US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV1956

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 001956 
 
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: EIGHT PALESTINIANS AND THREE PA 
POLICEMEN ARRESTED IN THE WEST BANK; PALESTINIANS SHOOT AT 
IDF SOLDIERS IN THE GAZA STRIP, BUT NO INJURIES-- MARCH 30, 
2005 (1300 HOURS LOCAL) 
 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: The IDF arrested eight Palestinians and 
three uniformed PA policemen in the West Bank March 29. 
Palestinians shot at IDF soldiers east of Netzarim and near 
Rafah March 29 in the Gaza strip, but no injuries occurred. 
End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2.  (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Arrests: The IDF arrested eight Palestinians from Nablus, 
Hebron and Jenin March 29 in the West Bank, according to 
Palestinian sources. 
 
-- Arrests/Incursions: The IDF crossed into H1 (the area of 
Hebron under PA security control) on March 29 and arrested 
three uniformed PA policemen who were directing traffic in 
the city center, according to Palestinian sources.  The 
sources said that the three were released a few hours later 
and told by the IDF that they could not wear PA police 
uniforms.  The sources said, however, that the policemen will 
continue to wear uniforms, as authorized under the Interim 
Agreement and other PA-GOI arrangements. 
 
3.  (SBU) SEPARATION BARRIER: 
 
-- Palestinian residents reported March 30 that Israeli 
Border Police served property owners in al-Jib, northeast of 
Jerusalem, with land confiscation orders for the construction 
of the separation barrier. 
 
4.  (SBU) POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS: 
 
-- The Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC), a key Fatah 
governing body, issued a communiqu on March 29 supporting 
PLC elections for July 17 and establishing a technical 
committee to run Fatah primary elections before those 
elections, according to FRC sources. 
 
---- 
Gaza 
---- 
 
5.  (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Israeli media, the IDF arrested two 
unarmed Palestinians March 30 in the northern Gaza strip. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Nil. 
 
-- Shootings: According to the IDF, Palestinians shot at IDF 
soldiers March 29 at an outpost east of Netzarim and another 
outpost north of Rafah, but no injuries occurred. 
 
-- Explosions: Nil. 
 
6.  (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. 
 
7.  (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open March 30, with a major detour at Netzarim 
Junction.  Abu Khouli checkpoint was open. 
 
-- Erez Crossing was open for internationals and for a 
limited number of Palestinians March 29, and 3,413 laborers 
and 236 merchants crossed into Israel. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open March 29 and 616 
laborers entered. 
 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers March 
30, but was closed for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
 
-- Karni Terminal was open March 30. 
 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures March 
30. 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed March 30.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. 
 
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KURTZER