwara on March 27, the IDF entered and 
imposed a curfew on the village, blocking its entrance, on 
March 28, according to Palestinian sources. 
 
6.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- The Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC), a key Fatah 
governing body, voted March 28 to hold primary elections to 
select candidates to run on Fatah,s party slate, according 
to FRC sources. 
 
-- After a meeting with PA President Abbas (Abu Mazen) in 
Gaza last night, Hamas leader al-Zahar told Palestinian media 
March 28 that Hamas has agreed to join the PLO and 
participate in PLO civil organs, provided that certain 
conditions are met, relating to the PLO,s operating 
structures and charter. 
 
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KURTZER