US embassy cable - 05JERUSALEM1633

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001633 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA FOR FO; NEA/SA/EX FOR AUSTIN-FERGUSON; DEPT FOR 
DS/IP/ITA; DEPT FOR DS/IP/NEA; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, PBTS, PHUM, KWBG, KPAL, IS, ASEC, Sitrep 
SUBJECT: WB/G SITREP: APRIL 20, 2005 (1500 HOURS LOCAL) -- 
SHOOTINGS IN THE OLD CITY OF HEBRON AND IN THE GAZA STRIP 
RESULT IN NO INJURIES. 
 
This is a joint ConGen Jerusalem/Embassy Tel Aviv cable. 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: In the West Bank, a Palestinian man was 
hospitalized April 19 after he was shot by an Israeli 
soldier.  Palestinian militants also reportedly fired shots 
at Bet Romano settlement in the Old City of Hebron April 19. 
The IDF arrested five Palestinians April 19 in various areas 
of the West Bank.  In the Gaza Strip, five shooting incidents 
reportedly occurred April 19, but no casualties or injuries 
resulted.  End Summary. 
 
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West Bank 
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2. (SBU) ATTACKS/SECURITY: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: According to Palestinian reports, a Palestinian 
taxi driver was hospitalized April 19 after an Israeli 
soldier shot him following a heated argument.  According to 
witnesses, the argument began when the soldier refused to 
allow the children of the taxi driver to pass through the 
Bayt Eiba roadblock, near Nablus. 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian sources, two Palestinian 
Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members were arrested in the village of 
Silat Harthiya, near Jenin, April 19.  IDF forces entered the 
village and surrounded a house, briefly exchanging fire with 
the two wanted militants before they eventually turned 
themselves in. 
 
-- Detentions: According to Palestinian reports, the IDF 
closed the area of the Old City of Hebron near Bet Romano, 
after Palestinian militants fired shots on April 19.  The IDF 
detained 30 to 40 Palestinians following the shootings but 
released most of them the same day.  (see "Security 
Incidents.8) 
 
-- Arrests: According to Palestinian media, IDF soldiers 
arrested three Palestinians at checkpoints north of Ramallah 
and near Tulkarm April 19.  Two of those arrested were 
Palestinian military intelligence officers, and the third was 
a Palestinian Authority (PA) police officer. 
 
-- Shooting: According to Palestinian sources, Palestinian 
militants reportedly fired shots at Bet Romano settlement in 
the Old City of Hebron on April 19, but no injuries were 
reported  (see 8Arrests.8) 
 
3. (SBU) CONFISCATIONS: 
 
According to Palestinian media, the IDF issued confiscation 
orders April 19 for 338 dunums (approximately 85 acres) of 
Palestinian land near Bayt Hanina, north of Jerusalem, 
reportedly for "military purposes." 
 
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Gaza 
---- 
 
4. (SBU) ATTACKS: 
 
-- Deaths: Nil. 
 
-- Injuries: Nil. 
 
-- Mortars/Rockets: Nil. 
 
-- Shootings: According to Israeli media, five shooting 
incidents occurred in the Gaza Strip April 19, but no 
casualties or injuries resulted.  The media said that shots 
were reportedly fired by unidentified persons at Israeli 
troops on the Karni-Netzarim road and in Gush Katif, Morag 
and the Rafah area.  The IDF reported that Palestinians shot 
at IDF soldiers April 19 at outposts near Neve Dekalim and 
Toufah, and in Morag, but no casualties or injuries resulted. 
 
 
-- Explosions: Nil. 
 
5. (SBU) INCURSIONS/DEMOLITIONS: Nil. 
 
6. (SBU) BORDER CROSSINGS: 
 
-- Route Four (Salahadeen Road), the main north-south traffic 
artery, was open April 20, 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 
April 19, and 4,800 laborers and 360 merchants crossed into 
Israel. 
 
-- The Erez Industrial Zone was open April 19 and 670 
laborers entered. 
-- Sufa Crossing was closed for Palestinian laborers April 
20, but was open for the import of aggregates used in 
construction. 
-- Karni Terminal was open April 20. 
-- Rafah Terminal was open for arrivals and departures April 
20. 
 
-- Tel al-Sultan checkpoint was closed April 20.  Toufah 
checkpoint was open for residents of al-Mowassi. 
Pearce